Yes, I’m about to go into a rant. You’ve been warned.

When I was a kid in the 70s, the mainstream environmental movement centered mostly around not littering. Dioxins, including PCBs and Agent Orange were grabbing most of the headlines. Recycling on a large scale was still many years away. But school kids got it drilled into our heads that you put trash in a trash can. Seemed simple and clear enough to me.

Yet in late 2009, someone (maybe several someones) is/are throwing entire fast food bags out their car window in rural western Lucas County. Plastic bottles filled with tobacco spit, too. I pick up their trash every week or so from my front yard. Not a big effort, but more of an effort than it would have been for the original owner of the trash to dispose of it properly in the first place.

Why do they do it? Are they that lazy? Are they hiding an eating disorder or nasty habit from someone? Do they just not care about the environment, anyone else’s property, about behaving like a responsible adult? I keep hoping to catch the offender in the act. Maybe get a license plate number. I know the world has worse problems, but this one is just thoughtless and yes, trashy. If you litter, do try to clean up your act. And if you share my frustration, keep picking up your little corner of the world and at least take satisfaction in the fact that you care enough to do something.

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???????

Whether we want to or not, it’s time to start thinking about winter weather here in northwest Ohio and southern Michigan.  Next week is Winter Safety Awareness Week in Ohio.

Would you know how to protect your family from a severe winter storm that entails blizzard conditions, ice storms and sub zero temperatures?  The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness encourages us to learn what to do to prepare and recover from natural weather related home disasters.

Click here to get some tools to help you be prepared.

Also, as part of Winter Safety Awareness Week the FOX Toledo Stormtracker Weather Team will present a 5 part series on the winter of 2009-2010.  These stories will be presented on-air daily in our 10pm newscast.  We encourage you to tune in and email us with any feedback you might have.

Have a great winter and make sure you and your family are prepared.

I am not only on Facebook and Twitter but I am trying Linkedin.  I know it is a networking tool for professionals but other than that I don’t know much about this site.
I received an email from someone I’d interviewed in the past asking me to join and I said “hey, why not?”

So if you have any advice please let me know—OH and follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/tiffanytarpley

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.

On Sunday my daughter, husband and I met Shaun Hegarty and his family at the zoo.  We always enjoy taking our daughters to the zoo together.  And definitely try to get a visit in just before winter. 

This weekend we took advantage of the nice weather and did not have to bundle up to check the animals out. 

Usually we go through Africa pretty quick.  But this time we spent most of our time there.  The seals and polar bears were so active and very entertaining.  We also hopped on the train and got a great look at the animals moving around. 

Another crowd pleaser was the natures neighborhood.  We had a hard time pulling my daughter away from the goats and outdoor play area.

It looks like it is shaping up to be another nice weekend.  I would recommend a trip to the zoo for you and your family.

I was flipping through my cable guide the other night trying to figure out what to watch, and it got me thinking. As I kept stopping on re-runs of television shows and movies that I had already seen, I realized that while I could watch something new, I chose to watch something that I knew I would definitely enjoy…something I had already seen. Now I suppose it could have just been the mood that I was in at the time, because I do love watching new movies and TV shows (especially if I have them in bulk on DVD), however I thoroughly enjoy the re-watch.

I mean if you think about it, you wouldn’t buy a movie to add to your own DVD collection unless you knew it were something you’d like to watch more than once again (otherwise you could just rent it and send it back into the world). Think of your favorite movie…how many times have you seen it? Think of your favorite sitcom…does it ever get old? I mean I can watch Friends every day and still laugh (along with all of the shows on The Zone obviously). I need to watch It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone every year around the holidays or it’s just not the holidays.

I think it is partly the sheer admiration for the object of your cinematic affection that inspires the re-watch, but I also think that it’s partly the nostalgia for the time and place and company that you first watched it in that can impact it’s re-watchability. For example, right now I am watching Definitely, Maybe, a pretty good, heartwarming film. When I watch it, I think of the Valentines Day when my friends and I went out for Sushi, got to the movie late and almost didn’t get seats…but we did! It was a good night, a pretty good movie, and therefore a delightful option for a re-watch.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the re-watch?

So, one of my goals before the baby comes is to get my two-year-old (28 months) potty trained. I just really don’t want to be changing two sets of diapers.

I must say, I am a bit discouraged. I bought her a potty chair at about 18 months, just to get her used to sitting on it… so far that’s about as much progress we have made.

I started out just having her sit on it 5 minutes here and there, and giving her a treat for doing so… with the promise of a bigger treat for “going” in her potty. She went one time.

Since then, I bought her a “Potty Power” video, and put up a sticker chart. Each time she “tries” she gets a sticker…. again, with the promise of a treat if she actually goes.

So far, just one “success” since I started that methodl. I have also tried buying a potty seat that goes on the adult toilet. That hasn’t made any difference. So basically, I feel like I have tried everything short of buying her underwear and letting her have accidents.

Now, I know I shouldn’t push it too much… (I’ve heard that can lead to bed-wetting) but it’s especially frustrating because my daughter has been so quick to learn other things. She knew basic sign language at 8 months, knows how to speak in full sentences now, knows several songs, the alphabet, can count to 15  and can do basic tasks on her own. … eat, clean up, put on shoes, brush teeth, etc.

So got any tips for me? Anything I’m doing wrong? I would LOVE to get at least this feat out of the way before baby # 2 arrives!!!

Over the weekend I was able to go see a doctor in Sylvania.. he was speaking to people in the community about the H1N1 virus.

Obviously H1N1 has been a hot topic lately. I have done several stories about prevention, vaccines, and fears.

Dr. Tom Bauer spoke to a small crowd at a natural foods market on Sunday, and he basically said that H1N1 has been overblown… at least when it comes to stats. We all know that more people die from the seasonal flu each year.

Still, people want to know what to do to protect themselves from getting sick. Dr. Bauer says it’s time to take away the Halloween candy from kids. Also, cutting down on sugar will only make your immune system stronger.

Also, a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables will help you out. Plus, exercise..

Dr. Bauer also touched on the fact that many people take supplements to help boost their immune systems on a regular basis. He says doing this won’t really prevent anything, but it may help strengthen you.

This is information I feel like so many people know, but don’t really follow through on.

Especially this time of year I find myself wanting to work out less and eat more. Dr. Bauer calls this the hibernation process. I definitely can relate.

I have found that working out with friends really helps me stay motivated! Plus, it’s a lot more fun..

I haven’t received the seasonal flu shot or the H1N1 vaccine at this point, and I’m hoping that I won’t need to get it.

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“It took a while, but I guess peach isn’t such a bad color after all,” she conceded.

“See I told you.”

Months ago we had a knock down all out screaming match, about the bridesmaid dresses, which she had adamantly refused to give any ground on. Eventually we both made concessions.  I agreed that a six-inch hemline was too much and Paula accepted the color scheme. I turned my attention back to the mirror, and stared into it seeing the image it reflected back to me but knowing there was more hidden in its depths. If I could just get to it, I thought, if I could just see the person behind all this.

“You can’t drown in it, you know,” Paula said, interrupting my musings.

“Do you think he really loves me, maybe he’ll realize he’s making a mistake, maybe he’ll discover… ”

I yelped when she pinched me.

“Ouch! Was that necessary?”

“It was. Your hallucination is a very serious problem, I needed to snap you out of it,” she replied.

Maybe she was right, I should simply relax and let today happen even if it does seem too good to be true.

I met Samuel Shine at law school. We both were in the same Patten Law class, at Georgetown University.  I remember the first time I saw him, our professor Dr. Onabam locked my soon to be husband out of class on his first day. I still remember Dr. O’s motto “If you’re five minutes early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late.” He turned to the class and asked us if he should let poor Sam in, the male portion of the class voted yes but the women were a little hesitant.  He jokingly opened the door and Sam graciously walked in very apologetic and made a point of never being late again.

“LeeAnne, everyone is ready and dressed.  Are you ok? You look lost.”

My sister’s voice was filled with concern.

“I’m fine Joi, just nervous.”

——

Tune in next week….