hmiller's Blog

Do you have one of those friends that you like to go out of your way to get special gifts for?  I do.  She’s actually really fun to shop for.  I never have to search for gifts for her, they just find me. 

 

 

Laura’s birthday is still several months off, but I already know what I want to get her.  I want to arrange for her to meet Anthony Bourdain.  He’s the chef that looks like a lost member of the Ramones and has the show on the travel channel where he goes around the world and eats really strange stuff.  He’s usually dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket.  Tony’s a total bad boy.  That’s probably why she likes him.

 

 

Anyway. Laura is a big fan and I know she would love to hang with Tony.  Maybe they would share a black & tan and eat geoduck (If you don’t know what it is, Google it.  I know you will laugh.)  Heck, they could just shake hands and I’m sure it would still be a highlight of her life.  Now I just need to figure out how to make that happen.

 

 

I’ve done some research and so far I don’t see a big public agenda anywhere for Bourdain.  I don’t think he’d bee much fun and some sort of celebrity appearance anyway.  So, I’ve decided to try to track him down some other way.  I’m a reporter, after all.  I’m perfected my (legal) stalking skills over the years finding a way to bump in to Bourdain should be easy, right? 

 

 

Yeah, right.  I’m suddenly second guessing my skills. 

 

 

I now have four and a half months to complete my mission.  Wish me luck.  And, if you have any suggestions… PLEASE pass them along.

 

 

~Heather

 

It seems like we waited forever for spring this year.  My mom even asked me what month slid in between January and February.

Now that the weather has warmed, I have wasted no time getting dirty in my garden.  There is nothing better than digging in the dirt to de-stress.

This brings me to a question.  How in the heck to stop rabbits from eating my strawberry plants?  Okay, its not exactly philisophical... but I need some help here.  Last year I ended up with only one berry, and my husband ate it.

My neighbor thought we should get an outdoor cat to roam our yards.  I nixed this because I'm sure I would get way too attaatched to it and it would quickly become an indoor cat.  I already have one of those.  Sammy is quite happy to be an only kitty.  SHe can barely stand my son, so I know she wouldn't tolerate another cat.

A freind also suggested scattering cat fur around.  That would be easy enough.  However, I would have to brush Sammy.  She's not one to enjoy being held down and brushed.  So, in order to succeed at this one I would need a cat-bite proof suit.

I have also been told to scatter some of my husband's hair clippings around the plants.  I'm actually considering this one.  I just need to remind Shane to take a bag with him next time he gets his hair cut.  But, I'n not really sure he'll be willing to do that.

So, I am pleading for your help.  I want to avoid using chicken wire, but I really want to save my plants.  Any ideas?  If so, please pass them along.

Thanks!

Heather

I’ve been covering the Toledo Terror Trial for three weeks now.  (Check out our news section for updated stories.)  Federal Law prohibits us from shooting video of the proceeding.  (The Federal Government has a ‘no cameras in the courtroom’ policy.  Ohio does allow cameras in its proceedings.)  This makes it a little hard to tell the story from a TV standpoint.  Video is what makes television different from newspaper.  If we do our job well, we let pictures tell the story.  So, to make our trial coverage more ‘TV friendly’ we are using artist sketches.  Our artist happens to be the Face of Fox Toledo, Julia.  Her sketches are really bringing the trial to life. 

 

 

It’s really hard to capture the immensity of what is happening in the courtroom.  After all, the trial last around eight hours a day, four days a week and my stories only last a minute or so.  I am trying my best, and I hope you think so to.  But, in case you want to know a little more I am willing to take questions.  Just drop me an email.  Or leave a message here.  The justice system is really quite fascinating, but it is VERY different from shows like ‘Law and Order.’

 

So an email came into the newsroom last night.  My co-workers we kind enough to forward it to me. 

Like many women, I often have a poor self image.  For years I've struggled with my weight.  It only got worse after my baby was born.  Then we get the following email from a viewer:

"I wanted to take a moment and commend both your station for hiring Ms. Miller and for her for the professionalism she exhibits... As we all know most television stations do not hire and put on air women any larger than a size 6. Seeing Ms. Miller on air reporting on the trial downtown today really got my attention AND the attention of my teenage daughters. FINALLY someone showing that girls don't have to stick thin to be successful... THANK YOU..."

I almost cried when I read this.  I work hard to be the best reporter I can be.  But sometimes when I compare myself to other reporters I get really down on myself.  This email made me check myself.

So, thank you viewer.  I'm not out to prove anything.  Just bring you the news.  But if I can show anyone out there that it is possible to just be yourself and accomplish your dreams then I've become the woman my mom raised me to be.

Tiif's latest blog lead me to think of all of the strange things people say to TV news people.  My favorite has to be on the scene of bank robberies.  It never fails.  We'll be outside of a bank with the other stations, there will be several police cars and a sign on the door that says "temporarily closed" - yet, sure enough someone will walk up and ask, "What happened?"  Now I realize it may not always be a bank robbery, but if you see TV cameras and police cars at a bank wouldn't you think it’s a bank robbery?  I'm serious.  We get this question every time.

 

Now, people also tend to give out back handed compliments.  I know they don't mean to be mean, but comments don't always come out like they sound.  My favorite is, "You are much prettier in person."  Or, "You really aren't as fat as you look on TV."  People will even call the newsroom to say they don't like the way someone wear their hair. 

 

I really don't mind the comments.  It just gives me something to laugh about.  So if you have a question, just ask.  I promise not to be too mad.

 

 

For those who don't already know, I live in Napoleon.  Some think I'm nuts for commuting an hour to work.  But there are advantages to the drive.

This is a great time of year to drive the route along US 24.  Its not unusual for me to spot cardinals, blue jays, deer, the occasional fox and other wildlife as I head to work.  In a few short weeks I'll start seeing wildflowers and the red buds will come alive with color.

Melting snow and spring rains also make the Miami  Erie Canal bed quite visible.  Its been covered in parts by the highway.  But all the recent wet weather has filled what is left back up.

This is the reason for my post.  While I was heading to Toledo last week improvements to the canal toe path trial were quite evident.  I knew the Buckeye Trail association had been making improvements to the path from Independence Dam all the way to Toledo, but I really hadn't notice how much work they had done until now.  I looks great.  I believe I even saw a few benches along the canal.  I can't wait until its a little warmer so Shane and I can take the baby for a walk.  (I used to hike the canal path from St. Marys to Spencerville with my dad.)

According to the Buckeye Trail Association's website, they will be having a work party March 29 - April 2 to make even more improvements from May Jane Thurston State Park toward Grand Rapids.  I hope to help and urge others to do the same. 

Check it out at www.buckeyetrail.org.

See you there!

Heather