T-shirt or Bumper Sticker "I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
	Stephen F Roberts

THE QUESTIONS.....

Sorry AJ, I meant to post them but I was running late could not remember for the life of me one of the questions. I dug out my booklet and had to read through them all to remind me.

The 6 I got were-

32: Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
45: What are the two major political parties in the United States?
46: What is the political party of the President now?
62: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
64: There were 13 original states. Name three.
93: Name one state that borders Mexico?

First correct answer, first lick of my new passport.

If ya want to see all the questions go here and download the PDF

ONE STEP CLOSER

Friday was my citizenship test and interview. I left home at 5:30 am to be in Phoenix by 8am. Its a pretty easy drive till you hit the big smoke then the traffic builds up.
So I get there go through the metal detectors and screening and let them know I'm here. Hang out playing 'Angry Birds' on my iPod till I'm called up. Only waited 20 minutes or so, the room was only 1/4 full of other people negotiating US Immigration.

First thing I had to do was stand with my right hand raised and swear to tell the truth and stuff.
Then to the test. They randomly choose 10 questions from a pool of 100. You have to get 6 correct.
I was ready.
She only asked me 6 then stopped. Dang It I wanted them all. I was ready!

Then I sat there while she read through my file, tapped on the computer and asked me a few questions now and then.
I did have to answer whether I am a commie or terrorist, committed a crime which I had not been caught for yet (does speeding to get to the interview on time count?) and would I be willing to take up arms in defense of the USA....bring on the zombie apocalypse and I'm there.

In the letter they told me to bring our marriage certificate and Rob's birth certificate, which I did. Turns out they already have that but what they really wanted was more proof that we are not a sham. Copies of joint bank statements, taxes, insurance...etc.
Which I could have brought with me if I knew.
So I have to post all that in and then they will yay or nay my application and I'll get a date for the ceremony.

I asked what happens if you can't make the date. She said you have 2 chances to go, after that you have to reapply.
Wanna bet the first date will be somewhere between August 23rd and Sept 7th?
Rob and I are spending 16 days on the Colorado River rafting through the Grand Canyon. It is going to be awesome with a capital amazing. Days messing about in boats interspersed with moments of sheer terror...yee haaaaa.
I've been freaking psyching myself with videos like this

FLAG WAVING ABUNGO

I've never been a flag waver. I love home and my adopted home but excessive hands on hearts makes me feel a tad uncomfortable.
Yesterday I made up from a life time of passive patriotism and had a blast.

A couple of years ago after watching my first 4th July parade wend its way through Flagstaff, after a couple of beers Mike, Rob and I had one of those ideas that sound funny but rarely get followed through.
March as the AussieYank alliance of Flagstaff, and do it as a pub crawl.
Last year we all were busy, and the plan did pass my mind earlier this week, but didn't really consider it.

Friday night Mike rings as asks if we want to crash the parade.
Sure! What could possibly go wrong?
So with little planning or preparation we did so.

We grabbed a Koala, a flag, a Drizabone, a Ipod with Roy and HG, and printed out flags and a heart.
Mike and family met us there with the Little Red Wagon Of InterNation Harmony and Beer, a banner he knocked up and a plan to get us past the marshalls.
Laura marches with the Peace Core, so infiltrated and trailed in behind them. Once we got into the main stretch we backed up and unfurled our banner. It was pretty funny. We got a few 'oi oi ois' from the crowd and walking past the radio presenter got a long silence between the group in front and behind us.
We only did about half the route before ducking into the first pub for a beer, we then got back into the parade for 1/2 a block to the next pub, where we stayed and watched the rest from the balcony.

We were respectful and the flags were about the same size. Didn't want to annoy anyone as a lot of people take this very seriously, and it was never meant to mock. (much ;)

I think we did well to further the peace and love between the Aussies and the Seppos.

SECRET PLAN...SHHHHH

3 Aussies plan to infiltrate and march via pub crawl the 4th July parade on the morrow.
I have a stuffed Koala.
Others may rise to our cause.

THE WHITE HORSE OF UFFINGTON
NOW IN BLACK

After years and years of thinking about it, all it took was for me to win a $50 voucher from Burly Fish Tattoo studio in a raffle at Pets In The Pines.
Which was a great success. Being evacuated the week before didn't even slow us down, and for the animals it was just another moving day.

Three days later I have new ink.

There are some images that just stick with you. The White Horse of Uffington is one of those for me.
There was a BBC show I remember from the 80's which in its opening credits had overhead images of the Horse. I think it was a bit of "Five Go Mad In Dorset" with a hint of "Cat Weasel" thrown in.


I've done a some googling but nothing that i recognise is coming up. If anyone remembers I'd love to know what it was called.

I have stood in its head. We got there near on dark. Ran through a sheep paddock, slipping in the mud to see it before it night. Love to go back and spend more time there.
It was first made 3000 years ago and has been maintained ever since.

Better than a flaming skull....or anything else from this site.
It's like a train wreck.