Anybody heard any good jokes lately?
Hi everybody!
You’ve got the pilot here. I hope this finds you well. I’m doing pretty good but of course I’ve noticed a little bit of discontent in your usually cheerful reading and I was hoping to talk to you guys and shed a little light on a couple things so you can focus once again on what you love – living happy and healthy lives.
Guys/girls, I don’t know if you know this or not, but my name’s Tom. I’m telling you this because history’s taught us that people with single syllable names have always been a reliable voice of reason. Stop thinking of names from history and just consider a little of what I have to say 🙂 I think you’ll find from reading this and past pilot posts (PPP’s) that I like all of you guys and that I’m genuinely humbled and thankful every time I get to talk to such a large group of intelligent, passionate folks. So no hard feelings about any of this stuff, right? Come’on – you wouldn’t be mad at a guy named Tom, would you? Stop thinking of Tom’s you don’t like and please, continue reading.
You all have probably got to know my wife Gina (a.k.a. the Fitnessista – fun fact: pronounced like “fashionista” in case you thought you had been reading fitness tips from your “sista” 😉 ). So you probably know she’s a loving and caring person that probably actually over thinks her postings so she doesn’t offend anyone. She takes so much pleasure in seeing you guys happy whether or not that’s a result of the tidbits she offers up on here. I can tell she’s extremely bothered by the fact that the whole April Fool’s day joke has turned a little nasty (and I’m trying to be a good hubby and clear the air so I can see her smiling again).
Here’s the deal, folks. Gina wrote her little post based on the fact that she would not normally eat a pulled pork sandwich and fries. You would be shocked if she did! Well, I know I would because that’s not how she eats on a regular basis. Ready for the cliché, “sitcom” caveat: NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT 🙂 She doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat pulled pork if that works for you and it’s what you like. Before going pescatarian, it was one of her favorites. Is anybody really offended by that? Really…realllllly……realllllllllly? If anybody’s allowed to be offended, it should be me: IT WAS MY PULLED PORK SANDWICH!!! And guess what, I wasn’t embarrassed in the least. I love ‘em and while I know it’s important to eat most food types in moderation, this was way worth it…and delicious.
I know these issues mean a lot to you all and things might have just gotten a little out of hand but we’re all friends here. There’s no reason to get up in arms at each other. I mean, I wake up everyday and go to a job where me and my little 30,000lb aircraft fly 400mph at 100ft off the ground where only a tiny lapse in concentration or malfunction away from a very bad day and I don’t take daily life this serious. In fact, I’m able to be relatively sane thanks to the levity of my charming and often hilarious wife. So jokes are good, right guys?
Look, it’s all cool. I still love all you guys (and so does Gina, of course) and nobody has any grudges. So, let’s press from here and leave this misunderstanding in the past. If you still have any heartburn over it, come on down to visit and I will proudly share my Smokin’ Pig Bar-b-que with you while the Fitnessista breaks out the wine.
Cheers,
The Pilot
205 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
great post and wonderful point about not taking life to seriously and getting so upset over an april fools post 🙂
Great post, birthday twin! I haven’t had a chance to read any of the comments from the earlier post so I’m shocked to hear that it turned nasty! It was just a joke, sheesh! I thought it was hilarious! I was slightly jealous that I hadn’t had Smok’n Pig for dinner last night. I was all, “Go Gina!” Even if you really had the sandwich, you’re only human and are entitled to give in to the temptation of a delightful hunk of meat (no doubt pecan roasted before shredded)!!
Love this post! Can’t believe ppl got so upset! Bygones
Pilot to the rescue!! Gotta love it! 🙂
I have to say I didn’t catch the comments in questions but I’m disappointed that things took an ugly turn. You do a wonderful job on this little bloggy of yours amiga. Make it your space! Share what you want! And ignore the haters – you have many supporters out there. Like me!!!
Lots of love!
Hello TOM (the pilot)!
You are a sweet man and you have a sweet wife. I’m sad that there was any negative mumbo jumbo going on earlier because I know how fun-loving Gina is and actually smiled when I read her post. Jokes are great and so are pork and fries if that’s your thang!
Its sad when people would get angry over a joke…posted on the INTERNET! If you read Gina’s blog you would see how the joke of this post fits right in. I don’t understand why people need to be rude and hurt others feelings. Thanks for the great reminder on not taking life too seriously.
You are awesome! Gina’s a lucky lady:)
yes i am 🙂 i hit the man lottery with that one
thank you Tom for sticking up for the wife! she is one of my heroes and i would be crushed if she stopped blogging do to a nasty little jealous blogger(whoops was that too much?)
i got it as a joke, and the majority of the intelligent readers did and appreciated a little salty(haha get it?) humor.
so thank u again, tell Gina she better keep on posting otherwise i may just have to threaten to stop making her recipes!
Great post Tom! I think it is so great you are so supportive of Gina and you can tell you really love her..
I am sorry things have gotten so bad for you today girl! Just remember tomorrow is a new day 🙂
I know I wasn’t up in arms about her “joke”-
I was upset by her response a post written by another blogger who brought up questions about the blog world in general and used her post as an example. The response post wasn’t attacking, but I found that her response is what turned it into a controversy.
I’m obviously still reading, because the blog is great, but I have to take the other side on this one.
Actually, I’m going to be a little MORE honest. This post appears to be causing even more drama. The other blogger’s post was not mean, it wasn’t attacking- had you just left it alone, it all would have gone away!
I’m going to take a break from the Fitnessista – I really do love the blog most of the time, but I think everyone (me included) need to just chillll.
what a great hubby! gina, i thought your april fool’s day joke was cute and didn’t take it in any way that you were making fun of anyone or their choices in particular. although everyone’s entitled to their opinion, guess what? YOU ARE TOO. we all have the right to live the way we want to live, and if someone’s doing or not doing something simply because they read it on a blog, then they need to become an adult and make their own decisions. i admire that you’ve made the choices you have and i truly look forward to reading your posts every day 🙂 keep up the great work!
Well said, Tom! 🙂 I think it is charming how you’ve posted here, and you and G$ seem like such a great team.
I completely agree – life is way too short to freak out over such minor things as what we’re eating (and this coming from someone going for a second degree in nutrition). Life is for LIVING, and yes, food and eating are parts of that, but there is so much more to life.
Anywho, love the guest post. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the Pilot, Gina! 😉
Gina, you rock. You’ve inspired me to live an even healthier and happier life, and I’m sure I’m not the only one you’ve inspired.
Tom, thanks for telling us your name. And for defending our country. And you are very handsome, by the way.
@Molly@fuelherup
and I am sure YOU just lost several readers.
I’m obviously in the minority here. I love Gina, I don’t think she had bad intentions, I actually thought the April Fool’s post was funny. But the blogger who responded and linked back to that post was small blogger, like myself, and I saw her point. I just started and don’t have that many readers to begin with, so I identified with her. I’m willing to admit I could be wrong- I was trying not to be mean or hurtful, so if it came across that way I’m sorry. I thought she could have handled it better, I felt like things kind of blew up, so I thought, I won’t read the next few posts, I’ll cool down, and then return as a regular reader.
I feel really awful now, because I meant to respectfully disagree. I repeat: I LOVE GINA! She’s awesome, she’s an inspiration, she’s sweet, she has a great husband.
molly, like the pilot said, no hard feelings. i love having you as a reader <3
You’re obviously a classy lady 🙂
I love Pilot posts! 🙂
Now I can’t decide who is funnier, Gina or Tom!? You guys are both hilarious. Gina, I know this has been a stressful day for you but I do hope you can see all of the readers here (like me) who back you up 110% and totally thought it was all just fun… sending you hugs! I saw your twitter post and maybe a blogging break would refresh you and give you time to think about why you write and how you want to proceed. Xoxoxo
TOM-this post made me smile and laugh. Out loud. I also always enjoy Gina’s posts. I feel so bad that someone actually made her feel bad about this mornings post. Some people are WAY too serious. I hope Gina comes back to us soon, I need some ‘fitness sista’!
<3 to you both!
It’s april fools!! I’ve heard of a lot worse jokes than pretending to eat pulled pork. For example, my best friend just emailed the rest of our best friends and told them I got a DUI and was in jail…
Friends will use little white lies to play April Fools jokes on you. Great friends stop just short of forging legal documents and photoshop for a laugh.
Great post Matt! Thanks for sticking up for our favorite Fitnessista! She deserves this and it’s awesome to see you be her biggest advocate and fan!
Thanks for the support in all this guys. Gina loves you. P.S. Matt is just my ghost writer. This was all Tom 😉
You BOTH are lucky, lucky people to have one another. (I’m basicaly 125% sure you both know this already too :P)
Thanks for the pop-in Pilot! What a great support, and I hope you both get to curl up, and enjoy a Drama, and STRESS FREE evening together.
great post. way to stick up for your lady 🙂
Tom, you are a wonderful husband to a wonderful woman!!
Gina, the MAJORITY of your readers support you and love you and laughed with you and will continue to support, love, and laugh with you. Those are the people that deserve your attention and energies! Don’t worry about the small few who bring you down.
Hope you’re feeling better!!
What an awesome post, Tom! I am so glad that you are sticking up for G Money cuz I was in no way offended by that post and I think that things spiraled out of control…there was no way that people should have reacted in that manner…no idea why when her readers who know her (and know how kind, sweet, funny, giving and selfless she is) would no that it wasn’t mean spirited and that she is a gem who made a funny. Hope she’s ok! Love you, G…you are an inspiration and I think your post was funny!
I didn’t read the comments on the other post, and now I’m kind of glad I didn’t! Who cares what other people eat – joking or not? Oh well… It was fun to read a pilot post though! I love guys sticking up for their ladies. 🙂
Hope you both have a wonderful weekend!!
My boyfriend( a Med student) is seriously considering becoming a doctor in the Air Force. I was SO worried about getting into the whole military thang, but let me tell you, this post makes me want to sign him right up…how awesome is the Pilot?! What a supportive and totally on point post Pilot, you rock!!!
Gina- I can’t even start my day without your blog! You are fantastic motivator and usually leave me with a smile, today’s April Fools post was no different! I saw your twitter, and I am SO sad that someone’s personal issues turned into an attack on specific bloggers, and that it makes you not want to blog!. Your blog is YOURS. You are always positive, motivating and coming up with great ideas for your readers. You post workouts and recipes that you have worked so hard on, and share them because you love what you do. I lost 40 lbs a few years ago, and almost got totally off track last year thinking that I had to keep my weight down no matter what I was doing (eating low-cal processed crap because it was easier, or just not eating at all!)- your blog without a doubt reminds me to just be good to my body! Feed it good healthy foods and make it sweat. In NO way does your blog make me feel bad about what I eat. I’m not a vegetarian, and heck yes did I enjoy corn on the cob with a load of butter and beignets at Disneyland last week, and I still read this blog every day and LOVE it. If you need a break, I get it, this crap seems exhausting! But don’t let one bad day make you feel like what you do isn’t worth it. You motivate a lot of people every day!!
I get that this person was upset by how all of the blogger april fools jokes could be perceived.. Gina was NOT saying that eating the pulled pork was something you should feel bad about, it would just be totally out of character for her! Had she put a bailey’s milkshake on the blog today would you have been THAT surprised??? 😉
thanks girl- you’re amazing. i loved hearing your story, and yes my pilot is awesome 🙂
thank you for reading- i appreciate it so much <3
Tom! Finally we know your name! I always love reading your posts (I think one of the first posts I read over a year ago now was a guest post by you!). I haven’t read any of the mean comments, but Gina PLEASE don’t let them get to you.
Just like your real friends “know” you (like a Grey’s Anatomy Christina and Meredith friendship), your real readers know you…and we don’t think twice about your jokes. Because they are, just that, JOKES. I laughed out loud when I read your post and was actually fooled for a second!
You’re AWESOME please don’t forget it!
And you’re both very lucky to have found each other – you’re both gorgeous and kind 🙂
Awesome post Tom!
Gina, you have a great Husband! I love a pulled pork sandwich, I married a guy from IA don’t think he would have married me if I didn’t eat pork every once in a while 😉 and I wasn’t offended by your post at all. I thought it was funny. Pilot made a good point in that people need to not take little things like this that seriously.
Can I just say, A-10’s are so badass. That’s all. 🙂
Great post, Pilot! I can’t believe that anyone would get upset at Gina’s fun April Fool’s Day post! What kind of person wouldn’t find her post funny? No need to get worked up Gina – we all love you and greatly appreciate all of the work that you put into this blog. Chin up! 🙂
Bye Molly. Don’t let the door hit you…
I think what you addressed was great, Tom and you are a great husband and friend for sticking up for Gina. It’s sad when something that was supposed to be so innocent takes a nasty turn.
However, I don’t think you actually addressed the issue – the reason things turned so snarky. I didn’t get the general sense that the joke/food was the problem but instead – it was the nasty way Gina responded to the girl that expressed an opinion and happened to use her blog as an example. Can’t everyone kiss an make up?!?! I think an, “I’m sorry; this went way too far,” would be SO HELPFUL FROM BOTH GIRLS!!!
I didn’t want to seem insensitive so I want to add that I appreciate all of Gina’s hard work in making this an enjoyable blog to read in addition to noting the high b.a. factor of the Pilot’s chosen platform.
hahah. he is a badass though, so there’s no doubt about that 🙂
I think the best way to solve this is for Gina just to eat a pulled pork sandwich. 🙂
LOL. love you, pretty lady 🙂
Hilarious!
AMEN!!!!
I think Gina does an awesome job of balancing her life/diet and the fact that her joke got so nasty was just wrong. I can see her [I just imagine that you are the perkiest, cutest thing, Gina] writing that post, in such a joking cute mood and then it got attacked. 🙁
HUGS!!
Fabulous post my friend! I love that your name is public now 🙂 any time you and gina want to come back to the Chi, you’ve got a place to stay, and all the Italian beef you could want 🙂
People are silly. Silly, and sometimes a little dumb.
What a man, that Pilot! Sweet sweet husband!
Tom or Matt? haha whichever it is, you and your wife are both amazing people! don’t let anyone tell you any different! =)
oh My! I know many have voiced the same conclusions, but I am sorry a joke was taken so seriously. I think it shows insecurity for many- the need to justify or take offense that their eating habits are such. I have truly enjoyed your blog, your information, and your recipes. I hope you can allow this to roll off your back (which I mean in the kindest way possible- I am a chronic people pleaser). Being authentic-throwing in some humor is what makes blogs enjoyable…it makes them REAL.
This was the best post ever! You’re super Rad, Tom.
Tom, I know you want to move past….but after a post from “The Pilot”, how can I not post!
You are a keeper! That was sweet! <3
((Gina)) love your blog, love your posts-all of them! Keep up your sense of humor. I thought your post was great! Focus on the masses who love, not those who bring negativity!
K
Word. Honestly some people go all apeshat over things that SHOULD NOT even offend them. But if for some convoluted reason they do, their comments should just be ignored cause theyre just not worth dealing with. I mean, who on earth can stand people who can’t find it in their minds to deal with someone who included a pork sandwich in their joke and found it offensive? haha I feel for their spouses and friends, if any!
So what if you had a little attitude with (what’s her name?) it’s your blog and your right! Sometimes you just got to stand up for yourself! Good for you!
Maybe all THIS was just a big april fools joke, too?
By the way, this blog is sometimes the only enjoyable part of my work day, so thank you!
Awww…this was such a sweet post! And honestly, who gets so worked up over a pulled pork sandwich? I hope you come up out of this with your head held high, Gina! Your readers love you the way you are.
You know Gina it is so hard because I think we all feel like we know you from reading everyday. You let so many people into your life through this blog and really are an inspiration in that way. I know it sucks now but, the thing is that adversity in life creates change. Adversity keeps us fluid and keeps us moving in directions that we may not necessarily venture into otherwise. A funny April fools joke may be a catalyst for something new!
<3 you and your blog Gina. I commented on the original pork post, and for the record I both think it was kinda funny AND think the Bite of the Apple post was well thought out and articulated. I am an attorney, so maybe I'm desensitized to debate? My friends and I express opinions, debate, and question each other constantly!
I really don't think it's fair to characterize the other blogger or commenters who might have seen her point as "angry" or "needing to lighten up" as some commenters here are doing. Expressing a contrary opinion from behind your keyboard doesn't necessarily mean one is taking anything too seriously. Presumably people write things and publicize them for other people to read, think about, and respond to, right?
On the whole your blog is extremely positive and inspirational. It has helped me tremendously. For some reason the tone of the pork joke was just slightly out of sync with your typical tone. Like I alluded to originally in my initial comment this morning, grouping eating something that is certainly not a health risk when done on rare occasion with other ridiculously unhealthy choices just didn't quite sit right with people. That being said, I realize that you were not at all saying that the BBQ dinner was an equally poor health choice as the cookie diet or exercise visualization.
Whew, so this has been fun!! Write on, Gina, write on!!
Oh, and Tom the most hilarious part of this whole thing is probably this:
If anybody’s allowed to be offended, it should be me: IT WAS MY PULLED PORK SANDWICH!!!
1. you obviously have the best husband ever! not only cuz he’s adorably sticking up for you, but because he’s hilarious too. score!
2. i’m sorry that someone made you feel bad about your post. 99.9999% of readers got a chuckle out of it. i think most people read blogs and consider their writers as friends, and it’s silly when people get judgey. that’s the scary part about putting your life out on the interwebs, so i’m glad you do it in spite of that!
3. 🙂
Tom? Man that’s going to take some getting used too!
Tell Gina to cheer up. Let the haters hate. They won’t be missed!
Amen, Tom! Yeesh.
I was very frustrated reading all of the comments that lead to this post even being necessary. Gina, I think you have one of the healthiest mindsets towards food and exercise. People can agree or disagree, but it’s not necessary to bring down someone as sweet as you over it. If people are that insecure that they can’t take a joke in the way it was meant, I wouldn’t know how to take it either. I would have gotten just as defensive if it had been my blog – it’s a normal reaction!
I hope you can cheer up and move on tomorrow. Remember, you have readers who love you and think the world of you!!
OMG. <—necessary. People actually got offended!??!?!?!?!?! Do they read your blog?? Pretty sure you make it abundantly clear that your choices are YOUR choices and MY/OUR choices are MINE/OURS. The pilot's post is hot-imeanadorable 🙂 but ugh I get so FRUSTRATED with people who are 'aggressively sensitive'. I eat pork. I eat bacon. But I never thought you'd like me any less for those admissions or make fun of me on your blog. And you didn't. Soooo people might need to switch back from haterade to water. Less calories… 😉
S