My Week

I saw a friend say on facebook that the eagles were on the river so I looked at my calendar and saw the only day to go was Tuesday.  Very spontaneous.  Although I don't have a fancy camera other than my cell phone, I also realize you "had to be there" to appreciate scenery.  Besides, there are many others that have beautiful photos.  This is a picture of a young eagle who's white feathers have not yet come in.

I drove through historic Louisiana, Missouri.  I like the old houses but many were in bad repair.  They did have nice murals but do paintings make up for the poor maintenance?

 This was the murals of the 1850s ferry on the boat club.  Notice the ice chunks in the river.  There was an ice storm just 4 days earlier and I saw many freshly broken limbs on trees along the road.

 The bridge between Missouri and Illinois is narrow.

 This is the house to the left of the guard rail above.

 Louisiana early Mississippi River port know for the Delicious apples developed here and grown throughout the world was settled 1817 when John Bryson pre-empted land near the confluence of the river and Noix Creek.  A year later, Samuel Caldwell and Joel Saw from Kentucky founded the town on land bought from Bryson.
The Pioneer Stark cabin was moved here from nearby hills restored and opened as a museum 1952 to nor Horticulturist James Hart Stark who built the cabin.  The orchard he planed 1816 with grated scions considered the first of the grafted apple trees west of the Alleghenies has become known under his descendant as one of the oldest and largest commercial nurseries int he world.   Here are carried on many of Luther Burbank's experiments.  The Stark nursery granted first patent granted a fruit 1934.  Settlers were in the general vicinity of Louisiana as early as 1810 and some 2 miles south the D.A.R. monument marks the site of Buffalo Fort where 25 families took refuge during the war of 1812

 Log Cabin.

 Welcome to Illinois
In 1673 the areas of the Mississippi and Illinois  were explored by Frenchmen Louis Joliet and Father Jaques Marquette.  Their voyages resulted in French claims on the area until 1763 when by tready of Paris France ceded the land to Great Briton. During the Revolution the Illinois territory was won for the Commonwealth of Virginia by George Rogers Clark and his army. In 1784 it became part of the Northwest Territory and on Dec 3 1818, Illinois entered the union as the 21st state.  US Route 54 enters Illinois East of Louisiana, MO and stretches Northeast towards Pittsfield.  The route in Illinois was as the 33d Division Memorial Highway on Memorial Day 1963. .  The designation the WW1 Division organized in 1917 from the Illinois National Guard units..  The division played an important role in the Muese-Argone offensive.In WWII it was used in the Pacific in Philippines.  Route 54 ends its 16 mile journey in Illinois 4 miles west of Pittsfield where it meets US Route 36.  Pittsfield is the county seat of Pike County.  John Nicolay author of a 10 volume biography of Abraham Lincoln began his career in Pittsfield.He met John Hay there and formed a life long friendship.  Hay collaborated on the biography and went on to a fruitful career as a diplomat.  He was ambassador to Great Briton and secretary of  state 1898 -1905.

I stopped for lunch at Boatel and there were 2 eagles there too.

Wednesday, Alan dropped off his dog, Hank, while he heads out to DC for inauguration. I'm teaching him the "leave it" command that I had to perform for Therapy Dog.  You see, Hank is a counter top snatcher. I'm making progress with the floor but when I say "no" or "leave it" to a temptation on the counter-top, it's gone behind my back

Here is his selfie with hat and scarf

Wednesday evening I went to the quarterly Veterans Assistance Commission meeting.  I got voted in as secretary replacing John Haines who had done it for 64 years in various capacities I believe they said.

Thursday I made an appointment with doctor Sheedy.  I've put this pain off long enough.  In order that I not forget what details to tell, I came with a prepared, written statement:

Dear Dr Sheedy

I’ve been having lumbar pain and groin for a long time that usually comes on in the cold weather.    I know this because my weekly blog history shows I’ve complained in the past and facebook has look-back memories.  My annual appointment usually is in the summer when it subsides a little and you noted this in my record.

This December got cold early.  I worked harder at the gym for my lumbar and core at Powerworks.  You see, I’m motivated and pay out of pocket because I’m not yet Medicare eligible. I have to snicker at the others in the “Silver Sneakers” whose gym membership is paid by insurance and they worried when Health Alliance changed from direct to indirect payments.  I pay out of pocket and want my money’s worth.  I had a 1 hour massage there in December when they had Christmas special with $5 off.

Lex was surprised to see me in tears because I was like a prize student in her senior core group and among the few in the yoga class. She asked if it happened during yoga and I was in so much pain that I could only nod.  I have trouble doing the grapevine walk in our senior balance and zumba.  She’s witnessed my flexibility compared to the others up until now and when I did have lower back pain, I could usually grin and bear it.

I’ve gone to 9 of 10 visits to Dr Taylor on Mon-Wed- Fri since Dec 30 after being frustrated with isolated exercises to the core and hips.  I believe it was $360 for 10 visits for the uninsured. He said I had the loudest scream of 2016 on my first visit.   Subsequent visits have been lighter.  He says I’m standing straighter but I don’t feel any better.   Since then, others have told me he’s not a good chiropractor.  I was given exercises with my ball and it’s not like I hadn’t been working that area already.  I did learn to do sit-ups on my ball with my little Sophie on my lap reminding me of those mother and baby exercises. He recommended my 2 meals a day back to 3.   I asked on Wed if he thought I should go see Dr Sheedy and he said no because he’ll just give you pills.  Friends have told me to got to see Dr Sullivan and get a deep tissue massage from Christy Schmidt but I wanted to see you before I expend more money on this.

Wednesday afternoon I was waiting in a checkout and almost wanted to sit on the floor (not a first time either). I can waddle side to side but standing still is an effort.

I have been taking gummy vitamins and calcium.  T-Relief (for arthritis) and Aleve (generic).  I wear an ice pack in the morning and take an Epsom bath at night.   Prescriptions include Ranitidine and Pravastatin.

From what I read on sciatica, I understand that it can start with hip pain and pinch a nerve and eventually the toes.  I’m feeling this in not just the groin but the back of the legs.

I have gotten a mechanical bed in September to help with my back pain.  I have to roll on my side and carefully get up putting the weight on my hips.  You can picture the rest.

So you can see, how I saved this appointment as a desperate cry for help because I don’t like going to the doctor.

So now I get to see a specialist on Feb 9.  The pain pills were a success on the bed in the morning for the roll out but not a miracle.  I learned on Friday that I have some disc slippage and arthritis as viewed on the Xray. 
In the evening I helped with dishes at the fish fry.  A lady at the American Legion Fish Fry mentioned that my problem mine could be a delay result of my pelvic fracture in 09. I never put 2 and 2 together. She told me same happened to her after a car accident and she's had problems and walks with a cane.

Friday I helped with the clean up of wreaths at Camp Butler.  Unlike last year, this year was pleasant.  Last year was cold and wreaths were frozen to the ground in snow.  Ya know, it's even nicer to find names of veterans whose name rings a bell and now I know the location of the grave. Also very interesting to see love left by family and friends on the grave. One just had a birthday the day before and the grave was decorated like a birthday party.
In the evening I helped with the fish fry at the American Legion.  I don't like to take orders because of my hearing and the acoustics of that room so I said I'd help with clean up so I'm assigned dishes.  Well that was before I realized how bad standing will be with my back problem.

Sunday I went to the Lincoln Monument Association's annual meeting.  I presented my summer program "Distant Memories" since many came far and those that didn't were usually working our booth selling merchandise. I had to move a hook over since I'm getting fatter with this immobility.  In preparation I re-watched my video for the Lincoln Tomb and realized my name is in the credits since I'm a board member.  They all enjoyed the program and I got a card and a check.
I came home just in time to see the boys.  Sean was just finishing his laundry and Alan picked up his dog to go back to Peoria after his trip to the Inauguration.  

In the evening I went to the Chesapeake Seafood House for the 114th Regiment's Commander's Banquet that was postponed last week because of weather.  I showed others how to use the selfie timer so that you can step back.  There's a choice of 3 or 10 seconds.

 I bought this book by the guest speaker on Stephen Douglas.  You see, people come to take tours because of Lincoln but if you were roaming the streets in the 1850s, Douglas was the popular man.

other photos of the event.  Here is Robin West:

 Here is Gloria's debut in her new dress made by Emily Bencomo.

 Here's Bob Chestnut,the charter member of the regiment since reactivated by the governor.

 Marguritte and Anthony who's been on the staff of Chesapeake Seafood house for over 14 years.

Gloria, myself and Mariylin.

 Our guest speaker Reg Ankrom

 Stephanie and Lisa.

All
I'm in the process of putting together an outfit for the Robert Burns dinner later this month.  Need a few more alterations.  He's Scottish you know.

I had to let the waist out but that means another tuck to line up the split skirt's plaid lines. It says size 10 on the label but it's the older sizing system. Also the cuffs are too long.  Now for a hat and better blouse.  I'll be ready though. This hat is on the way.

All for now.  Have a nice week.