Dinner at Lola and Lola's with Beatrice and William
Last night Beata and William joined me in having dinner at Lola and Lolo's home. Solomon was still asleep, so Marissa stayed with him at home.
We had ribeye and Delmonico steaks, lumpia (fried, both of shrimp and of beef), cooked Japanese eggplant (plant and roll!) sweet bicolor corn, rice, and watermelon!!
I took pictures of Beatrice ("like StoryTape" her daddy noted) with her arms spread across the octaves of the piano. She played on the piano, going up and then going down the keyboard. William practiced some tunes from an old piano book we had in the piano seat, and, upon Beata's request, recorded the tunes. Mom, Beata, and I danced while he practiced, danced while he recorded, and danced to the recording. Lolo put the dishes away and watched us dance, as well.
Then, it was time for story time (after Beata said she was tired, and wanted to have a sleepover). Lola told the story of Rumpelstiltskin, a favorite of Benny's and Miranda's. Then, it was time to put their shoes and socks on and go home to sleep.
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Today we will meet them for lunch at the Italian restaurant for a BIG meal, with Solomon and Marissa present.
Doing chores, Back to Choir today
Currently, I'm doing chores chez Mom and Dad.
Ran off to the grocery store, to get (more) light bulbs (60 Watt, this time) and frozen veggies for making lumpia. Mom and Dad and I rolled lumpia, both shrimp and beef. (William and family are having dinner at Mom and Dad's.)
It's back to choir for me, after a brief hiatus due to illness.
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Fr. Ed celebrated the Mass at noon today.
Ken's prelude was powerful, and the postlude (Rejoice, by Goemann) included a pedal solo (quite!)
Bakery/ies Run, Shopping and Fried Chicken
Yesterday morning Maureen and I made the tour of the French bakeries. I got Paris Brests (hazelnut cream puffs), un petit abricot tarte, et un tartine de citron. Mom, Dad, and I enjoyed the Paris Brests yesterday, in parts.
After a nap, Mom and I went shopping (groceries and otherwise) and we got fried chicken for dinner. YUM!
Sha-shopping, May 2011
Took a well-deserved nap this morning, after I organized my to-be-read travel files. I made the final entry for my addresses and phones sheet and printed it out. I copied files from Frommers.
Mom and Dad returned from the Strip District (with LOTS of produce, pineapples included), and we left for the Japanese buffet and the Waterfront. Dad was focussed on shoe shopping (he insisted on white shoes --!) and I went to Lowes and used my gift certificate to pay for most of my purchase of energy-saver ballast bulbs, all less than or equal to 75 Watt. Bought an external hard drive (to back up my files), which I am doing currently. Told Mom and Dad about the software available at Best Buy for purchase. Picked them up at a clothes store, and we visited Best Buy.
We stopped at CVS and at the Indian grocery store in our neighborhood before they dropped me off. They continued to another Indian grocery store whilst had a snack and then I installed the software on their computer. Hooray! Now they can read their attachments from the medical society members!!
Morning Mass in May 2011
I lectored at a Mass this morning--Friday in the fifth week of Easter 2011. Fr. Ed Czemerda celebrated the Mass, John served, Ryan provided music ministry, and Sally Davoren was the Eucharistic minister. Approximately 35 people in the congregation received Communion.
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I spoke with Jenny S yesterday. She'll be starting graduate school this Fall. It was exciting talking to her, about her plans. We agreed to speak more often than twice a year.
Password Maintenance
I'm taking care of password maintenance on my main accounts this morning. Also entered my reply message for later this summer.
ACMSA awards Brothers Brother
Yesterday we went to the Pittsburgh Field Club for a presentation of awards to CCAC and to Brothers Brother by the Allegheny County Medical Society. The lunch was sponsored by PAMS. I sat next to Nilda, and Luke Hingson and his wife Dr. Nancy sat on my other side. Mom, Dad, and Larry and TIna were present at our table, as well. What a pleasant lunch, and the weather held out for us.
I walked to Maureen's place, then Maureen and I checked out the Brgr place. The burger was great, as well as the fries.
Mom, Dad, and I watched the finals of Dancing with the Stars, and were pleased to see that Hines Ward and Kym Johnson won the trophy Mirror Ball. He is such a great dancer (now) who lights up the floor with his winning smile.
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Today I went to a Courseweb class (Level 2), where we learned about discussion boards, blogs, and wikis. Mary Lou G. and Blaine from my Freshman Programs table sat nearby, and Melanie from my department was there, as well.
I went home after stopping in the departmental computer lab to get some work done. They needed me to be at Mom and Dad's for the air conditioning people.
Turns out the A/C folks thought it was at My house... Well, that was straightened out.
I took a much-needed nap this afternoon, helped with dinner, then we all had dinner together. I love those mint chocolate chip ice cream bars!
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Maureen and I went to the store for cherry nibs and gummies. (also mints). We walked back to her house, as well. We had great fun eating our sweet treats!
Exciting Food Day!
I dined on arrozcaldo for lunch today!! Then Dad and I donated on the South Side, mailed their rice cooker (still in warranty), and I neatened up their futon. I took a nap, and I hope to eat more diverse food this dinner. A gastrointestinal bug is NO fun.
Tonight will be devoted to watching Hines, Kirstie, and Chelsea on Dancing with the Stars.
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19.30
Just ate a regular portion of apritada on hot rice....homemade by Mom. How good was that?
We're all looking forward to Dancing with the Stars tonight!
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21.50
After Dancing with the Stars, we all enjoyed a half Klondike bar, me a mint chocolate one! That was refreshing...Dad is getting a haircut currently.
That Darned Computer
This morning: Got an address list done for this summer, an initial draft of a letter for Mom, then my computer went kaput.
That darned computer!
And my gastrointestinal system is still misbehaving!
Phone calls from Kelly...
That darned GI flu
Drove Mom to her luncheon appointment. I got to eat hot tea with sugar, plain white rice and (!) red Jell-O.
Mom, Dad, and I went to the late Mass.
I helped mom with laundry and I also edited my travel lists and Friends & Hotels to visit....
Return of the Gastrointestinal Bug!!
Saturday afternoon Mom and I went shopping, picked up Dad, then went north to get her eyeglass prescription filled. Dad wasn't feeling well, so we dropped him off at home (he is in a bout with the gastrointestinal bug), and went for taco salads in Shadyside.
I called my friend Grace on the West Coast and we chatted for a bit. She plans to go to Maine / New England sometime this summer with her family.
I awoke early today and organized my travel papers / photocopies. Now I have to make a duplicate folder for Mom and Dad when I leave.
I don't feel so well with the GI flu. The salad and orange juice didn't quite agree with me...
Mom, Dad, and I plan to attend the late Mass in our neighborhood.
Shaking the Bug...
Thursday I rested, didn't go to our last choir practice of the season, and ate a banana in the afternoon.
Friday I was feeling up to par, so I went to a CIDDE training class, What's new with BlackBoard 9.1
I picked up an article across campus and I became the driver for Mom to her eye appointment across the Allegheny River, as Dad had fallen prey to the gastrointestinal bug. We had lunch of breaded whitefish, mac and cheese, and strawberry pie; and stopped in Sears Optical to check out the glasses there. We also went shopping.
I joined the drumming group Friday night, and Regina, Les and Cherie, and William and Beatrice also joined. Beatrice provided percussion via the shakers, and we all applauded her work at the end. She even high-fived Kevin, the drum circle group facilitator, when he held out his hand.
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Woke early to organize my travel papers, and close to nine o'clock Maureen and I went to Peace, Love, and Little Donuts. I enjoyed a strawberry cheesecake donut and a maple donute, and brought home an Oreo donut. Maureen loves her jimmies donuts.
We visited Saint Stanislaus church, and the church guy provided a medal and prayer card of St. Jude, touched by relics of St. Stanislaus and St. Aloysius, for Mom, who is healing a fractured rib.
Quite the morning!
It Got Me!
Went after dinner last night to Bible study in Shadyside. Met mostly new people, and discussed the readings (save the psalm response). We all agreed that the readings were about the growing body of the early Church. Andy M. (from the PNR open house volunteer base) was there, as well, and I chatted with him and Christy afterwards.
Went home and found that I have a WICKED GI (gastrointestinal) bug, which is probably related to Mom's and Beata's bugs they have had recently.
I'm happy to say that I'm keeping liquids down this morning, and am drinking reasonably currently.
My and My Dad's Thoughts...a recent conversation
me: Dad, what do most little boys less than five years old say that they want to be when they grow up?
Dad: A Soldier!
me: What else?
Dad: A fireman, (etc. etc.)
me: I agree, I think a fireman makes the top three for boys....
...and for girls less than five years old?
Dad: a mommy!
me: and...?
Dad: (silence)
me: what about a ballerina?...
...or a princess? (pause)
I think Catherine looked fine until a short time before her wedding. Then, she lost a LOT of weight. What message does that give little girls?
You know, just a couple of generations ago she wouldn't want to be skinny. It would mean her family couldn't afford to feed her well. It just shows you how powerful the fashion industry is, that it even reaches into the royal family.
Carnegie Museums, May 2011
This morning I went (grocery) shopping in Shadyside. After lunch, I took a nap. Marissa and the two children invited me to the Carnegie (Oakland) museums. We borrowed audio guides for BeaBea and Solomon, to which they enjoyed listening. We had some fun in the Discovery Room (Where did the deer go?) checking out Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? and Solomon took a small spill whilst sitting at the microscope (the chairs are designed for children/people with longer legs).
I took a walk, and saw a former student, C.J., at work. We chatted, as well. I stopped at a computer lab to print out some Frosh Programs and Biology work.
Dinner was a good turkey sandwich.
New Common Reader: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
So, the new Common Reader for all the frosh will be Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
I'm really excited about reading it.
This Last Week...
This last week…
Wednesday I went to morning Mass . Thursday I picked up Mom and Dad at the airport , and we had breakfast at McDonalds. I then went to purchase a pair of shoes that I had scoped out the day before. No choir practice today, but Stacy informed me of an event by the Pittsburgh Song Collaborative, Illuminations: Music, Poetry, and Art sponsored by the Carnegie Museum of Art at the Carnegie Lecture Hall. I attended and sat with Rebecca, whom I spotted. Jess and Judi were there as well, and we enjoyed chatting before the event, during intermission, and at the reception afterwards.
The musicians’ talents were displayed well through this showcase of Art Songs and poetry set to music. I had never attended an event such as this, with the art songs set to tableaux. It really brought to light other dimensions of the music.
Friday I lectored at Mass, which was celebrated by Fr. Donald Breier. John provided the altar serving, with Ryan providing the music ministry. (Approximately 41 people in the congregation received Communion.)
I paid my auto insurance Friday. Since it has started to pour the past few days, I took the bus downtown to the event Christina hosted for the diocese. Christina, Kevin G, and Tom McD chatted with me, and we made plans for this weekend and next. Kim N got tenured this week, so I called her family Friday.
Saturday Maureen and I went for a later mid-morning walk around ten o’clock. We went by Dozen, for my iced drink at Duncan Donuts, past the Children’s Festival, to Dozen for her breakfast treat of a flavored scone, to Kiva Han for her hot coffee and to sit and chat for a bit, to the New Balance store for some cross training shoes, to Maggie and Stella’s to purchase some gifts and cards, to a computer lab on campus for me to print out some files, and to the art store for my gifts to Caroline. We ran into Chuck M. from choir by the Cathedral of Learning. Later that evening, after seven o’clock, we went to get a coffee smoothie, cut to the David Lawrence computer lab, and I took a spill in front of the William Pitt Union. I did not see a slight incline and misstepped, landing funny, losing my shoe in the process, and scraping along my left elbow and landing on my left hip (trochanter area). I lay there for a beat, then Maureen asked me if I were okay. I wanted to make certain that I had not dislocated my hip, then slowly picked myself off the pavement. I was bleeding from my elbow, so we went to the Cathedral to wash up and stem the flow.
I awoke at four in the morning Sunday, unable to go back to sleep until about seven, then waking up to the helicopters reporting the progress of the Pittsburgh Marathon runners. I went outside, saw 3.00 pacers to ~ 5.30 pacers. I stood outside with Betsy, Ann, and with Halley and her family. I loudly encouraged packs of runners from my vantage point: “Keep ON moving!... Welcome to Oakland!... We’re keepin’ it cool for you! (There was a light rain/ drizzle that morning) Keep ON Moooooovin’! Lookin’ good! Welcome to Pittsburgh” and when the runners waved, I waved my bright red scarf back. When the runners said, “Thank you,” I yelled back “You’re welcome!” I had a quick breakfkast at Mom and Dad’s, then proceeded to choir practice, and Mass after. I picked up some chicken noodle soup for mom that night. I left a voice message for Jenny S. Sunday night.
Monday I got sandwiches for Mom, Dad, and I for dinner. Maureen and I went to top off one of her tires. We watched and made maximum votes for Hines and Kym on Dancing with the Stars.
Today I woke early to turn off my morning alarm on my “smart” phone, which I left at my parents when watching television last night. I will go to a meeting on campus this morning.
Morning Mass May 2011
I went to morning Mass, Fr. Nick celebrated with John serving and Ken providing music ministry. Noreen was the Eucharistic Minister.
I went to check on some administrative issue here on campus at the computer lab, but I need to be a little more patient.
It will be in the 80's Fahrenheit today.
Marissa provided email service to Mom and Dad's home, but the computer restarted and now does not have email service any longer....
So, I'm doing my work from campus.
Regina's Ceili Night
I just returned from ceili night with Regina. We left for Lawrenceville to hear a friend of hers jam ceili music after we had great dinners.
We left, then we went for ceili dancing (saw Lisa, Charley, Ken, Dan, Liz, Michael and Joyce, Kelly, and many more regulars) in the Strip District. Last time I was there was when S visited back in late April 2007; we had gone there with Karina, Charles and Susan. Tonight, Regina and I arrived just as the musicians break started. I danced a Morris Reel with Charley, and Dan convinced Regina that she could do a Haymakers Jig, which they danced together.
What fun it is
To kick your heels
And join in the fun of the jigs and reels!
I'm handing you no blarney
The likes you'll never know
It's Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home.
(or something close to that for lyrics)...
StartING Summer Vacation 2011
So, summer vacation is slowly sneaking up on me. I am still attending to some administrative tasks, to ensure that some information is handled correctly outside of my department, but other than that, I am set for the summer.
Thursday day I joined Marissa and the children and Marissa's parents for a journey through the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.
Thursday night I told Gabe and Regina (independently) that, "Hey, someone replaced our choir director with a Filipino guy!" [It was back to choir after a week hiatus for us, and a week vacation post-Lent for Don.] Don beamed from behind his tan.
I renewed some library books Friday,
Saturday Regina and I went to see The King's Speech in West Mifflin. The movie was preceeded by a trip to Taco Bell.
Sunday was Mom's Day. Maureen and I went for a walk, and ran into Annabelle and her husband (twice).
I met Regina for a Liver and Onions run, and then I took about 2-3 hours of nap yesterday and watched and voted for Hines & Kym and for Chelsea & Mark on "Dancing With the Stars." (Vote early, vote often...)
Today I napped ~2 hours and Marissa and the children came over to help us with the Internet connection chez Lolo and Lola. The children had great fun playing, and they took the Blues Clues "boom box" with them.
This Half Week (sorta) Vacation
Monday morning I transported all my work papers from my grading locale to my living room. Monday night I got two large burritos (one for my birthday).
Tuesday I had appointments and went for a long walk, and purchased gifts. I also kept track of my food intake from Monday.
Wednesday I stopped by work to take care of some administrative items. Wednesday night I went to a diocesan schools event, where I saw Frs. Breier, Nick, and Joe. I also finished the last of my burritos.
Today I went for lab work and will go to the Oakland museums with the kids and Marissa.
Art All Night, Laundry, Divine Mercy Mass, Groceries, Pizza
Groceries, Pizza
Last night John, Regina, and I went to Art All Night last night.
I awoke early to do laundry.
Fr. Jock from South Africa celebrated the ten o'clock Mass today, which was for Divine Mercy Sunday, also the Sunday for the Beatification of John Paul II.
Went grocery shopping at Point Breeze, then to window shop near Maureen's gym. She and I went for dinner of Pizza....Yummee.
