Waiting for the next trip to the park. 

and the others, laying next to them. 

WHO was pooped after the park? Achilles laying on my first German Shorthair Pointer. 

Fetch?? 

Aren't they big now?? 

Athena pointing at a bird, instinct is amazing! 

Our first trip to the park... 

Do my little Athena and Ajax have a new home??

In the past 2 or so weeks I've done quite a bit of research... and emailing strangers. I've contacted:

- the American Embassy, Nicosia
- the British High Consulate, Nicosia
- St Paul's Church (where I've been to church a few times)
- BFBS (they are running radio ads for me!)
- Lew and Nancy Scudder
- American International School
- GSP rescue of UK (Deb is WONDERFUL!!!)
- CAPCA
- Nicosia Dog Shelter
- BARC
- EUD about using them as hearing aid dogs
- Cyprus for the Blind
- Cyprus Deaf School
... and right when I was about to just quit trying (and being slightly crazy, talk about keeping all 3), I thought, "Who wouldn't want to live in California?" and "Who wouldn't want to go to CoH?"

As I asked them for help... it was brought to my attention that my pups may have a saviour, assuming I can get a biz trip to CA and get them medically released by the CDC and California.

From what I can determine thus far: after 4 months of age (which will be 10 Oct) all they need is rabies shots, and that in the EU there are more requirements... so we are actually ahead of the game! If anyone out there knows differently, can you please let me know?

Being a Libra, balance is something for which I'm always striving (and feels like missing most of the time). My heart right now screams, "NO, NO, NO! Just keep them!" and my head calmly states, "They need to be run, they are going to be large dogs, we live in a small apartment and who knows what the next posting will hold. Give them to Barbara, she will love them and take great care loving them." So, I'm going to have to trust God, karma, the universe at the moment. Hope that Sun wants me back soon and that I can get them in... unless someone reading this who will take GOOD care in Cyprus will call me at +357 22 355 045...

They are the champions! 

If it's Labor Day, it must be Budapest

What a beautiful city! I was there in 1992, much of it remains the same as my memory holds: the Var district, parliament, the language and the River. Much of it seems different, it seems much more affluent, busy and cosmopolitan than I recall.

We arrived at the BUD airport at 06:15 and took a minivan to George and Jen's house, and what a house! The Embassy has done right -whew! We had our own bedroom and bathroom, as did Colleen and John, and their suite even had a kitchen. If Jen's not careful, George's parents may move back to Hungry! They were wonderful hosts, generous with their home, touring us around their new city and introducing us to the culture. Especially considering they moved into the house only 1 week before we arrived. George's Hungarian is impressive!

Saturday we ensured the trio had their race numbers and chips, toured around the Var and carbo loaded! Sunday the troops did a GREAT job at their 13.1 run! I understand it was a wonderful route and I think all 3 did it in great times.

That night we celebrated with an elegant dinner in the var and a visit to the def att's flat. And man! it's amazing what 2 locomotive engines could buy in 1948! an amazing piece of history... Monday was a recovery day, interspersed with lunch, the market place and a walk by parliament. We loaded up, flew back and were at work (with toothpicks for our eyes) on Tuesday morning.

It was a delight to see George and his harem, and to meet John and Colleen. The fit among us are talking about doing even better at the next 13.1 either in Prague or Paris. Cheers to them!

More pictures to see... for instructions, see here.

....and yes we still have 3 dogs!!!