Around the World

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Saint Rita Square featured travel collections of places some of us have been.

Jeanne Heinen had the biggest collection from many countries.

Jackie Haessley had posters, photos, dolls and a running Power Point.

Barbara Todd's collection was from Africa and Turkey.

Anne Hahn had treasures from Mexico.

I had various items, plus my travel logs and Power Point on my Chrome Book.

Medical Follow-up

 Thursday, March 17, 2022

My appointment with Dr. Kristopoulos was at 8:30 a.m.  My weight was 164 lbs., less than before; blood pressure, 135/75, a whole lot better than 200/88.  Dr. K mentioned getting stents in the two remaining arteries.  I have no chest pains and I'm feeling much better; therefore, we decided to not have stents at this time, but see how I'm doing in three months.  He'll see me in June.

It was March Madness/St. Patrick's Day at SRS.  Mostly everyone was wearing green and no masks; masks are optional starting this week.  Activities were set up, but I didn't see much participation, mostly small group chatting.  There were complimentary sandwiches, cookies, chex mix, popcorn and green beer.  I had a small sandwich, a couple bags of chex mix and a little green beer.

We played dominoes in the dining room, because other areas were occupied.

March Red Hat

 Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Terry suggested Swaye Tea on Greenfield Avenue in West Allis. I reserved a table for seven, but we had to squeeze closer when Rita and Char came.  We had one long table; no other diners were in this very small restaurant.  Jars of various teas lined one wall and we each chose different teas that came brewed in a press.  Because shipments of some products did not arrive, not all items on the menu were available.  Terry thought we would all have the tea service, but I declined, as did most of the others; I did not care for all the pastries.  Only one person operated the shop as cook and waitress.  Each person's plate came separately and took a long time to prepare.  By the time the tea service came those who were served first were ready to leave.  I ordered a salad with roasted beets, pecans and raisins on a bed of greens with balsamic dressing.  It was very good.  Terry, Julia, Janice and Jane shared the tea service: a tiered platter of pastries and fruit with another tray of egg salad sandwiches.  I think each person paid about $18, which I thought was very expensive.  Each person did not get a whole sandwich, but small quarters.  There were more pastries than substance.  Terry was still hungry.  I'm glad I chose the salad instead of the tea service.

I stopped at Walmart in West Milwaukee for a soap pump, then at Fresh Thyme for produce.

In the evening we had haiku and limericks. 

Cat Food Mix-Up/Brad, Janice and Colin Dinner

Sunday, March 13, 2022

On the way to mass I put a container of clover-shaped cookies on the counter of the Trattoria just as Gilbert met me wearing a leprechaun costume.  I offered him a cookie and he gratefully took two, telling me his Birthday was on St. Patrick's day.  

We celebrated the feast of Saint Joseph's Day (coming on March 19), with a triple-tiered display in the vestibule, referred to as tavolata, laden with sculpted bread, fresh fruits, vegetables and sweets.  During a time of famine, Italians prayed to Saint Joseph for rain and promised that if he answered their prayers, they would dedicate a feast day in his name every year to feed the hungry.  When the rains came, crops were planted, and the people were able to rise up and thrive again.  From their crops, they prepared a grand feast and with their neighbors in need, they feasted together.  After mass everyone received a little gift bag with two buns.

The cookies were a hit and one lady came up to the group asking who made those delicious cookies.  As we were sitting, Charles came through with a large Chewy carton; I thought he was delivering my order, but nothing was at me door.  Later, my door bell rang with Deb presenting me with two cans of cat food that she said were misdelivered to Charles.  I told her that was probably my order, but my order would not have come in such a large carton.  I met Charles, who straightened the problem that his wife had ordered dog and cat food which was delivered to him, but he doesn't have a cat or a dog.  I took the carton that Deb dropped off and returned it to her.  She was sharing the cans with other cat owners.

I did some cleaning before Janice, Brad and Colin came with dinner.  At 4:00 p.m. they came laden with a carton of food plus an electric pressure cooker.  While we visited, I got at email that my Chewy shipment was delivered.  Brad and Colin went down to get it, but nothing was in the mail room.  I thought maybe it had been delivered between the doors, but it wasn't there either.  Janice prepared dinner mostly in her pressure cooker and we sat down to a delicious meal of a mash potato and kale dish, beans, Irish soda bread and a green goddess salad, finishing off with a no-flour chocolate cake with mint frosting. Janice found some Celtic music to accompany our dinner.

 I gave Janice and Colin each a scrubby dish cloth as we finished our visit.  The Chewy shipment was not outside the building either.

Angioplasy with Stent

 Wednesday, March 9, 2022

I was at the check-in desk at 12:10 p.m. for my 12:30 p.m. appointment, thanks to Claude driving me there.  At 12:56, I was hooked up to an IV.  A 3:08, I was seen by an anesthesiologist.  My blood pressure was way over 200.  I got many combinations of drugs to reduce it before my surgery.

The surgery room was filled with all kinds of apparatus.  I saw Dr. Kostopoulos behind a glass screen, and many other nurses and doctors were in the room.  I was shaved in the right groin where an incision would go and my right wrist was strapped down.  I felt nothing except a belly ache.  I have no idea how long this took before I was wheeled into my room on the 10th floor.

I had a heart monitor and an IV and felt nauseous.  I ordered a veggie stir-fry, but couldn't eat it.  There were a couple of saltines, but that didn't appeal to me.  I also had some ginger ale.  I had to vomit, which was very painful, mostly the result of all the medications that I was taking.  My blood pressure remained high and a medication was put in the intravenous tube.  With all those medications, it went down to an acceptable rate.  But I had nothing to eat.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

I had a great night's sleep, until a tech came to give me meds at 3:45 a.m.  I was able to get back to sleep and slept soundly.  I got up to wash and brush my teeth and ordered oatmeal, an orange and cranberry juice for breakfast that I ate at a small table.  I felt a little queasiness. Lucyna Kapel came to take blood and I can't remember having a more friendly person.  Again, my blood pressure was higher, but not as high as 200.  Dr. Kostopoulos came in to explain that I had one stent that was inserted from the groin; the artery had 90% blockage, but the new technique of an expanding balloon will work very well.  He also predicted that I may need stents in the other two arteries.  I will see him in one week.  Lucyna came in again because another sample was needed. Again, she was in good humor.  Dr. Kostopoulos' assistant came in and explained what was done and precautions to take.  She said my kidney function was good; that was good news.  A cardiac specialist came with information suggesting a rehab program at St. Luke's which I would have to attend two times weekly.  He also had information about diet and self-directed exercise.  There is a lot to read.  A nurse came with discharge instructions: some changes in medication and care for the incisions.  Claude would be able to pick me up at 11:30 a.m.  

Tyler provided Claude with a wheel chair to take me to my room.  I tried eating a little pasta salad.  We turned on the TV, but I thought going to bed was the better idea.  Claude pulled down the blinds and I curled up in bed.  Claude stayed for awhile.  I felt very refreshed when I woke up at 4:10 p.m.

Emergency Room

 Tuesday, March 8, 2022

As I was walking to my room Sunday, I took off my mask while walking.  The mask pulled out my left hearing aid, it fell on the carpet and I stepped on it.  I put the broken piece into my ear, and it still worked!  I saved $2500!

It worked for a couple of days.  This morning I was up early and looked something up on my computer.  I put my finger to my ear, for no apparent reason, and I felt something sharp.  My hearing aid!  I tried removing it with tweezers, but I was afraid that I would push it farther in.  I went to Aurora Emergency on 12th and State.  I'm glad this was not a critical emergency.  I was the only one there and had to wait a pretty long time until someone came to see my in the patient treatment room.  The first thing the nurse did was take my blood pressure - 200/88!  That is alarming; however, I did not take any of my medications this morning, including my blood pressure pills.  She took it again, but still high.  A doctor pulled out the hearing aid piece with some long tweezers and asked if I'd like my ear wax removed.  That was a good idea.  It took a while for two nurses to do that job, but there was a lot of wax.  I lay down for awhile and the nurse took my blood pressure again; it was even higher.  I got instructions to take my medication immediately when I got home.

I made some hot oatmeal and raisins with an orange for breakfast.  I'm searching recipes to turn my diet around.  Eating at SRS is not healthy, a lot of carbs and fat.

I was early enough for the strength exercise.

I joined a group in the Club Room for an global warming Zoom.

When I got to my room I made a huge pot of turkey chili, with a lot  of beans.  I shared some with Allan.   

I came out just about even in sheepshead, then to mass.

I received many good wishes and prayers for my procedure tomorrow.

COVID Test

Monday, March 7, 2022

We did our balance exercise in the Club Room with video and no music.  It was steady, with no interruption, which made it quite strenuous.

It took me 25 minutes to get my COVID test at St. Luke's via State St./27th St.  Parking was convenient now that I know which parking structure to use.  The test was 2 minutes.

I found a frozen chicken thigh and corn for supper.

I was not looking forward to Janice's check-in call, expecting her to voice her objections to my stent procedure.  But it was just the opposite.  She just came back from Fort Myers and was so cheerful, without any mention of my upcoming hospital visit.

Double Meals

 Sunday, March 6, 2022

I made a pasta salad for the pot luck this afternoon, made a ham and cheese omelet and cleaned up the kitchen.

The cantor looked so much like Janice that I took her picture.

After mass I went right to Walgreen's for photo prints of a dog for the loss of Dan and Jackie's dog.  It would have taken too much effort to walk to me apartment for a coat, then walk to the garage.  I saved time also.  On the way to my apartment I took off my mask that pulled out my left hearing aid and I stepped on it.  The piece that fits into my ear was broken, but it still worked!

I was at Peter's house at 12:30 p.m. for the Austrian Club meeting and lunch.  Peter was surprised to find out that he would be chairing the meeting because Frank was in the hospital.  It would have been nice had Peter had an agenda to follow, because after the meeting he realized he omitted things that he would like to have covered.  Subs would not be delivered unless they were ordered on line.  By the time everyone filled out their preference, John calling in the order then picking them up it was after 2:00 p.m.  Subs were a good idea since there was less clean-up.  There were plenty of desserts.  Peter and I left at 3:15 p.m. and he drove directly to SRS instead of going to his house to pick up my car.  (it has a scrape on the passenger side, also the skirt in front is pulled off).  We got to the Pot Luck just before 4:00 p.m. as dishes were being arranged.  There was quite an array of dishes, both hot and cold.  We must have had 50 people there.  It was a very enjoyable event.  Everyone had a good time.

I ordered a night shirt and a replacement head for Peter's razor.  Then he drove me to his house for my car.

I finished the evening making a card for Dan and Jackie.

Festival Symphony

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Jackie Haessly came with a shopping cart full of yarn for my to choose from.  I selected enough to keep me in stitches for a lot of shawls.  I had to really speed to get to my 9:30 a.m. hair appointment.  I got there at 9:20.  I saw the price tags on the yarn and gave Jackie $20; she gave me a hug.  Their dog had to be put down and Dan is taking it rather hard.  I looked up my dog photo and will make a card for him.

I did major grocery shopping at P & S at Hwy 100; I have supplies for some turkey chili.

Peter arrived at 1:30 p.m. for the Festival Symphony; two days in a row at the Warner.  The music was beautiful and well done, ending with the lively "Rodeo".

We went right home instead of going out to eat.  I still had some of Laura's Mexican chicken soup.

I made lemon bars for the Austrian American meeting tomorrow to go with the subs Frank ordered.  Doug Scott took a downward turn with a brain tumor that was removed, a stroke and recurring of cancer.

I finished a shawl and started another with yarn from Jackie

 

Symphony

 Friday, March 4, 2022

Nine of us went to the symphony in our own cars; it was not a SRS event. I drove alone, since everyone else was in other cars.  Parking in the lot behind the Warner was $20. The tickets at Will Call were in my name to distribute in the lobby.  Denise, who is wheel chair bound had not arrived yet and not only I wondered how she was going to get there, because no one had a vehicle equipped to carry her very cumbersome chair.  I called Jaimee at SRS to find out if Denise had a ride.  As I'm talking on the phone, Denise came rolling in.  She came on the bus.  It is gratifying to see how disabled people are accommodated by so many services.

The pre-concert talk was an interview with a French horn/Wagner tuba player; I just learned about a new instrument.  The Wagner tuba was introduced by Wagner who wanted a sound louder than a French horn and not at loud as a tuba.  The hall was sparsely filled for the talk, but was full for the concert; mostly gray and all stages of disability.  There was a full row of students ahead of me.

Conductor Ken-David Masur welcomed everyone and said the concert will be dedicated to the Ukraine people.  He opened with a Ukrainian piece after which was a moment of silence.  It was very moving.  Mozart's Concerto No. 23 featuring pianist Jorge Federico Osorio got a standing ovation.  And Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 had beautiful themes in all four movements with a powerful climax.  I should not have read Janice's message about my stent procedure.  She insists my condition could be reversed with a change in diet.  I could not give full attention to the concert.

Barbara Leigh called to tell me that Rikki wasn't feeling well for our fish fry date at Alioto's.  So it would be just Peter and I.  I arrived at 5:20 p.m. for our 5:30 reservation.  I had a meatless salad, Peter had the two-piece fish plate.  By 6:00 p.m. people were crowding around the desk, being the first Friday of Lent.  We finished the evening at the bar with a beer for Peter and a diet Coke for me.  I undid my reduction in calories with too many Girl Scout cookies that I bought this afternoon.

Dr. Kostopoulus

 Thursday, March 3, 2022

I got to St. Luke's early for my 2:15 p.m. appointment.  When I checked in at the desk, Dr. K was in building 3, I was in building 1.  I had to take at elevator to 3 then walk a very long distance to another elevator that would take me to the 8th floor.  A very helpful nurse Terri took me to the second elevator, but I had to sit down when we were almost there, because I could not keep up with her.  She was about to get me a wheel chair, but I could see the elevators and I was sure that I could make it.

I checked in, didn't sit for very long and I was called.  The first thing the nurse did was take my blood pressure.  It shot through the roof.  After all that walking and stress, who wouldn't have high blood pressure?  Then she took an EKG.  She took my BP again after I rested, but it was still high.

Dr. K saw me with two of his assistance and talked about a stent that he said he mentioned when I saw him prior to my kidney surgery.  He explained the procedure and asked if that is something I would consider.  He would put a tube into my right wrist, and if I needed another stent, into my groin area.  If that was going to relieve my chest pains and shortness of breath, of course I'd consider it.  I am scheduled for Wednesday, March 9.  I will get instructions today.

I didn't have as much trouble getting back to my car, since I knew where I was going and I walked slowly.

I headed toward Leon's; I thought I needed a reward.  I passed Leon's, turned around and headed for SRS.  That took super will power!

I picked up some meds at Walgreens that will prepare me for the procedure.

The players were putting the dominos away when I got back.  Donna offered to keep the dominos and be in charge next week because I might not be here since I'll be overnight at St. Luke's.  I don't know how I'll feel after the procedure.

Paczki Day

 Tuesday, March 1, 2022

March came in like a lamb, mild and in the 40s.  Last night I called Sendik's to order paczki for today.  The lady said their paczki are not authentic,  but someone would be making "authentic" paczki outside their store starting at 8:00 a.m.  

I was at Sendik's before 8:00 a.m. and a couple of people were already waiting.

I asked if they sold them by the dozen and the man said they were quite expensive: $3.00 each, plus tax.

I settled for 6.  When I got home I gave some to some Polish friends: Rosemary, Carol, Anne and Joe.  Then I had breakfast in the dining room.

At noon I was at Book Club discussing America's First Daughter.

At 2:15 we were already playing sheepshead, then mass at 4:00 p.m

I had dinner with Allan who complained about infection in his leg.

I can't wait to see Dr. Kostopoulos on Thursday.  My chest pains are of some concern.