Week 15 - Cookies, LL, MSO

 Sunday, April 21, 2024

After church I wanted to make the sugar cookies from the recipe Laura gave me.  It makes a large batch, calling for 1 cup of oil, 1 cup of butter and 5 cups of flour.  I was short on oil.  When Laura called she suggested cutting halving the recipe.  That made a lot of sense, and that's what I did.  They came out really nice.

Watched baseball and read.

Monday, April 22

Not much happening

Tuesday, April 23

It was nice meeting with the Ladies of Lee-sure again after a long winter and ladies taking in the sun.  We had lunch at the Fitz in the Ambassador Hotel.  We had the room mostly to ourselves.  Our waitress was very nice and it was a classy atmosphere.

I was in time to play some sheepshead and read the mass.

I'm putting together material for our travel talk.  I was going to talk about how I spent 3 1/2 months on a ship.  I love reading my blog.

Wednesday, April 24

I got to sheepshead early, but did not do very well.

I got back just in time to pick up my lasagna dinner and lentil soup.  It was quite good and the soup was hot.

I got to the Club Room for the travel talk; no one was there.  I thought I had the wrong day or room.  Dwight and Marleen came in and they, too, were expecting more people.  We chatted a while about our travels, until Marilyn Minor came, and she added to our conversation.  I called Barbara Leigh and she said that she'd be down shortly.

I never referred to the talk I had planned, but the four or us enjoyed sharing various experiences during our travels.  It was very informal and fun. 

Friday, April 26

Liszt concert was magnificent.  I never saw or heard a more spectacular pianist.  Stewart Goodyear is remarkable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Goodyear

Crummy weather, a good day to stay indoors and work on my finance spreadsheet.

Saturday, April 27

After my hair I picked up some groceries at Festival Foods.  It was very windy.  I ordered an Android Navigator.  Claude said that he would help me install it.

week 14 April 14 - 20, 2024 AA Meeting, Red Hats at Coopers Hawk, Domes

 Sunday, April 14, 2024

The day promises to be warm and sunny.  

Church was full with Father Tim officiating.  He did a beautiful homily around a woman crocheting; her busy hands constantly working to create an item with one thread and it was cut only when completed.  She also had to rip when she made a mistake, like we all do in life.  There was also a baptism at mass.

I just stopped long enough at the coffee group to tell Joe Malenda that Maria Susterich died, and how upset I was not seeing a SEW Master Gardener plant sale.

Peter and I went to the Austrian American meeting and Peter was chewed out for being late; he was supposed to be at the board meeting at 12:30.  Now that Adolph is on the Board, we can expect some issues to be brought up.  His first motion was to increase our dues to $1.00 per week ($50 per year!?)  Anita would modify that to $25 per year.  I seconded the motion in order to have a discussion.  I said that there is no need to raise dues; we want to encourage membership and that would certainly not do it; the club does not spend that much that dues would have to be increased.  He also wanted to know how much the printing of the music sheets cost.  Mary McGinnis printed them on her own printer at no cost to the club. Then he asked why we even needed printed sheets; we are an Austrian club, we should have the song memorized.  Adolph and Peter got into it about the chair lift.  We might be looking for a new location.

Anita brought an ice cream cake to celebrate her 90th Birthday.

With temperature in the 70s, we drove to Von Rothenberg, where a lot of other people had the same idea. Evelyn joined us after a while, also another couple from the conversation group.  Soon, all nine of us at the table had something to say.  We stayed until about 5:30.

We drove to Su Casa for margaritas and fajitas.  

I parked in my garage at 8:10 p.m.

Monday, April 15

Another beautiful warm, sunny day.  Getting my apartment ready for cleaners tomorrow.  I spent too much time working on Wordl.

Tuesday, April 16

Peter and I met with Margaret Schmidt, who explained the United Advantage Plan. It sounded pretty good to me, so we both signed up.  When Peter realized that fitness was not included, and he would have to pay to go the the Y, he changed his mind.  He really wanted something that included dental and hearing aids, but he decided the fitness was worth more to him.

Cleaners worked on my room while we met with Margaret.

Peter took me to Milwaukee Eye Care to pick up my prescriptions, that were correct this time.

I played sheepshead until it was time for the Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting; I turned in three shawls.

I did not go to mass, but instead attended the AI program at Marquette.  Claude was too late signing up, but he could watch a live stream.

The most important point that I understood in Eric Goldman's "Generative AI Is Doomed" lecture is how regulation is going to curtail further development.  There is a tsunami of new bills written to regulate the technology, some may be beneficial, but most are written to restrict expression.

I drove home in the rain.

Wednesday, April 17

Red Hats met at Cooper's Hawk.  I had chicken with pickled vegetables, different, but I would have preferred the chicken Madeira.  Service was very slow, so we didn't have much time to play cards afterwards.

Thursday, April 18

Overcast and rainy day, good for dozing, which I did. Seven of us played dominoes; I won twice.

I had the chicken cacciatore for dinner, and it was very good and warm.

Friday, April 19

Janice came with vegetable raps with a hint of soy and a cauliflower rice salad with a hint of balsamic.  We had tea with an avocado chocolate cake.

I spent rest of the day reading "The Music of Bees".

Friday, April 19

Emma did my hair since Joclyn was on a trip.

I picked up some non-alcoholic wine and regular Pinot Grizio at Total Wine.  Then drove to the Domes for the Georgia O'Keefe show.

This seemed to be the focus.

I also visited the desert.

We were invited for fondue dinner at Jay and Laura's.  Peter was late picking me up because he could not find his keys.  When we got back I was going to lend him his spare keys from my glove box.  

We visited and had a lovely fondue of bread, green pepper strips, roasted vegetable ham with a salad; there was ice cream and berries for dessert. Laura tried a different fondue mix that Jay bought at Aldi; it was better than from scratch, with less work.

I reminded Peter that I would get his keys when we got back.  "Don't bother", he said.  They were in his vest pocket all the while.

I worked on Spelling Bee until I got to Genius at 12:15 a.m.

Week 13 April 8 - April 13 Janice Collin's farewell, Ernie's Memorial, Dinner at Polish Center, Peep's Show, Ernie's Funeral

 Sunday, April 7, 3034

Lectored  at mass.  Gathered for a short while afterwards.

Cut up the basil rolls

We gathered to bid Janice Collins farewell as she is moving to a facility in Delafield to be near her family. Her son expressed his gratitude for what we did; it was mostly Cookie who was the organizer and Sue Cotrell and Anne Hahn who lived with her in East Castle before moving to SRS.

Now Eleanor and I are planning a memorial service for Jackie and Dan's son Erniee tomorrow night.

Monday, April 8

I took Charlotte to a doctor's appointment for 2:30 p.m. at Aurora Sinai on 12th and State, during the lunar eclipse.  The skies were gray as we were leaving, but we came out of the doctor's office to bright, sunny skies.

I found music on YouTube to play at the memorial service, and made baked tortilla strips.

The Club Room was filled by 7:00 p.m. while we listened to "Joyful", written and played by Ernie's cousin, Pete Malinverni.

Jackie and Dan shared stories about Ernie, there were a few comments afterward from others who remembered meeting Ernie. I read 

                                                       THE PASSING OF A SOCCER PLAYER (FOOTBALL)

Soccer's a match made in heaven

Which is fan-tastic news for me

And heaven's a level playing field

Where anyone can kick off for free 

The referee needs no introduction

Or whistle for a foul blow

When God raises his eyebrows

None argue with the penalty or throw 

The transfer window never closes

As new  players arrive all the time

There's always a top team to play on

As for the kit, I just wish I'd brought mine 

We kick off side by side in a minute

Cheered by old family, teammates and friends

Football's really a blast in heaven

After your first whistle the matches never end 

Michael Ashby

We lingered after most of the people left.

Tuesday, April 9

While we were playing sheepshead, Eleanor Harris walking with her arm in a sling; she tripped and fell in exercise class and broke her wrist.  Exercise is hazardous to one's health.

I read at mass, trading with Rita Edwards so that I'd be free next Tuesday for the MU AI program.  I finished one dish cloth and dropped the last cast-off stitch; I ripped it.

Wednesday, April 10

I went to the Marquette program on water at 12:15 p.m.; it was at 8:30.

I played sheepshead and lost almost $2.00, but I had a few good hands.

Peter and I met at the Polish Center for their Wednesday Café.  I had meatballs on noodles with vegetables, bread and red cabbage with a Polish lager. We danced to the music of an accordion player and got an applause.  We finished at Leon's. 

Got to Genius in Spelling Bee.

Thursday, April 11

Abby drove a group of us to the Racine Art Museum for the delightful Peep show.  Those creations are so imaginative.

Like "Let them eat Peeps"

and Peeps watching the eclipse, all wearing glasses.

The Sugar Shack didn't open until noon, so we had something to eat at Maple Table.  I had a deliciously thick bowl of potato soup.  I was too full to join the group at Sugar Shack, where they had ice cream.

We got home just in time for dominoes and Sea Breeze cocktails.

Saturday, April 13

Peter drove Rita Edwards and me to St. Catherine's church on 51st & Center for Ernie DeDomizio's funeral.  We sat in reserved pews for the readers.  The church was full.  Jackie and Ernie's friend, Corey Thompson, gave touching eulogies: Jackie about Ernie growing up and Corey the A - Z of Ernie's character.

Jacki's friend from some university did the first reading, Rita was the second, and I did the petitions.

Another friend read as the gifts were being presented that represented items in Ernie's life: a soccer ball, school supplies, food for the hungry, etc.

After the mass we gathered in the church basement for sandwiches, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and a nice assortment of cookies and pastries.

More people paid tributes to Ernie.

I finished the day playing Rummycube with Joan Squire, Sandy Mendolsohn and Rita Evans.

 

Week 12 March 31 -April 6 Easter, Ernie's Death, MU Joan Johnson, Bavarian Beer Haus

 Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024

I did the second reading at a packed, standing room mass.

Paula and Mark have been providing after-mass treats, so very kind.

Beautiful decorations greeted Peter and me at the Sorensens'.

Laura had Chex Mix, flavored pecans, and olives ready; Janice added guacamole, taco chips and swirls.

 

Janice had a trivia game that we played while we waited for dinner.
We sat down to a very delicious dinner of spiral-cut ham, scalloped potatoes, a gelatin mold, carrot salad and fruit salad, with Laura's twisted loaf.

After dinner we played Just One where Player 1 selects a card with four words in a column. Player 1 shows the card to the other players, but does not look at the words, and tells them which of the words he is choosing.  The other players write a word on an erasable board that will help Player 1 guess his word.  Next, Player 1 blinds his eyes while the other players display their cards and cancel any duplicate clues.  They place their answers so Player 1 can see them, who tries to guess his word based on the clues. Peter really enjoyed the game, even though he was not as familiar as the rest with some of the words or clues.  

I ordered the game on Amazon; it has excellent reviews.

Monday, April 1, 2024

Dwight Morgan rang my bell mid-morning to let me know that Jackie and Dan's son Ernie had just died.  That was such shocking news.  He was so likeable and full of life.

Complimentary wine drew a lot of people to Happy Hour.  Some discussion about Ernie's death, but not very much.

At about 7:30 p.m. I went to see Jackie and Dan.  We hugged and talked about Ernie.  He was 57 years old, had not been feeling well, vomited quite a bit.  There will be an autopsy.

Tuesday, April 2

Steady rain throughout the day.

Played sheepshead and read at mass; not a whole lot more.

Some kickback on our Breakfast "Group"; Cookie Anderson is organizing a What's Going On "Group".

Wednesday, April 3

The Marquette "Get to Know" program featured Library Director Joan Johnson, who told of her remarkable career leading up to her current position.

Afterward, I played sheepshead.

Thursday, April 4

Not much happening: Dominoes and the cocktail hour hosted by East Castle to make us aware of their rehab services.

Friday, April 5

Before going to pick up my new glasses at Milwaukee Eye Care, I stopped at Charlotte's apartment to see if she needed anything.  She was involved in a car accident on Easter Sunday.  She gave me her audio CDs to return to the Shorewood Library.  

The man brought my new glasses and put them on his desk.  The looked unusually thick.  He told me to try them on and told me to read from a chart that he handed me.  The whole thing looked blurred.  The doctor entered the wrong prescription.

I returned the CDs to the desk because I didn't know if they go in the drop box; I also asked if CDs could be dropped off at any library, and they can.  As I was leaving, the librarian called after me to let me know that CD 1 was missing.  I'm glad that I made that little stop talking to the librarian

A group of us read two plays in the club room.

Saturday, April 6

My new neighbor Linda came down for breakfast, and a nice group filled the table; we needed an extension. I had my hair cut.  Next to drop off Charlotte's audio disc at the Franklin Library.  I wanted a basil plant, but the ones at P & S on 76th and Rawson looked limp and brown.  Sendik's on Rawson were very nice.  I used so much energy looking for things in an unfamiliar store.  I would never have found sun dried tomatoes without help. I was pretty worn out when I reached my car.  Then drive home, unpack and put everything away.

Peter and I went to the Bavarian Bierhaus to celebrate "half way to Octoberfest".  We tasted the tapped beer and had half steins of our own.  I had a Bavarian wiener, Peter had some sausage.

Peter came over to try his Spanish disk in his laptop.  It is a very nice learning tool for Spanish words.