"I know I'm not always right" with Ski-ter Jones

Family man and creative cyclone, Ski-ter Jones, joins me today. Here’s what we talk about:
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Not knowing his father
New terminology
Bigotry
Sibling love
Friend’s parents
Being a father without having one
Expressing anger
Evolving
Father/son talk
Conditional love
Work ethic

So put on your chill and come listen in😊

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Episode Transcript

Unknown (00:08):
Welcome to courage under the stars with Michael
Vieyra. That's me, I am MichaelVieyra. Here I speak off the
cuff with people that I findinteresting, where you're going
to sit in a darkened room andjust allowing you to eavesdrop.
I tell my guests, no politics,no religion, but otherwise, I
don't care what we talk about aslong as it comes from the heart.

(00:28):
I hope even just a small part ofit resonates with you. Some of
it will, some of it won't. Andthat's okay. But I'm just glad
you're here. I really do loveall of you, and thanks for
coming. Let's get this thingstarted when
the stars are aligned in a goodyes indeedy.

(00:50):
Do you remember the last timethat you were under the stars
and who you were with?
I I'm pretty sure I was underthe stars with Deena that's who
I was with now. Where? I thinkit was in Branson, Missouri.
Under the Stars, yeah.

(01:10):
Branson, Missouri. Yeah, we'redoing out there.
She had got a gig up there. AndI drove her out there to the
Grand Ole Opry and all thatother stuff. She was a dancer.
I had no idea. Yeah. Totalperformer, singer dancer. Yeah,
no, just she would laugh as yousay a singer, but definitely a

(01:31):
dance. You can't say. But um,yeah, she got a gig. You know, I
think it was. I think it was ayear gig. So I had to go out
there a couple of times. Youknow that long distance love and
stuff.
Right? She's you guys aremarried?
Yes. In the eyes ofthe government that the
government had exactly.

(01:53):
The rest will remain silent.
Exactly.
Yeah, that's my boo.
What about you ski? Have youdone stage work?
Not stage work. You know, mywhole thing is, you know, coming
from Washington, DC, I went toDuke Ellington School of the
Arts. And that soundsprestigious. It is very

(02:15):
prestigious. But while I wasthere, I wasn't in the I wasn't
doing I was in music department,not the not the drama
department. What? Yeah, man atried to get me to play the
French horn. Because nobody elsewould do exactly. So what they
did was the year I came in, theywent around the city, because I

(02:38):
think they want to lose funding.
So they went around the city todifferent high schools, I mean,
different middle schools. Andthey gave us a piano test. And
if you tested well, you could goto Duke Ellington. But they
wanted you to go to DukeEllington, and they would give
you a instrument or whatever thecase in our tournament was the
instrument. So people were likeyou said peep, people didn't

(03:01):
play the oboe, or they didn'tplay french horn or they didn't
play, you know, these obscure,you know, instruments. So they
would take us out and most ofthe time we were inner city kids
anyway. So, to go to a schoollike Duke Ellington that was in
Georgetown by GeorgetownUniversity. It was a it was
pretty cool. And I hated I didnot want to go there. Because I

(03:26):
was a ballplayer, I wanted to goto one of the schools and play,
you know, football, basketball,baseball, but now I'm going to
this art school. And they were,the reason I went was my cousin
went there. He was an artist.
So, you know, they were like,oh, no, it'd be good for you now
let us stuff but I cried to gothere. And then I cried. When I

(03:47):
left. It was such a fantasticexperience.
Will you supported by yourparents going into that?
Will you say support it? Wouldit? Would it be?
You know, were they like, yeah,go do your thing. Or that you
son of a bitch, you better dowhat we tell, you know,
first and foremost, and neverknew who my father was. So, you

(04:08):
know, my mom was all I ever had.
Your dad was never around, neveraround from birth from birth. Do
you know who he is? Now?
I do not. And do you have aninterest in that? You know what?
I'm not really I mean, it's, itwould be fun to see the other

(04:28):
siblings and to see how theyfared and, you know, so forth
and so on. But besides meseeking him out now, I'm good.
You mean, youknow that you have other
siblings that you don't knowabout?
I would think so. I don't Idon't know. Maybe I'm the only
one. But yeah, exactly. Andthen, you know, my mom passed

(04:51):
when I turned 21 When I wasturning 21. Yeah. So I lost all
all. You know, you have nofamilial ties around there.
absolutely zero zip.
Now, wow. I don't have manyfamilial ties around. But the
ones I do I love. Where are youin that?

(05:11):
I have two brothers with twobiological brothers. Different
father, same mother. Yeah.
They're still back inWashington, DC. And then you
know, cousins from. I wasoriginally from Oklahoma. But
when I was 10, I moved toWashington, DC. So,
Skeeter, I asked you this,because I grew up in what I

(05:33):
didn't realize was a very happyfamily. We had our shit, of
course, and I paid my dad atcertain points, and my mom
bugged me. But at the end of theday, I loved my family, and we
had a great time. So I don'teven have a clue what it would
be like growing up without afather. Can you express that to

(05:55):
me?
For the longest if I hated amale figure, you can tell me
shit. Yeah. Yeah. If you wantedme to do something that had to
come from a female, or a woman,I don't know, the I get in
trouble for calling a woman afemale. It was like, I was like,

(06:15):
Oh, is that a thing I didn'tneed one was how long ago was
that? I went to I was a guestkeynote speaker at a at a
psychologists retreat. And Isaid, I don't you know, me, man.
I didn't even know I saidfemale. And at lunchtime, one of
the attendees came up to me, itwas like, you know, I thought

(06:39):
your talk was very good untilyou said female. And I'm like,
did you know that was a femalethat said that, of course. And I
just started laughing. I said,Look, and there was no, you
know, and she gave me her spew.
Or, you know, I don't evenremember it right now, to be
honest with you, but I justremembered that was shocking to

(06:59):
me.
Yeah, I gotta agree. I mean, I'mnot. I mean, maybe it's one of
those things where we need to beeducated, but I wouldn't have
thought anything of it.
And I asked the lady who wasgiven it, who was my friend, Dr.
Marcia bow. Vasia. Yeah. And Isay, does that disrespectful?
She was like, No, it'sdisrespectful to her, but not

(07:21):
the I was okay. I just wannamake sure. So, I think that
young lady had a problem, notthe overall, you know, problem,
but now we're into pronouns, Ihaven't arrived yet.
That does change everything,especially as to to us old
codgers? It's a little bit oflike, Wait,
what the fuck are we doing?
Absolutely. Butat the same time, you and I are
both so liberal. It's like,okay, what do you want to do?

(07:42):
Right? Wheredo you want to? What do you want
to be called? Yeah, you know,yeah, that's fine with me, I
have no problem with that. Youknow, you
bring up the female thing thatyou just said, I wish there was
a time in casting when I wastalking to a group of actors.
And, you know, we give theexplanation before you come in
the room. Absolutely. And Isaid, to the few guys that were

(08:06):
standing around, there's amixture of mix of race in this
group. And I said, Alright,boys, come on over here. And we
got into a hole. Not argumentbut a discussion about not to
call us boys. Because it'soffensive. To black men.

(08:27):
Wow. I know, understand, I canunderstand that. But I think
that's also who is coming fromyou and I have been friends for
how many years? I've known youto be nowhere near that. So for
you to say that I would have noteven thought about it. So was it

(08:49):
a group of guys that said it orwas it one or two that popped
off?
So it was a group of four orfive guys really? And there was
a mixed race and the two blackgentlemen Now excuse me, one
black gentleman and one whiteguy. Both explained to me. Why
it's unacceptable? No, theyweren't upset about it. They

(09:12):
weren't they were just, youknow, they were actually friends
about friends like you and me,but they were friends and I
thought okay, like, like we justsaid a second ago. It's like, I
don't see it, but okay, that'sif that's what we're saying.
Then I'm down.
Yeah, exactly. And I know Iknow. You went you know, okay,
no problem was you know, whatwould you rather have there's so

(09:34):
much I your hurt your head.
Yeah, understanding I think itgoes case by case. Again, I
wouldn't I don't even if youknow, I go down south now. Hey,
boy, you know, oh, that saysthat does sound ugly. Oh,
absolutely. Yeah. However, man.
Yeah, whatever do Yeah, justkeep it moving. You know, I

(09:59):
don't have to Are many more tofight that fight. Now, you know,
you didn't touch me. You didn'tspit on me. You're not talking
to my woman or my or my sonincorrectly sticks and stones
keep it movin, bro. Keep itmoving.
I had a guy once we're walkingdown the street and I forget how
he said it, but I know all Iknow is that at the end of the

(10:21):
sentence, he used the wordwetback. And all I could do was
laugh. Exactly. I was like,Really, bro.
Okay, it that's, it's so funny.
Because if you gotta go there Igo. Gotcha. Yeah, it's like I
know who you are. Gotcha. Noproblem, do ya? Gotcha. because
my hands were good then. Andthey still good. Now I got that.

(10:43):
Like they say that, that oh, manpower. That's true, man. Old
man. Strength is incredibleforce. Exactly. So I don't know,
I was never a hothead. But Ialso being fair skin. I had
gotten a lot of battles. So, youknow, I my hand skills had to be

(11:10):
at least okay. You know, I'm notgonna say I was knocking
everybody out. But I had to holdmy own. Put it that way.
Yeah, you know what you dostrike me as a guy that you
don't want to mess with?
Although you're one of thesweetest guys. I know. And I
wouldn't hang with you.
Otherwise, you do seem likesomebody I wouldn't want to piss

(11:32):
off.
Well, you know what it is? It'sall a balance. I tell my son
that all the time I go, dude.
You know, especially coming fromWashington, DC, DC, to
California. It was a brand newopening for me. And so, you
know, I coming from DC get Itold you. I was gonna be dead or

(11:52):
in jail. So were you gangs?
Wasn't that I was in a gang. ButI was I had no direction, dude.
I mean, I never knew the Father.
Let me retrace. So. Going fromOklahoma to to Washington, DC.
What happened was the reason wehad to go to Oklahoma was my,

(12:18):
my, my brother's dad ended up,you know, beating up my mom.
Your mom? Yes. And I was in acar. And when she called up to
her brother, who was in DC, itwas going to come down. And of

(12:39):
course, you know, his house.
Yeah, exactly. And probablykilled him play. He was that
kind of guy. Very beautiful guy.
But he was he was like me, itwas like, you know, don't
tolerate, you know. So he waslike, Look, you you come here or
I'm coming here. And if I comein there, then our lives are

(13:02):
gonna change. Yeah, either wayis going to change, but it's
going to change for the bad.
Right, you know? So we ended upyou know, she packed up, you
know, three boys. And we headedto DC. And we stay with my uncle
who had five kids. So we goteight kids, three adults in a

(13:24):
three bedroom. Apartment. Yeah.
Oh,we've been sleeping on the same
mattresses forExactly, yeah. But, you know, it
was one of the greatestexperiences I've ever had Oh,
Kaminsky, because, you know,there was always someone there.

(13:47):
And it may not be the person youwanted. Because, you know, with
that many people you got, yourent to different folks. And
I've always been a mama's boy.
You know, that's one of thethings my mom used to say she
was like you I stay with my momeverywhere. Whereas though, my
older brother, he was with mygrandmother or somewhere else,

(14:11):
but I was with my mom until myyounger brother came. Then my
younger brother and my olderbrother, were probably with my
grandmother, or something else,but I never left my mom. So it
was me and my mom and one ofthem or me and my mom and you
know, both of them. Or just meand my mom. You seen I'm saying

(14:31):
I do.
But ski you gotta clearsomething up for me because my
brain with all these healthissues I have. I don't have any
clarity. Absolutely. You havebrothers, you had siblings you
grew up with. But I thought Arethey gone now? Are they passed
away?
No, no, they're they're still inWashington DC. Okay,
you have no connection with themanymore. No, no, no, we

(14:53):
still talk to him, you know, ona regular base. I love I mean, I
love my brothers, my littlebrothers, my heart Alright, my
older brothers. That's my guy.
But my little brother, that wasmy dude, you know what I'm
saying? My older brother isfunny because he called last
week and usually we call youknow, the Christmas birthday.
He's a sick, I'm a Cowboy fan.

(15:17):
He's a Redskin fan. So he'strying to ride me on everything.
And they haven't beat us inyears. Right. He's still want to
talk crap. But he's stilltalking John Riggins.
So he called last weekend togive me his new phone number for
some reason, he gets a new phonenumber every six months. So he

(15:40):
gives it to me. Nothing criminalgoing on there. Because I'm
like, you know, at one point, hedid some. And I think this stems
from there. He did some securitywork. Okay. So I know, I think
he concealed he has, you know,that makes sense. I'm like, man

(16:02):
gave you a gun. They wrong forthat, you know, you one person
don't need nothing. Damn. So andhe was, he was my, he's my
little Big Brother. Because nowI'm taller than him. And, you
know, so, but um, I could telllast week when he called, he

(16:22):
just had something to say, andusually our conversations five,
maybe 10 at the max. But my manhad something to say. And it was
good to hear, you know, to getstay on the phone with him. You
know, 3040 almost an hour, Iguess. But, and I'm just Yeah.

(16:44):
Or, you know, but because Idon't usually get that. It was
just perfect. Man. It wasbeautiful. Well, it sounds like
he was in a good place forhimself. And that was another
thing too is, you know, usually.
You know, it's, it's a quickone, and I don't particularly
like, you know, people call meup and I gotta hear you just

(17:06):
complaining all the time. I'mgood with that. I'm like, I'll
give you one. I'll give you one,maybe even maybe two, because
you gotta get it off your chestagain. salutely. I mean, I'm
here, but I can't. I can't bethat guy. I can't absorb all
that negative energy and can'tcan't do it, man. So, but he has
something to say. And it wasjust, I got off the phone. Happy

(17:28):
that I spent that much timewith, you know, on the phone.
Good for you, you know, and itwasn't like, I did a wrong thing
or anything. It's just that Iwas just Oh, no, you know,
good for you in the sense thatyeah, it's a great thing to have
that sort of lovethere. And then my little
brother, he called me. You wouldthink My name is Joe. What's up,

(17:49):
Joe? What's the deal? Man, Ihave no, I think there's a slang
for it. But it's funnier thanjust Oh, get loud. Mojo.
We need to figure that out. Nextconversation. I need an answer
for that.
And I'll get that for you. But Ithink I just think this has

(18:09):
vernacular.
Talking about growing up andyour fatherhood and you have a
son now Aragorn. And how old ishe?
He just turned 18 just graduatedfrom high school.
Graduated from high school. Wow.
Yeah, exactly. Hewas just a kid. It's like, Dude,
I don't even get me started.
I'll start crying.

(18:33):
There'll be a little girl. Letme ask you something Skeeter.
What effect did not having afather have to do with how you
raised Aragon Aragorn?
That's a great question. I thinkabout it all the time. I think
about it from a point of view ofI've always wanted a kid. But

(18:59):
I've always, you know, I'vealways wanted to be a father,
not just to be somebody's dad,or whatever. You know, you can
switch them. What's thedifferent risky? That's a good
question. I don't know. I don't.
I think that's a good question.
I just talked to my friend MarkHoward, who I'll bring up later

(19:23):
but we were talking about.
Remember earlier I said I didn'thave any faith in the mail.
until my senior year of highschool. I had. I went from Duke
Ellington School of the Arts toNorth Hall. Northwood, which
Duke Ellington and is in DC inNorthwood is in Maryland. So

(19:48):
by the way, I went to theAmerican Academy of Dramatic
Arts so if you're gonna keepdropping, do you know where I
went, you gotta say it likethat.
Dude when I first started goingto marry Academy of Dramatic
Arts. And I couldn't haveenunciated every word anymore.
Where do you go to school? I'mat the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts.

(20:09):
Exactly. But, um, but and also,I have a much mouth so I'm
trying to articulate, you know.
So that's one thing, or you willbe like, I can't use this ski.
But tell me you were talking.
But what happened was, I in one,met, one of the best friends

(20:32):
I've ever had in my 12th gradeyear, his 11th grade. And he his
father wasn't with his mother.
Typical, you know, that plight,however, he was, at, marks
everything that Mark did he wasthere everything that Mark
needed if he was there. And soof course, I'm his run and

(20:56):
partner so I was able to, to getthat love. You know, from, you
know, just aside I was, and herestored my faith in the mill.
In a male, you know, I guess,was the word I'm looking for,

(21:19):
from a man. Let's just say that.
And because he was there, he waspresent, even though he wasn't
with them. The mother, you know,they weren't together, right? He
was present. And I loved him. iHe was it, Charlie Howard. And

(21:41):
we call them Charlie had Chelahad. And he was fantastic. He
was a great, great guy, and Iloved him. Because the way he
was still in the life of hisson, even though he wasn't with
the mom. And they co parented.
Well, you know. So from thatpoint on, that's, I knew there

(22:01):
was faith. And I've always beena guy who, you know, I always
wanted a son or a kid. So sure,when I got my son, even if the
mom and I didn't work out, firstand foremost, I knew she was

(22:23):
going to be a fantastic mother.
That was one of the reasons Icould have a child with her is
because I knew if something wentlive, she still was going to be
an incredible mother, which sheis, and has been. And I also
knew for myself, I was going todo everything in my, in my being

(22:47):
to be the dad or father that Ididn't have. So, you know, and
it's been a fantastic ride upuntil I want
to interject, and don't forgetwhere you are, if you had more
to say on that. That was you.
I love the way I watch you raiseAragorn because you're very

(23:09):
supportive. And that kid is aproduct of your support for
sure. And at the same time, Isee you scold the kid. And
there's times when I've seen youscold them, or I thought Jesus
bro back off. But But before I'mdone thinking that, you're
coming back with like, here'swhy I just scolded you. Here's

(23:29):
what you need to learn fromthat. Now, pat on the butt, go
do your thing.
Exactly. And I think, and thankyou for saying that. Because at
some times I even go, dad that Igo too hard. You know what I'm
saying? And, you know, half thetime, I will say, Hey, man,
please forgive me. And pleaseunderstand Daddy didn't have a

(23:51):
daddy. So we learn in thistogether. You know what I'm
saying? Doyou think he took that in an
early age? I understand that.
I don't I don't think any kidit's funny that you say that?
Because right now he just man ismy dog. And he just right now
goes I remember when you didthis, and I didn't like it. But
I see why now and this and thenI go and I always told him I

(24:14):
just for me personally. My momtold me, I need you to have
manners. And I need you to beable to have your shoulders back
and your head up. Nice. Sothat's where I come from with
him. You know? Hey, man. Yes,thank you. Yeah, I don't even

(24:36):
live him call me sir. You know?
No, no, not at all. No,I don't know where that came
from.
Why No, remember, I think Ithink it came from again. I
didn't have the I wasn't callingnobody, sir. I don't get in. It
wasn't even in a job settingyour wasn't Oh, yes, sir. No,
sir. That's why I couldn't go tothe army or Armed Forces show We

(25:00):
say, right. So I don't even lethim call me that now, even
though and I don't say it, ofcourse, but I do say Yes, ma'am.
I do say, you know? It, that's abig thing with me having
manners, because manners cantake you a long ways. And if you
have manners usually, you know,because we have a lot of people

(25:23):
who have manners, but they'restill doing, you know, suspects
things. But usually you're,you're, you're in the right area
you should be.
I think, in this day of theworld, I think it probably
longer than that, but I'm justreally picking up in the last
five years or so that justbecause somebody has manners,
doesn't mean they're a goodperson. Exactly.

(25:46):
And I think you're absolutelyright, especially now, I think
that's a cover. But that's why Ialways tell my son, you know,
it's not enough to just hearanybody anymore. You gotta you
got to be around him, you got tosee him, you know, we were
talking about, you know, he's 18Now on and we got to talk about
hey, man, I'm, you know, he's, Ithink he's a very handsome guy,

(26:09):
and I go, Look, you're gonna getplenty of, you know, and but I
need you to be first andforemost, responsible. Second of
all, I told him, you know, goingexperiment, enjoy the process of
it. Yeah, you know. But respectyourself first. Because if you

(26:33):
respect yourself first, you willrespect the other person. You
know, and you won't getdisrespected from another
person. You will let them goquicker. Right. You know, so I
just tried to have I've alwaystried to have balance. When I'm

(26:54):
when I when he was coming up. Iknew as I'm his biggest fan, and
he and his mother, me and hismother, we always tell him who
you know, who is your biggestfan? You know, and we both are,
but in my eyes, you can't get nobig I'm, I'm, I'm 100% I'm

(27:15):
200 304 Whatever the case, and Iknow she is too. So anything he
does great. I'm all in. That'swhat I'm talking about. That's
why you motherfucker, that's whyyou cool. That's why you are
you're great. That's what I'mall in. But I also am a parent,
and I have to go, Hey, man, halfof the reason I'm scolding you

(27:38):
is because of security reasons.
Don't touch the plate becauseit's hot. Or the stove. Okay,
you want to go Go right ahead.
Yeah, well, back then I couldsmack the hand. And he could
equate that with Brewer. If I dothat. This is what's gonna
happen. So, you know, I'm Stern.
You know, I'm stirring to apoint of, Hey. My mom used to be

(28:00):
able to give me a look. Sothat's what I want. And I don't
I don't wanna put my hands onyou. Unless I have to. But I'm
gonna give you a look like Areyou are you fucking kidding me?
Okay, no, bro. And if you havethat kind of attitude is like
Ooh shit. That's why most of hisfriends would come over they

(28:21):
love coming over our house.
Because they come in Okay, whoare you? No, no, no, no, no No
Look me in my face and shake myhand and they shake with that
you know that lamp hand in myhand. You sound like my brother.
Yeah, well you have to be it's agood thing and it is because
each and every one of hisfriends love coming over because

(28:45):
they get structure now you knowthey get boundaries no no you
come over you don't you don'tleave there into somebody tell
you to first of all you stayright in that spot you come in
you stay right and as banana gooh, you can come back here or
you can come this way. That way.
You take off your shoes youdon't just take them off and
split you take them off you putthem down nicely. You go about

(29:05):
your business hey you will whichwants to eat you know and every
time they come over I'm usuallygoing to give them some E you
know so they love of course theylove them. And Mr. Jones can we
have in and out Mr. Channels canwe get pizza?
Yeah, and all this shit I didn'tknow you were supplying to in
and out and pizza dude, I'd havebeen there.

(29:25):
Love it, man. I love it. BecauseI want him to understand that,
you know, hey man life and giveyou everything. Everything you
want. If you do what your part,so when he's growing up, I never
really had to get in as as aboutthings that other people do.

(29:46):
Because my biggest thing is dowhat you supposed to do. So you
can do what you want to do. Letme repeat that. Do what you
supposed to do. So you can dowhat you want to do. So half the
time I go Um, hey, did you doyour homework? I did it. Okay,
do whatever you want to do. Butif it comes to a point, Hey, did

(30:07):
you do this? Nah. Well, why areyou over here doing this when
you know you're supposed to dothat? Sure. So now we don't have
I don't have to do anything. Allright, all I had to go to which
is supposed to do any books getdone. Now there's no, there's no
back and forth. And now heunderstands from a very young
age, that if I'm doing what I'msupposed to do, I get to do

(30:27):
whatever I want. So I didn'tunderstand were kids, and this
is a really big thing is kidshave temper tantrums. And even
if you give it to him, theystill gonna have a temper
tantrum. And I go, so you willbe you will want to hold out,
cry all this stuff. And I go, ifyou just do this over here, you

(30:51):
can fight me. If you just dothis over here, you get it? I
didn't. I never understood that.
Right? Yeah. So now, and even myson, he goes, I understand what
you're talking about. I go,Dude, don't fight me. What I
know is good for you. And youknow, is good for you. So but
that's what a kid's job is, isthey don't know any better. They

(31:13):
haven't learned they don't knowany better. So these parents are
coming up. Now I go look, youknow, their job is to test you
every five seconds. That's theirjob because they don't know any
better. It's your job to belike, No, this is how it goes.
And also give them room to fuckup and be like, Hey, man, what

(31:35):
did you learn? While learningthis? Okay, let's move on. I
remember. Because I I'm not sobig on our our educational
system, as you know, or maybeyou don't. I believe first and
foremost, most of the trainingcomes from the house. My whole

(31:57):
thing is I wanted him to go. AndI every day that I dropped him
off I go okay, what are wesupposed to do? Have fun while
learning? Have fun whilelearning. And the fun part comes
first. So go have fun whilelearning. Now. My biggest thing
was don't have these people callme because you acted up. Or you

(32:20):
are failing you to first andforemost you too smart to fail.
Yeah. So you act in a some boystuff or this person stuff. I'm
many girls do the same thing. Soyou know, but don't call me
don't have them. If they call mewe got a problem. So it's 11 an

(32:41):
hour is early on. He they callme and um, he doesn't know I'm
friends with the well he doesknow but he doesn't know where
I'm getting my information from.
And one of my friends in I getthis his report card narrative

(33:04):
report card. But his wasstepping in to give before the
report card like your progressreport. Okay, get the progress
report. And he's failing acouple. I'm like, dude, wow. You
know, and then I'm going up andnot going up and going. Okay, so
if he's failing, I need to knowhow. So I put fail safes in

(33:28):
place. So he was failing becausehe never He kept not taking his
work in, he would do to work andI take it in or don't do it
until the last minute we allit's all good. But I go okay. So
in order for me not to kick yourass. This is what we'll do.

(33:48):
Because, again, I'm in togetting the solution. We know
the problem, what is thesolution to the problem? So
solution is have every time youfinish your work, have your
teacher sign off. This has beendone. And then you show it to me
nice. You see them saying soproblem solved. So now it's a

(34:08):
failsafe in place so now Ishouldn't I should never get
there. So this is what this iswhat this smart star for Junaid?
Good lord. Exactly. That soundslike me. So, but it was great.
Here's the thing about it is soI didn't catch it until the next
year. And he's like, you're sosmart. Dude, I didn't catch to

(34:32):
the next year because someonewent down and I'm going to the
teacher. The only reason he gotin trouble because I wanted to
teach and I'm going here's yoursignature. How is he failing
when here's your signature. Andjust before I went to to teach,
I went to my friend and shelooked at it. She was like,
skeet. That's not her or he hasI forget who that's their

(34:54):
signature. I'm gonna what shewas like, I think Aragorn is
fortunate enough like well WhenI go home, I'm laughing, because
that's what I would do. Yeah,I'm laughing I'm crying out, but
I can't of course you can't gohome laughing and so I go home I
go, dude. How why you do me likethat. And I made up this. I made

(35:19):
up the story, how I had to go inand, you know, I had a meeting
with them. And he made me lookstupid because here I am
thinking that they signed it andthey, they were like, This is
not my signature. And I said,You made me look like booboo the
fool. Of course. That's worsethan whipping his eyes. Because
now he looks like oh my gosh,because I know my son looks up

(35:41):
to me. You know? Oh my god. I'mlike to you made me look like
Boo Boo food. I'm over therefighting for your honor. And you
how you do this to me. And hejust he's crying. Oh, sorry. And
I'm laughing inside because I'mgoing. Dang, that was some good
stuff. He had me for about ayear. And I go just done.

(36:03):
What what? You know what's greatabout that is that he did cry.
He cried because he cared.
Exactly if he didn't care. Hejust kind of like sit there and
take the scolding. Yeah. So goodfor him.
So, you know, he was upset andand he thought he was gonna get
hit even to this day. He waslow. I thought you were gonna
kill me. And I just told him Isaid, Dude, the only the only

(36:26):
reason I ever said anything toyou. I was like, Dude, I did
that too. And we can't be. Wecan't act like we didn't do the
stuff. You know, saying, Man, Idid that too. I said, I'd say
now I tell him I go dude. I waslaughing. I was laughing and to
be honest with you, Aragorn. Iwas kind of happy you did it. It

(36:47):
made me show that hey, you're akid that beneath your feet. Just
like he was I really I was like,now I can't tell you that. And I
say it because when you get akid you will see the same thing
I said and half of the stuffthat he thinks he's going to get
in trouble for he doesn'tbecause that's just the way the

(37:08):
world is like we did it too. Isaid the only thing I said the
only reason I call us a smartenough which he really was but I
told him he was it. It was asmart enough not to get caught.
Because the toughest part, man.
I'm such a pushover because thatwas another thing. I always tell
my son now I was like, and heeven goes your your bark is much

(37:31):
bigger than your bite. Really?
Oh, absolutely. Especially now.
And you have a big bark. I do Icuz I first and foremost,
because I'm such a guy thatloves life. So you know, I'm
always smiling. What's going onwith sapra? How you doing Papa?
All that good stuff. But if someterm is some term itself, you're

(37:54):
gonna know it. Cuz? Oh, snap.
Did you? Did you see that? Didyou look at you know, you're
gonna know it.
Skeeter? How do you rise abovewhen you go when things go
south, because you can go twoways. You can ride with it and
just be pissed. Or you can riseabove it and move on and keep
the happy tone in your lifecan't do it. So which way do you

(38:15):
go?
I'm pissed. Okay, you're goingto hear it earlier. We don't get
into it. And what I mean byearlier in my life is oh, we
might even go, you know, handstwo hands. But as you know, you
evolve and get older. I'm justgonna tell you my position.

(38:36):
Right? You know if you'd like itor not, I'm gonna tell you my
position because then at least Igot it out of my system. And I'm
one of those guys as long as Iget out of my system. Let's go
get a beer. Let's go. Even ourown drink. Let's go get a tea.
Let's go. You know, go get ajuice.
Skeeter. Are you just sayingsimply what I think you might be
saying is you can't let itbottle up. You got to let it out

(38:57):
before you can get past it.
Absolutely. You're going to tryto get past it sooner than
later.
I want to get past it quicklynow, because I don't like the
feeling of holding it in andthen then just thinking about it
constantly. Because I want youto say this. I should have done
this right. Did you know that?
I'm gonna I'm gonna tell youexactly how good or bad because

(39:21):
I'm not always right. Eventhough I tell my son. I'm always
right. I'm not always gonna sayeven though you feel like you
are. Oh, absolutely. But it'syour job. I was. It's your job
to show me why I'm wrong. Andhere's the thing about me is I I
know I'm still evolving. Sotherefore I know I'm not always

(39:42):
right. So I'm one of thosepeople who look to have
conversation about you and Ilove talking to you. Every time
we talk every time we especiallywhen we used or used to come in
And for auditions. You will oneof my favorite people to break

(40:03):
it down because you would nononsense. You know, hey, Skeet,
they want to like this. Theywant to like that drill. I'll
come in and if I do it the wrongway. Let's take that off ski.
Yep. Okay, ski again, they wantto like this one like that. But
pom pom pom. Okay. Then I'll getby the second time. I've taken
the direction. You said, I'msaying? Yeah. And I give a good
performance. That's why I was Iwas I have you. And a couple

(40:26):
other you know, Charlescarpenter and a couple other JP,
you know, Jeff pride that gaveme such great direction. And
not, it wasn't a buttery stuff.
And if I did it wrong, yeah,what he raised from the tape,
and put me back again, you know,so now, as a writer, director,

(40:50):
that's what I look for. Can theytake direction? You know, I'm
saying, and in my life, that'smy whole thing is, can I take
direction? And I can takedirection? Can I be that
chameleon? Because every bit ofinformation that we get new
information that we get shouldaffect us, our old way of

(41:10):
thinking or the way of thinking,You know what I'm saying? So
that's how I live, that's how,you know, I try to not try I, I
instill in my son. You know,I feel like the way you're
saying it is possibly what I'vebeen doing, as well, as I've
gotten older, and I'm gonna saywithin the last three or four

(41:31):
years, I've let go of all thatcontrol all that feeling of, I
know everything. And now, Ithink I think I just started
evolving three or four yearsago, who I was before, I don't
regret that guy. But I do wish Ihad this mindset from early high
school. What doeswhat is that saying? The the,

(41:52):
the youth iswasted on the young young?
Yeah. Yeah, it's very, you know,it's very correct. If you, but
you know, what does test us, youknow, evolving again, I want to
constantly evolve until we go,go six feet. I remember, you

(42:22):
know, having a discussion havenot even this guy. argument for,
for that sake, we're having, youknow, some kind of big blow up
with, with Deena and I was justlike, you know, you knew what
you got into, you know, thatmacho, got into, you know, this
is me, and I ain't neverchanged. Horrible. Exactly. And

(42:46):
when she looked at me, and said,that's very sad. Now, that's not
the guy I thought I was going tobe with forever. And, of course,
it was like a brick, just, Imean, bad or good. I was like,
Oh, snap, yeah, she right. Youknow, and ever since then, I,

(43:13):
you know, I live by that. We gotto change, man, we got to change
daily, we got to change. And,you know, another big thing for
me to have has been, you know,people got to be their own
person. My friends, I got acouple of friends that, you

(43:35):
know, as I've gotten to acertain degree of, of, for lack
of better word riches, or, youknow, enlightenment or whatever
the case may be money wise, andjust all that good stuff. You
know, you want to take yourpeoples with you, right. And I

(43:55):
remember a partner, my twopartners, you know, I'm always
saying man, you could be deadshould be disregarded. Do you
know? And one of my partners areolder gentleman said shady,
Grady. Shady. All your friendsand family have nicknames.
Great. Exactly. Shady. Grannysays, I like who I am. And I

(44:19):
don't mind going to my grave theway I am. And every since then,
Mike, I've never had a problemwith any of my friends. Because
I can't put what I think theyshould be. Awesome. You know
what I'm saying? Yeah, I just amthere to assist what they want

(44:41):
to be. Right. So don't get mewrong. I will say hey, what do
you think about this? Now? I'mcool, then we're cool with it.
And ever since that day, I'venever had a problem with any of
my friends. Because I acceptthem for who they are.
Dude. I will tell you I gotfriends that will tell me things
And I'll tell them, hey,straight up, you're playing on

(45:02):
the freeway. You should youshould get off the freeway if
you don't want to get hurt. Andthen they'll say, No, I like
playing on the freeway. Okay,cool. Yeah. So those are the
things, you know, now that I aminstilling you in my son, and
he'll get it when he's supposedto get it. I think he gets it,
you know, he's a, we have dailytalks, and that's one of the

(45:26):
best things of being a dad andbeing around for me, is I get to
talk to him, I man, I'm sofortunate dude, that I'm able
from day one, to pick them up,take them to school, and just be
around and still live the lifethat we live. Because the

(45:47):
choices that I've made, youknow, along the way.
Are you guys when you havetalks? Are they father son? Or
does he or you guys like a moviefathers on where he tells you
every little thing in his life?
No, we're we cut to the bone oneverything. But then again, we,

(46:10):
you know, because I'm stillagain, I still want him to do
well. So we talk abouteverything. Just the other day
we're talking about hey, man, hehasn't he hasn't, you know, done
the booty yet. Ah, so So youtalked about that? Oh,
absolutely. Okay, dude, let'sgo. Let's go get you some
condoms. Let's go. I gotta know.
You can know how to put them on.

(46:31):
Holy cow. Now this. I feel theoddness of me because I never
had any conversation with mom ordad now.
I'm, I'm on there. I know whathis type is. Because I was like,
you know, hey, do you like to?
Hey, you like that? And thenwhat about this? Who? Oh, so you
like that? You know? And thenyou in this day and age, man,

(46:52):
you got to make sure. You know,Hey, are you in the wrong body?
If you're what I'm talkingabout, so I got them. Hey, if
you are I'm going to love you. Idon't care. Right. But I want
you to be happy. Are you in thewrong body? Are you? Do you
like, you know, the same sex? Soyou know, I got to know all
this. So we can be happy. Youknow? And I remember when I'm

(47:13):
having a talk that goes, Dad, Ilike women. I go well, I you
know, and just because I don'tget a boner them in? Yeah. Okay.
I'm just making sure. All right.
Well, well, it's what's great,though, is that you're giving
them the opportunity?
Absolutely. Because I don't wantI love being a dad. And I don't

(47:35):
want that kind of friction. I'veseen it we're using years and
years go by and they could haveyou can't get those years back
man would have beendisappointed, probably. But he
wouldn't have you know, I loveyou. I don't care. He's I told
him the other day. You're theonly person that loves me

(47:57):
unconditionally. And he goes,what about Mom? I go, No, she
loves me. We get mad love. Butif I wasn't if I didn't do the
things and somebody else can doit, and I get you know, you will
see it's, you know,Skeeter, you think, as long as

(48:17):
you and Deena have beentogether. And the fact that
you're still together now. Youdon't consider your love
unconditional.
I'm not I do to ascertain. I'mnot. I'm a realist. And the
reality of it is No. Do I thinkthe fairy tale of it?

(48:38):
Absolutely. Because I didn't ifI if we today, and she still was
so damn fine. If she walked outthis door. She's still copying
every guy who Hey, you know, shegets a better opportunity for
whatever, not that she would doit. Right. It's just that, you

(48:59):
know, if something happened, andwe weren't together again, I
would still and and I think shewould do this for me, we will
still take care of each other.
You know, if I was with anotherwoman, she don't she wouldn't
have to worry about that. Don'tget me wrong angle, flaunt it in
front of the new woman orwhatever the case may be. And
she probably wouldn't flaunt itin front of dude, but we will

(49:20):
take care of each other.
We'll listen I'm talking aboutas if you're in a relationship
with just the two of you. Areyou saying you guys date on the
outside?
No, no, no, no, not at all. Notat all. I'm just saying when you
say unconditionally, I justthink everything is
unconditionally or let me sayyou say that again. I think

(49:42):
everything is conditional. It'svery few that are unconditional
and love for me. I you know,we've been together I love her
to death. That's my you know,yes, Miranda died. But I also
think, you know, I don't put itpast anyone. You know, the only

(50:03):
unconditional I can say is myboy, that doesn't diminish what
I have with Dina doesn'tdiminish what she has for me,
unless I understand that. ButI'm just saying the reality of
it is it can go south at anytime.
The fact that it can go south isnot congruent with how she feels

(50:25):
about you on a day to day basis.
I'm pretty sure if you ask hersome days, she wants to kill me
in some days, she'd love to shutup. But that's true. But that's
where I go that, you know, somedays I'm like, man, we're human.
Right? Some days, I'm like, Hey,is it better if you know, if

(50:46):
it's better? You know, you go ona trip by yourself. And it's
like, I like this. I like justcoming to the, to the hotel, and
it's nobody would hear but me.
That's true. You said I'm sayingbut on the other hand, I have
friends go do it. I want whatyou have. You know, for me,
personally, I like it for one,two, maybe three days. But then
I love going back go What arebetter? Yeah, you know, hey,

(51:09):
give me and we're hugging andkissing every day. And it's
like, you know, hey, I'm out.
What do you want anything? Ilove having somebody as my as a
as my partner? Well,I'll tell you what, I don't want
to put words in your mouth. ButI think it just semantics. I
think the what you're explainingto me is unconditional. You guys

(51:29):
love each other. And even betterthan unconditional because you
allow each other freedom.
Exactly. Exactly. And see, oh,you know what? Now? There it is?
Because that is unconditional.
If you really love someone youlet them be. Yeah. You know, so
yeah. Okay. And this is where Igo. mindset change. Whereas I'm
thinking one thing, but really,I can see, your job is to

(51:54):
convince me or not evenconvinced me Your job is to give
me a different way of thinking.
And you just did. Yeah. And Ilove that. Because now I can
take that. And and go, Well,this is what I mean.
And it might sit better in yoursoul.
Well, it's it always sits betterin my soul, I'm not going to be
in a position, I'm not going tobe anywhere that I don't want to

(52:17):
be. And I choose to be with in,in that situation. And I love
it. So I choose to be with D Ichoose to, you know, come home
every night. I choose to love itso good. You know,
I want to I wanted to ask youabout what you're doing career
wise. I know for the longesttime you were the commercial

(52:40):
king of LA, I think actually youhad it put on a t shirt for
yourself.
I don't remember that. But Idefinitely felt like that. But
now you started to get myselfthat moniker either.
All right, whatever you'd liketo use it.
Oh, I'll take it. I'll take itat some point. Yes, I was the

(53:02):
commercial King, you know,booked in you actually
booked a lot. Yeah, I don'tremember that. But then you kind
of slowed down as we got older,and you started directing more,
and doing your own thing. Andnow you're like, full on working
a lot. It seems like if I'mcorrect by your social media.

(53:26):
And what I want to ask from thatis not about it, you could tell
me about it if you want to. Butmore than that, I want to know
where your work ethic comesfrom. Because Skeeter as long as
I've known you number one. Backin the day when I started
photography, 10 years plus ago,you were extremely generous with
your time and your equipment.
And your knowledge, which a lotof people don't like to share,

(53:50):
which is one thing I learnedfrom you is to share your
knowledge right now. And but ontop of all that just watching
you your work ethic is Go go go.
Where does that come from?
The work ethic comes from justloving what I do. I think I

(54:14):
wouldn't have this kind of workethic if I had to dig ditches
every day. You know what I'msaying? Yeah, that's why I said,
don't get me wrong. You know,when I did have to, you know, I
worked at JC Penney's, Steve'sice cream. And AHA jobs. I was a
Bellman and a doorman at, youknow, the Marriott Hotel. Yeah,

(54:36):
great times. And I showed upevery day and I just know that.
It's a means to get to where Iwant to be. So why not show up
every day? And not only give,give 110% but also be happy
about it. I don't man. I've beenaround people who are there.

(54:58):
It's just yeah, I'm not there.
Cat. Yeah, you know, I want tohave fun I want to, you know me
I want to, I want to laugh,joke, play music and dance and
just, you know, we can do that.
Cool.
That's the fun of your set isthat you are like that baseball
player whose first one on thefield and last one to leave, and

(55:20):
in the middle having a greattime.
And that's what it is. Yeah,that's perfect analogy of it, is
we just have a party man. Andnow that I'm in a position, that
I can do it the way I want to doit, of course, I'm going to do
it. You know, people get on myset, and they just like, look,

(55:41):
this is one of the bestexperiences of our head, which
to me, I like that. You knowhow, you know, you know, okay,
we're wrapping such as such, butthey don't they wrap, but they
don't leave because they want tokeep on soaking this up. You
know, you're still here. You'restill a party going on? Yeah,
exactly.
That's one of the things Ilearned from you. And the

(56:01):
Farrelly brothers is to have funon the set, and to take. I can't
think of the word but whensomebody pitches in an idea. Oh,
you collaborate? Yeah, go aheadand take it. The PA has an idea.
What's up, bro, tell me. And notbecause I need your idea. But

(56:22):
because I want you all I wanteverybody to feel like we're
doing something together.
Absolutely. And I I've been veryfortunate. And as you know, man,
every chance I get, or at everyturn. somebody's done it for me.
Yeah, I got out here. I'm asuccess story. I'm walking down

(56:43):
a block. Somebody's broken intoJoe. Somebody taps me on the
shoulder and says, can I put youin a commercial 250 commercials
later? You know, I got thisincredible, you know, you know,
now I'm in the industry, right?
And then somebody says, Hey, youwould make a great director.
Then next, you know, I'mdirecting? Because I have, you

(57:04):
know, Ihave you started directing
because somebody told you that?
Well,I started directing because I as
much as I love acting, I lovecreating it, right? So when I
started directing, and some ofthe bigger directors says, Oh,
you got a great, I owe you this.

(57:25):
If you ever want to disk. That'sall it takes to. And that's, I'm
glad you said that. Becausethat's all it takes anywhere.
That's why I try to uplift theperson. If they want it. I go
now I don't never lie to aperson. But if I think
somebody's got the juice. Oh,Joe. Yeah, that was dope. Yeah,
you should try this.

(57:46):
And at the same time, I'm alittle bit less of this
nowadays, because I want to justexpress love. But back in the
day, and even a little bittoday, I don't want to mislead
somebody if they don't have it.
But that's whyI said I don't lie to people.
And one of the greatest things Ilove you and that's why we're
friends to this day is you neverever, ever ever lied to me about
my performance, or what youthought skate. I thought you did

(58:10):
this. I thought you could dobetter here. If I wrote
something you read it skate. Iliked this. But hates Do you
think that you do? Did youexplore this
over here? And the you know why?
Of course I know. You know why.
But that's because it says thatgives you it does, you know
service apps to lie to you?
Absolutely. Hey, Michael readthis thing for me. I just did.
Okay, great. Watch this shortfilm. I just made no problem.

(58:33):
I'm not your grandma, who'sgonna come back and say, Oh, my
God, that was so good. But see,that was one of the reasons you
are still to this day, one ofthe people I trust that will
give me great feedback, not justblowing smoke. That's right. I
won't give actors my workbecause they want a job. They

(58:54):
want to tell me spread. Youknow, I don't give people who
want to work for me. I don'tgive them a chance to unless you
know you. I give it to to themand then I'll listen to what
they have to say if they're veryconstructive. I'm like, okay,
they're not. They're not jivingfor something. But if somebody

(59:15):
Oh, I love it. Well, what didyou love about it? Well, I just
love it. Okay, no, no, no, no,no, no, no, you see what I'm
saying? And onthe flip side of that, if you
don't like it, tell me why. Tellme what you say. Oh, I
didn't like that. Yeah, that'scertainly no purpose. Exactly.
So that's one of the reasons meand you bonded from day one, you
know is because hey, gamerecognize game.

(59:39):
Man, I don't even recall how weinitially bonded other than
meeting into casting.
Well, how we bonded was I thinkin quote me, I think you had
some going on and I got all thisequipment. Yeah. Okay. And I was
like, Yo, I got equipment. Whatdo you need? Well, I
know that happened, for sure.
But I just don't remember. Howwould I know that?
Oh, just because coming in And Imean, you just always talking

(01:00:02):
when I came into audition foryou, and oh, hey, so what is
what's going on? It's good. Whatare you? What are you up to?
What? I'm up to this? Oh, wow.
Okay, so tell me about it. Justget her Tell me about that. Now
them. So here you are, you'vemoved on, you're done acting,
you're still doing acting if itcomes up, you're directing and
writing great. Where are you onon your career spirituality? Are
you where you want to be?

(01:00:26):
Obviously, I know you're not youwant to be more? But are you
happy?
Oh, I'm definitely happy. I'mnot where I want to be at all.
But I'm happy the journey is.
This is a great journey, dude.
I'm happy. I'm learning so much.
In the last two years,especially for the pandemic, man
I went, I was fortunate enoughthat my DP had took a job. And

(01:00:46):
he was like, Hey, I just needyou to come and make sure as a
director that I'm doing stuff,right. So I came in, but I came
in as a swing for G and D, G,okay. Grip and electric. So I'm
the bottom of the bottom, right.
But man, I learned so much tothis day, I you know, I say

(01:01:10):
thank you. And during thepandemic, we just kept on doing
it, he just keep on keep ongetting these jobs. And when he
got these jobs, he I was be onhis staff and gne. So now not
only am I learning, thedirector, now I'm learning why
it takes so long. They're light.
Now I'm learning why, you know,the different nuances of film.
So it's been a fantasticeducation. And my now I have

(01:01:33):
more equipment, because I knowhow to use it more, you know, so
I've become a better directorbecause of that. So I'm happy
man. Now don't get me wrong. I'mnot content, but I'm happy.
Which is the most importantthing, man, right? It's the
journey. Oh, absolutely.

(01:01:53):
And, you know, even as I heardthose words come out of my mouth
right now. I just think oldMichael thinks, oh, that's so
cliche. And so dry. No,motherfucker. No, that's the way
the happy in your journey. Andyou'll never fucking be wanting
for anything else. Do it evenwith
you. I mean, you've been friendsfor a long time now. And just to
hear your voice and just to hearthe way you're thinking now. Not

(01:02:17):
that mean, you have always beengood. But man, I love that light
that shines around youso different now. Thank you,
first of all, thank you.
It's it's not it's not that it'sdifferent, Mike because you were
always a dope guy. True. But nowis illuminated a little bit
more. It's brighter. You seethem sander with with the stuff

(01:02:38):
that you already had. That's thething.
It's nice, because you're right,it does. It carries the old
knowledge, but the good elementsof it. And the one thing I love
that I've done is just reallyletting go of control, which is
huge.
And speaking of control, so Itold my son, I say hey, man, I'm
in the business of I can't makeyou do anything now. There is no

(01:03:01):
I can't. I'm a guide. Okay,guide I call it a guy. That's
all I am to you still lives withyou? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm with
you. And and he doesn't have toleave. I was. And that's funny.
He thought he had to get out at18. Oh, how did you? I was like,
your mom, I go first of all,your mind will let you get out.
And I never said anything. Hewas like, Oh, I just thought

(01:03:22):
that that was those if you wantto get out? Absolutely. Because
he doesn't want to go to thebiggest thing with him was okay,
so what do you want to do? So Iknow what he wants to do. But he
didn't want to go to school. SoI said, Okay, I'll tell you
what, if you don't want to goschool, every five months, you
have to take a trip for at leasttwo weeks, somewhere, preferably

(01:03:44):
out of the country. And you haveto document it. And I will pay
for everything.
Oh, snap. All right. Well, I wasgonna say I love that. But then
I don't like that you're payingfor it. But no, no,
no, no, I pay for it. Becauseit's remember, I would have paid
for years of education for himgoing to college. That's a great
way to quit. So to me, I'mgetting I'm that's nothing but a

(01:04:07):
drop in the bucket. And notmoney wise, but I'm just saying
I dropped up. Why wouldn't I dothat for my son? Because more
importantly, right. Exactly.
It's an education for the kids.
We all know now is world or thatthe youth you should be
traveling when you're young.
Absolutely. Get it out of theway. Absolutely. And the fact
thatI want them to be worldly dude.
Ya know, I want him to be youknow, he's, you know, he's, he's
biracial. Are you or I you know,he's a Blasian, which is Asian

(01:04:33):
and Black. If people don't know,I'm black. His mom is Asian. And
but I want him to be you know,go anywhere and everywhere and
be able to give the stories. Youknow, I Hey, I went to Australia
for two weeks. And I did this.
Hey, I went to England for twoyears. I went to Japan and

(01:04:55):
what the great thing about it ishe's already got a foundation of
civility. Yep. And most kids hisage students out, and he put you
add some worldly travels tothat, forget about it, that kid
can fly.
If he only just frickin youknow, he's been learning Chinese
forever and I'm like, dude, takeit for serious man. What are you
talking about? Like a panelist,but

(01:05:17):
I think all you really need toknow is Arigato, Mr. Arigato
hopefully. But he's gonna,whatever, I'm very excited for
his journey. And but I probablywould have to go with him the
first couple of times. Becauseyou and I can go uptown and
downtown. I don't know if hecould do that. Right, you know,

(01:05:40):
and he lost what, two and a halfyears to the pandemic and that
was a growing year. Right. So Iwant to make sure that he not
gonna go out of the country andyou know, loses his mind and get
stuck all that stuff. You know,yeah, you're right in the
streets are an important elementof it's very,
you know, I need him. That's whyI was telling him Hey, man, you

(01:06:03):
don't always have some of thesame friends. Right? You're
gonna need that friend that youcan get a bootleg whatever. You
gotta be in the house all thetime. Once you read that guy.
I'm not gonna pirate that song.
But if you'll get it for me,great. Well, listen, I know you
gotta go, but I think there'smuch more we can cover on a

(01:06:29):
later podcast. Oh,dude, you when you call them
answering the phone.
Fair enough, my man. I lovetalking with you. I love finding
out more about my friends that Idon't know. And new included.
There's stuff that I feel stillfeel like shit. There's I want
to talk more about things wetalked about today.
Let's, let's do it. So maybe apart two is, you know,

(01:06:54):
I like it. All right. That's it.
I need you to ask Andrew to takeus out. We're jiske Andrew,
take us out.
always you guys, thanks forcoming out. That was awesome.
We're going to be back in acouple of weeks. So hopefully

(01:07:14):
you'll join us then. And if youfeel so inclined, please leave a
positive review on any of yourfavorite platforms. And if you
didn't like us, of course, thisis Xavier McGillicuddy signing
out for today. It's MichaelVieyra. You knucklehead See you
later