And so you were trying to follow all the doctor's orders, go to all the appointments, all the labs, but you still left feeling like you didn't have all the answers to explain what was going on.

Well, yes, I remember going and taking these breathing tests.

It was frustrating for me to go in there knowing that I got the symptoms, and I'm using the common sense theory.

This is me.

If it looks like a duck, quack like a duck, it's a duck.

But until his case is reviewed, all he can do is wait.

We got a life out here.

I mean, we got to pay the bills.

One for horses, one for humans.

Yeah, absolutely.

We've had a lovely...

We did a video, um, a, a film last year where we went to hers and talked about how...

the similarities between, um, you know, the craftmanship that goes into our boots, um, and the craftmanship that goes into her Devoucoux saddles.

Um, and it's really fascinating to know the similarities of that, the fact that whether, uh, the good leather gets better over time, um, you know, full-grain leather, um, wearing, it's more comfortable for the horse, more comfortable for the rider.

It's exactly the same with our boots.

They're just perfect for you.

[laughs]

Yeah, uh, Pina Colada is because that's my favorite song of all time.

Go ahead

... like, uh, everything is in there, but there is no, like, feature female character.

Okay.

I would say you're both a mother and also, like, a mentor and a coach to, to us kids.

You're also, like, our friend.

Uh, I don't know.

I mean, I think-

[laughs]

Uh, all hands on, many hands on, very intense, but it worked out.

For sure

... you know, um, I think outside of Tennessee, you know, most of the games are, are in state until maybe we hit November.

But I mean, yeah, I th- I think it's a, a challenging schedule, you know? And I, I know, um, you know, this is what they've been building towards, and so you've certainly been able to, you know, kind of amass the, the level of talent that's necessary to be able to go out and handle a schedule like that.

Um, but make no mistake about it, it, it's, it's not one that, you know, really rivals any other in the country at this point.

And so, um, you know, I think it'll, uh, be one that's challenging but certainly one that, you know, even out the gate, depending on how they decide to approach the Texas State game, you'll, you know, be able to learn a little bit.

And then at least you have a bit of that tuneup this year before Ohio State comes to town.

So, um, yeah, I, I, I, you know, I, I think they gotta go out there and, and find a way to put it together, but that's certainly an, a challenging, you know, schedule.

That's a series, I think, legitimate point.

Mm-hmm

...

I was just like, "Yo, who, who is this person?" And I had to do my little research.

You know, I, I saw that she had, you know, some, she had, like, a platform already.

Um, she was already on TV, so, like, I didn't know what to kinda expect, you know? I didn't know what type of...

you know, where her head space was at, where, you know, her mental's at.

And I knew where I was at, just, I just needed to see if it was gonna mesh.

Yeah

Spill.

[laughs] So when the check came, I gave the, you know, served my credit card, whatever.

I, I threw it down and she was like, "You didn't even look at the bill." I was like...

But she picked up the receipt and started, um, going through it, like, line by line, like she was auditing it.

Oh.

So she brought it up to the server and practically argued with him about it, and you know, he had to prove to her that she was wrong.

Uh, it's just, you know, it's a first date.

It just felt really intense, and I'm just more chill than that.

They have a very, very unique story about going to the US, where they welcomed their two twin boys.

So when the boys were born, I said to Scotty, "Oh my God, we've got ourselves two little Texans." Like, the penny dropped.

Anyway, that moment passed.

Yeah, best career, night of his career.

Best night of his career.

He said, "I've never been in a room with that much love and joy and, and all this stuff." And we just went, "Oh my God." [laughs]

Previously on Jack's Encyclopedia

Starting 11 of both teams during Liverpool's two-nil win against Manchester United in the 2003 League Cup final.

Vish goes first.

Yes, please.

Thanks.

Um, oh, come on.

Bloody come on.

[sighs] [clock ticking]

And while there was no doubt that the person they were referring to was indeed his friend, because they mentioned her name, and the city she lived in, and the company she worked for, aside from some vague platitudes about how she, quote, "believed that workplaces should be supportive environments" and also "embraced the thrill of winter sports," nearly every other detail in these obituaries was wrong.

And it kind of felt like, is this AI slop, or what's going on? And I mean, accessing on the mobile phone, it was like going to a website pre-ad blocker in the late '90s or early 2000s, where, like, every square inch is a pop-up ad, and fake links, invisible links trying to get you to click through all these things.

And we ended up basically experiencing this daily for almost a week and a half until the official obituary was released.

How do you think that your friend would feel about all this?

Well, hmm.

I think she would find it, uh, she would definitely find the humor in it instantly, and she would probably think of like an amazingly sharp, witty comment to like capture the whole situation sixty-five seconds before anyone else's brain could compute that up.

She was so sharp, Alex, and sh- just like such a great wit.

I'm sure she would have like a great slogan, a pun with the word obituary and definitely found the humor in it.

Woof.

Gee, Marcus, the mermaid show at the aquarium is about to start.

Let's hurry downstairs and watch it.

Hold onto the handrail and watch your step.

Oh no, someone stepped on my shoe.

[laughs]

If we don't find the seven marks, Rainbow Island will be destroyed and left in ruins.

As Little Zebra's eyes filled with worries, Marcus held him tight in his arms.

Don't be scared, son.

Your mom and I will protect you.

Right now, we need to stick close together.

Listen to this clip from their pre-interview with my producer.

She shared with me what she put in the application, so it did get me thinking about the kids, and also the messages I received from my parents, which weren't any.

I mean, later in life, my dad said that my mom's family is just all about spending, and who cares if you go into debt.

And he was like, "I, I save," but, like, I grew up in a very masculine-centered Italian household.

So even if things were horrible, he wouldn't say it.

Kinda how Lisa was referring to the kids' anxieties over money, I feel I grew up in a similar environment, which I think is why I avoid talking about finances like the plague.

And yeah, I know it's ironic that I became an accountant [laughs] in that way.

And when Marcus and I aren't talking about it, it feels like something that doesn't belong to me, and it only belongs to him.