My Word Worm.

After a discussion of current events......

Phil: G20? More like "GEE-WHIZ!!!"

Lindsay: Well said, darling!

Issues of Temperature...

Lindsay: I feel so sweaty and gross. It's too hot in the apartment. I'm going to have a shower.

TEN MINUTES LATER.....

Phil: How do you feel now, babe?

Lindsay: Refreshed!

Phil: Did you have a cold shower?

Lindsay: No - a very hot one! It was the best!

Phil: Oh Lindsay....

(Insert lots of laughter HERE.)

Leaving on a jet plane.....

W-O-W is RIGHT! Nerves are running high in the Parkinson household, as Oscar is immigrating to Wheatley, Ontario, Canada to live on the lake. I think he is getting a little anxious for the big move - the large cage in the corner is quite intimidating, as is the more-and-more empty view of the apartment. Not to worry son, Grandma is going to take great care of you next year!

TO DO LIST - June 30/July 1

1) Pick up powershot from camera repair man. Drop off photos to be developed.
2) Pick up jewellery at the silver man.
3) Call Al Italia to confirm Oscar's flight details.
4) Drop off apartment items that have been sold to the appropriate buyer.
5) Take my wedding dress to the mall to be de-security-tagged.
6) 12 mile run - Canada Day.
7) PACK.
8) Close bank accounts.
9) Pick up Oscar's health certificate at the vet.
10) Say goodbye to the flower man, the fruit and vegetable man, the grocery store staff, the beautician, the hairdresser, the road nine shops, the owner of our favourite restaurant, and our boab's family.

Grade 12 Graduation.

At the ceremony last night, Phil and I were given the fun job of announcing each student as they received their secondary school diploma. I also got to serve as a graduation "elf" (lucky, I know!), responsible for taking care of and delivering the appropriate medals and plaques as the special awards were presented. Phil looked dapper with his pyramid cuff links and basketball tie, while I looked rather Caribbean with a head full of braids and big dangly earrings. The entrance we made was something else - to the surprise of our students, we were introduced to the podium as "Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson"! You can imagine how happy I was at this moment: being an elf, standing beside Mr. Parkinson, and being referred to as Mrs. Parkinson! It was a dream come true.

The evening, though hot without A/C, was enjoyable with the typical Egyptian mishaps that exist regardless of preparation and instruction - the ceremony began extra late due to absent students and special guests, parents did not arrive until mid-way through (traffic on the Ring Rd., they claimed!), and spectators spoke on their mobiles and socialized with friends during "key" ceremony moments. Nonetheless, it was a special evening for both the graduates and the teachers, with both sides being able to recognize their impact on the other during this final time together. Phil and I stayed strong with minimal tears and hope to stay in touch with a few of the students we really connected with during our time in Egypt.

Ah - today we breathe a sigh of relief. Our first overseas contracts are COMPLETE and we are looking forward to the adventures and challenges at our next post in Kuwait. Until then, we are excited to spend time with family and friends in Canada. THREE MORE SLEEPS!

On the plane to Cairo....

Phil: OH NO! Did you pack Sarge?

Lindsay: Hmm....would you be sad if I didn't?

Phil: What?

Lindsay: YOU LIKE HIM!!!!!!! Don't worry hun, your friend is in the suitcase!

GOODBYE, CYPRUS!

Phil and I are packing up our things and leaving soon for the airport in Larnaca. We are Cyprus Airways back to Cairo and have our fingers crossed for an air-conditioned cabin, an absence of delays, and a plane free of reporters and crying babies. Wish us luck!

Passion Progress....

I believe Phil informed you of my most recent passion - photo contests. I am not really sure how the idea sparked in my brain, but when an idea sparks in my brain, I get totally ignited about it (at least until the next passion comes along!). And so, I applied for many different photo contests a few weeks ago - ones for hospitals, magazines, fairs, professionals (haha), and one for "dogasaur.com". The latter one is the very first I applied to and required applicants to send in photos of their dog exercising. I laughed excitedly and sent the "dog-loving" website a few snapshots of Oscar at his park.

Well, yesterday I received an email from "dogasaur" (haha, we laugh everytime I mention this website), with a newsletter announcing the winners of the "Exercise with your Dog Photo Contest". We quickly clicked on the link to see that we weren't listed as "grade prize winners"......or as "honourable mentions"....but as "other submissions", which included ALL OF THE remaining photos sent to the contest! Hahahahahahaha - we were in tears laughing! Can you believe it? I finished in something that I consider "worse than last place", simply because not all of the photos we were categorized with followed the main application requirement of "DOGS EXERCISING". I have included the link so you can see Oscar in action (there are two photos - top right), but I would also like to direct your attention to the other, should-have-been-DQ'ed photos. There are photos of dogs SITTING (which is NOT exercising), photos of dogs meeting other dogs (which is NOT exercising), and photos of dogs being pet by their owners (which, again, is NOT exercising)!

So, I present to you my photo contest progress as hilariously TERRIBLE. I think Phil wonders if I will give up on this passion soon (because I have been talking about starting to love knitting and cake decorating), but I think the laughs we get from every "you lost" are too great to quit yet!

The link for those who are interested in a BIG LAUGH: http://www.dogasaur.com/photo-contest-additional.html

Boom, Boom, Pow!

Pafos must also be known as the city of fireworks! We have heard fireworks every night since our arrival.......and tonight we could see them right from the balcony! So romantic :)

Sports excitement as the best excitement....

After checking his work email.....

Phil: (jumping up and down, hooting and hollaring, too excited to speak immediately) LINDS!!!!!!!!!! GUESS WHAT?!!!! THEY ARE ALL DETROIT FANS!!! MY NEW PHYS. ED DEPARTMENT!!! THEY CHEER FOR DETROIT!!!!!!! (continues to hop on couch like Tom Cruise on Oprah)

Lindsay: Well that's great, hun! (pause) I wish you had this reaction when I said "YES!"!!!!

And then we laughed. Really hard.