Butter Pats and the Beauty Queen

Summary

Podcast Summary: For Love and Chocolate – Episode: Butter Pats and the Beauty Queen

Released on November 27, 2024, “Butter Pats and the Beauty Queen” is a heartwarming episode of the “For Love & Chocolate” podcast hosted by Tommy and Tara Gallop, also known as Mr. and Mrs. Truffles. This episode intricately weaves tales of love, relationships, and the delightful world of Swiss chocolates.

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1. Celebrating Engagement: Congratulations to Dan Barron [00:34]

The episode kicks off with Mr. Truffles extending heartfelt congratulations to his friend and agent, Dan Barron, on his recent engagement. Mrs. Truffles echoes the sentiment, highlighting the sweetness of Dan’s love story.

Mr. Truffles [00:34]: “I want to extend a healthy and warm congratulations to my dear friend and agent, Mr. Dan Barron, who recently got engaged.”

Mrs. Truffles adds a touch of humor and warmth, wishing Dan and his fiancé all the best and hinting at a future appearance on the show.

Mrs. Truffles [00:49]: “Congratulations, Dan. And best wishes to you, Mrs. Dan.”

2. Thanksgiving Preparations at the Chocolate Shop [03:16]

As Thanksgiving approaches, Mrs. Truffles details the bustling week ahead at their Beverly Hills chocolate store. She describes the festive items, including handmade turkey boxes adorned with feathers and silk flowers, pilgrim-themed boxes, and chocolate turkeys. Mr. Truffles reminisces about their past ventures with holiday treats like Stollen, sharing a memorable anecdote about overordering during their expansion phase.

Mrs. Truffles [03:22]: “We've got beautiful turkey boxes with feathers and silk flowers, and they're stunning.”

Mr. Truffles [04:11]: “I think we got ourselves a couple loaves. And I was so taken by the Stollen that the next year we ordered 300 loaves and I think we sold 13.”

They also mention their Advent calendars, emphasizing the hard work that goes into preparing for the holidays, followed by a light-hearted discussion about enjoying the Thanksgiving festivities in pajamas, consuming pre-made food, and watching football.

Mr. Truffles [05:29]: “You don't have to lift a finger. Just maybe... have to lift a fork, but that's enough.”

3. Listener Mail Segment: Theo’s Relationship Quandary [06:39]

The hosts delve into a listener mail segment featuring Theo’s dilemma about his fastidious nature clashing with his messy girlfriend. Theo expresses his love for his partner but fears the incompatibility in their lifestyles might hinder their future together.

Theo [06:42]: “I am very in love with a woman and seriously considering proposing to her... But honestly, I can't imagine living with her either. Do you have any advice for me?”

Mr. and Mrs. Truffles offer conflicting advice, reflecting their playful dynamic. Mr. Truffles initially downplays the issue, suggesting Theo might just have to adapt.

Mr. Truffles [07:30]: “If that's your biggest gripe, you're a lucky guy.”

Conversely, Mrs. Truffles is more skeptical about the viability of the relationship, ultimately advising Theo to continue searching for a more compatible partner.

Mrs. Truffles [08:42]: “No, I think you should keep looking.”

4. Main Feature: Jeff and Shawnee Astroff’s Love Story [09:02]

The heart of the episode centers around the romantic journey of Jeff Astroff and Shawnee Modrell Astroff, a couple who exemplify enduring love. Introduced as a successful Hollywood writer and a former beauty queen turned preschool teacher, their story is filled with serendipitous moments and heartfelt connections.

a. How They Met [12:11]

Jeff recounts his initial encounter with Shawnee during their time at DreamWorks. Despite working in different roles, their paths crossed, leading to a memorable first date where Shawnee’s vibrant personality captivated Jeff.

Shawnee [12:14]: “We worked together. I was a writer... He was an assistant editor... I just remember you coming in and, like, making small talk...”

A significant moment occurs when Shawnee hears Jeff singing “I Think I Love You” and bravely knocks on his door, leading to their first rendezvous.

Shawnee [22:07]: “I walked up to the door and I start to knock, but I stop because... I just knocked and he answers the door singing the song.”

b. The Relationship Journey and Challenges [16:32]

Their relationship faces challenges, notably Shawnee’s tumultuous past relationships and Jeff’s hesitance to commit fully due to personal reasons. Shawnee shares a harrowing experience of a previous relationship ending violently, which adds depth to his cautious approach in love.

Shawnee [16:32]: “Every time I saw someone with long, curly hair, I was afraid that it would be her. She's still alive.”

Jeff discusses his conflicting feelings and the confusion that arose when Shawnee extended his trip to Africa, leading to missed connections and miscommunications.

c. The Proposal and Marriage [40:17]

Jeff’s creative proposal involves spelling out “marry me” with butter pats and roses, culminating in a heartfelt moment where Shawnee accepts. Their wedding is described as a joyous affair attended by 125 guests, highlighting their deep love and commitment.

Shawnee [40:33]: “I put it out with roses and spelled out marry me with butter...”

Shawnee [42:39]: “We had a great wedding...”

d. Advice on Lasting Love [44:16]

Jeff and Shawnee offer insightful advice on building and maintaining a strong relationship. They emphasize the importance of mutual esteem, believing you’ve "married up," shared values, kindness, and bringing out the best in each other.

Jeff [44:26]: “We both hold each other in such high esteem...”

Shawnee [44:36]: “Each person should believe they married up. You have to have the same values.”

They advocate for focusing on core values over superficial differences, such as political affiliations, to foster enduring love.

Shawnee [45:21]: “What are your values? What’s important to you...”

5. Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts [46:33]

Mr. and Mrs. Truffles reflect on Jeff and Shawnee’s enduring love, praising their intelligence, warmth, and the evident affection they hold for each other. The episode concludes with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the couple’s relationship as a beacon of everlasting love.

Mr. Truffles [46:33]: “Well, it's really so nice to have you both because you're both so intelligent and so warm. You're so still in love with each other.”

Shawnee [46:57]: “We are still madly in love with each other.”

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Notable Quotes:

• Mr. Truffles [00:34]: “I want to extend a healthy and warm congratulations to my dear friend and agent, Mr. Dan Barron, who recently got engaged.”

• Shawnee Astroff [22:07]: “I walked up to the door and I start to knock... and he answers the door singing the song I think I love you.”

• Shawnee Astroff [44:36]: “Each person should believe they married up. You have to have the same values.”

• Shawnee Astroff [45:21]: “What are your values? What’s important to you...”

This episode of “Butter Pats and the Beauty Queen” masterfully blends personal anecdotes, listener interaction, and inspiring love stories, all while celebrating the sweet parallels between love and chocolate. Jeff and Shawnee Astroff’s journey serves as a testament to enduring love, making this episode a delightful and heartening listen for anyone seeking romance and relationship insights.

Transcript

[Mr. Truffles]

From deep in the heart of Beverly Hills, you found for love and chocolate with Mr. And Mrs. Truffles. Well, welcome back, everybody.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, welcome back to the show.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, there's something that I'd like to talk about right now.

[Mrs. Truffles]

There's a lot of things I'd like to talk about.

[Mr. Truffles]

Mr. Truffles. Baby, go.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, no, you first, Mr. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay. Well, first, I want to extend a healthy and warm congratulations to my dear friend and agent, Mr. Dan Barron, who recently got engaged.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, isn't that sweet? It's such a sweet love story.

[Mr. Truffles]

It is a sweet love story.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And his fiance is beautiful.

[Mr. Truffles]

She is. And maybe in 20 years, they can be on the show.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Congratulations, Dan. And best wishes to you, Mrs. Dan.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, soon to be. And I bring it up not only because. Because it's so fantastic, but he said something to me early on in the show he had listened to a few episodes, and, you know, I don't really like to talk about my credits as an actor. You know, I mean, you'll be the first one to bring up that I was on Baywatch, which I. You know, it's not.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Everybody is so excited about that, though.

[Mr. Truffles]

About me being on Baywatch.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Obviously.

[Mr. Truffles]

I don't think anyone, especially the sharks, no one wants to see me in the water, sweetie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

Anyway, so you're the first one to kind of sing my praises. He did this, this and this. Well, Dan did say to me about five or six episodes in. He said, so I've been listening to the show. My fiance and I, girlfriend at the time listen to the show, love it, and we actually talk about it after every episode. He said, but, so I've got good news and bad news. I said, okay, hit me. He said, the good news is the show is really great, really fun, really fresh and interesting and entertaining. I said, great.

[Mrs. Truffles]

He said all that?

[Mr. Truffles]

He did. And he said, what's the bad news? He said, the bad news for you is that Mrs. Truffles is the real star.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, he just likes to tease you.

[Mr. Truffles]

No, babe, it's kind of true. I mean, you've taken this thing on and it goes even further. A friend slash customer, really? A friend was in the shop today and had mentioned, by the way, I'm listening to the show and I'm loving it. And by the way, OMG, Mrs. Truffle's voice is so sexy. I was like, yeah, she's got this little kind of kitty cat thing going. And then she said, what does she wear during the show? I was like, this has gone beyond what I'm comfortable with.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Obviously, I'm sitting here in pink flamingo feathers and.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. Anyway, the reason I bring it up is because it's not just me that loves you and your voice and your way. It's like, it's catching on like. Like wildfire.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's two people.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, there are at least two people that find you really warm and lovely.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, it's a start, I guess.

[Mr. Truffles]

Start. I know, but I just. I'm a lucky guy. That's all I'm saying.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, I'm the lucky one.

[Mr. Truffles]

Mr. Troy, podcast star.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, I hope so.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yeah.

[Jeff Astroff]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

What else is going on, babe? Because I know you had a lot of things to talk about today, didn't you?

[Jeff Astroff]

Well, I do.

[Mrs. Truffles]

There's so much to talk about.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mrs. Truffles]

As you know, this Thursday is Thanksgiving.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And it's a busy week at the store.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, boy.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we sell lots of, like, really cute Thanksgiving items. Right. We've got beautiful turkey boxes with feathers and silk flowers, and they're stunning. And they're all. And they're all handmade in our factory in Zurich. And then in addition to that, we've got little pilgrim boxes that are so cute.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And, you know, my family comes from Pilgrims, so I feel especially connected to those little guys.

[Mr. Truffles]

Perfect.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, they're very cute.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we have chocolate turkeys, and we're starting to get all of our holiday, like gingerbread, the stolen bread, stil de stollen. And of course, we've got the maronglace, the marong glasses, which isn't exactly a Thanksgiving tradition for Americans, but our European customers go cuckoo for.

[Mr. Truffles]

Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They love the marenglasse.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. The thing about the Stollen, if you recall, is that, you know, this six years ago, this was a very new venture for us. We didn't really know exactly what was coming, but they sent us, I think it was 45 giant boxes of chocolate to get us ready for the holidays. And within that were, I don't know, 20 loaves. Of stollen. Stollen is a rum soaked fruitcake. And the way that Teutscher does it is that the sugar and the cinnamon and the butter, it all kind of falls to the bottom. It's just. It's so yummy. I love it. And I think we got ourselves a couple loaves. And I was so taken by the Stollen that the next year we ordered 300 loaves and I think we sold 13.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, we probably sold more than that, but it felt like we only sold a small fraction of them. Because you did kind of overdo it.

[Mr. Truffles]

Unable.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But here we are. We just had our sixth year anniversary.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we are ordering just the perfect amount of stolen now.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we're just kind of getting it all dialed in with our little shop.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's right, Our Advent calendars.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The advent calendars have landed. And of course, by Thanksgiving Day, we are going to be so exhausted from all the busy working that we will probably just get our food pre made from Bristol farms and sit around in our pajamas all day watching football and eating pie.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's sad, but it's also just a beautiful thing. You don't have to lift a finger. Just maybe. Well, just have to lift a fork, but that's enough. I mean, honestly, I just. Yes, I grew up, as did you. You know, big Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was such a beautiful holiday. And it still is. It's just. It's just kind of morphed into a little something different for us, hasn't it?

[Jeff Astroff]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you know, I kind of like to think about when we're so busy working on all the holidays now is I think about all of the years that other people were working hard and I got to just enjoy the holiday thanks to other people's hard work. So now maybe it's kind of my turn to pay it forward.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, I think you're right. That helps me get through these brutal days.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And then we have, you know, after the holidays are over, and then we get to have our fun. Well, Mr. Truffles, either way, I just want to say I'm very thankful for you. And I'm very thankful for Adam.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And I'm very thankful to everyone who always tunes into our show now. And I think you know what time it is.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm very thankful for the mail bag. All right, Mrs. Truffles. Well, what do we have in the mailbag today?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay, well, let's take a look in the mail bag today, Mr. Truffles.

[Jeff Astroff]

Oh.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I am writing to you today with a question that is truly weighing on my mind. I am very in love with a woman and seriously considering proposing to her. The problem is that I am an extremely fastidious and tidy person. And my girlfriend is always very messy. She squeezes the toothpaste tube from the middle and never puts the cap back on. Her clothes are always all over the place and she leaves her socks on the floor. I can't imagine living without her. But honestly, I can't imagine living with her either. Do you have any advice for me? Thanks. Theo.

[Mr. Truffles]

Theo. Well, that is a problem. But I would also say if that's your biggest gripe, you're a lucky guy. I don't know.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think it's not going to work.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, let's call the whole thing off. Theo, can you teach a young dog new tricks? I don't know. You know, we have something similar, don't we, Mrs. Truffles? I've got good hygiene, I think, but I'm not the. I'm not the most organized guy, am I?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, we just. You know what, though? I'm also not, like, super fastidious and fussy about this. Although I would say if you always close the toothpaste tube from the middle and left the cap off.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It might have been a deal breaker.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, okay. That's good to know. Well, Theo, I think that through just mild encouragement, I think you're not gonna fix this in a day.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, I don't think he's gonna fix it ever.

[Mr. Truffles]

He's just gonna have to live with it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think he's gonna have to just.

[Mr. Truffles]

Just suck it up.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No, I think you should keep looking.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, Mrs. Truffles, you're in a mood today. Oh, Theo, I think you'll make it work. You'll figure it out. I mean, you're a tiny, fastidious guy, aren't you?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Truly. Yeah. Well, good luck to you both.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, all right, Mr. Truffles, why don't you go ahead and tell us a little bit about today's wonderful romantic couple.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, Mrs. Truffles. Well, today we have Jeff Astroff and Shawnee Modrell Astroff. Now, Jeff is the pride of Seaford High School, having left Long island to become a successful Hollywood writer who married a beauty queen. He was one of the original writers on the show Friends and left to be one of the first writing teams hired by DreamWorks, where he met his wife. Despite a near fatal career move hiring Tom Gallup to star in a pilot, Jeff has gone on to create two shows and two beautiful children with more shows on the way. Shani Modrell Astroff hails from Springfield, Oregon, the same town that the Simpsons apparently come from. She got her BFA from CalArts and acting, but didn't want to drive a beat up car her whole life, so became an editor at DreamWorks, where she met Jeff. She went on to produce two beautiful children and still edits Jeff, but not enough. Today she is living her dream and Jeff's dream as a preschool teacher. And we'll be sitting down with him next when we come right Back with more for love and chocolate. For over 40 years, Toysher has been a staple in the Beverly Hills community. Like so many other families in the community, our family has had a long standing love affair with teacher chocolates. Over the years, we formed traditions and memories around these extraordinary Swiss chocolates and the enchanting wonderland of fantasy truffle boxes inside our store. Today, our family is proud to be carrying on the Teisher tradition in Beverly Hills. Well, welcome back to the podcast, everybody.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Welcome back.

[Mr. Truffles]

Sweetie, can I just do something right now?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you can.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay. Okay. I want to thank you, lucky star. Thank you, lucky star. Thank you, lucky star. Do you know what I'm doing?

[Mrs. Truffles]

You're thinking you're lucky stars.

[Mr. Truffles]

That is because you are in my life. And I just.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But I think you're also thinking the lucky stars for another reason.

[Mr. Truffles]

I am. I'm thanking my lucky stars because we have my old friends Jeff and Shawnee Astroff on the show. And you know how long I've known them, sweetie?

[Mrs. Truffles]

30 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

Almost 30. Almost 30 years.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I don't know how I guessed that.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I don't know.

[Mr. Truffles]

You're a genius. Yes. Welcome to the show, guys.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Thank you. This is really uncomfortable. I didn't realize this would be intimate. Do people know that none of us are wearing clothes on this? They don't, no. This is like. I've honestly never done a show from a sauna, but I think I see why now, because it's really. It's sultry. Here we are, is what it is. We're gonna have to up the steam here, I think, on our end.

[Mr. Truffles]

Thank you so much for being on the show.

[Jeff Astroff]

We're happy to be here.

[Mr. Truffles]

And should we launch Mrs. Trundles?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Let's do it. How long have you two been married?

[Jeff Astroff]

We've been married for 24 years.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. We were married in 2000, so that's. We married in 2000, so we would always know.

[Mr. Truffles]

So you already celebrated 24.

[Jeff Astroff]

Yes.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. Congratulations. 25 coming up.

[Jeff Astroff]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Fun.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Hopefully we make it. Yeah. See how this goes.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm going to ask the question that Mrs. Trevils always ask. How did you two very first meet?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yeah, actually, you remember meeting me more than I remember meeting you.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's rude.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Which is ironic because she's so far, to my lead, kind of a knockout. No, the reason. No, she's a knockout. But here's the thing. We worked together. I was a writer. I had just left the show friends right before it went downhill after season two. Didn't want to be there for Its slow decline for the next eight years and burdened myself with money and fame. Really want. Yes. I had a weird feeling that eight years from now I would want to be out of here. So I got. I avoided the crowd.

[Mr. Truffles]

Good work. Yeah.

[Shawnee Astroff]

You know, and they say you can't put a price on the relationship. And I can. Cost me about $18 million. But worth it for this one. No, I was a writer on the show and we were in a bungalow then. Shani can take over from there. Because Shani was an editor.

[Jeff Astroff]

Yeah, I was an assistant editor on that show. So what was the show? It was called. It's like, you know. Okay, is that DreamWorks? But let me start by saying I was thinking about this today. I actually saw his name on his parking spot before I met him. And I thought, hmm, Astroff. Shawnee Astroff. Oh, no, it has a nice ring to it.

[Mr. Truffles]

Come on. I really did.

[Jeff Astroff]

I really did.

[Mr. Truffles]

Wait, did she come meeting you?

[Jeff Astroff]

This is sort of embarrassing. Yeah, that's really funny.

[Mrs. Truffles]

No, but you know what? That's the kind of immediate magic that we hear from a lot of long time married couples. Like just these crazy little hints in the beginning.

[Jeff Astroff]

Manifest.

[Mr. Truffles]

I don't know your maiden name.

[Jeff Astroff]

Modrell.

[Mr. Truffles]

Modrell. Which is a great.

[Jeff Astroff]

Which is a great name. It wasn't like I was trying to get out of.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I actually saw Shawnee's name and I thought Jeffrey Modrell. So this really. Yeah, really. It was really manifesting.

[Jeff Astroff]

They never put editors and writers in the same place. But on this show, once again, we're talking about, you know, the woo woo happening. The executive producer writers, which is you guys, right?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Were you co. Executive producer writers, Co.

[Jeff Astroff]

Executive producers at that time? They put them, for some reason in the same bungalow as the editors, which never happens. Never bump, bump, bump. Never happens.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. Never happens.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Right?

[Jeff Astroff]

Never. It was meant to be.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I will say the first time I really though remember you was when you came in to get coffee in the writer's room. You were wearing the purple shirt. She came in to the room and asked for coffee and she was so bright and happy and smiley and my best friend at the time, this woman, this writer, Allie Adler, was there and she was just like, well, look how gorgeous the editor is now. Who else noticed that was my writing partner, who, you know, Mike Segiewicz.

[Mr. Truffles]

Mike shall remain nameless.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Go ahead.

[Jeff Astroff]

Thank you.

[Shawnee Astroff]

My writing partner plays a pivotal part of this story. So I guess they had gone out like a couple of times.

[Mr. Truffles]

Wait, Seanie and Mike?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Because I'm dating someone else. I'M dating somebody. Horrible.

[Jeff Astroff]

Yeah. He had written one of the episodes. He came in to kind of see how it was all coming together. I was putting together some of the scenes and saw that he was carrying this very cute little dog. And I was like, it's a cute guy. It's a really cute dog. And I said, wow, that's a cute dog. He said, oh, thanks. It's my girlfriend's. Wah, wah. I'm like, okay. So he was not available. That was the first time we actually spoke.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I played it perfectly. Right, you did. Because I was like, so there was nothing to do. I was very, very faithful. I've never cheated on anybody.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I like this element that you're like, I'm in a relationship. It doesn't matter that she's the most beautiful woman. I'm in a relationship.

[Shawnee Astroff]

But even, like in pre marriage, I've never cheated on anybody. I didn't think of it. I just thought, wow, she's cute. And I remember she comes in to get coffee. She's like, wow, knockout. I'm in the tail end of this horrible relationship, and Mike is like, starts kind of dating casually. This gorgeous assistant editor who's Shawnee, who comes in. I just remember that you had your hair in a ponytail and you just gorgeous, like, light up the room and so sweet. Made me. I just remember you coming in and, like, making small talk and talking with the writers, and you said something like, just. You were smiling. I was like, I'm not used to seeing girls smile. Shani comes in. My friend Allie's like, wow, look how hot the assistant editor is. I can't believe Mike's going out with her. And I was like, well, she's really hot. But I didn't think anything of it because I'm still in my horrible relationship time. I was in a horrible relationship with not a great person. Ended in a car chase with her. Stab me. Yes. Like, not a car chase. She was hanging onto the car, trying to stab me as I was driving backwards from an. She was insane. Anyway, the headline is, I have a bad picker. All my relationships have ended except for this one.

[Mr. Truffles]

Violently.

[Shawnee Astroff]

No, it didn't end violently, but they end poorly because I pick poorly. This is not the love story part. That's a crazy story of a crazy person who stalked me for years afterwards. Very afraid. Every time I saw someone with long, curly hair, I was afraid that it would be she. Her. I'm not using pronouns. I don't. I'm just trying to use proper.

[Mr. Truffles]

No, no. You were afraid of she. Her.

[Shawnee Astroff]

We finally broke up because she tried to kill me. I was like, you know, it's over now. As I was driving backwards down the cul de sac. And I believe I yelled it as like she was tumbled, did like a, like a stunt roll down the sidewalk. I was like, it's over.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Are you okay?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Are you okay? I'm gonna call 911 and then it's done. Really over there and it's really over as she went down. Yes. Benedict Canyon.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That sounds a little bit like Fatal Attraction.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So I only dated crazy women, so.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow. And what was the attraction?

[Jeff Astroff]

Crazy crazy. Which is why I thought we would not get married. Like I'm. I'm not crazy like that. So now he's single, I'm single.

[Shawnee Astroff]

But Cheyenne doesn't know this.

[Jeff Astroff]

I don't know that.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Everyone's still alive, right?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Everyone's single, alive.

[Mr. Truffles]

So your date was actually visiting the ex girlfriend at the ICU before she did not die.

[Shawnee Astroff]

She did not die. She's still. She's still alive. Anyway, now I'm not a cool guy. Believe it or not, I'm not a cool guy. And I've only been cool twice in my life. One group of those was with Shawnee. And it had to be were like these times where God takes over because it's like this idiot is not going to be able to do this on his own. So I went in to see the cut and I'm talking to Shawnee. We just make small talk. She's editing and it's cute and I walk out and I go. And I don't ask out girls just because I'm not cool. I'm like, you know, I'm gonna ask her out. I said, hey, what are you doing?

[Jeff Astroff]

Well, didn't you first ask? It was okay.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Oh, yes, I asked. Yes, I asked Mike.

[Jeff Astroff]

I said, by the way, I was not dating his partner. We'd gone out a few times, but it wasn't like we were dating.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, just clean slate, right.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I just wanted. Because I'm that kind of guy and I just also, you don't want to know. I don't know what's going to happen with Shawnee. I don't know what's. I called Mike back on the rotary phone and I said, hey, I'm thinking of asking out Shawnee. Would you have a problem with that? He's like, no, you can do what you want. Technically, I'm not dating her. Would you have a problem with that? He's like, well, no. I mean, I can't stop you go, you know, whatever you want.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So I talked to Shawnee again. This was a Friday night. And I said, what are you doing tonight? She said, I might be working late. I said, do you want to go to dinner? And she said, I'll let you know.

[Jeff Astroff]

I wasn't being cool. I really wasn't. It was. It's long hours, and I didn't know when I was finishing.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So I said, hey, what are you doing tonight? And she said, I don't know. I'll let you know. I'll let you know if I'm working. I may be working. I have to work late night. I said, okay, so call me. I'm all right. If you want to go to dinner.

[Jeff Astroff]

So meanwhile, I get a call at the Edape from his writing partner who says, hey, a bunch of us are going out tonight. Why don't you come? We're going out for sushi. Why don't you come with us?

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I was like, oh, sushiroku. So he calls me up. Then the last we know for me is Shani's gonna let me know if she's working. Then Mike calls me and goes, you dog. You asked that Shawnee tonight? And I said, well, yeah, I asked you. I said, you have a problem with that? She said, no, I didn't ask your problem. I said, how do you know? She said, because I just asked her to dinner with me and Spence to go to sushiroku. And she said, well, Jeff asked me out already. She said she was going to go out with you. He said, well, what if we all go out? And I said, what if you go f yourself? There's no world where I'm going out on my first date with Shawnee and you and Spence. So now I know the answer that she already said she's gonna go out with me.

[Mr. Truffles]

Ooh, nice.

[Shawnee Astroff]

But listen, that cool Shakespearean in its structure, I am so cool. And by the way, and Shawnee knows this about me now, and you know this about me now, and you probably know this about me for knowing me for three minutes, I am not a cool person at all. This was all divine intervention. So Shawnee then calls me and I.

[Jeff Astroff]

Say, hey, I'm off work. Mike called and said that he and Spencer going out for sushi and asked if I said, why don't. Why don't we all just go?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I say, and this is one of the cool things. So back then, I would. My grandmother just died. I got out of this horrible relationship. I started seeing this shrink, and I said, I just like was in a very low place. I was in a very, very place place because of this terrible relationship. When a girl tries to kill you, like you get. And my grandmother was very close to her. And so I started doing this thing called adventure fitness training, which was this insane marine training, like running up dunes and stuff like that. And she said, you know, we're thinking of going out at 8:30. I said, you know what? I said, I have an early morning. I have to be down in Marina del Rey. I'm doing this adventure fitness training. I said, why don't you go out with Mike and Spence and you and I will take a rain check. Now there's no world those words would come out of my mouth. It would be like, real answer would have been, well, then marry me. But instead I said, why don't you go with him? And then she said, no, I'd rather go out with you.

[Mr. Truffles]

Look at Playa. How did that first date go?

[Shawnee Astroff]

So can I tell you something? After the relationship fell apart with the horrible woman, I decided I was going to get because I had only been in serious relationships. I had gone from one terrible long term serious relationship to another. And I decided that I was going to really sow my oats. So I got a place overlooking the Hollywood sign and I decided I was going to date every single woman who wore a name tag for her job in the town. And so every oat. That was my dream. I aimed not low. I don't want to disparage the people listening who wear name tags for their job. God bless. I think it's wonderful. I wish everyone wore a name tag. I'm terrible at names. Shawnee, spoiler alert. Is the only oat I wound up having. Shawnee was my first oat. So Shani comes up to this house.

[Jeff Astroff]

Gorgeous, gorgeous. You can literally almost touched the Hollywood sign from his balcony. I walk up to the door and I start to knock, but I stop because coming out of the door, I hear the Partridge Family David Cassidy singing I think I love you.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And it was not David Cassidy.

[Jeff Astroff]

It was Jeff Astroff singing. So what am I so afraid of?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I'm afraid that I'm not true. Look, there is no cure for.

[Jeff Astroff]

And I thought, oh my God, he would be mortified if he knew that I was standing out here and hearing him sing this song. And I'm waiting on him. Like, should I knock? Should I wait for the song to be over? And I just knocked and he answers the door singing the song I think I love you.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Isn't that what life Is made of.

[Mr. Truffles]

This is the other cool moment.

[Shawnee Astroff]

But she came in.

[Mr. Truffles]

You were expecting her or no, you're expecting her?

[Jeff Astroff]

Yes, he was expecting me.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I wasn't like, I'm going. I wasn't. I didn't have it on replay. I was just singing because I was excited for the date.

[Mr. Truffles]

But you were going to sing that song, full breath, no matter who was at the door?

[Jeff Astroff]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Could have been FedEx.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes, I was singing.

[Jeff Astroff]

It wasn't a message.

[Mr. Truffles]

I didn't look through a peephole and see what was her. I was like, you were singing your song?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. No, it was like I was playing good music.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So we go out to. And it's very funny now because we were, you know, both religious Jews. But back then, our first date on a Friday night was to Yang Chow, where we had slippery shrimp.

[Mr. Truffles]

Slippery shrimp.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Remember slippery shrimp?

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So then we came back, and then I remember I kissed her at the door, and it was very nice. The next day we went to yoga. Brian Kest. Sweaty yoga the next day.

[Jeff Astroff]

So good. First day for dinner.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Jeff Astroff]

Next day we go out for yoga.

[Mr. Truffles]

You're like, let's go to do yoga tomorrow.

[Shawnee Astroff]

We wound up spending, like, the whole weekend together. But not, like, sleepover stuff.

[Mr. Truffles]

First date goes great.

[Shawnee Astroff]

It was great. Is that right?

[Mrs. Truffles]

How long was it before you knew you were in love?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I was really holding on because I really knew that I had a bad picker. Also because I wanted to sow oats. And then there was one other girl I was kind of dating, and I went on one date, and I don't know if I went on a date after or before you. Probably before I knew that this was, like, a girl from high school who moved out here and, like, a fantasy girl. And she had all the traits of my ex. She was crazy. She had no furniture because her boyfriend just left her and took all the furniture. And she had a little dog, and she was crazy. And I was like, this seems comfortable. This is what I need. And Shani was not that. Shani was warm and loving and happy and nice. So this is the famous part of our story, and this is the really cool part of. Of our story, because our first date was, like, December 18th. I went away skiing with a good buddy of mine, Adam Chase. And I just went. And we just went out, and I was. We were away for, like, the Christmas week. I went skiing. I said, do I call Shawnee? He's like, you do not call her. You'd be cool. I was like, okay. So I called her. She Was at her parents house. You were at your parents house?

[Jeff Astroff]

I was at my parents.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Called you, like, right away, and we had like a really long talk. It was so uncool. It was like, God must have been like, okay, I'm not going to let him do this alone anymore. And I called you. I probably called you a lot over that. Yes. We went out December 18th, and I'm already called, calling her a lot at her parents house.

[Jeff Astroff]

Right.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Not cool. But we were very easy. There was no. There was no nonsense in our relationship. It wasn't weird at all. It was never weird. So here's the crazy thing. We're dating now, and it's. Even though it wasn't. Seriously, I wasn't thinking marriage at all, Shani. But we didn't say anything. We didn't say that we were going to be exclusive. Exclusive. Because I still had in my dumb mind, my dumb caveman mind that I need to sow my oats before I settle down with someone. And that was like blocking me. And also because Shani was just so nice. And it's just like, it just did not satisfy my dumb need for chaos. New Year's Eve, this is after me calling her all week. New Year's Eve comes and I'm back.

[Jeff Astroff]

And I'm like, okay, we're like, really vibing. This is real. We're having so much fun. Obviously, New Year's Eve is coming up. Obviously, we're going someplace together. And I wait and I wait and I wait. December 31st comes, and I have still no invitation from Jeff for New Year's Eve.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I think Shani finally said, hey, what are you doing New Year's Eve? And I said, oh, I'm going out with my sister.

[Jeff Astroff]

His sister. And I'm thinking, right, his sister.

[Shawnee Astroff]

You go out with your sister? I was like, yeah, she. Because so my sister had just moved to town. She just moved to la. My sister also now is a very famous writer. And she's not very, very close. I said, yeah, I think it's important. It's her first New Year's here. I don't want to leave her alone. So I'm going out with my sister. And Shine's like, okay, so there was a fortune teller at this party we went to. The fortune teller reads my cards and is like, oh, you have a very successful project coming up, a career or something. And then she said, oh, the love card is. The love card is very strong with you. So you met the girl that you're going to marry. This girl has long hair. Like, okay, she's blonde. Blonde, straight hair, blue eyes. And I was like, oh, my God. I said, I'm really going to marry this girl. She's like, yeah, this is the love of your life. She's talking about shrimp. So that was New Year's Eve. And then the big thing was there was a break in my job. I wanted to do something dramatic and adventurous. I decided I was going to go Africa. There's a walking safari in Africa. I was going to be away for the 24th of February, which is my birthday. I make a big deal of my birthday. Great. Now, Shani. I also told Shawnee, I was like, I want to have a party. And she said, just have a party when you get home. I decide to go to Africa, and I don't tell without any type of. Of. This is what we are. Are we seeing other people in Africa? You wonder who you could see in Africa. I wondered that too, but I was just on my adventure quest in Africa, and I.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You were still sowing oats.

[Jeff Astroff]

You were sowing oats?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I was sowing oats. There was not an oat to sow there.

[Mr. Truffles]

Zimbabwe.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Where were you?

[Mr. Truffles]

In Africa?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I was in. Yes, I was in Zimbabwe. I was. I decide that, like, okay, I'm in Africa. I'm putting Shani a little bit on hold because I'm living my adventure now. It was an adventure safari. I wrote her a couple postcards. They were mostly animal puns. It took, I think, from that to get to back the postcard from Zimbabwe to. Or Tanzania to la, about three weeks.

[Jeff Astroff]

Long time. Meanwhile, back in la, I'm thinking, I haven't heard from this guy. We were having so much fun. And then he goes to Africa. I haven't heard from him. My friend who is in the travel industry, said if he wanted to call you, he could call you. I'm like, but, well, maybe, you know, he's on a safari. Maybe he's off in, I don't know, somewhere where there's no phone. She's like, no, if he wanted to call you, he could call you. And I'm thinking, okay, we had fun. He doesn't want to call. I guess it's not what I thought.

[Shawnee Astroff]

So the truth is, I wasn't in Gurra Gor Crater, and this was pre cell phone I did when I got bit by this animal. It's funny because it was the beginning of the trip. I called Erin, my assistant, and she became like a little bit of your nemesis, I think, because I called her and told her just to check in with you. She called or something. She said, oh, I spoke to Jeff. And you got mad. You said, did you. Have you heard anything from Jeff? And she said, yeah, I spoke to him, but that's because he could call.

[Jeff Astroff]

His assistant, but he couldn't call me. But I felt like, okay, this is clear to me what's happening.

[Shawnee Astroff]

But this was also the very first week that was the only way I was in South Africa. I was in Cape Town, which was the only part of the trip that had phones. After that, it was very remote.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes, remote. Midway through, I have my birthday. I get drunk and I'm alone in my tent where the whole time I was. I am drunk and crying as I turned 33, alone. And I wrote in my journal. I said, shani is. Oh, I'm gonna cry here. I said, shani is beautiful. She's sweet. She is so kind. I don't think I'll marry her, but I hope someday I'm healthy enough to marry someone just like her.

[Jeff Astroff]

Meanwhile, back in the States, I'm writing in my journal. Jeff is so incredible. He's so much fun. We have such a great time together. I don't think I'm gonna marry him, but I hope it's someone just like him.

[Mr. Truffles]

Wait. Come on.

[Jeff Astroff]

I promise you, it's in our journals.

[Mr. Truffles]

No. You still have those?

[Jeff Astroff]

Yes, yes.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Somewhere packed away in the back.

[Jeff Astroff]

How crazy is that?

[Mr. Truffles]

Wait, that's the divine intervention, right?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes.

[Jeff Astroff]

I felt. I'm like, this guy, he's ready to get married. I could tell he was going to get married soon, but not to me. That's what I thought.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Because you weren't crazy enough?

[Jeff Astroff]

Because I wasn't crazy enough. I knew what kind of relationships he sort of seemed to thrive in or be attracted to. And that wasn't me.

[Shawnee Astroff]

It comes out to. We're at the closing in on the four week mark. I'm having a great time in Africa. Shawnee makes a decision.

[Jeff Astroff]

I know what day he's coming home. If I don't hear from him on that day, then I just have to assume he's not interested. That was my decision. I thought if he's not, if he doesn't call me, then I'm going to start going with other people. I'm like, if I don't hear from.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Him, if he doesn't get in touch with me by this date, she knew when I was going back. Meanwhile, back in Africa, I decide I'm going to extend my trip. I'm having the best time and I'm going to Go on a safari in Johannesburg, and I'm going to extend my trip. And back then, the only way to get in touch from Tanzania was via fax. So I faxed my travel agent and I said, I have a flight out to Johannesburg. Can you book me a ticket? I want to go on a safari. Just book me a two week. Not knowing that had I not returned on the right day, it would have been over. The second I send this fax out, I come down. I've never been a six. I was walking back because he had to go to the place, and all of a sudden, my stomach just starts churning. And I had just the worst stomach problems of my life. So I faxed my travel agent. I said, cancel my plans. I have to come home. I changed my flight and I got better.

[Jeff Astroff]

And he landed on the right day.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I called him.

[Jeff Astroff]

He called me. He said, hey, I'm gonna be in the airport at this time. I said, great. I said, I'd love to pick you up. I'll be there. I was so excited.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I called her up and like, how's the trip? Because I'm in New York at land in New York on the right day, the last possible day that I could call her. Call her. I said, hey, I just got New York. I'm landing in LA tomorrow at 3 o'clock. I don't know if you're available, right?

[Jeff Astroff]

And I said, I am available. I am all about you today.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I said, that's great, but maybe you should be all about yourself. Can you imagine? Like, God takes his foot off the gas. God says, okay, I'm gonna let you say one thing. And then. What a dick. And yet, yes, it really, it was so stupid. But I get better. So anyway, so, like, that was, like, pushing my luck. So we get back. Shani's like, what are we doing?

[Jeff Astroff]

Let's clarify things now.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's time.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. She's like, you've been gone now for four weeks. I picked you up from the airport. Where are we? Like, what are we doing? She said, are you ready to commit? She said, if you're ready to commit, I'm ready to commit. Like, I don't know where we are. And I said, look, I just got out of a relationship. And I said, honestly, I'm not really ready to commit. I know.

[Mr. Truffles]

Schmuck. Schmuck.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I gave up everything after this. This is my last stand. I said, like, I'm really not ready to commit yet. I'm not. I just got fun relationship. I said, I still think we should See other people.

[Jeff Astroff]

I said, okay.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I said, what are you doing tonight? Do you want to. I said, do you want to go out tonight, though? Do you want to go out for dinner?

[Jeff Astroff]

I said, I already have plans for dinner tonight. Someone else asked me out. I was just waiting to see what was going on with us before I said yes.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Bluff called. She called my bluff in such a gigantic way.

[Jeff Astroff]

So then I'm on my date, so it's back before cell phones. That's his answering machine time. And I get home and I see my answering machine, like, beeping. Like it has all the flashing lights. Flashing lights. I'm like, what the heck? Beep. Hi, Shawnie, it's Jeff. I'm just wondering, you know, if you were home yet. I was thinking maybe of going shopping for a new dining room table tomorrow. I was wondering maybe I could really use your help because I don't really have that kind of taste, so maybe you can come out with me. Okay. Call me when you get home. Beep. Hi, Shawnee, it's Jeff. Just checking in to see if you're around yet. Okay. Hi, Shaunie, it's Jeff. I'm wearing a really cute fleece. I would love to come by and show it to you. So just give me a call when you get home. Endless messages.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Like five or eight messages. It's like, wow, that's a really long time. Like, I'm out in front of your house. I don't see your car yet. Is everything okay? Just call me to let me know everything's okay. The next day I said, I think we should just see each other.

[Mrs. Truffles]

There you go.

[Mr. Truffles]

You know what?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Sometimes that's all it takes.

[Shawnee Astroff]

The next day I was like, yeah, I only want to see you. She's like, okie dokie.

[Mr. Truffles]

My story is much too sad to be told but practically everything leaves me totally cold the only exception I know is the case when I'm out on a quiet spree Fighting vainly the old un Then I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face I get no kick from champagne Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all so tell me why should it be true that I get a kick out of you? Some dig the perfume from Spain I'm sure that if I took even one sniff it would bore me terrifically too yeah, I get a kick out of you I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me I get a kick though it's clear to see you Obviously you don't adore.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Me.

[Mr. Truffles]

I get no kick in a.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Plane.

[Mr. Truffles]

Fly into Height with some gal in the sky Is my idea of nothing to do yet I get a kick youk give me a boot I get a kick out of you.

[Shawnee Astroff]

We dated for a couple months after that. That was, you know, that was like March. I asked my friend Adam and my friend Iraq, Listen, what do you think? You think I should ask Shaunie to marry me? My friend Adam said yes. Are you an idiot? She's way out of your league. Like, you're the biggest idiot in the world if you don't. I will. Like, everybody love Shawnee. My friend Ira said, I don't think you should ask her, because I think that it's just, like, nature will abhor that relationship because you started your league. I don't think you deserve her. And I was like, okay. So then I decided I was going to do it. I was going to ask her to marry me. April comes. So it's Passover time, and Shawnee's gonna meet my dad for the first time. My dad and my stepmom. Dad, the stepmom's name is Kathy. And that becomes relevant in a second. I'm driving my parents up, and we're gonna have Passover in my house. I said, listen, you're gonna meet my girlfriend. Her name is Shawnee. I said, it's pretty serious, but I want you to act like I've spoken about her, but not too seriously. So, like, I need to, like, balance this. Like, thread this needle here. And he's like, okay, okay. I know. To the backstory. You should know Shawnee, obviously, looking at her, she's quarter Native American. So my dad's in the kitchen with Shawnee. He comes out two minutes later after meeting her and goes, kathy, we're gonna have Indian grandchildren. What happened to being cool? And that night, my stepmom Kathy told me that my dad, not a religious guy, prayed that I would marry Shawnee. And not only that, but he said, I really think Shawnee, because, remember, my grandmother had passed away in the past year. He goes, I, Shani is my mother reincarnated. Now. Shani would have to be six months old at that point to be my grandmother reincarnated. I don't think he thought any of that through.

[Jeff Astroff]

So he was very close to his grandmother. She was like his mother. She really. Yeah, I called her mom. There was one night, and I was just thinking I was sleeping.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I was thinking he was sleeping.

[Jeff Astroff]

I was, like, just snuggled up next to him on the couch. On the couch. I was just thinking about her. I thought, I wonder if she would have liked me, you know, because that was the most important person to him. And I was just really wishing I would have met her and wishing that she would have just been around for a little longer so I would know if she liked me. Okay. This makes me cry. Every time I felt this. It felt like someone was hugging me. I felt like this big hug. And I thought, okay, I have her blessing.

[Shawnee Astroff]

All right. So we had my grandmother's blessing, clearly my father's blessing. I remember I asked your dad if I could marry you. We went up to the lake and we were up in the lake in Oregon. Shawnee's from Oregon.

[Jeff Astroff]

It was a family reunion. So everybody from Oregon. Yeah.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And you were at a family reunion up in Oregon at the lake. So without Shawnee having any idea that any of this was happening.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yes. I just said to. I said, I just want, you know, I'd like to ask your permission to marry your daughter. And he just started sobbing. I know. I'm like, I'm going ring shopping. So we ate at Birds Restaurant. And I asked Shawnee, I said, if I was going to get you, like a jewelry thing, what type of jewelry would you want? Because I didn't know what to get. I said, what kind of like, jewelry? If I were to get you a jewelry thing, what kind of jewelry?

[Jeff Astroff]

Both knew what he was talking about.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yeah, she cracked that code.

[Jeff Astroff]

And so I looked at the table and I picked up a butter pat from the. And I said, you could buy me this pad of butter and I would be happy.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Went to Allie and my friend Allie and I said, let's. Let's buy a ring. I went ring shopping and we went to a place called the Antiquarious. So we saw some rings and we saw this. This is, like, really special. She said, well, I just got this ring from Estate Sales, 1920 Tiffany. And we just. I had just bought a house that we were going to live in together. It was a 1920 house, and it was this beautiful three stone diamond ring. And it was gorgeous. Gorgeous. I saw that. Do that. So I bought this ring. I got the ring and it was burning a hole in my pocket. I was like, okay, I have to ask her today because I got the ring. So July 31st. So I went and I bought all this butter. I spelled out marry me in butter and a big pile of butter pats with the ring on top.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Where were you when you did that?

[Shawnee Astroff]

I was at my house at the.

[Jeff Astroff]

Scene of the crime of I think I love you with David Cassidy.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And I put it out with roses. And I spelled out marry me with butter so that Chani would come in through the door, opened it, and it was a very hot day. And Shani was late. And I had the camera set up. Shani's like, an hour late. It is melting everywhere. So Shani comes in. I'm, like, waiting on my knee, like, for an hour. And then she comes in, like, hi. He's like, what's this? She couldn't read it because it was all, like, melted. And plus, we had a dog Tahoe that kind of had that. She's like, meh. What? Meh, meh, meh, meh. What? What is this? And I said, it says, marry me. I was like, you've made me the happiest person in your life. I can't bear to live another day without you. Will you marry me? She said. Then she.

[Jeff Astroff]

Then I said, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And then she hugged me, and then she kissed me.

[Jeff Astroff]

And I said, it's the best thing that ever happened to me. Yes, to the camera. We have this on video. It's beautiful.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And then we took a picture of us on with the sunset. We had celebratory dinner at Il Ciela. And Shani said, so am I going to convert before or after we get married? And I was like, you're going to convert? And she's like, well, she knew it was. For me, it was important that my kids were Jewish, and for her, it was very important that our kids had a relationship with God and were spiritual. And we had a great wedding.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Where was the wedding at?

[Shawnee Astroff]

It was at Casa del Mar, which is right next to Shutters. Yeah, it was the third place we saw. And I was like, this looks great. It looks kind of like New Yorky because it had brick. And I said, we'll take it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Was it a big wedding?

[Shawnee Astroff]

So it was 125 people. It was amazing. It was a beautiful wedding, and it was so much fun. It was really, really great. The honeymoon was the best part. The honeymoon was fantastic. We still talk about this today. And I said, we should do the best for our life. We started in Capri.

[Jeff Astroff]

I'd never been to Europe.

[Shawnee Astroff]

It was so good. It was so magical. And we were in Capri, and we had Limoncello. There's a lemon grove restaurant there. And we saw this picture one night. We came back, and there's this beautiful picture of Capri in the square. And it was. It was very expensive, and it was giant. And I was like, we have to buy this. And sh. Like, I don't know, it's a lot. I was like this. I love this painting. It's my favorite painting. And we agreed if we see it tomorrow morning, if we love it, we'll buy it. And we did, and we bought it. And then six months later, it showed up. And it's our favorite painting in the world.

[Jeff Astroff]

It's in our house.

[Shawnee Astroff]

We went to the Blue Grotto, and there's this guy there who made bruschetta. And he said, the bruschetta's mine. And he was tossing us tomatoes that he grew in his garden, giving us wine from his own cellar. It was so magical. We did a week in Rome, a few days in Venice, and then we went to Paris for a week. And then it was just. It was magic the whole time. It was magic. And then we came back and had one night in Milan. It was just. Yeah. We peaked on vacations then, though, unfortunately.

[Jeff Astroff]

Then we had a baby.

[Shawnee Astroff]

And then we had a baby. Our daughter's birthday is the day after. And one year after our first wedding anniversary.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And how many children do you have?

[Jeff Astroff]

Two.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Two.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay, so then, what would be your best advice for your children or for anybody who's starting out? How do you find the one, and how do you make love last?

[Jeff Astroff]

We both hold each other in such high esteem. I want him to feel like the king of the house, and he wants me to feel like the queen of the house. We treat each other like that, and.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Each person should believe they married up. And I don't know why she does.

[Mr. Truffles]

But, aw, I do. You'll take it?

[Shawnee Astroff]

Yeah, I'll take it. No, I really think that both people believe that they married up. For me, it's easy. You marry someone. I tell my kids, marry someone very pretty, because I tell them, I said, looks last forever. Ethics change. Morals change. No, for me, it's very easy. You have to have the same values. I think values are the most important thing. Marry somebody kind and somebody who trends happy. And it's not always easy. And I'm anxious, but I'm not depressed, and I trend happy. And marry somebody who brings out the best in you. I mean, Shani brings out the absolute best in me.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That is such good advice. That is excellent advice, actually.

[Jeff Astroff]

That is excellent advice.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Amazing.

[Shawnee Astroff]

You know, don't take it for granted and just know and just be friends. That's why I tell my kids, like, you know, you get stuck on so many dumb things. And, like, my daughter is, like, you know, in her early 20s now. She's dating, and she's certain things and she's like, well, politics aren't. I said politics aren't values. Like politics can be values, but if you have a gut reaction that somebody's like, can conservative, someone's too liberal, something like that. I said like, what are the, what are the core values? What's it based on? Like if your core value. Because you can get over like Shawnee and I don't, you know, our politics were very, very similar and they become there. It's less important than what your values are like.

[Mrs. Truffles]

But that's like we were kind of talking about that earlier. It's like, you know, all these people that think they're on different sides right now. If they actually talk to each other, they'd find out their values.

[Jeff Astroff]

Right?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Actually very much are the same.

[Shawnee Astroff]

It's values. Yeah, that's what like you have. And you know, I think you just have to talk about like, what are, what are your value? Take, take, take labels out of it and like, what are your values? What's important to you? For us, it's important that we have a, we have a God based life. We believe in being kind and being good to other people. And you know, we're very, very protective of our family and we're just be, be good, do good things, be good and try not to be jealous.

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, it's, it's really so nice to have you both because you're both so intelligent and so warm. You're so still in love with each other.

[Jeff Astroff]

We are.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's so evident.

[Shawnee Astroff]

Really are still madly in love with each other.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's incredible.

[Shawnee Astroff]

In fact, right now we're gonna smooch in front of you. On that note, this is why we don't film it. By the way. We're knocking it because Shine would never let me. I would do it in a second.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm sure.

[Shawnee Astroff]

I have no doubt.

[Jeff Astroff]

Okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, smoochers. Well, listen, we're so glad you joined us today and we're gonna be right back with more for love and Chocolate. This podcast is being brought to you by Beverly Hills Toy Chocolates of Switzerland. Beverly Hills Toysher at 371 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, has been serving up truffles, pralines, dipped fruits, marzipans and our world famous chocolate bars for over 40 years. So next time you're in Beverly Hills, why don't you come by and visit or, or shop [e-mail]. well, how about that, Mrs. Truffles? Aren't they fantastic?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I just want to be their best friends.

[Mr. Truffles]

You can. Mrs. Truffles, I think they really liked you. You know, I've known them for so long, but like a fine wine, they just get better with age.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, they're so much fun. And they're so cute and in love. That was an amazing interview. I love them.

[Mr. Truffles]

Me, too. Well, everybody, thanks again for joining us. And guess what? We're gonna do it again next week. But until then, say goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills Toy Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne, Truffles. Join us next week for more adventures in everlasting love.