Successes and conclusions

I have always thought that blogging was something that took away from sleep or the time that one should need to get done anything that is a normal part of a successful day. That is really true of the last week.

I had to travel to NYC 3 times to learn enough about the visa process to make it finally successful. I have the right visa for my summer of study 72 hours before I am scheduled to leave. Whew. The experience was remarkably emotionally draining. There is a certain amount of helplessness that such a process can create. That is not very familiar ground for me.

I hope that I will have time on the plane to record my experiences. It might be useful to people. I don't think I have had to deal with such paranoia in a long time. It might also be justified. On the other hand- I did get to see part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibit on "How to Read a Chinese Painting" It explicates 36 Chinese paintings covering 2000 years of Chinese art and art collection. I got through 2 paintings of horses and one landscape. I was very charmed by the way the painter helps the viewer to stop unscrolling( in a sea of mountain passages, the is a tiny man and a caravan walking back to the center of the painting. Very charming.

Yesterday, I did not want to wander too far from the NYC Chinese consulate while I was waiting for my visa. I found a diner at 11th and 45th that served a lovely omelet and included fresh squeezed OJ with the price of a breakfast. I was surprised. I also found the Chelsea Flower Market. ( not in Chelsea, but nicely interesting for this plant person. I found a plant I was unfamiliar with and have sadly miss remembered the name- something like aloa. It looked like a thinner, less finely divided bronze leaved cimicifuga. It was a tropical in a trade gallon pot. I hope I can track it down some time.

There was more time to wait after breakfast, so I walked to pier 84 and admired the Science barge and waterworks area and reviewed my packing lists. I have spent way too much time worrying them. I don't think I am constitutionally ment to pack a week in advance of a trip. The small park was full of little brown birds, the smell of landscape roses, small children getting their morning airing, people trying their hand fishing off the dock, and the occasional tourist waiting to get on the Circle line boat. If I wasn't so concerned about all the things that could go wrong with my visa, I would have had a very nice morning.

I also have many pictures of my gardens, and should have even more of my first few days in Beijing. I want to have time to post them.

Can't imaging that I will have any more time till I get to Beijing.