Wednesday, July 01, 2020

JULY DAYS, WED 01 JULY to SAT 18 JULY 2020

WED 01 JULY 2020
Today I arose quite early, had an early hearty breakfast, finished correspondence/administrative work, and had no Bible Study the 2nd week in a row (we missed it). I had a slice of ham, sharp cheddar, and vegetable quiche for lunch, greeted A helper, helped D and M order items online, and went for a burger, fries, and drinks run in Shadyside with D. Quite the filling drive-up dinner. Watched the end of NBC Nightly News, and will enjoy watching Jeopardy! with M.

THU 02 JULY 2020
Early this morning, this came across my desk:
https://www.wtae.com/article/masks-are-now-mandatory-in-all-public-spaces-in-pennsylvania/33026253#
I have worn masks every time I have ventured out of my home, notably to go grocery shopping and to check on D and M.
Went with M to the appointment, via D's safe driving, then got yummies for lunch and beyond at Palenkeng Malaking Ibon! Enjoyed lunch of fried chicken, with suka at bawang, rice, and Klondike bars!
Some administrative/correspondence, followed by a nap and a go at a recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette crossword puzzle. Caught up on some phone communications for later this month.
This was brought to my attention in my email inbox today. The Today Show highlighted (on its first day) Pittsburgh:

https://www.today.com/video/my-today-plaza-celebrates-america-meet-the-founder-of-black-lives-matter-pittsburgh-86479941693

Some people respond, "All Lives Matter," and my response to that is that, until "Black Lives Matter" (especially) is true, "All Lives Matter" cannot be true.

According to the press, 110 new cases of COVID-19 in the press. On the NBC Pittsburgh TV affiliate station, one wing? of Presbyterian Hospital was closed today due to a person's being exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Late THU evening, we received a message from Steve Knapp, President of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh:
"Today, Allegheny County announced new restrictions aimed at reducing a sudden worrisome spike in the number of COVID-19 cases the County is now experiencing. The County is not requiring us to close our doors, but, out of an abundance of caution, we are taking additional steps to ensure that visitors and staff feel safe and comfortable in our facilities. We are reducing the maximum number of visitors from... 25% of building capacity to 10%, and we are closing all food service venues. These changes will remain in effect at least for the period covered by the new restrictions—that is, from tomorrow morning through midnight, July 10."

See, by SUN 05 JULY 2020, the verbiage for a Natural History Museum webpage says, at
https://carnegiemnh.org/buy-tickets/

There is a green banner with white letters on top of this webpage that reads:
The museum is now open. For safety, we have reduced capacity to 10% and require timed ticketing. Thank you!
Below, some of this same webpage reads:

Please help us keep each other safe:
  • If you consider yourself high-risk due to age (65+) or a medical condition, we have designated times for you to visit us. Our high-risk hours are Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to Noon.
  • Wear a face mask during your entire visit.
  • If you cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition, please speak with our Visitor Services staff.
  • Stay at least six feet away from people outside your group.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
  • For more information, visit Carnegie Museums’ Covid Information page.

We take your health seriously! We are:

  • Limiting the number of visitors.
  • Regularly disinfecting common areas and touch points.
  • Providing masks, if needed.
Please see the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh COVID-19 webpage, (particularly, see the update dated SUN 05 JULY 2020).
Wise moves by the museum leadership!

FRI 03 JULY 2020
On the Post-Gazette emailed headlines today:
Allegheny County bars, restaurants ordered closed as new COVID-19 cases double
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/02/COVID-19-coronavirus-Allegheny-County-Western-Pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-200/stories/202007020115

Watched the televised First Friday Mass from St. Paul Cathedral with D, M. Today the Masses are celebrated for the Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle.  Fr. Daniel Walsh celebrated the Mass, Don provided music ministry from the loft console, and Regis F was the scheduled lector. Despite more orders to hunker down, 28 faithful received Holy Communion. I always thought that Thomas/Didymus was an experiential learner, and Christ was a particularly patient and understanding teacher towards him.

Made lunch and dinner with D and M, and also stayed.

SAT 04 JULY 2020
Happy Fourth Celebrations, Everyone in America!

Sent messages of Happy Fourth to my friends. BF noted, "Remember that not all Americans were freed on this day." To which I replied, "True. Or even after 1776." Chatted with a couple of friends this afternoon.

Watched the 20.00 (first) showing of the PBS Capitol Fourth. One of the first singers on the show was Mandy Gonzalez, a strong warrior against breast cancer. She sang the National Anthem magnificently. Soon after, Andy Grammer sang from a Los Angeles rooftop. I noted the Clear skyline, with the buildings and distant mountains distinctly delineated. Patti LaBelle performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" near the Liberty Bell. An emotive performance of "Impossible Dream" was performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell at SUNY Purchase. The show was punctuated by snippets from previous years, including performances by Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Ray Charles (2000), et al. One of the two hosts of the show, Vanessa Williams, even performed "Not While I'm Around"/"Somewhere (from West Side Story)."
The 1812 Overture by P.I. Tchaikovsky was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Choral Society, sans social distancing, and sans masks by those musicians and their audience. Renee Fleming gave a rousing rendition of "God Bless America." Shortly before the fireworks portion of the show, Yolanda Adams returned with her back-up singers, joined by 4 local students. They sang "What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love." Right after the program ended, an encore of it started at 21.30.
At 22.00 the Macy's Fireworks, originating from various locations around New York City: The Hudson River, the East River, Coney Island, 1 Times Square, and from the top few floors of the Empire State Building. "Lean On Me," was sung by Dr. Elvis Francois with the Young People's Chorus. "America the Beautiful," was sung by John Legend, who performed "Gloria" with back-up singers earlier in the show.

SUN 05 JULY 2020
Watched the Mass chez D and M. Sunday of first communion---many of the First Communicants have chosen to wait, especially with family traveling from afar. Fr. Kris Stubna, assisted by Deacon Tom Berna, celebrated the Mass. Becky provided music ministry from the altar, accompanied by the organist (Ken?) from the loft. Owen Y was the lector. There were three young men who were to receive First Communion---the two shorter boys did so, the third boy, took communion. (Our catechism teachers would be surprised, to say the least.) The celebrant took it graciously in stride.
BF will host a Dungeons and Dragons campaign today. Those participating will do so via Zoom. Maybe we'll (also) have a Zoom meeting!

D, M, and I watched a game show, America Says.

Note that for approximately the last 5 days or so Allegheny County has had daily 100+ new cases of COVID-19. As my friend D has said yesterday, at least it's (the number) not increasing daily.

Note that the Canadian white-throated sparrows are changing their decades-old tune. Listen and see the embedded audio-visual clip in this link:
https://gizmodo.com/a-viral-new-bird-song-in-canada-is-causing-sparrows-t-1844245103?utm_source=pocket-newtab

See today's verbiage from
https://carnegiemnh.org/covid-19/
below:

Carnegie Museum of Natural History Status:

Date: 7/5/2020

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (along with Carnegie Museum of Art, and Carnegie Science Center, and the Warhol Museum) will re-open to the public on June 29! (Members can visit beginning June 26.)  Powdermill Nature Reserve will re-open on June 30.

The museums are currently open to members with reserved ticketing. For information on what to expect when visiting, visit Carnegie Museum’s Welcome Back page. 

We will require advance purchase of timed tickets, which go on sale June 15. Visitors must wear masks and practice safe social distancing. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health emergency, and we’re committed to following the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and state and regional health officials. 

During this unprecedented closure and after re-opening, the four Carnegie Museums are staying digitally connected with the community and offering a host of online resources. For information on how to enjoy all four museums from home, visit Carnegie Museums From Home.

Please check this page for regular updates and new resources from Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

~~~~~

MON 06 JULY 2020
Made an order for supplies--started the order online and completed it on the phone. Made a grocery, vitamin, and supplies run for us in North Oakland, Friendship/Shadyside, and in North Oakland, too. After lunch we listened to the Korean Children's Chorus sing "Bayan Ko,"as well as the adult Korean choir sing this. I looked up "Philippines, My Philippines," original English translation for M. We also listened to Doris Day singing "Stardust," we chatted about Stokeley Carmichael and Nat King Cole. Then we played online trivia---I owe M ice cream because of it. Scuttled home.

TUE 07 JULY 2020
Decluttered a bit at home, listened to some online videos whilst taking notes, and, in the midst of a thundershower, visited the front garden. Need to have dinner and Zoom meet with the SEED committee this evening. This week, M and I plan to watch Hamilton, the movie.

Defund Police? This model works for this city:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/05/us/cahoots-replace-police-mental-health-trnd/index.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

WED 08 JULY 2020
Made banana-oat-fig (breakfast) cookies early this morning, printed out another copy of the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) readings for D (M kept hers), and Emily T set up our Zoom meeting for us. Fr Mike and 6 Zoomer screens joined him, with ET in the background. Tyler read the first reading, I read the 2nd reading, and Pablo A read the Gospel reading. The readings are below:

Is 55:10-11;    Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14;  

Rom 8:18-23;     GOSPEL: Mt 13:1-23

All readings and the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation deal with agricultural themes.
Fr. Mike mentioned the the medieval exigesis of Henri de Lubac--the 4 Senses of Bible readings:
Literal sense- The sense of what the text says
Allegorical sense- The sense of Christ prefigured
Tropological sense- the moral sense
Anagogical sense- of the Last things/ Final Judgment: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso
After reading the readings and after a view of them from Fr. Mike, Fr. Mike showed us slides of Vincent van Gogh's various versions of his paintings of The Sower, as well as an ink study of one of the versions. One slide was similar to that of Millet's Sower. One version had the small thick brushstrokes of the field echoing the small thick brushstrokes of the Sun's rays.
We gave our views on the readings and discussed, as well. Seeds and sowing and the parable of the Sower were all themes of this set of readings, and the psalm, as well.
My input to the discussion was that "photosynthesis (of the Sun's rays) provides energy to most of Life on our planet. So, though only a very small percentage of the Sun's rays are intercepted by the Earth, the Sun's rays drive the energy of most of our planet.
AND
"Trees can be seen to be growing out of sheer rock cliffs, with roots dozens of meters in depth. How is this possible? When the seed lands on the rock, if there is just a little bit of soil, the interaction between the root and the rock can create more soil from the granite (or other type) of rock. What does this mean? The seed can take root, and create soil from the ROCK; like Peter, the Church."

THU 09 JULY 2020
EARLY AM- Post-Gazette headline:

Allegheny County's COVID cases soar past 4,000; Butler County sets new single-day mark

After listening to two BBC News broadcasts this morning, I bicycled for 30 minutes, worked on M's grocery list, went grocery shopping avec glasses in Friendship/Shadyside and Shadyside. Took photos of a rocking chair for ND. Went to get the mail. Had dinner of General Tso's chicken, fried rice, egg rolls with D and M. We started watching Hamilton: The Movie, and they got as far as about 30 minutes into the production. Watched until ~22.00. Time to call it a night. Exciting times!
~~~
SPOILER Alert-
Hamilton: The Movie quotes/lyrics---
~28 min- On the way out
~42 - ...She's married to a British officer
~43 Wait for it
~46 - outlast
~52 I could be enough / We could be enough/ It would be enough
~57 & 1:14 History has its eyes on you
~59 Immigrants---we get the job done.
L34 No one else was in the room where it happens
1:37:27 I wanna build something that's gonna outlive me.
Aaron Burr- I wanna be in the room where it happens
1:47+ "Everyone shall sit under their own vine & fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. They'll be safe in the nation we've made." (Micah 4:4---a favorite quote of George Washington.)
~2:02
2:10 I pray I didn't used to (?)
2:12 There's a grace too powerful to understand
Eliza Schuyler Hamilton-- founded Trinity Church orphanage, the first private orphanage in the USA.
Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?
Rolling Credit?s/ Reprise- I am not throwing away my/ Shot.
~~~

FRI 10 JULY 2020
Early AM:    Post-Gazette---    

COVID-19 update: More than 150 new cases reported in Allegheny County

More than 150 Cases https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/09/COVID-19-western-pennsylvania-data-cases-deaths-allegheny-pandemic/stories/202007090125?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-frontpage-frontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter

Awoke early to make French toast chez D and M. We all enjoyed it! Prepared a chair to be given. Worked on the computer for the morning. Sent out correspondence today. No nap today. M and I weeded books from the library of M and D, gathered them together with audio tapes and CDs for donation. Had dinner (leftovers), and watched---amid a heavy thunderstorm---Jeopardy! (a rerun) and America Says...Phone chat with KRD in the evening.

SAT 11 JULY 2020
Quiet day. Work on the computer updating files. Computer correspondence and downloading day.
Before midnight SAT/SUN I got this headline:

Carnegie Museum of Natural History reopens with world premiere exhibition Dinosaur Armor | TribLIVE.com
https://triblive.com/news/partner-news/carnegie-museum-of-natural-history-reopens-with-world-premiere-exhibition-dinosaur-armor/


SUN 12 JULY 2020

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Watched 10 AM Mass with D and M. Fr. Kris Stubna celebrated the Mass, with Deacon Tom Berna assisting with an acolyte. Linda O cantored, with organ accompaniment from the loft. Jeff Schneider lectored both readings.

Fr. Kris homily excerpts included these phrases:
(He described the game Telephone in a classroom of 30 4th graders, then he launched into his full homily.)
"Call of Faith....become(s) a good Listener.
"Spiritual Deafness (is a problem)."
(The Gospel reading, Mt 13:1-23, with the parable of the sower,) farmers would (think) it were crazy, because the sower would "include barren areas."
"Share the Good News...to be the Word (to each other)."
"Listen to God. Truly Listen...Persevere.
"Open your heart to hear God's Word.
"(God gives us) Sufficient Grace."

Great lunch of make-your-own chef salad, pancit, and leche plan!
~~~
On another note, at 11.16 the Post-Gazette posted this story online, with excerpts below:

Western Pa. reports 303 new cases with Allegheny County's 200 leading the way

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/12/COVID-19-coronavirus-Allegheny-County-Western-Pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-38/stories/202007120123

"For the 13th straight day, Allegheny County on Sunday reported a triple-digit increase in its number of new COVID-19 cases and topped all Western Pennsylvania counties, which reported 303 new positive cases.

"Allegheny said it had 200 new cases, ranging in age from 2 months to 95 years old with a median age of 35. Behind Allegheny was Westmoreland and Washington counties with 19 and 17 new cases, respectively.

"Since the Allegheny County’s first case was reported on March 14, it has had 4,962 cases.

"No new deaths were reported in Western Pennsylvania. Allegheny’s death toll remained at 198."

~~~

MON 13 JULY 2020
Today I started the day with 30 minutes of bicycling. Early morning  Post-Gazette reported 200 cases in Allegheny County:
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/12/COVID-19-coronavirus-Allegheny-County-Western-Pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-38/stories/202007120123?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-frontpage-frontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter
Passed along a great lead from KRD to JWS, a former coworker.
Today is National French Fry Day!

TUE 14 JULY 2020
Very early AM got a message from Uncle D:
https://www.state.gov/u-s-position-on-maritime-claims-in-the-south-china-sea/
Seems as if PRChina is trying to exert pressure on countries in its vicinity. The USA State Department is responding.
I bicycled 30 minutes this morning.
COVID-19 Update: Pa. reports 328 new infections; Pittsburgh region sees 173 more cases
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/13/COVID-19-pittsburgh-Allegheny-County-pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-infections/stories/202007130071?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-frontpage-frontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter
Emailed concerns about one SEED application...concerns are template and foreign sanction-based, as in the news.
Skimmed the Amicus Brief description from Paula Johnson, MD, President of Wellesley College:
"Wellesley has joined with 59 colleges and universities from 24 states and the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief supporting Harvard and MIT’s lawsuit challenging the recent guidance from the Department of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding international students. This amicus brief is also being filed in other, similar lawsuits across the country."

WED 15 JULY 2020
Early morning bicycling for 20 minutes.
Bible Study, remotely with Fr. Mike Darcy and 6 attendee tiles, not counting ET, our remote guru! No art slides this time, as we had for our 2 previous meetings. Been communicating with others at work re: the announced possibility of unionization across all 4 museums. We agreed that timing is key if unionization with the United Steel Workers were to happen.
Went grocery shopping using an abbreviated list I typed up from M's handwritten one. Went to Friendship/Shadyside.

~~~~~~~~~~
From The Washington Post, UPDATES
~~~~~~~~~~~
Asked P, my supervisor, about attendance at Zoom meetings post-working on the museum floor. The reply was made by P and M in separate emails (some tomorrow).
Had the Big Pizza for dinner, had some for lunch tomorrow.
D watched me go home; I had an early bedtime.

THU 16 JULY 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf announces new restrictions on bars, restaurants
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/07/13/COVID-19-pittsburgh-Allegheny-County-pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-infections/stories/202007130071?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=editors-picks-frontpage-frontpage&utm_campaign=Headlines-Newsletter
Scanned and shredded a bunch of documents.
Had chicken and beets with dinner tonight, watched NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Jeopardy! hosted by Alex Trebek with Emma Boettcher, James Holzhauer, and Francois in the first Final round. Watched America Says..., then shredded even more documents. Will play Boggle in a bit with M. (Did.)

FRI 17 JULY 2020
We greatly enjoyed our 3 rounds of Boggle last night. Two of the rounds were mostly vowels (hmmph)! Listened to BBC News on the computer at 8 and at 9.00, thus interrupting a rendition of Claire de Lune at the top of the 9 o'clock hour.
Tortang tuna at kamatis at onion with moules et riz for dinner. Watched the Final round of Jeopardy! of Champions. James Holzhauer won against Emma Boettcher and Francois Barcomb in the second final round. So cooled off as soon as I got home.

SAT 18 JULY 2020
Made breakfast pancakes with butter and with lemon curd. M and I especially enjoyed them. Chatted with LS about all kinds of stuff. Late lunch with D and M. Played Boggle again with M. A little after 16.00 a peaceful demonstration that passed on the street by the east side of SP Cathedral ended. There were people with red T shirts slowly walking, as well as people on bicycles as well as people walking their bicycles. All very peaceful.
Maxine, the doyenne of the Nationality Rooms, passed away last night. May she rest in peace. She wrote a great message and signed my Nationality Rooms booklet when I worked in the same office suite as she. A great nonagenarian, she lived to age 96.

https://pittnews.com/article/158933/news/e-maxine-bruhns-former-nationality-rooms-director-dies-at-96/

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/longtime-university-of-pittsburgh-director-and-citizen-of-the-world-has-died/

https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/e-maxine-bruhns-who-dedicated-her-career-embracing-cultural-diversity-dies-96

In other news, I sent a message to the Jeopardy! team.

More news:
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/07/18/crosby-leaves-scrimmage-early/

https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2020/07/18/sidney-crosby-training-camp-scrimmage-injury-update-penguins-tlh/

https://www.pensburgh.com/2020/7/18/21329602/no-comment-from-penguins-about-sidney-crosby-injury-practice-early-pens-play-in-2020

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/no-comment-from-penguins-about-sidney-crosby-leaving-practice-early/ar-BB16Uq89













posted by Grace @ 7/01/2020 07:08:00 PM

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