First Sunday of Advent 2015
Early this morning, I retrieved the rest of the wreaths I helped find their way to homes during the 8.00 Mass. Mom watched the Mass on cable television whilst I ran this errand. I sent some emails this morning, and sang in choir, as is customary for me during choir season.
For the First Sunday of Advent-C, we sang:
Entrance Antiphon: Unto you have I lifted up my soul...
Entrance Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (verses 1,2,3)
NO Gloria--Blessing of the Advent Wreath
Kyrie (Mass XVI)
Psalm 25 (Thompson/ Gelineau)
Gospel Acclamation (J. Berthier)
Preparation of Gifts: Prepare the Way, O Zion (from Swenska Psalmboken)
Sanctus (Mass XVIII)
Acclamation (The Roman Missal)
Amen (Community Mass - old setting, R. Proulx)
Lamb of God (Missa Emmanuel- R. Proulx, adapted)
Communion Antiphon: The Lord will Bestow his loving kindness... (R. Farrell)
Communion Hymn: Wait for the Lord (Jacques Berthier)
Communion Meditation: Savior of the Nations, Come (arr. R. Farrell)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: O Salutaris Hostia
Met Jorge's son after Mass.
Made my salmon as part of dinner with K&k today, who were passing through on their way home from Toronto. They brought us baked shio-pao...Yum!...and regaled us with family stories.
Took care of some correspondence just now, as well.
Venison, Salmon, Corn, and Vegetables
We had venison, salmon, corn, and vegetables as part of our week of Thanksgiving celebration this year.
Friday (yesterday) I helped Judi, Doug, and Rock tie on bows for our Christmas wreath sale. I collected some of those I helped to sell. I went grocery shopping in Bloomfield for Mom and Dad. I finished grading almost all assignments, except for the quiz reflections. I went for a walk to the tent and past Conflict Kitchen to the Carnegie Library, where I borrowed some books for Mom. I finished grading one section of quiz reflections.
Today (Saturday) I completed grading the quiz reflections and Mom and I did some hair/beauty stuff.
I also did some shopping in Bloomfield. In the evening, I handed off some wreaths to Dr. Debbie and her family.
Thanksgiving Day 2015
TOday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I lectored at the televised Mass this morning. Fr. Joe Freedy celebrated the Mass, also celebrated for Thanksgiving Day. The readings were:
Sirach 50:22-24
Psalm was from 1 Chronicles 29:10bc, 11, 12 (and, inadvertently, Psalm 113: 1-2, 3-4)
Colossians 3: 12-17
Fr. Joe read the Gospel, Luke 17:11-19.
John DeF served, and Don provided music ministry from the loft. We sang (entrance hymn) We Praise You, O God (to the tune of We Gather Together), and (recessional hymn) America the Beautiful.
Fr. Kris stopped by to help hand out Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious Apples to the congregation after Mass. I picked up a prayer card and an apple for Mom after Mass, as well.
About 63 members of the congregation received the Eucharist at this Mass.
Volunteered at Jubilee Kitchen
Today, Wednesday, I volunteered at Jubilee Kitchen after a grand breakfast of tapsilog, chez Mom and Dad's. The tapa was made earlier this week by dad, jerky-fied on Tuesday for dinner with Kelly, Kyle, William, Marissa, and Solomon.
Tuesday I went to the Lawrenceville French bakery with Maureen and Mary Gene, but not till after we stopped in to say hello to Marge. Then after I picked up a brioche Bostock et un pain de choco-amande, we went to our favorite pancake house, thanks to Mary Gene. Giant Eagle for holiday supplies was next, I made a work call at the Walgreen's parking lot, and I went to pick up more medicines afterwards at my favorite pharmacy. (My third visit in two days.)
Tuesday afternoon William arrived whilst I was out, then K &k. Solomon taught us how to do the Whip and the Nae Nae dances. Awesome. They left to pick up BB from choir practice.
Today after a hearty breakfast at Mom and Dad's, I went to Jubilee Kitchen to help out. I saw John from CAC there, and met Madison, Jaelin, Kevin, Alex, Monique, Omar, and more there. Omar and I shared dish duty. I read the passage from Sirach for Thanksgiving Day: Sirach 50: 22-24 for our blessing, and we recited the Pater Noster (in English) right afterwards. I spotted a statue of St. Francis of Assisi up above, and found myself humming/singing the prayer of St. Francis next to the sink at the Jubilee Kitchen.
Dad and I ran errands, delivering donations, going to Big Bird's palenke, and picking up sandwiches at Wendy's. Graded a great majority of grant proposals and entered scores in the gradesheet for them this afternoon.
The physical therapist arrived soon after Dad and I did, and Mom is taking a nap.
Monday- Walking Day
Yesterday (Monday) I walked to Thackeray Hall to pick up a letter, then to the café beyond Atwood for our Thanksgiving meal class meeting, then to my work building to do computer work for about an hour before having office hours, then to Mom and Dad's home to help out, then a few phone calls, then back to work to discuss student issues with Jean, then to relax over spaghetti dinner and to watch Dancing with the Stars with Mom. It was my Walking Day!
Sunday Tita Tina and Tito Larry came over for spaghetti/ roast beef/ sushi dinner. We enjoyed chatting with them before the latest Sunday Mass at Saint Paul Cathedral.
Today (TUesday) Dad assisted me with laundry (two loads). I will get some grading done before going out with Maureen and her sister.
#BrusselsLockdown
says it all....the BBC broadcast this morning about the closed schools and transit in Bruxelles. This was the response to the citizens' lockdown, the hashtag above.
This Weekend: Help and frolics
Friday night Debbie and I went to a comedy club and saw Tammy Pescatelli. She is hilarious!
Description: Comedian Tammy Pescatelli is the kind of woman you wish was your sister or your best friend. Like a good sister, she‘s always ready with a good joke or lively quip. Pescatelli grew up in a large, crazy, Italian family outside of Cleveland and went on to marry into an even larger, crazier, Italian family and has a little boy that she named after her husband-’just to prepare for Alzheimer’s!” When people ask her – “Where do you get your material?” She famously replies, “I wake up!” Her most recent 1 hour special, “Finding the Funny” was released recently in an exclusive deal with the trailblazing company, NETLFIX. Pescatelli’s eye for actually finding the funny in all situations, is what is already bringing the project critical acclaim from fans and peers alike. “Finding The Funny” reached #3 on ITunes. Her reality series, A Stand Up Mother (which she co-created, executive produced, wrote and starred in) on WEtv.
from
http://pittsburgh.improv.com/event.cfm?id=374162
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Saturday (yesterday) I did two loads of laundry for Mom and Dad, made sure she had a good breakfast, administered medicines, help her with her exercises, go grocery and other shopping for them, all before 14.30! I accomplished some administrative items for my online work and emailing, too. Debbie and I went to Dormont to see Difret, a movie based on a true story.
Here is the story line:
Three hours outside of Addis Ababa, a bright 14-year-old girl is on her way home from school when men on horses swoop in and kidnap her. The brave Hirut grabs a rifle and tries to escape, but ends up shooting her would-be husband. In her village, the practice of abduction into marriage is common and one of Ethiopia's oldest traditions. Meaza Ashenafi, an empowered and tenacious young lawyer, arrives from the city to represent Hirut and argue that she acted in self-defense. Meaza boldly embarks on a collision course between enforcing civil authority and abiding by customary law, risking the continuing work of her women's legal-aid practice to save Hirut's life.
Written by Sundance Film Festival
and the link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2611390/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Difret" is based on an actual drama that took place in 1996 and whose main protagonist was Aberash Bekale, a young Ethiopian girl.
Who now works for women's and girls' rights.
Very powerful, deep, moving movie. The executive producer of this film was Angelina Jolie.
From the movie:
We won.
I don't feel that we won.... I can't [go home to] protect my little sister.
K + k left Monday--- Week with Mom and Dad
Kyle left Monday morning, Kelly left Monday afternoon for home. It's been a good (and full) week with Mom and Dad, especially since her setback. Dad's been going to his daily Mass routine and Bible study and novena. Had sushi Wednesday two weeks in a row (with Kelly, and without her). Cut my finger (smashed it in a dryer door) doing three loads of laundry early in the week. Also did another load for Mom and Dad later in the week. Been charting and administering the medicines Kelly set up for Mom last week. She's been compliant (and beyond!) with her physical therapy, and has been exercising sans walker for a day and a half. She and Jennifer, her physical therapist, walked outside sans walker yesterday.
I had an ocular migraine start at ~15.35 yesterday, took 500 mg of Tylenol and rested. It lasted until 16.05 yesterday.
Mom taught me how to make chicken macaroni salad yesterday afternoon, and we've been enjoying the spoils since then.
Early this morning, I brought over my large keyboard for Mom to play, for life and therapeutic reasons.
~~~
For work, I got a couple of proposals scored, and did intake on two electronic submissions this week. Talked about the Paris attacks with my frosh interdisciplinary class on Monday. One student noted that she has family in Beirut and Mexico, where reportage is low. Till today, they are still finding fatalities of the Paris attacks. The apparent "ringleader" of the attacks was killed this week.
~~~
More shopping, meetings, before the day is up and Debbie and I go out this evening. Whew! What a week!
I am a new fan of Bread and Salt...
Got a loaf this morning with Kelly. Om Nom...after I purchased it (sold by weight), it was still warm when Kelly told me to "snuggle this in your coat." It's a sourdough with a delicate leavening agent's flavor.
I got my haircut today, then had lunch with Mom, Dad, Kyle, and Kelly of two different pizzas (Margharita and Rosita) and a panino made with greens, and more of the same delicious bread.
We are now all in love with their pizze.
60 perish in Paris
France has had attacks on Paris. President Hollande announces that France is closing its borders.
Just another day...
Had breakfast and watched the end of morning Mass with Mom. Administered medicines, finished grading lab notebooks, dropped them off on campus, returned to retrieve my purse, ran into Don on the way to his giving a lesson and my way to purchase a phone charger.
Organized my items to be graded next. Will take a quick nap before dinner and choir...
She's discharged and happily at home!
Mom was discharged at 15.00 Monday. Apart from a visit to the ER Monday night, she's been at home.
Yesterday (Tuesday) I made phone calls for her, picked up her medicine, made a visit to CVS, and she had a nurse home visit before I went to work. I also went to the annual lectors meeting before seeing William and family and Kelly at Mom and Dad's home.
Today I checked her medical messages, voice messages, and updated her outgoing email message. I got her breakfast, a shower chair and a hot water bottle. She'll have a shower shortly...
(More than a) stroke survivor!
Mom is a stroke survivor! She had hers Saturday evening while Dad, Kelly, Kyle, and I were visiting her in the hospital for another condition. But she is more than a survivor---she was regaling us with stories, a Filipino ditty, and stating the lyrics to all the Frank Sinatra songs as Kelly played them on her phone. She spent some time chatting with her cardiologist yesterday.
Yes, the F.A.S.T. mnemonic holds true---and I thanked Auntie Chi for our discussion long long ago about stroke symptoms---before "Face, Arms, Speech, Time" became an acronym:
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp
In this instance, Time was of utmost importance....As soon as she displayed a couple of signs Saturday night, Dad and Kelly and Kyle stayed with her and I dashed to the nurses station to tell Cheryl. She called the stroke team immediately. Dr. Daniel arrived with them. They evaluated her and went to do a head scan before administering TPA.
William arrived, and we waited. The doctor who performed the procedure retrieved us and showed us before and after images. We were impressed and grateful. We visited her, then, very early Sunday morning, and she seemed irritated with her pain (ever-so-rare for Mom), but verbal. William and I went home and ~3.00 Sunday she passed her neurological test. Her quote I heard in the background when I spoke to Dad on the phone Sunday morning is in the previous posting:
I have a new life
We are so happy.
Quote of the Day
"I have a new life," stated within the hour.
Friday- Long day...More later!
Wednesday, continued- Novena, Grading quizzes
Yesterday I went to meet with Jean S, then walked back in the glorious warmth. Today should be close to 75 Fahrenheit. Mom, Dad, and I went to the Novena for our Lady of Perpetual Help. Fr. Adam V celebrated, with Ted W serving. Fr. Adam stated in his short homily that though we do not know who the artist of the icon is, the effects of Our Lady are known.
Returned to finish grading my first section of notebooks and started grading quizzes, as suggested by Jean. Graded two questions for all my sections.
~~~~~
Today Mom and I will go to check her blood pressure apparatus, and for some labs. I will continue to grade the quizzes, and prepare for my work meeting on Friday....and enjoy the glorious day!
It's 77 Fahrenheit currently!
Just walked home from a discussion with Jean S on campus. It is 77 degrees Fahrenheit outside as the sun is setting!
Earlier, I took the campus shuttle to the warehouse to get office/ computer supplies.
What a lovely day!
It started at about 55 Fahrenheit this morning when Mom, Dad, and I went to Bible Study. I read for the group the second reading. The readings were from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 155.
First reading:
1 Kgs 17:10-16
Second reading:
Heb 9:24-28
Gospel Reading:
Mk 12:38-44
We were all surprised by how unified in theme all three readings were.
Up Early for (Spring Forward,) Fall Back! All Saint's Day
My friend from one of my college classes and I chatted on the phone yesterday night, on Hallowe'en eve/ the eve of Standard Time. We spoke about smiling, Life Lessons (and how they present themselves to you), one's response/ lack of response to a prompt, the passing of the college president at the little school from which she graduated. a new play she loves, "Bug," by Tracy Letts, ballet movies, and not being afraid to learn whilst being true to yourself.
It is always a learning experience to talk with her. We are not afraid, we are open about what we talk about.
~~~~~
Today is the first full day of Standard Time, and All Saint's Day. Prepare for teaching this week, choir practice, choir at Mass, and a gentle afternoon. Looking forward to it.
