Today is Mom's birthday and we went to Pittsburgh Athletic Association for lunch--Dad and Mom, Les and Chere, William, Marissa and Beatrice, and I. We had a lovely lunch and enjoyed the time together. We took some photos outside, which proved to be a lovely day all around, with the sky clear as a bell and the sunshine calling us to share the day with those we love.
posted by Grace @ 9/29/2007 03:19:00 PM
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Those of us who have met him are happy that he was chosen as our new Bishop to lead the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. People were scalping tickets for admittance to the Cathedral, which had a 1500+ seating capacity. I saw Fr. Joe S. and Angela, the organist for the last retreat I have attended, outside before and during the ordination Mass, respectively. Mom and I watched on television the Mass for part of it, as I had come from work (a meeting where our only visitor was off from the schools for the ordination).
How wondrous that Bishop David A. Zubic has asked people to be "excited" about their faith--I had chosen that term as a label for my weblog posts, without much thought. Maybe my life has more excitement in it than the typical life, or maybe I acknowledge the presence of excitement in my life more than others. At any rate, I'm glad my life is exciting and that I have been called to share that with others.
Labels: celebration, Church, excited, St. Paul Cathedral, TV
posted by Grace @ 9/29/2007 03:05:00 PM
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Jo-Anne and I went to the Marriage of Figaro at the Byham Theater tonight. Absolutely enchanting! Sara P. from Church was in it, and Jonathan and his date were in the audience, too. It was sung in an English translation, and it was interesting to hear opera in English. We were so taken by the performance, that we gave them a standing ovation.
I remember hearing opera in Italian at Verona, following along closely with the libretto. How lovely and liberating to hear opera in English!
posted by Grace @ 9/29/2007 12:06:00 AM
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There was a bomb scare at my work this morning. I've got to get work done, so us worker bees are here, even though classes were cancelled for the bulk of the day.
posted by Grace @ 9/28/2007 12:17:00 PM
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I attended the Holy Hour yesterday at 7pm. After saving a couple of spots for me and a friend near my friend Sally, I waited for my friend outside. There I saw Fr. Yuhas, as well as Debbie Z. They both looked preoccupied with the event. I spoke at length with Bishop-elect Zubik's former student who traveled from Cleveland. (She's a "groupie," we decided together.) The music was beautiful, thanks to Debbie; Diane R; Fr. Chepponis; Don; the flautist, David Tessmer; and the congregation. During the Homily, Bishop-elect Zubik's dynamic public speaking ability was apparent while he spoke how God provides surprises to us, and addressed Mary's devotion to God at length--"Let it be according to Your Will"--how Mary was Christ's first disciple.
I surprised both Don and Bishop-elect Zubik with water after the service. My friend and I stopped by Kiva Han for some hot beverages at the end of the evening.
Labels: Church, diocese of Pittsburgh, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, water, Zubik
posted by Grace @ 9/28/2007 07:34:00 AM
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Once again, Lyra visited St. Paul Cathedral Concert Series, as they did thrice before. The last time Lyra visited in September 2006, there were a group of six. This evening, there were five:
Anna Makarenko (soprano)
Olga Guseva (mezzo-soprano)
Sergey Tupitsyn (tenor)
Jury Gerasimov (baritone)
Miroslav Alexeev (bass)
They sang Russian Orthodox sacred music, including two versions of Psalm 102, the Pater Noster in Russian, the Ave Maria in Russian, "Cherubic Hymn," sung during the Consecration of the Mass, and several hymns to the Virgin Mary:
To the Insurmountable Wall (Tchesnokov)
It is Truly Proper to Glorify You (Arkhangelsky) and by (Lvov)
Pre-eternal Council (Tchesnokov)
Two pieces highlighted the women's voices:
Pre-eternal Council (Tchesnokov) mezzo-soprano
Praise the Name of the Lord (Andreeva) soprano
The five voices of the professional chorus from St. Petersburg, Russia, were strong, blended well, and the voices filled the vaulted ceilings of St. Paul Cathedral. Joe W. and I walked in together and we sat near Matt H., Jonathan, and Jennifer H. from choir. I spoke with all of the performers after the concert, and wished them well in Russian.
Labels: Church, international culture, singing
posted by Grace @ 9/23/2007 09:21:00 PM
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Last night I graded my papers (need to record grades), this morning I rose early (~5:30am) and did three loads of laundry. It's nice to get those duties completed. Now I can enjoy my weekend. I think I'll have breakfast, go out with my mom, and then go to Jen and Bri's house party tonight. It has been since summer that I've seen Jen, and longer for both of them. It will be fun to see them and to see the CAC, as well as CAC alumni again.
~~~
22:58
It was nice to see CAC-ers and to spend time at the house party. Jen and Bri had a great buffet spread for us, and lots of munchies. There were a couple of hula contests, and our hostess won the votes for her contest. Jen and I had a couple of tete-a-tetes during the evening, and Margie and I agreed to keep in touch about her Novena to St. Therese of Lisieux.
Some sad news today--Debbie R's mom passed away this morning. She called and left a message on my machine. I mentioned it to some of my friends at the house party, and we agreed that we would keep her family in our prayers.
[Signing off,]
Truly,
Grace
posted by Grace @ 9/22/2007 08:28:00 AM
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if there are any people out there who have had successful hip replacement at less than 50 years old?
My earlier posts talk about my BAD (bilateral acetabular dysplasia), and I am wondering how others have dealt with the impending arthritis. I have gone to physical therapy, do water exercises, had the corticosteroid injection, (and need to) do more isometric exercises. It's the (literally) daily grind that gets me pain.
I've been told that I need hip replacements eventually, but want to postpone as much as possible. My orthopedist has also said the same. Since the current hip joint technology is such that the life of the hip is ~20 years, and my grandmothers have lived to 80+ to 90+ years (my great-aunt is now well past 95 years old), I want to postpone until the technology improves more, so that I can enjoy time without another surgery. Plus, at least I know how to deal with this particular pain.
Labels: BAD, water exercise
posted by Grace @ 9/21/2007 09:23:00 AM
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I went for another half hour of water exercises this afternoon after work, a snack, and a nap. It was tough today, as there were lots of swimmers in the pool, jockeying for position. I have to pick my time carefully.
Labels: water exercise
posted by Grace @ 9/19/2007 09:15:00 PM
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Last night, Beatrice and her mom and dad came by to visit and have dinner with Mom, Dad, and me. Her parents left for the British touring company's version of My Fair Lady. After Beatrice dined, we spent some time walking (with hands, of course---she grabbed my hands before rising) and crawling around her Lolo and Lola's home. Her first foray onto the table in the entrance way was her reach for the bottle of blessed holy water.
After a while, we visited Lola's friends Rita, and Mary Lou P., and Elaine, each in turn. Beatrice was still awake and was as enthralled by them as they were by her. She waved (saying Ba-Bye), teethed on a FP toy that was her Daddy's at one time, clapped, signed "more [food]," and allowed Mary Lou to see how much she weighs. We made our way back to Lola and Lolo's home and her mommy and daddy called at intermission.
It was then time for me to make my way home, as I had work the next morning.
Labels: Beatrice, dining, friends, neighbors, niece and nephew
posted by Grace @ 9/19/2007 09:03:00 PM
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How to spend a Saturday night when you are too tired to go out dancing?
In fellowship (e.g.-at the Newman Center). No, this is not a Ford fellowship or an NSF fellowship. This is simply a gathering of souls to celebrate our connection to God through song and faith-sharing. It was a joyous gathering that lasted about two hours, and many of us stayed another half hour to hear Jonathan's Travels Around the Globe, version 2007, including the waterfall story, the black cat story, and the wine-tasting tale. We all had several good belly laughs and some of us decided to attend the retreat next week.
Labels: celebration, Choir, Church, international culture, Ireland
posted by Grace @ 9/16/2007 09:50:00 AM
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This morning I helped to wrap lumpia for our lunch with William and Marissa's family. I then joined Natalie, Kelly and Bill, Erica, and Marian to prepare brunch for the residents of Family House. I was a two-fisted, double-panned scrambled egg short-order chef.
Lunch with Mom, Dad, Les, Cherie, William, Marissa, and Beatrice was wonderful. We had pot roast, fried and white rice, homemade lumpia with sauces, fruit, lemon cake with icing, and iced teas. The lumpia was a family effort; with mom making the filling, I rolling them, and dad frying them up. William and Marissa will go back next weekend for his high school reunion. There will be a dance, which Beatrice plans to attend, too. He is looking forward to seeing Steve and Denver.
A little before three this afternoon there was an anti-war/peace rally marching down Fifth Avenue with multi-car police escort. They were accompanied by a band. (How grand!)
Labels: Beatrice, dining, family, family-Marissa, friends, Marietta, Peace, tea
posted by Grace @ 9/15/2007 03:00:00 PM
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Click on the links only if you want to know what happens in the episode.
After work today I went to the pool to do some water exercises. It is magical what a difference exercising in the water makes...Floating and being buoyed up by the water as I do my exercises that would normally make me grind to a halt in pain if I were to do them with such vigor on land. Plus, being in the water is always so calming.
Mom made a delicious dinner (as usual) of
kare kare at talong atsaka sitaw,
kanin
and corn.
She and I just finished watching an episode of Monk, Joyce's favorite show. This episode was entitled, "Mr. Monk Is Up All Night." It was a wonderful show, with a couple of surprises in the plot.
We are all tired, and have a big day tomorrow. My alumnae club's "Day to Make a Difference" will be serving brunch at a local Ronald McDonald-type House, Family House. Then William and Marissa and Marissa's parents will join us for a hearty lunch. If I finish all my work I will go out in the evening.
Labels: BAD, dining, family-Marissa, Monk, Pilipino culture, water exercise
posted by Grace @ 9/14/2007 09:56:00 PM
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This evening will be the first choir practice of the season. It will be our first choir practice since CHOIReland. It will be nice to see my choir friends, and to greet my friend who is considering joining our choir.
I have had a particularly long week at work up to now, as one of my coworkers was absent this week, and I helped to cover for him. That made for three full work days this week, with two of them spent on my feet all day. But I survived, (after a nap) and am ready for choir practice.
But first, as I warm the food, it beckons me to dinner.
Labels: biology, Choir, friends, music, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, work
posted by Grace @ 9/13/2007 06:41:00 PM
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The real reason I'm still single, continued:
(greeted, on the second time I had spoken to Guy A) Guy A: "I'm SOO glad I met you!" (while he looks at my second head--NO I Don't have a second head)
~~~
Monday, 16:50
My friend Marva recommended that I read an article in Jet magazine in which "Women Reveal How Waiting Worked to Their Advantage in Finding a Soul Mate." A documentary is mentioned in the article, Soul Mate. I guess we all do our best to enjoy our time by ourselves (as my friend Erica stated when she had two toddlers, "You can read what you want when you want to, and you can go use the bathroom by yourself when you want to!" as long as we are single without children).
Labels: list, love, philosophical
posted by Grace @ 9/09/2007 09:18:00 PM
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I have one of my graduate degrees in soil science, and I currently teach in a biology department. Most US soils departments grew out of agronomy departments, and I noticed how diverse the types of questions asked by soil chemists, physicists, biologists, geomorphologists, pedologists, etc. were whenever I attended a national meeting.
While I was a grad student, mi asessor, Bob, once asked me if I had any ideas as to why more women were entering a field such as soil science. I replied that much of soil science is allied with the life sciences, which more women tend to gravitate towarda and to be graduated from graduate school; and it is an interdisciplinary field, which may tend to attract more women. I don't know how true my second statement was as a generalization, but it was true for me when I was in grad school....
Now, my students are studying microorganisms in the biology classroom and we ask some questions about soil as thought questions for our students. I have differences about some of the basic assumptions about soils (generally) that are stated in the questions, which I have relayed to my current asessor more than once. Such a new curriculum, there are SO MANY new insights and questions. I hope my concerns don't end up on the back burner...Soils deserve a decent place in our curriculum, especially when discussing microorganisms and also N-cycling.
Labels: biology, geology, science, soils, teaching
posted by Grace @ 9/09/2007 08:58:00 PM
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Kelly's got a new job as a manager of a tutoring center in NYC.
I just checked out some of the new photos from her all-female accordian band. Here is one photo album, from this year's Mermaid Fest in New York. How splendiferous! How shrimply charming are the costumes and the accordianists, too! Here is a link to the Long Island Germanfest, 2007. So, in addition to her avocation as an accordianist and to her new job, she's keeping a couple of her other gigs, too. Good for her!
Labels: career, celebration, music, teaching
posted by Grace @ 9/09/2007 08:48:00 PM
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Today I rose early (7am) to go to Giant Eagle to purchase condiments for the annual St. Paul Cathedral Picnic. Pastoral council is active in organizing this. I dropped the bottles off at the rectory and went home to get breakfast and to see Mom and Dad.
After the noon Mass I helped hand out buns. There was steak, pork chops, spiced chicken, and hot dogs. The salad was a green salad as well as potato and macaroni salad. After everyone was served, I joined Mom and Dad for lunch. I obtained orangeish desserts: A butterscotch blondie, pumpkin mini gob, and a pumpkin spiced cookie. After Mary Lou P. and I showed Mary how to use the accessible entrance (for her relative), we enjoyed a performance by the Oakland Catholic Choir. They performed an "Alleluia," as well as a prayer of Mother Theresa set to music. They sounded wonderful, after only two weeks of school. A little girl (who was seen earlier touching gently, greeting the Holy Family statue) walked up to the choristers while they were singing. Poignant moments...
Labels: celebration, children, pastoral council, singing, St. Paul Cathedral
posted by Grace @ 9/09/2007 04:07:00 PM
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Yesterday, I lectored at the morning televised Mass and found the jackhammers outside to be so loud that I "couldn't hear myself speak," even with the loudspeakers. I saw my friend Sue and updated her how I've been doing since the Choireland tour. I also ran into my friend Dean. Last night was also Theta's farewell party. Theta is a friend of mine who happened to grow up in my Dad's hometown. Her family and my relatives attended the same high school classes. My dad recalls that her uncle was the valedictorian of my uncle's high school graduating class. There were fried lumpia, marinated BBQ, salads, and a slew of desserts including leche flan and Prantl's specialties.
Today, Mom and I prepared an amazing lunch of pancit, fresh lettuce lumpia, beef tapa, rice, fresh sweet corn, and garden tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella drizzled in balsamic vinegar. MMMmmMMM! William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Marissa's parents joined us for lunch. I left for an hour during which time Kelly U. and I spoke about our plans for the Wellesley Club this fall. Upon returning to Mom & Dad's home, I found that Beatrice and company were still there.
~~~
Sunday, 8 Sept 2007, 8:00AM
Last night, our neighbor Jan invited me for dessert with some visitors from the Pittsburgh Visitors Bureau. Allan (from Ilo-Ilo), Carlos (from Mexico City), and Kalpona (from Dakha, Bangladesh) all shared their insights. I invited them to our parish picnic on Sunday (today). I mentioned that there was an interest in helping all immigrants at the Church.
I need to go out now to purchase condiments for the picnic...I hope the weather holds out, and that we have a decent turn-out, despite the opening Steelers game.
Labels: Beatrice, children, dining, excited, family, family-Marissa, farewell, friends, international culture, lector, niece and nephew, photos, Pilipino culture, read, St. Paul Cathedral
posted by Grace @ 9/08/2007 03:38:00 PM
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About an hour ago the emergency alarm went off. I was the first fire warden on my floor to knock on the doors. We noted who had responded on our sheets as soon as we were outside, in the lukewarm air. "No smoke, no fire, but the alarm is still on," as one of the firefighters said.
Conversations:
me (addressing Mr. Y): "So, young lady, when did you go to [insert name of Seven Sister college on his sweatshirt]?"
Mr. Y: Several times.
*
[re: a service dog who was by his mommy] his mommy: "He's running for mayor...he's really popular."
me: He's got more charisma!
~~~
I tired of waiting for the alarm to be turned off, so I hoofed it to my folk's home under the intention of finding out if there were an alarm there, too (there WAS a fire truck by their building).
The thin fingernail of a moon smiled down on us, and the uni students across the street tried to crash our "party," but to no avail.
~~~
I need my beauty sleep, because if I don't get it; Beauty turns to a beast!
Labels: alarm, neighbors, sleep
posted by Grace @ 9/07/2007 05:17:00 AM
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I took my niece, Beatrice, on a field trip to the bank today. It was great fun for her, even though all I did was make a deposit. She enjoyed my doffing her hat as we entered the line at the bank. The teller looked at her closely after he had counted. We donned her hat before going out into the sunshine. George, our neighbor, greeted her in the elevator, too.
Labels: Beatrice, friends, neighbors, niece and nephew
posted by Grace @ 9/04/2007 05:57:00 PM
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I just returned from a Labor Day trip to Luray Caverns, Harpers Ferry, WV, and to Gettysburg and vicinity.
Babs and I drove down to LOO'ray Caverns (as the locals pronounce it) on Saturday. I received two "cave kisses" there, (Grace, the "question person" asked, Is it good luck when something drops on you here? The reply was the explanation of cave kisses.) Babs was perturbed that the organ was programmed to play "The Battle Hymn of the Reformation." (At least I received my second cave kiss in that spacious cavern.)
On our way out of the lobby/foyer, a voice called out my name--it was my cousin Arthur!!! He was on the way into the caverns at about 1pm as we were departing. He was there with friends, and after some hugs and a photo opportunity; Babs and I headed to the carillon tower for the 2:00PM concert (We had missed the farmers market in town). We heard "In the Good Ol' Summertime" played from the tower. We stopped for swirled frozen custard (I told Babs the joke from Kelly), and continued to Harpers Ferry, WV.
After a missed turn (due to poor signage) and a visit to bucolic fields, we turned back toward 81 N, and thus toward Harpers Ferry, WV, where we took a tour bus to the main town, took a walk around the area, visited the church overlooking the rivers and cliffs, and spoke with the locals in costume there. One of them had a relative in Mary Lou P's son's parish. We made our way to the craft and book shops, and then caught the bus back to the visitors center.
We had dinner at a Chinese buffet in Gettysburg and enjoyed getting our bearings.
Sunday, we attended Mass at St. Francis Xavier in Gettysburg, went to a couple of craft and international stores, and a handful of antique stores before heading back to the hotel for a swim before dinner at the crab house (across from a corn field). It was so delicious and we were so taken by the food that not only did we pick up a few dozen cooked crabs to go, but we also bought some togs.
After dinner we visited St. Joseph's Basilica, where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is entombed. We then went to visit the replica of the grotto at Lourdes and for a photo opportunity at the rock where St. Elizabeth instructed young people. We returned to the hotel for a last dip in the pool.
This morning we visited Gettysburg, and climbed the Eisenhower tower, visited the battlefields, and spoke with reinacting Confederate troops and a general encamped in town.
The drive home was pleasant.
Mom, Dad, and I enjoyed the crabbies with a late lunch and for dinner tonight.
Labels: American history, art, Church, excited, family, friends, geology, ice cream, international culture, Ireland
posted by Grace @ 9/03/2007 02:36:00 PM
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Days in the life of me.
