TFTF #7..."Where'd You Go"

Well, it's been a very long time since my last blog.  It was roughly, 14 months ago.  I'm sorry for falling off the face of the earth.

The real title of this long overdue post is actually...

STILL Too Fat To Fly  

I will recap with some bullet points of big ticket items from this past year...


Pluses / Minuses of the past 14 months...



April 11, 2014 (the day after my last post)

Minus - My father had a heart attack, in my sister's kitchen.  He got up to blow his nose and his heart went into VFib and he collapsed on the floor.

Plus - My brother-in-law, Dave, was a hero that night and performed CPR on my dad until the first responders got there. My dad spent some time in the hospital and he now has a small defibrillator implanted in his chest. Or as he calls it...his "remote starter."  He is alive and kicking and we are very grateful!

Here are some pics of the the first responders getting recognized for their amazing efforts that night...

My brother-in-law, Dave, is on the far left.

August 2, 2014

Plus - Andy has fallen in love with American Ninja Warrior.  We were at a party and he was on the rings on the swing set.  He was yelling..."I'm American Ninja Warrior!!!!"

Minus - YOU GUESSED IT... another trip to the Yale ED. After about the 20th or 30th swing, he lost his grip and he went flying up in the air and landed awkwardly. He let out the worst scream I've ever heard. He got up and started running toward us and his right arm was flopping around like it wasn't attached to his shoulder. I scooped him up and pinned his arm to my chest and got him into the car. We got him to the ED where we ended up spending the night.

Still Smiling...this boy was a trooper!!

Ready to leave YNHH with his new "Armor" and his favorite Dudley in hand.

Neither "armor" nor a gorilla could keep this kid away from Putt Putt!! 
(sorry, Mini Golf as y'all call it)

Minus -
I was miserable at my job.  I hated going to work every day.

So, how did I cope with everything you ask...

Minus - I let my diet go to S%&T.  I did continue to exercise because I thought I would be fine. Just make sure you exercise. RIGHT?

WRONG...as the saying goes..."You can't outrun a bad diet."

Minus - I started gaining back the weight. This is a vicious cycle that I put myself through. I have periods of success and then I will find any excuse to revert back. The battle between "what I do" and "what I know I should be doing" is a constant for me. It is one that I will be struggling with it my entire life.


I guess if it were easy...everyone would be fit and healthy.


Not all Bad...More Pluses of 2014:

I had a plan of completing my first 5k around the year anniversary of my quad injury...

I had a few choices on and around that date.  My rule for picking a race to run in is simple.. if I'm going to "run/jog/walk" for 3.1 miles...there better be something worth running / jogging / walking for at the end...
I know, it should be about my health...blah blah blah.

The winner was:

Shore 2 the Pour

The race ends with Two Roads Brewery having beer trucks at the finish line! Beer trucks waiting for me...SOLD..WHERE DO I SIGN!!


August 24, 2014
I show up for my first 5k

SMILING because I didn't realize 90% of it is a beach run...

THAT'S RIGHT KIDS...

My very first ever 5k was 90% SAND!! 

awesome...(*sarcasm)

You would think that having "SHORE" in the title would've given me a clue...NOPE...I was suckered in by the promise of beer waiting for me at the end.  I never payed attention the the first part. I only focused on the "POUR."

I'm a dumbass!

August 24, 2014  (some time after the pic above)
When you think you're going to die, and sweat burning your eyes and you have horrible shin splints (because you're fat and running in sand with terrible running technique) and wanting to give up...Seeing this Little Guy makes you dig a little deeper...

I saw that smile, the sign, and heard he and Melissa cheering and thought to myself...

"SON OF A BITCH!!"

...now I have to keep going...

Andy holding the sign that he and Melissa made for me...

August 24, 2014 - (some time later still)
I completed my first 5k/beach "run"...barely 

Thank God for Melissa, Andy, my trusty Clown Shoes and BEER!!!

I set 3 goals for myself in regards to this "race":
1. Finish
2. Don't be last
3. Finish in under 50 mins. (the time was altered after I found out about the whole running in sand thing)

I accomplished all of the goals I set. I felt a sense of pride and it felt great! Well, until the adrenaline and beer wore off!!!

August 25, 2014 - (the day after)
It takes a lot to get ALL of this (*pointing at myself*) through 3.1 miles...then you put me in sand for 90% of it.  My legs decided they wanted to take the day off. The Clown Shoes earned a well deserved day off too. The quad held up pretty well, but it was definitely angry with me. I had a slight limp for the next few days but the sense of accomplishment came back!!


October 4, 2014 - THE DAY!!
I turned 40 years old...
This was the original deadline for skydiving and becoming an all around healthier person. I didn't let the fact that I missed my goal get me down.  I am a work in progress...and I will always be. I am not perfect, This is not going to happen over night. I am not on The Biggest Loser or Extreme Weight Loss.  I am at home doing this on my own.  I have a family, full time job and a life. I will have ups and downs and I realized that.

So...I celebrated "40" in a fantastic way.  A Golf Tournament / Beer Fest with the boys in VT. A weekend full of laughs, busting balls, golf, food and of course beer.

Then a few days later...My wife surprised me with a New Haven Pub Golf Pub Crawl for me and my family and friends. We started at Bar for Mashed Potato Pizza and some Damn Good Stout! We hit a lot of my favorite watering holes along the way, with some of my favorite people!! The only thing that would've made the night any better would've been if Richter's was still open.  A Half and Half 1/2 yard would've been amazing!

I never took a picture but but my wife and her sisters made Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey's Frosting...They were awesome!! That's why there were no pictures. They weren't around long enough to pose with. They were eaten too fast!!


November 1, 2014
5k # 2 in the books!
It was a family affair. Melissa and I completed the 2nd Annual Vicki Soto 5k and Andy ran his first Kids Run.

Family photo...it was a little cold, windy and wet but we had fun!!

Andy raising his arms in victory as he gets his medal!!

November 3, 2014
I started my new job at Danbury Hospital! I love medical simulation. I love the technology and what it can do. I love that I'm in an industry where I am only limited by my imagination. As a Supervisor at YNHH, I was just dealing with paperwork, administrative BS, scheduling, my direct reports and hardly ever got to work with the technology.

So, I took a tiny step back and moved to Danbury Hospital and Western Connecticut Health Network. I am back working with the robotic mannequins, computers and large A/V systems. I am allowed to create videos! I'm allowed to be creative! I am getting involved with the design aspect of the construction.  I feel like I am respected and my ideas and thoughts matter.  I am so much happier now. I work with some great people and all of it has solidified that I made the right decision.


With this new found inner peace...I felt that I needed to get my health back on track.


I decided to join a gym. I realize that I have an abundance of equipment at home and I stopped using it.  I thought...if I pay for a gym then I will have to go.
I joined Orange Theory Fitness. It isn't cheap, but it is fantastic.  The people are great and the coaches keep you on track. There is one problem. It is not convenient for me at all.  It is not near my house or my work.  It took too much time away from my family and too much money out of my bank account. I have recently stopped my membership.

I am reopening Clown Shoes Fitness and all of the wonderful pieces of equipment that it has to offer. I have decided I need to make this work. It is more convenient for me to get up early in the morning and work out in my basement than it is to work out in a place that is an hour from work and still 20 minutes from home.
The concept behind OTF is fantastic. I will be incorporating what I learned there into my workouts in CSF.

I will say, if we ever move close enough to an OTF, or one shows up in a place that actually makes sense for me to go to...I will join in a heart beat. (anyone that is familiar with OTF...no pun intended).


A few take a ways from all of this:

One thing I did find out  was I like going hiking in the woods.  I have also found that Andy loves it too. That is something we started to do as a family and we will continue to do.

The biggest goal in my life is to raise a happy, healthy, active boy that turns into a happy, healthy, active man. I figure the more he wants to go outside the more it will force me to go with him. This kid loves to be outside and so that means I need to as well.

My last learning point from this past year...find something you like to do and make it a priority. It's good for the soul.



My next 5k is August 1, 2015.

"The Craft Brew Races is a 5k road race followed by a local craft beer festival. The series features races around the country in 2015. Runners and walkers are welcome to participate in the 5k. The post race beer festival will be held immediately following the race featuring 20+ breweries. This is a 21+ event. Whenever possible local food vendors and local musicians will participate as well."

Craft Beer Festival...now that's something worth running for!!

And in case you might have missed it...its a 5k ROAD Race...

Come on out and run / jog / walk with me or just come out for some beer.  Either way, I will be there and I plan on doing all 4...running / jogging / walking / drinking!!

I'm sensing a pattern...BEER!! 


I also have a new motto...

That's not me in the pic...that guy has too much hair on his head!!

The goal is still the same.  I want to fly!!! I am working toward this goal. It will continue to be a long process.  I guess that's why everyone calls it a journey.


There is another saying that I love...

"WHAT YOU DO SPEAKS SO LOUD THAT WHAT YOU SAY CAN'T BE HEARD."

So this is a lot of talk and now it is time to get back to action...


Thanks for reading!! I promise to see you soon!

Jay