Name:

History and Pictures

Whew, where to begin. After high school my first order of business was growing five inches taller. While I was undertaking that project (which required numerous peanut-butter sandwiches) and working at Calgon, I was saving every penny so that I could go to college. I received a BA in English from Kent State in 1971 (I was there during the horrific shootings of students by the National Guard in 1970 – luckily just out of the line of fire – others were not so lucky), then on to Southern Illinois University for a Master's. During those two years in the land of corn and tornados, I taught Freshman English and Literature, on-the-job training that came in very handy later on.

Afterwards, I moved to Boston, where the bank and I now own a 2-family home. On the first of the month, my tenants pay me! What a wonderful concept. The place is more than 100 years old, so it’s turned out to be more of a fixer-upper than I’d first imagined. I’ve learned to wield a variety of tools, although I’m still afraid of the circular saw. (I think it might be evil.) Surprisingly, I’ve become rather fond of gardening – something I hated when I lived on the farm as a kid. Go figure.

My career has been a winding road with many detours - I've been a college professor and administrator; a labor union publicist and steward; a conference coordinator; an author of books and stories (check out libroman.com for a children's superhero story, and keep your eyes peeled for yet another edition of "How to Open and Operate a Bed & Breakfast,” a book that apparently will not die); among other things.

For the last half-dozen years, I've been happily employed as a Describer for TV. My job is writing descriptions of key visual elements (action, costumes, facial expressions) of TV programming and films for people who are blind. My scripts are recorded and mixed with the regular soundtrack, and accessed on your TV’s SAP channel (I've worked on CSI, Harry Potter, Masterpiece Theatre, Mister Rogers Neighborhood…). On occasion I also provide description of theater performances, broadcasting live from a sound booth to blind audience members wearing headphones.

One of my passions is (and has always been) dance, which all started in second grade at Mrs. Johnson’s Dancing School in Morgan. After college, I busted my butt for years in dance classes, sometimes up to 20 hours a week. I was in pig heaven when all the hard work eventually translated into a long-term gig performing with a unique, theatrical jazz-dance company (we used sign language as part of the choreography and performed for Deaf and hearing audiences in the USA). Ah, those standing ovations. Nothing like it. Recently, I’ve been learning to swing dance. Gotta remember to let the guy lead, though….

I make occasional trips back to the old ’hood to see family and to work on my parents’ house. They’re both gone now, and my sibs and I will be selling the place in the near future. Anybody want to buy a farm house?

Addendum: I (Kris) asked Janet about the Spanish caves picture and Jan answered with:

I participated in an archaeological dig on the island of Menorca, Spain, a while ago (I love to travel). When the team wasn't digging in the dirt or drinking Sangria, we'd explore the island. There are a number of caves on Menorca - some people even live in them! I'd be sitting on the beach and look up at the cliffs and see brightly colored doors here and there.

Janet's Pictures
Click on the picture for a larger version.

body language_dancers.jpg	dance_company_80s90s.jpg	glamour_of_showbiz.jpg	indie_film_2004.jpg
me_mel_gibson_2003.jpg	sir's_band.jpg	sound_booth_2005.jpg	spanish_caves.jpg
stankus_janet_1965.jpg	stankus_janet_2005.jpg	two_sphinxes_1981.jpg