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.