The last couple of days have been a crazy whirlwind of panic and resolve. It kind of went like this.

Bad: I was reminded that my passport was about to expire March 14. Which meant I may not be able to go to Japan (Jan 20 - 30) or Vietnam (Feb 17 - 28). Crap.
Good: Japan doesn't have a requirement that a Canadian passport must be valid for at least 6 months. So I can still go on my business trip.
Bad: But Vietnam has this type of requirement. So I'll still have to get a new passport by then.
Bad: I don't know anyone here that can be my guarantor.
Good: I don't need one if I pay an extra $1500 NT and fill out another form.
Good: The Canadian Consulate says that there should be no problems in getting my new passport if I apply for it after I get back from Japan (because I need my passport for travel to Japan).
Bad: But I still need time to get my Vietnamese visa.
Good: It looks like I can apply for my passport before I go to Japan and still hold on to my passport provided that I write a note stating that I understand that I must give the Canadian Consulate my passport afterwards.
Bad: But I still need my birth certificate if I want to get a 5-year passport instead of a 1-year. And my birth certificate is in Canada.
Good: My parents can fax for me it to the Canadian Consulate from Passport Canada in Vancouver.
Good: I just need to head to Taipei tonight, and apply for my new passport tomorrow.
Bad: Because of the mishap with my courtesy scooter, I can't get my passport photo in time.
Good: I just delayed going up to Taipei by one day. I'll get my passport photos tomorrow, and then head up. And do the application on the next day.
Good.

These ups and downs are absolutely DRAINING. But there's more.

Another reason I didn't take my passport photo early enough today was because I needed to get a haircut. So, let me tell you about my haircut.

I went to my regular stylist, and as usual, I told her short on the sides and the back, and about 1/2 length up top. I took off my glasses and placed them on the table in front of me, and away we went with the snip snip snip. Then I felt that she was cutting really really short on the sides, and kinda high up too. At the end, she said, "This style is really popular right now. Really short on the sides, and just long at the top. So-and-so celebrity is wearing his hair like this - I think it looks really good." Immediately, I said "Uh, I need to put on my glasses." Short was right! I needed to take my passport photos, and a week away from attending an exhibition in Japan, and here she was trying new styles like Vidal Sasoon?!

Anyway, I managed to keep it clean for my passport photos... and I think it'll be okay in Japan. Stylish? I guess it's okay. I'll live.