Beatrice's Dance Class
After lunch and before picking up Mom's medicine in Shadyside Dad, Mom, and I joined William's family (upon an invitationn from Marissa) at Beatrice's dance class. As per usual, she was absent for the photo (taken usually around Thanksgiving), but she is a good imitator and her teacher, her assistant, and the accompanist are all greatly talented at engaging all of the students. Beatrice's mirror dance partner was Sonora. They have learned the two first ballet positions, chassee moves, and basics of modern dance.
We all went to Vanilla for cupcakes afterwards. Our selections ranged from Fudge Chocolate, Chocolate Buttercream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, to Cinnamon Scone and Pistachio Almond Nougat!! Solomon finally got his wish for a red cupcake like Beatrice's. I swung around to pick up Mom and Dad after our cupcake interlude.
Labels: Beatrice, Calorie, chocolate, dance, dining, family
1/2 Finished Grading, Finals Spring 2010
Wheeee-HA! I am halfway finished grading all my administered exams this week. I celebrated by having a handful of crisped rice milk chocolates!
(okay)
Back to grading again!
Labels: biology, chocolate, school, work
Easter Week 2010
Easter Week 2010--I had my Monday and Thursday classes rate their classes (via the Office of Measurement and Evaluation) this week. One of my current students, K, was the evaluator from OMET today ("You can say what you REALLY think of this class. I won't see the evaluations until after your grades are posted.") As usual, I dressed for photosynthesis week.
I had two students request recommendations from me: One, a current student, K, for pharmacy school, and the second, a former student, Y, for rehabilitation sciences school. Just today C, a former student, told me that she had switched from pre-pharmacy to nutrition and dietetics, and hopes to go to graduate school in genetic counseling.
My birthday was fun!! Tuesday was my Pilipina celebration for lunch at Taco Bell with Mom, Dad, Auntie Chi, Marissa, and the two children. We then went around the Waterworks Mall. We ran into Les and Chere there. Tuesday night William and his family took me out for dinner at Sun Penang, a Malaysian restaurant in Squirrel Hill. We enjoyed an eggplant dish (spicy), a tofu dish, chicken coconut milk fried rice, shrimp dim sum, and Asian sponge cake for dessert (as per Beatrice's request). We also went to Cold Stone Creamery for Solomon and my birthday ice cream. I had dark chocolate ice cream with brownie mix-ins (a la Steve's, now defunct in Harvard Square).
Wednesday when I arrived about 15.30 at Mom and Dad's we had a homemade carrot cake with whipped cream icing. Mom, Dad, Auntie Chi sang to me, and I blew out the candles. We enjoyed the cake, and then drove Auntie Chi to the airport. I took an hour nap, then it was time for parish pastoral council. We had pizza, cake, and drinks. We broke into break-out groups and Roseanne and I worked on the web page together with Fr. Kim. Quite productive. Roseanne and I prioritized the work.
Labels: biology, Birthday, chocolate, family, family-Marissa, ice cream, niece and nephew, pastoral council, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, student, transportation, work
The Newman Institute, First Visit, March 2010
While teaching yesterday, my supervisor C and another visitor toured the lab space.
Yesterday afternoon after work I took a nice nap, then had dinner and headed to the Newman Institute for the third in a lecture/discussion series on Newman's Apologia. A very interesting talk and facilitated discussion by Damon, a local Newman scholar.
Today after work I had spaghetti for lunch, and took an hour-long nap, picked up my mail, and generally had a slow afternoon. I started to organize my clothes more, and got a phone call from William about getting ice cream, the Miss Teen USA questions for contestants, and questions about qualifications for foreign policy for a former US VP candidate (Wow!)
I need to clean house a little bit every day...I'll get back to that shortly.
~~~~
21.50
I emptied my dishwasher, loaded my dirty dishes in it, weeded and organized my closet a bit, and went to Bible/Sunday Gospel study with Father Bill tonight. I went to Maureen's home to help her by grading ~ fifteen student quizzes. It was fun to have Hot cocoa afterwards.
Labels: biology, chocolate, cleaning, dine, Faith, ice cream, organizing, politics, sleep, teaching, work
Quotes of the Day / Week
Quotes from my friends and I this past half week:
from yesterday, the Quote of the Day:
me: All my prayers answered in the church parking lot: Chocolate! [as Maureen points out the bag of chocolate in her trunk]
and this weekend, the Quote of the Week:
me: ...there's a chocolate factory where you live!! Can I go there? Just to smell?
my friend from out East: I'm sure there's a lot more interesting things to do than that....
Labels: chocolate, friends, smell
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
New Year's Day 2009
I went to Mass (BVM, the Mother of God) at the Oratory at 10 today. I spoke to Julia, Don, and their seven-month-old daughter Maria. I met up with Jeff, Maureen, and Karina after Mass and First Friday adoration, as well.
The four of us walked to the Indian restaurant, arriving at ~11.15. We went to the Indian grocery store to get warm and to while the time (cilantro!) before 11.30. The man at the register indicated that the restaurant would open at 13.00. So we went to get hot drinks at a coffee shop on Forbes Avenue to spend the time (boy, that dark hot chocolate was really good!) and then to eat at the New Year's buffet at the Indian restaurant. The goat curry was good, as was the tutti frutti dessert.
We walked to Fifth and Craig, where Jeff used his gift card at the NE corner coffee shop. I just returned to Mom and Dad's home, as they called me during lunch to type / do administrative work for the medical society.
Labels: celebration, chocolate, Choir, dining, friends, Mass, medical mission, Philippines, Pilipino culture, shopping, volunteering, walking
Another sleepy day...
I slept in today until 9.30 and then headed to the benefits office at work to update some papers. I made LOTS of tuna salad with ~4 small cans/tins of tuna. I also prepared a baon for Mom of a tuna salad sandwich, orange, two cookies and water for after her bloodwork. She and Dad went to the hospital/Giant Eagle for grocery shopping. Kelly is resting once more.
~~~
23.20
At 19.00 Karina and I arrived at Christina's home for a gathering with Jeff, who left the 'Burgh a little over a year ago for an academic tenure-track position at Southern Maine University. We enjoyed dinner at Christina's and met her mom, brother Rob, and her cousin. We chatted over sugar cookies laced with oatmeal, and enjoyed the iced tea. We took pictures around the tree, and admired their ornaments.
Jeff drove out first, and led Karina and me out of Monroeville. Karina presented me with a tin of cookies and dark chocolate-covered nuts.
Labels: chocolate, Christmas, dine, Faith, family, friends, shopping, visitor, work
Remembrances
It sure was a good thing that Maureen stopped by (and Dad took a picture of us together) to chat in Mom and Dad's lobby this past evening (with Rita C. present there with her aide). I told Maureen about what I do daily, and mentioned how my parents are very medically supportive---including giving me my anticoagulant injection---which led me to remember the shot I had forgotten due to naps this afternoon.
Maureen was more than kind to bring Benzel chocolate covered pretzels from her hometown. Chocolate has found its way to my lips this operation-go-round more than once: Stacy and her Lindt dark-milk-white chocolate truffly Lindor thingys, Tita Tina and family's malted milk balls, milk duds, and chocolate turtle biscotti...the delights delight and tantalize. As it seems that I have lost some weight due to the surgery and due to my increased post-operative activity, I try to eat healthfully, but also leave room in my diet for chips and chocolates...from my lips to my hips, so to speak.
Anyway, upon returning to the condominium apartment after my visit with Maureen, I announced to Mom my forgetfulness this afternoon (about two and a half hours' worth, even with the hour time window), and we remedied this problem tout de suite.
~~~
Whilst downstairs, we saw JoAnn I. depart with her brother-in-law Joe W. She asked for prayers as she undergoes surgery tomorrow. I asked her at what time, and promised to pray for her.
~~~~~
Haven't quite figured out what causes or prevents bruising with the anticoagulant medication. Only thing I can figure is that there is a different dispensing device (maybe?) than last year. There remain two very large bruises from my first two days in the hospital, there was one tiny pinprick from the third day in the hospital (when nurse Jeff delivered it), and various-sized tiny, small bruises from when Mom has delivered the medication. I haven't figured out what the bruising size or retention is due to....
Labels: BAD, chocolate, friends, health, neighbors, pain, prayer, surgery
Spring Break 2009
Yesterday afternoon was the beginning of Spring Break for Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Yesterday, on my way to physical therapy I saw the mass exodus down Fifth Avenue out of Oakland.
I noted to my students this week, "Don't go looking for me next week, because I won't be here." and, "Next week is Spring Break---you have a break from me [and I have a break from you]."
Choir candy orders were handed in this week during rehearsal, and I handed back all papers from my students (which they gave me this week) by 12:30pm Friday.
I started my first full day of Spring Break with a retreat with Parish Pastoral Council after the second morning Mass (the televised one). Sr. Susan from the diocese of Greensburg led the retreat.
~~~~~
Maureen and I walked to the Carnegie Library and looked at some great magazines and books. We stopped at the bead shop on the way back.
~~~~~~~
Karina and I went for ice cream in Squirrel Hill, to kick off the summer. We also stopped in Avalon Exchange for belts and buckles.
Labels: Carnegie, chocolate, Choir, Church, excited, exercise, friends, ice cream, pastoral council, Pittsburgh, seasons, St. Paul Cathedral, teaching, thankfulness, walking, weather, work
40-Day Anniversary of Herminio Z-F
Today before work I dropped off some graded papers for my Friday section; dropped off a Sarris Easter candy order form for my co-worker, Jen S.; and dropped off two recommendation forms for a student looking to transfer in his sophomore year (closer to home).
I taught, then showered and napped, used my coupon that Wawa gave me to dine at Quiznos ("million sub giveaway") on a French dip sub, then walked to the Newman Center for Bible Study on Galatians (and handouts on the Council at Trent) with Fr. Mike. I met Maggie (Kyle's girlfriend), who had just recently made him a rosary with beautiful green beads by hand.
Fr. Mike said the Mass at nine o'clock, with Deacon Steven and Fr. Kim, and an altar server. Fr. Mike made mention of Tina's father, Atty. Herminio Z-F, on the 40th day of the anniversary of his passing.
Donna was kind enough to give me a ride home, and we listened to some great country music.
~~~~~
I wrote a recommendation for a first-year student this morning.
Labels: biology, chocolate, dine, Faith, farewell, Mass, music, rosary, school, sleep, student, work
