Symphony Friday

Friday, October 10, 2026

The concert was again another winner.  The highlight was a violin concerto featuring a local artist, Julian Rhee. a graduate of Brookfield High School  

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2026/10/08/brookfield-east-grad-featured-in-next-milwaukee-symphony-concerts/92127028007/

He played the very difficult Violin Concerto in D major, Opus 35, by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who was the subject of the preconcert talk about artists who were subjected to the Nazi regime in Austria. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Wolfgang_Korngold

Julian included a Bach encore.

Also on the program was Medea's Dance of Vengeance, by Samuel Barber and Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances Opus 45.

Our bus was at a stop light on Wells and Water when a car ignored the stop light and turned left, lost control of his car, drove into some barricade and smashed his left front of the car.  It looked like a mess.  Abby Hauser alerted an approaching police squad car.  The driver got out of the car, apparently uninjured, but he was waving his fists for some reason.

Pediatrist/Hair/Pizza

Thursday, October 8, 2026

I had to reschedule my hair appointment, because my toenails needed attention.  My appointment was for 11:20 a.m. and I was finished before that time.

I should have taken the dominoes before going for my hair, since I was having a color and would not be finished in time to set up the game.  I called Michael Bruske while my hair was processing to get my bag from behind my bedroom door.  The wind was very strong and gave my hair another style

The game was in progress when I arrived and we eventually had six players.

Peter suggested Pizza Man which I thought was a great idea.  We had red wine and an appetizer before Pizza Man pizza: very thin, crisp crust, loaded with meat, and an attentive waiter.

I ordered suspenders for Peter when we got to my apartment.

Blessing Hello Dolly

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Pets were blessed after mass on Sunday on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and animals.  I didn't think Dolly would have been too happy getting into the carrier and being amid all the other critters, so we did not go.

Cookie Anderson had a special prayer for pets that she wanted to share and asked if I'd like to participate in blessing Dolly.  

Dolly greeted Cookie and Sue Cottrell this afternoon when they came to offer a prayer for Dolly.  I said a special prayer, and then Cookie and Sue said another.

Hello Dolly participated by rubbing ankles and lingered about.  Hello Dolly is such a lovable kitty, I hope these prayers prolong her life with good health.

Father Gene's Help Center

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

I signed up to volunteer at Father Gene's Help Center; Dwight Morgan and Terri Miller were the only other people to answer the call from SRS.  Other Capri communities signed up for other shifts throughout the day.

Because we were so few, I rode with Dwight and Terri; Abby Hauser drove two other staff members from SRS.

Rosemary greeted us and gave us the background of Father Gene's, also a tour or the shopping area.  The shopping area resembles a department store with clothing for all ages arranged attractively.  Patrons were waiting to be checked into the database where they could select the number of items corresponding to their family size.  Patrons may come every three months.

We learned that 4000 clothing items are distributed each day; over 150,000 each year.  Clothing is donated not only from the Milwaukee area, but from other states, since Father Gene's has such a great reputation in its charitable work.  Clothing is also sent to other countries, such as Peru and Ukraine.

We worked at a table in a huge room where the sorting takes place before it is put in the showroom.  We prepared Halloween clothing, women's tops, pants, nightwear and women's coats.  We put the items on hangers; some we also separated by size.

Dwight and I are putting clothes on hangers.

Our St. Rita Square Group after our morning shift.

Father Gene's depends on volunteers to carry out its work, with a very small administrative staff.  People are encouraged to help as often or any length of time they desire.  There was an active crew of helpers today doing various jobs.  

I felt it was time well spent.

https://www.fathergeneshelp.org/

Morning Disaster

Monday, September 28, 2026

My knitting needles were delivered in an outrageously large box that I wanted to share with the breakfast group.  I placed the carton on my walker with my tray with cereal, milk, banana and cup on top.  As I left my apartment, the tray dropped off the walker, causing my beautiful, favorite bowl from Donald to break, plus a cup.  Jim and Eldeen Carpenter helped sweep up the mess, but I am heartbroken by the loss.

I'm starting to work on caps for the MARTA December luncheon and found a simple pattern with a decrease stitch I'm not familiar with.  I encountered a mistake when I selected the Toddler size instead of the Kid, I ripped when I found a dropped stitch that I could not pick up, and I was decreasing incorrectly.  I never did a SSK, and could not understand the pattern telling me that I decreased 8 stitches when I only did 4.  The cap did not look right, so I ripped again before the decrease.  Good old YouTube, which I should have consulted first, showed me exactly how to do this decrease.

As I was going to meet the Needlework Group, Shirley Bascom asked if I was going to play sheepshead with Bob Koebert at the Catholic Home.  I thought someone else might have liked to go, so I was not planning on going.  Since a fifth player was needed, I gladly agreed.

Chuck Boucher drove Shirley, Jack Champagne and me

We met Annie Hahn, who is recuperating after collapsing in her apartment.

Bob had a room reserved for us, the same as last week.

We played for and hour, and I'm sure we lifted Bob's spirits.

Dr. Gundamraj/Errands

Friday, September 25, 2026

Peter agreed to pick me up after my appointment and we'd go to breakfast. That seemed like a good plan since I fasted for my lab work.

Dr. Gundamraj gave me a good report and asked me what I did for my complexion.  She'll see me next year.  But I won't make an appointment the day after my Birthday when I can't celebrate because I have to fast.

Peter was completely bewildered when I called; he forgot our arrangement.  But he insisted on picking me up and taking me home.

We stopped at Bunzel's for some ground chuck and ground turkey, also fresh liver sausage and Sciortino rolls.  I picked up cash at the ECU on Center Street and learned how to get my own bills.  Because Peter likes to go through Van Buren with a stop light, he made a little detour to go past Pick 'n Save; I could use some wine, I also bought a six-pack of beer.

So doing these errands was a lot better than going to breakfast.

I fixed some liver sausage sandwiches on buns, with Laura's pickles that we had with beer.

My 94th

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Since my Birthday fell on the same day as the Complementary Happy Hour, I thought it would be nice to treat SRS with cake.  Abby Hauser said that she would provide plates, napkins and forks and the kitchen staff would cut the cake.

I ordered a full sheet pan carrot cake from Sima's, and Peter agreed to deliver it.

Before breakfast on Monday, I asked Chef Ein if there would be someone to cut the cake. He apologized and said that he was short staffed, and could not do it.

I sat next to Cheri Franch and told her what Ein said.  "I can cut the cake she said"; my problem was solved.

Peter brought the cake with his gift of a dozen yellow roses and a Birthday balloon.

Cheri was equipped with an assortment of knives for any culinary purpose, plus latex gloves and serving pieces.  As she cut the cake, Terri Miller placed the pieces on plates to serve one of the largest gatherings in the trattoria.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PDgT9sfTW/

I was hoping Laura would join us; however, she said that she was unable to come because she had a dinner guest. Then, when I wasn't paying attention, Laura was at my side with a vase of beautiful flowers.  I was speechless, since I was not expecting her.  I was so happy to introduce her to many residents who had heard so much about her.

The cake was an absolute winner, with a good portion to freeze.

The numerous cards that I received had beautiful personal messages that I will treasure.