Georgia is Baseball Country!

For my friend, Will ...

Today the Little League World Series concluded with the powerful team of Columbus, Georgia taking the title (second year in a row) from Japan. Although I only watched the last two innings, I kept up with it through Sports Illustrated. The young men of Columbus fought hard and emerged victorious in a game that brought pride to the city of Columbus, pride to their families, and pride to our country. These young men participated in a sport that transcends generations and brings people from all walks of life together.

Congratulations Columbus!!!

Oh yeah, the picture is from the Associated Press - please no one sue me.

J :)

World's Shortest Fairy Tale ...

... compliments of my friend, Ginger.

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?" The girl said, "NO!" And the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, traveled more,had many boyfriends, didn't save money, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theater, never watched football, never wore fricken lacy lingerie that went up her butt, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants, and burped, swore, and farted all the time.

The End

18 Years!

18 years ago today, I married Ron Lindquist. It was a VERY hot day in Texas, and even though we had an evening wedding Texas kept the heat turned up. We married outside in the gazebo of the Durham House, the oldest Victorian home in Houston. The neighborhood in which the Durham House is located is called the Houston Heights. It's a lovely neighborhood that, when I left Houston in '88, was quickly becoming THE place to live for Houston's homosexual community. The homes in this area are what we in the south call "high dolla" ... many buyers remodel the home after purchase and increase its value ten-fold.

Anyway, my parents arrived 10 minutes late (of course) and Ron's father and sister made the 12 hour drive from Thomasville. Ron's mother, of course, did not attend because she didn't want to drive all that way - she doesn't like to leave Thomasville. So with my family and friends ... and Ron's few family members ... we married in the gazebo. My best friend (at the time) was our Best Man, Jeff; our groomsman was David, a friend of mine and Jeff's; my Matron of Honor was my sister, D.D. (who would be my best friend if she weren't my sister); and our bridesmaid was Ashley, Ron's sister (who I have grown to love and respect).

We were both so nervous that evening ... really only knowing just a little bit about each other even though we had known each for 5 years at that point. Hell, I've known Ron since the summer of '83 and I'm not completely sure we still know each other!!! I think that may be a common experience for many people.

We married on a Saturday, and he left again for Alabama (where he was posted by the Army) on Tuesday following the wedding.

That was 18 years ago ...

... we're still alive ...

... we're still married ...

... and thank God ...



I DON'T LIVE IN ALABAMA ANYMORE!!!!

Events of the day

It's nearly midnight and I'm glad about that. Why? Because this very long and exhausting day will soon be over. It began innocently enough ... I made out a grocery list (and it was a LONG list - cupboards were bare), packed the crotch-fruit in the Pilot, and headed to Wally World. We've got a full buggy going from aisle to aisle ... when my cell rings. Bear in mind that I knew I would not hear the caller's voice well because EVERY CITIZEN OF THOMASVILLE WAS IN WAL-MART at the time of the call. So ... I answer and hope for the best ... and it's Ron ... who I can barely hear not because of the forty people in the same aisle as I, but because he sounded as if he was in distress. All I could hear was, "Babe ... I'm sick ... come get me." I knew he was working on our new home ... picking up the construction trash and piling it into a burn pile ... and knew he would be working in the hot sun. I told him I'd be right there in a very panicked voice ... grabbed Eli's and Hannah's hand and ran for the door (leaving my very full grocery buggy in the middle of an aisle - thankfully nothing was perishable). While running out the door and trying to explain to both children WHY we were running out of the store ... I manage to call Ginger and ask her to call 911 and send an ambulance out to the new house. I get the kids in the car, buckled in ... and I FLY TO 6530 LOWER BOSTON ROAD. I couldn't go as fast as I wanted to ... afterall, I had my most precious cargo in the car ... but I still managed to hit 100 MPH at one point. My mind was reeling and my heart was racing ... I had no idea what I'd find when I got there.

Relief. I see an ambulance as I drive up to the house. Ron was in the shade ... DRIPPING sweat (his shirt looked as if he had run under a water hose), drinking water, and having his vitals taken by the very nice young man in the EMT suit. Soon after my arrival, a second ambulance arrives and two more nice gentleman come over to make sure Ron doesn't need to go to the hospital.

It was kinda funny at one point ... there are these 3 guys ... explaining to Ron how he needs to drink Gatorade to replace the electrolytes he's lost ... blah, blah, blah ... and giving more explanations as to WHY Ron felt the way he did ... blah, blah, blah ... so I finally let the cat outta the bag - I tell the EMTs that Ron is a P.A. ... one guy says, "now I feel like I'm being judged!" I said, "No, not at all! That's why we didn't say anything earlier!"

They left after Ron signed the form declining a trip to the hospital ...

Before I could pack my very tired husband in my car, the tile guy shows up to go over the tile stuff. Ugh. I began to wonder if I would ever get him to stop working. So Ron gets up and shows the tile guy what we want. FINALLY I get him into my car ... we go home ... I drop Ron and Eli at home ... and Hannah and I trek back to Wally World. It was funny ... we found out buggy right where I left it ... no one had bothered it! I was dreading having to find everything all over again, so I was REALLY happy to know that Wal-Mart employees wouldn't notice a bomb in a buggy. Now YOU feel safe, right?

I somehow finish all the shopping ... we get home, unload the groceries ... put them away ... I make lunch for everyone ... I jump into the shower to get ready to go to Kathleen's funeral. I get ready in record time, but instead of heading straight to the church I was asked to go by Sonny's and pick up the catering (for 75 people). Ginger meets me there ... rides with me and lots of BBQ chicken and its fixins to the church. We unload it all, set it up, and then walk across the parking lot to the church. Kathleen's family was arriving so we finished just in time. I sat up front in the church with other colleagues, and I'm so glad I did. I was able to see and hear everything very well.

I immediately noticed that the new Thomas University president (and his wife) were in the row behind me ... his appearance meant a lot to us. He never even met Kathleen, but here he was representing the institution. Very good.

The service was hard ... but it was also great. As I told a friend of mine ... it was exhilarating, inspiring, and comforting all at the same time. There were 5 pastors/preachers ... but the last one made the greatest impression. He was all that you'd expect from an all-black deep south Missionary baptist church ... from the "can I get an amen?" ... to his MLK pulpit sound. He made me feel better ... better that Kathleen was really only going home ... and that I'd see her later.

Well, my tears have sprouted again talking about Kat's funeral and thinking about how scared I was today thinking I may lose Ron ... so I will close this for now. I think a good night's sleep will do me some good.

J.

A life ...

... has ended. My friend and colleague, Kathleen "Kat" Duncan, passed away tonight around 6:30 pm. She was surrounded by her family as she took her last breath ... and that brings me comfort.

I will take some time before I write about my feelings about Kathleen. Right now it's too raw ... too tough to articulate. I hope her family sees their way through this very tough time ... and I also hope those who knew Kat will think of her smile and mischievous personality.

We will miss her ...

I will miss her ...

J.

Okay, it's official ...

... I'm old. I went to a party last night at the behest of a friend of mine. His niece - my friend, Karli - was having a "send off" party because she is leaving next week for New York. She's been accepted at Marymount College in Manhattan, so Mickey (my friend and Karli's uncle) gave her a going-away party.

Anyway, I should mention that Mickey called me around 9:30 last night and lied to me. I knew there was a party, but I really thought there would be too many people attending for anyone to miss me. Obviously not the case. Soooo ... in his phone call Mickey lies and says that no one showed up for the party and Karli was in tears. At the time of the call I was sitting in my office at work (I know, I know) trying to catch up everything. Classes begin Monday ... and when you work 4 different positions, the first week is COMPLETE HELL. So ... back to the phone call ... so after hearing that Karli was in tears, I packed up my crap and headed over to Mickey's.

Now ... to the "old" part ... so I drive up into the driveway, I see dozens of cars. The jig is up - and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. As I exit my car and head towards the front porch, I see that several students are sitting on the front porch. As I get closer, they get quieter. I even hear, "oh no ... it's Mrs. Lindquist." They proceed to hide their beer and cigarettes ...

So I walk into the very crowded house and find Mickey. After giving him hell for lying to me and finding Kristin so she can make me a margarita, I turn around and see a kitchen full of students. Jonathan Carroll, who I just taught this summer in 20th Century America and Middle East History, says to me, "Hey Mrs. Lindquist ... did you read/grade my paper yet?"

So you see dear friends ...

I am ... O L D.

Medicarily,

J.

Sunday giggle ...

The kindergarten teacher asked the students in her class to
bring something related to their families' religions to
class the next day.

She asked for volunteers to show what they had brought to
the rest of the class. One boy came forward and said, "I am
Muslim, and this is my prayer rug."

Another child came forward and said, "I am Jewish, and this
is my Star of David."

Another came forward and said, "I am Catholic, and this is
my Rosary."

The last little boy came forward and said, "I am Southern
Baptist, and this is my Covered Dish."

Running late ...

I meant to post this photo after returning from graduation, but I've truly been buried with work, and worry about Kathleen. Anyway, this is long overdue ... everyone ... pull your chair up to your monitor (imagine a drum roll here) ...

Here he is ... with his beautiful wife, Stacy. This ... ladies and gentleman ... is Will.

Comments encouraged ...

Update on Kathleen

I made the 6 hour round-trip drive to Jacksonville, Florida yesterday to visit my friend and colleague, Kathleen Duncan. She is still in critical care at the Mayo Clinic/St. Luke's Hospital. We were told on Friday that the doctors have suggested to wait 48 hours to see if Kathleen had made any progress before deciding to take her off life support. The ventilator is doing 100% of her breathing, she is on 24 hour dialysis since her kidneys stopped working, she has developed a bacterial infection in her lungs causing pneumonia, and there is fluid amassing around her heart.

I left my house yesterday morning at 5:45 am and arrived in Jacksonville around 9:00 am. (Will may be surprised to learn that I found the hospital without getting lost) Once I found the critical care floor, I inquired about Kathleen's room and was told that none of her family was present so I needed to wait until they arrived so they could determine whether or not I'd get a chance to see her. I left the hospital and drove to McDonalds to get a muffin and a Diet Coke (the liquid of the gods) ... sat in my car eating breakfast and listening to Charlie Steiner on MLB's The Show for about 45 minutes ... and then trekked back into the ICU. This time I was smarter (thank you UGA) ... I didn't ask for her room; I just went straight there. There were 4 nurses in her small room doing something to all the tubes that were coming from her body.

Kathleen was in a roto-bed, which I will do my best to describe. Since she has been lying on her back without moving for so long, she has started to develop bed sores. This bed straps her in real good, and then turns her like a rotisserie. Evidently it assists her oxygenization AND helps prevent bed sores. I couldn't see much of her for a while as she was upside down. I knelt down near her and talked to her ... telling her the new happenings in SSS ... how we're still waiting to hear about the EOC grant ... and how I am trying to order new computers for the lab but am not sure what she would want (that is part of her duties). I tried not to cry ... I know she wouldn't want me to ... and that was probably the hardest part.

Her sister-in-law, Juanita, came to the room around 10:30 am. I had only met her one other time, and she was just as sweet as the first time meeting her. She has power of attorney over all of Kathleen's personal and medical needs even though Kathleen does have a husband and a grown daughter (perhaps another blog post will address the sad state of familial affairs Kathleen has). After about 30 minutes with Juanita, Kathleen's 85 year old mother, her younger sister, and Kathleen's niece and baby come to the room. It was about this time that I learned that Dr. Kramer (Kathleen's lead doctor) would address all of the family via conference call around noon to discuss what would become of Kathleen. I did not stay much longer ... I left at 11:30 am because I needed to get back home. Besides, Kathleen's niece was staring a hole into me as I stood and held Kathleen's hand and rubbed her arm. I guess her niece couldn't understand why this white woman was crying over her aunt ... she had no idea that Kathleen and I didn't see each other in color ... we see each other in character.

My director, Faye, and Kathleen's best friend, Cynthia, arrived shortly after I left Jacksonville. Faye called me today to tell me that the family has voted to keep Kat on life support until at least tomorrow at 2:00 pm. Although they know that Kathleen's chance of survival is 5%-10%, the doctor's said that she had made a smidgeon of progress and they want to make completely sure that Kathleen cannot pull through this.

So ... we will wait another day and hope that Kathleen is strong enough to defy all odds. She's done it before ... perhaps she can do it again. Either way, Faye and I have decided that at our end-of-year SSS awards we will add a K.B. Duncan award to the student who reminds us of Kathleen's ability to keep positive during adversity.

I'll make another post tomorrow when we know more. Until then, I ask for all of my readers to consider Kathleen in your prayers ... to whatever god you choose to worship.

Jen

High School!!!

It's so hard to believe ... but my baby girl is now attending Thomasville High School (the same high school where her father went - yikes!). I am counting my blessings that I finished my Master's degree when I did because my evenings are filled with LOTS OF HOMEWORK with Hannah. Sure, I helped her all through middle school, too, but folks ... all of you may remember how much harder high school was than middle school. School started yesterday, but last Friday we went to her school and met all her teachers ... found all her classes ... and did everything we could to ease some of her nervousness. Thankfully we ran into her friend, Courtney, and they planned to meet outside Monday morning so they could walk in together. At least I felt better then ...

She will be a junior in high school when I begin my Ph.D., so maybe I'll finish as she is a sophomore in college! That should embarrass her plenty, eh? Yep ... that's my job, ya know ...

J :)

Pics of Graduation

I am not going to write much now ... it's after midnight and I've been home for about an hour after a VERY long two days. I wanted to post these two pictures before I hit the bed so if I get super busy for the next few days and I don't have time to post, at least something will be updated on this blog.

Pictures include: one photo is of only a few of us standing around talking. I like this photo only because it's the only one I have with SnapperHead "King" Willie. I, like all women, HATE the photo of ME ... but as I said, it's the only one I have with my partner in crime. While I will post later in the week my thoughts of this past weekend, I will reveal this one nugget of info: Will is EXACTLY as I thought he'd be in person. He was rude, crass, obtuse, and just plain mean ... yep, I was so glad to see he is the same live and in person as he is online. The dude is consistent ... and as I've told him before, I really like that :)

The other photo is of MOST of our cohort at the party following graduation. Only 15 out of 19 marched today ... and as the keen eyes will notice, I'm the only one not wearing my hood. I only took off my gown and hood for a few minutes, but somehow my hood "walked away." I can order another one but I had to look REALLY stupid in this photo by not looking the same. In fact, if you'll notice the expression on my face - I AM NOT PLEASED. It's bad enough I had to take pictures in the black gown that can fit 3 grown men inside while having a very bad hair day, I had to take the picture without all of my regalia.

Okay, I'm officially dead-ass tired ... will post more in the next few days.

J :)

It's here!!!

I can hardly believe it. I will be on my way in a few hours to Athens for my graduation. Hannah and Eli start school on Monday so I can't pull out of T-town until we've done the open house thing. Eli is in 4th grade this year so we'll have to meet his homeroom teacher and his special ed teacher. He knows both of them but has never been in their class before. I hope all goes well ... Hannah, on the other hand, doesn't know any of her teachers. This is her first year of high school ... so the nerves (for both she AND her parents) are running a bit high. Her dad graduated from this high school so I think it's kinda neat that she'll be roaming the same halls as her father once did.

Ginger is riding with me to Athens and has volunteered to sit through what I'm sure will be another boring ceremony that begins and ends with the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance." Hey, what are friends for? Besides, I let Ron off the hook from having to attend - he is so tied up with the new house and he is not what I consider "a traveler," so it will be better if I can just run up to Athens (yeah, right ... a 5 hour run), spend the night, graduate, and come home tomorrow night. Working at a university I've attended so many graduations ... but I'm curious to see the differences between institutions. UGA is a huge research institute with over 40,000 students compared to our little private 800 students .. this should prove interesting ... AND LONG. Well, not too long ... it is, afterall, the summer ... Anyway, Ginger will take a million pictures for me and I'll share them after I return. Oh, I need to mention something before I move on to another topic ... I want to tell all my family and friends that I am so thankful that my family (especially my husband) has been so supportive throughout the past two years. I spent so much time reading, studying, and writing ... I know they felt neglected at times. I won't begin my Ph.D. for two years and it's my hope to make it up to them over the next two years. Ron ... in case you read this ... I LOVE YOU ... AND I THANK YOU.

Oh, a quick update on Kathleen ... she is sitting up talking now!!! She even ate breakfast after she woke up on Wednesday!! She is a modern miracle ... the doctors are baffled as to how she survived all that she has! We are so pleased ... although she is not out of the woods just yet ... she still needs a liver transplant and possibly a kidney transplant.

Well, I'm off to take the kids to meet their teachers.

J.