University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers ("Madz")
Today was the event by the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers. I arrived at 11am at Heinz Chapel to help out--the ushers were all at the student union building, which I found out when I went there.
The group was running late, so they went directly to Heinz Chapel. I worked the Will Call and directed people toward the correct locations.
~
The group was nothing short of masterful in their presentation and interpretation of sacred, secular, Philippine folk songs, and contemporary music. They have been designated as a UNESCO group, and have won various awards in Europe and around the globe.
~
I drove (courtesy of Bob H's directions) Enzo and Sherwin to their host's home. We all changed, and then went to Bob and Malou's place for dinner with Jacqueline and Chi Chi. Jacquie and Malou were to do laundry, and Bob let the boys into their host home. After exchanging contact information, hugs, and several photo ops, we departed for our respective places.
Labels: Choir, friends, ice cream, languages, Philippines, photos, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, school, singing
Second Day of G-20 in Pittsburgh: Police Presence
Before 11.15 am today I:
Read Haggai 2:1-9 and Psalm 43:1-4.
Had trouble getting into the church building
Said the Rosary and Chaplet with a group of people (including Dad, Oscar, his daughter Christina, Maureen, and Lisa C.)
Picked up my wallet, and walked with Maureen to Pamela's, Oakland
Saw < 10 potential protesters at Schenley Plaza
Saw foot police in dark colors in a group of ~20 on Bellefield Avenue heading south
Saw firemen from Sewickley travelling west
Saw PAT buses marked SPECIAL bearing troopers
Saw a lot of police presence, in general
Sat directly under a broken and boarded window at Pamela's
Enjoyed my breakfast with Maureen, at a lively restaurant, next to gentlemen who ordered takeout, and single people, some carrying soft-sided luggage. Some of those dining looked as if they might be protesters
We met up with a man taking a photo of the damage at Pamela's
Saw a woman taking a photo of the damage at American Apparel
Saw McDonald's boarded up with plywood
There was a white tent over the W entrance of the Cathedral of Learning
Stopped in a computer lab on campus
Saw well-dressed foreign visitors from Japan visiting the Cathedral of Learning
Saw a convoy of motorcycle police traveling north on Bellefield at the same time as we
Saw a platoon of county mounted police travelling south on Bellefield
saw the Mellon Institute had "Falling Objects" tape around the front entrance
Saw bicycle police at the NE corner of the Mellon Institute building
Saw Fr. Barry and Fr. Kim walking about
Generally, there were fewer U Pitt-looking students on Forbes Avenue,
Fewer pedestrians,
less foot traffic,
less vehicular traffic ("It's eerie," said Maureen)
no parked cars for stretches.
I think I'll do my laundry this weekend...
Labels: American history, automobile, citizenship, ice cream, international culture, languages, photography, prayer, read, repair, school, St. Paul Cathedral, work, writing
Third Day Without a Cane, Man on Wire
So, it's my third day without a cane. Slept about six hours last night, dropped off a little "care package" for Mom & Dad on my way to physical therapy. Dad, Mom, and I met over lunch, and then Dad and I went home to pick up my wallet, I picked up the DVD Man On Wire (for viewing tonight at the Newman Center) at the public library, then headed to Fox Chapel for some purchases.
Dad and I tried the coffee toffee chocolate Frosty at Wendy's, and I picked up a sandwich for dinner while there, too. We headed home, then I checked out my purchases, and am blogging before viewing the movie tonight with friends. This movie comes highly recommended by Jonathan.
~~~
15 August 2009
Earlier this week, Jonathan wrote about Man on Wire,
It describes the audacious attempt of a Frenchman Phillipe Petit to walk a wire strung between the WTC Twin Towers in 1974.
When Petit sends his friend Jean-Louis a picture of the towers with a wire drawn connecting them at the top, Jean-Louis says, as only a Frenchie would, “Of course. That’s why they were built. For Phillipe.”
At one point Petit says, “All right, it’s impossible. Now let’s begin working on how to do it.”
Phillipe Petit has left an indelible incredible legacy.
What will mine/your’s be?
J.
Maureen, Christina, and I watched the film together last night, and I noticed that we discussed issues of the relationships between individuals in the movie, namely:
Nous [les trois femmes] pensons que c'était dégoutant que Petit a un liaison avec une femme etrangée au lieu de sa petite amie, Annie;
et
il a un charme assez de personnalité qu'il peut faire rapidement des amis pour accomplir ses exploits, mais il a perdu ses relations avec Annie et Jean-Louis, peu après le WTC danse en l'air;
et
Il a une qualité qui est rafraîchissante et comme un enfant, qui englobe les activités du cirque ... il m'a rappelé de Michael Jackson;
et
Annie a été presque maternelle ou comme une sœur quand elle a parler de lui, comme ses autres amis.
et
En se référant à la vie après le WTC danse en l'air, Annie mentionne qu'il a devenu en proie à la gloire.
C'était mes pensées de ce film.
So, I found it immensely interesting that the female perspective on the movie revolved around the relationships between Petit and his support network, whereas Jonathan's perspective on the movie was predominantly on the feat he accomplished.
Labels: Carnegie, cinema, dance, dining, international culture, languages, library, love, shopping, sleep, walking, weather
Pizza and Back to the Future
Yesterday, I went in the morning to physical therapy. After lunch and an afternoon nap, I met up with Christina and Rachel for pizza and a movie---Back to the Future, which I haven't seen since it came out back in the 1980's.
We noted little things about the movie, such as a cameo appearance by Huey Lewis. It bothered us that the character of Doc kept pronouncing GW (gigawatt) differently. But all in all, a wonderful movie...we were joined by Kristen and Daniel and by PJ and Joey before the end of the movie.
Farewells to Rachel ensued, as she is departing Friday for points west.
Labels: cinema, dining, exercise, farewell, languages, science, water exercise
Yoga and Latin
Went with Karina to her yoga class last night. Barbara led the class, and I used a chair and the wall to follow along. I got a book, Ignorance, by Kundera, too.
Went to the Oratory for Eucharistic Adoration and Latin class with Kathryn, for Karina and I (respectively). Actually got to decline an adjective/noun pair on the board (surprise!)
~~~
I got a reply this morning from my friend Judy, whom I haven't been in touch with for fifteen years! We will talk to each other soon enough this week. It was good to hear her "voice" come across the email.
Labels: dog, email, excited, exercise, friends, international culture, languages, read, reunion
Healing in the Novel of Heidi
...and when we were young children, my mom purchased a small pink and white plastic steamboat theatre play-stage for putting on plays (I think at auction). One of the plays/stories was Heidi, about a very young shepherd girl who goes to live in the anomie of the big city...later, another girl she befriends, Clara (whose name I recalled as Laura, or Lara), who was wheelchair-bound and who lives in the big city (Frankfurt) and who is pasty-faced from city-living, spends time with Heidi in her alpine environment and through healing with the sun, flowers, and shepherding, learns to walk.
This weekend was much like the healing in the novel of Heidi for me. Clara is I, I go to the mountains of the Laurel Highlands this weekend, and due to the fresh air, sun, and time playing with Tito Larry and Tita Tina's dog, Hermes, feel much better than before the weekend began. This morning alone I spent a good quarter of an hour walking about the main floor of their condominium with my crutches. At the beginning of the weekend, I used one crutch to get around the small guest room at my parents' home...by the end of the weekend, I felt strong enough to raise myself up onto one crutch and make my way about the main floor of the condominium. Most of yesterday's afternoon Hermes and I sat sat-by-side in the large, leather chair in the living room, alternately reading, listening to music, and, dozing off. Oh, and we ate a lot of VERY GOOD food!
~~~
...which brings to mind the "Haiji" cartoons/anime from the 1970's. My youngest sister as well as the daughter of my parents' friends, Didi, thoroughly enjoyed watching this series of stories when they were very young. My siblings and I---as well as Didi's siblings---were thoroughly taken by the similarity in sounds of laughter and distraught in Heidi = "Haiji" .
Labels: adventure, cinema, dine, dog, exercise, games, international culture, languages, meeting, mountains, music, sleep, walking
Playin' (and Singin')
I graded papers yesterday, and asked William if I could stop by their home yesterday afternoon. He dialed, and Beata said, "Do you want to play with us?" I went to their home and she danced in circles like an ice skater; we learned some sign language.
William asked me if I had taught her the sign for helicopter...."Yes, but I had only signed it once at your house." They had been trying to figure out where she had learned it, as it was in none of the books, William and Marissa hadn't taught her, and Beata was signing helicopter.
We held the kids up in the air, causing great delight, and then Beata and I played "Go Fish." We had dinner of quiche ("Gimme a quiche,...gimme a hug"), veggies, and rice. Solomon, in his inimitable style, vocalized happiness as he consumed his meal.
~~~~~
Later, after six o'clock Mass, I met up with Don to drive chez Lisa and Ken's for a Folk Music Mass sing-a-long. The ride up we discussed prayer and vocations. The guitars were tuned up, the kitchen table was slowly being unloaded of desserts, the choristers were ready, and we were joined by friends of Ken and Lisa, Nancy & Ronald and Chuck & Maggie (our only stars of the evening, as the sky was warmer and overcast). The ride back we discussed Don's introduction to the organ.
Labels: biology, dance, dining, friends, languages, Mass, music, prayer, school, surprise, TV, work
Ma Famille Belge
A couple of hours ago I spoke with ma maman et mon papa belges. We caught up after over a dozen years, sharing ideas, thoughts on this week's election, their grandchildren (!), my family, and I got C's contact information.
J'ai [vous] manque, I said, in broken French. It was good to talk to them and to hear how they are doing. They told me they do not have the Internet...Ah, c'est bon, I replied, agreeing, explaining Je n'ai pas l'Internet a mon appartement parce que a mon travaille j'ai utilise l'Internet.
Labels: family, international culture, languages, Pittsburgh, politics
Philippine Nationality Room Fundraising; The Nightmare Before Christmas
This morning, after doing a load of laundry after Enzymes II week, I headed to Tita Tina and Tito Larry's for a meeting of the Philippine Nationality Room Fundraising committee. We had a great brainstorming session, and shared ideas over a potluck breakfast. I ran an errand after the meeting and returned in time to receive a phone call from Mom. She and Tita Tina chatted, and I chatted with her, too. Dad was resting at the time.
I stopped at the Mount Lebanon library to check out their collection development. I stopped at home to pick up some work papers, and then Tom and I headed to the Main Carnegie Library to collect a video (Amelie). We stopped at the video store in Bloomfield and picked up Nightmare Before Christmas, shopped at Giant Eagle for dinner fixings, and made certain to get some pumpkin cookies, too.
After a dinner of mixed green salad, beef stroganoff, broccoli crowns, and juices, I proceeded to play the movie Amelie. "Subtitles?" said Tom, "It's too much work to watch a movie like that," he exclaimed, thereby reminding me of his poor eyesight.
"Fine," I conceded, "we can watch your movie after I do a little work," He happily helped me with tabulating and plotting the data for two inhibitor groups from two of my lab sections last week.
We then had pumpkin cookies (being careful to keep them away from the doggie, Midnight), and watched the movie Nightmare before Christmas.
I like his doggie, who seemed to take after me, leaning against me and resting his head on me, all for attention.
Labels: biology, Carnegie, cinema, dining, dog, international culture, languages, laundry, library, list, organizing, Philippines, phone, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, student, teaching, work
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
Mr. Bean's Holiday, First 3 weeks
Mom and I watched, on this last night of super-duper conservative healing, some Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as the movie Mr. Bean's Holiday. William had earlier expressed surprise that I had never seen a Bean movie (yet).
Mom and I were totally enchanted by the antics of the characters in the movie, the scenery, the light, the aria from Gianni Schicchi, "O mio babbino caro," and the love and caring in the movie.
~~~
It's soon the end of the first three weeks after surgery. I see the surgeon tomorrow, within twelve hours from now. I hope that he will say I need neither to have blood thinner shots in my stomach (in my soft underbelly) any longer, nor to wear TED (anti-embolism) hose any longer. I also want to have a general timeline for when I can return to certain activities, such as swimming, dancing, driving, etc.
Labels: BAD, cinema, Curb Your Enthusiasm, family, health, international culture, languages, light, love, surgery, surprise, talent, transportation, travel
Pittsburgh Folk Festival 2008
I'm off to the Pittsburgh Folk Festival 2008 this morning. I will be the storyteller at the Philippines booth. I have two stories that I think the children will appreciate, Ang Alamat ng Palay,(The Legend of Rice) and Kala-Kalahati (Half and Half).
~~~
The booth was so busy with "Passports" for the students that I helped out with that. The other two helpers, Marcel and John, left to take a tour of the other booths. So it was li'l ole me and several hundred students between ~10:30 and noon---my handing out stickers/visas for each student, whilst I doled out snippets of information, with an air of interested humor:
The Philippines is found in Southeast Asia, and there are over 7100 islands. That means that there is a lot of coastline, and the people like to eat a lot of fish and rice.
Most people are not aware that there are many dialects in the Philippines. A major dialect, Tagalog, forms the basis for one of the national languages--Pilipino. The other national language, you may be familiar with---English.
The traditional cloth of many of the blouses and barongs is pina cloth---made from the pineapple plant.
If you are an American citizen, you do not need a visa to travel to the Philippines. These stickers today are just for fun.
Stickers (said with slight impatience, of a child waiting too long in line for an item)---wala ang sticker ko! / I don't have a sticker! Nasaan ang stickers? / Where are those stickers? (as I handed out stickers/"pretend visas" insouciantly)
"Thank you for waiting."
And information on wedding ceremonies to interested parties: Mostly teachers, parents, and young women.
Labels: children, diaspora, languages, Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh
that Clinical Eye...
While at the ice cream shop last week, I noted to William that Beatrice was developing a clinical eye: She noted something clinically different, placed her hand on the spot, and then imitated the problem with her own body.
Labels: Beatrice, health, languages, philosophical
Fire Alarm on a Balmy Day
Today, most of my class had finished their independent variable data collection, so I sent them to the computer lab in the adjacent building until 45 minutes later. As they were finishing cleaning the lab, gathering their books and papers, the fire alarm went off. I reminded them to unplug hot plates, take items of value with them, as they exited. I grabbed the seating chart as I exited and mentally took roll at our designated meeting place. I reminded them to meet back in our lab before class ends, that I had locked the door, and they scattered to plot data in Excel in the computer lab.
When I returned at the agreed-upon time, some were already waiting. We did last-minute cleaning, and then had a brief discussion with overheads and Powerpoint slides about the data they had just collected today.
The weather, by the way, was balmy when we exited the building through increasingly loud, screaming alarms. I enjoyed the walk to and from campus today, with my (stately) cane and tugging my backpack-on-wheels with me.
Lunch, a couple of errands, and a nap followed.
Marissa and Beatrice have invited me to join them for an ice cream run. I gladly, unhesitatingly accepted.
~~~
Serendipitously, William had left a meeting with the dean up the street, so we met up and surprised Marissa and Beatrice with both of our presences. We had ice cream at DQ's (Mint Oreo sundae for me, plenty of babies) followed by dinner at Kassab's. Delicious hummus, gyro platter with a little bit of house dressing on the side. Yum. Beatrice charmed the waitress and the people at the table next to us.
William, Beatrice, and I returned to DQ's for a turtle sundae for William. Marissa spoke genealogy with her Mom whilst we dined there. Beatrice even "taught" her daddy the word "cane" which she had learned last week. She was making an attempt to get up (to walk?) and hold the cane concurrently. She was also corrected for trying to put her feet on the table's edge.
On the way home, we worked on inside voices. I played "big toe, little toe" with Beatrice, as I used to play "Low, high" with her balloon on the drive across the Birmingham Bridge.
What a nice way to end a great day as we crossed the Birmingham bridge, reopened again after several weeks closed for repairs.
Labels: alarm, Beatrice, biology, children, dining, genealogy, languages, library, museum, niece and nephew, Pittsburgh, work
A day with Beatrice; Faithsharing evening
Marissa, Beatrice, and I spent a girl's day out at Waterworks Mall today, after I ran an errand in Squirrel Hill. We had a light lunch/snack at Taco Bell, did some light shopping, (during which I taught Beatrice the word and function of belt), and ate a snack at Wendy's while waiting for a woman to deliver some baby items. She never showed up, and I don't know if she ever answered Marissa's attempts to contact her.
I babysat Beatrice while Marissa watched the second half of a play at CMU with William, who had the fortune of seeing the first half, too. We walked with her pull-toy doggie (dog: Ruff, ruff), and met Dorothy and Marlin. We read books (Mousekin's Special Day; Go, Dog, Go! and Grandma and Me a.k.a. Lola and Me), played with toys, sang, drank some bottle (babu) and generally had fun all the way up to the point her mom and dad arrived.
I departed soon after Wawa and Marissa's arrival, for the Saturday faith-sharing with our regular group. Jose led the group in a discussion of Job. Nellie, Nick, Jose, and I dined together at Lulu's, and continued the discussion at Kiva Han over hot cocoa and coffee. We talked about the Church (Roman Catholic, Eastern, Oriental, Coptic, etc.), the Bible and its history (including the Apocrypha), the Church's role in conversion of countries affected by the Spaniards, the meeting of the Archbishop and the Incan king, why Magellan never made it 'round the world with his ship, and on and on...
Labels: Beatrice, children, Church, dining, Faith, international culture, languages, Pilipino culture, read, water
Wellesley Alumnae Event, Winter 2008
Madeleine Albright spoke for less than an hour at Heinz Hall tonight. Joe W. and I took the bus downtown and sat in the front center of the directors circle. She spoke about issues that the next president will need to focus on: terrorism and the Middle East, nuclear proliferation, global warming, and the difficulty of global democracy. She spent the rest of the time (over an hour) addressing questions from the audience.
She told an airport security story, after which we all laughed, told how Condoleeza Rice was a student of her father's in Denver, talked about the "ABC" policy of the Bush administration, and told stories of her visits to Kosovo and Mongolia. She addressed the questions of a mother of three by recalling her learning Russian after her preemie twins were born. She was, as Joe put it, "Incredibly normal," and as I put it, incredibly knowledgeable of a wide range of topics and incredibly down-to-earth. I had brought my Wellesley banner and waved it after her talk, when she was presented with a "Terrible Towel" since the Steelers had sponsored her talk tonight.
I commented to Joe that he and Tina and my parents and I would have a lot to talk about this evening.
Labels: international culture, languages, Pittsburgh, travel, Wellesley
Paki patay ang ilaw
or, "please turn off the light" in Tagalog. I guess--in my limited knowledge of Tagalog--- that would be "please extinguish the light." It would NOT be "please extinguish the [flame]," nor the opposite of "to light up," nor "please extinguish [your] cigarette." I had to ask Mom about that word..."paki patay ang sigarilyo."
Last night, I had a discussion with Paulette (and have had prior discussions with my smoking friends) about how nicotine is more addictive than hard street substances. "You have to treat it as an addiction," I told Paulette, "It's not easy to quit." She confessed that she had been smoking since she was very young and that EVERYONE around her smoked...I indicated that there are medications to help people to quit...I have another friend who used to smoke. She now has trouble breathing. "They lied to us [about the dangers of smoking]," she intoned to me.
Labels: addiction, languages, light, Philippines
Last Minute
lectoring yesterday at St. Paul Cathedral. The universal sign for "Do you want to lector today, even though you're not scheduled?" was made by Jeff and Don. "Sure, I guess," was my silent reply.
In an attempt to enter the sacristy, I found the door locked. "I'm only trying to help," I said, gamely, while entering behind the altar.
Labels: Church, languages, lector, read, St. Paul Cathedral
(seeming) self-control
Wednesday afternoon I met my birder friend for dinner and Rita's frozen custard. I passed (for the time being) on the Rita's frozen delight. She was greatly surprised at my (seeming) self-control.
I explained that our group meeting from the Newman Center would most likely go for ice cream afterwards. "Delayed gratification," she duly noted.
There are very few things that I like so much as Rita's. Except maybe
1. the process of finding the best smoothie in my neighborhood
2. Eating the best smoothie in my neighborhood
3. Eating the best smoothie in my neighborhood on a regular basis.
ICE CREAM STORIES
~I actually used to bike all the way into Cambridge to a little family-owned gelateria to get gelato while a student at Wellesley. (MUST GET gelato!)
~Then there is the student legend of the alumna who donated ice cream to the dining halls....I heard it as a pre-frosh touring the campus from my tour guide, Robin...There must be some truth to it!
~When I was in graduate school I gathered a specific phrase about ice cream in as many languages as I could. (My lil "ice breaker" sentence.)
~I am sure that I will have ice cream when I am in the Boston area for reunion shortly.
Labels: ice cream, international culture, languages, Wellesley
