Two days 
                 with 
   Clare Kramer
        in
       Columbus 
              at
     MidOhioCon
  27-28 Nov 2004

    Interview with
     Clare's Dad
     28 Nov 2004

           Two days 
                 with 
   Clare Kramer
        in
       Columbus 
              at
     MidOhioCon
  27-28 Nov 2004

    Interview with
     Clare's Dad
     28 Nov 2004
 

 Thumbnails linked to larger 
 images:  If IE 6.0 resizes large 
 images (shrinks them)  or so 
 you can't read stuff,  try this: 
 IE60autoresizing

 Thumbnails linked to larger images: 
 If IE 6.0 resizes large images (shrinks them) 
 or so you can't read stuff, try this: 
 http://gloryisagod.com/IE60autoresizing.html 

 Introduction.....
Clare in Columbus Interim Posts (later)
 A collection of posts from 11/30-12/17/04 that includes many
 advance Clare Vignettes and stuff from the interview with her Dad.
 

.
Columbus Easton Hilton

  Location - Closed Lilac Room, Easton Hilton, Columbus, Ohio.
                  About 12:15 PM, Sunday 11/28/04.

 Occasion:  This interview was Clare's idea, suggested in October in Toronto
                   during a rambling series of conversations one evening 
                   with her as she sipped her red wine:
                      Clare in Toronto Galleries, Q&A's, vignettes, etc...
                       Clare in Toronto Interim Posts 

                 We had no preparation, unlike the 2 May 04 UK interview with Clare.

                   When Clare finished with her  Sunday Q&A (11-Noon) 
                   she suggested we get the con staff to let us use the locked Lilac 
                   Room, where her solo Saturday autograph/candid photo session
                   had been. So this was another private interview, as in Blackpool.
                   (See the separate gallery link, where Clare is wearing the 
                   long-sleeved white top and black leather pants):
                             Clare_Columbus Galleries

                   After the 16 minute interview, Clare moved to the foyer with the 
                   guests where Sunday's co-located autograph/candid photos
                   took place. Callie arrived sometime after 1:00 PM.
                             Clare_Columbus Galleries

                   Clare & Callie left with their Dad about 3:30 PM or so to go to the 
                   airport for their flights back to NYC & L.A. that afternoon.

                 The interview not only tells us about Clare's Dad, but has the added 
                   benefit of passing on to us some unique shared family information 
                   and stories about Clare and her sister Callie. All this allows a little
                   peek into this successful, tightly knit family to better understand 
                   why Clare and Callie are the way they are today.

 Interview Cast of Characters:

 Terry Kramer- Clare's Dad... Interviewee
 GIAG- gloryisagod.com... Interviewing
 Clare- Clare Kramer...occasional Interviewing/comments, lots of laughing
 Froggy - drafted indie con photographer, behind our camera...occasional comments

 NOTE: Our use of "..." indicates verbal pauses, usually...
            [ italics ], ( italics ) stuff is added editorial information.

 Interview Sections Links:
   1. Clare Clowns as the Camera Starts Rolling
   2. Terry Kramer - Background & Business 
   3. Meet the Kramer Family
   4. All About Hospice Care Volunteering
   5. More About Clare 

.
Clare clowning for the camera
 

 1. Clare Clowns as the Camera Starts Rolling

 GIAG:
 We don't need to zoom a lot...
 OK.
 We noticed you came here from Atlanta?...
 

Terry Kramer, Clare's Dad

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Born in Dayton, Ohio. And we both grew up in Sidney. Which is a little town in the western part of
 the state. Probably 20 to 25 miles from the Indiana border.

 And her [Clare's Mom, Sandy) parents ran the county airport in Sidney, Shelby county. And we
 both lived out in the country in the southwest part of town.

 We both went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 
 We were married down there and eventually moved to Atlanta to work for the Georgia Geological 
 Survey. 

 And Clare was born in Atlanta [3 Sept 1974]. And I worked there for a year. Then we moved to 
 New Orleans. I took a job with Chevron Oil Company as a geologist. Worked both onshore and 
 offshore. 

 Callie was born in New Orleans.
..................................................................................
 [Presumably about Feb 1978, based on Clare's Toronto comments that Callie was 
 about 3 1/2 years younger than herself. We vaguely recall from a 2002 interview 
 Clare saying they lived in New Orleans for about 4 years.]
..................................................................................

 In 1978, we moved back to Ohio and I started my own business. A small independent oil and 
 gas producing company. And we've lived in Delaware, Ohio since then.

 GIAG:
 What's the name of the company?

 Terry Kramer:
 Kramer Exploration Company. 
 [in one of Clare's old interviews, she mentions learning a lot about business by working
  in her Dad's office]

 GIAG:
 That's headquartered in ...?

 Terry Kramer:
 It's headquartered in Delaware, Ohio. But with field exploration down in Rutland, Ohio.
 Southern part of the state. 

 GIAG:
 What's your position there? CEO?

 Terry Kramer:
 (laughing)
 Owner...owner.
 (Clare laughs loudly and long from near the right of the camera)

 GIAG:
 Are there any other employees?

 Terry Kramer:
 Oh, yes. We have 5 employees.
 Very small company.

 GIAG:
 And who do you still consult for?

 Terry Kramer:
 Actually I don't consult for anyone. When we first moved back [to Ohio], I did consult for a year.
 And that was primarily for oil and gas operators in the state. Until, you know, I found what producing
 trend I wanted to operate in. Which was down in southern Ohio. 

 And we began operations. We would actually develop a prospect on which we felt would be the 
 best opportunity to find oil and gas, drill the  wells, complete them, set them up for production 
 and then actually produce the wells...for oil and gas.

 GIAG:
 So you're doing the exploration stuff...

 Terry Kramer:
 Absolutely (nodding)

 GIAG:
 Seismic...?

 Terry Kramer:
 No. This particular trend doesn't lend itself to lend itself to seismic.

 GIAG:
 So it's all interpretative geology...?

 Terry Kramer:
 ... all interpretative. Well logs, you know, surface features, fractures...

 GIAG:
 Who do you sell to..? The reason for the question is that we know someone that lives on the coast 
 [of Northern Ohio] and she once worked for Ohio Gas [as an engineer]...

 Terry Kramer:
 OK. We sell our natural gas through the Columbia System. But I've sold to an independent natural gas 
 marketer named Full Services Group, located in Columbus, Ohio.

 Our oil goes to Dysgo (sp??), Pennzoil, but they've sold out now and it goes to a group called
 Ergon. An oil refinery located in Mississippi.
 

 Smith Elementary School

 Park of Roses in Clinton

 Clare & her Mom, Sandy

..
 Clare's Dad & her sister Callie
Thumbnails linked to larger images: 

 GIAG:
 When you moved up to Delaware, did you stay in the same place all the time, or move around?

 Terry Kramer:
 No. We lived on Griswold Street in Delaware for 3 years. And then moved one block over to Lincoln
 Avenue. And we've been on Lincoln Avenue since 1982.
.............................................................................................................................
  [ On Monday, 11/29/04, the day after this interview, we went, as planned, north of Columbus
  to visit Delaware, Marysville and, later, the Park of Roses in Clinton, a town surrounded by 
  Columbus, on the Olentangy River - which also runs through Delaware to the north. We were
  researching photo locations to illustrate a 2002 Narrative Work manuscript, partially uploaded, 
  of which a portion takes place in the region encompassed by Dayton, Columbus, Delaware &
  Marysville. Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton is infamous for its connection to the 1947 Roswell
  crash events.

  Needless to say, the research was successful. Particularly on the crucial road to Marysville
  and in Marysville itself. 

  Clare's hometown, Delaware, is reached after passing under an overpass that has "Welcome
  To the City of Delaware" emblazoned on it. The town itself is essentially a two street downtown 
  of several blocks. The rest of Delaware is mostly residential, with scattered business, school 
  and university areas here and there. Most residential areas are hilly, with mature deciduous trees 
  dominating most streets. 

   When we passed through on the way to Marysville, it was trash day (Monday) The blue trash bins 
   were out in front of the homes. The general neighborhood where Clare grew up is characterized
   by small front yards and large backyards. Lots of mature trees and lots of big 2+ story homes
   typical of this region of the country. 

   Clare & Callie's Rutherford B. Hayes High School (where Clare graduated in 1992) is in the same 
   general neighborhood some blocks to the north. Seemingly within walking distance. As is the 
   similarly-distanced Smith Elementary School east of the high school. Though we are not aware
   of Clare ever mentioning any elementary school by name.

   It seemed to us a perfect place to grow up. And a place to have to leave if you had the far-flung
   ambitions Clare & Callie had.]
.............................................................................................................................

 GIAG:
 That's great...

 Terry Kramer:
 Yeah...

 GIAG:
 One thing we always think about when you have only girls in the family is ... do you make them 
 mow the yard?

 Terry Kramer:
 (laughing)
 Let me start by saying (pauses to collect thoughts on such a weighty subject)
 ...raising teenage girls...my hair didn't have a chance to turn gray - it just fell out!
 (all laugh, especially Clare)

 GIAG:
 That was her fault...? 
 (to Clare)

 Terry Kramer:
 Absolutely!  (said with mock conviction) 
 (Clare bursts out laughing)

 Absolutely!  (repeated)
 (Clare sounds like she's choking back even more laughter)

 No...No. I don't think I made them mow the yard. 
 But they were certainly willing to help...

 Clare:
 ...We had a riding mower...

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Yeah, with a lot of good work...planting...

 Froggy:
 (from behind the camera)
 ... Clare get a tan...

  Clare:
  (giggling loudly to the right of the camera)

 Terry Kramer:
  (trying to get back to the original question)
 ... Sandy (Clare's Mom) always had a big vegetable garden in the back. 
 The girls would help with that or planting flowers...doing trimming, raking leaves...

 Clare:
 ...Dad would give us hay...tell about the hayrides.

 Terry Kramer:
  Oh, my God! (laughs)

 GIAG:
 Hayrides...?

 Terry Kramer:
 We have a riding tractor for the back.  'Cause the back yard's fairly large and doesn't 
 lend itself  to a pushmower. And many times in the fall, Clare would want to have a 
 hayride. So we'd take the riding mower  ...it had kind of a little trailer on the back end 
 of it. (demonstrates with his hands)

 And I'd sprinkle hay down in the trailer (makes familiar Clare-like hand illustrations)
 And then 3 or 4 of her friends would all pile in the trailer and we'd drive up and down the 
 sidewalk or on the street. You know, just around the block (gestures).

 GIAG:
 Was this when she was 18 or 8...for the hayride?
 (Clare laughs & Froggy laughs)

 Terry Kramer:
 (laughing)

 GIAG:
 Grade school type stuff or earlier?

 Terry Kramer:
 No, it was grade school. Clare always was a...(pauses) to select the next phrase)... 
 great one for putting together a parade...or show.

 (Clare sighs from beside the camera)

 She'd get all her friends lined up.  Now I'm talking probably anywhere from 12 to 20 kids.
 Dress them all up in different costumes. You know what it was (lots of hand gesturing)
 a ballerina, or a baseball player or whatever. And then line them up in a procession.

 Of course, Clare always was the leader (illustrative gestures)...of the parade
 (general laughter by all)... then they would march out of the driveway, down the 
 sidewalk, around the block (claps his hands, making it obvious where Clare picked up 
 some of her extensive repertoire of hand gestures) to the tune of Clare's drum. 

 (Clare laughs heartily)

 GIAG:
 (to Clare) Told you [in Toronto] we'd get something good [about you]!

 Terry Kramer:
  It was fun to watch them grow up.

 GIAG:
 What's it like without them there?

 Terry Kramer:
 It's different.
 Very different.

 When Clare graduated from high school she wanted to go to NYU. 
 Period. 
 Even when she was a little girl she wanted to go to New York.

 And I said, "Clare, don't you think we ought to apply some place else - in case 
 you don't get accepted at New York University?" And she said, "Dad, I'll get into 
 New York University. Don't worry about it."
.........................................................................................................
 [As Clare told us in Toronto & Columbus, she graduated with her BFA & a semester 
 of her Masters in 3 years (1992-95) - with a double major in psychology & special ed, 
 plus her theater work at the Tisch School of the Arts. 

 After graduation she and someone  else went on a several months' backpacking 
 tour of the Greek islands. When she returned, she started in on commercials 
 and stage work in NYC. Including those long early morning audition lines with 
 other actors.]
............................................................................................................

 But she did send an application to Miami (of Ohio) .

 Clare:
 ...For good will...

 Terry Kramer:
 For good will.

 GIAG:
 How did Callie wind up at NYU?
 Was she influenced by Clare?

 Terry Kramer:
 Actually, Callie went to Miami (of Ohio) University for her undergraduate work.

 And then when she was ready to graduate she started applying to law schools. 
 And I think she applied to 6 or 7 law schools...out of which she got, I think, 4
 really sure scholarship offers.

 And, naturally, decided on New York, the one school she didn't have a 
 scholarship to...

 GIAG:
 She lives in Clare's old (apartment) ?
.............................................................................................................................
 [When we got a chance to talk to Callie initially after she arrived later, during Clare's
  foyer signings/candids (see the gallery link), she said that she lived in Clare's
  old apartment - which we thought, based on our Clare Fusion interview, was 
  in Greenwich Village, but Callie said it was in Manhattan. Callie also said that she
  practiced family law for a non-profit.] 
.............................................................................................................................

 Terry Kramer:
 Absolutely.

 GIAG:
 Does Callie have an LLB or Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)? Or what?

 Terry Kramer:
 It's a Doctor of Jurisprudence, J.D., and she's passed the bar in both the state of New York
 and is also licensed to practice in Washington, D.C. (smiles)

 GIAG:
 From your point of view, they turned out real well...

 Terry Kramer:
 Oh...(general laughter by all), there's no doubt about it. 
 They're wonderful young ladies.
 Very intelligent, very motivated, very driven.

 GIAG:
 It's because of their home life and upbringing...?

 Terry Kramer:
 I'd like to think it did.
 I'd like to think it did. (repeated)
 

 Terry Kramer

 Thumbnails linked to larger images: 
 So you can read about 
 Clare's involvement

 Thumbnails linked to larger images: 
 Clare's "Be A God" (BAG)
 bags.  That's her face in a 
 personal  design. Clare first
 told us about them in Toronto, 
 but they were a secret until 
 Columbus. We have both our
 red & black BAG bags that 
 Clare signed in Columbus. 
 And won the one she got put 
 on e-bay after Columbus.
 

 GIAG:
 And the other thing you're involved in is Hospice stuff. 
 Do you want to tell us a little bit about that?
.............................................................................................
 [Clare had told us about her Dad's involvement in Hospice Care work
  in Toronto when she dreamed up the idea of us interviewing him, "I'm
  just like him," she'd proudly said. Note that Clare was always deeply 
  involved in charity and other volunteer Hospice-like work also - as 
  her card on her table (see the gallery) in Columbus details. 
  Note also that Callie works for a non-profit in family law.]
...............................................................................................

 Terry Kramer:
 I love that program. You're familiar with Hospice Care?

 GIAG:
 A little bit, from what Clare told us (in Toronto)...

 Terry Kramer:
 It's a program that's designed to provide, to comfort and care for the terminally ill.
 Those individuals that have life-limiting illnesses, and a doctor's certification
 they have less than 6 months to live.

 It's a program designed to where people can remain in their homes, although care 
 is still provided for those in nursing homes, you know, assisted living facilities.

 The Hospice program has a full-time staff of nurses, social workers, medical doctors - and 
 then a whole corps of volunteers. Of which I am one. (gestures with clasped hands)

 We go into homes and spend time, not only with the individual that's enrolled in the 
 Hospice program, but all the family members. Just to ensure that you know that everyone
 is (uses many hand gestures to illustrate all this) is adjusting to what's happening to their
 loved one...and to provide (clasps hands together) some sort of comfort and help during 
 this process.

 GIAG:
 In a given week, how much of your time do you spend on Hospice versus the company...?

 Terry Kramer:
 Well, the company naturally dominates my work week. The Hospice work, it runs it
 depends on the number of individuals that I'm visiting, families that are under Hospice
 care. Sometimes, you know, I'll have 3 individuals at one time - so it can vary from
 4 hours a week to 15 or 20 hours a week.

 GIAG:
 How did you get into this?

 Terry Kramer:
 That's an interesting question. 

 My mother, Clare and Callie's grandmother, passed away from cancer in 1991.
 And she was under Hospice care. And I thought, at some point in my life, I'm
 going to have the time, the flexibility, in my schedule to be able to work in 
 these groups (hand gestures) with the individuals that need this kind of care.

 So I've been volunteering for about 6 years. And really enjoy it. It's a worthwhile
 program. It's not a fee-based program. It's not...a person's case or enrollment
 is not dependent on their ability to pay.

 If, for whatever the reason, they're not able to afford the medication, or the medical 
 equipment (hand gestures), such as hospital bed or oxygen equipment that's 
 necessary for their comfort, Hospice pays for that.

Thumbnails linked to larger images:

 First Wendy's after the 
 underpass into Delaware.
 Clare's older interviews 
 include a lot about her 
 Wendy's mascot period... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thumbnails linked to larger images:
.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

....

.....
 

 GIAG:
 Clare said in Toronto that you had gone with her on her first Starfury thing in England...
 that you'd gone with her. How was that? 
 ...................................................................................................
 [ We've uniquely covered Clare in the UK with galleries and more, since this first trip to 
   the U.K. in Nov 2001. See the sidebar under her image to the left. The full set of links 
   to all the U.K. & USA Clare conventions we've covered to date are:

 Clare in Columbus 2004......(Nov 2004) Galleries, Vignettes, Interview with Clare's Dad
 Clare in Toronto 2004..........(Oct 2004) Galleries, Q&A's, vignettes, etc.."
 Clare in the UK 2004.....(Apr-Jun 2004) Galleries, interview, etc.."
 Clare's 3d StarFury.............(May 2003) Gallery 10
 Clare's 3d StarFury.............(May 2003) Vignettes - Attendees/Comments
 Clare's 2nd StarFury...........(May 2002) Gallery 6
 Clare's 2nd StarFury...........(May 2002) Vignettes - Attendees/Comments
 Clare's 1st  StarFury............(Nov 2001) Gallery 3
 Clare's 1st  StarFury............(Nov 2001) Q&A Session
 Clare's 1st  StarFury............(Nov 2001) Professional Interview (Not Online until 4/21/02)

 The photos and content got better as Kiera became involved in 2002.
 Then we went in 2004. Even more better stuff.
 The results are all there in the 2004 galleries, interviews, etc.]
..............................................................................................................

  Terry Kramer:
  (smiling) 
  That was fun...that was fun. Clare asked me to go along. 
  And I was just thrilled to be invited. We just had a wonderful time.

  I was amazed at the number of people that were in the auditorium during the 
  Question & Answer period. I think there were a couple of thousand.
  And it was very exciting.

..............................................................................
  [For how Clare was contracted to go to her  first Starfury, 
   see her comments in our May 2004 interview in the U.K.
      clare_interview_050204.  ]
................................................................................

   We love to see Clare perform (smiling). Whether it is screen, stage or in film...
    You know, we've seen it all our lives.

 GIAG:
 When you were over there...did...is that the only time you ever went to 
 one of her events?

 Terry Kramer:
  Yes, it is.

 Clare:
 But, Dad, you were the driver in high school.

 Terry Kramer:
 Oh, my goodness! (laughs).

 GIAG:
 The driver, what's that?

 Terry Kramer:
 Yes, I was a stage Dad... (looks at Clare beside the camera)..
  is that the proper term?

 Clare:
 I guess. But he wasn't... (bursts into laughter)

 Froggy:
 ...just the soccer mom of the stage...
 (everyone laughs)

 Clare:
 ...They were never on stage...parents in my family, but Dad did all the driving for me...
 wherever...

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Clare's always had a love for theater, acting, performing arts...and as a young
 girl she was the Wendy's Mascot, and all that necessitated driving her around to 
 many functions in the central Ohio area.

 Which was a real thrill. We went from Children's Hospital down in Columbus to 
 Celebrity Waiters' Luncheon...which was a fund-raiser for Recreation Unlimited...
 (looks at Clare)

 Clare:
 ...Uh-huh...

 Terry Kramer:
 ...You know, one of the non-profits. And that was fun. She had an interest in the 
 Columbus Players Theater...and auditioned for a role...(thinking)..Oh, Clare, 
 help me...

 Clare:
 ...the Top Ten...

 Terry Kramer:
 The Top Ten...

 Clare:
 ...which being in Ohio, was based on the Ten Commandments, y'a know!
 (laughs)

.........................................................................................................
  [ What Clare is referring to is that Ohio is mainly Methodist country.
    And, especially in the older areas, there's a Methodist church of 
    some flavor every few blocks, it seems. Ohio Wesleyan University
    is located in Delaware about as far south as her R.B. Hayes 
    high school is to the north of her neighborhood.

    When Clare came back from her second Starfury in May 2002, 
    she dropped by Ohio Wesleyan University to deliver the 
    commencement address for the R.B. Hayes 2002 graduating class.]
......................................................................................................... 

 Terry Kramer:
 ...and got the role. And so we had to go down to the Leo Yasloff (Sp??)
 Jewish center, which is in Bexley, every afternoon for Clare to practice. 
 And that was over...oh, the drive from Delaware to the practice area was 
 probably an hour...hour and 15 minutes. That was every day (laughs)
 we did that.

 And Clare would do her homework in the van while we were driving down.
 She'd practice and we'd come back in the evening. But she loved it.
 And her Mother and I have always been supportive of whatever the girls 
 wanted to do.

 GIAG:
 Have you visited either of them in New York...?

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Oh, absolutely...absolutely!
 New York's a wonderful place to visit.
 

 GIAG:
 Have you visited in L.A.?(where Clare has lived since about 2000)

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Absolutely!
 Los Angeles is a wonderful place to visit. (smiles)
 (everyone laughs)
 Both extremes of the continent.

 GIAG:
 So how would you sum it all up? Having come this far from where you started out.
 where you are now - and what happened to your children - How would you sum it
 all up?

Terry Kramer:
 Oh, my gosh! It's been a wonderful, wonderful journey,
 We're very proud of both the girls. They're extremely focused on their careers.
 Wonderful young ladies, and we couldn't be prouder of what they've done.

 And, if I had the opportunity, I would give up everything and anything I have to
 go back and relive the past (looks at Clare) 25 or 30 years.

 It was so much fun!

 GIAG:
 Thank you very much 

 Clare:
 ...And...tell...well say, how long you and Mom have been married, too...'cause 
 that's something...to be proud of.

 Terry Kramer:
 Wooo! (laughs)..we were married (general laughter), oh, gosh, in 1968...so we've 
 been married for 36 years. It'll be 37 years in April 2005.

 Clare:
 ...And dating since you were...

 Terry Kramer:
 ...Sixteen...

 GIAG:
 Obviously the first love?

 Terry Kramer:
 Well I wouldn't say my first love (looks at Clare)...Wasn't for the camera...!
 (everyone breaks into laughter, especially Clare)

 Froggy:
 ...We got that!

 GIAG:
 The first important one...

 Terry Kramer:
 Right. (still laughing)... We both grew up in Sidney. We went to...

 GIAG:
 Oh, oh. Sidney. Right.
 So if there's nothing else...you probably said enough...we appreciate it.

 Terry Kramer:
 That's quite all right.  Nice to finally meet you. 
 Appreciate talking to you. 

 GIAG:
 (to Froggy) You can go ahead and press the record stop button...

....
 

 (We then all left to go to the foyer around the corner and down that hall 
 for Clare's last signings/candids session. Our galley photos in that area 
 with the other  guests nearby are obvious.

 Callie appeared a little while later  and we talked some to her and took 
 more photos for the gallery. 

 We could end this with any photos from that afternoon, but we just like these.

 Clare just gets so enthusiastic when kids of any age walk up. As can be seen
 from our deliberate selection from our hundreds of other photos of this session.