It Doesn’t Seem Like A Tiring Job

Four days into my seven week summer run on News 8 WTNH and I can feel the lingering effects of my cancer treatment. I’m exhausted!

For safety sake with my remote operation I begin work a little early, around 2:00 PM EDT. That gives me three hours to prepare forecasts for Connecticut and my stations in Nebraska. Though there were a few 100º+ readings in Nebraska today, the forecasts for there and Connecticut were fairly easy.

We have lots of computer help nowadays, but those are always my words on the screen.

My TriCaster control room has not been thrilled with the new tasks I’ve asked it to perform. It takes extra time to make sure everything runs close to smoothly. I am constantly worried something that worked an hour ago won’t work now! It’s happened.

I’m on a 10 second live tease at 4:30, then record a few additional teases that run during prime time. I even get to say “Don’t go to sleep yet.”

Five to six thirty is news time. I do seven hits — long and short.

At six thirty I record my cuts for Nebraska (where it’s still 5:30). The first of those runs at the top of-the-hour, so there is a deadline.

Tonight I finished Nebraska, walked upstairs, washed my makeup off and went to bed. I slept around 90 minutes. I needed it.

I was in the studio at 9:00 to begin updates and prep. Phil Zocco and I ran a quick test of my gear at 9:30. He calls me Fox. He always has.

2,492 miles away and it works! My studio is partially powered by magic.

From 10:00 to 11:35 it’s news time. I’m on often. In between each hit the TriCaster is adjusted for its next playout.

I left the studio tonight as the news ended, walked upstairs and changed to pajamas. If there’s a prize for first News 8 employee in PJs, I win!

“It’s like coming out of chemo,” I told Helaine as I came back downstairs. “It’s like Sunday afternoon when the effects are starting to go away.”

My whole body is exhausted. It’s not a sleep tired (though I’d fall asleep in a second). It’s an everything tired.

I remember a similar situation when I started back on News Channel Nebraska after my Whipple surgery. The first week or two was taxing before I regained strength.

Chemo ended on the 22nd, just two weeks ago. I finished my treatments anemic. It’s going to take a while. You can’t just wish yourself strength.

Meanwhile, the rush of being back on Channel 8 is letting me forget about the fatigue while I’m in the studio. It’s all very cool. I’m enjoying the hell out-of-it.

Thanks for taking the ride with me.

26 thoughts on “It Doesn’t Seem Like A Tiring Job”

  1. The reality of fatigue is all I’ve been thinking about for you (as if you can’t do a swell job of it on your own). This first week is truly a bear for anyone, let alone someone recovering from heavy duty cancer treatments and side effects like anemia. I know Helaine is your rudder and governor, just hope you’re listening to her and to your inner voice. Stay well for your friends and fans, Geoff! You’re doing spectacular work in every way.

  2. Dear Geoff,

    Thank you for doing the weather this week. It has been a real treat to see you in action again. I understand it has been very taxing on you physically and mentally, but as one of your fans, I have really enjoyed having you deliver our CT weather on WTNH with your little added tidbits. I wish it could continue beyond this week. Either way you have added joy to my life this week.

    Wishing all the best,
    Sue Troupe, Waterbury CT

  3. You know I can remember days like that after my chemo was done, especially when I went back to work. Those 5 hours were the longest days in my whole life.
    Back to your weather reports, boy it’s good to see you back on the air here on channel 8.I am remembering the evenings when I use to watch the weather just before falling asleep and your voice what was helped me go to sleep after your weather report was over. The don’t go to sleep yet kept me awake most of the time! Good night Geoff, Helaine and Dopler! Thanks for being back!

  4. Geoff,
    If there was anyone who could pull off the “technical magic” you do, it’s You! I’m really happy that this dream of yours has actually come true, though maybe in a slightly different way! But….please…conserve the natural resources behind the magic!!
    I don’t think the viewers really have an idea of how much work goes into the product you deliver, nor can they really get it without seeing the entire process. But, if this were 1997, you had the following:
    Floor director, camera operator, lighting person, technical director, audio person, Chiron operator, engineering technician- 7 people to create the “signal” you send down the Ethernet. This is only the jobs to actually broadcast it live, you still have to build every change that happens on the screen, and create the actual forecasts that certainly are not easy.
    I have no idea how you can pull off the energy required to do what you do after what you’ve been through. I got home from chemo yesterday in a fog. The idea of putting out the energy you have been exerting makes me weak thinking of it!
    You’re a power of example, man, and it’s something everyone can look at to get around any self pity or apathy. Just listen to your body and to your family.
    Glad you’re back!
    Flank

    1. I have to agree with you about Geoff. He’s a power house of energy. I couldn’t do it and i’ve never been through chemo. He amazes me with all he has to do.

  5. Geoff,
    Your looking good on WTNH. Good Job. If I could I’d give you some of my strength to you.

  6. It’s a marvelous job you do, Geoff! So good to see you on Ch 8! But don’t forget to listen to your body and to Helaine and your medical team. We don’t want you wearing yourself out.

  7. Hey Geoff:
    I know everyone is telling you this but please take it easy.
    We want you healthy and rested a whole lot more than tired and exhausted.
    And while we love seeing you do your thing no one wants you to collapse.
    So now that I’ve have said that, the shows have looked great. It’s been fun for me because I have gotten to tease Phil a few more times before he retires and I have reminisced with Debbie Troutman.
    We were number one back then and we kicked butt! You taught me a lot but most of all you taught me as an entertainer being yourself is your greatest asset. We enjoy who you are because you enjoy who you are.
    Now take care of yourself because I’ll be watching!
    All my best to your family,
    PEACE

  8. I know you are thrilled that you have your gig on our news. And we love having you just try to take it slow so you don’t run yourself down. Easy to say hard to do. But we love u and don’t want you to get sick if you work to hard. So try to take it easy the best u can.

  9. Yesterday, I was sitting in my comfy chair with the TV on as I played onmy computer. I was ignoring much of what was coming on the TV when suddenly my ears perked up: IT WAS GEOFF FOX!! ON MY TV HERE IN CT!!!
    It is wonderful to have you back doing our weather!

    Please make sure you take your vitamins and don’t push yourself too much.
    We want you around for a long time and so you must take good care during your recovery. : )

  10. Geoff I feel your pain. I just attended a one hour meeting and am exhausted. Trying to get the strength back to feeling almost normal.

  11. It’s great watching you on Channel 8. It’s like the good old days. You are so hipped up giving the forecast that you could be telling us we have severe storm warnings and it’s as if you were saying we are going to have a bright sunny day. Most of all, please, take care of yourself. Your Health is so much more important. Looking forward to seeing you the next six weeks. (But who’s counting?)

  12. Glad you’re back you look great despite what you have been through. Wishing you all the best and listen to your body it tells you

  13. You can’t imagine the treat it is to see you live, in our homes, like the old days. But YOU are more important than WE are, so as others have said, pace yourself. I’ve had regular iron deficiency anemia in my 30s and 40s and it knocked me for a loop. That’s without lingering effects of cancer/chemo. So we understand your taking it easy!! (We worry.)

  14. And here I am in Virginia arranging my sister’s funeral… I enjoyed your first two days, then had to catch a train south. Bummer

  15. Geoff, I knew I missed you on our TV it wasn’t until having you back on air that I have come to realize after all the years of watching and listening, through all the storms etc what I was missing was the sound of your voice on the TV you bring a sense of comfort and I wish you all the strength and health sending gratitude that you are sharing your time with us here in Connecticut ⚡️☔️☃️

  16. When you talk about the tricaster it reminds me of my Newtek Videotoaster in my Amiga 2000. Those were the days. I was a die hard Amiga user doing video like no one else could do for weddings. I just couldn’t make any money doing it and the Commadore went bust and I was lef an orphan for a computer. Eventually the pc caught up with the video and i could move over to it. I still liked the way the Amiga worked.

  17. It’s simply GREAT having you back on channel 8…..it hasn’t been the same without
    you! Good job Geoff

  18. You can only do what you can do…strength will come back in it’s own time. Don’t push yourself too hard because it will slow down your recovery.Was great to see you again and you looked great.

  19. It s so AWESOME to hear you say those words “Don’t go to sleep yet” …. again! We have missed your great energy and delivery on tv here in CT for a long time and we, my entire family and I, are all so glad your back! You became a part of our family! Praying for your continued strong recovery and secretly for your 7 week stint to turn into 7 years 🙂 Take good care of yourself and keep Rockin Geoff! You are an inspiration to us all!

  20. So good to see you again, Geoff ! You are doing a great job.
    Channel 8 has the best weather people. Please stay.

  21. Geoff
    I have been enjoying your time here on channel 8. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better. My husband had cancer 2008 of the liver and went on chemo drugs to hold its spread off till a liver became available. He became very tired and anemic, so I can appreciate the effort you put into your forcast every day. I am glad to hear that you are feeling beitter. Give Helene a high 5 for wife support from me. God bless you both. Oh I forgot to mention that my husband received a liver August 2009. He is doing great. I will be looking for your forcast while you are filling in. I wish it was permanent but, I am smart enough to realize nothing means as much as home sweet home.
    Your friend here in New Haven
    Louise Parshall

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