I learned a new word this week. People who work in a business of choosing and rearranging words for a living sometimes get excited about such things.

Locovore: Defined as someone who eats locally produced foods.

In the green revolution, we used to hear mostly about organic foods, those grown without weed and bug killing chemicals. While organic can be a good thing, ask yourself this– Is it really good to buy organic foods that have to be shipped long distances around the globe? In addition to using fuel for transportation, that food isn’t so fresh anymore after all of that time and sitting around.

So that thinking has many people making more of an effort to eat what’s grown on local farms. The added benefit there being economic. You’re helping the local tax base and supporting your own neighbors as they try to make a living. At the same time you are rewarded with fresh, seasonal food that often tastes much different (better) than the average fare at local supermarkets.

Even the supermarkets are catching on to this trend. Lately I’ve been noticing more signs in Giant Eagle, Kroger and Monette’s pointing out that items are at least grown in Ohio or Michigan.

Sure, we’re busy. Sure, we don’t always have time to gather groceries at the farmers’ market AND the mega-mart, but if you’re out for a drive on the weekend and cruise past a farm stand, I urge you to take five or ten minutes. Stop. Look at what they have. Maybe grab a bag of apples and a vegetable you’ve never tried. You can find recipes for just about anything online. It’ll make you feel good. I promise.

Some in Toledo who think they know authentic Chinese food might get offended by what I’m about to blog, but hey man, I just tell it the way I see it when I’m talking about food.

And I tell you what, the best Toledo Chinese restaurant is only a couple of weeks away from making a comeback. (more…)

I hope you’re going to vote. I plan to before heading to the gym and then to work.

It’s going to be interesting to watch Issue 3, Toledo’s race for mayor and Oregon’s too. Toledo City Council offers plenty of competitive drama, as do a long list of school levies, other taxes, school board races and contests for township trustee.

I was personally robo-called six times today and several more over the weekend. Elections are always stressful in a newsroom, so we’ll all be glad when the numbers and totaled and the results are history.

If you still have questions about who’s running for Toledo Municipal Judge or City Council or what Issue 2 (agriculture) or 4 (care of the elderly) are all about, you can watch FOX Toledo’s “You Decide 2009 Election Preview Special”, posted on our website among the top stories.

Maybe I’ll see you at the polls. Wear your ‘I Voted Today’ sticker with pride.

So I’m on the last leg of this race when it comes to wearing braces.

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Maybe you’re a natural in knowing what to wear and how to accessorize. If so, feel fortunate.

Most, including me, are not.

That’s why you need a clothing buddy. A close friend, relative or spouse who’s allowed to tell you, “Those pants are not flattering.” or “You really should wear the coral, not the pastel green.”

You have to have enough trust in this person to know that they know what they’re talking about, and snipping at them with a defensive comment is not allowed. It’ll make them hesitant to tell you the truth next time. You don’t want that.

One of my clothing buddies is a fellow female reporter here at Fox Toledo. She’s always ready with an honest opinion. She’s stopped me from buying some things that probably would have been fashion mistakes. She’s told me when I look my best, so I can learn from those choices and try to repeat what’s good.

I have an event to go to Sunday, a fundraiser for the Anne Grady Center, a home in Lucas County for people who are developmentally disabled. It’s a fairly dressy event. I’m planning to wear a long black velvet dress, but had no solid idea what to do with shoes and jewelry. Just a few minutes ago I showed a picture of the dress to my clothing buddy. She had instant suggestions of items already in my wardrobe which would work.

Thank you clothing buddy. You’re so much better that those high-priced Hollywood stylists. And Buddy, keep wearing the jewel tones, they flatter your hair and skin.

Matiffa=my mom’s nickname for me=”my-tiffa”

son=like daniel son from the Karate Kid

WHOSA=kick butt!

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Last week, Friday October 16th, I was driving home from work around midnight.
There was a pink glow in the sky, different from the usual city light pollution. Different from clouds with light reflecting on them.

It looked like vertical streaks. And from where I was in the corn and beanfields of western Lucas County, these faint pink streaks could be seen to the west, north and east, almost like a curtain in the sky.

These weren’t the dancing, moving northern lights that you’ve probably seen video of. Just static, pinkish, vertical streaks. But since it’s only the third time in my life I’ve seen the phenomenon, I was very excited to see them.

Since that night, I keep looking at the sky, hoping to see the lights again, but so far, even on clear nights, nothing.

Keep your eyes open and let me know if you get a glimpse of them.

If you’ve been inside Lucas County Arena, you’ll probably agree when I say that it is amazing!

If you haven’t been inside the new home of the Walleye, I highly recommend you give it a looksee.

Seriously, the place is state-of-the-art.  The decor adds so much.  And the structures built outside?  Let’s hope the Walleye can put on a good show.

Judging from this past weekend, they certainly can.  But honestly, this venue is so nice that it almost doesn’t matter if the team wins or loses – as long as the entertainment value’s there.  For example, six fights in a period will satisfy the non-hockey enthusiast or the Toledo youth, I’m sure.  I’m saying this in a complimentary way, by the way.

But really, I gather a sense of hope in the Toledo public.  During game-opening night, numerous people were walking around the arena, just waiting for the place to open up.  They were all super eager to check out the new digs, and the new team as well.

Let’s face it, Toledo: this city is in need of buildings like Lucas County Arena.  Combined with Fifth Third Field, it should revitalize downtown businesses, encourage people to come downtown, create more jobs, and do what it has done already – give the city a pick-me-up.

Sports is a way people can escape from the daily grind.  It offers much more than just going to the mall or going to the movies, and it creates a precursor to maybe a little more Toledo nightlife.  We’ll see if that part improves downtown.

Considering how much the city’s economy is riding on this, seriously, the next time anybody tries to downplay the importance of local sports, just think back to the Toledo Walleye’s opening weekend, the opening weekend of Lucas County Arena, and how that improved the city’s spirits, among other things, and try to say that local sports is not important.

The proof is in the pudding – local sports IS important to the city of Toledo.

November is a ratings period (sweeps).  That’s when you notice news and other programs airing specials, exclusives…etc. to try and pull viewers.

Here at the station all of us have been pretty busy preparing for this and the November election.

Sharia Davis and I are working on a sweeps story together.  I won’t tell you exactly what it is because that may defeat the purpose of the promotional commercials that will tell you about our story this November.

What I will tell you is that after talking to the people we interviewed its definitely an eye opening story and will make you think and hopefully help you change any “bad” habits you may have.

We are currently working to put the final touches on this story and I hope someone will actually benefit from all of our hard work because this information could save your life.

Its airs November 17th and 18th….I hope you’ll watch!

The people who sell bleach kits are making a lot of money these days. But keeping your teeth white, much like keeping the weight off, is easier than starting over with a daunting task ahead.

Here’s a tip I learned from a hygenist at my dentist’s office. Brush your teeth *before* you have a drink that’ll stain your teeth. In my case, they were talking about coffee and tea, but I suppose you could apply the wisdom to colas, red wine, anything dark and staining.

They told me the idea is that brushing first gets rid of the layer of plaque that builds up, and that staining compounds can cling to.

Of course a rinse with water or brushing afterward is also a good idea, but the *brushing* before my coffee suggestion was new to me and seems to be working, so I thought I’d share.

That’s all for now. My hot tea is now cool enough to drink.