Laundry (again)!
I've been up since 5.00, doing laundry. Made a lot of communiques, first to my friend S, then to various offices with which I need to make arrangements. I had lunch with Mom and Dad, and got more communications completed.
~~~
Maureen and I went to Taco Bell for dinner, I bought some bedding items, as well. We wandered around the bookstore, window-shopping. We chatted about our plans for summer, etc. We had a nice evening out.
Labels: dining, family, international culture, laundry, shopping
Post-Nasal Drip, Post-Practical Questions
I have post-nasal drip Thursday right after the semester ended. I've been sleeping propped with pillows.
Thursday a student stopped by to have a second look at the exam.
Labels: biology, health, school, student, work
Grades Posted at 17.00, Spring 2010
William, Dad, and I drove to "thirty one-derful flavors" for their 31 cent scoops. Dad, Mom, and I got Jamoca Almond Fudge, and William got German chocolate cake, and cherries Jubilee for Beatrice and Solomon. Donations will be made today to the Fire Fighters fund.
After, I headed home for dinner, to say hi to Mom and Dee Dee P., and to answer emails after the grades were officially posted to the central computer on campus at 17.00 h.
~~~
Went grocery shopping with Maureen at ~21.00.
Labels: biology, dine, email, friends, ice cream, school, shopping, work
And Here Begins My Summer Break 2010
I met with Carole and Meredith at about 12:45 today to take care of administrative tasks for my four laboratory sections. We had a productive meeting. I then spent the next two and a half hours taking care of the paperwork to leave them a copy of our work. I left work after leaving a copy for them.
I walked back home, toting my less-heavy bag with me, and showered and took a nap to about 16.30. I went to Mom and Dad's, visiting, toting stuff from their home, bringing dinner makings from my house (for a lovely Surf N Turf dinner), and emailing my students that I'd posted their grades. Mom and I watched Dancing with the Stars, and I just spoke with Stacey, a colleague who is home grading.
I think I'll turn in early tonight.
Labels: biology, dance, dine, family, meeting, school, sleep, work
Those Early Morn Hours
Up early...checking email and such. Must get back to sleep. Will turn off WQED on the radio and fall back into bed.
~~~
Listening to WQED...at the same time as Sesame Street!
10:00 am Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Concerto, flute, strings, continuo in D
Musica Antiqua Köln
Verena Fischer, flute
Deutsche Grammophon 471579
Bachiana, music from the Bach family
Labels: email, radio, sleep
Grading Update, Spring 2010
So, I officially finished grading all questions for all my students in all my sections on all assignments at 9.49 this morning.
Now, I just need to:
Add the scores from the subtotals
Calculate the score for the final
Calculate the percent right on the final
Enter the final grades in the grade spreadsheets
Calculate course scores/grades
Calculate course letter grades (with + or -)
Much of this can be done with calculators, spreadsheets, and grade break/cutoff information.
I'll take Mom and Dad out for lunch today to celebrate!
Time for a little relaxation before choir practice.
Labels: biology, celebration, Choir, dining, relax, school, St. Paul Cathedral, work
Up Early for Grading, the Home Stretch, Spring 2010
I'm up early on a Sunday for the grading home stretch. I'm on the last portion of the exam!!! I've put feelers out for meeting with one of my supervisors early next week to discuss grades. My students will be happy if I can post grades before graduation (sooner than later, before the scheduled time).
Labels: biology, early, school, work
Art All NIght 2010
I met up with Regina and John for Art All Night. We also met up with Charles and Susan. The encaustic wax was useful for our little group, as both Victoria and Susan, Charles and I discussed separately and together. I spotted an Icelandic work by Stacy, and we all found favorites.
Saw K & Theresa there, Chris W (a former coworker) there. As of 11.00 Sunday, Stacy said she spotted me there, as well, at a distance. (Definitely a place to see and be seen!)
A fun--albeit rainy---ending to a productive day!
Labels: art, BAD, music, painting, photography, seasons, weather
Up Early to (finish?) Grading, Finals Spring 2010
Sprung up early this morning to get my papers in order and to (finish?) grade. Just checked my email, checked my withdrawals from class...ready to go!
8.26 am
2/3rds + finished grading...I took a break after the 2/3rds mark to make cinnamon bread French toast and eggs for the folks and me.
10.12 am
7/9ths finished grading. Taking a break to write more to this blog entry...
12.02 pm
5/6ths finished grading. Time to grade to the bottom of page 7 for one section, then lunch, then clean-up, then watching Mother's Day on Ice (figure skating) on television, then an hour-long nap.
17.06
8/9ths finished grading.
18.11
17/18ths finished grading.
I'm in the home stretch now!
Labels: biology, dine, school, sleep, sports, TV, work
5/9ths Finished Grading, Finals Spring 2010
I am pleased as punch at my progress in grading: 5/9ths completed with all my papers to be corrected, to date.
Maureen and I went for smoothie and General Tso's chicken at the neighborhood pan-Asian restaurant. Came back home and graded some more!
Labels: biology, dining, school, work
1/2 Finished Grading, Finals Spring 2010
Wheeee-HA! I am halfway finished grading all my administered exams this week. I celebrated by having a handful of crisped rice milk chocolates!
(okay)
Back to grading again!
Labels: biology, chocolate, school, work
Food, Inc.
Watched ~one and a half hours of Food, Inc. last night on WQED. The ending was palpably missing. Meredith at work recommended we watch it. Quite thought-provoking. Reminds me of books I read for a class @ MC back in the day with Jan Wilbanks.
Special prayers go out now to Kelly and her compadres as they head out for an event for which they need luck, prayers, and talent.
Labels: cinema tv, Marietta, New York, prayer, school, talent
Practical Week, Spring 2010
Each day this week, after administering practicals, I have:
Monday--Took a nap, then went grocery shopping with Mom, graded...
Tuesday--Took a nap, then went for a walk with Maureen, graded...
Wednesday (today)--helped Heather with the lab, then graded, then went to the annual building meeting
Tomorrow--I have my last practical exam to give, and then it's grading home free, a grading "spree"!
Labels: biology, family, friends, neighbors, shopping, sleep, walking, work
Catholic Underground, April 2010
Fr. Kim had mentioned Catholic Underground to me before I lectored at Mass a couple of times ago. I had been to it when it was at another locale, and said I would bring my friends with me. I drove last night, carpooling with Christina, Karina, and Maureen. Karina gave me a beautiful brooch for my birthday gift.
We saw Fr. Kim as we headed for the worship.
The evening consisted of
Praise and Worship music (live) provided by Molly and her friends, accompanied by the congregation. This included:
Eucharistic Adoration
Evening Prayer
We retired to the social hall, where we heard a great Capuchin Franciscan band
The night consisted of chatting with other attendees over refreshments, and ended with
Benediction
Night Prayer
We left later and more energized.
Labels: diocese of Pittsburgh, Faith, Pittsburgh, singing
Peace, Love, and Little Donuts
I'm going to say three words to you about these donuts:
MAPLE and BACON
Maureen and I tried a half dozen of the little donuts (The minis were not started today, yet), in maple and bacon, iced, and iced with jimmies. We sat at the coffee shop on 21st (Intelligentsia) to eat our donuts.
I had the fortitude to bring ONE donut home for Mom and Dad to try, a maple and bacon one. Quite delicious. We saw the lofts on Penn Avenue being constructed, and stopped at Trader Joes for groceries. As the sugar rush waned quickly after that, I dropped my groceries off, and settled in for a good long nap.
Labels: dining, Pittsburgh, shopping, sleep
Last Week of Class, Spring 2010
Seeing as I teach a laboratory class, this week has been the last week of class for my students.
This week was William's birthday, and we went to Thai Cuisine with his family and Mom and Dad for dinner. Thursday morning Marissa and the children and I walked to the public library. We saw the art work made by some of the children in the corridor on the way to the children's room.
We had fun reading books, and Beata demonstrated how she has been doing self-checkout. Friday I met up with William, Marissa, and the children by the art tent, and watched buggy races. They each made a miniature wooden buggy. I also lectored at Friday's morning Mass, with Fr. Kim celebrating, John serving, and Don providing the music ministry from the loft. <40>
It was set-up time for doing the practical Friday, C's last time! We will miss her---I will miss her. I brought home Plant 1--Coleus, but not before taking care of some administrative tasks.
Friday night Maureen and I spotted tickets from my neighbors, J & T, for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. We had a Scottish snack on the way there, and visiting conductor Juraj Valcuha conducted the PSO in Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau, the Mermaid. Intermission was spent enjoying Andes candies, and Yefim Bronfman joined the orchestra on piano for Beethoven's Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37. He was absolutely brilliant, noticeable in those solo passages. A standing ovation ensued, and he played an encore solo piece.
Maureen and I had a lovely evening, and we plan on another adventure this morning after my laundry is through.
Labels: art, Birthday, Carnegie, dining, lector, library, PSO, school, sports, work
Choir Day Off, Octave of Easter, April 2010
Yeah! A day off from choir today---I've finished grading all my papers handed to me last week, scored them, and recorded them. I even had a student with a perfect score!
Dad is serving as Eucharistic minister at the ten o'clock Mass---I will take him and Mom out for lunch at Five Guys (they haven't been there yet). Then a little shopping, and many happy returns, as well.
Labels: biology, Choir, dining, Mass, school, shopping, St. Paul Cathedral, student, work
Solomon and My Birthday Celebrations Out
I graded 1/6 more of the papers to be graded this morning. Met up with Maureen, Christina, Nancy, and Regina for lunch at the Gandy Dancer. We also enjoyed chatting, as well as two chocolate truffle cakes topped with ice cream for dessert. A walkabout Station Square ensued, then Christina gave me a ride to Monroeville and Chuckee Cheese for Solomon's birthday celebration. Christina retrieved a pizza for her family's dinner, and departed.
Solomon and Beata arrived with their parents. Beata sat outside on the bench quietly with her dad and read a book whilst Solomon and Marissa and I played games. Both sets of grandparents showed up, then we left for Cici's pizza, pasta, and salad buffet. We tag-teamed driving to the Monroeville Mall and to the Miracle Mile shopping plaza for Mom to make returns. I stopped at the library on campus to print out documents for next week. I also graded ~ 1/6 more papers that still need grading. I only have about 1/6 of the papers left to grade, then must score them and record grades.
I'll call back Luce tonight, as she called me earlier, during Solomon's party.
Labels: biology, Birthday, celebration, dining, friends, ice cream, list, patient, phone, prayer, shopping, teaching, work
Continued Birthday Celebration 2010
I told Uncle Sonny about my continued birthday celebration (just like Ati Atihan! he countered) into today (Saturday).
I awoke to WQED radio's strains of Offenbach's duet, followed by a rousing Divertimento by Telemann performed by MAK. This morning's program was Saturday Morning Classics with Lynn Warfel. I performed my morning ablutions and made my way to Mom and Dad's place. I greeted Dad, checked email, took an ever-so-brief nap, and then blogged (currently). I'll grade this morning before my continued birthday celebrations.
Maureen, Christina, and Regina will join me for lunch today out at Station Square, then I will join the rest of the family for celebration at Monroeville for Solomon's birthday.
Labels: biology, Birthday, blogs, celebration, dining, email, family, family-Marissa, music, niece and nephew, patient, radio, school, sleep, work
SIS Distinguished Alumnus Award
Yesterday I lectored at Mass in the morning. Ken provided music ministry at the portative organ, John was the altar server, and Fr. Kim had switched with Fr. Bill for the morning Mass. The first reading was from the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospel reading spoke about dropping the nets in a fortuitous place for catching fish. Fr. Kim spoke about Youth Ministry before Mass, and Ken spoke about the church on Polish Hill and photographs on the web. <48>
I dropped off my packets of graded papers from this week for my students to pick up just after noon.
Mom, Dad, and I had lunch (pancit! beef peanut soup! and strawberries and pears!), and then I took a nap.
I graded quizzes from about 14.00 to 17.30, half-finishing my task.
I went home to change for the School of Information Sciences Distinguished Alumni & Professional Achievement Awards Ceremony at the Athletic Association. My former professor, Ange Pollis, was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2010. Ken S was awarded the 2010 Professional Achievement Award. His family was present, as was Ange's, and I asked him if he were related to my classmate A, who started Protest Easy Guns (he's not). Ange and her sister Helen were and looked lovely, and we chatted easily at times throughout the evening.
I caught up with SLA friends Denise, Kim G, and I met SIS Alumni president Joe I. Carolyn B was there, and we chatted about her daughter growing up.
A lovely evening.
Labels: biology, celebration, dine, lector, library, list, love, Mass, photos, read, school, seasons, St. Paul Cathedral, student, teaching, work
Easter Week 2010
Easter Week 2010--I had my Monday and Thursday classes rate their classes (via the Office of Measurement and Evaluation) this week. One of my current students, K, was the evaluator from OMET today ("You can say what you REALLY think of this class. I won't see the evaluations until after your grades are posted.") As usual, I dressed for photosynthesis week.
I had two students request recommendations from me: One, a current student, K, for pharmacy school, and the second, a former student, Y, for rehabilitation sciences school. Just today C, a former student, told me that she had switched from pre-pharmacy to nutrition and dietetics, and hopes to go to graduate school in genetic counseling.
My birthday was fun!! Tuesday was my Pilipina celebration for lunch at Taco Bell with Mom, Dad, Auntie Chi, Marissa, and the two children. We then went around the Waterworks Mall. We ran into Les and Chere there. Tuesday night William and his family took me out for dinner at Sun Penang, a Malaysian restaurant in Squirrel Hill. We enjoyed an eggplant dish (spicy), a tofu dish, chicken coconut milk fried rice, shrimp dim sum, and Asian sponge cake for dessert (as per Beatrice's request). We also went to Cold Stone Creamery for Solomon and my birthday ice cream. I had dark chocolate ice cream with brownie mix-ins (a la Steve's, now defunct in Harvard Square).
Wednesday when I arrived about 15.30 at Mom and Dad's we had a homemade carrot cake with whipped cream icing. Mom, Dad, Auntie Chi sang to me, and I blew out the candles. We enjoyed the cake, and then drove Auntie Chi to the airport. I took an hour nap, then it was time for parish pastoral council. We had pizza, cake, and drinks. We broke into break-out groups and Roseanne and I worked on the web page together with Fr. Kim. Quite productive. Roseanne and I prioritized the work.
Labels: biology, Birthday, chocolate, family, family-Marissa, ice cream, niece and nephew, pastoral council, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, student, transportation, work
Happy Easter 2010
I heated the 7.5 pound ham for Easter before choir practice, and Auntie Chi glazed it for us while Dad and I were at noon Mass.
I arrived ~11.10am for the noon Mass. The Carnegie brass arrived later.
They provided brass and organ preludes with Ken at the organ.
Entrance hymn: Jesus Christ is risen today
Gloria (Peter Jones)
Psalm 118: This is the Day...
Sequence: Alleluia response (A.C. Dohms)
Gospel Acclamation: Good News Acclamation (J. Chepponis)
Sprinkling Rite: Springs of Water (D. K. Fellows)
Preparation of Gifts: Hallelujah! from Mount of Olives (L. van Beethoven)
Eucharistic Acclamations: Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Agnus Dei: Holy Cross Mass (D. Isele)
Communion: Be Known to Us, Lord Jesus (C. Schalk)
Communion Meditation: Hallelujah! from Messaiah (G.F. Handel)
Blessing/Dismissal: Thanks be to God, Alleluia...
Recessional Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Llanfair)
Postlude: Toccata, Symphony V (C. M. Widor) Played by Carnegie Brass and Ken at the organ
Holy Saturday 2010
Yesterday was Holy Saturday. Mom, Dad, Auntie Chi, and I travelled in two separate cars to the sushi buffet to meet William and his family and Kelly. I ate a couple bowls of miso soup for brunch, as I have a intestinal flu, which expressed itself that morning. Afterwards, I shopped at Michaels and at Target (for toilet paper). I went home and rested for the bulk of the afternoon.
I drank plenty of water and noshed lightly at Mom and Dad's home, and Mom, Auntie Chi, Kelly, and I played the "post it" game. We had Manny Pacquiao, Vladimir Putin, Laura Bush, and Gloria Steinem OOPS! Old Mother Hubbard at the same dinner table.
After/during the game, we watched the Mass at St. Paul Cathedral and, alternately, the NCAA final four.
Went to bed early, only to awaken early today.
Good Friday 2010
So, I had my usual breakfast this week of half a banana. After lunch I watched the last 2/3's of the Seven Last Words of Christ with Mom and Auntie Chi, as Dad was volunteering for television ministry. Then I left to go home to pick up a few things before I stopped by Mom's home. I took an dose of Imodium upon Mom's urging, got my choir folder, and brought some diluted CVS electrolyte replacement beverage to choir. The guys were practicing "Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit" on the choir landing when I arrived.
Good Friday service was different, as Fr. Breier and Fr. Goetz celebrated Mass instead of the Bishop, who was in the hospital with a kidney stone today.
The music ministry provided:
Silence for the Entrance
Psalm 30: "Into your hands, Lord." (C Waddell)
Gospel Acclamation: "Glory to you, O Word of God.." (R. Proulx)
Passion Narrative: "Jesus, Remember me" (J. Berthier)
Intercessions: "For the Sake of your Son.." "Have Mercy, Lord."
Presentation of the Cross: "O Come, Let us Adore" (J. Foley)
Veneration: "Were You There?" select verses, Pie Jesu (A. L. Webber)-sung by Christina and Karen R., Crucifixus (R. Farrell)
Collection: O Sacred Head Surrounded
Communion: Attende Domine
Choral Meditation: De Profundis (W. A. Mozart)
Silence for the Closing
After Good Friday service, Auntie Chi and I went shopping at Waterworks Mall. I got keychains, Dad's newspaper, and adaptors for Europe. Just Adaptors.
After dinner I picked up Kelly at William and Marissa's home (where she was playing hide-and-seek with Beata and Solomon) to go meet Charles and Susan and their friend Jan in Friendship for a gallery crawl. Turns out Jan went to architecture school with our schoolmate Peter K, who was last recycling automobile materials for architectural uses in New Mexico. We got a few pictures from the evening, and Charles and I decided that Kelly is the most entertaining of my siblings and me.
I dropped off Kelly and headed home, and here I am typing so you can read this story.
Labels: art, blogs, Choir, dine, Faith, family, friends, health, niece and nephew, photos, shopping, singing, travel, Zubik
Auntie Chi and Kelly for Easter 2010
Auntie Chi and Kelly arrived Tuesday afternoon and evening, respectively, at Pittsburgh International (PIT). I did not see Auntie Chi until Wednesday night over dinner and fleurs of yellow Asian lilies and of blue lilies of the Nile ("it's not what you know, it's whom you know!") chez Mom and Dad's. Kelly and I caught up Thursday, as she was out with William Wednesday night.
Auntie Chi and I went out shopping in Oakland Thursday on the 71A line after my work Thursday afternoon. It was a glorious day of about 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. I walked parallel to Tiffany on her way home to Squirrel Hill as we passed St. Paul Cathedral, and we enjoyed the weather while chatting about how we are not that different from students, despite what they may think. Mom, Auntie Chi, and I chatted briefly until Auntie Chi and I went to Giant Eagle Market District for probiotic yogurt for my upset gut, bananas, and rice cakes.
to explain:
I've had an intestinal flu since Sunday. I think it's a flu, perhaps, because it started with aches, but I'm not convinced it isn't from something I ate. I'm just glad and thankful that it wasn't food poisoning (I got to explain the CBD to students and the vomit reflex in class this week, being animal anatomy and physiology week). It is NOT fun. Mom intoned Tuesday night, "You shouldn't eat much...No dairy nor fatty foods," etc. "have some tea, stay hydrated."
Next we took the bus (meeting Cassie, a former stock room person from work) to CVS, where we picked up Mom's prescription and I a double pack of electrolyte solution (fruity flavored this time!!)
Needless to say, we arrived home at about 19.30, well after when the Holy Thursday Mass had started. I was weak from working through this bug this week and from not eating regularly because of it, as well. Plus, I don't want to make my choir mates sick.
We had dinner (me, those lovely items I had purchased, plus sotanghon noodles). I hazarded a small taste of dark chocolate matzo that Kelly had brought from New York ("What makes this evening different from all other evenings...we have sweet chocolate matzo?") I drove William home and then Kelly, Mom, Auntie Chi and I stayed up to chat about Grandma, her stories she told and songs she sang to us, and Kelly's excellent memory of them...The real reason Kelly can't fit any more into her brain (Freedom Rock commercials, man!), radio play shows from the Philippines when Mom and Auntie Chi were young, in which the whole family and the hired help would sit around the radio, and how moms really don't get fun until the grandkids arrive.
So, I'm up early due to my gut's shenanigans, though the frequency and intensity of the urge and the quality/duration (well, you get the picture...)
I'm so fortunate it's not the upper GI flu my coworker S had earlier this week. She intoned, "My boyfriend gave me the Plague."
Labels: biology, celebration, family, flowers, Grandma, health, Holy Thursday, radio, shopping, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, thankfulness, transportation, visitor, work
