Snowbound 7 Thursday
This is the first day the University of Pittsburgh will resume normal operations.
I went to morning Mass this morning. Fr. Utz celebrated the Mass, Fred lectored, John served at the altar, and Don provided music ministry. Approximately ~24 people received the Eucharist in the congregation. I talked to Don after Mass about choir practic, travel, travelling the roads, and preparedness for snow storms.
I plan to stop by campus today.
~~~
19.15
After breakfast, I promptly went home and took a long nap. Auntie Benita woke me up with a phone call. We chatted for a bit, mostly about being snowbound.
I went to M + D's to make some photocopies before heading to campus with Maureen to drop off my students' papers and to notify them of that fact.
We dropped off my DVDs at the Carnegie public library, and then we looked for travel books and DVDs. I saw and said hello to Kathy, head of the music library, and chatted for a bit with her and HK, one of my students who was glad that we were off from class this week.
Maureen and I peeled off our boots/clogs to warm up (with the help of some tea), and then I asked her to take some of my magazines. We headed out, she to her home and me to meet Charles for dinner.
Charles and I enjoyed dinner and I a coconut smoothie at the pan-Asian restaurant. I gave him a keep-the-house-warm housewarming gift, and we chatted for a while.
I stopped by Mom and Dad's place, and am checking my email and catching up on my blog.
Labels: blogs, Carnegie, cold, dining, email, library, Mass, music, school, seasons, traction, transportation, travel, weather, work
Snowbound 5, Tuesday
Bring it on! The snows start again at about noon today. Half a foot ~= six inches is predicted. We shall see. We shall see what foot gear I wear for this storm. The Doc Martens with crampons have given me small, quarter-coin-size blisters on each heel at the attachment of my Achilles tendon, despite double socks.
~~~
Just returned from morning Mass. Approximately 25 people in the congregation received Communion. We were sans music ministry this morning. Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass. He delivered a homily on tradition and how human constructs such as these do not trump the heart. John served, and Joan L. lectored. I spoke with Carmella about parish pastoral council issues at the beginning and after Mass.
Time for a hearty breakfast.
~~~~~
18.35
After cleaning a bit of my bedroom and a nap, I met Maureen after noon Mass for Eucharistic adoration (at the Oratory) and a walk to her home to view the movie "My Architect." Very interesting documentary produced by Nathaniel Kahn about finding his father's life. Louis Kahn was a man married to his work in many varied ways, including sleeping on a carpet in his office, in the way he treated his closest personal relationships, and in his passion for every detail of his work.
His son focussed on his hands, even in his last goodbye to his father. This reminds me of a short story entitled "The Hand" or "Le Main" from Colette's collection of short stories entitled L'Autre Femme. In one of the scenes which did not make it into the movie Louis Kahn is quoted as saying, "Our lives are accidental and filled by circumstance."
I caught a bus back home and am enjoying a dinner of pasta, meatballs, juice mix, and salad.
~~~~~~~
19.15
"...closed on February 10th...Full operations to resume Thursday February 11th."
---voice message from the campus Emergency Messaging Service
Pitt is again closed on Wednesday February 10, 2010. Essential personnel
are to report. Full operations to resume on Thursday February 11.
---email message from the campus Emergency Messaging Service
Labels: cinema, cold, dine, health, Mass, Pittsburgh, seasons, St. Paul Cathedral, traction, weather
Yak Trax--Snowbound 2, February 2010
So, in the sun the snow is beginning to melt, with the help of deicer salts (calcium I imagine) and without the help of temperatures, but with the help of the sun. Tonight, temperatures will go to the single digits.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools website announces that school is cancelled for Monday the 8th of February. Maureen is thrilled.
We went to ten o'clock Mass, and then walked to the pancake place to get breakfast. We then walked to the computer lab for me to print out [administrative] sheets and for us to check the status of the public schools.
A walk back home, save some snow photos for Maureen on her USB key / jump drive, then time for a nap.
~~~~~
17.45
A few buses were seen to be running this afternoon in the heart of Oakland....Port Authority has restored service and restored changed service for some routes.
Labels: cold, computer, dining, Mass, school, seasons, traction, transportation, walking, weather, work
Properly Shod...
Wore my Rocket Dog clogs last night because my hiking boots---despite their sufficient tread---lacked the material on the soles (Rubber Soles) to prevent slipping. Wore the thick-soled clogs again today with jeans and gaiters to keep the snow out.
Haven't yet used my YakTrax crampy-crampon thingys. I'm waiting for more ice...
Labels: cold, Pittsburgh, seasons, traction, weather
3/4 Finished Grading, Fall 2009
As of 22.00 last night I am 3/4 through grading final practicals. Spent the rest of the night speaking with friends.
Yesterday was a day of ice, black ice, and rain. I used my hiking boots, umbrella, and cane to get to choir practice (this time in the loft) yesterday. Patches of ice were spotted on the pavement between Mom and Dad's place and church. We stayed hunkered down for the good part of the day and night.
Labels: biology, Church, cold, seasons, traction, weather, work
Sunday in the Park with Beata, Solomon, and Will
Had brunch with William, his family, and his in-laws at the sushi buffet on McKnight Road: William, Marissa, Beata, Solomon, Les and Chere, Grampy Bill, Susan, and Will. We enjoyed a leisurely brunch.
After, we headed to the North Side water spray park. We had a lot of fun; the children even swayed on the swings. All was well until Beata headed to the "water activator" and slipped. Marissa and Solomon are with her now whilst she gets checked out. I dropped William off at home, as he has an event at Schenley Park. We noted a large truck disregarding the clearance of an underpass on the way home.
Labels: excited, family-Marissa, moving, Pittsburgh, traction, travel, walking, water, water exercise
Walking Girl!
Today before and after work I walked from and to home, dragging my bag-on-wheels behind me through the snow, slush, and ice. I stamped my booted shoes and tamped my bag, too, upon entering a building. I was thrilled to tell my physical therapist, K, about my walking adventures (with no resulting pain) today. I walked to Mass at the Newman Center this afternoon, and then Karina and I dined with the students, enjoying our meal. We walked part of the way home together, then parted ways to go to our respective abodes.
Labels: cold, Faith, friends, Mass, traction, walking, weather
"I'm on the road right now. And it's really slick."
About an hour ago I called Ornella from the road (to get supplies for the Philippine Nationality Room Open House) to tell her that the roads were slick. She said that she was on the road, too, and "it seems very dangerous...maybe we can do a potluck dinner another time..."
That leaves me with just: getting items together for tomorrow's open house, having dinner, going to the anticipated Mass with Mom, and grrrading!
Labels: biology, cold, dolls, Philippines, Pittsburgh, PNR, seasons, traction, travel, work
Snow, snow, and more snow...then Rain.
Late last night it started to fall---the dry snow. Mid this afternoon it turned to rain.
I asked Ken if he used snow tires to get to Oakland this morning--"No, I just drove really slowly," he answered.
On the way home from work this afternoon, I slogged through the sidewalks and streets (dragging my backpack on wheels), past the short bus stops to Mom and Dad's place. I had a snack of cheese and milk, and plunked down in front of the TV to watch a rarely-viewed-by-me TV show, Oprah. This episode was to be about David Cassidy (Whooo! "I think I love you!"), my first rockstar-poster boy. I found that the TV station is instead continuously broadcasting breaking weather and PennDOT news and the school closings. I am so thankful for my traction.
Dad is on his way back from his medical mission in the Philippines...Mom has taken the bus to the airport to avoid the cold, crazy drive and commuter traffic combined to meet him. Can't wait to see him after a couple of weeks away.
Labels: Church, cold, diocese of Pittsburgh, family, Mass, medical mission, Philippines, Pittsburgh, seasons, shoes, traction, transportation, travel
Beatrice, Fish Fry
Beatrice and William and Marissa visited on her 5-month birthday this Friday. It was fun to see her and to present her with the musical "keys" in which you can insert various pictures, so she has friendly faces to look at while teething.
Soon after, my birder friend and I went to a feesh fry Uptown. DEE-lish. We shared fish, fries, cole slaw, haluski, and pierogies accompanied by fountain soft drinks. As the temps fell during the day, the rain changed to sleet changed to hail changed to snow. My hiking boots started skidding slightly in the snow as we made our way to the bus stop.
Labels: Beatrice, cold, fish fry, traction
Chatham College Choir, University of Virginia Glee Club
Saturday I purchased shoe traction devices for walking in the snow and ice. Mom, Dad, and I babysat Beatrice, and in the evening I donned the traction devices on my Doc Martens and took a bus to Chatham College. I met up with my friend and we made the snowy trek up the hill to Campbell Memorial Chapel. There, we enjoyed the sounds of the University of Virginia Glee Club (who sang, among other pieces, Biebl's Ave Maria for men's voices), followed by the Chatham College Choir (who sang less densely layered-voice pieces). After intermission, the combined choruses sang Poulenc's Gloria, and sounded glorious, considering that they had practiced merely one day together.
My friend and I enjoyed the music, and we saw Richard Teaster at the concert, too, with several of his choristers.
I spotted--and was subsequently surprised by--a vole in the cold, wintry snow on the way to the bus stop.
Labels: Chatham College, Choir, traction
