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
Stress and my Single Exemplary Life
I'm feeling stress in my single life. Mainly from things that would stress anyone out in any walk of life...health care insurance, personal finances, dealing with emergency situations at work...all this week.
I've been dealing with the situations with aplomb, but the situations remain stressful.
O well, one way of viewing this is that these stressors and my responses are my insurance that I am still alive.
~~~~~
The wording of the general intercessions puzzle me...we pray for (I've paraphrased):
a holy priesthood,
happy married life,
exemplary single life,
a fervent religious life,
etc. etc.
How is it that only single people are to uphold tenets and be "exemplary"? That's asking for a lot, I think. It's difficult for some of us singletons to hold it together.
Labels: Church, Faith, health, light, Mass, personal finance, philosophical, prayer, stress
Phone Calls
This morning, there were lots of phone calls to catch up for the New Year. I worked on some correspondence until midnight last night, as well. Also called the store to check on stuff I need to pick up.
I'll take care of some more paperwork and correspondence this morning, then have lunch chez Mom and Dad.
~~~
5 January 2010
04.15
After a couple of appointments and errands, I went in to work to print out a couple of documents, emails.
I then proceeded to go home to take a nap, and was awakened by a return call re: the Bible study times. Maureen and I chatted for a bit, and I fell asleep soon after.
So, with all these odd hours, I'm up now. I'll hit the sack again shortly. I'm probably still up because of the light from the computer.
Labels: computer, dine, email, Faith, health, light, phone, sleep, writing
Red Skies at Night...
I look west toward St. Paul Cathedral and the spires are framed by a soft, red, orange, and pale violet light off cumulus clouds. I know my camera tells me "battery exhausted," but I polish the contacts on the batteries before giving up to the beautiful changing sky.
What a lovely way to end a lovely day.
~~~
Nancy and I visited Ornella at the gallery of her art class's show. We enjoyed Ornella's pieces and those of her class. Ornella's Western US landscape was painterly and colorful. I also enjoyed her piece entitled "Message in a Bottle," reminiscent of Paul Klee.
We spent quite a bit of time chatting about Europe (I'm planning a trip...) and we decided to dine together at the Belgian restaurant for dinner. Ornella and I shared the moules frites and the salmon dinner with risotto and steamed spinach. Nancy enjoyed tofu, mango, and the beer cheese soup.
~~~
20:45
The sky is pale steel indigo-violet with certain clouds tinged/rimmed in red.
~~~~~
Nancy and I made two grocery runs: One before dinner while waiting for our table, and one after dinner for dairy products.
Labels: art, dine, friends, light, moving, mystery, painting, photography, photos, rain, shopping, St. Paul Cathedral, travel, weather
Michael Jackson Memorial
Just finished watching the Michael Jackson memorial service in Los Angeles. I watched on CNN because the sound was actually better than that of MTV.
A notable speaker was the Reverend Al Sharpton. While he spoke, there was a backdrop of MJ and the quote
"There's nothing that can't be
done if we raise our voice as one."
Brooke Sheilds spoke as his friend, not as a colleague from the music business. She noted that his favorite song was a Charlie Chaplin one (from the movie Modern Times), "Smile," which his brother then sang.
Texan Congresswoman spoke, mentioning H.R. 600, honoring Michael Joseph Jackson. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King spoke, as well.
The London tour company sang "We are the World", and "Heal the World." His brothers Germaine and Marlon, as well as his daughter Paris, spoke.
Thus ended the memorial service for Michael Joseph Jackson.
Labels: American history, Bible, celebration, citizenship, Faith, farewell, international culture, light, moving, music, reunion, voice
Maureen and I went to the final (thirteenth) Tuesday in the Saint Anthony Novenae on Troy Hill yesterday night. Each person present was welcome to a loaf of St. Antony's bread.
I asked Maureen if we could stop at the Newman Center on the way home, to check out the library. We said hello to Jennifer (the MPH student) and settled into the library, reading books about the saints' lives. Then we looked up various saints, and chatted about friends far and near.
As we were departing, we saw the last 13:24 seconds of the Penguins v. Red Wings game--Hey! the Pens are in for the seventh game of the Stanley Cup this year.
~~~
I'm so mad...yesterday afternoon I told Dad to "Wait.." while two young, nattily dressed young ladies attempted to enter his building. Instead, he opens the door, then we have to contend with the process of NOT allowing them in. We explain to them that they need to be buzzed in...Dad departs for the elevators, and I turn around to see them propping the door open as we (supposedly) depart.
"You have to close the door," I politely note to them, whilst pushing the door shut. One young lady was particularly averse to this action, and was heavily leaning on the door. I got a "stoved" digit in the process, and have iced it, but feel very swollen and sore. Time for some Tylenol. Visitors cannot behave like this around residents, it makes the residents feel less secure. K. thanked me for keeping the building secure.
Labels: accessibility, Faith, light, neighbors, pain, philosophical, read, rosary, sports
Spring Forward!
Yesterday was the beginning of Daylight Savings time. That morning about 7am I headed (dressed in my Sunday clothes) to my parents' home to accomplish some early morning work. Within ten minutes the emergency alarm went off. As far as we could tell, it was "the real thing." ("Who would be cooking or smoking at THIS hour?" I quipped.) I waited for my mom and dad to get dressed, then we headed downstairs to wait the arrival of the firemen, who had inspected the floor in question. ("Do you want to go to my house?" I asked Mom & Dad.) The firemen then asked Rich a few questions before departing. We finally jumped on the second elevator heading up, when my parents returned to bed and I got a little work done.
Labels: alarm, family, light, seasons
No More...
No More...
ballet en pointe (what's new?)
aikido
rockclimbing
ice skating
roller blading
bicycling on city streets
horseback riding
downhill skiing
Can still...
walk
talk (that's for sure!)
carry a stick
Will be able to (after my next surgery)...
run
maybe even hurdle again!
do certain stretches again.
We'll see about...
playing the violin!
I wrote to my friend about a fortnight ago my thoughts:
Sometimes I think of things I used to do in my "former life" which I cannot now do....downhill skiing, rockclimbing, ice skating, running distances, etc. I haven't been able to do these things recently because of the pain, anyway. But part of growing is letting go of those things that may keep me from my focus that I need to focus on NOW.
Labels: accessibility, dance, exercise, friends, light, list, love, pain, philosophical, surgery, swim, talent, thankfulness, walking
Philippine Nationality Room Meeting
Today, V and I went to Whole Foods for lunch. Before dining, we checked out the lip balm and I found my favorite kind...now I know where to get it! I dined on jasmine white tea, unagi sushi wrapped in bamboo leaf, and half a chocolate croissant. V enjoyed a quesadilla. We stopped by the East Liberty Library branch to drop off items, then shopped at Trader Joe's.
I went to physical therapy then. It felt like a spa in the pool today---warm water, gentle exercises, mmm.
I headed back to get a quick bite to eat, then headed to the Austrian Nationality Room for our Philippine Nationality Room Committee meeting, as our future PNR classroom was occupied until approximately 19:15. We had from Popi, our Filipina architect: A photo collage, 2 perspective CAD drawings, and 8 elevation drawings. I noted---soon after starting our discussion in the future PNR---that "I was expecting a room that looked more like a classroom, but was pleasantly surprised that it looked more like a home. I like the general feeling of the room." Myrna noted that she liked the "simplicity of design."
Our discussion of design elements focused on various issues:
Dated elements
Socioeconomic status of the homeowners
Provenance of room fixtures
Light in the room
Use and functionality of the room, including heat and furniture sturdiness
"Spirit" of the design vs. staying v.v. close to elements of two houses examined for study.
It snowed quietly and collected while we were in the rooms for two hours, discussing and raising questions for Popi. Mark, Warren, and I discussed the element of the windows and balustrade and light and heating. I gently suggested a "hint of a wall" for a design tweaking of the breezeway element (versus the current renderings, which suggested walls which obscured more windows/light/heating elements), which solved several problems posed by several of us.
~~~
I caught a bus home, after waiting in the soft, cornstarch-like snowy quiet.
Labels: accessibility, art, balm, dining, exercise, international culture, light, Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, school, shopping, surgery, volunteering, water exercise
Donate Old Reading Glasses and Eyeglasses
Last night, after Pastoral Council meeting I announced that the Philippine American Medical Society is collecting old reading glasses and eyeglasses for their medical mission this year. Fr. Andrew indicated that if I made up a little blurb that he would make an announcement at this morning's televised Mass.
This morning, Matt and I prepared for the Mass. Fr. Andrew indicated that he would incorporate the eyeglasses into the homily. Don stopped by before Mass, and he kindly dropped the box off to its donation spot in the back of the Church. Fr. Andrew intertwined the Gospel reading and the unneeded glasses in the homily. I made neat signage for the box, added an additional box ("You'll need a bigger box!" Fr. Andrew exclaimed to me after Mass), and checked the boxes for donations.
Soon after Mass, there were already a pair of glasses donated in the box at the back of Church.
Labels: gift, light, medical mission, Philippines, St. Lucy
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
W
Friday, after I prepared G + H tubes with aluminum foil, and after I took a nap at home, Tom and I saw W at the Waterfront. Quite insightful and entertaining. I liked it more than JFK, also by Oliver Stone, but probably because I was more familiar with the characters in W. We went for ribs at Damon's, and spent some time at the Barnes and Noble bookstore. He bought a programming book, and I talked him out of an additional purchase there, a gift book that may have gone underappreciated. "Do you NEED it?" I asked.
On the way home, we passed by Schenley Plaza with the evening performance of Squonk Opera, as well as the Cathedral of Learning lit up.
Labels: biology, cinema, dining, light, Pittsburgh, politics, read, school, shopping, work
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
Morning Light
From about an hour ago until now the sky has been a steel gray with occasional golden/orange highlights. Throughout the hour the facade of the cathedral across the street has echoed this changing light, with the uppermost northeastern windows of the cathedral intermittently glowing from the orange sky.
Really, truly a summer sight to behold.
Labels: light, Pittsburgh, St. Paul Cathedral
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
Holy Week 2008--Palm Sunday 2008
Today I sang in the Cathedral Choir. The order of worship included
Hosanna to the Son of David (Proulx)
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Psalm 22 (Proulx)
Gospel Acclamation by Proulx
Jesus, Remember Me (J. Berthier) with readings from Matthew 26:14-27:66
O Sacred Head Surrounded
Acclamations by Vermulst, Kraehenbuhl, and Lamb of God by L. Deiss
Communion: Parce Domine and Jesus so Lowly (H. Freidell)
Recessional Hymn: Lenten Prayer
Jonathan, Stacy, and I dined at Union Grill--that soup was great, as were the BBQ chicken quesadillas, and the pierogies.
I took a nap and went to
~~~~~~
The Cathedral Concert Series at three o'clock in the afternoon with
Daphne Alderson (contralto), Elisa Kohanski (cello), and Donald K. Fellows (portative organ). The program was
Stabat Mater (Mary's vigil at the cross when Jesus expired) (Antonio Vivaldi)
Sicilienne, for cello and piano, Op. 78 (Gabriel Faure)
and two spirituals arr. by H.T. Burleigh, Give Me Jesus and Don't Be Weary, Traveller
Daphne has a wonderfully rich, expressive alto voice. I was particularly moved by the first spiritual. She sang the last piece with no music.
~~~~~
William, Marissa, Beatrice and I dined at Royal Caribbean restaurant in East Liberty. I had the goat curry with greens and potatoes. Delicious!
Beatrice had figured out that Daddy is a man, and Mama and Auntie Mimi are ladies (in addition to names, we fall in a category, too). She, of course, is a baby. A baby girl.
I had to depart from dinner with them early to join Joe and Tina at
~~~~~
St. Ferdinand Youth Ministry's 25th Anniversary of "The Living Stations."
It consisted of tableaux vivants in the order of worship. Joe, Tina, and I sat next to the parents of the student who was "The Voice of Christ" and a Woman in the crowd. Apparently, the text seems to be the same year after year. The combined "readers" and my verbal descriptions for Joe and Tina were emotionally moving for my seatmates. We congratulated Fr. Steve K. for sharing the talents of his young people with our parish.
Labels: Beatrice, Choir, Church, Faith, family, light, prayer, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, theater, tradition
Our Lady Of Guadalupe; St. Lucy's Day 2007
Last night while Mom and I babysat Beatrice, Dad was at television ministry for the first Mass celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe in Pittsburgh. I caught snippets on television in my parent's master bedroom. The Mass was magnificent, replete with the Bishop celebrating Mass in Spanish, an estimated 1000 attendees from the Latino community, a statue of Our Lady, a mariachi band and two choirs from St. Regis, children bedecked in their native dress reading the general intercessions, and statements of thanks from Fr. Daniele.
In his homily (spoken first in Spanish, then in English), Bishop Zubik recited a line from Gracie Allen, who was encouraging her husband George Burns to be a man of hope. "Never put a period where God intends a comma," she said. Ken had informed me of this wonderful celebration, and I'm pleased that I could enjoy the festivities, even from afar.
~~~
Today was the Memorial for St. Lucy. Fr. Brian celebrated Mass, John served, and Chris provided the music ministry. Bob H. lectored today. I always appreciate St. Lucy's day and all the Lucys in my life.
Labels: children, Choir, Church, diocese of Pittsburgh, international culture, light, Mass, music, Pittsburgh, singing, St. Lucy
Up early
to grade papers....It'll be unusually warm today, with highs in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. Fall has come and gone; winter's been here for a few weeks now.
~~~
9:20 AM Wednesday, 12 December 2007
I heard on the radio this morning that it was a balmy 66 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday, breaking the temperature records by a degree---the temperature records set in the late 1800's. I noted when I went out yesterday that it was humid (due to the rain), warm, and there was that scent of burning wood (probably due to fireplaces). The combination was slightly reminiscent of my visits to the Philippines.
It was also very cold last night....
Labels: biology, global warming, light, Philippines, Pilipino culture, seasons, smell, weather, work
The fire
There was a fire noticed southeast of Oakland (heading south on Bigelow Blvd from Fifth to Forbes Avenues), as one gazed across Schenley Plaza beyond Schenley Park. I guess I will have to wait until the news tomorrow morning to hear where it was located. A large, thick, dark gray plume of smoke arose during rush-hour traffic.
Labels: alarm, light, Pittsburgh
colas, McDonalds, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei
What do these four things have in common? The first two were generally forbidden by mi asessor di NASA for his young children (at the time I was in graduate school). The last two were generally sang by congregations pre-Vatican II (;Holy, Holy, Holy and Lamb of God were unknown until Vatican II and following.) And, when Don was music minister for morning Masses, there was always the sung Latin Sanctus and Agnus Dei. Until today. I told Dad that his prayers were answered, as he was particularly peeved by the sung Latin. "You better thank him, otherwise, he may go back to the Latin, Dad!"
So, freely drunk colas, freely eaten fast food, and freely sung post-Vatican II acclamations have much in common--they lead to happy celebration of small freedoms!
Labels: celebration, Church, dining, family, lector, light, Mass, music, prayer, read, thankfulness
