Mini-Ep 427:To Free Bowl or Not To Free Bowl
Dor and Elise catch up before hearing from listeners with advice for last week’s listener looking for the next step in their career, another all-in-one Ninja product you need to know about, who’s free bowling what and where, and a call out for some Sam’s Club recs!
This episode contains a sponsored segment by Bausch + Lomb. Visit KnowYourDryEye.com for more information.
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Transcript
This episode transcript is AI generated.
Doree (00:10):
Hello and welcome to Forever 35, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. I'm Doree Shafrir.
Elise (00:17):
And I'm Elise Hu. And we are just two friends who like to talk a lot about serums.
Doree (00:22):
This is a mini episode where we hear from you, we share your comments and your thoughts, and we answer your questions to the best of our ability. But please remember, we are not experts. We are podcast hosts and we always encourage you to seek support first and foremost, from a medical and or mental health professional as needed.
Elise (00:43):
We absolutely do. How you doing? Do vibe, check,
Doree (00:47):
Vibe, check.
Elise (00:47):
What's your vibe? Check?
Doree (00:49):
Am I hanging in there? Hanging in there, yeah. How are you doing?
Elise (00:55):
I got outside today and actually did what we were talking about in the last episode, just about kind of like, Hey, maybe it would be healthy to exercise and how'd it go? And I feel great. I have the glow, I have the Asian red face of exercise instead of not being able to metabolize alcohol, different Asian red face. And so I feel really good. The air quality seems to be normal or at least in the normal zones here where I live. And it just felt nice to get outside and focus on something that wasn't all of the doom and gloom. So totally my vibe is pretty peaceful actually, given the circumstances
Doree (01:39):
I also got outside today and it similarly felt good.
Elise (01:44):
Yeah.
Doree (01:45):
So yeah,
Elise (01:46):
Maybe there's something to this whole nature thing.
Doree (01:48):
Hey, weird. Although friend just texted me that they, they're like, I think where I am smells like smoke and it's kind of ashy and it's not anywhere near the fire, so who knows? I also think for some people it's becoming, people have said this to me, I think it's psycho. It's becoming psychosomatic. So I don't know. It's hard to say. Yeah.
Elise (02:16):
I wanted to ask you about this group that's getting a lot of attention. I know that you were doing some fundraising or you helped amplify them on Instagram and it's the group, the Altino Girls, so it's like teenage girls. Can you tell me a little bit about it? I feel like that's very cool and maybe I should try to meet them.
Doree (02:35):
Yeah, all I know is that it was started by an eighth grader, and I think she's 14. She started it last week or something, and I don't exactly know how it got amplified so quickly because there's a million donation drives happening right now, but this one to really break through as it were. And she created it on Instagram. I think she got a lot of her friends from her middle school, which burned down, and she asked for girl stuff, teen girl stuff. And it got a lot of celebrity support pretty quickly. Like Harry and Meghan donated to it, Charlie XCX, it got really big. So a friend of mine who lives in New Jersey had been really wanting to figure out a way to help,
(03:45):
But was like, I don't want to ship stuff across the country. That seems weird. She used to work for Rookie Magazine, she's just been very involved in teen girl culture for a long time. So she was like, what if I put out a call for donations on my Instagram and you can buy, they had a wishlist of things like beauty products and stuff like that that they wanted, and you can go in LA and buy this stuff and bring it over to them. And I was like, great. I get to shop for teen girls, how fun. And then as we were raising the money, four hours into it, they posted, we're all set with physical donations, we're overwhelmed. So we ended up just making, we just donated the cash directly to them. So it was the only thing that was different was that I did not get to go to Target and buy for Sephora a shit ton of beauty products. Yeah, exactly. But it was super fun. We raised over $2,000 very quickly. I think a lot of people outside of Los Angeles want to help in a tangible way. And yes, it is helpful to donate to the United Way or a food bank or whatever, but it feels sort of impersonal. And I think part of the appeal of this was that it felt very personal and
(05:06):
You could really see who you were helping. And it was a group of people who I think a lot of people don't necessarily have, if they don't have a teenage girl, they don't necessarily have a connection to them, but they want to help, if that makes sense.
Elise (05:23):
I
Doree (05:23):
Dunno. So yeah, so that was that situation.
Elise (05:29):
I just love the sort of public service aspect of it that's driven by young people helping other young people where it's beyond just student council or your really tiny community within your school. This has become Los Angeles countywide and the attention they've gotten is national, if not global. And so just to see that you can make a difference like that, and it's probably a formative experience for a lot of these middle schoolers. And I think that's great.
Doree (06:00):
It's unfortunate that the circumstances
Elise (06:04):
Have
Doree (06:04):
From forced from which it arose. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But I'm glad that it spread so quickly and so widely. That was very cool to see.
Elise (06:15):
Absolutely.
Doree (06:15):
So we got this text that I do just want to read before the break and it said, Hey, Doreen Elise, I was listening to the most recent episode with Bridget Todd, how great was she? She was great. Yeah, some really great perspective for the current times. Speaking of, I've long considered you Dorie and more recently you, Elise, my Parasocial pals, shout out to Kate Spencer. I miss her. I feel even more connected to all of you now. I live in Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and my town was also recently devastated by wildfire. I'm sending love and support to you and all Angelenos, I see you hang onto your loved ones. Of course. What matter most? Thanks for the pod.
Elise (07:04):
Oh, that just made me, yeah, I know. I just got all the warm fuzzies.
Doree (07:08):
Yeah.
Elise (07:08):
Thank you.
Doree (07:10):
Such a sweet, such a sweet note. Thank you so much for that.
Elise (07:15):
That means a lot. And I'm so sorry that your community too has been ravaged by wildfire. I think that these climate shocks just really remind us how fragile we are and they bring out some of the best of humanity even in the worst of times. So
Doree (07:35):
Yeah, thank you. For sure. For sure. Elise, I just want to remind everyone, you can send us texts like this one at 7 8 1 5 9 1 0 3 9 0 or leave us a voicemail at that number. You can email us at Forever 35 podcast@gmail.com. Head on over to our website forever 35 podcast.com for links to everything we mentioned on the show. We're also on Instagram at Forever 35 podcast, and we do have a newsletter at Forever 35 podcast.com/newsletter.
Elise (08:04):
And just a quick guide to today's episode. If you were listening to last week's episode, you know this already, but we have some generous support from our friends at Bausch and Lam. And so we are doing kind of a fun editorial sponsored segment about dry eye, and that's going to be coming up. So you'll hear that dry eye segment from Bausch and Lam, and then we'll throw to a quick ad break and then we'll be back. And when we come back, we will have more of your texts, emails, and voicemails.
Doree (08:34):
Yes. Alright.
Elise (08:37):
So we will be back after this segment and some messages
Doree (08:44):
And just like that in the blink of an eye, we'll be transitioning to this special segment brought to you by the eyecare experts at Bausch and produced by aca. Creative Dry Eye is increasingly common affecting millions of US adults and can range from occasional symptoms to a chronic condition known as dry eye disease, which affects about 38 million Americans. This group may experience symptoms such as a scratchy, gritty, tired, or heavy feeling, redness, overall eye irritation or fluctuating vision throughout the day that can sneak up and stick around to the point of taking a toll on everyday activities. Elise, I know you have experienced some dry eye symptoms.
Elise (09:26):
I tell you what, when I hear you list out all those symptoms, I'm like, yes, yes, guilty. Guilty. I have been really dealing with, especially, I call it my leaky eye, my right eye is constantly tearing and my eye doctor says it's actually because it is dry.
Doree (09:46):
That's so crazy.
Elise (09:48):
And it really started because I spent so much time on my laptop, hunched over my laptop, writing my book around my late thirties. And it affected, it really exacerbated a problem that I think I already was showing signs of, but apparently symptoms of dry eye are showing up in people earlier and earlier. And then I just started noticing this persistent tearing in that eye. It's not really itchy, it just tears up a lot. But then I'm constantly having to wipe it. And then Rob is reminding me like your eye is leaking. So I've tried all sorts of over the counter products. The symptoms are becoming more and more persistent. So I think it's time to go back to my eye doctor
Doree (10:32):
And
Elise (10:32):
Consider maybe prescription eye drops before the symptoms get worse.
Doree (10:37):
Well, I'm glad that you know it is caused by dry eye.
Elise (10:42):
Yeah, yeah. It was a surprise. It was a surprise.
Doree (10:45):
Yeah, because I mean, I only recently learned that dry eye is caused by too much tear evaporation, which can lead to inflammation and damage to the eye surface, which is again, like you were saying, kind of counterintuitive,
Elise (11:00):
But there's no reason to suffer. I actually could just, since I am at this point of experiencing persistent dry eye symptoms and over the counter drops just aren't really doing the
Doree (11:11):
Trick,
Elise (11:12):
It's time for me to go see an eye doctor to learn more about prescription treatment options. And I know it. I I've got to.
Doree (11:18):
Yeah. So if you are experiencing these symptoms too, it may be time for you to see an eye doctor to learn more about prescription treatment options. And this segment was brought to you by the eyecare experts at Bausch and Lam, and produced by a cast creative dry eye can cause discomfort due to symptoms like a scratchy, gritty, tired, or heavy feeling redness, overall eye irritation or fluctuating vision throughout the day that may eventually disrupt your daily activities. And the thing is, these symptoms can get worse over time. If your occasional symptoms of dryness have become more chronic, you might need intervention from an eye doctor to discuss potential prescription treatment options like the one Baus and Lam offers. You can also visit Know Your Dry Eye for more info about dry eye symptoms, causes and more. Okay, we have returned. Hope everyone is still with us.
Elise (12:22):
We're here.
Doree (12:23):
We're here. I want to start off this segment with a voicemail.
Listener Voicemail (12:28):
Hey, I just want to say, wow, Elise is so damn eloquent. The response we had about relationship having so many colors. I don't know, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It was just so beautifully said. Anyway, I'm calling about the very moving email from a caller, having a violinist, having a career insights. I just want to say kind of what Elise said. I'm really proud and impressed that at such a young age she's having such insightful thoughts coming around to what I think a lot of people have. 15, 20 years later, I experienced something similar during the first, oh, I hate that. I have to say first Trump administration. The work that I do for the federal government is very mission driven, help people type of stuff, liberal. And I've done that type of work my whole career. And during the Trump administration, I was at a very high level and basically my whole worth, I was kind of asked by politicals to do things and say things and write things that made my stomach hurt and went against my entire purpose for and beliefs.
(13:41):
And it was very soul crushing. And I started to ask myself, well, I've defined myself by my job, which I feel is very important my entire life. That's who I am. And I went to therapy and my therapist really helped me decouple myself from that and seeing myself as not just that job and that therefore provides my worth, but being a whole human and what else I am and what else I have and who else I have in my life. And it was really kind of life-changing. And now it actually really was life-changing. Now my job, I'm so much healthier at my job because I don't want to say I don't care, I do care. But I'm like, okay, whatever. If that thing I went on got pulled at the 11th hour, okay, do something else or try again. I'm not so invested in a really positive, healthy way. So I don't know, I just wanted to share my experience. Also coming up to another Trump administration. I am hoping to weather the storm better now that I've been through it once. So yeah, just thinking of that caller, I'm super impressed with them and I thought the email they wrote was very eloquent. Alright, thank you too.
Elise (14:57):
Thank you so much for that. Not only for your kind words about us, but also you're right, that note that was in last week's mini, so it would be mini 4 26 really got to an existential question about our worth and where we find meaning that I think all of us have struggled with at one point or another. And so if you haven't heard that episode, that episode is mini up 4 26. And then caller, thank you. And we wish you strength, we wish you strength in your public service in this next administration.
Doree (15:35):
It's crazy to think that this will be running after he's inaugurated.
Elise (15:41):
Yeah, we're going to be back in it. We're back in it.
Doree (15:43):
We're back in it. Oh my God. Okay. Alright. We got another text about this same email and they said for the listener on mini at 4 26 that is trying to figure out what to do with their career. I didn't hear you say this, but counseling slash therapy could be really helpful. My counselor was super impactful when I was trying to figure out something similar.
Elise (16:10):
Yeah, yeah. I think the various therapists that I've worked with, I've been fortunate to work with and been able to afford, have also been really crucial. And they are thanked in the acknowledgements of my book, in fact, because I think just,
Doree (16:27):
Oh wow.
Elise (16:28):
Yeah, it's like I felt very inspired by the Emmy speech of Cord Jefferson, who is a fellow journalist who turned screenwriter. And I remember during his Emmy speech, he won an Emmy during the Covid Emmy ceremony. So it was kind of only all televised, but he was like, I got to shout out my therapist and so important and I didn't think I needed him.
Doree (16:47):
I love that.
Elise (16:48):
It was really lovely. So I remember I was writing my book around the time and I was like, I got to thank my therapist.
Doree (16:52):
That's really funny. Yeah, my therapist makes an appearance, actually makes a couple of appearances in my memoir.
Elise (17:00):
In your memoir. Yeah.
Doree (17:03):
Yep, yep, yep, yep. Alright. We got another text with a link to a ninja air fryer,
Elise (17:12):
A different ninja air
Doree (17:13):
Fryer, different ninja fry, then one that we identifi. Oh yeah.
Elise (17:16):
Hey, another ninja Air fryer that's getting a wreck.
Doree (17:21):
And they wrote, I do not think this is the one that the listener was referring to previously. I think she had the one that flips up. But this is the one I have and I love it. I use it for everything. Air frying, baking, roasting, pizza, toasting, et cetera. I barely use my regular oven anymore and I definitely don't use my toaster. Highly recommend. And then they said, obviously I'm playing ketchup on episodes. They recommended the ninja Prestige, smart Excel, air fryer and countertop oven. Okay. Alright. Ninja does seem to have a dizzying array of air fryer appliances with various, some of them are toasters, some of them are not. Some of them, each of them has different variety of things that they can do.
Elise (18:18):
I'll tell you what though. Bottom line, I am sold on some sort of ninja air fryer product. I am getting it. And then I'm going to put my older appliances, like my separate toaster, my separate air fryer or toaster oven, various appliances. I'm going to put those in the backhouse for guests because now I want a cool all in one ninja toaster, air, fryer, microwave, everything concoction.
Doree (18:45):
I love that. I love that idea. How cool.
Elise (18:49):
Yeah. Yeah.
Doree (18:50):
That's such a good idea. All right. Well you know what, Elise, let's take another short break. Okay. And we'll be right
Elise (18:58):
Back. We'll be right back.
Doree (19:07):
Okay. We are back. And someone texted us a picture, Elise, you can see it in our document. You might need to zoom in a bit. They wrote, I know you can't really share a pic on the podcast, but that same free bowler on the train gave me a glamor shot today. Ha. Take care. In LA. Looks like some kind of roasted veg
Elise (19:35):
Now there's paparazzi photos of this free bowler.
Doree (19:38):
Yeah. Now there's creep shots of the free bowler.
Elise (19:44):
Oh man. Well, it seems like this is a persistent and very bold, free bowler. They're not bothered. They're not bothered by this. The decision of free bowling or not free bowling is not something that they ever really overthought or contemplated at all.
Doree (20:05):
Probably. Yeah.
Elise (20:08):
It occurred to me, I discovered the other day that my partner Rob, is a free mugger. I didn't know this about him. What? It was bold. It was bold. What? We were running late to something. Oh, we were running late to go get Oscar stitches out and he comes out to the car with just a full on coffee mug, but not even a coffee mug that was small enough to fit in the cup holder of the vehicle. It was like a giant coffee mug that you could have a bowl of cereal in. So it was practically free bowling. It was like a free mugging tipping over into a free bowling situation. And I was like, wow, you free mug.
Doree (20:48):
Wow. I
Elise (20:48):
Didn't know this.
Doree (20:50):
How did you feel? He
Elise (20:50):
Didn't know the context at all.
Doree (20:52):
Oh, sure.
Elise (20:53):
I called him out on it. I was like, I wouldn't do that. I usually use a drink vessel that's appropriate and can fit into a cup holder in a car. Maybe he has a lid, has some sort of lip. And he was like, I like living on the edge. He was very, very proud of his free mugging. And I was like, where are you going to put it while you're driving? And he just held it. He held it in his lap between his legs sometimes when he needed both hands on the wheel and other times he drove with one hand and held his free mug in the other.
Doree (21:24):
So what's so interesting, Elise is, and Kate admitted this as well, Kate, the OG free mugger, that there is something about the risk of free mugging. That free muggers actually enjoy. They like the danger.
Elise (21:41):
Yep, yep. He was sort of like, danger is my middle name. I'm doing this.
Doree (21:46):
Right. It's so interesting.
Elise (21:49):
I know.
Doree (21:50):
And then they end up with third degree burns from hot coffee and you're like, you wanted the danger. Kate would always text me pictures when she would spill from her free mugs, but it didn't stop her. That's the thing. She would spill and then she'd be like, well bold. Just going to keep going. And that is the mark of a true free mugger. You don't get Discre edge. You accept that every so often you're going to spill. And that just comes with the territory and you have to be willing to take that
Elise (22:27):
Risk. But the risk is the part of feeling alive is what you're saying, essentially.
Doree (22:35):
Yes. Yes. And these people have chosen to express that in the form of driving with drinks without a lid.
Elise (22:47):
I was going to say I'm also risk happy, but just not in that particular way. It just doesn't express itself in that decision. No, no it doesn't. But it's fine. Now I know. Now I know. This is something I've been with Rob for five plus years. This is a big discovery. Now I know this about him. It has deepened my understanding of Rob. Thank you Rob.
Doree (23:10):
And now we can all move forward.
Elise (23:12):
That's right. With this information.
Doree (23:14):
With this information. I mean, granted, the next time I see Rob, I will look at him differently, but
Elise (23:20):
Absolutely. I mean it changes whole, changes
Doree (23:22):
Everything.
Elise (23:23):
Our understanding of people.
Doree (23:24):
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Alright, one last text that we got here that said, I know you were all about the Costco Rex, but can we put out a call for Sam's Club? Are there any fun Sam's Club items? Or am I just destined to dream about all the fun stuff from somewhere? I don't have near me?
Elise (23:42):
You're right. It's not really fair to folks who are in geographical regions that don't have Costcos near them. And there were Sam's Club where I grew up. I grew up in Missouri and then Texas. And so we did kind of have to have a choice. When I was super little. We were members of Sam's Club and then Costco kind of came online and became bigger, and then we switched to Costco. But I remember Sam's Club also being a great option and a great
Doree (24:05):
Giant
Elise (24:07):
Members only where
Doree (24:07):
I grew up, we had BJ's.
Elise (24:11):
Oh yeah.
Doree (24:12):
Oh yes. BJ's Wholesale Club.
Elise (24:13):
I'm familiar with it, but I've never been in one. I don't think I've been in one.
Doree (24:17):
It's kind of all the same. So I was not aware. There are three Sam's Clubs in the greater Los Angeles area. They're not close to me. It would have to be like, oh, I must go to Sam's Club for this very special item because it is quite a drive to get to the nearest Sam's Club. So that's interesting because Costco has definitely staked out territory in Los Angeles.
Elise (24:51):
But listeners, you can help each other out. So if you are a Sam's Club shopper, please, I mean, we welcome any suggestions for your fellow Sam's Club members for our little last couple of minutes, segment of the show.
Doree (25:04):
Yeah, please share. Or BJ's, if you have BJ's recommendations, let us know. Alright. Well, Elise, that brings us to the end. Thanks everyone for coming on this journey with us. We appreciate you. And yeah, please call or text, email us. These mini apps are only as good as the correspondence that we receive.
Elise (25:28):
Yeah, thanks for the voicemails today too.
Doree (25:31):
Yeah, thank you. All right. Bye everybody.
Elise (25:33):
Bye.