My Week

Bentley ate all the training treats in my fanny pouch for Marley’s dog class.  I had to restock.  

 

Thursday I met with my financial counselor from First Command.  Things are pretty well on track towards my retirement.  She suggested that I don’t collect my SS until age 70 for the higher rate.  Then after that I came home for our dog training class.  One of our fellow classmates was a photographer and offered to take pictures of the owners and their dogs for free.  That was really nice.  Next week is our last class.  Some will go on to more advanced training.  It’s amazing to see how far these dogs have come in their behavior.

 

Friday I went to a homecoming of the soldiers at Camp Lincoln.

 

 Farmer/soldiers return to Illinois from Afghanistan

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1780485185/Farmer-soldiers-return-to-Illinois-from-Afghanistan

I found this picture on the NG facebook page of my and another veteran holding the welcome home banner.  

 

I have my soldiers angels wear red on Friday tee shirt.

In evening I went to see a play called Late Night Catechism at the Legacy Theater.  I went in my school girl best.

 

Saturday I attended volunteer training at the Old State Capitol.  Lunch was included.  There were many new faces there.  I still learned a lot.  I also joined the Old State Capitol Foundation.  We now have a place to lock up our belongings while giving a tour and other tips like the most asked questions of our visitors.

 

My car got a detailing on Monday.  My oldest son took me to pick it up.  My youngest son brought my little motorcycle home from having a windshield installed.  He dropped off the Piaggio.

 

I’ve been going to strength classes thru the Y on Mon and  Wed.  Tuesday I experimented by trying the Zumba.  I couldn’t make it the whole half hour and left, err, finished early.  My coworker laid down his HD Sportster for the first time.  I brought home some fine VFW chicken dinners.

 

I’ve altered a VFW honor guard shirt to transform from a man’s size small to a woman’s size small. That was a challenge.   I’m also starting to sew some more neck coolers for summer to go into the soldier’s boxes.

 

My cat was walking around the neighborhood with a sticky mouse traps stuck on his behind.  

 

 

 

My Week

Ok, I have a cat named David and a coworker has a beagle-basset named Dennis.  David went to the vet for his annual shots.  He also has a non-life threatening abscess to his saliva gland which was drained but will probably recur. My son took him so that I wouldn’t have to take off of work.  I put Dave in a crate for this so he probably won’t be seen for a few days now.

 

I’ve been enjoying fizzy water and sugar free chocolate syrup.  No aspartame in this stuff like there is in diet soda.

Thursday I took Marley to obedience training. Really proud of how far we've come as well as observing our classmates. We did sort of an obstacle course. Then an assistant held our dog's leash while the instructor and I went in another room to test our dog's anxiety. Marley was still. I guess the only thing that disturbs me is that Marley would rather focus on the dropped treats on the floor than the ones in my hand. I thought this was our last class but there are 2 more. First night didn't count. Next week we have photos.

I’m into week 5 of an 8 week class for Marley in obedience training.  Really proud of how far we've come as well as observing our classmates. We did sort of an obstacle course. Then an assistant held our dog's leash while the instructor and I went in another room to test our dog's anxiety. Marley was still. I guess the only thing that disturbs me is that Marley would rather focus on the dropped treats on the floor than the ones in my hand. I thought this was our last class but there are 2 more. First night didn't count. Next week we have photos

Saturday morning I got up early for the 2 hour ride to the Quincy Veterans home for a meeting of the advisory council by various veterans groups.  I went representing the Womens Overseas Service League.  The meeting was shorter than usually, only one hour and 2 hours were allotted before lunch was on the agenda. I had brought 14 VHS Disney movies for the residents but was told they didn’t use the old technology anymore.  I ended up freecyling these videos.   A few of us that came some distance wanted to know if we should get on the road and make some time or see if we could have lunch earlier.  We got to eat at the cafeteria early and then hit the road.  It rained all the way there and only a little on the way back.  On the way back I diverted a little to see a historic site, New Philadelphia.   It was a stop on the Underground Railroad.  Not much there but marker and sign of the town’s layout.  There was a sign that said to tune my radio to an AM station for a tour so I did that. 

When I got home I prepared my mess dress and went to a USO fundraiser for the veteran’s memorial in New Berlin.  I met some former coworkers there and it was nice to see them again.  What I didn’t know was that Jimmy had put my name in for a brick paver on their memorial site.  There was a silent auction which I really didn’t need any of that stuff.

Sunday was very busy too.  I started out with mass with the Catholic War Veterans.  I came home and cleaned out a stench coming from my garbage and mopped the floors.  I changed from my Catholic War Veterans blue outfit into my American Legion Riders wear and then off to the Lincoln Death day ceremony at the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.  Here is a picture of the Lincoln Death day ceremony where Song Bird sang on Sunday at 1PM. 9 Mr Lincoln's!  After this ceremony I went to the American Legion where the riders were sponsoring an Italian dinner fund raiser.  I helped serve and I was exhausted.  People came early and I didn’t know my way around the kitchen for needed items at first.  One of our members brought his wife and kids and that was a life saver.  The help those kids made a big difference.  The dinner was a great success.

Monday evening I went to the VFW meeting.

Tuesday after work I went to the VFW and got a chicken dinner to go for my son.  I was still full from lunch.  I got a shirt for the honor guard since there were many small sizes.  Problem is they are men’s small.  I mentioned to Dave that it would need to be altered because it came down to my knees.  If I were to tuck it in my pants, I’d be stuffed like an adult diaper.  He mentioned a white belt and name tag with my post cap and the lady next to him mentioned a tiara.  Tee Hee.  Afterward I went home and cleaned out my gutters from all the twirlly gigs. It’s amazing I didn’t fall.  Last week a man fell off a roof in town.  Then I went to a homecoming at the airport for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. Dang, my car seat lever won't lower my seat to insert the flag poles. Cable broke?  Well, I have a detailing appointment on Monday so I’ll have them take a look at it.  They have to remove the seat before any estimate which is $30 alone.

I brought my 30 flags and passed them out.  I tried something new with my welcome home banner by using Velcro instead of rolled duct tape.  That was much better.  This veteran received his HS diploma after his honor flight since he was drafted. Welcome home and congratulations.

My coworker got a Harley Sportster last fall.  He’s starting to ride to work more now that the weather is getting better.  Yesterday he had to point out a bug splatter on his shiny new HD helmet.  Awwww!  Like that will never happen on your way to work.  We are now getting into June bug season. Boy is he in for a surprise.  Then he told me about a near hit with a bird.  I told him I hit 2 birds; once I thought I missed until I got home and found blood on the motorcycle and once on the highway hit a redwing blackbird that wrapped itself on my freeway bars for about a mile and the drag was stripping it down to look like chicken until I kicked it off.

Wednesday will be my only free evening this week.  Thursday I have an appointment at 5PM with my financial advisor and dog class has photos at 7PM so that will be before class before it gets too dark. I got tickets to the Legacy Theater for Friday to see Late Night Catechism.  Saturday I will go to the Old State Capitol in the morning for volunteer appreciation and then in the afternoon to the state military museum to see Kay reenact 3 civil war women.  Sunday is the ABATE motorcycle swap meet. 

My son went to Belleville to see a VA job counselor.  He said he got a little bit lost.  He got some tips on his job search.

Mmmm….I love wasabi peas.

My cat, Dave, was taken to the vet for routine shots.  For the first time I got a rabies tag for his collar.  He had a collar but lost it last year.

The future ain't what it used to be

Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout the journey.

My Week

Friday I took the afternoon off to rest up before the midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in St Louis. I updated my website too. I wore my costume like Columbia. While waiting in line on the street around midnight, there must have been about 70 some bicyclists riding down the center of the road in University City with many in costumes or bikes that were decorated. I guess it was like weirdoes (Rocky fans) meeting weirdoes (bicycling fans). Many of the Samurai Electricians were new because the young ones get married and start a family that keeps them from being on the shadow cast. I think only 2 recognized me. I was pleased with the progress they’ve made on props and interaction with the audience.




Saturday morning, since I got up later, I went on an Easter Basket ride to the Sojourn Shelter for abused women and children. I dropped off 3 baskets with about 35 other bikers. In addition, a flyer was passed out for Bob Evans to donate 15% of the meal purchase would also go to the shelter so I took my sons to dinner. It was a reward for helping change the blades on the riding lawn mower.



At Mass, we sing a special Alleluia song before the Gospel is ready. I must admit it’s quite catchy. Well, as Mass progressed, we all smiled as a child could be heard singing a solo Halle Halle Halle Hallelujah like the one on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk769aB3tPA The flowers on the alter were lovely and there was even a hidden rabbit.

I had a plumber to come fix my stopper in my sink so I picked up a new faucet to match. It looks great and now I don’t have to worry about something accidentally going down the drain.



I cleaned out the fireplace for the season. Had a little frost Wednesday morning. My son keeps turning on my heat and I keep turning it off.



I sewed stripes on my uniform mess dress for a USO fundraiser coming this Saturday in New Berlin, IL. I believe I may be stopping there on the way home from Quincy Veterans Home because there is an advisory board there at 10AM.

Ok, so I was paying my bill when I heard someone mention the Easter Flamingo. I had to come home and googled this phenomenon. Apparently those plastic eggs come from plastic flamingos.

I went to get my chicken dinners for me and my son at the VFW. Last month the metal tongs pinched me and made me bleed. So new plastic tongs were showing up at the buffet. This week, I used the plastic tongs and it broke at the salad bar right in the middle of the arm (not at the joint).

I had lunch with the Womens Overseas Service League on Tuesday. Lately the lunch at the American Legion has gone downhill so I just had a salad.

Sean took the week off of work. Understand he’s going to miss our Amvets meeting this evening because he’s trying out to be a guitar player in a band.

U.S. Rep. Biggert discusses the Illinois Patriot Guard's traveling memorial wall, which stopped in Naperville to honor fallen heroes from Illinois in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZzehS1H30

Why It's Criminal to Lie About Military Honors - The Atlantic

Why It's Criminal to Lie About Military Honors - The Atlantic

ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHT: World War II dog tag found in Illinois field | The Republic

I know Graham in this article
ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHT: World War II dog tag found in Illinois field | The Republic

My Week

I got an email from my soldier in Afghanistan.

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 went to the fish fry at the American Legion and it was dark because a transformer went out. Things went on with the doors open for light.

Saturday morning I helped with the neighborhood clean up. There were supposed to be various groups there and I got notice the the American Legion. I saw students and Jaycees there but no one from the American Legion. I picked up one trash bag till it was full . I found a mowed-over dollar bill (not enough to tape together), a quarter, and a dead rabbit that was real freshly killed and munched upon. I had to leave at 10AM for a group meeting up at the Quick N Easy station to head to Litchfield for a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Parade in which the Patriot Guard Riders were in. The parade started at 1PM and I had to be back by 3PM for a 3:30 Passion skit practice. I had plenty of time so I got a patch of grass mowed. Afterall, it takes my battery charged mower 4 charges to get through the back yard. I could not start up my riding mower. My son got it started after the fact. Lot of good that does now.


The Passion roles went well and we were proud that the lines were good.


After church I had lunch and then got ready for the ABATE Easter Basket ride to Hope School. That is the home for the severely disabled kids. They get excited at the roar of motorcycles.

I do not ride my motorcycle to work any more. I did not move my car this weekend. After the Easter Basket run I filled the tank on Buck and calculated the fuel economy at 54 MPG.

My neighbor collected 5 lbs of morrel mushrooms. It’s the big secret to know how and where they are.

March was the warmest on record. I is nice to sit outside on a warm night with my laptop. It's hotter inside but not enough for the A/c when I can just relocate. Only caution is making sure there are no insects in my glass of wine. Better yet…bring the bottle.I took off of work on Tuesday to spend time with one or our Gold Star Mothers and her Grandson. They were in town to read a book about healing at a local school but the teacher that originally was contacted was no longer available. So we had a picnic at Camp Butler with his daddy’s stone. I brought a blanket and snacks. Flowers and balloons. The lady at County Market told me there was a nationwide shortage of helium and after her tank is empty, that’s it. We left flowers and sent a helium ballon to his daddy in Heaven. After lunch we went to see the Lincoln Home and the Old State Capitol and the Lincoln Tomb. There, Andrew rolled down the hill in the grass a number of times and started to itch bad. We had to make a stop at Walgreens for alcohol and benedryl. We also stopped by the Goodwill to get him a shirt so he wouldn’t itch from that. We went to the VFW for dinner where Andrew played a little game of “Man VS Food” with me and our pudding.

Thursday evenings I go to dog obedience class. I'm emotionally drained but Marley made me somewhat proud. As long as I don't compare her to others, she has come a long way.

I tried the kick boxing session instead of weights during lunch exercise. I usually do the weight training on Monday and Wednesday but Tuesday and Thursday is Zumba and Kickboxing. SWEAT!

For Easter our Parish is having families decorate a banner for a display called "Shields of Faith". Here's the banner that I just finished. It reads "Faith is knowing He Will" For Easter our Parish is having families decorate a banner for a display called "Shields of Faith". Mine reads "Faith is knowing He Will"


A funny thing happened at work when I had to call a buisiness that was using a cheap phone system called Majic Jack. Calling started off with advertising and then I was told my phone number was restricted and I should let my provider to release the restriction. I think this is because they were cheap and a State of Illinois line is unmarked on caller ID.