So happy, sad, tired...and need prayers.

I haven't shared what's been happening in my life lately, but maybe it's time...since I found myself in tears in the boss' office this morning. Right now, my mind is so tired and is craving a day or two of silence, peace of mind, and sleep.

First, the happy part. My new baby grandchild was born at 7:55 am this past Sunday 9/21. Eight and a half pounds, 20 and a quarter inches long and full of dark hair. Her name is Emma Jean and she is just adorable. First child for my daughter Allie. I was in the delivery room. I was the first voice that Emma heard. Now Emma opens her little eyes whenever she hears me. Maybe she listened to my show in utero, I don't know...but it brings me to tears to know that she already knows who her Nana is. Allie and I were up for nearly 3 days straight. So...we're all very tired.



Happy part two. Another one of my daughters Laura was due to have her baby in a week. Well, due to complications of thyroid disease, she is in labor and delivery right now. Her son should be born sometime this afternoon. I'm still awaiting word and praying that she won't have any problems. :(

Now the sad part. My grandmother...the woman who raised me after my mother died...my sweet grandma who I let ride in the front seat of the Malibu...is in the hospital right now. She has been there since Friday. Congestive heart failure and pneumonia. My heart has been so broken. I have been alternating my time between two hospitals since Friday. Happy for the grandbabies, crying for my grandmother. The good news is, doctors were able to get the fluid off of her lungs. The bad news, we saw her heart doctor last night at 8 pm and he wants to perform a heart procedure this afternoon at 3 pm. It is a very necessary surgery. I'm worried. The good thing is, my grandmother is a very strong woman. She has been through so much and has been able to stand on her two feet. I'm just praying that the procedure goes well. I'm ready to bring her home.

Ginni's birthday is around the corner. I'm thinking about her so much right now.

And, I'm still fighting the flu and have been for about 3 weeks. I'm on my second round of antibiotics. Whatever prayers you can share...whatever words you can offer...I will gladly accept them. I'm on the air today and the tears are coming and going. The boss has said that I can go home if I need to...but right now, being with you...this may be good therapy. It was good therapy to get this all out in the open.

Thank you for letting me share.

Karen

In Memory of Ginni, In Honor of Survivors

To all of my dear friends:

You may know that one in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime. What you may not know is that you can help these women and thousands of others in the fight against breast cancer.

On October 18, 2008, Max Media For A Cure/The Race For Ginni team (in memory of my beloved sister and in honor of survivors) will be celebrating our 3rd big year at the Komen Tidewater Race for the Cure at Neptune's Park on 31st Street at the Virginia Beach oceanfront with a great team of dedicated people. Join the fight by registering as part of our team or by supporting our efforts with a pledge contribution. You can walk, run...or walk in spirit! All members are welcome. The money raised through the Race will fund vital education, screening and treatment programs for underserved women in our own community and support the national search for a cure.

Please join us! There will be special perks for Max Media team members, but more importantly....together we can put an end to breast cancer forever.

For Ginni's story, visit Trace's Journey

To join Max Media For A Cure/The Race For Ginni, visit The Race For Ginni

Playing catch up! UGH!

Gee, I haven't been HERE in awhile. Life just got in the way, I guess. Busy time and I'm sure most who have a lot on their plates can understand.

Anyhow, shooting for this fall for the official release of my book "Big Dummies, Volume 1" to benefit our local Komen Office. It is loosely based on my show feature "Big Dummy Award" that you can catch at 11:20 am weekdays on 97-3 The Eagle. I originally intended for it to be released this past spring, but had to put it on the back burner. We will begin shooting pictures for the book and cover next month and will hopefully have it all together by October. I am planning to have it available just in time for holiday shopping! :D

Okay, enough of my lamenting about being all behind and stuff. I asked my 22 year old daughter Laura to give me an interesting subject to talk about on my blog so I can take my mind off of my honey-do list. She says to talk about "pie." Pie??? What kind of pie? Apple? Cherry? Pie Chart? Pie in the face? Whut? She said talk about pumpkin pie. I said okay, I'll try. So here goes.

Ode to Pumpkin Pie

Oh...pumpkin pie,
You are so yummy!
But you remind me of Thanksgiving
And the deadline for Big Dummies.

Crap. Maybe next time, Laura.

To Gabby

I know how sad you were yesterday, baby. You didn't say anything...and you didn't have to. Your friends were celebrating Father's Day with their fathers and you were remembering yours. Believe me, I understand what you are feeling. I lost my mother when I was 13 years old. The same age you were when your father passed away. I know it's hard. Especially when so much is going on in your young life...your sweet sixteen birthday coming up in just a few days and how you wish so much that your father could be there. I've been there too, baby.

Just know that though he left this earth, that he never ever left you. He loved you more than his own life...and he continues to love you in heaven.

I Love You,
Mom

Heat Waaaaaaaaaaaaave!

Yesterday, we had 100+ degrees in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Today we have 85. They say: If you don't like the weather in Virginia, MOVE TO BOISE, IDAHO ya big dummy!

Yeah, that'll learn ya to complain about the weather.

Until next time,

Karen (see ya at the beach!)

Oh Mah Garsh

I'm going to non-bloggin' hell. I haven't written anything in over a MONTH! Well, if it helps ease my mind, I haven't done my laundry in over a month either. I'm just wearing all the clean stuff I got and when it runs out, I'll load it in the trunk of the 2008 Malibu I'm driving courtesy of Chevrolet (plenty of trunk space! Seriously! Need your laundry done too? It'll fit! LOL) and I'm gonna drive down to the laundramat and do it all in one afternoon. Okay, now that THAT plan is made, I'm gonna recap the very busy and adventurous month I've had.

* Been to the dentist three times. Had to squeeze fillings and cleanings in after my radio show so I wouldn't need to take any days off.

* Was in bed from Memorial day Monday thru Wednesday with FOOD POISONING!!! I was so sick, I was talking to dead people and pets. (Yeah, I was that sick). I never fully recovered till the following week. We're not quite sure what took me out but some CHEESE is suspect.

* Laundry piles were staring me in the face and I was ready to go for it until I got a phone call from my daughter. She needed to go to the doctor. She was ill. She had suspected food poisoning just a few days earlier. (What? What are you lookin' at? I DIDN'T cook! I NEVER cook! We ate OUT, thankyaverahmuch! :P )

I need to stop recapping. I'm depressing myself!!!! Hope this month is a better one! Stay away from bad cheese! And tomatoes! And go to the dentist every six months so you won't have to do it in three easy sedated appointments!

Until next time...and I promise it won't be a MONTH,

Karen

Gonna go do my laundry now. The only clean shirts I got left are 2005 Beach Patrol T-shirts.

Let's try to tidy up our email inboxes...

Everyday I delete several emails from people I like. And some from people I love. Why? It ain't cuz I don't like 'em anymore. It's cuz they done forwarded me some of them email hoaxes and chain letters that's been floating around the internet since before Al Gore invented it.

Word to the wise. If ya read an email that gets yer britches in a twist, chances are...it ain't real.

As a rule of thumb, I ALWAYS use snopes, urban legends and/or hoax-slayer to check the validity of an email forward that is touted as truth. MOST of the time I'll find that the contents of the email is nothing more than crap and I will email the person who sent the forward with a link to the real story. It's my way of trying to tidy up our email inboxes. If we ALL would do the same thing, we might be able to make a small but significant difference.

Here are a few examples for ya. Click on the links to get the real stories:

Radio Stations Declined To Play Diamond Rio's "In God We Trust" Because Of It's Subject Matter.

Missing Child Evan Trembley

Cancer Info From Johns Hopkins Hoax Email

If you have a friend that keeps sending you that dusty old crap you've seen a million times, you have my permission to send him a link to this blog, cuz I have a message for him:

Ya BIG DUMMY!

Hope this helps you out. Heck, I hope it helps ME out!

I need to go back to deletin' now.

Love ya!