Before the Steelers Parade
Before the Steelers Parade downtown at the Point, I walked out to Fifth Avenue about 11:25am. At the bus stops, every bus heading downtown was packed with humanity. A motorcycle police-escorted set of buses heading in the opposite direction had several "decoy" buses in the convoy, and one bus which most likely held the Steelers. My physical therapist and I discussed what I had observed about the buses later today.
Renee and I lunched together, and we enjoyed each other's company, especially since she will have a new job next week downtown.
Today I signed up for a health club (the same one Mom and Dad belong to). I'm really excited about using the heated pool and taking chair yoga!
I also ran some errands in Squirrel Hill.
Labels: diocese of Pittsburgh, excited, exercise, health, Pittsburgh, Point, pool, Superbowl, thankfulness, water exercise, Zubik
The Grapes of Wrath, Les Triplettes de Belleville
After work, I went to an opera lunch hosted by Annabelle and Linnea of Pitt Arts. Opera Lady (Beth Parker) was there, as was Ricky Ian Gordon, who wrote the music for The Grapes of Wrath, playing this season at the Pittsburgh Opera. We were treated to a number of musical selections from this opera/musicalische, as well as lunch trays of sliced meats and cheeses with salads. Roberta and I chatted before the luncheon, were joined by Ethan, and enjoyed talking to Ricky after the talk. It turns out he knows and has worked with a family friend, J.
Soon after I drove to physical therapy for about an hour of exercises with the physioball and the usual pool exercises. It always feels like flying in the pool! I stopped by the library and picked up a number of DVDs and VHS tapes to watch. Before and after dinner I watched The Triplets of Bellville, a movie that Susan E. recommended to me. Absolutely lighthearted and suspenseful at the same time!
Labels: art, Atlantic Ocean, Carnegie, cinema, dining, dog, exercise, library, Mozart, opera, pool, water exercise
Midterms Week, Fall 2008
So, midterms week is upon us again. Last night, after administering my midterm, I helped Michele and Tom out with setting up theirs, and stopped by to chat with Becky.
Today, I had lunch with Mom and Dad after administering my Tuesday morning midterm. A long (2 hour) nap followed. Then a call from Roberta W., a good friend from my days working at the Carnegie Institute. Stopped in St. Paul Cathedral, while a group from St. Ferdinand's was visiting...mentioned Phyllis and also Fr. Steve.
Just returned from my hip exercises at the gym. Today I did:
stationary bicycle (10 minutes)
pool exercises (~45 mins)
pool exercises consisted of
water walking (20 min)
water sidestepping (12 mins)
plies and releves (20 x 3)
front, side, back (both sides, 15 @ side)
lunges (3 x 20 sec each)
Now I am relaxing by checking my email before dinner.
Labels: BAD, biology, Carnegie, Church, exercise, Ireland, pool, school, science, St. Paul Cathedral, student, surprise, water exercise, work
Penultimate Physical Therapy, RIS
Today after teaching a lab section I stopped by the old RIS offices on the South Side...they had already moved to WDUQ. Then, it was off to my penultimate physical therapy session. I received my book using the inflatable ball back, with possible exercises bookmarked by my therapist.
Labels: Blind, exercise, pain, pool, RIS, water exercise
Meet and Greet Week, Fall 2008
Today was the start of meet and greet week for my classes. It was great fun to meet my Tuesday section, and I had lunch and went to physical therapy after my last student left.
~~~
Physical therapy consisted of bilateral exercises for all my table exercises, then pool exercises for the remainder of my two hours there.
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I mailed Pratima's phone back to her (I found it at my home for her yesterday), after calling her that I had found the phone.
~~~
I attended the Faith Formation meeting tonight and was volunteered for the incipient Fr. Leo Vanyo library, being one of the few librarians that people know. Grace Morrissey was pleased, and happily worked on recruiting me for the job.
~~~~~
3 September 2008, 22:15
I spent from 9am to 4 pm doing meet & greet for two lab sections. Whew! After, I had a simple dinner sandwich, and took a nap before Pastoral Council. We had Fr. Kim join us as a new addition to our meetings. Great discussions, etc.
I received an email from Laurie about the arrest of Amy Goodman, an award-winning journalist at the Republican National Convention. I am appalled and outraged! Arresting the press for covering protests!! UNHEARD OF in a democracy. Whatever happened to protection of First Amendment rights? Shame....
~~~~~
4 September 2008, 22:45
I went to Mass in the morning and ran an errand in Squirrel Hill. I spent the afternoon in meet and greet with my last lab section, then went to physical therapy. In addition to bilateral exercises (concurrent), I also did an additional exercise in the pool: Lunges for 20 seconds. Then it was off to choir practice.
The first choir practice of the season brought most old members back and many new members. We also sang a "Happy Birthday" to Sara. I had a chance to chat with Jennifer H., Alice S., and Donna D. After most every had left, Judi, Don, and I chatted about church policies.
Labels: BAD, Church, excited, exercise, Mass, meeting, NASA, phone, pool, travel, water exercise
Encyclopedia Article, Second Draft; Physical Therapy; Farewell Party
I sent off my second draft of my encyclopedia article this morning to one of my editors.
~~~
I'll go to physical therapy later this morning.
~~~
Planning for (one of) Jeff and Jonathan's farewell part(ies) tonight...
Labels: BAD, dance, encyclopedia, exercise, farewell, health, international culture, Ireland, music, pool, surgery, water exercise, writing
Physical Therapy, 3 Repairs at Home
Physical therapy went on today without a hitch, as well as without crutches.
It is great that I live in a cooperative building, as so many things are taken care of by the maintenance here. The garbage disposal (for the second time within half a month), a bulb stuck in the main light fixture of the masters bedroom, and the shower drain (snake, as usual) repairs were requested at ten this morning. I was pleased with all of the repairs---Bob even reworked the whole wiring and fixture in the masters bedroom--except there were tiny burn spots in the embroidered afghan through to the underlying pink coverlet. I sadly explained to Ida and Ralph what had happened.
~~~
Mom, Dad, and I watched the DVD/still photos of Dad's fiftieth medical school reunion. It was a greatly festive event, including a group photo, a march by the sixtieth and fiftieth reuniting classes, choreographed group dances in which Dad and Mom competed, and two demonstration dances with thirty-four couples. The audience was whooping it up for the 34 dancers as they danced in unison.
Labels: BAD, cleaning, dance, health, home, medical mission, music, organizing, Philippines, Pilipino culture, pool, repair, school, surgery, water exercise
Just Waiting...Lady In Waiting II
I updated my LINKS this morning to include Alroy and Kay's website, replete with movies of our choir singing this season. I also checked my emails.
Right now, in my recuperation process, I am trying to strengthen my operated hip and to wait for the implant to "take," i.e., to knit to my bone. This is so that my operated leg (right) will be stronger and can help to support me...as my unoperated (left) hip joint is structurally weak and thus has pain. This problem has developed since I have been using a cane last Thanksgiving, as I have been favoring my right side. Most recently, I had been doing exercises with my right leg and hip while supporting my weight with my left leg....too much loading. My physical therapist, Keelan, has changed my routine to decrease loading on my left (unoperated) hip and to include more pool exercises, which unload my left hip.
Labels: BAD, Choir, cinema, exercise, health, music, Pittsburgh, pool, St. Paul Cathedral, surgery
Physical Therapy--Intern
Today at physical therapy there was an intern. Also, we added a gluteal "clamshell"/Jane Fonda exercise, which I do lying on my side. There was, of course, the POOOOOL exercises, which I explained to the intern (,who was a former ballet performing arts student,) were mainly modified ballet exercises: plie/releve, front-side-back rond de jambe en l'air-type exercises, all without turnout.
Mom, Dad and I went to Subway for lunch, and shared two foot-long subs: Tuna and seafood. MMM good meal!
We dropped Mom off at home, then I progressed to Hillman library to return some books and to work at the computer lab for my encyclopedia article; Dad visited the main branch of the Carnegie Library. I forwarded a late version of my article and reference list to Marissa, updated it, then printed out several copies. I delivered one printed set to Marissa via William at his work...he was kind enough to meet us behind the main Carnegie Mellon University library, where he also inspected the results of Dad's run-in with a parking meter. I called Marissa to insist that she read for "flow" of the article, vs. referencing citations. We will see them Friday night for dinner.
Mom, Dad, and I briefly vacuumed and rearranged furniture in my living room this afternoon.
Today is Unka Sahnee's birthday; so Mom, Dad, and I plan to call him soon to sing him a "Happy Birthday"!
Labels: BAD, Birthday, Carnegie, cleaning, dance, dining, exercise, family, health, library, organizing, pool, read, research, surgery, transportation, water exercise
Physical Therapy--The Unoperated Leg
For the past two physical therapy sessions (last Wednesday and yesterday), Keelan has avoided loading the unoperated leg, as I told him it bothers me when I use my hip extension muscles. We have modified my on-the-table exercises, and I spend more time in the pool.
~~~
We enjoyed a delicious lunch salad prepared by Mom, and all of us napped. Mom and I spent the late afternoon cleaning in my living room, selecting books to donate. Dinner was pompano and salmon, grilled---mmm, delicious!
Labels: BAD, cleaning, dining, health, organizing, pain, pool, surgery, water exercise
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Before Mass this morning, Mom and I watched a movie starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Esther Williams entitled Take Me Out to the Ball Game. There were dancing sequences in which Sinatra kept in tandem with Kelly, dancing to traditional Irish tunes, and swimming scenes with Esther Williams. I commented to Mom that the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written in 1908, and that one of our choristers was asked to sing it for audience participation at a castle in Ireland last summer.
~~~
6:00, 23 June 2008
This morning's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette front page tells the story of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," with accompanying video of baseball fans singing the song.
Labels: cinema, dance, games, international culture, Ireland, Pittsburgh, pool, sports, swim, travel
Swimming!
Went with Marissa this morning for water exercises. We went to the indoor pool at William's work. She looked at my scar ("It's not that wide") and we did water walking/talking for ten minutes and freestyle swimming for a little less than five minutes. She has been swimming every day now, and invited me to join her in her daily ritual. I took her up on the offer.
This was the first of my post-surgery "regular exercise" goals that I have reached.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself---it's so healthy, wholesome, and refreshing!
Labels: BAD, dreams, excited, health, pool, surgery, swim, water, water exercise
Physical Therapy Evaluation---Post Surgery
This morning I'll be going to a physical therapy evaluation, post surgery. My home care physical therapist, Margie, says to say "Hi," to my evaluator. I must ask for information on water exercises, since I will be using the shallow pool on campus starting in the fall.
In the meantime, Marissa has spotted on my blog in the wee hours of this morning that I can now SWIM! She has invited me to join her early in the morning, about this time. Mom, Dad, and I will see the kids, William, and her for lunch today; I'm sure we'll discuss that then.
As related to reaching goals and pursuing dreams, my friend Stacy said she dreamt that she saw me at Mass, sans cane! I LIKE her dream...
~~~
Keelan, my physical therapist, agreed that water exercises are a good idea and asked me to bring my bathing suit to my next appointment. I shared my goal to ceili dance by the end of the summer with him.
After physical therapy, I convinced Dad to stop at the bakery for pretzels: We devoured two on the way home. Mom, Dad, and I met up with William and family for Chinese food for lunch (Marissa and I got smoothies, lychee and mango, respectively). This was followed by an hour with Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon at Mom and Dad's home; followed by a nap.
Marissa and I plan to go to the pool tomorrow early morning for a little workout fun.
Labels: BAD, dance, dining, dreams, exercise, health, Ireland, pool, sports, surgery, swim, water, water exercise
Just for Fun
I received an email from Laura, in which the point is to complete abbreviated lists. Here are mine:
4 jobs I have had in my life
1) Biology Lab Instructional Faculty, Univ of Pittsburgh
2) one of the last staff at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Science and Tech Dept.
3) NASA research fellow: Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena, CA; Univ of CA, and remote locales
4) Jewish Community Center, nursery and Kindergarten aide, Pittsburgh
4 movies I would watch over and over:
1) The Lake House
2) Dead Again (the lead character is a "Grace")
3) ----
4) ----
4 places I have lived
1) by Yankee Stadium and Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx, NY
2) in a beautiful home on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers
3) in a gothic dorm, in a room overlooking the green and the lake, Wellesley College
4) within 2 miles of the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley, CA
4 TV Shows that I watch:
1) Monk
2) Curb Your Enthusiasm
3) Keeping Up Appearances
4) Dancing with the Stars
4 Places I have been:
1) the Philippines
2) the "Continent"
3) S. Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales
4) Baja California, Mexico
4 people who e-mail me regularly
1) Mom (at least once daily, when she's not away from the computer)
2) Joyce
3) My students
4) My girlfriends--Lisa, Laura, my choirfriends, Marva, etc.
4 of my favorite foods:
1)Mom's home cooking
2) Anything I don't have to prepare
3) Thai/Filipino
4) Irish/Scottish salmon
5 places I would rather be right now:
1) At home, in bed, asleep (Just came from choir practice, Mass, and a 3-hr. mtg...boy, I'm tired).
2) In a warm bubble bath
3) Lying down, with my legs up.
4) Visiting with my family, either distant or not-so
5) In the kitchen, drinking good grape juice...
4 Things I am looking forward to:
1) tomorrow
2) and tomorrow....and tomorrow (a great Vonnegut title).
3) I agree with Laura: A Liberal in the White House
4) whatever the next thing brings!
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This email Laura sent me today reminds me of one I received on March 16th 2006: Tag, You're It! from Marissa. That email asked for fave hobbies, and I listed "exercise: Dance and swimming" as favorites. My current condition makes dance unable to be done. My, how fast things change....
~~~~
10 March 2008
I thought of a great movie to add to my "list" of two--Sliding Doors...
...and another, The Rock.
Labels: career, Carnegie, children, color, dance, health, list, love, Monk, New York, Philippines, Pittsburgh, pool, science, soils, teaching, travel, TV, Wellesley, work
Wave Pool 2007; Parish Picnic Planning
After re-proofing some docs for work, I went to the wave pool with Jen. After about an hour and a half, the lifeguards called us all out of the water. Lightning was sighted, thunder was heard. Jen and I had cherry slurpies, and then I dressed to drive Jen home--but not before stopping at a gasoline station where the price was "only" $2.79/gallon. I can remember a time when $0.33/gallon was considered expensive---when my family vacationed in the Great Smokey Mountains.
Mom, Dad, and I dined together; and I headed to Pastoral council meeting, stopping by the altar of Mary where some of my friends from choir were rehearsing with Don for a Newman Center event. As I, Elaine, Vickie, Ed R., and Dave gathered (with Elizabeth's secretary, Ann-Marie) on the rectory steps; it became clear that no one could hear us ring the bell. I borrowed a key, returned it, then our meeting in the rectory commenced. It was quite useful--we decided to have a brief, simple, open-ended survey at the parish picnic in September. We decided on questions and discussed the logistics of the survey.
Labels: Choir, Church, friends, pool, St. Paul Cathedral
Back in the (swim) again
Took a dip in the pool today, it was nice to be back in the water doing my exercises for stretching and strengthening.
~~~
Mom and Dad and I went out to a Chinese buffet for lunch, and, as I tell my friends and family, they are aware of all the good Chinese buffets within an hour drive of their home. This one had particularly good fruits and Hershey's ice cream.
~~~
I'll be going for ice cream with Jen and Brian later today. Right now, I'm waiting patiently for the student worker to file the computer printer papers so I can pick up my printed-out Ireland packing list....Good, one of the coworkers here is sorting through the papers. Whew.
ยงยงยง
After meeting for dinner, Jen, Brian, and I will view Open Season in Cinema in the Parks. We visited the computer lab at the library to check out the movie...
~~~
During the movie Open Season, we saw
a beautiful sunset (stunning!)
a rude latecomer seated in front of us!
the conjunction of Venus and Saturn (particularly striking!)
at least one bat flying around
fireworks toward the North Side of the city.
Jen and I enjoyed talking throughout the movie, and all three of us were bundled for warmth against the cool, clear night air and occasional breeze.
Labels: dining, ice cream, Ireland, organizing, pool, science, stars, theater, water exercise, work
