Beata & Solomon return, with their parents December 2008
Beatrice and Solomon returned this afternoon from Chicago. Beatrice's first words to us when she arrived at Lolo and Lola's apartment were, "What's going on? I'm so excited!" Solomon learned how to crawl this week away from us. It was good to have the 'Burgh buddies back.
~~~~
After a loong nap, I spoke with Jen McG. I gave her a lift from Oakland to her car at the Park N Ride (after dark). I wished her a happy new year for her and her family.
~~~~~
After dinner with Mom and Dad of pork chops, Mom and I watched the 2008 Kennedy Center awards ceremony, I did some darning, and watched the news and Meryl Streep on Late Night with David Letterman.
Labels: Beatrice, dining, excited, family, friends, niece and nephew
Re-Inaugurating the Organ; Preparing to be Coat Check Chick, Me
The re-inauguration of the St. Paul Cathedral von Beckerath organ after renovations will be through a series of concerts next week. The concerts will coincide with the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians XXVI. I have been assigned, with Jay, to the coat check.
After morning Mass Don and I inspected the cloak room for potential organization for use as a coat check room on Monday night. The door locks, and all that are missing are a doorstop and a system for the coat check, which we discussed. There is also a long rack with tri-hangers for Tuesday night ("for self-service").
~~~~~
I saw Brian F., a former coworker, as I was exiting St. Paul Cathedral. We wished each other holiday and new year greetings.
Labels: celebration, Choir, Church, cleaning, music, organ, repair, St. Paul Cathedral
Camilla
I watched a movie tonight entitled Camilla, with Jessica Tandy and with Bridget Fonda. Quite entertaining and enjoyable.
Labels: cinema
Holiday Chats
This morning I had holiday chats with Luce and Pratima, two of my faraway friends. Soon after, I had lunch, grabbed my gym bag, and headed to physical therapy. Keelan added the "fishtail" or "polliwog" exercise with the red ball.
I also used a few coupons at CVS, and put some pics on a CD. Need to check them for content...
Labels: exercise, friends, phone, photography, photos, water exercise
Feast of the Holy Family 2008
Dad noted that today would be the Mass for the Holy Innocents in the Philippines. The choir sang from the choir loft again...with Christina cantoring from the altar
Angels we have heard on high
Proulx's Community Mass Gloria
Psalm 128 Chepponis/DKF
Christmastime Alleluia by Chepponis
Coventry Carol arranged by Shaw
Proulx's Eucharistic Adorations
Isele's Lamb of God
What Child is This? and
Noel We Sing by Daquin/KD
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
Most all of the organ pipes were in place and we were pleased with the sounds which were directed over and past us in the loft to the receptive congregation below.
~~~~~
After Mass we found our way to the Waterfront, and decided against the breakfast bar at Eat N Park and for the sandwiches at Steak N Shake.
Upon arrival at home, I napped heavily.
We watched Girl, Interrupted, a movie starring and produced in part by Winona Ryder. Quite dramatic, based on the adventures of a young woman on a hospital ward in the 1960s.
~~~~~
~9PM
Dad and I are watching The Sound of Music, a family favorite.
Labels: Boston area, cat, Choir, Christmas, Church, cinema, citizenship, dining, family, ice cream, music, organ, St. Paul Cathedral
Hello Kitty (Snowball); and Lisa's Celebration
Stopped by to visit Snowball today. He was so glad to see me, he ran up to me and rubbed up against me. I told Mom that I think he suffers from a jealousy of the children, as well as a dearth of patting.
Today it was well over 65 degrees Fahrenheit--the car's outside thermometer showed it at 72 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon! The radio this morning mentioned that we may get close to record temperatures today...unseasonably warm temperatures.
Mom and I did some shopping this afternoon, and I'll be going to Lisa's celebration this evening.
~~~
10 AM Sunday
Lisa's celebration was fun! Don drove, while his GPS directed slightly posthandedly to me (who had directions from Ken). Quite the scene, with the GPS with an accent! ("That's rihght!") We arrived after Doug, Judi, and Mary Pat, as well as some of their neighbors. A bevy of friends from the local parish and neighbors arrived. We shared a plethora of appetizers, we "OOoo-ed and Aah-ed" about the tree and train set (as well as the action-figure Jesus), then progressed to the desserts. I tried almost all, and I particularly enjoyed the homemade raspberry-chocolate bars. After a chat with Fred, who arrived from Virginia despite a failed differential, we retired to the living room with birthday songs, carols (from a booklet copyright 1948), and a "march" entitled "Christ the King." I saw part of an organ pipe from the restoration (which Ken had someone mount upright on a plate). Quite the conversation piece.
We travelled back to my house (quite uneventful, as I had a Shirley Temple to preserve my wits as the backseat driver), and agreed I would check out the coat racks (for my coat check girl duty for the conference NEXT week) for possible organization later.
Labels: Birthday, cat, celebration, Choir, family, friends, love, organ, seasons, shopping, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, weather
"Boxing Day" 2008
I awoke and Mom and I drove to Waterworks Mall where we shopped. I got a 4G USB key.
Labels: computer, family, shopping
"Boxing Day" 2008, Mistaken Identity
I awoke and Mom and I drove to Waterworks Mall where we shopped. I got a new sterling chain for the one which broke earlier this week, a 4GB jumpdrive, and also (later) some gifts from Target.
I went to my physical therapy at 12:30 via the blue belt and Schenley Park. I then picked Mom up, and we dined at Target and shopped while it poured down rain. We went home via Greenfield.
Tonight Mom and I watched "Mistaken Identity" on NBC Nightline. Just to show how resemblances often exist, I recounted to Mom people we have known who resemble the people in the news story. How fortunate that there were good families, good people involved in this incident. They chose to write a book about the occurrence.
Labels: computer, exercise, Faith, shopping, TV, water exercise
The Priests
Mom and I watched the six o'clock news, and there was a featured story on three priests from Ireland who have signed on with RCA Victor for their debut album entitled "The Priests." Quite the lovely voices with back-up singers from Ireland and the Vatican.
Labels: Church, music, singing
Christmas Day 2008
Today we sang a slightly abbreviated version of the preludes for Mass (as we did at yesterday night's Mass). We sang
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
My Dancing Day (G. Near), followed by organ & brass w/ O Magnum Mysterium (Gabrieli)
Gaudete (arr. Batastini), followed by organ & brass w/Fanfare & Var. on "Noel Nouvelet"
O Come, All Ye Faithful
as preludes, with other sung pieces in the same order as last night.
A television cameraman recorded some great shots from the choir loft of the singers, Don, and the view from the loft.
~~~~~
Before Mass, Linda handed me a lovely Christmas card, with a nice sentiment. Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, and spoke about the disarming quality of a smile, and God the Father's "smile" for us. Gloria took some photos of me in the loft, and we hugged Judi and Don after exchanging Christmas greetings.
~~~~~~
After Mass, I ate lunch, Marissa stopped by in search of a misplaced article, and I napped before we drove Kelly to the airport. She was particularly thrilled by her freshly laundered down coat.
Labels: Choir, Christmas, citizenship, laundry, Mass, singing, St. Paul Cathedral
Christmas Eve Mass 2008
I arrived about 8:15 PM for the 10:00PM Mass. I distributed Christmas cards, and we all waited for our opportunity to practice with the Carnegie brass before Mass. After some run-throughs of songs, we took a short break until starting the preludes at 9:30 PM.
At 10 PM, Bishop Zubik came to the choir loft to bless the renovated Beckerath organ. I handed off my camera to Rick, who got some great angles from the highest riser near the center of the choir loft.
We all departed at about 11:50 PM after some photos, and after a snack at home, will play Upwords with Mom and Kelly.
~~~~~
1:25 AM Christmas Day
Got some great words---Quart and Quails...we had a pretty God-ly final board, with God, smite, crimes, and zen.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Starting at 9:30 PM the music included:
Preludes
Votre bonte grand Dieu, on the organ, played by Ken Danchik (C. Balbastre)
My Dancing Day (arr. G. Near),
organ & brass w/ O Magnum Mysterium (Gabrieli)
Gaudete (arr. Batastini),
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
Coventry Carol (arr. Shaw)
organ & brass w/Fanfare & Var. on "Noel Nouvelet"
A Sound of Angels (C. Tye)
After the organ blessing, the processional hymn was:
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Word of God
Gloria of the Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Psalm 96 (Chepponis)
Christmastime Alleluia (Chepponis) with a reprise after the Gospel
The Body and Blood of Christ
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt (C. Schalk)
Acclamations from the Community Mass by Proulx
Lamb of God from the Holy Cross Mass (D. Isele)
The First Nowell
Christmas Lullaby (J. Rutter)
Silent Night
Recessional and Postlude
Joy to the World (arr. Jenkins)
In dir ist Freude (J.S. Bach)
Christmas Eve 2008
Today I awoke early, prepared holiday cards for my immediate neighbors, and bundled up with all intentions of going to Mass. The weather dampened those hopes (both literally and figuratively), and just as I got to the outside door, I turned around and decided to deliver the cards this morning before my other errands.
So, I donned a Santa's elf hat and slid cards between doors and door jambs. I ran into Phyllis K. along the way, as she ascended the steps. She was greatly appreciative of the card.
~~~~~
Yesterday, before physical therapy and also after midnight, I watched the newest cinema version of The Stepford Wives, with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, and Christopher Walken. Mom and I watched the last part of the movie together. I noted that I had read the book about 25 years ago, and the original ending by Ira Levin was darker and different than this movie version. Frank Oz, of Muppet fame, had directed the movie.
Yesterday, we had also watched parts of White Christmas, with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney; and of Mulan (with a litany of famous Asian/Asian-American voices for both the singing and speaking voices, including Lea Salonga's voice)
~~~~~
11:20 AM
After I have had handled flight arrangements for family, Kelly and I will go chez Beatrice and Solomon for lunch and to make cookies!
~~~
We made sugar cookies with dried cranberries and white chocolate pieces and withpecans and semi-sweet chocolate pieces (Marissa and William); and I made brownies with extra chocolate. Kelly and I checked our emails and napped (respectively). I left at about 4:45 PM in a (vain) search for bagels---Bagel Factory, Panera (1), Giant Eagle (1), Giant Eagle/Market District (2), Panera (2) were all closed at the time. I made a last-ditch effort at the Starbucks near a hospital...the handicapped parking was occupied by a vehicle with no plate nor placard, requiring me to park across the lot. A young, able couple exited the Starbucks.
...excuse me. [no response]...Excuse me! I exclaimed.
The young lady getting into the passenger side looked at me.
excuse me, but can you not park in this spot if you're not handicapped?
I inquired at the counter about any bagels...the answer was negative. "But we have rolls." I then recounted my search for bagels in Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, and Oakland...and my disappointment with the parking situation in the lot. The small outcry brought imaginary tears spewing from either side of my head, as it continued to rain outside.
Labels: Christmas, cinema, international culture, neighbors, Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, seasons, singing, surprise, tradition, writing
Kelly's Arrival December 2008, Winter Vacation Days 2008
Friday, I attended morning Mass, and went to physical therapy (with pool work) in the afternoon.
Kelly arrived from NYC after several hiccups in taking off on Saturday. I had lunch with Jen McG. at Camille's. She gave me a ride to Phipps, where I met up with Regina and John. Her friend, Susan, with her friend Robert and her brother Ken joined up with us later. John and I had fun collecting stamps around the conservatory. Susan especially liked the train and the banana blossoms in the room farthest west. Ken particularly liked the prickly and hairy extensions on the succulents in the Desert Room. We all liked Santa's seat (darn! we just missed him!) and the Dale Chihuly glass artwork. Regina gave me a nice Christmas gift before we departed.
That afternoon, while Kelly napped, Mom and I wrapped lumpia.
Dinner was shared with Mom and Dad, William, Kelly, Beatrice, Solomon, and I. We all missed Marissa.
~~~~
Sunday the 21st called for me to rehearse before Mass for choir. This is the last Sunday we are singing at the BVM altar in front of the congregation. I spotted Jim B., my former boss, and his wife, Sandy. I stopped by and spoke with him---he updated me on his family's doings. After Mass, the soprani and alti practiced the Fugue...with Ken directing at the piano.
I met a family from NJ outside church, and Mom, Dad, and I ate lunch together. Dad and I went to the public library (I had mentioned the printer capabilities to my friend Maureen earlier in the weekend; and we have been without Internet accessibility at home for over a week and a half), and I helped Maureen troubleshoot her flight problems (we made a run to her apartment for documents). Kelly, Mom, Dad, and I went to Eat 'N' Park near Jo-Anne S.'s apartment for dinner.
~~~~~
Monday the 22nd brought an appointment to my primary care physician and a visit to Tokyo Buffet by the whole family---Mom, Dad, Kelly, me (William and Marissa and children arrived much later due to a flat tire). I had a nice long nap afterwards.
~~~~~
Tuesday the 23rd (today) brought a visit to physical therapy, lunch at Taco Bell, and yet another annual visit to the specialist.
~~~
I've been writing/answering Christmas cards this week, and look forward to singing at Christmas Eve Mass. I've also been answering my students' emails from various computers on campus, at UPMC, and in the public library.
Labels: anniversary, Choir, dining, email, family, friends, gift, glass, list, Mass, Phipps, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, water exercise
Christmas Sing Thing 2008
I read at Mass yesterday, and Fr. Brian celebrated the Mass, Matt served, and Don provided the music ministry.
~~~
As in years past, I joined Joe & Tina W. and their friends for a carol "Sing Thing" yesterday afternoon. We sang arrangements of carols from the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts, with settings in both print and Braille. Tony, our host, had produced an arrangement of "In the Bleak Midwinter," which we broke into parts to practice, and sang.
The way Braille music is arranged on the page was explained to me, and I was astonished by the amount of mental work necessary to sing while reading music in Braille.
~~~~~
Choir yesterday night was devoted to Christmas Masses practice, as well as a fond farewell to Marc W. and birthday wishes to Don!
Labels: Blind, Choir, Christmas, Church, farewell, Mass, music, singing, St. Paul Cathedral
Mannheim Steamroller
Wednesday Maureen and I went to a performance of the Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller. Chip Davis, the founder, was not performing that night due to a recent medical procedure. The group performing was from the East Coast tour, and performed
Hallelujah
Feliz Navidad
Dec the Halls
We Three Kings
Catching Snowflakes on Your Tongue
Messengers of Christmas
Faeries (an arrangement of the Sugar Plum Fairy movement from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker)
Good King Wenceslas
White Christmas
Intermission
Gagliarda
In dulci Jubilo
Wassail, Wassail
Carol of the Birds
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Christmas Lullaby
Carol of the Bells
The encore consisted of Silent Night and Angels we Have Heard on High. We were thrilled by the music of the group. The second half was heavy with videographed visuals of Medieval minstrels performing for a banquet, as well as the preparations in a Medieval kitchen.
We dined at Mr. Rogers's favorite dessert place afterwards, and enjoyed a jazz combo up to the time we departed.
Labels: Christmas, dining, friends, music, Tchaikovsky
Christian Leaders Fellowhip: Pittsburgh's 250th Festival Celebration 2008
Christian Leaders Fellowhip: Pittsburgh's 250th Festival Celebration 2008
As last year, the Christian Leaders Fellowhip: Festival Celebration was a blast. I sat next to Rita, from the dental school, and Anthony and Diane, friends of Ken D. As I did last year, I sat in the 7th row of the Orchestra floor center section, with a clear view of the signers, the singers, the musicians, and the conductors. Nancy C. was so kind to give me a ride home afterwards, in the cold, rainy night.
Errands, December 15th, 2008
After dropping off Mom and Dad for exercise, I ran a couple of errands (at the post office and bank).
The post office branch which I visited is not one I often frequent---and now I know why. They had only one, then two postal service workers helping us mail our parcels this morning between 10:30-11:25am. I wondered aloud whether my new hip would beep or not in the metal detector. The line stayed constant, snaking out through the front lobby area. At one point, there were NO workers at the windows...
"And we thought it was bad when there were only TWO of them," I stated flatly.
Gaudete Sunday 2008
This Sunday was Gaudete Sunday. A bunch of choristers dined out after---Marc, Gloria, Ornella, Christoph, Stacy, Alroy, and I. We enjoyed ourselves (especially Christoph, with his dish nicknamed "Stone Soup" by me) and chortled with joy at the fortune cookie slips.
I attended the Sunday Vespers service. It was the first time I actually felt "in tune with" the chanting.
St. Lucy, Pittsburgh Wellesley Annual Tea, FAAP Annual Christmas Party
Saturday morning Dad and I attended the Mass for St. Lucy's Day.
I sat next to Marnie and Kelly for the Annual Wellesley Alumnae Club tea downtown this weekend. I also saw Amy and Abby. Ines brought her three teenage daughters. The air was festive and we all enjoyed chatting with each other. We had a couple of large tables teeming with women.
Afterwards, Mom and Dad picked me up for the annual FAAP Christmas party. We had a blast, but missed William and Marissa and gang that night. Eliseo brought a great lit parol and a large mural of Jose Rizal.
Low Gas Prices! III
Today Dad, "Uncle" Cesar, and I picked up Tita Tina & Tito Larry's van for transporting the room dividers used for the Philippine Nationality Room Open House on Sunday. We stopped for gasoline---the price was only $1.83.9
The last time I mentioned gasoline prices was this summer, when the prices were more than double of current prices per gallon.
Read this article about the hidden curse of low gasoline prices....
Labels: Philippines, Pilipino culture, transportation
The Lady with All the Answers, Ann Landers
Tuesday night Nancy C., Amy C.-M., and I attended the show at the O'Reilly Theatre, The Lady with All the Answers. It is the one- woman show of Helena Ruoti as Ann Landers, that famous advice columnist who quietly questioned American attitudes while upholding its conscience and sensibility. She, along with her twin sister, "Dear Abby," provided advice to various people from varied walks of life. A Playbill review is here.
As it was Amy's last week in Pittsburgh, we took her to see the creche that is the replica of the one in Vatican City. Nancy dropped me off, with a wind-up radio in hand, and I gave Amy a fond hug for being a friend.
Labels: Christmas, diocese of Pittsburgh, farewell, Pittsburgh, theater, tradition
Philippine Nationality Room Open House/Cultural Display 2008
I was the chair for the future Philippine Nationality Room's Cultural Display this year. Dee Dee and her Young Filipino-Americans of Pittsburgh provided the dance performances at 12:30 and 3:30 this afternoon. Teody and her catering team provided the food component of the open house, and I headed up the cultural education/fundraising portion in the incipient Nationality Room Classroom.
Karina, Maureen, Mom, Tita Tina, and Alroy helped move items (some stored by Cristina L. and I within the Cathedral of Learning) and to decorate the room. Maureen and I made a quick run to Mom & Dad's c/o Tito Larry for a carved wood tea set, a capiz shell Christmas wreath, and an extension cord. Warren brought Tita Mila L., who went to help with the cookbook and holiday card sales.
I gave a short spiel on the room to groups of 5-20 visitors---about the geography, clothing, costumes, parols, clay pots, malongs, etc.
Many people stopped in: Freddie stopped by to say hello; K, a former student, and her family; William, Marissa, and family; Myrna (who took photos of our room and group) and family; Cristina's family; Ken D.; Alroy F.; Tom B. from pastoral council; and Chad from the Newman Center; two groups of Girl Scouts, one group from the Baldwin area.
Andy M. and Jo-Anne S. helped us to pack up and move various items to light storage and our car, waiting, below.
After pulling away from the Cathedral of Learning in the bitter cold, Mom and I outvoted Dad for hot food first---chili---then moving the items back into our homes.
Labels: Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, volunteering
"I'm on the road right now. And it's really slick."
About an hour ago I called Ornella from the road (to get supplies for the Philippine Nationality Room Open House) to tell her that the roads were slick. She said that she was on the road, too, and "it seems very dangerous...maybe we can do a potluck dinner another time..."
That leaves me with just: getting items together for tomorrow's open house, having dinner, going to the anticipated Mass with Mom, and grrrading!
Labels: biology, cold, dolls, Philippines, Pittsburgh, PNR, seasons, traction, travel, work
PSO--Slatkin, Time for Three, West Side Story, & Copland
Yesterday afternoon I dined at the Newman Center. Kristin introduced me to the world of Narnia (Prince Caspian was the movie for the night)---they had decorated the large meeting room with streamers, the lamppost, and the crest of Aslan.
Maureen and I met to go to the Bank of New York Grand Classics performance at the Pittsburgh Symphony. We enjoyed:
Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Prologue
Somewhere
Mambo
Cool Fugue
Finale
Jennifer Higdon's Concerto 4-3 (with Time for Three)
1. The Shallows
2. Little River
3. Roaring Smokies
~~~INTERMISSION~~~
Aaron Copland's Symphony Number 3
[In Four Movements]
~~~~~
I was hoping to hear Tonight and Maria from WSS, the Broadway portion of the program. The audience enjoyed that part of the program.
Higdon's piece was with the classically trained string trio that produced new sounds that were bright, energetic, and percussive, with movements reminiscent of Higdon's Tennessee (bluegrass) roots.
Copland's Symphony No. 3 had nested in it the Fanfare for the Common Man, familiar to many in the audience from CBS Sports Spectacular. The first strains of this piece elicited comments from the floor, including one audible one from several rows back of, "Boy, we have great seats."
~~~~~
Leonard Slatkin conducted, Andres Cardenes was concertmaster.
~~~~~
Afterwards, we went out for fajitas and a double decker sandwich w/ fries at Eat and Park, and chatted into the night.
Labels: Broadway, dining, Pittsburgh, PSO
Disneyland...Thanksgiving 2008
This weekend, Miranda & Benny spoke with Lolo and Lola and I about their Thanksgiving trip to Disneyland. It was really fun and they had a chance to meet, greet, and get autographs from many of their favorite characters. Miranda especially liked the ride "Soaring over California." One of the days there they spent fifteen hours at the park.
They had a chance to visit the LA clan. I spoke with Uncle Sonny, and after they left he was doing the exact same chores that they were when they landed at home: Laundry.
Labels: California, children, excited, family, laundry, niece and nephew, reunion, thankfulness, transportation
