Oh My Goff!

My Secret to Watching What You Eat

2008-02-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

AngCAM: On the road to FIGHTING FAT, Angie & sister Jenny discover a gizmo that can help anyone "watch what they eat".
It's Presidents Day.. the one day set aside for us Americans to tip our hats to good ole' GW. Subsequently, it's also the time when his dome awkardly starts popping up to sell cars and furniture. Hey, it can be obnoxious but truly if I can get a good deal on a ride in his honor- I'm game. Consider it a perk of a patriot I have deeper reasons to admire:

I give him props because he was the only one of the Founding Father's to free his slaves. More props for making his second inaugural address the shortest one ever delivered at 135 words. I'm also a big fan because George wrote EVERYTHING down. His papers collection at the Library of Congress is said to run 65-thousand documents deep. We're talking letters, childhood diaries, journals.. military records- nearly 6 decades of colonial America captured by the General's quill pen.

In this high-tech, fast paced world we live in I find it almost impossible to even write down a To-Do list. Even when I do- I often forget where I've put it. This brings me to the AngCAM up top. My new discovery. My new buddy, the third wheel in my and WX Kim's plight to Get Fit! (read Kim's Blog for Fitness Fridays & some humiliating pics)

The Calorie Counter is my new favorite gadget. Not only is a great way to track my weight and calorie intake for the day- it allows you to log your exercise too. The palm-pilotesque device also has a library of 35, 000 foods including your favs from more than 250 restaurants. It makes writing it down so easy- because you're just punchin' it in. Throughout the day you can check your calorie intake- to see as I did in the video how much I have eaten...and how much I can afford to put down based on my goal.

It was like having "Accountability" right before my eyes. Calorie Counters run about $80 but I found mine on sale for $50. It was very simple to program and use. At the end of the day I got my "Food Report". I admit it... I was over by 17 calories. This is NOT BAD because it was enough to make me reconsider finishing a jumbo M&M Cookie. (sniff..)

After taking a step back, I realized...I'm really not all that hungry afterall. Being able to have instant access to a snapshot of my menu for the day was great and showed me I had an overall healthy day. Another neat feature you can transfer the data to your PC in seconds.

Breakfast: Hot Cereal

Snack: Peanut Butter Bar

Lunch: Salad, FF Dressing, Turkey Burger

Snack: 1 Medium Apple

Dinner: Turkey with gravy and Green Beans

Snack: Pretzel Bites

Extras: Medium Coffee w/Non Fat milk, 1/2 Jumbo M&M Cookie

Total Daily Calories: 1217

I believe it was Miss Piggy who once said "Never eat more than you can lift." I hear you chuckling out there... I am too. But at the same time for many of us women.. watching our weight is no laughing matter. It's something a lot of us have to work at, work on and work out. Which is why I wanted to introduce you to things I stumble upon on my trip to getting fit. Afterall, I'm a firm believer any little help we can offer each other along the way will only get us to where we want to be faster!

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ps: I would love to hear diet tips that work for you???
pss: did you know kim martucci has an odd crush on Washington- yeah it really weirds Mike and Andrea out. Anyone out there with secret President Crushes- do tell!

Check out AngCAM, enjoy a cup 'o' Friday Lite and get ready to DAnCe!

2008-02-15T04:32:00.001-08:00

AngCAM: Catches me enjoying some coffee in between traffic reports friday morning!

After a week mixed with romance,chocolate hangovers, inclement weather, horocious traffic on icey roads... a las the weekend is here!
(note: horocious = horrible + atrocious, a word invented by mi amiga Jenn Caugh)

Are you feelin' the Friday Lite? Traffic is generally better this day of the week- a lot more peeps beat the rush by hittin' the road early- to get that "one more day" over with. I think the thought of freedom being so close naturally puts us in a better mood. This had me thinking of starting "DaNcE PaRty Fridays" on the am show. WX Kim is all over this! KIM, Howard, Jeff Napdhin, Me and Miss Trenice show you how it works:
At the end of the show during my last traffic hit... we tag out with a jam out. Pump up the music and whoever is "in the broadcast houz" steps in at the green wall and shows us their moves.

Not only does this promote a healthy heart www.goredforwomen.org I think more importantly it's a great boost to the spirit.

So where do we go now? Kim and I looked into the matter only to have our buzz temporarily killed. There's a bunch of music licensing stuff to get through before you can shake it "like a polaroid picture!".

thought bubble: we could dance-off to 9 News Now music)
afterthought bubble: breakin' it down to a "breaking news" animation- not so hot.

I think I'll check-in with Steve Houk. He not only heads our station's marketing dept... he's also a very talented musician. The man knows music and who knows...his promo library might just have something that can get us moving!

In the meantime, I'm calling on all D-P-F supporters out there to Speak Up. The viewer's voice does matter.

Tell 9 News Now you want a revolution.
Tell 9 News Now you want to DANCE!

Speaking of Dances- we're still weeks away from the big one but I can smell March Madness around the corner. Saturday... expect traffic to inflate around the Patriot Center at my beloved alma mater of Final Four fame...George Mason. Homecoming is here. Yes, our celebration centers around Basketball. For those less informed- the patriots don't play with pigskin. It will be the first game I've been to since leaving more than half a decade ago.
I'm psyched!I get to return to the days of my yesteryear- reuniting with my sisters from AOII... spending the day before looking for some smokingly-spirited gameday gear- c'mon admit it girls I'm not the only one who does it! Plus, nothing says GAME ON like a shirt from Robert Rodriguez! Knot note: "ding ding ding"we've got a WINNER! The Tiffany patent platforms from my previous post will officially be part of my "aisle style" in April.

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Wedding Wednesday: Bride-Olitics

2008-02-13T06:26:00.000-08:00

There is probably not a time in your life that you will exercise "decision making" more than during the days of planning your wedding. Between choosing flowers, a cake flavor, bridesmaids dresses and creating a program the last thing you're probably thinking about is: who I'm gonna vote for.
But put down your fifth copy of InStyle Weddings (there's nothing that new in it anyway), log-off ...theknot.com and check out http://bridesdecide.com/ a website set aside for that bride taking a trip to the altar... and polls!

Greeted with a patriotic bouquet... the site says its your front-row ticket to the 2008 presidential election. You can check out the candidates' real wedding stories and PHOTOS!! Who knew "Billary" was made official in the couple's living room in '75! (photo courtesy: Hillary Clinton for President)
More importantly you can share your thoughts with other brides-to-be on message boards about the candidates and on issues like the war.
As for fashion ideas... stick to your mags ladies... Huckabee couture circa '74 just ain't gonna cut it.
On another note, my blue shoe search continues! I think I'm gonna get funky and try these just for kicks! So far I've been 0-3 out of shoes ordered since my last entry!
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Angie AM Alert: Icy Streets & Hazardous Roadways WED AM

2008-02-12T16:21:00.001-08:00

G'morning Drivers,
Check out this YouTube video that captures drivers on ice. It shows good reason to watch your speed this morning.

We've got some slippery conditions to contend with out there. They have already proven hazardous.. shutting down RT 210 to get to 295 Tuesday afternoon. Watch Dave Statter's Report: http://www.wusa9.com/video/player.aspx?aid=56076

Remember, the distance it takes you to stop on ICE is TWICE as long as it is during normal conditions. Three car distances away is good space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

It's 7:30 pm on Tuesday in Fairfax County Virginia. I just stepped outside to walk Atticus. He unexpectedly went ice-skating. The driveway already layered with a thin sheet of ice you can't see.

NEVER BRAKE while driving on ice. Brake during the approach. Also watch your speed on bridges and overpasses. They freeze first. During weather like this... this is where I see the most accidents happen.

If you have any travel advice in treacherous conditions... let me know about them!
Til then.. safe travels and don't forget your good (and fashionable) footwear!

Below are some tips from DDOT:
*Please take Metro as an alternative to driving
*If you must drive, please drive carefully as road conditions could be icy
*Remember that driving on ice is significantly different than driving on snow
*Remember even a 4-wheel drive SUV does not perform well in ice and additional safety measures should be followed
*Be aware of road conditions, particularly black ice which can be deceptive in its appearance giving the driver a false sense of security on the road.
*Drivers should use extreme caution and maintain safe speeds and distances from other vehicles.
*Remember to keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles during any major winter weather event. Stay behind plow vehicles at least 25 feet and do not attempt to pass the vehicles

Pimp My Drive

2008-02-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

... in a matter of minutes find out how this could be YOU!

When I first took this traffic job my friends and family in the area asked?

Do you really want to come back to DC... do you really want to do this? The Traffic is just

"ABOMINABLE!!!"

They were right but I realized... the morning shift would mean driving in very very early.. and leaving work early again. In a day, I'd beat the drive twice so many dread... what were the others thinking... this gig sounds GREAT!

As you would guess..it wasn't MY commute they were concerned about. They were more worried about me becoming the local person to ruin YOUR morning, every morning.

Angie GoffLocal Traffic LadyGrim Reaper of GridlockBringer of Bad Traffic Tidings

You could think of a lot of things to call me but I admit so far I haven't heard 'em. Afterall, I'm giving you stuff you wanna know right? Accidents and ways around them, the extra time you'll need in the car, lanes closed..ramps reopened ... the list goes on.

On TV I only have a matter of seconds to share with you my up-to-the-minute reports. I do my best to cover every road and every tie-up... but we all know in broadcasting it's impossible everytime to SQUEEZE it all in!

ENTER: 9TRAFFIC NOW

I'm surprised to find so many people unaware of this incredible tool. It's so simple. You'll see by simply clickin' on the link to the traffic page to the right.

Once there you can custom build your very own traffic report. Smartly tailored to the streets you take to work everday. C'mon give me 5, I'll map it out.

1. Click 9 TRAFFIC NOW

2. sign up for a free account- I timed it, it took 23 seconds!

3. plug in the roads you use

4. name the route, i.e. "To Work. Ugh!"

5. choose what time you want to be alerted and how: we can email, txt or call ya!

What is an alert?
Every day we'll e-mail you a summary of the roads with the worst traffic. If the alert lists something along your route click through to see details. Then decide to leave later or take an alternate route.

Also a reason to add my traffic link as a "Favorite". You can instantly check out the JAM FACTOR on the site before leaving your pad.

On windy days when our traffic cameras are a-shakin' you'll often hear me refer to the shot courtesy our "earthquake cam". Well the Jam Factor is really like the "Richter Scale" for traffic. We use digital sensors in addition to detailed accident, construction and congestion info to get the one number that matters to you!

Here's how it works:
The Jam Factor is measured on a scale of 0-10, with 10 representing the worst traffic conditions. This numerical scale also provides color coding to give you a quick, at-a-glance picture of your road.

You can also see 3 vitals between point A and point B: delay length, travel time and the avg speed drivers are going.

So what do you say? You ready to "Pimp Your Drive"????

We got all the goods you need to Customize a Report to put you on the Right Road at the Right Time. It doesn't get more personal than that, my friend.

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What Say you? Before "I Do!"

2008-01-31T05:36:00.000-08:00

If you wake up with the 9 News Morning team you probably know that I'll be officially off the market come April. Yes I'll be joining the wives club and while I can't wait- like most brides-to-be I'm feeling a little exWhelmed ...that would be Excited + Overwhelmed together. No matter where you live I'm sure there's others that share the feeling. Because of that, I shall declare the 24 hours in the middle of the week "Wedding Wednesdays".

Topic Numero Uno: Shoes Blues

I flew down south (SC wedding) for an engagement party this past weekend. My vintage dress by L.A.M.B. and the hair paid homage to Jane Russell. The hot chic in the hot pink is Jackie Reis- one of my beautiful b-maids. And yes, that is "Wine Out" in my pocket! The day before the big blow-out which I would have to say was Goff-da-chain (thanks hosts!) I had my first wedding dress fitting, an incredible experience. I'm having my gown made to resemble a $14,000 Oscar de la Renta. As you would expect the father of the bride wasn't a fan of the original. At the fitting, to my darling wedding planner's dismay I tried the oversized but elegant doile on with 4.5 inch heels. Marcell is pushing a shorter wedge for two reasons: Comfort & Location. Part of my reception will be tented over SC soil... ground said to be so loose you can't find a house in the state that would put a basement in it.

Call me vain- but I feel a higher heel grows me...makes me look skinnier. I hiss at the lucky girls who get away with elegant flats and kitten heels. I hate the fakers- you know the brides in JCrew magazine who look comfortable and perfectly balanced on those 2.5" half d'orsays. HEIGHT: I wasn't born with it- I gotta buy it.

So I've spent days and weeks searching for the perfect 4 inchers- a pair with maybe a little platform that doesn't look like they belong on a... you know. It's an accessory my fiancee' constantly reminds... no one will ever see. But my quest for the perfect kicks continues and now I'm finding myself WITH a rock and a hard place.

I must do BLUE.

I'm obsessed with the idea as my "Something Blue" on the big day. I think they'll be sassy PLUS I can wear them again- with this summer callin' on color for a comeback. My dress is off-white and 100% pure chantilly lace. I was considering gold shoes (like my b-maids) but now this task has taken a dramatic turn. I'm thinking soft blue ..pale or baby- but tiffany could be cute. Weather Kim wants me to be bold- she likes the ones to the left. If you have any pics or suggestions puh-leese send them. If you think I'm tacky- inform me. I need to know because despite my hubby-to-be's remarks... I don't plan to subdue the hue. When portrait day arrives... I plan on playing a little peek-a-boo!

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can i get a WHAT WHAT and drum roll please....

2008-01-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

Photo Courtesy: Christopher Brady Photography

ANGIE ARRIVES.
It is on this day of my blogressional inauguration... that I take a step back in time. Like Donna Reed's response when she's offered the moon (name that classic)... I'm in her words as I voluntarily try to lasso my own big slice of blogosphere:

"I'll take it. Then what?"

Prior to the traffic gig... this former news reporter spent almost everyday of the last four years whittling down an hour worth of b-roll into seconds of skimpy copy. With that background, I've got to be honest with ya..this blog thing is a first and frightening.

Why? Well because I have no limits. Which on the other hand could be a good thing. Not only can I write as much as I want... but best of all I get to bypass the chain-of-copy-command! Now for the concern: In broadcast news my stories almost never got cut from the TV rundown. People saw them. Public feedback came often, and with a little humility I admit... response brought a small sense of approval. Which is why I'm scared. What if NO ONE reads my blog. I know that won't ultimately happen because my father Ren will probably post something everyday. But beside the paternal pledge of allegiance, I ask what's gonna bring you here when you have 2,350,000,000 other blog options according to Google?

The answer: Right from the remarkable script of Charlie Wilson's War.
"We'll see."

All I can promise you is that I'll write often.. and keep it real. If you wanna talk traffic we will- if you wanna sound off you can. Topics I foresee: "hot shoes that hurt and why amputation is worth it", the beltway's 10 Most rOUTerageous Moments... and yes perhaps an indepth analysis of why I really must see RAMBO but can't find anyone who will go with me. All I ask is that before we go way back to the days of First Blood... show me the love on my official First Blog!

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p.s. what do you think of this as a signature?