Rewarding and Rejoicing!

You know some days you wake up and have a little more "pep" in your step than others. Today might be one of them!

last night I had a great night with my friends Jessi and Katie, I have met them through working with the Special Olympics, I am so grateful for whatever reason I have been placed to help out with this awesome group of people! Jessi lovesthe whole criminal justice system and would love to arrest you. Trust me when I grow up I really want to be policewoman. We have a good connection. So A real nice Trooper decided to give a tour!

I am just so happy that I have the ability to make a difference in peoples lives. I enjoy making somebody else happy. It amazes me when people say, "how do you find all this time" or "you are so busy"
I'm really not , and if I sat at home I would lose my mind !

I love Volunteers, you hold a special place in my big heart. It is rewarding and that is why I rejoice in what I do!

What's Up Doc?!

Well today is National Doctors Day and take it from someone who worries about every bump, bruise, cough and pain, I have met with Many a doctor!
Men and Women in white coats make me dizzy, I do not like the smell of a hospital, and a doctors appointment for a simple check-up puts me in a world of anxiety that you could never imagine.

I have been blessed with good health, at least I think so, except for my little scare with an abnormal mammogram last year. THANK GOD for Dr Brown, walked me through every little step. So Dr. Brown today is just for YOU. I'm sure my friend Cindy Castner would say the EXACT same thing.

I also have to send a special thank you out to the great doctors that took part in the First Annual GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR event last night at Classic Harley Davidson. All about colon cancer, survivors, doctors, nurses, employees of the Doctors office, folks from the Am. Cancer society and individuals who just wanted more information.

There were a panel of folks including a colon cancer survivor. Ruth. She is awesome!

Ruth. A Colon Cancer Survivor

The other Doctors who spoke out last evening :


Dr Frank Carter:  from Colorectal Surgical Associates. (cute as a button) went to college with Katie Couric! spoke of the surgical procedures

Dr Paul Levy:   spoke of Prevention and screening (I was able to understand everything! NO BIG WORDS)

Dr John Altomere :  great guy with a very cool attitude, these are the caring hands I would want to be in. spoke of signs, symptoms, and diagnosis

Dr. Lee Tuanquin (doogie houser) He is a radiation Oncologist  at St Joe's  He certainly made you feel as though there is plenty of GOOD help out there, its learning about every little thing you can. Plus he laughed at my silly jokes when I spoke, so I give him 5 stars.

And in closing my new friend Ruth Dierolf made me understand how your faith, your friends, your family and your physician's are ALL key players in the game of life. The strength this woman shows the world and her ability to GIVE BACK is what its all about :)






"Captain Fundraiser" and "Johnny Law"

I am the Queen of fundraising, I am the Captain of the Ship, the Pilot of the plane. Oh I could go on because I have my groove back on, my mojo is rising, perhaps the kick of the coffee is finally doing its job, all Scott (my morning show partner) can hear is the tap, tap, tapping of the keyboard...my mind is going much faster then the typing. Perhaps I should just make videos instead? Nahhhh.

Ok, so lets see, already this morning I had to make a call to find a softball field for a fundraiser for my friends at the Special Olympics...(I LOVE YOU GUYS!!) they are so great, I am thinking of becoming a permanent fixture with their endeavors. Anyway, that's done. Field found, now its on the finding more celebrities for the day, The date is all set for May 14th, I will keep you posted I promise. in the meantime please text your vote today  JH06 to 366948.  Tomorrow I am taking Jessi and Kate on a tour of the State Police Barracks In Hamburg and I'm giving Jessi my Safety Club bug buddy "johnny Law" do you like him??? I made him at Build a bear once and I knew I would meet that somebody special to pass it on to!

Johnny Law

I'm working on my March Of Dimes team for the Walk for Babies event, the date is Sunday May 1st. a 3 mile walk. AND....if you are on team Y-102 you receive an I walked with Team Y-102 tshirt from Weikel Sportswear Screenprinting and Embroidery. All the details are at http://www.wrfy.com/  click the on air jackie&scott link.

And finally tonight I am getting my REAR IN GEAR at Classic Harley Davidson Leesport so you can learn more about Colon Cancer. There will be vendors, dinner, speakers and giveaways, all for the small fee of $5.00!!  Seating is limited. please call 610-921-2329 for more information. You can never have too much knowledge about Cancer. I encourage you to introduce yourself to me, otherwise we will NEVER get to know one another !

Have a fantastic day in the sun.....Enjoy and be blessed!

I Dont like Mondays

It's a song from the Boomtown Rats.  I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS.   George Stoddard used to play it all the time...and I heard it in my head this morning when I woke up. Same routine, alarm goes off, shower, pack some breakfast and out the door, its the last week in March and I am still using my seat warmers!! UGh!

A very emotional weekend all around, there is no use in continuing to put my head down, this is what I try and preach to my family and friends. Hold your head up, in the worst of times you count on your faith, in the best of times...give thanks.

Although I didn't think this blog would be so personal , you have no idea just how therapeutic it is. (for me anyway!)

Today my daughter picks out her college courses, pretty amazing huh? I think so. The world doesn't stop when the alarm goes off on Mondays, even when we don't like them. I always seem to find the good in anything....even in a chilly March Monday Morning.

Lets all have a great week. Let it be known, I stepped on the scale this morning which could be yet another reason today sucks!  Going to have my banana, some water, a granola bar and an apple now.  :)

Empty tank.

Blank.....my stare, my thoughts, my heart.

Here we come to the end of a tragic weekend in the Muhlenberg area. You didn't even have to know Richie , but if you heard of the devastation that took place Friday afternoon to a 16 year old boy. The pit of your stomach would feel the same way.

All I can do is see the sadness that is left in his friends and family. Eric and I went to church this morning, I will stay true to my colors and how my parents raised me, as long as we have our faith we can get through ANYTHING. You cant help but look at the stained glass windows, the Cross, and hear the angelic voices of the choir and somehow know that Richie will be just fine now.

I know tomorrow is another day, no sense in getting weaker, just growing stronger. Especially for the teens affected by all of this.

I was filling up my gas tank today and pretty much felt like my own personal tank had been on E. after church it was a bit more filled up.

Still praying and trying to understand things a little bit better. 

On to Monday.......

Richie

Friday afternoon March 25 2011

John and I were driving to pick Holly up from school on just an ordinary day, it was cloudy, cold and I was excited to know I had no real plans for the weekend. I would be home bound.

As we looked down one particular street there were orange cones blocking it, a coroner, the police and a hearse. It wasn't good. And we knew exactly whose house it was. Putting the pieces together you can see where this story is going.

This is Richie, 16 years old. That smile says everything. His dedication to his friends. His short lived 16 years as a son, a brother, a young man who wanted to please the world but not enough energy to carry on his will to live.
Not only my son, but numerous young men and women who attend Muhlenberg high school knew Richie, who are now asking hundreds of questions, some of them cant be answered. We think to ourselves WHY? How could things be a little different to make someone's daily struggles easier?

I spoke to Eric last night, I just tried to tell him that being 16 isn't so easy. But it will get better, its like looking through foggy glasses at the moment, but things do work themselves out. And the glass does get clear. I told him that there are so many decisions to make, choices to make, a future to unravel. For whatever reason Richie took his life, he left behind friends and family that are in mourning, parents who are thinking of how to make it better on his friends. I can see this group of kids bonding and never forgetting the legacy of Richie, they will tell each other stories, they will laugh, they will cry, they will grow, but one thing for sure is they will never forget. "The CREW" as they called each other. They have gone through alot. 

Its a tragedy my young friends. But talk to your parents, one another, lean on each other, never lose your faith. That's the most important piece of the puzzle.

As I lay in bed last night thinking and remembering what I knew of Richie, I came up with that little phrase just for you Richie.

"A heavy heart can't always be heard, but your beat will stay strong"

The sun shines today, the birds sing, your lives live on kids. The road may become narrow, but you have all the tools get where you need to be.

RIP Ritchie. You are loved.  3-25-11

I GOT THE MUSIC IN ME

Ever since I was a little girl I would use my hairbrush as a makeshift microphone, stand on my bed, look in the mirror and sing songs from my Mickey Mouse record player. At some point I knew the Entertainment bug that bit me was never going to heal with a band-aid.  I dreamed of being ANNIE, I would sing "It's the hard knock life" at the top of my lungs. And then came my Shawn Cassidy fasination, I wanted to live with the Brady Bunch and visit the Cunninghams on Happy Days.  Instead my life in Pottsville led me down to Centre St and WPPA.

I could escape to any kind of music I wanted to, rock, country, soul, pop, and I now had my own microphone. A real one , I could sing loud and no one would care, I could dance if I wanted to, and no matter how sad I was, or mad, I could turn that microphone on and make everyone around me happy, you could hear my smile and feel the energy. That's what its all about. That's what music does for me. I love, love, love listening to Billy Joel and The Eagles. I love my Michael Buble and Harry Connick, Frank Sinatra, I miss you. And PINK you rock my world especially when I am really having a bad day.

I thank God EVERYDAY for the talent he has given me, for my voice which has been selected and voted upon for a phone sex operator ( I declined) I know whats on the other end of that phone....EW. I thank God for the ability to brighten someones day with a song...it can make the biggest difference, I love watching people sing in the car, I love to answer the phone and play the song that will turn someones day around.

I got the music in me, I always have. Try it. And dance while you're at it, its a good combination.

enjoy.