It’s been a while and a lot has been going on, so let’s catch up. :)

Last you read, we were still painting the house… well that’s not completely done yet but it’s good enough for now.  Actually good enough for us to host our first party on Aug 4th.  We think around 60+ people came by and it was sooo good to see people we haven’t seen in a long time.  Alec and I were busy but I felt this time I had a good opportunity to hang out with people and chat.  I think everyone helping out really made that happen.  Thanks gang!

Other news is the Canadian Passport Office rejected my application that I sent at the beginning of July because I wasn’t looking unhappy enough… oh I mean my teeth were showing.  I was crushed when I opened the DHL package because I knew it was my passport, I just didn’t realize it was the old one.  As far as the website seemed to say, I had to go to Quebec to renew it and it would take two weeks.  I emailed the Cdn Consulate in SF and called some Canadian numbers and finally yesterday I was able to reach a real live human being.  My angel said I could renew in person in Canada and have it done in 3 days for an extra $30.  I could have hugged him!  Not only did this mean I would have my passport in time for Egypt (more on that later), I could actually make it to my cousin’s wedding in Sept.  I haven’t seen my extended in a while, this was really great news.

So I last night I bought my ticket for Edmonton and I will be crashing at Rachael’s that week (thanks Rachy!) and working remotely.  I’m there at the end of Aug and Alec will fly into Edmonton Thursday night to join me at the wedding.  For now, this is a huge load off my mind.

I mentioned Egypt.  On Oct 11, I fly out on Virgin Atlantic to London to then catch a flight later in the day for Cairo.  I’ll be meeting up with Hazem, a coworker from Fatbrain and he and his wife, Hala, will be joining me down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, then we fly back to Cairo and I spend a few days there at their house, checking out the local splendors.  From there I head to Sharm and hopefully get some scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking in.. oh yeah some RnR too!  On Oct 24th I fly back to London and spend the day and night there to leave for San Francisco the next day (25th).

I’m going alone on this trip since Tanya is unable to make it.  (this was all her idea to go to Egypt and I hopped on board to take the trip myself… oh well).  It shouldn’t be too bad since I will have Hazem and Hala there for part of the time.  I just like to enjoy trips with people who share the excitement and boy are Hazem and Hala excited.  It’s infectious!

So there you are up to date more or less.  Once we get the house cleaned up from post party festivities, I’ll take some more pics so you have an idea how far we got.   And stay posted for Egypt details!

Til next time,
Take Care and Salam!

-C