Awoke an hour earlier....
..This morning I awoke another hour earlier--4.30. I am taking care of correspondence (some by email), and photos for my blog.
I'm pleased that the university library has chosen to order the encyclopedia I was involved in.
~~~
9.25
I soon went back to sleep at 5, 5.30 and slept for another four hours. This waking up early is difficult! I wonder why I have disrupted sleep?
Labels: blogs, email, encyclopedia, library, photos, school, sleep
It's Published!
On December 23rd, 2009 the Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today was published. I was lead/co-author on an article which we worked on for about a year, and did minor edits on this fall. I credit my editor and co-authors with doing a fine job of writing and editing the article.
This week I updated my social networking site to reflect the above changes, and am updating this web log.
It's an overview / review article on mental health in the Asian American community. I couldn't have done it without the help of librarians in the (now-defunct) Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Library, and the resources in the library itself. I also have to thank Prof. Fabrega for lending me a textbook of cultural psychiatry. And, of course, I have to thank my family and support network for making this possible.
Labels: accessibility, encyclopedia, family, health, library, writing
Nothing Was the Same
I just finished this week Kay Redfield Jamison's memoir, Nothing Was the Same. She is currently Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University.
Her book addressed her life with and without her now-deceased husband and the joyous times they had together, as well as their battle with his cancer, and her ensuing throes of grief and despair from the loss. Definitely an interesting read. She contrasts her grief with the moods of the depression she has experienced.
~ ~ ~
I found some quotes from the book particularly interesting to share:
from "Mourning and Melancholia":
Hope can find a place in a mind missing love. It cannot find a place in a mind taken over by depression. In grief, one finds the absence of a life, not life itself. In depression, it is otherwise: one cannot access the beat of life.
from "Fugitive Dyes":
I had often said to my patients who were struggling in the wake of mania or suicidal despair: We are each an island. It is your task to bring to your own island what you need to live long and well: love, beauty, diversion, friends; work that sustains; a meaningful life. Look at Maui, I would say: everything was brought in by man, insect, bird, or wind. It is your life; it is short. Treat your island with regard. Do not let it go to weed; do not give it over to anyone else. Understand the possibilities. Know the dangers. Keep away the ungenerous and unkind.
~ ~ ~
I have had two students who have lost family members this past week. I found myself listening to their stories, then quietly saying, "He's at peace now," or "She's at peace now" to them, as well as reminding them to tell their lab partners of their loss (they may be surprised to find that their lab partners are accepting, accomodating, and human about their situation).
Labels: accessibility, color, encyclopedia, farewell, flowers, friends, health, meditate, moving, read, sleep, work
Saturday, September 2008
Last night I spoke to Maureen,who was in orthopedic pain. I asked her if Karina and I should come over with ice cream ("What flavor?") and we ended up chatting well into the night. We had a grand time and saw Maureen's photos, et al.
Today I dropped off a TON of pics at Walgreens for developing. Also got drinks and snacks for the weeks ahead. Mom and Dad and I went to lunch at Wai Wai. We picked up a catering menu, too. I updated my encyclopedia article and sent it with the references list to my editor friend.
I'll call Walgreens, then spend some time relaxing before Faith sharing tonight.
~~~
After Karina's discussion of Mary's response to God's angel ("Thy will be done"), we headed to Pan Asian cuisine for dinner. Fabriola, Karina, Maureen, and I watched a movie I had rented, Then She Found Me, directed by Helen Hunt and starring Helen Hunt, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, and Colin Firth. A good chick flick that raises important issues, despite a slightly stilted script.
Labels: children, Church, cinema, dining, encyclopedia, friends, ice cream, pain, photography, photos
First Day of School, Fall 2008
Today I awoke at about 5am and did some last minute prepping. I fell back to sleep and my dad called me to awaken ~7am. I had breakfast and headed to work to set up lab in G9 at about 7:50am.
About halfway through the class, I was informed that I would be teaching at Monday afternoon from now on, instead of Monday morning. The rest of my 4-section schedule would stay the same (, after several changes).
Whew! After teaching two sections back-to-back, I am physically tired...and no physical therapy today.
I printed up some documents from Rebecca, the librarian in health sciences, who is helping me with some searches. I'll be heading home soon....
~~~~~
My boss, C., had called before I had arrived at home...another change, involving teaching on Thursday afternoons. My schedule shifted once again (to accomodate medical appointments), and only one original section remained from my three original sections. Much jockeying for position. Ah, well.
Labels: BAD, biology, encyclopedia, exercise, research, sleep, teaching, water exercise, work
Encyclopedia Research, Cardinal DiNardo
Today I went to the library to do some online research for my encyclopedia article. I stayed until my eyes hurt, then went to the reference desk for more information, then returned to print out one more article in the computer lab.
I went back to eat a hearty lunch of pasta, potatoes, and beef; some veggies, and soy milk flavored with syrup.
After a short nap, I went to choral warm up at four o'clock in Synod Hall. We practiced by ourselves and with Linda, the cantor; and Ken, the accompanist; and with the Carnegie Brass Quartet. We then proceeded to the Sacristy, where I was greeted warmly by Carol. The Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by His Eminence, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of metropolitan Houston-Galveston, Texas. The Mass was celebrated together with the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh and Bishop Paul Bradley, as well as other Bishops and priests.
The choir sang:
O Christ the Great Foundation
Gloria (Vatican Mass VIII)
Psalm 138 (M. Guimont)
Festival Alleluia (J. Chepponis)
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (J. Rutter)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Memorial Acclamation
Amen
(all from the Jubilation Mass, J. Chepponis)
Agnus Dei chant
Take and Eat (M. Joncas)
Ave Verum Corpus (C. Gounod)
Great Father of Light
I spoke to Linda's parents Sal and Connie after Mass. Gloria and I ran into Joel and his brother (I took their picture in Church), then headed downstairs for the reception. We had a chance to see the long line to talk to Cardinal DiNardo, said a 'lo to Fr. Breier, and said hello to Stacy's family (Gail, Richard, and her mom), as well as to Joan K. and Sr. Marietta.
I headed to dinner on Craig St. with much of the choir gang. Linda, Jonathan, and I all had fish tacos, Brenda said a hello to us, I ran into J., one of my former students and his parents, and our waiter Drew indicated that J.d., one of my former students, still worked there.
Jess, Karen, Ornella, Andrew, and I walked back as a group, and we bid each other a fond farewell after singing our goodbyes to Brenda.
Labels: Church, DiNardo, encyclopedia, friends, Mass, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, thankfulness, writing
Queenship of the BVM, Dinner at William and Marissa's Home
Yesterday morning at Mass we celebrated the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, with John serving, Bob K. lectoring, and Don providing the music ministry. Elaine, Mary Lou P., and I particularly enjoyed the homily, which stressed the scripture reading and Mary's openness to God's will for her.
~~~~~
We had a delicious dinner of curry veggie pancakes, salmon cakes, crescent rolls with veggie filling, whole steamed carrots, rice, juices, and more for dinner at William and Marissa's home. Mom, Dad, and I noted how much taller Beatrice and Solomon look. Beatrice "read" a few books to us. Quite the talented little girl. She, her brother, and mommy are preparing to visit the Illinois relatives, including Will and Grampy Bill.
~~~~~~~
I had spent part of the morning and afternoon working on the latest version of the encyclopedia article. Late morning, one of my editors called me with regards to the organization and particulars of the article. Yesterday afternoon, I was in contact with an especially helpful librarian at the health sciences library system on campus about searches.
Labels: Church, dining, encyclopedia, family, family-Marissa, library, Mass, neighbors, organizing, research, school, St. Paul Cathedral, travel, writing
Physical Therapy, Encyclopedia Article Draft 2'
Went to physical therapy today, and my exercises were uneventful. There were a number of rather friendly people in the pool today. I told Keelan of the walking (~200 feet) and standing (~1.5 hours) I did yesterday during the work meeting.
I went to the computer lab afterwards, and input some changes---which I had handwritten earlier today---to the latest (greatly shortened) draft of the article.
Labels: BAD, encyclopedia, excited, exercise, health, water, work, writing
Encyclopedia Article, Second Draft; Physical Therapy; Farewell Party
I sent off my second draft of my encyclopedia article this morning to one of my editors.
~~~
I'll go to physical therapy later this morning.
~~~
Planning for (one of) Jeff and Jonathan's farewell part(ies) tonight...
Labels: BAD, dance, encyclopedia, exercise, farewell, health, international culture, Ireland, music, pool, surgery, water exercise, writing
First Draft Reworking II
I'm spending ~two hours at Hillman library editing, moving text, and annotating my 3rd version of my manuscript since reviewer's comments...I want to make certain that it flows for Irene when she reads it. I have until the 5th to rework it, but don't want to take that long with it, as she has the manuscript only until the 14th. I want to get the bulk of this done by the end of August, as my lab teaching starts up again then.
Labels: accessibility, encyclopedia, science, teaching, work, writing
New Cell Phones; Encyclopedia Article, First Draft Reworking
Today, Mom and Dad and I went to Eat and Park at the Waterfront for lunch. We then went to Verizon for our new cell phones, as our first cell phones were not holding a charge. The gentleman who helped us indicated two other brands that were better at holding a charge. We selected a model that has Bluetooth capabilities, though we rarely used a similar option on our first phones. It has photo capabilities, as well. Mom was nonplussed that the phone could not play the "Skater's Waltz" ringtone (Miranda's favorite), and I was not pleased that it wasn't obvious how to record sounds, and turn those sounds into ringtones, as was obvious on our first phones. Other than that, we were happy with our new phones, and I requested that we transfer our address books to our new ones.
~~~
After a stop at CVS, I spent ~two hours at Hillman Library reworking the first draft of my encyclopedia article after editorial comments. Dinner was leftovers, and Mom and I watched some Curb Your Enthusiasm (the restaurant opening), as well as the episode of Wife Swap in which the New York househusband family swaps with the pet crematory family.
Labels: accessibility, Curb Your Enthusiasm, dining, encyclopedia, New York, phone, writing
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
Encyclopedia Article, First Draft Reviewer's Comments
Today, near the end of five hours of cleaning out my master bedroom closet with Mom, I received a call from one of the encyclopedia editors. The call was to prepare me for the first draft reviewers' comments, and other related discussions. A serious, but necessary talk.
Labels: accessibility, cleaning, encyclopedia, organizing, writing
Encyclopedia First Draft Update
After handing in my encyclopedia article's first draft earlier this month, I received an email early this morning from one of the editors that feedback would be forthcoming by August first. I look forward to finishing the succeeding drafts of this article, and seeing it in print.
Labels: accessibility, encyclopedia, health, work, writing
First Draft In, Early
My first draft of my encyclopedia article is due on Tuesday, the fifteenth. Today I spent an hour and a half working on this first draft. I have emailed the two editors my article (with two figures and references list) and my contact sheet about an hour ago. What a good feeling!
I was debating whether to include all my middle initials, and settled on my given names, along with my surname initial and family name. As we prepare lunch today, Mom and I discussed over boiling (Anne Boleyn pasta?!) pasta the fact that as I get older, more of my name is important, as my maternal grandpa's cousin was a national hero. I talked to Marissa about it via phone while I was at the library, typing. She said if someone were to do a general Google.com search for me, they would find me, regardless of my initials.
For about half an hour before writing/editing today I chatted with Arif. He indicated how to make a faculty request to purchase a book (in my case, the encyclopedia). We talked about work, my surgery, and other campus issues. He expressed an interest in writing an encyclopedia article, too.
The current version (4) of my article and references list (version 5) have 3872 and 959 words, respectively. I expect Grace Y. and Edith C. to edit it down...
Labels: accessibility, BAD, encyclopedia, health, library, name, Philippines, philosophical, Pilipino culture, politics, surgery, work, writing
Encyclopedia Article
I spent five hours this morning and afternoon working on the encyclopedia article for publication. At the Hillman computer lab, I fine-tuned the figures, title, byline,...made corrections to my version two, worked on the references, returned the books due from the Health Sciences Library system at the main (Hillman) library (after harumphing about the cost of 15 cent photocopying).
I have yet to: Fine-tune the format of the in-text references and references list, ensure double-spacing for all of the document, properly format the HEADINGS and Subheadings.
At this point in the editing process, my "version 3" document is 3948 words long, and my "version 4" references list is 876 words long.
I have had a retired medical professional and a layperson with extensive encyclopedia editing experience read version two, with references (Mom and Marissa, respectively). Both thought that it flowed nicely; "v. well written" was one comment.
I am pleased with my writing process, to this point.
~~~
Ran into a former student of mine, Zach, while waiting for Dad to pick me up from the library this afternoon. I introduced him to Dad, as they both share a penchant for chess.
I snacked (I worked straight through lunch), then napped happily for a couple of hours. Went home to pick up the mail and to sort through my knickers, getting rid of the small pairs. Then, I hand-shredded sensitive documents.
A productive day.
~~~
23:30
Just finished reading and hand-editing the print version 3 with figures and references version 4...Made comments, vowed to run it through spell- and grammar-check. Also, I still need to standardize the format of the in-text references and of the references list, and to ensure double-spacing for all of the document. Fun abounds for me during the end of this week.
Labels: accessibility, cleaning, computer, encyclopedia, international culture, languages, library, organizing, Pittsburgh, school, student, surprise, writing
One Year Since
It turns out that it's been a year since we departed for Ireland, as Don pointed out this evening. At this time last year, I would be over the Atlantic snoozing away.
Today Mom and I spent the morning organizing my clothes closets, then Dad and I went to run an errand in Squirrel Hill, and then to pick up Mom's fave seafood pizza in our neighborhood.
I took a Looooong nap after lunch, and it was great to go to the anticipated Mass at 6pm. Fr. Breier celebrated, Matt lectored, Christina cantored, and Don provided the organ music. Mom and I spoke with our friends Joel (whose fiancee is from Bulacan, Philippines), Mrs. Mary T. (a neighbor), the Cruz family, Matt, Don, and Tom (Nancy Mc's husband). Mom got worried: "They're blinking the lights at us," as they dimmed more and more of the lights, as our conversing was loud, and as there were confessions being held.
We returned home to pizza and Lawrence Welk, and I worked on the References section of my encyclopedia article.
~~~
I watched the last two hours of a Harry Potter movie---the third in the series.
Labels: cinema, dining, encyclopedia, Ireland, Mass, Philippines, Pittsburgh, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral
Slept it off
I snoozed quite well last night. Back to my writing this morning.
Labels: encyclopedia, sleep, thankfulness, writing
My Fitful Sleep
Am I doing too much? Am I reading too much? Working on too many projects? I always had the difficulty of not knowing how to relax properly in my downtime, always taking on projects then. I did confess this year to Marissa's dad that when I meditate I think of "nothing," which may be telling of my li'l brain. Still, I have multiple projects to tend to, filling my days and nights.
...Leading to my fitful sleep last night. Reading several books at once: My Sister's Keeper, Eat Pray Love, books on reducing clutter, and writing the encyclopedia article. I need to keep telling myself that sleep for me is paramount, more important than any project with a deadline two weeks away or a library book with a due date three weeks away. There is time---what is the hurry?
Karina and I were telling Christina last night that "there is no hurry; there is no rush." If we can be so calm in that portion of our lives, then why do I feel so driven, so masipag, in my academic portion of my life? Does this echo back to my college days when we estimated 400-700 average pages read per night by a Wellesley student?
Or does my healing hip play a role in all of this---my jockeying for a comfortable position to sleep in---first on my side, with a pillow "spacer" between my legs, then on my back, with a pillow supporting my operated leg. The Benadryl never seemed to kick in last night...a pack of cookies and milk finally did the trick.
I took a number of catnaps yesterday, which expanded to fill my afternoon until I woke and went to Faith Sharing at the Newman Center. Maybe I overslept yesterday afternoon; maybe I overdid it.
Whatever the cause, I didn't get much sleep last night and vow to make up for it today. This typing doesn't help, but may put me in a frame of mind to be other than somnambulant---doing my walkabout at night, while my eyes are half-asleep, little slits that peer out into the half-lit apartment.
Labels: BAD, blogs, encyclopedia, excited, Faith, family-Marissa, health, home, love, meditate, organizing, pain, philosophical, read, research, sleep, surgery, Wellesley, work, writing
Websites on Hip Prosthetics
I've been getting a lot of rest throughout my post-operative days---leaving me awake at nights sometimes. Tonight I've done a little reading, working on my article, and web-browsing.
Here is a website devoted to hip prostheses and implantation. Quite useful, and goes well with the website Heather recommended on virtual total hip replacement surgery, mentioned in a post last week. A website from the Saturday Evening Post on hip replacement is informative. And here is a website on total hip replacement, and one on activities after hip replacement, and one with a post-operative exercise guide.
Labels: BAD, blogs, encyclopedia, friends, health, surgery
