Imp-ish photo of me as a kid

Who is this JoJo character anyway?

Editorial note. I wrote this in September of 1997. I haven't updated the content since. I received a couple of "broken link" reports recently so thought I'd at least get rid of those errors. I don't suppose the story has changed all that much in the last five years so I'm not gonna take the time to update anything else.
-- JLC (Aug. 2002)

Hmmm...what to say about me?

I'm a firstborn and apparently act that way (who me? impatient? bossy? intransigent? what you talking about?). I was born on July 4, 1963 (you do the math). Yep, a firecracker...that's what my grandfather used to call me, anyway. I lived in Roswell (yessiree, of the alien sightings fame...I don't remember the town at all) for a couple of years, then Albuquerque 'til 3rd grade (that picture was probably taken in Albuquerque...I think I must've been about 5 or 6 and look pretty much the same now, only older...heh heh), Denver 'til 5th grade, La Paz through 9th grade at the American Cooperative School, Santiago through high school graduation (from the International School Nido de Aguilas), Lubbock (where I encountered the phenomenon known as "culture shock" for the first time in my life while toiling away in a discount department store...whee) for a year to get my Texas residency for college, and...finally... Austin (which is where I belonged all along).

I came to Austin in 1981 to go to school at The University of Texas at Austin (yes, working at UT has indoctrinated me with the need to use the complete name with proper capitalization). I majored in Computer Science and was awarded my Bachelor's at the end of the 1985 summer session. Working in the Petroleum Engineering department at UT is just about all I've ever done as far as working goes. I mean...it's the only "real" job I've ever had. Kinda spooky in a way. I had a couple of part time jobs during college: sales clerking and phone interviewing (no soliciting just fishing for opinions).

So, you ask, what's the deal with this "JoJo the Lemonhead" thing? Well, that's a long story. It started on the 'net and I just may tell it here sometime. But not now. I've gone by several nicknames in my life. As a toddler, I apparently loved pickles and would be immediately comforted and calmed if someone shoved one in my mouth. So, my oh-so-loving family started calling me Pickle. I have one sorrowful excuse for an uncle who continues to call me that to this day but, for the most part, everyone else has given up the ghost on that one. (By the way, I can't stand pickles now...and don't even want them on the same plate with the rest of my food when I go to a restaurant. The juice, afterall, gets all over everything and you can still taste 'em even after you gingerly remove them from view. But, back to the topic at hand...) There was the joann2 Banana thing in high school. People still call me that from time to time. There was the Sarah thing in 9th grade...don't ask. There was also Jo in high school. That caused plenty of mix-ups at home since my mom (Karen Jo) goes by Jo. My best friend's nephew (Greggus Maximus) couldn't say Joanna when he was a wee wisp of a child but could say Joey. Lots of people in that family and many in mine still call me Joey. A couple of different people started calling me JoJo out of the blue about 5 or 6 years ago. And, that trend continues. And, I still get the Jo thing from time to time despite the fact that I have no contact with anyone who went to my high school. And, of course...there's joann2. That's what most people at work call me. 'Makes sense, I guess.

Okay...lists, here come some lists (in no particular order...just as they came to mind):

Hmmm...what else? Well, I guess it's only fair I list some things I don't like. I don't like talking politics or religion. I quickly lose patience with people who insist on trying to rope me into discussions of that ilk. I mean...I've got very strong opinions about matters political (no, you may not ask what those are...well, you can ask but you won't get a reply) but feel no compulsion to win you over to my way of thinking. And, the likelihood that someone else will convince me to change my mind at this late date is pretty damn slim. I get enormously aggravated by inconsiderate behavior (particularly in drivers...if you're not passing someone, get the heck out of the passing lane!).

Oh! I almost forgot...my family! Uh-oh...not a good thing to forget. My parents (Mom's page) are the best. My dad worked for DEA so we moved around a bit. My mom worked for Continental Airlines 'til I was about 10 and then stayed home with the kids when we started moving all over the place. Dad retired in '94 (or was it '95?) and moved (along with Mom and baby brother) to Austin. So, they're nearby. Cool. I'm the oldest of four kids. David is 20 months younger than I am, lives in Kentucky, is married, and has two adorable kids. Jennie's 11 years younger than I am. She lived here in Austin with me for her last two years of high school and first year of college. Oh, the pain. The aggravation. The torture of living with a teenager. We survived, though, and are stronger for it. I think. She just started working as a flight attendant for American Eagle and seems to love the job. And then there's Larry...just over a year younger than Jennie. The caboose. The baby. The sweetheart of the gang. Awwwww. He's still going to school and seems to be narrowing in on a career. Maybe. He loves to golf. As do our parents. I'm terrible at it. But, for some reason, I enjoy playing and pretend to play with them once or twice a month (unless the Longhorns are playing baseball and then all bets are off).

So...now you know everything about me. And, to be truthful, nothing about me. Don't you feel better?

Joanna's home page | joanna@joanna.org
Last updated: September 21, 1997