i have yet to receive a satisfactory answer. will keep you updated.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Witnessing
in my junior year of high school, after my varsity volleyball team -- of
which i was technically a member, though my participation primarily
consisted of sitting on the bench, cheering for my MUCH more coordinated
friends -- managed to clinch the semi-finals for the championship of
the midwestern christian league -- which was comprised of a set of
small, sad, impoverished rural schools where women were encouraged to be
good helpmetes and our opposition consisted of girls with Duggar hair
wearing ankle-length culottes because showing leg was ungodly -- i RAN
to hug my friend raf -- who went on to be voted MVP for the game --
and managed to punch her in the face, giving her a black eye. she never
verbally recriminated me, but there was a good deal of silence between
us for a while until she was able to regain her equilibrium and
tolerance for my golden retriever–like, dopey enthusiasm.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Happiness is . . .
from SocialConsciousness.com's article on "Ten Simple Things You Can Do Today that Will Make You Happier, Based on Science"
- Exercise more -- even only up to seven minutes.
- Sleep more.
- Move closer to work -- a short commute enhances happiness more than a large house or a great job.
- Spend time with friends and family -- don't regret it on your deathbed.
- Go outside -- happiness is maximized at 57.02^F (13.9^C).
- Help others -- one hundred hours per year (or two hours per week) is the magical number.
- Practice authentic smiling -- it can alleviate pain.
- Plan a trip, but don't take it -- the anticipation can elevate your happiness for up to eight weeks beforehand, but not after it's been taken.
- Meditate -- rewire your brain for happiness.
- Practice gratitude -- increase both happiness and life satisfaction.
- Age! Growing older increases happiness.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Instead of editing, let us . . .
my Spirit Anthem:
my Spirit Anthem after i've been eating nachos:
(many thanks to dubya for pointing me to this vid.)
my Spirit Anthem after i've been eating nachos:
(many thanks to dubya for pointing me to this vid.)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Who da wo-man?
within thirty minutes of finishing your workout, get in at least 20 grams of protein in one of the following forms:
tuna, chicken, or turkey
tuna, chicken, or turkey
eggs
chocolate milk (or hot chocolate)
whey powder
Greek yogurt
Friday, October 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
I'm doing it for Science
introducing my new daily hot chocolate habit! so, i'm a little late to the party, but is this the best news in the world ever or what?
Drink of Champions: Chocolate Milk?
Tracy James
Humanities Then and Now 29, no. 1 (Fall 2006), http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v29n1/milk.shtml
Several years ago, a high-school swimmer in Bloomington, Ind., handed his coach a sports drink to see what he thought of the beverage. The ingredients looked familiar to Joel Stager, an exercise physiologist at Indiana University Bloomington and director of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming. But it took a trip to the grocery store to find the supplement's nonsynthetic cousin, chocolate milk.
Soon Stager was handing his swimmers, many of whom struggled with their twice-a-day practices, a glass of chocolate milk after their early morning workouts. The effect was dramatic. Many of their problems disappeared "almost immediately," he says.
The benefits did not escape the swimmers' parents, who didn't need academic research to convince them that low-tech chocolate milk was a super fuel for exhausted muscles, and kids.
"When I'd get to practice in the morning, there would be a couple of gallons of chocolate milk waiting for me," Stager recalls. "It was great. It sent a good message to the athletes that eating well is important."
Stager took chocolate milk into the controlled setting of his IU laboratory and tested its effect on cyclists. It performed as well as Gatorade and almost twice as well as another sports recovery drink, Endurox.
The results--which might seem too good to be true to the legions who consider chocolate milk an indulgence--were reported in newspapers across the country, magazines such as Sports Illustrated, on NPR's Morning Edition, and on health Web sites such as WebMD. In spring 2006, the findings were published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, resulting in a promotional campaign by the Milk Processor Education Program (Got Milk?). After that campaign overstated chocolate milk's performance compared to Gatorade, somewhat defiant Gatorade spokesmen entered the media fray, generating even more attention.
Stager is surprised by the amount of interest from researchers and practitioners since he first presented his research two years ago at an American College of Sports Medicine conference.
"This isn't Nobel Prize research. The basic premise was already in the literature in terms of what's appropriate post-exercise nutrition," he says. "But nobody ever thought, 'Gee, here's something that could work that everyone's familiar with. It's easily accessible, tastes good, and sends the right message.'"
As a result of news coverage for his research, Stager says, more people may now be aware of the importance of nutrition immediately after exercise. His research points to a short but critical window for refueling muscles, within 45 minutes to one hour of exercise. Beyond this window, the refueling effect of the chocolate milk or other recovery products is not as effective.
Stager, a coach, competitive swimmer, and professor in the IU Bloomington Department of Kinesiology, says the lure of sports drinks and supplements can lead athletes down a dangerous path as they look for any performance advantage.
"It doesn't take much for athletes to look for the silver bullet, the edge," he says. "Many think they can get it through a specifically geared product on the market. From the scientific side, most of these products don't have any beneficial effects."
Good nutrition, on the other hand, can make a big difference on performance. Some swimmers are talented from the beginning, while others have to work hard to be good. Coaches, Stager says, can change an athlete's performance "rather quickly" simply by teaching them how to eat well. Another Counsilman Center philosophy encourages athletes to be athletes 24/7, not just during practices. Eating right, Stager says, is part of being an athlete.
The Los Angeles Times began its piece about Stager's research with this: "One little milk study and everyone's having a cow." What's next for this noisy little milk study? More research. Stager plans to take a closer look at what makes chocolate milk so effective, examining all its different components, from the proteins to the chocolate. He wants to make comparisons with more sports products, particularly those that replace carbohydrates, and use more test subjects.
"It should help us come up with the answer to the question, 'What is the best way to refuel?'" he says.
Drink of Champions: Chocolate Milk?
Tracy James
Humanities Then and Now 29, no. 1 (Fall 2006), http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v29n1/milk.shtml
Several years ago, a high-school swimmer in Bloomington, Ind., handed his coach a sports drink to see what he thought of the beverage. The ingredients looked familiar to Joel Stager, an exercise physiologist at Indiana University Bloomington and director of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming. But it took a trip to the grocery store to find the supplement's nonsynthetic cousin, chocolate milk.
Soon Stager was handing his swimmers, many of whom struggled with their twice-a-day practices, a glass of chocolate milk after their early morning workouts. The effect was dramatic. Many of their problems disappeared "almost immediately," he says.
The benefits did not escape the swimmers' parents, who didn't need academic research to convince them that low-tech chocolate milk was a super fuel for exhausted muscles, and kids.
"When I'd get to practice in the morning, there would be a couple of gallons of chocolate milk waiting for me," Stager recalls. "It was great. It sent a good message to the athletes that eating well is important."
Stager took chocolate milk into the controlled setting of his IU laboratory and tested its effect on cyclists. It performed as well as Gatorade and almost twice as well as another sports recovery drink, Endurox.
The results--which might seem too good to be true to the legions who consider chocolate milk an indulgence--were reported in newspapers across the country, magazines such as Sports Illustrated, on NPR's Morning Edition, and on health Web sites such as WebMD. In spring 2006, the findings were published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, resulting in a promotional campaign by the Milk Processor Education Program (Got Milk?). After that campaign overstated chocolate milk's performance compared to Gatorade, somewhat defiant Gatorade spokesmen entered the media fray, generating even more attention.
Stager is surprised by the amount of interest from researchers and practitioners since he first presented his research two years ago at an American College of Sports Medicine conference.
"This isn't Nobel Prize research. The basic premise was already in the literature in terms of what's appropriate post-exercise nutrition," he says. "But nobody ever thought, 'Gee, here's something that could work that everyone's familiar with. It's easily accessible, tastes good, and sends the right message.'"
As a result of news coverage for his research, Stager says, more people may now be aware of the importance of nutrition immediately after exercise. His research points to a short but critical window for refueling muscles, within 45 minutes to one hour of exercise. Beyond this window, the refueling effect of the chocolate milk or other recovery products is not as effective.
Stager, a coach, competitive swimmer, and professor in the IU Bloomington Department of Kinesiology, says the lure of sports drinks and supplements can lead athletes down a dangerous path as they look for any performance advantage.
"It doesn't take much for athletes to look for the silver bullet, the edge," he says. "Many think they can get it through a specifically geared product on the market. From the scientific side, most of these products don't have any beneficial effects."
Good nutrition, on the other hand, can make a big difference on performance. Some swimmers are talented from the beginning, while others have to work hard to be good. Coaches, Stager says, can change an athlete's performance "rather quickly" simply by teaching them how to eat well. Another Counsilman Center philosophy encourages athletes to be athletes 24/7, not just during practices. Eating right, Stager says, is part of being an athlete.
The Los Angeles Times began its piece about Stager's research with this: "One little milk study and everyone's having a cow." What's next for this noisy little milk study? More research. Stager plans to take a closer look at what makes chocolate milk so effective, examining all its different components, from the proteins to the chocolate. He wants to make comparisons with more sports products, particularly those that replace carbohydrates, and use more test subjects.
"It should help us come up with the answer to the question, 'What is the best way to refuel?'" he says.
Friday, October 4, 2013
E-mailing about book club
"I'm still waiting to hear from you all about August 30,"
shrieked Bella!
Edward smirked. "August 30th would be fine," he replied, his skin glittering like diamonds.
"I wish I'd been clever enough to couch my response in Twilexicon," hissed Rosalie, furious, wearing tight, expensive, designer pants and stuff and tossing her long, golden, silky mane, narrowing her eyes at Bella, and coldly stomping off to make out with Emmett, who was intimidatingly muscular and drove monster jeeps spattered in mud.
Alice pirouetted nervously. "I think she really might kill you this time, Bella."
Edward growled. Condescendingly.
Edward rolled his eyes. "DJ, I've had years of experience at haughtily upclassing others with my gorgeousness, innate grace, and intuitive grasp of Twilanguage." Even though his exquisite face was set in a condescending mask, Bella had to stop and stare -- blinded, for the 380 billionth time, by his beauty.
Dangit! I have just booked a fabulous Restaurant Week lunch for the 30th . . . Any chance you ladies would entertain the thought of book club at a later hour?
"Bella, come here. Give me a hug," Esmee said, smoothing back Bella's hair. "You know I'll do *anything* to make this book club work, even push back the starting time. You're like a daughter to me."
Bella loved Esmee. Like a mother.
"Find your own mother!" hissed Rosalie, as she turned on her high, platform, expensive, designer heel and stalked off to the lavishly decorated room she shared with Emmett, who, though not particularly bright, had muscles.
"She'll get over it," twittered Alice. "Ooh! She just did."
"Sure, sure," said Jacob. "We could do 3:00."
Edward smirked. "August 30th would be fine," he replied, his skin glittering like diamonds.
"I wish I'd been clever enough to couch my response in Twilexicon," hissed Rosalie, furious, wearing tight, expensive, designer pants and stuff and tossing her long, golden, silky mane, narrowing her eyes at Bella, and coldly stomping off to make out with Emmett, who was intimidatingly muscular and drove monster jeeps spattered in mud.
Alice pirouetted nervously. "I think she really might kill you this time, Bella."
Edward growled. Condescendingly.
Edward rolled his eyes. "DJ, I've had years of experience at haughtily upclassing others with my gorgeousness, innate grace, and intuitive grasp of Twilanguage." Even though his exquisite face was set in a condescending mask, Bella had to stop and stare -- blinded, for the 380 billionth time, by his beauty.
Dangit! I have just booked a fabulous Restaurant Week lunch for the 30th . . . Any chance you ladies would entertain the thought of book club at a later hour?
"Bella, come here. Give me a hug," Esmee said, smoothing back Bella's hair. "You know I'll do *anything* to make this book club work, even push back the starting time. You're like a daughter to me."
Bella loved Esmee. Like a mother.
"Find your own mother!" hissed Rosalie, as she turned on her high, platform, expensive, designer heel and stalked off to the lavishly decorated room she shared with Emmett, who, though not particularly bright, had muscles.
"She'll get over it," twittered Alice. "Ooh! She just did."
"Sure, sure," said Jacob. "We could do 3:00."
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Tomayto, tomahto
*listening to BBC report on failure of jackson family's wrongful death suit against MJ's promoters*
G: *giggles*
DJ: what?
G: isn't that the character from Bye Bye, Birdie?
DJ: *thinks* oh. that's Conrad Murray.
G: ohhhhh.
G: *giggles*
DJ: what?
G: isn't that the character from Bye Bye, Birdie?
DJ: *thinks* oh. that's Conrad Murray.
G: ohhhhh.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Everything is fucked
while researching online ticket-buying options for the upcoming monster truck demolition derby:
shut it down. it's just not even worth it anymore.
goddammit, amrrrka. get your act together, son.
goddammit, amrrrka. get your act together, son.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
This is going to happen to me at Christmas.
or maybe at a tree trimming or something.
i call the white chocolate–coconut cream–rum thingy.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
How can you help Syria?
(CNN) -- More than 2 million Syrians have fled their country, according to the United Nations refugee agency. With nowhere to go and often with just the clothes on their backs, many end up in refugee camps that are both overcrowded and overwhelmed. Many organizations are offering supplies, shelter and medical care for the people displaced by the crisis and you can help.
CARE
is operating four refugee centers in Jordan, and is helping refugees
there with cash assistance for rent and food. In Lebanon they are
helping refugees get access to clean water. They are also working inside
Syria, providing emergency supplies for families, psychosocial support
for children and emergency medical equipment and support for women. You
can support their efforts with an online donation or by donating by phone at 1-800-521-CARE.
Catholic Relief Services
is providing aid throughout the region. This includes urgent medical
assistance, education and trauma counseling for children, and household
supplies including soap and water purifiers. You can donate online where you can specify "Syria relief" in the special request form. You can also donate by phone at 1-877-435-7277.
Concern Worldwide is working to meet the water, sanitation and hygiene needs for refugees in Lebanon and for many still in Syria. You can donate online or call them at 1-800-59-CONCERN.
Doctors Without Borders
is providing direct medical aid in six hospitals and four health
centers inside Syria. They are also sending medical supplies, equipment
and support to the medical networks throughout Syria that they cannot
access themselves. They accept donations online, and you can earmark your gift for Syria by calling 1-888-392-0392.
In August, the World Food Programme
provided food to more than 2 million people inside Syria. They have
also fed more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt,
Iraq and Turkey. Their hope is to provide food assistance to 6 and a
half million Syrians by the end of the year. You can help them achieve
this goal with an online donation.
Islamic Relief USA
is providing food parcels, housing essentials and medical supplies for
those displaced inside Syria and the refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. To
help these efforts, select "Syrian Humanitarian Aid" as the designation
on the donation page.
International Medical Corps
is providing health care and psychosocial services for Syrian refugees
with static and mobile clinics at refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan.
They are also offering medical support to the hospitals and medical
facilities in these countries handling refugee care. You can support
their work, by donating online or by calling 310-826-7800.
International Rescue Committee
is helping refugees inside Syria and in the bordering countries with
medical and emergency supplies. In refugee camps they are providing
water, sanitation and education services. They are also offering
counseling, safety and support for women and girls at risk. You can help
by donating online or by phone at 1-855-9RESCUE.
Life for Relief and Development
is helping refugee families living in tent camps and temporary housing
with food and home essentials including hygiene kits, bedding and
kitchen utensils. They have created the Syrian Refugees Emergency
Campaign where you can donate online.
Mercy-USA
is supporting displaced children and families inside Syria with food
baskets, infant formula and blankets. They are also providing daily
fresh bread for more than 1,500 refugee families in Lebanon, and operate
a mobile health clinic for those in need. To support their work, select
"Syrian Humanitarian Relief" as your gift designation on their online donation form, or call 1-800-556-3729.
Mercy Corps
is providing shelter, housing supplies and water for refugee camps.
They are also focused on helping the children at these camps, with safe
spaces, playgrounds, psychosocial support and storytelling workshops.
You can support their efforts by donating online or by phone at 1-888-747-7440.
Shelterbox
has provided tented shelters and other vital equipment, including
kitchen sets, blankets, water purification systems and classroom
supplies to more than 4,500 refugee families in Syria and the
surrounding countries. In the coming months they plan to support another
5,000 families, and you can help them with an online donation or by texting SHELTER to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
Save the Children
is helping the children in this crisis with temporary learning
facilities, child friendly spaces and programs to help them cope with
their trauma. They are also providing necessities like food, blankets
and clothing to refugee families. You can support their Syria Children
in Crisis fund by donating online or by calling 1-800-728-3843.
The UNHCR
is providing shelter, protection and assistance to refugees in Syria
and around the world. You can help them provide tents, kitchens, stoves
and sleeping mats by donating online or by calling 1-800-770-1100.
War Child UK is helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon, providing child friendly spaces and temporary schools. You can make a donation online to their Children of Syria appeal. You can also change the currency to dollars or euros on the payment page.
World Vision
is helping in Lebanon with projects to give refugees access to clean
water and sanitation. They are also in Jordan, providing basic emergency
supplies, water, sanitation, and education for refugees. In Syria, they
are delivering water and health services. You can support them with an online donation or by calling 1-800-562-4453.
UNICEF
is providing food, water, clothing and critical immunizations for
children in Syria and the refugees in the bordering countries. They are
also offering counseling for children and have launched a Back to
Learning campaign for the region. You can help with an online donation or by calling 1-800-FOR-KIDS.
We love you, Papa Ron
Ron Kelley, 74, died Saturday, September 7, 2013, in Hutchinson. He was
born September 20, 1938, in Harper, Kansas, the son of James Edwin and
Anna Mae Shenk Kelley.
A 1956 graduate of Newton High School, he earned bachelors and masters degrees from Friends University, Wichita. In 1999 he retired as Executive Vice President of Logistics from Dillons Corporate after 47 years with the company. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Since 2002 Ron has owned and operated Sarah’s Catholic Bookstore.
On August 26, 1961, he married Lovella June Schamber in Damar, Kansas. They have six children, Sarah Jenkins, Margaret Kelley, Kathleen June Hageman, Ronald Matthew Kelley, Janet Kelley, and Carolyn Kelley; 23 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Parish Rosary with Vespers will be held Wednesday evening, 7:30, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hutchinson. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, September 12, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Father Joseph Eckberg presiding. Burial, with military honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard, will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Friends may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to St. Vincent de Paul Society or Trinity Catholic High School in care of the funeral home. Please visit www.penwellgabelhutchinson.com to leave personal condolences for the family.
A 1956 graduate of Newton High School, he earned bachelors and masters degrees from Friends University, Wichita. In 1999 he retired as Executive Vice President of Logistics from Dillons Corporate after 47 years with the company. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Since 2002 Ron has owned and operated Sarah’s Catholic Bookstore.
On August 26, 1961, he married Lovella June Schamber in Damar, Kansas. They have six children, Sarah Jenkins, Margaret Kelley, Kathleen June Hageman, Ronald Matthew Kelley, Janet Kelley, and Carolyn Kelley; 23 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Parish Rosary with Vespers will be held Wednesday evening, 7:30, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hutchinson. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, September 12, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Father Joseph Eckberg presiding. Burial, with military honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard, will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Friends may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to St. Vincent de Paul Society or Trinity Catholic High School in care of the funeral home. Please visit www.penwellgabelhutchinson.com to leave personal condolences for the family.
My new, favoUrite idea
“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of Fantastic Beasts, realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood. As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros. Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry’s gets underway. I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him. I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”
—J. K. Rowling
Sunday, September 8, 2013
The swift upifting rush of quiet birds
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
—Mary Elizabeth Frye
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
—Mary Elizabeth Frye
A beloved man remembered
Kelley strived for a better city: Rare illness claims life of community pillar at forefront of service, revitalization work.
By Ken Stephens and Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News
A brain disease that strikes one in a million took the life of Ron Kelley on Saturday.
Kelley, the retired Dillons executive and relentless civic and community volunteer, was 74. Family and friends were stunned by his diagnosis with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in late August and his rapid deterioration.
"What makes it so unbelievable is that he was in perfect health," said his wife of 52 years, Lovella Kelley. "It is absolutely, devastating."
Kelley had been an active participant in a Housing Commission meeting on July 24. He missed the next meeting on Aug. 24 because he was in Boston, where he was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob, an always fatal disease that is characterized by rapidly progressive dementia and has no known treatment or cure.
Whether it was his church or his city, when there was a job to be done, Kelley was willing.
"He was always there," said Downtown Development Director Jim Seitnater, a longtime friend.
Kelley was a member of the Trinity Catholic school board, an organizer of the Ulster Project and a founder of the Catholics United Credit Union.
He served several stints totaling more than a decade on the Hutchinson Planning Commission and was chairman in 2009 when the commission began work on the first major rewrite of zoning regulations since 1987. Those new regulations were adopted in 2010, shortly after he left the Planning Commission.
Kelley moved, almost without a break, to the Housing Commission when he could no longer serve on the Planning Commission because of term limits.
He served on a committee to select a new city manager twice, once in 1991 and again in 2004 when the city hired the current manager, John Deardoff.
Kelley's priest, Father Joe Eckberg, was also shocked at how quickly Kelley, a man so vital and with such a brilliant mind, could perish from the horrific disease. When Eckberg first arrived in town, he quickly learned what an impact Ron had not just on the Catholic community, but the Hutchinson community.
"Ron touched a lot of lives," said Eckberg. "Just after I came, he opened Sarah's Catholic Bookstore, named after his oldest child. It was his dream to have the store in Hutchinson, and he made it happen."
The book store was his legacy, Lovella said.
"You would never make money in a bookstore," she said. "The legacy was that people came because they knew he was there and if they needed something he would help them get it."
Starting a local Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to serving the poor and disadvantaged, was also Kelley's brain child, said Eckberg. Instead of giving the poor money, they go with them to the grocery store and buy food, or fill up someone's car with gas.
There was much he did to help others quietly behind the scenes. He was always trying to make the world a better place for everyone and began with his own six children and 23 grandchildren. A gentle man, they can't recall him ever raising his voice.
He and Lovella took guardianship of a man known as Willie, who walked Main Street pushing a shopping cart and feeding the cats in Avenue A Park. They began feeding Willie lunch every day and got him into a local assisted care home, where they continued to visit him.
An unabashed promoter of downtown Hutchinson, Kelley was a member, and later chairman, of the Mayor's Task Force on Downtown Revitalization and then became the first chairman of the Downtown Hutchinson Revitalization Partnership, an organization he continued to serve until his death. In 2003, he was honored as a Kansas Main Street Volunteer of the Year.
For years, Kelley also was involved in efforts to redevelop the Wiley Building at First and Main.
While he was chairman, the DHRP unsuccessfully tried to purchase the building from George Nerhan on behalf of one potential developer. He also was a member of the Wiley Task Force, appointed by the City Council in 2008 to study the feasibility of renovating the building into a new City Hall. Because of his illness, it was uncertain whether he knew that another developer finally was able to complete a difficult purchase of the building on Aug. 26.
He also served on the Reno County/Hutchinson Intergovernmental Commission, which in the 1980s recommended consolidation of the Reno County Sheriff's Office and the Hutchinson Police Department, though nothing ever came of that recommendation.
Seitnater agreed that Kelley's involvement in civic affairs was so pervasive that it likely will take more than one person to fill his shoes.
"He was very much giving of his time and talent and his resources," Seitnater said.
But, he also took time to enjoy life.
Kelley learned to waltz so that he could play the commanding officer in the biennial production of the Prairie Nutcracker. Lovella played the officer's wife. It became their special time together during rehearsals and the performances. For several years, his officer's boots were too small. Other men in the cast would have to pull them on and then after the performance it took two or three strong men to pull them off.
"Ron was one of the most virtuous men I have ever met," said Betsie Andrews said. "I will miss his warm, encouraging-to-all smile."
Kelley would forever be the Prairie Nutcracker's commanding officer emeritus, Andrews said.
To find the exact words to describe her husband was difficult for Lovella.
"He taught me that faith and hope are who we are," she said.
Their strength came from reading the Liturgy of the Hours together. They would pray together three times a day, and were able to continue almost to the end. Many friends came and prayed with them.
It all was so sudden. A month ago, he was reading at Sunday Mass, and then two days later he lost his balance and was unable to remember things.
Through it, he remained a man of "silent, steady, courage," said his sister-in-law Lou Irwin.
A grieving daughter asked how her father could be stricken with this disease that only effects one in a million. A grandchild answered, "Because he was one in a million."
By Ken Stephens and Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News
A brain disease that strikes one in a million took the life of Ron Kelley on Saturday.
Kelley, the retired Dillons executive and relentless civic and community volunteer, was 74. Family and friends were stunned by his diagnosis with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in late August and his rapid deterioration.
"What makes it so unbelievable is that he was in perfect health," said his wife of 52 years, Lovella Kelley. "It is absolutely, devastating."
Kelley had been an active participant in a Housing Commission meeting on July 24. He missed the next meeting on Aug. 24 because he was in Boston, where he was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob, an always fatal disease that is characterized by rapidly progressive dementia and has no known treatment or cure.
Whether it was his church or his city, when there was a job to be done, Kelley was willing.
"He was always there," said Downtown Development Director Jim Seitnater, a longtime friend.
Kelley was a member of the Trinity Catholic school board, an organizer of the Ulster Project and a founder of the Catholics United Credit Union.
He served several stints totaling more than a decade on the Hutchinson Planning Commission and was chairman in 2009 when the commission began work on the first major rewrite of zoning regulations since 1987. Those new regulations were adopted in 2010, shortly after he left the Planning Commission.
Kelley moved, almost without a break, to the Housing Commission when he could no longer serve on the Planning Commission because of term limits.
He served on a committee to select a new city manager twice, once in 1991 and again in 2004 when the city hired the current manager, John Deardoff.
Kelley's priest, Father Joe Eckberg, was also shocked at how quickly Kelley, a man so vital and with such a brilliant mind, could perish from the horrific disease. When Eckberg first arrived in town, he quickly learned what an impact Ron had not just on the Catholic community, but the Hutchinson community.
"Ron touched a lot of lives," said Eckberg. "Just after I came, he opened Sarah's Catholic Bookstore, named after his oldest child. It was his dream to have the store in Hutchinson, and he made it happen."
The book store was his legacy, Lovella said.
"You would never make money in a bookstore," she said. "The legacy was that people came because they knew he was there and if they needed something he would help them get it."
Starting a local Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to serving the poor and disadvantaged, was also Kelley's brain child, said Eckberg. Instead of giving the poor money, they go with them to the grocery store and buy food, or fill up someone's car with gas.
There was much he did to help others quietly behind the scenes. He was always trying to make the world a better place for everyone and began with his own six children and 23 grandchildren. A gentle man, they can't recall him ever raising his voice.
He and Lovella took guardianship of a man known as Willie, who walked Main Street pushing a shopping cart and feeding the cats in Avenue A Park. They began feeding Willie lunch every day and got him into a local assisted care home, where they continued to visit him.
An unabashed promoter of downtown Hutchinson, Kelley was a member, and later chairman, of the Mayor's Task Force on Downtown Revitalization and then became the first chairman of the Downtown Hutchinson Revitalization Partnership, an organization he continued to serve until his death. In 2003, he was honored as a Kansas Main Street Volunteer of the Year.
For years, Kelley also was involved in efforts to redevelop the Wiley Building at First and Main.
While he was chairman, the DHRP unsuccessfully tried to purchase the building from George Nerhan on behalf of one potential developer. He also was a member of the Wiley Task Force, appointed by the City Council in 2008 to study the feasibility of renovating the building into a new City Hall. Because of his illness, it was uncertain whether he knew that another developer finally was able to complete a difficult purchase of the building on Aug. 26.
He also served on the Reno County/Hutchinson Intergovernmental Commission, which in the 1980s recommended consolidation of the Reno County Sheriff's Office and the Hutchinson Police Department, though nothing ever came of that recommendation.
Seitnater agreed that Kelley's involvement in civic affairs was so pervasive that it likely will take more than one person to fill his shoes.
"He was very much giving of his time and talent and his resources," Seitnater said.
But, he also took time to enjoy life.
Kelley learned to waltz so that he could play the commanding officer in the biennial production of the Prairie Nutcracker. Lovella played the officer's wife. It became their special time together during rehearsals and the performances. For several years, his officer's boots were too small. Other men in the cast would have to pull them on and then after the performance it took two or three strong men to pull them off.
"Ron was one of the most virtuous men I have ever met," said Betsie Andrews said. "I will miss his warm, encouraging-to-all smile."
Kelley would forever be the Prairie Nutcracker's commanding officer emeritus, Andrews said.
To find the exact words to describe her husband was difficult for Lovella.
"He taught me that faith and hope are who we are," she said.
Their strength came from reading the Liturgy of the Hours together. They would pray together three times a day, and were able to continue almost to the end. Many friends came and prayed with them.
It all was so sudden. A month ago, he was reading at Sunday Mass, and then two days later he lost his balance and was unable to remember things.
Through it, he remained a man of "silent, steady, courage," said his sister-in-law Lou Irwin.
A grieving daughter asked how her father could be stricken with this disease that only effects one in a million. A grandchild answered, "Because he was one in a million."
Thursday, September 5, 2013
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