My Week

What a rainy week we have had here.  I could have filled many rain barrels. I do have a drain into my little plastic swimming pool and of course that overflowed.  Monday morning started off with volunteering at the ALPLM.  I was assigned to the "War Room".  I've always enjoyed the movie "Civil War in Four Minutes" but 4 and a half hours was a lot.  Still have the music in my head.

 All week I couldn't get the music out of my head from the ALPLM War Room.

When Johnny Comes Marching home again

It's like water torture I tell ya....LOL

Tuesday I took Sophie on a visit to the nursing home.  In the evening I returned to the Lincoln Tomb for the Flag Lowering Ceremony.

 

Wednesday morning I went to practice in Mechanicsburg at 8:30.  I got mad at Amber for taking the wrong obstacle and yelled no.  My instructor scolded me for it.  I guess I'm still angry about her mess on Sunday's obedience.

 I slept with the windows open last night for a breeze. We had a nice little storm last night that slammed a door shut. I'm between Auburn and Springfield.

More rain on Saturday and Sunday and Monday.

I went to a PGR mission in Auburn for Aaron Goodin.  MSGT Goodin served with the United States Marine Corps from 1993 - 2019, for a total of 26 years. His father also served 26 years with the Marine Corps. Aaron was a combat engineer having served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Macedonia, Japan and other overseas duty stations. He also served at several Marine bases stateside. He earned and was awarded the Navy Combat Medal w/V, Meritorious Service Award and many other medals and awards too numerous to list here. He was only 47.  He retired from the marines 2 years ago but wanted to reenlist and was turned down due to diabetes.  I spoke with his father briefly before the service.  He told me that he believed the high doses of electrolytes and stuff in energy drinks were behind his death. The PGR ride captain said that he was also counted in the statistics as a COVID death.

 The cemetery drive was way out of the way in a field by well maintained. The flags lined the cemetery. 

Over the memorial luncheon, I heard that an employer offered a woman a secretarial position at $25/hr which is higher than ever.  She came back the next day and told him no because she still had X amount of days lest she lose free money.  Boy is it going to be a shock when the freebies run out.  I came home via the old historic Route 66 brick road. The rain the night before left the creek pretty high.

Thursday I trimmed my evergreen tree that was getting close to the house.  It's actually the second tree off of a baby tree that I chopped down for the same reason but the baby was about a foot out from the other so I kept it.

Friday night I went through a list of VFW post members that need to renew.  A lot of the contact info is outdated.  One member was deceased and found on "findagrave" etc.

Saturday morning I went to yoga which I hadn't done in awhile because of the dog events.  Seems there was a lot of noise coming from the other room that was very disturbing in our class.  Sounded like serious ball slamming but it wasn't outside but coming from the cycle room which was locked.  Later we saw a staff member trying to work on the speaker system in the cycle room that was making all the noise.

Then I went to listen to Municipal band play at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.  I'm glad I went because the music was uplifting.  They play at Duncan Park on Thursdays so I may have to go to that.  I picked up some food for my guinea pig and then went to Walmart and Aldi.

Saturday night I prepared a pot roast in the slow cooker for a typical Sunday share with Sean. Then Alan decided to come over Sunday because he bought a case of steaks.  So, I had to put pot roast in containers.  I was glad to see his new used Lexus.  It sure has some nice features.  It is silencing the outside when the doors are closed.  I know I wear hearing aids but I couldn't hear either of them talking outside the door.  The seat had little holes for air conditioning and a power rear shade.  I'd have to say the worst was the lid on the center council cover was loose.  Better than having dinner was when Alan turned off the power and got a dangling bulb out of ceiling lamp that had been that way for 2 months.  I had this little incident and photo in a previous blog here.   I was waiting to accumulate enough work before getting a handyman to do some things.  I had to clean up shards of glass but it was so good to have light.  In fact I was ready to replace the whole ceiling light but I'll save the replacement that I bought for a big job when I get a handyman.  I also had to replace a light bulb in my fireplace flood lights which is an odd size.  Found them at Walmart but had to buy a 4 pack.  Now the new bulb is LED and brighter than the other next to it.  I'm wondering if I just let the other dull bulb run out or change it now to match with another from that 4 pack.  They are on a dimmer switch.  I was pretty dependent on those with the darkness created by the dark storm clouds.  

Sean thanked us for being kind to Mo.   Mo laid around a lot. Sean is getting used to the idea of Mo's end.  Meanwhile, Hank was shedding.  I had to clean up black hair.  Hank is really soft to pet but oh lordy does he shed. 

My sons watched some loud movie with lots of violence and afterward Sean got me started watching Cruella with a pause in the video to say goodbye and walk the dogs.   There was a little dog that resembled Amber in the movie.

I seem to be getting a few more things done around the house now that I cut off the TV cable bill. Oh I'm still trying find the end of the internet but I get more breaks.  The local news is online livestream too.

My Week

 I found a video of myself from the Pittsfield Civil War reenactment presentation on the Soldiers Aid Society https://www.facebook.com/rose.connolly/posts/10223508987705583?notif_id=1623898915443575&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

Tuesday morning exercise classes were canceled. So I got my yard mowed while we are between the two heat wave days.  Then I took Amber to the nursing home for tricks. 

Wednesday was busy with 2 agility practices.  One at 8:30 and another at 6:30

Alan picked out a car to replace the Passat Wolfenburg that was totaled a week ago.

Thursday I went to open practice at the club.  Things were set up like a dress rehearsal for the weekend obedience trials. Some that came were clearly not ready. I was disappointed when Amber didn't sit when I stopped.  Sitting is expected to be a silent command on my halt.  I left a little early to go to the check presentation by DAR at the Dana Thomas house.  

 

In the evening I went to my Agility 104 class.  I'm thinking I'm in over my head in 104. I'm so lost and don't know the path with the cones on the back side of the obstacle indicating entry around it from the other side.

Friday we had a heat advisory.   I had an appointment at a new facility for Amber to perform tricks and had them fill out the memorandum of agreement with TDI inc on liability.  The activity director that scheduled this appointment was out sick so I dealt with the facility director.  The previous act was a piano player and I'm told he arrived late and ran overtime.  It was very warm in that sun room.  Even a couple that came in through the patio door seemed to bring a blast of cooler air from outside.  With this, it was hard to motivate Amber who wanted to lay on the cool floor.  Still, We did a good 20 minute routine that went slow and had breaks.  The residents seemed to enjoy it as I pulled out a bunch of props from the suitcase and even had her hide in the suitcase.

Saturday I did our obedience trials. The more difficult one was first and Amber passed with flying colors (for a blue ribbon) of 193 out of 200 points.  The others in our class both failed. My number was 11 and 39.

After being declared a passing score, I had Amber take a bow for judge and volunteers after being declared a success on this test on Saturday but never repeated after that. Beginning luck I guess.

Amber Novice A leg 2

 Then I had to wait for the last of the day trial and it was even easier ~Beginner Novice A.  We failed!  She didn't sit at the finish and stopped in the middle of her recall.  The judge said "try again tomorrow".  That night, I wrote that on the bathroom mirror.  

I failed to title again trying for "AKC Beginner Novice A" and "AKC Novice A".   Both categories have 3 failed attempts each. Need one more in each category to title. I'm wearing down tho. 
But she never ran out of the ring zooming around.

Sunday's Novice A, Amber is #39

Saturday's Beginner Novice A, Amber is #11

 

 Sean came over with Mo. His dog has lost weight and seems rather lethargic.   That dog has more tests later this week.

Sunday was Father's Day. 
One of the things that Father’s Day should provoke is a little quiet remembering - of our own fathers, living and deceased. My own father died 24 years ago - and one of the exercises of death is remembering, and in remembering we learn a lot about the people we grew up with. Especially you who are parents yourselves, I recommend a quiet meditation on your parents - who they really are, and what they gave you, or didn’t give you, and why - what it cost them to be parents, what special and unique and wonderful parts of you are because of what they did and who they are. One of the interesting things about that meditation is how much you can also end up learning about yourself. So first part of my own Father’s Day rambling is to suggest that you spend some time re-collecting your own parents, especially your father. And then perhaps some of the people who also played a father-like role in your life.   

I went to 7AM Mass at Christ the King.  When I arrived, I saw the priest picking up trash in the road in front of the church with a bag and gloves.  It's not in the best neighborhood because it is old but at the same time the interior is so beautiful and old like many European churches.  Hearing was a bit difficult since the old style alter is still in place with the priest's back to the congregation.  But I still think the echo in the cathedral is worse. My parish seems to be leaning liberal.  I feel like I'm being treated like a leper.

“Don't seek to be happy; let everyone else chase after that rainbow.

Seek to be kind, and you'll find the rainbow follows you.”

 

My Week

There were many graduation parties in my neighborhood this past week.  I often wanted to throw a party for Sean's college graduation and subsequently rent the legion hall but he was against the idea.  We just had dinner together.  Tuesday I went on a walk-about with the Capitol Canine Dog Training Club.  

Tuesday was also the day that Alan's car got backed into while parked outside a clinic. 

Now to stress over  a replacement when used cars are at a premium over new cars.  Wednesday  morning I had an early morning practice in Mechanicsburg before things got too hot.  In the evening we had an Amvets meeting.

Thursday I went to our open practice which I hope will pay off in a week at the obedience trial.  Here's the figure 8 practice.  We are trying to simulate the trial when a judge comes.

 

Friday Amber had her annual veterinary exam.  I brought her with me to my 7:45-8:15 exercise class with the hatch open and facing the glass doors of my exercise class. Then took her to her 8:30 appointment and waited awhile.  She also had her documentation faxed to Therapy Dog.  

Shortly after that I left to volunteer at the Edgewood Golf Course for an outing that would partially benefit my VFW post.  I had no idea what the job would be but it was selling shots out on the course for $5. I learned about "cherry bombs" and "peanut butter whiskey". It was just over 90 degrees but I was in the shade.

Saturday I went to Decatur for teacup agility with "Dinky Dogs" club.  Amber came into this trial with 2 legs in beginner standard and needed one more.  She did it.  Then I moved up to intermediate and didn't pass on the 1st try at that level. 

There's a 1st place hidden behind the title ribbon

We did an agility game called mute.  Gestures only to follow a numbered course.  It wasn't perfect and I was deducted 5 points for an off course but we still passed.  Also there was a sneaky maneuver coming off the dog walk to make a sharp turnaround into a tunnel that went under the dog walk.  Amber did look perplexed but I coaxed her into that tunnel.  Ya know, she pants with a heavy breath running these courses but I really believe she's happy doing it and showing off.  Amber Ann got two titles this weekend at the Decatur Dog Training Club in Warrensburg. Teacup Beginner Agile Dog (TBAD) and Teacup Games I (TG1). We started on Intermediate level now.

Weekend haul with 2 title ribbons

As of now, I have these titles on my club's report.  Next week I hope to add AKC Novice.

Saturday we had a record high temp of 96.

The fireflies are back.  Missed them little sparkles.

My Week

Tuesday I took Amber to the nursing home and I later got a call from the activity director from an affiliated assisted living to bring Amber.  So we set up a date for Amber to perform tricks. I just recall unpleasant visits at assisted facilities in the past.  I was put in a room and nobody came.  In addition, residents are allowed pets of their own and family brings in their own pets so sometimes a therapy dog is no big deal.  In the evening I went to the  Lincoln Tomb for the first flag lowering  ceremony.  I did not participate because they wanted  the Soldiers Aid Society to wear a mask at an outdoor event.  Besides, the crowd was very light because of late advertising.

Wednesday was double agility class day.  I went to Mechanicsburg for training early at 8AM and then to a different location in Rochester at 6:30.  The gnats were terrible in Rochester.

Thursday's practice at the Capitol Canine Training Club was a great mock up of the upcoming obedience trial.  We had lunch afterward.  I also went  to practice Friday evening.  Amber is not doing well with her off leash heeling.  I've got trial in 2 weeks.

This is a video of a virtual run of Amber and I doing "jumpers" agility and was taken in Mechanicsburg.  Unfortunately it is not a qualifying run because of a course setup error:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTiHXue3hHE

Saturday I went to Lake Pittsfield for a reenactment.  I set up a table and described the Soldiers Aid Society to visitors.  I made the banner just the day before.

This was followed by a fashion show and various ladies had a chance to be detailed before the crowd. 

https://www.facebook.com/1615723034/videos/10223426995735835/

The weather was hot like 89-90 but the gnats were non-existent as they were in the past.   Then in the evening I went Civil War dancing at the Old State Capitol.  I sat next to Mary. Lincoln (Pam Brown) for awhile. I chit chatted about Pittsfield.   I told her there had been a lot of gnats in the past.  I suggested perhaps they sprayed this year. She just looked at me and said “COVID?” as if it's a good thing.  I joined the Springfield International Folk Dancers since I had practiced.  The 3 of these 4 ladies in my Soldier’s Aid Society huddled at the gate greeting people with masks (one on the left is an employee so she had to mask).  You can sure who is on what side. The only ones at this evening event to do so.  I only saw one in a mask at the Pittsfield reenactment.

Monday I went back to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.  Apparently I got on an "every other Monday" schedule with 1st Mondays.  There were 3 Mondays in May so I have 2 Monday's in a row.

RANT

I noticed that on "Nextdoor" social media site that someone posted a photo of a lot of feces that she claimed someone had thrown over the fence.  Quick to accuse but the comments all backed up the fact that raccoons do their duty like that in a corner.  They complain about dog poop a lot.  I could complain about the food trays thrown from cars full of food and shakes that attract all the opossums and raccoons. 

Then on Facebook another quick to accuse that someone had stolen a floral spray from her husband's grave placed 2 weeks earlier.  All the comments were pity and shame on whomever took it.  Then I pointed out links to the floral policy at national cemeteries "Fresh-cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Artificial arrangements are not allowed from April 15 through October 10. All flowers will be removed when they become faded or unsightly, at the discretion of cemetery staff."