Visiting Former Work and Buddies

Hello, everyone! Good Tuesday to all of us!

Today, my wife Freny and I visited the medical center where I used to work, then retired. The last time we've been there was almost six months ago when I had a follow up appointment with my rheumatologist. This time, we went there to make an appointment to the department or our primary care provider where we're usually seen for follow up or any non-emergency medical problems. Other than the once mentioned reason/s, I refrain from going to the hospital.

Luckily and thankfully, Freny and I got the same day appointment in the morning, same doctor, but different time slot.

As usual, we dropped or stopped by at the department where I spent over a decade working in various capacities. There, I had an opportunity to rub elbows with my former co-worker/buddies who have also retired from the military/naval service but got employment there as civilian employees. As always, we had a wonderful time seeing one another. So glad and grateful I am, specially, for having interacted with them again today. They, too, were happy to see me and Freny, I could tell. Gerry, Clarence, Nestor, and Millie, and Mr. T, and Crystal, and Yolanda, I thank you guys for having known and worked with you through the years...I pray that you guys will continue to always have the enthusiasm, energy, strength and good health to help our patients the medical care and service they deserve. Keep up the great work, guys! Extend or give our students (and new staff-personnel) all the help they need so they will also have a  wonderful learning experience when they leave and get to their new assignment or duty station. Just always bear in mind TEAMWORK and remember that sharing is caring. Let's share whatever education, knowledge, skills, and experiences to all who are entrusted to us. And make our department shipshape always!

At 11:30 a.m., Freny and I attended daily Mass in the hospital's chapel. There were about ten of us who celebrated Mass with Rev. Fr. Ven, the hospital's chaplain.

After Mass, we went downstairs to the first floor  and had Navy lunch at the hospital's galley. We had beef stew with noodles, boiled carrots and cabbage, and sweet potatoes, and a slice of cake, a piece of apple, and a glass of water. Lunch per person was $4.60. Price is reasonable, indeed! That's Navy chow! Yum...yummy! We had left-over food for dinner when we left the hospital. (I don't know why but, since I retired eight years ago, I love dining out there each time I visit the hospital. Before, when I was still active duty, I didn't frequent eating out there in the "chow hall.")

Well, my dear folks and friends, this is all for now. But, wait, I have something to tell you: I took some photos of our hospital visit, and I'm happy to share them with you. So, without delay, here they are...Enjoy!

Photos (c) 2013 by Chris A. Quilpa

This is all for now. Thanks, everyone, for visiting my blog. Until next time around. Take care and have a nice day, everyone! As always, I pray, "May God bless US and keep US safe from harm always!"-chris a. quilpa, 30 July 2013
  

Participating in Mass@St. Paul's and Eating Out@Taco Bell

Good Sunday, everyone! Hope and pray that you've had a blessed and peaceful Sunday.

This morning at 9:30, Freny and I, and sis-in-law Rose participated in today's Mass at our parish, St. Paul's Catholic Church in historic downtown Portsmouth. (See embedded photos below.) Newly-ordained diocesan priest and our new parochial vicar, Rev. Fr. Gino, celebrated the solemn Mass with us. Observably and understandably, the neophyte young clergy officiated the Mass cautiously and a little bit slowly. But that's okay with me. I understand, he's still adjusting to his new responsibility as parochial vicar of four clustered parishes, namely, St. Paul's Catholic, Church of the Resurrection, Church of Holy Angels, all in Portsmouth, and St. Mary's  Catholic in Chesapeake. Normally, it takes at least an hour of Sunday church worship service/Mass. But today, it took about an hour and twenty minutes for the whole Liturgical rite to be over. As I've said, I understand where Fr. Gino is coming from, being a new priest to the diocese and to our clustered parishes.

Before the Mass, I had the opportunity to talk briefly to our jolly friend-parishioners Jim and Martha, and fellow Knights of Columbus member Gurney, aka Zeke, who informed me that one of our fellow clustered parishioners Regina (she used to be one of our colleagues in the church choir at Holy Angels) has passed away. She's such a friendly, lively woman! I think she's in her late 80s or early 90s. I know, she had gone through a lot of medical problems. One time, when I was still active duty and working at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth (NMCP), I happened to see her in the hallway walking and we had a pleasant chat that time. She's such an amazing woman of faith! (At this moment, I pray: May the soul of the faithful departed Regina, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.)

After Mass, we said "Have a nice day, Father!' as we shook hands with our new parochial vicar, Rev. Fr. Gino who was at the front door of the church trying to meet and greet us parishioners as we were leaving the church building. We also had a brief encounter with our friends and fellow parishioners like Mike and Myrna, and two lovely black ladies who are always highly-spirited, like fellow Extraordinary Minister for Holy Communion (EMHC) volunteer and lector Delores.

From the church, we decided to have lunch at the nearest Taco Bell restaurant, the one in Chesapeake. As you know, we love eating out, especially on Sundays after church. But, of course, I did take photographs of today's events. So, for all of you, dear folks and friends, here are the photos I've taken today...Enjoy! And thanks, everyone, for visiting my blog today.

Copyright 2013 by Chris A. Quilpa

Well, this is all for now, my dear folks and friends. Until next time around. Take care and have a blessed and peaceful day, everyone! As always, I pray, "May God bless US and keep US safe from harm always!"-chris a. quilpa, 28 July 2013

abitadeacon: One remarkably blessed moment at WYD among many blessings

abitadeacon: One remarkably blessed moment at WYD among many blessingsGod bless you, Felipe! God bless all the World Youth Day participants! And God bless, Pope Francis!

Music on a Sunny Saturday Morn

Good Saturday, everyone!

Did you sleep well last night? Mind you, my dear folks and friends, I always remember this statement of Rev. Fr. Jarek's warm and friendly introduction each time he starts Sunday Mass at our parish, St. Paul's Catholic Church in downtown Portsmouth, when he was still our parochial vicar. He's currently the pastor at St. Jude's in southwestern part of Virginia.

I repeat, did you sleep well last night? Hope so. Me? I believe I did. Thank God, we're alive and well...Btw, I've made it a point or set my mind to sleep before the clock strikes twelve each night. But, course, with exceptions depending on a circumstance or situation that requires me to sleep late. As I've said, I try to sleep early at night before midnight. I know, it's a matter of personal discipline and how to stick to such routine, for the sake of healthy living and longevity of life here on Earth.

As I'm writing this blog post, and was eating a cup of oatmeal (with organic milk) handed to me by my wife Freny this morning before ten, I've been listening to Andre Rieu's Romantic Moments music on another laptop. (I don't know why I was doing this when, in fact, I can listen to it on this IBM's lenovo T60 laptop (from nephew Tony in California) that I'm using right now while blogging!) But a short while ago, while briefly visiting Facebook, and reading tweets, and blogs from a couple of Catholic bloggers that I follow on a regular basis, I listened to Country Crows, a one-dollar new CD that I've uploaded before in the same laptop where Andre Rieu's music is playing.

Now, as the title of this blog post suggests, I'm talking about Music. You know, my dear folks and friends, each of us has his/her own favorite or type of music that we keep listening to. Just like myself, for example, I've listened to music of different genres. I like jazz, R & B, ballads (like those songs by Nora Aunor), pop, country, classical, gospel or religious. But not rap and heavy metal. That's my choice, for having the freedom to choose. No, I don't have in mind or no intention to discriminate or hate. I just like and dislike the ones I've just mentioned above. That's all.

It's true music is music. But there is also music that is noisy and, hence, irritates, and makes you uncomfortable. There's music that soothes or relieves. There's music that entertains and moves you, makes you feel alive, perked up, upbeat.

I believe, our choice of something, like music, is influenced by our moods and our biological age. Different age group has different likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to music. As I entered into my early 60s, I tend to listen more to old songs/music, the ones that I used to listen when I was younger. Please don't get me wrong, people. I love listening to new music also, provided they're appealing (not irritating) to my ears. I like techno-electronic, dance-able music, too. In fact, when I was reading one of the tweets this morning, I was also listening to this Disneyland's concert Tomorowland TV Live by TomorrowlandChannel featuring live performances by artists-musician DJs like Tiesto, of Netherlands, Afrojack, Carl Cox, Dimitri Vegas, Fedde Legrand, Loco Dice, Quintino, Steve Aoki, etc. Entertaining, fantastic, lively, and magical!

Music---a part of our culture that's instrumental in bringing people together. Sound and silence, melody and magic, sonata and symphony, composed and improvised---these are components that make music unique and universal. It's been said that music is the language of the soul, one that enhances life and can make death dignified, sacred and meaningful. Since time immemorial, music has played a vital part of our life. Our cries when we were babies or just born, and even when we're adults and beyond, these are music to our ears. they denote our aspirations, desires, dreams, needs, longings. Our playing of anything, from pots and pans, to drums and other known musical instruments, recorded long playing vinyl albums, cassette tapes, CDs, and even just our mouth, nose or hands, or feet, is indicative that, as human beings, we're intrinsically musical and fun-loving people.

So, my dear folks and friends, what's your favorite kind/type of music? Do you have a specific time of day/night to listen to it? Does music give meaning and substance to your life? What do you think of music produced in the early 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the 21st century.

Well, this is all I have to say at this time. (My wife Freny just came in to our room and gave me a plate of food for lunch. With a cup of my summer indulgence---watermelon! Yay, yummy! Thanks, Mama.) Thanks, everyone, for visiting my blog. Until next time around. Take care and have a wonderful weekend, everyone! As always, I pray, "May God bless US and keep US safe from harm always!"-chris a. quilpa, 27 July 2013

Visiting Norfolk's NEX/Commissary (with Photos)

Good day, everyone! How are we all doing today, a bright, gorgeous but warm Friday? Great. Hope you're enjoying your summer, so far, as we are.

This morning at about ten, Freny and I drove to Norfolk, specifically to NOB (Norfolk Base) or Naval Station (NAVSTA), home to the largest naval base in the world, as they say. Reason/s or purpose/s? One, wife has to renew her military member's ID card which expires next month, August. Second, to have a little shopping at NEX and Commissary, and dining out at NEX's food court.

Normally, it takes about 20-30 minutes drive to NOB/NAVSTA. Depending on traffic, it may take longer than thirty minutes to reach it. Well, as usual, my wife Freny did the driving. One reality when you go to Norfolk Naval Base: You'll be driving inside a tunnel, depending on what direction you take. In our case, we take the midtown tunnel as oppose to downtown tunnel. If you're coming from the Peninsula, you'll either take the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) or the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT).

With our camera on hand (actually it's Freny's that I've been using because mine's memory card is full, and I just bought 16 GB memory card yesterday but haven't installed yet), I did take photos along the way. You'll soon see them (selected photos) below for your enjoyment and delight. Trust me.

Highlight/s of our visit to Norfolk NEX/Commissary: One: It took us about 45 minutes to get Freny's military member's ID card. The office (which is on the second floor of NEX building) that processes or issues ID card is always busy. Btw, we used to go to Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) building inside the NMCP (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth) compound for ID card, etc. But we learned later on that we have to go to NOB for this matter, and other military and member issues.

Second: For lunch at NEX Food Court, we went Chinese via Panda Express. I had fried rice, Beijing beef, and spicy chicken. Freny had fried rice, spicy chicken and chicken broccoli. Yummy! We had some left-over food for dinner.

Third: At the Commissary, we had an opportunity to meet and talk to a cute baby boy, named Jeremiah, and his mom Kendra, while doing grocery shopping there. Baby Jeremiah is such a sweet, jolly boy as evidenced in the photo below. He made my day, I tell ya. God bless him and his family. (We learned that his Dad hasn't seen him personally because he 's deployed. But he'll be home soon, Kendra said.)

Now, without further ado, come along with us to our going to and from NOB/NAVSTA NEX/Commissary today with the selected photos embedded herewith my blog post. Enjoy!

             Photos (c) 2013 by Chris A. Quilpa

Well, my dear folks and friends, this is all for now. Thank you for visiting my blog. Until next time around. Take care and have a wonderful and enjoyable weekend, everyone! as always, I pray, "May God bless US and keep US safe from harm always!"-chris a. quilpa, 26 July 2013