"Good Son of God"
Thursday morning's Tribune Review headlines were about former Pittsburgh-native and former Pittsburgh diocese Bishop Donald Wuerl. "Good Son of God" the large headline read next to his current photo. He has been named as an archbishop, and now a Cardinal. They had interviewed Wuerl, our current bishop David Zubik, and also Dad (as he exited from morning Mass Wednesday). They chose part of Dad's quote as the headline.
Labels: American history, Church, diocese of Pittsburgh, family, Pittsburgh, Wuerl, Zubik
First week February 2010
Work. Stress. Napping. Exercise. Retail therapy.
This first couple of days of this week I've been spending at work, and stressed out by health insurance and by the renovations adjacent to my parents' unit. I've been coping by napping, exercise, and retail therapy.
The renovations adjacent to my parents' unit are loud and vibrating. A porcelain soap dish broke by falling into their sink, and the clock on their commode fell. TOO LOUD! and TOO VIBRANT!! I've been avoiding spending time in their unit...and by napping at home.
Each day for the past two days Maureen and I have exercised. We walk to the gym, where I spend ten minutes on the bicycle, ~ ten minutes doing ball exercises, doing (20 X 2) OR (10 + 5) lat pull downs (at level 4 and 3, respectively), and doing 10 to 15 wall squats in demi plie. We then walk back to my home. Today at the gym I saw Ellen from work.
This afternoon, after Maureen sent me an email, I purchased some health shoes for my hips, and a pair of thick-soled black mules/clogs as well. I saw Al on the way there, and we chatted. I told Maureen about the healthy shoes during our walking session and she and I stopped by in the evening to purchase a couple of pairs for her. (She had told me about this brand initially.)
We had some mocha hot chocolate at her home after our shopping outing.
It was warmer today, it got up to freezing. The ground hog / ground pig saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of winter. I think it means that the poor li'l animal was frightened by the flashes from the cameras and the lights of the television cameras, saw his shadow, and THUS six more weeks of winter. There's a parallel here between our human perturbations of weather through our manipulations of nature.
Labels: American history, animals, chocolate, email, exercise, family, health, home, light, seasons, shoes, shopping, sleep, stress, walking, weather, work
Philadelphia, October 2009 II
After breakfast at Honey's on 4th Street and Brown Street, Sara and I caught the bus to Chestnut St. downtown at 4th Street. We walked by the caleches to the Independence Mall, saw the Liberty Bell. Sara was struck by the connections to the Abolitionist and Suffragette Movements. Then we walked to the Visitor Center, and I bought postcards. Then, it was off to Franklin Court to drop off the postcard to the Post Office. (It was closed today, Columbus Day.) We did see a movie on the life of Ben Franklin. "He was a dude," Sara claims. We saw a replica of a glass armonica and I remembered a diorama of a French ballroom from when I was little. I was absolutely disgusted by the privy pits being SO close to the well. EEuw!
Then, we walked toward the Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen, stopping in at Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and at Dr. Physick's office. Old St. Mary's is where many a Catholic worshipped. It was the only RC Church building in the English colonies for quite a while. I had THE Matzo Ball Soup, with a matzo ball the size of a softball (or, for that matter, the size of a newborn's head).
I bought a great handbag on Fourth Street, and a rainscarf at Seventh Street. Sara and I caught the bus for Ross, where Sara bought some clothes. Then, off to Reading Terminal Market, where we shared canele, a bread-pudding-like pastry with a carmelized coating. I got some dried fruit for Dad there, too.
We stopped by the American Institute of Architecture store, and chatted about the LOVE Indiana sculpture with the cashiers. Then, we continued on Arch Street to Broad, then left on Cherry Street. We were early for the Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting at the Race Street Meetinghouse. Sara kindly invited me to sit in on the meeting. After the meeting ended, Sara and I walked to the El station with Elisabeth and Kate. Sara and I ended up walking back to her home, and we got Trenton tomato pie at Trio's Trattoria. The downtown skyline was marvelous.
Labels: American history, dining, friends, shopping, water
After that, glass...
...near the end of my morning walk today Maureen and I saw a Pittsburgh glass truck heading west on Fifth Avenue as it crossed Bellefield. It held large sheets of plate glass on the side of the truck.
What happens the morning after...
Labels: adventure, American history, glass, international culture, walking
Second Day of G-20 in Pittsburgh: Police Presence
Before 11.15 am today I:
Read Haggai 2:1-9 and Psalm 43:1-4.
Had trouble getting into the church building
Said the Rosary and Chaplet with a group of people (including Dad, Oscar, his daughter Christina, Maureen, and Lisa C.)
Picked up my wallet, and walked with Maureen to Pamela's, Oakland
Saw < 10 potential protesters at Schenley Plaza
Saw foot police in dark colors in a group of ~20 on Bellefield Avenue heading south
Saw firemen from Sewickley travelling west
Saw PAT buses marked SPECIAL bearing troopers
Saw a lot of police presence, in general
Sat directly under a broken and boarded window at Pamela's
Enjoyed my breakfast with Maureen, at a lively restaurant, next to gentlemen who ordered takeout, and single people, some carrying soft-sided luggage. Some of those dining looked as if they might be protesters
We met up with a man taking a photo of the damage at Pamela's
Saw a woman taking a photo of the damage at American Apparel
Saw McDonald's boarded up with plywood
There was a white tent over the W entrance of the Cathedral of Learning
Stopped in a computer lab on campus
Saw well-dressed foreign visitors from Japan visiting the Cathedral of Learning
Saw a convoy of motorcycle police traveling north on Bellefield at the same time as we
Saw a platoon of county mounted police travelling south on Bellefield
saw the Mellon Institute had "Falling Objects" tape around the front entrance
Saw bicycle police at the NE corner of the Mellon Institute building
Saw Fr. Barry and Fr. Kim walking about
Generally, there were fewer U Pitt-looking students on Forbes Avenue,
Fewer pedestrians,
less foot traffic,
less vehicular traffic ("It's eerie," said Maureen)
no parked cars for stretches.
I think I'll do my laundry this weekend...
Labels: American history, automobile, citizenship, ice cream, international culture, languages, photography, prayer, read, repair, school, St. Paul Cathedral, work, writing
First Week of Classes: My Advice to Students
During my first week of classes my advice to students included:
1. Go get a pair of cheap eyeglasses to use in lab.
2. My "Safety Song" that Don placed in sheet music format.
3. Form study groups (the lifeblood of the college study experience)
4. You're a commuter? Find a friend on campus and bring a sleeping bag if classes are not cancelled during the G-20 Conference.
As for G-20, road closures will probably not be announced until close to the date, if at all. Perhaps "rolling" class cancellations will be in effect at some campuses. I've agreed to work for a commuting colleague during a time shift that G-20 is in Oakland.
Labels: American history, biology, list, meeting, Pittsburgh, sleep, student, work
Shadyside Arts Festival 2009
After lunch, and after watching the memorial Mass for Ted Kennedy (his sons gave moving tributes to him right before Barack Obama's eulogy) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, I took the 71C bus to the Shadyside Arts Festival. I saw one of my former students, Rachel K., on the bus, and we chatted. I met up with Maureen and Karina, and we had a grand time there. I also took photos of the clouds, which were beauteous today, after the rain had cleared.
We stopped by Maureen's place to check the dance schedule, to search for a crucifix for her mom, and to see my blog.
When I returned home, I found out William was not feeling well, and read on the Internet the peak in swine flu cases with returning students on campuses. I decided to rest, and to forego dancing.
Labels: American history, art, blogs, dance, family, farewell, health, photos, Pittsburgh., school, sleep, student
Farewell, Ted Kennedy
Farewell, Ted Kennedy: The last brother in a dynasty. His sister Eunice passed away earlier this month.
Labels: accessibility, American history, farewell, health
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Sworn in Today
Watched at ~11:05 am the "instant replay" footage of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor being sworn in this morning.
It was refreshing to hear Kim Dozier reporting this story on the six o'clock CBS news tonight.
Labels: American history, TV, Wellesley
News: Racial Profiling?
Is this a case of racial profiling from yesterday's news?
~~~
14.00 24 July 2009
Video of the parties involved...
Labels: American history, color, international culture
Man on the Moon
Remember when we first landed on the Moon? These newspaper readers from a small paper in Connecticut do!
Labels: American history, NASA
Farewell, Walter
Walter Cronkite, legendary news anchor for the CBS Evening News, passed away yesterday evening surrounded by family in New York. He was 92.
Although the continuous reportage by him in the CBS Newsroom of the JFK assassination while pulling his heavy-frame glasses from his face to wipe the tears from his eyes was a classic moment, I merely viewed reruns of that moment in time. I recall watching, with my siblings, on our home television the moment of the first walk on the Moon...(Armstrong: "That's one small step for man.....One giant leap for mankind.") We saw him reporting so many groundbreaking events that we voted him in a poll the "most trusted man in America" in 1972.
And, true to form, as Mr. Cronkite himself said, "Old anchormen, you see, don't fade away, they just keep coming back for more," and we now see video feeds, images, and accolades to him today on the Internet websites, just as we would on the AP and UPI wires in the old days.
Yes, Dan Rather was right in saying that Walter Cronkite set the standard for television news reporting. And Brian Williams was correct in saying that there was no clay model, no mold for television anchoring before Walter Cronkite.
An objective, steadfast personality whom we welcomed into our living rooms night after night during my formative years---Walter Cronkite, the iconic news anchor and beloved by his wife and family, passed into the gentle night. "That’s the way it is."
Labels: American history, farewell, international culture, NASA, Peace, politics, TV
Michael Jackson Memorial
Just finished watching the Michael Jackson memorial service in Los Angeles. I watched on CNN because the sound was actually better than that of MTV.
A notable speaker was the Reverend Al Sharpton. While he spoke, there was a backdrop of MJ and the quote
"There's nothing that can't be
done if we raise our voice as one."
Brooke Sheilds spoke as his friend, not as a colleague from the music business. She noted that his favorite song was a Charlie Chaplin one (from the movie Modern Times), "Smile," which his brother then sang.
Texan Congresswoman spoke, mentioning H.R. 600, honoring Michael Joseph Jackson. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King spoke, as well.
The London tour company sang "We are the World", and "Heal the World." His brothers Germaine and Marlon, as well as his daughter Paris, spoke.
Thus ended the memorial service for Michael Joseph Jackson.
Labels: American history, Bible, celebration, citizenship, Faith, farewell, international culture, light, moving, music, reunion, voice
Fireworks 2009
Watched various fireworks and entertainment displays this evening...
WQED (Public access TV) from 8-9 pm EDT--The entertainment and fireworks displays from Washington, DC. "Capitol Fourth" Jimmy Smits hosts a celebration of America's 233rd birthday, featuring fireworks, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, pop star Natasha Bedingfield, the "Jersey Boys" cast, vocalist Michael Feinstein, pianist Andrew von Oeyen and the "Sesame Street" Muppets, as well as Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony Orchestra. Included: Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" accompanied by cannon fire from the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery. From the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. (From WQED website)
WPXI (Local broadcast of the Pittsburgh fireworks watched 9.30-10pm) EQT Flashes of Freedom Fireworks Fantasia Sponsored By WPXI, with music by various artists. Best fireworks of the evening, if not the most diverse.
KDKA (local CBS affiliate, 10-11pm) Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular from the Bandshell on the Esplanade, featuring Neil Diamond and fireworks ~10:40pm to 11pm. Told Auntie Chi/Auntie Mimang about it. Quite diverse shapes and formations of fireworks.
Labels: American history, celebration, citizenship, family, TV
US Citizenship Test
So, here's a US citizenship test with some harder questions, as per the last revision of this test. Prospective citizens do not have the option of multiple-choice answers. (I passed, readily.)
Labels: American history, citizenship
Happy Independence Day!
Hay! Happy Independence Day...yet another year to celebrate America's Independence from any other country.
Also a good excuse to get together with friends and family and eat lots of good food.
Labels: American history, celebration, dine, dining, family
Recount
Just viewed a 2008 Home Box Office movie, Recount, that is a drama about the Presidential ballot recount, starring Kevin Spacey.
Labels: accessibility, American history, cinema, citizenship
Susan's View of Inauguration
Posted, by permission, is Susan's minimally-edited view of Inauguration Day 2009.
Howdy.
Having shared pre-Inaugural hopes/plans w/ you all, I'm thrilled to share the product of the excursion and a taste of the experience.
I went with 2 friends, one a radio journalist and the other a photographer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Their assignment was collecting audio and images for an on-line slideshow documenting events mostly on the "fringe" of the main show on Tuesday.
I tagged along, held stuff, chatted w/ folks, wept...
Here's the assembled piece:
http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=101432
A few observations to add:
After scrambling a couple of miles from Union Station, around to the far far far edge of the Mall, we were able to see...nothing firsthand. Couldn't bust through the throng to even see the JumboTrons.
We did see lines of people. Smiling, beaming, calm.
Regal women in fur, high heels, and diva hats marching w/ gusto in the cold.
People swaddled in "Obama!" blankets on benches.
Kids scrambling along. Kids wrapped in blankets being carried by parents (for miles!?).
Kids in backpacks bundled against the cold.
It was butt cold.
But, no kidding, I didn't hear folks whining.
Shivering, not whining.
Lots of those packaged hand-warmers being passed around.
We finally parked ourselves in front of the Smithsonian and tried to tune into the muffled Inaugural speech
which was really too garbled to discern.
A guy riding by slowly on a bicycle had a little transistor radio. Someone yelled out
"Please share!" He stopped, set up nearby and cranked up the volume as loud as it goes.
A crowd of 8 or 10 gathered around craning to hear, people started weeping, someone passed out
napkins from Wendy's...it's an FDR wartime flashback!
I wouldn't trade that for all the Purple, Yellow or Silver tickets they had to give.
Ann Murray (collecting sound) had some wonderful conversations w/ people in our little
group. They're part of the slide show.
More priceless vignettes on the walk back to the station, during the wait for the train, on the ride back to W. Va where we were staying. Lots of folks in our car from Alabama.
So...
Now that my skin is tingling, it seems time to DO SOMETHING, doesn't it?
Else all the talk and momentum are just pretty party chatter.
Excerpt from Elizabeth Alexander's Inaugural Poem:
________________________________________________________________________
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons
on an oil drum, with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky;
A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."
_________________________________________________________________________
I'm so in love /w the highlighted line.
It could blow you away.
Get started. Keep moving. Keep trying.
Even (or especially) the solitary efforts are important.
xo
Susan
Labels: American history, celebration, friends, writing
Making Inroads
As the Pittsburgh Wellesley Club Vice President, I feel obliged to share this news article from the Wellesley online magazine.....
ALUMNAE TAPPED FOR KEY OBAMA ADMINISTRATION POSTS
Three Wellesley alumnae have been named to leadership posts in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Sen. Hillary R. Clinton, class of 1969, has been nominated for secretary of state. She will be the second Wellesley alumna to hold that role; Madeleine Korbel Albright, the first female U.S. secretary of state, is a 1959 graduate of Wellesley.
Chicago business leader Desiree Rogers, class of 1981, has been named White House social secretary. She is the first African American to serve in the position, which is responsible for organizing and overseeing all White House functions and ceremonies.
Katie Johnson, class of 2003, is the new personal secretary to President Obama. As part of the position, Johnson will manage the president's daily schedule.
More information about these alumnae and links to news stories about their new roles is online here.
We're proud of our graduates and of their recent accomplishments.
Labels: adventure, American history, excited, politics, Wellesley
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra--Gabriela Montero
Earlier this evening, Maureen and I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall. Andrés Cárdenes, concertmaster, conducted tonight. The program consisted of:
Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 in one movement (Samuel Barber)
Rhapsody in Blue, with Gabriela Montero at pianoforte (George Gershwin)
Improvisation on an audience-supplied theme, by Ms. Montero
INTERMISSION
"Air and Simple Gifts," with Ms. Montero, Andrés Cárdenes, Associate Principal Cello David Premo, and Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek (by special permission of John Williams)
Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107, "Reformation" (Felix Mendelssohn)
~~~~~
The first piece was rather emotive and dramatic.
The Gershwin piece had imaginative, moving phrasing as provided by Ms. Montero on the pianoforte. The crowd responded with an appreciative standing ovation.
The improvisation on the Steelers' chant "Way to Go, Steelers, Way to Go" was nothing short of inspired, ending in a Latin beat (cha cha?). She is a wonderful, beautiful natural talent---and the audience erupted with an immediate standing ovation.
We saw Fabiola and Jose on the landing at the Dress Circle level at intermission. We exchanged greetings, as we were on our way to the Grand Lobby to greet the artist at intermission. The elevator was inoperable, so we waited in line patiently. Gabriela Montero signed my CD and program, and we chatted ever-so briefly.
The next piece was a pleasant surprise---the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra received permission to perform "Air and Simple Gifts," with Ms. Montero and the PSO musicians this weekend. "Air and Simple Gifts" was the musical piece commissioned for Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremony. For the last curtain call, Ms. Montero in her black-with-gold-hemmed dress sported a Terrible Towel 'round her neck.
The Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony provided a suitable anchor to the evening's program.
As I exited, I ran into Richard Teaster and showed my appreciation for the music on the 9th of this month at the Cathedral. "A well-performed program that included diverse pieces," I said. "The Friday before Palm Sunday we will be in Synod Hall," he indicated, inviting. "Thanks," I said.
~~~~~~~~~~
Maureen and I headed to Crazy Mocha in Bloomfield for cups of hot cocoa and a Devil's food-cream cheese muffin. I spotted a doggie under the table next door..."Pippa" is her name, as her owner mumbled her name so that she would not think he were calling her.
Labels: American history, Broadway, celebration, Choir, citizenship, dining, games, Montero, music, Pittsburgh, politics, PSO, seasons, sports, Superbowl, surprise
