My Week

Tuesday was my last performance of Distant Memories for the summer tourist season.  There is one more but not by me.  We had a group photo taken of our Soldiers Aid Society.

I canceled Sophie's Therapy Dog visits due to fleas.  However I got them under control by the end of the week after many baths and products.  
I found one picture from Galesburg Heritage days of me with my pinned up skirt for the Grand March last weekend.  I am 3d in line.

My zumba instructor had been boasting about her daughter in the lead roll of the Muni's "Little Mermaid".  This is Patty Lanser and her daughter Sophie Lanser.

So I had to go see it on Wednesday night.  It was boast-worthy.  Here's an article in the newspaper about the show. 
http://www.sj-r.com/entertainmentlife/20160817/muni-brings-audiences-under-sea-with-production-of-the-little-mermaid

commercial:

Thursday I went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  I brought a friend's 15 year old daughter along.  It was nice not driving alone.  I turned over my trunks of props to a theater group there as I believe it may be my last and time to give it up.  I did keep my own Columbia costume.  They have the script on Power Point with the audience participation calls that I made.

Boy I'm short.  The rest of the photos are here:
https://www.facebook.com/SIUECAB/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1162447780486868
Here's "The Alestle" article in the school paper

http://issuu.com/alestlelive/docs/thealestle_vol69_no8_09.01.2016/3?e=7620452/38428399

Friday I had a group photo of our senior exercise group at Powerworks for one of the members who was out after her surgery.  She said it made her day.

I determined that the second hand bedroom set that I had bought at a yard sale when stationed in Oklahoma needed to be replaced after I tried to clean the foam mattress pad that covered it.  I just figured that I wanted one size of sheets (full) in my linen closet.  I'm sleeping in the guest room on a relatively new mattress I got when my son lived here and using the old box spring. The new box was really noisy. Only noise so far is the headboard when it hits the wall.  I slept better on the guest bed with the older bed's box frame. Granted, it is an ugly box but quieter.   It looks a mess but I'm downsizing and prioritizing.  Night before I was up intermittently.

Sunday I was a Eucharistic Minister.   No biggie there.  I always try to remember one thing at Mass.
The Gospel Reading in Luke reminded me of General Grant checking into the hotel in Washington DC and was told that all the rooms were reserved but the clerk could give him lowly quarters out of desperation.  General Grant explained it was not a problem and accepted graciously at the Willard Hotel.  The conditions that he had been used to were crude tents rather than a room with a bath. When he signed the guest register as U. S. Grant, the clerk said, that's who the rooms were reserved for He asked for a room. The clerk said General an important gentleman was coming and reserved all the rooms. Just want to take a bath and get something to eat. The clerk says we have small room top floor and needs to sign guest book. He signs it: US Grant and son. The clerk gets all excited and says Sir you are the one all rooms are reserved for.  Grant said I just need one.
 http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/16_08_28.mp3
The point of the epistle was "Humbel Pie" derived from the word "umbles" or  the worst part of the meats.


I offered my old bed, frame and headboard on social media.  Many just want the headboard.  I'd prefer all of it together to be gone.  That will show who is really needy.
One was interested and later said just headboard and when I explained someone wanted the whole thing she posted it wasn't fair.

I will miss the headboard that held my glasses, hearing aids, oh, and Beretta. 

Sophie went to the groomers while I exercised at Powerworks.  I got a kitchen faucet after church since mine has lost it's swivel.  Sean tried to install it for me but hit some road blocks.  Then the plumber came and fixed my sink.  My old faucet refused to swivel between sinks. The pipes had corroded out after all these years so I needed that replaced too.

new!

 My new faucet!

It sure seems like I've spent a lot of money lately.  Next is the car part ordered for the seat that won't go down.  
Well the days are getting shorter and I may have to change the timer on my lamp in the living room. 

My Week

This week has been blessed and cursed:  I have seen my humming bird, mosquito or something is biting me, and I found some fleas on Sophie later in the week.  Oh and the spider webs are being built everywhere.  I walk into them.  There's a big web on my front lawn that is visible with the morning dew. Oh, and I've been contacted from work on advice after 2 1/2 years into retirement.

Monday evening I helped bus tables for the the Land of Lincoln Pre-Flight Banquet at the VFW.  Our American Legion Post presented a check from the proceeds from our Hog Roast two weeks ago. 

Afterward, we held a brief VFW meeting which was only about 10 minutes later than our usual start time.

Tuesday morning I went to Powerworks for Senior Core class.  Interesting we used the straps on a stretch that Lex called "walk the dog". She asked how many attend Senior Yoga and three of us raised our hands.  She said our flexibility shows.  She also stressed that women are usually more flexible and are usually the only ones doing yoga.  On the other hand, men are already strong so they're out there with all the weight equipment. We need both.  I was really glad she said that because I'd like to see attendance pick up on our Yoga class.  Then I groomed Sophie and myself for "you know what".

Wednesday I rode my motorcycle in an escort for governor's day at the state fair.  Governor Rauner led the way on his Harley and then the bikes and then the bus for Sen Kirk.

I met a 16 yr old girl at Republican day and she wants to vote Hillary because of free education.

Meanwhile she has a flag on her vest in rainbow stripes.  I told her that desecration of the flag offends veterans.  

"18 U.S. Code § 700 - Desecration of the flag of the United States; penalties "

Thursday I worked the state fair beer booth at the new Brew Garden in Food-a-ama.  We had so many varieties it was confusing.  Carol who is a retired Colonel and member of my Womens Overseas Service League got to work together.  We organized the beer with a sample above each cooler.  This was the first time I worked a day shift. It was a little quieter.
I was there when my manager, Bob Swan,  gave this interview for the paper.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160820/102-bottles-of-beer-on-wall-fairs-first-brew-garden-highlights-industry-growth
Then I decided to ride the sky lift over the fair.

That filled the gap between my work at the fair and the ABATE meeting.

Friday the neighbors had a yard sale so I quickly pulled some stuff out of the garage.  I didn't sell anything.  I spent $53 on flea stuff at Ace Hardware. Shampoo, flee drops, Terro ant and flea spread and spray. Sophie seems happy but she's going to miss walks around the neighborhood where other yards have not had insect control applied. She's used to her walk-it-out poo and sniffing every hydrant.  I was advised to use tea tree oil.  Salting my floors.

Saturday I went to Galesburg for their heritage days. I met Gene Barr, the author behind A Civil War Captain and His Lady: A True Story of Love, Courtship, and Combat - a love story about the captain of the 17th Illinois infantry in the Civil War, who fell in love with a member of one of Peoria’s most prominent families.  I bought his book because that's the same unit of my first-person impression of Belle Reynolds and she's mentioned in the book.  If I'm in period dress, visitors ask "Are you Mary Todd?". If I wear my Civil War patriotic apron I'm asked "Are you Betsy Ross?"

 My little wooden folding bistro table needed tightening when I got home and it was a miracle that the first allen wrench I pulled from the tool box fit.

Sunday I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at Blessed Sacrament.  I saw Danielle Loftus in her wheel chair and her mother on our left side of the pews.  There are signs around Springfield that say "Pray for Danielle Loftus".  She has a facebook page in hopes of a miracle.

I canceled my Monday Therapy Dog visits till I'm sure that Sophie is free of fleas.  Since I'm not driving my dog around, I left my car at the garage to fix my back seat that will not collapse down.  The wire on the lever is disconnected.  I pumped up my bicycle tire and put it in the back on the side that did go down and rode it home.  

So here's my favorite song in my zumba gold class because when I hear it it's our cool down song.

Jason Mraz I'm Yours Lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20v6XxS9NBs&feature=share

My Week

Tuesday after exercise, I mowed the yard, took my dog to the nursing home, and then went to the retreat ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb.  During the ceremony, I mingle with the crowd.  A lady next to me changed her instinctive military salute to a hand over heart.  I noticed she's a veteran.  I said "me too but not like this".  :)

About the second week of Oct,  Suttons will start on my sun room.  The construction should take about 3 weeks.  They have been surveying the site.

Thursday I helped with beer sales at the state fair on opening evening.  I usually volunteer at the booth in Ethnic Village portion of the fair because there's no loud bands like there is in the other beer tents.  There are 2 beer huts there and of course I went to the wrong one at first.  We are supposed to pour the beer into cups but the cups were not available for the first 1/2 hour so we served in bottles and cans to the thirsty crowd in the hot weather.  There were even joggers thirsty from an opening day marathon. 

Friday morning Alan dropped his dog, Hank, off at my house to sit while he caught a plane to California to visit a marine buddy.  I took a walk to see if I could handle a bigger dog on a leash with my Son walking Sophie in tow.  That went OK.  I went to the last of our Friday afternoon Soldiers Aid Society presentations at the Old State Capitol.  While there, Alan texted that his flight was cancelled and they couldn't get him out until Sunday.  Heck he was planning on returning Monday so that was called off and he picked up his dog on Saturday.  I tied Sophie to the front as usual because she likes to watch Travis. Hank got out but his recall was excellent. Better than Sophie. I left the back yard door open to him.  He likes to stare down rabbits. Oh, and Hank likes butter on the counter too. He is in need of the "leave it" command.  
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/leave-it.html

Sean worked the new Brew Garden Friday night and there was a record rainfall.  This is just terrible. It was nice to cool off from the high heat index but I sure didn't pray for this. 
It's just insane.  Sean was working the new Brew Garden and that location didn't get the word that the it closed.  He walked home from the fair with a trash bag over his head.
 Photos of the flood at the state fair on the newspaper SJ-R:
https://storify.com/SJRbreaking/flooding-in-springfield-aug-12-2016 
Now I watch videos of the flooding in Louisiana and I am in total shock.

Here is the display I made for the Catholic War Veterans. I'm really proud of it and the creativity I came up with. The lace doily on the bottom is for our flyers.  It's a self standing plant trellis which I made a slip cover.  I have a lace table cloth and a battery candle.
Here is our post commander, Pat Noel, and our adjutant, Joan Garvert.

 Although I like the photo above, here's one with me in it too.

Sunday morning was a rush.  I drove to the fairgrounds to put up our table for veterans day at the fair about 7AM.  Then I came to 8AM Mass and was the first reader. 
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/16_08_14.mp3
Then back to the fair.
Sunday was pretty well attended at the fair.  I had Jamaican jerk chicken from Ethnic Village.  It was spicier than the last vendor.  I figure that would be better than the free meal offered for veterans.  I got to see the newborn pigs.  I had my cup of honey ice cream.  The veterans parade was at 5pm that I've participated in the past was short...like 5 min in length. Then I came home exhausted.
I was curious about the flooded area from Friday and the water was receded but the camping trailers still in place.  The weather was nice with enough cloud cover to keep the sun away but thin enough for a great trip to the fair.  By the end of the day though, my cell phone gave me a flash flood warning for Monday.  Monday is senior day at the fair but I passed.

Sophie on a Therapy Dog visit. (shared by their facebook site and obviously I didn't take it if I'm in the photo just to cover HIPPA authorization on their side)

 I had written a report for the Illinois State AMVETS commander as his Women's Veterans Affairs Chairman.  However, the book report for the upcoming School of Instruction was cancelled.   A little disappointing since I wrote a good report and had other She-Vets proof it.

My Week

The heat wave continues but now I see Surprise Lilies popping up in many yards including my own.  Oh and the milkweed is coming back that I tried to remove.  Oh but my friends on facebook think it's wonderful for the butterflies but I see a weed that is toxic.

There is talk about changes to our senior exercise schedule.  Our Tuesday morning core TRX session will be on Thursday after senior yoga.

Thursday I took Sophie on a double visit day:  morning to St John's Hospital and in the afternoon to Reflections.  I liked being in the air conditioned building but some of the residents said they were cold.  They were.  I held a couple hands and even felt a cold nose.  Of course, one of the couches was under a vent too.  Between these two visits I checked my email to see  our TDI newsletter that was really motivating.
http://tdi-dog.org/images/Fall_2016.pdf

The cell phone cover for my iPhone arrived.  It will be better concealed for reenacting.

Friday morning was exciting for my trap.  We had a light rain so this was a muddy trap clean up.  It took longer than the squirrel.

My neighbor later told me it was illegal to transport wildlife nor dispose this way.  Heck around to work and enforce it I figure.

I went to the Old State Capitol to help with tours and our Soldiers Aid Society's portion of History Comes Alive.  We did our little still tableau

  vivant about letters home.  I was the mother who received the letter with the bad news.  Aug 12th ends our Friday afternoon display.
In the evening I went to Lincoln's New Salem State Park to see "Cats" at the the Theater in the Park.

Here's the news article with better photos than mine.
http://www.sj-r.com/article/20160729/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/160729496/0/rwd

Saturday morning was so nice that my walk with Sophie turned into a long walk ... over an hour...along the bicycle path.  I cleaned my interior of my car.  I do need to get a repair on the seat that won't fold down and it would look better if I cleaned it up before making an appointment.  It seems like the cable is detached.
I also trimmed the trees growing from my neighbor's fence that was part of her vegetable garden.  Those trees were making my mowing difficult and I would have to duck to avoid them.  I gained a cucumber in the process.
Afterward I helped with our Land of Lincoln Honor Flight Hog Roast Fund raiser from 12-7pm.  You could say I was exhausted.  I wished more would have come to that.  We did raise about $4,000.  We have leftovers.

Picture of me with the 5th grade Vacation Bible School was in our Sunday bulletin (pg 3):
https://content.parishesonline.com/bulletins/01/0164/20160807B.pdf

Looks like I have the first reading next Sunday too.  Here's an upcoming audio:
 http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/16_08_14.mp3
It was nice so I rode the little Yamaha to church and I was a Eucaristic Minister. 
Sunday I rode my motorcycle to the dedication of the Purple Heart memorial.
http://www.sj-r.com/videos/11B35510-C2EB-4925-81EB-E19A93FBF704/Purple-Heart-memorial-dedicated
Here's a bit of TV news media:
http://www.wandtv.com/clip/12647680/purple-heart-recipients-honored-in-springfield

and newspaper with VFW 755 posting colors (I sat under the blue awning)

http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160807/purple-heart-memorial-dedicated-at-oak-ridge

I went to the VFW post for pizza afterwards and helped unload a few chairs that were loaned for the ceremony.

Monday morning I was the new mat flooring promised in our exercise room at Powerworks.  The exercise schedule is due to change in September and I wonder if I'll be working with the Silver Sneakers 5 days a week because Wed and Thur will be double classes.  Sophie and I had a double TDI visit day at Regency Care and St John's Hospital with lunch in between.  Afterward I stopped by Petsmart for more dog food.  Then I took her to Lowes for some hardware.  She laid down on the cool floor while I made a selection then followed with her leash dragging to the cash register where she was a hit and some one too a picture.

Folks in our town are pleased to see Ryan Held represent Springfield, he and his teammates are bringing home the gold for the United States!

My son, Alan, made the Peoria news.  My son's name is mentioned in this humble article.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160807/one-stop-shop-lets-military-families-stock-up-on-school-supplies

With the upcoming remake of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in October on Fox, and the upcoming show at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, I updated my website.
http://webspace.webring.com/people/ec/congal/index.html
I think I found a hand off of being the MC for this event.  Now to update the PowerPoint slides that accompany the film.

My Week

I'd like to than Quinten Kovaleski for fulfilling photo request for tomb stones for findagrave.com

 

http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11568118

http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147902699

Here I am in my new 1830s dress at the Elijah Iles House.  The dress on the right is an original found here:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8233211788557890/
    
Here's the original owner and creator, Janet.:

Wednesday I did some research for my upcoming report on Women Veterans for my report to the State AMVETS commander. Afterward,  I had my appointment on my hearing aid tune up. The lady that usually sees me was on maternity leave. My appointment had been rescheduled.  Her replacement gave me a new program.  I was told that I got my hearing aid batteries from a different source, Hearing Aid Benefits but was confused because I picked them all up at Audibel.  I thought I'd get more batteries at this appointment.  I was given a phone number to reorder.  I have only 2 batteries left (about 5 days) and I hope they last.  I didn't like this new program he gave me so I went back on Friday after a deafening tour day at the Old State Capitol. I saw someone else and I wanted my old program back.  This representative said that he didn't care for that program either and it was known as the sprinkler.  Sprinkler because the mode button goes from one to five with 3 normal.  Trouble is, I needed it to go higher and to do that I had to go down to 1 to get to 5.  So now my right side hearing aid increases and my left hearing aid decreases the volume.

Thursday I went to our vacation Bible school to receive letters for my soldier(s) in appreciation for their service.  I spoke to the kids about Soldiers Angels and I'm holding letters that they wrote for me to send. I showed them a sample box and they were putting together a box for a family member of one of the students. I voiced my approval!

I've updated my Rocky Horror website because I was notified of an upcoming event at SIUE.
http://webspace.webring.com/people/ec/congal/index.html
I think I found my exit strategy because they are incorporating the theater group.

So I was about to change into my work tennis shoes kept on the back porch and when I put my foot in the shoe, it felt soft. I dumped it out and saw this guy. I think the hierarchy of old work shoes has just bumped a new pair into its slot.

Saturday I went to a charity breakfast at Applebees hosted by the Christian Motorcycle Association.  Then I went to help Sean pick up a new vanity at Lowes.  I'm proud of him installing this himself but he said he did go back for additional parts.  He's learning the joys of home ownership well.  Most of the new sinks have a slight table like bottom with short legs exposing flooring.  Replacements will need to have a bit of flooring under them.  He said it was dirty and found a quarter.

Sunday I was the first reader at Mass.  Here's the MP3 version:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/16_07_31.mp3
The second reader, Anita, usually sits with her husband on the left side of church.  I sit on the right.  We swapped sides to mess with the congregation and both of us went up to do the readings at our respective times.  Father didn't flinch but I'm sure he knew what we did.

In the afternoon I went to Athens, IL for the Downed Rider Benefit sponsored by ABATE.  My silly door prize with our chapter president, George Hurst.

 I could have chosen the green glass but was afraid of the color change affect on the drinks.

Neighbors found a break in the weather for work outside.  One is fixing our adjoining fence, one replaced a termite infested mail box post, another is doing siding on the garage.  Well I did a little weeding in the garden.  It was just enough to see the ground.  I found my hand shovel under all that from last time I tried to weed. Now, off to an American Legion meeting.