Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Armchair Anonymous: Dad Stories

Episode Date: June 14, 2024

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their best dad story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 We are supported by Buick. Imagine having a new Buick in your life that makes everything a piece of cake. Truly, the new 2024 Encore GX is brimming with style and substance with its confident lines, distinctive character, and the all new Buick Tri-Shield badge. It's also designed to make your life easier with incredible features,
Starting point is 00:00:24 like an available in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot so you can stay connected while you cruise, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a virtual cockpit system with 8-inch driver cluster screen and an 11-inch center infotainment screen, available all-wheel drive with drive mode selector, and a standard suite of advanced safety and driver assistance features. It's available in three separate trims, the well-equipped preferred, the boldly styled sport touring,
Starting point is 00:00:52 or the exquisitely refined Avenir. Visit Buick.ca to learn more. Tap the banner or visit this episode's page to learn more. Everyone's got a thirst. A drive to be the next big thing, to put the world on notice. If you answer when your thirst calls, Sprites for you. Sprites for the makers and creators, the visionaries putting in the work to build their dreams. Whether you're shooting a cinematic masterpiece on your phone, filling
Starting point is 00:01:20 notebooks with sketches, or up all night turning your bedroom into the booth. filling notebooks with sketches, or up all night turning your bedroom into the booth. Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst, right. Welcome, welcome, welcome to Armchair Anonymous. I'm Dan Shepard and I'm joined by Miss Padman. Happy Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to you.
Starting point is 00:01:41 Fathers and fathers, how do we say that? Fathers and dads and moms and sisters. Non-fathers alike, fathers and non-fathers alike. Of course, for this special day, we're commemorating it with dad stories. I think we got the idea because we talked to sisters separated by a year or two, that both had stories that involved their crazy dad.
Starting point is 00:02:03 That got us excited to do dad stories and they're as good as you would imagine. Dads are fun. Dads are fun and unpredictable, let's see. Oh yeah, yeah, I'm just trying to see if there's anything that can't be heard on here. Yeah, there's some really funny ones. Yeah, yeah, they're all good, they're all good.
Starting point is 00:02:19 I don't think you'll puke during any of these, I guess that's all. Well, one has blood, but it's okay. If someone pukes because they hear about blood, I don't feel very responsible for. That's fair. But like, pootie talk, bodily fluids other than, well, bodily fluids.
Starting point is 00:02:35 On this scale, for me, what's more nauseating is blood. Oh really? Than pootie. Yeah, I guess it's person to person. It's person to person. Yeah. But guys, listen to this, it's good. Randomly, I was telling the girls about
Starting point is 00:02:49 one we have coming up, maybe it's next week or the week after, as near-death experiences, which is coming up. And then in telling them this one story, it then reminded me of the bear attack story. And I'm like trying to explain it, and Lincoln wants more and more details, and I was like, I can't, there's no way I can reenact this guy's story.
Starting point is 00:03:08 So we listened to it in the kitchen yesterday. Oh, fun. And it finished and she goes, oh yeah, there's no way you could have retold that story. I think it was wild. Yeah, I had dinner the other night with Anthony and Allison and they had a bear in their backyard like the week before. They had it on camera.
Starting point is 00:03:27 And silver like? No, they live in La Cunhaota. Arrowhead or something? Oh, oh wow. So they had a bear in the backyard. Yes, and a mountain lion on the other side. Oh, what if they caught on video a bear and a mountain lion fighting?
Starting point is 00:03:41 That'd be a valuable video. Knock on wood. Knock on wood that they do get that. Okay, please enjoy Dad Stories. I had them both, I've had them once, hey. You gotta know, I'ma keep on shining. Dad stories. Father's Day episode. Oh.
Starting point is 00:04:15 Father's. Pajar Day. Father God. Father God, Father God. Hello, Alex, how are you? Good, how are you? Good. We're good. Oh my gosh, you're wearing a Good, how are you? Good. You're good.
Starting point is 00:04:26 Oh my gosh, you're wearing a cute shirt. It says girl dad. Yeah, I got a 18 month old girl sleeping right now. And we're actually going to my wife's 35 week ultrasound here right after this. Oh, wow. You're in it. Yeah. You'll have the exact same gap we have basically 20 months or so.
Starting point is 00:04:42 Yep. Don't know the sex yet, but the first one's a girl, so we counted it a surprise. I'm guessing the second will be a girl too. Because of the shirt, solidified it. That's what I tell my wife. Okay, so you've got a great dad story. Yeah, so I've told this story a few times recently
Starting point is 00:05:01 and I've had a problem keeping my laughter under control, so I'll do my best here. Okay. So my dad is a great storyteller and before we get started, I just wanna say, love you dad. Do my best to recollect the story the same way he does and I'm probably biased, but in my opinion, this is the best shitting your pants story. Oh, wonderful. I love when prompts merge.
Starting point is 00:05:28 You too. I actually submitted this one for the secret that a parent took from us because I was on the trip with them and this happened and I'll explain what happened here, but he didn't tell us until years later. Okay. So I come from a family of seven. We would do these long summer trips where we'd all pile in our Chevy Express conversion van.
Starting point is 00:05:51 Oh baby. Yeah, it had like the little TV between the front passenger seats. Every summer we would take these big loops to a different corner of the US and hit every touristy little thing along the road. And when I was really young, we would stay in a pop-up camper at KOAs.
Starting point is 00:06:09 For this story, I was 15, so I'm the second youngest. There was only myself, my younger brother, and I brought a friend with on this trip. And we were going to the Northeast and we were stopping in Washington, D.C. We were driving into D.C. and we had a van hour left and my dad was prepping us to say, hey, we're not stopping, we're gonna get to the motel.
Starting point is 00:06:31 A lot of times he would have us just stay in the van when he needed to run in and do something quick, which we loved because we had the movies to watch. He was pulling in and we could tell that he really needed to go to the bathroom. He was starting to make some interesting moans and drowns from the front seat. And so he tells us to stay in the van.
Starting point is 00:06:50 I'm gonna go in, get the stuff, and I'll be right back, just need to use the bathroom. So he leaves, we're fine with it, we're watching a movie, and we had been in there for, I guess the time flew by, because it was about an hour. Oh, shit. Literally. So we see him go up the exterior stairs
Starting point is 00:07:10 because that's the kind of motel that it is. He had come back out to get his bag and he didn't really say anything. He said, just stay in the car. I'll be back in a little bit. Well, he came back, told us, your younger brother needs to stay with you and your friend. I put up a little bit of a fuss because he'd always stay with my dad.
Starting point is 00:07:29 Dad was not in a negotiating mood. So he stayed with us and then we had the trip and it was awesome, I didn't hear anything. Did you inquire, why do you need to be solo tonight? Yeah, he just said, I don't wanna talk about it. Oh my God. I'm trying to think what I would have thought, assuming I didn't think he had gone in there
Starting point is 00:07:47 and wreaked havoc on the room. Does he wanna masturbate to me? Oh no. Hooker? Yeah, Hooker, you're in this big city. What's gonna happen in that room? When you're young and your parents just say no, you're mad, but you don't think to ask why.
Starting point is 00:08:01 Yeah. Back then. You would just be like, ugh. Yeah, I guess that's just personality time. I'd be like, what the fuck? I need a goddamn explanation. This is out of the normal pattern. What has happened? Even though if your mom said no, you were like, okay.
Starting point is 00:08:13 Well, there was no begging. I definitely would have been like, why are we doing it this way tonight? Is there only a cot in that room? Oh, that would have been a good excuse. Can I see the room? Oh, gosh. I would put her through the third degree.
Starting point is 00:08:25 Okay, so you, Denny, you're like, all right, your only objection was I don't want my younger brother with me and my bro. Yeah, so we're all together at Christmas and we're all telling our best stories and he busts this one out on us and it's all coming back. Apparently, when he pulled to the hotel, he knew he was in trouble when he got out of the van.
Starting point is 00:08:44 He could feel that familiar feel. My dad is someone who's done this before. Oh, sure. Oh, sure. I'll just say that. You said he was male, so I already knew that. So, so, so, so, so. He tried to rush in through the check-in process. Apparently, it was someone who didn't really know
Starting point is 00:08:59 what they were doing. And so, when he got the key, he went up the stairs, opened his room, and he couldn't get the key to open the door. Oh. That's when he was going up the stairs, he could feel the poof starting to run down his leg. Yeah, sure.
Starting point is 00:09:14 It was already out as he was walking up the stairs. Okay. Yeah. Cause my prediction was like he told his body, I'm putting this key in the door, six seconds later we're unloading and you tell your body that and it starts that process and then the key doesn't work. But he was already in hot water.
Starting point is 00:09:28 When he was going up the steps, we could see he was cupping his butt. And my dad's the guy that wears New Balance white shoes. Norm core. Mid white socks, short shorts. And he's not a small guy. He's 6'3", probably 250. Okay. Okay.
Starting point is 00:09:42 Not a small boy. And he couldn't get this door open, so he panicked and he started putting his shoulder into the door. Oh my. Until it finally pops open. Oh. Well that's good.
Starting point is 00:09:53 He doesn't bother with the lights, he's just on a mission to get to the bathroom. So he takes off, he trips halfway there. Oh no. And is kind of doing that thing where you try to catch yourself but you know you're just prolonging the process. Kind of running horizontally.
Starting point is 00:10:10 Yes. So he gets up enough where he runs into the wall where the bathroom is and the way he explains it is that it was just a shit explosion. Oh sure. On the wall, down his leg, he gets up to get in the bathroom. As he's telling this story, he's doing his best impression of like the Dumb and Dumber scene of what's left as he's in the bathroom.
Starting point is 00:10:37 When he finishes, he comes out of the bathroom and sees in the bed that there are two people No, stop. Under the covers. No. are two people under the covers that are naked. Wait, what? So it was the wrong door probably? What the hell? Double book or wrong room? Wrong room. The motel says it was his fault for putting his shoulder in the door. The couple was upset because they said they gave their key.
Starting point is 00:11:13 Can you imagine being the couple? Oh my God, especially if you were like really into it and you were close, all of a sudden a big bull comes- Comes charging in and shitting everywhere. S and smashing into the wall and shitting everywhere. Yeah. What he had tripped on was their clothes. I'm surprised he didn't scream. That's what I was just thinking.
Starting point is 00:11:43 I know. Maybe it happens so fast. It's happened to me. Hey, or I would yell. For whatever reason, everyone's innate response to that is, can I help you? Oh sure. As if you could.
Starting point is 00:11:54 Maybe they did scream, but he was so in his own zone that he just didn't hear it. Sure. That is possible. Okay, so he sees there's two people. He had to be in the bathroom for a minute, I'm presuming, yeah? Yeah, I guess these two people decided to freeze.
Starting point is 00:12:10 He didn't hear anything until he came out and saw them there still in the bed. Oh my God, and what happened next? Did he then get another room? I still don't understand why you can't have your little brother with him. It's not like he joined them. He's like, well, it's gonna be three of us tonight.
Starting point is 00:12:25 I think he needed some alone time after all that. Okay, let's see if there's an answer. He ended up sticking around and like cleaning it up. The other couple left. He felt bad when he went back to the office. He asked if he could have some cleaning supplies. He did a little bit. I'm impressed they let you guys stay.
Starting point is 00:12:44 It was an interesting motel. Yeah, if you barge down a door in your first five minutes as a guest. And then shit all over the room. And then spray the place. And then now I gotta get this couple another room. I wonder if they were having an affair and that's maybe why they were so frozen.
Starting point is 00:12:58 I kinda wondered that too. Oh, fuck. They thought they were getting caught. Like early evening in a roadside motel. Could be. Well, that is fantastic. Yeah, I did not see the lovers. Neither, that was such a good pop out.
Starting point is 00:13:12 Amazing. Oh, well, Alex, God bless your dad, yeah. He's an awesome guy and now we work together. Oh, that's great. Yeah, any kind of dad that's driving to all four corners of the US with a van full of kids, a conversion van full. Yeah, I tip my hat to this gentleman.
Starting point is 00:13:27 That was great. Before I go, I do wanna say that the reason I started listening to you two was my oldest sister is a LMFT. What's that? Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. And she specializes in something that you described as an epidemic in one of your last fact checks.
Starting point is 00:13:44 Ooh. I don't know if you remember. Wait, no. It was a little while ago. An epidemic. I say it kind of often. Is it a divorce or sex problems? Misophonia. Oh! Misophonia, yeah.
Starting point is 00:13:59 She specializes in that? Yeah, and she did starting 15 years ago. And when she was telling me about it 15 years ago, I had never heard what Misa Fania was. So it's just kind of like an OG. Wow, in on the ground floor. So obviously there's tools to combat this? Yes, she has her own practice
Starting point is 00:14:22 and it's kind of blown up for her. Yeah, because I guess if you have it at a 10, you probably couldn't go to restaurants or anything, you probably couldn't even eat around other people in the extreme version. And I think it actually depends a lot on who is the person that's doing the chomping. Yep. I was curious about that. I don't have mesophonia, but when I hate someone, I have it. Yeah, it sucks.
Starting point is 00:14:47 Look at this fucking pig. Wow. Oh, well, Alex, it was great meeting you, and I really enjoyed that story, and please send your father our love, because what a guy. Yes. Happy Father's Day to your father and to you. Appreciate it.
Starting point is 00:15:02 My sister just finished the first draft of her book. Oh, she did? What's it gonna be called? Give her a shout out. She hasn't landed on a title yet. But it's about Mesophonia? Yeah. Well, you can give her this title for free
Starting point is 00:15:12 if she wants to use it. Mesophonia makes Mesohonia. That's obviously a great title. It's obvious. And sex sells. So if she wants that, feel free to take it. Alex, great meeting you. Yes, thank you too. Take care, brother.
Starting point is 00:15:25 Bye. Here's Maggie. Oh, Maggie. And Margaret. Oh, jeez. Taking a swing there, she goes with Maggie. Hello. Hi.
Starting point is 00:15:36 Do you go by Margaret or Maggie? You know what? I've had like all the nicknames, so you can call me whatever you like. Well, I wanna call you what you prefer, but Wobby Wob, being the rascal he is, he said, okay, Maggie's next. And I said, it's Margaret.
Starting point is 00:15:49 He said, I'm assuming she goes by Maggie. He put this in my head now. You can call me Maggie. Only very special people call me Maggie, but I would put you guys in with that. A tiny circle. That's so lucky. Does anyone call you Marge?
Starting point is 00:16:00 Oh yeah. In fact, when I was little, I was Large Marge, even though I was like a string bean, but that was Pee Wee Herman days. And yeah, Large Marge, Margie Margerin, Marge. Oh yeah. In fact, when I was little, I was Large Marge, even though I was like a string bean, but that was Pee Wee Herman days. And yeah, Large Marge, Margie Margerin, Margo. It's so light where you're at. I know I like it. I know, and I'm sorry, I'm not in a closet.
Starting point is 00:16:16 So this gear, I actually do a bunch of podcasts, but this is all like hardwired into a system and we have really tiny closets in a super old house. And so I hope that a good quality microphone overrode a closet. Yes, that's correct. It does and you actually look like you're on an elevated plane, like closer to heaven.
Starting point is 00:16:34 Where are you? I'm in Newton, Massachusetts. So I'm just west of Boston, right near Wellesley, where you spent a night. What a lovely place. Do you have cute little parks with walking trails like they have in Wellesley? Everywhere, it's gorgeous. We a lovely place. Do you have cute little parks with walking trails like they have in Wesley? Everywhere, it's gorgeous.
Starting point is 00:16:47 We just moved here a year ago from out west. From California? We were in California before us where I met my husband, but we were in Portland most recently. Oh. Wow, what a life. Yeah, you're zipping around. Good lighting everywhere you go. Okay, so you have a great dad story.
Starting point is 00:16:59 I do have a great dad story. And it is when I was 13 years old. It was on my 13th birthday. And just a little bit of context was in Ottawa, up in Canada. So I'm an only child, no siblings. And both of my parents were professional musicians. So my mom was a concert pianist.
Starting point is 00:17:16 My dad was the principal oboist in the NAC Orchestra in Ottawa, so the main orchestra. Oboist? He's a freak. Who's drawn to the oboe? It's such a kinky instrument. I like it. It's a weird one.
Starting point is 00:17:28 I will say he was world-class. I'll give him a major shout out here. He was incredible. So that day it was just me and my dad. And a couple of months earlier, he had warned me of this. So my mom was actually on tour. I don't remember where. And he came to me and said,
Starting point is 00:17:42 hey, your mom's gonna be on tour. It's just the two of us. And here's the situation. It was a school night. I don't remember what night. It was like a Tuesday or Wednesday or something. And he said, I have the opportunity to pick up an extra gig playing for Les Mis.
Starting point is 00:17:53 I don't have to take it, but if I do take it, it means I'm working on the night of your birthday. And we can totally celebrate on the weekend and all that, but completely up to you. Do you want to spend your birthday night with your dad? And of course, being a little overconfident at precious age of 12, rounding into 13. on the weekend and all that, but completely up to you. Do you want to spend your birthday night with your dad? And of course, being a little overconfident at precious age of 12, rounding into 13,
Starting point is 00:18:10 I was like, oh my gosh, no dad, I don't wanna hang out with you. I don't know what I really thought I was gonna do because it's not like I was gonna be like 18 and could go out with my friends or anything, like I was 13. So wake up on the morning of my birthday and completely regret this decision.
Starting point is 00:18:23 I'm all, whoa is me, I can't believe I'm gonna be alone. And I'm laying on the morning of my birthday and completely regret this decision. I'm all, whoa is me. I can't believe I'm going to be alone. And I'm going on the guilt trip stick. Just like, I can't believe you are going to work and leaving me here. And I mean, it was totally my fault. There isn't a little piece of me that's like, well, I was only 12. Like he might have been able to anticipate this, but whatever. He was like just the sweetest, most loving man.
Starting point is 00:18:42 And he felt so badly. So I go off to school and a few things about me. So at this time, I was so shy. And I was starting to come into my own, but nowhere there yet. And I hated being the center of attention. Like I did not want the spotlight on me at all. And so I went to this very conservative, private girl school. And after lunch, I was rushing to get to English class
Starting point is 00:19:04 because I had English class with Mrs. Chance and she was the junior house mistress, so the most strict teacher in the school and I was terrified of being late. And as I'm going through this kind of big atrium at the front of the school, there's a big crowd of students, which there kind of always is at the end of lunch, but it was larger than normal. And I could see my girlfriend, Odelia, at the other end, and she's calling my name and she's like beckoning to me. And she is laughing. And this girl had like the most maniacal devilish laugh.
Starting point is 00:19:32 And she loved getting people in trouble. And I was like, oh God. And my heart just started racing because I'm like, it's my birthday. She knows. There's a lot of people here. Something is about to happen. Oh no.
Starting point is 00:19:44 So what had happened in the background is my dad, as I had left for school, felt so badly. He really wanted to make it right, but he didn't know what to do. And I'm also at this really tender age where it's like, he can't be too juvenile because I'm 13, but I'm also only 13, right? So he's trying to figure out what to do
Starting point is 00:20:02 and he decides he's going to send a balloonogram to school. Oh, this. Oh. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on, hold on. That's so cute. Margaret, it's so cute. But this is not the move when you're a teenager.
Starting point is 00:20:15 No, it is really cute. It's so cute. She's not a teenager yet. He doesn't know. Yeah, you don't know, you don't know. Okay, but this feels like career suicide when you're in junior high. It was, but for reasons that you're not anticipating.
Starting point is 00:20:27 Oh no. This was a long time ago and this was way predating the internet and he looks it up in the yellow pages, he calls the Balloonogram place and they gave him a list of options and I really wish I knew the full list of options, I only know two.
Starting point is 00:20:41 There was one that was a clown and he was like, no, no, creepy and way too juvenile. But the other of the options, which was the one he picked was a bunny boy. A bunny boy. A slick stripper. So he's picturing in all innocence, he's picturing this like good looking high school kid in a bunny costume.
Starting point is 00:21:03 Now what would a good looking high school kid be doing on like a Tuesday at noon? He's at high school kid in a bunny costume. What? Now what would a good looking high school kid be doing on like a Tuesday at noon? He's in high school. I'm impressed he was even able to conjure up something positive. When I hear bunny boy, there's nothing I can come up with in my mind that's gonna be bunny boy.
Starting point is 00:21:16 It's so weird. Send bunny boy. He was so sweet. He didn't know. He was just trying to do something that was not a clown. As I said, I don't know what the other options were, so I could never help him choose from the list retroactively. But back at Elmwood, okay, all these junior high girls
Starting point is 00:21:31 in our little green uniforms, and the crowd kind of parts. And there is this guy, this man with slicked back black hair, bunny ears, black bunny ears, a cape, and balloons, who proceeds to rip off the cape and start singing the most lurid happy birthday. I can't remember if there's music or not. He might have had like an old ghetto blaster that he put down. I don't remember. All I remember is him singing, dancing, gyrating.
Starting point is 00:22:04 All he was wearing under that cape was the tiniest little thong. Oh my God. At a private girls school. Oh my God. And he's trying to kiss me. This is illegal. He's going for it.
Starting point is 00:22:17 Is this the 80s though? Yeah, this is totally the 80s. He's totally not picking up on any cues. I am panicking. Oh my God, this is traumatic. It was is traumatic. It was so traumatic. All I can remember is seeing faces like girls laughing so hysterically.
Starting point is 00:22:30 My girlfriend, Odelia, laughing hysterically. And all I can think is like, I'm going to be late to English class and I'm going to be in so much trouble. And I mean, my heart, like I died a little that day. Oh my God. How long was his song? It was probably like two, three minutes. It felt like hours.
Starting point is 00:22:47 I mean, it just felt like it was never gonna end. And I was trying to run away from him, but I couldn't because everyone was crowding in because they thought it was so funny. He's surrounded entirely by, and exclusively by minors, young minors. Yes, trying to kiss. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:23:00 This guy should not have been trusted to go anywhere and represent the balloon company. Definitely not. Oh, the 80s. Were there any teachers around also watching and laughing? Janitor. Actually, that's a good question.
Starting point is 00:23:12 Probably there were, I don't know what they were doing. All I know is that by the time I did make it out of there to Mrs. Chance's English class, it was most definitely late, as was half the class because everyone had been watching. And I couldn't be subtle. It's very obvious that it's me, right? I'm there with the stupid balloons.
Starting point is 00:23:29 But the one who got into the most trouble was my dad. She just called him and lit into him like, I thought your family had better taste in this. And he didn't understand. He's like, it's balloons. It's a bunny boy. Like he totally tried to defend himself. Was he not in a big fluffy outfit with snap in teeth?
Starting point is 00:23:49 Totally. I got home from school that day and I was freaking out on him. And he was so hurt and so confused that this had happened to him. And it's really funny because we all lived in the same neighborhood and they would bump into each other in places. And she didn't forgive him for years. She just didn't have a sense of humor about it. Finally, many, many years later, they met and they laughed about it in the grocery store.
Starting point is 00:24:11 So my dad actually passed, he passed in 2017, and I told this story at his memorial, and I learned just after that Mrs. Chance had also passed just a few months later. So at least they left on good terms after all of this. I wonder if Bunny Boy's still with us. Oh, that's a big if. He sounds like he was living life in the fast lane.
Starting point is 00:24:29 I'm still a little traumatized by that, but it was, of course, the best story ever. That's so incredible. Oh my God, I wish there was a photo of Bunny Boy. I'm dying to see what he is, because when you were 12 going on 13, he probably looked 40, but I wonder if he was like 25. Probably, he was very skinny, he was very cut,
Starting point is 00:24:47 but he was so like glistening, right? Like I don't know if they had like lubed him up or something, but he was very shiny and he was very naked. And in a thong at an all girls middle school. They had to escort him off the property afterwards, if he kind of hung out, he didn't wanna leave. Oh, boy, your poor dad. Yeah, it was awful. He tried.
Starting point is 00:25:07 I know, it was really sweet. It was totally typical of him. He had the biggest heart, he was always trying to do the right thing and he would try so hard and then like spectacularly fail. Like there's many, many stories. Is it fair to guess that he was like a savant and a genius at music,
Starting point is 00:25:20 but then was maybe a little missing the boat in a lot of other areas? 100%. Practical stuff, completely escaped areas. 100%, practical stuff completely escaping. Yeah. Well, you turned out lovely. So somehow that all worked out. I have to tell you both, this is such a sim moment for me because I'm telling this story about my 13th birthday.
Starting point is 00:25:36 I actually submitted this story for Gifts Gone Wrong way back. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's perfect that it wasn't picked and that it was picked this weekend because Saturday was my birthday. It was a big one.
Starting point is 00:25:47 I just turned 50. Oh, congrats. Thank you. We're the same age. I'm your elder. Come on now. Six months. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:25:55 To celebrate it, I decided to do something really audacious. I'm a distance runner, so I ran 50 miles. But the sim part of this is you guys don't know this, but you have been my training partners throughout this whole journey. Since I learned about you, which was in 2020, you have been with me through multiple marathon builds and now through this. And my favorite is armchair anonymous.
Starting point is 00:26:15 I have to stop running sometimes. I save it because I do my long runs on Saturdays. Like my legs have been buckling underneath me. I've been laughing so hard in some of these. And it has always been like my dream to be on it. And then I got the email from Emma on Friday, right after we were doing my planning meeting for my big run the next day with my friends
Starting point is 00:26:33 who are crewing for me. And I went from being nervous about that to, I'm so excited. It's a total sim moment. And my dad's birthday is this month too. And he would just love you guys. Well, you know what I'm most excited for is you're going to be able to listen to this episode
Starting point is 00:26:47 while you're running. So right now, Margaret, you're running and we're with you and you're with you, which is even doubly confusing. That's so wild. And we're cheering you on. Yes. Oh my God. That's so impressive, by the way.
Starting point is 00:26:59 50 miles. Oh my God. I can't even imagine. It's bonkers. Well, wonderful meeting you, Margaret. Thank you so much for that story. You're sweet. Could my little 11-year-old daughter, who I let listen very select. It's bonkers. Well, wonderful meeting you, Margaret. Thank you so much for that story, your sweet daughter. Could my little 11 year old daughter, who I let listen very selectively
Starting point is 00:27:08 to your armchair anonymous? This is like a pattern we've discovered that kids like armchair anonymous. Hi! Hi! What's your name? Sia. Thank you for listening. This should be a family tradition.
Starting point is 00:27:19 I definitely think you should attempt to repeat this for Sia's 13th birthday. Yeah. Yeah, humiliate her at her grace. Wonderful. Well, nice meeting you both. Yes, thank you. Great to meet you as well.
Starting point is 00:27:31 Thanks so much. Take care. Bye. Bye. We are supported by Buick. Imagine having a new Buick in your life that makes everything a piece of cake. Truly, the new 2024 Encore GX is brimming with style and substance with its confident lines, distinctive character, and the all-new Buick Tri-Shield badge.
Starting point is 00:28:02 It's also designed to make your life easier with incredible features like an available in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot so you can stay connected while you cruise, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a virtual cockpit system with 8-inch driver cluster screen and an 11-inch center infotainment screen, available all-wheel drive with drive mode selector, and a standard suite of advanced safety and driver assistance features. It's available in three separate trims, the well-equipped preferred, the boldly styled sport touring, or the exquisitely refined Avenir. Visit Buick.ca to learn more. Tap the banner or visit this episode's page to
Starting point is 00:28:42 learn more. Here comes Jessica. Here comes Jessica, here comes Jessica. Hi, is this Jessica? Yes, yes, I'm Jessica. How are you guys? Good. Nice to meet you. Where are you from? Where are you?
Starting point is 00:29:08 So right now I'm in Chicago. I'm from the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Wobby Wobb, ask her. What suburbs? Palatine. That's where I went to high school. You went to friend? I did.
Starting point is 00:29:20 Whoa. I went to the other high school in town, but me and my friend were trying to figure out, we knew you were like from the area, but we weren't really sure. What year did you graduate? 2016. Oh, six.
Starting point is 00:29:31 10 years gap. He would have been coming back to town for his 10 year reunion as you were graduating. That's rough. Gross. That's really rough. Damn, maybe we saw each other at the pool or something. Seascape. Must have been before my time.
Starting point is 00:29:46 Stop ringing a bell, okay. It was a miss. No bells and ringings. Okay, so you have a great dad story. I do. Story takes place about 18-ish years ago in the suburbs of Chicago. I'm about nine years old at this time, and all my family is getting together for dinner at this restaurant. And all my family is getting together for dinner at this restaurant that
Starting point is 00:30:05 we frequent. Most of us still live in the area, but there's some out of towners and new babies and my cousin's new boyfriend is here. And how old's the cousin? Early twenties, I think. Okay. So we're all sitting down by my mom and my dad. And we're also across the table from my cousin and her new boyfriend. His name is Adam. So we're all talking, having a good time. The adults are laughing up the vino, the vodka on the rocks,
Starting point is 00:30:31 and I'm just kinda sitting there fidgeting with my very loose tooth. I'm pretty young, so I still have like baby teeth. And then once I start eating, the tooth finally decides to pop out. And with this particular tooth, I was bleeding like a ton. There's a good amount of blood gushing from my mouth. Oh, wow. What was the cuisine?
Starting point is 00:30:50 What was the theme of the restaurant? It's like a bar and grill. Can I shout it out? It's called Hackney's. Yeah, absolutely. They have a nice onion ring loaf there. It's really good. But I'm eating a grilled cheese. That's all I ate for most of my life. I start to bleed.
Starting point is 00:31:04 And for whatever reason, I. I start to bleed and for whatever reason, I don't want to get up from the table probably because it's packed. So instead of getting up and going to the bathroom, I'm spitting my blood into my mom's empty water cup. Oh, okay. Okay. Swishing around water in my mouth and putting it into the cup. So by the time that I'm done bleeding, there's a big bloody cup of spit water on the table. And it kind of looks like a very potent Shirley Temple.
Starting point is 00:31:32 So it's not like a full Bloody Mary. Or a wine. It's more Shirley Temple. Yeah, it's more Shirley Temple. But there's definitely my blood in there. And my spit. So the evening's going on, we're having a nice night. And my dad begins to brag about being like a daredevil.
Starting point is 00:31:48 He'll do anything, he'll eat anything, et cetera. So Adam says to my dad, hey Greg, I'll give you $20 if you drink that cup of Jesse's blood. Ew! What are you talking about, ew? We just had a long talk about eating each other's skin. I still think it's blood, ew. Worse than skin?
Starting point is 00:32:08 Yeah. Wow. I think I would rather do the skin over the blood for sure. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Blood, no. Yeah, he picks up the glass without hesitation and chugs the entire thing. So everyone is mortified.
Starting point is 00:32:22 My grandma is so mad. She's upset. She thinks it's disgusting. There's shouts of disbelief and disgust coming from everywhere. And I'm pretty young. So I just start crying because I think I'm pretty overwhelmed by the reaction, the attention. And most of all, I was just scared my dad could die from doing something like that.
Starting point is 00:32:44 I always thought I was diseased or something and if my dad drank my blood he would die. Oh no. You and Monica would be great roommates. I mean horrible roommates. You could really whip yourselves up into a lather. We could be afraid about everything together. But yeah, he's fine and everyone is yelling at him
Starting point is 00:33:01 and he said something to the effect of, she's my daughter, she's my flesh and blood. Oh. I drink a cup of her blood. So in some twisted way, I think that's pretty sweet. It is sweet, weirdly. Yeah, I'll drink my daughter's blood, no problem. All right, cool, Monica?
Starting point is 00:33:17 Well, I don't have one, so I can't relate. If you had one. I would drink it if I had to drink it, but for a dare, no. That's not part of your identity as a daredevil. So that doesn't even appeal to you. But if someone was holding them hostage and said, you better drink this blood, I would do it.
Starting point is 00:33:34 Cool. So yeah, that's just a story I tell like any new boyfriend or person meeting my dad just so I can get like a good idea of what his personality is like. Cute, I liked that. Yeah, I like your dad. He sounds fun.
Starting point is 00:33:48 Did the boyfriend go the distance? Are they still together? Oh yeah, he's like a staple in our family and he loves this story. Well yeah, cause it shows a little bit of his color. Like he's feeling quite comfortable if he challenges the patriarch. Seriously. And offers to pay.
Starting point is 00:34:00 I'm flush with cash. I got a 20. He was trying to have a little fun too, so I appreciate that. Is it okay if I bring my bestie out? Yes, let's get her in here. And she put me on to you guys. I want her to say hi to you.
Starting point is 00:34:11 Emma. Oh, this will be cute to see them try to share this. Hi. Oh my God, you guys. Hi Emma. How are you? Wonderful. We're great.
Starting point is 00:34:21 Do you guys both listen? Yes. Oh my God, yeah. All day, every day. We discuss most episodes. We get really drunk and talk about how much we love you. Oh, man. That's lovely.
Starting point is 00:34:32 Do you have a favorite episode? Yeah, your mom's episode. Oh, yeah. Her to listen. Totally, that's the first episode I ever listened to. It was incredible. That's so classic. I always listen to that one whenever I want a good cry.
Starting point is 00:34:43 Oh, that's sweet. It's probably time to get her whenever I want a good cry. Oh, that's sweet. It's probably time to get her back in. I would love that. Yeah, please do. Yeah, I think everyone needs it. I guess it would be like about a five year update at this point. Yeah. She has a whole other episode to tell for sure.
Starting point is 00:34:55 For sure. Well, it's lovely meeting you guys. We're very flattered you're listening and I think it's so fun that you're listening and then like texting each other about it. I like that. Me too. Yeah. Always. All right, well, nice meeting you guys.
Starting point is 00:35:06 It was so good to meet you. Take care. Bye. Oh, that's fun. Isabella, Isabella. It does say Bella. Oh, Jesus. I don't know if I trust you. Hi, it's Isabella, but do you go by Bella?
Starting point is 00:35:21 Yes, I go by Bella. How long have you been going by Bella? Pretty much all my life. I think in fifth grade, I wanted to go by Isabella, but I quickly go by Bella? Yes, I go by Bella. How long have you been going by Bella? Pretty much all my life. I think in fifth grade I wanted to go by Isabella, but I quickly changed that was too much for everybody. That's a lot. Yeah. A lot to ask.
Starting point is 00:35:32 Where'd you grow up? I grew up in Hampton, Iowa, but now I live in Indiana. Okay, so now you're in Indiana. Does your crazy dad story take place in Iowa or in Indiana? It takes place in Hampton, Iowa when I was 16 years old. Ooh, sweet 16. Yes, indeed. So when I was 16, it was April Fools,
Starting point is 00:35:51 and my dad is a big April Fools person. He loves it. Loves it. April's Fools people are such a type. They are. My dad was one of them. So April Fool's morning, we have a gym class before school starts.
Starting point is 00:36:05 And so I go and I pick up my friend and we get to this gym class, but we're early. And so I was like, Hey Lexi, I'm going to call my dad and we're going to prank him. And she's like, okay. And so a little backstory, my dad's a paramedic and he's a nurse and I know he was getting ready for work. I call my dad and immediately I'm like, dad, dad, we got in a car accident. This is not a prank. This is just horrible. Don't worry. He gets me back later. So I call my dad. I was like, dad, we're in a car accident. We crashed. I don't know what she's breathing.
Starting point is 00:36:38 Oh my God. This is horrible. You went hard. I am going on with the story. I hear my dad, he was making breakfast for work. He's dropping the pans. He's yelling at my mom. He's like, Maria, call 911. And so he's like, okay, look at her. Is her chest moving? What is happening?
Starting point is 00:36:55 I was like, dad, I don't know. She's like, okay, where did you crash? I'm coming. And I was like, we're going to school. And I am selling it. This is evil. It was evil. I hear him grab the car keys and then open the door to our house to like leave.
Starting point is 00:37:09 And I'm like, haha, April Fools. And he's like, Isabella. And there's a sense of relief and then also just like being impressed. Oh, wow. Well, this is illuminating to what kind of family you're in. So this was fine. This was fine. Lucky. Yes. And so he definitely was like slightly impressed,
Starting point is 00:37:28 also a little relieved. And then I got to school and the day goes on and I forget it's April Fools. I am coming home from school, I pull up into our driveway and my dad is outside with a puppy. When I was 16, I had been wanting a puppy for the longest time. I had been begging for a dog.
Starting point is 00:37:44 It was the dream. And so I pull up and he's just playing with his puppy. I get on my car. I'm like, a puppy! Oh my gosh. And he was just like, I was on my way home from work and this puppy was just on like the side of the road. And I picked him up.
Starting point is 00:37:59 We're walking inside our house. He gives me the puppy to hold. We go inside. I'm like petting this puppy. And I was like, oh my God, he's so cute. I think it was a she. She's so cute. And my dad is like, yeah, the shelters, they were closed and the vet office, it was closed. It's just looking like we're going to have to keep them. And I was like, oh my gosh, I love him. And I'm like petting her, to her. I'm like petting her. And he's letting me
Starting point is 00:38:22 go on talk about this future with this dog And so he's like you should name her while we have her. I just love the name. Maybe like Santana Wait Santana or Zantana Zantana. It's a DC character. Dr. Fates child. Oh I was a big geek growing up. And so I was like, okay, we'll go to Petco. We'll get all the things I'm gonna get a cute little collar. And my dad's like, that's absolutely wonderful. And I was like, dad, can we keep her? And he's like, it's kind of looking like we get to keep her.
Starting point is 00:38:51 And I was like, oh my gosh, this is so great. I'm just overjoyed. And I was like, okay, so Santana. And he's just sitting in the corner, just like, sparking and smiling. And I'm just like, oh, he's just so happy. His daughter is just so happy. So I just am petting this dog.
Starting point is 00:39:04 There's like a moment of silence where I'm just like in awe. And he turns to me and he just like, oh, he's just so happy. His daughter is just so happy. So I just am petting this dog. There's like a moment of silence where I'm just like in awe. And he turns to me and he's like, well, the dog's actual name is Charlie Polk. And I was like, what? That's not a good name. And he's like, no, the dog's name is Charlie Polk. It's time to go take her back to her family, April Fools. And I was like, what?
Starting point is 00:39:25 You guys go rough, April Fools. And I was like, what? What? You guys go rough on April Fools. You guys are dork. Yeah, and so my dad told me his whole evil scheme. He found a family friend who had like a new puppy, went and picked it up, plotted this whole thing to like surprise me after school and to prank me. I played on his worst fear, he played on my biggest dream. True.
Starting point is 00:39:47 Wow. Wow. You guys are made for one another. Yes, he's a great dad, I absolutely love him. Aw, did he come up with that plan in retaliation or did he already plan that for April Fools that day? He came up with it in retaliation. Okay. Yeah. He was like, I need her to understand
Starting point is 00:40:06 how terrible that was. And the only thing I can think of is getting her to fall in love with something and then take a snap. Rip it away. Yeah, 100%. And he did that before with my older brother where my older brother really wanted a car. And so my dad took him to a car shop,
Starting point is 00:40:20 said he could have this vehicle that everything worked out financially. This is crazy. Got the keys to like open the car. My brother's like, oh my gosh, thank you so much, dad. Thank you so much. And hands him the keys and says like, April fools. Oh. And like my brother didn't even do anything to him.
Starting point is 00:40:38 My dad just did that to him, no retaliation. I guess now I'm thinking he did deserve the fake car crash. I kind of agree. Oh, 100%. You know what's funny is I think I have a very easy time not being judgmental, but this one's tough. It's hard for me not to go, this guy, this is rough. Well, it's playful.
Starting point is 00:40:55 They like it, that's the thing. They're all consenting. Exactly. They all enjoy it. Yes, very playful. Has he given up on his April Fool's-ing or do they continue on? Well, now that I live in another state, it's really hard to get me real good.
Starting point is 00:41:10 We try to every April Fool's just calling and saying fake news or something, but it's not as grand as it was when we were growing up. Okay, I have a recommendation. This was a thing that a friend of mine's father did to get even with a coworker. You should figure out whatever the local Craigslist is for your dad's area.
Starting point is 00:41:27 And you should say, sold my two Harleys, have a ton of extra parts, pipes, bars, just come by and get them. I work midnights, I'm off Saturday. Anytime from midnight to 3 a.m., just come, don't call, free Harley parts. Because the kind of folks that show up to pick up free Harley Parts are the last people
Starting point is 00:41:47 you probably wanna greet at your door at midnight. So just think about maybe placing a fake ad with Free Harley Parts. You know, I think I will, that's a really good idea. He needs to be pranked again. Yeah, and hopefully a dozen guys will be showing up over and over again. That was fun.
Starting point is 00:42:03 That was fun, thank you fun. Thank you, Bella. Of course. Also, could my husband say a quick hi? He's a big fan. Of course. Of course. Okay, Jack, come here. Hi.
Starting point is 00:42:14 Hi, Jack. Nice to meet you. It's nice to meet you guys. Are you a prankster too because girls sometimes marry their fathers? Are you a rascal? No, I'm horrible at lying. Pranks are not my thing.
Starting point is 00:42:25 The idea of doing that to somebody just scares me. But, you know, they say one of your kids in the future will one day be like your parents. And so I'm just very worried that my daughter in the future is gonna do this to me. That scares the crap out of me. It's a healthy fear. Now, when you were getting to know Bella
Starting point is 00:42:41 and she was telling you about her dad and what he was capable of, were you getting nervous? Yes. Is he an intimidating figure? No, he's just like a teddy bear. Oh, okay. It was really funny because I asked for her hand in marriage from her dad.
Starting point is 00:42:56 He was talking about how strong willed she is and how evil she can be. How are you gonna handle that in the future? And I was like, yeah, well, I don't know. We'll see how that goes when that happens. Okay, so he gave you some warnings. He's like, you can totally have her, but by the way. He's like, let me tell you this story.
Starting point is 00:43:11 By her beware. She might call you. She's gonna act like she's dead. Pretend she was in a car accident. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, turn your phone off on April 1st. That would be the recommendation. Well, it's so nice meeting you guys.
Starting point is 00:43:22 You're such a cute couple. Yeah, it's nice meeting you guys too. You're such a cute couple. Yeah. It's nice meeting you guys too. It's been a real pleasure. All right, bye. Well, he was so cute, wasn't he? Oh my God, yeah. Got like a mo, oh.
Starting point is 00:43:32 Oh yeah, yeah. My clothes still on? Yeah, Jack was a lady killer. He looked like a CW star. Star. I was thinking he like, he could have been an outsider. It was like Tom See Howe, all those cute boys.
Starting point is 00:43:43 Or CW. Mm-hmm, yeah, was, your generation, my generation. Apparently there's an outsider's musical now. Oh really? Yeah, that's supposed to be fantastic. Maybe he's in it. There might be a musical I would see because I love the movie, The Outsiders, so much in the book.
Starting point is 00:43:57 S.E. Hinton, 16 years old writing outsiders. Woman girl. What are you talking about? Wait, right? What? S.E. Hinton is a girl. Yeah. I mean, she's, right? What? I see Hinton as a girl. Yeah. I mean, she's a woman.
Starting point is 00:44:06 She was a girl when she wrote those books. Yes, and now she's a woman. It's impossible. I know, but it's not. I don't understand that. Women are very possible. They happen all the time. That was fun.
Starting point is 00:44:17 Yes. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there and to all the grandpappies. Future dads. Yeah, everyone. Happy Father's Day to all the women and moms and girls. That's right, and the aunts and the grandpappies. Future dads. Yeah, everyone. Happy Father's Day to all the women, and moms and girls. That's right, and the aunts and the grandmommies.
Starting point is 00:44:30 Obviously there's so many great stories I could tell about my sweet Pippi. Same. Yeah, do you have one that comes to mind? No. Okay. The one that just pops into my mind is, one time my father was visiting,
Starting point is 00:44:42 and at the time, this is probably 05 or 06, I had a jacked up Chevy truck, and I had a Porsche 911. And so I had a really busy day, he was visiting, and I had a meeting on the west side, and then I had a meeting in Hollywood, and then I had to go to Disney out in the valley. And so I said, what are you doing today? And he's like, your cousin Jamie's coming over,
Starting point is 00:45:05 we're gonna go out to lunch. And I'm like, great, I should be home at whatever time. So I'm going from my second to my third meeting, I'm going up Cahuanga towards Disney. As I'm crossing Franklin and Cahuanga, I see my truck sitting on the side of the road, and there's two cop cars around it, and no one's in the truck and the flashers are on.
Starting point is 00:45:25 And I just like drive by. I'm like, that's my truck. What on earth is it doing here with police cars around it? So I call my dad's cell phone right away. He doesn't answer. And then I call my sister and I'm like, hey, I'm on my way to this meeting at Disney. My truck's on the side of the road.
Starting point is 00:45:40 Will you call my dad and see what's going on? So she calls me back in two minutes and she goes, oh yeah, he answered right away. He's like, hey girl. And she goes, hey, Dax wants my dad and see what's going on? So she calls me back in two minutes and she goes, oh yeah, he answered right away. He's like, hey, Carl. And she goes, hey, Dax wants to know why his truck's on the side of the road. And he goes, oh, he told you, I gotta go. I'm talking to the cops.
Starting point is 00:45:54 And just hangs up on her. So that's the information I have as I enter this meeting at Disney. And I'm of course pretty preoccupied by what is that? I have the meeting, it's like an hour and a half general meeting, it's fun. I completely forget about what had happened before I got there.
Starting point is 00:46:09 I get out and I have a couple of voicemails and so I'm listening to them and the first one's from my insurance company and they're like, your truck was towed to this body shop, we'll get it assessed. The second message is from my father and he goes, this bitch came out of nowhere. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:46:29 Well, Jax, I drove over a Honda with your truck. Oh my God. I tried not to let them tow it, but they insisted on towing it. Anyways, I'm back at the house. I'll see you when you get here. No, I'm sorry, no anything. This bitch came out of nowhere.
Starting point is 00:46:42 Come to find out, he literally drove over this girl's Honda He was like barreling down the parking lane on the right side of Franklin and this gal Poked the hood of her car out into the intersection leaving a parking lot and he drove up over her Oh my god, the windshield drove off the car and then put it in park shit And when he got home, he never did say sorry. He was just like maybe hurt that I wasn't more concerned about him from the accident. Oh really?
Starting point is 00:47:11 When I got back, I pull in the driveway and Jamie's there with him and Jamie's got a plenty nice car. And so my first question was like, why on earth did you guys even take the truck? Right. He just showed up in a car. Sure.
Starting point is 00:47:23 Oh, and he goes, oh, and I got a parking ticket before they towed it, so then he handed me a parking ticket. Oh, ouchie, ouchie, ouchie, ouchie. Oh, I love him though. Sure. Sweet, colorful man. All right, well, happy Father's Day. Happy Father's Day.
Starting point is 00:47:39 Love you. Do you wanna sing a tune or something? We know a theme song. Oh, okay, great. Do you wanna sing a tune or something? We don't have a theme song for this new show So here I go, go, go We're gonna ask some random questions And with the help of our cherries We'll get some suggestions
Starting point is 00:48:01 On the flyer, rhyme dish On the flyer, rhyme dish Enjoy

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.