Going green…this is an initiative we have been tasked with here at Classic hits 94.1. Is task the right word? Perhaps I should say this is a mission and we have chosen to accept it. (It seems some more willingly than others.) J Either way, our company wants us to think about the environment…and rightfully so. We are about to move in to a “green” building, much of it made with recycled or environmentally friendly materials.

Once we are inside, you’ll find eco-friendly initiatives, plus recycling and reusing. No more paper plates, plastic utensils or styrofoam cups. Whoa! Let’s focus on that last one…no more disposable cups…that is a tough one for us morning show folks. We are a group of coffee lovers. For us, coffee is not a luxury it is a necessity.  I have been working in morning radio for 15 years now. And now, I will now no longer use styrofoam cups. The 1Thing folks gave us each our own coffee mug, the ceramic washable kind! I’m about to label one as my own. While I do joke, this was a long time coming and probably one of the easier things we can do for the environment, simply trying to cut back on what we waste and starting with a little ol’ foam cup.

At home, I am already an avid recycler, if it’s glass, aluminum, or a “1” or “2” plastic, it’s in that recycle tub. When I finish reading a magazine or newspaper, in the recycle bin it goes. When it comes to yard work, we don’t bag our grass, we mulch it. (My husband would actually prefer never to mow it again, but that’s another blog for another day!) We rarely use our sprinkler; we leave the watering up to God. We turn old shirts into rags. We take old toys to Goodwill. We reuse paper bags for recycling and we reuse plastic store bags for trash or cleaning out the litter box. I already try to buy products made in the USA, now when it’s an option, I will look for items that are made with recycled products as well.

So, now at work, I will do my best to be “greener.” Will I be perfect, probably not.  Products with excessive packing will manage to find a way into my life  (have you seen how they package toys these days!!) And I am sure I’ll be spotted with a bottle of water now and again. But I do know anything I use that can be recycled will be recycled. You have to think every little bit counts. I will try to do my part.  

One addition for those thinking green, if you are reading this on Thursday, 4/30/09 tonight is the night for the Green Hope Foundation to host a fun, eco-chic evening at Felicia Suzanne’s with a focus on the environment, our children and education. This eco chic night will feature organic foods donated by Wholefoods and fabulous eco-swag bags…it’s called the Healthy School Campaign.  Guest Speaker will be Mark Bishop who is currently working with the Obama Administration for Healthier Schools.  All proceeds will benefit St. Jude. Children’s Research Hospital. Some tickets do remain. Tickets are $125, to get them you can call 921-0653 or visit www.thegreenhopefoundation.org 

At first you go, girls football?…yeah right!  Let me tell you something, my friend Brooke is playing for Memphis’ new Pro Female Football League Team called The Memphis Belles. 

Here’s my review after going to the game this past Saturday, April 25th at Navy Varsity Field out in Millington (at the military base) against the New Orleans Blaze.

1.  These games are legitimate.

2.  These ladies are trained and well coached.

3.  They run an organized “ship” with real uniforms and real officials.

4.  It’s a ton of fun to watch…

Not only this, but it’s affordable and worth bringing your family to show that you don’t have to pay a fortune to see organized, pro, fun, exciting football…even ladies!  Not only that, but we have a great team in the league.  We beat New Orleans 46-7!  I could tell we were strong when the ladies were upset they allowed that 1 TD to NO.

Come out and support (& see it for yourself) local Memphis Pro Football – the Memphis Belles against the Emerald Coast Barracudas this Satuday (4/25) at 4 p.m. in Millington at the Varsity Field on the Navy base. Free parking (labeled and easy to see) on base, and $10 to get in. They had a local rock band play at half time.

More here on their website.

It was a ton of fun, and very cool to see my friend Brooke get an interception!

Way to go Memphis Belles!  (Also, we have the coolest name, logo, and uniforms.)

It’s time for the Brad Carson Spring Tour 2009.  One of the great thing about regular FREE RADIO is that we love to come out and meet you!!!!  I want to meet you this weekend, so come by, AND BRING YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH US!!!!

THIS SATURDAY, IT’S FAMILY FUN DAY IN SOUTHAVEN AT SUNTRUST BANK – LOCATED AT 1965-GOODMAN ROAD!!!  I’ll be there from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m…..  Come party with me and the staff with food, music and FREE games for the kids (no purchase necessary).  Also, the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County will be at the celebration with their Pet Waggin’.  I think we’re even bringing the “baggo” game.  . .

Sunday, I’ll be emceein’ at the Gantert Memorial Run in Shelby Forest.  The race starts at 2 p.m.  More here.  Join in.  We’d love to have you sign up this week to be part of the fun as a participant!

Also, look for me Sunday evening on WKNO-TV 10 for the “Action Auction” 2009!

Here’s me last year on the “boob tube”…

…there’s a reason I got into radio!

Our guest today on the Classic Hits 94.1 KQK Morning show (with Steve Conley and Karen Perrin  J ) was former Memphian Claire Robinson. She has a new TV show on the Food Network….Five Ingredient Fix….wow 5 ingredients or less….my kind of show. Not only did she once live in Memphis and work in Midtown at Maggie’s Pharm, she was also in sales at FM 100 while Steve and I worked there. Her name has changed and now she is quite the cook. The show is on Saturday mornings at 8:30am on the Food Network and it is worth watching! : )

I hope you all had a Good Friday and are embarking on a Super Saturday as tomorrow is Easter. For those of us with kids, there are no sporting activities this weekend, thus these few extra minutes that I have to blog on a Saturday.Now the real challenge for the day begins. What to do with “all” this free time?

Clean the house?

Get to the store to buy eggs to dye for Easter?

Decide I need new clothes for church tomorrow and go shopping?

Organize my closet? (right…NOT!)

Play outside with the kids?

Take a nap?

Grocery shop?

Take that pile of stuff to Goodwill?

Make another pile of stuff to take to Goodwill?

Do laundry?

Call my friend Darla and discuss the season finale of Friday Night Lights?

Sweep the garage?

Learn a second language?

Watch a movie?

Ah, so many choices….while all the things I “need” to do seem to fill up the list, the nap option seems to look the best!

I hope you have/had a great weekend (depending on when you read this) and you made the most of it!

Wake up weekday mornings with me!

Karen Perrin
Classic Hits 94.1 KQK
Steve Conley and Karen Perrin in the Morning
www.941kqk.com

:::Josh Pastner has been named Head Coach for the University of Memphis Tigers Men’s Basketball Team:::

Pastner, 31, finished his undergrad studies in 2 1/2 years at Arizona.  He was a walk-on at Arizona, worked as an assistant coach under Lude Olson, and moved to Memphis as Asst. Coach a year ago.  (Believe it or not, he replaced Derek Kellogg who went to UMass.  I met Derek at the hospital last year, because our kids were born the same day.) 

Let me be the first… well, how ’bout the millionth person to officially hop on the Josh Pastner band wagon!  Maybe it’s because he not only says the right things, but has done the work to back it up.  And really, I’m going to be one of the only Memphis Tigers fans WHO WON’T CARE IF HE WINS OR NOT.  I think doing an “above average job” is something he will easily do because that’s just who this guy is. 

But the U of M did what so many business should do…give opportunity to up-and-comers, especially if they’ve done as much as he has done in his short coaching career.  Oh, and we have one of the top recruiters in the country now as head coach.

Here’s what I like that he said:

- I’m humbled.

- It’s not about me, it’s about the student-athletes.

- It’s not about being an athlete first…it’s about being a student first.

- I’m enthusiastic about this job.  It was my dream job.  This is where I want to be.

- This is a job where you can make a difference in the community.  This is a community job.

Think about Arizona’s new head coach they just hired.  He first turned it down, to later take the job.  And…that was Pastner’s alma mater!!!!  Arizona should have hired Pastner.  But their lose, is our gain!

I love the fact that this guy has been writing scouting reports and wanting to coach basketball since he was in the 5th grade.

Maybe I like him so much because he’s young and energetic…  But, we’ve all been turned down for jobs for “excuses”  that the U of M could have easily turned down Pastner for.  More experience, bigger name, etc. 

Instead of wasting millions, we’re now hiring a class guy for probably $250K – $400K per year… Believe me, Josh isn’t going to starve on that.  And we’ll be better for it.  

Now (direct plea), Fred Smith, etc…. donate that money you would have spent to keep Coach Cal on some academics stuff for U of M.

I enjoyed reading this article on Pastner.

-bc