Oryx and Crake
Just completed reading Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood. Quite the post-apocalyptic dystopia. I'm thankful that I made arrangements for lots of field trips and visits by campus resource offices to our classroom when we discuss this book and, more generally, adjustments to campus life.
In short, the book is a great conversation piece, but NOT merely a coffeetable book.
Reading it was somewhat difficult, as I have had a change to both eyes in my visual prescription, and read the bulk of it sans correction.
Labels: health
Neuro-ophthalmologist...
I'm waiting this morning for a call from the Eye Center office for an appointment date and time with a neuro-ophthalmologist. Apparently, my ocular migraines are cause to see a sub-specialist. (I cannot just see someone for my eyeglasses prescription.) My insurance does not require me to see my primary care physician first.
I wonder if this will be the year that I get bifocals...
About my ocular migraines: I have experienced them three times. The first ocular migraine I had was during the earliest part of 2007 (it lasted a while); Good Friday of this year; and mid-June of this year.
Labels: health
Thanksgiving Days 2010-II
Wednesday I did three loads of laundry in the morning, had an appointment, then Mom, Dad, and I stopped by William and Marissa's home (to make a house call). We also called Auntie Mimang and sang and drummed for her. We played and read books, and most of us headed for pasta in the Strip District.
This morning I attended Mass with Dad. Carmella and Bob's sons celebrated Mass, John was the server, and Don provided music ministry from the loft. I spoke with Carmella and Bob after Mass, and Don and I spoke about wreath issues for this, which is the weekend we distribute them.
I think a minimum of 2 people are necessary (one to tally inventory/keep track of the order sheet, the other to hand out wreaths/keep track of actual inventory). In addition to the inventory sheet, it is necessary to have post-its, a pencil, and ideally at least one runner. The Runner/s will retrieve wreaths from the garage for people.
Labels: family, health, laundry, Mass, Spain
Missed Choir Practice, Choir this week
I missed choir practice & choir this past week, due to a lingering sore throat.
Friday I joined Jennifer & Mike, Regina & John at drumming.
I handed in the last of my wreath fundraising for choir today.
I missed singing for the Feast of Christ the King, but enjoyed the music from the congregation. I did sing the Lotti Agnus Dei (alto part).
Bishop William Winter was the main celebrant, with many other priests concelebrating. (Bishop Zubik is in Rome for Cardinal Wuerl's ordination.)
This morning I wrote letters of support for two former students and completed their PharmCAS reference letters this afternoon.
I will join up with John, Regina, and her parents to celebrate his birthday for dinner.
Labels: Choir, dining, friends, health, music, singing, Spain, St. Paul Cathedral
Flu Shot Week
I received my flu shot this Monday, received a request for a letter of recommendation for pharmacy school from a former student on Tuesday, and today I went with Marissa and the children to the Hallowe'en party at the library. We played card games afterwards with Marissa's parents, and then I went to a work meeting.
Labels: biology, Carnegie, family-Marissa, games, health, library, meeting, recommendation, seasons, work
Beatrice's Birthday
Today is Beata's birthday. We were planning on a scavenger hunt at the art museum, but she is feeling sick with a cold.
Labels: Beatrice, Birthday, Carnegie, health, museum, niece and nephew
Resolving Issues---End of the Summer 2010
The end of this week (Thursday through Saturday) consisted of resolving issues, including health insurance, car maintenance, donating excess jackets, and loading my syllabus onto my (still unavailable) class. I went out with Maureen to the library and then we shared fries in Fox Chapel. I've been writing more, as well.
I started a great book recommended to me by Liz--Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. I finished reading half the book in one evening, it is so compelling. The subtitle is "The Story of Success." He has written The Tipping Point and Blink as well.
I've been catching up on communication (email) and writing more essays, as well.
I just finished a big double bar of chocolate from this summer (with almond and cashew paste).
Labels: automobile, computer, dining, donate, email, health, library, read, school, writing
Themes
Painting (Oil and Watercolor)
Art
Hot Weather
Music--Bernstein's Requiem, My favorite movement of all Vivaldi pieces, sacred acclamations from the Mass
making muesli from grain
Hornflakes
Panoramic Paintings
Hot weather
Meeting Jehovah's Witnesses
NOT climbing tower/s
Good food
Good Thai food
Seeking relief from the heat at a pool
seeing political leaders
Good company, throughout
Good homemade food
Good homemade Thai food
Good Indonesian rice table
assistive technology for exercising
Labels: accessibility, art, dining, exercise, health, list, love, music, painting, shopping, water exercise, weather
I spent the afternoon
Today I arose at 5, went back to sleep at 7, and took a little catnap just a little while ago.
After Dad ('d like to think inadvertently) deleted ALL my files from the family computer, I spent the afternoon recreating the files and emailing Mom some of the files for future reference. I failed to restore my CV. I can't believe that he did that after I expressly told him that they were important files, important in case of an emergency. I am almost at the point where I have lost hope in his ability.
Labels: computer, health, sleep, travel, work
This Week Sleep
3, 9, 5, 7
These are the times I have arisen this week...Today I arose at 7 (but awoke and went back to sleep at 5).
Monday Dad drove Mom and I to get our hair/s styled. We went shopping afterwards (I got a small calculator), and had lunch at the Chinese buffet.
Tuesday I spoke with my health coach in the morning. Mom, Dad, and I went to the Waterfront to update our cell phones. Maureen and I met Jeff to celebrate her birthday over BBQ chicken pizza. We had fun chatting.
Wednesday I had an orientation meeting with Laura D's office. I met with Stacy at 19.00 hours for smoothies. We also went to the Frick Fine Arts building to bask in the setting sunlight. Last night, Mom and Dad brought home summer sweet corn from Robert.
Labels: Birthday, computer, dining, hair, health, ice cream, phone, shopping, sleep, work
This Week in June 2010 II, Car Day
Monday day I went with Marissa and the children to the Mount Washington library (closed) and to the Science Center (open!). Monday evening Maureen and I went to Waterworks Mall, where we looked for travel items for her and I got sushi.
Tuesday morning Mom and I picked up my car at the shop, where it has been in repairs since Thursday afternoon. I spoke with my weight management coach, and then went for physical therapy. Tuesday was a Day for the Car, as the battery was dead after I exited physical therapy. Mom and I went shopping, and in the evening Maureen and I went to the Waterfront. Shops were closing soon after we purchased her swim cap.
Yesterday (Wednesday) I went for my annual blood work. I went to the computer lab afterwards, and completed some computer work, as well. Mom and I watched "America's Got Talent," where we noted that a large number of Portland contestants were pushed through to Vegas.
~~~
Time for physical therapy.
Labels: automobile, computer, exercise, health, international culture, library, museum, repair, shopping, swim, talent, travel, TV
This Week in June 2010
Tuesday Mom, Dad, and I babysat Beata and Solomon. We played, ate lunch, sang karaoke, napped (well, some of us did!) and I left when they did. Marissa had jury duty, for which none of the groups were called. I left to go to physical therapy with Keelan and a student, Kristen. Dinner was with Geannie and Jerry at his home: Stuffed shells, Brussel sprouts, salad, bread, and strawberry pie that Geannie brought.
I left at quarter to nine to join Mom and Dad watching America's Got Talent. Kelly and her accordian buddies were on the show!
~~~
Wednesday was grocery shopping day, with an appointment in the afternoon.
~~~
Today I had my first non-assessment appointment with my weight management coach. I have lost 1 to 3.5 pounds since starting to journal my food intake a week and a half or so ago. I had physical therapy with Cara at noon today. Lunch was composed of many diverse foods!
~
Went for a walk with Maureen to Carnegie Mellon, to the Randy Pausch bridge (I've never seen the lights WHITE until now) and through the Kraus garden, with its mountain laurel.
What a beautiful night it was for walking...cool, yet not crisp, with light illuminating the spires of St. Paul Cathedral and the Cathedral of Learning. Clear skies. Just lovely.
Labels: dine, exercise, family, health, music, niece and nephew, singing, sleep, talent, TV, walking
Up Early II June 2010
I've been up for ~ an hour this morning. I've been reading about Omega-3 fatty acids on the web.
Yesterday was a long day. Will have to write more about it later.
Today Mom and I will be babysitting Beata and Solomon. Marissa has jury duty. We'll have great fun with the children.
Labels: dine, dining, family, health, niece and nephew, sleep
Off to Mass
We're off to Mass, Lola's having an adventure. I've looked up possible vacations for her and Dad. I'll show them to her after Mass this late afternoon.
~~~
22.59
Mom and I went for a short walk this evening and we met a Pilipina nurse during our walk.
Labels: health, Mass, Philippines, St. Paul Cathedral, travel, walking
Last Choir Sunday of the Season, Feast of Corpus Christi 2010
This Sunday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, our last Sunday as a full choir. Fr. Bill celebrated the Mass, and his homily was quite thought-provoking, addressing fringe elements of society who believe in the Eucharist.
Mom, Dad, and I went for Chinese/country buffet where we took Kirsten a couple of years ago. There was a dramatic sky, due to a tornado watch, and Mom took various pictures of the sky and buildings as we approached home. We were temporarily rerouted due to the Summer Reading Fest at the public library.
~~~
Monday I went to physical therapy (no ankle sleeve!) and Cara stepped me up to more resistance and more exercises (including the arm bicycle and balancing on foam. I walked from home to pick up some medicines for a basic medicine cabinet, and then to the library for computer work, and to the public library for a reserved book "waiting for me."
I had dinner, and Maureen and I went for a walk (after 20.00), running into Stacy and Vladimir on the way across the street. We looked at my borrowed library book (which is missing a fold-out city map) at the park benches near the library. I slept early, after a day of ~1.75-2.00 miles.
Labels: celebration, dining, exercise, health, library, Mass, photography, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, walking
Donuts and "Oh, that's it!"
It's Memorial Day weekend. I called Maureen--we each had a donut and she drove off to visit her family east of here. (I also talked to Luce.) I listened to some music and fell asleep for about two hours, did a little work, then fell asleep for another 2, 2.5 hours. Just had lunch of leftovers, juice, and salad.
"Oh, that's it!" I just remembered that I had been to the meeting house two weeks in a row, and may have hurt my ankle at a circle activity there.
Labels: dancing, dine, dining, friends, health, pain
Computer project at the Library
After I visited the doctor's office (where I noted the doctor's spouse and nice artwork in the waiting room), I stopped by Maureen's place, where we had pizza and lemonade and chocolate. She was expecting a phone call, and when my parking meter ran out, I departed.
I purchased an ankle wrap at the drug store.
Maureen called when I got home and we went to the campus library to take care of a project on vacation sites at the computer lab.
I called Karina, and promised to call her when we exited the library. We picked her up, headed to Giant Eagle (just as the skies opened up), and got drinks there. We saw Vicki E. and Grace M. there. We then headed to Waterworks Mall for book-browsing and dinner.
Labels: art, dine, health, library, phone, school, shopping, travel
Those Nagging Pains...
After meeting with a student, I spoke to the Assistant for the Frosh Studies class yesterday afternoon. I collected more teaching materials when I headed back to the computer lab, then picked up some books at the Carnegie Library.
I went home to rest, and to rest my sad little ankle. Then Maureen and I went to the pan-Asian restaurant and then to the library to look up airfares for her. I took some photos on the way home.
~~~
My "pore li'l ankle" and my shoulder have been bothering me for a while---time to get seen. I will go to Marissa's doctor, as my physician is relocating this week.
Labels: Carnegie, dining, friends, health, library, meeting, pain, student
Froggy Girl
Yep, Froggy Girl. That's me. Laryngitis time again. Losing/lost my voice. Kinda like Arielle in the Little Mermaid movie, the first Disney cartoon movie in a looooong time (was it since Bedknobs and Broomsticks, or something like that?)...I think I've discussed William's thoughts he shared with me about that movie ("To get the guy, you give up your voice!!") shortly after it was released.
Labels: cinema, health, singing, voice
Fainting Goats
I took care of various administrative tasks and communications today. I plan to go for a walk with Maureen later. I still am froggy girl, with a case of laryngitis.
~~~
What's with the fainting goats? Click on the link to find out!
Labels: animals, health, organizing, walking, writing
