An Ode to Egypt

Leavin' on a Jet Plane (yeah, it's to the tune you think it is)

My bags aren't packed
But I'm ready to go I'm standin' here right by the door
I won't hate to take the bowab from his shai
But the adhan is blarin'
Its early morn
The taxis waitin'
He's blowin his horn
Already I'm so trunky
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll change for me
Don't hold me, oh, you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin on a jet plane
I know I won't be back again
Oh babe, I won't hate to go

Theres so many times you've let me down
So many times I've waited around
For the services that you never bring.
Ev'ry place I go, I won't think of you
Ev'ry song I sing, I won't sing for you
If I come back, well, I think I may just scream.

Chorus again

So yeah, that's as far as I got. No, it's not the whole song, but it's enough. I thought of it in the shower (great ideas hang out there) and intended to post this ode quite a while ago, but just couldn't seem to finish it. There. Here's another. In the words of Kelly Clarkson,

"Hey Egypt! My life (my life) won't suck (won't suck) without YOU!"

Alright, this hasn't been the most coherent or positive of posts, but part of me had to say it!

my life would suck without you full virsion - kelly clarkson

Leaving On A Jet Plane - John Denver


**p.s. i published this without double checking the post date and it popped up on 24 Feb. procrastinate much?**

A confession . . .

I am in love. I never fell out of it, I'm just deep in it right now. The saying goes that mothers are biased, that may be true. I'm not trying to brag about my kids, I just want to proclaim a few facts! I am so in love with being a Mom right now. I could just eat them. (Yes, all mothers are cannibals.) Mairyn is such a riot. The other day she said,

"Mommy, if we're driving you crazy, what kind of car do you have? Sophie D.'s mom has a Paseo. It says so on the side."

Grant is starting to read. Eliza is just so . . . Eliza, articulate and patient. And Jacqueline is pulling out new vocabulary left and right. She'll insert new words like "now" at the beginning of a sentence like, "Now the water is cold!" When did my pipsqueak learn that? This is quite a comfort to me at this time. I am up to my eyeballs in moving minutia and packing peripherals (hello, alliterate much?). We are down to t-minus 13 days and I am pretty much annoyed and harried every moment. So when my children choose to shine and bring me a little bit of happiness, it gives me the perspective I need to continue on. And to remind me why I do it all.

The Egyptian Museum

Of course, no trip to Egypt would be well-rounded without a trip to the Egyptian Museum. I think they were all adequately overwhelmed by the content and chaos. Fortunately, it's still March and the weather is very pleasant. Since the huge, dang place is NOT air conditioned, it can get quite sticky & stuffy in the warmer months. The first time we went to the Egyptian Museum, it was the second week in August. Awful, just awful. There was the crush of tourists, lack of circulating air and general disorganization. The dinky early 80's era electric fans placed about every 50 feet, oscillating weakly and barely stirring the stagnant air. Ugh. Not a place for a claustrophobic like me. The soaring ceilings and immense rooms are occupied by case upon case of dusty, poorly labeled artifacts. That all said, it is still quite an experience to walk among the contents of King Tut's tomb, stare at the painted on eyes of Pharonic style Roman mummies and marvel at the woven baskets that have stayed together for at least a millena. I was able to take them on a well-rounded tour, hitting the best places and skipping the not-so-worth-it areas. (Although, having spent 4 years here, I have been to the Egyptian Museum many, many times. (foreign residents get in free) I don't know if there is a "boring area" of the museum. I love museums.) Then we hit a popular Lebanese restaurant called Taboula and called it a day.

Floating the Nile

There's nothing better than lazily floating in a sailboat with family. We had a sunset felucca ride for their first evening in Cairo. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Really, truly perfect.

Family Adventures

My family has come to visit. Mom, Dad, Hannah, Elizabeth, & Matt. The whole shebang. (she-bangs, she-bangs!) Well, we are short two sisters, but it's pretty darn close. First day, we took them to the big attractions, the Giza Pyramid complex and the Sphinx. Of course, everyone did the classic photo opps.


Matt was left out of this collage above because there wasn't enough room for him. We don't love him as much, sorry, it's the truth. That and his picture turned out REALLY awful; eyes closed, mouth half-open, think DMV photo, but at an ancient necropolis. But this next batch at the bluff was very flattering for all. It was a beautiful day to visit the Pyramids. Very clear, AND there weren't very many tourists. No, we're not tourists, we live here. BIG difference.

Over to the partially revamped Sphinx. Now, there is no need to buy a separate ticket. Nice. And there are boardwalk trails all over. They did the same thing at the main Pyramids. No more shuffling through sand or tripping over huge boulders sticking out. There was an odd sight, though. A camera crew was at the foot of it, doing panning shots and filming for something. What, I don't know. I tried yelling at the crew to find out what they were doing it for, but they didn't respond. (wouldn't or couldn't, don't know.) And Matt did his "tourist pose" for us all. He can be quite a ham. Also, you'll see Hannah making out with the Sphinx on the bottom row. Digits were exchanged, we'll see who calls who! More adventures to come.

Giddy Up!

With only 3 1/2 weeks left in Egypt, I feel the need to do everything just one . . . more . . . time. Why, oh why do I listen to myself? Sometimes, I really don't know. We started a new Enrichment activity called Tour & Explore. I thought, well, why not? The first excursion was horseback riding in the desert near the Pyramids. First off, it was an amazing trip up there because I didn't have to drive. A friend's driver drove my vehicle and it was heaven! Everything was organized wonderfully. Then we got our horses. The horse dudes asked if we knew how to ride. Well, yeah, I've ridden before, but not for about 12 years. Ok, you get a good horse. Well I'd hope so!! Madonna the horse was bestowed upon me. Yeah, they like to name the horses some pretty interesting names. Michael Jackson, Sugar and Coke were among a few of the monikers.



We started out toward the desert by way of back streets full of garbage, mud, and other camels & horses awaiting assignment. Madonna kind of had a mind of her own, but I didn't mind. She really responded to the reigns and some of my posting lessons were coming back. She didn't really canter; there was plodding or prancing. For now. Once we hit the desert, Madonna, Michael and Coke decided to race each other. Yeah. With all of us (barely) hanging on. I yanked back on the reigns, not really ready to break out and run yet. The other horses began picking up speed and once again, we were all going along at a full gallop. We were actually getting into a beautiful rhythm, the wind was blowing, the Pyramids whizzing past, it was exhilarating! Then my right stirrup broke. Great. I scramble to switch my reigns from right to left and grab the flapping straps at my knee. So I'm holding onto the stirrup with my right hand and trying to control the reigns with my left. Not easy or comfortable. Just scary. We made it to our destination on the bluff overlooking Giza.



Picture taking was done by all, my stirrup repaired and we all saddled up again. Oh, did I mention that my horse was stick skinny and had no withers whatsoever? Withers are basically the ridge between a horse's shoulder blades. Good withers on a horse keep your saddle from shifting and/or falling off. My horse's withers were nonexistent. So that meant my saddle would creep up her neck. And the more you lean forward on a horse, the faster she thinks you want to go. Think horse jockeys at the races. Another tidbit, once some horses know they're headed home or for the barn, they become very unresponsive and just want to go back. Barn sour is another term. (sorry, for some reason they don't have that in wikipedia.) Madonna was about as barn sour as they come. She would break into a full gallop, I would reign her in, turn her in a circle (to show her who was boss) and then we would continue on and she'd begin the gallop once again. All. The. Way. Back.

Since I'm here writing this, I obviously survived. Barely. What with the stirrups all turned around, a saddle that was too small and a crazy horse, I am in pain to say the least. I've got huge matching bruises on the insides of my thighs (sorry people, no pictures of that) where I was squeezing the tiny saddle to keep it in place. And when I do anything with my right arm, it shakes like a geriatric parkinsonian patient. Will I do that again? Obviously not since One: I'm not that crazy and Two: We won't be here long enough for me to forget and do it again. **Disclaimer** This was the first time I had tried these stables. Other horse desert adventures weren't as exciting as this one.

Sailing Through Life

On Saturday, the Relief Society ladies had a birthday bash on a felucca. It was the 167th celebration of the organization of said group. It was formed on March 17th, 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois. Initially, the original intent was to assist & organize support, supplies & relief for the workers on the Nauvoo Temple. The Relief Society was officially formed soon after the implementation of these efforts. There were 18 women at it's inception and it has now grown into a worldwide organization of over 5.6 million women. I feel very blessed to belong to such an organization. Each baby I've had, there they are with a meal and a hug. It was the most unique celebration we've ever had. I'm sure our felucca captain was more than entertained by our singing and copious emotion sharing. He really enjoyed the sandwiches and strawberries we shared with him!