Untitled

Journal entry by Julia Lundman

Hello friends and family,

 
Wow the messages are really coming in. Thank you!!!

 
Today was another day of surprising progress. Jamie was transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit to California Pacific Medical Center ‘s rehab facility. Such good news. He is far more comfortable there with a private room and will finally be able to get some quality sleep. 

 
In addition to being transferred, Jamie also showed his true grit today, giving the speech therapist hell. In trying to test his cognitive ability, the therapist gave him a print out of a badly drawn cartoon of a family obviously in great peril; kids reaching for a cookie jar about to fall off a ladder, Mother washing dishes whilst staring off into space as the sink overflows and oven burns. Jamie took one look at it, looked back at the therapist and snarked, “this family is messed up!” and then began to ask what the hell was going on with these people and why was Mom so checked out – boyfriend left her perhaps? 
 
Yay Jamie! 
 
Love,
Julia

20 thoughts on “Untitled”

  1. Just got the news from Matt Jones. I have had two curries today, seriously, lunch and dinner, now I realize one was for you. As one James Baker would say, “You’ve got the bite marks on you with this one” A small bump in the road for a strong Aussie like yourself, with Irish and ‘criminal’ blood in yuh. Whatever you need just send the word I’ll be right there brother. Hell who am I gonna have a curry away team with? Jones? It makes him bloated. We got to get you going again sooner then a kangaroo..er…does whatever kangaroos do. All , all my love – Jim
    — Jim Capobianco, January 3, 2013

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  2. I’ll tell you all about the range of states I went through as I heard the news later. Maybe we can sit together and I can draw you. I can blab and you’d have no choice but to submit to it. But so glad to hear you’re battling back. So, let’s chat.

    Item: During our production meeting this morning on the first day back to work we talked about you. Everyone wanted news and wishes you well. In the movie that takes you inside the mind one would find today it had you in its mind.

    Item: Saw “Les Miserables” Two Australians sing their hearts out in English as they pretend to be French. Thought later that you’d make quite a french revolutionary. How’s your singing?

    Item: I wonder, can one post drawings on this thing? I draw the most inane things as we brainstorm. Today for some reason I wanted to draw Jack Kirby’s High Evolutionary. Why him? Don’t know. But I did. No one else other than rarefied nerds would know who this guy is, let alone be compelled to draw the bloke.

    Item: Russell Crowe singing. Hmmm.

    More later. Our thoughts are with you and Julia.
    R
    — Ronnie del Carmen, January 3, 2013

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  3. James, we are thinking of you each day … sending healing thoughts and energy from the antipodes. John and Cath, Blue Mountains, Australia.
    — John Dillon, January 3, 2013

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  4. Jamie,
    Heather and I are really happy to hear that you are doing so well. At some point during all of our conversations one of us says, “I wonder how Jamie is doing?” I’m sure that we are not alone in that. Nice to hear that you are joking around.
    — Brian McDonald, January 3, 2013

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  5. Wonderful to hear of your progress Jamie! Today’s old folks joke:
    Three old guys walking down the street. #1: “Windy, isn’t it?”
    #2: “No, Thursday.”
    #3: “Me too, let’s hit the bar before we go home!”
    — Jon McClenahan, January 3, 2013

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  6. So, they moved you to a private room? You flash git. Q-What is the smelliest thing in the world?
    A- An anchovies bum hole.
    Now, get off your back and get to work ya CAHHHHN!
    — John Stevenson, January 3, 2013

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  7. Great news on the progress. If Phyzyognomie saw that badly drawn cartoon of the family gone to hell, he’d want to do a draw-over and make corrections in red colo-erase pencil and then give back to jamie for approval! I’m pretty sure Jamie remembers Phyzyognomie!
    — Tom Rubalcava, January 3, 2013

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  8. Keep the healing coming! Glad you’re getting better. Maybe you could redraw that image for the hospital so other patients can look at something decent. Keeping you in my thoughts. -Max
    — Max Brace, January 3, 2013

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  9. Gawdammit Jamie hurry up and get back here! We were all very sorry to hear the news, but I’m thrilled to be able to read up and hear about your progress. You’re a good man Mr. Baker. We are all thinking about you. Much love,-Jonas
    — Jonas Rivera, January 3, 2013

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  10. Thats great news. I always remember one the most amazing things about Jamie is ( besides his incredible imagination) his ability to come out with the most well thought out logical argument or explanation for just about anything. Even the most complex of political issues. He would definitely be able to solve the Fiscal Cliff issues. And he always had a great punchline. This news has made my day,
    thanks
    pHiL
    — Phil Robinson, January 3, 2013

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  11. JAMIE! It’s so good to hear that you are making jokes. Do you remember the first time we met? I had just graduated from college. I was working as an intern at Maverix. I was a fan of your art and sent you an invite to my Portfolio show. I had no idea what you looked like haha! But when you walked up to my table it was like I knew it was you. You introduced yourself and all I was thinking was ‘OMG! I can’t believe Jamie Baker came!’ I believe my state of shock left me with out much speaking power. But you made my day. After that I actually saw you much more through Maverix and friends. Thanks for being so cool to a new nobody artist like me :)
    — Charlene Kelley, January 3, 2013

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  12. Oy, Cobber!
    What in bloody red blazed have you done now? Anything for attention, eh? It’s not enough that you are talented and funny and a clever Dickie…You had to go and do this!! An f’in’ stroke! Well, I recently had a couple of strokes too, but my girlfriend caught me and now I just lean in close to the washing machines during the spin cycle and watch “Natural” Danish Yoga videos on my ipad…but enough about you.

    But really, you mustn’t worry about all this…My mum had one of these strokey type things a few years ago, and she was right as rain just a few months later! She was up running about, chasing cars, biting the mailman
    and fetching a ball as if nothing had happened. She volunteers at the local library now as a bookend and the kids love it when she reads to them using her artificial head. She went through all the stuff you are going through now and I want you to know that her life is rich, full and rewarding and I just know that soon, you too will have finished this sentence. And you have. See? I know what I am talking about, I was in Star Trek. Now take a moment to slurp down some warm Jello and we will continue…

    All this drama just reminds us that life is funny, you know? Not as funny as a skinny old man with his saggy dangly bits poking out of really baggy underwear pulled up to his nipples trying to shave his legs in a rowboat filled with angry crabs…but funny like explosive diarrhea in an iron lung. I don’t know where I am heading with this, I just remember that anything with bums, poop, dangly bits, crabs and explosions makes you laugh…

    Seriously, please know that my prayers are with you, particularly the ones about you forgetting all the money I owe you and what I did with those twin Japanese schoolgirls dressed as Sailor Moon at Comic-Con 2004. But I kid…I tease! I tease because I love! I love you Jamie, as only a fellow comic-con attending, nerdy, artistic, big hairy guy can love another…and I am not ashamed to show it…and by “it”, I think you know what I mean, as do those aforementioned Japanese girls! Thank God they had protective eyewear and thought I was Kevin Smith!

    I must admit, I envy all the free time you now have and the fact that everyone you have ever met is now telling you how much they love you and how much you mean to them. I, on the other hand, albeit a somewhat sticky and hairy hand, refuse to trivialize our friendship with mere words and so I am devising an inspirational interpretive dance, in which I, clad only in crayons, Nutella and buttons, show how I feel about you by performing inappropriate gyrations whilst uttering grunty limericks atop of a tv that is playing old Benny Hill episodes, but just the good parts with the topless girls running around in slow-motion, while Rhode, dressed as a Sexy Cowboy Ghost will pelt me with soiled copies of his children’s books and tell fart jokes in German. I promise you will be moved to tears…but that could also be due to the raw onions I will staple to your man boobs.

    If this personal outpouring of grief stricken love doesn’t move you to get better it should at least prove that you’re not the only one who belongs in a hospital. That Rhode is a nut and it’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it!

    Ahhh, Jamie! I hope our time spent here during this odd little letter has made you laugh a little and dribble a bit more…and not just in your rubber pants. I know I have and I promise to return your rubber pants
    once they have been thoroughly burned. So, when you are feeling up for it, I would suggest warming your hands first, as it always makes being felt up much more pleasant…also I would love to get together with you and Julia and demand a handicapped parking space tag for my car, so I cab drive us to all the bars we can handle and get free sympathy “Katzenberg’s Delights” for the rest of our unnatural lives! (If you don’t remember what kind of drink a “Katzenberg’s Delight” is, I have a video of the night we invented it!) Big manly hugs and rude noises always!

    Lots of love,
    Kirk

    PS- Poop and Willie
    PPS – Peepees
    PPPS – Growler!
    Dictated but not read in a very silly voice.

    — Kirk Thatcher, January 3, 2013

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  13. Jamie/Julia,
    I’m so glad to hear Jamie is out of Intensive Care! You both are so lucky to have each other! It always warms my heart to see you two together! One of my New Year wishes is to take some of the pain from Jamie…. now I’m in a neck brace with my right arm in numbing pain — I guess that wish came true… but it is ALL WORTH IT! Get well, Jamie! You are of the Year of the Dragon, and there is nothing that can keep you down! I’ll see you soon, my long time friend!

    Stew, the Year of the Snake, and the humbly powerful! :)
    — Steward Lee, January 3, 2013

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  14. An Englishman, an Irishman and an Australian walk into a bar.The barman says, “Is this some kind of bloody joke?”
    Next stop home James.
    –Lxx
    — Lisa Hauge, January 3, 2013

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  15. Jamie,
    So glad to hear you’re out of the ICU and on the mend! I send good vibes and healing thoughts your way, and wish you and Julia the best as you complete your recovery.
    All the best,
    Jeff
    — Jeff Fino, January 3, 2013

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  16. G’Day James,
    John got in touch to let us know about your stroke, but as i’ve been away over the Christmas Break didnt get the message till today. Having read Julia’s run down of your progress so far Gemma & I are really hopefull that you’ll make a full recovery. Take care & hope to hear more good news about your recovery soon. Hang in there Purse !
    — Mark Creagan, January 3, 2013

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  17. All this time I thought ICU was some of that Web SMS newspeak and I kept wondering why while Jamie was in ICU, we couldn’t. Hope 2 CU soon Jamie.
    Wes
    — wes takahashi, January 4, 2013

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