Do: Always Swim Near a Lifeguard

You probably do not want to hear it, but you are not an Olympic swimmer, and neither is your child. Always swim near a lifeguard no matter the body of water. Water is dangerous. Tides and currents change constantly. Do not enter the water overly confident that you can handle anything that comes your way. This beach etiquette tip might save your life or your child’s life one day.

Don’t: Feed the Seagulls

Since I am a lifelong Ocean City summer resident, I will stick with the laws at America’s Greatest Family Resort. It is illegal to feed the seagulls anywhere on this barrier island. The same goes for most places throughout Cape May County, including Cape May. You can face fines for feeding the seagulls in Ocean City. These birds have become very aggressive towards visitors due to being fed by beachgoers and those traversing the boardwalk. Just don’t do it.

Do: Watch Your Children When in the Water

You should always keep an eye on your children when at the beach, but this is especially important when they are in the water. This means you are going to have to get up from your blanket or beach chair and head towards the shoreline. It can be difficult to pick your child out of a group of people wading in the ocean when you are 50 yards up the beach listening to music or texting the day away. Don’t be lazy. Stand by the water’s edge. Even move your chair down to the water. Just always make sure you have an eye on your child. Things can go south in an instant.

Don’t: Crowd Others

We enjoyed our final beach day of the 2024 summer season on Sunday before heading home to prepare for the new school year. It was a beautiful day weather-wise, but it was frustrating with the amount of ignorant people present. One of the biggest beach etiquette tips out there is not to crowd others.

If you see a group of people already set up on the beach, do not drop your chair and towel directly on top of them to the point where they can reach out and poke you. This has always been a steadfast rule. I understand that some beach towns have very small beaches and the streets on the north end of the island in Ocean City have little room to maneuver. I get it. However, the south end beaches are vastly larger, giving you plenty of space to find a good spot to set up camp for the day. Do not crowd me.

Do: Take Your Trash With You

Just in case you have zero sense about you, every single beach street in Ocean City and many other barrier islands has trash cans at the entrances. Often, these entrances have trash and recycling cans, some with cans at the entrance on the street and once you emerge through the opening in the dunes. Take all of your trash with you and deposit it in the correct can when leaving. Too many times the boys have been digging in the sand to find wrappers, empty water ice cups, plastic spoons, empty cracker boxes and more.

Don’t: Play Loud Music

No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear your crappy music when spending the day on the beach. I don’t care if you are blaring classic rock or country, two of my favorite music genres. No one wants to hear your music.

I will go out on a limb and even say that I do not want to hear your livestream of a podcast, YouTube video, or even the broadcast of the Phillies game. I am on the beach to enjoy the sounds of summer: the waves crashing, kids playing, birds chirping and the lifeguard whistles whistling. This is an important beach etiquette tip you should always follow.

Do: Be Mindful of the Tide

One of my biggest pet peeves is when a family trapses down the beach to the shoreline with no idea of the tide, sets up all of their stuff, and then has to move back as the tide rises, ultimately setting up shop right on top of us. There are plenty of free apps out there that tell you the daily tide schedule.

You can also walk up to the lifeguard stand and ask. You will quickly make a lot of enemies on the beach by retreating from the incoming tide if you plop down on top of others who took the appropriate measures upon their arrival at the beach that day.

Don’t: Walk On Other People’s Towels

When you see beach towels laid out in the sand it is not an invitation for you to trapse all over them. Whether it is you or your child, be sure to watch where you step. Kicking sand all over someone else’s towel, or stepping on it when fresh out of the water can really upset fellow beachgoers.

Beach Etiquette is Common Sense

Even as I write that headline I know that common sense is rare these days. Please, for all of us who enjoy a day at the beach, have some common sense and follow these do’s and don’ts for a quality day in the sun.

The post Beach Etiquette: The Do’s and Don’ts of a Day at the Beach appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

Baseball Was Different Back in 2004

The 2004 season was a magical one in Major League Baseball. The Boston Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino in amazing fashion by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series after trailing 3-0 in the ALCS to the New York Yankees.

I was fresh out of high school (Holy Cross – Delran Class of ’04!) and embarking on the start of my freshman year at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey pursuing a degree in Radio/TV/Film (now simply just Communications). While at Rowan I joined the radio station (Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM) and had the opportunity to broadcast Rowan Baseball and Camden Riversharks games. I then moved into coaching, returning to both Holy Cross (2007-2009) and Rowan (2010-2011) as an assistant coach.

My Foray Into Baseball Began at a Young Age

As with many children in America, I was introduced to the national pastime when I was a toddler. From t-ball to coach pitch to player pitch to high school baseball; the game has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

I credit my grandfathers with my love of the sport. Always willing to answer my questions, impart wisdom about the game, and teach me the ins and outs of the sport; they instilled a love of the game in me from a very early age.

I spent many a summer night sitting on the couch of our house in Ocean City watching our beloved Phillies lose another heartbreaker in the 90s and early 2000s with my maternal grandfather (we will call him GG). My other grandfather (Pop-Pop) would call me on the landline (yes, pre-mobile phone days) to discuss the latest Phils loss or how I was doing in my Malton rec league season.

And then, there were countless nights spent at Veterans Stadium with my Gia and Pop-Pop, mom, dad, and brother and only a few thousand other fans watching Kent Bottenfield or Amaury Telemaco serve up homers, Ron Gant track down fly balls, Scott Rolen make diving stops at third and Travis Lee or Rico Brogna scoop low throws at first.

I have the autographs of all these players and then some. My dad would take me to the annual Phillies ALS Festival every year. It was a fundraiser to help fight Lou Gehrig’s disease. Here I would get to talk to my childhood heroes from the 1993 World Series team in Mickey Morandini, John Kruk, Darren Daulton and Harry Kalas.

Ahh, the golden age of Phillies baseball!

Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004 and there was a buzz in the Philadelphia region like no other. The team kept getting oh so close to the playoffs under Larry Bowa and with a new stadium, players were starting to notice a shift in the organization. Jim Thome chose to come play for the Phillies (what a coup that was!). But I digress.

Where Did it All Go Wrong for the Sport?

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa effectively saved baseball during the summer of 1998 as they both pursued the single season homerun record held by Roger Maris since 1961 of 61 roundtrippers. McGwire eventually broke the record and set a new one at 70 that year, only to be broken by Barry Bonds in 2001 with 73.

Baseball has changed since the 1950s to today, but never more so than it has in the past 20 years. We have gone from multiple 300-game winners, 300-strikeout seasons, players with 40 or more stolen bases to barely scratching the surface of a few of these categories today.

We will never see Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive games played streak broken, or another 300-game winner, or even a pitcher hit a home run in a World Series game. The last to accomplish this feat was Joe Blanton in 2008 with the Phillies against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Many thought Bud Selig overstayed his welcome as the league’s commissioner. Well, Rob Manfred has done his absolute best to destroy the game many of us once loved. I will admit; it is very hard to watch games these days because of all the changes, many of which have not been for the betterment of the sport in my humble opinion.

Baseball Has Changed: Rules Changes Have Altered the Game I Once Knew

Since the home run race of 1998, things have changed drastically for baseball as we once knew it. In fact, baseball has changed so much since 2004 that it is almost unrecognizable at this point for diehard fans stuck in the past (hi, that’s me!).

Teams no longer bunt (many players simply do not know how to bunt), hitting with runners in scoring position is a thing of the past, pitchers barely break five innings and being a sound strategist in the dugout as a manager is no longer necessary (thanks DH in both leagues and limited pitching changes).

I have seen quite a few posts from friends on Facebook and members of baseball groups I belong to complaining about the way the game is played today. I have to agree. Here is a list of what no longer happens or is no longer allowed to happen because of rules changes:

• Runners are no longer allowed to break up double plays
• The catcher is no longer allowed to block the plate
• Infielders cannot block the bases during steal attempts
• The designated hitter (DH) is now permanent in both leagues
• A pitch clock has been added to increase the speed of the game
• Pitchers cannot fake to third and then throw to first on pickoff attempts
• Pitchers have limited opportunities to pick off runners
• Hitters or pitchers are automatically assessed a ball or strike if they fail to adhere to the pitch clock
• A relief pitcher is required to face at least three hitters before being removed, unless it is the start of a new inning
• Teams are only afforded five total mound visits per game
• A runner is placed at second base to start each half inning during an extra inning game (the player who made the final out of the previous inning)
• The need for multiple digital accounts to watch your favorite team

The addition of these rules has changed the game as we know it. While game speed has increased over the past two seasons, gameplay is much different than it was 20 years ago.

Baseball Has Changed: The Art of the Sacrifice Bunt is Gone – Part Two of This Blog Series

One of the most frustrating changes to the game is the lack of sacrifice bunts by teams throughout the league. I watch a lot of baseball, not just the Phillies, and it has become problematic from coast to coast. Part two of this blog series will take a look at the lost art of the sacrifice bunt. Be on the lookout soon for this blog and more on how baseball has changed in the last 20 years as I delve into a different area of the sport with each blog.

The post What Happened to the Game I Love? A Look at How Baseball Has Changed in 20 Years appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

My A1C Has Dropped to 7.6

Bloodwork conducted in April revealed that my A1C hit 9.6, the highest it has been to my knowledge since my diabetic journey began back in 2021. I was surprised, stunned, and worried with that number when I first saw it. Surprised because I had been feeling the best I had felt in a long time. No longer was I constantly tired or sluggish, so the high number made me concerned.

My endocrinologist was very concerned too. We discussed my daily habits, including my food intake, mental health, and mobility. The A1C measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over a three-month span.

Seeing that number drop by almost two full points this August brought a smile to my face. The work I have put in to improving my metabolic numbers and overall health since April has started to pay dividends. However, my weight is not where I would like it to be (260 pounds).

I Prefer to Hover Around 230 Pounds

I know that 230 pounds for a person who stands at five feet, six inches still is not ideal when it comes to BMI, but it is the first marker I have set for myself since my diabetic journey began three years ago.

When this journey started I was able to drop 35 pounds in the span of eight months by walking constantly, eating right, cutting out sugary snacks and drinks and taking my prescriptions at the same time of day every day.

While it is obvious to me when standing in front of the mirror that I have put the weight back on, I physically do not feel the added weight. My mobility has not changed (aside from a nagging knee issue that has been with me since my early 20s).

The inability to shed the weight at this point in my journey has frustrated me. I walk between 10,000 and 15,000 steps per day at a brisk pace. What makes the inability to lose weight even more frustrating is the fact that my bloodwork results were so strong, including my sugar levels (134 – the lowest my sugar has been since I measured 371 in the hospital in 2021).

I Start on Ozempic Next Week for Weight Loss and A1C

A routine visit to the endocrinologist this week resulted in him prescribing Ozempic for me beginning with next week. He was ecstatic to see the turnaround in my metabolic blood panel, especially the A1C and blood sugar levels. He shared concern with me that I have struggled with losing weight.

We discussed Ozempic and Wagovy, ultimately settling on Ozempic to start. I will begin with low doses to ensure that my body can handle it (monitor for side effects) and then up the dosage over the span of a few weeks.

Diabetic Treatment is a Marathon Not a Sprint

I keep reminding myself that diabetic treatment is a marathon and not a sprint. It is trial and error as no two diabetic people are the same. What works for one does not always work for another. This includes the exercises used to lose weight, diets, prescription medications and injectables.

For all I know, Ozempic will not work for the goals I have set for weight loss. That is why I will not get my hopes up that it will work for me. If I need to pivot to a different injectable, or even add in a different pill to treat the diabetes, so be it. Only time will tell if this is the right path in my diabetic journey.

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This rock orchestra has been thrilling audiences since their first show in Philadelphia back in 1999. We had the opportunity to see them perform for the first time in Manchester, New Hampshire over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

The orchestra doesn’t waste time opening their shows. The lights go dark, the orchestra comes onto the stage, and the performance begins with a lot of lasers, smoke, light and sound.

The orchestra is quite impressive. There are multiple guitarists, at least eight singers, a pianist, a drummer, a violinist a narrator and more. Every single member of the orchestra has a job to perform and they all do it quite well. It is truly amazing to see so many people mesh seamlessly in such a large-scale performance.

This year’s tour is called The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. A narrator beautifully leads the audience through a wonderfully written story about Christmas Eves past. The story is intertwined with the music and it blends perfectly.

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo

One of the orchestra’s most popular songs is Christmas Eve/Sarajevo. It was originally released by Savatage, but was re-released by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a few members of Savatage had joined the band.

The song is an instrumental that combines “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Shchedryk” in a performance that is both soft and loud at times. It is easily one of the most recognizable songs that the orchestra performs.

See the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Live

You can watch hundreds of videos of the orchestra online, but until you see it in person, the videos just don’t do the band any justice. The orchestra will be coming to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on December 17 for two shows (3 pm and 7:30 pm).

Do yourself a favor and get tickets. Be prepared for a long show. The performance we saw in Manchester, New Hampshire, lasted close to three hours. It is worth every penny and every minute.

The post Experience the Thrill of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

Even though fire safety should be a year-round topic in your home, it becomes even more important during the holidays. You will likely be cooking a lot of meals at home, including a turkey on Thanksgiving. Whether you use the traditional oven or fry your turkey, a lot can go wrong if you are not careful.

Aside from cooking, Thanksgiving week/weekend is a popular time for people to decorate their homes for Christmas. This includes buying a Christmas tree, hanging lights on the exterior of homes, and possibly overloading outlets and circuits.

As you can see, fire safety at home during the holiday season doesn’t just involve cooking. There are plenty of ways you can be fire safe and we will discuss them in today’s post.

How to Be Fire Safe: Cooking During the Holidays

Cooking is the leading cause of home fire and injuries caused by home fires every year. The numbers from 2021 are staggering:

• Roughly 170,000 home cooking fires
• 135 deaths from home cooking fires
• 3,000 injuries
• $494 million in property loss

Now, for some life and property saving fire safety tips when cooking during the holidays:

• Never leave a pan unattended with the burner lit
• Put a lid on pots with boiling water
• Turn all pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove to avoid burns and knocking them over
• Keep a baking sheet within reach should you need to use it to cover a fire
• Move all flammable items away from the stove
• Do not wear overly loose or long clothing when cooking
• Do not plug any appliances into extension cords

Turkey Safety for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has become a popular time for people to experiment with new ways to cook their turkeys. For this reason alone, fire departments across the country respond to thousands of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day. Follow these tips to avoid a fire when cooking your turkey either in an over or in a fryer:

• Use the fryer outdoors and not on a porch or under an overhang
• Make sure the fryer is at least 10 feet from any structure
• Place the fryer on flat ground
• Do not let your children or pets near the fryer
• Lower and raise the turkey into the fryer slowly to prevent oil spills and fire
• Only use a turkey that has thawed completely and is dry
• Keep a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry powder) near the fryer in the event that oil catches fire

Fire Safe Holiday Decorating Tips

Cooking is not the only fire danger present during the holiday season. Decorating can also lead to home fires no matter the age of your property. Whether you decorate your home to the nines or only erect a single tree; you should still practice fire safety by following these tips:

• Check light strands each year and throw away those that are worn, torn, pinched or frayed
• If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure it is watered often – at least daily (a dry tree is more likely to catch fire)
• Use flameless candles operated by batteries
• Do not leave your tree plugged in and turned on when not at home
• If you do use real candles, leave them one foot away from anything flammable
• Read all of the manufacturer’s guidelines for your decorations and do not string together more than the recommended number of light strands
• Remove your Christmas tree not long after Christmas or when you notice it has dried out
• Set up your tree three feet from heat sources (fireplace, vents, space heaters, radiators or candles)
• Do not block any exits with the tree

Please watch the following video to see how quickly a dry Christmas tree can burn if not watered properly:

Do you have tips for a fire safe holiday season? Have you experienced an unfortunate fire during a holiday? Your story might help save someone from that same stress. Please share it in the comments section.

Be sure to subscribe to The Jimmy V Archives. You will only receive an email when I publish new content. Thanks for reading!

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The light display features dozens of different Christmas themes, including the 12 Days of Christmas, candy canes, famous movie characters and legendary storybooks. The 12 Days of Christmas start off the holiday light show as you drive deeper into the farm. The ride lasts roughly 20 minutes, whether you take your own vehicle or jump on a hayride.

The Magic of Christmas: It’s Santa!

There is plenty to enjoy at Shady Brook Farm during the Christmas season, including shopping, smores over open bonfires, a lighted decorative walking path, farm animals, libations, snacks and even Santa Claus!

Santa can be found in the heated tent/store adjacent to the main store at the farm. He sits on a beautiful red velvet throne and is surrounded by his helpful elves. You can purchase a package of pictures available in print form and digital files.

Prepare for Crowds

We visited Shady Brook Farm this weekend, which wound up being opening night. We were presently surprised at how empty the place was. It won’t last long, though. The farm gets crazy busy after Thanksgiving. If you plan on going, be prepared to sit in traffic leading to the farm from both directions.

In the height of the magic of Christmas, Shady Brook Farm can be packed. You are often walking shoulder to shoulder on the grounds, in the store, and in the parking lots. However, the team there runs a tight ship, so do not let any of this deter you. Secure your tickets to this year’s Shady Brook Farm holiday light show before it’s too late.

Have you ever visited Shady Brook Farm during the Christmas season for their famous light show? If so, share your pictures with my readers in the comments section. If you have never been, be sure to enjoy the magic of Christmas at Shady Brook Farm this year with your family and friends.

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The post The Magic of Christmas Begins at Shady Brook Farm appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

Frasier is in the midst of a reboot over on Paramount+, a streaming service. If you do not have access to the service, sign-up for a free trial or buy a plan because Frasier alone is worth the subscription.

Boston’s Favorite Son, Frasier, Returns

Frasier’s story began in Boston when he walked into the bar Cheers as the new love interest of Diane Chambers. His character launched one of the most popular sitcoms in television history when Frasier debuted on September 16, 1993.

The eccentric radio psychiatrist moved to Seattle, Washington to host a show on KACL and live with his recently injured police officer father, Martin Crane. Things started off rough between him and Martin before a wonderful father-son relationship blossomed before our eyes.

In the reboot of the popular series, Frasier is back in Boston where it all began for the sitcom character. This time, he is living with his adult son Freddy, who is a Boston firefighter, and reunited with an old friend from Oxford in a teaching position at Harvard.

An Honest Review

I am as biased as they come when talking about Frasier. He is my favorite character from Cheers and I am an avid watcher of the original sitcom. The first two episodes were decent. They weren’t earth shattering. But, they were good enough to keep my interest piqued.

Yes, there are times where the humor is dry and the laughs seem forced, but you get that at times with every sitcom in history. There are also times that are incredibly poignant. Specifically, an interaction in an early episode between Frasier and Freddy about Martin.

There is an episode released every Thursday on Paramount+. I recommend sticking with the series if you started it and aren’t sure. The last few episodes have been nothing short of hilarious.

Frasier once again finds himself stuck in a difficult situation involving two women (sound familiar?) and this time Niles or Martin aren’t there to help. It’s Freddy he has to rely on for assistance.

The reboot likely won’t win any awards. But, it is strong enough to warrant a second season, in my opinion.

What are your opinions of the sitcom reboot if you have seen it? Did you watch the original show? Let’s talk about it in the comments section.

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The post The Return of Frasier: A Must Watch Reboot appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

Sign #1: The Dog Gets More Excited to See Nonna Than Mom After a Long Day

With Nicole teaching, I am the only one home with Thelma during the day. She doesn’t move around much. I mean, she is a basset hound. She hops off the couch every now and then for a quick drink of water or a jaunt outside. Other than that, she doesn’t take part in much activity.

Thelma gets excited when I bring the boys home from school and she goes nuts when Nicole walks into the house. However, when Nonna comes for a visit, Thelma absolutely loses her mind. She howls louder for Nonna than anyone else to the point where it sounds like she is mooing like a cow.

Thelma runs around the family room, jumps on and off the couch, and can barely contain herself. Nonna brings out some of the best reactions in Thelma. They get even better when Chief walks through the door. She has full-fledged conversations with Chief, often barking at him from across the room.

Sign #2: Your Dog Has to Cuddle Nightly With Nonna

When we are in Ocean City for the summer, Thelma has to cuddle nightly with her Nonna. Thelma will sit at the top of the steps at the dog gate waiting for me to let her into Nonna’s room. She then sprints (well, moves at a pace faster than what she is used to) to Nonna’s bedside. Thelma waits there for me to lift her onto the bed. She will cuddle with Nonna for hours every night of the summer until it’s time for me to hit the hay.

Sign #3: Sleepovers at Nonna’s House Are Special

Thelma had a sleepover at Nonna and Chief’s in February while we visited Woodloch for President’s Day weekend. She is slated for another one this Thanksgiving. Thelma loves staying at Nonna and Chief’s house. She has full reign of the first floor just like in Ocean City. Whenever Nonna turns around, Thelma is right there with her.

Sign #4: Nonna is the Only One Who Can Give Thelma “Food”

We have made it a habit to avoid giving Thelma people food. We got into that bad habit with our first basset, Phoebe, and it was difficult to break her of it. When Thelma arrived in our lives we made it a point to avoid too much people food, especially since she is on the heavier side.

Nonna is the only one who can give Thelma people food and get away with it. Isn’t that what grandparents are for? They are here to spoil their grandkids and granddogs without repercussions.

Sign #5: The Pup Gets So Excited They Pant for Hours

We visited Nonna and Chief last night and brought Thelma with us. She got so excited to be at their house that she panted excessively for the entire time we were there and for hours upon our return home.

How are your pets treated by their grandparents? Are they spoiled to no end? Let’s talk about it in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Jimmy V Archives. You will only receive an email when I publish new content. Thanks for reading!

The post 5 Signs Your Dog Loves Their Grandparents More Than You appeared first on The Jimmy V Archives.

I have always had trouble with food. Not that it is an excuse because every culture has their food-related hobbies, but I am Italian. Our entire culture is centered around food. When families get together for even the smallest event, there is a large spread present.

There’s a running joke in Italian families that you cannot turn down a meal, especially when it is offered by your Nonna or grandmother. It’s almost an insult to say no to a meal or “light” snack when offered one from an Italian. Self control is a necessary skill to have when dealing with diabetes.

My Diabetic Journey: My Struggles With Food

My struggles with food go back to when I was a teenager. Even though I was quite thin as a child (I had to wear slim pants in school), I still ate more than my fair share of food at meals and for snacks once I hit high school. This eventually led to developing poor eating habits that followed me into college and adulthood.

What makes matters worse is that I continued to eat and gain weight knowing that diabetes runs in my family. It truly is challenging when everything that tastes good is bad for you.

I have been battling those same eating habits since being diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic. There have been times where I have conquered those habits for a couple of months in a row, shedding pounds and staying strong. Then, there are times where I fall back into a realm of constant snacking and eating too much at dinner.

The Problem With Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to truly look at everything you are thankful for in life. It is also spent sitting around a table with quite a bit of food. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, pies, cookies and cakes. It is hard to stick to a diet when the holidays arrive.

What makes matters worse is that I have never liked Turkey, the main dish for Thanksgiving. Turkey is not my thing. Not the lunchmeat version. Not the fresh turkey breast you can get at a restaurant. And certainly not the turkey you have on Thanksgiving.

Because of my disdain for turkey, my mom would make chicken parm on Thanksgiving. So, despite avoiding turkey, I would still find myself eating a lot of food. Multiple helpings of chicken. Plenty of rolls. Dessert too, if there were options other than pie.

The Gap Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

There is a nice little gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas where I tell myself I will eat better so I can indulge more once Christmas arrives. That never seems to come to fruition for me. Between the Christmas party at the firehouse, the staff Christmas party at St. Charles, and constantly being on the go; eating right takes a back seat.

The gap is not long enough to get back on track with my diet before Christmas arrives. I know this sounds like a lot of excuses. It does to me too. But, maybe if I put them in writing it will force me to make better decisions this year. Hopefully I will eat fewer rolls. Or, I might eat less seafood on Christmas Eve (Feast of the Seven Fishes).

Either way, seeing my mistakes on paper hits harder. I know what I look like in the mirror. It makes me angry. My anger then turns to stress. Then, my stress turns into binge eating. It is a coping mechanism. It is also a vicious cycle that I seem to be unable to break.

My Diabetic Journey: New Year’s Day Brings New Resolutions

Hope springs eternal on New Year’s Day. There is the promise of a better year ahead if you struggled in the previous year. Many people love setting goals for the new year for themselves, resolutions to improve their lives.

But, what does New Year’s Day bring? A celebration with family around the table. A traditional meal for New Year’s Day is ham. Ham is often paired with mashed potatoes, rolls, and other carbs. While ham is a good option for diabetics due to it being a source of lean protein, the side dishes that are served with it defeat the purpose.

Are you worried about the holiday season and your diet? Have you struggled with bad food habits during the holidays? A little willpower goes a long way towards improving those bad habits. Let’s talk about it in the comments section.

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Jimmy V Archives. You will only receive an email when I publish new content. Thanks for reading about my diabetic journey!

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Chris had recently hit his fifth decade on Earth, had lost both of his parents, and was reveling in being a grandfather for the first time. Tony had turned one not long before we lost Chris. He only remembers things about him through pictures and stories we have told him through the years.

The Loss of a Loved one and Grief

It is never easy to lose a loved one. However, the blow is softened just a little bit when you expect it. For example, losing a grandparent in their 90s who has been battling health issues for months or years. But, losing a parent in your late 20s when you imagine them holding your child for years to come is unfathomable.

We lost my Uncle Steve to pancreatic cancer years before Chris. I will never forget my Aunt Val telling my mother-in-law Peg that their situations were completely different. Aunt Val and my cousins had time to come to terms (whatever that may be) with Uncle Steve passing away. Aunt Val flat out told Peg that Chris was ripped away from us.

While I tend to agree with that, it is still hard losing a loved one in any capacity. I have always struggled with grief. My Uncle Domenico died when I was in fourth grade. We lost my maternal grandmom, Rose, when I was in fifth grade. It took me a long time to process her death.

My paternal grandfather, Albert, died when I was in college. That one hurt a lot despite seeing him battle Alzheimer’s for so long. Then, not long before we got married, we lost Nicole’s paternal grandparents, Nan and Pop (Jane and John).

Just a few months after Chris died we lost Nicole’s paternal grandfather, Joe. In March of 2022, I lost my maternal grandfather, Jim, at the age of 98. Grief has been and always will be a part of everyone’s life. It can be debilitating at times. It can also be eye-opening if you know how to learn from it.

Uncle Domenico and Grandmom Rose

When Uncle Domenico and Grandmom Rose died while I was in grade school, I would see the school counselor. It was helpful to a point, but I still struggled with replaying those days in my mind. I have a very photographic memory and I also remember a lot of what people say to me.

I will never forget what my other grandmother, Gia, told myself and my brother the day before Rose died. Her and my Pop-Pop, Al, had been staying with us in Marlton while my dad worked and my mom sat at Rose’s bedside. Gia told us that her and Pop-Pop would only be at our house after school the next day if it was absolutely necessary.

Fast forward to the following day. My brother and I exit the school bus. I see Gia standing on the steps of our old townhouse. Right then and there I knew that Grandmom Rose had died. I didn’t need anyone to tell me.

The Loss of a Loved One: How I Deal With Grief

When we lost Chris in 2013 I never properly processed his death or dealt with my grief. I had to keep it together for a reeling family. Nicole and I had been first-time parents for just around 14 months at the time. My brother-in-law was in his senior year at Temple University. Nicole was in her third year of teaching.

It was on me to hold it together and keep the family moving forward, as much as we all wanted to give up. I did not process my grief. Contrary to movies, books, and many families; Chris and I were close.

You always hear horror stories of how in-laws fail to get along. That wasn’t the case with our two families. We all truly got along, and still do. As someone coming to date Chris’ daughter and eventually marry her, he and I always got along. We always saw eye-to-eye on a lot of things. We both loved the Phillies, Ocean City, and food. There was rarely, if ever, an uncomfortable moment or conversation between us.

The day Chris died I truly lost a father figure in my life. I looked up to him and valued his opinion as much as my own father’s. It took until last October for me to finally process my grief from losing Chris. Couple that with the recent loss of my grandmother Gia and grandfather Jim, and I decided it was time to seek help from a therapist.

I tried therapy a few years before Gia died, but the woman I picked was very unprofessional. She actually told me that, “Well, everyone dies.” Yes, everyone dies. But, not everyone knows how to handle death, especially when it is the loss of a loved one. I quickly stopped seeing her. The therapist I have been seeing since October 2022 has been much more helpful.

How to Find Peace in Death

You can find peace in death after losing a loved one or close friend by doing the following:

• Accept the reality of your loss no matter how painful
• Cope through the pain by feeling your feelings instead of avoiding them
• Adjust to your new life without the person in it
• Do not forget your loved one; move forward by remaining connected to your memories of them instead of trying to forget them
• Seek grief counseling

Grief is one of the most difficult feelings to overcome. It can cripple your daily life. How do you deal with grief after death? Let’s talk about it in the comments section. Maybe what you do can help someone else work through their grief.

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