The Month of June.

This June may mark more hustle and bustle than the Christmas holidays! On our agenda:

Grade 12 Graduation. Father's Day. Birthdays. Report Cards. World Environment Day (haha...). End of Year Staff Party. Final Exams. Garage Sale. Apartment Packing. High Mileage Training. Alexandria. Final Goodbyes. Cards of Appreciation. Thank You's. For One Last Time's (e.g. felucca, dinner at Max's, twirling dervishes, etc.).

And after it all......we get to see YOU! We can't wait to fly home on July 2nd!

Living In An Outside Apartment.

You have already read about the lizards. Well, let me add a few more critters to the list.

1) Ants. The most persistant, un-shy ants you will ever come across. AY AY AY! Phil has "Raid"-ed the kitchen at least two times and those darn insects refuse to take cover elsewhere.
2) A mouse. Or two. Or three. Who knows?! The only evidence they've left is some chewed-up arts and crafts and "droppings". Does this ever anger me! It is one thing to bring their A-game to an intense game of hide and seek. It is simply another to use my A&C materials for their own pleasure. I urge Phil everyday to pursue them in their sneaky match.
3) FLIES. Thank goodness Phil is a fly samarai. He uses that swatter with such ease and grace. I'm not sure where he received his training, but I'm sure "Northern Ontario" had something to do with it.

Anyways, I am only willing to share the apartment with humans and golden retrievers. Until the residents of our place meet these requirements, I will be freaking out and yelling "PHIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".

Instant Smiles.

Egypt is famous for impromptu holidays. We are often surprised with unexpected days-off throughout the school year, thanks to the Moon, President Obama, and the celebration of historical moments. Although tomorrow is not a full-out no-school day, we do get to go home early! It is election day for the Shura Council and we will have shortened afternoon classes in order to beat the traffic home! WOO HOO!!! What a great announcement to hear at the end of a long school day!

A Copycat.

I have blogged many times about Phil's impecable organization skills. For him, information retrieval is a breeze! He can locate any item on cue, as everything he owns is particularly arranged and accounted for. I used to believe that I, too, was skilled in this area, but after meeting this man - I know I am far from super at keeping track of my things. Optimistically, this feeling of sub-par has motivated me to play copycat for the past few days! Since the grande purge began, my computer has been reduced by 8.63 GB and a clean-up of my office has produced two big boxes of recycling. Skill-development continues for me tomorrow, as I tackle the rest of my classroom!

World Environment Day 2010

Lindsay: Hey Phil.........(in an "I have an idea" voice)

Phil: Yes....(with an "I know something is coming" tone)

Lindsay: June 5th is World Environment Day. Cairo is hosting the event at Al Azhar Park....

Phil: Oh ya...

Lindsay: So - I was thinking....we should go...

Phil: (no comment, long pause)

Lindsay: I knew you would be less-than-inclined...but guess what?! The abbreviation of World Environment Day is "WED"...which is similar to "WED-DING" and this summer we will be "NEWLY-WEDS".

Phil: (laughing at my remark, yet acting as though he doesn't hear me)

Lindsay: But hun, you LOVE the environment!

Phil: Not really...I only LIKE it because YOU LOVE it!

Lindsay: FINE! I'll ask the girls!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

To the girls for an incredible engagement party and to Mr. Clean for a spic and span house to come home to :)

On the Bus.

CONVERSATION #1:

Phil: What should we have for snack? Peanut butter and toast?
Lindsay: No - we have no bread.
Phil: Cereal? Oh wait (look of disappointment) - we have no milk. How about Kraft Dinner?
Lindsay: Ya, we'll just use butter!
Phil: Good one!

(HIGH FIVE)

Lindsay: I love you.



CONVERSATION #2:

Lindsay: (responding to the foul smell on the bus) Is that you? Or outside?
Phil: Outside....but thanks for giving me the credit!

ART FOR ACTION.

Today our school hosted a fundraising event called "Art for Action". It is the second year for this student art exhibition, which donates all of its proceeds to the children's cancer hospital in Cairo. Emily initiated the project last year and her idea was just so darn great that we continued it this year!


Some of the student work on display is sold through a silent auction - like this beautiful piece here! Phil and I happened upon this quilt during our walk-about and decided that it was a "must purchase" (i.e. I really wanted it and Phil was on board). It is the perfect addition to our future nursery, as we want the theme of the room to be "Around The World" (DO NOT GET TOO EXCITED - it is still YEARS AWAY!). How darling are the little faces in each square?! The junior kindergartens did an A+ job!

Things like this.....

make me miss Canada. To all of my beautiful girlfriends back home - ENJOY!

A Melted Mess.

Last week, we purchased 4 chocolate bars for desert camping. The idea was to use them to make smores, however they turned into perma-liquid while we were out and about during the day (duh - poor planning!). Regardless, I saw them as saveable and put them in the fridge when we returned home on Sunday afternoon.

Well, yesterday I had a craving for one of those chocolate bars and so I went to the fridge to retrieve them. On first glance, I didn't see them. On second glance, I STILL didn't see them. Instead of taking a third glance, I shot a dirty look at Phil and said, "PHIL! Where are those chocolate bars?!". He smirked and looked away.

UGHHHHHH. These are the moments that define OCD. Can you believe he tossed them for having an irregular shape? So what if they were molded into fun and twisty shapes?! Doesn't this make them more appealing to consumers?! Can't they be removed from the packaging and heated for fondue? Or maybe we could create chocolate chunks for pancakes? NOPE. According to Phil, rectangular chocolate bars should remain as such.

I will never melt a rectangular chocolate bar again.

Girls Club / Boys Club

This weekend I am going away for an engagement celebration in Ain Sohkna. Mama Cairo planned this girl's-only event, where 17 of us will be enjoying the sand and sun on the Red Sea. I can't wait....and I don't think Phil can either!

Phil has big plans for his upcoming "bachelor" weekend. Let me recall a few of them, brought about in conversation...

1) "Hun...don't worry too much about that! I am going to do a big clean while you're away this weekend."
2) "McDonalds....for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Oh - and I'll do pizza one day too!"
3) "Andrew and Paul are hosting a big game of Risk!"
4) "I will go to Radioshack to buy a screwdriver so I can fix your camera..."
5) "I'm not going to have to wear a shirt in the house! Boxers ALL weekend."
6) "There's a baseball tournament at the ball park. I'll go watch that during the day!"

Haha - I think good times are in store for the both of us!

An Inanimate Friend.

I am shocked that it hasn't made it to the blog before now, as it is something that affects us everyday - without fail - on the dot. It is something that hinders our morning wake-up, midday energy boost and post-gym clean-up; Something that makes having company utterly embarrassing and something that encourages visitors to never come back. It is............our shower curtain.

It is not its ugly blue and orange print. It's not the rings that act stubborn while you aim to orient it. It's not its lack of effectiveness as a water barrier. It's the persistant game of "tag" and "hug me" that goes on during every shower we take. The physical contact is non-stop and unavoidable - the curtain loves to cling and chase us.....despite the inevitable growls and grunts we express in return. Luckily we only have to deal with the poor thing for one month more!

A Shameful Contradiction.

McDonald's just delivered 3 Oreo McFlurry's and a double hamburger combo to the house. We are watching "The Biggest Loser" while we indulge. Gross, eh?!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

At this very moment Phil and Dana are watching the final episode of the CURRENT Survivor season (Heroes versus Villains). Listen closely...in forty minutes you may hear fireworks!

P.S. Probst - you can take your time on future seasons.

No if's, and's, or but's.....

Saturday's 5km run was a no-option. Besides, the Sahara can only INSPIRE!

Happy Victoria Day!

This weekend we embarked on a bedouin-style camping adventure to celebrate the Canadian holiday! For two nights and three days, eight of us journeyed into the Black and White Desert - eager to enjoy and explore the dramatic landscapes in the Sahara region. It was the perfect getaway from the city, offering opportunities for star-gazing, sand angel-ing, desert-drawing, structure-climbing, rock-throwing, shadow-making, dune-racing, team-building, joke-telling, photo-taking, and most importantly...RELAXING! Here are some of our photo favourites!

WAY TO GO!

"Don't be CARE-LESS, make them HAIR-LESS!"

"Have you heard the BUZZZZZZZ?!"

"The money from YOU will give them a new DO!"



This year, teachers at our school are pledging to have their heads shaved to raise money for the Children's Cancer Hospital. Phil was the first teacher to get the ball rolling, offering to have his head shaved at a fundraising total of 500 L.E. Well, our advertising proved successful and today the students raised over 2000 L.E. for the cause!!! At lunch, Phil went under the razor in the main foyer, generating even more excitement for the teachers to come! Great work, Phil!

We have LIZARDS!

Yes, PLURAL. Last night, we spotted our second pet lizard - crawling up the wall of the apartment. Feel free to enjoy both the image in your mind, as well as the irony of the accompanying photo.

An Eye for Hearts.

My "Sister" Dana

Since her arrival, Dana has been substitute teaching quite regularly at our school. Of course, she has been noticed by several of the Egyptian staff members. It felt great the other day when our receptionist stopped us to ask if Dana was my sister. "You look so much alike," she said, "Is she your sister?" "She sure is my sister!" I replied, and I truly meant what I said.

The "Cat Sitter"

Lindsay and I frequent our favourite restaurant "Max's" about once a week, and are always greeted with outstanding service, and delicious food. One of the highlights for Lindsay is saying hello to the "mascot" of the restaurant "Maxine" (a cat that hangs around the entrance each day). It was Lindsay who named the cat, and her love for the animal must have been noticed. A couple of days ago (fresh off Lindsay's desire for a cat) we entered the restaurant with the owner approaching us. He shook our hands, and we had our usual friendly greeting, but this time he had a question for us, and he seemed to be looking for a favour. "Is there any way that you would be able to babysit "Maxine" for a couple of weeks for me?" he asked us. Before I was able to say "No, I'm allergic", I turned to Lindsay to see her eyes booming, and her smile sparkling uncontrollably. Thank goodness we'll be back in Canada when he needed the sitter! There was no way I was going to be able to say no to his request!!!!!!

Lindsay's Quest To Save The World Continues

I've always been, and continue to be inspired by Lindsay's desire to do everything in her power to help those that are in need. In fact, I'm usually on board with most of her ideas, and respect that she feels strongly that we can all make a difference. Lately, Lindsay has stepped her interest in worthy causes up a notch, and I am regularly greeted after a long day of school with yet another plan of action. I am definitely participating to the best of my ability and will be raising money for the Children's Cancer Hospital here in Cairo tomorrow by shaving my head in front of the school. I'll post a picture of my new haircut after the shaving!

Whatever Makes You Happy.

Even if it's LAUNDRY.

Chef Dana.

How lucky are we - arriving home from our 6.5 km run to the FANTASTIC SMELL of a barbeque?! Dana spoiled us tonight with a delicious dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, grilled peppers and fried mushrooms!!! Even the presentation was fancy, fancy...and for that, I ate a WHOLE ENTIRE chicken breast (complete with a "you ate meat" high-five).

Thank you, SISTER! We can't wait to have the leftovers :)

Speak of the Devil!

All this blog talk about pets has really come back to haunt me. I have been wishing for a street kitten and speaking kindly of Leah's goldfish. Well - tonight I was shocked by a pet of my own.........A BABY LIZARD! About 2.5 cm in length, this small freaky creature surprised me as I was emptying my purse in an effort to tidy up. Phil came to the rescue and released the beast in the backyard, although this whole occurrence has left me with some questions.....

1) Why clean? Every time I do it, something gross, unattractive, or ALIVE comes out to play.
2) Do lizards travel in pairs? Dana says NO - which I find both happy and sad; Happy because I shouldn't find another and sad because the poor lizard moves through life alone.
3) Isn't "nature" an outdoors thing? Because I was really starting to warm up to Mother N...
4) Where was Oscar through it all?!
5) How did Phil and Dana find this whole experience "neat"?
6) How am I going to manage the next 1.5 months knowing that a teenie monster may be lurking in every nook and cranny of the apartment?

A Surprising Honour!

Today our friend Leah purchased TWO new goldfish to replace her ONE kinda-new goldfish, Mr. Copperfield. Sadly, Mr. Copperfield passed away last evening. Happily, a new Mr. Copperfield is in town...and this time, he has a Mrs.!!! Of course, the surnames are catchy on their own. I mean, you can definitely picture yourself hollaring, "Hey Mr. Copperfield! Hello Mrs. Copperfield!" as you walk by the tank that they call home. Fitting, right? Well....this pet owner went the extra mile with first names too! And guess what?! They are named: LINDSAY and PHIL! Lindsay Copperfield has those adorable bulging fishy eyes (quote from Leah: because you love bulging fishy eyes!), while Phil Copperfield showcases a black eye and brilliant a orange skin tone (quote from Leah: because Phil is a ginger and a fighter).

Leah - we feel honoured and delighted! We can't wait to meet them!!!

Mama Cairo.

Here she is - sitting on the front of the felucca, taking pictures with her fancy Nikon camera. This shot is a new favourite of mine and I can't help but feel at home when I look at it!

Mama Cairo is one of those women that can make any room (or felucca!) feel warm and cozy. For those of you who have met her, you know that being around her is quite the lucky comfort! Whether it is white wine and Idol, afternoon crafts, or a midday paddle boat.....you feel in the right place with her at your side. I really believe she is a superwoman. She has this wonderful perma-smile and "laugh with me" laugh, an imagination to look up to, and a sense of adventure that inspires. To ice the cake, she is always, without a doubt, 100%....HERSELF. What more can one ask for in a Mama?

Quote of the Day:

While out and about yesterday afternoon....

Dain: Even my sweat is sweating.

Haha - the "holy hannah" heat continues today!

Congratulations, FOUL BALLS!

The theme party "W" wasn't the only victory of the weekend. Phil's softball team, the Foul Balls, became the league champs for the second consecutive season!

"Guess the Theme" Party

Teletubbies? Lugers? A box of crayons? The Wiggles? Sand and water? LORD OF THE RINGS?! Day and night? Spies? A rainbow? The HIMALAYAS?! Chromosomes? Olympic swimmers? The colour wheel? Dancers? Gymnasts? Cirque du Soleil? Superheroes? Blue Men group?! Fireworks?

Excellent guesses, but NO! Our theme was TIGHT & BRIGHT - and it landed us first prize last evening! Great work, TEAM!

Oh Dear!

This morning I spilt my tea all over the front of my shirt! It was a bad start to the school day - with the stain located in a spot that doesn't need attention drawn to it. To the washroom I went, trying my best to wash it away and dry it up fast in the twenty minutes I had before first class. Luckily, Phil was willing to take shifts on "dry duty" and we alternated holding my shirt in front of the blasted AC, while trying to remain stable on an uneven desk chair. What a silly sight! With 5 minutes to spare, my t-shirt looked "not bad" and I rushed off to class.

Scrumdiddlyumptious!

I am CONVINCED that Phil's friend Dain is the real WILLY WONKA. Last night, he arrived from Belgium - bearing gifts of CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE and MORE CHOCOLATE (you like him already too, right?!). Dain, or shall I say, WILLY, claims it is "the very best in the world", and with my very favourite animal as the Cote D'Or logo, I BELIEVE IT!

Hmmmm.....becoming his friend may be my golden ticket!

Kickin' It Old School....

And to this day, he STILL hates to match :)

Thank you for the picture Mom P!

An Un-success Story.

Lindsay: (after spotting a wee, orphaned kitten) Awwww....HUNNIE! She needs a home!

Phil: Absolutely NOT.

Lindsay: But darling...it is so hot outside....and she is just a baby....

Phil: Let's go. You're NOT getting a kitten.

Lindsay: But I've already named her!

Phil: What - DEATH CAT FOR CUTIE?

Lindsay: No - Calliope!

Needless to say, we got back to the house sans kitten.

The "Prego" Man

Recently it seems that Lindsay has been having some bad luck here in Cairo when it comes to creepy Egyptian men. More often then not we head out of the house together, but there are occasions when this is not possible. She has had it out with a taxi driver who was overcharging her (even though she was already overpaying to avoid such a conflict), she has been asked to "go out on a date to another cafe" by a waiter at our local internet cafe, and then there's the infamous "Prego" Man...

Returning from my softball game last week, I found Lindsay, her sister Dana, and friend Aimee reluctant to open the door to our apartment. "Who is it?" they whispered, as I was knocking on the door eager to come in and shower. Once the door was unlocked, the deadbolt released, and the door finally opened, it seemed that all three of the girls held a moment for a sigh of relief.

"What in the world is going on?" I inquired. The girls began to explain that earlier in the evening there was a knock on the door and a delivery man from "Prego" restaurant was at the door. He had gone to the wrong apartment, and Lindsay dismissed him. Immediately the doorbell rang a second time, and I am told that he introduced himself, shook Lindsay's hand, and then had the nerve to enter our flat and try and introduce himself to the other girls. The girls ended his dreams of making new friends, and pushed him out the door hoping I'd be home soon.

Needless to say, I was furious about what had happened, and couldn't believe his nerve. I pondered calling the restaurant and reporting this incident, but brushed it off hoping that it was an honest mistake.

A couple of days ago I was watching TV in bed when the doorbell rang again. I got up, walked to the door, and there he was! Oh, what I would do to replay this moment! You see, in Cairo it happens from time to time that delivery men will ring the bell of the wrong apartment, but I now realize that it was him!!!! At first I wondered why he was stumbling his words, why he looked afraid, why he took off so quickly when I told him he must have the wrong apartment. But then I thought about the situation more closely. He was a delivery man with no delivery in hand, he had a hat on that read "Prego", and he was shocked that a man answered the door.

Hey "Prego" man, I dare you to knock on our door again... I promise that I will put 2 and 2 together next time :)

Three Minute Threats

Training on a treadmill can be quite boring, but it is simply impossible to navigate the crazy traffic and numerous potholes that characterize Cairo's streets. Alas, Phil and I have had to make our own fun while running on the treadmill at the gym! With the invention of "three minute threats", our training time has reached a ten out of ten on the "FUN" scale.

How it works: Each of our runs is divided into three minute segments that are controlled by either Phil or myself. The person in charge can dictate the speed and incline during that time, and must have a creative lead-in to explain why such parameters were chosen. For example, the other day we had to chase down an outstanding 82 year old, climb to the top of the city's highest hill, slow down for an unexpected rainstorm, and race to the nearest water station to avoid dehydration. Each run is different and every three minutes is a surprise.

Tonight we conquer the next 5 km on our training calendar. I can't wait to experience today's terrain!

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday at school, I searched and searched for the perfect mother's day gifts online. There were four mothers that Phil and I wanted to celebrate and we were sure to write them each a little note to say THANK YOU and GREAT JOB!

Well, apparently Phil had ANOTHER mother on his "mother's day list" - ME. At 9 o'clock last night, a special delivery came to the door. It was a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers from my son, Oscar!

Thank you BOYS! You made my day :)

Goodbye MORE Innocence!

Living here I have seen alot. Usually I keep things sensored...but THIS thing has to be shared.

The other day I took Aimee and Dana to "the" silver man. They wanted to purchase some souvenir-jewellery and so I took them to the trusty man who has accessorized my outfits for the past year and a half. Recommended to me by Emily, I instantly knew why she shopped there as the silver man found, created and sold whatever you were looking for at a "friendship" price. His shop is the only silver shop I purchase from, and I made sure he knew this when I told him, "No - of course I didn't buy any silver when I was at the Khan El Khalili market! I only buy from YOU!" It was at this moment that I believe I lost any remaining innocence that existed in my grown-up, "I live in Cairo" self. The silver man reached into the top drawer behind the counter and pulled out a gun. "You better not buy anywhere else," he laughed - shaking the gun in his hand. "Haha..." I awkwardly laughed and turned to look at Aimee and Dana.

So we paid and left.

"Was that a real gun?" I asked my action-movie-loving sister.

"Ya, clip was in, but safety was on," she replied.

AY, AY, AY! At least Santa is real.

"Adventure Day, Part Deux"

I was covered with a green cape after being busted for "inappropriate" clothing at the Muhammad Ali Mosque. Dana demonstrated excellent bargaining skills at the Khan El Kahlili market and fell in love with "Salah the Spice Man". Aimee practiced rock and fossil identification while exploring the Citadel grounds. And Phil remained sick at home - sentenced to a strict "watch Survivor" regimen.

That Explains It!

Phil has "food poisoning" and I have "a cold". While touring Cairo today, I thought - B.S.! And days like this make you miss home...