Eatin', Eatin', Eatin'
Last night went out with Maureen and Karina for appetizers/dinner and dessert at a pub in Station Square. LOVE those calamari and the chocolate indulgence cake (takes you straight to Heaven!)
I had picked up Maureen because she had inadvertently locked her keys in her home. We also went to Squirrel Hill for her to purchase new sandals for the summer. She and I had a "slumber party"at my house afterwards, reviewing and culling through my wardrobe for this summer. We also looked at Facebook.
Today will be a grand day with Mom and Dad and William's family starting with brunch on the South Side...
Labels: computer, dining, family, friends, home
Choir Practice, as usual, tonight
I went in search of mango butter today, and did not find any. So I ended up at work, with one student absent. I walked home afterwards, and returned on foot to take care of administrative issues for next week. I walked home afterwards, as well.
I enjoyed a green salad with cheese for a snack before choir practice. Deeelicious.
Labels: Choir, dine, health, home, walking, work
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
Sunday Leading into Monday...January 2010
Sunday, Mom, Dad and I attended noon Mass, with me in the choir loft. Afterwards, we had lunch and I helped them with a few computer issues. I went home for a long nap.
Dinner at Mom and Dad's, then for an early bedtime, only to arise just short of six o'clock this morning.
Taught my class, ran an errand downtown (saw my birder friend on the bus and Susan E. in front of the library). Stopped in at a clothing shop. Caught a bus to Panther Central, for administrative stuff. Walked to a computer lab to print out more items to update my seating charts. Walked home, called Maureen, and walked to the Business Library on campus to pick up a book for Karina. Stopped by Karina's place; she treated us to hot chai and soup. We did some extension exercises as well as quad strengthening exercises (wall 1/2 squats), then took Karina for a walk / walked me home.
A fun time was had by all.
Labels: computer, dine, exercise, home, library, Philippines, school, shopping, sleep, student, travel, walking, work
The Bus Ride Home, Beatrice's Birthday Celebration
The bus ride home this Wednesday was good---no transfers, two seats to myself all the way to Harrisburg, and I chatted most of the way with a German schoolteacher-to-be who is going cross country to California. We had everyone from Mexicans to Italians to an Amish gentleman in our seating vicinity...there was at the back of the bus even a guy with beads in his beard, too. An uneventful trip, all-in-all.
~ ~ ~ ~
We met William and his family at the new French bistro for lunch...whilst waiting for a table, Lola and the children checked out the pastries in the window. I greatly enjoyed my meal, especially the hot cocoa at the end.
Labels: Beatrice, Birthday, celebration, home, niece and nephew, photos, transportation
Toronto V, Home Again, Home Again, Jig-a-dee-jig
Ah, home sweet home!
Labels: Canada, citizenship, home, international culture, travel
Mom & Dad Home
I'll be leaving shortly for the airport to pick up Mom and Dad from their voyages.
Labels: family, home, travel
Half (my stuff) Home
This afternoon I loaded my bags with my clean & other laundry, my books and magazines, my mail, my music CDs, my treatment folders, my paraphernalia for dressing, my toiletries and sundry other items into a cart and Dad helped me transport it to my home and to my sofa. I stayed behind to organize it for a while.
One of tonight's dishes will be cheeseburger macaroni, which I prepared.
We have yet to move my commode chair, shower chair, crutches and cane, and a few small items. That will wait until after dinner. I am "going to roost" as my neighbor indicated, at my home again.
Labels: dining, family, health, home, laundry, moving, music, neighbors, organizing, walking
First Day Home
Now I start my first day home. I have checked my email.
I am in some pain upon moving, but hey, I just had major surgery! I also think that Wednesday I had a particularly "moving"/active day at physical therapy, and Wednesday after 9am I was off the high-power oral pain medication...didn't go on another high-powered oral pain med until 4pm Thursday, and that at a lower dose. Part of the reason was that I just don't feel pain when I'm just lying in bed or sitting in a chair, not moving.
Margie just called, my outpatient home physical therapist from last year. We talked and had a laugh or two...she asked me if I told the joke to Dr. Crossett this year again about being able to play the violin...I said no, but that he and I talked about the chemistry of the colors of the bouquet Ornella had brought for me. Margie will be my therapist this year, too.
So exciting! Time for breakfast and the rest of my medicines.
~~~
Twelve Hours Later (21:10)
So, the outpatient nursing and physical therapy staff stopped by today: First, Mary, the evaluative physical therapist stopped by in the morning and watched me go through my exercises (twenty reps of each, as opposed to half that number in the hospital) and watched me walk with the crutches, and took a peek at my incision and drain site. The drain site included an area that looked as if it had a tape? blister, according to one of my hospital nurses. This area was sort of oozy. Hmm. I've already been told that my incision is very clean, but somewhat swollen (to be expected---that's my body's response to what's been done to it).
I rested from mid-afternoon on, and had made a snack of peanut butter sandwich and kalamansi-ade, and kettle chips with ketchup before my nap. Mom and Dad returned from Robinson Town Center with a pizza slice for me, and I enjoyed that with Coca-Cola. Dad got some of my food and my mail (snail mail) for me, and erased my old voice messages (that I had already listened to). It's late, but we made a snack of sweet corn, so I'll be enjoying it shortly.
Listened this afternoon to my new CD of "Italian Baroque--Vivaldi" from Barnes & Noble. It's nice to have music to keep me sane.
Labels: dine, email, exercise, home, music, pain, surgery
To NYC
I awoke at six o'clock to get ready to go to the City. I threw out the trash and lowered the windows. Arriving at Mom & Dad's with my luggage, I was surprised to hear that Mom had slept an hour prior (preparing for the trip). I loaded most of my luggage into the car. I stopped by the computer lab at work to print out the directions (from here to Donough's, ...to Uncle Dodong's, and ...to LSC; from Kelly's to Donough's homes) for our trip, which I had prepared last night. Stopped by to get hand cream at the drugstore...it was still closed, with newspapers strewn in front of the door.
I need to call to reschedule a medical appointment on Monday the 18th...must wait for their office to open this morning.
As Donough said, it will be nice to get together and to see each other after all these years: To meet his family, to see Aine and Eamon (and their spouses), again, too.
Labels: computer, email, family, friends, health, home, international culture, Ireland, New York, reunion, sleep, transportation, work
Olly olly Oxen Free---All come Home
Mom and Dad are back in the Burgh after coordinating the latest PAMS medical mission. They left a week earlier than the rest of the medical mission attendees to act as liaisons for the trip. The medical mission itself lasted a week, and then they spent a week visiting with family as well as a side trip to Vietnam.
It's so good to have them home again.
Labels: family, home, medical mission, organizing, Philippines, Pittsburgh, volunteering
Linda Mini-Reunion
Yesterday Linda arrived for a mini-reunion with Charles, William, and I. We chatted at my home soon after she arrived, and had lunch with Charles at a Pan Asian restaurant. Charles treated us to the Carnegie International 2008, as well as to the rest of the Museum of Art and Natural History. After some more time chatting at home, we were treated by Charles and Susan for dinner at Casbah. I had the beet salad with oil, vinegar, lemon oil and fennel; as well as the sumac scallops floating on baba ghanoush. We had chocolate filled with peanut butter for dessert ("Buckeyes!")
All of us headed to the Squonk Opera open-air concert Astro-Rama in Schenley Plaza, where we met up with William. We enjoyed the lit Cathedral of Learning, and headed to my home for some hot apple pie with whipped cream and with ginger tea (salabat). Tom met up with us and we all enjoyed conversation with all present. Linda and I enjoyed the first 1/2 hour of Saturday Night Live after everyone else departed.
~~~~~
Today Linda and I had a sweet and savory breakfast of: eggs with cheese crackers and salsa, toast with maple butter, and dark grape juice. After chatting a bit more, I went to choir practice at the Cathedral, and the choir sang noon Mass with Bishop Paul Bradley (concelebrating with Fr. Breier and Fr. Schreck).
We sang:
How Firm a Foundation
Proulx's Gloria from a Carillon Mass (and acclamations)
Guimont's Psalm 96
Berthier's Alleluia Gospel Acclamation
Hassler's Cantate Domino for the Preparation of Gifts
Communion Hymns--I Received the Living God (don't pop the joy!!) and
Elgar's Ave Maria
Recessional Hymn--Rejoice! The Lord is King
After Mass, Linda, Nancy, and I dined at Victor's restaurant, opting for the buffet, and listened to Nancy's ideas for Hallowe'en afterwards. We chatted at my home for a while, and then Linda departed, Nancy and I went to retrieve her jacket, and Nancy and I chatted for a bit...until she departed to see the Cathedral of Learning lit up.
Labels: art, biology, Carnegie, Choir, Church, dining, friends, home, light, Marietta, Mass, museum, opera, Pittsburgh, school, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, TV
Pratima Over
Pratima spent the night after she, Ellen, and I had dinner out at the restaurant on Craig St. I said hi to my former student who works there, hi to Brenda, and we all enjoyed large, hearty meals with lemonade.
Pratima and I chatted into the midnight hour, then called it a night. She left this morning soon after I showed her my Ireland photos.
I will treat Mom, Dad, and William to lunch at the new Chinese restaurant on Liberty Avenue today.
Labels: dining, home, international culture, sleep, work
Physical Therapy, 3 Repairs at Home
Physical therapy went on today without a hitch, as well as without crutches.
It is great that I live in a cooperative building, as so many things are taken care of by the maintenance here. The garbage disposal (for the second time within half a month), a bulb stuck in the main light fixture of the masters bedroom, and the shower drain (snake, as usual) repairs were requested at ten this morning. I was pleased with all of the repairs---Bob even reworked the whole wiring and fixture in the masters bedroom--except there were tiny burn spots in the embroidered afghan through to the underlying pink coverlet. I sadly explained to Ida and Ralph what had happened.
~~~
Mom, Dad, and I watched the DVD/still photos of Dad's fiftieth medical school reunion. It was a greatly festive event, including a group photo, a march by the sixtieth and fiftieth reuniting classes, choreographed group dances in which Dad and Mom competed, and two demonstration dances with thirty-four couples. The audience was whooping it up for the 34 dancers as they danced in unison.
Labels: BAD, cleaning, dance, health, home, medical mission, music, organizing, Philippines, Pilipino culture, pool, repair, school, surgery, water exercise
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
Wendy and Ed's Wedding, July 2008
Yesterday, I stopped by Elaine's home to pick her up to go to Wendy and Ed's wedding. On the way downstairs we stopped by Mary Lou's apartment and picked up Joan K., said a wide "welcome home!" to Mary Lou, and said a fond hello to her daughter Soozan. Roseann and Grace M. joined us in the lobby, and we made our way to St. Paul Cathedral.
Matt, Elaine, Roseanne, Dave, and I sat in the same pew for the ceremony. I actually stood for parts of the ceremony (for the entrance procession, Gospel reading, Communion rite, and recessional hymn). Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, John and Carol were the main altar servers, Linda cantored, and the other musicians were Don at the organ, Linda Fischer from the PSO, and Jordan Winkler from the River City Brass Band.
For the ride to the reception, Rosemary, Elaine, and I rode with Carmella and her husband Bob. I had the pleasure and responsibility of riding "shotgun," as I was the designated navigator. I took my job seriously and found us there safely, mostly due to Bob's driving. Our table consisted of Roseanne, Elaine, me, Carmella and her husband Bob, Vickie, Karen, and her husband Chuck. There was a caricaturist, a children's craft table, a balloon artist (I spotted a sword, a butterfly headdress, and a Spiderman headdress on various children), an hors d'oeurves table, toasts to the couple, Italian wedding soup, green salad, bread, three different choices for a main course (accompanied by twice-baked potato and green beans), a four-tiered white cake with buttercream frosting, coffees, and flaming desserts (of which bananas foster and cherries foster were two). There was dancing and merriment, and of course, the cookie table. We all enjoyed ourselves, wished the couple the best, and signed their Centennial book as a departure gesture.
Labels: art, BAD, celebration, dance, dining, excited, health, home, neighbors, St. Paul Cathedral, 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
Hanging Curtains
After Mom did a great job of laundering the curtains, Dad and she started to hang them this evening, despite some "eyes" paired with the "hooks" having been destroyed in the removal process. All three of us spent ~five hours at my home. I sorted through some last containers/boxes, while they hung 3 out of 4 window treatments.
I invited William and family over for dinner tomorrow night---I hope they can make it!
Labels: cleaning, dining, family, home, niece and nephew, organizing
Benny's Birthday 2008, I Overdid It
After physical therapy, lunch, and a nap; Mom and I cleaned in my hallway and master bedroom. I think some movements irritated my unoperated (left) hip, so I have started to use my crutches again. Dad, Mom, and I had dinner of pot roast with potatoes and carrots, salad, rice, corn on the cob, and lemonade.
Then, I announced that it was after nine o'clock (when we have unlimited calling), and before dinner on the West Coast...so we called Benny and sang/played piano "Happy Birthday" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" for him. He liked our singing, though he sounded a little tired.
Labels: BAD, Birthday, California, dining, exercise, family, health, home, music, niece and nephew, pain, singing, surgery, water exercise
Cleaning/Organizing/Purging I
Yesterday, Mom and I started purging from the top of my "coffee table." We also shredded documents, boxed up a boom box for donation, and were joined by William, who set up the old computer from Vickie to test it. He also went to test my CD-R drive from the old Mac from Deb, which we could not get to work. He proffered that if I should ever want to get a dining room table off my hands, that he would be happy to take it...Mom and I discussed this later, and I said that the table may have to be sold with the apartment coop. This table is the one we dined on when we lived in the Bronx, when we were about five years old. It is the one William hid under when our teacher came to visit, and he had Winnie-the-Pooh as a puppet.
I showered after, and William joined Mom, Dad, and I for dinner (Marissa and the kids were enjoying the afternoon at IKEA). William shared with us oven-dried honeyed banana/plaintain with us from one of his students, which we had for dessert with sweet sliced pineapple that Dad had prepared. We chatted for a bit, then he caught the bus for home.
I noted to Mom that my left leg is bothering me lots more than my right, operated one.
Labels: BAD, computer, dining, health, home, New York, pain, St. Lucy, surgery, tea, teaching, transportation
