"Hail, Our Alma Mater..."
Wednesday late afternoon (after our Jeopardy! class for Introduction to Arts and Sciences) Jenny CD and Linda I arrived from the airport and from Cleveland, respectively. After dropping off Jenny's luggage, we headed to Victor's new restaurant, where we enjoyed 2 lamb dishes, a shrimp dish, a salmon dish, and a vegetarian dish with Amanda MS and Charles. It was great to see everyone again, and to have a photo....
We all stood outside, Jenny and I in thin sweaters as the temperatures had dipped from the 60s Fahrenheit to the 40s to 50s as the sun went down. Jenny drove Linda and I back to my parking lot, where we bid Linda a fond goodbye and safe trip. Jenny and I tucked into our respective beds by 23.30, and I awoke about 6.30 Thursday.
Thursday Jenny and I visited St. Paul Cathedral and my workplace. We walked to get eggs over easy, Lyonnaise potatoes, bacon, and wheat toast as well as croissant French toast (and coffee for Jenny). We then headed to the Cathedral of Learning, touring the higher floors before the lower floors of Nationality Rooms first. We then toured the Frick Arts Building (the library, the Jello courtyard exhibit, and the U Pitt Museum Studies Class's exhibit SLAG: What's left after industry?), and the Carnegie Library and Institute. As we left the Carnegie, we opened the door for Marissa and Solomon, and Beatrice and Les.
After loading Jenny's bag into the car, we departed; I for work and she for lunch with her husband's former intern.
Labels: art, Beatrice, biology, Carnegie, dining, international culture, library, Marietta, mountains, organ, organizing, painting, photos, Pittsburgh, reunion, school, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, work
Holy Trinity Sunday 2010
Before choir practice today, Judi gave me great advice about electronics!
After choir and Mass (during which James W's mom, James W's mom's son, and Stephanie sang with us; as well as Christina Mc sang as a chorister), Stacy, Regina, and I dined on pan-Asian food. I tried the Lard Nar (LUV those wiiide nooodles!), chit chatted about about relationships, and enjoyed our lunches (and for some of us, smoothies). As we exited, we ran into Charles, who was also on the way to pan-Asian bliss (a.k.a. noodles with chicken). I joined him, we chatted over lunch about our summer plans, and parted ways.
I caught a three-hour nap, and am making lists for this summer...Also catching up on email.
Labels: Choir, dining, email, friends, list, Marietta, St. Paul Cathedral, travel, visitor
Food, Inc.
Watched ~one and a half hours of Food, Inc. last night on WQED. The ending was palpably missing. Meredith at work recommended we watch it. Quite thought-provoking. Reminds me of books I read for a class @ MC back in the day with Jan Wilbanks.
Special prayers go out now to Kelly and her compadres as they head out for an event for which they need luck, prayers, and talent.
Labels: cinema tv, Marietta, New York, prayer, school, talent
Geography of the States
Mom sent me a geography test, to see the geography of the individual states of the Union. It can be found here, and quizzes the location in the Union of each state in turn. I received a 90%, with an average error of 14 miles, and 45/50 states placed perfectly.
Yeah, Mrs. C. in high school must have taught us something! (It didn't hurt that I have a photographic mind when it comes to things like this...)
Labels: Marietta, school
More friends visiting....Reunions
Two summers ago, Kirsten D. came by to visit me while she was presenting a conference at Chatham University. This fall, Linda I., Charles, William, and I had a mini-Marietta reunion (it was great fun, by the way). This spring Jenny (Grace and Jason's niece from the West Coast) will visit, followed by Stephan, whom I haven't seen from a month before the Berlin Wall was taken down. There has been a run of reunions. And I hope for many more, with many more friends.
Charles and I have noted that as our world gets bigger, it really gets smaller (because you meet new people who know others whom you already know). "My world is imploding on itself!" I caught myself exclaiming to a friend. "And Pittsburgh---it's the ultimate vortex: It sucks you in." I know of people who have tried to leave, but keep coming back!
Labels: California, celebration, Chatham College, dreams, excited, family, friends, international culture, Marietta, Pittsburgh, reunion
Linda Mini-Reunion
Yesterday Linda arrived for a mini-reunion with Charles, William, and I. We chatted at my home soon after she arrived, and had lunch with Charles at a Pan Asian restaurant. Charles treated us to the Carnegie International 2008, as well as to the rest of the Museum of Art and Natural History. After some more time chatting at home, we were treated by Charles and Susan for dinner at Casbah. I had the beet salad with oil, vinegar, lemon oil and fennel; as well as the sumac scallops floating on baba ghanoush. We had chocolate filled with peanut butter for dessert ("Buckeyes!")
All of us headed to the Squonk Opera open-air concert Astro-Rama in Schenley Plaza, where we met up with William. We enjoyed the lit Cathedral of Learning, and headed to my home for some hot apple pie with whipped cream and with ginger tea (salabat). Tom met up with us and we all enjoyed conversation with all present. Linda and I enjoyed the first 1/2 hour of Saturday Night Live after everyone else departed.
~~~~~
Today Linda and I had a sweet and savory breakfast of: eggs with cheese crackers and salsa, toast with maple butter, and dark grape juice. After chatting a bit more, I went to choir practice at the Cathedral, and the choir sang noon Mass with Bishop Paul Bradley (concelebrating with Fr. Breier and Fr. Schreck).
We sang:
How Firm a Foundation
Proulx's Gloria from a Carillon Mass (and acclamations)
Guimont's Psalm 96
Berthier's Alleluia Gospel Acclamation
Hassler's Cantate Domino for the Preparation of Gifts
Communion Hymns--I Received the Living God (don't pop the joy!!) and
Elgar's Ave Maria
Recessional Hymn--Rejoice! The Lord is King
After Mass, Linda, Nancy, and I dined at Victor's restaurant, opting for the buffet, and listened to Nancy's ideas for Hallowe'en afterwards. We chatted at my home for a while, and then Linda departed, Nancy and I went to retrieve her jacket, and Nancy and I chatted for a bit...until she departed to see the Cathedral of Learning lit up.
Labels: art, biology, Carnegie, Choir, Church, dining, friends, home, light, Marietta, Mass, museum, opera, Pittsburgh, school, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, TV
Good Morning! ~~~MSHS Class Reunion
It's early, pre-dawn, and I'm up again. I took a dose of (non-pain) medicine, looked for the (yet-to-be-delivered) newspaper outside the door, and sat here in front of the computer. I read a couple of emails, one on CPR and choking sent to me by Marissa. I also read about developmental leaps being made by Beatrice and Solomon. Beatrice, it turns out, uses parallelisms to make herself understood. Solomon has started to watch his feet, thus become self-monitoring ("Toes! BIG toes! Li'l toes!" as I am wont to intone).
~~~
Charles and I have been discussing our impending high school class reunion. No other classmate he has contacted knows about it...he has started to speculate about the existence of it. Gerthild (in the Nederlands) would like to attend, if her scheduling allows. I, personally, still have hope for the event, as they may hold it during Homecoming weekend, as they did for William and Steve's class last year.
I have never attended a class reunion for my high school. In fact, until last summer, I had never attended a school reunion ever. (I was, however, glad to attend my Wellesley College reunion.) I personally have mixed feelings about attending my high school reunion. However, it's been a long time since I've last seen most of my friends/classmates from high school. I've fallen out of touch with those who don't attend our church in Marietta or who haven't lived near me since high school: i.., Most of my classmate/friends. In fact, all of my lunch time friends I've fallen out of touch with. Turns out Charles has gotten back in touch with our classmate Linda I. from my lunch table, though...Linda, who, like all my lunchtime classmate buddies, I haven't kept in touch with since graduation.
News about some of my classmates has not escaped me, though. Our Future Problem Solving crowd has kept in touch with our coach and advisor, Mrs. B. As for some of our other teachers, they have moved on, in various ways: Mrs. Inabnet, my microbiology teacher, passed away; Mr. Luthy has gone on to a position at the local community college, etc...
The dreams I had my last year of high school, I am living. I am the living dream of my high school aspirations: I had expressed a desire to be a scientist or lawyer my senior year in high school. I had expressed a desire to keep art integrated in my life. I had stated that friends are important as you go through life. And I had quipped (if I recall correctly) as a young sixteen-year old about living in "River City, USA" that it is important to "know where that river is, and where that river's flowing," and to "be a part of the flow." This quote, which I recall providing the local paper, foreshadowed my current life in "RiverS City, USA." I am convinced that as we push forward in our lives, we live our life in spiraling, ever-cycling patterns that we can foresee, if we live an examined life.
Labels: Beatrice, dreams, email, excited, friends, Marietta, niece and nephew, organizing, philosophical, science, tradition, Wellesley
Beatrice right before Jujube
Beatrice is an intelligent, sweet, good kid. I went to go visit her and her parents yesterday at their home after I ran some errands in Squirrel Hill. It was good to visit with her, and her puzzles, books, and scoot around the first floor after her.
Today, I saw Beatrice, too, when Les and Cherie, William, Marissa, and Beatrice, and Charles met me for dinner at Carnegie Mellon. We spent some time walking around the restaurant, watching the "soccer ladies" kick the ball, and generally enjoying good food and company. Marissa recounted the time at her study, and showed us the books they gave her.
~~~~~
Yesterday was our first return to choir after Easter. We practiced, then practiced some more in front of the BVM altar (where the temporary Wickes organ is stationed). The sound is good.
Today at lunchtime William and I attended Charles's colloquium at Carnegie Mellon on Henry Hornbostel and the Skyscraper. It was nice to see people we know again--Chris from when I had started working in Pittsburgh (at the PCM), and Helen Faye and Ray. Helen Faye is certain I will have a good "bionic woman" experience, since many of her students have had the same surgery and are much older than I am. I told her what I have told many of my well-wishers: That I am REALLY looking forward to this surgery.
Labels: art, BAD, Beatrice, family-Marissa, friends, Marietta, niece and nephew
Hillary in Pittsburgh, March 2008 II
Hillary will be at the St. Patrick's Day Parade here in Pittsburgh this morning. I would like to go, (Jeff and some other friends from Faith Sharing at the Newman Center are going), but I don't think my legs/hips will hold out...I don't think I can stand that long; and I have an obligation at the time (see earlier draft posted this afternoon---but written earlier, below)
I realized that I had represented various people by seeing her on the stage at the rally yesterday ("Senator Hillary Clinton Makes Local Stops," and "UNCUT: Sen. Hillary Clinton Rally in Oakland"). Besides my sweatshirt, campaign buttons I wore (Asian American Pacific Islanders for Hillary, Wellesley Women for Hillary), and the Wellesley banner I waved when she discussed economic issues around education; I represented others who could not attend the rally---my friend who I had dined with earlier this week, various Filipino/as in the Pittsburgh area, educators/environmentalists at work, friends in the Pittsburgh Wellesley Club, Church friends (choir and otherwise), family members in the medical profession and not, immigrants/diaspora, librarians, Irish dancers, and on and on. After the rally, my friend and I discussed who we knew who were voting for her, and she also joked that I knew 20%...wait, 25%,...WAIT, 35% of the people at the rally. Every time she turned around, I was saying hello to someone I knew, or was finding a connection to the people around us. I didn't even have to bring a camera, as Tita Tina took my picture at the rally!
...Mom had waved the banner that I toted at the rally earlier at a rally that Hillary held in support of Bill's campaign when she visited Marietta, Ohio back in his first bid for the Presidency. Now, the banner has been passed to me.
In a way, we all represent others who cannot vote or cannot make it to the polls. We all represent each other; we all pull for each other.
Labels: American history, BAD, celebration, Church, citizenship, dance, diaspora, Faith, family, global warming, Marietta, neighbors, Philippines, Pittsburgh, Wellesley
my current work
My current work has echoes of what I thought I would do as a seventeen year old. I recall from an interview in high school that I said I would like to be a lawyer or a scientist.
When asked as a chemistry major in college what I would like to do, I said that I would like to be a professor at a small women's college.
When queried by Bob, my graduate advisor, before starting my graduate program about what I would like to do with my graduate degree, I said that I would like to teach--not necessarily in a traditional environment, but maybe at a science museum.
I have done all but be a lawyer and a tenure-track professor at a small women's college.
It's funny how life brings you to places. I've become the woman I used to informational interview. I am the exception to the rule. I've come full circle to review the dreams, live the dreams, and revel in the dreams of that young seventeen-year-old student in the Mid-Ohio Valley. I am blessed to have those dreams---to have lived those dreams.
Mom has said to her siblings at Grandma's funeral that "if [grandma] didn't have all [eight] of us kids, she would have been a Supreme Court justice." My grandma definitely had it in her to have lived that dream. So, part of me smiles inside and part of me cheers my brother on when he shares his dreams for Beatrice with us.
Labels: Beatrice, dreams, Grandma, Marietta, science, thankfulness, Wellesley, work
old friends
After a long conversation with Charles last night, I realized that I am blessed. Blessed by several longstanding friends--Kelli C., Charles, Julie D. Good friends from elementary school and junior high school. Notably, Julie and I have a long shared history: Junior high school, high school, college, graduate school I, and after. We used to muse that our husbands would play raquetball together. Now, we live in separate large cities in the Northeast. No chance of our husbands playing raquetball together on a regular basis (besides, I'm not married). But Julie's choice to combine her love of the arts and sciences parallels my desires. And her welcoming Larry, then Chloe, into her life delineates parallels I have considered for my own life.
Kelli and I were such close friends when I was a 'tween (before the term was coined, alas) that my youngest sister was named after her and a friend from first grade. My parents had given me, the ate, the honor of providing a name for their new arrival to the family. I did what 'most any other self-absorbed nine-year-old would have done: I named her after my best friends in my life. I don't know if my sister would ever forgive me for names she feels don't go well with our surname....
Charles has the distinction of being my longest standing male friend. We have known each other since middle-school age. I feel comfortable *not having to explain myself* to my friends, but to Charles particularly. I'm pleased that he has found a lovely significant other with whom to travel down life's road: They make a wonderful couple. We've decided that we need to get together sometime in the near future...
And then there are my other friends from college, graduate school, and work. I bookend my old friends article/posting with a quote. As I said in a newspaper interview when I was seventeen, Life is so much better going through with friends than all by your lonesome self.
Labels: art, children, friends, games, Marietta, philosophical, science, Wellesley
Philippine Geography Song
Here is a You Tube Video of the Philippine Geography Song, sung and danced by a lovely native of the islands!
~~~~
My friend Lloyd has sent me the link for another great YouTube video, this one of the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil.
The Venezuelan kids' youthful energy remind me of my hometown marching band.
It brings back memories of the Marietta High School award-winning marching band, under the direction of Marshall Kimball: THE Wall of Sound.
I've heard from some students that the local college, Marietta College, has taken him out of retirement to recreate the Wall Of Sound with them!
It was/(and must still be) amazing!
~~~~~
The last time/only time I went to the Proms was with Liz, Chris, and his mum in Cardiff. What a wonderful evening we had that night. I even remember the comments by his mum in the car ride back in '94. I miss Liz, and don't know her current email address anymore.
Labels: dance, friends, international culture, Marietta, music, Philippines, Pilipino culture, singing
Hometown Phenomenon
I just spoke to Charles, who bemoaned the fact that William and he work less than 400m from each other and see each other only every month and a half. I mentioned that it is the "hometown phenomenon" at work (e.g...when one lives in NYC, you rarely, if ever, visit the Empire State Building.). We spoke about reunion, and websites that were not successful in capturing the interest of reuniting classes.
We also spoke about laundry, and how it is the great equalizer---even more so if you go to a public laundromat.
Labels: cleaning, friends, Marietta, Pittsburgh
FAAP Induction Ball 2007; Sound of Music Oktoberfest
FAAP Induction Ball 2007: After Jo-Anne and I attended the three-course surf-and-turf dinner at the PPG Aquarium, and after hearing Warren and a speech from Gawad Kalinga, and after some dancing; we headed to Lisa and Ken's Sound of Music Oktoberfest party. I quickly morphed from a Filipina Marie Clara outfit into a song, "My Favorite Things." Stacey was taking Polaroid photos, thereby making instantaneous gratification possible. Betty won a prize for having seen Mary Martin on stage. Karen, Gabe, and Kevin were marionettes. Mary Pat was a CD of the musical, and Judi brought a rockin' pumpkin dip. We appreciated Liz's 3-D plastic art (with a sense of humor!)
On our way out the door, Linda (an alpine mountain with foothills removed due to talus formation) spoke about some of the exhibits at her work. On the way to the car, I spotted a shouting star, and Jo-Anne spotted one, too.
WHAT a fun evening!
Labels: biology, celebration, Choir, cinema, family, friends, international culture, Marietta, music, Philippines, photography, photos, Pilipino culture, PNR, prayer, science, singing, stars, theater
Day to Make a Difference 2007; Lunch; Anti-War Rally Sept 2007
This morning I helped to wrap lumpia for our lunch with William and Marissa's family. I then joined Natalie, Kelly and Bill, Erica, and Marian to prepare brunch for the residents of Family House. I was a two-fisted, double-panned scrambled egg short-order chef.
Lunch with Mom, Dad, Les, Cherie, William, Marissa, and Beatrice was wonderful. We had pot roast, fried and white rice, homemade lumpia with sauces, fruit, lemon cake with icing, and iced teas. The lumpia was a family effort; with mom making the filling, I rolling them, and dad frying them up. William and Marissa will go back next weekend for his high school reunion. There will be a dance, which Beatrice plans to attend, too. He is looking forward to seeing Steve and Denver.
A little before three this afternoon there was an anti-war/peace rally marching down Fifth Avenue with multi-car police escort. They were accompanied by a band. (How grand!)
Labels: Beatrice, dining, family, family-Marissa, friends, Marietta, Peace, tea
Visiting---Wellesley Reunion 2007
I went to my Wellesley reunion yesterday. Julie, Chloe, and I took off from Cambridge on a foggy day, which turned into a rainy day. We visited the Science Center and ran into David and Nancy. We visited the summer research labs and I saw my Grace-sized painting, too.
Julie, Chloe, and I went to Slater House to say hi to Sylvia, and I ran into the Asian-American alumnae crowd. I later had lunch with Stephanie H. and her family (with whom I played "Where in the world is [Carmen San Diego/]Grace?" for the rest of the afternoon). Maria and I formed the Pilipina-American alumnae crowd for our class. We all went on a tour of the Lulu Wang center (the upcoming Gates building at Carnegie Mellon University is to be designed by the same spouse team, or so I'm told). The new student center uses the same concept of: housing large spaces to congregate and small spaces to gather and peer from above at the larger gathering places. Then I went to the reunion store, where I said hello to Sarajane, our former student class president. Judy shared her mango sorbet with me, and I headed to Claflin to change for Mass.
I lectored at the anticipated Mass for Corpus Christi and thanked Meri Smith and the priest, Fr. Eugene LaPlante (Babson chaplain) for allowing me to participate. They are remodeling Houghton Memorial Chapel starting this coming school year, and this was the last Catholic Mass in the Chapel until Reunion 2008. We sang
Gather Us In
Gift of Finest Wheat
I am the Bread of Life, and
How Can I Keep from Singing
with Meri accompanying us on the piano.
I met up with Cean and Caitlin outside the Chapel for drinks and dinner in Claflin. We spent a bit of time chatting with Maria K.; listened to Dawn's wailing jazz vocals and piano accompaniment; and Kary, Nikki, Rubina, and her husband joined us for the lobster and clam bake.
Cean and I took a walk down memory lane at her home with our yearbook and reunion book yesterday after chatting with her family.
~~~
Today, after a breakfast of noodles and fruit prepared by Pat and after meeting Amelia, Cean and I marched in the parade (after organizing photos of us in the Pomeroy 1st-year contingent). We met up with Susan O. and danced to "In the Mood" near the band as we waved at the other reuniting classes. I looked for Joan from the Pittsburgh alumnae club, but failed to spot her.
We went to Cean's home to freshen up and to pick up her family for the box lunch in Tower Courtyard, by the lake. I ran into Dawn and we had a photo.
We then walked to Pom to check out our old rooms ("I'm the wife of Bath,") and the bell desk, and the living room. I took the train back to Boston, and the T to Cambridge for dinner with Julie and Chloe.
~~~
Reunion Observations___
I've never been to a class reunion until this weekend. I'm certainly glad that I went this weekend, as so many vibrant, spirited classmates also attended...I'm sure there were a few sticks-in-the-mud, but I didn't meet them. I was struck by after 20 years out of college I am at peace with myself and with the choices I have made in my life. No regrets.
About my classmates, everyone had the same personalities as 20 years ago, except some of us have magnified our personalities many times over.
I found that I have a memory for detail about my classmates and my experiences at Wellesley:
I quoted my first greeting at Pomeroy (by Cean's "big sis," Donna);
greeted another classmate with the details of what she did right after graduation; and laughed when one classmate noted how 20 years had caused a noticeable "spread" (not in demographic trends, either).
I am so honored to have so much life and lifeforce in common with all these women, as well as to have shared my Wellesley experience with them.
All of us from our class were enthralled by the walking and driving classes from earlier reuniting years. A class from the 1970's chanted "No More War," joined by the rest of us; most of us raised our hands in peace signs. One older class had the classmates brandishing--not using--walking sticks.
Labels: Boston, Church, friends, ice cream, lector, library, Marietta, Mass, Parkersburg, Philippines, philosophical, read, thankfulness, Wellesley
Visiting--Cambridge, Julie's family
7 June 2007
Today Dad drove me in the darkness to the airport for my flight to Boston. I tried to charge my phone longer, so we left later, at ~4:20AM.
I learned a lot about what it's like going through an airport with a disability [More on travel with a disability later.]
On the flight to JFK, I asked the gentleman sitting next to me, "Are you going to a game in New York?" He replied that he is going to visit his brother and see the Pirates play the Yankees in an afternoon game on Sunday.
Once off the plane, I caught an earlier flight to Boston's Logan airport, resulting in a 10/10:30 arrival at Logan. I sat next to a rabbinical student (female) who was returning from a mini-sabbatical in Israel. We spoke about interfaith relations, "going non-secular," singing gospel music and it's effect on the spirit, etc. I gave her (Julia) my email address.
I noticed the lanyard on the wheelchair attendant at Logan Airport--"I [heart] JESUS." we had a discussion about that, dying for others and their sins and then rising from the dead. Pretty powerful stuff for discussions, Christians or no.
I followed my friend Julie's directions to her home, and arrived about 11:30am. I napped for about two hours.
I then left to get an ACCESS card from the Back Bay station. On the way to and from the Back Bay stop---at the Downtown Crossing stop---I noticed that the transfer from the red to the orange line [outbound, Forest Hills] and from the orange to the red line [inbound, Harvard Square] was not easy for one who is mobility-challenged.
I noticed graffiti at the cemetary sign @Dick Cheney. I noticed sidewalk painting by Cambridge green:
Happy 4th of July
Corporate America
May we continue to
Bathe in your
glorious corruption
!!!!
I hung out at Julie's home for about an hour and then we walked to Chloe's preschool, where I met Chloe ("I'm shy...HEY! That's Ellie! Can I have a turn on the twister, Ellie?...Do you want to see me do a cartwhEEEL?""). We walked home to wash the lil blackened soles of Chloe's feet (and the rest of her), then walked to dinner at Cambridge Commons ("Boy, I[we] didn't notice how hungry we were!") I enjoyed the Mediterranean mezzo plate with them, as well as the country fried chicken, which brought up memories of my aunt. My aunt used to visit us when we were in elementary school and greet us after school with a big plate of Southern fried chicken. MMMmmm! Delicious!
We returned home, where Julie listened to a message from Larry. Chloe requested to "talk to Daddy" when she heard his voice on the message machine. Julie dialed him, and he was on his way home from the train station.
Julie did the goodnight stories with Chloe, and was later joined by Larry. Larry and I chatted while Julie closed the day with a goodnight tuck in with Chloe. Julie, Larry, and I chatted for a bit while watching the aquarium, and while munching and making Chloe's tomorrow lunch. At nine we decided to call it a night.
Labels: Boston, children, friends, Marietta
PAMS booth--51st Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival 2007
Sunday, 27 May 2007 18:30
Yesterday, Titas Josie C., Bening B. and her sister, and Lydia N. and I volunteered for the PAMS information and fundraiser booth at the 51st Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival. Our booth was within eyesight of the Main Stage, too. I ran into friends Lisa H. with her mom and sister, Dorothy (from the Oratory, who performed with the Italian troupe), Daphne A., and Jo-Anne (from choir), in addition to all my FAAP and PAMS friends.
After hearing a wonderful choir perform, I greeted some backpack- and T shirt-labelled college students with "Marietta! Marietta! Are you folks from Marietta?" after which a discussion ensued, recounting our commonalities revolving around Marietta College. I found that one of my professors, M., is still teaching there with her husband.
I tried Thailand's Pad Thai, soft lumpia w/ sauce, and langka; Croatia's chicken soup, (raspberry) crepes, nut roll dessert, and hazelnut candy topped in chocolate ganache; Philippines' BBQ chicken, and mango ice cream. What a delicious, nutritious, educational, entertaining, and inspiring trip around the world.
~~
Today was Pentecost (I indicated to Nancy C. that I had concocted an ASL sign for the holiday). I LOVE the music we sing for this holiday. I had invited Babs to lunch with some choir-tons after Mass. Ornella, Stacy, Jonathan, Nancy, and I dined and were joined by Babs' and Renee's presence. Some could not stay, but those of us who did stay walked to the Indian market for snacks and sweets afterwards.
What a wonderful day filled with moments with friends.
Labels: Choir, Church, dance, friends, international culture, Marietta, medical mission, Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, singing, St. Paul Cathedral
Fun with Friends, MLK Weekend, January 2007
This Friday my friend/coworker and I went out for a fun meal at Station Square. We had fun after dinner, window shopping and then seeking out the locale of the dancing water fountain. Half the fun was taking the light rail and busses to Station Square.
~~~
Saturday brought a trip with Mom and Dad to our old hometown in Ohio, where we visited with a family friend, Uncle Nani, and his family at the hospital. He has been in a coma for 4 months now and he has been in my prayers every night. We prayed with his family and spoke to him while he was awake. He blinked his eyes in seeming comprehension when we spoke, and made a facial movement when I announced, "He can understand what we're saying, intindihan, huh, Uncle Nani?" It was good to see that he was getting excellent care now.
I also tracked down and had a chance to visit with my former classmate, Kelli, and we caught up with news of each others' families and news of people with whom we grew up. It was nice to see her, and to hear that she was doing well in her professional life and in her personal life, too. "Phenomenal," was the word one of the nurses used to describe her work. "Yes," I agreed, "She's been a great person since we were very young. We grew up together."
We went to dine at my Mom's dear friend Terri's home. We had homemade lowfat chicken casserole, green mixed salad, green beans, and a cadre of homemade desserts, including the great lemony pound cake. She toured us about her home, sharing her insights on being the mom of a Marine in hospital and owner of a wonderful menagerie of pets. Her life and her son, Chris's, has changed a lot since his return from Iraq. Chris has been in my prayers every night. We reminisced with her the times we have spent with her, and Mom, Dad, and I watched Shrek (for the first time) with her, too.
~~
Today, Sunday, meant Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church, and brunch with Terri at Cracker Barrel, with delicious fruit pancakes. The trip home was uneventful (save some photo-taking outside the windows of the misty mountain's foothills), and I met up with Charles and Susan soon after at the Carnegie Museum of Art for the last weekend of the Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibit. We enjoyed the exhibit and the adjoining PAA exhibit before getting some Pan-Asian food with homemade noodles. Mmm--what a great way to end a day out on Sunday.
Labels: friends, Marietta, Parkersburg
Went to church twice today
After singing for the noon Mass with Nancy C.'s section; Mom, Dad and I went out for lunch at Lulu's Noodles. We enjoyed honey pork, lo mein noodles (delicious!), and eggplant with veggies and fried tofu. Shia-Pih stopped by our table with her mango smoothie (my favorite) while waiting for her carry-out order. We were inspired, and ordered mango smoothie, too.
Later that afternoon, Nancy C. and I headed to Pitt's Alumni Hall for the presentation of Black Nativity, presented by the Shona Sharif African Dance and Drum Ensemble. The first half of the program was the story of Jesus' birth, and the second part of the program celebrated the community of the Gospel church. Kuumba workshop joined with them, as did many CAPA High School students. Of particular note were the inclusion of generations in the production, including the very young, some of whom are burgeoning, talented dancers. The drumming was reminiscent of the celebration of reading at the Homewood Library, with poetry, singing, and dancing. It also reminded me of the drumming at the UCRiverside Native American Students' group, with women singing behind the immediate drumming circle. The heartbeat of the nation...
Visited Mom, Dad, and Beatrice after that, and sat and snacked and chatted with William and Marissa, too. Took some photos of Mom and Dad with Beatrice, too.
Labels: Christmas, Church, friends, Marietta, theater
