Reviewing Videotapes, Attack of the Show
Today I spent about four hours reviewing the content of my old VHS videotapes, in preparation for transfer to electronic media. Now, I am watching a new, cheesy. corny show called Attack of the Show.
Today I spent about four hours reviewing the content of my old VHS videotapes, in preparation for transfer to electronic media. Now, I am watching a new, cheesy. corny show called Attack of the Show.
Met Maureen and Carolyn after their dinner on Craig Street. We had a couple of photos, and headed to Maureen's to box books for the Veteran's Association (we enjoyed almond Magnum mini ice cream bars, ripple potato chips, and tropical Gatorade before). Then after moving the books downstairs, they gave me a drive home and I watched Cash Cab with Benjamin Bailey with Mom.
Sang at Mass for the fourth Sunday of Easter. I had a small snack, then joined Nancy for a docent-led tour of the Carnegie Museum of Art chronological galleries. It turns out that many of the Scaife galleries will be transformed from chronological galleries to thematic galleries. We saw works that were from Western Pennsylvania artists (with landscapes by same), as well as works by famous artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. We had a snack (pasta salad and Ben and Jerry's ice creammmmmm for me) at the Fossil Fuels cafe, then went to visit the Maya Lin exhibit in the Heinz galleries. I was most taken by the pin map of the Ohio River, and pointed out to Nancy and the guard where along the river I grew up: "At the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers." Her three-dimensional topographic maps were fetching, as well. Thoughtful, well-executed works of art that bordered on landscape architectural models. Off to the gift shops for gifts and postcard. Then to the Carnegie Public Library for advice on previewing VHS videotapes. I had gotten a phone call from Mom to run a grocery errand at the Strip District. I returned home to where Mom was doing laundry and making paksiw lechon. Dad was chatting on the phone with Auntie Connie. I will meet up with Maureen and Carolyn with my air travel cart and bungy for Maureen to move boxes out of her apartment with Carolyn's help.
Maureen, Nancy, and I went to the Point Park performance of Les Danseurs Deviennent La Musique, a movement by Carolyn Y. Paddock, Maureen's good buddy. It was part of a showcase by adjunct faculty choreographers entitled . It was great I said a few things to Nancy and Maureen at intermission: It must be a thrill to be a dancer when matched with a choreographer who is asking to use your talents, abilities, and body type. Each choreographer chose a different vocabulary and music style to work with, which made the performances exciting and different from each other. Dancers were well-matched to the choreographers tonight.
After I had lunch, William invited me to Pyrotopia! with the kids. I took the bus to their house, and Marissa and Solomon showed up, as well. Marissa cooked for Solomon and herself, and WIlliam, Beatrice, and I caught the PAT bus in their neighborhood. We missed the transfer bus by about 15 seconds, so we went to the Squirrel Hill Public Library to look up transfer bus times. We caught the second bus at about 13.40, stopped at the Lowe's parking lot, and enjoyed the H balloon demonstration from the Carnegie Science Center, pewter making, and glass bead making. I said hello to Susan, who is one of the organizers, and she had us fill out release forms for the photo opportunities of Beatrice and Solomon (who showed up about five minutes after Beatrice made a photo). The rain failed to dampen the spirits of the Pyrotopia! staff. I left at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and walked to the Target for the same bus back to home. I rode the bus from 15.35 to about 16.20. Maureen called me about this evening whilst I was on the bus. I walked to Mom and Dad's home to help Mom get ready for Mass and the Induction Ball Dance tonight. I drove them there this evening, and am now waiting for Nancy, Maureen, Carolyn, P., to arrive for our evening out and about.
I just finished grading for the semester this morning. Scores on the open-book, open-note online final were extraordinarily high. The averages for the class were high, as well. Will also go to a grading meeting next week.
Went out to breakfast with Maureen and Carolyn. Had croissant French toast with caramel sauce and walnuts. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then went to Baker Square to look for gifts for Carolyn's dancers (she had gotten cards for them on Walnut Street). We went to Walgreens, after which we called AAA for a jumpstart. LaMont was very helpful and diagnosed our problem with Maureen's car. I picked up for Maureen a box of little donuts (Hi, my name is Maureen and I'm addicted to donuts. Not just any donuts, but little donuts with vanilla icing and rainbow jimmies...") I went home to do my hair for the PAMS event that night as well. After, I picked up food items at Robert's in the Strip District. We made it just in time for the event at Station Square.
After choir practice today I helped Mom with PAMS Treasurer administrative duties.
I've graded 88% of the online finals administered last week. Slowly but surely, it is getting completed.
~~~~~
Went to campus to print out computer finals work. Printed at the library, and there are still ID and bag checkpoints on campus. Returned my last library book of the semester. Saw Deb R. on the way back. Went to Mass, and Fr. Breier celebrated, with John DeF. as server. At least 30 people received Communion at Mass (I lost count). Saw Ed R (formerly of Parish Council) at Mass, and Sally D. and Jean from my floor.
I worked on arranging physical mobile phones to phone numbers, and am grading now.
I've graded more than 81% of my three sections of students' final exams. It is difficult going with grading almost exclusively online. It helped Monday and Tuesday to grade together with Stacey. It also helped to have a break today at the PSO with the family.
I have my annual building meeting tonight.
When I read this blog, there were only 2 comments and one pingback...
quite erudite and observant about the accordian community.
After grading 1/6 of a section this morning, (making me ~ 80% completed with the task of just grading) Les and Beatrice and Solomon met Dad and I for a bus ride downtown to Heinz Hall for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra program for students. When we descended from the bus, Beatrice looked up, staring and stating excitedly, "Can you believe how TALL it is?" about the buildings downtown. Solomon looked up, as well.
The story for the day was "Anatole." (It was read by a storyteller. The maestro was Thomas Hong, assistant conductor of the PSO.) It was preceded by a prelude, "Morning Mood" (E. Grieg)
and accompanied by
"Strings on Fire" (H. Mancini)
"Sabre Dance" (Khatchatorian)
'The Typewriter" (Leroy Henderson)
a polka by the Strauss brothers,
"In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Greig)
"Radetsky March" (Johann Strauss) [which the audience accompanied with clapping, at appropriate times]
and
the Toreador song from Carmen (G. Bizet)
Beatrice and Solomon and the grown-ups visited the Robot Repair shop near Heinz Hall on the way to the bus stop. A few more exclamations about the height of the buildings were made, as well. We saw my work building on our way back.
After working with my colleague to grade for three hours, I went to have lunch, brush and floss my teeth, and go for my half-year teeth cleaning. I got a clean bill of health! (None on visible surfaces nor on contact surfaces on X-rays---forms of decay, that is.) I took a short nap and will go to the primary polling place shortly with Mom and Dad. I'll also go for dinner with Mom and Dad.
So it's been since Saturday night that the last threat has hit. As described in yesterday's posting, there has been no threat since then posted by the emergency notification system. Yesterday, a friend and I worked on grading (I got to a little less than halfway finished yesterday). My friend/ colleague actually travelled to a cafeteria on campus (!) for a takeout/ takeaway lunch. We worked for a total of about seven hours together.
I rode the bus with a neighbor of mom and dad's. Dinner was leftovers. I worked for a while longer, getting past the half-way mark of grading (not scoring).
Students are being calm (cautiously), as described in a particularly informative Post-Gazette article today.
I am now familiar with:
KEEP CALM
and
CARRY ON
~~~~
(on T-shirts sold on a campus corner:)
KEEP CALM
and
HAIL TO PITT
~~~~
(and the whole front page of the Pitt News yesterday was:)
KEEP CALM
and
IF SAFE TO DO
SO, PICK UP THIS
NEWSPAPER
~~~~
I think I'll "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON."
~
Here is the latest from the Pitt News on the threats...withdrawal after withdrawal of the rewards...
Labels: work
An email sent this weekend claims that the threats to campus are over. It made front page news at the Post-Gazette today (see link).
An email sent to campus yesterday evening encouraged students to check out a web site which showed in which five buildings their finals would be held.
Crack down on security all around.
Mom and I stopped in at the Verizon store, Costco, and Office Max this afternoon before we had dinner at Eat and Park. Lots of office supplies for the medical society.
Today was another Sunday in April, with the Stanley Cup playoffs were on. It started in the same breath that we started Mass.
Music included:
a prelude (Buxtehude) played by Don
I know that my Redeemer Lives
Gloria (Vatican Mass VIII)
Psalm 4 (Guimont/ Fellows)
Gospel Alleluia Acclamation (M. Vulpuis)
Peace I Leave with You (L. Cherubini)
Acclamations from the Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Agnus Dei (Chant Mass, XVIII)
Communion Hymn, I Received the Living God
Communion Anthem, Eastertide Carol (set by Proulx)
Recessional Hymn, Christ Journeys with Us
Postlude, Vierne's VI Final from his Third Symphony, played by Don.
~~~~
Earlier, before choir practice I found myself finishing a full ONE THIRD of the finals to be graded by 10.10 this morning. It was a good feeling to take less than two days to finish a third of all grading and scoring of finals!
~~~~~
Stanley Cup playoffs are in town.
Ryan Murphy, who is an organist and cantor at the Cathedral, and who is the organist, choirmaster at the Oratory and at St. John's Lutheran Church in McCandless, as well as founder and director of the Schola Cantorum at the Pittsburgh Oratory, performed his master's organ concert for the Pittsburgh folk tonight at the Cathedral. His program was:
Toccata in F Major, BWV 540 (J.S. Bach)
Sonata No. 2 in C minor, Op 65 (F. Mendelssohn)
Sonata No. 1 in E-Flat Major, BWV 525 (J.S. Bach)
Cortege et Litanie, Op. 19, No. 2 (Marcel Dupre)
~~~Interval~~~
Symphonie No. 3 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 28-IV. Adagio (Louis Vierne)
Messe Basse pour tous les Temps (Gaston Litaize)
After the performance the chorister women (including Danelle et entourage, Emily, and myself) greeted Ryan as a clump of people. We discussed the Cortege et Litanie, which Ryan indicated Don plays at coronation Masses, and we enjoyed the last two, written by blind composers, especially the last piece, which Ryan marvelled how it made one "look up [into the Church], despite the fact that Litaize was blind."
The temperatures have dropped since nightfall and there was a cold "spitting" from the sky as Kristen, Emily, and I departed for our respective homes. The program lasted about 100 minutes.
I have spent the past seven hours grading, leaving me with about one-sixth of all my finals graded.
Time for a dinner break and a musical interlude!
Preparation for grading will consist of reading over the questions first....I need to get started grading...this rainy morning makes for a more conducive environmental experience!
At about 2.30 Friday morning I was awakened by the notification system for campus regarding a new slew of threats to campus. This time, I couldn't get back to sleep. So I checked out the blog/ web log described by Emily (a friend from choir) who talked Thursday night about a blog set up by the husband of a current graduate student. Early Friday morning I also checked out the comments on a Forbes magazine article posted in the wee hours of the same night....many angry and upset students and parents responding to thoughts and concepts mentioned in the Forbes article, mentioning ideas that lead to possible future regulations of the Internet.
All very good thoughts, but couldn't we have had these discussions (albeit, a little less heatedly) withOUT the threats to campus security and to the security of the greater community?
So, today I took off after spending the week administering final exams online. It was such a good feeling to go grocery shopping with Mom and Dad, to pick up fried chicken with sliced mangoes, tomatoes, and guisadong bagoong with rice, to boot. I helped Mom with keeping track of PAMS treasurer notes, correspondence, and then I invited Jennifer H, my choir buddy, to Midway at Carnegie Mellon's Carnival after she departed from work. (I ate before I left.) We had fun, and even voted for our favorite booth, Alice in Wonderland (falling under the theme of television shows). She had a burger for dinner, and an ice cream sandwich. I walked to Maureen's place, and I presented her with unbleached coffee filters for her to prepare her Mr. Coffee four-cup machine brews. We chatted until dusk, and then I waited for the bus home. I ran into Elaine and her friend Rosemary D. on the way to my folks' building.
I'm so thankful I can walk my errands!
I "ran" into Don as I was walking to campus, and as he was leaving. I explained that I was "walking" my errands and that I cannot "run" my errands.
He wished me well after our discussion with a "Walk your errands slowly!"
So, I had minimal problemas for administering my last final this semester. I had only three students physically present in the lab testing room. All three of them finished early, The rest of my class was in the Internet ether. Only one student ran overtime (but not for her, as she had a fixable glitch) six minutes.
I spoke with Jean before and after the exam about helpful hints for fixing glitches, and with Meredith to problem solve for a student whose computer was back at his dorm, which was evacuated this morning.
As I crossed the street after my exam, two police motorcycles sidled up to the curb and a woman leaving the building who was wearing a hip floral sweater informed me that her building was being evacuated. I could not return my borrowed campus equipment to her building....
Time to make a phone call and to run an errand.
I attended Mass yesterday before I picked up the Asian food for my parents' and my lunch. Fr. Raymond Utz celebrated Mass, John served, and I arrived a tad late. It was a nice respite in the middle of finals week for my class.
Frankly, giving finals in our campus state of alertness is taxing---no, exhausting. I have been eating out of tiredness after finally getting off campus each day of our finals week.
Is still going on for me...Thanks to my supervisor, J, who is monitoring a student of mine who is still in exam mode.
~~~~
Just ended, ~20.10 Whew! A course coordinator has been monitoring my student, and I will pick up the campus computer from her tomorrow before proctoring my exam tomorrow.
Signing off for now...
With all the threats on campus, we are, as the T shirts sold by Chaz Bonasorte, the owner of the Pitt Stop, "Keep[ing] Calm and Hail[ing] to PITT", a reference to the British government's World War II posters. This made front page of the Pitt News this morning.
Yesterday was more like working a technical support phone and email line. Dan at the office I was said that we are in "crisis mode" and I responded "and doing quite well at it."
Today's Pitt News front page headlines also mention a former Pitt transgender student whose computer has been subpoenaed, and has refused for various reasons.
There is a story on page four about efforts by Senator Casey's office to encourage federal funding of investigative efforts in the recent rash of threats to campus security.
I walked in early to work with a neighbor and fellow faculty member who wheeled her older father up the street. We discussed the impact on our students, some of hers who had left to go home overseas by now. I made an editorial change (requested by our course coordinator this morning) online.
~~~~~
Mom and I plan to have Pittsburgh Asian food for takeout/takeaway lunch today. We will enjoy a relaxing lunch together while Dad golfs with Tito Larry.
So, early afternoon yesterday and today I prepared for exam deployment. Mid-afternoon yesterday in the Cathedral I met Michael and Rosie, a father-daughter team who were touring Pittsburgh. They asked where the Oratory was located, and I walked them there and took them on a tour of the place. They remet Justin in the conference room, and Kristen (formerly of choir) explained some points to them. We exchanged contact information on old boarding passes. They are C&L folk.
Last night I went to the Newman Bible study led by Fr. Steve Lowery. Sermon 22 was the topic of discussion. My contribution to group discussion on the first point of the sermon included "God has a plan for each of us---even Jesus. It is hard to grasp that we each have a plan from God." We spoke about miracles, including those of incorruptible saints' bodies. I brought up that I had seen St. Neumann in Philadelphia, and when I first saw him, I thought that that was "beautiful, then amazing, then I thought, 'It's kind of creeping me out.'"
~~~
Today I was fortunate that I only had one student who failed to finish in a timely fashion. I had to borrow a computer to follow through on that one.
Mom and I attended noon Mass at the Cathedral, as Dad was at his retreat on the South Side. We met up with Regina's family, including her brother and niece, Olivia.
We returned home to meet up with Dad for Mexican lunch out. Then I picked up my umbrella, which I had left in Kevin's automobile last night. I napped, then we enjoyed pot roast, veggies, and salmon for dinner. We watched a show on WQED on Thailand, a show on EWTN with Fr. Leo (whose parents my parents know), the Muppets on Celebrity Apprentice, and Cash Cab. Also started communiques on proctoring/administering exams this week.
What a wonderful, full day!
I was to go dancing for William's celebration yesterday with Marissa and the children. It turns out the English dancing was not child-friendly, so we ended up chez Lola for pot roast and macaroni and cheese for the children and overdue Caribbean food for the celebrant and Marissa.
Soon after, I went out dancing last night with my friends Kevin, Joya, and her friend, as well. We met Christina and Bob, as well as his friend; and Chris (who, it turns out, has a sister who is my former student); Dave, Bethany and Min; Marie, and others. I saw Jen and Keith, as well. Kevin and I were retro'ed in/ decked out in 1960's- 1970's garb for Retro Night. We decided to compete on the dance floor as a couple. I even danced some of the line dances (!) We'll probably make photographer Amelia's web site photos! It was a great fun night.
This Friday I drove Dad to his retreat on the South Side.
Before that, we had our work meeting about deployment of our final exams. The meeting lasted most of the afternoon.
Today was my last day this semester teaching in a classroom. It was a relief.
Before teaching I had a couple hours of office hours (during which I met S, the security detail at the main entrance), where Jess and I chatted about our summers.
There were two surveys of the class to be administered, a quiz, then the actual lesson. Even yet, we were dismissed early today/ this week.
Tomorrow is learning about the computer administration of the exams to our classes.
~~~~~
My friend Nancy told me about the newest threats to her campus, Community College of Allegheny County, which were made generally for those campuses Thursday or Friday. There have been threats made, according to a colleague, to Point Park University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Saw hailstones (albeit small ones) hitting the windowsill twice yesterday. Hail to Pitt!
My building had security guards stationed at the two open ingresses into the building all day long yesterday.
Soon after my class ended this afternoon, the course coordinators emailed the students in all the sections of the class which I am teaching this semester. One of my students from this afternoon was a tad confused by the new plan to administer the final via the Internet, because I had described an in-class final in class today. I wrote the following email, below:
~~~
(Dear) N,
The email was sent after our class ended today.
Please follow the directives now and until the end of the semester given
by the BioSci Department, which will be provided to us by the three BIO
[course number] course coordinators, [their names]. They are best in touch with the directives provided by our department.
As of this evening, Tuesday the 10th April 2012, the plan for BIO [course number] students is to take the lab final exam (open note exam) by yourself via
computer on [line] next week....
Please read the email from [course coordinator's name] for further details.
**Please stay tuned for any updates from our three course coordinators.**
Good luck studying for and testing this coming week.
Sincerely,
Grace
~~~~~
I just received another email at this late hour from another student...
Front-page headlines today have a photo and story on the security clamp down at PITT. There's probably person/s who have displaced feelings to Pitt who are giving the threats.
The article talked about students standing outside dorms in the middle of the night and negative emotions towards the person/s posting the threats.
I'm prepared again today for long lines entering my building....
Yesterday was Easter Sunday! I arrived before 11.30 to rehearse in the loft. Linda O rehearsed with us. The choir sang with Ken at the organ, the Carnegie Brass, and the tympanist.
We sang
Entrance: Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Gloria (Bernard Newell)
Psalm 118 (Robert G. Farrell)
Easter Sequence Alleluia (Victimae Paschali Laudes, A. C. Dohms)
Gospel Acclamation from Paschal Lamb Mass (Robert G. Farrell)
after the Gospel, Renewal of Baptismal Promises (Springs of Water, Donald K. Fellows)
Preparation of Gifts Hallelujah! (from Mount of Olives, Ludwig Beethoven)
Acclamations from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei chanted from the Vatican Mass XVIII
Communion Procession- Be Known to Us, Lord Jesus (Carl Schalk)
Choral Anthem - Hallelujah! (from Messiah, G. F. Handel)
We were given a rousing round of applause upon completion of that piece.
Blessing and Dismissal
Christ the Lord is Risen Today (C, Wesley, Llanfair)
The last stanza of the last verse we made Don smile...
Toccata (Widor)
This past Saturday I arrived between 7 and 7.30 in the evening to rehearse. It was still light outside, and we waited patiently until the Mass started at 8.30 pm, after darkness had fallen and the church was clothed in night. The Easter Vigil consists of
A Service of Light
Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of Christian Initiation
Liturgy of the Eucharist
This year we did not have to wait for the carrying of the flame into the church building, which cut off about a quarter of an hour from the Mass time.
We sang the response to the invocation
the Easter Proclamation, Psalm 33, the Exodus Canticle (with bells, as wells)
the Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 55).
Bernard Newell's Gloria
Fr. Chepponis's Good News Acclamation & Psalm 118 Alleluia
the chanted Litany of the Saints
Don's Blessing of the Water (Springs of Water),
repeated after all in the congregation have been blessed with water.
The same tune is used to sing Amen following the prayer over all RCIA candidates.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Hallelujah! (Beethoven) form Mount of Olives
Acclamations by Richard Proulx from the Community Mass, 2010 Roman Missal version
Chanted Agnus Dei (Vatican Mass XVIII)
Communion Procession: BE Known to Us, Lord Jesus (Carl Schalk)
Choral Anthem: Hallelujah! from Messiah (G. F. Handel)
Blessing and Dismissal
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
We sang with bells for some of the responsorial psalms. The Carnegie Brass (and tympanist) accompanied us with Ken at the v. Beckerath. They played
Toccata from Symphony V for organ (C. M. Widor).
The Mass was just about a few minutes longer than a full three hours. Bishop David A. Zubik was the principal celebrant. Fr. Nick Vascov sung the Exsultet at the start of Mass. It was wonderful.
There have been heightened security measures put into place at my workplace. I got to work an hour and a half early, should there be long lines at security checkpoints that are being installed this week.
Two thoughts arose from my coworkers as we chatted before and during lunch. One of my colleagues thought that it might be a person/s disgruntled with Pittsburgh in general, possibly anarchist group/s (obviously NOT a Thomas Merton-type organization, I replied). Another of my colleagues thought that they are power-hungry people.
I observed my colleague V. teach this afternoon, and headed out to eat lunner straight away.
Today, continuing the Triduum from last night, there is no complete Mass. There was a service soon after noon today (Seven Last Words of Christ), and at one thirty in the afternoon there was the Passion of Our Lord.
Bishop David A. Zubik and all other clergy entered in silence, with the congregation kneeling as Bishop Zubik prostrated himself on the altar. The first reading was done by Matt, and was from Isaiah 52: 13, 53:12. The responsorial psalm (30) verses were sung by Rebecca, with the response sung by Don, the male voices, and all voices in the choir ("Into Your Hands," by Chrysogonus Waddell, O.C.S.O.)
The gospel acclamation was "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!" (Richard Proulx).
The Gospel was the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ according to John. The sung response was "Jesus, Remember Me," (Jacques Berthier). After the General Intercessions, the choir, we sang "O Sacred Head Surrounded."
VENERATION OF THE CROSS
Presentation of the Cross by Bishop Zubik "Behold, behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Salvation of the world" with sung response "Come let us adore" by us.
Choral Music during Veneration:
Popule Meus (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
THe Reproaches (G. Martin)
Pie Jesu, sung by Rebecca and Karen Ricco (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Were You There
Jesus So Lowly
O, My God, Bestow Thy Tender Mercy (G.B. Pergolesi)
Lord, For Thy Tender Mercy's Sake (R. Farrant)
Call to Remembrance (R. Farrant)
Choral Music during Communion
SILENCE
Choral Meditation
"Crucifixus" (Robert Farrell)
There was a short prayer after Communion, after which we all departed in silence.
The big event for our family during the Holy Thursday Mass was Dad's getting his foot washed by Bishop David A. Zubik.
The choir sang during Mass:
Introit: "Let our glory be in the cross..."
Entrance Hymn: Lift High the Cross
Gloria by J. Lee
Responsorial Psalm 116 (Michel Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation ("Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!") (Richard Proulx)
The Homily was introduced by Bishop Zubik and was delivered by Fr. Michael Roche, a priest just over nine months. He introduced his homily with the lyrics of a Meatloaf song: "I would do anything for love, but I won't do that."
This was followed by the Mandatum (washing of the feet), during which we sang two versions of Ubi Caritas. One was by J. Biery, the second was a chant.
For the Preparation of the Gifts we sang the hymn, "Where Charity and Love Prevail."
The Holy, Holy, Holy sung was a Sanctus from the Vatican Mass XVIII.
The Memorial Acclamation and Amen were from the German Messe (Schubert/ Proulx)
The Agnus Dei was from Antonio Lotti's Missa Brevis.
The Communion Procession was "Where Charity and Love Abide" (L. Deiss)
and the Communion Anthem was "Ave Verum" (Charles Gounod).
During the Transfer of the Holy Eucharist we sang six verses of "Pange Lingua Gloriosi" (text: Thomas Aquinas, translation by Melvin Farrell)
This was followed by the stripping of the altars of decoration, candles, and furniture in quietude. Stacy and I watched Dave S. and a few other men draping the large crucifix in a fitted red cloth.
Students have been talking on campus about the bomb threats these past two weeks on campus. They're all walking on eggshells. One student who spent Wednesday night at the sister of a classmates's house off-campus said that as she took the bus into campus that as soon as it arrived in Oakland that she saw groups of students clutching their pillows walking back to campus. Two separate groups of students have told me that students and parents have contacted the Dean's office with requests to close the campus early this year.
The threats were for single buildings, such as the Cathedral of Learning and Chevron, at first a couple of weeks ago. The past few threats mid this week have been for 3-5 buildings at a go.
Students have mentioned that threats have been sent via email to reporters Downtown. The emails are difficult to trace because of the nature of the routing before reaching their final destination.
My hope is that:
NOTHING happens
and that
they learn how to trace emails better from these threats.
The University of Pittsburgh Police, Pittsburgh Police (with the K-9 force), and the FBI are on these threats. I hope they crack this case soon.
I took the bus to Maureen's home and picked up a list of grocery items for her. She was happy to have Giant Eagle goodies, we chatted for a bit, and I went for some iced tea before going in to work this afternoon.
Quite the day, with Animal Development.
Yesterday, Palm Sunday, I learned a new way to fold a palm cross from Karen Ricco.
Ken returned after a short medical leave.
After lunch with Mom and Dad of fried fish sandwiches, onion rings, and a jamoca shake, I took a nap.
I joined Carolyn for an adventure in the rain to get rotisserie chicken for Maureen. We started at BM, went to Giant Eagle, and I made turkey sandwich and tangelos. We watched a rehearsal of La Musique Joue La Danse (working title, to which the three of us contributed) to Also Sprach Zarathustra, and another piece which Maureen and I had seen a video of earlier, produced by a professional Florida ballet.
Hugo was great the second time around. What a moving cinema picture.