Jay Kersting's Blog

Sadness.  Guilt.  Concern.  Relief.  Those are all words to describe my feelings right now.  I know, one of those words does not seem to fit.  But I can explain.

Relief.  Because I know that she has been in ill health for a while and now she will be in a better place.  That is not something that makes those of us left behind feel a lot better about.  And really, it should if we are truly people of faith.

Sadness.  That one is obvious.

Guilt.  Because I am not with Kathy at this time.  I wish that I was.  But a decision was made a couple of months back to do something that would be in the greater, long term, good for our family.  It does not make that guilt go away.  It does ease it some.

Concern.  I am highly concerned about the safety and well being of my family.  They are leaving for Michigan on Sunday, driving in bad weather, and with a great deal of sadness in the driver's heart. 

NOW, enough of that depressing stuff.  Here is what Ruth was like.  This is the best story that I can tell about my mother-in-law to explain the type of person she was. 

Here is the background.  Kathy and I met on a blind date setup by our mutual friend, Adrian Narvaez.  This was on December 31, 1993.  It went OK, I was not convinced that she even liked me. Adrian persisted and we went to dinner the next night, raquetball the following day.  And so on.  Finally, after visiting her a few times in Minnesota, we decided to travel together to Michigan so that I could meet her family.  This was the first weekend in March of 1994.  We stayed at the apartment that Kathy's mom shared with Kathy's brother.  Over the course of that weekend, I met not only her mom, but two of Kathy's three sisters and finally her brother.  I really liked all of them, and of course I still do.

We visted again in the summer, after I had moved up to Minnesota to live with Kathy. 

Then in October of 1994, we travelled to Florida to attend my brother Topher's wedding.  At the reception, Kathy left the room in tears because they just had announced the Father/Bride dance.  Since her father had passed away when she was 19, she knew this was something that she would never have.  Obviously, I chased after her.  As she was crying, I did something that I had planned to do on that trip, just not right then.  I asked her to marry me. 

This part will tell you about Kathy more than anyone else.  She cried even more.  I had no answer.  Of course, I am thinking that I have really screwed things up.  After a couple of minutes, I asked her again, explaining that I hadn't gotten an answer the first time.  Through her tears, by this time I am convinced that I have only added to those tears, she tells me yes.  And she wants to call her mother. 

After a minute of crying/talking to her mother, keep in mind this is 1994 and we do not have a cell phone, so she is on a pay phone (remember those) in a hotel lobby, she tells her mom the news and they talk for a couple of more minutes.  Finally, Kathy hands me the phone and says that Mom wants to talk to me.  The first thing I hear is...."Jay, what took you so long?  I knew back in March."  I am sort of put back by this for a second.  Then I hear her laughing.  She told me that she knew that I was the one for her daughter when she saw how I treated her back in March and how we wrestled around on the floor in front of the TV during the O.J. chase (more proof that it was 1994) and generally, how much we enjoyed each others company.  She told me that she had to give me a hard time, tease me, and that she was very happy for us.

So, the thing that I will always remember most about my mother-in-law was her sense of humor and how she knew EXACTLY how to use it.  Not only how, but WHEN to use it. 

In fact, I am convinced that she was probably teasing Saint Peter before he let her in.  Of course, she probably asked him to keep an eye on us for a little while as well.  I think she had some immediate business to attend to.  Probably going check on Buck......they've been apart for nearly twenty years.  I'm pretty sure that is high on her list, if not first up.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Well, this past weekend was quite interesting for me. 

Starting on Thursday, four of us went to take part in my new "hobby" of target shooting.  Now, at this point, I am not that good, but getting better quickly.  Mike, Richard, Ryan and I headed up to the indoor range and did our best to injure some paper.  In fact, my paper has a hundred holes in it.  It was pay day.  Last payday, Mike and I went.  Richard has just gotten to town and Ryan missed out last time and wanted to join in.  We all had a blast.  In fact, I suppose several blasts from each of us.  This time I shot a Glock 34, which is a 9MM pistol.  It is a lot of fun, but it is not cheap, so this hobby may end quickly.  We will see.

Friday night, my friend Jon took me to the Capital Plaza Hotel for "Ballroom Boxing".....it may have had a more formal name, but that is what everyone calls it.  It is professional boxing and it takes place in a ballroom.  In fact, a few weeks back, the annual Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala was held in the exact same room.

So it was a really cool event.  Tables are laid out around the room with the ring and the ringside seats in the middle, obviously.  It was four fights of four (scheduled) rounds each, then an intermission where they gave away several prizes.  Then four more fights before the six round main event.  Half of the card featured boxers from Jefferson City and they fought the other half from other places, mainly from Kansas City but some from Illinois and Tennessee. 

I am no boxing expert, but the quality of boxing was not like what you would see on HBO ro Showtime.  Who would expect it to be?  But overall, it was pretty good and very entertaining.  Even had one female fight.  That was a complete mismatch and you could tell when they were introduced.  That one lasted about 30 seconds.  The rest consisted of a few knockouts and the rest were decisions that were pretty clear.  The night was a lot fun.  And apparently, I sent some pretty funny text messages to a couple of people that night.  Like I said, I was having a good time. 

After the fights, Jon took me to a local Irish pub, Paddy Malones.  Nice place, really enjoyed that and wanted to go back the next night when they a musical act from Kansas City down.  BUT, I was otherwise committed.

You see on Saturday, I was asked to help co-Emcee the silent auction at the American Heart Association's annual Heart Ball.  That a lot of fun.  Mike (who goes by KC on the air), Richard and I would walk around and talk to people and then turn on our microphones occasionally to mention that some of items up for auction needed a little more attention.  And the three of us would take jabs at each other, all in good fun.  Like when I told Richard, here is a martini set for you.  And when he said back to me, here is a basket of wine and cheese.  And it went like that for a couple of hours. Got to meet some folks from here in Jefferson City and give them a chance to get to know us.  Dinner was nice.  The only real negative for all three of us, we did not have our significant others there with us.  I am sure that Kathy is upset that she did not get to see me in a tuxedo. 

Then again, maybe she isn't.  She has seen me in one several times, and at least one of those did not go so well for her.  You see, she ended up married to me. 

Oh, and you may find it interesting that the Heart Ball took place in the exact same room as the ballroom boxing from the night before.  They did a great job removing the cigar smoke from the place.  Because that would have been a bit awkward.  The American HEART Association having a ball in a smoky room????  Bravo to the hotel staff on that one.

Sunday was the day to simply take it easy.  I went shopping for some basic groceries.  Watched some TV, made some phone calls.  Thought about doing laundry.  Then I thought better of it.  Maybe today.

Work continues to go well.  Nothing else huge to note at this point.  If you have questions or comments, post them below or hit me with an e-mail.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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You know it is funny about people.  With all the ways we have to keep in touch with each other, we still don't do it.  I am as much to blame as the next person.  HOWEVER, I am very good at sending e-mails on a fairly regular basis.

So here I am in Jefferson City.  I have said it before and I will say it again.  I LOVE IT HERE!!  Yes, it is cold right now, but I am loving my job, the people I work with and for, and I really love the community.  I have talked with and met lots of great folks that have really made me realize what a great decision it was to take this job.  One of them I will point out now because he has really stepped up.  I met Sam Bushman about two or three weeks ago.  He is a local business man, owner of Samuel's Tuxedos.  Samuel's Tuxedos is not a formal wear only store, he has lots of toys for men in there.  COOL PLACE!! 

Anyhow, Sam came on the show to help promote a community event, the Jefferson City Host Lions Club's 51st Annual Ham and Bean Dinner.  I gave away tickets on the air for it.  Then on the day of the event, I went down to buy my ticket.  Sam stopped me and insisted on buying me the ticket.  WOW!!  I told him he did not need to.  I had the cash in hand to do it.  Anyhow, I thanked him, then thanked him again on the air the next day.  Now he helped me and my new friends, Mike and Richard, with tuxedos for the American Heart Association Heart Ball that we are working this weekend.

AND Sam is just one of them.  I have several listeners who have called both on and off the air to talk to me about the show and other things.  I have gotten involved in the planning committee for a new barbeque contest that we will be sponsoring here in Jefferson City this April.  Heck, even being asked to help co-Emcee this Heart Ball after just six or seven weeks in town is a nice surprise.  The folks here have really made me feel at home.  And everyone is asking when Kathy and the boys will be getting here. 

All of these positves coming from here in Jefferson City. 

Meanwhile, I get e-mails exchanged with one former co-worker/friend.  Everyone else is apparently too busy to even say "Hi Jay, I'm busy.  I will try to write later."  Nothing.  Now, folks that I have never worked with, but were friends or even just friendly with, have written and called.  I spent 20 minutes on the phone the other day with Chip Kain.  Chip is a friend and a fellow talk show host.  He wanted to talk to me and exchange ideas, etc.  Great talking to him.  But other people who I thought I was closer to can't write a single sentence in an e-mail?  At least I get the afterthought messages delivered through Kathy....."so and so asked about you and said hi."  This happened at a time and place of undetermined nature and clearly where commenting or saying anything to her about me was nothing but a polite afterthought.

Maybe I am harsh in judging some folks.  But, I have no evidence to lead me to any other conclusion.  Why?

Because they can't even spend ten seconds to write me a single sentence in an e-mail.

And that is my point.  Let's cut through the bullshit of feigned or forced long distance friendships.  In the final episode of M*A*S*H, maybe Hawkeye was right when he tried to get BJ to say goodbye.   Saying that the talk of getting together down the road was nice now, but they both knew that it would never happen.  And even if it did, it would be rare and become more rare as the years went on.

I guess that I need to realize that may be what I need to accept now too.  And move on with the new folks, in my new town and continue to build my new career and my new life.

Like Minneapolis before it, Knoxville may soon be completely in my past.  Except that my parents will still be there. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

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This morning, Kathy (that would be my wife for those who don't know) informed me of a HUGE fire in Downtown Knoxville.  She thought they said the McClung Building.  Well, I told her that I knew of the McClung Tower on campus and the McClung Warehouses near the Old City.  It was the warehouses......as readers in the greater Knoxville area know.  (By the way, I am starting this blog while Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" is playing.) 

I read the stories available via the internet.  I know these buildings.  Remember folks, I was your friendly radio traffic guy in Knoxville for over four years, only three and half in the mornings....but still. I also know that there have been several moves in the last few years to do SOMETHING with these warehouses.  One of the big concerns last year came in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision.  It was thought that the city or county government would condemn and take possession of these buildings. 

And there are groups like Knox Heritage who wanted the owner, Mark Saroff, to do something to improve these buildings.  Others liked the idea of loft apartments there.

Now, something has been done.  Accident?  Arson?  Homeless keeping warm? Whatever has happened, these hundred year old buildings are mostly gone, and may be completely gone shortly.

However, I smell a rat.  And I will not point fingers, because there are many theories that are possible.  Besides, I do not currently own a tin-foil hat.  There is not an ALCOA Haberdashery location in Jefferson City, Missouri.  That said, something here stinks and it is simply not the embers smoldering near the Old City.

You see, like many Knoxville residents, and yes I am STILL a legal resident of Knoxville (I just don't live nor work there), I have little faith in the local officials.  My faith was shaken by the actions of nineteen unscrupulous individuals that we call the Knox County Commission.  Actually, it is more than nineteen because it is the nineteen and all of their power hungry friends and relatives who got the replacement seats and did the work without the viewing eyes of the media.  Lets see, a former commissioner AND father of a current commissioner, a wife and oh, this is my favorite, a former drug dealing son as new members of county commission.  WOW!!!  A county commissioner who has served since 1970...the year I was born...is now county clerk.  I guess it is better than adding another name to the rolls of the unemployed, isn't it?

The aftermath is this.  The City of Chicago has passed a proclamation where they have passed the torch to Knox County.  In fact, I believe they said in Chicago, "Knox County, Tennessee, makes us look like a bunch of damned amateurs!!"  Late Mayor Richard J. Daley has been seen out of his grave and walking the streets on the South Side once again.  Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall crowd are wondering if their place in history is going to be wiped out.  Boss Tom Pendergast of Kansas City never had this kind of control......and he got the wheels turning on the political career of Harry Truman!!!

And you wonder why I am curious about this fire.  As I titled this entry, Nero played the violin while his corrupt Rome burned.  Tell me, because I really want to know, who is fiddling in Knoxville?

Posted by Jay Kersting at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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As I am working a new job there are always a few hiccups along the way.  One of those is getting the direct deposit of your paycheck started.  I knew it would take a couple of paychecks and I was OK with that.  My first check was delived back to Tennessee personally, since it came on a Friday of a weekend where I was heading back that way.  My second check arrived here on Tuesday.  Since I am not going back to Tennessee until Friday, I figured that I would overnight the check to Kathy so that she could deposit the check in the bank.

I debated between using UPS or the United States Postal Service.  My mom is a retired postal clerk and I do not recall ever personally having a problem with the USPS in the past, so I chose to use them.  Besides, they are slightly less expensive.

Oh boy.  This was a mistake.

I went on-line and used the web based method of paying for my overnight Express Mail service.  I printed out my label and taped it, per their own instructions...do not tape over the barcode, etc.,....to an envelope.  I included a handwritten note to Kathy and the boys, as well as some autographs that I got them from John Buck and Luke Hudson of the Kansas City Royals.  I looked for further instructions.  It asked me if I wanted to arrange pickup.  I knew the mail had not been picked up here yet, so I figured that I would just send it with my regular pickup.

Apparently, this is NOT the way to do things.  I must have missed it.  But, maybe I was supposed to schedule a special pickup.  Maybe I had to go drop it off at the post office.  But this was not made perfectly clear.  I do know with UPS, you need to find one of their drop boxes.  I got that.

Again, this was on Tuesday.  Today is Thursday.  Now, the USPS STILL has NO RECORD of having received my package, let alone delivering it.  I have run the tracking number on-line.  I have called in to track it.  I called customer service.  I called the number they gave me for Express Mail.  I was on a three way call with someone allegedly in Knoxville, Tennessee, who tried to tell me that I used the WRONG ZIP CODE!!  I sent it to my wife's work address.  The same address that THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR SEND CHECKS TO TO GET THEIR FOOTBALL TICKETS!!!!  I think that I would know where I was sending it. 

So, I have asked the folks here with my employer if they can bail me out of the jam that I got MYSELF into by either trusting the USPS, or by not following their directions clearly enough.  At this point, I am not sure WHICH it is.

I do know this much.  I feel like an IDIOT!!!  And I know, that I will never, ever, ever, trust anything important, like a paycheck, to the United States Postal Service.

And it does actually make me very sad to say that.

*****Follow Up*******

The package was received by the USPS in Knoxville on Thursday evening at around 10:00pm.  The package was delivered to the University of Tennessee mail room on Friday morning at around 9:08 am.

Kathy got it at her desk in the AFTERNOON MAIL on MONDAY!!!!  When sending something to Kathy at work, do NOT use the United States Postal Service if it needs to get there quickly.  NOW, I know.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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