Full Show PT 2: Monday, January 26 [Vault]

Summary

The Bert Show – Full Show Pt 2: Monday, January 26 [Vault]

Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts/Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Melissa, Jen, Nicole
Podcast Theme: The Bert Show delivers a blend of authentic, humorous, and real-life conversations. This episode focuses on messy relationships, heartbreak, roommate drama, expectations around engagement, and the nuances of gift-giving in relationships.

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show dives into the emotional turmoil of romantic entanglements: a caller debating “revenge” on her boyfriend after he rekindles a toxic relationship with his ex, ongoing anticipation of proposals and relationship milestones, and a lighthearted analysis of what holiday gifts indicate about the health of couples. Listeners call in with their own stories and perspectives, leading to thoughtful, funny, and sometimes biting debates among the cast.

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Segment 1: Should I Send Revenge Pics of My Cheating Boyfriend?

Timestamps: 00:00 – 14:17

Key Discussion Points

• Michelle calls in, heartbroken after her boyfriend (who she took in post-breakup with his ex) goes back to the same ex.
• Michelle discovers evidence: a graphic photo of her boyfriend and his ex sent directly to her with a mocking message.
• Michelle’s dilemma: Should she send the picture to his friends, family, or even co-workers as revenge?
• The cast splits: Melissa advises the high road, while Jen plays the devil’s advocate for “send it all out.”
• Listeners call in with passionate perspectives, creating a heated moral debate about blame, respect, revenge, and closure.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Host 2: “So it could be infidelity we’re talking about.” [00:24]
• Michelle: “I want to send this picture to everyone we know. I am just so beside myself.” [05:00]
• Melissa (high road): “Any action in the heat of passion is the wrong thing to do… Be the better person.” [06:36]
• Jen (low road): “I say go ahead and send it out to everybody… Give him a dose of his own medicine.” [07:05]
• Nicole (caller): “Karma is a son of a gun, and it will come back to him. Trust me, sweetie, you don’t need to do anything.” [07:27–08:03]
• Host 2: “Yes, she might have brought this on herself, but the way that he handled the breakup part of it was so malicious and so aimed to be hurtful…” [08:04]
• Chaz (caller): “I didn’t send them out, but I posted them on MySpace and Facebook… I wish, looking back on it, that I didn’t do that.” [13:14–13:38]

Insights

• Core debate revolves around the ethics and consequences of revenge in the face of betrayal.
• Several listeners caution against rash digital revenge, citing potential legal and emotional fallout.
• Significant focus on the distinction between being told there’s “no commitment” and assuming exclusivity due to romantic/roommate arrangements.
• The cast provides both emotional support and humor, while listeners offer hard-won perspectives from their own relationship disasters.

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Segment 2: The Never-Ending Wait for a Proposal (Sharon’s Story)

Timestamps: 14:22 – 27:43

Key Discussion Points

• Sharon’s ongoing saga: Five-year relationship, waiting anxiously for a proposal—sees a “ring-sized” box under the Christmas tree, only to discover it’s earrings for his mom.
• The emotional rollercoaster of anticipating special moments and repeatedly getting let down.
• Cast reflects on the “deadline dilemma”—how long should someone wait for a proposal before moving on?
• Listeners and hosts share their own stories of ultimatums, deadlines, and communication breakdowns.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sharon: “He has a Christmas tree at his place, and underneath is a little ring box. I think it’s gonna be on Christmas…” [14:43–15:22]
• Jen: “Once you’ve been dating for that long… You’re ready for them to propose, you’re ready to take that next step, and they are just not on the same page.” [15:27]
• Melissa: “Men are almost taught this is the end of their freedom, where women are kind of groomed to dream about the day they’ll get married.” [24:03]
• Host 2: “I really do think that it’s a smart idea to have a deadline day in your head… If not, it’s time to move on.” [24:30]
• Nicole (caller): “Another mother sticker getting them free for five years…” [21:11]
• Sharon: “I give him till Valentine’s Day, and then I’m taking my toothbrush out of the house.” [27:34]

Insights

• The anxiety and disappointment of waiting for commitment resonates with listeners and the hosts, sparking a stream of advice both practical and humorous.
• Gender perspectives on marriage timelines and “ultimatums” are explored.
• Sharon’s story becomes a touchstone for similar experiences among the team and callers.

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Segment 3: Gift-Giving Forensics: What Your Christmas Present Says About Your Relationship

Timestamps: 27:48 – 38:05

Key Discussion Points

• An email prompts a conversation about whether thoughtful (or thoughtless) holiday gifts predict the future of relationships.
• The Bert Show opens the “phone lines” for listeners’ stories about what they received for Christmas, then “diagnoses” relationship prospects.
• Themes include gift imbalance, misalignment of thoughtfulness, and what certain presents (or lack thereof) say about a couple’s stability.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Host 1: “If he gives you four $20 shirts and two DVDs, and you shopped since November… that relationship’s over, inside of 90 days!” [28:25; 29:40]
• Melissa: “We set a $50 limit, but Katie Jo traded in old jewelry to get me diamond earrings for $50. She totally outdid me.” [30:23–31:26]
• Jessica (caller): “Two shirts, two pairs of pants and some costume jewelry… I got him an ipod.” [32:09–32:17]
• Host 1: “Not only did he try, he also thinks you have a little ass. You’re good. Congratulations.” [32:58]
• Angela (caller): “I got nothing. Not even a card… We’re married.” [37:03–37:17]
• Host 1: “I think you’re gonna get a late Christmas present. It’s gonna be divorce papers!” [37:47]

Insights

• The team pokes fun at the “science” of matchmaking according to gifting habits, with a consensus that a lack of thoughtfulness signals trouble.
• Multiple stories prove that it’s not about the gift’s cost, but its meaning and effort.
• “Getting nothing” for Christmas, especially in a marriage, is universally declared as a red flag.

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Memorable Moments and Tone

• The Bert Show’s signature candid, relatable, and comedic style shines, whether offering tough love, playing devil’s advocate, or poking fun at their own experiences.
• Live caller interactions introduce real-world messiness and humor, infusing the show with unpredictability.
• Standout punchlines like “Karma is a son of a gun…”, “Don’t send the pictures—it’s never the right move,” and “You can’t reboot your attitude” showcase the show’s blend of empathy and sharp wit.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |--------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------| | Revenge Photos Drama (Michelle) | 00:00 | 14:17 | | Proposal Anticipation (Sharon) | 14:22 | 27:43 | | Holiday Gift “Diagnostics” | 27:48 | 38:05 |

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Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers a rollercoaster of relationship drama: from the reckless impulse for revenge to the slow agony of proposal anticipation, to the playful “gift-ology” of holiday presents. The Bert Show’s cast and callers provide raw honesty, hard-won advice, sardonic observations, and plenty of laughs for anyone who’s ever loved—and lost, waited—and worried, or wondered if that thoughtless present is the beginning of the end.

New listeners will find a tight-knit cast, high audience engagement, and a commitment to “real talk” about real-life messes—served with humor and heart.

Transcript

[Host 1]

The bird show.

[Host 2]

All right, so what does a guy gotta do for you to be this close to sending out naked pictures of your own boyfriend? I mean, currently, this is your boyfriend, right? So what does he got to do? How far does he have to push you in order for you to go ahead and send out those pictures to all of his friends and all of his family?

[Melissa]

I'm assuming infidelity has to play some role, right? I mean, right.

[Host 2]

I would think. So what's that movie that I always get wrong where she's so torqued up dude that she goes out and she sets fire to his car, waiting to exhale. There's that out like those, those 24 hours where you're so upset by something that happens in the relationship that if you don't take the cooling off period, anything is possible.

[Melissa]

Exactly.

[Host 2]

So it could be infidelity we're talking about. What's up, Michelle?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hi, everybody.

[Host 2]

Hi. You're on the voice disguiser.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Okay, great.

[Host 2]

All right, so you've got some pictures of a guy you're currently dating.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yes.

[Host 2]

All right, give us the story here.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Okay, well, it's a bit of a messed up story, but basically we, you know, we were friends for a year, year and a half, and he had. He had dating someone else and, you know, things started to get a little bit rocky. She was very controlling, manipulative, really bad relationship, and I was there for him.

[Jen]

And.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

And finally, you know, I, you know, I gave him a shoulder to lean on. We were really close, and he finally got the nerve to break up with her. And so basically he moved in with me because his lease was up, he didn't have a place. He moved in with me and, you know, we started casually dating. There was, you know, he said there's no commitment, but, you know, we had been friends for over a year and we were really close and kind of just turned into something more.

[Jen]

And he was living with you?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah, kind of. Just. It was convenient for both of us. I needed a roommate. He didn't have a place because they had just broken up. And so he, you know, he moved in with me.

[Host 2]

Okay, so you took in this wounded bird or this wounded animal and you were trying to heal him and you guys fell in love with each other while he was moved in with you.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Right. Okay, so now he lives with me. We hadn't been seeing anyone else, but he definitely made it clear that there was no commit. And it was kind of just convenient for both of us. But now we're pretty much. We're obviously a couple we do everything together.

[Host 2]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. We're obviously a couple.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, that's what I had thought until, until a few days ago.

[Host 2]

Did you ever, did you guys ever sit down and have the conversation like, I'm not going to see anybody. You're not going to see anybody. I just want to be with you?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, no, not exactly.

[Host 2]

Okay, alright, go on.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

But basically, a few days ago, he just started acting distant. Maybe about five days ago he started acting really distant. He didn't come home one night and then the next day he was just really cold to me and he started telling me, you know, I told you this is no commitment. I told you no strings attached. And I basically found out that he saw his ex girlfriend again.

[Host 2]

Oh, this is the same one that burned him so badly that he came limping into your house?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah, exactly. She was horrible. She was so controlling. She talked down to him and it was a really abusive relationship. So now I'm really hurt. I assuming, you know, he's cheating on me and I can't believe that he would go back and get involved with her. I can't even believe it. After all we went through to, you know, to get them to break up for him to be able to break up with her. And now he's hanging out with her again.

[Host 2]

You saved him. You brought him into your house and you saved him and this is how he returns your goodwill, by going around and sleeping with his ex? Is that what you're saying?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Basically, yeah. And so a few nights ago he did come home and he had told me, you know, you can't tell me what to do, no strings attached. And he just kept saying the same line over and over. But it's like he lives with me, I'm gonna be. No strings attached, you know. So basically two nights ago I get a text message. I was like, oh, what's this? I opened the text message and it's a picture of him and his ex girlfriend in a very sexual position saying, don't tell me what to do.

[Melissa]

Oh, well, that changes everything.

[Host 2]

What a tool. Yeah, that does change things a little bit.

[Melissa]

It changes it.

[Host 2]

So it's a very. And you're sure it's him? You're sure it's her? It's a very graphic picture.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Oh yes, very, very graphic.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Melissa]

And why was his stuff not on the lawn right after you got that?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I don't know. I'm pretty pissed right now. In fact, I'm so tempted. I just want to send this picture to everyone we know, I want to forward it to his friends and his family. I am just so beside myself. I can't believe that he had audacity to do this after he broke up with her and I took him in.

[Host 2]

So are you. Cause if you do this, this relationship, this friendship, everything is gonna. It's over. You know that, right? So you're ready. You're prepared for that once you send this picture out?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I mean, I don't see how we could still be friends after this. After he screwed me over, he basically made a fool out of me thinking that, you know, we were something while he's going behind my back and doing this.

[Host 2]

So do you have. So you have all the phone numbers of all friends, family, co workers also, or are you just keeping this exclusive for friends and family?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, I didn't think about co workers, but maybe that's a good idea.

[Host 2]

Glad I could give that to you.

[Melissa]

I'm curious about the living status. So his stuff is still at your place, right? And you still think y' all are roommates, right?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, I mean, he was back here last night, and we kind of got in a huge fight and he stormed off. So his stuff's still here. I don't know what to do now. I don't know how to handle it. I'm just really pissed. And definitely there's no way that we can keep living together.

[Host 2]

All right, let's have a little debate here. Okay? Melissa, I want you to argue on the side of not sending the pictures out.

[Jen]

Okay?

[Host 2]

And, Jen, I want you to be the malicious best friend that absolutely thinks that the picture should be sent out. So, Melissa, why don't you start? You're high road, Jen, you're low road.

[Jen]

Got it?

[Melissa]

All right. I think that, you know, any action in the heat of passion is the wrong thing to do. I think that it is a bad idea for you to take that picture. And because you're going to lower yourself to his standard, and I think that you have to be the better person and you have to understand this. What's going to hurt him more than sending pictures out of him, you know, doing somebody and is to actually let him have a place to live. Like, you just have to say, you know what? The agreement's done. I'm not taking care of you anymore, and that's it. And then just erase the picture.

[Jen]

I say go ahead and send it out to everybody. Get all the contacts in his cell phone and send it out to everybody because he deserves it. He absolutely sent that to you to be malicious. So why not be malicious right back at him. Give him a dose of his own medicine and send it out.

[Host 2]

Eye for an eye. You say low road.

[Jen]

Do it.

[Host 2]

Morning, Nicole. You're on Q100 TJ.

[Melissa]

Low roach.

[Nicole]

Good morning, guys. My thing is, I honestly, I understand what he did to her was wrong, and I definitely feel for her, but in actuality, she did this to herself. He was very forthcoming with her. He told her exactly what the deal was. And a lot of times as women, we tend to either hear what we want to hear or think. You know what? After a while, I can change his mind. Karma is a son of a gun, and it will come back to him. Trust me, sweetie, you don't need to do anything. You don't need to play any cards. It's going to come back to him, and hopefully you're there to see it when it does happen. But let it go.

[Host 2]

See, here's the part.

[Nicole]

Just let it go and kick him out.

[Host 2]

Here's the part I don't agree with you on. Yes, she might have brought this on herself, but the way that he handled the breakup part of it was so malicious and so angry and so aimed to be hurtful that I can certainly understand why she'd say, okay, you want to play that game? Then let's go ahead and play that hurtful game.

[Nicole]

You know what, Burt? I definitely understand what you're saying. But keep in mind, everything that he has told her bad about the ex girlfriend, he's doing the same thing to her. Anytime you're with someone, whether it's a male or female, and they're trashing their ex, what happened with their ex is none of your business. And if they're telling you negative stuff about their ex, trust me, that person is not honorable. And in the end, see that? I guarantee it.

[Melissa]

I do think that is a definite red flag if you get with somebody and their complaints about the ex is if the ex did everything wrong and they didn't do anything wrong, it's like, wait a second.

[Jen]

Yeah, but I do think she was the rebound.

[Melissa]

Oh, for sure. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Although a rebound doesn't usually last that long, though. It's usually.

[Jen]

Well, how long have you guys been together?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

It's been about a year now.

[Jen]

Oh, really?

[Host 2]

That's a long time. It's a long rebound.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, no, no, no. We've been living together for a few months, but we had been friends for a year, so just a few months.

[Host 2]

Maybe.

[Melissa]

I take it he wasn't paying rent?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, he gave me some money here and there, but we didn't split it evenly.

[Host 2]

Stephanie says, send those damn pictures out. Hey, Stephanie.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hey.

[Host 2]

Hey.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

How are y'?

[Host 2]

All?

[Host 1]

Good.

[Host 2]

How are you?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I'm good.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

When I first started listening, I was.

[Nicole]

Like, well, you know, you brought that on yourself. You really shouldn't do that. But when I heard what picture he sent, I think you should send the picture to everyone you can think of.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I agree. That's what I definitely think I should do.

[Jen]

I just can't believe he came home last night and you spent the time fighting with him after he sent the picture.

[Melissa]

Yeah, I'm just.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I figured he'd come home eventually, and I definitely had a lot on my mind to say, so I just let him have it. And all he said was, I told you not to tell me what to do.

[Host 2]

There are more calling saying, send it out, then don't. Hey, Kathy, you're on Q100.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hey, guys.

[Host 2]

Mostly women, I should add.

[Nicole]

I have a friend going through a very similar situation. He moved in with a girl, and he told her, you know, we're just going to keep casually dating. She can't get over that he's dating other people. She goes nuts. And I think sometimes girls just get so attached to nothing that you got to do something crazy to make them go away.

[Host 2]

Now, are you sure you want him away? Because this is definitely going to do it.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I mean, how can I continue to live with him after here? You did this.

[Host 2]

You can. I can't even believe, like Jen said, you even let him in the house.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I mean, he made it clear what he's going after now and what he wants to do with himself. So, I mean, if he. I don't know, maybe they're back together or something. Who even knows? He didn't say when he was here.

[Jen]

But don't you always say, guys do make it perfectly clear?

[Host 2]

Yeah, our actions. I mean, forget about the words. It's all about the actions right here. And he showed you. He showed you exactly what he's about. This is. If he's capable of doing that, he's capable of doing much worse.

[Jen]

Right?

[Host 2]

I mean, that's pretty mean.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I mean, we had been friends for so long, I thought I knew him really well. And, I mean, I trusted him. I trusted him with my apartment, with, you know, taking him in, and this is how he repaid me.

[Host 2]

Yeah, he's got mean inside of him. I mean, there it is right there.

[Melissa]

Yeah, he took advantage of it, period.

[Host 2]

Hey, Casey, you're on Q100. You'll be the last call on this. Go ahead.

[Nicole]

Gullible, gullible, gullible girl. Seriously, this girl. You.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

You.

[Nicole]

Honey, you cannot believe anything that a man says to you. The fact that you even let him in your apartment and accepted him in after he told you he didn't want to be with you is absolutely crazy.

[Host 2]

Now, wait a sec. What do you mean? You can't trust anything a guy says? You can.

[Nicole]

Absolutely not.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

You can't trust women either.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

You know, they're.

[Nicole]

They're scandalous at times, but still, so are women. Guy is telling you he doesn't want a commitment with you. The only thing she was trying to do was change him. And, yes, what he. But she was just hoping in the long run she could change him, and it didn't work. So if I were her, I just let it go.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

I gotta be honest. I don't think he did anything wrong up until the picture, because it sounds to me like he was telling you where he was at. He's like, no commitment. No commitment. No commitment. You assume that there was, so. Yeah, but, Casey, you're saying you can't trust a man on what he says he's been telling her all along. Look, there's no commitment here. So he has been honest. Now he just turned into an ass, though, about it.

[Nicole]

Well, I mean, the fact that he didn't tell her he was seeing another woman, of course he's going to tell her that he doesn't want a commitment, so she should obviously know that's what he wants. And he's not going to tell her. Yeah, she should be smarter than that. For a woman to know she should have been smarter than that.

[Melissa]

And the language you used was he made it clear that no commitment. Like you use that language. So he made it clear. You admit he made it clear. And then you used the, you know, the powers of your assumption to think that all of a sudden you could create this fantasy world and it didn't exist.

[Host 2]

Chaz wants to tell you that if you send these pictures out that it may be pretty dangerous. Hey, Chaz.

[Chaz / Caller]

Hey. How's it going?

[Host 2]

Good.

[Chaz / Caller]

Yeah. I had a similar situation with my ex girlfriend. And I was in the military, and we had some trust issues going on. And I had naked pictures of her. And I didn't send them out, but I posted them on MySpace and Facebook. And so all her friends, all my friends, Irmaline saw it and she called me crying and. And just, like, say she's gonna take me to court and everything. And it was just not A good time.

[Host 2]

So you wish, looking back at it, you didn't do that.

[Chaz / Caller]

Right? Because now we kind of are friends now because it was over two years ago, but it's just. It's never been the same.

[Jen]

You guys gonna get back together?

[Chaz / Caller]

Oh, no way.

[Host 2]

All right, Michelle, what are you gonna do? You have any kind of, like, hunch on if you're gonna send these things out or not?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I mean, I'm. I'm leaning towards yes, but I guess I'll have to rethink about this and how. What's gonna happen afterwards.

[Host 2]

Now we gotta check back in with you. Let's check back with you over the next couple of days and find out if you sent him out or not. What happened.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Sounds good.

[Host 2]

Okay, thanks for calling. At least we gave you something to chew on on both sides there.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah, thanks, guys.

[Host 2]

All right, thank you for calling. Hold on one sec. We want to get some more info from you and have you on in a couple days.

[Host 1]

The bird show.

[Host 2]

All right, we got a wrap up proposal Sharon here. See what happened to her over the weekend. It's pretty much the same story every time we talk to Sharon. We could any one of these conversations that we had with her. Hey, Sharon, what is lined up? Like, what is any different this week than there has been for the last couple of weeks? That makes you think, okay, this is gonna be it.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

He has a Christmas tree at his place, and underneath his Christmas tree is a small box and it's a little ring box.

[Melissa]

What about earrings?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Shut up.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I'm not talking to you.

[Host 2]

Well, you can't do this.

[Nicole]

I'm in denial, Sharon.

[Jen]

The only thing is, why would he put it underneath the tree already? If he was trying to surprise you with a ring, he would have kept it hidden, don't you think?

[Host 2]

You're not even thinking like a person with any kind of common sense because you're so eager to get engaged.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Okay, I don't care. Yes, it's true, but I think it's gonna be on Christmas. That's what I think.

[Host 2]

Okay, so as the story goes, if this is the first time you're hearing from Sharon, she's called us four different times.

[Jen]

Yeah, and they have been dating for five years. And I totally understand where she is because once you've been dating for that long, which is the same situation I was in with my husband, you're ready for them to propose. You're ready to take that next step in your life. And they are just not on the same page. So it gets that time where every special Weekend, or he can even sneeze funny. And you think he's about to propose.

[Host 2]

The anticipation is there with every move, right.

[Jen]

You're just anxious for it to happen. And so you just. You get yourself all psyched up in your mind that it's going to happen. So we understand where she's coming from. We just didn't want her to be disappointed around every corner.

[Host 2]

So there that little box was under the Christmas tree, shaped like. It could be a ring in there. This is gonna happen.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Here it is.

[Host 1]

Could be a ring, could be anything.

[Host 2]

Here's Sharon. Hey, Sharon.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Hello.

[Host 2]

Hi. You're back on the voice disguiser.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hey, how you guys doing?

[Host 2]

Good. How are you doing?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I'm doing okay. Did you have a good Christmas?

[Jen]

We did.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

We did. No.

[Melissa]

What was in that box?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Do you know what was in that box?

[Melissa]

You tell me.

[Nicole]

It was earrings from his mom.

[Jen]

For his mom.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Totally.

[Host 2]

For his mom.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

For his mom. It wasn't even jewelry for me.

[Melissa]

So when you saw him in the jeweler that day, he was getting his mom's Christmas gift.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Oh, I never. Yeah, maybe he was getting his mom a Christmas gift. Yeah, probably.

[Host 2]

So now, was it the kind of Christmas where mom was there also? So you guys were opening up your present then? She was opening a present then maybe he was. And that last box was there and then he handed it to his mom or was it just gone from the Christmas tree?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

No, we went over to his folks house for Christmas and so he gathered up, you know, the presents under the tree and he gathered up that box. And so I thought, oh, maybe he's going to ask me at his folks house in front of his parents.

[Nicole]

Oh, God.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

And yeah, set up now.

[Jen]

We've had two holidays though.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

And so we went there, you know, and it was sort of like he was like playing Santa with the hat on or whatever and everybody was sitting around and so he's handing out the presents and he had the box and he's like handing everything out. And then he picked up this box and he hands it to his mom. I thought I was gonna die.

[Host 2]

That was the only box that you even had your eyes on. Everything else.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I could have cared. He gives me all these big boxes. He got me clothes, my clothes. And this, you know, they were at.

[Melissa]

Least the right size, right? Because that's always dangerous.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Whatever, it didn't matter.

[Host 1]

She didn't even try them on.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

She's like, who cares?

[Host 1]

I remember like, my parents told me this story when I was like five or six years old of me at my grandma's house, going through the gifts and, like, open a box, it would be socks right over my shoulder. Like, didn't even care. Open another one. Underwear right over my shoulder. Open another one. Scarf, didn't care. Hand knit by my grandmother or whatever. Didn't care.

[Nicole]

Throw it toy.

[Host 1]

Game on.

[Host 2]

Right.

[Host 1]

She's doing the same thing with that earring box.

[Nicole]

Totally.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

That's what I felt like. And I'm just eyeing his. This box his mom's got, hoping that maybe he's gonna go, oh, no, this is for you.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I felt like an idiot.

[Host 2]

Could you even name, like, three presents that he gave you on Christmas?

[Nicole]

I mean, I don't know.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Some crappy sweater. I don't know. Not really.

[Jen]

And then we've gone through two holidays now. You guys had New Year's Eve to get through too.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Yeah, I know. Christmas.

[Melissa]

I was evil.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I didn't care. After Christmas, I was sort of like. I didn't think he was gonna. I was not gonna set myself up to think about Chris, about New Year's Eve. And we had a kind of a quiet New Year's Eve, and I think I. I kind of feel like I'm gonna give him till Valentine's Day, and then we've been together for five years, so I'm gonna have to start thinking about it if it doesn't happen by then, because I have to get serious.

[Jen]

This is a change in tune from you.

[Host 2]

Yeah, totally.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

But, you know, maybe. Because I just sort of got my hopes up, and I saw him at the jewelry store, and I thought, oh.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

You know, here comes that.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

But I have to kind of think about it.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Five years.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

That's a long time.

[Host 2]

That's the thing that Jen was saying was so dangerous about this whole scenario, is that you can't reboot your attitude. It's like you're excited about it, and it's not like you can just turn it off and go, you know what? I'm just not excited about getting engaged anymore. Because you know in your heart of hearts that you are. You can't lie to yourself.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

How long did it take your husband after you thought he was gonna ask you?

[Jen]

Too long.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

What's that?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Too long. It's like a day too long.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Yeah. It just. Yeah. It's hard and it's disappointing.

[Host 2]

There's nothing you can do. Hey, Steve.

[Host 1]

I keep visualizing all these coffee mugs and bumper stickers and T shirts with. You can't reboot your attitude on it. Like, you are three hours into the new show, and here they come. Buddha bird is back.

[Melissa]

Bumper stick.

[Host 2]

Hey, Stacy, you're on Q100. Good morning.

[Nicole]

Good morning. How are you guys doing?

[Host 2]

Good, thank you.

[Nicole]

I just have to say, and I. I feel so bad for this girl. I mean, baby girl, please. There's a saying that goes, you know, why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Another mother sticker getting them free for five years.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

You did not say that.

[Nicole]

I'm. Baby girl, I'm sorry. He's been getting him for free for five years. So basically, if he can still get it for free for another year, he's gonna ride this thing out. Baby girl, you've gotta seriously move on.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Sharon, you say ride this thing out?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Really?

[Nicole]

He's been riding it out for five.

[Host 2]

Years already, so there's no sense of immediacy for him. I'm assuming, and I think you've told us this before, that maybe you put him in the pressure cooker a little bit. Like he knows how you feel about it.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Well, yeah, we've talked about it, but I don't feel like I put it in the pressure cooker. I don't feel like I've, like, been all up in his business about it. But he knows that I want to get married. He knows that I want to have kids.

[Jen]

Does he know that you're disappointed? After the holidays.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I might have been a little cranky, but not. I don't think I was obvious, but maybe I was.

[Nicole]

I don't know.

[Melissa]

Now, I know that memory can sometimes be short, but both guys in the room were a little, you know, slow to the punch when it came to proposing to their wives. So I'm asking them, what's the best way to let you know for sure you're the one I want to marry. I want to get married. But then leave it be. Like, how should she communicate with her boyfriend finally, and then let it go?

[Host 2]

My story is just a little unique, and I've told it before, that Stacy gave me an ultimatum. I got a job in Dallas, and we were living in Washington, and she said, this is where my whole life is. This is it. My parents are here, my friends are here. I went to school here. So if you want me to pack up and go to Dallas with you, I'm sorry, you're gonna need to give me a commitment. And she gave me an ultimatum. And I waited to the very last second, and I said, hey, will you come to Dallas with me? Will you marry me? So the ultimatum worked in my case.

[Jen]

What about you, Jeff?

[Host 1]

I think with Jessica, it was never really an ultimatum. But I think the thing that Wade, like, she said one thing to me when we were going to a friend's wedding that I think made me realize how not important it was to her, but how.

[Melissa]

You'Re on a deadline.

[Host 1]

Not really a deadline, but how foolish it just was that we weren't engaged yet, and it was when we were going to a friend's wedding, and she just pointed out the number of weddings of people that we have been to or that we were going to. Hey, this is the fourth wedding that we've been to of people who have met, gotten engaged, and gotten married since we started dating together.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Right.

[Host 1]

You know what I mean? Like, their entire relationship, you know, went in the course of ours. And I was like, all right, so.

[Melissa]

It'S obviously a guy traitor.

[Host 1]

Loud and clear.

[Melissa]

It's obviously a guy trick.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Maybe you boys will just drag your feet until we say something, because I'm about done. I'm about, like, I'm gonna be a single girl. What did she say? Giving away the milk for free.

[Melissa]

Well, that's such a Millie Pete thing to say. But I think that this is the biggest. I think miscommunication between men and women, because you got to remember guys, weddings and guys and proposals is not something they're looking forward to. It's almost like they're taught this is the end of their freedom, where women are kind of groomed to dream about the day in which they'll get married. So I do think it seems consistent that guys are a little slower to getting it done.

[Host 2]

But, yeah, you know, inevitably, though, and I've said this before, that I really do think that it's a smart idea to have a deadline day in your head. And I have pointed to too many friends of mine, women specifically, that waited and waited, waited five, six, seven, eight years. You know, they started dating dude when they were, what, 22 years old, and now they're 30 years old, and he dumps her, and now she has to start all over again, and she's just looked at the last eight years, you know, So I. You know, if it was my daughter, I'd say, set a date in your own head. And if he makes it, great, don't pressure him. Don't tell him about the date. If he makes it, great. And if not, then it's time to move on.

[Melissa]

And you remember you said that to.

[Jen]

Tracy when she was hoping for Scott to propose, too?

[Host 2]

Yeah. Morning, Q100.

[Nicole]

Hey, Bert, I agree with you totally. I was at a point where I thought about it day in, day out, and it was making me sick. Every time he opened his mouth, I was like, oh, he's going to ask now. He's going to ask now. But I got so disgusted that I was just like, you know what? Forget this. I gave him a deadline and not really told him that this is your ultimatum. But I kind of said, you know, if anybody's together this long, it's ridiculous if they're not married already. So I thought I was kind of planting a seed and that would kind of rush them along. Didn't happen. I got so disgusted that it was at a point where I was like, I don't care if we get married. I'm getting myself ready to be single again. So it's good that she's turned this leaf and she's not really as desperate for it as she was, because New Year's could have been just horrible for her, but it was just like another day, and they enjoyed it. Well, when I got to a point where I didn't care anymore, that's when he finally was like, hey, honey, they're having a bridal show this weekend. Do you want to go? And I was like, for what? To torture myself? Not interested.

[Host 2]

Did you say that you told him what that deadline day was, or you just had it in your own head?

[Nicole]

Oh, no, I told him. Well, we had friends that had been together for, like, 10 years, seven years, and they were still just dating. And I was like, you know, if anybody's together longer than three years, that.

[Chaz / Caller]

Is just too long.

[Nicole]

You need to break up already.

[Host 2]

Yeah. The only difference here with me is that I don't think you ever tell them what your deadline day is. I just.

[Nicole]

Well, yeah, because it was way long after three years when we got engaged, it was like four and a half years.

[Host 2]

Yeah. You always moving that line in the sand.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

It didn't happen this time, but I'll give them the Valentine's Day.

[Nicole]

It didn't happen exactly, because you don't really want to break up, but you just. You want to move into that next phase with that person that you love and adore. So hang in there. But if you get to a point where you're enough is enough, seriously, be at that point. Don't just, like, you know, make up stuff to get him to the altar. Decide within yourself that this is enough for me. And at that point, as my husband likes to say, the stench will be off of you. Because they said that men can smell a desperate woman miles and miles away. So that stink will come off of you, and then he'll realize what he has and you'll be married.

[Host 2]

That goes both ways, too. Like, when you're a single guy, women can smell. Smell your desperation.

[Host 1]

Stench of desperation.

[Host 2]

That is so true.

[Host 1]

It's not even a smell or a whiff. A stench like the rotting flesh of a roadkill raccoon.

[Host 2]

All right, Sharon, good luck with everything. I guess we'll, you know, check back with you in a couple of weeks or so. I don't know.

[Melissa]

She said Valentine's Day at the beginning of the contest.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

I give him till Valentine's Day, and then I'm. I'm taking my toothbrush out of the house.

[Host 2]

That's a start, right? All right, we'll talk to you soon.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Okay.

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

Happy New Year, guys.

[Host 1]

The Bird Show. We were reading emails the other day and we got to one and we're like, you know, blah, blah, blah. We're like going through, looking for stuff for the show. And one. One paragraph stood out to us. In this one email. This is what wasn't, you know, specifically what she was emailing about. But we all had the same reaction when we read in the email that for Christmas this year, I went all out and I got him all these great personal things. He got me four $20 shirts and two DVDs.

[Host 2]

Wow.

[Host 1]

And we started talking about that because, you know, what a bummer if you really put, like, I mean, if you start shopping in November and really put some, you know, nice stuff together and.

[Jen]

He gives you the sort of last.

[Host 1]

Minute, yeah, whatever was in the, you know, $20 DVD bin at Target.

[Jen]

Right.

[Host 1]

That type of deal. So we talked about that. And without having more information from her, we can't pass absolute judgment. But we're all in pretty much agreement that he probably isn't really into that relationship.

[Melissa]

I mean, if Balance there.

[Host 1]

Now, if the DVD was something along the lines of, like, let's say she's, you know, a big fan of the movie Gone with the Wind, and it's like a classic movie and she loves it for whatever reason. So he was able to go, you know, some behind this director's cut edit or something of Gone with the Wind or re Shows thought. Right.

[Host 2]

Or.

[Melissa]

But obviously he didn't. Or she wouldn't have written in the email. Just it was this generic thing.

[Host 1]

It would have. It would have been.

[Melissa]

It was like, oh, he was so sweet. And he got me this. My favorite movie of all time. And. But that's obviously not what he did.

[Host 1]

So he, you know, went out and got Men in Black and, you know, something like that. So the agreement that we all made when we were in the room is that that relationship's over.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

I mean, inside of 90 days.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Like, he probably won't make it through Valentine's Day. And that's when the ceiling opened up and the ray of light came down, and we realized that we were blessed with a gift.

[Melissa]

A little asbestos, but, yeah, some kind.

[Host 1]

Of, you know, 404. 741. 1005. If you're interested in this, then we. You can call up and tell us what you received for Christmas, and then we can tell you whether or not the relationship's gonna last.

[Jen]

Yeah, it's like we can make the predictions just by knowing the answer to that question. What did he give you for Christmas?

[Host 1]

The Telephone number is 404-741-1005. Melissa. Now, if we didn't know Melissa and Katie Jo, Melissa got dangerously close to this. This holiday.

[Melissa]

Yeah. Katie Jo cheated. No, she was. She outdid me for Christmas for sure. Because she was very creative and very personal. It was a very gift of the mag where we had actually set a budget of $50. We set a budget of $50 for Christmas because our anniversary is actually this weekend. So we wanted to spend more money on our anniversary than we did Christmas. And so $50 was it. So I went out and I thought, well, you know, what I'll do is so that she has more gifts to open, I'll divide that $50 out and I'll get a lot of little gifts, little fun, cool things, and then she'll have more gifts to open instead of just one. And then what she decided to do was she went through her jewelry box and she got some loose diamonds, like diamond earrings where she had lost the other one. You know, several of those. You have those in your jewelry box that you keep. And what am I ever gonna do with this? Well, she collected them, traded them in, and it was only had to spend $50 over in order to get me a pair of diamond earrings for Christmas. So if I came to the table and I said, hey, Bircho. Well, you know, my girlfriend got me diamond earrings. Or she. Let's say she called, hey, you know what? I got my girlfriend diamond earrings for Christmas. And she got me a universal remote.

[Jen]

Little imbalance there.

[Melissa]

Yeah. You'd say, well, you know what? She's probably gonna break up with you before Valentine's Day.

[Host 1]

But we would get the more details.

[Jen]

She is the. Yeah.

[Host 2]

In your relationship.

[Host 1]

Or. Or we'll talk about the. Or what we would analyze that and talk about the $50. We would say, you know, if I.

[Melissa]

Gave you the whole story, you'd be like, maybe not. But if it was just plain look, I got, you know, that got them this and they got me this, you'd be like, oh, no way.

[Host 1]

So here's Kimberly taking it one step further. God bless her. Or no, I'm sorry, Jessica. Hey, is this Kimberly or Jessica?

[Nicole]

Jessica.

[Host 1]

Hey, Jessica, what's up?

[Nicole]

Nothing much. How are y'? All?

[Host 1]

Good.

[Nicole]

How are you doing?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Good.

[Nicole]

Just trying to go to work.

[Host 1]

Alright, what did you get for Christmas this year?

[Nicole]

What did I get?

[Jen]

Yes.

[Nicole]

Two shirts, two pairs of pants and some costume jewelry.

[Host 1]

Now does any of that have meaning to you?

[Nicole]

Somewhat. Not what I expected. I got him an ipod. A tool test.

[Host 1]

Well, see that what you got him is irrelevant because we have to work. Just, just from the guy's point of view, it's only.

[Jen]

Yeah, it's only what you got for Christmas.

[Host 1]

Now I, I think he's. He did his best.

[Jen]

I think he did his best because anytime a guy goes shopping for a woman's clothes and you said it was, you know, pants and shirts that match or were intended to be matching. Right.

[Nicole]

But they're the wrong size.

[Host 1]

Well, guys.

[Jen]

Too small.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yes.

[Jen]

Which one? The pants are too big or too small?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Too small.

[Jen]

See, this is good.

[Host 1]

It's good. That's good.

[Melissa]

This is good.

[Host 1]

Yeah. You're fine. Jessica, not only did he try, he also thinks you have a little ass. You're Good. Congratulations.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Enjoy. 2008. Hey, April.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hi.

[Host 1]

What'd you get for Christmas?

[Nicole]

Actually, it's for my sister. She bought.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, let's see.

[Nicole]

She mostly got like sweaters and things to wear around the house.

[Jen]

Sweaters and things to wear. So she got sweatpants and sweatshirts for Christmas from her boyfriend.

[Nicole]

Husband.

[Jen]

Husband. And that's it?

[Host 1]

Yeah, that's different.

[Nicole]

Yeah, but he got like a fifteen hundred dollar tv. He always gets like big things like that.

[Host 1]

It doesn't matter.

[Jen]

It's not the exchange. It's only what she got.

[Nicole]

Yeah, that's basically like all she gets for every like birthday, holidays, everything.

[Host 1]

Status pro. They're going to be fine. He's just thoughtless.

[Nicole]

Oh, that's good.

[Jen]

He's just lazy.

[Host 1]

Yep.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Nice.

[Jen]

He loves her. He's just lazy.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Thanks.

[Host 1]

See you, bud.

[Jen]

That's my prediction.

[Host 1]

Hey, Christina.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hey. How are you?

[Jen]

Wrong.

[Host 1]

Yeah, we should be taking numbers down and follow up with them at the end of the year. Hey, Christina.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Hey, how are you?

[Host 1]

What'd you get for Christmas?

[Nicole]

I Kind of got the same deal.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Like the little odds and ends.

[Nicole]

I got like bath and body works lotions, a teddy bear, a little watch, scarf and hat, and a little pajama pants.

[Host 1]

Now the question is, what are you combining? That's a good stash. What were you hoping for?

[Nicole]

That's about it. I got like.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

I guess.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I really wasn't hoping for anything. I like Christmas to give more than anything. Fun it that way.

[Host 1]

Okay, so you're fine.

[Jen]

He did good. Because to get all those things, he had to go to several different places.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Okay.

[Jen]

So that means thought and lots of shopping, which both guys don't like to do.

[Nicole]

Okay, awesome.

[Host 1]

Hey, Christina. Christina.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah?

[Host 1]

Or is this Christian? What did you get? What did you get for Christmas, Christian?

[Nicole]

I got a BlackBerry.

[Host 1]

Oh, he loves you. Yeah. Oh, does he love you?

[Melissa]

Why are you confused by that?

[Nicole]

I don't know. It was just, you know, it was something I didn't know if I wanted or not. And he's more into it than I was.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Give yourself share in that.

[Nicole]

Well, he has one too. I just have the newer one with the GPS.

[Host 2]

See?

[Host 1]

The best. He gave you the BlackBerry. The best thing that ever happened to Jessica and I was her getting a BlackBerry.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Host 1]

Because now she understands and she's in your world. Like she understands just picking up and looking at the blinking light.

[Melissa]

Or is he. Or is he telling her she talks too much and that's why he got here. Take his BlackBerry.

[Jen]

No, I think it means that he loves you.

[Nicole]

Aw.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Well, thank you.

[Host 1]

And if anything.

[Jen]

Because your technology is better.

[Melissa]

That's true. That was a sacrifice.

[Host 1]

A new phone with all these gadgets attached to it. Dude, absolutely. I gotta be honest with you. My move would be to keep the new phone myself. Hello? Hey, Brian. Hey, Brian. Sorry, I didn't get to you fast enough. What's up?

[Nicole]

Hey.

[Chaz / Caller]

That's all right.

[Nicole]

I got slacks and a shirt.

[Host 1]

Slacks, huh?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yes.

[Chaz / Caller]

Like, finish shirt. I bought my wife a diamond bracelet. And I bought my oldest daughter a diamond necklace and diamond earrings. And the rest of my daughters, I got, you know, really nice gifts.

[Host 1]

Well, the gifts you gave don't matter. The pants and a shirt, it's tough. I don't know. It's gonna have to be you and Melissa. You, Jen and Melissa, because I don't.

[Jen]

Pants and a shirt. Well, I will say I like getting clothes for my husband because I like to pick out what I think he's gonna like and what I think he's gonna wear. So I can't say that that's A bad thing.

[Nicole]

Well, I'm growing, you know.

[Chaz / Caller]

I think I can dress myself.

[Nicole]

All I wanted was a watch.

[Jen]

Trying to help.

[Melissa]

Yeah, that's the thought I had is like. I mean, you have children together, so this is your wife, right?

[Chaz / Caller]

Yeah.

[Melissa]

So, yeah. Part of me is like, she's just trying to update your wardrobe a little bit.

[Host 1]

How long have y' all been together? How long have y' all been together?

[Chaz / Caller]

14 years.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Jen]

16 years.

[Melissa]

I mean, you're fine. She's just telling you maybe to, you know, do a little makeover.

[Jen]

I'll spruce it up.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Hey, Angela. You'll be our last phone call.

[Nicole]

I got nothing.

[Host 1]

Oh, that could be a problem. How long have you been dating them?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

We're married.

[Jen]

You got nothing for Christmas?

[Nicole]

I didn't even get a card.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You guys have any kids?

[Nicole]

I. I do.

[Jen]

You have children, a previous relationship?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yes.

[Jen]

Did he get them any presents?

[Nicole]

We went shopping for them together.

[Jen]

He didn't do anything on his own for Christmas at all?

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

No.

[Jen]

And he married him because.

[Nicole]

I don't know.

[Melissa]

Is this. Is this something that you've seen it a pattern in, or is this a first time thing?

[Sharon / Caller / Guest]

No.

[Nicole]

He's usually thoughtful just because he forgot.

[Host 1]

I think you're gonna get a late Christmas present. It's gonna be divorce papers.

[Melissa]

They've been celebrating Christmas since September, so he didn't forget.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Well, good luck with that.

[Michelle / Caller / Guest]

Thanks.

[Host 1]

Yeah, that's not a good one.

[Jen]

I don't think that. Yeah, the Magic 8 Ball is saying things aren't good.

[Host 1]

Hey, the bird show.