#1913 Two Mirrors Part 2
Two Mirrors Part 2
Part two. The advice lands — two mirrors bouncing anxiety back and forth. Hidden apple pouches, a thyroid checklist, a Texas move, and Scott’s blunt fix for a burned-out mom.
Jump to a moment
- The advice part one built to: you’ve got to actually calm down — not perform calm. Scott’s image for it: Amy and Emily are “standing very close to each other like two mirrors, just bouncing anxiety back and forth.”
- “Don’t say the thing. Do the thing.” People don’t learn by being told — they learn from experiences that make their nervous systems comfortable. Kids absorb what parents are, not what they say.
- The hidden apple pouches: Emily treats lows in secret because lows scare her, then lands at 400 with no explanation — and sometimes skips food to avoid another shot. Scott flags it plainly as a pattern worth real therapeutic attention, and the Mobi should remove the extra-shot barrier.
- “In range” is not the same as right: Amy’s TSH is 4.33 with a near-perfect hypothyroid symptom checklist — fatigue, weight gain, cold sensitivity, brain fog, mood changes — and Scott, on tape, sends her to fix it. Emily’s 2.8 is worth watching in a family full of Hashimoto’s.
- Find something you can control that isn’t diabetes (or your husband, or the sweet eight-year-old): a hobby, a run, golf. A rested caregiver with her own life does this job better — and Scott ends by yelling at the recycling department to prove the point.
- Part One — JBP #1911 — Start here — the diagnosis story, the needle phobia, and two sleepless years
- SugarPixel — The bedside CGM display Scott plugs mid-episode — now with characters, including a pirate Scott
- Tandem Mobi — The pump Emily is about to start; sponsor link
Every word of the conversation
Welcome to Part Two0:00
Hello, friends, and welcome back to another episode of the Juice Box podcast. My diabetes pro tip series is about cutting through the clutter of diabetes management to give you the straightforward practical insights that truly make a difference. This series is all about mastering the fundamentals, whether it's the basics of insulin, dosing adjustments, or everyday management strategies that will empower you to take control. I'm joined by Jenny Smith, who is a diabetes educator with over thirty five years of personal experience, and we break down complex concepts into simple, actionable tips. The diabetes pro tip series runs between episode one thousand and one thousand twenty five in your podcast player, or you can listen to it at juiceboxpodcast.com by going up into the menu.
Nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. Today's podcast is sponsored by US Med. Usmed.com/juicebox. You can get your diabetes supplies from the same place that we do, and I'm talking about Dexcom, Libre, Omnipod, Tandem, and so much more.
Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. Today's episode is sponsored by the Tandem Mobi system with Control IQ plus technology. If you are looking for the only system with auto bolus, multiple wear options, and full control from your personal iPhone, you're looking for Tandem's newest pump and algorithm. Use my link to support the podcast, tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. Check it out.
This is part two of a two part episode. Go look at the title. If you don't recognize it, you haven't heard part one yet. It's probably the episode right before this in your podcast player. You gotta calm the fuck down.
Gel Nails and a Blepharoplasty2:11
So Yeah. Yes. Yes. I do. So this is really weird and probably TMI, but I had a blepharoplasty done.
Oh, this is a weird thing.
Wait a while.
Yeah. So I somehow, when my son was, like, 12 old, my the bottom below my eyes blew up, swell swelled like a bee sting with like, a person who has an allergy to a bee would potentially look like, And my eyelids swelled. And it took two, three weeks to go down, so I didn't wear my contact lenses in that time. And then it happened again. And I was like, what the heck is going on?
And I thought, is something during my pregnancy be I've now become allergic to contact lenses. So I went ahead and I got PRK, which is, like, a form of LASIK, but my corneas were too thin to do LASIK, so I had to get PRK. Whatever. So I did this whole surgery to fix my vision so I wouldn't have to wear contacts because I didn't wanna wear glasses because I'm a runner. And so then I moved to London then I was in London.
Sorry. And then I, it happened a third time. And I saw a private dermatologist in London, and she was like, are you wearing gel nail polish? And I was like, yeah. She's like, that's what's doing it.
I was like, are you fucking kidding me? So I have three episodes of the most swollen eyelids one could possibly get, and it was because I had a systemic inflammation from the chemicals in gel nail polish that went through my bloodstream to my eyelids. And if you Google it, it's a thing, apparently. So she's like, the problem for you is that this has happened three times. The skin on your eyelid is so thin, it's never going to stretch to go back now that it's stretched so much.
So I had extra skin on my eyelid that I could feel the weight of it, and people would be like, I don't see it. But I could feel the weight of my eyelids. And so I had an upper blepharoplasty. So they cut the it's like plastic surgery, but, like, I did it because it was so heavy. People do it for, like, looks, but I just had it done, April 30.
So I have the scars still from my, you know, stitches or whatever. And during the procedure so I was not under full anesthesia. I was just sedated. Mhmm. And during the procedure, I hear my low alarm go off, and I'm like, oh, like, so out of it.
I'm like, listen. I need my phone. And the guy's like, no. I don't think that's I'm like, yeah. I need my phone.
So the nurse brings me my phone, and I open it. And she's 55, and she's in school. Right? And I'm like, oh, damn. And this is the words coming out of it.
Oh, it's because I'm sedated. I'm like, oh, she could go into a coma. I should probably do something about this. But meanwhile, my husband's on it. He's in the waiting room.
He's already taking care of it, but I just don't know that because I'm just the primary caregiver.
Not make that assumption, though.
I don't know because I can't shut my brain off.
Oh, Amy, you're out of your mind. That's lovely. Hold on a second. Oh, wait. I don't wanna go I wanna go back to you being crazy.
But but first but first, I wanna understand. I don't wanna get past the gel nail polishing. What did they tell you?
So something in gel nail polish has been leaked to causing, eyelid inflammation.
Specifically? Yes.
Which is so weird, but I don't know how it happens. I don't know. But if you Google this, I have after it happened to me, was like, this is so weird. And those and the dermatologist in London picked up on it within seconds of me coming into her office. But I didn't go to a doctor before that, like a dermatologist, so in America, so, like, nobody knew.
But you're not saying it's not through contact with your with your fingers.
No. No. It's It's from the soaking it in from your nail beds in through your blood stream to your eyelids.
Okay. Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna task something with researching that while you and I are still talking. But I I'm not gonna, actually, it's like I'm not gonna do anything. I just wanna be clear. So Yeah.
Yeah. But I'm gonna see if I can find an answer for that. Yeah. Now wait. Wait.
Now back to you being crazy. So you you weren't before this. You have
Maybe in I don't think so. Like, I don't ever remember being an anxious person. Yeah.
The Guilt6:35
Hey. Listen. I'm not married to you, but I'll assume you were a little crazy before. I think every I think everybody is a little crazy. But but you have interestingly enough, after an hour of talking, you have not mentioned the one thing that you put in your note, which is that you feel guilty.
Oh, yeah. Well, I think, like, you know, this obviously came from my side of her like, the genes. Right? Because my two people in my family have had it. So it's like if you were to go back and be like, listen.
Something bad's gonna you're gonna give your kids something bad. You still wanna have kids? You're like, who would be like, absolutely. You know what I mean? So I just feel like this is my fault.
And at the end of the day, whether she's, you know, 18 and moves to college or 21 and moves away or whatever it is, I get to kinda take a step back from it, and I don't have to worry or deal or you know? At one point, she's gonna be an adult. She's gonna have to worry about waking up from Lowe's and ordering the supplies and, you know, all that stuff, and, like, I'm not going to have to worry about it. And that's like, I just feel bad about that because she doesn't, at 10, get a break ever, you know, if that makes sense, where, you know, she had nine years of, like, healthy
'She Never Gets a Break'7:50
What does that mean she doesn't get a break ever? May contextualize that for me.
She doesn't just ever get to, like, you know, not have anything attached to her body, or if she doesn't, then have to do a finger prick. She doesn't have to think about what she's eating.
Is that bothering her?
Yeah. Yes. Well, like, this is why she doesn't wanna pump first. Like, she you know, a lot of her friends have the Omnipod. She's like, I don't want stuff on me.
So we went to the Moby because we decided on the Moby, which, again, we haven't started it yet, but because we can disconnect it in the shower and the pool so she can get, like, a quote, unquote break, and whatever's left on her is just tiny. She yeah. She doesn't you know, she just like, we'll be in the car, and she's like, oh, I just don't wanna have to do this anymore. And I'm like, I I don't the alternative is not something we're doing. So, you know, we're not gonna let diabetes win today or tomorrow or yesterday.
You're getting the shot. And she won't do shotspot on her own yet. I still do them or the school nurse. But, like, sorry. Like, you you know what I mean?
Like Mhmm. Or she'll be carved for x, and she'll want additional food. She'll be like, I can't eat. I'm so like, I'm so hungry. But, you know, I'll be like, well, let's just give you another shot.
It's fine. No big deal. Like, there's a fix for this. And she'll be like, no. I don't want another shot.
I'm just not gonna eat. And I'm like, Emily, like, this is not like, this is not a big deal. I know it hurts for ten seconds, but, like, let's just if you're hungry, you're hungry. And I get it. At twelve, how are you supposed to know how much you're gonna eat?
What like, you know what I mean? That's a lot to have to think about.
Oh, god. I'm I'm minimizing anything you're saying. I'm just I at all. No. No.
No. No. Yeah. There's no easy way to to do what you're saying.
Yeah. No. No. I just I'm thinking out loud. Like, this is
what was thinking about. I think that's good. Like, because I mean, but she's gonna develop listen. I think there's an argument to be made that, honestly, that everybody living with type one diabetes has some sort of a weird relationship with food. Right?
But, I mean, if she's physically not eating be when she's hungry to avoid an injection, I mean, that's I mean, you're you're looking at an eating disorder at some point.
Yeah. And that's what I try to, like, install on her. Like, Emily, it's just another shot. And this is why I've been like, Adam, just get on the this is gonna be solved because when you're on the pump, you don't even have to get another shot. It's just a few boop boop boop into a little foam, like, you're good to go.
And the move to Texas, I think, has kinda pushed her in that direction because, you know, she's gone to a few birthday parties or friends' houses now where, you know, she again, she won't let she let one mom do one shot one time. And other than that, it's they've had to call and be like, okay. We're eating now. So then I have to go back to that house, give her a shot for the food, leave because no one wants their mom hanging out at 11, 12 years old. Sure.
And then the mom at that house will call me, they'll be like, we're having cake. So then I have to go back and give her a shot for cake. And then, you know, two and a half hours later, it's pickup time. So I'm like you know, most parents can just drop their kid off and, like, whatever and pick them up four hours later. I'm, like, hovering in circles within a, you know, a few minute radius to, like, be on shot call.
You know?
At the 07:11 Yes. Reading reading your phone.
Yes. Yep. And and and I just feel and so I think, like, I've been, like, pushing the pump, but now she's like, okay. I'm moving to Texas. I wanna meet new friends.
I don't want mom hanging out. I don't know who the nurse is. Like, I gotta just have a little bit of that taken off me. And so, you know, as soon as this person from Tandem gets their act together and sends us the rest of our supplies, then we can get the training done and all the things. And we'll, you know, hopefully be in a better spot and hopefully sleep more nights and hopefully Yeah.
Volleyball Lows and Strawberry Lemonade11:28
You know, have less anxiety and hopefully do all this stuff a little bit better and, you know, and and have less highs as well. And, you know, I I don't know. So she plays volleyball and, like, you know, she'll she likes these drinks from Starbucks. It's these strawberry acai lemonades. And we've noticed that she tends to go low during a sporting event.
And so all the proteins, carb snacks, peanut butter, like, we'll try them. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. But if we figured out if she has, like, a half of a grande size of that drink, it'll keep her up enough during the event, and she'll be fine Mhmm. Nine times out of 10.
But then there's that one time where even that doesn't keep her up. And you're just like, what you know, like, it's it's I feel like you do the same thing. She puts in the same exerts the same amount of energy. She's eating the same thing prior to that lemonade. She's you know, it's the same time of day.
It's the same but, like, two totally different results. And that's just one example of Well the things I've seen. You know?
Yeah. I hear you. And I I obviously, that's the thing people say all the time. Like, I did the same thing today as I did yesterday, but I think it's possible that if you had a third party there looking, they might see something that you're not seeing. Yeah.
You know? Because it it could very well be I mean, it could be hormonal. Right? She's old enough for that.
Yeah. For sure.
She's get I I I hate to ask you, but she gets a period?
No. Not yet. But
she's Okay. Well, that could be on its way. Yeah. And it could be activity. It could be I mean, you could be I mean, time of day a little bit, like, based on because you're shooting basal insulin.
Right?
I can.
Yeah. So, like, you could say, oh my god. It's it's volleyball, for example. But volleyball at 8AM on a day where you shoot basil at 7AM might be different than volleyball at 5PM when you shot the basil at 8AM.
Yeah. And then
that would be, like, a small difference that you would you wouldn't see when you were saying, like, I just I keep doing the same thing over and over. I I I I I wouldn't guarantee you, but I would strongly be willing to bet a couple of dollars that that there's something different that you're not seeing. And and and these things are impactful. And it could be around exercise, it could be around hormones, it could be around sleep, it could be around hydration, like but something's different that you're not seeing.
Well the yeah. And the other thing is she's a little bit deceitful too.
You've probably heard me talk about US Med and how simple it is to reorder with US Med using their email system. But did you know that if you don't see the email and you're set up for this, you have to set it up. They don't just randomly call you. But I'm set up to be called if I don't respond to the email because I don't trust myself a 100%. So one time, I didn't respond to the email.
And the phone rings at the house. It's like, ring. You know how it works. And I picked it up. I was like, hello?
And it was just the recording. It was like, US Med. Doesn't actually sound like that, but you know what I'm saying. It said, hey. You're I don't remember exactly what it says.
But it's basically like, hey. Your order's ready. You want us to send it? Push this button if you want us to send it. Or if you'd like to wait, I think it it lets you put it off, like, a couple of weeks or push this button for that.
That's pretty much it. I push the button to send it, and a few days later, box right at my door. That's it. Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. Get your free benefits checked now and get started with USmed.
Dexcom, Omnipod, Tandem, Freestyle, they've got all your favorites. Even that new islet pump. Check them out now at usmed.com/juicebox or by calling (888) 721-1514. There are links in the show notes of your podcast player and links at juiceboxpodcast.com to US Med and to all of the sponsors. Let's talk about the Tandem Mobi insulin pump from today's sponsor, Tandem Diabetes Care.
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Hidden Apple Pouches16:26
Like, like, I I when she was first diagnosed, I get it. She was used to being high all the time before we knew. So, like, a 90 felt kinda like, whoo. This is ugh. I don't feel great.
And then, you know, we've slowly kind of been, like,
a seem
to coming down and down and down. But she still gets nervous depending on where she's at and what she's doing of the numbers. And so I have gotten really good at being, like, take you know, we don't need 15 grams of carbs. That's an over overdone. Let's have eight.
Let's wait ten, fifteen minutes. Let's see what that's gonna do. Mhmm. We'll double check with a finger prick, and then we'll have something else if we need to. This is no big deal.
But before I can even get to that point, she's ate in, like, an apple pouch and stuffed the empty thing behind something in the pantry, which I find, like, for months later.
And so there's an impact now, you're just you're not you're unaware of what it is.
Yeah. And then she's four hundred, and I'm like, how did eight grip you know what I mean? And it's like, oh, no. She had that apple patch that she snug that she didn't tell me.
Or I'll find my She had your eight grams plus the twenty three in the thing. Right. Right.
Yes. Yeah. And I'm like, Emily, like, we have to work together on this because if we don't, like, this isn't good. This we need you know? But she's she's not doing it to be a brat.
She's doing it because she's afraid of Sure.
No. Yeah.
Yeah. I imagine. So afraid.
Yeah. But why wouldn't she tell you, though?
Because I think she she wants it to come up really fast. Like, she's comfortable at, like, a 200. Like, she's like, I'm good. Like, this is fine. I'm not low.
I'm not gonna die. I can coast. But I think, like, I think for me, I'm like, let's try to get you at, a 1 or a 100, a 110, 100 or a 110.
Yeah.
You know? And I think for her, she's
Three Therapists Later18:10
like Is she seeing a therapist?
Well, so so funny enough, when we moved home, we saw one. She hated her. And to be honest, the lady was kinda condescending, and I didn't like her either. And then we saw two others, including needle exposure therapy guy, who I thought was great, by the way. And he was super chill, and he had all the right techniques with toys and different stuff, whatever.
And then we saw a therapist that the hospital Rainbow Babies here in Cleveland gave us. So she was, like, in the endocrine world directly. I was like, she'll know all the things. And she just has she comes across as rude. And my husband and I have gotten on her because we're like, listen.
If you go in there and you don't wanna talk, like and you just want me to do primary talking until you get to a point where they know a little bit about you and you're comfortable with them, and then I can step out of the room and you can but, like, she she likes the eyes she gives these people, I wanna be like, she's really not that rude. She's just mean to you because and, like, the doctor, like, the doctor will ask her questions, and she, like, doesn't look at her. I'm like, Emily, this lady saved your life. Like, you you know, that's her job and fine, but, like, at the same time, she didn't give this to you. She's helping us survive this.
You gotta be kind to this lady. But it's like anybody She's having a lot of anything.
She's having a lot of trouble with this.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah.
So it's just it's honestly, it's like a day to day thing, and that's the other thing too. Like, you know, she'll if my husband's up on, like, a Friday night watching, like, the basketball game or whatever, and I'm like, I'm tired. I'm going to bed. And she wakes up from something, he'll be like, I got this. Like, we're fine.
And she'll run past and wake me up. And he's like, I have told you to let your mother sleep. Like, she does not get enough sleep. This is her night to sleep. Let it go.
I've got this. And she just until I'm awake and I'm aware of what is happening
Mhmm.
She is not and I have a sugar pickle pixel next to my bed. So if she's, you know, 85, that thing's waking me up regardless. So I'm not worried about missing something, but she is worried so so much that I will miss something.
Can I can I pimp for a second? Did you see the sugar the sugar pixel update, the new one with the big screen? Oh, wait. You should go to customtype1.com/juicebox and take a look. Okay.
But I am I've he added, like, all these characters and everything to it for younger kids, and and I'm one of the characters. I just wanna say that.
Carl, look away. That's amazing. Yeah.
Yeah. He he really set up this really lovely it's really something. Anyway, people should check out the new SugarPixel. Pretty cool. Yes.
I think I make a couple if you use my link, I make a couple of bucks when you buy one. And that's not why I told you about it. I told you about it because, like, I'm I told you about it because I'm, like, a little there's a pirate character that has a chameleon living on it, and that's me.
Okay. Yeah. I love it. Yeah.
It's pretty
I love it.
That's so funny. Jumping in. I I I don't know if I I should say the owner's name, but he's really a a really lovely person. But okay. Back to your daughter.
Would she talk to somebody else who's not you about it and not a doctor? Would she, listen, would she come on the podcast and talk about having diabetes, or is that a thing that you think would mortify her?
Grandma, Babysitters, and Trust21:21
You know, it's a good question. I don't know. So last summer well, so I right after she was diagnosed, my mom came. Right? So my mom, diabetic herself, type one, ICU nurse for her entire career that she worked.
So I was like, perfect. Like, I've got a babysitter. I've got backup. She lives in Maine, so she's not always available, but whatever. She came out to help, and it was awful.
I love my mom. So, mom, if you ever listen to this, I love you. But she bruised Emily so bad. And I'm like, how have you been an ICU nurse this long? Like, I don't know if you're just like, I don't know.
But she's been on a Omnipod, so she hasn't had to worry about, like, actual injections all the time, you know, frequently for herself. But, know, like, she would be preparing food, and there was a thing where I was like, mom, I gave Emily a shot like, a fourth a cup of strawberries. Like, this was in the very, very beginning, like, a month after we were diagnosed. And I I leave the room, I come back in, and Emily has probably, like, a cup's worth of strawberries on her plate. And I'm mom, did you hear a fourth of a cup?
Because I'm not or she would throw things in the rubbish, like, can or the packaging on, like, a tortilla wrap, and I'd be like, I need to know what the carbs are. Oh, I threw that in the rubbish. Well, how do you know what you're dosing for? You're a diabetic also. She's like, ah, you know?
And you're just like, oh, but find your things dinging all the time.
How's your mom's health? How's your mom's health?
It's dinging all the time. It's dinging all the time. She has you know, honestly, for what she bless her heart. She took care of us. She put herself on the back burner for for her entire life, like, when she was 42 or 40, I think, when my dad died.
And she just worked, you know, twelve hour shifts. She walked to work sometimes so we could have a car to drive when my older sister had got her license. Like, she sacrificed everything for her children. So I think she put her health on the back burner. For what she's done and how she is today, she's 75, and she's really not terrible.
Like, she has no high blood pressure. She doesn't have high cholesterol. Like, all the typical things you see people getting around their seventies, like, she doesn't have them. She has the Hashimoto's. She has the type one, and she does have eye issues where she has to get an injection in her retina every four weeks, I think.
And she claims it's not from diabetes. I think she claims diabetes exacerbated her condition, but it's something different. I don't know if she's telling me the truth because she's just trying not to scare me for Emily. And I do know somebody else who has the same thing, and they don't have diabetes. So I'm just like, I don't know who to believe.
But I overall, for what you would think she would be, she's actually not
terrible.
She's yes. Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, gosh. I so I don't so so you were kinda hopeful that your daughter would talk to your mom, but that didn't go as well.
No. And no. No. And she won't even sleep over at her house. And that was, like, an annual summer thing.
We'd go to Maine, and Emily would get, like, a private sleepover with grandma, they'd go out to dinner, and they'd get a toy, and they'd go and now she's like, I'm not going there.
No. Because because of the bruise from the needle?
Because of, yeah, she's just scared that grandma won't wake up from a furlough or, you know, she'd get bruised or she won't know what she's doing or how to count. The only person she's let babysit her for we'll have a local babysitter, but I'll only go away for three hours. So I'll give Emily a shot. She'll have dinner as I'm walking out the door, and I'll come back by nine to give her her next shot for bedtime. The only person that she's allowed to babysit her longer than three hours is my sister who is an RN forever.
You know, the over the top, like, ove you know, checks everything. She is my best friend. She is everything to me. We are pretty much twins separated by nine years. And that's the only person who Emily has let babysit her for an extended period of time when Adam and I went to my husband and I went to a concert last summer, like, forty five minutes away.
And it
was actually the it was Jack White. But it was the first time in this diagnosis that I was away, and I didn't look at my phone. I'd looked at it, like, once or twice, but it was
like Well, what changed? How come you didn't look? Were you high?
Because my no. Because my sister was watching her, and I have all the faith in my and, yeah, all the faith in my like, I love her. She is my best friend. Like, we are yeah. I couldn't do life without her.
You a question, Is there some reason why your sister's a better choice, or is it just a person you're comfortable with?
I think it's a person that oh, I think because she's an RN, she knows what she's doing, she's not relaxed. Like, she wouldn't be relaxed about Emily's care my daughter's care because she knows like, you know, like, she would she's just if anything happened on her watch, like, she would not forgive herself. So she's very on top of it. She is a great RN, and my and my daughter knows how much I love my sister. And, like, we do girls trips and stuff like that, like her me and my sister.
So, like, I think Emily realizes how much I trust my sister even before the diabetes, just in life. And so that was like, oh, I no, auntie.
Two Mirrors — Where the Anxiety Bounces26:40
So, Amy, are you telling me that your attitude and what you say is transferable to your daughter about her care?
I don't so I've never said anything about Kristen being a good caregiver for diabetes.
That's the vibe that she gets from you?
I just think because she sees how close I am with Kristen, yes, that my sister that yeah.
My question would be, isn't it possible that some of the anxiety is a vibe she's getting from you too that you're not aware of?
I don't maybe. But, like, me and my husband are getting along great. Like, we we don't fight. Like, we're not, you know
No. I don't mean that. I mean, you I mean, listen. I I think the the the the value of this recording for other people will be one thing. Yeah.
But for you, it's gonna be a completely different thing. Because when you listen back to this, if you don't listen to this and think I sound a little unhinged, I'm gonna be surprised. Okay? And and if and if you don't thank you. And if you don't listen back to this five years from now and go, holy hell.
Is that how I was? I'm gonna be surprised.
Like It's gonna be a good time capsule.
That No. I really think so. Like, I think it could be really valuable for you. And and I don't I just don't don't disregard the idea that you might be giving off weird energy that you're not aware of and that she's not reflecting it, and that you guys might not be standing like two mirrors just reflecting it back at each other.
Yeah. I do agree. I'm exhausted. So I I think you have
this in it. In your speech pattern.
Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And, like, I think, like, that comes like, I get I get, like, I have no patience.
And, like, a lot of people are like, oh, I hate everybody in my forties, perimenopausal, but and I'm just exhausted. So I'm, like, I'm annoyed at everything and every you know, I mean?
Have time to hate anybody.
I'm too tired. Yes. I do. But I think, like and and she has a little bit of the teenage tood coming on too, so it's like a double whammy. You know?
And I think, like, there will be some times where I'm just like, oh, this is like just you know, I just told you to wait fifteen minutes or eat your protein first or whatever.
That that's gonna start happening.
Yeah. Like, I don't know. Like yeah. So I just I
have to tell you. I don't know if it's right or wrong or if I should use it. I wanna I wanna talk to your daughter so badly. I could taste it. Yeah.
Yeah. Like, don't don't force her, obviously.
But No. Will.
Say, if you like tell her she can complain about it or whatever she wants, she can I also, I love the way you curse? Will she curse like this too?
No. So I always say I'm from Massachusetts. Like, that's part of who we are. I don't know if that's a thing or not, but
I Such an interesting mix of the time you moved out. You referred to the trash as rubbish, so that comes from That's New England thing, though. Wait.
That's a New England. My grandma UK? It is, but I think it came over to New England a bit too because my grandmother and my mother, we grew up calling it rubbish. And a lot of people call me out on that. I'm like, no.
No. That is a New England thing.
Think it's a wrong word. I just think it's and and there's and there's times where you have, like, some southern stuff from the South Carolina going on, but your your language is definitely from Boston. Like, it's all really you're a really interesting mix.
So I'm mutt. You've said
fuck more times in this episode than I've said in the last month of making the podcast. Like like, so much so that at the end of this, I'm gonna have to leave a note for the editor and go, hey. Like, listen. She even said it under her breath one time. By the way, like, thirteen minutes into it, you said it under your breath.
And and so anyway but I don't care. I just think I I think it's for the anyway, I'm gonna tell you that you're early on in this. Yeah. I understand all of your concerns. If you can find a way to believe me, they're not really things you have to worry about mostly.
Okay.
I'm not telling you not to pay attention and just throw it off to God. I'm not saying that either. There are definitely things you have to pay attention to. And but I just think you're you're just too deep in it right now. Like, you sound you sound so far up your own ass, I don't know another way to put it.
Like, you Yeah.
No. You're not wrong.
Oh, I know. I'm I've been doing this a long time. I'm good at this.
I wanna Yeah. I wanna I wanna go to a comedy show with my sister in December in Rhode Island, Providence, and Emily heard me talking to her. She's like, you can't go. Like, Emily, it's eleven months from now. She's like, no.
You can't go. I'm like, well, I'm gonna go, and that's gonna be a different we'll have a conversation about that at a different time, but, like, you will live.
But you the conversations aren't gonna fix it. Like, you have to meaningfully do something without talking that alleviates her anxiety about it. Yeah. Yeah. The you can explain shit to people all you want from here to eternity.
If that worked, then Jerry Springer would have only had to run one episode where a 13 year old was pregnant and the rest of the world would have went. That's not a good idea, and then it wouldn't happen again. Okay? But that's not people don't people don't learn by being told. People learn by having experiences that make their nervous system comfortable.
Yeah. Yeah. That's true.
So yeah. And you might not be the best arbiter of it. And even like like and and that's gonna be tough because you've also tried three therapists. You've only liked one of them.
No. No. I like two. I didn't like one. That so yeah.
The other way, but it's fair. And now
and now you're gonna move to Texas. Yeah. Right? So the so things are gonna change. She's gonna get a new school.
You run the real possibility of her hiding her diabetes, like, deciding, like, oh, change of, like, venue. I'll just pretend this isn't happening to me. And then you guys are just gonna get into fights about it. And and it's gonna get worse, and she's gonna eat more food and hide it, you're gonna you're gonna be I I don't listen. I I like you.
I I I don't think but you're you're you're aggressively unapologetic when you're talking about stuff.
Well, it's so funny because I just listened to your podcast with that lady who moved to Finland for six months, and she was like, but we don't because kids need stability. And then I was like, oh, we've moved our kids so many times. Like, that lady would hate me.
I'm sure she wouldn't hate you. And and and I think there's ways to to find stability in in this too. Like but, again, like, you are I I know nothing. I wanna be clear. I barely graduated from high school.
I did not go to college. I hold no degrees. For the lady on Reddit that likes to say all the time that I think I'm a therapist, I don't. But but but what I'm gonna tell that. What I'm gonna tell you I just assume it's a lady, by the way.
Lead by Example — Don't Say the Thing, Do the Thing32:53
And, and it might not be. It could just be a very sensitive guy. I have no idea. But but but what I'm gonna tell you is that is that you gotta lead by example. Yeah.
That's how kids learn. That's where they get their confidence from. When you panic, they panic. When you think you're not showing your panic, you're out of your mind. My we we just my kids are 26 and almost 22.
We and you haven't had this yet because your kids aren't old enough, but we older parents wouldn't know about this. We had a lovely couple of hours conversations where our kids broke down everything we do wrong recently. Mhmm. It's a nice thing you gotta let them do as they grow up when they think they're understanding the world, and they and they think they're smarter than you now, and they they sometimes they wanna let you know. And I went through the same thing as a as a you know, when I was young too.
And we very, like, happily stand and have conversations and let them explain how we've everything we've done wrong. And and, you know, and we try to absorb it because they might have points, and there might be situations where they where they they're misunderstanding because they don't have enough life experience. But my point is is that the only thing that really comes from that conversation is they feel heard, and they believe we're listening. And that teaches them lessons outside of the conversation. Our parents will listen to us when we're talking.
They'll let us be critical. They'll push back when they don't agree. Those are the lessons from that conversation, like, the life lessons. The the the words from the conversation are not what's gonna be remembered. And and, like, I try to make that, example more simply when I said, like, I think that one of the greatest things about being a stay at home parent was that when my parents when my kids opened the door after school, they knew I'd be there.
Yeah. That builds that builds stability. It builds trust. It builds calm. And and my point is is that all the things that you think you're hiding, you're not hiding from your kids.
Like, so your anxiety I I really do think that the best analogy for your conversation right now is that you and your daughter are standing very close to each other like two mirrors just bouncing your anxiety back and forth with each other. That's how it seems to me. And I don't know how to fix that other than to say, you've gotta calm the fuck down. And then
the steps.
And then and not just pretend to be calm, but actually be calm so that she can absorb that, and that's what you can start balancing between each other. Yeah. Yeah. Don't say the thing. Do the thing.
Right. Right. Yeah. No. I do and I do think there's been a slight increase in my, you know, less having less anxiety since diagnosis.
But and I'm hoping you know, and I'll go back and forth, and I'll be like, in three years or five years, maybe I'm a diabetes educator. Maybe that's what I'm gonna take away from this. Maybe I'll be a
You stop. Like, really, your husband's gonna leave you for sure. I just wanna say that. And no. No.
Seriously.
Is that why he travels to place for work?
I have to go to Brazil.
Yeah. He
may you should have googled that. I don't think his company's probably even in Brazil.
He's watching.
Yeah. Up the street to the best western. Yes. Like, just sitting there.
Oh, man.
So so, like
wouldn't blame him.
No. But but seriously, like, he's not gonna say this to you because he would like to continue to see your boobs. But, like, I'm telling I don't care about that, so I'm able to tell you, you really gotta calm down. Yeah. Like, I don't know how to do that.
Like, I know that's not functionally helpful, but you have to figure out what that means. Yeah. Yeah. That's my best advice. And I am a podcaster, so you should probably listen to me.
I I also wanna tell you that I was not able to, nor was ChatGPT or Google Gemini, verify what you said about the the gel nails. That that is not a yeah. There's no there's no nothing I can find that says that. Here's what it It's
so funny.
Extremely common due to hand to face transfer. That can happen.
K.
Confirmed by patch testing, that it could be an allergic reaction, but the idea that it's drawn through the blood through the nail bed, I could not find any backing for it all.
Really? Oh, that's funny. So I'll have to look that up again. And if I find it, I'll send it to you.
Yeah. I love that. Or just keep in mind that, like, it could be a colloquial thing that the doctor said to you. Like It could be.
It could be. And and All I remember is her saying, this is never gonna go back. You were doomed for life. And I was like, okay. I just gotta get an upper blepharoplasty.
I'll be fixed.
And, also, I'm not judging you because I I came very close to having the sunspots lasered off my cheekbones. Talking about bougie. And, like, I I and the the the the cost scared me, but it wasn't but I could've I could've found a world where I would've gotten over the cost, except they were like, it's gonna come back in a year. And I'm like, well, then what's the point?
That's not worth it.
Yeah. No. Yeah. What's the point? Because it's a thing I'm anxious anxious.
I I see it when I when I see myself. I see it. Yeah. And I do some I do a few things on video. Like, they usually put makeup on me, so it's not an issue.
But, like, I I I worry about it. And so I did go to ask about it, and I probably would have shook the money free for it if it would have been a a forever fix, but the the lady was like, it's gonna be back in a year. And I'm like, well, then I don't yeah. I was born in the seventies. I don't that sounds like bullshit to me.
Yeah. I was like, you're either fixing it or you're not. Like but we Right. Yeah. We're not patching.
I'm not throwing spackle on this thing and, like, you know, waiting for it to crack and fall apart again.
That's so funny.
'You Need a Hobby'38:37
Alright. So have I been at all helpful to you? Have you had a good time? Is there anything you wanna say?
Yes. No. Great time. You know, I just hope that maybe as I get become more of a seasoned veteran at this whole thing, I'll be a little bit able to roll with the punches a little bit more and, know
fully alright. You listen. And that that's the hidden secret of all this is that eventually everybody gets there.
Yeah.
You just gotta get out of your own way so you can get there faster.
Yeah. A 100%. I think then there's the whole other thing and talking about being worried is, like, my eight year old. Like, is he gonna get it? You know?
And I don't wanna do the testing because I don't wanna know what I don't wanna know. You know what I mean? But it's like and I've had two different opinions from endocrinologists, from my endocrinologist who she has spoken to different endocrinologists, and they've been like, one has gotten their other kid tested because they wanted to know, and one was like, well, if it happens, it happens, and I don't care to have that in the back of my head. So I'm like
I've heard both arguments.
Fifty fifty thing.
I understand. I've heard both arguments. I I agree with both arguments. Like, they're you know, it's that's a personal thing. But, like, you need a hobby worse than anyone I've ever met in my life.
Like, is there a thing in your life you don't do anymore that you miss?
Oh my god. You're so funny. I just I love, well, I don't know. I mean, I always say, like, I think it's a weird time of life too because a lot of my friends here in Ohio are just people I've met since we've moved here. So, like, my my close close friends do not live here.
They live in England, live Massachusetts, whatever. But, like, the people I know, I'll be like, let's go play pickleball just for fun. And, you know, it'll be like, yeah. Let's do it Wednesday. And then someone gets sick.
A kid has whatever. You know, there's always just something with life that comes up. I used to, like, horseback ride growing up, and I loved it. And I'll go back into it here and there. But, yeah, I don't know.
Like, I always just feel like
I feel like you need a thing to do worse than anybody I've met recently. Seriously. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
I I think pick something that's not gonna get like, that that you can do by yourself or that maybe you and your daughter could do together that that you could that wouldn't you know, maybe it's a thing, like, that you I you know, like, go to a movie. Like I
wanna take up golfing. I think golfing would be fun.
Go learn there. Go you are the whitest lady I've talked to in a while. I just wanna say. It's absolutely fantastic.
I feel awful about that, though.
You're translucent. I imagine I could see through your skin you're so white.
Which I do? And it's it's a combo between red and white depending on the sun shining.
I like horseback riding. I might wanna golf. You
make me sound terrible. I'm
so sorry to
make people
listening to this subject. Don't sound terrible. You sound like you. There's nothing wrong with you. You're awesome.
But it's just I'm just making fun and and joking. Also, I I'm very I say a lot of very Caucasian things. Don't worry. It's, you know? No.
Like like like, listen. We didn't get to it, but I called the township today to complain about my recycling pickup. Yeah. You know? As I was doing it, I was like, this is terrible.
Oh, man. Not a thing I don't think my dad would spend any time on. You know what I mean? No. But but but, seriously, like, something something that's that that takes you out of it for a minute.
Oh, man.
You know what
I mean? Too funny.
Yes.
Now I'm now I'm gonna go around thinking all day. I'm too white, Scott. Thank you.
No. There's no there's no
such No. There's no such thing.
Like, you just funny. No. No. I but, seriously, like, one of those things, like, go do one of those things.
Yeah. Yeah. But because Yeah.
You need to not think about this for a little while. And I don't mean, like, planned, like, planned not thinking about it. Like, I mean, your life has to be such that there are times where you just don't think about it, or you're thinking about something else and it's and it's occupying some of your time.
Yeah. Yeah. I do think though, like, if I if this was me, I probably would be like, whatever. Like, this is but because it's my kid who I'm supposed to be able to protect, like, there's a part of me that's like, shit. You know?
Like,
I'm gonna guess if it was you, you would turn this type a personality on that.
Probably.
Yeah. Which, by the way, I'm I'm beginning to think that type a just means anxious. So, like, and and not for you, I mean, in general. Like, the more people I talk like, time wise, we like, used to call people, like, type a, and now I realize those were anxious people. And and so but, yeah, you you would probably do that thing where you, like, you you controlled it, and that would give you some sort of feeling of calm.
And and it feels to me like you don't have control over this, and it's so out of control. Like, there's just so much about it that you can't know. I think that's what your language means when you say I do the same thing over and over again. Think I what you're actually telling me is, like, I feel like I don't know how to wrangle this, and and that's making me feel uneasy.
Yeah.
Yeah. And so, like, find something you can control. Not and don't make it your husband. He really will leave. Like, pick like, and don't put and don't put it on that little boy, by the way.
Like, you have to go find something he's so sweet. You have to go find something else that you're good at, that goes the way you expect it to, that takes up a little bit of your time.
Well, I mean, you know, it's funny because you wouldn't think somebody who's this anxious and this type a to move as much as to be so free to be like, yeah. Let's just let's move country, like, whatever, or state, or the other you know, like, and all that stuff. It's like but then this is so different. Like, it's so bizarre to me that I could be two separate personalities in one person.
Well, it might be something about it that, like you know, like, almost like two tuning forks. If you hold them together, they stop. So, like, you know, like, maybe maybe there's something about the excitement and the unknown part of, and there's something to do. Right? So here Yeah.
You so you've moved a lot. So there's a lot to do when you move, but you know you can get through it and get it all done. So the it probably moving probably just seems like a lot of tasks that you know you're going to win at.
Sure. That's true. Right. Yeah.
Yeah. Because it's a it's a it might be your hobby. It's a thing that you know how to do. You know how to do it well. You're going to get it accomplished.
At the end, you get a prize. You get a new house. So you get oh, you're like you know what mean? Like, that whole thing. It's probably just the thing you're comfortable doing.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
And and so you yeah. So it probably bring listen. I and, again, I I hear you. I'm not a therapist. Write it.
I I I I I'm just this is how it sounds when I'm talking. I could be a 100% wrong, by the way.
Like Who cares? It doesn't matter. It's shitty. Better.
Yeah. Yes. A Star Wars song about that. If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad. So I was gonna call this episode yard house, but but now I don't know.
Now I might call it something else. Feel like in the in the last twenty minutes here, I feel like we actually hooked into, like, what what the the thing like, it took me a while. Like, I think you're delightful, so, like, I got lost in the conversation a little bit. But but, like, you seriously, like, I I think it's there's something about the I just think you guys are just reflecting it. I I think you're just in that mirror situation I was talking about.
If you can figure your way through that, I think you get it. But if not, I'm sure you'll be fine. You just you just live anxiously your whole life. And I haven't asked about medicating yet because I don't I mean, I'm I assume there's ways that you could probably work your way through it, but, I mean, maybe? No
idea. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, I've not even taken, like, a Tylenol my entire life. Like, I hate medicine.
And and it's funny because I was listening to your episode about your daughter taking the levothyroxine or whatever every day, and, like, there I am pretty good about it, but there'll be days, like, I'll be like, oh, shoot. Like, maybe once every three months, I'll be like, did I take that? You know, but it's normally a thing.
Thyroid Time — Check the TSH46:39
That's hey. Did your daughter
I'm not yeah.
Did your daughter get checked for Hashimoto's?
So she did. She's fine on her TSH and her celiac panel that is typically high, I guess, when your first diagnosis is coming down nicely. So she seems to be everything seems to be checking out as far as, you know, all the other potential
What what's your TSH?
What's hers or what's mine? Hers. I am not sure. I could pull it up on the
Do you know yours while you're looking?
I can my chart. EMH. Hold on. See what if I can log in really quickly here. It's so funny because I was actually gonna have this number ready to go because I thought we would talk about it, and then I didn't do it.
My last TSH was TSH was 4Point33, which is actually higher than it normally is. Wait.
Yours was? Yeah. Oh, sweetie. That's way too high.
You think so?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We want that under 2.1 at least.
The other one, the one before that was three point nine four.
No. No. You're not taking enough.
So I need I'll just double up on my pills.
You call your doctor. They'll do the math and tell you what to do. And if they don't know how to do the math, you have the wrong doctor for your thyroid. Okay. What was your daughter's?
I'm gonna go back to her now. Hold on one sec. Oh, that's funny. I honestly, like, didn't even like, you know, my stuff now, just like, yeah. It's fine.
It's not, though, but some of your anxiety could be from that.
Yeah. That's true. That's true. Okay. Hers was in what date was this?
January of this year. Mhmm. It was two point eight.
No. No. No. No. Okay.
Alright. Now we're getting to it. Oh, Rob, two parter. Okay. Alright.
The Symptom Checklist48:48
Ready? First, Fatigue? Okay. Yes or no?
Yes. Oh, but I mean, but I don't sleep. So that's
something. Don't do that.
Okay.
Are you fatigued? Yeah. Okay. Have you gained weight unexplained?
I'm huge. I used to be one twenty, and I'm now one thirty eight. And every day, I'm like, those cage
genes are convenient. That people who are body positive are not gonna let you say you're huge at one thirty eight.
Okay? For me. For me. So that's fair. But, like, when you know when you put on your favorite jeans and they don't they don't cut in anymore.
You've gained weight.
You've gained weight. I have gained weight.
Yeah. Sensitivity to cold.
Oh, oh god.
Yes or no, please?
Just check all the yes boxes.
Are straight up what? Constipation or decreased bowel frequency?
I would say I would say, like, I wouldn't say constipation, but may potential digestive issues.
At least once a day?
Yes.
Yes. Skin and hair changes, dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, or thinning? Yeah. Poggin of issues like brain fog? We're gonna say yes.
Muscle and joint pain, aches, stiffness, or weakness? Oh, well None. Oh, god bless you. We're nine deep in the list, you found one you don't have. Mood changes, feelings of sadness, or depression?
Yep. Depression. Not depression. That
yep. Was but that yep was awesome. In
my defense, it's not depression, but it is mood changes. Like, I'll be like, I'm just so tired of everybody. You know? And I freak out, and everyone's like, mommy needs to go to bed. And I'm like, yes.
I do.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Hold on a second. Yep.
Now your daughter.
Mhmm.
Fatigue? No. Weight gain? Nope. Sensitivity to cold?
No. Okay. Does she have digestive issues? No. Skin or hair changes?
No. No. I don't think so. Not that I've seen or she's complained about. Definitely not hair change, and her skin seems great.
Brain fog?
No. She's a straight a plus student.
Okay. Mood, joint pain, achiness, stiffness, weakness?
I wouldn't say stiffness or weakness. She does seem to be, like, injury prone, but I kinda, like, tease her because I'm like, Emily, like, this is not well, how are you getting hurt, like, stubbing your toe? You know, that kind of thing, but not but it I don't know if it's just for, like, picking up on things to complain about. But I wouldn't say no. I would say no.
Mood mood changes?
How do you differentiate between
a normal mid teens from a girl? I've only had a daughter for twenty one years, and I've only been married to a woman for thirty years. I haven't I don't have any of this figured out yet, just so you know. And anyone who's Undeterred. Anyone who's insulted by that, stop it.
So okay. So symptoms of hypothyroidism so the anxiety adrenaline cycle, if the thyroid is in a phase of releasing excess hormone, your body is essentially in a state of chemical overstimulation. This mimics the physical sensation of anxiety, racing heart, shakiness. Your brain then attempts to find a reason for these physical sensations, which can manifest as psychological anxiety or hypervigilance, blah blah blah. Point is is that there's stuff about thyroid issues that can kind of make anxiety worse.
Yeah. Okay? Yeah. And so Yeah. I would tell you this, that your mom and you have Hashimoto's and her TSH is in the threes already.
It's it's here if it's not coming.
Yeah. Okay. For sure.
And and so it it's great that she didn't have any symptoms, but don't let those things pop up and you go and make excuses for them. Like Sure. Because she's I would absolutely bet my my little pinky on my right hand that she's gonna have Hashimoto's at some point if she doesn't have it now. Right?
Are you left handed?
No. That's why I said my right hand because I was trying I was trying to project actual confidence in my statement. Okay. So, I mean, I might get her scanned now, like, let them do the scan because an undersized thyroid is is probably Hashimoto's or if she's got little the the nodules. Right?
Yeah. And so but you you should know better that your your TSH is way too high. It might just because of the weight gain that it is. I don't know. It might just be that you need more medication and you haven't adjusted it lately.
But what do you want? Point seven five?
No. No. I think, I could be wrong, but it might maybe it is point seven five. It's either point seven five. I've never been higher than 1.25, and that was, like, peak pregnancy.
So maybe it is back down to one point
I I would get your I would get your TSH under 2.1. I'd get it as low as you can get it without being hyper. But, like, I would I would def in the fours. My goodness. Most of these issues are gonna probably go away for you when you get it down.
Honestly, like, it's so weird because I get this, like,
The Recycling Rant54:13
I can't be in charge of all of you. Okay? Like like, I need some of you to do something once in while. I had to explain dumping a trash can to a person who works in the recycling office today. And I I can't I need I wanna go listen.
I wanna go out in the world, and I wanna see someone with some level of confidence do their fucking job. Okay? Like like, seriously, I can't I I I I I can't. Okay? I I I I just I need you cannot have nine things wrong with you.
Know you have Hashimoto's and not do anything about it. All of you. I'm talking to all of you, not just Amy. Well,
the thing is in the green, Scott. So I thought it was okay.
The green you're a you know who's bad at being
I know.
You nurses are a problem. I'm just gonna tell you right now. I've I've talked to enough of you. Uh-huh. Yeah.
Siri seriously, I'll say it again, but people have to be sick of it by now. Your lab results in range doesn't mean anything.
I know. I know.
But you know
I don't. I know. But I kinda do, like, the bare minimum. I go to the doctor once a year. They do the thing and whatever.
I walk away. None of this stuff was happening to you anymore.
Oh. Why is that love it.
Since we're into a two hour episode, Amy, explain to me before we go, explain to me why that's a laughable idea. Like, this
I just I'm just so, like I feel like I'm two different people, Scott. Like, I have this massive anxiety about stuff, but at the same time, I I just love to, you know, have a good time and relax.
But what a weird no. Hold on. I'm I'm cutting you off now. What a weird statement. Right?
Like, I have massive anxiety about things, And I say to you, hey. You have fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold digestive issues, skin and hair changes, cognitive issues, muscles and joint pains, and mood changes, and I didn't ask you about your heavy periods. Do you have heavy periods?
Sometimes. Not all the time.
Decreased labino? I bet your husband would like that one fixed. Now listen. What I'm trying to tell you is is that, like, literally, you would take the same size pill. It would just have a different dose inside of it.
But that's different number. And and why aren't you anxious about that?
I don't know. It's a good question.
Oh, it's a goddamn good question. Like like, no. No. We're not fixing the world's problems today, but, like, that's the thing I want you all to ask each other. Like, why are you putting so much effort into stuff that and and on the it's I don't even know how to put this exactly.
It's like it's like you're trying to walk into an open fire hose. Yeah. And and you're struggling to get through this jet of water that's that's never gonna get through. And and then I pull back and find out you're the one shooting the hose at yourself. Like, just shut the hose off, and then you don't have to fight anymore.
I can't possibly make more sense than this. Oh. Everyone fix themselves and leave me alone. That's what I'm on this I'm sorry. I'm so upset about the recycling still.
No. Why could they not just take the recycling? So
well, it's annoying because then it's in your house for another week, and you don't know.
I made that point to the gentleman. Also, we're two weeks here. So I said, now I'm sitting on this can of recycling for a month. He goes, why a month? I said, well, I've already been holding it for two weeks, and now it's gonna be two more weeks.
No. Do you know what? In England, the rubbish would not come every it would come every two weeks. You only had one can, and they would not take a bag if it was not inside the the can. Right?
So if you had extra stuff, you're, like, shit out of luck that week. And so we would go, and we would walk down the street, and we would find other people's rubbish bins to put our trash. Like, not big bags, but, like, little coffee cups Because it would take up precious square footage with my rubbish can. We didn't wanna do it.
Worst episode of Pattings and Bear ever. And so I would, I just I will say this that this is a thing that's I'm not gonna bore people with this. But in my town, they suddenly decided there was one can they'll pick up and no other cans. So about a year and a half ago, suddenly, they just weren't taking one of my cans. When I called and made the the point to the lady on the phone that, I'm now stuck with this at my house for a month, She said, and I'm quoting, just throw it in the trash.
And it's been in my it's been in my head ever since. And so today, when so, anyway, a few months after that, I was talking to the driver, and the driver goes, I'll take whatever can you put out. So for a year, they've been taking all my cans. Now today, suddenly, they don't take it again. I'm back on the phone.
I hear the lady, and and she's like, you're complaining to the wrong person. I'm like, well, do you not work in the trash and and and the recycling department in my township? And she said, yes. I'm like, well, I don't why are you not the right person? She goes, well, we contract out to another company.
I'm like, well, that's between you and Jesus. That has nothing to do with me. Okay? I'm like, you're telling me she thought she wasn't responsible because they pay someone else to pick up the I'm like, are you out of your mind? So I tried not to get upset, and then I might have.
And I was trying
to explain to her my
taxes and other things. I sounded insane. She didn't even she just put me on the phone with another guy. And, like, she didn't even say hold, please. I just there was another voice on the phone, and I I I laughed.
But but I said to him, I was like, I it it's either important that we recycle or it's not. But if it's not, then I'm gonna stop recycling and throw all my recycling in the trash. And and that's not a thing I wanna do. I wanna do whatever the right thing is here, but you can't tell me just throw it away now. And and and and he goes, we'll come pick it up.
And I went, thank you, but don't use that can again. I said, but I've been using it for a year. He goes, you probably got a different driver now. And I'm like, none of that makes any sense. And I was like and I I I am insulted that I seem like the crazy person now.
I was like I was like I'm like, you are you are you are taxed with picking up my recycling. Just do that, please. I was like and and and and and and don't tell me that the guy you hired to pick up my recycling is at fault, not not you. Like, I pay you to pick it up. I don't care I don't care who you subcontract to.
Like, what are the main conversation? Then I came in and complained to my wife for ten minutes. And then and she stared at me like, Scott, what do you want from me? And I was like, I I I I just want somebody to pick up the garbage. And so, anyway alright.
Wrapping Up1:00:31
Listen. I I I I wish you a ton of luck. I think you'll get there. I want you to get your thyroid checked. I want you to stay on top of hers, and I want you to find a way to do not say the right things.
And then see if your daughter doesn't pick up on that, and maybe start having that experience as well. Also, you should probably see a licensed professional. I am probably I'm probably an idiot. Okay. So that's pretty much it.
You good?
I'm good. Yeah.
I really did love you. This was awesome. If I didn't know what a mess you were, I'd track you down if my wife died and your husband left you. But I I I think it would be upsetting after a while. So party.
I think we'd have a good time in the beginning, and then it would go wolfily wrong. Although you would move to Tennessee if I asked you to. Right?
I would listen. Apparently, I'm just whatever. I'm up for anything as long as it doesn't involve health issues.
Because these sons of bitches are arguing with me.
Listen. It is way better. I mean, I'm sorry, but New Jersey is a bit cold. It's a bit gray. Tennessee, not so much.
So That's
where I'm at.
And there's Nashville.
So, I mean That's where I'm at.
Just need to listen to me.
Alright. Listen. God bless you. I I I hold on one second, please. Okay.
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