Theresa Elaine Johnson Pickel

After I finished my MA, I taught at KU for 10 years before going to work for a scientific, medical, and technical publisher. I worked there for 24 (some overlap with the teaching gig at KU) years, the last 10 years as the Director of Publishing and Association Management. Three years ago, I left to run my family's electrical power, relay, and insulation testing business. Yes, I still love music and I have my own marimba though I rarely play these days. After many years in Tae Kwon Do, I retired after blowing my knee out on a particularly wonderful flying split kick, followed immediately by a not so wonderful landing. For the two years prior to moving from Kansas to Illinois, we lived off the grid in a 400 square foot cottage on 40 acres of the Prairie Band Potawatomie reservation north of Topeka. I have been actively involved with the Range Management Society, the Wildlife Society, and the Ecological Society, particularly with conservation and ecosystem related issues. Now that we have more space, I've broken out my sewing machine and am making quilts like a crazy woman--in part because it seems like a really good excuse to put off washing the dishes every night. I have been an avid gardener for many years, but I'm really just getting a start at my new place. My gardening goal is to have NO grass.

I have a BA, an MA, and an MPhil from Kansas University. Rock-Chalk Jayhawk!

Symphonic band and performing at the Six Flags Band Festival, band clinic by Col. Gabriel, marching at Houston Oilers games, band camp in Kerrville, and hot, fresh twists from the cafeteria in the morning.

The whole Outlander series have been my favorite books for years. Finally, they are turning it into a series on STARZ...I'm so thrilled. Now, all I'm waiting for is Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books to make it to the screen. Otherwise, my favorite books are To Kill a Mockingbird, Earth Abides, anything by Tolkien, Faulkner, Dos Passos, and Umberto Saba. I like classic rock (don't we all??), The Black Keys, country western, bluegrass, jazz, especially improvisational, and classical music. I tend to watch movies when I watch TV, but I do like the Big Bang Theory, probably owing to my former nerd status.

Do in your heart what you feel to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. Eleanor Roosevolt

I have four big dogs (labs and goldens), three cats, three ferrets, and one particularly ill tempered Senegal Parrot.

Since leaving Victoria, I have been to Venezuela, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, and England.

None, but I read French, Spanish, Italian, and Old English. I find the last one particularly useful. Actually, I think I could be fluent in Old English, but there are just so few people with whom to chat.

Yes