Choir Christmas Wreaths 2013
I awoke early to meet with Rock to decorate the Christmas wreaths which the choir is selling as a fundraiser. Rock was there to meet the delivery folk at 7.15, and Jess and Judi joined us as we decorated the wreaths for our customers. After Mass, Don joined us to help load them to take them all over Allegheny County. I had the honor of tying on the last bow for the last wreath to be decorated this season.
Even after washing my hands well, they still smell like conifer sap! What a lovely fragrance!
Happy Thanksgiving 2013!
Thanksgiving morning, I went to 10.00 AM Mass at the Cathedral. I saw Noreen, Mom and Dad's neighbor, as I entered, and we decided to sit together. We sang
We Gather Together
Gloria (J. Lee)
and the first reading was done by Bettina-- I Kings 8: 55-61
The sung Psalm was Psalm 146
and the second reading was I Corinthians 1:3-9. The Gospel reading (after the Berthier Alleluia acclamation) was from Luke 1:39-55.
We sang
For the Beauty of the Earth (tune by Dix) at the Offertory
R. Proulx's Acclamations,
Chanted Agnus Dei,
and sang
Eat this Bread (J. Berthier), led by the cantor, Tom.
America the Beautiful (O Beautiful for Spacious Skies) (K.Lee Bates) was our recessional hymn.
We sat behind Joe and Tina, and in front of Carmella and Bob, whose two sons concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Kris, Fr. Joe, and a third resident priest. Noreen left the pew to hand out prayer cards, and the priests handed out blessed apples for the congregation.
The organ postlude was
Now Thank We All Our God (J.S. Bach)
~~~
Thanksgiving meals this year consisted of a large, catered Japanese sushi tray for lunch and Mexican chili cheese dip for dinner. Om Nom! Mom, Dad, and I gave thanks that we didn't have to have turkey (who likes white meat poultry, anyway?) and that some of the fundraisers for Typhoon Yolanda were behind us.
We were exhausted from all the fundraisers for the typhoon. Thankfulness abounds.
We will enjoy Chinese restaurant dining with William's family and his in-laws today (Friday).
Correspondence, Big Bird's palenke, and the NEW CVS
Today I caught up on medical correspondence, took a nap, then went with Dad to Giant Eagle Market District (BIg Bird's Palenke) to pick up a catering order. We then picked up Mom's meds from the NEW CVS store.
We enjoyed sushi for dinner---the crunchy roll from our catering order.
Today I finished the recommendations for two of my former students, JH and MM. I sent M an email requesting specific addresses to send his recommendation letters, and I sent five of JH's recommendations off today.
Pretty productive day!
Heinz Chapel Choir, November 2013
Tonight was the first in the series of concerts "Music for the 2013 Holiday Season" in which John Goldsmith conducts the Heinz Chapel Choir.
~~~
Earlier today I met with my coworker Parisa for lunch at the Cathedral Café. We had hot sandwiches (I a Philly cheese steak, she a quesadilla) and then toured the Cathedral of Learning, including the first floor Nationality Classrooms. I showed her where the computer lab is, and we parted ways. I met a student (NB) for a recommendation. This is the fourth student to ask for a recommendation/s in a month. I worked on recommendations for the rest of the afternoon before heading to the Heinz Chapel Choir concert for faculty.
~~~
One of my former students, Jen, handed out the programs. I asked the pew occupants if I could sit in a pew on the south side of the chapel, and it happened to be Christina, an advisor from my department, along with Ellen, also an advisor from my department. It was great fun listening to the concert with them. Christina is in the Pitt Woman's Chorale, and her choir director joined us right before the start of the concert.
The program consisted of:
PRELUDE
Communion for the Octave of Christmas (Charles Tournemire) played by Steven Anisko
CHOIR
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Medieval Chant) arranged by J. Goldsmith
Bogotoditse Djevo (Estonia) , Arvo Paert
Jesus the Apple Tree (England) Mawbry/Goldsmith (SOLOISTS: Katharine McClenny & Janara Koehler
See That Babe (American Spiritual) Noah Ryder
Sing We Now of Christmas (France) Craig Courtney
CHOIR & AUDIENCE
O Come, All Ye Faithful
ORGAN INTERLUDE
Tecum Principium (From Op. 48) Marcel Dupre
CHOIR
Lux Aurumque (America) Eric Whitacre SOLOIST: Lauryn Thomas
Gaudete (Medieval Carol) arr. by Goldsmith SOLOIST: Ian Bricker (11/26)
Ave Maris Stella (Basque) Javier Busto SOLI: Andrea Groves & Natalie Rogers
Patapan (Burgundian) Kirk Mechem
Jesus, the Light of the World (American Folk Hymn) arr. Elderkin
CHOIR & AUDIENCE
Silent Night
CHOIR
There is no Rose of Such Virtue Robert Young
Festival Deck the Hall Jay Althouse
Shcho to za predivo (Ukraine) Vasiel Barvinskiey
Angel Alleluias Allan Bullard
Golliwog's Cakewalk (France) Debussy/ Shaw
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Martin/Blane/ Gritton
I Can Tell the World (American Spiritual) Moses Hogan
CHOIR AND AUDIENCE
Deck the Halls
ORGAN POSTLUDE
Wie schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern Johann Pachelbel
~~~~
It was great fun harmonizing with Christina during the choir & audience parts.
The first part of the concert started with the choir in the loft. "Sing we now of Christmas" was from a French folk melody of Noel, which Ken directed us in a previous year. "Gaudete" wasn't the same without Lisa's tambourine, but the call/ response from opposite transept walls (N/S) of the Chapel was hauntingly beautiful. Some old chestnuts of/from the group included
O Come O Come Emmanuel arr. by Goldsmith
Patapan
Jesus, the Light of the World
Festival Deck the Hall
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
I slogged through the snow--> wet snow--> freezing rain to the Chapel and back home.
It was worth the trip to hear John Goldsmith's last "Music for the Holiday Season."
~~~
Dancing with the Stars is tonight....
Last week of active teaching, Filipino Students Association and Asian InterVarsity from University of Pittsburgh Fundraise for Typhoon Relief
This week was the last week of active teaching in my sub-department. We did administrative chores today in our meeting.
~~~~~
re: Last weekend's fundraising event:
http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/5096504-74/filipino-brother-recital#axzz2lQmEXmwz
Marissa, whom I saw tonight, said the amount donated by PAPAGP to Brother's Brother actually amounted to $5000 from last weekend's fundraising event.
~~~~~
The Filipino Students Association (FSA) and Asian Intervarsity (AIV) from the University of Pittsburgh held a fundraising dinner for typhoon relief tonight at North Way Church in Oakland. There was an informational slide show, a buffet dinner was served (DeeDee---PAPAGP's head choreographer---arrived, bearing puto, pad Thai, and pancit galore), and halo halo was enjoyed, especially by the children. TJ sat at our table, a senior at Pitt. The Pitt FSA officers stopped by to say hello.
~~~~~
Mom and I went grocery shopping for food preparation for the Manny Pacquiao fight tomorrow night.
Absence from choir, Kelly & Kyle visit
I am buried in work this weekend---will need to dig myself out. I had my absence from choir this Sunday (today). I finished grading all the quizzes from this week, and one section's worth of post-labs. Also need to grade the notebooks before the final.
Kelly and Kyle arrived yesterday at Mom and Dad's after the Gala. We met up with them at Lola & Lolo's. They met up with Marissa and the children and I after their museum trip to the Carnegie International 2013 for pan-Asian food in Oakland. Om-num.
Kelly and Kyle taught me some poses (reminiscent of yoga poses/ T'ai Chi Chen's Dao): "Twoo Wuv", Spring roll/ Lumpia, Pretzel Girl, amnesiac Kermit the Frog, etc.
It was fun,
Mom and Dad went to a medical society meeting to decide how best to serve the victims of the typhoon Yolanda.
Fundraiser for Typhoon Yolanda/ Haiyan yesterday
Hello friends and family far & near,
The group in which my niece and nephew perform had their Gala/dance/ fashion show yesterday night:
OR
Proceeds from the Gala went to Brother's Brother Foundation, a local organization which gives 100% of donations of super typhoon Yolanda/ Haiyan relief, with no monies deducted for administrative overhead. Proceeds from the concert amounted to $4000 from yesterday's event.
IF you would like to contribute to the typhoon relief effort, here is their website for credit card donations:
and under "MAKE A SELECTION", choose "Philippines Disaster Fund"
IF you would like to contribute via check/cheque:
Checks should be made out to Brother's Brother Foundation and sent to:
Brother's Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233 USA
The Philippine American Medical Society is having an executive meeting today to discuss how best to provide aid to the victims of the typhoon. My parents and my brother's family and I all volunteer for PAMS of Western PA and for the group which had the gala, PAPAGP. Both groups have partnered with Brother's Brother to provide timely aid.
Thank you to all who have already given and to all who are keeping the Philippines in your thoughts and prayers,
God Bless You!
Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra November 2013
Our family friend, Izzy A., performed this afternoon as part of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra's presentation of Romeo and Juliet. The program consisted of:
Carnival Overture (Antonin Dvorak), directed by Lawrence Loh
Danzas del Ballet "Estancia" (Alberto Ginastera), directed by Fawzi Haimor, guest conductor
(Eight) selections from Romeo & Juliet (Sergei Prokofiev), arranged and directed by Lawrence Loh
Dad, Mom, Alva, and I travelled and met her family at Heinz Hall. Alva was in the first PYSO, which also travelled to Europe in 1947, soon after the end of World War II.
The choice of musical pieces was strong and dramatic, showcasing the talent in the group.
We took photos of ourselves with Izzy, and made certain that she knew that Alva was one of the first members of the PYSO.
Carnegie Museum of Art November 2013
This Friday I brought my interdisciplinary students to the Carnegie Museum of Art, where Nancy's and my favorite docent gave us a tour of Southwestern Pennsylvania art and artists. We took in the Grand Staircase of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where there are murals, an installation by an artist who involved Wilkinsburg eighth graders in the project, and we saw a commissioned psychedelic-colorful portrait of Andrew Carnegie done by the other Andy, Andy Warhol. We headed back to the entrance of the front gallery of the museum, where original 2-D artworks from the Braddock public library (the first Carnegie library built)'s lending collection are displayed. We headed up the ramp to the elevator (passing a woman artist's photos of Pittsburgh locals: from Rankin and Homestead) to the permanent galleries. There, we took in 19th Century portraiture oil works by a Black artist and a by female artist from the Hill District and Allegheny City, respectively. We started with about a dozen students, and four remained. We went to the Heinz Architectural Center, and visited the fabric soccer balls (again) in front of a video screen. We finally visited the Play Room, which had packing materials in the room! One of my most participatory students doffed his shoes and partook in some play.
It was a great tour!
Hallowe'en 2013
I brought candy corn and Snickers and KitKat bars for my lab class to enjoy on Hallowe'en. I also dressed as a gypsy---but not just any gypsy, but Carmen! Several of my students thought I was Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, but no, wrong opera/musical...
We had plenty of Snickers, KitKat, and Milky Way bars and candy corn of various types and candy pumpkins, too, for my interdisciplinary class.
The following week I made phone calls to my dentist's office, my orthopedic surgeon's office, and to my primary care physician's office, et al. for my yearly check-ups.
