What do you mean, no more caffeine?

Okay...some of you may know already, but two weeks ago tonight I ended up in the emergency department of DeTar Navarro. I had this feeling of "butterflies" in my chest. As it turned out, my heart was racing up to 150 beats per minute or so...then slowing down to about 60...then leveling out at about 88...then repeating.

They put me on a holter monitor (portable EKG basically) that recorded everything my heart did for two days. I figured it would be just like when you take your car to the mechanic because its acting funny...it never duplicates the problem in front of the mechanic. Not so much the case with me apparently. The highest my heart rate registered in the two days was 176. The lowest was 50. The high and low were picked up on the same morning...oddly enough.

The preliminary diagnosis is PAT (Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia). Which is basically burst of rapid regular heart beats. It's not prolonged...just comes and goes.

So what happens now...I've been referred to a cardiologist for further testing...ECG...Stress test...and the such. However, the most devastating fact...NO MORE CAFFEINE! EVER! I don't know what I'm gonna do. I have relied on caffeine to start my day and keep it going for years.

This morning was the first morning without it, and let me tell you...it was NOT pretty. haha

I'll keep you posted on what happens from here on out. Everything should be fine...I may have to take a low dose beta-blocker or something like that as a preventative...in other words...I'm getting old. :)

This plus a $1.50...

CRS 39

As many of you know, this past week, I was in Nashville, Tennessee, for Country Radio Seminar. This was the first, of what I hope to be many more, CRS for me. I was a little unsure of what to expect, but it truly turned out to be a blast...not to mention a tremendous learning opportunity.

I met so many cool people, did so many different things, and stayed up way too late pretty much every night. Being a morning show host, my bedtime is generally between 9:30 and 10:30...thats about the time the after parties were getting underway.

I've had several people ask me..."JR, what was your favorite part of CRS?" It's hard to pick just one thing...so I'll just recap some of the things that had me in absolute awe. Everything started Wednesday morning, with a live performance by Garth Brooks. That night was capped off with performances by Jewel, Chuck Wicks, and Brad Paisley. I had an opportunity to sit in on a songwriter showcase, moderated by Phil Vasser, that included LeAnn Rimes, Neil Thrasher (Rascal Flatts songwriter), Tony Brown and others. The next day...very similar deal...only this time...The LEGENDARY Dean Dillon, Jennifer Hanson (Leave the Pieces, A Different World), Casey Beathard (Don't Blink), and Eric Church. I gained an entire new level of respect for each of these incredible talents.

I met legends in Country Radio...Bob Kingsley, Lon Helton, Danny Wright...the list goes on and on. Not to mention...Country Music's LIVING LEGEND GEORGE JONES! I ran into Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts, Omarosa (The Apprentice), saw Gloria Gaynor sing "I Will Survive"...yes, the REAL Gloria Gaynor! Hung out with Darren Kozelsky on his bus...saw an incredible performace by Taylor Swift, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Montgomery Gentry...Lee Brice did an acoustic version of the song he penned for Garth Brooks..."More than a Memory".

I could go on and on...you're probably thinking..."you already have"...but it was an absolutely incredible experience. So many great people all in one place.

I will leave you with this...Watch out for a song called "You had to be there" by a very well known artist...coming soon...I'm telling you...you will be blown away!