Auntie Chi and Kelly for Easter 2010
Auntie Chi and Kelly arrived Tuesday afternoon and evening, respectively, at Pittsburgh International (PIT). I did not see Auntie Chi until Wednesday night over dinner and fleurs of yellow Asian lilies and of blue lilies of the Nile ("it's not what you know, it's whom you know!") chez Mom and Dad's. Kelly and I caught up Thursday, as she was out with William Wednesday night.
Auntie Chi and I went out shopping in Oakland Thursday on the 71A line after my work Thursday afternoon. It was a glorious day of about 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. I walked parallel to Tiffany on her way home to Squirrel Hill as we passed St. Paul Cathedral, and we enjoyed the weather while chatting about how we are not that different from students, despite what they may think. Mom, Auntie Chi, and I chatted briefly until Auntie Chi and I went to Giant Eagle Market District for probiotic yogurt for my upset gut, bananas, and rice cakes.
to explain:
I've had an intestinal flu since Sunday. I think it's a flu, perhaps, because it started with aches, but I'm not convinced it isn't from something I ate. I'm just glad and thankful that it wasn't food poisoning (I got to explain the CBD to students and the vomit reflex in class this week, being animal anatomy and physiology week). It is NOT fun. Mom intoned Tuesday night, "You shouldn't eat much...No dairy nor fatty foods," etc. "have some tea, stay hydrated."
Next we took the bus (meeting Cassie, a former stock room person from work) to CVS, where we picked up Mom's prescription and I a double pack of electrolyte solution (fruity flavored this time!!)
Needless to say, we arrived home at about 19.30, well after when the Holy Thursday Mass had started. I was weak from working through this bug this week and from not eating regularly because of it, as well. Plus, I don't want to make my choir mates sick.
We had dinner (me, those lovely items I had purchased, plus sotanghon noodles). I hazarded a small taste of dark chocolate matzo that Kelly had brought from New York ("What makes this evening different from all other evenings...we have sweet chocolate matzo?") I drove William home and then Kelly, Mom, Auntie Chi and I stayed up to chat about Grandma, her stories she told and songs she sang to us, and Kelly's excellent memory of them...The real reason Kelly can't fit any more into her brain (Freedom Rock commercials, man!), radio play shows from the Philippines when Mom and Auntie Chi were young, in which the whole family and the hired help would sit around the radio, and how moms really don't get fun until the grandkids arrive.
So, I'm up early due to my gut's shenanigans, though the frequency and intensity of the urge and the quality/duration (well, you get the picture...)
I'm so fortunate it's not the upper GI flu my coworker S had earlier this week. She intoned, "My boyfriend gave me the Plague."
Labels: biology, celebration, family, flowers, Grandma, health, Holy Thursday, radio, shopping, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, thankfulness, transportation, visitor, 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
SnowUNbound February 2010
Maureen telephoned me soon after I posted my last post...she invited me and also Karina to ten o'clock morning Mass at the Newman Center. As I walked up the street, I sang "I'll be home for Christmas." We were two of the five parishioners who celebrated Mass with Fr. Drew. I prayed during the general intercessions for my parents' current mission. Then, we walked south on Dithridge to Fifth Avenue, taking photos all along. We enjoyed the warmth of the Cathedral of Learning, and Maureen dried off and applied a plastic bag to her foot. We walked south to Forbes Avenue, headed east to Craig Street, where Maureen got a cappuccino at Kiva Han. We enjoyed lunch at the pan-Asian restaurant, and invited Karina to join us. We enjoyed telling stories and looking at pictures/photos.
I am tired from my slight lack of sleep and my escapades in the snow. I will take a nap before I continue along in my day.
Labels: cold, dining, Faith, Mass, medical mission, Philippines, prayer, seasons, sleep, tea, weather
Friday in the Third week of Ordinary Time 2010, Coco
Today I lectored at the morning Mass. Fr. Breier celebrated Mass, John served, and Don provided the music ministry. The first reading was from 2 Samuel, the passage about David's asking to put Bathsheba's husband in danger during wartime. There was at least one audible "tsk" that I heard from the congregation when reading that key phrase. Fr. Breier delivered a homily primarily about God's grace.
As the temperature this morning was six degrees Fahrenheit (well below freezing), and windy and sunny, I took my breakfast then proceeded to take a long winter hibernation for the good part of the morning. Karina and I had lunch at the Japanese-Korean restaurant in Oakland, stopped at the post office to pick up stamps and to mail Jonathan's birthday card, and stopped at the campus and public libraries for computer lab work and for Karina's items on hold. I stopped by at home to check my messages, send a fax, and then met up at Karina's to produce the first in my earth-water-wind-sea necklace and matching bracelet series. Karina had prepared a cup of spiced chai for my enjoyment when I had arrived out of the cold. Maureen arrived when I had completed stringing about two-thirds of my necklace. I felt a great sense of accomplishment, and Karina shored us up with her homemade soup for the long evening.
We stopped at the bookstore in Shadyside to run an errand, then proceeded to the Mall in West Mifflin for the MaxiSaver movie, Coco before Chanel. We decided on a stop for fast Mexican food first, then watched the movie in a practically empty theater.
Coco Avant Chanel was about the rise of the phenomenon of Coco Chanel from personal setbacks and tragedies. It focusses on her personal life, as the title suggests, before she made a household name for herself; before Jackie Kennedy wore a signature Chanel suit to meet the President of France. Her personal life and ensuing decision to focus on her career in a time when a typical French woman was expected to become a wife was touching. Coco Chanel was a woman with a particularly striking visage who entered the fashion field when it was still dominated by men. She made a name on simple, practically austere looks and elegant, simple lines. She changed women's fashion from binding Victorian corsets and rules to flowing, comfortable lines. The music in the movie was particularly moving.
After the movie we went to a large superstore and went grocery shopping. Boy, it's late.
I'm pleased to have received an email verifying that the health emergency Thursday afternoon has resolved itself.
Labels: art, Carnegie, cinema, cold, dine, dining, health, jewelry, lector, library, Mass, painting, shopping, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, walking, weather
Walkin' Gals
Today was the second day back to school for my classes. After teaching a morning section, I went home for lunch, a nap, email correspondence, and a half-hour walk with Maureen in Oakland. We walked to Karina's place and enjoyed chai and conversation. We decided to walk every day. Dinner at Mom & Dad's followed, (leftovers from Sunday) and I've caught up on email correspondence since then.
Labels: biology, dine, email, school, sleep, tea, walking, work
Pittsburgh Wellesley Annual Tea 2009/2010
Today was the annual Wellesley tea. We enjoyed a pot of tea each (Martha and I shared a large pot of jasmine tea), and we had a selection of tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, and desserts of mini fruit tarts, cookie/brownie bars, and carrot cake. Michele opted for the mimosa, as well. At my end of the table were Stephanie, Lynne, Amy, and Martha. At Michele's end of the table were the "K" gals: Kelly, Kelsey, Kathryn, Kathleen, and Karen who switched seats with Martha so that Martha and I could share a pot of tea.
We chatted, and also spoke about plans for the Pittsburgh chapter for 2010...club events where we could get together, again. Amy and Lynne had particularly good ideas.
Lynne was kind to give me a ride back.
I hostessed the tea this time, and I'm glad Kelly suggested a post-holiday event this time around.
Labels: seasons, tea, transportation, Wellesley
Tea and Company
Took care of various administrative tasks before leaving work yesterday. I went to the library for books for the party this weekend. Picked up some parlor gifts with mom and dad for the party, as well. Then I acted as sous chef for mom's preparation of squash coconut milk soup for dinner.
Karina invited Maureen and I over for masala chai, which we greatly enjoyed (just a pinch goes a far way!). As Karina had not eaten dinner yet, we went to our favorite neighborhood Pan-Asian restaurant for dinner and snacks. We had a great chat about lots of things, including my mid-week class's preferences.
Labels: biology, dine, dining, tea, teaching, work
Today
Today I slept in after my alarm went off. I drove my friends and me to Millvale for brunch. We visited the bakery afterwards, and we all were sufficiently sugared up to turn down the baked goods. A visit to St. Nicholas Church, a Croatian parish, ensued, one which had a parish fair, tours of the church building, and beautiful murals in tempera by Maximillian Vanka. He included pastoral peasant scenes from his childhood, and a prominent depiction of Mary and Christ above the altar which depicted Mary as a robust, buxom peasant woman under an arch announcing "Marijo-Kralijice Hvala-moli za nas" or, "Mary, Queen of Croatia, pray for us," translated by Diane. Scenes from Vanka's mother country and of Pittsburgh were portrayed opposite from pieta and other scenes. We also saw that talks by Fr. Scott Seethaler OFM CAP announced.
We went to Whole Foods for pumpkin raisin spice iced cookies and to Trader Joes. We had dinner at Taco Bell, and headed back to Maureen's home for tea and cookies, discussion, and checking email.
Labels: art, Church, dine, dining, diocese of Pittsburgh, friends, photos, repair, tea
New Wireless Mouse, New Eyeglasses, Smoothies and Tea
Today before physical therapy I picked up a wireless mouse. After physical therapy I found parking (!) and picked up my new eyeglasses from the optical shop. I checked my email, then met Fannie and Don for smoothies and tea at a pan-Asian restaurant.
This evening I'll go to Joan Lippincott's organ recital at St. Paul Cathedral.
Labels: computer, email, exercise, glass, ice cream, music, organ, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, water exercise
Shower Chair
Yeah! I just had a shower chair delivered...I expect that my home care nurse, the nurse at the orthopedic surgeon's office, and the fact that the last two.5 changes of dressing showed no drainage will lead to an "O.K." to shower.
Now I have the appliance to make it a reality.
I am so excited!
Labels: cleaning, excited, surgery, surprise, tea, thankfulness
Pittsburgh Marathon 2009
Mom, Dad, and a bunch of their PAMS friends are volunteering for the Pittsburgh Marathon Medical team at the Carnegie Institute...many people from the Pacquiao party last night (KO in 2nd round, Hatton down).
I awoke early today to pack for our trip to visit Kelly. Got it down to:
my small overnight red bag
my fabric bag for my calendar and journal notebook
my small red over-the-shoulder daily bag
my exercise ball
my sport seat/ cane
Kelly called, looking for Mom. (She is still at the medical station).
I'll go outside to watch the race...
~~~
14:15
Karina and I had masala chai (made with Irish tea) and Mexican hot chocolate cookies. We chatted, I admired the bracelet with saints she had fashioned, and we enjoyed the tea we had made together. (Water with sugar and masala boiled first, then milk and tea added last.)
We were pleased with the way the day had turned out: Sunny, bright, and clear.
~~~
20:00+ (After six o'clock evening Mass, when I saw Nancy and Tom McA., Stephanie (from Christmas choir), Ed, and Ken and Lisa's brood, and during which Fr. Utz served. Today was Ken & Lisa's anniversary.)
Showed up at the Newman Center for Eucharistic Adoration. Met up with Maureen, and we went to Karina's for masala chai, homemade chocolate cake, and conversation. Maureen and I walked to my parents' home, and I drove her to her home. The evening ended with the girls at about 23:00.
Labels: anniversary, family, friends, Mass, medical mission, Pacquiao, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, volunteering
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
Saturday in the Octave of Easter 2009
Forty-six hours until my friend S. and I meet again! (Gee, it's been almost twenty years!)
Today I arose before six AM and did laundry, dust, take out the trash, shred old bills, and clean out the refrigerator. Met up with Maureen to get shortbread (and a Penguin cakelet for Karina) at our fave bakery, then we headed to McKnight Road for cheese & cherry blintzes and a Dutch baby with strawberry sauce for my birthday celebration. We then headed to JC Penney, Tiffany's, the Chef store, Kate Spade, and Nordstrom's for shopping/window shopping. We shopped for groceries at Giant Eagle and at Trader Joe's. I went home to relax for half an hour and then to write the above notes. What a glorious, beauteous sunny day!
~~~
21:00
At 18:00 Karina, Maureen, and I met on the steps of St. Paul Cathedral to hear the gist of Karina's journal slide talk (due on Monday), to go for a walk, chai and coffee at Starbucks, and to enjoy Karina's "87" Penguin cakelet. We went for Tea/Chai Masala at the Indian grocery store, and chatted in my parents' lobby over the PAMS Inaugural Ball book. We also discussed dyes vs. indicators (over hydrangeae).
Labels: dining, flowers, friends, shopping, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, walking
Inauguration Day 2009
Today, I lectored at a memorial Mass the day after Lolo's birthday. Fr. Breier celebrated, Matt was altar server, and Ken played the Wicks organ. Fr. Breier wore a red vestment from the Philippines, and we talked about his relative who served as a priest in Japan who had a cousin who was archbishop in the Philippines, and was a doctor, surgeon, dentist, pharmacist, and undertaker. In the POW camp in Manila (which was probably the University of Santo Tomas campus) he was quite useful to the Japanese who were occupying the city. He probably knew Lolo, who treated troops from America, Japan, and the Philippines.
We collected eyeglasses at the Fifth Avenue entrance of church, then departed for haircuts (with Dad driving and our making a stop at McDonald's for breakfast). Mary Jane had the television on, we watched pre-inauguration pomp in which the powers-that-be and the powers-that-had-been pass through the portals of the White House before their ride to the Capitol Building and the Inauguration.
We ladies commented on Michelle Obama's dress ("It's very difficult for most of us women to carry off a yellow dress," "I sure hope she's layering a long silk shirt under that suit"). We also hurried home in time to catch Dianne Feinstein continue to make introductory remarks before the official Inauguration Program. We heard Gabriela Montero (piano forte), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yo Yo Ma (cello), and Anthony McGill (clarinet) play a piece by John Williams commissioned for the event, Joe Biden sworn in as Vice President, Aretha Franklin sing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and Barack Obama take the oath of office. Elizabeth Alexander read her poem, "Praise Song for the Day." How very moving, the whole event. The military choral group sang, and we decided to go out for lunch.
Mom, Dad, and I had lunch at the Japanese sushi buffet. Quite delicious. We enjoyed vanilla, red bean, and green tea ice cream after.
We worked on dad's curriculum vita and on Mom & Dad's correspondence after that. We also watched the Inaugural parade, during which we commented that some of the onlookers in the reviewing stands looked positively COLD.
Labels: American history, Birthday, hair, humor, ice cream, Mass, medical mission, St. Paul Cathedral, tea
Choir Outings
After the noon Mass a group of us (Judi, Amy, Jess, Ornella, Marc, Christoph, Andrew, Stacy, and I) sat outside a sidewalk cafe and enjoyed the 65+ degree Fahrenheit weather. We departed after I had gathered a handful of us to meet at the Jonathan Borofsky sculpture on the Carnegie Mellon campus before heading to the Carnegie Mellon Jazz Vocal Ensemble concert this evening.
After a full afternoon of emailing, prepping for work this week, and a nice nap, Ornella picked me up to meet Andrew (who left for office hours) and Christoph. Mark showed up after the first song in the program.
The program included
My Funny Valentine
Take the A train
[I Get a Kick out of You]
Try to Remember
A Groovy Kind of Love
Stay
Mystery
The vocal ensemble consisted of several undergraduate students, Jessica, Laura, Pat, Nick, Sergi, Tim, and Ryan; and was directed by Thomas Douglas.
After, we went to a bar in Ornella and Marc's neighborhood for drinks. We DIDN'T talk for two hours about politics. We spent three hours at the pub, enjoying each others' company and also discussing the social luciole's role in the choir. We shared secrets, such as who is on my speed dial, who is on Marc's speed dial, how I came to fly a plane, et al.
Labels: art, Carnegie, Choir, music, politics, school, tea, weather
Wellesley Planning, Fall 2008
I met with Kelly U. this morning to plan for the year's Pittsburgh Wellesley College Alumnae Club events. We decided that we definitely want to have an annual winter holiday gathering, and perhaps a volunteer weekend day during the "Day to Make a Difference," and perhaps a tea tasting in the spring to welcome new members. We also chatted about our social lives, surgery, and travels.
I find myself in the computer lab on campus, with the masses, answering student emails and preparing for next week's lab.
~~~~~
Tonight I plan to attend the faith sharing group. I plan to bring the movie Ryan's Daughter (recommended by Pratima), for watching after the meeting and dining out. I've invited some friends to the group meeting, and I hope to see them in the coming weeks at the meeting.
~~~~~
8:40pm
Just returned from faith sharing and pizza with the group: Maximum Flavor pizza and drinks at Panther Hollow Inn. Pizza goers were Paul, Karina, Christina, Andy, Brian, Tom, and Alroy. Jose skipped out before pizza. Alroy gave Tom the "third degree" and they discussed Bible reading and canon law. I was glad to see Tom at the meeting, and hope to see Doug at the meeting next weekend.
Labels: biology, cinema, computer, dining, Faith, friends, list, love, school, surgery, tea, travel, volunteering, Wellesley, 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
Cleaning/Organizing/Purging I
Yesterday, Mom and I started purging from the top of my "coffee table." We also shredded documents, boxed up a boom box for donation, and were joined by William, who set up the old computer from Vickie to test it. He also went to test my CD-R drive from the old Mac from Deb, which we could not get to work. He proffered that if I should ever want to get a dining room table off my hands, that he would be happy to take it...Mom and I discussed this later, and I said that the table may have to be sold with the apartment coop. This table is the one we dined on when we lived in the Bronx, when we were about five years old. It is the one William hid under when our teacher came to visit, and he had Winnie-the-Pooh as a puppet.
I showered after, and William joined Mom, Dad, and I for dinner (Marissa and the kids were enjoying the afternoon at IKEA). William shared with us oven-dried honeyed banana/plaintain with us from one of his students, which we had for dessert with sweet sliced pineapple that Dad had prepared. We chatted for a bit, then he caught the bus for home.
I noted to Mom that my left leg is bothering me lots more than my right, operated one.
Labels: BAD, computer, dining, health, home, New York, pain, St. Lucy, surgery, tea, teaching, transportation
Day to Make a Difference 2007; Lunch; Anti-War Rally Sept 2007
This morning I helped to wrap lumpia for our lunch with William and Marissa's family. I then joined Natalie, Kelly and Bill, Erica, and Marian to prepare brunch for the residents of Family House. I was a two-fisted, double-panned scrambled egg short-order chef.
Lunch with Mom, Dad, Les, Cherie, William, Marissa, and Beatrice was wonderful. We had pot roast, fried and white rice, homemade lumpia with sauces, fruit, lemon cake with icing, and iced teas. The lumpia was a family effort; with mom making the filling, I rolling them, and dad frying them up. William and Marissa will go back next weekend for his high school reunion. There will be a dance, which Beatrice plans to attend, too. He is looking forward to seeing Steve and Denver.
A little before three this afternoon there was an anti-war/peace rally marching down Fifth Avenue with multi-car police escort. They were accompanied by a band. (How grand!)
Labels: Beatrice, dining, family, family-Marissa, friends, Marietta, Peace, tea
This past week hasn't been as busy...Jason home
This past week hasn't been as busy...I went to a talk by Natalie Baker-Shirer for the readers of the Radio Information Service, lectored at the Cathedral a couple of times this week. Saturday, after lectoring I went to a tea tasting at the Te Cafe, and attended Annie's (Anna to the rest of the world) eighth birthday party.
~~~
Serving as a lector on Saturday noon is different than for televised Masses during the week--fewer announcements and no music! This Saturday at noon, I served with Carole and Fr. Daniele Vallecorsa on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.
I arrived fashionably late for the tea tasting. They had discussed what is and is not tea, different forms of tea, and different names of tea. We tasted a Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea (quite fragrant!); gyokuro, a green tea reminiscent of alfalfa when steeped; Margaret's Hope Darjeeling (from a garden bought overseas by a Brit, in memory of his daughter, who loved the tea garden); and a Russian Caravan tea (which transported me to a small smoky hut where food is being prepared). I ended the afternoon tea with biscotti and a herbal rooibos caramel tea from South Africa. Absolutely delicious! We passed our teapots around the table, and I tried Thuy's selection of cardamom tea (which picked out the spice from the chai octet of flavors); and Eve's selection of pear rooibos (lovely fruity notes!)
At Anna's garden birthday party dad said the blessing of the food, we partook of the two large tables of food (too plentiful to name!), and, as usual, I was one of the gamemeisters--joined this year by Dean and Myla, as the group of children participating has grown from previous years. We played limbo, parachute, "give me," and pinata, among other games.
~~~~
This Sunday was Joyce and Greg's anniversary, with an added gift: Jason is out of the hospital! All our thoughts and prayers have been with him and his family. It must be great for Michael to have his whole family back at home together again. Joyce, Greg, Miranda, and Benny went to visit with Jason and his family Sunday. Miranda's dream/prayer is coming true!
Labels: anniversary, Birthday, lector, read, RIS, tea, thankfulness, Wellesley
