Catchin' Up

My, my, how time does fly!  It seems like only last week that I was on here, and yet again, too much time has gone by!

Here's a quick update for anyone wondering:

1. Still no orders, though they are in the final stage to getting them to us...hopefully today or tomorrow!!!
2. Sarah was here and gone...GREAT visit, though trusting the GPS instead of doing research before leaving for the airport means that you can arrive at the wrong (CLOSED DOWN) airport in plenty of time for the flight, make it to the right airport with 10 minutes until the flight, still have her miss the flight, and her not get home until the next day.  BAD IDEA, don't expect the GPS to always be right!  Also, we learned that you should always do precheck-in prior to leaving for the airport.
3. The interview in Jacksonville went really well!  Again, it was a 5.5 hour drive each way for a 15 minute interview, but the man was really nice and all the stressing and grilling I did over the civics questions was almost a moot point.  The questions he asked were pretty simple and I was fully relieved to be walking out so quickly.  (I had had visions that I was going to be deported if I hadn't answered the questions properly...LOL!)
4. John is done school!!!!!!  He graduates on Friday, and that will end about 23 months of schooling.  He's thrilled, and I'm excited because even though it has to be in Alaska, we'll be staying in one place for more than 6 months at a time!!!
5. I got a notice on Wednesday that my Oath Ceremony has been scheduled and I am searching the mail every single day for that all important letter!  The man at the interview said that it should be scheduled for either Panama City Beach or Tallahassee, so that's only about 2.5 hours of driving at the most.  It would be sooooo amazing to be sworn in before we move north!
6. John talked to the movers and the busy season is over so its only about a 10 day wait from receiving your orders to when the movers can start....so we should be out of our house in plenty of time.
7. I talked to the rental management company on the way back from Jacksonville and we've extended our lease until Sept. 20.....God loves me enough that he won't make me homeless, right???  Yes, I know by the fact that no one has even called to look at this wonderful house that God is providing for my sanity by keeping them away!
8. We had a wonderful visit with our friends from Alaska, and they were kind enough to send us the Milepost magazine, which is THE best travelling north magazine I could ever have hoped for!  It shows what is at every single exit from Montana to Fairbanks.  It tells us about tourist spots, gas stations (and which ones will still be open when we drive through), lodging and food spots.  Think AAA on steroids!  I've been spending time every once in a while digging through it, getting an idea of what's to come.
9. I made a purse for Sarah while she was down and I have more yarn so I'm going to make another one very similar.  I don't know if I'll post it on my Etsy site or if I'll send it to her friend who would like one, but I will put up pictures of it on my site, hoping to make my first sale.  Sarah also introduced me to making paper beads, so I'm trying my hand at that.  Its very relaxing, but I don't know if they would sell on my Etsy site or not...gonna give it a go though!

I think those are all of the updates that we've experienced since I last did one.  AK is coming closer and closer and closer....hard to believe that in less than 3 weeks we could be on our way!  We've loved FL and will miss it very much!

Could you become an American???

Its funny, after putting that I wasn't going to guarantee to post these questions very next day, I really did mean to!  Then life happened and well, here we are, days later.

My friend Becca came to visit and while she was here, she quizzed me on the 100 questions that are provided by INS in a study guide.  I will be asked 10 questions and I have to get 6 right to pass.  While not being totally worried, since I did grow up in the American school system (was that a bit of tongue-in-cheek?), I did want to find out how badly I would do when being questioned by another person.  I botched on 22/100. 

Here are the ones I missed....do you know the answers without looking?  I think I missed a few of them because of my Swiss Cheese for brains, but there were a few that I really just had never heard of!

1. What is the supreme law of the land?
2. What does the Constitution do?
3. What is the economic system in the US?
4. How many US senators are there? (I KNOW this one, just had a leaky brain moment!)
5. Who is one of your State's US Senators? (I have to know FL, even though I've lived here less than 6 months!)
6. Name your US Representative (Again, almost feels unfair!)
7. If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
8. What does the judicial branch do? (and no, my answer, "They make the laws.", is wrong)
9. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? (leaky brain again)
10. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government.  What is one power of the federal government?
11. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states.  What is one power of the states?
12. Who is the Governor of your state now? (FL question again)
13. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? (Just a few months ago I would have had no problem piping up with, "Nancy P.")
14. What is one responsibility that is only for US citizens?
15. What are 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
16. What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
17. Why did the colonists fight the British?
18. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
19. When was the Constitution written?
20. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution.  Name one of the writers.
21. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
22. Who was the President during WW1?
23. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US?

So, there you go....the answers are a bit further down....be honest though...how many did you get the first try?

There is also a written portion and a reading portion.  I don't think I'll have a problem with that, as English is my first and only language (to the consternation of my French teachers in Canada), but in case I'm just learning English, the study guide has word lists to read over at the back.  I've got to say, there is absolutely NO reason why someone who has gotten this far in the process should fail, the government has been very thorough and I truly appreciate it.

OK, here's the answers to the above questions. They give several answers to each question, but you are only required to know 1 answer, unless the question specifically states a different amount.

1. The Constitution
2. Sets up the government, defines the government, protects the basic rights of Americans
3. Capitalist Economy, Market Economy
4. 100 Senators
5. FL Residents: Rubio Marco or Bill Nelson
6. FL Residents: Jeff Miller or Steve Southerland
7. Speaker of the House
8. Reviews the laws, explains the laws, resolves disputes (disagreements), decides if a law goes against the Constitution
9. nine (9)
10. to print money, to declare war, to create an army, to make treaties
11. provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire dept), give a driver's license, approve zoning and land use
12. FL Residence: Rick Scott
13. John Boehner
14. serve on a jury, vote in a FEDERAL election
15. freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of worship, the right to bear arms
16. give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution and laws of the US, obey the laws of the US, serve in the US military if needed, serve the nation, be loyal to the US
17. because of high taxes, because the British army stayed in their homes, because they didn't have self-government
18. The Constitution was written, the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
19. 1787
20. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius (their pen name)
21. US Diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention, first Postmaster General of the US, writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac", started the first free libraries
22. Woodrow Wilson
23. Communism

Hopefully, if you are already American, this list of questions helps you be thankful that you were born in this country.  For those of us who would like to join, its not cheap or easy...this shows how dedicated we are to actually becoming citizens.  For those who never will go the route of becoming a proud American, you can read this list and laugh about what you don't have to learn, but what about your country....if they had a list of Civics questions, could you take the test and become a citizen? 

Actually, by typing this out, I've been able to study...thanks for the help!!!