Saturday- Been up since 5 AM...Big Day!
Today I arose at about 5 AM. Took care of things at home, took a shower, did some languages, read some emails....Now it's time to grade and take care of a phone bill before cooking for when Wa + Marissa + the children come over to Mom and Dad's abode.
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Had a great day with three generations of Albas---A spread of cold and hot appetizers made by everyone (including ones made by the children), Delmonico steak and small lobsters, two kinds of sweet potatoes, two kinds of green bean casseroles, rice, baked potatoes, and Mom's pineapple upside-down cake and Marissa's cranberry crunch, les deux a la mode. Had a nice selection of sparkling and non-sparkling juices and wines, too. We played games with William's tablet (a version of Pyramid, and a version of reverse Charades), and the children requested karaoke/ minus one, which I set up for them.
After they left, I finished grading one more section/ laboratory classroom of Enzymes notebooks, and recorded them in the gradesheet. Chatted with Maureen afterwards for about an hour before going to sleep....Slept in until ~ 8AM Sunday morning, when I practiced languages, caught up on health/ fitness, and blogging (now).
Friday- Tying on Bows, Delivering Wreaths and Garlands, Finishing 1/4 of Enzymes Notebooks, Etc.
Joined the usual suspects (plus!) of Judi, Rocco, Stacy, Jorge, and Don to Tie on Bows to the wreaths for our fundraiser. Delivered a trunkful of wreaths and garland to Tita Tina and Tito Larry's office. I returned, finished grading the first section of Enzymes notebooks, Entered grades in the gradesheet, had a sandwich for lunch, and then turned my 116th day of duolingo! Meanwhile, (alors que...) I spoke with Luce and shared a Happy Holidays chat.
Time to get back to grading!! Three more sections to do before I am released to the next set of papers on Monday...
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It took ~ four hours to grade 16 lab notebook Enzymes units. That's a rate of about four per hour. I've finished grading half of them! Only two more sections left, and preparing for classes this week, left to do this weekend.
Thanksgiving 2014
I got some computer work done this morning before heading to Mass. Dad sat in front of me, and the readings were from Sirach, Paul, and the gospel was the passage about the ten lepers from Mark.
Fr. Joe celebrated with Deacons Chuck and Levi assisting, John DeF served, a wonderfully dramatic gentleman lectored, Don provided music ministry from the loft, and Fr. Kris gave a Thanksgiving greeting at the end of Mass. We each received an apple as a reminder of God's blessings. The recessional hymn was "Now Thank We All Our God."
Time to start to grade the Enzymes notebooks...Then we'll have a Thanksgiving lupper/ lunner.
Why do we have Thanksgiving dinner?
Because we CAN!
And there lies another reason to be thankful...
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5.45PM
Just returned from having Thanksgiving lupper with the parents. Treated them to a wonderful Thanksgiving supper at a buffet south of the city.
Now it is time to digest before we rest....
Wednesday- Dad's doctor appointment, Bible Study, Laundry, Finish scoring Prelabs
I drove Dad to his doctor's appointment on Cardiac Hill in Oakland this morning, went to Bible Study for the readings for the first Sunday in Advent (Cycle B), then picked Dad up. He and I went to pick up some medicine for Mom, I helped them with laundry, and then I finished scoring the Photosynthesis 2 prelab assignments. I double-checked my work, entered the grades in my gradesheet, and emailed them for security. I will do some finishing touches on the assignments before posting them for student viewing tonight.
Monday- Medical Check Up, Return quizzes, Grade Extra Credit Online, Dancing with the Stars Finals and Tuesday, too
Went for an annual medical check up Monday. I also returned the Enzymes quizzes, graded extra credit online, and watched part of Dancing with the Stars Finals with Dad and Mom...which was interrupted by an announcement from Ferguson, Missouri. The prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County (Mr. McCollough) made the announcement.
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Tuesday--Went to office hours this morning, ran errands in Oakland, and had a late lunch, a long nap, and finished grading half of the Photosynthesis 2 Prelab assignments before heading out to the Heinz Chapel Choir's first performance of the Winter season.
DuoLingo 111 day streak!
On duolingo I have maintained a 111-day-long learning and practice streak! Just now leveled up to level 10 francais and am still at level 9 italiano.
Duolingo is fun...fun to practice, fun to learn, and fun to maintain the language.
I will grade this morning, then go to choir practice, then Mass: The Feast of Christ the King. My favorite Feast day that always lands on a Sunday!
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10.30 PM
Just finished grading and adjusting scores for the penultimate quiz this semester. Went to hear Izzy play at Heinz Hall this afternoon. Also spotted Zuzana and her son, Philip, afterwards.
Saturday- LuzViMinda: A Dance Journey through the Islands; 2/3rds finished grading a major quiz
LuzViMinda: A Dance Journey Through the Islands, PAPAGP's Third Annual Recital and Gala was performed at the Hillman Center for the Performing Arts at ShadySide Academy's Upper School. There were over twenty dances performed by the dance troupe. The press was there, making a video and interviewing Nenette. There were three parts to the program.
Part I: Luzon: From the Highlands to the Lowlands
Part II: Visayas: Flirtatious and Mimetic
Part III: Mindanao: An Indigenous and Muslim-influenced Mosaic
Beatrice and Solomon danced in all but Part III. Mom (Lola) joined in as Lola for mano po. William's family and Les joined a standing table for dinner.
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Marissa and the children and I followed each other across the bridge to make certain that we got safely home.
Afterwards, I spent less than half an hour getting to a good stopping point for grading: I completed grading 2/3rds of a major exam. I had started grading it Friday PM. Still have that exam to finish, a pre-lab for photosynthesis, and enzymes notebooks. Boy, will I be busy over Thanksgiving week!
Friday- Lector, Last Friday meeting of the Semester
Today, I proclaimed the Word during morning Mass. Fr. Adam V celebrated the Mass, John DeF served, Don provided music ministry from the loft, and Martha M operated the control room for television ministry. We celebrated the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We read from the Lectionary (cycle A), and sang "In This Place your Word is Planted" as the entrance hymn, sang the various acclamations also accompanied by the von Beckerath organ, and sang "Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above" as the recessional hymn. The Mass was offered up for Fr. Joe F. About 32 people in the congregation received Communion.
Today was the last Friday curriculum meeting of the semester. We let out early, after ending on a discussion on the grading of the quiz administered this week.
This weekend embraces some fun: Performances with family and with friends of family.
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After 21.00: Graded the first page of six for all my sections of the quiz administered this week. It took ~one hour to do.
Sunday- Choir; Week of hiatus from grading
This Saturday I took Mom and Dad out to Chinese in Monroeville. Sunday was the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), and I sang in choir. We sang:
Entrance Hymn: Christ is the World's Light
Gloria in Alternatum (Vatican Mass VIII)
Psalm 128 (M. Guimont, D. Fellows)
Gospel Acclamation (J. Berthier)
Preparation of Gifts: Almighty God, Who Hast Me Brought (T. Ford)
Sanctus (Vatican Mass XVIII)
Acclamations from the Danish Mass
Lamb of God from the Holy Cross Mass (D. Isele)
Communion Antiphon: To be Near God is my happiness, ... (R. Farrell)
Communion: God is Love (A.G. Murray)
Commuion Meditation: Be Still (R. Sowash)
Recessional Hymn: Praise the Lord! You Heavens Adore Him
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This week I took a break from grading, after being on time for the whole semester to turn in my grades every week. WHat a nice break!
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I went to Wednesday Bible study, and there were about 16 of us present to read and discuss the Word to be read this Sunday.
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Choir practice tonight included practice of tunes for this Sunday (the Feast of Christ the King!) and for the first Sunday in Advent, as well as practice of tunes for our concert, Advent, and Christmas.
Saturday- Finished grading a two-part post lab for four sections
Today (just now) I finished grading, scoring, and entering into my gradesheet a two-part post lab for four sections/classes. I took Mom and Dad out to a late lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Monroeville. We rolled out of there full and sated. We all took a nap this afternoon.
Friday- Photosynthesis floating disk assay and various chemical concentrations; Fixing Dad's computer
Yesterday (Thursday) was my return to choir practice. We practiced hymns and songs for this Sunday, for the Feast of Christ the King, and for Advent and Christmas. We signed some cards for some fellow choristers. Planned for Christmas wreaths.
Today I saw my former student Jen. She had been talking to Regina, and was making plans for post-graduation. At our Friday noo weekly instructors meeting, my group of Kim, Erica, and myself conducted an experiment using various concentrations of IceMelt and a photosynthesis disk assay.
It is much fun!
After work I went to Mom and Dad's home to help restore connectivity of Dad's computer to their home computer network. It took a while working with their Internet Service Provider to get it to go again.
Wednesday- Bible Study
This morning I drove Dad and Mom for his procedure early. I graded presentations for my Monday and Tuesday classes. I then walked in the suddenly cold low-40s Fahrenheit temperatures to Bible Study. There were a number of us, plus two new people--Barbara and Penny. We read and discussed from this upcoming Sunday's readings (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A):
Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (Which I read for our study group meeting)
and from the Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30.
The theme was God's trust for us humans, since God gives us each spiritual gifts/qualities/talents, which we expand in the world around us. Have you killed God's initiative within you? It should be alive in you, a friend and steward of God's graces (not a slave). God gives each of us graces, which we should not fear losing, as we are people of the day. He who has gets; because if you have trust in God, by working to grow one's own graces and talents, you will gain more trust and build the kingdom of God.
Tuesday- Photosynthesis Floating Disk Assay, Argot
This week in lab is a NEW lab: The photosynthesis Floating Disk Assay. Fun!
Tired after work (Veteran's Day today, and I wore my stars and stripes top, as well as a star headband; and where a former student, Alex, told me he heard me read at church on Sunday), I was treated to pork chops by Mom. Also watched some scenes from Argot, one of my favorite movies of all time.
One of my students today asked me which is my favorite Shakespeare play. I replied, "Just one?...Probably a comedy...Midsummer Night's Dream or Much Ado about Nothing."
Sunday- Lector, Donut Sunday, Finished Grading All Prelabs from Last Week
Today I lectored for Alex and Christen's mom. Elizabeth carried the Lectionary and read the first reading, whilst I read the second reading and the general intercessions. Fr. Kris celebrated the Mass, Christina cantored, and Will, Antonio, and a young lady with an unusual name served. Dad was one of a number of Eucharistic ministers. Nathan was the sacristan. Today we celebrated the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. The choir sang and the readings were:
Introit
Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Penitential Act
Gloria (C. Andrews)
First Reading--Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm 46, (M. Guimont)
Second Reading--1 Corinthians 3: 9-11, 16-17
Gospel Acclamation (J. Berthier)
Gospel Reading--John 2: 13-22
Preparation of Gifts: Locus Iste (A. Bruckner)
Acclamations: Mass XVIII, Danish Mass
Lamb of God from the Holy Cross Mass (David Isele)
Communion Antiphon: (R. Farrell)
Communinon Hymn: The Tribes Go Up to Jerusalem (A. Moytyka)
Communion Meditation: Lord, I Trust Thee (G. F. Handel)
Recessional Hymn: How Firm a Foundation
After Mass, I rushed downstairs to help with this month's Donut Sunday, with volunteers from Parish Pastoral Council. There was plenty of food, including a farewell cake for Fr. Daniele Vallecorsa, various donuts and muffins, orange and apple juice, and two kinds of coffee with various creamers.
I went to finish grading the rest of my prelabs from last week. Mom, Dad, and I had a delicious dinner of bell pepper steak, tilapia, and steamed shrimp and vegetables, all with rice. Time to relax before I prepare for teaching tomorrow.
Thursday- Computers, End of Odiferous Enzymes III; No Choir Practice for me
Thursday (yesterday) was the end of the use of an odiferous lab---Enzymes---for this semester. At the last moment I am reading this weekend, and held my ground to do that. I skipped choir practice for my (throaty) voice this week, and to fix some virus on a computer at my folks' home.
This morning late into my lunch hour I went to test the status of my crunchy ol' computer. It still works, but the power brick/ power cord is fried. Will have to replace it.
Marissa's Mom is not feeling well this week. We have been praying for her every day.
Tuesday- Visit from UCRiverside! Sunday- No choir today
Tuesday was sunshine and breeziness and brought a visit from Marsha from the UC Riverside Development Office. We walked from near the Petersen Events Center down to lower campus, enjoyed lunch at the Porch, and then a walking tour of the Carnegie Library and complex, the Cathedral of Learning floors one and three (including some of the Nationality Rooms), and of the Honors College, and then a tour of Heinz Chapel. I taught the baseline runs of Enzymes right after. I sent the photo of us to Bob, too.
Thursday was choir practice, and I spoke with Don about voice hoarseness, etc. after practice.
Today (Sunday), I sat in the congregation with Dad and Mom for Mass. It was lovely to hear
How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (J. Brahms)
And O Quam Gloriosum (T. L. Victoria)
as sung by the Cathedral choir.
The Mass was celebrated for the firefighters who have perished this past year. The first reader, a 102-year-old man, is one of the best lectors I have heard proclaim the Word. HE read Wisdom 3:1-9. We spoke to him after Mass, and his message to us was simple---"Stay close to Jesus."
