Saturday, August 26, 2006

INCIID- The Heart IVF Scholarship

http://www.inciid.org/index.php?page=programs

It seems you have to be a paying member or donating to INCIID to apply for this IVF scholarship, however it seems minmal compared to what IVf costs. I did not read in depth, but it may be an option or some of you...let me know what you find out.

For program info and FAQ visit here.... http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=&id=239

New York State Grant for IVF

IVF Grant Program

New York State residents who meet certain eligibility requirements may be eligible for a grant program for IVF. The New York State Department of Health has contracted with a number of fertility centers.

For more information contact New York State Department of Health at 518 473-1124 or nyhealth@health.state.ny.us.

*** I am not sure what criteria is, but found this online and thought any of you in NY could check it out....

Friday, August 25, 2006

A great torta

Well we had a little celebration here a few days ago..it was my birthday. No big deal really, just a few good friends, dinner and a great cake, or "torta" as they call it here in Egypt. It was half white cake with fresh fruits and half chocolate, really good.




I am 30 something...we'll leave it at that!

All else is fine, still super HUMID, hard to breathe sometimes too. I went to the store today, sweat instantly appeared as soon as I opened my car door. But you know, I have noticed my skin is so very healthy these days. So the moisture does have some good affects.

Hope you had a great week, talk to you soon.... xoxoxoxoxoxo

Monday, August 21, 2006

Tragedy in the land of the Nile...

Egyptian train collision kills up to 80

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-21T082309Z_01_L21330896_RTRUKOC_0_UK-EGYPT-TRAINS.xml

QALYOUB, Egypt (Reuters) - Two Egyptian trains collided on Monday, killing up to 80 people and injuring twice that number in a Nile Delta town north of Cairo, a security source said.

Early casualty figures varied widely. The official news agency MENA said between 20 and 26 had died, whilst pan-Arab Al Jazeera satellite television news reported 65 dead.

MENA said one of the drivers ignored railway traffic signals, and one train rammed into the rear of the other in the early morning accident.

A Reuters photographer at the scene said one train appeared to have derailed and was lying on its side, split into four parts, and appeared to have burnt.

A score of ambulances rushed to the crash site, which was sealed off to the public by a large security contingent, but another person at the scene said the force of the crash ripped seats from carriages, which were littered with clothes and shoes.

The carriages were crushed together like an accordion, he said.
About 1,000 bystanders and relatives of travellers anxious for news gathered near the site outside the town of Qalyoub, about 20 km (12 miles) north of Cairo.

Officials called on Egyptians to give blood over loudhailers, and a queue formed in response.
The crash was the deadliest railway accident in Egypt since about 360 were killed in 2002 when a fire ripped through seven carriages of a crowded passenger train. That accident was the worst in 150 years of Egyptian rail history and prompted the transport minister and state railways boss to resign.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Smashed & flattened....

Went for my very first mammogram today, if you've ever had one, (which I hope you have if your 40 or over or if you have a family history, get one starting at age 33) what a very uncomfortable test, man oh man! But its SO worth it!!! It could save your life and I am so glad I finally got one done and for this time it is clear.

They read the film (x-rays) a little bit after the test, doctor said all looked good! I will go back to pick up written report and pictures of the film, but it seems everything is ok for now, thank God.

I asked the doctor twice, if she was sure, she said yes, there is nothing at all, don't worry.....so I feel so much better after getting that done today.

I don't remember if blogged or not about my Mother before...she is a breast cancer survivor, thank God. She has had no reoccurance at all... its been like 13 years or so since she was diagnosed.....what an amazing woman she is! Maybe one of these days youl'll be lucky enough to hear all about her. But for now, I will say, I am so lucky to have a Mother like her, she is indeed the greatest friend in the whole world to me!!!! I love you so much Mom!

So my friends, hope you're week is going well. Those of you doing IVF cycles, you are in my thoughts and prayers always, really and truly you are...I may have some news for you soon on round two for us.....

All is well here in HUMID Cairo, its been so humid these last few days, almost unbearable really. But you know I have noticed my skin is not dry at all, its all the moisture in the air for sure. I never knew one could sweat so much.... oh well, a few more months to bear and it will cool off.

Okay take care and talk to you all soon!!!!!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

My friends new baby



My friend here had her third child, and first son named Yehyia (means John in English) on Friday. I was at the hospital when she delivered....it was a great feeling to see her new son, he is sooooooooooo cute!

I hope too one day I will be at a hospital for delivering a baby...I hope you all will too, those of you like me, who want so desperately to have one, we will, one day we will....

Isn't he a doll? He is so so so quiet too, not crying, just sleeping peacefully.....what a perfect life.


On hold for now

Salaam and hey all, well if you didn't already know or guess by now, may I say I am crazy. (smile)

I got the job at the job at the school as you know... I left on the third morning. I decided it wasn't going to work for me. Many factors contributed to this, instead of going into lots of detail, lets just say, it wasn't going to work out.

True, it was only three days, and things may have improved if I gave it time, but something just didn't feel right. Not the school only, but for me. I felt a change in my desire to work, or lack of desire to work I should say.

The main problem at the school was communication. The person i'd be working for, from the start, with her there was a communication block. But I must say, they were so nice and gave me many alternatives, suggesting switching my position to work for the other person in charge, they really tried to accomodate and get me to work there.

I have come to the conclusion at this point, I am not ready to go to work now. Why the sudden change, not sure, but it feels right, my decision that is.

So I am at home again, I feel good and maybe in the future I will look for work again. The school told me when i am ready to work, to call them, they said they were serious and really meant it, and that I would have a job there anytime... very nice people.

Anyway so thats my drama for now...LOL.....

Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.... talk to you all soon.

Sunday, August 6, 2006

Start work tomorrow...

Well I accepted the job offer at the school near my home, I start tomorrow! Should be fun and adevnturousI think, we'll see how it goes. Its not a bad working day, just 7 hours or so having Friday and Saturday off, which is the usual weekend here in Egypt. I finish at like 3:15Pm everyday, so not too late.

I'll be sure to let you all know how it is going. I have to say, they seem thrilled to have me, which is a very nice feeling. I'll have my own, very nice office, they told me after the principal moves into her new office, who by the way I will be working for, well her and the Academic Director. It seems I will have alot of freedom and flexibility to do things on my own, once I have the knowledge of the school and their ways, which I like. I am excited.

Off to bed early tonight, I'll try to keep in touch...hope you all are well and talk to you soon.

The "Finally" working gal siging off for now....

Thursday, August 3, 2006

The cats


This was the photo I couldn't upload in last post...thanks MM for your commmentary...you are indeed a crazy cat woman- But a loveable one indeed.... love ya!

Cat fight

Thats what is has been sounding like for the past week, a cat fight. At night, in the morning, you hear a cat that look similar to our favorite 'Sherbert', growling away! I grabbed my camera today and snapped them in action....I just can't upload for some reason? Crazy Blogger! I will try again later....

Now my observation, not knowing ANYTHING about cats ...

1. Sherbert loves to lounge in our garden, this new cat invaded her space?
2. Heat, as in "IN"?
3. Giving each other advice?
4. Catching up on neighborhood cat-gossip?
5. Fighting, although it looks peaceful, but sounds terrible.

Do any of you have any idea what is going on here??? Just another Loser-poll for you to occupy yourself with, you love me, I know it...

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Sunday after 10AM

So the nice Doctor called me this morning, said we need to meet again. He said he'e be in all day today or if not today then Sunday after 10AM. I told him I would see him on Sunday.

Hmmmmm, what is going to offer? We'll see, I hope its good. I really would like to work here...

We'll see....

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Are you ready to do a demo today?

Sit down, relax and pull a chair to read this funny entertaining story.....

(side note: I am not a doctor, lawyer, nor hold an MBA..my background is administrative, executive secretary, PA (personal assistant) etc. My college major International Business. Don't knock us secretary, PA types, we are actually the ones runnin' thangs...)

So I go to the first interview yesterday, a school, near to my home.
I meet Mrs. S. and she asks me, "so are you ready to present a demo today?"
I was like... "a what, a demo for??"
She says "you are applying for the English Teacher position..."
"No I am not. I was applying for Executive Secretary."
"Oh" she says. "Well then, please email your CV, then you can meet with Mrs. K"
"You don't have my CV, I emailed it to you?"
"No I do not." Okay how did she contact me via phone then?
I was in and out in less 10 minutes.... So I can say they were definitely NOT organized and did not make a good first impression on me to say the least...SCRATCHED from my list of possible employers.

Okay, so my second interview was even better! I had this one as well yesterday at 2PM. I left the first interview about 12:30Pm, then we had to drive to downtown Cairo, terrible traffic, took us about an hour to get there. We finally found it. My God! Traffic, I cannot even begin to describe to. Parking, LOL.

Well, there was this little underground-ish garage. We pull in, and the pavement where you would drive to find a space, had cars parked, so you couldn't get into the garage. They said just park it and leave your keys. We were like, okay how will we exit, you will move all cars when we're ready to go? They said dont worry, yes. We were laughing so hard, but didn't have much of a choice, so we parked and hoped for the best. My husband went to office (what we determined was office anyway) asked for some sort of ticket, proof, that we were leaving our car. The man told him we usually leave ticket in car, but okay, here you go. (as he hand wrote something, probably our license plate number...)

So we had some time to spare, before 2PM came around, didn't want to be too early, so we walked the streets of dowtown Cairo at noonday, wow, filled with people! Air conditioners dripping on us as we walked from windows high above, horns blaring all around us, quite an experience!

We found the buliding I was going to interview at, asked the building guard what floor and off we went. On my way up, I called the guy I was going to meet with on his mobile phone, told him I was going to his office now, he said he'd be here in 20 minutes. So the office boy (very common here, all offices have one- he serves drinks, does errands, etc. but paid VERY LITTLE) led me to the guy's office where I waited. And waited. And waited some more. After approx. 45 minutes in strolls this dishelved man, about 40-ish I guess, faded blue jeans, super wrinkled white linen shirt and sandals. ( not cool in anyway, i mean, not stylish jeans or linen shirt that is) He immediately starts speaking to me in Arabic, I told him I understand English better and he switched to his broken english. He kept saying "yeaaah, yeahh" to everything I said. I had to keep myself from laughing. Not professional at all. Under different circumstances would he have been cool to me...NO, not a chance.

He kept saying how he trades millions of dollars per month, blah blah blah. Was not impressed.
The funny thing is, he has offered the best salary yet. Too bad, I rather take less than work as his Personal Assistant. Just a feeling, not only that he was a total loser, well that helped my decision/feeling of course, but I did not have a good feeling about his company. Then when I called him today, he was like, "its your choice, thank you very much" CLICK. Thank God thats over.

Now for the nice, pretty interview.

Went to another school by my home. 10Am interview with the Academic Director of school. That alone worried me, I was thinking, do they think I am applying to be a teacher too? I asked the receptionist to verify, she said they knew I was not applying for a teaching position. Backing up a little bit, from the first time I called this school, I was impressed. Very friendly, very professional. And today I met that nice friendly voice, what a cute, nice girl!

So I am led across campus to the office of the Academic Director. Very nice guy. Ph.D. , professional and very respectful. We had good repoire from the minute we met. He said he was very impressed by my resume from the first time he saw it. So we chatted alittle, asked me how long I'd been living in Egypt, etc. etc.

Before I met with him, they had me fill out a simple one page application, same info as CV, the last question was required salary.

So we he got to the salary part, said he could not afford that. What was my bottom line? I did not give him an answer. I said I would call him back later today after i thought about it alittle.

I called him earlier this afternoon. I have to say I am very proud of myself, what I said to him.

I told him I was impressed with his school, i liked the way everything felt and that I would be delighted to work there. Instead of giving a bottom line, I asked if he could discuss what they could offer me, being reasonable and then make me an offer I could accept. I told him if salary was main issue I could go work somewhere else for teh salary I requested. So its not just salary, but it needs to be fair. He asked me to give him until tomorrow AM, i said absolutely.

So i think, whatever they offer me, as long as it is reasonable, I will accept it. It seems like a nice place, its SUPER close to me, like 6 minutes by car. It just feels right. You know that feeling you get...that good feeling? Well i got it being there.

Anyway, so I will let you know what happens tomorrow. Thank God i don't have to give any demos, not sure what I'd do......