Cleared Hot - Powered By BRCC - Generations, Politics, and Santa - with Vaughn Stumpf

Episode Date: December 11, 2023

This episode is a unique blend of serious discussion, personal stories, and light-hearted moments, political landscapes, family dynamics, and the joy of spreading cheer as Santa. We start our journey by reflecting on the wisdom and challenges of previous generations, exploring how their legacies shape our today. Then, we pivot to the future, discussing the hotly anticipated 2024 presidential election and its potential impact on our lives and communities. We took a deeper dive into the universal struggles that all families face with Vaughn opening up about the intricacies of family dynamics, offering a perspective that's both enlightening and relatable. And for a heartwarming twist, we talk about Vaughn's unique and joyous role as Santa Claus at the Black Rifle Coffee Shop in Kalispell. Hear how donning the red suit and embodying the spirit of Christmas brings joy not only to children but also offers profound lessons and happiness to Vaughn himself. The Speed of War Comic Series: https://www.thespeedofwar.com/ Sign up for the new G14 newsletter here: https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com/exclusive Check out the newest Cleared Hot Gear here: https://shop.clearedhotpodcast.com/  

Good morning, everybody, and welcome back. Before we get into my guest today, let's talk about the brand that makes this podcast possible for both me and for all of you. Black Rifle Coffee, let's go to their website right now and see what they have to offer. First thing that I'm seeing is they are clearing out. Free shipping on orders over $35 and the other rotating banner, I figured this would be here. It's the holiday sale. The Buy More Save More, December 4th through the 13th, so this is pertinent to the episode. that's coming out that you're listening to right now.

50 bucks, you get 20% off, 75 bucks, 25% off. $100 or more, 30% off. As we scroll down, we're going to see what we always see, the roast slide bar. To the left, light. To the right, extra dark. And for everybody in between. And the rest of the stuff you're going to see on the site,

I'll just say that we are bombarded by Christmas at this point. It is upon us. I would recommend checking out the bestsellers. Coffee samplers are a great way to introduce people to coffee or to the brand coffee bundles, I would say, are a great way to give a gift to somebody who's already a coffee affixionado and everything in between. So you know where to go for all of your coffee needs. My guest today is Santa Claus, or at least he has been from 11 to 3 p.m. last weekend, this weekend, and into the coming weekend right before Christmas.

It's obviously not Santa Claus, it's my dad, who now lives in Calispell, Montana. And I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to spending more time with him and having conversations like this. We didn't go crazy deep today. I don't think every conversation has to be crazy deep. But I love the opportunity to sit down and ask questions about where our family came from, where his belief structure came from, his thoughts on life in general, the future of our and what he has just seen in the course of his life.

So I'll let you get into it. Episode number 316 with my father, Vaughn Stumpf. Enjoy. I'm looking at danger close now. What did you get yourself into? Kowlala? I don't know where that place is at. Isle a single mall, Scotch?

But where, what country is that from? Well, if it says Scotch, doesn't have to be Scotland? No, just look at the, what's the name? Isle of Islay. I feel like this is Scotland. Okay. Scotch whiskey. Give me another half hour.

I'll tell you what's like. I bet. Imported by a diegion. It's nice. It's a very, very smooth. Not a lot of bite to it. Not a lot of exercise. Smooth with no bite.

That's what you're calling this? Yeah, yeah. Oh my God. That smells like fucking burnt peat moss Well that there is a scotch whiskey It is burnt peat moss Yeah I don't know if I would describe that I can't I tried it

It's freaking godly Are you a Scotch fan Michael? He likes white He's a white wine guy I'm more of a rosé kind of guy In small quantities Yeah

Like a nice chilled chardonnay Yeah Microwaves Chardonet What do you drink? He does drink rosé. Well, I mean, I have in the past. I know because I tried to order him a bottle. Well, the last next Sunday, we're all walking to the Ritz.

I'm going to wear the sand outfit down to the Ritz so you can show us what you work. So hold on a second. Whose idea was that? I have no idea. Okay, so you just came up with this in real time. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. Next Sunday, that might not be a bad idea. Get your crew down there. Those gals and Kevin have really worked your ass off.

Connor and Kevin and Gala are doing an excellent job. Yeah, Connor. For sure. Port Ellen for that whiskey. Just so you know, I also don't know where that is. What country is that in? I'm guessing Scotland. I'm trying to get him to move on those Christmas trees.

I said, make $10, $20, just get the things out of here. it's in the UK Is it? Yeah, hold on, let me Yeah, the Christmas tree thing is It's never Nobody can see it It's not there

Again, you know Thanks for the constructive feedback I know, that's what I was gonna say Boy, I'd take a shit on that one Maybe next time Maybe next time we'll consult you on that I think wreaths would have been nice Because you could have displayed those inside

So it is in Scotland It's right here On one of the mini islands Have you ever been to Scotland Michael? No. Put it on your tour. It's a go-to thing.

I put Ireland on mine already. Northern southern portion of island. Well, I want to be an actual Ireland, so I might go to the southern portion. You've got to see both. Yeah, I mean, I could just do both. I'm going to go there and get a Sholet. Well, you should have told me you one.

We could have gotten you one while we were there. Well, I didn't think. We got you a patty cap. I mean, what else did you possibly want? I love that. I do. I wear it all the time. Yeah. where should we begin to it i know where we start did you ever in your life think that you'd be dressing up as santa claus now for your second weekend in a row

i fantasize about it my entire life that may be a red outfit that might be an inappropriate way to answer that question well it's you know it to me it's all about the kids and watching the kids i mean it's my it's my it's my it's my it's my it's my my Christmas, watching these kids literally pissed themselves. I've only had one. I couldn't get up there. A lot of them are hiding and what have you. But I don't know what it is, but they come up. You know, it's, I can't get over the way to some of these little guys. Jesus Christ, there's some chunks. I am not sure that that's how you are allowed to describe that. No, it's it is. It's fun.

I'm glad we got away from the wig. It was suffocating, and I think I was able to grow it out enough that everybody seems to like it. The wig or the beard? The beard, you know, it was just, it was too much. What time in 2024 are you going to start prepping your Santa Claus beard? Is this like a June thing? How much time do you need? I'm going to give more this next time, though.

It's going to be full fucking bush, you know. Don't worry, parents, you can bring your children. Well, the greatest thing of all is three young gals who I saw in the shop, I got really dead and I'm walking around and I'm going here. Your wife might listen to this, so let's like... Well, you know, they're part of the... And I said, you know, are you going to have your picture taken with Santa? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, you know.

Well, I'm downstairs starting to take my outfit off. Connor comes down and says, look, those three gals are up. stairs. They want their picture taken. Are these employees or people who are just at the shop? Just at the shop. So, you know, I'm going, okay, how do I handle three? Want any leg? One in the lap? Is there existential questions?

So I just told them, I said, you know, we can be either naughty or nice here. Nobody's hearing this, you know, and they laughed, they giggled. They were really fun with it. And, you know, one jumped up on my lap, the other two there. And it was, and it was sweet. They said, you know, thank you. And that was, hey, cool, that's good. Many, without saying I come with it.

I come with many layers. There's no doubt about it. Santa was on the sleigh a little too long, you know. How, what's your technique to get the kids that are trepidious to come up? I lower my volume a great deal, and I look right at them. And they start peeking around the corridor. or they hide behind a leg or something. And if I can get them close enough that I can hear them,

as soon as I ask them their name, I got them. They'll come up. They might be real, you know, who is this guy? You know, but it's fun. I always ask them what their name is, what they want for Christmas. That's a whole other story. I was going to ask, what kind of answers have you been getting?

I've had everything from a lizard to cats. I mean, this little five-year-old girl, she says, grampy, I'm not grampy. Santa, I want cash. It's a growth industry. I said, well, is your mother here somewhere? But it's children are such an insight into the world. They're so unabashed, you know, they just tell you whatever. You know, it's, I've loved every minute of it.

It's my Christmas. It's just, I get a kick in the ass out of it. Why do you think you couldn't get that one child up? She's just scared shitless. I mean, she just was, you know. And I've tried everything with a candy cane or what have you. And thankfully her parents realized it. It's a trip when you get the mother to come up.

And you got the child on one side and the mother wants to get on the other lap, you know. And I'm going, no. Sorry. It's a trip in human nature. I mean, I love it. You know me. I'm kind of got to screw loose, so it's kind of fun. You're a showman of sorts. How many people have you told that you were in Playgirl? A couple. So just as, like, let's go through a linear thought process here of somebody who comes to a coffee shop with their child to get their picture taken with Santa.

If you could just somehow firm you to line out where the information that you were in Playgirl falls into that. that's not how my mind works. Sometimes it just comes out. And I talk to myself every morning before I go down and I'm going, Santa, you know, cool the jets, be, it's all about the kids. But you get every once in a while a parent or I've had old women come up there. I want to see an extra grandpa. Not Grandpa, Santa.

And they're questions, you know. I just say this isn't my first photo shoot. And then it just kind of goes from there. I mean, do we need to be worried about like an HR lawsuit coming? The human nature of people is just, I mean, what I found out, it's usually from 11 to about 1.30, and then I get to go out and mingle with people out there and sit down and talk with them. It is, it's amazing. You talk for everything from family where we're at, grandchildren,

You know, I love talking to people that were born and raised in Cattle Spell, and it's just, I love that interreaction with people. I mean, I've got to find something to do when Christmas is gone where I can get that injection a couple days a week. Is it a social interaction that you're looking for? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I love hearing people's opinions about stuff. And talk to a guy today, an older gentleman, who started us a information. page. And he's done really well. I don't know if that's what you call it. A website, not a website, no. It's all for a company. I mean, completely different. But you really are spanning

the gambit here of potential things he could have started. Yeah. But that's where we got to. At this point, I'm relatively unsure of what industry he was in, but tell me more. Well, I didn't press it any further. It was I just asked him if he'd been to Santa Clara, if he had ever been to Silicon Valley and what he thought about the artificial intelligence, that kind of stuff. Yeah, I'd love picking people's brains because it

stimulates mine, which doesn't need much stimulation, but... Oh, I'm aware. Oh, yes. So you have... This episode will come out Monday, which is in two days. So anybody listening in the Valley

still has a chance. To come down. To come down. 11 to 3, Saturday, Sunday. We have Christmas trees at the shop as well. Free hot chocolate for the kids, which I feel like has kind of been a hit. I took Conner's son's hot chocolate and refilled the whipped cream on it a few times.

Jack? Yes. You ever tried to pick that kid up? He was one of the first ones. Jack's a trip. Great kid, great family. Friday night we're setting this all up, you know. I'm just kind of sitting back going, geez, what I get into here.

And Jack was there. He would hide. wouldn't do anything. And by the time I left, he yelled at me about I was going out the door and ran up and gave me a big hug. Do you call you Santa? You know, at that point, I didn't care what he called me. And him and I, you know, we chat all the time, but he had a picture taken. I tried to lift him off the floor.

Wow. I mean, he is a chunk. I really am not sure that's a great way to describe children. Well, we're outside. He's out there playing, what do you call it, Cornhole? Yes. You want to me to play with him? Yeah.

I said, Jack, I don't do anything with cornhole. What does that have to do with calling him a chunk? I just kind of, you know. Just ties together? Fair enough. I'm not going to try to put a lasso around the raging. The whole thing is about the kids. I mean, just watching them.

They come in the shop, you know, and I can pick them up way off. and I always do the, oh, ho, ho, Merry Christmas. And I wave to them. How sick is Debbie of you practicing that at your house? She kind of likes it. You know, Santa Toplis is a whole other thing, you know. First off, there's not a single person that needs to even consider that. I disagree.

Okay. You're saying I'm outdated. I don't think so. I'm 100% saying you're outdated. Yeah, it's been a fantasy. Also, a weird way to describe it. I mean... Well, fantasies can be good.

You don't have to be all kinky or anything. All right. I'm concerned that you meant it in the latter way. Oh, no, no, no, no. Just having kids talk to you, half the time I can't understand their name, but their response to what do you want for Christmas? Oh, yeah. So, cash, lizard? Lizard, iguana.

bicycle, motorcycle, presence. But I always say, make sure you leave the chocolate chip cookies out for Santa. And one little girl said, I have carrots for the reindeer.

I was there today when she said that. Yeah, and I said, all right, we got it covered. Yeah, you know, as much as things change, they don't change, and it's always the kids that bring it back.

You know, God bless them. I mean, you were kind of, you were kind of born for the job. What grade was that you got sent home for not shaving? First time or second time. Seventh grade. You know, I came back from a hunting trip and out the door. No. But the eighth grade, they wouldn't let me graduate with the class, especially in the class picture, unless I shaved.

times have changed on that front I was ahead of my time yeah I guess I don't know why why wouldn't they let you graduate with a beard this is 1959 you know did you guys so I'm assuming you guys had to do the graduation in it during the day because obviously there was no electricity

yeah it was a you know not a grammar school it was a do you guys write with coal I'm making fun of your age. I know. Well, you know, the funny thing is my 60th class reunion is this year, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

And I just, I've been thinking so much about, probably the last time I'll ever see most of these people is at that affair, and I don't think they're going to have it. And a lot of these kids, adults, whatever, I'd just. started school with and kindergarten with. So I'm really kind of sad about all of that. I wish it would happen, but... You could always suggest they break the decade up. They could do a 65-year reunion, so that way you don't have to stretch it to 7. Well, that's what I hope. I know the people that have done it for so many years are kind of war out. So, you know, and I've missed a lot of them for one reason or another, but... Did you enjoy going to them? I have cocktails. Yeah, I'm there.

No, I do because my generation was so devastated by the war. So many of us, I mean, you were either in college, parents had money, or you were on this conveyor belt that was being consumed. And it really has, oh, God, it just, from about 64 to about 68, 69, I mean, there's just huge hunks of people that aren't there anymore. Yeah. Yeah. And I think about that.

And I'm going to point in my life where you have a lot of time to think. And some of that stuff is, you know, I'm thankful I have the time to think about it. I think, let me come up here, nice. 2026 will be the 30-year anniversary of my class. I haven't gone to any of the anniversaries. but they also you know I don't I'm not a huge I think a fan of those type of get-t-together is they have a UDT seal reunion every year I never went to one of those either yeah I never went to a boat thing either fact I saw one the other day I was going through stuff and there was the 50-year

reunion of all these guys brown water navy and what have you and I yeah I just want to keep intact what I remember in those feelings how many people do you still actively stay in touch with from your high school class? Two. Three. Is that dwindled over time because they have passed? No, no. I've never been a social person, believe it or not.

The beginning of this podcast would indicate otherwise. But that's just, I never have. I was always such a shy kid. And I got Tony, who you're named after, Mad Dog, and Bonnie Budworth, which is my first girlfriend. I won't go any farther with that. I feel like the statues of limitations has passed, but I also don't want to hear that story.

But it's, it's, I see them around Santa Cruz. I mean, you know, I'll run into somebody in Costco and Debbie will say, how long have you known that person? I'm going, God, I don't know, 69 years. you know so that's special but you know it's it's things that you know it is what it is yeah I don't think I'm going to go to the 30th or the 40th or the 50th why not I didn't have a lot in common with the people when I was in school with him neither one of us did and I don't feel like I have a lot in common with them now I have absolutely nothing

against them but I just have my life took a different path than most people that I we're up with. You know? I understand. You were very detailed in what you wanted to do, and it was so completely different what the rest of the world did. But I think you would be warmed by reaching out and seeing those people again. I think a lot of them would just like to see you and know you're okay.

Well, I would need to start by kicking the shit out of a few of them. No problem. I did that. I did that. Walked up to the bar, my 10-year reunion. This guy gave me some shit, and I knocked his ass right on the floor. Boom. I mean, you remember when I graduated high school, I was about 150 pounds, 6 foot 150? You weren't six foot. Yes, I was. No, you weren't.

Yes, I was. How tall was I? Five-five. No, about five, ten, five-eleven. I understood. I didn't grow any more vertical. once I join the Navy. But that has nothing to do with now. No, now I have the ability to beat the fuck out of them, and I'm going to use it to the maximum of my ability.

I sharpen my skills on Michael. I understand. Michael's gay. I mean, we just get, it's okay. I mean, we would have to ask. But I'm telling you, it's a lot about moving on. They need to move on. And in a lot of ways, it's good for you to do that.

Oh, trust me, I've moved on. But without a doubt. But there's other ways of moving on. It would be good. You do what you want. You know, I support you in anything you do. But it's just, it would be good for them to see that you're okay because you were so different than all of them and so driven.

And the thing that puts you apart from them, you did what you wanted to do and did it with incredible grace. To see that and know that you're okay. I was okay then I wouldn't call that okay I think your perspective is fluid and incorrect so what

I feel like I was okay then I just had a different path that I wanted I'm not saying you were not okay I've never said you weren't okay I've always loved who you were and what you were you know I'm going thank God the apple didn't fall far

for the tree you know but you were so untypical of everybody else and you know I remember you'd come home you were 18 19

I can remember the conversation I had with your mom first time you come home oh she was pissed I know where this is going yeah and I was stock in the refrigerator full of beer

she said what are you doing I'm going to hey Andy's coming home just bringing home a couple buds we were we were in buds getting ready to go out to

San Clemente Island. So we were, it was like, I think it was, it was like a four-day weekend. I brought him up for a four-day weekend. Yeah, you're right. So,

your mom says, Andy's not drinking. I said, excuse me, we're going to have this conversation once and only once. I said, trust me,

I know what I'm talking about. I said, this kid can drink in my house anytime he wants. What about all? I said, no problem. If they come over,

take their keys and they'll stay. Half the dad showed up because, you know, in those days, you hadn't heard of the word of a rager yet. But, you know, typical at my house, we'd find guys standing out in the trees going, where am I? God. But it was great, you know, to having people, I just said, mom, we're not doing this. And thank God, she understood it, you know.

God bless her She was so starched and so stiff But when I said no You know Most of the time thank God She said I okay I got it Yeah no I remember that trip that was good I remember the guys I brought up

We were not done with training but we were We could see the light at the end of the time Well could you imagine We got absolutely hammered that night We were drinking, Michael, Costco cases of beer. And gin and tonics. Oh, yes. Everything.

And we had to move the next day. Yep. I was so hungover. I had to close one eye just to see one thing. And mom couldn't wait. You're going to move you. And I just did it. Got through, you know?

Oh, Jesus. I love those times. I enjoyed so much watching you go through that shit. Go through what, buds? No, all of it. Just watch. Watching you grow up and, you know, and I knew how much this meant to you and watch you go into an environment that was so harsh in so many ways. And watch this guy that was 5 foot 10, 6 foot, 135 pounds.

150. And, you know, and live your dream. You know, that's, that was, that was a wild path. It was a wild path for sure. Yeah. Still is. Thank God. I guess.

Yeah. How are you enjoying living in Montana? I love it. I'm home. I'm home. You know, it's, I love the people. They're so generous, kind, helpful. But Jesus Christ, they can't drive worth of shit.

I mean, they're... I feel they say that about Californians. What do you mean they can't drive with a shit? Okay, you're going down to Fioroi 60 miles an hour. You know, got the right blinker on, and then it takes them a minute to turn. And traffic's backed up behind them. If you're in a parking lot, they don't look. They back up.

They'll run right over you. But overall, it's, well, it's, you know, I've had a, I mean, I drugged Debbie up here, and God bless her, she came, and she's loving it. But was she answer that question the same way? Yeah. I'm real proud of her. She does. I mean, she doesn't like the cold. She loves the beauty. I mean, we just rubbed the quins to the hot tub place. Oh, did you? Oh, yeah. Do you guys spend the night? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it was great. No, I'm asking because I've never spent the night. I'm curious about what it was like. Well, it was great. It was, you know, the cocktail waitress is running around the hot tubs. I said, here's a hundred-d-old bill. Let me to when it went to run out. And it goes, okay. Did you guys go when we were in Costa Rica?

Yes. Okay. Great place. I was disappointed in the temperature of the hot tubs. It could have been warmer. Great food. People watching was outstanding. One guy, he's on the edge of the hot tub.

He had three cell phones. So I kind of worked my way around to him. And I go, are you really that important? And he goes, but I'm going, you've got to be kidding me, right? but it's just you know the world's changed it's just I love the people the food was great we had a room that was right off the river the Clark Fork I mean I'm in heaven you know this shit I yeah I love it up here I love the slower pace I love the people I mean Jesus

you go just you drive anywhere you just look at the mountains it's you and I've talked about it I mean we're fucking home just don't drive east of the mountains because there's less to look at Oh, I know. It's just flat. It's a wasteland. Most of the Montana postcards are made from the Mount Range West. Right here over, yeah. So, yeah, it's, if I had it to do it over again, I did done it 10 years ago. Hmm. Yeah. No, I mean, having my family up here made it so much easier. I mean, Debbie loves the family. She loves the kids. They gave her so much that she didn't have.

And, yeah, you know, it's... It's good. We finally decided, though, we're not going to leave here in spring, summer, and autumn. So we're going to do our traveling in wintertime. We're going to Hawaii for 10 days. Did you get your tickets booked? Casey's supposed to be doing that shit. I told her, I said, book me first class.

I said, I don't want to do cargo anymore. Which, for clarity, is not an option when it comes to traveling commercial, cargo. Yeah. That's for the luggage. I know, but I'm just talking about back with the cattle call. Why don't you just book your own tickets? I don't know. I don't understand all this stuff.

Well, the waterproof laptop you have, you should be able to book your own tickets. You would think, wouldn't you? I would have thought you wouldn't have left it out in the last word. Well, I have a daughter that takes care of me, you know? Is that what we're going to call it? Yeah. She's a sweetheart. That's the biggest regret I have.

is not being near that part of the family. But we're going to break away from here probably in March, head to the coast, drive, spent a couple of weeks, Santa Cruz, San Diego, probably come up through Arizona, see Mad Dog. Oh, that'd be a hard. Good whiskey at that place. But then we'll go to Utah, you know.

What I like here is they've got nice dispensaries. Cannabis is pretty good here. I don't remember when they passed the law, but I'm pretty sure it went medicinal first and then recreational second. But I feel like there's a dispensary on almost every block. Yeah, I don't like that. They're all over the place. I don't like that. I like to see them next to liquor stores or stuff like that.

Well, I just wonder how much a market there is for it. Shit, they're everywhere. We were in planes, which is nothing. Yeah. They had a dispensary. I mean, people are realizing that it's something that... Nice, uh... Nice, poor.

Nice tumbler you got there. They didn't have a bigger one? You know. But, yeah, it's, you know, it's got its place. Don't push it. Don't make a big deal out of it. Yeah. You know, find your place.

Gosh, it's, it's... What do you have left you want to accomplish? What do you don't do the rest of your time? Wow, that's a good question. I want to fish. I want to hunt with you. What type of hunting you want to do? I don't care.

As long as this with you, I don't care. No, I mean, like what species? As long as I can shoot it, I don't care. I like antelope. I like deer. I like elk. They're different. I got my new glasses so I can see.

I mean, Jesus, I can't believe what I can see. So I'd like to try some bow hunting again. Yeah. I love the intimacy of that. I mean, I'm not into killing shit anymore. I mean, you'll give me a big animal and I'll shoot it. But I like the intimacy of the hunt with the bow. Even if you get nothing, just, you know, it's prehistoric.

I mean, it's great. I really enjoy that. Well, you'll be a Montana resident by the time. I'm ready. I got one more month and I can take anything I want. No, you can put in for your tags. No,

no, but I mean I get my fishing license, all that stuff for nothing. You pay for the fishing license. Oh, yeah, I'll pay for it all. But you can get your general,

your combined tag, which when we were hunting up here, those non-resident years, it was like $1,400 bucks. It would be $60 for you. One of the greatest things I've done since I've been here. You went to that ill-fated hunt in Dillon. and Lee and I hunted together.

Yes. That was... And by the way, we're more successful than Denver and I. Was to use Denver's words. Oh, Michael was there too. He was there. It was epic. Just the time we had together to laugh and to talk.

You know, I don't like driving roads at hunting. That to me is not hunting. But I can see the potential. of that area. The game is there. I think you have to hunt at a lower elevation that we were. Well, a lot of the times people will drive the road to spot herds and then they bond out. Which is fine. But having that time to spend with Leah was priceless for me.

You know, she's such a gem. So solid. And it was wonderful. You know, she jumped out to first. dear click safety oh no shit it ran off you know but all of that was just made part of it and you have to go through that to learn the lessons that's how you learn you make mistakes you know but just spending making she had made sandwiches and stuff I mean God it doesn't get any better than that you talk to what I want to do I don't want to do nothing but that that's it

That's fine. Well, unfortunately, there's 10 months of the year where that's not legal. Well, we got Proctor property. We can go up here. Also not legal, but, yeah. Well, I am now at the Proctor House and only having one vehicle I didn't want to leave Debbie stranded. Now we're on this side. I can go fish anywhere from Glacier to Libby, and Debbie won't be isolated.

Why don't you guys get her a car? We bought her. We just got her a car. Oh, you did? What did you guys get? Got a RAV-4, 2002. That's a Toyota, right? Toyota.

Okay. And for Christmas, I bought her a six-year warranty. Okay. Yeah, so she's got it set. She can drive that forever. It's a wind-up car. It's an entry level. But I told her, I said, the luxury vehicle's a truck.

You know, this is it. So she was good with that. She's happy. She can get around, you know. So, yeah, yeah. It's Pete. I mean, I guess I meant it maybe even more. other than just specific things, but existentially,

do you have anything else in your life that you want to accomplish? That's a good question. And how do you view time now, now that you're older, or mortality? What a trip that is. You know, it's, I've joined the gym here, so I'm pushing myself again. And the more I push, the more I can do it. When I take a couple days off, it gets really. He's, well, I'll do it tomorrow, you know this.

I'm finding that I just coming up the stairs here today, nothing, piece of cake. I want to get as healthy as I can. I want to stay as relevant as I can. And I just always want to be part of what's going on. You know, it's, whether it's watching my grandkids, watching my children, never get another dog because that's a whole other trip. I finally realized I get another dog. I won't outlive it. And I don't want to do that.

It depends on the breed. Well, how much time you think you have left? You sound like you put an expiration date on yourself. I don't know. It's a good question. You know, I just hope all of a sudden I get up one day and go sit somewhere and I'm just gone. I don't want to suffer. I won't.

I won't do that. We should come up with a safe word and then I'll either push you into traffic in a wheelchair or smother you the pillow. Well, this is a family. program so I won't tell you the same word. Starts with M and ends with M. But yeah, no, I hear that. You know, people talk to me, they go, God, I can't believe you don't look like you're and I don't.

I don't feel like I am my age. I just try to be relevant today. The world's changing so much in so many ways. I just, I can't make sense of it. What do you mean by that relevant? Well, I just, I, God. There's so many facets. You mean staying in touch with kind of what's going on?

Well, that's not hard. You know, the hard thing is just trying to make out senses if it's even real. I think that's only going to be getting more difficult as well. Without a doubt, I completely agree. But I just, you know, I want to be able to always give back in some way, whether it's, a little advice or, you know, I'd like to be able to coach again at a completely different level than I did before. I don't know. I just always want to be able to be productive.

You know, and that doesn't mean you're out pushing away, what have you. But if you're just thinking, you're looking, you know, it's being able to think of it than just yourself. when you age and you get to the point that you're only thinking about yourself, you might as well go die somewhere. That's not what life's about. I think I read that on a fortune cookie once. No, but I mean, I watch my kids, you know, and they're all different. My grandchildren, my children are different.

And I love that. I can't imagine it being a vanilla color. You know what? Jesus Christ. I think in some ways... We're kind of like a bowl of M&M peanuts. We're talking about the stump family here at this point? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, there's every color, there's every shape, you know. And then there's a few raisins in there. Oh, you know. Yeah. And who gives us shit? I mean, it's just what makes it work. You know, it's just trying to be relevant. And it's so easy to get older and just,

be stuck in your ways and I don't want to do that because I know a lot of what my grandchildren now face is a world I have not faced but I hope to walk a little bit with them you know

I think that's true of every generation I would put a post up that we were going to be doing a podcast and asked people if they had any questions and then I completely ran out of time to read their responses if I'm being completely honest but one of the ones I So I'm passing, and it's kind of one that I get every time that you're coming on is, you know, ask him about the differences in his generation and your generation.

And I think every generation is born into and involves into a world that the previous one hasn't seen. And, you know, I mean, maybe the complexity of the problems is a little bit more difficult or the technology, I guess, would be in this instance. But I don't think they're all that new. As I said, is the world changes? The more it changes, it doesn't change. It's about being respectful. You know, to me, respect is so important and being honest. The rest of it, you'll sort it out.

Maintaining your respect for first yourself and then those things that you represent, the rest of it's BS. I mean, you take care of it. You know, I go to the gym and I have to walk through the cardio section where my peers are that it got oxygen tanks and, you know, I'll walk by and I see this old sucker he's probably doing literally nothing and I'm going, keep it up, you old bastard, you know, and they'll see the look on their face that somebody recognized them. You know, I don't care how old you got. Let people recognize you that you're still there, you know?

You might be taking a dump in your pamper's or what have you, but, you know, let. Where is this? I feel like I need to get a tiny shack out in the woods and go drop you off there sooner rather than later. Well, I've heard that before. Yeah. You know, it's just, it's about being relevant. You know, and I talk to friends that I've had literally since I was a kid. And I've watched them grow and we're all different. You know, one's an ultra conservative and the other is very progressive.

and how our conversations change, but the main thing still gets back to family, respect, and I'm still here. People ask me all the time, how you doing? I'm still here, you know, and that's all I can say. I can't predict who I'm going to be today. Jesus Christ. Thank God.

How do you view your mortality now that you're older in life? Do you think about it more? No. Really? No. Have you ever considered it much in your life? What, dying? Yeah, just the general thoughts on more.

I mean, for some people, it hangs over their head. My only thing is, and I thought about it the other day, I just thought, you know, and I told Debbie, I told me the conversation I had with you up at the Proctor House, and I said, you know, Andy, I want to die right here on the porch, just looking at the lake. And your response was, oh, good, another mess to clean up. Yeah, it's fucked up. It's like I've got to deal with that shit. But I don't think about it any further. I try to live in the moment, you know. I try to block out a lot of the negative shit because it doesn't do you any good.

It just doesn't. Yeah. You know, I can be grumpy. I get depressed sometimes, you know, probably more than I want to remember. Depressed? Yeah. What do you think it comes from? There's a lot of bad memories, a lot of stuff.

I'm learning, though, that so many of those memories, I didn't do anything wrong. And so often when I get like that today, I tell myself, you're okay. And it helps me. I mean, don't you think bad memories or maybe just our body or our spirit or our soul, whatever, it may be a way to remind you to maybe make a change? Not repeat a mistake? I don't know. I hope so.

You know, I just, I don't know. It's just, you know, life's a funny thing. You do the best you can, and then all of a sudden you get to a point, then you've got to deal with it, you know. And like you said, what do you think? And I just try to remind myself, I've been blessed where I was able to coach for so many years. And I'm still today getting full. phone calls from the gals that I coached at Santa Cruz. I mean, it's so neat.

Hey, coach, how you doing? You know, just different questions. Hey, you know, I miss you. I love you. I mean, those are imprints in your life that you did okay. You did the right thing. And I feel very thankful I have those moments. That's fair.

Yeah. The analogy made with the stump family being a bowl of peanut M&Ms, which I couldn't agree with more. It's probably a lot more than just peanuts at M&M's, but I mean. Some raisins. Yeah. I think if you go deep enough into anybody's family, you're going to find the, if everything else in there is a peanut M&M, you're going to find the Skittl or the Mars bar, whatever it is. For sure. And maybe it's not even in the generation that you have access to.

But when did you realize with your own father that things were amiss? Because I honestly think this is something that... Well, I live two different lives with my dad. First part of my life, my dad was... I mean, he was hard. He was... But he taught me being hard was okay. What do you mean by hard?

Like... Stern? Disciplined? Yeah. Learn how to work hard. I mean, I grew up, I started working 12 years old with men that were World War II veterans that, I mean, they were hurting. Was he loving at all? Yeah, he was, in his own way.

And it's... What does that mean? He always made me a part of his life. He struggled expressing emotion. There's no doubt about it. I mean, and it's a part of it. my life I struggle with. Was he a hugger?

No. Would he tell you that he loved you? No. Really? Yeah. How about his wife? Would he tell his wife that he loved her? Mom, grandma?

Yeah. Oh, shit. It would be my grandma. I'll be your mother. My mom, yeah. She was just the opposite. But she lived this life. I mean, I'd come home from school and she'd say, you know, got to leave dad alone

tonight. He's, you know, in the bad place, this and what have you. But to get back to your question, I lived a long, time with that. I needed something he was there. I mean, I remember there was a time in high school that his big bully called me out in school. And the typical thing at our school is you take it down in the parking lot after school. So I go down there, you know, I'm taking my shirt off and I look out of the corner of my eye and there's my dad, you know. And I'm. And I'm taking my shirt off. And I look out of the corner of my eye. And there's my dad. You know? and he had my back.

That speaks volumes about Clarence. Clarence was a very complicated person. His religion and money changed him so dramatically. You've seen it. When did he find religion? Well, I was raised in a very religious family. Okay. They were, I wouldn't call them Born again Christians.

They were just good people that, broke away from a church that wasn't what they thought it should be and created their own church. How did he and your mom meet? My dad was stationed in Australia. A lot of shit with the

PBRs, excuse me, PT boats, Tarwa, Iwojima, places like that. I never got the full story, but he had a head injury. And at the time, there was a big hotel across from the boardwalk across the street from the bowling alley, which was a convalescent hospital. He'd been overseas for almost four and a half years. He was sent there.

His mom ran into my mother, your grandma, at a restaurant in Santa Cruz that my grandpa ran. and she set up a date. A blind date. In like three weeks they were married. They were both running away from a lot of shit. How were they? Probably 22, 23. Both had survived the Depression.

World War II. Neither one of them had any job skills other than just it worked. and yeah that's how they met from there my dad got orders to go to fort pierce florida what went on there neither one of us know yeah but the war ended and he came home and started a whole other life they did so when did you realize my dad was nuts that is a way to put it i was going to probably put some more rounded edges on that question, but go ahead. Well,

we moved to Mozilla and I was struggling a lot. Running with the maggots, having a great time. I do remember one of the questions and not to interrupt you. Somebody asked what was your most amazing memory from

the maggot fest in all the years that you went, the wildest thing that you ever saw. So walk around and be able to be naked and not have it be a problem. Okay. All right. Okay. Fair enough.

But I was struggling and your mom sat me down and she said, look, you're out of control. You either do this or I'm going to take the kids and go. And in 12 hours, I was at the vet center. So I started that whole process. And my mom, God bless her, she said, don't tell your dad, don't tell your dad. my dad would call me when he found out and says are you okay yet are you healthy and then I started very helpful that he would check in on you like that so I started to realize there was a chink in the armor and we moved back to Santa Cruz by then your grandpa was a very wealthy man

multimillionaire but he helped me start my business thousands of dollars, which I paid them back within months. You're talking back in 89? Yeah. And the only thing kept it together was my mom, your grandma. You're talking about the relationship between you and your dad. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. And I just finally said, go fuck yourself. What got you to that point? Your mom and I always, I mean, you've got to remember. Your mom and I had known each other since we were teenagers. started out as just the best of friends, never really quite girlfriend, boyfriend, but then all of a sudden that blossomed. So we had a lot of history.

And we were both running away from alcoholism on both sides of the family. And your mom put so much start in the back of my spine and just encourage me, He said, you're better than this. You don't have to do this. And then with some counseling, I realized, yeah, I don't have to do this. I don't have to pass this on. My biggest fear is that I would pass it on to my kids. Pass on what specifically?

Just the dysfunctionalness of a family that isn't a family. You know, it's a, it's just, it's not healthy. Was there a, disfunctionalness? distinct moment where you knew that you had to cut it off? No, he kind of pushed me in a corner where I finally said, don't do that or I'll beat the shit out of you. Like physically push you in a corner? Yeah.

And I had never thought I'd ever come to that moment with my dad. And he had this cane made out of a bull's penis. And he wanted to make sure that I knew what it was. And I told him, I said, you wave that. We're going to, hold on, let's put a pin in this for a second. All right. the dick of a bull cow was it was his cane he had it stretched into a cane yes it was pretty impressive but i mean it i know what i'm getting michael for christmas but he uh in the parking

lot of his church he's way i said that's a really weird spot for that to go down you reckon yeah i this whole shit was so freaking confusing and i'm just i'm at i'm at my wits ends and i just told him, I said, you shake that thing in my face one more time. I'm going to make you eat it. I went and seen my uncle who lived right down the road, and he told me that Clarence had showed up and told him what had happened. And Donnie said, there's nobody that's ever challenged your dad like that before. I didn't think about that. I just had had enough. And then when the letters started showing up. Yeah, the

the confrontations, you know, and I just, at that time, I was going through so much shit with myself. I mean, it was trying to be a dad, trying to be a husband, trying to deal with a lot of baggage. You know,

and thank God it was your mom. She kept me together. Sometimes she just reached her over and just grab me and say, you're all right. You know? I mean, who does that. But she did. You know, because we grew up as kids together. What'd she say to you when you got your DUI on the bicycle? What the fuck were you doing? Yeah. You might as well tell

that story. Oh, what, Jesus. For those of you who are unaware, you can get a DUI on a bicycle. I go down to San Diego. Oh, God, here it is. And, uh, bowl penis came. Yeah. There it is. Yeah. Michael Ad DeCart. Nice. Are you done? Give me two, will you? We'll take obviously large. Well, so here, this is always interesting. So I go down to San Diego.

Greg's down there. And I had about three, four pounds of pot I had to move. You know, people down there. So I put it in my golf clubs. Sealed it, and I thought it'd be great. So fly into San Diego Airport, and I'm standing there with a lot. luggage is going around. Everybody else has already come and gone. And every time the luggage would get closer, the aroma from that bag of golf clubs was just incredible. So I called Casey.

I said, be outside the door. I'm going to grab these golf clubs and I'm going to sprint out. So we set it up and I did. That sounds super innocent looking. So out the door we go, you know, I moved the pot. It's a good pot too. It's really good pot. And so we go out that night and we hooked up with Greg. And there was, we were bar hopping. Well, after about the fourth bar, I try to get on this bicycle. And there was the tram tracks going through there. And I got caught in, it flipped me off, cracked my skull, you know.

And the arrow said, I wake up and I'm going, fucking Leather going on. What the hell's going on? Where's the party at it? There's a give a Jesus, you know. and we end up in the ER room. I got this wad of cash in my hand. It must have been like $6,000. I just gave it to Casey and doctors there trying to sew my eye up.

I said, go get us a cab. He's going to be done soon. We're going to get out of here. My favorite part of the story is that you didn't tell mom, and she opened an envelope with the summons to court. Would you tell mom? Oh, that's a hard pass. Fuck, no, I wouldn't have told her.

I didn't either. I thought it all just went away. And then here's my date to appear in court. And I'm going, oh, Jesus. So I go there, you know, and the judge, he says, well, I got a little flippant. You know, I said, well, what are you going to do? Take my bike away? And he goes, no, no, no.

He says, I can make this into a DUI any time I want to. You're on two years probation. Don't screw it up. And I walked out of there and went, oh, my God. Of course, I'd brought three pounds of pot on that trip, too. But, yeah. I mean, he might as well make it a business right off. You got to make money.

I mean, you know. Yeah. God, I can imagine she must have run you up one side and down the other, opening that envelope. Oh, God. You know, she says, what's this? And I'm going, oh, Jesus. Yeah, I just cracked my head wide open.

Didn't you get taken to the same ER case he was working in? Yeah. God. They knew the doctor's everything, you know. Yeah, and he just thought you were going to walk out of there, Scott Free, huh? Well, I said, I said, here, take all this cash. I'm taking money out of my shirt and I just got all this money. How'd you have room for your TV remote in those pockets with all that cash?

I made room. You got to plan ahead. There are a few people who also asked about why you were carrying that around in your front breast pocket for so long. Why wouldn't you? Well, it was dead, and there's no way to charge it in your front breast pocket. I didn't know that. how long let's be honest did you carry it around like that too long it's about a week yeah you know I don't care about stuff like that apparently I take my shirt off it's in my pocket I said okay I put it

in my new pocket you know what the hell who cares it depends on if you want to watch the Apple TV you need to charge the remote yeah Jesus yeah how long did it take you to uh come to peace with the decision to cut your dad out of your life? I haven't. You haven't? No. I still struggle with it. I have, but I haven't.

I've tried for so long to forgive my dad. And are you able to? I'm struggling with it. I still am. I hope it's before I die. I do. What is it that you're holding on to? Pride.

No, but that's you holding on. What is it that he did that you're holding on to? Oh, God, it's a lot of different things. Disappointment that I lost who I had before. Someone judging me that wasn't really capable of doing that. Losing him. The biggest regret I have, the biggest regret of all of that is losing my mother. You know.

Yeah, it was kind of a package deal. Oh, and I loved her dearly, and I miss her so much. But she got caught up in it, but the generation is they stood by their man, you know. And I told her when it all happened, I said, look, I understand that you have the right to make any decision that you want. And I'll support you. I might not agree with it, but it's your choice. and the last time I talked to her. Did you have a chance to say goodbye?

Nope. My dad sent me pictures of her when she was in the hospital, stark-ass naked, probably weighing 100 pounds in all different contorted figures. Your mom saw after about the third picture and literally grabbed the packet of pictures

from my hand and threw it in the fire. That's the man I was dealing with. I'm looking at it. What the hell is this? Huh? That's a lot. Yeah. I don't know if I'd be able to forgive that either.

I would need the intermediate step, which is obviously revenge. But that's tough when he's also dead. Yeah. Yeah. What do you think it's going to take for you to be able to put that down? I don't know. I don't know. Have you ever talked to a counselor about it?

Have you ever talked to a counselor about it? They want to write textbooks about it. I tell them about it and they go, you're kidding and I go no you know they all say pretty much the same thing you know you got to let it go you got all this kind of stuff you go away from those conversations but you still just you know this is the man I

idolized was my hero and then all of a sudden because of money and religion he turned into this beast and fuck with me once you ain't got to fuck with me twice and it cost me an awful lot but if I had to do it over again I wouldn't do it any different

I hope you can put that down yeah I hope so too I mean the only one left suffering is actually you yeah I understand he's long gone the biggest thing that helps me is my family the love that they give me watching them grow and making sure I don't do that ever myself

I don't think you're capable of being the way that he was and my memories of him are super fractured at best oh for sure for sure I mean I was not that old and a lot of life experiences in between now and then but

yeah but do I wake up in the middle of night you bet cold sweats you bet sometimes I go outside and walk outside just to clear my head that's problematic because you generally don't sleep

wearing anything. Why would we? Well, that means you're probably outside, not wearing anything. I would hope so. You live in a neighborhood? I don't care. Pays to advertise. It's all marketing.

Who the fuck are you marketing to? Probably me myself. Yeah. Good. I don't know what kind of business you're running, but Jesus. No, you know, life's... I'm working hard learning how to laugh at it. I mean, I get such joy out of watching you and Casey grow up.

And as different as you are, it's the affirmation that I was here, and I'm glad I was here. You know, those are the things that get me through every frigging day. I can't change so much of what happened in my life. but it's your lives that give me the affirmation that my time here was worth it. Yeah, I think the person who might be the end of us all is actually Tyler. Oh, that's a psycho. He is.

Yeah, he's great. I love him. I mean, him and I've had discussions for two or three hours, you know, just battling these philosophic conversation. And I go, you're fucking bad shit crazy, you know? And he's going, okay, so what? You know, and I go, perfect answer. You know, I got it.

That's great. No, I mean, he is the, oh, God, how do you say it? He's the bell in the church that we ring that everybody goes, you know, because he is so delicate. He is so delicate. And he is a good man. He's intellectual. He's articulate. He's got so much to learn.

He's a walking Dunning Kruger curve. Oh, Jesus Christ. He literally is it personified. He is... He said, we need to go on tour. I said, you're not ready to go on tour with the Grampi. No, no, he's not. No.

I said, we'll start New Orleans. And I said, you know, you wake up in morning and you're going to have a tattoo in a place you could not believe you got it. You know, and it just... He probably would be down for it. that actually. Oh, there's no doubt about it. You know, I just, I was so happy when you took your family to Costa Rica.

You know, you know, I watch you so closely and let you be who you are because, as I should, that's my place, you know, but it was, I just was so glad to see you finally get away for a while.

We get a good amount. I mean, that's the first trip we've done with all three kids in Leah, I mean, it was amazing. I'd love to make it with you next year. Well, we already have the house picked out. If you guys want to come stay with us, you absolutely can. Oh, we're in, yeah.

We're going to have to have a talk about acceptable swimwear at the pool, which is going to mean you have to fucking wear a swimwear. I'll wear a speedo. Your Yeti outfit, which is the fucking hair from tip to tail that you seem to have. Thank God, Casey got that gene, not me. Yeah. Hey, you know, once you're in the water, it's all floating, right? No, that's 100% not how that works.

You're going to have board shorts and a mandatory square inch requirement of fabric. That's fine. I'm good with that. I don't care. I love so much of being with my family. I mean, I've got to find some way to spend more of my time with Casey, too. She's been very gracious of allowing this to happen. Allowing what to happen.

Just being able to, the separation and not spending a lot of time. there. You live within driving distance from her for like two decades. I understand, you know, I struggle with a lot of that stuff. It's just. A lot of what stuff? Just, you know, I don't know. I'm a complicated person, you know, when it's a lot of times I try to sort it out

and I can't. It's the women of my life have been very gracious. And it's like your mom before. she died. God bless her. I miss her so much. I'll tell you something about Debbie, which is really great. You know, Debbie... Did that thing do something to you? He keeps smashing it. Just leave me alone. I didn't know how to deal with the things with mom, and I wasn't comfortable putting a picture up or what have you. So we didn't. But when we were... When we were...

moved into our new house. I come in one day and Debbie put a picture up of her. That was such a huge leap for both of us. It was such a great affirmation of who she was. So I moved her into my bedroom.

Now, I got a man cave. You know? Debbie stops at the threshold. Don't fucking enter. Are we really going to call a room where you have a chair in the TV? man cave? Fuck yes.

That's right. You know, it's very sparse man cave. That's all right. That's right. Got a huge hookah. Bong.

You know, you just, you got to have all the... He's lying. Everybody is just talking shit. You gotta come take a look at the new version.

Jesus. But anyway, that was such a great move by Debbie. Such a strong thing. But, yeah, it's...

Shit. What that fucking We're talking about. Debbie putting a picture up with Mom. Oh, yeah. So that was a great thing. You know, those things are, you know, it's, women are such, they're just different.

You know, they just. No shit. No shit, I understand, you know. You're going to talk into the microphone to keep fucking around with that piece of tin. Oh, shit, that's my, whatever. It's my dad. Fair enough. Yeah.

There's a counselor right across the hallway. Let's line you up. Yeah, I couldn't have. It's a woman, actually. Yeah, whatever. But no, you know, it's all about my family. I just, I see shit happening. There's so many things today you deal with that we didn't have to deal with that.

Like what? Oh, shit. I mean, having a child didn't even finish high school. That is not a new thing. Well, this was different. I'm not saying it's wrong. Riley did what he had to do. I'm watching him grow.

I love the growth. You know, all of this stuff. I got another grandson that is in a frigging stratosphere. I can't even, a lot of times, figure out. But he's such a gentle, loving person. I've got a granddaughter, who is a friggin pistol. But it's a great person. Just a wonderful, loving person.

Then we go to San Diego. You know, I got a gay blade down there. I'm just going to throw out that's probably not a socially acceptable. You know. But who cares? You know? It's just, it's just, thank God they're all different because it helps you be different. It helps you.

It's like when I was coaching the women's rugby program. And I said, you guys are all about inclusion. Where's the straight players? Come on. Yeah, that's not how the alphabet people work. I understand. But they did. They understood what I said.

You know? And we made changes. And it worked. But to me, it's all family. That's all I want to have left is family. So here's a good story for you about Tyler. This has happened more than once. Michael will appreciate this too.

Hangover? For sure. He was raiding them in Coast Rika. He's like, today is a seven out of ten. We're at the townhouse. Leah, myself, and Tyler. This has happened more than once. And he will...

Was it shitting again with the door open? No, that happens to. He will rip a fart that would wake up a dead person. And with a straight face, he'll look over and just say, I thought that was going to be quieter. I mean, yeah, I understand. I mean, I love that. I mean, I've been doing that today.

I'm down there and Connor's down there and I'm shitting myself. I'm farting, farting, farting. Why are you telling this fucking story? Well, I just, I understand where it comes from. Oh, you know. Connor is likely going to listen to this just so you know. That's all right. Is it, though?

Yeah, why not? I don't even know if she'd, I mean, I'm just, you know, you got the lips just singing. It's just great stuff. You know, I mean, it's how you can't stop it. I've been sitting on a stool for four hours of my ass packed right up to my shoulders, and I'm ready. You know? So it was time to, you know, just kind of let the juice out a little bit. We have restrooms at the coffee shop.

Santa doesn't take a break. Santa's on. Okay. I'm just saying. For Connor and everybody else who might be downstairs benefit. You know. They're a great crew. They're good people.

I have gained such a degree of respect for their loyalty for what is there. Their hard work. You just don't find that anymore. I just, I just, I, I, I, I, I, yeah. It is out there. I'll push back on that a little bit. It's out there. You got to find the right people.

Oh, for sure, for sure. And you found a great group of people there. Yeah, it's great stuff. Thoughts on the upcoming election? I hope it's... I hate to ask, but it's literally a month away until it goes full speed ahead. I do not support either candidate.

I really don't. And what, you know, and I have, I got thoughts about the conservative, not the conservatives, the progressives. Both parties have been overtaken by the extremes of their party, which is absolutely fucking bug shit nuts. But I was thinking about after listening to a lot of the conservative stuff, and it reminds me so much of the Tea Party that happened 20-some years ago. I listen to these conservatives today.

And I mean, I love conservatives. I'm more conservative than I am progressive. But the radicals, and they just spew this stuff. stuff of how much they love this country. The word patriot has been, it really has been appropriated. But you know what? They don't love Americans.

They don't. They don't like the people in this country. Who do you think they like? Not the people. People that have similar beliefs? Well, they don't like people with color. They don't like religion. It's all about a very,

very small channeled part of the country. I mean, you look at the Speaker of the House today, Johnson. This guy is, he believes the world's 5,000 years old. And, I mean, you look, it's going on in Texas today. A gal's got a baby she's carrying that has multiple birth defects. Lower court said you can have an abortion, and he's going to stop it. I mean, just nasty stuff. And then you go to the conservatives, I mean, the, the progressives or liberals, and they're

bad shit crazy too. Just, I mean, there was a great thing I read today about, I don't know what part of Texas it was, but how they've eliminated their homeless situation by 60%. They're buying homes and converting. them into what used to be, what was the word, God? I can't remember it. But everybody shares a bathroom, but they get a room, their own private room, for like a $1,500 a month.

And it's reduced homelessness by 60%. I know there's solutions out there. I mean, you look at our current Congress. They've accomplished nothing. and I blame that on both the liberals and the conservatives. It's tribalism and it's worse. I look at that. Answer your question, I support neither one of them.

Yeah. They are the extreme of, I mean, if I was Joe, I would make sure there was never a picture of me moving. Yeah, Jesus, good, Christ. Actually, I saw, when people are so. hypercritical and judgmental. I commented on a post that was a video of him walking out to the helicopter.

I think I call it Marine One. And one of the post comments was, can you believe this? Who walks like that? And my response was, all of us are going to. The age is coming for us all. But it's, you know,

I had talked about this before. I think where I struggle and where I lose the, ability to do, or maybe it's not so that I lose the ability. It seems like people are unwilling to have the conversation is I can, and I think people should look at Joe Biden and then look at his party and then look at, I think Donald Trump is going to end up being the candidate for the Republicans, look at Donald Trump and then look at his party.

And you can talk about the person without necessarily talking about the beliefs of the party. And you can talk about the beliefs of the party without necessarily talking about the person. And it's a little bit more complex, but it seems to devolve into a shouting match before that is actually able to happen. Like, I'll use an example of people who view Trump as the only hope left we have to save this country. And there's, of course, an equal-sized audience on the other side. My point is, though, they will not look at the man separate from his policies. or the other way around. And I think that's a very dangerous place to be.

I don't think you can, I think you should be able to objectively look at and criticize where it need be the individual and then also the policies. They don't have to always intrinsically be tied. But it seems like, let's say, there's 10 core beliefs on this side and 10 on this side. If you have criticism of one, it's a guillotine.

They're not interested in hearing anything else. Well, I just came up with it the other day. I just, I was thinking, and I'm going, You know, and it's the extreme right that is controlling the quote-unquote Republican Party, and they talk about their patriotism and everything. They don't like Americans. They really don't. There are such a small group that controls a big group,

and their rage for so much of America is frightening. Frightening. I understand why conservatives look at progressives, liberals, who are bad shit crazy too. But at some point we have to come back to the middle somewhere. You know, and when that's going to happen, I don't know. You know, everything you say I completely agree with. And it's there's, how can we be this is the only. The only two choices we have.

It's pretty rough. Oh, my God. You know, we're the greatest country in the world, militarily, economically, you know. And then we present to the world. And I would be just as critical of the Democratic Party, but right now it's the Republican debates that are going on. Yeah. Have you watched any of that? I've only watched snippets of it, and I want to be very clear.

I want to be clear that I might be cherry picking based on what I've seen. But to me, the image that we present to the world matters. And the way that those people, some of those people are behaving, I just, I wonder what the rest of the world thinks. Like, this is the best you have going for the most powerful seat in the country that you are from. like you watch a lot of the rest of the world. I had a conversation with my cousin the other day. And I said, who do you think is going to spend the most money attempting to elect Donald Trump? And he says, I'm not sure.

I said, it's simple. It's Putin. I said, this is where all of this is coming from. Where do you get that belief from? just but what it was happening with the information that's coming out there. And if you look at what happened four years ago and what they're presenting today, I mean, all the policies that Trump wants to pursue if he is elected, just feed right into this autocratic government that Putin wants to put out there.

You've got Crimea that go away, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Czechosov. I mean, it will disappear. Is it right or wrong? I'm not qualified to make that judgment. But, I mean, if, excuse me, my naivete and all of this is very, very huge, and I'm embarrassed to say. But it just seems that the wars that are going on in cyberface with disinformation is huge. on both sides. So, I mean, I just, I don't know how to make a qualified answer anymore.

You know, I have my beliefs, which I would like to see our country be. It's going to take a whole other generation to possibly even get there. But I just going, is this the best we have from both parties? It just frightens me. Christy Haley, all these people I'm going Jesus

I mean the Democrats haven't even trotted out anything even with any comparison I mean Well didn't Isn't the frontrunner for the Democratic Party

just going to be Biden and Harris They've already declared It sounds like it It sounds like it And it's I mean Who in the world is Harris Something happens is this guy Who is this woman?

She's got to no international experience. I mean, she fucked her way to the top of the ticket. You know, that's not a bad bumper sticker slogan. Yeah. Biden Harris, 24. Yeah. Fuck your way to the top.

But that's how she got where she's at. For clarity, I'm not so sure she would agree with that description. Well, that's why we have a little sip. Nice Tumblr. Did you drive here? No, you did. No, I mean, to the coffee shop. Oh, yeah.

All right, I'll give you a ride home. No, I'm fine. Oh, yeah. Let's just fucking put this out for evidence. You drank half bottle of scotch. Officer, I'm Santa Claus. My hats in the back. Can't you see?

No, it's, it's, you know, it's so frightening today of trying to figure out where we are. I mean, it really is scary. Do you think we'll figure it out? I've lived through. I've lived through Kennedy. I've lived through Reagan. I've lived through Nixon.

I mean, I've lived through LBJ. I mean, these people, it's, it, it's, oh, man, it's scary shit. You think we'll be okay? And they're Clintons. Don't get me started. Yeah, yeah. Do I think we're okay? Yeah.

Do you think we're going to be okay? I asked myself that the other day, and I do. I think we're strong. We will make decisions, but I appreciate you asking that because I ask myself that exact same thing. We're strong. I love our country. We're strong people. We're diverse.

Yeah. I can't say how it's going to happen. I don't think we have to know how. I completely agree. We have the greatest country in the world. freedoms beyond what any other... You and I've talked about this. Most people in this country,

go travel around the world, see what it's like. You have no idea what you have. Well, if you do that, especially if you stay in the first world, you're going to find a lot of countries that have very similar freedoms to us. You've got to get outside the first world. Yes. For some people, more prohibitive or, you know, easier said than done. But yeah, when you spend a lot of time in those environments,

it becomes a rough mirror to not take an objective look at. Fair point. Fair point. But, I mean, you know, go walk a rice paddy in Southeast Asia. Go get outside. Go to Japan. Get outside. Go to Korea.

Go up on the DMZ. Go sniff that. See how that feels. You know, there's all kinds of things, places you can go to expose yourself to. And most of those places, you could talk right into the microphone, too. Yeah. I'm just saying it helps with the audio. I understand.

No, but I mean, it's we are an uneducated, unexperienced country. It's tough to argue against a lot of that. And how do you explain to people what it is to feel pain? most of them have no idea you know okay I can't buy a six pack this weekend you know Jesus how about finding just a place to sleep

stuff like that most the wealthiest country in the world and we have hundreds of thousands of people sleeping on the streets we're just not making a priority yeah yeah I understand I agree what what do you want to close it out with for today

for today we got to get you home before dinner since I'm driving you, so. I just, I think it's important. Everybody, just take the time to hug your family. Make sure you say you love each other and always make it a priority. Because if you don't start there and you start somewhere else, it'll always fail. You've got to start at home. That's where it starts and that's where it finishes.

I like it. Yeah. All right. Until next time. And now that you're here, it's easy. We can do this all the time. Okay. All right.

Thank you.