A Hairy Situation

A few of my co-workers and I have decided we’re going to train to run a half marathon during the Glass City Marathon in 2010.

I’m pretty excited considering this is something I’d never thought I’d do.  The reason-not so much because of all of the hard work but because of my hair.

That may sound a little vain but due to my hair type I can’t wash my hair everyday so now I only workout on my days off but that will have to change.

My hair is chemically straightened naturally “curly” which means any moisture, especially sweat, is not good for my hair.  It will sometimes kink up and using a flat iron on sweaty/salty hair isn’t a good thing.

My hair is dry so washing it more than once a week will make it dryer and more brittle than it already is.

Now if I workout on a day (or the night before)  I have to work on-air my hair will not look its best or even worse will look a complete mess.

With all that said I’m trying to find the best option for my hair because training for this half-marathon will be quite intense at 5 to 6 days a week.

I’ve done so much research and yet I’m still not completely sure what I should do but I know I’m not going to let my hair stop me from successfully completing this challenge.

If you have any advice pass it along!

While preparing for our early newscast today, several members of the Fox Toledo News crew found it funny that it seems everything these days is blamed on the economy.

Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken’s sound bite is what set off this thread. He was talking about the reason why we’re not having a Children’s Wonderland display this year.

But after so many months of downturn and struggle, we sometimes don’t realize how much of our lives are affected by the economy, because it’s happened so gradually.

See if any of this sounds familiar in your life–
Sales projections are down.
All of your magazines now have headlines touting bargain gifts and budget friendly meal ideas.
Charity donation requests all say the need is up.
You’re driving your car longer and considering whether each repair is necessary.
Combining errands is the norm, forget joyrides.
You’ve gotten used to the potholes and no longer wonder when they’ll be fixed.

I’m sure you could add to this. Hang in there, and when in doubt, blame the economy.

It’s been about a month since the whole Steve Phillips fiasco at ESPN.  You know, the one where he cheated on his wife with a young college graduate who was working as a production assistant at ESPN.

The reason I’m blogging about this now, is because I just got done watching the story on “Good Morning America” which explores HER side of the story.  If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it, but not for any reason that would make the mistress, Brooke Hundley, look any better.

Shoot, she can’t look too much worse.  Ladies, even you have to feel me on this.  Steve Phillips is a good looking guy.  His wife is pretty hot, especially for her age.  Brooke?  Well, to quote Jay Leno in the clip used in the GMA piece… “What was he thinking?????”

If you google a picture of Brooke, you’ll see why that’s the general reaction.  Guys typically have a 1-10 scale when grading the hotness quotient of a woman.  Phillips’ wife is probably a 7.5 overall, a 9 for her age.  Brooke?  I’ve discussed this with friends.  Probably fair to say she’s a 2.5.

Personality-wise, she doesn’t seem to have the most redeeming qualities either.  She says in the GMA piece that she’s been called a homewrecker and that’s hurtful, but that’s kind of reality if you think about it.  She acted like a woman scorned – allegedly facebook-stalking Phillips’ son, and then driving to the Phillips residence with a letter detailing her sexual encounters with Mr. Phillips.

If that sounds like the personality of a real keeper, more power to ya.  It’s a free country.

Another thing in the  GMA piece – Brooke Hundley says she had established herself as a “media professional.”  As somebody in the biz with friends who are production assistants at ESPN, I know that those are jobs that anybody can get straight out of college that HOPEFULLY, but not often at all, lead to bigger things.  My point is that Ms. Hundley was trying to make herself out to be a little more than what she was.

I’ll also say Brooke Hundley is not alone in her faults.  Steve Phillips is equally to blame.  They had CONSENSUAL sexual relations.  She didn’t mind doing her thing with a married man.  He didn’t mind cheating on his beautiful wife.  This has led to unemployment for both and divorce proceedings, not to mention some HORRIBLE street cred in judgment for BOTH OF THEM.

So again…

WHAT WAS HE THINKING???????

Yes, I resort to still photography on my days off… here are some photos of Middleton Township, Troy Township and Pemberville-Freedom firefighters trying to knock down a house fire in Dowling.

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.

(more…)

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!

(more…)