It may not see like it by the content this week but I've been kinda bored and spent a lot of time at home. Lots of rain.
Tuesday and Wednesday my kitchen was worked on. The countertop, backsplash and sink were installed.
Now I'm trying to clean an oil stain in my driveway from one of the worker's vehicles. I got my power washer out. Starting to put things back slowly and putting in shelf paper. I was disappointed that some of the particle board cabinets remain and were just resurfaced. I specifically asked the salesman about the term "refacing" in the contract while pointing to the particle board. He nodded.
Wednesday was Junetenth Day and I went to see Chris Vallio and ensemble perform Oh Freedom. It was outstanding and all performers gave their heart and soul into the program.
Same drummer and guitarist but choir and bass are local to integrate the local community.
Now I am laying down shelf paper and returning things back to normal, cooking and using a dishwasher. Yea!
Tuesday I went to the flag lowering ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb. I wore my pants under my hoop skirt so I could change for back to back events. In the evening I went to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight's homecoming. Here I am with Mrs Illinois Woman, Michelle Schuster. She's a veteran too. Oh, and believe me, she not only has a tall crown but high heels.
Our Wednesday morning at Powerworks had a photo taken. Those masks are scary. I didn't know they were doing that behind me.
Unmasked.
Thursday afternoon I took Sophie on a visit. At 5pm I went to Oak Ridge Cemetery to see the Civil War Series for the summer hosted by our
I took this video of our 114th Infantry commander's presentation
Friday afternoon I helped a little with the setup at the fairgrounds for the dog trials. I just unrolled some mats but that's about the limit of help I knew what to do.
Amber is a year and a half standing up with other beginners that are mostly in the 6 year old range because it was their first trial. Then there were handlers that had experience but because it's the dog's first time, they get lumped in with us first timers. Performance has more to do with the handler than the dog's teamwork.
I did get a $20 reward for "highest scoring a rescue dog" donated by Ralph and Connie Jenkins. Thank you. It was a wonderful surprise. Thank you card is in the mail.
Sunday morning we tried for our 3rd leg. I did not understand what that meant. Passing three legs mean an AKC title. I failed our Beginner Novice at 8:30. Seemed like things were getting worse instead of better. I had "beginner rally A" trial at 10:30 and was emotionally upset. I tried to read a book on a therapy dog but it was sad. Amber and I were second last in the ring as the stress built up. We finished the rally because I paid for that entry. We qualified but not in any top awards.
Here's the results from Novice (obedience). Saturday morning resulted in the 2d place for the first trial in the morning. Second place seems impressive but there were only 3 competitors. I ended with a fail on Sunday because I skipped doing the first sign. I was looking at Amber and not focused on that sign.
Here's the results for Rally A. One of the green ribbons says obedience instead of rally so it's really confusing but I know that I failed Novice so I had to have been handed the wrong green qualifying ribbon.
The green ribbon is a passing score. The yellow is a 3rd place. The rosette is for the AKC Rally A title for 3 passes. Something I didn't know.
Amber likes pleasing me with her paws on a bucket
I didn't know to even look at scores until the very end. I only understood pass or fail.
This 94 score is a 3d place on Saturday.
So this was the last board. The 87 was my score. So to me, I was just going down hill. I was the second last
one to test on Sunday. Just imagine waiting all this time after a fail
earlier in the morning. I tried to kill the time by reading a book about a therapy dog and got to a sad part. That didn't help at all.
Those that got ribbons are bragging on social media and rubbing salt in my emotions. I dare not share this on facebook with all the shame and false sympathy. The irony is that my blog is public and facebook set to friends. People are less likely to read a blog! I know that my anger is showing because Amber is crouching around and laying down in the closet.
Some people told me to keep my dog away from their dog. I'm more of the school of thought that a well socialized dog is good and prized dog. Dogs are meant to be man's best friend I thought. I don't get it when other handlers don't even want me to give their dog eye contact for fear of breaking focus. I don't think I fit in at all here.
I was hoping that an AKC title would give me credibility to become an evaluator on my application for Therapy Dogs evaluator. Sure we passed CGC and Rally but I'm bummed. 1) my attitude and 2) the decreasing demand for therapy dogs. Facilities are too busy to escort dog handlers apparently and recent abuses of emotional support animals seems to have bit the program's credibility. If I can't get Amber tested through TDI, I might try Pet Partners.
I woke up Sunday morning and when I put in my hearing aids, I saw a flea in my cup. Then latter I went to the Orr Building where the trials were held and saw a flea jump on my arm band number. Now I feel itchy. My dogs have had flea pills so the fairgrounds is infested. A bleach bath for all 3 of us since I was itching after the event.
I went to Mass at the Cathedral at 5PM since that was my only opportunity.
Now I look forward to getting my kitchen back. Tuesday and Wednesday counter top and back splash. Then I can stop climbing over boxes of groceries and pans that should be in place.
Tuesday evening was our first Flag lowering ceremony of the summer season. I'm not in this photo but you can see the back side of my dress in that group photo.
Wednesday I had my kitchen measured for countertops. He brought this fancy mechonized measuring device that blue toothed the results to his device.
Wednesday I went to rally practice at 3:30 and then a quick trip to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum to the "Members Only" preview party for a special exhibit for The WW2 "In This Great Struggle" temporary exhibit.
Singing of the National Anthem
Ah the wine.
The notes from the opening speech were left on the table. Pay attention to the last page which brought tears.
Friday I went to this USO dance but it was way poorly attended.
I tried to get with the theme but I have trouble with the hair being from the time period.
I didn't stay long because I had dog practice at 7pm. Yes, I picked Amber up wearing this dress. We did pretty good. A fine point on my side about the way I held the leash to lead Amber.
I went to the AmVets Convention on Saturday. There was only one WW2 veteran at the AmVets convention ~ Paratrooper Angelo Dilberti. Airborne!!!!! There's also a video of our pledge and you can see little me in the second row. Not the one with the pot belly.
I was the first reader on Pentecost Sunday. My practice audio reading here: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2019/19_06_09.mp3
I wore red to Mass as did many of our parishioners that got the memo. Father John mentioned in his sermon that the church has 3 major holy days: Christmas, Easter and Pentacost. You can only find greeting cards for two out of three.
Monday morning I took my Rouge in for service on the windshield gasket that has come loose twice. I had to leave it and get a ride home by their driver. Meanwhile I cut the grass. I learned that this 2018 car had its window replaced and the gasket was not OEM. They did cover it but if it happened again they wouldn't. I got my car back just in time to take Amber to the veterinarian at 3PM. After that I went to the hearing aid place and they helped me restore the app on my new phone. I picked up a 3 month supply of batteries and then went to the VFW for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight banquet. I helped with clean up and busing tables. I did get some chicken but that's an exhausting day.
Well Amber gained 5lbs this year. She shook in the vets office and a tech and I tried to calm her. I was surprised by her shivering. I told not to worry because should couldn't be spayed twice.
I'm starting to teach Amber to carry a basket for her AKC Trick Dog certification. Here's an early attempt.
Tuesday evening we held a mock rally practice at the club. Amber didn't do too well in the first exercise (Beginner Novice A) but did pretty well in rally. I was the one who made a mistake on that rally by moving my foot back out of habit.
After the practice, I quickly dropped Amber off at the house and met friends for karaoke at the Burger Bar. It was sort of a mini after funeral for Maria (far right) who lost her fiance and the funeral was last Saturday.
Wednesday morning I got ready for my re-modelers to come. At 11AM I got the following text:
"Mrs. Connolly: the Memphis installer was in the hospital with chest pains last night. It ended up not being a huge deal, but he will not get to St. Louis til around 3 this afternoon. We will load him up and send him your way. "-Darren
That evening I got a call from Chris Thompson, the worker who had chest pains, from a nearby hotel.
Friday I went from this:
To this:
Next will come the sink, counter top and backsplash.
While they were busy, I turned on the A/C for the first time. I got a few tasks of my own done.
I have been wanting to replace the legs on this table that was being tossed out. The legs were like weak puzzle pieces (not whole legs). Eventually I found scrap wood and cut and screwed in some new legs all for nothing -less a little procrastination.
One of the replacement legs was obviously well used but at least it had the right length and was in one piece.
Saturday I went to the Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment in Pittsfield. I was concerned about the flooding affecting the event since Pittsfield is about 40 miles from the flooded Mississippi River. Water was high but the grounds were dry. There were more people than the past few years. Knats were bad but last year was worse. The fashion show merged into my dress and then merged into my presentation on the Soldiers Aid Society.
This year the feature was a replica hot air balloon. The 18th annual event sponsored by the Abe Lincoln Project/Looking for Lincoln in Pike,Co and the City of Pittsfield, IL was held on June 1 and 2, 2019. An Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Signature Event held at the 480 acre recreational park. This years reenactment features Thaddeus Lowe and the Civil War Balloon Corps.
Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment also features Union and Confederate encampments with artillery,cavalry,infantry,naval and civilian units; full battle reenactments;craft demonstrations; period and non- period vendors, food, music and period baseball games. The event is free.
Sunday morning I went to our Memorial Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at St Agnes Church.
In the evening I went to Peoria to dance to the Municipal Band with our Metamora Dancers. We only did three dances and this is a video I took of the one that I sat out.
