I am collecting the hubcaps

Cyprus

It is snowing very lightly as I write this blog. We have had a very mild winter – sure it has been cold but there has been little snow. I will not be too sorry to see winter end because there is much to do outside and it is a bit difficult to do anything outside when it is below zero. Although the guys laying bricks over the road seem to cope – and even lay bricks in the snow.

The council people in Indianapolis have obviously heard my complaints about potholes. A few weeks ago two workmen arrived and dug a very large hole in the road outside our house. It is about 4 feet by 6 feet by 3 inches deep. They then covered with it a large sheet of metal and left.

We wondered what would happen next  - and about a week or so ago the metal was removed – we did not see it go. So now we just have a very large uncovered hole. 

As cars go over it they make a very loud noise as the wheels try to tear themselves off – loose articles in the car hit the roof - their glasses break – and those with false teeth watch them clatter onto the dashboard.

I am collecting the hubcaps – the ones that don’t hurtle down the road and smash thru the neighbors fences – and may make some sort of sculpture out of them.

Our Green Cards have arrived. I look very much like a grave robber in my photo. I have also received a brochure entitled ‘A Guide for New Immigrants’ . I am studying this carefully because there are lots of rules here and I do not wish to transgress.  

Welcome to the USA

We both got a letter from Uncle Sam today.

It said ‘Welcome to the United States of America’. We are now permanent residents and have additional numbers to go with our Social Security numbers and all the other numbers we have.

Our Green Cards are in the mail.

This may mean that we are not regarded as potential terrorists when we come back into America – but I think we still have to go through the foreigners channel and be regarded with great suspicion.

It does mean that we can get TSA approval and do not have to take our shoes off – or our laptops out of our bags - when we go through airport security – unless of course the TSA people are in a bad mood – which they often are – and wouldn’t you be if you had to do what they do.

I also have a permit to work if I want to and I don’t. I have more than enough to do looking after Cate, the cats, the squirrels and the birds.

I got locked out of the house yesterday morning. Each morning I take Cate’s bag stuffed with things out to the car and wave her goodbye. Yesterday one the way out someone locked the back door from the inside. I am not saying it was Cate – but she was the last one out of the house.

Yes of course we have a spare key outside the house – but it was not there. Of course I tried to ring Cate - but could not get her. No the neighbors were not there - they were all at work. Yes it was well below zero and I was very cold indeed and the only warmth came from the heating outlet. No I could not break the glass door with a flower pot because the glass is armor plated.

Just before death wrapped its icy paws around me the neighbor next door came home. He could not find the key I had given him months before so I sat shivering in his lounge room for 20 minutes while he ratted through every drawer in the house.

Nothing really surprises me but there is controversy here about vaccinations. Hordes of children are getting measles – because hordes of parent do not get their children vaccinated. 

The Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul was asked what he thought of this and he said he knew lots of people who had their children vaccinated – and the children had developed mental retardation.

Spare me.

If you want to help the baby elephants click here

Remember my name

I really enjoyed the Super Bowl until the last 10 seconds when the Seahawks coach made what is being called the worst decision in Super Bowl history.

With 2 minutes to go the Seahawks drove downfield to the Patriots goal line. There are 20 seconds to go. Its second and goal. They are a couple of yards out. Everyone knows they have won.  Tom Brady is sitting there looking like John Boehner at the SOTU address.

They cannot lose unless the Seahawks throw it and it is intercepted.

They threw it.

It was intercepted.

Thankfully the next season does not start until next September.

But the ads were terrific. Hard to choose but I think my favorite was the one with Bryan Cranston as Walter White.

I had to wear my sunglasses while watching Katy Perry.

Still finishing the US tax thingy.