I made the most of the week leading up lock up. The news keeps changing about the coronavirus.
I got to see Alan on Wednesday. I hadn't seen my son since Christmas. He was in town for a check up.
In the evening we had our AmVets meeting.
Thursday I went to yoga followed by our retro version of Hot Buns. I dressed like this
We had some hail on Thursday afternoon
Saturday and Sunday I took Amber to Champaign for AKC Rally trials. There was some snow on the way there on Saturday.
Saturday
This is the video of the 3rd leg that awarded our AKC Advanced Rally
As you can see, it snowed and was slushed on Saturday
Here's to compare our scores and Amber and I are #402. I was surprised because I put that number over my plastic armband which had our last number of 1402 from the last trial in Caseyville. This is
the score sheet for the closure to her Rally Advanced A Class to get
the title. This was purple sheet for the 4xx level entries. We got a
score of 89 which beat the minimum passing score of 70 and the other two
entries was an absent and a non-qualifying score.
Here is Amber posing with her Rally A Advanced title on Saturday morning. I was able to move up in the trial in excellent category after that. I maintained the same numbered armband.
Then I requested to be bumped up in category to Rally excellent A class and got a red ribbon in the afternoon. Nothing to snicker at there.
Sunday Amber achieved her "AKC Rally Excellent
A". She's a sniffer in the ring and I think we're in the wrong
business. Three qualifying trials make a
title. One on Saturday completed an Advanced title so we bumped up the
other three trials to earn our Excellent title. We did it.
This
was our second leg AKC Rally Excellent A class trial with a score of 88. A blue ribbon but in all fairness
the other in this class was absent. So we got the blue ribbon.
The 3rd leg is the final trial for Rally
Excellent A title. I felt pretty good about it when it was over. We
scored a 90 and a blue but we were the only one in this class. Videos
are good because you can notice when the judge is writing in relation to
my behavior.
I noticed the worst error for
points was the double side step (back by the window) because I only took one step. I was focused on regaining Amber from the sniffing near the
wall. Judge was writing during the
"about turn right about u turn" (#212) sign right after the jump and
again at the "left turn -forward" (#34).
We
got a score of 90 on our third leg for Rally Excellent A Title. Entrant Number
402, border terrier, is the only one in Rally Excellent A class so we
got the blue by default. I'll take that. Qualifying is what will matter in the future as we now enter B classes of rally.
The congratulatory cake honoring the new title holders was absolutely beautiful.
Receiving the ribbon for excellent title and the photo brag station.
Now I'm told that the next level is 10 trials with double entry in advanced and excellent signs. Arr! No wonder there were so many in those categories. https://www.akc.org/sports/rally/get-started/
The CPE agility for April 4th at fairgrounds, a state run facility, was canceled. A little bit bummed about that because Amber has been through numerous classes in agility and nothing to show for it. I think I'll maker her a special "Amber Connolly deserve it" ribbon. We will work on some tricks.
Amber is on a waiting list to do nose work in July. At first I thought her sniffing shouldn't be encouraged by studying nose work but then it was explained that her rewards would be based on finding specific scents like birch, anise or clove. It might refocus that nose of hers. I tried Vicks on her nose and that was a disaster as she tried to remove it.
Now we are all quarantined. Everything is cancelled all around me so no reason to go out. My gym classes will be via Facebook live at home.
Wednesday I had lunch with Michael. In the evening I took Sophie to rally practice followed by Legion Riders meeting at 6:30.
Sophie was offered her 1st official hospice visit but the patient didn't make it overnight for Thursday's visit. However, the patient did see Sophie on last Monday's regular visit through the nursing home. Then on Friday, I got an email from Therapy Dog International that all visits were suspended because of the corona virus.
Thursday evening I went to the visitation for Martha. Her and her husband Ken attended many patriotic events like the Flag Lowering Ceremony at Lincoln's Tomb and honor flight homecomings. It was a short visit because I had to get back for Agility 101 class that just started on Thursday evenings for 6 weeks. This time I'm not a student but an assistant instructor.
Saturday I went to New Salem for a workshop by Margo Krager of Reproduction Fabrics.com. I'm glad I went but the details were very specific. I knew some people that attended. The crowd was a mix of quilters and reenactors. Lunch was provided.
In the afternoon, Ms. Krager will presented “4000 Years of Indigos: From Egyptian Mummies to American Cowboys”.
Sunday was daylight savings. A friend on Facebook stayed up to watch the clock on her computer at 1:59 jump to 3AM. Interesting but I wouldn't do that. I went to monthly Mass with the Catholic War Veterans. Best turn out yet but I was disappointed that I saw a member that didn't sit with us and I tried to find him after mass for this photo. Bothers me.
I fixed the dogs some St Patrick's Day scarfs. I want to finish my sewing projects that were put of.
When I work Amber and Sophie at the club, one has to be kenneled and Sophie doesn't like it. She shakes that little kennel that's on top of a bigger kennel like an earthquake. I even cover it with a sheet. So guess who will be kenneled at home more? I did not know she didn't like the kennel because she will sometimes go in when the door is open to nap. Close the door and I have a cry baby pekingese.
The paperwork has been processed. I am now a Worldstrides Course Leader Educator. That's the temporary position for tour buses.
Alan got his promotion.
I went to our Women's Overseas Service League luncheon and can't take the bashing of the president any longer. I shall not return after years of this bashing. She must assume everyone there has her point of view while I'm biting my tongue. In particular, politicizing Covid 19. I gain nothing by attending and leave feeling bad. I noticeably got up and left. I did get an apology via email which I accepted but still question whether I want to submit myself to more shit. I came home and gave the dogs a brisk walk-it-off. In the evening I went to a discussion group on saints at church. Then relaxed to a blazing fire in the fireplace.
Feb 25: We were supposed to have 4" of snow and we did have a lot of snow but it was so wet and slushy that it was more like white coating. This video was on the news. It snowed the size of snowballs.
I went to Mass for Ash Wednesday at 7AM. Afterward I went to exercise class. The parking lot at PowerWorks was scant and the 2 levels of classes were combined because many stayed home and schools were closed. It was a good workout.
I fixed rice ramen with oriental vegetables and scallops.
I was at interveterans council meeting Wednesday night and told them of Dianne's story briefly. There was a vote to get a check for her for $100. Her phone cuts off at midnight so I drove her to bank right away. Thursday evening I went to the Catholic War Veterans meeting.
Friday I attended the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Desert Storm Remembrance ceremony.
Womens Overseas Service League: Myself, a prospective member of WOSL, IDVA Dir Chapa LaVia, Gwen Dhiel, Grace Miller and Joan Garvert
Here's a link to photos from the State Journal Register that were taken at the event: here
Saturday we had our state Catholic War Veterans meeting here in Springfield. Poor showing for that also. I dragged a tote of history records which I had been hoping that a priest from Chicago would put in their museum (and leave space in my garage) but he got called away. I thought some of those present would like to see them. They are heavy but only one looked at what I brought. Then trying to round people up for a group photo was like herding cattle. The 2 from LaSalle were about to leave without my request. I insisted.
Sunday was beautiful and warm. People were getting out and I opened the new windows that I had installed last November. I took Amber to the nursing home to do some tricks. She did rather well. I got to demonstrate her new basketball skills.
They seemed to get a kick out of it and I think Amber likes it too. I need to get her a basketball jersey and a better coach.
Later there was open agility practice at 3-5 then rally practice at 5-7
so Amber is tired. Sunday night there was a thunder storm and poor Amber shivered in bed. I could not console her.
Monday I took Sophie to the nursing home and in the evening I went to the American Legion meting. I shared information exchanged at the Interveterans council meeting for which I'm our post delegate. I happened to win the 50-50 drawing and will give that to the lady veteran in dire need.
I end this after missing the coffee table with my wine glass and busy with a clean up. No worries...I have a box of wine glasses that my son gave me for Christmas that I never used and now it's time to open that box. Hope I got all the shards of glass cleared.
Monday was President's Day so I wore my T shirt that said "I miss Abe". I took Sophie to the Nursing Home. I did know someone there too but I didn't recognize her in a wheel chair.
In the evening I went to see Kathryn Harris portray Harriet Tubman.
I got a call that a member of our Amvets post had passed away so I quickly ordered some flowers for the post online. Instead of using the recommendations listed in the online obituary, I ordered flowers online from County Market and they even delivered. They were just as good for half the price.
We had a short notice between Jerry's passing and the visitation so I had to act fast.
Tuesday
Wednesday evening I took Amber to rally practice.
Thursday I went to yoga, then took Sophie to practice, then on a nurshing home visit, and then in the evening CWV.
Friday I helped with tours at the Lincoln Tomb. The busses are starting to pick up.
Friday I finished a session for Trick Dog in the evening. Next is the expert level tricks and they are getting harder.
Saturday morning I left early for St Louis to be part of the George Washington Birthday Ball at the old courthouse. This is the same day as the Mardi Gras parade so traffic tripled along with construction. But it was a beautiful day. Here is an overhead view of the grand march. I'm behind Shirley in the red dress.
Here I am center right doing a Spanish Waltz
A woman said I looked just like Mary Todd Lincoln. I jokingly held up my fingers showing her she's "that much taller than me".
Here is the group photo:
This is a dance with one man and two ladies and then the man behind will rotate forward.
I left a little early so I could attend a veterans event at Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn by the Black Tigers Honor Guard.
They have an event on the 22d of every month for veterans. The 22d was chosen because there's an average of 22 veterans per day committing suicide.
Sunday morning after church, I took Amber to the nursing home. We didn't stay long because there was no staff to sign my documentation nor was Amber in the mood to perform so I left withing 20 minutes. I fixed a pot roast in the crock pot from my son when he came to do laundry. His dog Mo has a limp going on. Sunday evening I took both of my dogs for rally practice.
Having trouble with the blue tooth connection on my hearing aids.
Monday I went to a funeral for a member of our VFW post.
Tuesday, I went to our Womens Overseas Service League luncheon and I gave them some heart pretzels. Then I took Sophie to the groomer. It took longer than usual because there were plenty of other dogs she was doing when I dropped Sophie off. In the evening I went to a church discussion on the saints.
This was a fun time! — attending Lincoln birthday dance at Old State Capitol State Historic Site.
I'm fanning myself at the bottom of this pillar and standing out the dance so that the children can join us for a memory of Lincoln's Birthday ball.
This is called 9 Pin Quadrille. A single person without a partner is in the middle and she dances with each gent and his lady partner goes to the center one by one holding hands in a circle. When there's 5 ladies circling and the music stops, we rush to accompany a gent sort of like musical chairs. The game can get rough.
Rose, Kay, Richard and Stephanie
This dance is called Lucky 7 because the seventh person is our new partner.
It was snowing during the dance and some couples had a rough travel home to the Peoria area.
In the evening I went to our Amvets meeting. Many other events were canceled because of the slick driving conditions. Below is a video from the Old State Capitol's Facebook page that yielded the dance to the school kids that visited. I am at the bottom of the pillar with my fan. Yep, as cold as it was outside, dancing heated my body and I needed my fan.
Thursday was yoga, open dog practice at 11, then the dog club members went to lunch at the new "Sangamo Brewing" pub, and then Sophie went on a dog visit and then in the evening was the last night of Agility 103 class. This is the rally bragging wall for 2019 at the club. Notice the hook on the wall for tethering a dog? Well I pinched my finger in it Thursday night.
There's Amber's plate on the board.
Thursday evening the lock was frozen on the shed at Capitol Canine Training Club so there was a course with a teeter from the other room and hoops instead of jumps. The staff set up a challenge that seemed to puzzle a lot of us on how to maneuver a sharp turn jump around at card #1. We had right away make a sharp turn around to #2 with a distracting and tempting tunnel entrance facing opposite the #1 jump. All of us handlers were afraid of how to lead the dog through #1 to #2 but everyone got that and the bigger problem was not crossing on the teeter. Amber had no problem going over the teeter. In fact she jumped the start line for play to head for it. I had to call her back. She missed a few hoops which bothered me but the trainers didn't scold me for that as much as they insisted on a pause at the end of the teeter in the yellow zone. They call this "two on two off" for a slow dismount. Personally, I want to fix the hoop problem because I see a lot of videos of teeters without the two on-two off pause but a lot of penalties for missing an obstacle.
There are tie outs on the club wall and I pinched my finger in the darn d-ring clamp. I got a black spot on my finger.
Friday it was 2 degrees and only a few showed up at morning exercise so we had a little fun with it. Here is Britney and Ann doing a little Valentine's Day Zumba.
The frozen ground affected the dog walk. They both tried to hold back and walk on 3 instead of 4.
Friday afternoon I helped drive a female Air Force veteran that is down on her luck to her appointments. I don't know how well her future is but at least I'll try.
Friday evening I took Amber to trick class. Our homework assignment is to learn a handstand.
Amber already uses the command "behind" for something else so I will use the command "feet up". However, my agility instructor thinks the handstand is bad for an agility dog in opposition to my trick dog trainer. I don't understand because part of agility practice is backing up on a low platform but just not as high as a wall.
Saturday I went to the Illinois State Military Museum for a reenactor swap meet. I got to downsize 2 of my dresses and one bonnet.
On the right side of this photo is a clothing rack in front of my table.
This is Don Werner a die-hard reenactor that portrays WW1 through Vietnam era.
This is an old dog tag machine. It still works but takes longer than the modern one next to it (on the right off the photo). I makes mistakes though like putting a letter over another letter. They had a whole cup full of mistake print tags.
Loved this little guy all dressed up in an airborne uniform.
Saturday evening I watched "Marriage Story" on Netflix. It was sad. I got the VFW post authorities to request banning two people form our VFW Facebook page as an administrator. We had enough of their negative comments and the 2 kept forcing the issue that their late father was a member and liked the old ways of Bingo and dancing. Those old programs are no longer profitable and even cost to maintain and were dropped. We added the popular karaoke and the daughter complained on Facebook about it. Her constant criticism was getting too hard and she kept throwing in that we disrespect the father. As admin, I had to execute: BANNED! Children of veterans do not inherit a say in how the post handles its affairs. In fact, the old WW2 veterans had a vendetta with the Vietnam veterans and caused the VFW in Springfield to split into another post. We are all veterans and want to bury the ax.
Sunday morning I was a Eucharistic minister and afterward I took Amber to the nursing home to do a trick show. They seemed to be amazed with her tricks and in particular, go hide in the suit case. There was a man that was tall man in a ball cap with a deep voice. Amber seemed afraid of him. I had him give Amber a meatball bit. That's not too unusual because she also was afraid of a snowman when we went for a walk. Reaction was about the same for both. I fixed dirty rice and ham and peas for Sean and I for lunch. Then I fixed a pineapple upside down cake. Still felt guilty over the pineapple cake that flopped for his birthday. This recipe may have been low calorie but not so great still.
Sunday afternoon was a lot nicer. I think it got up to 45. After a walk I took Amber over to the club. A member was setting up a teacup course for practice. Well we had teacup agility at 3pm. Amber was bad. I know I need to make a practice tire jump. She won't go through it. Then at 5PM, I changed dogs and Sophie practiced rally. Some at the club still hadn't met Sophie since Amber needs most of the taming. One commented on the activity level between my dogs. Yep!
Monday morning I was awoken by rhythmic paws and heavy breathing by my side. I'm sure she was dreaming. Agility perhaps.
"I wish I knew the names of all the stars" Conagher
