Week 8: Mayor Johnson, Kinship, La Fuente, MU RNC, MSO Ravel; Irene, Buttermint

 Sunday, March 3, 2024

Uneventful day, I itemized expenses and got my desk in order. I called Peter to see if he was all right.  He was busy doing things around the house.

Monday, March 4

Started the day with balance via video. I discovered a great way to have tuna, in a tuna rice bowl; it was quite good.

Tuesday, March 5

I did strength workout and worked puzzles with some cold water afterwards.  We played sheepshead from 12:30 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m. to be allow time to attend a talk by Mayor Cavalier Johnson.  The Cannoli Room was filled for he talk on what his goals are for Milwaukee.

Read at the 4:00 p.m. mass

Made a shrimp stir-fry for supper.

Wednesday, March 6

I played sheepshead all afternoon with Terry, Linda, Glenn and Dean; I lost 80 cents; but it was a good afternoon.

I was planning on picking up a quesadilla from a truck, but I called Peter instead and we met at La Fuente and had fajitas and margaritas.  It was so much better than eating alone.  Peter appreciated getting called to eat out.

In the evening I attended the Civic Engagement meeting, mostly as an observer.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

I've had it with fitness.  The multiple conversations are deafening, between Barbara and Lanore.  Then, someone else pipes in.  Abby doesn't help the situation, by bringing up a topic and everyone responds at once.  I leave too upset.

I went to Marquette for a a talk by two women who are heading the Republican Convention in Milwaukee.  I'm not interested in the candidates, but this is a major event for the city and the organization takes a great amount of manpower and competence to carry it through.

My alarm alerted me at 6:20 p.m. that I had a Kinship reception to attend.  Luckily, it was only 4 minutes away on Van Buren.  I squeezed into a parking lot and entered a very large hall packed with people.  I circulated around the room and helped myself to a roast beef sandwich and picked up a pino noir wine.  There were not as many chairs as people, and when the director Vincent approached me, we chatted and he thanked me for my support.  He said that I should find a seat near the front for the program.  I sat in one of the front tables and was soon joined by Darlene and her friend P (from India); Darlene also did not care to stand for any length of time. She is a resident of Clement manor and volunteers in produce.  Daryl (former resident of SRS) works in hospitality.  

It was an excellent program of people telling what they do to make life better for others.  I am so glad that I found such a worthy cause to support.

Father Tim, in a bright red sweater (Bishop's colors) thanked everyone also and said the blessing.  Everyone took a bag of coffee as they left.

Friday, March 8

Rita Edwards and I rode with Jackie and Dan Haessley to the Symphony Hall.  Rita and I waited until the doors open at 10:00 a.m. at a coffee shop around the corner.  I had a cappuccino.  Someone had already picked up SRS tickets, so we had to get replacements.

Leonard Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On the Town were very melodic.  That was followed by Maurice Ravel's Concerto in G major featuring pianist George Li, a diminutive man of Chinese descent, with a command of the piano with such force and delicacy.  He played an encore that we did not recognize.  The orchestra played more Ravel after intermission, Valse notles et sentimentales, and finished with An American in Paris.  That really brought the house down.  The conductor conducted the entire concert without music.

We walked in the rain for the SRS bus.

I ripped the shawl that I started with dark colors; it just seemed too stiff.  I'm using larger needles and, hopefully, will have enough yarn to finish.

Irene died yesterday.  https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/irene-zientek-obituary?id=54568827

Saturday, March 9, 2024

I had breakfast with Jackie until it was just about time to go for my hair.  

The wind was bitingly cold.

After my hair I shopped at Festival for a few items; I forgot my shopping bags.

Next I filled up with gas.

My next stop was Fava Tea for some different flavors.

Last on this side of town was to cash my check from Janice at ECU.

It was too early to pick up my Rx at Walgreen's; it would be their lunch time.  I forgot my fob, so I pulled into the drive, went to my apartment for my fob, it wasn't there.  It was still in my mailbox.  The day before I got distracted with all the useable paper in the recycling tub, so I took a lot of paper out and forgot to take my key out of my mailbox.

By that time Walgreen's was open for my Rx.

I unpacked my groceries and took a short nap before getting picked up for dinner.

Jay, Laura and Anton took me to dinner at Buttermint.  Anton and I shared calamari; I had a martini.  I had delicious scallops on a bed of rice for my entrée.  It was absolutely delicious.

Laura seemed rather subdued.

We had a wonderful time together.