Rockettes December 2009
Mom and I went to the French bakery in Millvale, the bakery in Shadyside, and spoke to a friend about planning family issues. I went to work--the class was on-task and finished early. I'm calling my insurance about what medical appointments I need to make by the end of this calendar year.
~~~
22.30
Mom, Dad, and I just returned from our evening out with ~85 others from Saint Paul Cathedral to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. On the way there, we waited at ~18.00 for the bus with Donna and the two Rosemarys. We were joined by many more people and we retrieved our tickets from Roseann and Pat P. and boarded the second bus. We took a route through downtown past the creche (singing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") and were dropped off by BJ (the choir director for St. Benedict's parish and our bus driver tonight) in front of the Benedum.
The sound was cranked up for the audience, we enjoyed the touring company of the Rockettes, the dances were great, and there were wonderful Christmas story tableaux with live sheep and a camel, and a scrolling Christmas story at the end.
Our bus stopped for ten minutes in front of Macy's windows, and those few of us who braved the newly minted winter weather enjoyed the window dressing.
Mom, Dad, and I walked back home after the bus dropped us off.
I noted that the costumes in the 1970's were more like swimsuits---the Rockettes costumes are more modest now, making it possible for a dancer with hip surgery to dance with them. Also, there are ethnic minority women dancing with them, as well.
Labels: BAD, celebration, Christmas, Church, dance, dolls, friends, Pittsburgh, seasons, shopping, St. Paul Cathedral, theater, transportation
"I'm on the road right now. And it's really slick."
About an hour ago I called Ornella from the road (to get supplies for the Philippine Nationality Room Open House) to tell her that the roads were slick. She said that she was on the road, too, and "it seems very dangerous...maybe we can do a potluck dinner another time..."
That leaves me with just: getting items together for tomorrow's open house, having dinner, going to the anticipated Mass with Mom, and grrrading!
Labels: biology, cold, dolls, Philippines, Pittsburgh, PNR, seasons, traction, travel, work
Beatrice's Birthday 2008
Yesterday was Beatrice's birthday. For lunch, Beatrice, Solomon, Marissa, William, Mom, Dad, Les, Cherie, and I celebrated with her at lunch. We met at a pizza buffet, where she said, "Everybody hold hands...[Let's] sing 'Happy Birthday.'" She opened Lolo and Lola's gifts to her, a stuffed fluffy pig and a book. Then we continued the party at Chuck E Cheese. She had great fun there, and several photos were taken of her (some with Solomon).
The afternoon was uneventful...I went with William and Beatrice to the Wilkinsburg Farmers Market. Then we continued to the Asian Mart. I walked ahead, since I am slower than they. At the corner of Penn and Wood Street I was almost hit by a car.
I was almost hit by a car...
The driver was not looking for pedestrians, and came within ten feet of me. Her front-seat passenger was yelling at the driver and pointing at me. I had raised my cane up in a harried, useless move to defend myself. Somewhat shaken inside, I headed to the store, which was open only about five more minutes. I bought some baos, and took my time, so that William and Beatrice would have a chance to show up. They bought some coconut buns.
We headed chez Beatrice for her birthday dinner celebration. Marissa had prepared taco lasagna, sweet peg corn, and homemade cake (we opened presents before the cake). She had all of us hold hands and sing "Happy Birthday" (the traditional and the Mr. Rogers versions of the song) several times before dinner got started. Beatrice got a clear Kelly backpack from me for carrying her books from the library. Susie, Ed, and Will got her a doll with a pack-n-play crib and all the accoutrements. William, Marissa, and Solomon had got her a set of blocks (with Braille) and a blue, red, and green backpack...she was getting tired when I departed, and hadn't a chance to open all her gifts. She seemed enchanted by the doll.
Labels: Beatrice, Birthday, dining, dolls, niece and nephew, Pittsburgh, singing
Encyclopedia Article, First Draft; Cleaning/Organizing/Purging VII
This afternoon, I went to Hillman Library on campus. I spent a short time looking at the Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Folklore--I looked at the "Blues" entry and the information on the entry's author...just as a comparison. I also printed up the reviewers' first comments to me about my encyclopedia entry. Marissa, who used to edit for a large, renown encyclopedia published in North America, was surprised that the editors were requiring the entry authors (in this case, me) to revise the documents to fit the encyclopedia's standard format. I was surprised, too.
After dinner and Jeopardy! Mom and I spent three hours moving my HEAVY coffee table, cleaning the living room and the refrigerator, and, after Dad arrived, cleaning out my cupboard in the basement. Whew! By the end, my unoperated hip had given out. I used the cart as a walker. I may have to use the crutches again tomorrow.
~~~
8am Tuesday 29th of July 2008
I can get by this early morning with just a cane.
Labels: accessibility, cleaning, dolls, encyclopedia, health, home, organizing, photos, surgery, writing
Physical Therapy, Chez Mimi's Renaissance
This morning I gained an additional exercise at physical therapy: five minutes on the stationary bicycle without resistance. My stationary exercises in the pool were done in a pool empty save me...I spoke with two PT aides. Kevin told me when the arthritis classes were held, and I mentioned seeing birds run into the large windows by the waiting room.
"Is that a question for physical plant or facilities management?"
The car needed jumping by AAA before Dad could leave the public library to pick me up.
After lunch, Mom and I spent about two hours cleaning the living room and bathroom, and I put away some of my clean laundry.
William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon joined us to celebrate the Renaissance chez Mimi's and for dinner of seafood pizza and plain cheese pizza with soda.
Auntie Mimi: Beatrice, what color is Auntie Mimi's living room?
Beatrice: Green!
Beatrice (enjoying her pizza and water): Tea!
Auntie Mimi: Yes, you can have tea when Miranda comes to visit, too.
After dinner, Beatrice enjoyed rocking in the century-old child's rocking chair, in the big rocking chair, and going to and fro in the swivel chair. She liked the butterflies on her placemat and in the painting I made; and she appreciated the art in my home. She called the Australian aboriginal sand painting a "flower," and identified the tree and saw the panda bear in my watercolors on the wall. She saw the bees and hive in the crewel work wall hanging Mom made. She enjoyed running back and forth down the hallway, toward the floor-length mirror on the bathroom door. She also walked slowly down the hall when requested to do so. Finally, she enjoyed a fresh batch of dried banana from William's student and listened to wind-up musical bear right before she called it a night.
Mom and I watched Muppets from Space at the end of our evening.
Labels: art, BAD, Beatrice, celebration, cinema, cleaning, color, dining, dolls, excited, exercise, family, health, home, light, niece and nephew, organizing, surgery, tea, water exercise
Flowers
I received a large bunch/double handful of flowers---two dozen roses---today from Christina's mom, Ellen. They are delicately scented, peachy/nectarine-colored roses. What a delight!
I have received many prayers, well wishes, visits, e-mails, phone calls, cards, magazines, a balloon, a small miniature rose shrub, a painting by Beatrice (one of two she has done, so far); DARK chocolate, filled DARK chocolates, Khatta Meetha, a little stuffed toy bird that sings, a bookstore giftcard, and many more giftings by my friends and family. I am sooo appreciative of the people who love me.
I can't start to thank everyone on my health care team. My parents have been phenomenal through all this: From taking me into their home to helping me with daily chores such as bathing, donning TED hose, and administering my blood thinning medication. They have been keeping me nutritionally and soulfully/spiritually well-fed, and have welcomed my varied juice mixes into their home.
Labels: BAD, cleaning, dining, dolls, email, friends, garden, health, painting, surgery, thankfulness
Run, run, run, run....sleep sleep sleep sleep
After adminstering two exams yesterday, I visited William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon, happily bearing food from Mom. Beatrice and I went to the back deck and she "sweep"s with the "booom." We also played with her mini-house with a slide ("he[l]p, he[l]p") and she ran around (run, run, run, run, run...) the deck. We came inside to have mac 'n' cheese and I, some of Wawa's cake and ice cream. Peaceful Solomon slept through all of this. Beatrice has taken to quickly naming "people in the room," doing a quick roll call.
Right before I departed, Elmo, Beatrice, and I sat on the bottom steps of their landing...one of our favorite places.
A fun evening was had by all.
Labels: Beatrice, berries, Birthday, children, dining, dolls, games, ice cream, niece and nephew
Mahna Mahna
Here is a segment from the Muppet Show that, I believe, appeared as an earlier version on Sesame Street. It is Mahna Mahna.
Labels: dolls, singing
St. Patrick's Day 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day 2008..with some memories from back in the eighties.
Labels: dolls, Ireland, singing
uh, I can't drink coffee
Why I can't have coffee...
Labels: dolls, excited
Mimi's Feelings
Please don't hurt Mimi's feelings.
Labels: dolls, singing, TV
Homewood Library, March 2008
After running a couple of errands in Squirrel Hill, I joined William and Beatrice for an outing at the Homewood Library. Beatrice greatly enjoyed the children's room, with "A-B-B" (her version of A,B,C's), "booh" (books), "cahr" (a cart), and "behbee" (baby, or a doll). She likes to push the baby in the stroller both forward and backward, put the baby in the "cheh" (various chairs, including the rocking chair) or in the "cheh" to "rock" the baby. William picked up some great books to read and do crafts. I looked out the window at about 12:30 and commented to William that it had started to snow. " 'no, 'no!" Beatrice commented, looking out the window, too. After checking out one more book and bidding farewell to my friend Diane, we donned our jackets and headed out. When we went outside there were big clumps of big flakes, and William commented how the snow was ON us! "Look at Auntie Mimi!" "Auntie Mimi has snow in her hair!" Beatrice started to laugh heartily. We then headed back to their place, where I departed into the snow storm of heavy flakes for home.
Labels: Beatrice, children, dolls, games, library, niece and nephew, read, seasons, weather
Jeudi--Playday
I spent my jeudi (literally, "play day" from the French) going to medical examinations, taking a 4-hour-long nap, snacking, and having dinner with William, Marissa, and Beatrice. After dinner we read books, played "Where's...?", danced, played with her baby from Santa, and uploaded photos from Dad's camera to my USB key. I then came back and emailed Nancy and Anjali about the photos from the concert last weekend. William shared some of the family tree with me. Marissa's family even spoke with him by phone.
Labels: Beatrice, Bell, dance, dolls, family, friends, genealogy, niece and nephew, photography, photos
Low Gas Prices!
An honest error while entering computer data at a Wisconsin gasoline station led to prices not seen since the 1970's! Gasoline was being sold at pennies to the gallon, while the price of light, sweet crude hovers around $100/bbl.
The error was noticed by the local police, who saw cars lining up at the station after ten in the evening in a small Wisconsin town.
What was I doing when that price first hit? My family was on summer vacation in the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. We were learning how to square dance, play ping pong, and I had added to my beginning doll collection a Native American doll. We were learning how to keep away from the blood-thirsty mosquitoes. It was a great trip, and I remember my Dad bemoaning the fact that gasoline was over 30 cents per gallon as we paid for a visit to the pumps.
Labels: dance, dolls, economy, family, games, transportation, travel
