Pittsburgh Children's Festival, Phipps Garden, Carnegie Mellon
After singing at noon Mass (which was celebrated by Fr. Tim Kesicki), Regina and I met up with our parents and chatted until the baptism proceeded. Dad, Mom, and I went for Mexican food in Fox Chapel.
Maureen and I went for a walkabout Oakland: first to the Pittsburgh Children's Festival, on to Phipps Garden, then to Carnegie Mellon University. We saw CMU Engineering grads having their photos taken on Hillman Library steps, passed the carousel and the tent, past a bunch of arts, crafts, and activity booths, including retired greyhounds. Then we went to the petting zoo---the pony looked exhausted!
On to Phipps Garden, where we perambulated, and we smelled the herb garden. Maureen admired the peonies. Her friend called whist she was admiring the peonies to discuss peonies with her! We walked past the Cut, then stopped at Wawa's office door. We visited the Randy Pausch bridge and admired the lighting. We walked the ramp at the Gates Center, sat outside Newell-Simon Hall, and went to Lulu's for Maureen's smoothie.
Time to think about dinner plans.
Labels: celebration, children, Choir, dining, flowers, garden, ice cream, Mass, Pittsburgh, school, walking
Toronto III and IV, August 2009
Yesterday Allan and I took Colleen to the Ontario Science Center after lunch that included sinigang and pad thai and chicken curry. We had fun on the way to KidsPark: seeing the green forest, looking and touching the minerals and rocks, riding the escalators, and coloring outside (and receiving free milk). It was a feat
to turn away from KidsPark...
to the artist's billiard ball contraption. We visited D level, then the mezzanine/Eagle's eye view and the Human Body on E level.
In the end, we returned to KidsPark and the artist's kinetic sculpture,
and visited the Space section before leaving about four hours after arriving.
Colleen had a grand time, and wants to return.
We had Greek food at Allan's home for dinner.
~ ~ ~
Today, the Lolos and Lolas drove Colleen and I to downtown Toronto, where we
drove through Chinatown,
parked, and walked through the mall with Sears.
We then attended the anticipated Mass for Sunday at St. Michael's Cathedral. We sat right by the candles for St. Jude.
We visited two Chinese bakeries for snacks before continuing on to dinner.
Dinner was with Allan, Sonia, Samantha, and Matthew; Christie and Petrie and Colleen, and the two Lolos, two Lolas, and me. We truly enjoyed the Korean barbeque-it-yourself at our tables. Colleen entertained us with songs and fingerplays; she in turn was entertained by Sam's I-pod.
Labels: adventure, Canada, cold, dine, dining, family, games, garden, geology, health, ice cream, international culture, Mass, museum, niece and nephew, photos, science, walking
Phipps Conservatory and Bible Study
It was great to meet up with William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon for an afternoon trip to Phipps Conservatory. We even explored
the Discovery Gardens. We saw banana palms,
a maze and
mists in the garden,
the Longfellow glass figurines, Chihuly glass, and the Desert Room (don't touch anything---it's prickly!), and the Victorian Room (where there is a programmable fountain). Solomon treated every encounter with a plant as an interactive adventure. Beatrice insisted on pushing the umbrella stroller to the car by herself.
~~~~~
Went to the last summer Bible Study. We read James, Chapter 5. We also referred to James 5:16-18 when reading I Kings 17:17-24, which I pointed out and read to our group. Christina, Rachel, and I chatted with Beth, whom Christina knew from secondary school.
Went to physical therapy earlier in the day and also ran errands.
Labels: Beatrice, Chihuly, Faith, garden, glass, niece and nephew, Phipps, read, school
Confused Forsythia Flowers
This Saturday I was having a discussion about the fall season. This past week we had temperatures ranging from freezing to the high 60's Fahrenheit (the next day). I commented that I have seen the rose bushes/shrubs on Fifth Avenue, and some had still had blossoms remaining on them. My friend had commented that he had seen the "forsythia blooming this week,"
They're spring flowers! I exclaimed.
"Poor flowers," he said, "They're confused."
Labels: biology, garden, global warming, science, seasons, soils, St. Paul Cathedral, surprise, weather
Last Day of Home Care Physical Therapy
Today was the last day of home care physical therapy. Margie arrived after lunch, we did some measurements of key angles, and then some exercises. We then went on our last "field trip" to the optometrist's office, to get the left lens of my eyeglasses reinstalled.
I'd popped out the lens of my glasses the night before my surgery, and have been using my older pair of spectacles as back-up since then. It was good to have the newest prescription on my face once again.
We returned to the building, to say hi to Rita De M., Elaine J., and Mary. We then headed outside once more to the parklet, and found out that they were putting marigolds and "red" sage in the garden.
We returned to the condo and Margie and I bid fond goodbyes to each other....she had reminded me of various issues/questions I should raise with the surgeon during my appointment tomorrow.
Labels: BAD, exercise, friends, garden, health, home, neighbors, outside, Pittsburgh, St. Lucy, surgery
More Flowers
Jo Ann I. had a beautiful Peace Lily plant delivered to me today...fifteen to twenty-five white flowers/leaves, each with an anther. The deep green leaves are shiny and beautiful. I cherish this plant now.
I spoke with Jo Ann after dinner (of pizza) tonight. It turns out that she knows my physical therapist! I am so fortunate to have all these caring people around me in this time of post-surgery.
Right now, I am so tired I cannot keep my eyes open to type....Must brush teeth...go to bed....
Labels: BAD, dining, excited, exercise, friends, garden, health, neighbors, Peace, surgery, surprise, thankfulness
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
Steps: Take it Slowly
Today for my physical therapy Margie measured some key angles. For our field trip we did the front (narthex) steps of St. Paul Cathedral. "Plus, it's cool in there!"
"Good Leg goes to Heaven, Bad Leg goes to Hell," I recited Gene's mantra, adding, "Crutches like a cane going up; crutches support the bad leg going down." My outpatient physical therapist, Margie, was impressed.
We said hello to Ken, the associate organist, and the organ's pipe team, including "home team" choir guys Justin, Jay, and Doug. Ken explained the pipes, one which looked like an extremely large (person could fit in it) mechanical pencil. Styrofoam fitted to the pipes were the packing materials. I promised that I would give Margie the website for the organ restoration.
Margie and I then went down the Cathedral steps and to Mom and Dad's parklet with the fountain with the little boy (statue with the painted eyes). We sat for a while under the shade of an umbrella and chatted before heading back into the building.
Labels: BAD, Choir, Church, exercise, garden, health, home, neighbors, Pittsburgh, St. Paul Cathedral
First Time Outside
Today was my first time outside since I arrived home from the hospital. Elaine dropped off Jane's shower chair she is lending to me---what a great, new appliance/toy! As she was departing, Margie the physical therapist arrived, I told her my about my "tummy time" yesterday, and we practiced transferring into the tub using the chair.
I donned my "Dorothy" shoes after the movie, the Wizard of Oz, using my dressing stick, reacher, and long-handled shoe horn. Then we went OUTSIDE for a walk with crutches (saw Jane in the lobby). We crossed the street to St. Paul Cathedral, ran into Joe and Tina (!), and crossed the street back. We made our way to the parklet of my building, and then back inside to document our day, as well as Margie filling in for some of the nursely duties.
Labels: accessibility, BAD, excited, exercise, garden, health, home, neighbors, outside, Pittsburgh, shoes, St. Paul Cathedral, surgery
End of Choir Season, 2008
Today marked the official end of the choir season for 2007-2008. It being the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we sang
Ave Verum Corpus (Plainsong)
Gloria Sine Nomine (Bernard Newell)
How Lovely are the Messengers (F. Mendelssohn)
Ave Verum Corpus (Charles Gounod)
and
Sing We Merrily (Sidney Campbell)
The Danchik women and Don teased me about being a hip chick after Mass today. Amy and I dined at Kiva Han for lunch.
It was good to dine at the Lawrenceville location of La Filipiniana with Charles, Susan, William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon. Dinner was family-style al fresco. We enjoyed Martinelli's sparkling cider and champagne with dinner. Charles and Susan kindly presented the youngsters with gifts. A highlight of the evening was seeing the lights in the arbor go on after dark.
Labels: Beatrice, Choir, dining, friends, garden, niece and nephew, St. Paul Cathedral
Planting Seeds May 2008
Yesterday Beatrice and I planted flower seeds that I had received from Ellen for my birthday. We sat on the back deck and planted four pots of seeds. I also dropped my cane off the side of the deck! Les and Chere were there, too. The concept of the little seeds becoming flowers was too abstracted for Beatrice, yet.
Marissa took some photos of my pre-surgery (now-unscarred) hips...and even a little video of me dancing on the back deck!
Labels: BAD, Beatrice, dance, family-Marissa, garden, niece and nephew
Lady in Waiting I
While I patiently await my surgery date, I struggle with the tail end of a cold, making lists of things to mention to the doctor and anesthetist before surgery, list things to pack to the hospital, and wait for the weather to warm up (it has nicely sprinkled throughout the week) so that Beatrice and I can put in the garden at her home.
It was fun dining with Beatrice and her family last night. Before dinner, Beatrice and I read library books before her daddy showed up, and she joined Solomon on the Gymini mat from Lola Helen Faye for some playtime. Solomon has filled out nicely (all that nursing and sleeping has paid off, buddy!), and Beatrice is a hearty, neat eater at dinner time. She feeds herself with a spoon; she proudly announces when she is finished, and gently gives a small push to her dinner plate. Same with her bottle. She knows all the colors in the box of blocks I gave her when Solomon was born---and more colors! What fun times we have had!
Labels: BAD, Beatrice, cold, family, games, garden, library, niece and nephew, read, soils, surgery, water, weather
