Saturday, December 31, 2016

Last Half of DEC 2016 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve)

THU 15 DEC- had bloodwork done on a very very cold day. Dad dropped me off. I went to Panther Central to do my I-9 paper/ electronic work. They were not ready to put me in the system/ give me an ID card.  Choir practice tonight.


FRI 16 DEC- Worked uptown in the PM.

SUN 18 DEC- Sang in choir for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

MON 19 DEC- prepared for my Egypt mock tour on THU 22nd DEC.

TUE 20 DEC- Worked uptown in the PM.

WED 21 DEC- Winter Begins!  Changed to hot pink sheets.

THU 22 DEC- Egypt mock tour ~ 9.40 to ~ 10.40AM for Pat H. Practiced "O Holy Night" sans our operatic guest.

FRI 23 DEC- Worked Uptown in the PM. K + k arrived in the late afternoon, while I was at work.

SAT 24 DEC- William's family was ill with the flu---William was out sick with fever and chills. That wiped out half of our dinner party. M, D, K, k, and myself went to Mount Washington to Vue 412 (at the site of Tin Angel) for Christmas Eve dinner. The view was magnificent! I enjoyed the:

Guanciale and white bean soup
New Zealand lamb chops with mint demi, orange couscous, and roasted root vegetables.

JayJay was accomodating. 
Because the size of our dinner group was diminished by half, I was able to arrive at St. Paul Cathedral in time for the Christmas Eve Mass rehearsal with the brass, organ, tympani, and our guest mezzo-soprano, Maryanne Cornetti.
Christmas Eve 2016
We sang/ played:
Preludes
Brass and Organ:  Variations on Noel Nouvelet (Raymond Haan)
Coventry Carol (arr. Shaw)
Organ Solo: Poemes Evangeliques: II. La Nativite (J. Langlais)
When Christ was Born (Robert Farrell)
Carol for All: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
A Maiden Most Gentle (A. Carter)
Gaudete (arr. R. Batastini)
As Lately We Watched (Robert Farrell)
During Mass
Christmas Proclamation sung by Bishop Zubik
Processional Hymn- O Come All Ye Faithful (arr. Cherwien)
Gloria- Christmastime Gloria (arr. Daniel Laginya)
Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 96, Today is Born Our Savior (James Chepponis)
Gospel Acclamation- Christmastime Alleluia (James Chepponis)
Preparation of Gifts- Gesu Bambino (P. Yon)
Carol- Silent Night
Holy, Holy, Holy- from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Memorial Acclamation- - from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Amen- from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei- Latin Chant
Communion- The First Nowell
Communion Meditations- Brass/ organ- Carols
Communion Meditations- Choir- Christmas Lullaby (John Rutter)
Communion Meditations- Choir with Marianne Cornetti- O Holy Night
(Carol- Silent Night)
Recessional- Joy to the World (arr. Jenkins)
Brass- In dir ist Freude (Johann S. Bach)
Organ- In dir ist Freude (Johann S. Bach)

When I returned home, M, D, K and k and I opened presents! I got a coupon for a Thai massage, which I cashed in on Christmas Day, early.
----------
Christmas Day, Sunday 25 DEC 2016
k gave me a great Thai massage and consult for Christmas.

I sang with the choir for the noon Mass Christmas Day at Saint Paul Cathedral.
Christmas DAY 2016
We sang/ played:
Preludes
Brass and Organ:  Variations on Noel Nouvelet (Raymond Haan)
Coventry Carol (arr. Shaw)
Organ Solo: Poemes Evangeliques: II. La Nativite (J. Langlais)
Carol for All: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
A Maiden Most Gentle (A. Carter)
See Amid the Winter's Snow (J. Goss)
During Mass
Processional Hymn- O Come All Ye Faithful (arr. Cherwien)
Gloria- Christmastime Gloria (arr. Daniel Laginya)
Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 96, Today is Born Our Savior (James Chepponis)
Gospel Acclamation- Christmastime Alleluia (James Chepponis)
Preparation of Gifts- Gesu Bambino (P. Yon)
Carol- Silent Night
Holy, Holy, Holy- from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Memorial Acclamation- - from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Amen- from the Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei- Latin Chant
Communion- The First Nowell
Communion Meditations- Brass/ organ- Carols
Communion Meditations- Choir- Christmas Lullaby (John Rutter)
(Carol- Silent Night)
Recessional- Joy to the World (arr. Jenkins)
Brass- In dir ist Freude (Johann S. Bach)
Organ- In dir ist Freude (Johann S. Bach)

I distributed Christmas cards to the people who signed up for Christmas Day Mass. Also gave one for Leona to S.
Ran into K and k by the elevator!

MON 26 DEC 2016- Prepared for my museum Spotlight on Wednesday. Also went with Mom to the Waterfront to shop at Macy's.

TUE 27 DEC- Worked Uptown in the PM. H gave me a card. Kayla kept me company for a bit.

WED 28 DEC- 1.30 to 3.30 PM I presented the Spotlight for Fluorescent Hyalite Opal! Most who visited the spotlight were from the greater Pittsburgh area, but people came from as far as Puerto Rico. ~ 102 visitors (2h--13:30 to 15:30).

THU 29 DEC- Mom and I went to Ross Park Mall to return/ exchange/ purchase items at Macy's. I went to get work shoes (clogs) at JC Penney's (JCP). Mom and I went to get burgers for dinner; we brought dad a sandwich, too.

FRI 30 DEC- Worked Uptown in the PM. Michael kept me company for a bit. Debbie stopped by the desk!

SAT 31 DEC- Jeff picked me up to meet Christina in Monroeville for lunch at Chik Fil A. Had a chicken salad sandwich with waffle fries and a shake for lunch. Returned home, and went on two errands for groceries and Walgreen's in Bloomfield and East Liberty, respectively. Returned home to leave again to meet Karen W for hot beverages at Starbucks.

posted by Grace @ 12/31/2016 09:03:00 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Third Week of Advent 2016

MON 12 DEC- Sent some paperwork I received last week to Sara in the Dept Office.

TUE 13 DEC- Museum Docent Meeting and Potluck. Emailed Uptown and the museum about my (potential) schedule changes for January. Worked Uptown in the afteroon and evening.

WED 14 DEC- Met with J for career advice in Squirrel Hill. Met with friends and brought gifts for everyone today. Great fun at the building party that evening. It is 10 degrees Fahrenheit this morning, with a high of 16 today. Perhaps we'll have choir today.

posted by Grace @ 12/15/2016 10:45:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

SUN to SUNday- Beginning of DEC 2016 (first full week); Second Sunday to Third Sunday of Advent 2016

~~~
4 DEC SUN- University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning Nationality Rooms Open House. The Philippine American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh ( PAPAGP) hosted the Philippine-custom decorated room, food booth, and two dance performances, including this year's dance performances' finale.
I presented the architectural renderings, capiz shell sliding windows, Myrna's capiz shell parol, and the fundraiser film on the 16th.

I skipped choir to present. Myrna helped me out when she was not helping out the dance troupe, etc., as her daughter was in both performances--one as the princess in Sinkil.

5 DEC MON- Laundry day

TUE 6 DEC- I conducted an informational interview of a former coworker early in the workday. Worked Uptown in the afteroon and evening.

WED 7 DEC- Attended the All Access Day for a healthcare organization, which also included a mock interview. Went to the Peoples Pittsburgh Holiday Market in Market Square afterwards. Applauded for the keyboardist/ singer, Amy Lindsey, who sang (among other tunes) frong Charlie Brown Christmas. Returned to Mom and Dad's to make brownies for their building party. Attended with them the party.

THU 8 DEC- I lectored at 6  PM Mass with Vince. Fr. Kris Stubna celebrated the Mass. Linda O and Ken D provided music ministry from the ambo and the loft, respectively. Choir practice followed.

FRI 9 DEC- Museum training in Egypt all morning.Worked Uptown in the afteroon and evening.

SAT 10 DEC- Museum spotlight: Winter caribou! Talked about their coat, how it is used for winter clothing by Inuit, that females have antlers, when both genders lose their antlers, and the five animals in the case (reindeer, arctic fox, collared lemming, and ptarmigan), among other things. Dad and I went with the Victorias to the PAPAGP party at Sullivan Hal on Mt. Washington.

SUN 11 DEC- AFter choir practice and choral singing for Gaudete Sunday, Lisa P and I took our Gaudete Sunday photo over coffee and donuts in the Church Social Hall. After lunch, I went for a haircut in North Oakland. It was good to chat with A again.


posted by Grace @ 12/07/2016 07:27:00 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 03, 2016

Beginning of DECember 2016- THU, FRI, SAT

THU 1 DEC- Went with Mom for a mock service at the Cafe Carnegie at the Carnegie Museums of Oakland. Mom enjoyed:
Onion Soup Gratin
Moules Frites with Tarragon, Cream, Shallots, White Wine
I enjoyed:
Local Cheddar and Bacon Gougeres with Pickled Onion, Arugula
Roasted Leg of Lamb, Chickpea Puree, Escarole, on Rosemary Garlic Baguette
We shared:
Burnt Almond Cake and
Chocolate Mousse
We met the chef, Sonja Finn, after dining.  She is a graduate of the CIA and has worked in San Francisco. The food was incredibly light AND filling!

We drove to Penn Hills and Monroeville to search for a lit magnifier for Mom, then it was time for choir practice.

FRI 2 DEC- Cynthia V. finished her presentation on Polar World for us docents. I presented to the group on Tommy Joseph's totem  pole before Cynthia arrived. Cynthia spoke about Inuit art. I then led off the docent talks on Polar World with a presentation on the caribou/ reindeer parka and the eider duck skin parka.
Then, at the end, after all the Polar World presentations were finishedd, some of us made up a presentation for the American Indian Hall. I presented on the medicine case: on Artemesia tridentata and on Yarrow.
Then, it was time for lunch (a visit to the Tibetan store), and work uptown for the evening. Kayla and Jamie stopped by to say hello. Kayla shared her heavy wool coat's fit.

SAT  DEC 3- I drove to Squirrel Hill, saw Laura at the bank, and also said hi to Dewi. Went home, reviewed notes on Sennedjem's Tomb (replica), and did a two-hour-long spotlight on that alcove of the museum. Had visitors from as far north as Minnesota and Michigan, as far south as Venezuela, as far west as Stockton and Sacramento, and as far east as Dubai.

Stopped in the Tibetan store for a bit on the way home. Took a quick nap after lunch, and then headed to the Cathedral to read/ lector with Audrey C. Fr. Brian Welding celebrated the Mass; we had two male teen servers and a young elementary male server; Linda O was our fearless cantor/ cantatrice; Don played at the Beckerath console; Bev B and Audrey were two of the three Eucharistic Ministers; Ted W was the sacristan. Saw Shannon from choir: She was waiting for Reconciliation after Mass.

I was the second reader, but b/c the Gospel, ADV I(C) was accidentally read at the start, I read reading 1 for the Second Sunday of Advent (A): Isaiah 11:1-10. The Gospel reading was Matthew 3: 1-12.
Sung tonight were:
Entrance Hymn: On Jordan's Bank
Kyrie (Mass XVI)
Responsorial Psalm 72: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever (Michel Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation (Jacques Berthier)
Sanctus (Mass XVIII)
Acclamation (Roman Missal)
Amen from the Danish Mass, (R. Kraehenbeuhl)
Lamb of God From Missa Emmanuel (Richard Proulx)
Communion Hymn: My Soul in Stillness Waits
Recessional Hymn: Comfort, Comfort O My People

Now, I am chilling waiting for Mom and Dad to return from their party with Barbara.

posted by Grace @ 12/03/2016 07:42:00 PM 0 comments