SPOTTED in CANADA!

In the past few weeks, Ontario has been treated to some honest-to-goodness CELEBRITIES!  Take a look:

Carrie Underwood at Pearson Airport.  (Love the SHIRT!)

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling strolling around Niagara Falls.

Rachel McAdams biking through the streets of Toronto.

Let's hope they return home and tell their FAMOUS friends how SPECTACULAR our country is.........and how BEAUTIFUL it would be to visit between June 27th and August 19th.....

(The last celeb I saw "by accident" was Bram.  You know, from "Sharon, Lois and Bram"?  I think I'm due for another encounter!) 

A Few Things...(x2)

1)  Pinky got even "PINKY-ER" this afternoon after a trip to Marc Jacobs with Em.  Thanks to my "iPad family," I was able to purchase a sweet, heart-covered sleeve to keep Pinky safe and COZY! 

2)  We were in the iPad-naming mood today.  Emily's has a green cover and has been named "limey" very appropriately.

3)  Phil's trying to make the AC in our room come out even MORE.  I'm hoping he fails.  (Sorry, LOVE!)

4)  Speaking of temperature - despite the 50 degree weather this past week, I have found myself frozen quite often.  It's bizarre.  I wonder what Canada will feel like....

5)  Season 4 of the Real Housewives of NYC is complete.  Yep, it is THAT GOOD!  Apparently Season 5 started this week!  YAHOO!

6)  Tomorrow is my final day of tutoring for this school year.  Although I adore my "tutees", the past three weeks have been jam-packed and I am looking forward to some serious "FREE TIME"! 

Name that COLOUR!

While admiring my pink iPad cover.....

Lindsay:  My iPad's name is PINKY!

Phil:  (does not acknowledge the name)

Lindsay:  PHIL!  Did you hear me?!  This iPad of mine is named PINKY!

Phil:  Yes, hun, I heard you.

3 minutes later....

Phil:  (admiring his black iPad cover)  My iPad's name is DARKY. 

(Both of us burst into laughter).

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  I FINALLY got an iPad!  I hope y'all aren't onto a new gadget.  I just got "here"!

*  Phil power grocery-shopped after work.  Like....POWER!  He was in, out, and home in less than 35 minutes!

*  Bachelorette evenings are the ULTIMATE.  I love watching romance!  With Phil.  Haha.  In fact, the other day a student gave him a rose, which he forwarded to me.  I made him do 'conversation replay' with the gift giving - in the form of a "rose ceremony".  You know, "Lindsay - will you accept this rose?"!  And I did.

*  This weekend will be extraordinarily busy with tutoring, but it will all be finished on Saturday evening, as the science exams are on Sunday.  Next week it will be nice to arrive home at 3 p.m. instead of 6 or 7!

*  Being organized is relaxing.  Getting organized......not so much.

*  Apparently it was 50 degrees yesterday.  Perhaps the same today.  People seem amused that I still bundle up in fleece the moment I get home!

*  I've had two boxing lessons with Phil and I am S.O.R.E.  Back, arms, abs.....ALL OF IT!  Who knew continuous arm movements could be so muscle-engaging?

*  Exactly THREE WEEKS until we're in TORONTO!  YIPPEE! 

PHASE OUT!

Today was, believe it or not, the FINAL DAY of CLASSES! I am sitting here in bed this very moment, trying to make sense of a year that went by SO FAST! I mean, really? It's June?! Already?!

Okay then.

For the past week we've spent time preparing for our science exam on June 10th.  Today was a day allotted to reviewing our astronomy unit and after getting through the un-fun parts of the curriculum, we had some FINAL DAY FUN!  Using Oreo cookies, my students were asked to create the eight phases of the moon (pictured above).  EXCITING, YES?!  YES.  The grande finale mustn't be forgotten either - a dance to our favourite science rap "Mr. Lee's Phases of the Moon". 

You'd be proud to hear that out of a day with four formal goodbyes, I only cried twice....officially.  There was potential for a full-blown sob fest, but the rapping really refocused my heart and my mind ;)

Now all that's left to happen is 83 students ROCKING their final exam......then my first year as a middle school teacher will be complete!  

Okee dokee.  The pillow calls.

Good night, Moon! 

P.S.  Something gross that I need to tell you:  I found a medium-to-large sized black hair BAKED INTO my sub tonight.  I know I've mentioned my post-India gag reflex before and its existence remains with me to this day.  The sandwich was tossed and as of 5:30 tonight, I vow to "never eat a sub again".  Phil says I'm being silly. 

WHEEZY, BREEZY!

The dust started to roll in yesterday morning and is expected to stay for the next few days.  Today it is especially terrible outside - in that sand in your teeth, can't open your eyes, hold onto your skirt kind of way.  Yet, despite the weather, it amazes me to see the following:

*  the dicky dee man - still trekking through the even-more dangerous highway intersections (with a "SARS" mask on)
*  construction workers standing on rickety scaffolding at about floor four (with "SARS" masks on)
*  people riding their bikes (with "SARS" masks on)
*  the familiar old man feeding his pigeons at the nearby round-about (with a "SARS" mask on)

If I'm INDOORS and suffering from sandstorm-induced sinus/throat pain, I can only imagine what being outside (even with protection!) might do to your respiratory tract!  ICK.

Bed is where it's at ;)

Have you heard of this show?

It's been advertised by our television provider quite often this past week (weird, right?) and after seeing ANOTHER commercial for it this morning, I decided to type it into Google.

Besides the ACTUAL name of the program, here are some of the search results that appealed to me:

GOSSIP, BOTOX, FRAUD,  TEEN-TURNED-DIVA, FEISTY MOTHER "GIGI", DALLAS SOCIETY, and MEAN GIRLS.  Although I should also mention:  TITLE OVERHAUL, CONTROVERSIAL, OFFENSIVE, C+, 3 STARS and CANCELLED.

Do you think these words were catchy enough to provoke a click of the "download" button?

YOU BETCHA!!!!!

Episode #1 is en route to my Mac book.  HOORAY!

Let's see what all this fuss is about.......

Yesterday.

After a rough day at school, I was in serious need of a night with the Kuwait fam.  I got home from school at 3ish.  Alex and Ian showed up around 4:30ish.  Emily stopped by at 5:30ish.  Phil got home at 6ish.  Steve came over at 7ish.  And the Hussain's joined us at 10ish.

It was THE BEST.  
WAIT - BETTER THAN THE BEST.

We told stories, ate pizza, played Catchphrase, and watched magic tricks.  Until 1 a.m.

Did you read that?!

1 a.m. PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!  (TWO CHEERS FOR THE PARKINSON'S! HIP, HIP!)

This morning I woke up feeling very tired appreciative of the people who love and support us in our home abroad.  The people that laugh with us, cry with us, argue with us, and BE SILLY with us.  Last night being "SILLY" was the best part.  In our wee apartment, everyone felt comfortable to 'do their thing' without judgement.  It was awesome - a memory we will forever cherish.

Thank you FAMILY for giving me EXACTLY what I needed - an excellent soiree with all of you!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
xoxo

ADIOS, MAY!

You were well and good, but THIS month has a much better reputation with teachers than you do.

Better luck next year!

Sincerely,

Ms. MISSES CANADA A LOT, A LOT

P.S.  We gave May quite the send off yesterday evening.  GO TEAM!

PHIL FANATICS!

Today Phil received several deliveries from his grade five students.  The man is ADORED, I tell ya!  Check out how sweet these are:

The Barcelona t-shirts are so COOL!

Such sweet words...

This kid WILL NEVER EVER skip a P.E. day!

I love the Lions logo here.  What do you think Papa Parkinson?!

Hearts and ALL!

This one was included solely for the line "you are kind and you are lovely".  Melts my heart.