Amy_Murphy's Blog

California's finest! I'm specifically talking about the California Highway Patrol and even more specifically the traffic officers whom you see on our air and on our website!!!

A few weekends ago, Officers Humberto Jimenez,
Josh Kolstad, Rick Quintero and  Miguel Luevano were on hand at the 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

These guys are like rockstars.
The fab four were signing autographs and taking photos with the general public ( & me).

People were waiting in line to meet the real life versions of Frank Poncherello and John Baker (motorcycle cops from the 70's show "CHiPs"). Yes, I kind of remember them, mainly because my mother thought they were hot. She never said so...she didn't have to. She would no doubt think the same of our real life "CHiPs".

Pictured hereis Officer Rick Quintero and his BOOTS!!!
(Doesn't he look like Superman? If you mess up the shine...you might get the billie club...also pictured here).


If you ever wondered whether he's wearing his boots every morning while reporting the traffic on "Good Day LA" as I have- wonder no more. The answer is "Yes!"

But never judge a chippie by the size of his boots. Case in point, Officer Humberto Jimenez and his BOOTS!!!!


Officer Jimenez also reports for FOX 11. He appears Monday through Friday from 4:45PM -6:15PM on our REAL TIME TRAFFIC SHOW at www.foxla.com. He too wears the FULL CHP UNIFORM. However, he wears the short boots.

He is not a motorcycle cop like Officer Quintero, but the kind that patrols in a cruiser. So the short boot "look" is more appropriate. These boots were made for walkin'...(or runnin' if a foot pursuit ensues!)

These guys manage to bring us real time traffic information many times an hour. They rescue people and animals on our freeways...rid the streets of unsafe and/or drunk drivers...and all the while somehow do so with Hollywood smiles, great hair...and extremely well-polished boots!

California's finest...are at the least fine.
Isn't it great to live in California?!

Monday through Friday right here on myfoxla.com
you can get live traffic information from 4:45PM-6:15PM.  

This show is unique in that it is only done for the web.
It is a show like any other television show,  with a full crew. The only difference is you won't see it on our airwaves...just our website.

I've had the pleasure of working on it for the past several weeks during its launch.
No scripts, so we don't use a teleprompter,  no video....just breaking traffic news as it's happening.

If you haven't logged on to see it.  Give it a try...it's fast paced and we cover a lot of ground moving all around the southland with live looks through caltrans cameras, Skyfox,
and our own live drive video phone cameras.

I think you will find it useful.  And because it is so new, we are open to suggestions.
You can email your suggestions to us at  traffic@fox11.com.  Let us know what you think or what you need to make it more user friendly.

(A quick update on the story below: It's a good thing I checked in on the little guy, because even though West LA Animal Shelter on Pico Blvd. said they would fix his broken leg, when I went in on Monday to check on him their story changed!

In fact, they decided since his leg was broken that he would most likely be euthanized
within the week.

I freaked! As you can imagine. I begged them to hang on while I made some calls.

Fortunately, an amazing organization called " MUCH LOVE" , Terri Vasquez, literally heard his story- hung up the phone and ran over and took him in to her care. I had to agree to foster him when he gets out of the hospital. A task I am more than happy to do!

I will also help "MUCH LOVE" find a good home for Pico when he is completely healed.

Thanks to "MUCH LOVE" Pico had his surgery today and is doing well. He is apparently winning over hearts at the veterinarian's office.

The long and short of it is ...without organizations like www.muchlove.org

perfectly viable pets such as this adorable little bundle of love would die.

If you would like to foster a pet, adopt or donate-please check out their website!

I love "MUCH LOVE" and I hope you will too!

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If I could take home another stray dog... you know I would. My luck was pretty amazing the last time I found a dog (now the love of my life) in the street.

Saturday evening my co-anchor, Susan Hirasuna, and I ran out for a quick bite to eat together.

As we pulled in to the restaurant parking lot, I spotted a playful, floppy puppy out of the corner of my eye. But this little guy seemed to be limping.

I kneeled down and he came running over on three legs, looking helpless and adorable. The 2-3 month old jet-black Akita mix was obviously in pain but glad to see us!

We quickly determined he had no tag... and no one was around to claim him!

Because we had to get back to work...we took him to the West Los Angeles Animal Care Center on Pico and Sawtelle. They scanned this beautiful little dog and NO MICRO-CHIP!

If he is someone's pet... a 50 dollar procedure could have prevented him from being lost.

Long story short...there's a beautiful little puppy now at the West Los Angeles Shelter in need of a good home.

He has a broken elbow. I checked in on him today. The shelter put him in the splint and they took him to see the veterinarian. I believe they will be doing what they can to fix his elbow soon. But he will be available for adoption in a few days.

This little guy, although in obvious pain, was so sweet and loving. He licked my face as I held him in my arms on the way to the shelter. Even though he was favoring his broken leg, he still tried to play with a toy on the floor.

If you live in a house with a yard, you are a responsible pet owner, and you are looking for a pet.... check out this little guy, I nicknamed "Pico". He will win your heart over....just as he did mine!

My BFF-Her name is Dolores Carson.

She's a petite blonde with a bubbly personality. And despite her sad life on the streets of a tough neighborhood, she insists on bringing a smile to everyone around her.
Her underbite and obvious snaggletooth add character.

I just can't say enough great things about her- maybe because she
lights up a room the moment she enters. And her ability to make new friends
is as simple as a walk in the park.
In case you haven't figured it out by now ...my new best friend,
Dolores Carson, is a dog!

I rescued her from the middle of a busy intersection where she was
nearly hit by several speeding cars. I found her on Dolores Street in Carson, CA. Thus, the name.

No collar, malnourished, in heat, and flea-bitten...the pup had her
tail between her legs and her dry little tongue hanging out of her
mouth, an indication of dehydration.
In addition to her other problems, she
also had a tumor on her head.
But she was sweet and responded to the water and attention we gave
her, by rolling over on her back and wagging her tail. My friend and I
put her in the car and were on our way to take her to the Carson Animal Shelter when I fell in love. Before I knew it I was a proud dog owner!
I had the tumor on Dolores' head removed. Her vet determined it was
nothing to worry about. Although her ears are much closer together following the surgery, I think she looks beautiful.
(In a Joan Rivers...just had my skin pulled taught....kind of way.)
I also had her spayed and treated for fleas.
I think the best thing about rescuing Dolores Carson is her grateful personality.
She is so happy to be my buddy. She just wants to be wherever I am-whether it's running errands or relaxing on the couch. Take note of the photos she does this well.
She makes me laugh. She makes me smile. She reminds me that every
day we should make time for a walk and a good sniff of the
neighborhood...really viewing the world around us as if it were the first time.
I gave her a place to live. But she made the place I live a home.
Rescue a homeless animal. You won't regret it.

A heartbreaking story Thursday...the Animal Friends of the Valley Animal Shelter in Lake Elsinore had a devastating fire. It killed 24 small dogs and 15 cats , through no apparent fault of anyone at the shelter.

The initial inspection revealed an electrical problem in the wall of the mobile home that was used as the "puppy building".

Many of these animals were strays, abandoned or surrendered by their owners.

When people surrender animals to shelters often times the owner can't care for the pet any longer (as in the case of some elderly pet owners ) or other life circumstances (illness) suddenly prevent the owner from giving the pet a good home. The owner surrenders the animal ,hoping someone else will pick up where they left off and love them as they did.

However, the heartbroken Co-founder of this shelter told me of an absolutely inexcusable
surrender...one that happened just the day before the fire and resulted in this pet's death.

Co-Founder, Willa Bagwell told me the story...Willa opened her heart and shelter to a small dog that a woman dropped off on Wednesday. This dog was one of the 24 who expired Thursday in the fire.
The dog's owner is actually the woman's husband . Apparently he showed up the morning  of the fire and collapsed when he learned that his dog died in the fire.

The man explained that he and his wife are in the middle of a divorce. His soon to be EX...decided to drop off HIS dog at "the pound", without his permission, while keeping her dog. He showed up to get the dog back...just a few hours too late.

Even if things are acrimonious  or you can't stand each other anymore.
This is unforgivable.  Can you imagine anything more cruel?

In the meantime ...Willa Bagwell says the shelter rescued 8,000 animals last year.
And because she rescued almost 300 animals specifically during the fires, the City of Temecula honored her as Citizen of the Year, just last weekend.

She and the other shelter employees were devastated by the loss of those animals.
They are in desperate need of a new facility and are looking for donations. If you have some extra cash or some extra time -log on to their website and see how you can help.
http://www.animalfriendsofthevalleys.com/

Willa Bagwell and the other volunteers have been rescuing animals in Riverside County for 20 years.   I hope they continue. We need more people in this world like you!

First let me say...my heart goes out to Owen Wilson, his friends and family.

Hearing the news of his alleged suicide attempt feels like a kick in the stomach given events of my own life this year.

Watching the coverage from home on my days off, I found it odd how reporters covering this story try to "ask why?", or "what could have compelled a handsome actor at the top of his career" to attempt such an act?

What most people don't realize that this alleged desperate act and alleged drug use most likely have nothing to do with his career and probably have more to do with depression.

Studies have shown that not everyone who is depressed will attempt suicide, but most people who attempt suicide suffer from depression.

Sadly admitting to suffering from depression in Hollywood, has until recently, been unthinkable to most in the biz.

Until the stigma attached to depression and other forms of mental illness is lifted, people in Hollywood and EVERYWHERE will find ways to mask, or mute the effects of depression until they cannot anymore.

My hope, and prayer is that this talented actor is getting the care he needs. And that other members of the media allow him to do so in privacy and peace.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, tell someone. Talk about it. Log on to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website, www. AFSP.org or call 1-877-727-4747 for help.

With the biannual ritual of manipulating our hours of daylight right around the corner, I feel compelled to chat about a pet peeve of mine -Daylight Saving Time.

That's right SAVING TIME ...not SAVINGS TIME. This is the official spelling for the time of year when we mess with our alarm clocks AND body clocks. Any decent weather girl will tell you it is always our job to remind viewers to do this task.

I'm hardly Gertrude Grammar... But while DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME tends to be more conversational, it's really grammatically incorrect.

SAVING is used as a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies TIME and reveals more about its nature. It is characterized by the activity of SAVING DAYLIGHT. So save your "S"!

What really is baffling about this is that no daylight is actually saved. Our hours of daylight shift ,making the days seem longer as we spring forward one hour this weekend.

While this concept has actually been around since Ben Franklin's days...one would think we could come up with a more accurate description for our tampering with time and sunshine.

How about Daylight Manipulating Time? Or Manipulating Daylight Time? or Time to Manipulate Daylight?

Take it from someone who watched a tad too much Mary Tyler Moore as a Child-this is the stuff from which good TV news sitcoms is made. It's also perfect for the Ipod-carrying,
MP3-blaring, sensory-overloaded, "we need entertainment and we need it NOW" generation.

It's called "Goodnight Burbank", a comedy series featuring the colorful personalities and behind the scenes banter that goes hand in hand with local TV news. (of course somewhat exaggerated for the sake of comedy) My favorite character is female news anchor Kelly Jones (Jones is pronounced HON-ACE for the appearance of diversity). She plays her guitar and sings inappropriate news-related ballads during the newscast between sound bites. She is also a hard-core Christian who is a blatant hypocrite. Very Funny.

What makes this TV news sitcom different is it's only available on the web. (at blip.tv)

For struggling Hollywood producers and directors, this avenue of getting your product seen and potentially your show sold...is catching on! Anyone can upload...not everyone can get a meeting with Chris Albrecht. (CEO HBO)

And...for all of you who are dying for a good blog, this website (blip.tv) provides an area for you to give feedback and ask questions.

As media outlets such as (FOX 11), continue to search for ways to cross promote TV with the internet, you never know, maybe someday one of these cyber sitcoms will end up on our air. Better yet, how about a new FOX reality show where FOX 11 video streams live from our newsroom....now that's entertainment.

On second thought....maybe not!~Amy Murphy