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
Communications, Dry Cleaner
Thursday I dropped off some dry cleaning and I took care of some communications. I stopped in the jewelry shop to get a new watch battery...but the person I wanted to talk to was not present. I was told to return tomorrow.
Labels: jewelry, laundry
Labor Day Weekend and Week
It was fun to go to a potluck cookout for Sunday before Labor Day. There was "really good Corn," too.
Labor Day I renewed my library books due the following day (Tuesday, today).
Today I met with a student, M, to make-up the first lab. I then walked to get a Blue Bunny ice cream cone and to meet with my friend and discuss various things, including some recent writing I have been doing. Also had an appointment. I helped Mom with the laundry, and then we had dinner, which Dad joined us for after his Bible study. We also watched America's Got Talent, as well.
Labels: biology, Carnegie, dine, Faith, laundry, library, TV, work
Up at 5
So, I went to sleep at about 23.00 last night and awoke at 5.00...I was busy in my preparations ( called Verizon Wireless, my cell phone carrier) and at the computer until about 9. I went grocery shopping with Mom and Dad in the Strip District, then we had lunch and more shopping at the Big Bird Market District. I took a nap 16.00-17.00, then played with my cell phone some more.
I helped Mom with laundry, and also with future vacation plans via frequent flyer miles.
Labels: computer, laundry, phone, shopping, sleep, travel
Miss Saigon CLO 2010
Alva and I departed for the Benedum Theatre this evening to see Miss Saigon. Wonderfully produced and acted, the cast and crew (including the sound engineers) produced a balanced show.
We discussed the show all the way home, and enjoyed the way home.
Mom and Dad indicated that they had seen the production with Lea Salonga. They also indicated that the second hour of tonight's America's Got Talent was produced in New York City.
~~~
I had gotten up early this morning, at about 4.00, and couldn't get back to sleep, so I did laundry at about 7.30. How exciting.
Labels: laundry, music, neighbors, sleep, theater
Laundry (again)!
I've been up since 5.00, doing laundry. Made a lot of communiques, first to my friend S, then to various offices with which I need to make arrangements. I had lunch with Mom and Dad, and got more communications completed.
~~~
Maureen and I went to Taco Bell for dinner, I bought some bedding items, as well. We wandered around the bookstore, window-shopping. We chatted about our plans for summer, etc. We had a nice evening out.
Labels: dining, family, international culture, laundry, shopping
Spring Break 2010 III
Afternoon yesterday, cleaned and organized my files. Went for a walk yesterday late afternoon with Maureen. We ended up heading toward the pan-Asian restaurant in Oakland, and ran into Dan from choir on the way there. Chatted with him for a while, and ran into Freddie at the restaurant, where we got General Tso's chicken with a pot of green tea. Mmm. Nothing is better for the soul and the coughy throat on a cool-tending-to-cold March night.
~~~
3.37
Just finished deleting files to reduce my file space by more than half in my work email account. I am so happy! I'm now down to 13.0% of total disk space possible/potential. Yay!
~~~~~
5.20
I'm consolidating my work and school files---tossing excess waste, recycling paper...Now I'm getting tired and less effective. Time to rest.
~~~~~~~
6.33
Never took a break: Am doing laundry. Need to move to the dryers in a few minutes.
~~~~~~~~~
19.00
Ran errands in the AM---walked to retrieve my prophylactic antibiotics for my teeth cleaning later this week.
Had lunch at the sushi buffet with mom and dad. Purchased computer storage supplies at the office supply store, then headed to the visitation of our neighbor, Rita. It was good to see her extension into the community and to talk to her family.
I worked on some paperwork, then did some computer work.
It will be good to rest tonight.
Labels: Choir, cleaning, dining, email, farewell, friends, health, laundry, organizing, school, seasons, walking, weather, work
Beat the Crowds: Laundry, Brunch, and Tea
Slow day today. I finished my loads of laundry early and then Maureen and I beat the crowds to brunch for French toast (regular and croissant caramel walnut, for Maureen and for me, respectively). We walked to my home for hot Irish tea and to warm up and dry out from the cold, slushy streets.
We looked at my atlas and travel journal notes and talked about our travel experiences. I just received a call from her that she is home safe.
Labels: dining, friends, laundry, tea, travel
Driving About after the Storms, Friday
Yesterday after morning Mass (~28) I met up with A (a new student up the street), Matt, and Carmella and Bob. We chatted and welcomed A warmly to cold Pittsburgh.
After a hearty breakfast, Maureen and I ventured out to the great beyond known as Robinson Township. We started at Costco (where we also had lunch, and where we spent two hours), went to the Mall, and walked around a bit, shopped a bit. We returned to Pittsburgh after the usual dinner hour, and we both enjoyed our chicken independently. I'm thankful that Maureen has a heavy automobile with snow tires.
Makin' plans for the weekend, as well.
I'm currently beating the rush for the laundry machines on Saturday mornings by doing a few loads right now.
Labels: automobile, laundry, Mass, shopping, student
Up Early January 2010
So, I'm up early this morning. Wrote an email, now I'm going to write about yesterday:
Yesterday, I woke at ~7.15 (boy, was that difficult) to the strains of my alarm. I did some computer work, then joined up with Mom and Dad for a late breakfast. Mom and I watched a movie with Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married. In the afternoon I went to a bookstore and then to Trader Joe's for some groceries. Then a nap... After dinner it was time for pastoral council. Matt and I wrote closing and opening prayers, respectively. One of the fun activities we did was to write a want ad for pastoral council. We shared a lot of topics, and ended soon after an hour, as the weather dictated our actions. We spoke about the "Grace problem" of first Wednesday conflicts, as well. Roseann, Elaine, and I slip-slided all the way home. A discussion ensued with Mom and Dad, then a nap, then some document editing.
Today, I'm up early for this last full weekday of vacation before the semester starts. Tomorrow holds a meeting, as well as a bit of administrative work. I don't have anything in particular planned for today, although I should be doing laundry soon, not because of need, but because of desire (or something). It's the first morning in a few that I've not heard the men plowing the snow in the parking lot in the wee hours of the morning. No plans for today, but Now time for another email. No plans for today, but now it's time to check my email for plans, as well as to make plans, all for within the next couple of years.
~~~~~
21.55
I took a nap ~7:30-9:30, had a late breakfast, early lunch, then took a nap, then was awakened by a call from Karina to walk to the library. She hung out in the magazine room, and I went to the campus libe/computer lab to print out some documents. I received a call from her---she had lost a bracelet her sister had just given her. She retraced part of her steps that we had taken to the library. I then renewed a book and met up with her: She hadn't found it when we got to a parking lot near my building.
I was pleased to receive a call from her stating that she had located the bracelet!
The evening was spent with Mom and Dad working on medical mission documents.
Labels: biology, cinema, cinema tv, cold, dine, email, jewelry, laundry, library, medical mission, meeting, music, pastoral council, Philippines, prayer, sleep, travel, weather, work
Laundry, Right Before Thanksgiving 2009
I awoke about two and a half hours ago to start my laundry...three big loads! Whites, lights/brights, and dark colors. Sort and load, sort and load.
I like doing laundry because it is generally relaxing. It doesn't stress like some household chores do. In fact, when I was working full-time and going to graduate school concurrently, I considered laundry to be my mini-vacation! Pour in the clothes, hear the water pour into the cylinder, listen to the drone of the machine. go away to take a short nap or to read a magazine, take the wet clothes from the washer, load the dryer, go away for a little longer, ANNNNNNNNND voila! fresh clothes!
I luff it.
~~~~~
I read the epistle and psalm and general intercessions at yesterday's morning Mass. John greeted me, Emily stopped by the sacristy to chat with him, Don was happy to see that I was reading, and Father Kim celebrated the Mass. He always says a little prayer before we get started...very nice.
Labels: Church, laundry, Mass, read, school, St. Paul Cathedral, work
Laundry
I awoke at four this morning and did two loads of laundry. I went back to bed after six o'clock and awoke again at nine.
Auntie Chi is preparing to leave late this morning, and is packing in the room next door.
~~~
Mom, Dad, and I dropped off Auntie Chi at the airport today. We then went to Costco for gasoline and a snack. We recycled some of mom's clothing in Mount Lebanon.
Labels: dining, family, laundry, recycle, shopping, sleep
Kidd Pivot
I did a load of laundry at 6.30 this morning, had breakfast (pumpkin muffins, bacon, soy chai) with Maureen in Regent Square, and went office supply shopping with Maureen east of her 'hood.
Karina was in a car accident, so we helped her out by standing next to her car while she unloaded it, going to the garage for her to store her car until the official assessment this week, and hanging out in Maureen's place with her.
I went this evening with Charles and Susan to see Kidd Pivot at the Byham Theater. Conscious of the present-ness of dance, the choreographer described the sense of loss and memory of loss to the audience after the show. I felt the fugue-ness of the movement vocabulary of the piece, which was called "Lost Movement." All the dancers joined the choreographer on the stage apron in answering questions at the end of the show. Repetition of movement themes/ movement vocabulary was paramount to the work. I asked after the Q & A period whether there were any themes that were supernatural or religious in the work (as there was a theme of death & rebirth), and I was told, no, the piece was mainly about loss and memory, of loss and remembering the loss. It was therefore successful in this regard.
The choreography and score reminded me of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, from Belgium, as well as movement snippets being similar to those of Mark Morris.
We enjoyed a snack at a cafe in Bloomfield afterward.
Labels: Canada, Church, dance, friends, international culture, laundry
This Saturday Morning
...I've sent an email to one section of my students,
done two loads of laundry,
took a half-hour nap,
gone grocery shopping,
run an errand in rainy, downpour conditions in Squirrel Hill,
and prepared and ate a snack.
Time for another nap before I join William's family for a museum outing!
~~~
and we enjoyed the Carnegie pair, museum of Natural History and Museum of Art. It was great fun walking about with the children and Marissa and William. We ran into Lisa and Autumn for lunch, then Beata and I enjoyed making two photo montages (photos courtesy of the Teeny Harris collection). We saw the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh show upstairs, too.
Labels: art, Carnegie, dine, email, laundry, museum, photography, sleep, student, work
Laundry, Physical Therapy, Airline Miles Promotion
I awoke at ~6am today to do some laundry. After breakfast I went to physical therapy. I told Keelan that I was kind of sore in the socket from Monday's walking adventures. I still need to develop my muscles...
I completed my profile for the airline miles promotion, and played the online geography game. I also took a nice nap this afternoon.
Labels: BAD, exercise, games, laundry, pain, sleep, travel, water exercise
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
Friday in the Octave of Easter 2009
Today I administered my last/final practical final examination for the semester. On my walk home Marissa called me and invited me to join her, Solomon, and Beatrice at midway at Carnival at Carnegie Mellon University. After having lunch, I headed to the midway.
I took pictures of Beatrice "driving" in the car (leaning left and right whilst holding the steering wheel), riding with Lauren in the lady bugs/granny bug, and Marissa took a picture of her before/after one pass in the roller coaster (a little too much for her now). Solomon slept peacefully throughout. Lauren and her daddy rode in the ferris wheel while Marissa, Beatrice, and I rode in another cab of the ferris wheel. Lauren returned for another ride (this time with her mom), and Beatrice and I rode on the carousel (she rode on the zebra).
Marissa told me how Beatrice had bumped her head earlier, and the people in the emergency trailer examined her, then told Marissa to watch her for changes. Well, Beatrice was extremely quiet...unusually so.
"Beatrice," Marissa asked her, "can you talk?"
"I can't talk," Beatrice replied.
"Why not?"
"Because everyone is talking So Loud, I can't talk."
["And so we knew she was okay," Marissa stated.]
I scoped out the location of the concert next week in the College of Fine Arts, shopped at the sidewalk sale by the University Center, and walked home to take a nap. Nancy and I spoke about our evening plans tonight, I checked my email, had a snack of pita and butter, Otap and capucchino, and decided to grade a little before heading out for the evening. I will meet up with Nancy, Karina, and Maureen at the Newman Center and then it's off to the symphony for Nancy and me...for some Rachmaninoff.
~~~
21:45 Friday
No Rachmaninoff: Girls Dine Out
Met up with Karina and Nancy at the Newman Center---we went for sushi for dinner on Oakland St. We chatted about job hunting and volunteer work. It was great fun, enlightenment for some of us. We decided feeding our souls is important. I am listening to a piano symphony on WQED currently, Piano Concerto #3 (Finale) by Rachmaninoff, with Denis Matsuev on piano and Leonard Slatkin conducting.
I need to grade, do laundry, clean house, and grocery shop before Monday. I can't believe how I have procrastinated before S.'s arrival!
22:00
Mr. Matsuev is playing an encore---from Hall of the Mountain King(, a Rachmaninov version of the Grieg piece, according to WQED).
Labels: Beatrice, biology, Carnegie, Church, cleaning, excited, Faith, international culture, laundry, music, organizing, Pittsburgh, PSO, Rachmaninoff, school, shopping, student, work
Up Early
So, I'm up early today---listened to the morning interview of Lois Lowry on the early Sunday radio show, headed to Mom & Dad's to do a few errands and to review my work for next week, and to check my email (nothing new since late last night)...I think about the friends and family I spoke with yesterday: Auntie Chi and Uncle Sonny, Luce (and her upcoming visit), Nancy (and our plans for Wednesday, Saturday, and then for Friday), Grace Y. (and our plans for Jenny to visit), Maureen (and our plans for after Mass); and the message not left for Anjali (including the thoughts of her---by many alti and soprani in choir---upon singing the conclusion of Bob Farrell's "Crucifixus")...and I write of these thoughts here.
I think of Mom and I watching "Dancing with the Stars" last night, our pleasant dinner with Dad after they returned from shopping...I think of the stars as I travel between Mom & Dad's home and mine early in the pre-dawn: The Big Dipper/ Big Bear/ Ursa Major visible from our urban outposts...and I heard little birdies in the trees twittering to each other as I travelled between our two locales early this morning.
I think of our friends, Rita, Elaine, and Mary Lou, to whom I delivered slices of homemade chocolate cake last night---and how Kevin and Rich in the garage turned down cake(!)
~~~~
After choir practice and singing in the choir during Mass Maureen and I drove to the Chinese buffet in Monroeville to meet my parents there. We enjoyed lunch there, and then I drove Maureen and I to the Monroeville Mall for some shopping. We went to Panera Bread near her home for a snack. Then I headed home and brought her to the Oratory for Eucharistic Adoration late in the afternoon.
Labels: biology, blogs, Choir, dance, dining, excited, laundry, music, seasons, singing, Songs, St. Paul Cathedral, stars, TV, writing
Christmas Day 2008
Today we sang a slightly abbreviated version of the preludes for Mass (as we did at yesterday night's Mass). We sang
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
My Dancing Day (G. Near), followed by organ & brass w/ O Magnum Mysterium (Gabrieli)
Gaudete (arr. Batastini), followed by organ & brass w/Fanfare & Var. on "Noel Nouvelet"
O Come, All Ye Faithful
as preludes, with other sung pieces in the same order as last night.
A television cameraman recorded some great shots from the choir loft of the singers, Don, and the view from the loft.
~~~~~
Before Mass, Linda handed me a lovely Christmas card, with a nice sentiment. Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, and spoke about the disarming quality of a smile, and God the Father's "smile" for us. Gloria took some photos of me in the loft, and we hugged Judi and Don after exchanging Christmas greetings.
~~~~~~
After Mass, I ate lunch, Marissa stopped by in search of a misplaced article, and I napped before we drove Kelly to the airport. She was particularly thrilled by her freshly laundered down coat.
Labels: Choir, Christmas, citizenship, laundry, Mass, singing, St. Paul Cathedral
Disneyland...Thanksgiving 2008
This weekend, Miranda & Benny spoke with Lolo and Lola and I about their Thanksgiving trip to Disneyland. It was really fun and they had a chance to meet, greet, and get autographs from many of their favorite characters. Miranda especially liked the ride "Soaring over California." One of the days there they spent fifteen hours at the park.
They had a chance to visit the LA clan. I spoke with Uncle Sonny, and after they left he was doing the exact same chores that they were when they landed at home: Laundry.
Labels: California, children, excited, family, laundry, niece and nephew, reunion, thankfulness, transportation
