Her obituary which will appear in tomorrow's Statesman:


Judy Ann Rogers,
Austin Texas
Judy 23, 1954 – February 1, 2008

Judy lived because of love. She especially loved to travel and to explore. Judy found a home in the wilderness, where she could interact with animals, plants, and all of nature’s wonders. She loved to dwell with the spiritual force in the “Great Green Cathedral.”

Infinitely curious, Judy loved learning and read constantly. She was a talented storyteller who loved passing on what she learned. She often found herself the center of attention, but she used that opportunity to encourage others to find their voice and join her. She loved laughter and finding the humor in the world around us.

Her love for these things and her family—especially her niece, nephew, and great-nieces and nephews—kept her going despite formidable challenges. She persevered until she was free to explore the wilderness that lies beyond our comprehension. Judy continues to learn and love in this new dimension while her spirit remains in our hearts.

While Judy had many accomplishments and earned advanced degrees and received many awards and accolades, what was most important to Judy and those who love her was how she touched the lives of others.

She is survived by her partner for 13 years, Bonnie Jean Brown. She is also survived by her mother Jewell Rogers and sister Bambi Hester.

Services will be held, Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 600 East 50th Street, Austin, TX 78751. Phone: 512-459-5835

In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations “In Memory of Judy Rogers,” to Trinity United Methodist Church at the above address.

I found out this morning that my dear friend Judy passed away from cancer this weekend. I've spent most of the morning crying and reminiscing with co-workers about her. Thinking about the sweet thank you gifts she gave me, for the words of gratitude and support, for the dedication she felt towards the citizens and public water systems in the state of Texas. Her dedication was so strong that she put her chemo treatment on hold for a few weeks to handle recon to assess public water systems in the aftermath of Rita. Her words and pictures of "The Forgotten Storm" as she called it serve as a reminder of the hard work we put into that major and catastrophic event.

I'm sad that I hadn't seen her in months, as she'd been in too much pain to have me over for dinner. Sorry that we never had the chance to sit down and document several of her experiences, including the aftermath of Oklahoma City, Luby's in Killeen, and Hurricane Rita.

Of all the selfish emotions I'm feeling, what I feel the most is relief -

That she is finally at peace, and out of the pain that she had experienced for so long. The doctor had given her three months last spring, and yet she kept working until May 2007.

She will be deeply missed by many.

***********************
From Natural Resource, June 2006:

The Exceptional Customer Service Award is presented annually to one employee.

2005-2006 Winner Judy Rogers—OPRR, Water Supply Division

With Hurricane Rita bearing down on the Texas coast, Homeland Security coordinator Judy Rogers had just received treatment for her recently diagnosed cancer. But she went to her management and requested, in no uncertain terms, to be allowed to be part of the disaster team, and, after she received a doctor's OK, they agreed.

Despite the treatment, Rogers made a significant contribution to the TCEQ's preparation, response, and recovery efforts for the water systems in the area of Texas affected by Rita. Before the hurricane struck, she produced preparedness and response documents for the area's water systems. On the same day the hurricane made landfall, she was performing reconnaissance flights to assess the structural damage to water and wastewater systems.

Later, she developed recovery plans for systems damaged by Rita, suspending her medical treatments so she could provide the best plans for helping systems produce adequate and safe drinking water. Her management said no one else in the agency could have done a better job pulling together such a program, under the stress and confusion created by the hurricane, to help water system operators.

Rogers received her bachelor's degree from Texas State University, her master's degree in forestry from Stephen F. Austin, and her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. She loves to travel, to camp and hike, and to study weather patterns and events ... particularly hurricanes!

What do the two have in common? A lot when it is Frozen Pea Friday!
Check out Susan Reynolds' blog. Find out how the Twitter community has come together for not just one person, but for an important cause by creating the Frozen Pea Fund.

What's With the Peas?

I know that enough of you have to deal with the loss of a friend or loved one due to cancer, so I'm asking you all for advice -

What do you get for someone who is dying? My coworker and friend, Judy, is "retiring" tomorrow - she's going on disability. She's decided to quit fighting the system, and making herself miserable over whether she'll get sick leave pool. She and her life partner came to the agreement that is she only has three months to live, why be miserable? She's not bedridden just yet, but the pain is constant and bad enough that she's maxed out on her Oxycontin dosage and takes another medication every two hours for the breakthrough pain.

I was thinking that a gift certificate to restaurants in the area, along with To Go menus would be good. And I just remembered that a friend works for Eat Out In, so perhaps he'd set me up with some GCs as well.

Other suggestions?

We are staying in beautiful Wanaka, with a beautiful view of the lake. Accomodations aren't as luxurious as our past, but cheap and easy to tolerate since we aren't stuck inside due to rain. Clear skies, a little rain last night but just enough to feed the rivers.

I left a bra on the bra fence along the road here, pictures to come - I autographed it, and wrote: "Everything really IS BIGGER IN TEXAS!!

We are now in Queenstown, about to leave on a jetboat and whitewater rafting trip in half an hour. We split up for lunch so folks could eat what they wanted - Greg and Amy stopped for Thai, Deci, Heidi and I are at a lovely little cafe where Deci could FINALLY get his chai so he's happy, and Cow and Doppler hit the - *shudders* - McDonald's.

I am excited that we will be rafting down the Kawarau River, which was the scene for the Andouin in LOTR. Unfortunately Argonath was digitally added, so we won't see the Pillars of the Kings :P
Doppler, Amy, and Greg are rafting the more challenging Shotover River, while the rest of us are only jetboating the Shotover.

Time to run, less than 20 minutes to eat!

I went out last night to Club Deville for Karaoke Apocalypse. I wish lolliejean had been there- I suspect she could bring the house down with a Pat Benatar cover! The premise is that you get to sing a heavy metal or punk song, but with a LIVE band backing you up! My old pal, Chepo is in the band, which is great. The two lovely hostesses are wonderful, and make everyone feel comfortable onstage.

I started out with "Surrender" by Cheap Trick in the first set, which turned out really well. Second song I sang was "Photograph" by Def Leppard, but my three week sinus infection/mild bronchitis has definitely taken its toll on my vocal cords, and my throat started feeling sore. I took it easy for the rest of the set, but felt better by the second set. So I rounded out the night with "Kiss Me Deadly" by Lita Ford. Amazing- I sang in front of the most people I ever had during the first set, but it thinned out during the second set. I was relaxed, because the few people I knew had retired to the back bar. Until he showed up. Might not have mattered any other time, but after the vividness and randomness of my dream the night before, it was intimidating. Amazing to be nervous in front of one person instead of eighty (or the 400+ in my work presentations!).

It was great- my wonderful friend Ernie came up on stage to say hello to Chepo,and I asked her to stay and sing with me. Funny- the song sheets started blowing off the music stand during the song and by the third verse Melicious was unable to retrieve them quick enough- so I made up my own words.

Nothin' to eat and no TV
Lookin' in the mirror- I DON'T KNOW THESE WORDS
Uh huh, It ain't no big thing

So much fun, I will definitely do it again (and make sure tericol goes!). I managed to leave in time to get to Room 710 for the Dicks show, which was packed with old school punks. A lot of fun, but broiling! I saw fellow HJ Ladies member Stephanie, who I hadn't seen in ages, and even had some guy tell me he recognized me from myspace- how interesting! I also met Cris Burns' lovely wife- she was a hoot- and ran into Tom, a sweet young guy I met at a Cat Scientist afterparty months ago.
Late but fun night!

I just received what shall now be known as a "bad boyfriend" call, which some of you may be familiar with. You know what I am talking about girls-
"I was thinking about you, and realized "what did I do?" You were a source of stability in my life, and I took it for granted. You are a wonderful, sweet, funny...I don't deserve you in my life"

And so on...only this time it wasn't the usual suspects- It was my GIRLFRIEND Angela, who I haven't heard from in over two years! She told me "I am just like those ungrateful boyfriends we've had- you were so sweet to put up with my whining and no-shows".

Yes, there was one night during SXSW a few years ago where she and Lisa kept me waiting at home for hours, when we supposed to go out. Turns out they were busy partying with the boys where they were staying. I've learned since then to do my own thing, and anyone who wants to join me had better be ready to keep up, or at least be at the right place at the right time.

It's always been easy to forgive Angela. I don't have pity, but rather sympathy for her daily struggles. I am amazed that she is still alive- I've lost count of how many times she has had cancer, and the last time the doctors didn't think that she was going to make it.

She has had a tough life- she lost her leg to cancer when she was about 12 yrs old, double masectomy at 28 yrs of age, and the last and worst bout was when she was 39. All the radiation had weakened her bones, and her arm broke while she was walking with her crutches. She left Austin and has been living on her parents ranch in Buffalo, Texas, for the last couple of years, recuperating. Angela's condition is also the strongest argument I can offer for medicinal mj. Without her smoke, she wouldn't have made it through the chemotherapy due to the nausea and lack of appetite.

It was a pleasant surprise to hear her voice after all this time. I worry that I'll never hear from her again, that she won't win another fight. She's a strong woman, in mind and spirit. I remember how horrified someone was when I asked for their defective windup Godzilla, with only one leg. "It's for a friend, she only has one leg as well". I gave that toy to Angela, and she loved it! She could get us into screenings before everyone else, or at least get in first to save us seats. She said that considering all the challenges she's had to face getting around, she'd better get to take advantage of her disability once in awhile.

As luck would have it, I am meeting some of the girls at the pub for a pint, so Angela will be able to join us before she heads out of town tomorrow. What a pleasant surprise!

Dear Kris,

For what it's worth- I think you are cool, and quite diverse!!

It's wickedly funny how different we are in some ways- you are the most GOTH person I know and like :P
Hey, but I LOVE the Damned and Siouxsie, so I'm not hopeless! Wish you could be here for one of my "spins", when I usually start out with Killing Joke "Living in the Eighties". Can't forget Ultravox "Vienna" and Duran Duran (who I am going to see in a couple of weeks- now who's the freak!) Although maybe you're the bigger freak, buying that Ozone CD......you go where I fear to tread! .

*sings*
Mai-ia-hii
Mai-ia-huu
Mai-ia-hoo
Mai-ia-ha ha

Oh, sorry, where was I?

We are quite alike in our love of the outdoors, and I miss your bird pictures, especially when you finally captured the elusive male. I enjoyed the recent pics of lovely snow-covered trees, but the snow skeleton Marge was a hoot . I also enjoy hearing about your weekend trips, and imagine in my head what New England must be like- never been myself...

Let's see- we're both chronically late, and I have also had to deal with the CATPOOP on my SHOE issue while trying to leave for work. Don't they know that's what the litterbox is for? Did that turd coming flying out of the cat's ass so fast it couldn't be contained in that small space?

Your m_t_ms totally rock, and I saw the one I gave to Hilary while at her apartment last night. Her MTM sits on her bed along with a stuffed cat that looks strangely similar to MTM, as if they were siblings separated as infants...

I suspect we agree that the best holiday is Halloween, which INCLUDES Dia De Los Muertes.

I like how you're a die-hard Northerner, with no complaints about the snow or cold or dirty mush I imagine. Being a Texan makes it easy to romanticize snow, as long as we don't have to DRIVE in it!!

Glad to know you can enjoy the same "simple and silly" things in life we do! Just sad that we're so far away. Thanks for letting me get to know you anyway!

Give Edwin a big old squeeze for me!!

hugs,
Snax

I've decided that Christmas was merely the start to my holiday season, since I never really got into the seasonal spirit. I did manage to get most of my presents wrapped in time, and ate way too much. Dad had an extended visit, and he took Jen and I (along with gregh, decibel45, and ivo) out to several meals. I think the boys, I mean, guys are officially hooked on the delicious Thai food at Madame Mam's. We had a lovely time Saturday night, walking down 37th Street to see the Christmas lights. Much nicer than being a part of the herd of thousands through the highly commercialized Trail of Lights through Zilker Park.

I received several great gifts this season, including wine from Jen, and "Bend It Like Beckham" on DVD from Linda, but two presents really topped the charts.

decibel45 surprised me with a gift certificate for a tandem jump at SkyDive San Marcos, so I have no more excuses not to do it! Now if someone could give me some courage to go along with it, I'd be set.

The other fab present I received was from my lovely friend, Hilary. A few of us girls have worn a wonderful oil named "Rivers of Honey" for many years, but we have not been able to find it for quite some time. We have looked high and low, even in other cities when we've travelled. Lo, and behold! Hilary finally found it on a New York City street corner, and bought some for the both of us.

So now there's New Years Eve still to celebrate, and our party of three BGGW gals may have turned into a krewe of fifteen folks. Give me some champagne and sparklers, and I'll be set!

Next up is Twelfth Night which is January 6th, the last day of the Christmas Season. Galette des Roi (King's Cake), ale and mulled wine are enjoyed. This is a fun celebration I was introduced to many years ago by some French friends who were transplanted to America to open La Madeleine French Bakery in Houston. I love the flaky galette, similar to a millefeuille pastry, with a tasty almond filling.

January 22 ushers in the Year of the Monkey, and the 2004 Chinese New Year. Being a Monkey herself, Hilary should be throwing an extra special Chinese New Year Celebration this year. Have to remember to wear something red!

Had a great time at Alysha's on Thanksgiving. Tons of food (including vegetarian options!!), beer, and wine, and less than thirty yards from my apartment, woohoo! I was accompanied by bovineone, moonwick, ghewgill, and ivo, and after some delicious food we were firmly rooted in the living room. Too darn cold and windy outside.

Someone I used to date was there, since he works at Central Market now. He was fairly civil, but at one point he expected me to say something nasty about him to one of his coworkers when she asked if I knew any nicknames or rumours about him. I was not about to bring that kind of karma on myself, despite the memory of crying on my birthday from cruel words he had spoken. Of Josh and Mikey threatening to kick his ass in Lovejoy's...

It was much easier to relax once Hippie Chris arrived. We haven't seen each other in a couple of months, we both have such busy lives with different interests. Turns out to be a really good thing, because he walked in with two of his friends from Burning Man, Rodney and Rebecca! Rodney was a wonderful friend and study buddy of mine throughout college, and Rebecca and I had several classes together. I hadn't seen much of Rodney since he returned from Quito, Ecuador, last year. The rest of the evening was spent cuddled on the couch with the three of them and a nice glass of red wine. I think I finally called it a night about 2am, but quite a few folks were still celebrating.

Oh yeah, then there was the bellydancing early in the evening....
"Smash the grapes, smash the grapes. Close the car door, close the car door"! I just might take lessons again, that was fun, although a little embarrassing with so many friends there!

Did a little shopping on Friday, and had lunch with my mom and sister at Elsi's (go figure!).

Had to take a friend to the emergency room to get checked out. Apparently he tore a muscle on the inside of his chest wall, and it hurt to breathe. Glad it wasn't worse, he could have given himself a hernia from lifting that TV.

Today's mostly been relaxing and preparing for stickcow's Belated Thanksgiving Gathering this evening. Time to check the pumpkin pie!

What a friggin' stressful couple of days!! Glad the cube walls at work are padded; I could have hurt something when I banged my head against them today. Felt better, though. Nasty day at work, with someone getting canned who I had discreetly tried to help from getting in trouble once or twice. Ironically, I don't think she knew that, and apparently today somebody had enough of her. Sucks, I feel bad for her in a way, but she had to know it was coming...

Not the day I would have picked to start my journal on, but might as well. Nothing that the leftover wine from Alisha's Bastille Day Party and hippie chris' bday won't cure! Had stocked up on some good wine last month, and glad to have a special occasion to try it out. The food was phenomenal, as it always is at Alisha's dinner parties. Tons of wine, although I keep forgetting to write down all the good wines h.c. has been my guinea pig for, we only remember that gawd-awful JP Tinto wine from last month...

Totally ready for the weekend to start, but too many options. I wouldn't mind dressing up in a golf skirt and going to see Caddyshack at the Paramount tomorrow, and then there's Jillster's Cancerian party on Saturday, and Sunday is a special screening at the Alamo for "My Name is Buttons". Of course, there are tons of new movies to see. The gals want to go out Saturday, probably for a pint or two, and dancing (which sucks in Austin). Hmmm, what to do, what to do....