Gary Mullarkey

 Monday, June 30, 2025

I made Friendship cookies today for Gary Mullarkey's memorial.  It was great finding cream of tartar in my newly organized spice drawer.  

The recipe made a huge batch that can be shared at the July 4th pot luck.

              

Gary's daughter Michelle and her husband Todd, her two daughters Rylie and Caitlyn and Gary's grandson Adam, who had faithfully taken him to mass, attended the memorial in the library of B Tower together with a nice representation of residents and two caregivers.

The comments by family and residents were touching, especially Adam's, that I was Gary's favorite reader at mass: loud and clear.  Jackie Haessley and I gave shawls to Michelle and Adam and pocket squares to Kaitlyn and Rylie.

There were peanut butter cookies besides my friendship cookies, plus cranberry juice.

Saturday Beer Garden

 Saturday, June28, 2025    

I got up early to make a peach cobbler for our pot luck breakfast; it was deliciously warm.  Dwight Morgan made pancakes on the grill - plenty for all of us, but not the usual large number.

I had my hair done.

The forecast for Sunday is for hot weather, so I suggested going to Estebrook Park with a lunch that I would assemble.  I had cheese crackers and a salad with breadsticks.  We found a table to be as far away as possible from the loud polka band.  We each had a beer.

It was a pleasant afternoon.

Bike Race

 Friday, June 27, 2025

Janice did not come with lunch today because she was in Seattle meeting her Australian pen pal.

I took the opportunity to go with SRS to the Kinship Cafe for lunch.  The seat cushions that I ordered with my UHC plan arrived yesterday and Enrichment Director Betsy Rollbottom put them in the bus.  I could not believe how comfortable the ride to Kinship was, even over bumpy roads.  I might be taking more trips on the bus if the cushions provide a better ride.

 I've eaten at Kinship before, and looked foreword to their chicken breast sandwich, which I ordered.  We put tables together so that our large group could sit together.  But the orders were slow in coming.  Someone would call out our names, which most of us couldn't hear.  Finally, Fr. Gene Pocernich brought two orders and said one was mine.  My sandwich was not a chicken breast, but something rather mushy.  But Gene said he was really enjoying his sandwich; naturally, it was solid, and a chicken breast.

Some of the group wanted a Kopps' custard, and stayed behind for the second group to leave.  Betsy took me and others not wanting custard back to SRS.

Peter and I left for Jay and Laura's bike race party at 5:15 p.m. and had to find a round-about way to get to the neighbor's driveway to avoid blocked streets.  

I did not give Peter very good directions; he figured it out better by going through Estebrook Park on Capitol and ending up on Hampton.  We got there eventually and had ideal parking in the driveway across Laura's alley.

The table was set near the road with plenty of appetizers where we sat, also Annika and her four friends.

We helped ourselves to pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad and cole slaw on the porch.

We cheered as the bikers passed us.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMOKbVie3arbOLj2b5mDb2WLmg5mjQYezbZ6YMY

Filets for Aleksei

 Tuesday, June 24, 2025

My apartment got cleaned this morning while I had breakfast.  I felt rather isolated with private conversations around me, but not with me.

I lectored and read the petitions on the feast of the Baptism of John the Baptist.  I have to make a special trip to the church to practice from the book of readings; the reading on my phone did not match the reading in the book.  Fortunately, I was able to look over the reading before mass.  I also read the petitions.

I picked up Annika for dinner with Jay, Laura and Aleksei.  Aleksei is at home for just a few days before flying to Lake Tahoe to close the sale on the hotel.  He will come again when his business is completed before leaving for Atlanta.

We sat on the patio on a lovely evening until Laura's feast of beef tenderloin filets on the grill with baked potatoes with trimmings and a salad was served, fork tender and delicious. We had cookies for dessert.

The evening turned chilly when a cool breeze came through.

Hottest Sunday

Sunday, June 22, 2025

It was a big mistake going to von Rothenberg on this extremely hot 99-degree day.  You could fry an egg on the pavement.  We found a shady table and Peter got our beers.  We took a couple of sips and decided to take our steins to the indoor bar.  That was a smart idea.  The stained glass windows during the day are lovely, with delicate detail. 

We would have liked to have another beer with some food.  There was some kind of food service in the beer garden, but we didn't want to go outdoors to get it, and the tavern didn't serve food, only pretzels.

I Googled "restaurants" and Bandera's Wood Grill came up, not too far away. It was a huge, Western style restaurant, with separate rooms dividing the place.  We got seated, ordered Riverwest Steins and looked over the large menu.  I ordered a boneless rib sandwich, Peter a burger. The restaurant had a lot of people, and was relatively quiet.  The food was very good, as was the service.  We'll keep this one in mind.

When we got back to SRS, we looked for chargers for Peter's shaver to replace the one I'm returning.  I noticed that all chargers do not fit certain models, so Peter will have to give me the model number.  I also gave him the razor he kept at my house that he forgot he had.

Heat Wave

Saturday, June 21, 2025

I stayed indoors the entire day, just to water the plants on the balcony.  There was a strong wind that didn't help.  The impatiens looked droopy, but some watering seemed to revive. them.

I watched a lot of Endeavor, did a load of laundry and some knitting.

Float Day

Friday, June 20, 2025

Janice came brought a quinoa patty with a creamy chive sauce, peas, and watermelon for lunch, and then served a sorbet in a frozen lemon shell for dessert.  Wonderful and refreshing.

Janice left for a hair cut appointment; I was in time to get a root beer float to those that turned in their Capri Satisfaction Surveys.

I met Brad and Janice at Hart Park to watch Colin play a double header.  The first game was a wash-out, losing +40 - 1; Colin's base hit was responsible for scoring a man on base.  Colin's team won the second game 6 - 5.

Pride Day

 June 19, 2025

I felt proud of all that I did today.  I did a load of laundry and put it away.  Laura gave me some nice storage bins that I used to re-arrange kitchen items.  I moved my spices in alphabetical order to my drawer, and stored less used items in the closet. 

We celebrated June Birthdays today instead of Friday with a pizza party and a keyboard player.  We started outdoors, but sprinkles brought us in followed by a heavy rain.

We gathered on the balcony of the 6th floor balcony in the B Tower to watch fireworks, with snacks that included a mound of shrimp furnished by our Enrichment Directory, Betsy Rowbottom.

The Zoo and Ribs

 Tuesday, June17, 2025

Our new Enrichment Coordinator, Betsy Rowbottom drove four of us to the zoo on a very warm day; the warmest so far.  I thought the zoo trip would be a ride on the zoo-mobile, but after a very bumpy ride on rough roads, it was an independent stroll through the zoo (shuttles were available @ $4.00; I walked).  I would not have made it without my walker.  

My first encounter was with the beautiful flamingos.

I remember the Aviary as a large hall with a lot of birds all around.  I was amazed at the beauty and the settings for different types of birds in their new environment.  A trip to the Aviary was worth the trip to the zoo.  This is just a little remembrance of my visit.

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I wasn't able to see all the animals, but I was satisfied with what I saw; I needed to allow time to meet the group at 12:30 p.m.

Enrichment Director Betsy Rollbottom with Cookie Anderson, Wini Thrall, Gene Pocernich, Me and Steve Bruss

Everyone seemed to be ready for lunch; I was invited for ribs and Jay and Laura's, so I wanted to save room.

We headed for Gille's on Bluemound, but it didn't seem to be open.  We settled for Culver's on Miller Pkwy.  I had a flavor-of-the-day cone with a lot of stuff on something called custard, but tasted more like soft-serve.   

I was glad to get back home.

I watered my plants and attempted to untangle 10 oz. of yarn; I didn't get very far.

Peter called to say that the Spectrum serviceman was at his house and he would not be able to pick me up for dinner at Jay and Laura's; I told him to come whenever he could.  Claude came and then Annika.  We visited in their new shelter.  Laura thought we might be eating indoors, but we've waited all year for a day like today; it was perfect.

Laura had everything ready, just to finish the prepared ribs on the grill.  Peter came just as things were ready.

We enjoyed fabulous ribs with potato salad and beans.

I took Annika home.

Father's Day at the Bierhaus

Sunday, June 15, 2025

I lectored at the 10:30 mass.

Peter and I went to the Bavarian Bierhaus where Peter got two half-liters of beer for Father's day.  We found a table near the Alte Kamaraden band, and I was beginning to call Claude to give him our location, when he walked in.  He had his beer, but not free; he said he wasn't a father.  I was comfortable with my light windbreaker; Claude wore only a shirt.  Part of the band is the 

Alpine horn group.

When I bought two chicken dinners it was considerably warmer at a different location, so we changed tables and had our dinners that were very good; Claude liked it.  There was a little left for me to take home.

I watched African Queen in the Club Room.  I thought the movie started at 7:00 p.m.; it starts at 6:30.

No Kings Day

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Terry Wiggins is on her way to the No Kings demonstration riding the IHop, as were many from SRS.

In Washington, D.C, Trump's birthday parade was a fizzle.

I avoided the downtown streets coming back from my hair appointment.  There was massive turnout for the demonstration.

Symphony/Milaeger's with Jay & Laura

Friday, June 6, 2025 

Uber took Marilyn Minor, Cecile Langford and me to the MSO in a luxury Lincoln that could have accommodated eight.

The concert was lovely, with an interview of Aaron Jay Kernis, the composer of Colored Field (Concerto for Cello and Orchestra) beforehand.  The piece was inspired by the composer's visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau.  An excellent description can be found here.  https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/29520/Colored-Field-Cello-Concerto--Aaron-Jay-Kernis/

MSO's principal cellist, Susan Babini was the featured artist and received abundant applause.

  https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2025/06/03/susan-babini-cello-milwaukee-symphony-orchestra/83917837007/

We were delighted to see Aaron Jay Kernis sitting behind us and had a nice chat with Cecile and Marilyn.

 

Jay and Laura picked my up for Laura's venture into Milaeger's in Racine, where she had never been.  Needless to say, she was amazed and started filling her cart.  Jay cautioned Laura that we should leave because her mother "was getting tired", but she just kept going.  I was satisfied with parsley and two verbena plants.

Next we went to Public Brewing Co., owned by Russ Klisch.  It was large and noisy.  After attempting to order with a Q code, Jay went to the bar and ordered directly.

While we were eating a man with a vulgar tongue was calling off BINGO.  We were surprised of the language in a bar with young people.

It was an experience, but we had a lot of fun.

Productive Day

Thursday, June 5, 2025

All the washing, including bedding and the bed pad, got washed and put away.  I had been missing a pillow case for months and couldn't imagine how it got lost it.  I found it under the bed pad.

I picked up some meds at Walgreen's

Sue Cotrell joined Joan Squires, Eve Sylvester, Mike Bruske and me at dominoes.

Our new Program Manager, Betsy Rowbottom, served ginger beer with rum at cocktail hour.

I was able to do a lot today because I felt hardly any pain.

Stein's, Martyrs of Uganda, Stir fry at J & L's

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

One of my coleuses died and I could use something taller in my planters, like snapdragons.  I also wanted roasted almond butter to make the salad dressing that Janice made.  I found it at Fresh Thyme ($15.99!), also some salad ingredients.

The ramp to I43 on North Ave. was closed.  I drove to Stein's in Wauwatosa.  Watertown Plank Rd. was one lane.  I managed to find a coleus, but no snapdragons.  I settled for Angelonia, that I think would provide the height that I wanted.

I drove back to SRS via Burleigh.  

Jackie gave a presentation on the martyrs of Uganda, where she gave a presentation in 2007.

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-uganda/

I read at the 4:30 p.m. mass, which was the celebration of the martyrs.

We had a heavy downpour mid-afternoon.

I picked up Annika for dinner at Jay and Laura's.  Annika is thrilled with her hydroponic garden; I also gave her a purple scarf.  Their yard is completely tilled and fertile for planting: dahlias and more dahlias.

Laura made a delicious chicken stir-fry with a cucumber salad.

Festa

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Peter and I took the Uber to Festa on a clear, cool, comfortable day.  Claude joined us in time for the 1:00 p.m. mass, Father Tim as the celebrant.  His theme centered around his summer painting job at Allen Bradley: scraping, priming and painting.

After mass, we joined the procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the grounds to the lakefront.

We did not find any entertainment that was in session, but I was in search of an Italian sausage sandwich.  As we thought about it, we were not really hungry, and it was mid-afternoon.  The beer garden at Estabrook Park seemed like a great alternative.

Claude drove Peter and me to SRS and we met at the beer garden.

We had beers with brats for the guys, a hot dog for me.  A man asked if I waltzed.  When I told him the I did, he asked Peter if it was OK; his name was Mike.  We had a nice slow waltz, but I would not have been able to last much longer, with the pain in my hip.

When we got back to SRS, I ordered a cable for Peter's shaver.