Sunday

There is something to say about good friends. For one thing they are a lot and I mean a LOT better than relatives. Family members are there just because they have nothing else to do and their DNA put them there. Some of them just freeload because they think it is their right to demand others just don't give a hoot.

Now why am I going on this rant?

Because today the nicest surprise was happening to us. No, we didn't win on the Lotto.

Today my closest friend in the whole wide world wrote me something very surprising. This friend and I are so close that I am grateful that we think we are related but don't know how because I value our friendship as is much more than if we knew how we were related.

Today, three months after our wedding he wrote that his wife and him would like to pay for sight seeing day cruise while we are in Hawaii next July. It is such a nice gesture that my wife and I were speechless for a moment. And I don't get speechless too often.

When I came to, I wrote to him and thanked them for their generosity and told him if he really wanted to outdo himself and get the top prize he can pay for the entire trip. No response yet.

I am shameless!

Saturday

Just to expand a little on yesterday's events as far as Abigail's high school selection went she told us that there were kids who were not selected to any school. Now, since high school education is mandatory everything is not lost. Those kids have a second round chance to submit more schools and wait where they will be accepted.

Kids who found out that they were not accepted anywhere were naturally shocked and many of them were crying. She said there were tissues everywhere on the floors from all the crying.

When she came home her telephone didn't stop ringing. All her friends were calling trying to find out who and where were accepted. It was very interesting for me to watch the entire process.

I remember that when I went to high school in Budapest it was one particular school that I wanted to go. Actually, it was my parents' decision that I would go there. I don't think I had much input into that process. But I do remember that my parents used all the influence they had to assure my admission. Fortunately they succeeded. I think in those days parental influence counted a lot. It was not money but it was mainly who knew whom.

Friday

In the New York City Public School system before a student finishes the eighth or last grade it is required to select a high school where he or she wants to continue schooling. This selection is done around October of the last year and some specialized schools require special tests. Decision is made based on the these test results as well as the academic result of the student.

Abigail had her heart set on going to a high school that offers drama as part of the curriculum. In order to achieve this she took an audition in a well known high school not far from us. I was there with her and I was convinced that her audition was great. This is a New York City High School that is well known and has a respected history.

Her mother and I were really rooting for her to be accepted in this school. Abigail had her heart set on studying drama and we thought why not. This world needs more drama queens, right?

Along with this one school she listed two others on her application. Each equally good but not as good as the first one.

Anyway, today was the day when it was announced at her school who was accepted and where. And guess what!

Abigail was immediately accepted into her school of first choice where she will study drama among other things.

Naturally we are all very happy and proud of her.

I am happy for another reason. I don't have to get up earlier in the mornings because the school is not far.

Thursday

Today is Thursday and not much is happening. My wife and I went the gym for a little workout that was way overdue. Were not able to go for about two weeks and today was a little difficult for me because of the long absence, but I managed.

Currently our physical activities are limited to watching TV and the political programs. Tonight at 9 is the next Republican debate and even though it is limited to only four people only it is still more entertaining than anything else.

While it is entertaining it is also extremely annoying because since I am in this country and since I have been watching televised political debates I have never ever seen such a lowdown dirty behavior. The only thing missing is a fistfight but I wouldn't bet that it might not happen.

Speaking of Television. I used to watch certain shows religiously afraid to miss an episode or two. Now, I rarely have a chance for scheduled nighttime TV watching. But interestingly whenever I catch some of the shows I like and didn't see for a while I never have problem figuring out what did happened. The storylines are stretched so long that missing a slew of episodes do not make it impossible to get back in line and follow what is happening.

Slowly, very slowly I am getting used to the electronic bill paying. I thread very carefully and my wife is next to me directing traffic. That way the money goes out where it supposed to go out from and goes into where it supposed to. Check writing has been reduced to a minimum in our household.

Ain't technology great?

Wednesday

I think today, March 2, 2016 should be remembered in history as the death of democracy in the US. We are being ruled by two parties. The Republican Party and the Democratic Party with an occasional Independent sprinkled in. These parties claim to know what the American people want and if they don't want it they should. They also have the tendency to talk us into believing that they always act in out favor. They also swear on their bible that whatever they do it is for the benefit of the people.

Now, there is a presidential candidate by the name of Donald Trump who is not a politician and wo does not like politicians and also claims that he know what is good for American people.

The problem begins with the fact that the people believe him and do not believe the Washington politicians. As a result he is shoveling in the votes on his favor. Now what do the Republican leadership does?

They are mobilizing everyone and everybody in order to attempt to sabotage Trump's progress toward the Republican nomination. They even went as far as announcing that if it looks like he is close to capturing the nomination they would introduce a different candidate, or something like that.

This irks me enormously!

The Republican leadership showed that they really do not care one iota about what the people want. The people's interest is secondary behind theirs. To me this reminds me of the communist days when we were told who are the best to represent our interest and all we had to do was just nod and smile. The Republican leadership is doing exactly that.

They are so afraid that if Trump wins the presidency these people might lose their controls, their cushy positions and might just have to get acquainted with real life.

So I ask. Where is democracy? What is happening to our democratic society that these people are willing to go to any length in order not to lose their grip on the population.

If I were Trump I would reinforce my security detail because who knows how far his opposition is willing to go to destroy him.

I did not leave my old country for this. The way I see it in a democratic society if the person the population choses is not to their liking do not reelect him. If he is good give then him another term. I believe it is our choice and not some dirty politicians' in some smoky back room.

Trump is not planning to become a dictator but the Republican leadership is certainly on the way.

Tuesday

Today my wife and I spent at least a day and a half at Home Depot. In the morning the locksmith came to our home and installed the new lock and some other stuff we purchased yesterday. After he left we moved in to Home Depot.

I am glad we didn't buy a house. As is with the apartment we bought a lot of things. We will install window guards in all our windows, we bought touch up paint to touch up at places where the paint was smudged as the result of our moving in. We bought silicon caulking to fix some of the cracks that developed in the bathroom.

The people who sold us the apartment did a lot of fixing up and the place looked very nice. The problem is that a lot of those fixing ups are just cosmetic and are on the surface. They need adjustments and since we are here to stay all the adjustments are our problems.

The good thing is that we don't have to worry about the outside. No grass to cut, no hedges to trim, no gutters to clean. Not our problem and oh man I am so glad.

Tonight it is too late to start but I think tomorrow we will start some of our home improvements.

I can't wait!

Monday

My wife loves a clean house. Actually everybody love a clean house but she is very committed to it. She cleans every day and I don't mean just a little cleaning. She cleans very seriously. Dusting, slight vacuuming and floor washing. These chores are done daily with no exceptions.

It is a mystery why there is so much dust visible when the sun shines in and the place was just thoroughly dusted. If we wouldn't have so much sunlight maybe we would not have so much dust!

We re not permitted to wear shoes inside the apartment. There is a safety zone around the entrance door in which we can be without taking our shoes off but God saves the one who dares to step outside the zone.

Now, don't misunderstand me, I am not complaining. I do love to live in a clean environment and sometimes even without asking I offer my help in cleaning. Because of all the cleaning our apartment became such a hospitable place that we just hate to leave. Many times we don't have to argue about staying home or not. We love to stay home, relax and just enjoy our surroundings.

Something else.

Today is February 29. If I were born on February 29 I would be about one fourth or less old than as I am. Right?