SUN- Burgers for dinner; MON- Running Errands; TUE- Running Errands and Disney's The Jungle Book (2016)
Sunday we all went to noon Mass and enjoyed burgers, fries, and swirled frostee for lunch. Yesterday (Monday) I ran errands with Mom and Dad in the South Hills, Downtown, and made a slow crawl (approximately one hour from 376 East's Forbes Ave. exit to their home) through Oakland, due to the Bernie Sanders rally at the University of Pittsburgh, up on the hill. I helped Mom to prepare stuffed pepper steak, and Dad and Tito Larry arrived after golfing to share dinner hour with us.
Today I ran some errands in the afternoon, after a morning training session with Arlene at the museum. I also voted...the rain started, and then sprinkled as I headed to the polling place. I waited in a line of ~five people, and when I was the second in line, it poured. As I exited the voting place, I enjoyed the sunshine.
Soon after, Debbie and I went to McCandless Cinemas to watch The Jungle Book (2016):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3040964/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4
I told Debbie that the first movie I saw in the theatre was The Jungle Book:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061852/?ref_=fn_al_tt_5
We enjoyed the movie so much that I was mouthing the words of the songs during the movie, and singing aloud during the credits.
**MOVIE SPOILER ALERT**:
I found it telling that Mowgli, in a triumphant ride on the baby elephant, had the soot wiped away around his mouth---he had found his voice, and his voice invoked the Wolf creed, in unison with the varied animals of the jungle. His voice, which spoke with the others, together, loudly, against the hate and lawlessness embodied by Shere Khan.
We enjoyed a large popcorn with plenteous butter flavor and a large drink and a large cherry Icee. We went for Dave and Andy's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and salted caramel frozen yogurt afterwards. What a stunning film, and a great movie to watch!
Graded all my final exams...Time to Score Them...
I just completed grading all my final exams from my sections/ lab classes. Now it is time to score/ mark them.
I will take a break during this activity to pick up Mom and Dad, as I have dropped them off at a meeting and went grocery shopping after dropping them off on the North Side.
Three Quarters finished Grading the Final Practical Exam--Spent about Five Hours Today Grading
I am about 75% finished grading the final practical exam. I have graded 50/68 questions, finished page 8/10 on the answer sheet, and 13.5/18 pages of an exam packet. I spent an additional five or so hours grading today.
Took a short break to eat, nap, and chat briefly with my friend Kim S in Connecticut. Everyday is a blessing! I live in an airtight box called the Present...because behind and ahead I don't have.
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~17.00
Started grading the last (10th) page of the answer sheet of the exam. Am currently taking a break.
Thursday, FRI- a Break from Grading; Half Way graded!
Yesterday (THURSday) I took a break from grading...ran an errand with Mom and Dad via bus, had lunch and Maureen and I went for dinner and shopping in East Liberty. Choir practice with the Donster, and snacks by Monica and Karl.
Early this morning I tuned into WQED radio station, and after enjoying a piece of music, was pleased to hear the announcer state that my friend S had played violin on it. Today I had docent traiing, with JoAnn giving us a three cultures tour, and then Vickie (ancient Egypt), Philip (Polar World), and Jessica (Hopi Culture) giving us helpful hints and insights for starting out giving tours. I went home and had lunch with Mom and Dad, picked up an exam from Meredith, and went to the First Experiences in Research poster session in Alumni Hall. I heard many good presentations by the students, and Caroline W, one of my former students, was working on ALS research. I walked back, and I will meet Regina K for an organ concert tonight. Time to get a little grading done in the meantime!
I graded 34/68 questions= 5/10 pages of the answer sheet= 9/18 pages of the final.
Went to the preconcert meet and greet in the parish social hall, where I met up with Regina K. Afterwards, we got settled in a seat a couple of rows in front of Richard and his friend. They were joined after intermission by Gail. The program of Christian Lane was quite diverse, with sets by Buxtehude, J.S. Bach~ James Macmillan, Dan Locklear, and Nico Muhly~ Denis Bedard~ Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy~ Guy Bovet~ Carson Cooman. I briefly chatted with Chris afterwards, and with Don after that. Was thrilled to hear Nico's composition for Chris. Quite the evening!
Finished Grading about a third of the questions on this semester's Biology Laboratory II Final
I finished grading some of the questions on this semester's Biology Laboratory II final...or One-fifth of the answer sheet. Whew!
Time for a break--our annual building meeting in about an hour!
~~~~~
Building meeting went well.
as of 21.30 I have graded:
16/68 questions
3/10ths of the answer booklet pages
half of the test booklet pages.
Whew! Time to go to sleep---Mom has an early appointment to which Dad won't be able to accompany her, so I will.
Solomon and Marissa, the DC-bound contingent, visited before they went to sleep. We were all glad to see them. Mom and Dad inspected Solomon after a school recess event.
Last Spring 2016 Final Administered Yesterday; Bible Study this morning
I administered my last final of the Spring 2016 semester yesterday. Two students thanked me well as they exited; one thanked me for being friendly. "It's not part of my job description, but I try," I said.
I went to sleep early last night to rest up for grading.
~~~~~
Bible Study this morning with Mom and Dad.
Halfway Point of the Boston Marathon during 2015, 2016
The Scream Tunnel, otherwise known as the Halfway Point of the Boston Marathon. Here's one person's view of it during 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKChpj6M0Sw
And this year, CBS Boston reported:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6IdwjxSw4
Fourth Sunday of Easter 2016
We choristers sang for the noon Mass (for the Holy Names Society), with Bishop Winter yesterday (the Fourth Sunday of Easter 2016). We sang:
Introit: The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord
Entrance Hymn: The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Gloria (Vatican Mass VIII)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100 (M. Guimont/ Don Fellows)
Gospel Acclamation: O Filii et Filiae
Preparation of the Gifts: The Lord is My Shepherd (Thomas Matthews)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen: from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei: Chant Mass XVIII
Communion Antiphon: I am the Good Shepherd (Robert G. Farrell)
Communion: Gift of Finest Wheat (R. Kreutz)
Communion Meditation: God Be in My Head (Robert G. Farrell)
Recessional Hymn: At the Lamb's High Feast
I drove Mom, Dad, and I to Drew's Restaurant, where we enjoyed burgers and liver! Then it was off to groceries and then Costco. William stopped by, and I gave him an R2D2 Pez for his birthday. He showered us with cookies from his family.
A full day!
Catholic Women's Conference 2016
This morning I arose early to catch the bus from the local high school to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh's Catholic Women's Conference 2016, "Women Alive! In God's Mercy."
Carmella K and Cecile S also caught the bus at that stop location. Sr. Maria H was our bus wrangler, with Ray being our bus driver. I assisted him, upon Carmella's prodding, when we passed Phyllis' neighborhood.
We arrived in time to get a continental breakfast downstairs, then catch the end of the opening prayer with Bishop David Zubik.
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Juba, South Sudan addressed us. She was a Time Magazine 2014 "World's most influential person," and has won the CNN hero award. She has been interviewed by Charlie Rose and Stephen Colbert and the subject of a book and documentary "Sewing Hope." She is one BRAVE woman, to stand up against rebels!
After a short break (during which I said hello to Christina, Michael, and his dad, and bought a St. Michael medal/ prayer card combo), Helen Alvare, a professor at George Mason University, spoke to us of her concerns of family law, and of law and religion. She spoke of how the many recent sexual freedoms beg the question of diminishment of a culture (and morality).
Our little lunch group of Cecile, Carmella, Nancy H, and I went downstairs to retrieve box lunches for the first of two lunch shifts. We sat with a mother-daughter team at our table. Carmella and I went to the grotto, similar to one at Lourdes or Fatima to offer some prayers to Mary, then visited the beautiful chapel. Carmella and I were struck by the beauty of it, and we discussed the beautiful monstrance, as well. There was some time for a short break (when I said hi to Dra. Ala and her sister Marietta, as well as Kristin), and then time to hear Rebecca Dussault speak.
Rebecca Dussault is a Catholic former Olympian skier and mother who addressed our group. She spoke to the religion of sport, and how it is a place for mission work.
Next was Mass with Bishop David Zubik, two additional priests, servers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Station XII (a six-piece praise and worship musical group). We celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Then, it was time to board bus #1 and head back to Oakland and Homewood.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra- Cameron Carpenter, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich
After a morning training at the museum and the afternoon planning for the final practical exam at the univeristy, I met up with Regina K for a night at the symphony. She drove us, we parked, and were pleased to see that Western Pennsylvania native Cameron Carpenter played his International Touring Organ for us that night. Regina spotted fellow members of the American Guild of Organists; we said a hello to Ken and Lisa. I met her sister Vanessa and her friend John. The program for the evening was:
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (Transcribed for organ by Cameron Carpenter) U.S. Premiere
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Opus 93
I was thrilled to see that Cameron Carpenter chose an accordion-like sound for the most familiar 18th theme of the themes from Paganini (25.40 to 28.20 in the YouTube video)! His technique was superb, with lightning-fast trills and flashy, sparkly footwork (see ~30.00 in the YouTube video).
https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/production/43798/carpenter-plays-rachmaninoff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79BgeqyXhI
Cameron Carpenter played a solo "Stars and Stripes Forever," as his encore. Bravo!
The Shostakovich piece was first performed after the death Stalin, and was thought to be a "tribute" of sorts to the former Soviet dictator.
After the concert, Vanessa and John, Regina, and I stopped in Starbucks for some beverages, chatted on Penn Avenue for a tad, and called it a night.
Busy as a Bee; Butterfly stories at Choir Practice
I've been busy as a bee---teaching my last week of classes, meetings and training at the museum, singing at choir practice and at Sunday Mass, (with pinball!), going to the coffee meeting/ kaffee klatsch at the museum director's office Monday, Tuesday birthday dinner at Casbah (Calamari appetizer with an entrée of Lamb Shank!) with Mom and Dad, running errands on Wednesday and today (Thursday).
Choir practice was led by Ken tonight. We enjoyed snackage afterwards and I told Mary my butterfly stories...Chuck, too. The story about Phipps Conservatory, my shoebox-bound chrysalis, my butterfly with the deformed wing, setting it free with "Live Long and Prosper," and going to the Point only once in my life to see the Independence Day fireworks with Lakshmi...and meeting my butterfly again--in a dramatic fashion! My second butterfly story was about heading south on the Pacific Coast Highway and staying at a youth hostel where there was only one other guest...a nerdy butterfly researcher. He invited me to his field site and...what I thought were leaves on trees were actually fluttering butterflies!
Needless to say, when Beatrice and I were discussing our favorite insects this March (last month), I excitedly said, "Lepidoptera!"
Leading up to this Week!
Choir vacation after Easter for a whole week! Neither choir practices nor choral singing Thursday and Sunday after Easter. Continuation of twice-weekly training at the museum, and of twice-weekly physical therapy. Thursday night with Debbie for our favorite appetizer/ dinner place at the Waterfront. Friday at work we delivered our first practice presentations for the other docents-in-training. Saturday Mom and I went shopping. Sunday Mom, Dad, and I went for burgers and fries for lunch, and had shrimp and veggies with rice and noodles soup for dinner.
Wednesday Mom, Dad, and I went to Bible Study, reading the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter (Cycle C). There were 21 of us, plus two from the Oratory: Fr. Drew Morgan and a Brother. The readings were:
Acts 5: 27-32, 40B-41
Revelation 5: 11-14
Gospel Reading- John 21: 1-19
Whilst discussing the first reading, Fr. Drew brought up that this incident occurred after Pentecost; was not indicative of a "new religion," but was the Fulfillment of Judaism.
I proclaimed the second reading. Fr. Drew brought up Isaiah 6 (Holy, Holy, Holy).
Two of us proclaimed the Gospel reading. Fr. Drew brought up that Jesus asked Peter three times the equivalent of "agape?" and Peter answered thrice the equivalent of "filios!" Recalling last week, (when the apostles ran ahead of the women apostles to the tomb,) John says to Peter "It's the Lord," then John defers to Peter to have the above-mentioned discussion with Christ.
We spoke about the numbers in the Gospel: 153 were believed to be the known species of fish at the time (according to St. Jerome), and is a summing up to 17. Seventeen is prime, and is the 7th prime number. We had to fish for these answers...
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Today is Thursday. I lectored at the televised morning Mass this morning. Fr. Kris S celebrated the Mass, John DeF served, and Ken provided music ministry from the portative organ at the Marian altar.
Today's Mass celebrated the Memorial of St. John Baptiste de la Salle.
Entrance Hymn: We Walk by Faith (Dunlop's Creek)
Reading Acts 5:27-33
Responsorial Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
Alleluia: John 20:29
Gospel Reading John 3: 31-36
The Mass was offered up for the soul of Barbara F, who passed away recently. Fr. Kris offered up prayers for her soul and the souls of those who passed away during this week, as well, as the Mass concluded.
Recessional Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
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Went to lunch at Hello Bistro with William, Dad, and Mom. Walked Mom and Dad to her doctor's appointment on Forbes Avenue, took the bus to retrieve the car, and picked them up in the rain.
Spent the afternoon grading quizzes. Mom and I prepared spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner (long life!) and then I went to choir practice. Maraid and Natalie B-S were back, but Jen was out. We had a great practice, and returned plenteous music that evening.
After getting home, I called Joyce's family, as I received their posted box (!) chock full of candy!!! from our childhood ! Dad took a photo of me with it on Friday, and we enjoyed it, too.
I completed grading the quizzes this week, and started and finished grading the Animal Development Prelab assignments today (Saturday). Now for a short break.
