Raising Voices: Community Choirs Gospel Concert
Sunday afternoon at four thirty Mom, Dad, and I attended Raising Voices: Community Choirs Gospel Concert at Carnegie Music Hall. We joined the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir (directed by Dr. Herbert Jones) in singing the first and third verses of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson whilst a photographic image (of mothers sending their boys to camp James Weldon Johnson,) captured by Charles "Teenie" Harris was projected upstage. This group was followed by M.A.D.E. in His Image, Mount Ararat Dance Ensemble (directed by Desiree Davis)'s two performances, the first of which was extremely aerobic. The Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir (directed by Katim Brown), followed; and the Wesley Center A.M.E. Zion Church Choir (directed by Rev. Jacqueline Dewberry) finished the program. We saw Maryann and her parents, and Cheryl and Marcia from my building at the reception.
Labels: Carnegie, Choir, music, photography, Pittsburgh
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
Art All NIght 2010
I met up with Regina and John for Art All Night. We also met up with Charles and Susan. The encaustic wax was useful for our little group, as both Victoria and Susan, Charles and I discussed separately and together. I spotted an Icelandic work by Stacy, and we all found favorites.
Saw K & Theresa there, Chris W (a former coworker) there. As of 11.00 Sunday, Stacy said she spotted me there, as well, at a distance. (Definitely a place to see and be seen!)
A fun--albeit rainy---ending to a productive day!
Labels: art, BAD, music, painting, photography, seasons, weather
I'm Awake Again
Awake again and organizing my space.
Finding all sorts of stuff again...that was put away and misplaced for a while.
Still am looking for my photographic slides that have been misplaced. Some I have already made into 8 x 10" photos for friends and family...others are just plumb missing. Also for a nice gift from a friend this past year. Just am praying for intercession on this matter. (Hey, it's worked in the past!)
Labels: friends, gift, organizing, photography, photos, prayer, St. Anthony
Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Pittsburgh Symphony
Maureen and I braved the snow to go to the Pittsburgh Symphony tonight. We met up at the Student Union to get our tickets and to board the buses to Heinz Hall. Anne-Sophie Mutter accompanied the PSO in Brahms's Concerto in D for violin and orchestra. Manfred Honeck conducted, with Andres Cardenes as concertmaster. Maureen and I recognized the theme in the third (last) movement. Absolutely wonderful, Ms. Mutter's chords were played clearly. A rousing standing ovation ensued, which welcomed her back for a solo encore.
The second half of the evening featured the PSO in Mahler's Symphony No.1 in D major. There was a movement reminiscent of "Where is Thumbkin" or "Frere Jacques." The PSO will take the Mahler Symphony on tour to Carnegie Hall in New York, and further afield. We were pleased to be the hometown audience, and the whooping for the standing ovation showed it.
A post-concert dessert and brief talk by Manfred Honeck (Well, if you have no questions to raise, then, it is time for cake) who asked a very young musician,
Do you play an instrument? Violin, perhaps?
(quietly and shyly) Piano
We rode the buses to Forbes and Craft Avenues, and we all disembarked after asking Annabelle if we could ("If you walk, go carefully.") I was glad that I had my cane, and took photos the whole way home.
Labels: cold, Honeck, music, photography, photos, PSO
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
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
Prep for New Semester Monday, August 2009
Yesterday I took a nap while it rained. After the rain ended mid-afternoon, I headed to work to pick up papers, to photocopy, to print out email attachments from Carole and Meredith, and to check out the computers for wireless accessibility (Eric helped me with that). I also stopped in to talk to Melanie.
Dinner was with Maureen and Karina at the new-to-us Thai restaurant in Highland Park. I had the noodle salad with chicken and shrimp (no mint), Maureen had the pineapple fried rice, and Karina enjoyed the duck (coconut milk) curry. We headed to Maureen's to enjoy each others' photos from this summer, to chew bubble gum, and to eat Doritos from Canada (same as the flavor in London) and Starburst Original and Baja flavor fruit chew candy. My formerly-at-My-current-work friend V called and we invited her to join us at the arts festival tomorrow at noon (as it may rain before lunchtime).
Labels: art, biology, computer, dining, email, friends, photography, Pittsburgh, school, sleep, weather, work
Musicophilia, Teenie Harris
Replaced a lost document this morning. Also got a CD holder and a pair of shoes. Then, I went to a book discussion group about Oliver Sacks's book Musicophilia (which I read when the first edition was released), led by Dorothy at the library. The group had a great dynamic, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Irene, who is two years shy of being a centenarian. After, seven of us met for snacks at Eat N Park...I had a grilled sticky bun a la mode.
~~~~~
This evening I went with Stacy and Gail to the Teenie Harris talk at Carnegie Music Hall. followed by cake and punch at the Carnegie Museum of Art gallery.
We heard a talk by Larry Glasco, history professor at the University of Pittsburgh, presents an illustrated lecture of Teenie Harris' life. We also saw photos and heard commentary by three photographers who participated in the "One Shot" project taken by young children, which was moving. I spotted the image of Mr. Ted, from my bookmobile days to Head Start, in one of the photos. Perhaps his nephew took a photo of him!
Got some baba ghanoosh on my way home.
Labels: Birthday, Carnegie, dining, ice cream, library, museum, music, niece and nephew, photography, photos, read, singing
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
Arose early
Today I arose early and had my cherry-cheese blintz left over from Thursday. Fell back asleep...I haven't done my exercises for the morning yet...must go back to my home to get the list of physical therapy exercises.
~~~
17.20
Just returned from a jaunt to Arby's (avec coupon) for a roastburger and drink, and a jaunt to 7-11 for mini Slurpees/Slushies with Stacy. We enjoyed chatting under the tent at the park (even while it rained!) We talked about photography, and museums, and our plans for next weekend, too.
Labels: dining, exercise, museum, photography, sleep, weather
Back in the Burgh
Mom, Dad, and I returned to Pittsburgh late yesterday afternoon. It was good to:
See Donough again,
See Gaby, Chrissy, Uncle Dodong, Maria, and Anna,
See (and stay with) Kelly in her neighborhood
Shop at China Town, Manhattan
See Angela Lansbury in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit
Go to the Met (Museum)
Enjoy Mother's Day in New York
Shop around NYU (including at Strand Books and the street fair)
Listen to an organ meditation at Grace Church
See (and stay with) Ben & Benita, Linda, Bill, and Alex at their home
Be treated to amazing food by Foodie relatives
Drive back with minimal precipitation/rain
Be back in time for choir practice yesterday evening
Nap practically every day
Labels: art, Choir, dining, family, friends, jewelry, museum, music, New York, photography, photos, reunion, seasons, shoes, shopping, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, theater, weather
Summer Vacation 2009--Week 1a
I'm writing this early hour because I'm still excited about its being the first full week of my summer vacation.
I'll organize and copy my picture files...also, I need to see if I can post recent videos taken on this blog...Getting permission to send photos to friends, so it doesn't clog up their email in-boxes.
Also, my mom and I are planning a vacation.
~~~
Wed--Went to the computer lab at work and copied some photo (.jpg) files. It's difficult to make the folders of photos fit onto 700Mb CD ROM disks.
~~~
30 April 2009
Thursday-Awoke, wrote some correspondence long-hand to type into email, under my new lamp I got yesterday (with Mom). Mom says Kelly wants us to visit her. She also dictated some lists for email to me, which I dutifully typed. I sent my email correspondence out this morning, as well as my faxed authorization to obtain a CD ROM of MRI and of film images of my condition.
Ate salmon with teriyaki sauce for lunch with mom & dad. Went to physical therapy. I am updating/copying photo files, etc. for archiving at the computer lab in the campus library.
22:20 Thursday-Had dinner, then headed to choir practice. There will be no choir at the noon Mass this Sunday due to the Pittsburgh Marathon street closures.
~~~
1 May 2009
Mom, Dad, and I went to First Friday Mass this morning. Fr. Breier celebrated, with John and Matt as servers, and Ken providing music ministry at the portative organ. It was a rainy morning.
Kelly called right before lunch--she had been attacked last night by a guy stealing her cell phone. She still has all her teeth in her head! (So much for the K. division of the NY Tourist Board.)
I took a nap right after lunch. Necessary.
Went to wine & cheese at the Oratory. Met C, Karina, Christina, Donna, Tom Mc., and Fr. Mike. Chatted for a while with the gurls @ education.
Labels: Church, computer, email, Mass, photography, photos, Wellesley
Countdown during the Octave of Easter
So, as I celebrate Eastertide and as I administer and grade final exams, I patiently await the arrival of my friend, S., who is currently giving master classes and rehearsing for a concert at the end of this week.
It has been nearly twenty years since I have seen S. (We were "just children" when we first met.) It was the fall of the Berlin Wall descending, the fall of 1990, an exciting time to be traveling in Europe. I remember distinctly my visit to Eastern Germany (GDR) a few weeks before the Wall was torn down. I also distinctly remember meeting people who have become my lifetime friends during that trip to Europe.
Something that perturbs me is that I cannot find my slide photos of my first visit to S.'s city---photos of the Cathedral, out windows, and one of S. in particular. My friend reminded me that it doesn't matter that I cannot find those photos---S. is coming here! (I suppose she is right.) But I think it would be nice to show S. the photos, too.
Labels: excited, friends, international culture, music, photography, photos, seasons
Maple Sugaring 2009
This morning I met William's family, Les, and Cherie at William's home for a trip to Fern Hollow Nature Center's Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Celebration. I enjoyed buckwheat and buttermilk pancakes, sausage, and orange juice. Solomon enjoyed the buckwheat pancakes. Beatrice enjoyed watching the girls look at the turtles, looking at the turtles, meeting the Big Black Dog, and all enjoyed the the Sewickley Heights History Center, especially the carriages there. I took some photos of our trip, and Les photographed us on the large lawn.
We then enjoyed our plain pie at our favorite pizza place in Bellvue. We all relaxed afterwards for a well-deserved rest.
Labels: dine, museum, photography, photos
Spring Break 2009 II
Spent the morning going through old slides, catching up on correspondence, eating breakfast, and going to physical therapy. Stopped by on campus to get a little work done, and added my photo to my professional blog. Had a croque monsieur on half of a sun-dried tomato bagel, and green salad for lunch with mom and dad. What fun! Just watched a WQED special, Masters of Glass, about the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
~~~
After tuna noodle casserole and greens salad for dinner, I completed the necklace Dad and I started from the glass rosette/floral piece (which I bought with Karina). Dad helped me to get the jump rings onto the chain to attach the magnetic clasps, and I worked on the pendant.
We're watching Dancing with the Stars tonight.
~~~~
Tuesday 10 March 2009
I sent my City Tax Form (2008) out today. After lunch, Marissa, William, Beatrice, Solomon, and I went to the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library. Neither William nor I had been there before, and upon entering, Beatrice headed directly for the far end of the room and the castle. We played in the room with the balls and with various items there, including a car and gas pump. We also watched Beatrice paint in the art room, and she and I cleaned up together afterwards. Solomon and Marissa moved toys from the top floor of the doll house throughout the house, whilst William, Beatrice, and I had fun with the various hats (astronaut helmet, construction worker, etc.) We were certain to use the hand sanitizer on the way out. I thanked Beatrice for inviting me to join them today.
I found the talented picture of me "and a balloon" Beatrice drew for me. She is very observant and talented when it comes to faces. Maybe she will be like Lolo, whose high school classmates dubbed "the next Michelangelo."
I stopped by Lolo and Lola's place to share the picture with them, and have made earrings for the floating glass mirror necklace I made first. I will work on designing another necklace this afternoon.
~~~~~
Wednesday 12 March 2009
Yesterday evening I went to the PNR meeting---it was a small group that night. We spoke mainly about questions Maxine Bruhns had about design issues, and how we would address them. The meeting lasted about 2-3 hours.
Today, Karina and I dined with Maureen at Victor's restaurant. The buffet was great, then we walked to the public library for Karina to drop off some books. A stop in the bead shop was in order, and Karina repaired the clasp part of a bracelet I had purchased.
A nap followed, until choir practice.
Labels: art, blogs, Choir, citizenship, cleaning, dance, dining, email, exercise, family, games, glass, jewelry, library, painting, photography, photos, PNR, TV, water exercise
Holiday Chats
This morning I had holiday chats with Luce and Pratima, two of my faraway friends. Soon after, I had lunch, grabbed my gym bag, and headed to physical therapy. Keelan added the "fishtail" or "polliwog" exercise with the red ball.
I also used a few coupons at CVS, and put some pics on a CD. Need to check them for content...
Labels: exercise, friends, phone, photography, photos, water exercise
Auntie Mimi on TV
Within the past two weeks Beatrice was at Lolo and Lola's home and they were watching public television. During a pledge drive, they showed a pre-recorded slot while FAAP was volunteering for the fund drive. Of course, they saw Auntie Mimi on TV. That was Beatrice's first major exposure to television. Let's hope she doesn't expect to see family members on the set on a regular basis (unless she is up early and watching Christian Associates when Lolo is working camera, or when Auntie Mimi is lectoring...Benny and Miranda and I used to joke about that early in the morning).
Labels: lector, niece and nephew, Philippines, photography, Pittsburgh, TV, volunteering
Saturday, September 2008
Last night I spoke to Maureen,who was in orthopedic pain. I asked her if Karina and I should come over with ice cream ("What flavor?") and we ended up chatting well into the night. We had a grand time and saw Maureen's photos, et al.
Today I dropped off a TON of pics at Walgreens for developing. Also got drinks and snacks for the weeks ahead. Mom and Dad and I went to lunch at Wai Wai. We picked up a catering menu, too. I updated my encyclopedia article and sent it with the references list to my editor friend.
I'll call Walgreens, then spend some time relaxing before Faith sharing tonight.
~~~
After Karina's discussion of Mary's response to God's angel ("Thy will be done"), we headed to Pan Asian cuisine for dinner. Fabriola, Karina, Maureen, and I watched a movie I had rented, Then She Found Me, directed by Helen Hunt and starring Helen Hunt, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, and Colin Firth. A good chick flick that raises important issues, despite a slightly stilted script.
Labels: children, Church, cinema, dining, encyclopedia, friends, ice cream, pain, photography, photos
Joyce's In-Laws
Kelly and I spent yesterday dinner and night at Phyllis and Gene's home. They were already hosting Joyce, Greg, Miranda, and Benny. We sat up talking after the kids had gone to bed, and ate chocolate Neapolitan cookies.
This morning, after I played with the children in the wee hours of the morning, Phyllis and I prepared bacon and pancakes for breakfast; and Joyce prepared the drinks and table for dining. I napped, then mid-afternoon we went for a swim. It was quite fun. Mom and Dad and William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon joined us for dinner.
Beatrice LOVED the watermelon. Wait: Beatrice LOVED the Watermelon. We took various permutations of family photos, and Mom and Dad had also brought the Luis Mesa portraits for more photos today (Marissa had taken photos of all four of us with our portraits and similar hairstyles from about 30+ years ago yesterday at Mom and Dad's home). We all had a grand time, watched a bit of the Olympics, and said our fond goodbyes to each and every one. Kelly and I drove home together in my car, following Mom and Dad in their car.
Labels: art, Beatrice, dining, family, niece and nephew, photography, photos, sleep, sports, travel
