License to Drive

A's nose has been running today. The flow got heavier tonight, and I thanked myself for having the foresight to keep the nasal bulb syringe with me (instead of sending it away on the shipping container). She seems to really enjoy the bulb...thinks it's some kind of teething toy! Anyways...now that she's asleep (with a little help from Tylenol...for the runny nose due to teething I hope), I can blog.

Today's biggest and happiest news is that we are confirmed for travel on Sept 29. Heading from here to Toronto, and then overnighting it at the Airport Sheraton. Flying out again in the morning to AD. I am so very excited to get going!!

Managed to accomplish a great deal today. Cancelled benefits from the Feds, confirmed my hotel stay and my porter. Created a new 'friends' list on g-mail (I've been reorganizing my contacts...again), and e-mailed them all an update about the fly-out date. Picked up an IDP (Internation Driving Permit). Also learned how to use my brother's scanner, and mailed some documents to the pet transporter. All-in-all...a very feel good day.

I am getting used to the NEW Phinn...I definitely like longer hair on the poms...he looks like a whole new breed of dog now, but as long as he is more comfortable in our new home, that's really all that matters.

New home is still up in the air. I am still waiting to hear from P regarding the status of our new home...maybe tomorrow.

Looking forward to spending some time with friends (M coming up from E-town this week) and family before I head off. Only SIX more sleeps (how my nephew is keeping track of time these days).

A new dog...

Well...looks like maybe just another week to go in 'sunny' Alberta (it's been raining off and on today...and I heard a forecast for snow this weekend). So many little things to get out of the way. A has usually been sleeping mornings, so this leaves the afternoons to get things done. Today's task was getting Phinn ready for the move, with a trip to the groomers. I posted a request on Calgary's kijiji, looking for dog groomers in NW Calgary. Claudia's came highly recommended (and it happened to be very close to my brother's house). So, off we went.

Turns out, Claudia is a Mexican lady, who just happened to live in Oman before she moved here 6 years ago. She was very excited about our move to AD, and thinks we have chosen one of the best places to live in the Middle East. She mentioned some places we MUST visit (the revolving restaurant for starters), and passed along a referral for a groomer in Dubai.

I thought Claudia was great, and didn't hesitate to pass over my beloved Phinn into her hands. I felt she knew exactly what style he would need for our new home. Additionally, she also had a pomeranian, so...another point in her favour. I asked her to shorten his nails, take some hair off his belly, and to trim up around his bum.

When I picked him up two hours later, she told me she had given him a teddy bear cut. He had one before, so I wasn't too concerned, until she opened the door, and my formerly beautiful long-coated pomeranian came out looking more like a CAT than his previous lion-like alter-ego. For his sake, I didn't wince, but told him he looked beautiful anyway. I told Claudia that I had not expected Phinn's hair to be so SHORT!

Claudia felt that the shave was necessary for Phinn to adjust to the heat over in AD. She assures me that (despite everything I've read on the internet to the contrary) it will grow back to it's former chocolate glory. She sold me a new grooming brush, which she tells me will help me to keep his locks in great shape, while they grow back.

When I got back to the car, my mom thought I was bringing the groomer's cat to show her...poor Phinn!!

It is now hours later, and although I've adjusted to the new cut, I still miss his beautiful, long coat.

Tomorrow's goals: talk to the Feds and fax off Phinn's travel documents