A Contagious Smile Podcast
A Contagious Smile is a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering special needs families and survivors of domestic violence. Through heartfelt stories, we shine a light on the journeys of extraordinary individuals who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Their triumphs serve as a testament to resilience and strength, inspiring others to rediscover their own inner light. Each episode features candid interviews with survivors, advocates, and experts who provide valuable resources and insights to support those on their own paths to healing and empowerment. Join us as we celebrate the power of resilience, the beauty of shared stories, and the unstoppable spirit of those who turn adversity into hope. Let us guide you in rekindling your spirit, because every smile tells a story of courage and transformation.
A Contagious Smile Podcast
Unplugged and Unfiltered: Embracing Family Fun, Exploring Justice, and Creating Cherished Moments
Imagine a day where your phone takes a backseat, and family fun becomes the main event. We decided to unplug for a while and embrace the simple joys of technology-free bonding. Alongside the initial grumbles, we found laughter, productivity, and a surprising sense of fulfillment. Plus, you'll get a kick out of the prank that almost had Michael believing a beauty mishap — his quick thinking saved the day! Join us as we share heartwarming stories, including our unforgettable experience at Give Kids the World during Faith's Make-A-Wish trip. This magical place taught us about the power of community support and the importance of creating moments that matter.
Beyond the laughter and pranks, we dive into meaningful discussions about the value of family connections over material possessions. It's the little things — like putting our phones away at dinner — that help us appreciate life’s treasured moments. We'll recount personal stories that have reshaped our perspectives, including those involving loss and unexpected changes, reminding us to cherish every moment. We also touch on humor-laden tales about caring for each other, while sneaking in a lighthearted reminder of how important deodorant is in public spaces!
But it's not all lighthearted banter. We tackle serious topics head-on, such as the controversial debate on the death penalty. With passion and a touch of personal conviction, we explore justice, fairness, and the stark realities victims face. Our discussion also touches on personal experiences with cyberstalking and the absurdity of it all, challenging our listeners to rethink their views on justice and accountability. Join us for a rollercoaster of emotions, insights, and laughter, as we aim to inspire and entertain in equal measure.
Good evening and welcome to another episode of Unstoppable. I have my soulmate Michael over here with me.
Speaker 2:Howdy y'all.
Speaker 1:Hey babe, hello. Hi baby, how was your weekend? It was very busy. Yeah, it was very, very busy. We attempted something at my request yesterday that we've been doing a lot of home upgrade projects, if you will, and I asked if everyone could go electronic free until dinner time. That meant husband and child, no video games, no television, no phones, and for me I think it was the hardest because I agreed not to be working on everything I do and focus on the home. And we did it and everybody had a great time. We, we laughed, we had so much fun and it it was just fun it felt like a detox.
Speaker 1:Right, and it was fun. And then when we got done and we looked at everything we accomplished, it was like, wow, this all looks fantastic, right. So that's just a thought, maybe you know now. Granted, I was ecstatic about it and at dinner I made the comment across our table hey, what if we do this once a week and like in unison, I get no, like you know. But I said, ok, can we talk about maybe once a week during the weekday? No, like it's like in stereo for me. But we accomplished a lot. And then we had to go and get all of our eyes checked. That's always fun. And I skipped the last year or two and I finally said, okay, I'll go and do it, even though I tried to get out of it at the very last minute.
Speaker 1:But my husband, now that we're talking about it, when I am getting the pre-testing done, faith says to me I'm going to be honest, I'm going to tell you. When you were pre-testing done, faith says to me I'm going to be honest, I'm going to tell you. When you were pre-testing, dad tried to give me his phone and I'm like wait what? And she's like, yeah. And then, when I was getting my eye exam, she's like guess what Dad did? Dad tried to give me his phone again. So now we all know how wrapped my husband is and, uh, it wasn't how that was supposed to go, but yes, it was good.
Speaker 1:My, my friends attempted as everybody knows that my husband and our daughter are massive, massive pranksters, my friends, we all kind of came up with the oh, we want to prank Michael. So what happened? Because you have to picture this. We were getting our hair done and she's a friend of mine and every time we go in there, everybody's like what's the latest prank, what happened, what's going on? What, what's the newest? And so, uh, if you can imagine, like 15 women all standing around hands over their mouths, trying not to crack up laughing while my friend makes this phone call, what happens?
Speaker 2:oh, you want me to finish it? Yeah, so I get a phone call from the beautician. She says on my wife's phone um michael, I just want to tell you that your wife is freaking out right now because I I cut off a lot of her hair.
Speaker 2:I shaved it in in the back and and it's all gapped up and and your wife's freaking out right now because I cut most of it off and she was so serious sounding, she was very serious, you know, as soon as she started speaking and and she identified herself, I won't call her name out.
Speaker 2:I immediately interrupted her. You did and yelled you know, pretty forcefully what is wrong? Is my wife all right? Where is she? Is everything okay? Because that was my main concern and this woman was going on about my wife's hair being on the floor and gapped up and you know the wife's freaking out. So, after you know, I allowed her to continue speaking. She used the word my wife is freaking out. Well, no, my wife has beautiful, beautiful red hair. If y'all go on our Facebook, instagram I don't know everywhere- and see a picture of her.
Speaker 2:It's long, and beautiful and red.
Speaker 1:People now think long hair is like to your chest. No, mine's to like my butt.
Speaker 2:And it's thick, not her butt, no my butt's thick too.
Speaker 1:It has its own zip code back there.
Speaker 2:Anyway, it would just tickle my wife's fancy if all her hair was cut off almost and the beautician used the word she's freaking out. Well, I knew right then that it was a joke.
Speaker 1:I know I shook my head and said you screwed up and she tried to continue.
Speaker 2:I gave her kudos. She tried to continue with the prank and, oh no, she's really freaking out about it. No, hon, you don't know my wife.
Speaker 1:No, that's not what you said. You said my wife never freaks out.
Speaker 2:She will never freak out about that, yeah so that didn't go very well. Nope. And then I heard you crack up laughing.
Speaker 1:I couldn't hold it anymore. It was painful at that point it was.
Speaker 2:Nice try. I told her to up her game. She's just an amateur. Wow, she needs to take lessons from Faith.
Speaker 1:Man, that girl can prank anybody all day long and she's good at it. She's getting better. Yes, she is phenomenal. I know what's coming for you and it's good. Good, like it is good, it's gonna be really really good so anything on the agenda for tonight well, I want to talk about our podcast-a-thon that will be released march 19th.
Speaker 1:We are partnering with give kids the world, which if nobody has ever been to give kids the world, then I'm going to give you like a little background of it. Give Kids the World partners with Make-A-Wish, who we're partnered with, and when Faith and I did her Make-A-Wish trip, we stayed at Give Kids the World. Now I wish on no one what faith has gone through, but any moms or dads or families out there that have children who have additional needs medically because I hate so much of the terminology, because it's so wrong um, because they're the happiest kids you'll ever meet, like they don't take anything for granted, they let everything roll off their back. They have the biggest hearts. They're the happiest kids you'll ever meet, like they don't take anything for granted, they let everything roll off their back. They have the biggest hearts. They're just the greatest kids ever. So we go to Give Kids the World and it changed my life and it changed Faith's life. And this place is amazing. It has wheelchairs that can submerge into the pool, but it only gets you up so high so that the kids feel safe, but they can get into the actual pool feeling. They do so many things. I don't want to go into much of a depth about it because we're going to do this for the podcast-a-thon, but this place is the most amazing and I hope you never can go. I do Because in order to go, you can't just go if you're Joey Bag of Donuts with your family. You have to be nominated and chosen for Make-A-Wish, you have to have God forbid either a terminal child or a critically ill, chronic child, and once you're there and you're an alumni, you can go back every year and it's amazing. This place is amazing, and so I am beyond honored to be working with them and I've been in contact with them numerous times, lots of meetings, more this week.
Speaker 1:If you go on to either a Contagious Smile on Facebook for the page or Victoria Curie author page, both of them show how you can join our team and just join our team, and you'd be surprised because what people don't also know is that everybody there is a volunteer right, so they don't have that overhead because all of it goes back into the facility and it's amazing. Imagine going to a facility and your whole family the siblings of the children are all you know. They don't understand why the brother or sister get more attention, because they need it. They feel left out. They go to this place and everybody is equal, everybody is the same, and you see kids walking around with IV poles hooked up to chemotherapy. You see kids with bald heads and Down syndrome and you name it and they are the happiest, sweetest, most loving kids you will ever ever meet and they are enjoying this opportunity of a lifetime right.
Speaker 1:And if there are some rides that you know you can't participate on in Universal or Disney, they have a lot of the rides there at Give Kids the World and you can get on those rides in a wheelchair. You can play putt-putt in a wheelchair and like. What's so amazing is like you take your putt-putt and you play and when it hits in the ball, you push a button and the ball pops back out, so you don't have to get out or figure out how you're going to get your ball out, like it does so many amazing things. The details of intricacies that they have put into making this place is just phenomenal. So join our team.
Speaker 1:Even if you fundraise $5, $5, that will buy a meal for a family for one, you know they do. They have the most amazing ice cream. I hate ice cream, but it has the most amazing ice cream shop there. It has a cookie place that grandma will come over and bring cookies for you, even if you're too sick, they bring them to you. And $5. I mean, it adds up and it makes a big difference.
Speaker 1:So we would like everybody to join our team.
Speaker 1:Like I said, you can either do a contagious smile on Facebook or Victoria Curie on Facebook and you'll see where it says join now and you can go and log on and join our team and it costs nothing to join. But then just share and say hey, instead of getting your 19th Starbucks this week, donate the six dollars and eighty-five cents that it costs for a flippin cup of coffee and realize that that is going to help somebody have a week of memories that otherwise they would never be able to have. This is coming from a mom who went 20 to 25 medical and doctors and physical speech, occupational therapies, feeding therapies a week, and then you have a week off. You're talking about respite. You have a week where you're a family and it's not, you know.
Speaker 1:Oh, I got to get to this appointment by eight and I got another one at 10 and I got another one and it's just go, go, go, go go. It is memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. I'm off my soapbox, I'm sorry. I just love this place so much that I can just keep going and going. So my husband's looking at me and it's just, it's a godsend it is, and I want us to help any way that we can, and so that's what we're doing.
Speaker 2:So how can they? They donate to Make-A-Wish. Well, they're not donating to.
Speaker 1:Make-A-Wish 're not donating to make wish, they're donating to give kids the world. I'm sorry, and both um the pages. If you join as a team member or and if you go on there, it also gives you an opportunity to donate. And, as a contagious smile, if you raise a certain amount of money, which we haven't figured out yet, we're gonna celebrate you because you're helping us bring happiness to people who you know. Think about it. You get a cold and you're bedridden and you're miserable. Think of these kids like Faith, who had at that point had 30 plus surgeries. She had a feeding tube, you know. She at that point had non. She hadn't had a seizure at that point in a couple of years, but she could pass out at the switch of a light and we had so many things. Well, parents of kids that have stuff going on like this are petrified to travel. We're afraid we'd be too far from a doctor or too far from a hospital. And oh my God, what if we get there and we've gone somewhere and we forget a backup battery for a machine or we don't have enough formula? You know, whatever the case may be, when we arrived, everything medical was there in your cottage and set up for you, like everything, and it's amazing. It's amazing and you really get to take that time and be with your kids, right? Not? You know I'm sorry I can time and be with your kids, right? Not, you know I'm sorry I can't help you with your homework. I have to go do a trach change right now. I'm sorry, I can't you know to your other kids. It's all of you and all of the siblings together and it is the most amazing thing ever and I'm just so honored to be a part of it. And I'm going to shut up because my husband's looking at me all like whatever.
Speaker 2:No, today I took my wife with me to do a small side job just to try to earn a little extra money, and my wife and daughter came with me and then we went and picked up a lawnmower someone had given to me and we did some other things today and spent the whole day together and it was nice. And I made a statement to my wife. I said you know, I wish I was at home full time to be able to enjoy you and our daughter more, Because this is very nice. You know, we didn't spend a lot of times on our electronics.
Speaker 1:We didn't spend any we time on our electronics.
Speaker 2:We didn't spend any, we had some business to take care of. But yeah, it was very nice Spend time with your family. Even if it's small memories like that, it's a day together and these kids that we advocate for they may be housebound. For God it seems like years, life, some of them are for life and man. Just a chance to get out and see something exotic like that that other people don't have the chance to see. It's just that. Would that would man.
Speaker 2:That would just just light up my whole day yeah, you know as a dad, you know, to turn around and see the happiness on my child's face. You know, uh, god and not one kid.
Speaker 1:You know, when people are sick and I don't mean to point fingers, my husband's a baby when he is sick, you are wait a minute. And when you don't feel good, you are a grumpy, bumpy bear. But here are these kids right who are going through. You know, like the three-year-old that I met that I just absolutely fell in love with. She was like she dressed up. Every night they do a different block party theme and she dressed up and she's like I can't pronounce it but I am whatever's killing me, and that's what she says.
Speaker 1:And I became very close with the mom and very, you know, we did a lot together with her while we were down there and unfortunately she passed. But what was amazing is like she was on chemo and you know she had no hair. I gave her a pair of scissors and said cut my hair and take it. She cut four feet off my hair. But the point is, she cut four feet off my hair. But the point is and she wore that hair with pride, you know, and it made me so happy and I told her she's like no, no, no, no, no, it's your hair. And I was like it's just hair. You know, this is what she wants. She wants to be a redhead and she's going to rock it. So let's go. You know it's just hair shallow and superficial about like, oh, like, it's just so tedious. You know, my my ear hurts, so I'm out of commission for 48 hours and nobody understands this pain. No one will ever get this pain. You know, look in the eyes of a child who has no knowledge of what getting up and going to soccer is like, or or going over to a friend's Like. Faith has never had a sleepover with friends. She had a sleepover with her godmother, who was a doctor and was one of hers. And let me tell you I kind of sort of because she was a little tough, this woman. But I would sit out in the driveway and she'd call me and go get off my property. I've got her and I'm like I don't know what to do because I've never been away from her. She's in the hospital, I'm right beside her.
Speaker 1:But these kids who have never been able to go over to someone else's house for an overnight, or the parents can't just leave their kid with their older siblings to go out on a date, right, people take that for granted. And you go to this place and you just look at these kids who just smile at you just because they're happy, they take every second they have and they live for it, they love it. And so many of the kids would say I was supposed to be dead a year ago and I'm still here. So I am loving every second, every moment, every giggle, every laugh is so heartfelt. And then you look at these and I use the term momo. You look at these momos that are like so rude, like people stare all the time at me and I get it and I'm like, just ask me what it is because you're gorgeous? No, it's because I look like. I've been told that I look like freddie krueger and the elephant man had a baby. And people look at me.
Speaker 1:I have lots of scars, perfect examples. I went to pre-op this week for yet another operation and a nurse that I didn't know even though we know everybody in there I guess she was a new nurse asked me if I was in a car accident and she said it so rudely as she stared at me up and down and I said no and she was like well, why Do you like? And she's like looking at me up and down. Well, faith is right here too, and I'm not going to have it. You want to come at me, come at me, don't come at her. But Faith has scars, right, and I don't ever want her to be trapped in the hell I'm in of uncomfortability. And so I just looked at her and I said I had a very angry ex who wanted to, and did use me as his physical playground to constantly beat me into broken everything, and that basically summed up what I said. I mean to summarize the entire conversation. And she just kind of turned her nose up at me like I was beneath her for being in there, and I didn't look at her like she was indifferent or whatever. It wasn't a competition. But she judged me walking in the door because I have scars everywhere, right, and I didn't judge her because she smelled like she hadn't had a bath since 1910. I didn't do that, I didn't say a word. I just kind of, you know, try to take smaller breaths.
Speaker 1:But the point is is that people are taking these moments for granted. I love what my grandfather used to say when we would be having dinner and he would say to my sperm donor whoever you're on the phone with, if I wanted them at my table, I would have invited them hanging up, and I love that because it's so true. Right? We don't allow phones at our table at dinner. You can't have phones, you can't have caps, you can't have bandanas. No, ear pods, nothing. It's family. We're going to talk, we're going to hear about your day. That's what we're going to do, and that's what we do. And I love that mentality because you know what, in 5, 10, 15, 15 years, are you really gonna still be talking to that AI person or AI companion on the phone? Are you gonna be texting somebody in 5 or 10 years? No, but that that people at that table more likely will be there in 5 or 10 years. But people today, they don't care. I mean they just don't care. I mean they just don't care and it's sad, it's really sad.
Speaker 2:I really love you.
Speaker 1:I really love you. You have the biggest heart. No, there's a few people who don't think that.
Speaker 2:I know that, I know you have the biggest heart and people should hear it. The listeners can hear it in their voice. I mean you get very adamant and you go off and left field about certain things and you know they tell you. They tell that you have strong passion, support, excuse me. So y'all I said I said we, we share the same microphone because I guess I'm cheap. I can't use a mixer or soundboard to incorporate two microphones that we have. I just can't get it to work with Zoom and I've tried different programs. But we sit here probably about a foot apart from each other sharing this microphone, and we constantly look at each other's eyes. I watch my wife's mouth as she's talking and you know you cannot help but fall in love with this woman all the time Now let's go back to that baby.
Speaker 2:Thing. Okay let's go Okay, so I complain a little bit.
Speaker 1:A little, yes, a little. Do you want me to get faith.
Speaker 2:No, let her alone Okay.
Speaker 1:Let her, alone Let her alone.
Speaker 2:I'm in the South. Let her alone, okay, us men, her alone. Okay, let her alone. I'm in the south, let her alone, okay, um, us, us men. You know, real men, we're not that big of a baby bull pg, keep it crap, okay, bull crap.
Speaker 1:You will be in bed and for like 21 hours, and then the other three you get up to eat, poop shower, repeat, it's like a.
Speaker 2:It's a non-ending cycle when you're not feeling well I remember I used to complain more when I'd wake up and my knees would pop, when I stood up in the morning and my back was hurt and I'd sit on the end of the bed and crack my back or try to. But y'all after my wife got amputated, I would look at my wife and see her laying there and look at that nub that she has now and think to myself what the hell do I have to complain about? Absolutely nothing. You know, here my wife has one arm now, and so I've stopped griping as far as that's concerned. Now, being sick, yeah, leave me alone. When I'm sick, let me sleep, but bring me some hot soup, bring me some.
Speaker 1:Oh no, babe, no, no, like if he wants something right or wrong or wrong, eight nine o'clock at night, I'm like I'll go to the store and get it. Yes, you will, okay, and I'll bring him something. He'd be like oh, I was kind of hoping it had more marshmallows in it. Or oh, I was kind of hoping it was the other kind of chicken noodle soup. Oh, I thought it was the other flavor of ice cream.
Speaker 1:Imagine an amputee holding an ice cream container, scooping it out and putting it in a bowl. Now, I cannot put stuff in my arm area, whatever to hold it, because it's excruciatingly painful, so I can't do that. So imagine doing all this, and then he's like I was hoping that it was the other kind of chicken noodle soup. Oh, yes, you do. And then I'm like babe, I love you with every breath of my body, but can you please take a shower? Because when you lose one of your senses, another gets quite heightened, and mine, unfortunately, is my smell. And so I would say to him babe, you really need to like, go in there and hit the shower. But I didn't do anything today. No, but your pores did and you're a little foul and you need to go and wash it off and it. Well, I haven't done anything today.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, but then, like in all fairness would, we actually went out for dinner tonight and there was somebody. Oh wow, they were. So the body was so stanky. I don't know how they don't know or how they didn't smell it themselves. I was so jealous of Faith, because she can't smell, like she has no sense of smell, and I literally was like I wish she did, though. Oh, I wish she did too, but like she can smell certain things. We go down the coffee aisle, she's got it. We go into Starbucks she is happy. But people, if you're going out in public, please, there's a thing, it's kind of new. It's called deodorant. Try it out, put it on. You know, I mean, holy gb jikies, there is just some people just should come with a clothespin.
Speaker 2:That's all I'm saying so, that being said, y'all don't forget to go to the website and, uh, look at what we talked about earlier with make a wish, okay yes, and we are still doing our teen talk.
Speaker 1:The girls have been very busy with school and everything they've got going on, but but they are doing it. Dana and I are still very much doing the knock knock. Who's there? Help? I'm gasping for air. I was so honored that I was the only person outside of her husband. She's so cute, she goes. It's my sister from another mister, my twin sister from another mister.
Speaker 1:I was the only person who was given her book before it was released and I read it in one day. My husband couldn't believe it. I got over 300 pages done in a matter of like a couple of hours and this is her favorite book she's ever written, ever written, and it really does go into depth about narcissism and narcissistic behavior and what she's endured, uh, due to other relationships she's had to be in, including an abusive ex-husband that she was with for 25 years, and it sucks. I mean why are people so damn mean and brutal and heartless? I mean I just don't. I don't understand.
Speaker 1:It's like, what can you do for me? And when you can't do it anymore, to hell with you. I don't need you anymore, like I'm done. But then the minute they need something again, here they come, coming right back, and she went through the same thing and it's like why? And you know, you know these people are not happy people and misery loves company. But can't y'all all go on to an island by yourself and like just sing Kumbaya and call it a day?
Speaker 2:What's the name of the book again?
Speaker 1:Rising from, rising from the Ashes.
Speaker 2:And it'll be out. When Do you know?
Speaker 1:Not off the top of my head, but it's coming. It is coming. But her other two are out gasping for air and choking on shame. I've read both and it's tough, especially when someone is like a sister to you. You know, and this one, the one that isn't out yet, has a villain in it that when I was reading I can't believe. You didn't, you know, come up here what? When I was reading it, before you know, things even got revealed. I was like, oh, I know who that is, I know who's doing that, and this villain is just horrible. Like she needs like a sit down, have a conversation with person, and you talk about two faced, two faced.
Speaker 1:so it's it brings a lot of light to it. I just don't understand how some people are so hooked on materialistic things and I'd rather like these people care what other people that are outside of their family think of them more than they care about their own family internally. And that's sad, that's just sad, right? You know, you and I have both been through abusive situations, not together, but individually, and we have both been in a 10,000 square foot home and lived in it, and you know what? It wasn't our home, let me clarify, it wasn't our home.
Speaker 1:But I would rather be in our beautiful home that we have now, because that wasn't a home, that was a dwelling and it was cold and clammy and I felt like it sucked the life out of you and oh, you can't touch the walls. You can't do that, you can't do that, you can't. No, no, no. You can't wear high heels in the house because you'll scratch the floor. You know, I don't care, it's a house. I could care less. Like you should see, we have a huge wall downstairs. When you come in and you describe this wall because I love how you describe it you light up when you describe this wall. Really, you do.
Speaker 2:It's a wall full of us, full of memories, full of our family, full of different moments in time in our life that we shared. We put together. Some of them were on purpose, like the day I took my wife and daughter and my wife watched her first sunrise on the beach and I was at that man who made that happen. Yes, just just opportunity probably didn't allow her earlier in life to watch a sunrise on the beach, and that was one of her things. And I made it happen and we got some great pictures. Um, the the most, the one I love the most is, is my daughter, my wife and we're. We're like walking into the sunrise on the beach and you just see the silhouette of us, you know the back of us, and it's just just amazing picture it is, it's beautiful the, the entire wall, uh, I'd say good, I don't know, 30 feet.
Speaker 2:It's just full of all different size pictures, frames, uh, canvases, just everything I'm I mean, and some are going back, oh gosh 25 years. 25 years for us, when we dated back then yeah yeah, so it's, it's amazing to come in and that's what's, that's what's in your face when you, when you come through our front door, you got a wall full of us and every person who's ever been in here says they loves it.
Speaker 1:You know, yes, we have a ton more pictures throughout the house and everywhere else, and even the refrigerator is covered in them, but I mean everywhere you go. But what I have to do it, what was the surprise that I did for you about a portrait that just so my wife gives a picture to an artist. Well, you got to talk about the original, so people understand.
Speaker 2:And the artist paints a portrait of my wife, her daughter, at the time.
Speaker 1:She was always yours.
Speaker 2:Which is now mine and her grandfather and grandmother. Okay, from the picture he painted them all together, all together, and later on my wife gets another one made and incorporates me in the back, not in the background, but above my wife's head and between her grandparents and it it. Once you look at you, you, you look at both uh paintings, you see that, hey, there was always an empty hole there. He just fit right in, I mean just beautifully, and then that completed the entire portrait and so, yes, it may have brought a tear to my eye.
Speaker 2:I have to dust it all the time when I look at it. But yes, it was amazing for my wife to do that.
Speaker 1:Well, I work with an individual who does portraits for families, and a lot of time he does them when, say, for instance, a child's passed away or they've lost a parent or something like that, and he incorporates them. Maybe the family's had another baby, but they put the child like an angel in the picture. And he was like you've sent me so much business. I want to do something for you. And so you know, I told him that my grandparents were my world, they were the love of my life back then. And he's like well, let me see, and I sent him a picture of my grandfather and my grandmother and then one of Faith and I and so he sends me the preview of it if you will. And this was I can't even tell you how many years ago. And I said what do you charge for something like this? And he was like oh, it's like $8.99 or something like that. And I was like you said what? And I'm cheap? And I was a single mom. And I was like you said what, and I'm cheap? And I was a single mom. And I was like well, I really appreciate the effort. There's no way that I can do this at all. And he was like it's my gift to you for everything you've done, because I don't think you get thanked enough. And I was like I can't accept that, blah, blah, blah. And he was like no, you're gonna accept it. And he framed it and it's absolutely stunning. I mean it is stunning.
Speaker 1:And then I wouldn't put anybody else in the picture. I never, ever considered it. And even my bio donor, my sperm donor, was like why am I not in the picture? He was mad he wasn't in that picture. And I said it's my family, right, and so no, well, I kept trying to think there's something missing and I always knew. And so I'd been putting money aside here and there, here and there, here and there. And I reached out and said I want to do one, but I want it to be different because it has to be all inclusive.
Speaker 1:And I went back and forth, back and forth, and he was super busy and I had to have it done before your birthday it was your 50th birthday, one of your gifts and I was like I have to have it done because we're getting married back here in our home again and I want it in the picture of us getting married. I want it in the background right, so that they're standing with us. And so he sent me to a friend and he did a heck of a deal for me and I think it's I can't even remember the size of it it's big, it's big, yeah, it's really big, like TV size big not 90 inches or 80 inches big, but it's big. And when it came I was like a kid at Christmas, because I don't keep secrets when it comes to gifts, I'm not good at it. And when it came I was like a kid at Christmas, because I don't keep secrets when it comes to gifts, I'm not good at it. And when it came I was like you got to open it.
Speaker 2:You got to open it right now.
Speaker 1:And he's like I got to go to the bathroom. I'm like I don't care, hold it. And so when he opened it, I was like no, I got to see your face, so I'm trying to video it. And he like you come on now, you want to see the video? Uh, no, okay, you windshield wiped, cried, and so it was. It was a beautiful moment and it just.
Speaker 2:those are the memories that you make that last a lifetime so going back to making these memories, um give kids a world if y'all can donate something even just a cup of coffee, you know like it's not gonna kill you if you give you shouldn't use that term oh, yeah, um, I mean, if you give money to these guys, you know begging at the side of the road and then.
Speaker 1:But look at them.
Speaker 2:I mean, they have clean shoes, they're clean shaven, I do look at them and I watched one when I was in Florida.
Speaker 1:They're not all like that.
Speaker 2:No but a good majority are I watched this joker leave his corner and get into a Cadillac that he had parked at the AT&T store. I watched this, he at the AT&T store. I watched this he was holding the sign homeless. You know whatever it said after that. And I watched him get into a blue Cadillac and I was like unreal. And here I am busting my butt Right.
Speaker 1:Well, anyway, we always talk about the good, the bad and the ugly, and so I want to get your opinion real quick on. South Carolina has come up and said for the first time in decades I don't have the specific facts in front of me and I don't want to quote anything incorrectly that a man on death row will be executed by a firing squad and he chose this because somebody else in the same facility chose lethal injection and it took an additional 20 minutes because they had some kind of hang up or whatever. And he went ballistic saying it's inhumane and that's not fair and he doesn't want to suffer. He doesn't want his family to suffer watching while this you know whoever this other person was suffered for 20 minutes while the lethal injection was fixed or whatever. So he's going to be put into a chair, strapped down, and they're going to put a target on his heart and they're going to have three people out there and it's going to be just the they're going to kill by firing squad. What is your thought on that?
Speaker 2:But you know, you know I agree with a lot of times the the punishment should fit the crime.
Speaker 1:Okay, getting shots going to hurt but they're going to do it so quick.
Speaker 2:He's gonna die so fast didn't you say they're gonna be volunteers?
Speaker 1:yeah, but they're probably officers, right? I mean right.
Speaker 2:But remember the whoever's gonna be doing the execution three volunteers. They know they're being watched by the entire world but they don't broadcast it.
Speaker 1:Uh, they should, but they don't. It should be on after midnight and it you know what? I believe it should be shown in prisons and in jails because a lot of people don't know there's a difference between a prison and a jail. A lot of people don't know that. But it should be shown to the inmates that if you do something that warrants the death penalty, this is what happens. Because I guarantee you, I think our crime rate will drop if people see like that execution that failed and somebody had to suffer for 20 minutes.
Speaker 1:But what about the victims that he put through hell? Right, I'm sure it was more than 20 minutes. So you want to bitch and say it's inhumane to be put to sleep for 20 minutes and have a little hiccup? That's inhumane and you know people can openly debate me all day long. It's inhumane to put someone to sleep in a lethal injection. Is it inhumane to sodomize and assault and just whatever they do to their victims? If that's, if lethal injections inhumane, what is that? What is that? What that perpetrator did to the victim? What is it? You know what? They might have that stance in their mind now, but if it happened to someone they love or someone they knew, they would take on a very different role about it, completely different role. I mean, you know, I advocate against violence, right? Absolutely advocate against violence. I will never hit anybody first, but God help you if you touch my child or you touch me, right? No, don't look at me like a weakling, don't prejudge me, because I'm telling you I won't hit you first, but I will finish it, I promise you. And people are like oh, you know, I could never, I couldn't imagine lethal injection is so inhumane.
Speaker 1:What about these people who are out there killing kids and and just the crimes are so heinous but nobody talks about that. They just want to talk about? Well, it's not fair. So let's give them their meal of choice. Just want to talk about? Well, it's not fair. So let's give them their meal of choice. Let's give them congregational visits. Let's give them iPads in jail Now. Let's give them phones in jail or in prisons. Let's let them have television time and and three squares a day and healthcare and education.
Speaker 1:But the victims are laying in a ground somewhere or they're moving through life. And let me tell you from someone who has been sexually assaulted we don't have a term on that sentence. It's not like okay, in 10 years, one day, 8 hours and 14 minutes, it's all over and that pain is gone. They have murdered a part of us. When that happens, we have to learn how to live life completely different from their forward, because part of it was taken away and there's nothing we can do. So they say, oh, I did my time, it's behind me, bullshit, don't tell me. You did your time. And now, like we owe you everything because you did your time, what about what you did right? What about the person you did it to? They are going to have to learn how to maneuver through life, the rest of their life, because of what that person did.
Speaker 1:And people just don't take that into consideration. They just immediately are like oh, prisoners are treated inhumane and they're not treated right. Are we supposed to? We are already, as taxpayers, paying for their food, paying for, already as taxpayers, paying for their food, paying for their shelter, paying for their healthcare, paying for their education, but we aren't doing squadouche to help the victims. We're not paying for them to get back on their feet, dust themselves off and get back to who they used to be. So why is that? Isn't that what you should define as inhumane. Isn't that the definition of inhumane? I mean, here's the thing you can put a dog down because the dog attacked a child. Why can't we do that for a pedophile? I mean seriously, and you know what. It's Keanu Reeves who has made that statement so boldly. If you are a pedophile, you deserve to be put down, just like a dog who attacks a child. If we can put a dog down, we can put a pedophile down, and it's Keanu Reeves who openly made that statement and he just soared in my like respect column.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so there's the invitation Keanu one more show. Yeah, so there's the invitation Keanu one more show.
Speaker 1:He is so humble and down to earth but he's had a hard life. He really has, and I mean every place I've looked or read an interview about him. He is just the nicest guy, just like talking to you and me Seriously and that's. There's a lot to be said for that.
Speaker 2:So y'all can clearly see how passionate my wife is. She's got a lot of a lot of heart.
Speaker 1:Even though we have serious cyber stalkers. And I have to say, what's even funnier is that some people don't realize the intellectual ability that some people have, because even our stalkers are now passing the torch to other individuals and saying go follow them, go stalk them, and we find out about it. We know who they are, we know who they are. We know who they are, we know who sent you. You know, I mean, come on, put your big girl pants on, and you know what do you think about all of our cyber stalkers?
Speaker 2:I think it's hilarious. I do you know.
Speaker 1:Why is it hilarious? Like ha-ha facetious?
Speaker 2:Because they're in our shadow, they're trying to catch up.
Speaker 1:There's a way to look at that. Wow, deep thoughts. That's a thought from you, bob Michael. That's a big thought from you. I'm getting tired. When are you not tired? I had a busy day. I know you didn't have a nap today. I'm very proud of you. You did very well.
Speaker 2:You did. I'm going to hit the hay.
Speaker 1:Negatory me Amore.
Speaker 2:You got something else to do. Yes, more work, great.
Speaker 1:I would never call you work.
Speaker 2:What would you call me?
Speaker 1:My soulmate, my husband, yay.
Speaker 2:Y'all see why I love this woman. Oh, I had another woman today that we were dealing with. Uh, tell my wife. Oh, I'm so glad we met blah blah blah and you're. You are now my bestie. We're gonna be besties that was so funny, because you didn't even let her finish that sentence before you jumped her skillet I said wait a minute, hold on there, tex, this is my best friend, this is my bestie, you have to take seconds I have a couple of people in my life that would say that's taken yeah and that's not available.
Speaker 1:That's position or spot.
Speaker 2:So it'd be nice if all y'all married couples out there could look at your spouse and say that this is also my best friend. I just absolutely tell them everything and I could share everything. Uh, that includes your passwords to your phone, facebook, everything oh yeah.
Speaker 1:And like he'll say hey, can I see your phone here? I just give it to him. You know I don't care here, take it. You know he'll say hey, look at my phone. Whenever he, whenever, like he'll say hey, my text is going off, go read. I'm like I don't want your damn phone, I don't want my phone. You know, like what was my text messages the other day, just in that one day it was like oh four, no was it 400. Yeah, it was like 412, and I clean them out daily, like you.
Speaker 2:You don't get that 400-something text.
Speaker 1:Right in a day. And then the emails is ridiculous. And I try to get to every single one of them. I do look at every single one of them and these two this one and his roaring sidekick are all like come on, look at these texts, would you clean them out? And then I show them that it's down to nothing. And then the next day they're like what did you do? And I'm like I'm just I can't help it. Right, but I try to answer everybody, but you know.
Speaker 2:So thank you all for listening to Unstoppable with the sexy lovely Victoria.
Speaker 1:Oh Lord, I hope nobody's eating while they hear this.
Speaker 2:And myself, Michael.
Speaker 1:My hot, sexy husband.
Speaker 2:Y'all be sure to go on Amazon. Check out Victoria Curie what Don't? All the books he's always All the books that she has published. And check out Faith Curie, Solomon, that's our daughter. She's written several books. And look at our website thoroughly See what we're all about and the Academy's coming. The Academy and shoot us a letter sometime Not a letter, but an email If y'all want to come on the show, especially you, keanu Reeves, johnny.
Speaker 1:Depp. I'd love to interview Johnny Depp. Yeah, just because he has like gone through it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Thank you all and good night. We'll see you next week. You got it and we're out.
