My Week

Here is the picture of me and the other participants in the church talent show that I clipped from the church bulletin:

I’m exhausted after taking Marley to Capital Canine obedience training.  Both training nights so far had a thunderstorm.  Marley wants to leave every time we walk past the door. Then I have to drag her. I am seeing progress but she is shaking like a toy poodle.  She is starting to COME and SIT. Dang, we have barely getting those 2 and now we got to learn DOWN and STAY. I bought her a new training collar which should help and they sell them there at cost.  I was so exhausted I had a glass of Merlot!!!  Even my son is admitting there is progress.  She is transforming from a squirrel to a pet.

Thursday I shipped two boxes to Afghanistan on my way home from work.  When I got home I received free mail thanking me for a box that was sent Feb 24.  I send without expecting a thank you but it sure is encouraging and reassuring that the mail made it thru. 

This is the second year that the scouts left me a bag for canned goods which I filled and left on my mail box that they didn't come pick up.  I even saw them in a van collecting while walking my dogs and told them to be sure and pick mine up.  I guess we get missed on a cul-de-sac.  Sunday after church, I met up with about 5 other motorcyclists through our Red Knights MC and we had a nice ride to the Approach restaurant in Meredosia, IL.  The weather was great for the ride and I told Terry to make all of our rides like this one.

I got mail from a female soldier that thanked me for the box this week.

I got caught up on my emails on Saturday night and discovered an important one that was sent on Thursday.  It was about our Passion skit that we do every year.   It is memorization and that leaves us one week to practice.  Although I pretty much remember my lines from the previous 2 years it will make me adjust my plans for Tues and Thursday practices as well as Saturday practice before the 4:30 mass.  The original skit is on YouTube but that’s not me in it.  http://youtu.be/D_ojROenoAM I’m hoping that the person playing Pilot may want my toga outfit.  Only Pilot and Jesus have single roles and the rest of the ensemble wears red.

Our church is planning its Easter décor as in every year the families make a decorative contribution.  Last year we decorated Styrofoam crosses and this year’s them is Shields of Faith.  The banner is supplied and families just fill in the middle.  I found a canvas bag at the Salvation Army that said:  “Faith is Knowing He Will” and it really matched the them.  I just wished that the red letters were more legible.  Of course, my faith journey always involves something patriotic so I added a little eagle patch from the sewing kit on the bottom.  I was the first to turn in a completed banner because I brought it to church during our Passion practice.

There ought to be a law against deep frying in an office break room. Sure smells up my office. Last year they fried fish. This time it's rabbit. Happy Easter. I think they have a loner in the section. You know that was a hunter that killed the rabbit and another in that same office asked me to continue to feed the squirrel when he retires soon.  I said no way.

 

 

Ensuring no Troop goes unloved

CJ, an active duty NCO recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, reflects on the support he has received from Soldiers' Angels over the years:



Because we were the clearing house for all mail going to our Brigade, I saw all the boxes marked to outlying FOBs from Soldiers’ Angels. The sheer volume of mail coming through KAF from SA was remarkable. To be honest, I knew that they were a great and vast organization, but I never really grasped it until I saw it for myself on the receiving end. In fact, sometimes we got so many care packages, I would take them to nearby units with which I worked closely. I explained that the goodies were from SA and their faces would light up being well aware of the group. Everyone I spoke with was either supported by a Soldiers Angel or knew someone that was.
Read the whole thing.

My Week

 

Last week, the tree pollen was making me sneeze and run.  I picked up some Zirteck which I took before bed and that seemed to help.  However, now all that nose blowing has left the underside of my nostrils rough and raw. A week later, my son is experiencing the same problem.  He seemed apologetic for not sympathizing with me earlier when I had allergies.

 

Thursday I got an IM before I left for work from a coworker already at work.  He told me about a fatal accident that had occurred about 1AM and a car flew into the building at a high rate of speed.  The driver must have been going 70MPH Northbound and flew up along the iron fence into the corner of our building’s utility pole.  He died on impact.  News 20 was here but it was mostly cleaned up. 

 

A coworker had surgery on her shoulder on Wednesday and we went to visit her while on lunch hour on Thursday.  She’ll be just fine but she was groggy from pain medications.

 

Thursday evening I took Marley to her obedience training.  Problem was that there was scattered thunder but no rain.  I put on her Thunder Shirt.  She just wants to hide in the bathroom.  Well, I dragged her to the class.  In the beginning she did alright.  We were just walking in circles and practicing the COME command.  COME is a difficult command because she looks left and right out of fear to see if she should back off.  As the lesson progressed, she refused her treats and just wanted to go to the exit or the bathroom to hide.  She refused to walk in a circle with the other students and I was pulling her.  She became stressed. 

 

I look out my window at work and there are folks moving into the rental across the street.  AHHHHHHHHH.  I see butt crack.

The ants have returned to my kitchen like every spring.

Saturday morning I took Alan with me to drop off Marley and Bentley at the groomers.  Then we went to Spaulding to see champion Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rhanda and Sassy.  Alan really likes this breed and wanted to see them while my friend happens to be dog sitting this weekend.   Sassy was in heat so she couldn’t get out except in a confined area.    They are real active dogs.  http://www.jamilleridgebacks.com/randa.html

I would have liked to go to see the St Patrick’s Day parade but since Alan didn’t want to go we had to come home.  He talked about the dogs on the way home. I made corned beef in the crock pot.  I made cabbage and vegetables on the side.  Alan made a Rueben and I had mine with vegetables.  I just ate some asparagus from my garden.  I just threw the stalks in with the corned beef to cook.

I went to church talent show (not a contest). There were singers and musicians but I was the only person that did something different. I did my first person reenactment of Major Belle Reynolds, Civil War nurse. They seemed to like my presentation and I was invited to present for the seniors.  I did notice that I need to re-sew the trim on my bonnet because the stitching is loose and I took my water keg over to Dan Bedell to help me repair it since the barrel’s rings were loose.

Sunday morning I rode my little motorcycle to church and afterward I went to a pancake breakfast at the Knights of Columbus that helps to support the troops.  The mobile Vet Center and WW2 reenacters were there too.

Sunday evening I cut the grass with my electric mower in the back yard for the first time.  Of course that yard grows fast because of the dogs.  I asked a neighbor who fixes mowers to do routine maintenance on my riding mower.  It hasn’t been serviced in 2 years since the repair shop in Chatham closed.

Monday evening I went to a VFW meeting.  I brought up that the Vet Center was running out of the bus tokens that are passed out to poor veterans.  These are paid alternately between the Military Order of the Purple Heart and VFW 755.  So I was given a check for $150 for bus tokens which I turned over to the Vet Center.  Elections will be held at the next meeting and so the slate of officers was nominated.  They wanted me to be a trustee but I have a commitment on the nights they meet ~ first Mondays. 

On the way to work, I saw a man riding his motorcycle in a mighty fine dress suit and tie at a stop light. I stuck my head out my car window to wave at him and he waved back and smiled. 

A friend at the post has finally gotten approval after years of struggling with the VA for 100% disability for Agent Orange.  Because he was in the Navy and on a ship instead of boots on the ground it was hard to prove but now they’ve listed his ship in place and date.  Explains the skin discoloration and diabetes associated with Agent Orange.  Good for him.

I voted on Tuesday’s primary.  I had lunch at the Boulevard and had a prime rib sandwich.  Yum!   I had prepaid discount where I spend $10 and get a $20 value or more.  Spent I got a new chair at work.  After work I had my hair cut for Locks of Love. I picked up some of that fine chicken dinner at the VFW for Alan since I was still full from lunch.  Then I went to a Why Catholic discussion group.  I wanted to take the dogs for a walk in the evening but lately Marley is just resisting. She’s gone from enthusiastic to a pull toy.  I think she wants a treat for any performance on her leash

My Week

The high winds that we received, miles from the Harrisburg, IL tornado, had blown away my recycle bin and I couldn't find it after work.  I walked down my cul-de-sac but couldn't find it in the dark.  The next morning I walked my dogs in the daylight and found it on the curb 5 houses down.  The man at the house said he found it in his back yard and apologized.  Why?  The gusts of 53 MPH wind did it.  Then Monday we had an inch of snow and on Tuesday we had temp of 71  with high winds.

 

I sold my Air Force mess dress to a TSgt in AZ who needed it for a banquet in a week and she needed a small size.  I shipped it Saturday using that online postage that you print and put out for the pickup and she got it in time.  I didn't realize that the post office closed at 11:30 on Saturday and I went at 11:45 thinking they closed at noon.  My mail route delivers late in the afternoon so caught that pick up.  She’s up for a possible honor on Saturday and I'm hoping she gets it.

 

I usually do not answer the phone for my cubicle mate but despite this caller not emailing his problem so my cubei can check remotely, this guy keeps calling.  I was even present when he came back from class to return the call and spelled out his email.  Then he says he gets the mail returned because he had abbreviated @illinois.gov part of the email.  Duh!

PEBKAC (an acronym for "Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair)

 

I had a box returned to me on Saturday that I had sent to a lady soldier I had been assigned from Soldiers Angels Ladies of Liberty Team.  I checked the wrong box on the customs form to return to sender rather than abandon.  However, it happens to be that tight/full box so I hope I can repack and send again to my next assignment.

Friday morning we had a thunderstorm so I put my scared dog in her Thunder Shirt.  Marley feels safe in the bathroom but usually leaves when I’m using my hair dryer.  Not today.

While at lunch, some car parked in my assigned parking space which I pay $35 month.  I parked in the slot next to it. 

 

Saturday morning I watched people jump into Lake Springfield as part of the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.  I took pictures and video and my fingers were cold.  Here is a link to the pictures that I took:

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3097258603185.132956.1615723034&type=3&l=2e13c86576

 

Saturday evening I went to the Army Field Band at the Sangamon Auditorium.  Tickets were free but required and it was a sold out crowd. Special thanks to the ILANG Color Guard an Gold Star family of Jacob Palmatier.

Sunday I organized my files and receipts in preparation for taxes.  I put together all my customs tags and receipts from boxes that I sent to our soldiers and counted 55.

 

I need some more sewing needles but it would be more economical to make a trip to Joanne on the way home from work rather than a special trip for $5 needles with these gas prices.

 

Had an online chat with a previously sponsored soldier, Doug, through Soldiers Angels who is leaving (again) for Afghanistan.  I told him his doggies are going to miss him and he agreed.  It will be his last deployment before retirement. 

 

I went to our American Legion meeting on Monday night.  I was surprised to see our past post commander there because he told me over facebook that he wasn't coming, something about time to himself.  Apparently I wasn't the only one to ask him to come.  I also learned that our post had been reporting itself as community oriented rather than a veterans organization.  That would explain the donations to the high school and village of Chatham which are taxpayer funded.  I asked our finance officer for a copy of that report.

 

Monday was Casimir Pulaski Day in Illinois and many kids were off of school.

I started a discussion on a forum about the lesbian that was shunned at her mother's Catholic funeral and was told I was being judgmental.  I brought it up but I wasn't the priest that denied the Communion.  Either way, this is faith shattering.  No standards.

 

My sons gave me a bonsai for our anniversary.  How sweet

 

San Antonio Public Safety Raiders football team

Soldiers’ Angels is lending its name to the San Antonio Public Safety Raiders football team, making the Raiders the organization's first Veterans Outreach Program Sports Team. 

Part of the semi-pro, charity-focused National Public Safety Football League, the local Raiders team currently consists of San Antonio Police and Fire Department personnel, as well as military police, medics and firefighters.  The Outreach Program is sponsoring the Raiders to bring more awareness to veterans’ issues and develop future Veteran Public Safety Officers programs while supporting Soldiers’ Angels through funds raised at Raiders football games. 

The Raiders were founded last year by retired Staff Sergeant Stacey Corbin Stacey, a US Army veteran and public safety officer from Cleveland, Ohio who was recovering from spinal cord injuries in 2009-2011 at Brooke Army Medical Center (SAMMC). Now known as the San Antonio Raiders Public Safety Football Team, the Raiders have affiliated teams in New York City and Detroit, and plan to have one in every major city in the North America in the near future. To signify their association with Soldiers’ Angels, the San Antonio team’s new name will be Soldiers’ Angels San Antonio Raiders.

To support the Raiders’ expansion, the Raiders are seeking sponsors, volunteers to coach, cheerleaders, and helpers for home games. Players must be active or retired certified police officers, firefighters, paramedics/EMT's, corrections officers or FBI/DEA/ICE (etc.) to be eligible to play.  Active-duty military must have their commanding officer’s permission. The 2012 season starts in March in Charlotte, NC and ends in Detroit, MI on June 2, 2012 with a total of six games.  For more information, see www.saraiders.org or call 210-618-9565.