Do - you - speak - English ?

I live in the United States of America for over 12 years, I am married to an US citizen for over 11 and I live the american dream of house in the suburb, dog in the backyard and children playing in the pool the past 9 years, so I thought it is the time to become a "real" american citizen.

I payed $680 (I guess, that is the amount the UCIS considers is the right price tag to become a citizen), filled my application out and waited.Fast forward 7 months later - I got my citizenship interview for Friday the 13th! Good or bad omen? There was nothing I could do, just dutiful studying the 100 questions in the thin booklet they send me after I reached in my application.

The day came and nervous and prepared with tax statements, birth certificates (Tom and mine), marriage certificate and several other considered important documents in my arms, Tom and I reached the local UCIS office.

From my previous visits at this office, I was prepared for a long waiting time. A room full of legal alliens from all over the world, but mainly Mexico and me in between them.But not this time.The room almost empty, just a couple waiting for a new work permission, the TV playing FOX news(why not CNN?) with a thick plastic screen in front of it( why the plastic sreen? I don't know).

After a for USCIS standard ,short waiting time, I was called and followed with Tom into the agents office.

I was sworn in, that I would only tell the truth and the test begun.

First: reading of an english text. I asumed , I would read a paragraph, maybe from the Declaration or the Constitution, but the written words were a bit more down to earth - "I live in America. Juan is coming from Mexico. America is my new home." -passed!

Second:writing. Again,I was prepared to write a novell, a poem, at least some prosa, but I ended up with:"I have three children." -passed

Third:10 questions regarding US history and politic , I have to have 6 right ( "a D!" Tom whispered in my ear) Some of the questions were:
* What is the name of the national anthym?
* Who is our current Vice President?
* What do we celebrate July 4th?
* What are the colour of our flag?

I can't remember the last 2 , but believe me, it was not very challenging either.

Fourth: 20 YES/NO questions, if I answer all of them with NO, I pass.I just had to hide, that I am a Communist, who is in a Faschist party and is on the side dealing with drugs and is a rampant alcoholic, when I am not in jail. Thanks to school acting classes , I passed this test also.

After this very nerve crumbling test, which maybe took 15 mins altogether, I got my recommendation to be sworn in at the next ceremony in April.

I am looking forward to this day and can't wait to be a real, full fletched US citizen.

...you mean this is not real grass?

As many of you guys know, we have besides our wonderful son, three hairy kids - Josey, Penny and Dusty.We love them dearly, but the are a killer on every landscape we ever tried.Our backlawn looks like a minefield (holes, some as deep as to the center of the earth),yellow spots as bright as the sun - you guys get the picture.

We tried a lot, inculding actually training the dogs to leave the lawn alone, which in fact didn't work out too well.So we decided this year, to do the only thing left to get our backyard in decent shape again - artificial turf!

We called all companies in New Mexico, which are only three and got our bits. Which, we discovered , differ quiet a bit. After we made a final decision, we waited anxiously for the workers to come. Boy, were we surprised. Yes, the workers came, but instead of the dynamic team we were expecting, these two retirement age close , very well rounded older gentlemen arrived.They were willing, but their physic wasn't.After a short while, their heads were red as New Mexican chilli is hot and their foreheads had seen more water than Bernalillo County the past year. I was worried that they would fall over and I had to resucitate them!

Well, the progress of the lawn was very limited and instead of being done in one day, as the owner of the company had told us, our two friends stop working after a short time and left.

The next day, was like the previous one and our two fellows went happy off into their weekend. Our "lawn" didn't look worse, actually better, at least the deep holes were gone.

After the weekend, Chip and Chonge arrived with help - in form of their about 12 year old son and their wifes. Their teamwork got the job done and I am glad that the labor department didn't checked on us - we pretty much broke all laws against child labor. Chip and Chonge were sitting on the bench, while the importet minions worked.

At the end, the lawn was in place and everybody was pleased. It took longer than we expected, but hey!- what is time anyway!

The new grass feels great, Christopher loves it, the dogs love it and we are ready for the warm season. Lets have a toast to Chip and Chonge

Very first entry !

After a long break from blogging, I finally got my thoughts together again and started all over.

This time, I just want to write down what is happening in my family and how life is treating us. The ups and downs ( hopefully more ups than downs), the little surprises life is throwing at us and how we handle them.

If anybody likes to join me in this journey - you are welcome, if not - so be it.

I am curious, where this way is going - bon voyage!