My Week

March:  Ok, I'll give you 60 degrees but at 150 MPH.  That's what happened on Thursday.

  This neck pain is really bothering me.  I tried neck rotations but that hurt.  Heat pad and Salonpas, hot shower, herbal tea, Advil and last but not least, I found an opening for an afternoon neck massage.  Still tight and makes driving difficult looking over the shoulder.
I went to the VFW meeting Monday night.  We will have elections at the next meeting so the line up for the ballot was outlaid and nominated.  My 3 year term as a trustee is about to end.
My custom WW1 nurse outfit arrived from Romania.
Here it is as advertised:

and here on me taken in the trench exhibit at the Illinois Military Museum.

Tuesday morning I went back to exercise at Powerworks but my neck was still tight.  I tried to take it easy but thankfully Tuesday's are more focused on lower body and core.  Then cycling again with my lighted shoes.

I had lunch with the Women's Overseas Service League.
Picked up some TVP. I was told about this at a meeting but when I got to Food Fantasies, I couldn't remember the initials so a man helped me based on the description. 

Well my old Singer sewing machine just stopped.  I dragged it and the table it was in to Sandy's Sewing Center.  On the way there, I thought about how clunky it was and decided I'd look at her new machines.  I came home with a Baby Lock Joy.  All the models had a cute little name.  I didn't want a computerized or embroidery machine but I did want one that does a button hole.  It came with a free case.  I knew I'd need a new sewing table so I stopped by Salvation Army and found this light weight table for like $15.  Sandy demonstrated it and then took a call while I threaded the machine with a sample fabric run through.  She said I should write down my questions and make and appointment for follow up.

I didn't really have time to try it out after I got home because of a Therapy Dog visit and meeting with the Catholic War Veterans.

Friday I helped at the Lincoln Tomb but I left at 1PM since I had a 2PM appointment for a fitting.

I'm thinking I could use the bum roll in back after looking at these pictures.  The skirt has a matching day bodice that will need altering as well.

Our Soldiers Aid Society was in the St Patrick's Day Parade.  The Temperance banner made it's debut since last year's was canceled because of weather.

 

Mary and I carried the temperance banner.  Peggy and Laura held our Soldiers Aid Society banner.  Robin is so tall that she'd create an imbalance if she carried an end of the banners so she follows.

You can see the 114th Illinois Regiment that we followed.

 Amber's classmate, Pixie, was also in the parade.

Sure I wore green to Mass on Sunday but a man wore a kilt.

Looks like I'll be part of the Passion Sunday skit ensemble.  We hadn't done it in a few years but sure breaks up a long reading of the Passion.  I told our choir director that I'd do it if he couldn't recruit new blood.  Well...he mentioned he needed me.  Hope I get the same roll as before so I don't have so much to memorize.

I took Amber to open rally practice.  She's getting better but I wish she would focus on me and not sniffy the whole place.  It's like she's reading the ground for every dog that set foot in the place.  Others seem to be able to do the course off leash but Amber isn't ready for that.  She can do it when she focuses on me.

I took Amber to class and learned that I need to get Amber a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) number. It's in the mail.
These are the photos I sent with her PAL application.

On a sadder note:  There was an attack in New Zealand by and my niece's boxer died.  After all these months, Amber had a flash back and pissed on my bed.
 

My Week

Tuesday morning I went to exercise in my fluorescent tie dye shirt and lighted shoes and beads since it was fat Tuesday and knew I'd be cycling in the black light room.  I had my fluorescent tie dye shirt and lighted shoes on.

Lots of fun in the PWF Cycle Studio this morning! Every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 am we go on Virtual Rides all over the world... ❤️my job! @pwfchatham #pwfteam #powerworksfitness #pwfcycle #pwfcyclestudio #virtualride #indoorcycling

A post shared by Brittany Bisch, CSCS (@brittanybisch_cscs) on Mar 5, 2019 at 7:30am PST

I shopped around for Sophie's eye drop prescription since the veterinarian referred my to Osco.  I didn't like the $105 bottle.  I thought I could mail in a prescription to Chewy.com but they replied that they don't carry it.  I checked with Walgreens and it was higher and Walmart was $98.  I got it at County Market Pharmacy for $23.  I'm elated.

Wednesday morning I was the second reader for Ash Wednesday Mass.

Pretty generous with the ashes. I seemed to get dust in my eyes so that didn't make it till 1PM.  Father gave us a wooden coin that says TUIT (for getting a round to it) for Lent.  Previous years we were given a stone to carry during Lent and a wooden cross.

Then in the evening I went to the Legion Riders meeting.  I take the minutes.
I ordered some interactive dog toys for that busy little Amber.

Two are really good but that purple one is too difficult for her to open drawers.

Friday afternoon I volunteered at the Old State Capitol in the afternoon.  In the evening I took Amber to open training at the Capitol Canine Club. 

Sunday morning was the first Sunday in Lent.  It was also daylight savings time change.  The Catholic War Veterans held a memorial Mass at my parish.  Pictured:
Don Werner Fr John Nolan Rose Connolly Pat Noel Dale Smith Leon Scott Joan Garvert and Denny KIRCHGESNER

Sunday evening I took Amber to practice and there were not very many there so I had some quality time. I feel so silly. I don't know the difference between an agility, rally, and obedience trial.  I don't understand the meaning of the station signs. Since there were few there, Sherry had time to show me a little better.  This could explain my past frustration.
I did not sleep well because of a stiff neck.  It seems to be getting worse.  I did yoga on Thursday and Saturday and the neck rotation was welcome.  A chiropractor is out of the question because of my past.  See previous blog.  Dr T made my spondy worse. https://ivetret.blogspot.com/2017/02/my-week_26.html

Here's the banner that will carried in the St Patrick's Day Parade.  I wonder if the drunks will understand what the temperance movement was about.  But then I always felt that reenacting was more about educating than dressing up. Appearance just catches the eye to the learning experience.

My Week

Last week's stuffy head was not quite healed and returned.  I think in part to our cycle class and chose a bike right under the fan.  Needless to say I had runny nose and chills.  I slept a lot too.

Tuesday I had a 2PM appointment at the Glen Carbon Enterprise car sales. I was there till after 7PM because it was busy and many staff members were gone.

Thursday I participated in the Desert Storm ceremony at the capitol rotunda.  A group of us from the Illinois State Military Museum Living History unit took turns placing a rose for each name of an Illinois member killed in that war.

I didn't go anywhere on Saturday. I just finished an improvement on my regency dress. What a challenge. I must have used the seam ripper on that waistband 10 times.  boobs to work around I had a little extra netting to cover the seam where I had to lower the waist band. Looked like a line across my chest. The netting covered that up. 

Sunday morning I was a Eucharistic minister.  I knew that the attendance at Mass had been shrinking but I thought maybe it was just the earlier Mass and perhaps the winter season.  As I set up for the next service, Sister Judy said I had poured too much wine for that service.  This tells me that they have smaller attendance also.  Sad that people don't have enough faith for a weekly renewal to keep holy the Sabbath.  It was the first experience taking my new car in the snow.  We had 2 inches.  I went to to see the 80th anniversary of Gone With The Wind.  I can't believe that the theater lights were dark during intermission and after the movie when people were moving about.  I suspect the movie was unmanned and was on auto pilot. Viewers had to use their cell phone lights to find their way around.  I had to ask myself if that was a happy ending.

 Monday morning I took Sophie on a visit.
In the evening I went to the American Legion meeting.  As hard up as the post says they are, they once again they voted $200 toward the high school's "after prom" party.  I fail to see how this falls under our mission.  The excuse was that we've always supported it doesn't fly.  I suspect that post members were parents and that's how it got started.  This school doesn't even support veterans as proven by having classes on Veterans Day without even holding a Veterans Day Assembly.  Many of the scouts have to go to school and they were a part our our ceremony on the square.  There's a permanent clique that controls our post.  Oh they like our membership to keep the population alive but that's all we are ~ population. Our past commander, said she'd break up the click. I reminded her that that was why I stuck it out.  She just shrugged.  Now she has bigger issues ~ her health.  I don't need the post but they need me.  Until they realize that, I won't support thier fundraisers.

My Week

I don't plan to light the fireplace anymore since I'm out of fuel for the season so I cleaned it out.  Amber wanted to check it out since the doors were open.  This resulted in a bath.

Tuesday evening I stopped by the veterans homeless shelter and dropped off a nice supply of toilet paper.  Then I went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum's presentation Fact vs. Fiction: Lincoln and Kennedy connection and rumors.

 So I learned that the parallel that Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy and that Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln is false.

Speakers were John T. Shaw and Sam Wheeler.

 Thursday I met with a representative from Butler Funeral home for my arrangements since the previous facility was sold to them.  There were some rough plans made years ago but never paid for since payment suggested was being a beneficiary on life insurance policy.  My financial advisor was against this.  I learned on this visit that this beneficiary practice is illegal in IL (maybe didn't used to be that way). 

I dropped my car off at Checkpoint for a steering sound and a burn out bulb. Power steering ($526.32) and constant velocity driveshaft ($464.85) expenses are in my future. Tires are due later in the year too.  I was hoping to get more of my money's worth out of my full brake job about 5 months ago.   Instead I'll be looking for a new vehicle. So this is stressful along with upcoming taxes, kitchen remodeling, vacation, and my cell phone (which was an easy fix but stressed)

Friday I met with Carol who has a therapy dog but she will not take up the vacant TDI evaluator need because she has CGC evaluator hat.  I wanted her to give Amber the once over so she will look good on my resume to become a TDI evaluator.  I need to practice leash training and separation anxiety. She did well meeting a stranger and letting someone give her the touching over.  I took Amber to Sophie's vet appointment looking for opportunities for socialization.  I asked the clerk to take her for 3 minutes for the separation test.  Amber freaked out.  Well, it was a veterinarian clinic full of stress anyway.   I have been taking advantage of this test with others.  She did fine with Sean and Donna.  Meanwhile, I'm freaking with frustration.  I've taught this little empty sponge so much and don't want to fail on anything during testing.  I don't have the patience. 

Friday I had a follow up appointment for Sophie's eye.  She has an eye drop prescription that cost's $105 a month.  I will be shopping around. I guess I'll also have to react with her blindness in that eye by touch and vocals.  

Saturday I went to the 1859 Washington Ball at the St Louis courthouse museum

Sunday I read the first reading at Mass.  There was a tongue twister in my reading that I had to practice from 1 Samuel, chapter 26 : "Saul's soldiers".  Try saying that fast!!!
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2019/19_02_24.mp3
I took it slow and paused to enunciate.

I see that Sophie has a new title of TDIRVA (Therapy Dogs International Remarkable Volunteer Award).  I saw it in the newsletter before we got the certificate in the mail.
http://tdi-dog.org/images/Spring_Summer_2019.pdf 

I'm sitting on 100 more visits that I haven't yet turned in.  I am so proud of her visits.

My week

My last blog ended with the start of a sinus cold.  I had a lot of rest since then.  In fact I hated skipping gym class but I did attend the Lincoln's Birthday dance for 4 hours on Tuesday.  Then back to rest.  I frequently had to attend to my nose.  Friday morning, that brick of sinus congestion left.  Oh not the runny nose but the pain in the head was lifted.  Sunday, at Mass, I told Father I should get a refund on that blessing from St Blaise.

Here's the group photo.  I had already put my paletote on since it was over.Ya know I was eager to go home to bed again.

Wednesday I went to our AMVETS meeting. We didn't have a quorum.  Thursday evening I went to the Catholic War Veterans meeting.

Friday morning I did my good deed. There was a loose husky running around and I got my coat on and leash. She came right to me and I looped a lead around. I put her in garage (dare not introduce her to my dogs) and called police. They said they had a caller looking for this dog. Dispatch matched the frantic owners with my location. Happy ending.

Friday afternoon I went to the Lincoln Tomb to volunteer.  The scheduled bus tours didn't show in the afternoon.

Saturday morning I brought Sophie briefly to a visitation for Edith at church. Sophie sat on Edith's lap when she first became a therapy dog.   I think her daughter was glad I brought her.
Then I went to a meeting for the Soldiers Aid Society and then to Illinois State Military Museum for a program called "Getting Started as a Reenactor" for various eras of war.

I do have an update on a WW1 nurse outfit being custom made.  Not satisfied with this costume.

I watched a 1950s movie on Comet ~ Destination Moon. 
My Comcast bill payment was $111.61.  My next bill is $157.   This isn't looking good.  I tried to get it lowered through the "chat" feature.  All they did was point me to their plans.  I tried the "contact" and they called me back.  Same.  The person on the line tried to match me with an even more expensive plan.  I finally got a hold of someone on their twitter @comcastcares and got my old plan back.Whew!  I thought I was gonna cut the tv and internet there for a moment.

Sunday evening I took Amber to Capitol Canine for member only practice.  I got frustrated with her. Seems other dogs did better and I got a little mad.  Most of the other dogs had a trial title and we are new. I should have broken up the stations into smaller tasks for her.  I feel bad that I yelled at her and she crouched like when she's guilty of an accident in the house. Afterward I gave her a bath.  She smells better.

Monday I took Sophie to the nursing home and then went to dog training as an observer.   Then I watched the 2019 American Dog Rescue Show.  Too cute for words.

My Week

The melt has begun with the rain that brings mud. Then the freezing temperatures bring ice. That sums things up this week.  Oh that wind chill returned on Thursday.  Oh and my thumb on my left hand grows worse with arthritis. Hard to pick things up and open zip lock bags.  Hoping it's the weather but not keeping positive.  I had the same problem on my other hand but seemed to massage it and it improved. It's not working as well on the left hand.  My hands are dry and cracking from cold and doing dishes.  The cold weather is making my nose run and sneezing.  That will lead to a raw redness for sure.

I think it's time to find a new groomer for Sophie. Her last grooming was
Friday, October 19, 2018.  I was advised to wait until after the busy holiday season so I did and got an appointment for Jan 10.  That was cancelled because of a death in her family.  I got a new appointment a week later on the 17th but then I had to cancel because Sophie went to the Brewer Animal hospital for her eye surgery.  I got a new appointment for Feb 6 and the groomer got pneumonia.  It was rescheduled for Feb 13th but I felt that was too long without a grooming. Thursday I looked for another groomer before Sophie's Therapy Dog appointment.  They did a good job but a little more expensive.  Within 24 hours, Sophie was itching and in pain from razor burn on her private area.  I tried spraying the rash area with Solarcaine and the next morning she's still writhing in pain.  So Saturday morning I tried Gold Bond and then took her for a walk because she would not use the back yard by herself.  Yes it was cold.

Tuesday evening I went to the general membership meeting for Capitol Canine Training  Club.  Since Amber has been through a 6 week beginner obedience class, 4 week leash class, and basic ground work class, I had asked where I went from there.  Next would be "foundation" and that would be in April.  I want to get Amber tested for CGC (Canine Good Citizen)

Wednesday I got a call from the Sears foreman for my kitchen remodeling project.  Apparently 2 of his workers had family difficulties so it looks tentative for March. If you heard the sob stories he gave me, my kitchen was really low on the priority list.  He should be by later for some specific measurements.   Meanwhile, I wash dishes by hand and my shelve contents are in boxes.  I have a new dishwasher in the box in my kitchen to walk around.  Odd that I was worried about it arriving after the work had begun and thus having to pay extra for the install charge after the fact.

I had a "try on" for some alterations on a silk Civil War dress I got. She charges $25/hr so I limited her to $200. It will look nice.

I was watching Jamestown on PBS.  That's a complicated show.
https://www.pbs.org/show/jamestown/

Saturday I went to Mt Pulaski Courthouse to see Grant's presentation on Lincoln's Birthday.  I admired this photo on the wall and tried to imagine myself in the crowd.

Sunday morning I went to Mass at Little Flower Parish with the Catholic War Veterans at 10AM.  I was worried about the drive since we had sleet followed by snow.  We usually go for breakfast afterward but I opted for safe N sound at home.

I now learn that Google is eliminating G+ (equivalent of social media) and sites (free websites) for which I have genealogy (Connolly) and (Sturdivant).

I will be part of this ceremony

Well I must rest.  The sinus headache has begun.

My Week

Temperature ups and downs like -14 degrees on Wednesday and 50 degrees on Sunday.  Many witnesses to the freeze quake rumbles.  I did not hear any but then I wear hearing aids.

Then Sean said his heat when out when he got home from work and his dog was shivering.  He quickly packed up and stayed the night with me.  I sealed the windows.
Thursday the heat was restored.  The serviceman replaced the thermal coupler but told him that next time it would be a full replacement.

Friday evening I went to a ribbon cutting and open house for the newly remodeled Prairie View Reception Center. 

Saturday we warmed up and ice started melting.  I went to Petsmart for sample Saturday and used a coupon for dog food. Oh, and I went to the car wash so that Nissan and I look presentable.  Lowes delivered the dishwasher that I ordered and should be installed when the kitchen gets remodeled.

Before Mass on Sunday, Fr John greeted people as they came through the door.  I had my throat blessed.

Details regarding the miraculous healing of the boy vary. One account relates that the miracle occurred during the journey to take Blaise to prison when he placed his hand on the boy's head and prayed; another that the miracle happened while Blaise was in prison when he picked up two candles provided to him and formed a cross around the boy's throat. The use of candles for the blessing of throats stems from the candles that Blaise used while in prison. When an old woman's pig had been miraculously rescued from a wolf by Saint Blaise, she would visit him in prison, bringing him food and candles to bring him light in his dark cell.

Afterward I went to a visitation for the funeral of Mary Palazollo.  Her husband was a member of our Legion.

Monday I went to the gym, Therapy Dog Visit, Lisa's dog training, then American Legion.  I caught a hawk eating a squirrel in the neighbor's yard.  One less squirrel digging up my yard.  At times I'd see a dozen squirrels frolicking (and..more)until the predator moved in.

 
I watched a movie on Lifetime called "The Help".  The reviews of the book didn't seem good but I liked the movie. Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress!  Oh, and I'm addicted to Masterpiece theather's "Victoria"