JuneNYsAdventuresPart2

First thing today, I had an appointment with Kevin Kopek at NorthWest Bank.  It went very well.   After that meeting, I went to the library to make copies of bills I paid that were Mary Annes.  I went home for a few minutes, hoping to be able to get through to someone at Verizon to straighten out MA's home phone and bill and I got the bills organized and into an envelope, which I dropped off at the lawyers office before going to Mary Anne's house.  I worked for about an hour and a half and finished up going through the boxes that Kevin and Rita brought down from the attic last night and then finished up Mary Anne's mothers bedroom.   I took some old blankets to the HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS box at Freedom.  When I got home I called Betty and asked her if she wanted to go to THE SHAMUS for supper tonight.  She called them and made a reservation for 6:45.  I took a nap and then got ready to go.  Supper at the SHAMUS was very good. ...

I found two emails from Marianne Koenig this morning.  She approved $25 per hour for Kevin to help me, and asked me to keep good records of his time, so I can submit that info to her. She has been in contact with Key Bank.  She suggested writing back to Social Security and telling them that the "letters" are not available yet.   I spent four hours at Mary Anne's house this morning and finished up her mothers bedroom (for the most part).  There is SO much jewelry that I cannot go through it all.  The estate sale person will have to do that.  I also used a stool in order to get into the storage shelf above the bathtub.  I was surprised at HOW MUCH stuff was up there.  I pulled most of it down and went through it.  I bagged up many old sheets, pillowcases and towels to take to the HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS bin at Freedom.    I also used the stool to see what was in the cupboard above the frig.  I took that stuff out and set it ...

I found this recipe (well the ingredients list) and want to save this 1 cup Flour, All-Purpose 1 cup Hot Wheat Cereal ½ cups Sugar ¾ cups Milk ¼ cups Vegetable Oil 1 individual Egg 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1 tablespoon Baking Powder ½ teaspoons Salt I set the oven for 375 and baked them 16 minutes, they did not brown up like in the picture.  I used self rising flour and skipped the baking powder.  I spent about 3.5 hours at Mary Annes house.  First I finished up going through the stuff that Kevin and Rita brought down from the attic.  Then I worked in her mothers bedroom going through the bottom cupboard of the desk, where they kept their income tax returns.  I threw away a lot of cards and letters and old banking papers.   Paula brought over a trash bin and a recycyclable bin from the house across the street, which I think she owns.  That was a real help since both of them are nearly full now.   I cleaned the fr...

Kevin and I met at Mary Anne's house and he showed me the upstairs apartment, over the garage.  Then we met the real estate appraiser (Mike).  I continued sorting and bagging clothing while Mike and Kevin walked through the property.  Then they went out to Olcott so the cottage could be appraised, while I stayed at the house, sorting, etc. I was at MA's house from nine a.m. until a little after one p.m.  Then I met Peg at FREEDOM, and she took the bags of clothing.   I also put three bags of blankets and sheets into the bin behind the church. I was hungry and tired and decided to pick up some lunch.  I remembered a gift card I won at the Presbyterian Home, for the OLIVE LEAF.  I went there and ordered one of the specials:  roast pork with stuffing and potatoes.  I added a side of coleslaw to that.  The cashier who took my order and rang me up was having a hard time with everything, apparently she is new on the job. I met up wi...

I did not sleep well last night, I had a LOT of gas which kept me awake.  I went to Mary Anne's house arriving around 9:15 a.m.   Kevin came over and looked at the bathroom sink.  I asked him to use my tool that I brought with me.  It works well to get hair, etc. out of drains.  He seems to think that the problem is in the basement and he did not try the tool.   I bagged up some clothes and several bags of junk.  I met up with Peg at church and we transferred the bags of clothing to her car.  I put a huge bag of purses and shoes in the HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS bin behind the church.  I had a nice nap this afternoon and started to watch a Netflix series called SIGNS.  I am not sure if I will continue watching it.

Church indoors was pretty good.  Dee McDonnell is back from Tennessee and came.  Most people, however, stayed outdoors for FREEDOM IN THE FIELD.  There was a food truck serving fried dough, funnel cake, lemonade and deep fried oreo cookies.  I decided not to stay for that instead Betty and I agreed to meet for lunch at Outwater Park.  I picked up a small sub at SUBWAY.  It was a little bit breezy at the park.   I spent the rest of the day at home, reading and resting somewhat. I called Megan in the evening.   I made baked rice pudding, also. 

On the way to Mary Anne's house this morning, I ran into Kevin.  (Well, we were passing each other at a corner and both stopped).   He agreed to meet me at MA's house.  We talked for a bit about the situation.  Actually, he was yelling, not talking).  He expected to get a lot more of Mary Anne's estate in return for helping her out for so many years.  I wanted to tell him that MA was not obligated to leave either of us anything in her will, but I didn't.  At any rate, I think we cleared the air at least somewhat.  He agreed to meet me and the real estate appraiser at the house on Tuesday morning at ten thirty a.m.  I worked for a couple of hours upstairs, in the room that was Mary Anne's mothers.  There is a built in dresser and desk full of LOTS of stuff.  I was able to go through about half of it and discarded a lot of stuff and got some stuff organized onto the shelves that I emptied.    I found some more cash wh...

Carrie's MSC held a conference call this morning to do Carrie's LIFE PLAN.   It went pretty well, about a half hour long.  Then I went to MA's house and worked for a few hours.  I think I am almost done with sorting through clothing and bagging it up to donate.  I took several bags over to Peggy at FREEDOM CHURCH, and she will deliver them to Save the Michaels.  I also put three large bags of blankets into the bin behind the church (Hearts for the Homeless). It is not too often that I do something fun and/or interesting on Friday evening.  Betty has treated me to a meal at THE SHAMUS (her favorite restaurant in Lockport) a couple of times plus treating me to other things, so I offered to treat her to supper tonight. In the evening I met up with her and we ate out on the patio.  I had the grilled salmon and rice pilaf and grilled zucchini and summer squash.  It was delicious!  Then we took a walk down by the locks to see the newly place...

I spent a few hours at Mary Anne's house this morning, mainly sorting through clothing and getting rid of some, and bagging up most of them to give to Peggy, who will deliver them to SAVE THE MICHAELS.  I found a change purse with some cash in it.  So, after I left her house around one p.m. I dropped that off at her lawyers office so it can be put into the estates account. Then I went to the DALE ASSOCIATION for their drive through Christmas in July lunch. Each participant was given a bag lunch including a hot dog, chips, a cookie and a bottle of water.  I took a couple of pictures. I took it home and had lunch at home.  I did a few things around the house and then rested for a bit and watched more of QUICKSAND.   I checked FB and found that Kevin and Rita have unfriended me.  I met up with Peggy at her house at 5:15 p.m. She had picked up two bbq chicken dinners at the CareNet Center.  I contributed four bean salad and and muskm...

I arrived at Mary Anne's house a little after nine a.m. and after pulling the garbage bins away from the curb, I got to work.   I really wanted to complete one of the bedrooms, but I was unable to.  Most of the dressers in MA's room are now empty, but one still has at least one drawer full of stuff.  Several items are very nice (dressy) and I kept them for the estate sale.  I worked until a little after one p.m. I filled several bags and took them to Peggy at FREEDOM CHURCH.    She will deliver them to SAVE THE MICHAELS. I came home and had a late lunch (stuffed pork chop from Niagara Produce, coleslaw and garlic toast).  The receipt for MA's license plates had come in the mail, so I called BOWER AGENCY and asked if I could bring it in and cancel her car insurance.  They agreed, so I did that after lunch.  There will be a small refund (one month) returned to her in the mail. I took a nap and also watched a bit of QUICKSAND on netflix...

I spent three hours at Mary Anne's house, mostly bagging up clothing.  I filled the back of my vehicle with bags and then called Peg and asked if she could take them to SAVE THE MICHAELS.  She said yes, so I drove to FREEDOM and Peg met me outside and I put them in the back of her vehicle.    Then I went to WalMart to get a few items and then I came home and had lunch:  hot dogs, beans and french bread with fake butter.  I also went through Mary Anne's mail and my mail, and then talked to Kevin Kopek from NORTHWEST BANK regarding MA's accounts.  I need the official appointment papers for both SS and NW.  I emailed the attorney about this. After my nap, I had a light supper:  a banana and one piece of gluten free bread toasted.  Then I went to MA's house to pull out the recyclable bin, which is full to the brim.  Then I went to DOLLAR TREE and stocked up on items I use dish detergent, kitchen can bags, shampoo, conditioner, body wa...

I went over to Mary Anne's house and worked for about an hour this morning.  I threw a LOT of clothing downstairs and then sat in her living room and bagged them up and put them in my car.  Then I went to NORTHTOWN SUBARU to have the oil changed in my car.  There were a few bulbs out, which they replaced.    I need to schedule a time to have rear brake work done. On the way home I stopped at Niagara Produce to get some bananas.  However, I bought other items also including a stuffed pork chop.  I also purchased a turkey/cranberry sandwich at the prepared food counter.  I took it home and had part of it for lunch.  It was not very good, I dislike those soft fluffy rolls.   I noticed on my receipt that I have had another $190 added to my EBT.  I now have over four hundred dollars available.  I can hardly keep up with this. I had a troubling email from Marianne Koenig.  Apparently, Kevin called her and complained abo...

I attended church INSIDE today, there were about 12 of us in the sanctuary. The rest were outside for FREEDOM IN THE FIELD.  After church, there was a food truck DIRTY BIRDS CHICKEN AND WAFFLES.  But it was so hot that I decided to go home.   I stopped by Mary Anne's house to check on it, and stopped and parked on the Pine Street Bridge to see the beginnings of THE LOCKTENDERS statue that were set in place this past Friday..  They are covered up.   But this picture was posted on FB after they were set up.  The first three of 14 life-size bronze figures of 19th century lock tenders were installed in the Lockport Locks on Friday.  The sculpture is  fashioned after a photo taken in 1897.  Here is the original photograph:   When I got home, Betty called and she wanted me to meet her at LaPorts.  I reminded her that I do not eat INSIDE restaurants yet. After lunch, I took a nap.  When I got up, I s...

I spent over three hours at Mary Anne's house this morning, and bagged up several bags of clothing to be donated.   I also got rid of many paper items, other recyclables and a few bags of garbage.  I need to find out for sure what day garbage pick up is in this neighborhood.  While I was there, Paula came down and gave me Mary Anne's mail.    Just before leaving, I decided to call home and see if anybody had left a message.  The phone has technically been disconnected but it is still working. GO FIGURE.  Becky had called and was wondering if I was going to meet up with her at the Hartland Stone School house for the basket raffle and summer festival.  I went home to wash up and comb my hair, and I called her and said I would meet her there at one p.m.  The basket raffle items took up the entire room! Burgers and hot dogs were available for lunch.                        ...

I spent over three hours at Mary Anne's house this morning.  I went through most of the remaining boxes and bags in the entry way, emptied a few drawers in the living room and went upstairs and threw a LOT of clothing downstairs.  Then I went down and sorted through it, keeping a few items that might fit me and bagging and boxing the rest up.  Altogether I had six bags and boxes.  I took them over to FREEDOM and put them in the back of Peg's car.  She is having supper with Laura V tonight.  Laura  works for SAVE THE MICHAELS (an organization that helps addicts and their families).  They are in need of clothing. Then I went to WalMart to return all but one of the five pair of sandals and flip flops I purchased yesterday.  Then I went to Wendy's and got the four for four.  A burger, chicken nuggets, fries and a drink.  I brought it home and ate while the clothing was in my washing machine. By the time I felt free to lay down, it w...

I went to the OFFICE FOR THE AGING this morning to pick up coupons for produce at local farmers markets and farm stands.  This year, they gave away what I call "goody bags" which included info about other services as well as a package of five face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves, as well as a thermometer! Then I went to Mary Anne's house to work on sorting through stuff in order to get ready for an estate sale.  I worked for a couple of hours, throwing away lots of old paperwork.  I took three bags of clothing to donate when I left.  I took them over to FREEDOM and put them in the donation box behind the church. I decided to go to WalMart to see if I could find a pair of flip flops before they are all gone.  I actually bought four pair of shoes (one pair of flip flops, a pair of sandals and two pair of slip on sneakers)  I got myself a half a tuna sub at SUBWAY.  Once home, I ate my lunch, and responded to a couple of phone calls.  Then I ...

This morning I was able to reach someone at the NEW YORK STATE RETIREMENT office.  I was asked to send in a death certificate and then they can find out if there are any death benefits.    Online, I found out what to do about turning in the license plates to her car.  So, I found an envelope large enough and wrote a cover letter and got them ready to put in the drop box at the Lockport DMV. Elly Magnums funeral was at eleven a.m.  I was disappointed at the poor turnout.  I did see at least one person from the Y where she worked.  The ladies of the church arranged a funeral meal for after the funeral.  I had to leave Freedom right after the funeral ended, so Peggy had the workers put together a plate of food for me, which I ate while driving to COLD SPRINGS for the interment of the ashes of Isabel Connor, who I am somehow related to on my mother's side.  Isabel was my BROWNIE leader in the second grade.  Her daughter Barbara was in my c...

I spent the better part of the morning organizing info and documents that Mary Anne' s lawyer requested.  In the late morning, I went to KITH AND KIN, a gluten free bakery, shop and diner. I purchased a sandwich for myself, a muffin and a loaf of bread and I went home, where I ate my sandwich which was, I think a CHICKEN COBB Sandwich.  It was good I met with Marianne Koenig at Pat Georges office at one p.m.  I took good notes and made up a notepad document with the info (using notes I took during the meeting), and also in here. (very next post) I rested in the afternoon and then had a kind of early supper (chicken pot pie that Peggy gave me).    I decided to call VERIZON and cancel both of Mary Anne's phones.  I was put on hold for a LOOOONG time, and at the same time I was trying to contact someone via the chat feature on the Verizon page.  Eventually, a guy answered, but he was only able to cancel her cell phone.  He connected me to a place...

7/14 meeting with Marianne Koenig at Attorney Pat Georges office in Lockport. Kevin Kopek from Northwest Bank had told me to get LETTER OF TESTAMENTARY from lawyer, but this will take some time.  MK is petitioning the court to make me temporary Executrix until the final papers are approved. One of MA's cousins being in a nursing home may hold up the process.  She is mentally fine but not physically.  Marianne said something about this cousin not being able to come to Lockport to have a signature notarized.  The PRINCIPAL Account was updated in time, and that money will go to ALL SAINTS CHURCH. the money in the Northwest checking account is MINE because MA added me to this account before she passed away.   I will be reimbursed for any bills I have paid out of this account. Keep receipts and records. Bills will be paid out of the estates account including engraving MA's mothers grave stone. I need to take any bills to Marianne and she ...

This morning I was part of a conference call with Brian Talbot of Vanguard, Connie, myself and Karen who helps Connie be handling her mail.  It took about an hour and a half.  Then I decided to go over to Mary Annes house to check the mail and straighten up the kitchen and see what else needed to be done.  But first I went to the Kenan Center to see the GartEn display.   I think part or most of it had already been taken down.                                                SCALA by Scott Bye In the afternoon, I took a nap.  In the evening I met Kevin and Rita at Mary Anne's cottage in Olcott.  I had never been inside before.  It is full of STUFF.  Rita and Kevin each took an item, plus an item for each of their kids.  I took the antique lamps that Mary Anne wanted me to have, as well as the extra "g...

I decided to go to church today INSIDE rather than outside, even though it may have been comfortable enough outside for me.  My temperature was taken before I went into the sanctury.  It sure is weird seeing most of the seats removed and the available seats arranged in groups of four.  We saw pre-recorded worship and a pre-recorded sermon, given by Ben.  It was good. Don't let anyone's opinion of you stop you from getting to Jesus! I had to leave the sanctuary before the sermon was over in order to join Peggy outside to help serve hot dogs.   She had recruited me, Betty, Marlene and Vicky to place hot dogs in small paper holders, along with napkins and condiments and to serve them.  Popsicles were also offered.    It went pretty smoothly and all of the hot dogs were taken.  Betty mentioned going to LaPorts for chicken and biscuits, but she knows that I do not eat in restaurants yet.   I went home after church and ...

In the morning, I made a potato salad.  I called Myrna and asked her if she would like to share the produce I got yesterday with me.  She said yes, so I packaged it up and added a few items: potato salad, creamy cucumbers and a can of three bean salad.   Before taking it to her, I stopped at Kevin's house and he gave me the  two bags of items from Prudden and Kandt.  I will need the death certificates when I meet with her lawyer on Tuesday.  I gave Kevin Maggie's new dog tag and license.    I then went to see how the chalk walk was going.  I parked near Lake Effect Ice Cream and was able to see several artists working on their art. Once home, I emptied out the bags.  I will send the sign in book and other items to Bianca I worked on more sorting of Mary Anne's mail, looking for bank statements and other important items to take to the lawyer on Tuesday. 

This morning I picked up two boxes of produce at Niagara County Cooperative Extension.  I tried to reach Myrna so I could take one to her, but she was not answering her phone, so I took the extra box to Betty.  I went to Prudden and Kandt to get the pictures, etc. from the calling hours, but they had already been given to Kevin, along with the death certificates.  I went to TATER CAKES and purchased four cupcakes to celebrate Marlene's birthday. I prepared CREAMY CUCUMERS and ONIONS after lunch and then I took a nap.  I finished watching FYRE FESTIVAL. It turned out that Jenny could not meet up with Marlene and I this evening.  Betty did not want to go (she hates eating outside).  I called Pam and she was happy to meet Marlene and at the PARKSIDE DRIVE-IN for supper at six p.m.  I had a fish sandwich.  I treated Marlene.  I put candles on the cupcakes and we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her.  I purchased some vanilla custard to go with the...

I went to Prudden and Kandt this morning at 9:15 for "prayers" .   Kevin and Rita and their son were there.  Paula, Bonnie Burnett and Liz were also there.  Prayers were brief and then we followed the hearse to All Saints Church for Mary Anne's funeral.  I think there were between fifteen and twenty people there for the funeral.  I gave the eulogy and I got a lot of positive feedback from people about it. "I want to tell you about my friend, Mary Anne.  She and I graduated  in the same class at LSHS in 1967, but we barely knew each other then. We became friends in 2014. Mary Anne was easy going and  adventurous and I enjoyed spending time with her. I feel as if I am standing in for her two longtime best friends, Alice and Bianca, who live in different states and could not be here today.   I never heard her say a negative word about anyone else. She never  gossiped and she never used a cuss or curse word in my presence.  Ev...

I finally got hold of Kevin and he said he can be a pallbearer.  However, then I could not get through to Prudden and Kandt by phone, all I get is a busy signal.  I emailed them through their website, but who knows if that will work? I went over to Mary Anne's house to make sure the garbage got put out since Kevin forgot.  Candy must have taken it out.  I added to it after I gathered up more junk in the house.  I gathered together all the papers that MA had spread out in the living room, dining room and kitchen.  I need to find the water bill that she got a few days ago.  I offered to take it on the day it arrived, and pay it, but she said no.  I found a small picture of MA with her mother and a dog, taken outside the house. I got home and had an early lunch, then did a load of laundry so the outfits for today and tomorrow are clean.  Bonnie Burnett called and said the lunch group will arrive together at five thirty at the funeral home. ...