Hmmmmmm......

Meteorologist Ginger Zee details Chicago struggles in new book
Ginger Zee
Ginger Zee attends a Women's Health party Aug. 9, 2014, in Bridgehampton, N.Y. (Paul Zimmerman / Getty Images)
Tracy SwartzContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune
As her five-year stint in Chicago at WMAQ-Ch. 5 came to an end in 2011, meteorologist Ginger Zee drank wine before work shifts in her dark studio apartment as she sunk into a Cabernet-soaked depression.

The 36-year-old ABC News chief meteorologist covers her dismal time in Chicago in her memoir “Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One,” out Tuesday.

ADVERTISING

Zee writes about her rocky move from Western Michigan to Chicago in 2006; her secret romance with an unnamed Chicago political source who turned out to be engaged to another woman; her struggle with body-shaming feedback from WMAQ viewers; and her memories of a night that left her crying and drunk under a West Loop bridge.

“It’s not the city's fault because it's a wonderful city and I love it there, and I've got family there,” Zee said in a phone interview. “It just was the time in my life and some of the circumstances and the choices that I made and then, obviously, the mental illness that I was battling. And so the combination of all those things just came into that place, and I wasn't getting the help that I should have because I wasn't seeking it properly.”

Zee said she checked herself into a mental inpatient facility days before starting work at ABC to deal with depression, suicidal thoughts and an emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend.

The secrets Zee spills in the book — which she calls the “watered-down version” — may surprise some fans. The Valparaiso University graduate seemed to float easily from working weekends at WMAQ to forecasting weather on “Good Morning America" and finishing third on last year’s 22nd season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

“People see me for 30 seconds at a time and they see someone who's got a hair and make-up team that put them together and they’re looking all right in the world, but it's not. We don't all have perfect lives, even if they are seemingly so,” Zee said. “So (the book) is kind of the anti-Instagram and the big theme here is depression. And that's one of those topics that I was embarrassed and not honest with myself for years about, and I hope that this book can open up a conversation between people saying, ‘You know what? I have those feelings too.’ ”

Life has changed considerably for Zee since she moved to New York. She’s been married to TV personality Ben Aaron, whom she met through former WFLD-Ch. 32 meteorologist Amy Freeze, for more than three years. Zee gave birth to their first son in December 2015. Their second son is due in February.

Zee — who shortened her last name from Zuidgeest early in her career — also hosts the ABC News digital series “Food Forecast." She’s scheduled to discuss her book Friday on "The View," which airs at 10 a.m. weekdays on WLS-Ch. 7

_________________

Who had him in the harassment pool?

_________________
Don't take it personally.

ya think?! the guy is obviously a psychopath.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Maybe Ginger was a Sox fan.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

She left him for Timmer didn't she?

Yes.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

Reed Timmer sounds like a pornstar.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Not as much as Ginger Zee.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

One of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard on WSCR was when Leery had Ginger on so he could dispel "all these rumors going around" that they were dating.

Why should she be able to capitalize on rumors co-opting Laurence's fame?

_________________
You know me like that.

I miss Storm Chasers. I know Reed still technically "chases" for Accuweather, but he isn't using the Dominator anymore

_________________
“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

well he did drive her around in "The Dominator"

_________________
“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

(Titty) Twister: While chasing storms across the Midwest, Ginger Zee gets gang-banged by Reed Timmer, Tom Skilling, and Jerry Taft. It sounded like a train.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

A train that left poor Pete Sack alone and sad. Poor Pete.

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Who is the political figure she was banging?

Zee isn't her real name?

I'd put him ahead of Rongey as the culprit. Yeah Rongey is a man whoring frat boy, but have you seen Timmer? Same industry, ego the size of D3. I could easily see him belittling her.

She sounds completely cured.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

No inside information but I'll just speculate: Alexi Gianoulias.

Still, its my guess Ginger would munch the transitioning Pritzker if it increased her Q rating and income.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I'd say that's a good guess.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

Although he’s not a meteorologist, we need to cast Dick Johnson in this. Although that would be redundant.

She was counting up that ill begotten cash as if it was hers and then BOOM, back to the minor leagues of D list celebrity and sticky casting couches. That's the kind of trauma that sends some women to drink.

It has to be someone with enough extrapolitical ability to intimidate as you know that one would open her yap if she didn't fear being put in a trunk.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Dick would just stand in the corner mumbling names and furiously masturbating.

_________________

Would.

_________________

Im sure Taft would be down, Skilling no chance..Skilling is into men only.

_________________

I know such things are common in the industry, but did she really think viewers would be like "I ain't gettin' my forecasts from no damned Dutchwoman!" in the 21st century?

Was this a bit?

_________________
Blackhawk goal, scored by number 20, Al Secord.

It was real. I heard it.

My book should be coming later today. I'll give a review.

_________________
You know me like that.

6.4

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.