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

 

Janice's Double/Broken Hearing Aid/AA Lunch

 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 my 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.

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.

Shopping, Kringle for John Peter, Dinner with J & L

 Saturday, February 26, 2922

Before my hair appointment at noon, I picked up wine at Consumer Beverage: two small bottles, plus a red and white for myself.  At Festival Foods I bought some saltines for a snack recipe.  I needed to do my shopping before my hair because I promised to take John Peter for kringle.

I called John Peter after my hair that I would be at SRS at 1:15 p.m. and I was there on the dot.  John Peter seemed a little apprehensive driving on the freeway, but I assured him that I was a safe driver.  He bought two kringles for our after-mass gathering; I bought a couple of Danish.

We stopped at the Metro Mart on Van Buren for John Peter's prescription, plus some groceries that he needed.  I encouraged him to buy what he needed while he was there.  He was greatly appreciative.

I tried taking a nap when I got to my apartment, but was satisfied with just resting a while.  I found my travel blog and enjoyed reading of my adventures.

We were invited to Jay and Laura's for dinner at 5:30 p.m.  Jay prepared a pasta dish with bacon and cheese with a tossed salad, very delicious with a dessert of warm pears with vanilla ice cream topped with an amaretto cookie.

I shouldn't have asked Peter if his check to the Homeland Security was cashed.  That evolved into a lot of questions and ribbing at his expense.

As You Like It With Laura/Jackie Haessley's Birthday

 Sunday, February 20, 2022

Laura picked me up and dropped me off at the Rep.  On the way I asked if she had her immunization card.  I neglected to tell her, so she did not have it.  I could not access her record online, and the management was very strict.  After a number of tries, Laura suggested that Jay take a picture of it and send it to me.  I called him when I wasn't getting it; he had an incorrect phone number.  Finally, I got the photo and we were all set, except to download the tickets.  When one doesn't do this every day it isn't easy to remember the procedure.  We got to our seats and enjoyed a very lively, musical and funny production.  It was great, even with the anxiety.  I appreciated getting a ride home.

We were celebrating Jackie Haessley's Birthday with a pot luck in the club room.  I brought a bottle of wine.  There was a very nice large gathering.  After everyone left, I stayed to visit with Gene, Don and Jackie.  It was so very nice in a quiet room.