My Week

 Sophie is staged in this photo but she is "Bad Ass".

Well I left off with an unfinished job on the empty string on my weed whacker.  I went to Lowes, Farm N Fleet, Walmart and Target looking for string for my Toro.  Then one last attempt at Ace Hardware and I found it and got the only 2 on the shelf.  I did use it a little when I got home but it was really hot and muggy.

Look what came in the mail! Amber's AKC Rally Intermediate title.

I know the guys like to help me take down the welcome home banner after the honor flight but the strings were a tangled mess. I usually carefully keep them straight. All of it will need restrung on the spot at the airport for length.  had a system. I appreciate them with the ladder but they are not careful with those strings. Glad I checked because last time I came home too late to fix anything and right to bed.

Tuesday I took Amber to training class and then to volunteer at the Lincoln Tomb.  It poured rain in the morning so I brought my brown dress in case of mud.  I changed there.   I was master ceremony at the flag lowering just before the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.  Since we had a great down pour that morning and I had volunteered since 2PM, I wasn't sure of the weather later during the 7PM time of the flag lowering so I brought my change of clothes.  I dressed in my brown camp dress in case of mud.

 Here I hold the microphone so that the commander can present the flag that flew over the Lincoln tomb the previous week to member of the audience.  He was from Michigan.

I changed and went to the airport which wasn't far from the Lincoln Tomb.  I had to put the "welcome home" banner up with new strings and cut to length for hanging since the last time I used it, I let some kind hearted volunteers take it down and it was a tangled mess. While waiting for the honor flight to return, we noticed that there was a storm delay in Washington DC and commercial flights had priority.  I started to snooze off so I knew it would be late and by 10:30 left.  Many of those that brought children who had to go to school had already abandoned the homecoming celebration. 

Thursday I got the special order pipe angles needed for Amber's hoop practice.  I had to get some poles that are available locally but had to get them home sticking out the window.  Notice the veteran parking place sign at Lowes. (no my car is not dented).  Ah here's the ultimate goal project:
http://www.flyingpoodles.com/2011/07/02/making-nadac-hoops/

 Then  I went to our Civil War Roundtable.  The topic was by Kathy Heyworth presenting “Civil War Soldiers with Secrets: Women in Uniform”.  Kathy based her program on Shelby Harriel's  topic when she came to the Illinois State Military Museum.

Friday felt like a "tale of two Kathys".  I went to the funeral for a 96 year old Navy veteran who was a member of our Catholic War Veterans.  It was also sentimental anniversary of my sister, Kathy's death.

Don Werner, our Catholic War Veterans representative, read our memorial prayer ~ Our Dead  ~ along with Joan and myself.  Don left after that.  A check was left for her memorial.  Also in attendance at the service was Marylin Guthrie and Grace Miller of the Women's Overseas Service League.

The homily was serious as well as funny.  Father said she was an avid Cubs fan and Catholic.  Once she saw the opposing team member make a sign of the cross and Kathy said "Cancel that"

The interveterans Burial Detail had a veteran walk through.  John Carrigan spoke after the military rites of how she helped with the memorial at Oak Ridge.  He got emotional.  John Carrigan of Rochester, president of the World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial

http://ww2il.com/scholarship-program/

Kathy's story and photo here (This photo was in a frame at her funeral but every time I tried to take a picture of the picture, there was glare.  Once home, I discovered an good photo online)

http://ww2il.com/VetStories/SmithKathy.pdf

In the evening I took Amber to "ring ready" practice.  She seemed very intimidated by another dog named Hannah.  Amber lost a bit of concentration.

Saturday I made 4 hoops .... well 2 still need to get the topper hoop ... for Amber's practice in the yard.   I had 2 hula hoops that were on sale at the Dollar General from last year.  The hardest part was the four hole connector which I had to order online.  Some have made these by adding an extra connector for the legs but I hear that those tip over easily.  After that the rest of the PVC parts were local and easy.  I re-read the instructions and the sides on this one illustrated were too tall so it has since been fixed.

Sunday I coaxed Moe to go through the hoop.  

Then I went to a PGR Deployment Send Off for Illinois Headquarters 206th Regional Support Group US Army Reserve, Springfield, IL 24 Aug 2019.  We had a flag line as the troops got on the bus and then escorted the buses to the interstate as they departed for Fort Hood for training before their deployment.  Here's a link to the news media for the ceremony the day before departure.
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190823/deployment-ceremony-celebrates-soldiers

Sunday morning I was the first reader at Mass.  I had some difficult city names in this reading you can see here:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082519.cfm
I wore short sleeve jacket that I hadn't worn in a long time.   I found a business card in the pocket from Galway Ireland.   That means I hadn't worn it since 2011.   Time to move it out of the closet.

I sprayed myself with Bugins and Amber rolled all over me like I'm road kill or something.

Monday was National Dog Day.  Sophie and I had a therapy dog visit on the calendar and that was our celebration.  I had a massage appointment in the afternoon.  Ahhh that was nice.  Then in the evening, I went to the VFW for an executive board meeting which was mostly about an increase in prices.

Nice week weather-wise.  Off and on periods for the air conditioner.