Silver Linings in Power Outages, Parenting, Pop Culture and Life's Unpredictable Journey

Hey , everyone , welcome to .

All About the Joy . We're a little bit early , but you know we weren't here last week so I missed my peephole . So you would have been part of me , because I wanted to listen to Mary J Blige's Sweet Thing . You know the song Sweet Thing , don't ? You know ? You're my everything . I love that song . Her version is so good . You like that voice ?

Oh , we lost power actually . Um , like maybe four o'clock ish , I think . Well , at one point it went out and then like not even a minute and it came back . And then all of a sudden later , like four o'clock here , my time , it went out and didn't come back and I was like , so I texted my boss .

Tony just texted me . That's it , tony , we got you baby . You don't have to worry about it . He's like I'm going to need a minute . I'm like , well , you're not going to . Sorry , that's who texted me . Let me just turn this down because that was very loud .

Rick , my apologies , hey Melanie .

Hi Melanie , I missed you , Hi Melanie .

So 4 o'clock , no power , and I was like , oh , please , come was coming and you couldn't warn somebody somehow . Okay , wait .

For people who don't know , people who are listening , and now we do have some viewers , so I appreciate it . But Rick has been broadcasting live for eight years straight , not missing a day . So this is why I mean , people are like what , what's the big deal ? He's never missed a day , so that's why , this is a big deal missed the day .

So that's why this is a big deal . Go ahead , babe . So the app said it would be coming on at 7 45 . I was like , oh well , I guess it's gonna be a later broadcast today . Well , and I worked till 5 30 , okay .

Right , okay , so you usually okay . So that is the see . That's the blessing vacation from work , but you usually broadcast at what time during the day 6 pm Eastern time , which is three Three o'clock at night . That's why sometimes I can't catch .

When that same day message .

Did you go on yeah ?

you must have , I mean you must have responded .

You always respond to me .

Yeah , I always respond yeah , definitely , definitely oh , rick that fire that's on um .

That was on the highway in connecticut . Was that near you ? I ?

don't even know about this sorry , I'm not lying , but there was people call me about a mudslide . That's six hours from me I'm fine .

there's an oil tanker that crashed and exploded on 95 near Norwalk , I think Norwalk something like that . And they had to shut down 95 for hours Wow .

As soon as she got to get ready .

She thought she would wait until the show to ask if we were okay . You know what I mean , Because that's what a good friend does .

Everybody knows I work from home and I don't go nowhere .

Well , here's the thing that kills me sometimes is like something will happen . Anything that happens in California , I'll get a text , but actually when something happened here , like in Santa Monica , california , nobody reached out , rick , I think .

I did . I know I did Because . I went back and I was like wait a minute .

Yes , I did I was the only one , I think I reached out , maybe two hours later .

Cynthia , how was your week , your two weeks , how have you been Hell at work . Oh , I thought you were going to say your husband .

I was like give us the tea . I'm kidding , I'm kidding , I'm kidding . Home's been fine . What's going on at work ? Oh my God , it's just like I swear it was like a full moon every day , because we were just feeling the effects at work . Just I swear it was like a full moon every day , because we were just feeling the effects at work . Just all the crazies

What do you mean ?

she was trying to pass out , because she was kind of in and out of consciousness , she didn't fully pass out .

Donald Donald .

So yeah , so I had to run and get a nurse and call the ambulance and all this stuff .

Okay , I say this respectfully , but isn't that what you normally do ? You work in the hospital .

Well , yeah , but it's not like it happens every day .

I'm just saying it would be really weird if it happened at my office , which is a production office , but I'm like she was sick though right , she wasn't sick .

She came in and had a procedure done and she wasn't supposed to leave the exam room . Facelift .

No , no , no , no . You don't work for a plastic surgeon , right no ?

Do they ever have to use smelling salts or they don't do that ?

No , actually we haven't , we haven't yet . Actually Do we still do that .

We still do that . Some people yeah , they still have them . I feel like that's so 1920s .

I don't know .

They'll use whatever to wake them up . Somebody said something to me the other day . Oh no , it was today . One of my clients said to me and I'm going to ask you guys this because I finally he said it like three times when we were on the phone .

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush , okay okay .

So I said to him what does it mean ? And he was just so frustrated with me . God love him because he's , you know , he's the coolest guy . But I was like he got , so he's like forget it , forget it . I'll just explain it some other way , but it will not get out of my head . What does it mean ?

I ? I honestly don't know rick .

But you guys have heard , you guys have , I've heard .

I've definitely heard of that . Donald just had surgery . He said bladder cancer surgery , uh , but the doctor got it all but still in pain , okay , oh my god , they just had bladder surgery .

Thank .

Thank God he got it off .

Oh , Milton Speedy recovery Are you not calling him Milton anymore ? Okay , donald , I don't know , I don't know what , cynthia , no , I said speedy recovery , yes , oh , yeah , and blessings . But okay , so I keep calling Donald Milton , because when I knew him back at HAPS he was Milton , but I think he he's just going by donald now . So , donald , I'm so sorry .

I just typed in bird bush hand and it brought it up . A bird in a hand is worth two in the bush means having something for certain is better than the possibility of getting something better .

Okay , wait , say it again . Okay , wait , what is the saying ? So we get it . What is the saying ?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush .

Okay , a bird in the hand . So you actually have it .

Okay , you actually have it right now in your hand .

Okay .

If you're trying to get two in the bush . You may get it . You may not get it , but you know you have for certain the thing in your hand .

Okay , here's my question why are we trying to capture a bird in our hand ? Am I crazy ? Because I don't even understand . I think you just read it too much into it . Look at all these sayings come from somewhere , right , but I was like I couldn't . But that is what he said A bird in the hand is better than two . In the bush , it's worth more than two .

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush . That's what it says here .

Okay . So my problem is why would you Like ? So my problem is why would you like ? I would say , a quarter in your hand is better than two in your wallet , or two on the street , or something . I don't understand the bird part , I'm sorry . Hey . Hey , look at it . I don't get it . I need logic .

Just think of it this way Birds fly away . They're not easy to catch .

So if it's in your hand , okay , but Cynthia , why would you want to catch a bird ? It's just a phrase I know , I just don't understand . But okay , I get it , I get it .

A sneaker on the foot is better than two dangling from the electric pole . I don't know .

Okay , see , that still makes more sense . To me it does , though it makes much more sense . I'm not trying to be silly , but I think sometimes especially my clients and you know I love I only work for people I like , and I feel so blessed that I can make those choices .

One time an old boss at a different place I worked at she said at somebody's health . She was doing really , really bad and she said yeah , she got one foot in a banana peel . I was like what ? I didn't know what that meant . She goes one foot in the banana peel . I was like you getting ready to go , you're going to die .

When you fall on a banana peel , you die .

She said she got one foot in the banana peel . I mean she about ready to go ?

I don't know who made that up . I would understand it if she said one foot in the grave .

Yeah , you know but Okay , but you over here defending the bird in the bush , so I don't know why you ? I understand . It's just a saying , Cynthia .

And Cynthia had to bring it back to dead bodies again .

It's always about Cynthia on this show , always . What are some other ? I don't think I say sayings . Do you guys say a lot of quotes ? I don't think I do .

I don't know , I can't think right now .

I probably do I quote people all the time . That I do pretty well Like actually quoting people . Like which was a quote I used this past weekend on a blog post . I wrote people will forget what you said , people will forget what you did , but people will never forget how you made them feel . And that is from who ? Maya Angelou , that's right .

So there was a quote that , uh , that I heard this week actually um , that said , um , if your plan doesn't work , change the plan , never the goal . Oh yeah , that's true , that's very true .

That makes sense .

Yeah , I know what I mean .

I like all my life , I had to fight . No , just kidding .

Okay , but that's still a purple .

I know .

That's so funny that that's one of the quotes that you guys quote all the time . That's not the one I quote . You know the one I quote . Right , I might be poor black , I may even be ugly , but , dear God , I'm here , I'm here and too , but that's my number one movie .

Another favorite part of mine is she said I didn't ask you for nothing , not even your sovereign hand of marriage .

All right , rick is putting on his acting today . I liked the original movie , the Steven Spielberg version . Now that we've moved on from all the awards and stuff , I loved the original , but maybe I'm biased . How did you feel about it , cynthia ? Did you see the remake , which is really more of the musical movie Color Purple ?

television or movie , wise , anything , anything I found this sci-fi show called beacon 23 it's like is it old , it's on right now . It's brand new , it's on right now , it's current on what I don't remember . But , um , basically there's like these space stations way , way deep in space and there's this drama .

I still haven't started watching it yet Everybody's like okay , we know we said Marvel's dead , but Marvel's back . I think Marvel's back because I saw the trailer of Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds I was like that is so good , but I haven't watched it . X-men has a series , a show .

It's a continuation of the old Fox cartoon and baby .

I can't do it . Is it animation ?

It is , but baby is so good it can be soap opera-ish . But is so good it can be soap opera-ish , but it's good . Though it's a cartoon , I shouldn't say that it's an animation .

I was told to say animation . You're not supposed to say cartoon . And I , who worked at a motion graphics company , who worked with a whole bunch of animators that's where I met Joel Joel did all that stuff . God , if you ever said cartoon , I would get my head cut off .

Okay , so I don you ever said cartoon I ?

would get my head cut off . But okay , so I I don't think I'm ever going to watch it , but cynthia , you're going to watch it . So that's weird .

Yeah , because I used to watch the , the cartoon back in the days oh then you'll like it .

You've definitely yeah , yeah , it's really okay , where is it on the realm of marvel movies like and some people , some people I know some people .

I said you let me say what some people Some people literally are saying this is better than Endgame . I was like whoa , whoa , whoa . That's pretty high up there , but am I enjoying the crap out of it ? I sure am .

I really am . How many episodes is it ?

So this is number eight that came on yesterday .

Okay , you can watch it just this . You can watch these one through . There's two more .

No , you don't have to even watch the old ones . I've seen a lot of reviews and some people have not watched the old ones .

I'm over here pretending I'm not going to watch it . I got it . I don't even have time , like I just got home an hour ago . It's not even a half an hour each , but yeah , they're really good , I will say okay , Cynthia , are you watching anything that we should know ?

about .

No , right now I'm waiting for my shows to come back , so I've just been watching 9-1-1 . Okay , wait , stop , okay , stop . Right . There with 9-1-1 is 9-1-1 , the show with Miss Angela Bassett yes , and that fine ass guy and I see them kissing and whatever . What is happening there's like a role .

And they have another one , 9-1-1 Lone Star with Rob Lowe , who is the main guy he's the captain . That one's really good too , yeah .

Okay , so Lone Star is on what it's on ABC now 9-1-1 is on ABC the Lone Star .

the new season hasn't come out yet and it's still on .

Fox Okay , but 9-1-1 . Okay , my speaker , I have to buy new speakers Speaking of buying things .

Did Tony ever get a mic ? Because I just saw a deal for the one I have .

Are you saying it ? Yeah ?

Okay , all right , so you don't need to know this , then , okay .

I want to share that . You send a mic to anybody . He has a mic . We heard I did the same thing . I was like Cynthia , do you know anything ? I the same thing . I was like Cynthia , do you know anything ? I'll reimburse you , but you know , look at . I mean , does he use it ? We don't know . Has he used ?

it , he got it .

Cynthia's like did you drop it off at his house ? I'm going to start issues . Are you and Tony like best friends and everything ?

I have a package here from Stalkers R Us . Are you talking about us , Tony ?

you're all about us . It's from All About the Joy .

Don't get me involved in that . I was going to just send that motherfucking money through Venmo Buy this here . You know what I mean . So you dropped it off at his house , so you know it works . I'm sorry , it's just kind of funny . So , okay , let me tell you something .

That actually happened to me last week . But because , um , the guy , the guy that wrote the x-men animation he said , if you want to prepare for what's coming , I'm gonna recommend you watch the old show and these particular episodes , and I think there was like five of them I said , oh no , it's really late , let me just watch one .

you can't . I mean , I think there's something to be said for having a weekly show that you have to watch every week , but there is something to this kind of binge thing . But I've never been a binge person , but this is what binging is , I guess .

The only time I really binged watched something was Game of Thrones and I watched all eight seasons in one week .

No .

I literally binge watched it .

Wow , Okay , I've never seen Game of Thrones . I know , Cynthia . I watched the first episode 10 minutes and I was out because too much violence for me .

She even has like 20 episodes Wait , wait , wait .

You watched Game of Thrones , rick ? No , I didn't . Oh , I didn't think you would either . Okay , look at Cynthia , I'm trying to figure out why , tony is over . Just come on , we're going to have to delete you .

I want to see how the new microphone works .

I want to see the microphone that Cynthia made for you and sent to you in a beautiful box with other presents and stuff she put some peach schnapps in there too that's so wrong . Why does he say we got to talk ? Oh , because he's going to talk about X-Men with you .

Probably I thought they .

Oh , you know what , maybe he's on right now with what's his name .

Ted .

They said they were going to go on earlier . That's probably what happened .

Can I use the bathroom Bathroom .

You know that's nasty . You're one of those people who are using your cell phone in the bathroom . That's nasty . I don't do that . Do you guys do that ? I hate when you go into a public bathroom and somebody's in the stall and they're talking while they're sitting . Can I never see that ?

I was in a public bathroom one day . Right , the girl in the stall next to me is on her phone and then she's video chatting with someone and drops her phone and it's basically like in between both of the stalls . I said are you fucking kidding me ? No , that's disgusting . I got out of there so fast .

That's just bad manners . Okay , tell me just that I can't binge watch more than six episodes in one sitting . Yeah , I , I didn't realize I was doing it . I thought it would put me to sleep , but it didn't . And now I'm all in it . I have there's like 22 seasons or something of NCIS . It's not like six seasons , it's like 20 .

I mean like , I don't like I said I do that when I watch friends like , I see all the like things the editors miss oh yeah , yeah , yeah , oh really , there's a lot of things in friends .

Oh yeah , what do you mean ? Like props , you mean ?

not , and like the sound person , you'll see their legs in one corner .

Yeah , like , are you sure let's do the microphone above a little bit oh yeah , oh yeah , I I think I'm .

I guess that would make sense . Yeah , okay , maybe I don't look at it that thoroughly . Maybe I'm like , no , maybe I'm like you know what , maybe I don't see it that thoroughly . Um , is it because you've seen friends so many times , or something ?

yeah , I can't watch that show there's people that are on YouTube that have literally made whole videos of all mistakes or bloopers or whatever on . Tv shows like not even just bloopers , but like literally mistakes , even animations like they were showing , like the old super .

I'm going back to that . You can say cartoon this guy .

He analyzed the super friends when we were kids , the super friends cartoon oh , that's not even fair , it's different technology .

And he was like and here this guy he analyzed the Super Friends when we were kids , the Super Friends cartoon with Superman , oh , that's not even fair .

It's different technology and he was like and here it's Superman's mouth talking , but it's Batman's voice . I'm like , oh man , okay , you really found all these things .

Okay . Yeah , there's some people who don't seem to have a lot to do . They have a lot of time to spare money off of it , so Bravo .

I don't know Um .

I don't want to analyze it that much , I just think I like I don't know , because I tried to watch Stargate SG one , which is a show I absolutely love , and I thought like , and I used to love , I mean I do love X-Files , but I don't want to sit through watching every episode more .

You know what I mean .

I can't believe I love x-files because it's really a scary show and you know I don't and I know it's not horror , but it's not . It's not a star trek next generation or stargate sg1 or ncaa where it wraps up nicely . You know what I mean .

But x-files is scary , yeah and what I like about it , too , is it's it's very layered . It's like , okay , this is the story , but there's also this story going on , and there's also this long story going on , and you , you don't find out the answer to that till way later , so did you ?

watch x-files . I did , okay , she's like that is not scary , it's psychologically . There's a difference , right , there's psychological terror and that's what I didn't , you know , I realized because I was like , oh my god .

Karma's like . The truth is out there , baby . I'm right here , Hello .

Honey , I am your alien , okay , I mean so , I know . But so now when I watch it , I'm just like oh , I can't believe I it's just not my show and I do this like . I still do that like trying to open , like because my hands are gonna protect me from something horrible . You know what I mean . But that's so funny , that's so weird .

What Scrapbooking on Sunday ? Oh , scrapbooking , I can tell you what I thought .

you said Nope , but I was going to be like you know . Please don't talk like that again on my show .

Oh , Tony got a son .

Okay , well , that's good . Why is he not just coming on the show ? Okay , don't come on the show .

Speaking of sons . Next Wednesday is my son's official graduation . He is going to officially , officially , officially , be Dr Costa , the first doctor in my family . For physical therapy .

Yay .

So proud , so proud .

Okay , wait , how do you do the don't ? I have sounds . I guess it's too late now . I should have thought but you're not , don't , we have sounds . I guess it's too late now , I should have thought , but you're not , don't we have sounds we can do , do you ? I don't know , I think I do Wait , let's see if we could . Um , oh , that's music .

Oh , music , music yeah .

Um , we don't have sound somewhere , sound using it , I thought I had sound somewhere . Okay , it's just okay . Oh , you know what it is . It's on my editing thing . That's what I'm confusing . Okay , I'm editing , I have like all the clapping , but oh , my god , that's okay .

I was like right that's a good way to put it , but he's not lying .

So I feel like he was saying that about parenting and you know , I don't think he has no children , so I'm always he's not wrong , but I'm always like let me step back because I'm not a parent but I've heard and I think this is not just that aspect , but also financial there's more people living with their parents now than ever before , apparently .

That's what I've heard .

But people keep saying to me . People keep saying oh , because that's what they say , it's so expensive . But you know what ? It's always been expensive . It's always been expensive . It's expensive now too , but it's always been expensive .

Yeah , but I yeah , but I think at some point it just became where , yes , in the past it was expensive , but your pay was kind of even and out . Now it's like your pay is staying the same , but everything else is up here , so you really can't afford it now .

I'm gonna say I think , look at , I I'm not going to get into economics or politics , but I think there's a lot of bullshit going through the system here , because actually the economy is doing extremely well , there are a lot of jobs out there . That's what I'm saying . There's a lot of stuff that we put out , and here's my thing .

And I've always said your job as a parent is to prepare your kid for the world . The world does not give a crap about you . They don't think you're super duper special and deserve awards . They don't care , they don't know who you are .

Okay , wait , I'm ready for that . I think I found it .

You can't have grit . If mommy and daddy give you money , I say , gary , I'm struggling , I need grit for my kid Did this , that and I'm like , stop giving them money . The people that just laughed and clapped are still putting them on the payroll . This is the jungle , and right now , parenting and modern parenting is creating zoo animals .

Okay , wait a second , let me see if I can do this . Oh my gosh , I'm awesome .

I'm so proud of myself .

It only took me a year , isn't that good , though ? You see his point .

Yeah , cause it's like you got to get him ready for real life . Like he said , eighth place trophy you don't get no eighth place best employee award . That doesn't exist . We gotta be real , come on .

Well it's , but you know what ? I think it's even a bigger thing than that . I think it's not learning how to fail . So if you don't know what it feels like to be rejected over and over and over again and you don't build up some type of strength against it every time because you learn right , you learn something every time you fail or get rejected .

Okay , I think somebody's beeping outside my window .

Oh your window . I'm like what did I ?

leave this on . I'm like . I'm so proud of myself .

Oh , your window . I'm like what Did I leave this out ? I'm like I'm so proud of myself , but like this kind of inability to fail , or this inability to be rejected or to lose your job , or to lose your boyfriend , or like just not being able to get a house because your credit isn't good enough .

My mom had a friend that her son he was on . He was in and out of jail and every time he needed anything she always bailed him out . I'm like he's never gonna learn and to this day still has not learned . He keeps getting in trouble . She keeps bailing him out .

I'm like when you die he's really gonna be screwed because there's gonna be nobody bail him out yeah , I think the whole drug thing is a whole other ballgame , right , I mean , that's an addiction and I don't know that's a whole other ballgame , right , I mean , that's an addiction and I don't know , that's a whole other ballgame .

thoughts . I don't have any of my own . I have two stepchildren , but it's the same thing . Like you got to prepare them when they're young for the real world , because it is not pretty .

It's not , I mean . But the real world is pretty , but not when you can't handle the bad stuff , right ? You don't think the world is not pretty . I think the world's pretty . What ? I don't think it's pretty .

I think the world's pretty . What I don't think it's pretty . The people in it are not pretty .

How about replacing the word world with society ? Would that be better ? No , narrow it down a little bit , because at least some parts of the world is probably good , but society can suck sometimes .

Oh , my God , we're going to be on for two hours because I'm going to scream . No , I'm just kidding , so this is where I'm going to . Just okay , I have to say this I actually think life , the world , our country specifically , whatever is doing what it does Like the economy is good , the economy is bad . Politics is terrible .

Like I don't think people wake up and say , let me see whose life I could screw up today . Like I don't think people are like that generally .

I don't either . I don't think people look at I do think we're self-absorbed . I think I do think we're coddling children too much . I think we're feeding into negativity all the time . I'm telling you it's hard for me to you know , whenever I hear someone who's in their twenties complaining , I just can't believe how hard it is .

A long time ago .

Okay , so do you remember ? I think it's in the Sorcerer's ? No , not the first one . When's the one with the bathrooms ? Remember when Okay , it doesn't matter Harry Potter goes down into the tunnels , or whatever . Chamber of Secrets , chamber of Secrets , and is it the , not the parrot ? Uh , the the thing ? What is the phoenix , the parrot ?

But that's kind of the thing .

That's why the Phoenix came , cause it knew there's something like that . Well , I'll have to get the right verbiage , but anyway , it doesn't matter .

That's the smart thing to do .

Yeah , that's right you don't want to pay money , yeah , I mean , I don't think he wanted to lose it . It was a lot of money Even for , but I think that it's kind of like what kicked in for him . I'm not homeless , I still have all my homes and my cars and I still have my . You know what I mean .

So yeah , there was a video I think I posted my facebook of a guy that brought a homeless guy to church with him . He's like , hey , you want to come to my church . He's like , okay , whatever . So he did , but the guy as the as the pastor's preaching kept swearing barely so he's like um wait who's ? Swearing the pastor .

The homeless guy , no , the homeless guy oh , did he have like Tourette's or something ?

no , no oh , he was just so you know people like , amen , you know , he'd know F , yeah , whatever , like something like that . And so they're like , yeah , we don't talk like that here . Anyway , long story short . He goes , come here and he brought the guy up and he just let him tell the story and people brought money to give to him .

This is what you're supposed to do . So the pastor brought him up and had him tell his story or whatever , and see , that is how you're supposed to do it . And I mean he swore , or whatever . But you know , I think people are starting to get a different idea about swearing . Swearing is not always a bad thing .

I don't know that . I look at it that way .

Cynthia , are you a millennial ?

You're a millennial , I know that I look at it that way , to be honest .

Cynthia , are you a millennial ? You're a millennial . I'm a Gen X .

Are you ?

really yeah , oh , okay , I'm Gen X . Yeah , like everybody wants to be Gen X , I'm always weary , you know what I mean . You're Gen X , rick , right , yeah , you're Gen X .

I'm 54 .

I mean , you're older than me , it's all right . I've already let that go . Everybody knows I'm old now , but , um , but I still look cute . I can't help it . Did you see that thing on TikTok , cynthia ? I don't know if I sent it to you , I might've where that guy ? He gets on TikTok and he's like women over 50 , stop wearing foundation , you look horrible .

Right when we're getting

I thought you were going to be on with what's his name . I thought you guys were going to be on at five or something .

I don't know what happened . Let me see if this thing's going to work .

Oh , I think it's working . I think we can hear you and you're just whispering oh , it's working , good yeah .

I hear you very clear .

So when did Cynthia stop by over the weekend ? Is that what happened ?

Just keep adding to it . Just keep adding to it , because you know I'm going to hear some craziness about this all night .

Okay , so we'll talk some more , so we can hear your lovely voice .

You're going to . Just had a trying afternoon evening . Pretty trying .

Oh , what I mean ? I'm just messing with you , but you doing , okay , or what happened ? You and you want to share , or not ?

Actually , I came off of a Zoom meeting I had . That was business and when I finished I was actually like sitting down and went through my Facebook . So one of my own supervisors died from another job .

Oh , I'm sorry .

That took a minute and when I told you like , can I use the bathroom , I was actually like washing my hands or whatever , trying to clean up a little bit afterwards and Jason was going to sleep . Disgusting , that's just gross . You could mute us .

You didn't have to keep us .

I'm not going to sit here and be on mute . What am I going to show ?

You know what ? Is it me or does he not sound amazing ? It sounds really clear .

Can I tell ?

you , tony , you know how much time . Look at half the time when you're on the show . I don't use you on my podcast because it's too much work for me to fix you . I'm great as I am .

I knew that was coming .

We're talking about your voice Wide open .

I'm just saying it sounds so much better with the mic . Is this your first time using it ? I mean on the show today ?

I was waiting until I came on the show to use it .

yes , Well , Cynthia , thank you for assisting Tony Day with his mic issues .

I've actually listened to the replay and I sounded fine .

No , you don't understand On the replay ? Well , it's first of all because you're hearing yourself . You're listening to yourself , so you hear what you think you want to hear .

No , I watch the show as well . Sometimes I'll be listening on the side .

You going to ? Let me finish . Let me finish . Other people who don't know you , don't know your voice or whatever , have complained to me . Like you know , we can't hear that other guy . Who's that other guy ? And they're listening to you on the podcast .

The other guy my name's right there . What's up , Donald ?

He's so crazy . So I'm just saying you're not doing anything wrong . It's just better with a look it . I'm just glad we're done with this . It's just taking how long A year it's not taking that long .

I've been saying this for about a year . What ? We'll check the replays , oh my God .

You're so silly , so is your weekend going to be better ?

Yeah , I'm going to be fine . I'm just kind of surprised I got my son for the weekend . I was actually putting him to bed when I sent you that crazy mail . I was like let me just me to touch on crazy because I know she's gonna say something anyway . But I was putting in a big guy .

Look at , here's the thing . I am happy to invite anybody who wants to come on the show , like chris gales , I love him . He is actually playing live , I think right now too . You know what I mean . Like , I'm happy to invite anybody to come on the show . The thing is I don't want to force people . Like I send the invites .

I understand why . I understand why that's a tacky situation . I've heard about it more than once . I think I went through it one time unintentionally .

What are you talking about ? What ?

are you talking ?

about what happened with you and Aruba oh .

I'll listen to it , but I've actually I think I went through it one time yes , yeah . And that is a painstaking issue . You'll be fighting them for months If you don't get everything like totally sanitized , decontaminated , fumigated radiation , radiation treatment , all of that .

Okay , so we're , we're , we're , we're talking about bed bug bites . Here's the thing that's I'm bed bugs can last for a whole year in your home without feeding . People don't know this .

I heard you say that .

I am now the queen of bed bugs . So if anybody is traveling and wants to know anything , I have researched

But my client .

oh my God , I don't know if I wore turtleneck one day on the show here , but after I came back from Aruba , my arms were all bleeding from scab .

It was disgusting .

You posted pictures of the bumps , what you saw . Some of the pictures right , I put some pictures on the blog post right . But here's the thing . One of my clients sent their housekeepers over the following morning quickly and they cleaned inside out . They vacuumed everything . I threw out stuff oh hi , kimmy callie .

You threw it out , I did I didn't say she at her , I know .

Because even though I vacuumed it out or whatever it's cloth and they can live there and you can't really see them . So the reason why I could see them when Joanne and I opened up the bed spread , that's why we saw it's because it had finished feeding on me . So bed bugs tend to be really flat and almost clear , looking like white .

Yeah , because I always carry a bell act like a hotel with me . Now I will . I bought a black light pen and I've been going around my house looking at everything like there's dust here . We got clean this like well here's the thing I you know .

Look at , I never had this , I never had this situation happen . Yeah , um , you know what ? Um , kimmy . So they do say you can , um , you can spray it down with alcohol , whatever . But I was in such a panic and so paranoid I decided to just throw them out . And Joanne threw away hers too , like yeah .

How come y'all didn't change rooms ?

Well , we didn't . First of all , we didn't know . They didn't offer to change a room for us and they were trying to say they were bugs from the lanai , from the garden , from the lanai , from the garden . They said that we had opened up the patio doors and the bugs came in .

While I was driving to work one morning you should be a lawyer . I should have been something that made a lot more money . You was like I don't want the whole thing , all of that elaboration and specification and emphasis .

Do you know why I did it ? Do you know why I did it ?

I know exactly why you did it for other people .

I did it for other people , but also because I sent it to the consulate . And I sent it to Because I don't trust that the hotel is going to do anything . So here's the thing I wasn't even asking to be reimbursed , I wasn't asking for nothing . I was asking them to because , uh , joanne and mary , they have , they have non-refundable rooms .

It's already done it was them y'all , I wouldn't know but here's the thing they've been doing .

Here's the point . My point was upgrade them something , show me that you are . But they , they didn't do that and I think the hotel is anyway . I don't want to talk about it because it's so .

Now I'm going to ask you a real ridiculous question .

No , it's okay .

Are you sure they were bed bugs and not something else ?

No , I'm positive , I'm positive , they're bed bugs , got you , they're not anything else . They were exactly that . And I also know and here's what the hotel is so stupid about . Cynthia , you know this about me . I have the phone numbers . I'm in touch on WhatsApp with all the housekeepers in Aruba .

I would go stay at a Holiday Inn Express after that trip .

Well they were , look it . I don't want them to lose their jobs , and if they do I'm going to be pissed . You know what I mean , because they did not say anything or nothing whatever . But there's no way , now that I know what bed bugs are , there's no way the hotel didn't know . It doesn't even matter , right , it doesn't even matter .

Do you want some of the cinnamon ?

Somehow I'm being blamed again . No , I'm just kidding .

They said we heard spicy caramels here , we can't wait to chew on that .

Bougie Spicy Carmen flavor . Let me tell you , though , bed bug bites are for real Damn . Yeah , yeah , and I said this part too . This is why I'm upset about it .

It's a red cup . This is water I'm not drinking and for people that don't know , tell them how cheap they're not epi pens are ?

they're not ? They're like 660 dollars , although my have insurance , so it was like 400 or something . So and you have to carry two um because you have to do the first injection and then you call an ambulance or you inject yourself a second time before the ambulance gets there , because it's only preventative , for you know a little bit .

The man , the manager the manager did not write that .

Yeah , the owner , it wasn't . It's their social media . But that's why you pay for good social media person , cause they go in and you'll go in and look at any bad review . It's kind of the same template that they write . That's just smart on their part to respond quickly , whatever .

Just for getting it out .

No , because I still don't think it's going to change anything . I hope it helps some family or person who decides you know what , maybe I'll stay at a different place . I love the fact that you say that .

You're thinking about people who come after you , who have more responsibilities and more people and more obligations . They don have the freedom that you have . I like how you did say that it is a messed up situation . Other countries you'll have things happen that may not necessarily be what you want it to be .

And I'm fine with that .

Yeah , it's not even their fault , that's just nature .

Yeah , I'm no , no , I just so I feel better that I've done all I can do . I'm sad that I've spent so much money , but it's only money I'll get . You know , I'll get new suitcases . I already got one .

The thing that upsets me is that you were so looking forward to this . It was supposed to be a good , memorable experience and now it's been tarnished because people have horrible customer service . Did not bend over backwards to make sure that you were okay and satisfied and happy . They don't even give a crap , apparently .

They don't care . You're right , and Joanne had mentioned it was a good trip , though , but it wasn't a good trip Because I can't . I'm not thinking Every time . I think about Aruba . Now , that's what I think about , until I go back to Aruba . Look at , tony , what are you saying ? You're like what ?

I'm trying not to interrupt , but I'm vocalizing . Cynthia hears me . Me and her are good .

You guys are good , I don't know what happened when she went to his house to bring the mic .

I was mad at the woman to stop that she did not come to my house and me and you got to talk about that in Marvel .

I need to know what they said , all right , all right , I'm going to do a video about that myself .

But here's the best part . I am going to go back to Aruba . You know , now I have some friends in Aruba . You know what I'm talking about , and when I go we're going to have dinner and I've gotten some ideas of where to actually stay . I told you whose numbers I have so you kind of can get an idea of what I'm talking about .

Kmart's closed .

Which one ?

Kmart's closed . You got Walmart , target Ross .

Target and Burlington Target , Ross Target and .

Burlington .

Nope , nope , nope . There's another one . Okay , it doesn't even matter where . It's not Target , though , but it's right here on the corner and it's something else . Okay , it's going to come to me . Anyways , it's like a Target and a Kmart . It's one of those .

Anyway , my point is I always trying to remember what's around your area .

I said Marshalls , that's close . That was the one I forgot .

TJ Maxx . Tj Maxx . Okay , but the problem is , I'll go travel whatever , and then a broken handle , blah , blah , blah , no-transcript . Next year we're still going bedbugs and all but we're still going . Yeah , we're going next year right . I mean , I'm traveling in June again somewhere and I'm going somewhere else in September , but that's not the big trip .

That's worth every damn dime .

That's right , and it's monogrammed with your initial what's your TLS Question ?

So , instead of throwing them away , why didn't you just break a handle and then send it ?

back Because I don't want to spread bed bugs , because you know why . That's not who I am . The problem isn't that anything happened to it , it's I couldn't tell if I had gotten it and , look , I probably over exaggerated . I did vacuum it out and I did do the alcohol , whatever , but it was .

Something in me was like but what if it's sitting in there ?

in my closet with my clothes and then I took my clothes on and then it goes in the bed . I was like because that's what ? Look at the bed . Bug bites are one thing , it's the cycle . I can't tell you how many nights . Even the other night , I wake up in the middle of the night because I'm looking to see if there's any bugs .

Yeah , I would have got one of them foggers and put it in the bag and closed it .

Well , I did I bought a bed thing to . I did I bought a cover that you zip it and it keeps them in , but it it's the psychological thing that is really the fucked up part with the bed bug .

I know a bunch of y'all think I'm crazy , but that's how crazy I would have . Went that stuff itching . I don't know where it is . We put one of them big old foggers from the gas , walmart or whatever . Let the thing go , put it in the bag and let it sit there , right , I'm gonna die .

I'm a microwave ah right , but you see , like so , that's so . That's why I got rid of the suitcases , because I didn't want to spread it to anybody else .

That is so beautiful Because somebody said to me why don't you give it to the Salvation Army ?

I'm like what ? What is wrong with you people ?

You don't even like whoa .

Let me give it to somebody . Somebody's like oh girl , I got a deal on these suitcases .

Oh , they're really good . I don't know why I hate you , though here's the thing about bedbugs they don't go in your hair . They don't because that I was , because I would be bald right now , because I would have got my hair , but they don't go on the hair follicles because what they want is fatty . What did she call it ? Sweet meat , like they want .

Glad he did Came out looking like Oceans 12 .

Oh , my God , it's horrible .

That's terrible . I forgot which one it was . That was horrible .

No , so now I'm going to treat going to hotels very differently , though , too . Like now I know not to bring my suitcases in first , to first to leave them in the hallway .

You said don't put them on the bed . I was sitting there laughing .

Don't put them on the bed .

Yeah , you said that on your blog . Because I don't want to be put on top of the comfort , I just sit there and wait .

No , take all the corners out , because they like to wait in the corners and they wait for the heat of the body , and then they come on to the bed because they feel your body heat . So look on's the thing . So , cynthia , you're doing this right . Here's the funny part I was trying to figure out . I am the lightest sleeper you'll ever meet .

I'm not a heavy sleeper at all , so I was trying to figure out how did all these bedbugs bite me Like how did it happen .

But here's , here's why I think the world is so fascinating , like when they bite you , they also inject you with part of their whatever saliva , whatever it is , and it's an anus .

yes , it is a text , right , so ?

you don't feed , you don't feel , you don't feel it , and you don't feel it for days later , because then it becomes like a like . It feels like a mosquito bite , but then they're in clumps . So they all , they seem to be in three clumps . For some reason we're making everybody's skin crawl .

You know that right .

Okay , I'm sorry . I'm sorry , I'm like over here , like oh .

Michael , they do have like an attack strategy .

It's crazy , but so it was all over my arms , my inner thighs , my legs , yeah , my ankles , for real , under under , here and here . They didn't touch hair . Thank God the girls were safe , but but yeah , it was . And what made it worse is cause I was scratching . I didn't know .

We , we should make the day you went National Bedbug Awareness Day Actually we should do that , Rick .

Let's put that on the calendar . Let's do that . That's hilarious . Let's do it the day I actually did the letter and sent it . I think that might be better , right , you know what I mean .

Special shout out to this particular hotel .

I think we're going to do that . Why not ?

Why not ?

Why not ?

I got a national day for everything else , why not ?

National bed bug day right . National bed bug awareness day . Yeah , oh , I like it . Okay , will you put it on a calendar for me ? Can you email me ? I think that's a good thing . It'll be funny .

You too .

We'll bring other people on who've had bed bug problems , like michael's friend .

I'm gonna start a facebook group therapy .

Have you had bed bugs ? Let's hear your story we'll be like I .

I've been bitten by bedugs and it's been one year . It's like it'll start like a whole week .

All about the bedbugs , all about the bedbugs .

I used to have bedbugs , so I burnt my house down .

It's like a 12-step program and it still survives you know , what Thank you for making me laugh about it , because I think I needed to kind of just giggle about it because it's been so depressing . So thank you , because that's really funny . Where is Ted ? I thought he was going to be on .

He was supposed to come on earlier . He didn't come on . I'm assuming he's probably going to come on tonight .

Oh , is he ?

Okay , he's been busy so , like I said , I just took it back . He'll plan something , something will , and there I plan on coming on tomorrow .

Are you doing your DJ thing ? Are you going to chit chat ?

I got a couple of meetings I got to do tomorrow , again virtual , so I got to see how the day goes , but I plan on doing something tomorrow , if not definitely Saturday .

So tomorrow night you going to do a show .

I just might .

I was just listening to Prince . Well , at first I was listening to Mary J Blige when we started just to bring this full circle as we close out . But I was just messing with whatever I didn't know . Cynthia was on , you know what ? I mean , I was just kind of just on here and I was listening to Mary J Blige what song was it ?

Oh , Prince's original version . That's why I think Mary J was original .

No , no , no , I think it's Chaka Khan , isn't it ? It's Chaka Khan who did the original . Yeah , maybe not Chaka Khan , but no , no , they're just singing it . Do you want to listen ?

They won't let me right . I should do the Prince Marathon on the other platform . That thing took me three hours and I wasn't even halfway done . I was not even like good God , I'm tired .

Just the whole album . You just put the album on right and listen . No , I didn't do a whole album .

I just did certain hits of a song what's your ?

favorite Prince song . It's just too hard . There's so many .

Lover . There's so many Lover , I think I'm going to start with .

Hey , mario , chaka Khan and Rufus . Yes , the original .

I think I'm going to start with the Question of you Mountains For the tears in your eyes .

Old school . My favorite album actually is Diamond and Pearls .

You know his album .

Yeah , that's not my favorite album , it's my favorite because of when it kind of came out and who I was with and just like memories that I have Well .

Purple Rain had everybody Diamonds and pearls . When I got his B-Side CD , which was a triple CD . When I heard Sometimes it Snows in April for the tears in your eyes I never heard them before and Ashley caught me . But he's got a lot of I Like , money Don't Matter . Tonight .

And Little Red Corvette was one of my favorites too .

Little Red Corvette . We did a video to that when I was in high school , when I went to Vo-Tech .

Oh really .

Yeah , we was wild man .

Let's .

Go .

Crazy is good , though too . Let's Go Crazy . Did somebody have an actual Red Corvette ? No , we did .

We just kind of we produced our own music videos and our own talk shows and enjoyed it so much . We did this in high school and a bunch of us really wanted to do something for real with it . But I'm only in touch with one of those guys in class now and we always try to pull them videos up . But we was man , we was putting some stuff together .

Purple Rain , I mean , is like it's a big one . It's just a genius album , right .

Yeah , I didn't like the whole album , but he had a bunch of songs , Wait wait .

There are only certain albums that I can listen to from beginning to end without Exactly .

That's why I said old albums , purple .

Rain is one of them , and Lauryn Hill's Miseducation of Lauryn Hill From beginning to end .

I love that CD . Definitely that song she did with Zion hit me . Then I lost once , but a lot of the other ones .

Go ahead , Mario .

You had Little Red Corvette . You had Little Red .

Corvette Little Red Corvette . Little Red Corvette .

Go ahead , girl . That was funny , she's so cute .

Definitely I love Mountains . Mountains was my jam . Yeah , Go ahead girl . That was funny , she's so cute . Definitely I love mountains . Mountains was my jam . Mountains was my jam .

The thing that's amazing about Prince and I know he's passed away , so we always put people up on a pedestal- I forgot about Adore .

I'm sorry Adore goes down in history .

Which one is that ?

Adore , you got to play it . Okay , I'll know it . I'll know it .

I think the thing about him is he really it doesn't matter that he passed away ? I mean it matters . But whether he was dead or alive , he was always seen as a genius and some people didn't realize that . But those of us who know music or listen to any kind of music , you couldn't take that away .

he played every instrument , every song he did . He was so good he was able to play every instrument every song .

Just the fact that he can play every instrument puts him at another level , right there .

Yeah , I'm telling you sweet thing If you put it in YouTube . Sweet thing Prince , live . There's a couple of the one that's live where he's not in London . He's live and he just starts playing . He doesn't sing one word . The audience is singing it and it is so amazingly perfect . I love it . Like .

I want to see it but they're going to .

I don't want them to ban it .

Yeah , they're going to flag it , when he did America and France , because I played that video a lot . Yeah 10 , 15 minutes , I think , and I rocked it for like a month . I'll be in the house , good God , do-do , do-do-do-do-do . I'm like man .

But you know what's so interesting about Prince ? I mean , he was so tiny so I went to his house after he upstairs too , if they let you do it , cause it's amazing . So it's like a hundred and something dollars , but it's worth it .

But he was so tiny .

He was shorter than me , he was five three . They have his clothes on display , like on mannequins or whatever , and cause they have different themes in every room . So you can go in the Purple Rain room and see his motorcycle from the film and whatever . But he was so little .

Yeah , he was tiny .

Because it's lifelike and I'm like , I'm so tall .

You would not have beat me in basketball . I wouldn't have had that .

Oh , he beat somebody . He was really good at basketball , though , right .

Yeah , we talked about it on the Chappelle show .

He was really good about it . I wouldn't mess , you wouldn't mess with Prince . I feel you are not beating me in basketball , I'm just saying but it's Prince , you would be all like that bold in front of Prince .

On the court . I'm bold in front of anybody .

Oh , okay .

Win or lose .

Okay , how about with , like Barack Obama , you think you could beat ?

him I Secret Service than I am him .

Okay , all right fair . What about like Shaq ? Would you play Shaq I ?

wouldn't be him . You wouldn't what ? He's too big and he's too tall . I wouldn't be him .

I love that Shaq came out and said recently that he wished he had spent more time on his three-pointer shots , because he really sucked at that . Like did you see that he just recently talked about ?

that Was that the one where all the songs were one word .

Turned into Sign of the Times . It was the blueprint for ultimately turned into Sign of the Times .

Oh , okay , it came out before . Yeah , Sign of the Times was good . I got to watch that movie too . I still haven't watched that movie .

So wait , so you wouldn't play Shaq .

He could beat you . Yeah , he could beat me .

Okay , but Prince could ? I think people would say that Prince was more man than most man . You know what I mean , that he was his little dude . I wouldn't put it past him that he was good . I think he was really good at basketball .

They said he was great . Everybody said he could play ball and I get it . He'll move around , whatever , whatever . But I'm a little bit of a defensive type of guy on the court . Just get there and I'm going to stop your shot . You're like who's Muggsy Bogues ? Why do I remember him being short ?

Wasn't there a guy on the Celtics that was short too .

Recently or back in the day .

Back in the day .

Muggsy Bogues and Spurred Wave was name Danny Ainge was . He was probably shorter right or he was welcome to late night , parents , everyone .

Okay , you gotta be kind of impressed that I'm throwing out all these games . Tony , come on , you gotta be . I do love sports , but not the way you guys talk about it . You guys talk about because it's wrestling . I don't care about wrestling is that always wrestling ? Yeah , but it's all that although I do love him . I do love JoJo .

I was going to say one more thing . It was really funny to me because I had a flashback I think it was Jamie Foxx on In Living Color when he imitated Prince . He was like , and he had the butt sticking out and the pants the holes in . But the answer was like oh my God , please stop .

That's something I can't do . See , Muggsy Bogues was only 5'3" .

Yes , he was 5'3" . I swear Webb was short like that too .

So you think you could have beaten Muggsy Bogues ? Yeah , I don't think . Okay , I guess we're not going to know . Someday we'll have to put you up against somebody who's 5'3" .

In my younger days .

We've changed it a little bit .

I couldn't play basketball at his age . Right now he's got aches and pains , like I do . Yeah , so you can do it , he's only like maybe a year older than me .

So you're really that good of a basketball player .

No , I just play streetball a lot . I did . I would always go out there and play with everybody , that's the best , listen to the lies , lies , lies . It was not a problem for me to get out there , whether you were the best or not , you just had to get out there and play .

Most guys got on team Cheap ball is the whole point .

Yeah , I got out there . I just went out there . I would play . It's enough for me to run up and down the court , chase you try to block your shot , get in your way , stop you . I do all that .

I can do all that , no problem . I'm going to say thank you . You know what I'm starting to realize like ? I'm having so much fun , though , but I just don't want to edit all this . But now your mic is so good , it's going to be easy . I know . You can hear him clearly , right ? He thinks I'm being mean , but it's true , yeah .

I'll listen to the replay , no problem . It's not about you listening to the replay . You at someone and I'll hear how I sound . I always judge myself and the audio will come across fine .

But you know what you said , so there's never going to be time like wait . What did I say ?

No , I listen to all conversations because a lot of times I'm driving so I'm distracted . He's in defensive mode so he's in this . You've got to hear this and see how clear it is and listen to where I'm going .

Again , you didn't do anything wrong , it's just . I think it would be the same if none of us had a mic , because there's a distance that's too far away and it's not picking it up , but it doesn't matter you got one now .

I think the only difference is because Rick has a mic and I always hear his broadcast , how clear he sounds when he comes in . So I get that .

Okay , all right .

We're going to pray for this person here . We're going to pray for this person . I'm like , yeah , that's Rick , see .

Rick , I watch okay hold on hold on , since we do imitations .

You can find me at Tony D and that's exactly right , tony D , blah , blah , blah , exactly what does that sound like ? Here's the thing , because it's so hard . Okay , let me see if I remember where you're at . You're on Linktree , I don't know , tony D original Tony D original or no Tony D ? Tony D Original or is it Aboriginal ?

What Is it Aboriginal ? I'm just kidding . I can tell everybody all about the joint podcast Carmen Lizeth , carmenlizethcom , Carmen Suarez , but she can't remember Tony D Damn Original .

Tony D Damn Original . I just messed it up you just missed one word in there .

That's what it was .

Dot original . Right , but it's actually not Tony D original , it's Linktree Tony D original . Yes , okay , got it . Everybody Find him there . Find Rick at RickCostacom . Rickcostacom . Cynthia , where can people find you , my sweet ?

Deadbodiescom . Rickcostacom . Cynthia , where can people find you , my sweet DeadBodiesorg .

She's like right here , right here , all about the joy . That's where I'm at .

Cynthia is at DeadBodiesorg Wow .

So look , in a few weeks I'm going to update the website . We're going to have swag , we are . I've been working on that too , we are . We're going to have swag , we are . I've been working on that too .

So , everyone , thank you . You're wearing something right now , aren't you ?

Yeah , but this is not available yet , so we don't want to promote anything . Yeah , yeah , we're not going to promote it yet , cause no one can buy it yet . Um , everyone , thank you so much for stopping by again . I really appreciate you . Um , we'll be here again next week . Please check us out on the podcast and the live stream next week .

Mario . Praise the Lord . Dislike this video . You are helping us . Thank you for disliking the video .

We appreciate . You know what I would like to see ? A lot more dislikes , You're right , I lot more dislikes , you're right . I just got a notification the other day about YouTube and you are absolutely right , rick . Everybody should be disliking it . So we appreciate it . Um yeah , bye everyone . Remember , it's all about the joy . Bye , thanks for stopping by .