Saturday, July 08, 2023

SAT 01 JULY to MON 31 JULY 2023

SAT 01 JULY 2023
Morning Zoom Yoga, facilitated by SCN.

SUN 02 JULY 2023
Attended the televised 10AM Mass with D and M. Fr Kris Stubna celebrated the Mass; Carole DiC lectored, Becky cantored, Nathan S served with Luke and James, Audrey C was a Eucharistic Minister with Judi N and Rich DiC. Music included:
Entrance Hymn- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Various Service Music
Recessional Hymn- America the Beautiful- Katherine Lee Bates
Organ Voluntary- Fanfare for the Common Man- Aaron Copland

During his Homily, Fr Kris mentioned that Pope Francis focuses on 3 words for his Homilies. Fr Kris mentioned that he would focus on two: Service, and Sacrifice.
As for Service, he mentioned St Therese de Lisieux, how she thought of doing ordinary things every single day (was important).
And Sacrifice, Fr Kris mentioned that Jesus is with us every step of the way, that Humility (means) acquiring a heart of love. Sacrifice means "thinking of ourselves less and less and thinking of God and others more and more."

Family Zoom call, as per usual, this evening.

MON 03 JULY 2023
Hand-delivered via an errand this morning administrative items. This evening I braved the lines at Palenkeng de Malaking Aguila in Shadyside to get groceries (including corn, ice cream, and sweet potato pie) for Independence Day, the Fourth of July.

TUE 04 JULY 2023-  Independence Day, the 4th of July, 2023
We attended the 10.00 AM televised Mass. Fr Kris Stubna celebrated the Mass. Kimo J lectored, Debbie Zugates cantored, James served, and Tom G and Carole D (scheduled) were Eucharistic ministers. The Communion hymn was Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord.
After retrieving an order of Chinese-American cuisine from Bloomfield, we enjoyed 
Spaghetti with White Garlic Clam Sauce topped with sliced hot dogs (for the 4th)
General Tso's Chicken
Mixed Chinese Vegetable
Sweet Potato Pie with Whipped Topping
Cool Ice Cream Sandwiches

We watched the PBS show Capitol Fourth in the evening. 

Paid a bill online.

WED 05 JULY 2023
Drove and accompanied M to get Durable Medical Equipment in Squirrel Hill.
Review insurance quotes from 29 JUNE today and tomorrow.

THU 06 JULY 2023
Look after bills and D and M's Internet connectivity and computer problems.

FRI 07 JULY 2023
Drove M to her yearly appointment. Went to Bloomfield for groceries afterward. I made Cheddar Bay Biscuits, gluten-free version.

SAT 08 JULY 2023
All-morning Safety and Security meeting at Cathedral. I was not afraid to ask multiple questions.
M had an afternoon Banana Loaf Cake session. I found a Pinoy Asian Eggplant (Aubergine) recipe by Tita Nenette in the Pittsburgh Pinoy cookbook.
Preparing to watch the movie Anastasia (1956) with Ingrid Bergman (Academy Award for Best Actress), Yul Brynner, and Helen Hayes tonight...It was quite interesting, with coaching and imposter syndrome scenes included in the movie. I mentioned to M that it reminded me of the film Caroline, based on the book by E.L. Konigsburg. Interesting twist at the end of the movie.

SUN 09 JULY 2023
M and I attended the televised Mass (via television, as usual) and the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time was celebrated by Fr Kris Stubna, with Luke and James serving. James Hayes lectored, Linda O cantored, and Eucharistic Ministers were Audrey C; with Carole D and Judi N scheduled with her.
Music included:
Entrance Hymn- Come to Me, O Weary Traveler
Communion Hymn- Where Love and Charity Abide
Recessional Hymn- For the Beauty of the Earth (verses1, 2, 6)

Family Zoom at the usual time.

MON 10 JULY 2023
Took care of medical and other phone correspondences/calls in the AM. D, M, and I brought P out for lunch, to celebrate a grand day. D dropped us all off; M and I went grocery shopping in Bloomfield. I fixed (with D's assistance) their WiFi modem. Dinner was lunch leftovers!

TUE 11 JULY 2023
Swim for 20 minutes and then water exercises for 5 minutes. Boy, it was a really sunny, humid, and hot day! Spoke with Th Mcs.

WED 12 JULY 2023
M and I visited with MS this afternoon, at CatCem. Made a couple of payments. Signed off on data pages.
Went to Bloomfield to comparison grocery shop.

THU 13 JULY 2023
Meeting with GS, VP of IDEA: ES, admin, met me early, we met where a lot of staff meet up at work. Chatted about IDEA ideas for ~ one hour. Walked home without a hat (sunny, hot, and humid today). After lunch, I walked to Bible Study with Fr Mike, F, T, LD, D, and myself. Lively discussion for this Sunday's readings.

FRI 14 JULY 2023
Worked an After Dark 21+ tonight. Started at the Cretaceous Seaway, with the Giant Sea Turtle and the Mosasaur/ Tilosaurus. I discussed the relationship between the two with visitors. Also had Touchables, for additional emphasis, and I made visitors aware of the times of the Live Animal Shows. Worked with Dylan Mc there. 
Next Spotlight was at Polar World, to ask visitors interactive questions about Polar Night. I joined Nancy there, until she went to her next post. Sarah, of the Exhibitions Department, stopped by to say hello. DyMc took over the Spotlight before I left. Spotted MaLam as I was on the way out of the building.
D, M, and I sang to BAMc over the miles, into voicemail.

SAT 15 JULY 2023
Morning Yoga Zoom was broadcast from merry England today, from Helen's spare room; with SCN facilitating, as per usual.
Watched Loving (2016), a movie recommended by AARP, with D and M after dinner tonight.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4669986/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_8_nm_0_q_loving

Excellent movie telling the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, who married in Washington, DC in June 1958, only to return to Virginia, where they were arrested for interracial marriage. Their case went to the US Supreme Court (Loving v. Virginia), where they won with the guidance of ACLU lawyers. Their case overturned segregationist laws and anti-miscegenation laws across the United States, stating those laws were unconstitutional.
During the film, I declared, "The Lovings really loved each other." I delighted in the quiet storytelling of their lives, and how the cinematography was so beautifully presented.
Directed and partly written by Jeff Nichols, and produced in part by Colin Firth and the Loving's daughter, this movie shows the relationship between a husband and his wife, and the state of Virginia that came between them.

SUN 16 JULY 2023
Watched with M the online Mass celebrated by Fr Chris Alar (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) late this morning. Went grocery shopping in Friendship/Shadyside, then went for more groceries at Palenkeng de Malaking Aguila in Shadyside. D, M, and I enjoyed fried chicken with fixings for lunch. After a nap, will prepare for the family Zoom session today.

MON 17 JULY 2023
Meeting in person with a friend from South Oakland.

TUE 18 JULY 2023
Group meeting. I am preparing 6 art tiles, most for gifts.

WED 19 JULY 2023
Did 3 loads of laundry very early this morning.

THU 20 JULY 2023
Worked a short floor shift through lunchtime to early afternoon. Also chatted with BM after my shift was over. Went to M and D's to meet with D to go to Bible Study. After Bible Study with Fr Mike (+7 others), who made a go at recording for electronic/Zoom purposes, D drove me to retrieve my phone after the closing prayers.
Met TC at a local coffee shop for snacks of lemon cake and a pain au chocolat. We went to the free night at the Oakland Carnegie Museums, starting our journey by visiting the Joan Brown (mostly painting) art installed in the Heinz Galleries, for special exhibitions. We then went to the Hall of Sculpture balcony, where we observed a flower arranging class on the floor of the Hall of Sculpture. Then it was off to the Hall of Architecture, dinner outside in the Sculpture Courtyard (retrieved from the Cilantro y Ajo truck with much time between our entrees). The music drove us back inside: We went to the Late Jurassic period in the Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit, where there is a video/short film, which we observed until it was time to depart. We slowly walked to the bus stop and to home.

FRI 21 JULY 2023
Very early this morning registered for a program that has classes in person and online. SF helped me with emailed instructions.
Rode on the bus with 2 nuns from the order Servants of the Lord. Their order originated in Argentina ("where Il Papa is from," I noted). 
https://ssvmusa.org/index.php/missions/foreign-missions/argentina/
They had just attended morning Mass, and were on their way to breakfast.
I attended an Open House for the program mentioned earlier. AMS was particularly helpful, and LS, the director of the program, provided an informative PowerPoint presentation.
D, M, and I went shopping at the drug store in North Oakland, and then we went to Bloomfield, where D and I went grocery shopping there. We stopped by the Oratory to drop off rosaries and other religious articles, tracts, and  prayer cards.
During lunch I received 3 phone calls: From the health study for which I volunteered, from my friend from South Oakland, and from the educational program I mentioned a couple of times already today.
Caught up with email.
Day O' Food, with deliveries of food to M, too.

SAT 22 JULY 2023
Saturday morning Zoom yoga originating from near the Jurassic Coast in South England, UK. Pouring rain and 40 mile per hour winds today there, in the 15.00 to 16.00 hour. SCN and H heading back chez H in a bit. They visited the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic layers of the coast, and observed ammonites (with a diameter ~ a foot) in place. 

SUN 23 JULY 2023
Watched/Attended the televised Noon Mass from St Mary's Church (Divine Mercy Parish) Downtown. Fr Peter Gruber delivered an excellent Homily. 
Went grocery shopping at Palenkeng de Malaking Aguila in Shadyside. D, M, and I had half a rack of ribs for lunch.

Watched The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), based on Grandma's favorite novel. Quite the film.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_picture%2520of%2520dorian

MON 24 JULY 2023
Delivered (with receipt) an item for consideration.

TUE 25 JULY 2023
Went to a class meeting. Worked on tiles and flat plate. Headed back and D, M, and I retrieved SCMA from his travels from LAS. We enjoyed, thanks to WA, dinner midway. k and K, JO and GMc, and WA, MM, and MFMA wished happiness via both phone and Zoom! Also wishes from the PI.
Started watching The Birds (1963)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_The%2520birds

with Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, and Jessica Tandy. Will finish the movie tomorrow.
Senorita bread (aka "bitso" in Tagalog), senorita bread, filled ((with ube, or cream cheese, in this case---aka "bolling" in Tagalog) (or, absent in this batch, large senorita bread---aka "monay" in Tagalog) was gobbled in small batches, as SCMA states, "It's best the same day."
Snail mailed a letter and supporting documents.

WED 26 JULY 2023
Early morning communication with the PO-office. They were very helpful. After brunch of fried rice (with peas, egg, and bacon), we enjoyed the last 51 minutes of The Birds (1963). We were quite taken by what seemed like an abrupt ending.

No official lunch for me. Some senorita bread; fruit. I received a package and need to attend to it after M's electronic posting correspondences....there was no return information.

THU 27 JULY 2023
Watched Jeopardy! after dinner. SCMA still visiting Lolo at Lola.

FRI 28 JULY 2023
Disposed of a lot of paper to be shredded with my friend. Waited ever-so-patiently through 3 other clients to get my hair cut by B. WEllll, it was really hot and humid: It was definitely time for a haircut.
Mid-afternoon SCMA and I went grocery shopping for various items, including 2 pineapples and bacon.

Watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) after dinner with Lolo at Lola, atsaka Solomon. We all enjoyed the movie with Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, and Roddy McDowall, especially the songs and hybrid live-with-animated scene sequences:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066817/?ref_=ttawd_ov

SAT 29 JULY 2023
Attended the Zoom yoga class facilitated by SCN, with 6 students. First time in a while that it is held in the States.
Spoke with PD about CMNH Fall FT (after doing a couple loads of laundry with SCMA). Chatted with SW whilst doing the laundry. We all 4 enjoyed Halo halo (homemade), and I caught up on electronic correspondences. Ordered some wardrobe items online.

SUN 30 JULY 2023
Today is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. I crossed the street on the side of the Cathedral, the street which was closed due to the final BikePGH event of the season. I crossed to prepare to lector for the 10.00 Mass.
Fr Kris Stubna with Deacon Tom Berna celebrated the Mass, sacristans were Nathan S and Ted W. Nathan S cantored, with Ken D at the Beckerath console. Servers were James, Julianna, and the short tow-headed child. Fr Kris, as usual, asked about D,M.
Readings were:
Reading 1- 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12
Sung Responsorial Psalm- Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
Reading 2- Rom 8:28-30
Gospel Reading- Mt 13:44-52
Excellent Homily by Fr Kris.

D and SCMA attended Mass. We met up with NoDe after Mass, and crossed at the intersection. 
M, SCMA, and I prepared for lunch. Massive, massive lunch. We waited until ~14.00, when k and K arrived. Lovely time at lunch and at looseleaf, caffeine-free teatime. Naptime and jigsaw puzzle time ensued. Agreed with WA on a time for family Zoom. Zoom with varied siblings and their families.
k and K, D and SCMA, and I went through the rain to Squirrel Hill to the noodle-, bao-, and dim sum-making restaurant. We brought delicious dishes for Lola, (and for k,) too.

MON 31 JULY 2023
Delicious farm-fresh breakfast. Helped with the dishes. k and K left before we could have a family group photo. SCMA was instructed on shirts packing techniques by k. D and I provided tie and pants packing instruction, respectively. After lunchtime, SCMA departed with Papa.

posted by Grace @ 7/08/2023 07:56:00 PM 0 comments