Wellesley Day to Make a Difference, Frick Estate
Yesterday I volunteered with the Pittsburgh Wellesley Club at GlobaLinks for our annual Day to Make a Difference. It was good to see Kelly U. and the rest of the gang. I sorted with Beth, we had a great system. Maureen met up with me there. We all did sorting, inventory, and packing of orthopedic (post-op) supplies.
Maureen and I then drove (separately) to the Frick Estate, where we met up with Marissa, Beatrice, Solomon; and with Les and Cherie for RADday (Regional Asset District Day). We enjoyed a picnic lunch, a walk in the garden, and then Maureen and I took a tour of the first floor of the house. We joined Les on the rocking chairs on the porch of the children's playhouse---currently the gift shop---whilst we chomped on our popcorn.
I came home for some grading and a nap before heading to the crepes party last night.
Labels: dine, family-Marissa, friends, museum, Pittsburgh, volunteering, Wellesley
Walking Day
Walked to and from my appointment this gray cool morning. I enjoyed lunch with Mom and Dad, a nap, and job hunting. Also took care of some administrative correspondence.
Maureen and I saw the rainy scape right before we decided to walk. She's at dance class now, and I'll join her later this evening for writing correspondence for her school.
Labels: dine, sleep, volunteering, walking, work, writing
This Weekend, March 2010
Saturday I awoke early to work on a student reference letter. I cleaned my living room a bit and in the afternoon weeded out part of my closet. I took a nap, as well.
Sunday I awoke early, prepped for work this week, took a nap, then headed to St. Paul Cathedral to check out the process for distributing Volunteer Registration Forms. Went to choir practice, and after Mass I handed out some volunteer registration forms, a goodly number to students, as well.
Nancy C. and I had a great conversation over smoothies and a noodle/won ton dish (with noodles flown in from San Francisco!), got cookies and snacks (at the Indian store), and sat in my garden to discuss.
I walked Nancy to her car, went home, took a nap, and then spoke with Maureen, napped some more, then went with Christina and Karina to Jen P's party at her home in Friendship. Her landlords were pleasant, lovely people. She had prepared at least four carrot cakes (with obvious orange flavor) for her 28th birthday party. The Newman Crowd was there, and Father Mike was even there.
Labels: Birthday, cleaning, dining, Faith, organizing, sleep, St. Paul Cathedral, student, volunteering, weather, work
New Year's Day 2009
I went to Mass (BVM, the Mother of God) at the Oratory at 10 today. I spoke to Julia, Don, and their seven-month-old daughter Maria. I met up with Jeff, Maureen, and Karina after Mass and First Friday adoration, as well.
The four of us walked to the Indian restaurant, arriving at ~11.15. We went to the Indian grocery store to get warm and to while the time (cilantro!) before 11.30. The man at the register indicated that the restaurant would open at 13.00. So we went to get hot drinks at a coffee shop on Forbes Avenue to spend the time (boy, that dark hot chocolate was really good!) and then to eat at the New Year's buffet at the Indian restaurant. The goat curry was good, as was the tutti frutti dessert.
We walked to Fifth and Craig, where Jeff used his gift card at the NE corner coffee shop. I just returned to Mom and Dad's home, as they called me during lunch to type / do administrative work for the medical society.
Labels: celebration, chocolate, Choir, dining, friends, Mass, medical mission, Philippines, Pilipino culture, shopping, volunteering, walking
Fourth Sunday of Advent 2009
Today was Ornella's final day with choir. After choir I hugged her warmly and declared, "It's been wonderful." The choir, after the postlude, presented Matthew Craig with a Celtic cross.
Mom and Dad and I had Chinese food at Squirrel Hill. I napped for a bit, then met up with William and his family at Qdoba in Shadyside. Beata and I enjoyed singing and ringing the jingle bells around my neck, while Solomon bounced along. After Lolo and Lola presented Christmas gifts to them, the kids enjoyed reading books whilst the guys watched the Steelers game. ("Daddy's watching the Steelers," Beata declared early on this evening.)
I helped Mom compose and type some letters for PAMS. Maureen and I chatted about the movie we watched last night, Evening (2007), as well as about how teaching LCD/divisibility rules are like following the rules of a game or of a game show.
Labels: Choir, dining, farewell, games, gift, music, Philippines, singing, teaching, volunteering
Haircut, August 2008
Mom and I got haircuts yesterday afternoon. We went to run errands and to go food shopping, too.
When we returned, Maureen and I went to Jo Ann Fabrics to get her organizers for her students' classroom supplies. We went to an office supply store for binder clips, and went to Eat N Park for cool drinks (milkshake and water). We stopped at Ross Park Mall for window shopping, and headed home.
~ ~ ~
Today I took an easy morning...typed a bit, then relaxed in bed. Had lunch with Mom and Dad, then after a nap joined Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon for some story telling in Squirrel Hill. The volunteer's name was Jan, and she read library books with toys and puppets to help to tell the stories. She did a finger play about five fishies, too. They enjoyed the cinnamon graham crackers, and we all went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream and sorbet afterwards.
Labels: dining, hair, ice cream, read, shopping, volunteering
Well Wishes
With my second hip replacement surgery, I've been truly blessed by well-wishes and prayers from near and far away. Many of my friends and family have even come to visit me, too. It's been a real treat to have their presence.
The hospital staff has been nothing short of superb. Some of them I recognize from my same procedure on my other hip last year. And I had three volunteers visit me--two Eucharistic Ministers (one on Tuesday, one right before my departure on Thursday), and a familiar volunteer face from last year, a woman with a strong spirit and a C-leg.
My friend Joan has made me know that I have been prayed for this week at St. Paul Cathedral.
Labels: BAD, diocese of Pittsburgh, family, friends, patient, St. Paul Cathedral, surgery, thankfulness, volunteering
A Week from Now...
A week from now I will most likely be wheeled out of the operating room (OR) to the recovery room. I will no longer be a hip chick, but a hipS chick. I'll be gaining another new hip, and will be (better than) new.
Just went for a walk to drop off my info for Vickie E. for my volunteer work at the Church. Spoke with Pat P., Carol, and Eileen. Petted Princess, Carol's dog. Pat noted that I could audition for Celtic dancing (!) at the end of the summer.
The progression was discussed: bed to chair to walker to crutches to crutch to cane to Nothing...to DANCING! (All within two months of surgery.)
~~~~~
~19:00
Mom and I left ~14:00 to get Mexican food and to go shopping: I for an 18-month calendar and music at Barnes & Noble, she for clothes and gifts at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. We also went shopping for knick knacks. I got a bias-cut shirt and a cute li'l skirt for dancing!
Labels: BAD, Church, dance, dog, excited, friends, international culture, Ireland, surgery, talent, volunteering, walking
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
Divine Mercy Sunday 2009--At it again!
At it again---
I awoke in the wee hours of the morning to put away accessories and clothing, clean the bathroom, and make the bed for my guest this week, S. I figured out that I need to get bread, and perhaps chicken and vinegar (for adobo), and rice.
I'm going to grade final practicals next, then take a short nap.
~~~
11.00 am
Graded, napped, cleaned my bathroom and kitchen, primed the bedroom for guests, vacuumed, made my bed, and generally readied my home for the first wave of visits by my friends.
I will try to relax a little before some of us meet as a choir in the loft at approximately noon today.
~~~
21:10
It was Ken, Betty T., Andrew, Lisa, Ornella, and I in the loft this afternoon. We descended to receive Communion.
After Mass, Mom, Dad, and I decided to go to Eat & Park for lunch. We ended up at the restaurant in Squirrel Hill as the rain started to get a little denser. I dropped them off after we finished dining, and picked up some groceries for the week at Giant Eagle and at Trader Joe's (breads and vegetables). I then went home for an hour nap, graded (10/18), and now it is time for sleep. I cannot let myself get over-extended this week, especially with the weather changing and being rainy. Prime weather for catching a "bug."
Labels: biology, Choir, cleaning, dine, dining, health, organizing, school, student, volunteering, work
Olly olly Oxen Free---All come Home
Mom and Dad are back in the Burgh after coordinating the latest PAMS medical mission. They left a week earlier than the rest of the medical mission attendees to act as liaisons for the trip. The medical mission itself lasted a week, and then they spent a week visiting with family as well as a side trip to Vietnam.
It's so good to have them home again.
Labels: family, home, medical mission, organizing, Philippines, Pittsburgh, volunteering
Philippine Nationality Room Meeting
Today, V and I went to Whole Foods for lunch. Before dining, we checked out the lip balm and I found my favorite kind...now I know where to get it! I dined on jasmine white tea, unagi sushi wrapped in bamboo leaf, and half a chocolate croissant. V enjoyed a quesadilla. We stopped by the East Liberty Library branch to drop off items, then shopped at Trader Joe's.
I went to physical therapy then. It felt like a spa in the pool today---warm water, gentle exercises, mmm.
I headed back to get a quick bite to eat, then headed to the Austrian Nationality Room for our Philippine Nationality Room Committee meeting, as our future PNR classroom was occupied until approximately 19:15. We had from Popi, our Filipina architect: A photo collage, 2 perspective CAD drawings, and 8 elevation drawings. I noted---soon after starting our discussion in the future PNR---that "I was expecting a room that looked more like a classroom, but was pleasantly surprised that it looked more like a home. I like the general feeling of the room." Myrna noted that she liked the "simplicity of design."
Our discussion of design elements focused on various issues:
Dated elements
Socioeconomic status of the homeowners
Provenance of room fixtures
Light in the room
Use and functionality of the room, including heat and furniture sturdiness
"Spirit" of the design vs. staying v.v. close to elements of two houses examined for study.
It snowed quietly and collected while we were in the rooms for two hours, discussing and raising questions for Popi. Mark, Warren, and I discussed the element of the windows and balustrade and light and heating. I gently suggested a "hint of a wall" for a design tweaking of the breezeway element (versus the current renderings, which suggested walls which obscured more windows/light/heating elements), which solved several problems posed by several of us.
~~~
I caught a bus home, after waiting in the soft, cornstarch-like snowy quiet.
Labels: accessibility, art, balm, dining, exercise, international culture, light, Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, school, shopping, surgery, volunteering, water exercise
"Dress" Rehearsal, Lean on Me
After noon Mass (during which Lisa P. had her family and parents there), Jennifer H. and I went for lunch paninis at Camille's Restaurant. I stopped by at Mom & Dad's home before rehearsal, which started in the choir loft.
Lisa had brought those delicious chocolate raspberry bars...we practiced upstairs the parts of the program for Wednesday's concert that did not require the portative organ, namely, all but the Louis Vierne pieces. James W. organized us spatially upstairs. I brought my chair/cane for use downstairs when Russell played the portative organ.
Clarified with Doug and with Don the presence of the required materials for tomorrow's coat check work that Jay and I will do. Briefed Jay on the logistics of the matter.
I'm excited about starting work tomorrow and with volunteering for the cloak room.
~~~~~
Mom and I watched the end of "The Children's Hour" with Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner. Then, we watched Lean On Me, with Morgan Freeman as the principal, Mr. Clark. Quite inspiring, similar to Jaime Escalante's story in Los Angeles.
Labels: cinema, excited, family, Mass, organ, school, St. Paul Cathedral, volunteering, work
Philippine Nationality Room Open House/Cultural Display 2008
I was the chair for the future Philippine Nationality Room's Cultural Display this year. Dee Dee and her Young Filipino-Americans of Pittsburgh provided the dance performances at 12:30 and 3:30 this afternoon. Teody and her catering team provided the food component of the open house, and I headed up the cultural education/fundraising portion in the incipient Nationality Room Classroom.
Karina, Maureen, Mom, Tita Tina, and Alroy helped move items (some stored by Cristina L. and I within the Cathedral of Learning) and to decorate the room. Maureen and I made a quick run to Mom & Dad's c/o Tito Larry for a carved wood tea set, a capiz shell Christmas wreath, and an extension cord. Warren brought Tita Mila L., who went to help with the cookbook and holiday card sales.
I gave a short spiel on the room to groups of 5-20 visitors---about the geography, clothing, costumes, parols, clay pots, malongs, etc.
Many people stopped in: Freddie stopped by to say hello; K, a former student, and her family; William, Marissa, and family; Myrna (who took photos of our room and group) and family; Cristina's family; Ken D.; Alroy F.; Tom B. from pastoral council; and Chad from the Newman Center; two groups of Girl Scouts, one group from the Baldwin area.
Andy M. and Jo-Anne S. helped us to pack up and move various items to light storage and our car, waiting, below.
After pulling away from the Cathedral of Learning in the bitter cold, Mom and I outvoted Dad for hot food first---chili---then moving the items back into our homes.
Labels: Philippines, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, volunteering
St. Paul Cathedral Choir--Wreaths 2008
Last night Doug, Judi, and I handed out wreaths for the annual fundraiser for St. Paul Cathedral Choir, as I did for the choir fundraiser two years ago. Don and Rocco were at Mass as we handed out wreaths and I sliced up pumpkin pie and salabat tea for the troop. Meanwhile, Doug quizzed me on how I would be the head "hat/coat check girl" for the conference in January, and my duties...I replied with a description of the organization of the racks, tickets, coats/hats/bags/umbrellas etc. We agreed that I should check out purchasing claim tickets at a store in the Strip District. We also talked about his parents' kitchen (!)
After exchanging fond goodbyes and hugs, we all departed for our homes...Me in Judi's car, safe and sound to say goodnight to Mom and Dad at their home.
Labels: Choir, family, friends, music, organ, organizing, seasons, St. Paul Cathedral, tradition, volunteering, weather
Friday Spaghetti Dinner, Memorial Mass
Last night Karina and I dined with Jen, an MPH student at the Friday Spaghetti Dinner at the Newman Center. Fabiola joined us briefly, then left to help with the food delivery with Chad and Fr. Mike. Maureen joined us later and we went to Giant Eagle Market District (where I went in search of pickled herring!) and then to Starbucks near Maureen's home for a snack, enjoying people watching (especially the significant other of one of the counter workers), and the big band/50's crooner music.
~~~~~
This morning I called Alroy from the sacristy to remind him that today was the choir's memorial Mass for his Dad. I lectored, John served, and Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass. Alroy stopped by after the Mass to thank me---he was still at home when I called him...Kay will be here today, and so he will be cleaning his home. I reminded him of the Nationality Rooms Open House in December.
Labels: Choir, Church, dining, lector, Mass, Pilipino culture, Pittsburgh, PNR, read, St. Paul Cathedral, volunteering
The Illusion of Race
Pastoral council viewed the movie The Illusion of Race (1/2 hour version) before our meeting last night. Very interesting and informative. I prepared the prayers for the month, with the daily reading, thankfulness prayers, and closing with a Marian prayer. We also celebrated Fr. Andrew's birthday, with a lemon Bundt cake baked by Carmella. It was a particularly productive meeting last night, and we finished up in the corridor with a lively discussion about the relatively highly active spiritual life of Americans as compared to other developed nations.
Labels: Church, cinema, color, pastoral council, thankfulness, volunteering, work
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
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
