Walkin' Girls, March 2010
Karina and I went for individual walks on Friday---I met her outside the Carnegie Library. We walked together back to our homes.
The next day, Saturday, I spent the bulk of the day grading, had lunch at Mom & Dad's, went for the women's prayer group rosary led by Jen. For dinner, Karina and I walked to the Korean/Japanese restaurant in Oakland. We enjoyed dinners of eel rice bowls. I told her of the free calls overseas, and we spoke about our aunties who mean so much to us.
Today, I met up with Maureen and Nancy for lunch on Craig Street after I had a chance to attend Mass, sitting 1/2 way up the nave. ("Adoramus Te" by Bob Farrell sounded particularly good. I re-introduced Regina to Don up in the loft, showed her where we meet for practice, and chatted with her and her boyfriend John and with her mom.)
Maureen, Nancy, and I sat next to a table of ne'er-do-wells (Judi, Karen, Jess, and Don) and chatted well into the afternoon. Nancy was particularly animated throughout our lunchtime discussion. I took care of some paperwork afterwards.
Life is good.
Labels: Choir, dining, phone, prayer, rosary, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, walking
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.
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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
Saint Anthony's Novena
Went for pre-operative testing at my primary care physician's office and lab work this morning. I still need an electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X ray, and a nasal swab...I will go later this week for that.
I enjoyed a couple of naps today.
Maureen and I went to Troy Hill for St. Anthony's Novena. For special intentions, I mentioned K and her family, M and her family, for my surgery in 12 days, and a special intention.
We enjoyed chatting over lemonade and key lime pie at my home afterward.
Labels: Faith, family, health, rosary, sleep, surgery
St. Anthony's Chapel Novena
Maureen and I went to St. Anthony's Chapel to pray the novena (this week was the tenth Tuesday of the novena). I mentioned K & her family, who lost their mother, and M. and her family, as well as a special intention.
We went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and Giant Eagle afterwards.
Labels: Faith, Pittsburgh, prayer, rosary
Novena, St. Anthony III
Went to physical therapy today. Also watched a show with Mom about Niagara Falls ("Good location for a vacation," she implied).
At 19:30 Karina and I went to Troy Hill for St. Anthony's Novena (patron saint of lost causes). During general intercessions I prayed "For those unemployed and underemployed," for I knew most of those present would not mention it.
We went to her home for chai masala (homemade) and chatted, and looked at photos of her family, old and young.
Labels: Church, exercise, friends, prayer, rosary, tea, TV, water exercise
Monday, Tuesday in the Octave of Easter 2009
I spent the afternoon and evening grading and attending the Faith sharing group and Bible study group (both at the Newman Center). We discussed Easter and Holy Week during the Faith sharing group (Karina, Chad, and Jose attended). We discussed and read excerpts from St. Paul's letters to the Romans during the Bible study group. It was our last meeting for the semester, as next week there will be a finals study hall in our usual meeting place.
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Today I cleaned house and graded this morning, went to an appointment at UPMC, then had lunch and graded more before going to physical therapy. <9/18 for first section>
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9pm Tuesday 14 April 2009
Maureen drove with Karina and me to St. Anthony's Chapel on Troy Hill for the St. Anthony Novena this evening at 7:30pm. It was beautiful, with the church almost full, a deacon leading the prayers and allowing veneration of a relic, and providing a homily. The general intercessions allowed individuals to voice out their prayers and intentions.
A beautiful service, ending with our singing Tantum Ergo Sacramentum.
Labels: Church, Faith, rosary, seasons
Bakery, St. Anthony's Chapel Reliquary, Pitt Repertory Theatre
Yesterday morning I rose early to grade quizzes. Maureen, Karina, and I went to the DEE-lish bakery in Millvale (Karina and I for the first time). I purchased an almond brioche (and a chocolate croissant for later). Maureen tried my brioche, and I tried her sugar bun. I saw Sara M. and her friend outside the bakery, and she, too, was a first-time customer.
We headed up to the original Pamela's restaurant, and made some small gift purchases at the pharmacy.
We then headed to Troy Hill, where St. Anthony's Chapel---which is the largest reliquary outside of the Vatican---is located. We arrived ~11:30 and enjoyed the space of the expanded chapel through prayer. There was a group of Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity saying the rosary and then saying a chaplet before noon, when a priest blessed religious articles and celebrated Mass with them and with anyone else wishing to participate in the chapel (including us). Maryann, one of the Brides of the Trinity, spoke with us individually about their mission to pray daily for priests, and invited us to join the group, which consists of both laity and religious.
After Mass, we spoke with Sr. Margaret, who invited us to attend a tour at ~1:20pm. (I asked her about the relics of St. Lucy--she replied that one of them is most likely near the BVM statue.) We retreated to the gift shop across the street to purchase medallions and prayer cards, returning in time for the tour.
We waited for a tour group that was to arrive at 13:00 until after 13:30, then started the tour. We sat in the original part of the chapel. We learned that there are liturgical calendars with relics from the various saints, relics from the apostles, St. Theodore's skull, a tooth from St. Anthony of Padua, a part of the BVM's veil, and slivers from the original cross of Christ. After the tour, the various visitors (some from Steubenville, Ohio) venerated the part from the original cross, and it touched our hearts. By this time, it was time for a late lunch, and the bus with the forty people had pulled up in front of the chapel.
We dined (serendipitously) at the Italian restaurant on the North Side of Pittsburgh--we had the Pizza Salsicce with the lean sausage.
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After a medium-length nap and some more grading, Nancy and I went to the University of Pittsburgh plays: Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All for You, The Moon Please, and Kuwait. All brilliantly produced and acted.
The U Pitt "Great 8" March Madness team was playing Villanova at the same time--several people were texting or calling friends on their cell phones to get the score. Near the end of the trio of plays we were disappointed to hear that our team had succumbed to March Madness.
Labels: biology, Church, dining, Faith, games, Pittsburgh, rosary, school, shopping, sports, student, work
40-Day Anniversary of Herminio Z-F
Today before work I dropped off some graded papers for my Friday section; dropped off a Sarris Easter candy order form for my co-worker, Jen S.; and dropped off two recommendation forms for a student looking to transfer in his sophomore year (closer to home).
I taught, then showered and napped, used my coupon that Wawa gave me to dine at Quiznos ("million sub giveaway") on a French dip sub, then walked to the Newman Center for Bible Study on Galatians (and handouts on the Council at Trent) with Fr. Mike. I met Maggie (Kyle's girlfriend), who had just recently made him a rosary with beautiful green beads by hand.
Fr. Mike said the Mass at nine o'clock, with Deacon Steven and Fr. Kim, and an altar server. Fr. Mike made mention of Tina's father, Atty. Herminio Z-F, on the 40th day of the anniversary of his passing.
Donna was kind enough to give me a ride home, and we listened to some great country music.
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I wrote a recommendation for a first-year student this morning.
Labels: biology, chocolate, dine, Faith, farewell, Mass, music, rosary, school, sleep, student, work
Activities this Week
Monday, I went to Bible study with Fr. Mike at the Oratory. Jennifer from the MPH program was there, and we read and discussed to Galatians 2:11.
Wednesday Dad and I babysat in the evening for Beatrice and Solomon until the intermission of the play William and Marissa went.
Thursday I had physical therapy, and choir practice afterwards. Mom and Dad dropped me off, and picked me up, too.
Today I had an appointment in Monroeville, during which Dad and Mom met the PA and doctor. After, Mom and I got supplies at Michael's Craft store, too. We had homemade lo mein for lunch. I just watched "Leopards take Manhattan," on On Demand cable television, about a youth percussion group from Louisville Kentucky that travels to a jazz educators' conference in NYC.
In a few hours Nancy C. from choir and I will watch Angels in America (Part I) at the Charity Randall theatre on campus.
Labels: Beatrice, children, Choir, exercise, Faith, health, music, niece and nephew, pain, rosary, school, theater, TV
