John McGinnis Funeral

 Friday, May 22, 2026

I was so apprehensive that I would get up with a lot of pain; therefore I slept in a chair last night.  I had a surprisingly restful sleep, and I didn't feel as much pain in the morning as I did when I slept in bed.

Peter was here by 9:30 and we drove to Mother of Good Counsel Church on 68th and Lisbon for the funeral of John McGinnis.

https://www.foresthomefunerals.com/john-mcginnis

As often as I drove through this area, I never noticed this beautiful church, and it was very beautiful inside.

I was expecting more Austrian American Club members, but I'm glad that we could come.  There were many neighbors, former students and friends.

A lovely service that included meaningful readings which the priest explained in his homily were a significant reflection on John's life and character, especially the Passion in the gospel of John.

We drove a short distance to Holy Cross Cemetery, which was actually across the street.  I stayed in the car while others proceeded to the gravesite, but I could still hear "Taps".

We gathered in the church basement for lunch provided by Bunzel's, and sat with John's godson and his wife, also a friend, all from Shawano.

Afterward, we drove to Bunzel's to buy some fresh liver sausage and ground chuck; Peter purchased some items also.

Plant Shopping

Monday, May 18, 2026

It was a perfect day for Mileager's.  The forecast was for thunderstorms the past week, but it was a lovely day.

Claude came about 10:30 a.m. and we drove to Racine.

We covered a lot of ground looking for what we wanted; staff was very helpful.  However, no one led us in the right direction for verbena bolisriencalis, we found it ourselves. We had a light sprinkle, but it cleared up.

We had open-faced pulled pork sandwiches when we got home.

I planted everything and cleaned up.  Very sore.

I  took a couple Tylenol to ease the acke.

I was able to sit on my balcony before going to bed.

Amazon jScrew-up

Friday, May 8, 2026

I ordered two 6-packs of toilet tissue, some head bands and cat litter on Wednesday.

I got a notice that the cat litter was delivered

Mike Bruske is so kind to deliver our parcels, and when he lifted the box I asked if he wanted a cart because 40 pounds is so heavy.  But he flung it on his shoulder with no problem. Because the box was so light, I thought it was the toilet tissue.

Another box was delivered the following day, another very light one.  Inside were 16 rolls of Viva toilet tissue!  What am I going to do with so much toilet tissue?

I replied to the Amazon question about How was my order,  but I don't think that will get anywhere.

I began calling Customer Service before going to the symphony, but there was a 30-minute wait to speak to anyone.

I tried again in the afternoon, with a lot of cursing at the robot.  None of the options apply to my problem, and any of my replies were not recognized.

I finally got a person and explained my problem.  When I told the agent that I did not have a car to return the tissue, he put me on hold while he consulted someone, then told me that my litter would arrive tomorrow and I could keep the tissue.

But Dolly didn't waste any time claiming one of the boxes.

Tumble

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

We are getting a bedbug check with the dog today.  I was trying to get Dolly into the bathroom, when she darted away, and I tried catching her.  I tumbled on my back.  I was able to get up, but with a lot of pain,

Thursday, May 7,

I started making lemon bars for the WAUC picnic, when Peter called suggesting we have lunch.  I ordered sandwiches from Panera's, Peter picked up the order and we ate at SRS.

I played dominos, but have to watch how I move; I get sharp pains if I move the wrong way.

I finished the lemon bars, moving cautiously.

I took the Lyft to the WAUC picnic, Peter joined the table with Terry, Bob and some others.  There was n abundance of food with brats, Italian sausage and chicken.

I felt mostly out of the conversation.  Feeling more miserable as the time went on.  I decided to skip BINGO and left.

Friday, May 8

I had a restful night, but had a lot of pain going to the bathroom.  I'm walking with a lot of pain, and bending is impossible.

I decided to skip the symphony.

After taking a couple Tylenols, I felt somewhat better, and could walk without too much pain, I changed my mind and went to the symphony after all.

It was an unusual program with scenes on the screen with actors along with the music.  "Mark Twain" made an appearance looking forward to the bi-centennial of our country.

Sunday, May 10

When I awoke to use the bathroom, I could barely move getting out of bed. All along my waist and into my stomach, the pain was unbearable.

I took two Tylenols hoping to make it through mass.  I was Lector 2.  I managed getting through it without too much trouble.

Peter and I picked up Annika on Menlo Blvd.; she hadn't move yet.  We backtracked and got to Brad and Janice's along with Claude, shortly after 3:00 p.m.

Monday, May 11

Again, getting out of bed was very painful.  I've been using the heating pad which seems to give me some relief.  Two Tylenols also helped my get through the MARTA luncheon.

Tuesday, May12

Another morning of agonizing pain going to the bathroom and starting the day.

Wednesday, May 13, Claude's Birthday

Claude was going to take me to Milleager's today to shop for plants for my balcony.

I called Claude a little after 8:00 a.m. and asked if he would take me to Mt. Sinai to get my back X-rayed instead of Milleager's.  He agreed; it was his first suggestion when I fell.

Admission was pretty straightforward; high blood pressure, but everything else was fine.

I was placed in Room 8 and seen be a doctor who took my information.  After checking my body for pain, he suggested a CT Scan to check not only my bones, but my internal organs.

I was hooked up to a monitor, got my blood drawn and had an IV that will put dye in my system for the scan.

I waited quite a long time for the scan to happen.  Finally, I was wheeled into a room with a machine with what looked like a huge donut.  I held my breath at intervals while the machine did its work. It would take 45 minutes to an hour to get the results.

Claude had been waiting in the waiting room all this time; I wanted him with me when I got the results.  I had a little problem calling him because he forgot his phone and was unfamiliar with my phone that he was using.  We finally connected and he waited until the doctor came.

I do not have any broken bones.  I have: Closed compression fracture of body of L1 vertebra.  No surgery is required, but I have prescription for  (HYDROcordon-acetaminophin (NORCO).

Claude hung my begonias that he had been wintering, filled my planters and did some fiddling with my computer.  

Sixty-five years ago he was born at St. Luke's Hospital; on his sixty-fifth birthday, he was with me at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

To celebrate his birthday, we had dinner at Harry's Bar and Grill.

Disaster Cookies

 Sunday, April 26, 2026

Laura gave me the recipe for the potato chip cookies that I liked so much at Christmas.  I planned to make them for James Bruske's memorial service Monday evening. The recipe called for 2 cups of butter; that's 4 sticks, a whole pound.  I never made a recipe with a whole pound of butter.  There was no way to shape them into balls, but I used my 1 Tbsp. measuring spoon as a scoop.  In the oven they spread out very, very thin.  I couldn't imagine what I did wrong.

When I called Laura she said that she couldn't couldn't understand it either. She showed me her recipe, I showed her mine.  They were identical except for butter.  Then she realized what she did.  She doubled the recipe and instead of typing 2 sticks of butter, she typed 2 cups.

Monday, April 26

Even though the cookies might be edible, I did not want to apologize for cookies that were not perfect.  I decided to make another batch.  I used unsalted butter, and the rest of my flour.  Luckily I had enough of the other ingredients.

The result was much better.

I melted the chocolate that Laura gave me by putting it in a stainless steel bowl and putting the bowl in the small colander over boiling water.

W

We've been having violent winds; I saw the big couch move on the piazza, and chairs are tumbled all over the place. Our power is out in some areas; I have full power.

Jackie Haessley texted me that the memorial service scheduled for this evening has been postponed until sometime in May.

Variety Show

Friday, April 17, 2026

I'm the defense attorney in a play based on Hansel and Gretel, called "The Case of the Candy Cottage".  We read the play in one of our play reading sessions and Cheri Franch and I though it would be a good  addition.  Kathleen Narlock is the judge, Sue Cottrell is the prosecuting attorney, Barbara Todd is the bailiff and Edie Zutz is Ms Whitch.

I took a photo of this woodcut at the Racine Art Museum of the story of Hansel and Gretel.

We have some pretty nice talent at SRS.  

We did a kind of dress rehearsal and Diane Johnson wanted to include a play script that she had ready. It was a phone conversation between a husband and wife, with the husband going into a German concentration camp.  Sheri and I were sitting close to each other, both of us rolling our eyes about how inappropriate this is.  When Diane finished I said, "Diane, You are going to hate me", and I repeated it.  And then I told her that the variety show is lighthearted and funny, but her selection is very dark and depressing.  Others added to my comments; I think everyone was too afraid the speak up.

At 1:00 p.m. the church basement was beginning to fill up with our audience.  The front row was reserved for performers and anyone wearing a prayer shawl.

I was the first to perform with a knitting poem created by AI:

In a world of yarn and needles we dance

With knitting in hand we give yarn a chance.

Crafting caps for the winter’s cold,

Shawls that wrap around stories untold.

Scarves that carry warmth down the line,

And dishcloths made sturdy, each one a design.

In each knit and purl, a little piece of art,

Knitting together threads of a cozy heart.

I read the poem while showing a knitted cap, shawl, scarf and dish cloth.

Marilyn Minor followed with "Stardust", Lanore Lee sang "I can't say 'No', Cecile Langford and Dwight Morgan were "Sisters" and Cheri Franch mimed Avery Aten singing "I don't want to have a good day.

Talent, entertainment and a lot of fun.

 

April Red Hat Lunch/New Laptop

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Janice Rochwerger, Terry Harvey, Rita Bruce, Jane Warzala, June Krueger, Kathy Schmagl and I were pleased with our luncheon at the Egg Roll House on Hwy. 100.  Terry was extremely concerned that she found her cat/s were not using the litter box during her trip to see Alyssa; Jane is recovering nicely from knee surgery and concluded with laptop suggestions.  Julia Rice sprained her leg; Joy Kiliman did not respond.

I clipped some branches from the dead decorations by the front entrance to use as a trellis for my rosary plant, and then worked on putting that in place, resulting in a mess of plant material on the floor after the apartment was cleaned yesterday.

I tried again  adding the new channels to my TV, this time connecting the cable directly to the TV with no results and sore fingers from trying to screw the cable.

I ordered groceries from Metro Market.

I didn't have anything prepared to read for the Literary Reading, but went to listen to Barbara Todd, Jackie Haessley and Avery Aden read their selections.