My Week

Tuesday evening I went to the 2013 Lincoln Legacy Lectures: Lincoln & the Gettysburg Address at the University.  It was interesting and scholarly.

Thursday evening I went to the ABATE meeting. I knew that the episode of Illinois Stories about the New Berlin Veterans memorial will air that evening so I asked the bartender to put that on for me.  Keep in mind, I don't have TV reception.    I brought Marley along for the ride. Frankie the boxer that was at the ABATE Halloween party was there so after the meeting I brought Marley in to see him again. When I got home, Bentley didn't greet me at the door because he was stuck in a trap that you may recall from the last blog, was set to catch a raccoon.

Friday I met with friends from the Old State Capitol for dinner at the American Legion.  I had fish of course.

Saturday I cleaned up the house and moved furniture.  I  got down the Advent Wreath and stockings for St Nicholas on Dec 6.  I did my Thanksgiving dinner shopping at Aldi and got a 3lb turkey breast, stuffing and a holiday stolen like dad used to get.   I got wine and beer.

I watched a movie called "A Woman In Berlin" with subtitles based on the best-selling diaries of an anonymous German woman who survived the Soviet invasion of Berlin at the end of World War II.  Then I started watching the BBC episode 1 of the Buckaneers.

Sunday I was the first reader at Mass.  My voice is scratchy with a sore throat but made it.  Sean put up a digital antenna and now I have about 9 channels.   I got it clamped in the attic and coax coming through my air vent to the TV.  No bill from the cable company and for less than $100 in hardware.  I've been without TV for about 9 months.

Monday morning, on my way to work, I saw a doe and a buck on Woodside Rd crossing the harvested corn fields.  You see, hunting season started.  I had to get gas after work knowing that there be a slight price drop soon and there was the next day.  However, the light was warning me to fill up.

We did the dreaded lunges in exercise class.  Sore again.

I got an email from my adopted soldier, Sgt H,  through Soldiers Angels.  I shared his (modified) email with other angels in the forum.

Here's to all of my fellow SAs who have silent soldiers. I got a nice email: "I would like to say thank you very much for the box you sent me it was very nice and made my day. I never had those cookies before and my soldiers loved them as well. I have been doing ok over here it is my first deployment an it's stressful at times but I'll make it. I am married and have been for 3yrs now and it's my first time away from my family but I do get to video chat with them alot. I read about you annd I admire what you did and still continue to do. I wrote a letter but then remembered I had your email so thought this would be faster for you being that mail takes awhile. I will keep my adoption paper forever it means alot I don't get mail so it felt good to hear I had a box. Again thank you and I look forward to hearing from you. SGT. H"

My Week

I was emailed this photo from last Monday's Veterans Day parade. It was a Great parade!  There was a bit of controversy regarding some cub scouts that showed up to be in the parade uninvited and played the "little children" card through an commentary in the State Journal Register.  The veterans who organized the parade would not have said that to that scout leader.  They should be at parades and ceremonies and honor flight etc but cub scouts are learning patriotism. They should be taught to recognize not be recognized. Cub Scouts should learn the respect and privilege afforded to the Eagle Scouts who were in the parade and are superior to them. Perhaps the scout leader should have asked the Eagle Scouts to tag along with that group.  Just a mother that wants to show off her cubbies without being with any of the pre-arranged groups.  She basically admitted in her editorial that she was not with a group.  Party crashing a parade and getting sympathy for doing so.

 Catholic War Veterans Post 1916 (my inflated birth year)

Wednesday evening I went to an Amvets meeting I missed last month's meeting because of my vacation so Jim took the minutes.  Then he was excused but at least he left me with the minutes to read and approve.

Thursday evening I got my shingles shot.  Then I went to a meeting of the Catholic War Veterans.  I showed them a picture from our recent entry in the Veterans Day Parade.

Friday evening I went to Larry and Rita's pre-wedding reception.  Larry is our reenactor that is General Grant.  I had to snap this picture, among others, that were in the bedroom where we left our coats. 

Saturday I went to the Old State Capitol.  I didn't give any tours but attended both a wedding and Remembrance Ceremony that is usually held. Congress designated November 19, the anniversary date of the Gettysburg Address, as “Dedication Day” on August 7, 1946.  So this is our Remembrance day was celebrated on the Saturday before this anniversary.  The Lincoln Troubadours sang for both the wedding and the Remembrance Ceremony.   President Lincoln (Fritz) gave his speech followed with the Gettysburg Address.  He acts it so well and can even tear his eyes with emotion.  This isn't the first time I've seen his presentation and it is exactly the same.  It doesn't get old nor does he let it become mundane and routine.  Those tears are contagious too.

The other photos from the wedding can be found here
http://tgdavison-photography.smugmug.com/Weddings/Larry/33506618_RBRbtc#!i=2912120261&k=6P9ggkF

By the end of the day, I could feel wires from my corset under my arm.  When I got home, I opened it up and trimmed the cord wire down  and recoated the end with hot glue.  Sewed the boning back into my corset and we'll see how it goes next time.  I also had a rough time with my hoop wires.  Fortunately I had ordered some hoop end tips from Vouge.


http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/Hoop-Steel-Ends-Priced-per-pair.html

Reminds me of fake fingernails.
Sunday morning the weather was warm so I walked to church.  Later that morning, the winds picked up and my NON SMART phone even sent me a warning to take shelter.  The tornado hit in Washington, IL.

Sean gave me a hand at breaking down my old couch into smaller parts.  Some of the wood will keep me warm in the winter.  The hardware went to a nearby house that had a big dumpster. 
I didn't know that my dogs were coon hounds. Bentley usually doesn't bark unless it's exciting and of course Marly knows this too so this is what I get. I pulled them inside and closed off the doggie flap. Too stressed to set the live trap to set after securing the premises.

I had to clean up coon shit.   I need to figure out how to set my live trap under stress.  Neighbor helped me set it but nothing yet.  Seems that the trigger was a little bent and needed some pliers.




Monday night I went to a VFW meeting.  I also got a nice certificate acknowledging a package that I had sent to one of our lady soldiers.

my week

Thursday evening I went the the VFW for the Mayor's Veterans Appreciation Reception.  It wasn't very well advertised as in the past because there used to be post cards mailed out.  Most that attended were either involved in the event such as honor guard or members of the post or notified from  from my facebook event.  Before the event, my son asked me to follow him because he had a surprise.  He got a new car.  We found his old one for sale online

http://landmarkford.net/Springfield/For-Sale/Used/Kia/Soul/2010-Red-Car/23233673/

Well Soldiers Angels whom I have been getting my addresses/assignments to send packages for our troops has decided members are no longer 'free'.  They wish to charge a dollar a month.  Now I know that it costs more than $1 to process that credit card transaction.  Hmmm!  I also thought it silly that that Soldiers Angels built a warehouse in Texas to ship boxes when the original concept was the one-on-one adoption direct.  Sure seems silly when you save $2 in box postage to an APO vs stateside and for a warehouse to resend the supplies.  They did say that the SA life members would be exempt for 3 years. Here's my card.  Right now it says "You are an Associate (unverified) Angel". I thought I was a life member.  After showing this as proof, Susie Turner fixed my status.

Saturday I walked Marley over to the clinic for a prescription for a shingles shot only to learn that the gal who does it was off on Saturday.  I got my Toro Super Mulcher to work on those leaves.  I started up the little motorcycle since the weather was nice but the days are getting shorter.  I rode to the meeting for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight because it fit the window of opportunity for riding weather.  I held the legion flag in the honor guard and service flags were held by veterans who have been on the honor flight that were also well enough to do this.
Sunday morning I went to Mass with our Catholic War Veterans.  There were only three of us represented but I think we may have recruited another at that parish.
Afterward I had breakfast at a fund raiser for honor flight and helped bus the tables and assisted with the 50/50 raffle.
Then I took advantage of JoAnn Fabrics that offered a veterans discount on Sunday.  I got a wood box for our reenactments.  I plan to make a shipping box for onions.

Ulysses S. Grant had such a strong belief in the healing properties of onions that he refused to move his soldiers without them! This was in 1864 during The Civil War and Union soldiers were very ill with dysentery. Grant sent word to the War Department that he wasn’t budging unless he had those onions. He wholeheartedly believed that onions would help keep his people healthy and dysentery-free. The very next day, three trainloads were shipped to him. Folks may not believe that it was simple little spherical-shaped vegetables called “onions” that were the real weapons that won the war, but I can only imagine the look on Grant’s face when the victory came. He just might have felt his heart flutter and skip a beat!

Nurses fed onions to the recovering Civil War soldiers
http://www.hektoeninternational.org/Journal_NursingduringCivilWar.html

After a scurvy outbreak among Union troops during the Peninsula campaign of 1862, the public became aware of the disease and the general problem of proper nutrition in the armies.[252] Civilian groups began organizing event and food drives to support troops at the front.[253] The primary focus of these efforts was to collect potatoes and onions, both moderate suppliers of vitamin C.[254] At this point, citrus was known to be the best source of vitamin C, but oranges, lemons, and limes spoiled too quickly to be of much use if sent to distant troops.[255] one sign posted in Chicago read “Don’t send your sweetheart a love-letter. Send him an onion.”[258]
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?204398-Scurvy-%96-Historical-Background-and-Prevention

My busy Veterans Day weekend began Saturday with the Big Lots sale  with 10% off for veterans.  I got stuff for soldiers.  In the afternoon, our American Legion post was honor guard for the monthly Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.

Monday morning I got ready for the Veterans Day Parade in Springfield.  There were many organizations represented and led by a band and Patriot Guard Riders.  I rode on the back of a convertible representing the Catholic War Veterans.  There are so few of us.  Afterward there was a ceremony inside the rotunda.  Charlie Barber, our WW2 Veteran, wanted to go inside and see the governor after the parade.   I explained that there were Veterans Day parades in Chicago too so he may be busy.  After the speech in the rotunda, I hustled over to Lincoln Land Community College in which the Chatham American Legion was honor guard for a Veterans Day Ceremony there.. 

Here is the link to the media for the Lincoln Land Community College honor guard where I held the American Flag.
http://www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_14176.shtml
I had my free lunch at Texas Roadhouse and then made it in time for a 2PM ceremony at Camp Butler.  That was when the weather started to change.  I had my big umbrella.  One of the Vietnam veterans in the color guard had to pass his flag to another as he stepped to the rear of the stand.  I didn't see it but he fell from a diabetic low.  My sons came over and were cleaning their guns after a shoot.   I had dinner with my sons at Applebees.

Weird date, 11-12-13 and we set a record of snow on this date.  Sure it's only .7 inches but still early.  In the evening I went with the Soldiers Aid Society presentation to the ladies prayer group at a Lutheran church in Sherman.  I wore my bloomer dress since it was a free choice night.  The gave us their table decorations which we can use at the commanders banquet for the 114th in January.

My Week

Wednesday I went to the Interveterans Council of Sangamon County. I updated the website with things that were discussed.
https://sites.google.com/site/sangamoncountyinterveterans/

Thursday was Halloween.  It rained so Trick or Treating was extended to Friday.  Yes, they could Trick or Treat both nights.  I had plans Friday so I left my bowl of candy on the front porch with a note to "take one".  I didn't want leftovers and that wish was granted.

Friday morning  I got up early (again), 4AM, and took my trash out since I was wide awake. The dogs got out and Marley is running all over. The running sure had my ticker going. I decided to leave the dogs locked in the yard so she'll run and get it out of her system.  Seems to have worked when I got off of work.  I decided to take her with me to an ABATE Halloween party at Villa Maria on Lake Springfield.  Of course I didn't wear my mask all evening.  It was nice but the smoke from the fire bothered my eyes.

Saturday morning I decided to adopt another soldier through Soldiers Angels before the monthly membership takes affect. Welcome package sent to Hugh.

Saturday morning I went to a dedication ceremony for Pvt Lewis Martin.  Since the ceremony revolves around an unmarked grave at Oak Ridge Cemetery, the same cemetery as Abraham Lincoln, I decided it was best to wear my widows weeds.  His amazing story is here:
http://usctchronicle.blogspot.com/2013/10/pvt-lewis-martin-finally-gets-grave.html
 Afterwards there was lunch at the American Legion Post 809.  I decided it would be nice to go to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on the way home.  In the children's room there was a marker on the wall of how tall the Lincoln's were.  I'm 2" shorter than Mary.

Many have pinned this picture on Pintrest as if it was real a real photo of the Lincolns but these are wax figures.  I feel like a good friend of the family.

I walked around the new Hobby Lobby but didn't buy anything. Then I went to our grand opening of our west side ALDI. I had a coupon for $5 off on a purchase of $30 or more. I could have easily beat that limit with all that I bought. 

Sunday I cleaned my patio glass doors.  I removed some mud dauber nests.  I watched episodes of the Flying Nun on YouTube.

I walked the dogs Monday night, Nov 4, and noticed a fully lite Christmas tree in the window of a home.  

I found a real nice under-peticoat at the Salvation Army.

 

I had chicken at the VFW came home walked the dogs and later went to the Bedell's to pick copy photos from our trip to Bavaria.  They had taken pictures of me with the mimes.

 The Bedells gave me a bottle of cooking wine...err..but it won't be used that way.