27 OctEpisode 89 | BONUS Annie’s BFF Daisy Carrington on growing up with a stolen dog, being a childhood loan shark & more
In this bonus episode, Annie talks to one of her best friends, Daisy Carrington, who she has known since high school. After Daisy recently came in second place at a Moth story telling event, Annie asked her to share her story on this podcast. Her story doesn't really have to do with dogs, so Annie drilled her about her childhood with dogs to justify having her on as a guest. Daisy remembers her screenwriter father, who lived in Malibu with a stolen Staffordshire Terrier named Zeb who he loved "as if he were an ex-wife," and talks about the time in tenth grade when Annie "ran away" to her apartment with her Wheaten Terrier, Zeke. Annie and Daisy met when they were seven, became friends in high school, and later both became journalists. Their children were born ten weeks apart. They discuss both of their transitions away from journalism into new careers. But the best part of the episode is when Daisy tells the story of how, as an 8-year-old living in Malibu, she became a loan shark to a famous British con man, Count Guiy de Montfort.
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Transcript:
Annie:
This is a bonus episode in which I am talking to one of my very best friends about her life with dogs and some other things, too. This is a conversation with Daisy Carrington. We've been friends since we were kids. We both grew up to be journalists and are now both working in other areas. I hope you enjoy our lively conversation.
Annie:
I miss you.
Daisy:
I miss you too, my love. Won’t be gone for too long. I mean, I know it's a couple months, but it will fly by.
Annie:
So I feel like I, since I'm going to record this, I feel like I need to explain to anyone listening, why I wanted to talk to you, as you are not someone who has a dog or works with dogs. Or I don't think you have even very strong feelings about the things that I do as a dog trainer. But, as you know, you are one of my oldest and best friends, and I will take any excuse to chat with you.
But, a few months ago back when people went out and did things, you told me that you went and did a story at The Moth. And I was sad that I didn't get to go see it. And also sad that you didn't win, that you came in second because you are such a great and hilarious storyteller that I'm sure that you should have won.
Daisy:
I did feel robbed.
Annie:
I'm sure you were robbed. And we just haven't had a moment where I could be like, sit down and perform it for me. So I thought, all right, well, if I can like, have you on the podcast, then it’ll be more of an occasion. And you will be forced to tell me your story, which I guess I've heard, because I've just known you for so long, but I haven't heard the perfect telling of it. So I don't if you're up for it, but in order to warm up and to justify having you here, I thought we should talk a little bit about dogs first.
So, why don't you tell me about Zeb? And I think you probably have to talk about your dad in order to talk about Zeb. You know, you and I, I think one reason why we became friends quickly when we met — well, just to back up, we met when we were seven and we took an acting class together outside of school. And I thought you were, I mean, you know this, but I thought you were just, I couldn't get my mind around you.
You were just such an enigma. You looked like a little cherub and you wore like puffy sleeves and called your mom “mummy.” And [laugh] you were just like this hilarious kind of weird cartoon character to me. And I used to see you in the neighborhood with your mom, and we went to different schools. But I remember saying to my mom, like, that's that girl! And then first day of ninth grade, you ended up at the school I was at. And I accosted you and we've been friends ever since.
Daisy:
Well it was very exciting, you know, like going to a new school and you walk in and someone just comes up and goes, I know you!
Annie:
But I didn't really know you! I just knew I knew the person I thought you were, but I didn't really know you. But I think we both had unusual New York City childhoods growing up with eccentric, divorced parents. But tell us about your eccentric dad and Zeb.
Daisy:
Yeah, well, my father was a screenwriter which actually enters into the Moth story somewhat, but, you know, he was definitely a larger than life character. And he loved a good story, but that's all beside the point as far as Zeb is concerned. So that was his dog. And I mean, he had a lot of incredible stories about Zeb, but, you know, I always found him to be like, just a very special dog. It's hard to explain, like almost kind of supernaturally special.
Annie:
He was a pit bull, right?
Daisy:
No, he was an American Stafforshire terrier, which we think is the same difference, there's definitely different physical characteristics.
Annie:
When did he get Zeb, before you were born or after you were born?
Daisy:
After I was born.
Annie:
Okay. So he and your mom — so Daisy's dad, your dad, he looked like Mark Twain. He was like a Hollywood writer and had this Staffordshire terrier. And yeah, I can't picture him and your mom who, I can't picture your mom, who I would characterize it as
Daisy:
Auntie Mame is a good kind of, you know,
Annie:
Auntie Mame, or like Ab-Fab, absolutely fabulous.
Daisy:
Over the years, I've kind of come across letters between the two of them. And, I can see it more in their youth. I can kind of place them together and, you know, they were crazy for each other, but it wasn't really,
Annie:
No, it's, I can't picture them with the dog together. I can picture them together. [Laughs]
Daisy:
No, apparently they did have a dog together, not Zeb. I know my dad got her, my mom, a dog once named I think it was Sasha. And my dad's telling of the experience is that she really wanted a dog. And he found this dog he absolutely loved, and he kind of wanted it for himself. I guess they weren't living together yet. And he dropped off the dog and he said it was the strangest thing that ever happened. They both looked at each other and they just simultaneously each took a step backwards and just had no chemistry.
And so he was ecstatic because he really loved this dog. And this was one, in addition to Zeb, Sasha, was one of his great loves. And I think that his dogs really were loves. I mean, I think when he would always tell me the stories of his dogs. It was like listening to someone talk about an ex-wife, you know. It was very intense. And so
Annie:
An ex-wife like that they actually like.
Daisy:
Maybe like a widower, you know. It's like a widower talking about their spouse that passed away and they never really recovered.
Annie:
Because of Jason. We're talking about his ex wife as if she was like a long lost dog love.
Daisy:
Right, that might be, you might be alarmed. But no, it was very much like a widower, you know? And to a certain extent, cause obviously all the dogs eventually died. I mean, I think he had them for the entirety of their lives. I mean, he was a long-term serial dog owner. And, yeah, I remember, and my mom would say that Sasha was never very warm towards her. Unless, I think when she was pregnant, she said that Sasha was bizarrely very warm towards her. I mean, I kind of almost imagined it, like
Annie:
What kind of dog with Sasha?
Daisy:
I imagine a golden retriever, but I don't think it was, but it was a light golden dog, but I'm not sure it was a retriever.
But back to Zeb, Zeb was an American Staffordshire terrier and, and just a very special dog to me., I remember many kind of cuddles with Zeb in the house. And, he did just seem very, very exceptionally bright. And I know my dad, when he got into them, he wanted an American Staffordshire terrier and he went to go look at some puppies and he saw Zeb nearby the puppies. And sort of said, he thought the puppies were okay, but he was like, they couldn't be — that magnificent dog over there can't be the father of these puppies.
And I guess whoever was selling the puppies were like, well, that's actually our neighbor's dog and she treats them horribly. And if you want to go take them, we'd absolutely welcome you to do it because, you know, she beats him basically, and she's not very good to him. So, from what I understood, I mean, it's a weird story and it's kind of a typical story of my dad. I mean, he just took the dog. It belonged to someone else!
And I think eventually the woman, you know, I think it was a youngish kind of, I mean, from the story I was told kind of drugged out women and living in Topanga, California, you know, in Malibu who basically said, you know, I mean, Hey, I hear you're running around with my dog calling him yours. And he sort of said, well, I hear that you're a horrible dog owner, and I don't think that you should have this dog. And I guess basically she just didn't fight it. I don't know. So it's, it's a weird story.
Annie:
That’s crazy.
Daisy:
It is pretty nuts, but there was a lot of love between the two of them. I mean, he used to share ice cream cones with Zeb, and that was a bit rough for anyone who happened to witness that! And you're like, Oh God, I guess, he’d get a lick, Zeb would get a lick. You're just like, ew.
But you know, and I did sort of always find, you know, he had the gentlest bite, you could feed him. There was never anything aggressive about him. I guess he seemed like a kindred spirit to me. I think I've always been a bit more mild mannered, which is sort of a contrast to my dad had a bit of a temper, and my mom could be a bit hot blooded from time to time. So I think in kind of comparison to that, having this sort of, mild-mannered kind of grounded, kind of a very, very spiritual seeming dog in my midst it was very comforting.
So yeah, there was always something very spiritual seeming about Zeb. And Zeb had one great love name, Leona, I believe. It was another dog, and he would go meet her and pick her up from, I think she was at the motel that used to exist near my dad's house in Malibu. And would beat up other dogs, I guess, who would try and court her. I mean, Oh, very typical stories of my dad. And, you know, one time when Zeb and her were on their various adventures, she got hit by a car and apparently Zeb just put his head down on her and stayed with her until they were found. But she died that way. So.
Annie:
Oh, that’s a very sad story.
Daisy:
I know. And my dad told me that he was once telling a story about her and at the very mention of her name, Zeb started to shake, started to convulse and basically just slumped down real low and kind of crawled into another room. And couldn't even sort of handle hearing her name cause he was so heartbroken.
Annie:
Aww.
Daisy:
Yeah. So those are just a couple of Zeb stories, but he was, he was around for a long time. He, he was around until he was, well until he was very, very old, you know? So it was a good long life, with lots of being outdoors and swimming and climbing mountains. I mean, Malibu was brilliant. And then eventually came over to the East coast, but yeah, he had a good long country, rural life.
Annie:
Do you think your dad ever thought about dog behavior and dog training?
Daisy:
Yeah, my dad was definitely, he was a pretty dedicated dog trainer. I mean, I'm sure his methods would seem pretty old school, compared to how dogs are trained today. It's just like with parenting, you know, I think a lot of parenting techniques are very old school.
Annie:
I think there’s a lot of old school dog training that's still happening.
Daisy:
Yeah, so no, Zeb was incredibly well-trained, incredibly obedient, really good with tricks. Like my dad was very good at teaching dogs tricks. I think he just sort of had a natural rapport with both dogs and kids. But, there were obviously still some sort of techniques. Like, I think every time he had a new dog, he would, he told me that he put it on their back and stare into their eyes and basically just try to establish himself as the alpha, like things like that, you know, that are probably not necessary.
Annie:
I think I did something like that to Amos when I first got him too.
Daisy:
Yeah. Right. I mean, I don't know whether or not that's something that
Annie:
Clearly it worked. Cause he’s a great dog.
Daisy:
Yeah.
Annie:
And then you had an iguana in high school. Was it an iguana, or a bearded dragon?
Daisy:
No, it was in the Guana basically when I was in nursery I really wanted a snake. And so my mom was like, you know how you really wanted the snake when you were like a kid? And at this point I'm like 15. I'm like what, when I was like a nursery? She was like, yeah, I got you an iguana. And I'm like, okay, so 15 years later you got me the wrong pet.
So I was like, I didn't really have any affinity towards the iguana. It was a little bit of a nuisance. I didn't really find bugs to feed it, but it was sort of, you know, what are you going to do? I mean, you don't want to be like, ungrateful, even if it's a gift, a pet gift that you really have zero interest in. But I think eventually the iguana was given to someone outside of the city who had some space for it, who had other iguanas and who liked iguanas. And I think that was probably, a good, a good decision in the end.
Annie:
He went to a farm.
Daisy:
Yeah he went to a farm upstate.
Annie:
[laughs] So here's a question about me. What do you remember about me and dogs? I mean, because I'm sure — I am guessing, I'm not sure — I'm guessing I always seemed like obsessed with dogs?
Daisy:
I mean, not obsessed with dogs. I mean, you had Zeke when we were kids, and I know that you were very close to Zeke.
Annie:
Who was a wheaten terrier.
Daisy:
Yeah, yeah. You know, and I remember, and I think Zeke had that similar sort of comfort for you that Zeb provided for me. Cause I remember there being a time when you had gotten in a fight with your mom and you came to our house, my mom and my house with Zeke.
Annie:
And I ran away with the dog!
Daisy:
Yeah. I mean you went back eventually, but yeah. You ran away with the dog.
Annie:
And so I ran away from East 17th to what? Like East 53rd.
Daisy:
Yeah. Yeah. Madison town
Annie:
And I must have taken, I think I took him for a walk.
Daisy:
You took him for a walk
Annie:
And then I just got in a cab, and then I got to your house. And then I was like, I had no idea what to do. Like, okay, now I've run away. [Laughs]
Daisy:
I can’t remember if you spent the night or not. I know my mum called your mom and was like, you know, Annie's here, I think you should know. And your mom was like, no, she's not. She went for a walk.
Annie:
I remember your mom, your mom was awesome. I remember the three of us lying in bed being like what do we do?
Daisy:
Yeah. The phone was ringing and it was your mom. And we just cowered in the corner and like, listen to the message. We're like, we're not going to get that. We're going to hang out with Annie for a bit. Like her mom can get her back later. Like my mom was just like, I don't want to deal with that right now.
Annie:
[Laughing] Your mom was like “I don’t want to be involved in this!”
Daisy:
Well I mean I guess…like she called her and like Vicky was like, Oh, she's not there. And then, you know, then I guess when your mom called back, it was like, uhh…
Annie:
I totally get where your mom was coming from.
Daisy:
Yeah. It was like No, not dealing with that right now. Maybe handle that later.
Annie:
I loved your mom.
Anyway. I feel like my interest in dogs was like a defining characteristic of my childhood, but it always felt like a little…I dunno, like I never felt like it was something to be proud of, or like an interest to really like dig down into. It felt more like this sort of like this side thing that was like, not quite shameful, but like on the side of… almost like dogs were like baby blankets to me. Like I felt better when there was a dog around.
Daisy:
I mean, they are, they're comforting, you know? I mean, I do still see that and sometimes I see dogs and I almost think that they’re Zeb. Like they stare at me and I stare at them with that sort of strange recognition that you attribute —
Annie:
They elicit a feeling in you that's similar to the feeling that you had with Zeb.
Daisy:
Yeah. I mean, I think it's just when, when someone you love passes, whether it's a dog or a person, like, I think it's just sort of, and you feel that warmth, like in something else it's easy to kind of project, and kind of transcribe that other person in your mind. I mean, I remember when my mum passed, I was like … my aunt Pat had a cat who was around long before my mom had passed, but I was like, did she go in the cat? Is the cat now? I mean even though I knew it wasn't, there's that momentary thing. You're kind of just sort of looking for that presence in something else. And so Zeb, I remember once seeing a dog in the street years after he had died and just sort of thinking, God, there's just something so Zeb about him, like, is it Zeb?
Annie:
What did you think when I told you I was gonna become a dog trainer?
Daisy:
Well, it wasn't like there was like a grand coming out. [laughs]
Annie:
There wasn't a grant coming out? I, okay. I feel like, to me it felt like I was telling people, like I've decided to become a dog trainer, it felt like a coming out!
Daisy:
For me it felt like, gradual, like there was a progression, you know? I mean, we were writing, we were journalists, we were increasingly disillusioned, understandably, as I think every journalist I know kind of has become. Many of the journalists I know have kind of like myself sort of switched over to some form of advertising or branded content or, you know, content strategy. I am that, but God knows what that means. But I think you were, as always, ahead of the curve. You lost interest in it before I did.
Annie:
Yeah. And losing interest. Isn't quite what I would say, but I know what you mean. I mean the benefits were no longer outweighing the difficulties.
Daisy:
Yes. And so you started by taking some dog training classes and you were getting really into it, but I don't think that you were — it started kind of with training Amos, but from my memory, it wasn't like it started out as a commercial endeavor necessarily. You took them for a while, maybe like while you were a journalist, and it was just like an interest or a hobby and then, and then you're doing some dog-walking. And then I guess it all just sort of made sense. It all kind of came together.
Annie:
Yeah. Well, it's funny because, when I went to Karen Pryor Academy and I remember telling people — and you were, I guess you were living in Dubai at that time, I think. And it definitely followed like a year of feeling like, Oh my God, what am I going to do with my life? Like this kind of like, I mean, something that I think a lot of people I've had at one point or the other in the last, you know, certainly around then, that was like, you know, the 2008, 2009, 2010 craziness. And now again.
But anyway, I remember at first thinking like, Oh, okay, I'm going to become a dog trainer. And then I'm going to make money being a dog trainer. And this one guy I knew who was like an editor was like, Oh, and then you're gonna write a memoir about the experience? I was like, no. I’m just going to go to dog training school so I could make a living being a dog trainer.
Daisy:
Like an editor kind of mentality. It's like, everything is going to be a memoir or some kind of book, or story, something you can sell.
Annie:
I remember talking also to Kiki Oblon, who's an editor and writer, who's now also a professional dog trainer. And she and I made that transition around the same time. And she said something like I just want to be someone who does things. I don't need to be someone who writes about things and comments on things, or something like that in a way that made sense to me.
Anyway. But of course then it was like a path from there to School for the Dogs, from graduating from one program. But anyway, I guess I was just curious if it seemed like, Oh, that makes sense that Annie is doing that. Or if it seemed like,
Daisy:
I mean, it did make sense because Amos was like, just so well-trained, and you had so much fun kind of training him all of these, like in ways that were really unique and like very you. So it didn't seem out of the blue for sure. And I just think you're very enterprising and very innovative and I think it just kind of really cool to sort of see all of the qualities that you have that made you really great in journalism, but like directed into an area that you really love and have a lot of fun with. And it just makes it really interesting, and it's just kind of fun to see those instincts in this other much more positive kind of place in society, you know? Cause I mean sometimes
Annie:
That’s really sweet of you, thank you.
Daisy:
And I have a lot of great respect for journalism, you know, I think particularly in this day and age when they're like being demonized. But you know, sometimes to be a journalist, it does feel like a sorrowful kind of profession, you know? I mean there's many different kinds of journalists, but there can be a part of it that just doesn't feel like you're spreading joy in any way, shape or form. So to kind of be in a profession where it is about spreading joy. I just think it's important to make that transition.
Annie:
It's true. I've never thought about it in that way, but it definitely feels like a better fit in that way. And yeah, I have great respect for journalists, but I felt like I was never moved, and I think probably you too, like, I was never moved by a feeling of mission and passion. I felt like I was moved by trying to make a living. And I liked writing and I liked reporting, I liked all the parts, but there wasn't some actual fire of… I mean I liked the glory of the byline or whatever, but you know what I mean?
Now I feel like, Oh, I can't not be passionate about this thing. And I guess there are journalists who thank goodness must feel passionate about finding the truth and finding the great story and all of that, and glad those people are doing it. Not just making a living. But I think all of them should just leave what they're doing and become dog trainers. [Laugh]
Okay. Let's hear it. Let's hear your Moth story in all of its glory, and I'll try not to interrupt you cause we can just pretend it was The Moth.
Daisy:
Absolutely.
So when I was eight years old, I became a loan shark. I mean, I'll admit it wasn't a natural fit. I've always been short and I couldn't do one pull up on the monkey bars. So my upper body strength wasn't really up to snuff. Plus I couldn't ride a bike to chase after anyone who might've defaulted. So really not a great fit, but I got the idea from my dad. He took me down to the bank to open my first savings account and to learn about the concept of interest. So when the bank teller showed me a calculator, what my hundred dollar investment would be in a year, I wasn't too impressed. You know, I kind of thought I can get a better rate on my own.
So basically I started pedaling to my neighbors. I went door to door, but instead of selling girl scout cookies, I was selling a very reasonable $100 loan at the exceptional rate of 10% interest a month. So yeah, I just really wanted a very fast return. And I remember one of my neighbors basically saying like those are mafia rates! But I was not put off.
Annie:
[Laughs] Wait how old were you? How old were you? Sorry to interrupt.
Daisy:
Eight.
Annie:
You understood percentages?
Daisy:
Well, yeah, I mean, my dad took me to the bank and basically had a calculator and my, well, my dad was very big into teaching me these things. Like opening my savings account was a way to understand percent. So, you know,
Annie:
Did you have a passbook for your bank account?
Daisy:
Uh, yeah, I mean, it was very, it was a, it was a while ago, so
Annie:
Yeah, I have that too where they like printed out every line on, in the little booklet.
Daisy:
Yeah. So, at 10% interest a month, I didn't get too many takers. However, there was one. A charming next door neighbor who it would later turn out was one of England's most notorious society conmen. And he went by the name of Count Guiy De Mortfortt. So, even then at eight I sensed that guy was a high risk loan. There was something a little off about Guiy. He had a lot of stories about his life. I mean, now they're like really suspect, but even then I was
Annie:
Where was this again, Malibu?
Daisy:
Yeah, this is my dad's place in Malibu. So yeah, he was the next door neighbor, on a property next door. So, some of his stories. He was a secret agent. He fought off two Siberian tigers, I think with his bare hands, like it was crazy.
Annie:
He’d tell you these stories?
Daisy:
I mean, not sat me down personally, but there's always stories. Like he was always kind of holding court, you know? And in the sort of community we lived in, it was kind of like, I mean, it was very British, there were a lot of British ex-pats. The landlady and the landlord were a couple, they're British. So they would always have like all of the tenants over for tea in their exquisite Malibu garden. So it was this sort of strange little life, and he was often holding court and he would tell these stories.
Oh, another one was, he was the target of the Royal family because he knew too much about them. And that's why he fled to America. I mean, it was all so crazy. And I think he had a biography, like an autobiography we were reading parts of. And there was this one bit where he talks about his family being killed by guerillas. And, you know, cause I was eight. I had thought it meant like gorillas as in like the monkey, but it was a guerillas, you know, g-u-e like militias,
Annie:
Maybe they really were gorillas.
Daisy:
Maybe. So he was a great storyteller and that's basically, I think why my dad really kind of gravitated towards him. He didn't trust him, but as a former screenwriter, my dad's motto was always don't let the truth ruin a perfectly good story. So he liked Guiy, cause he was always reliable for a good story.
And the other thing to know about Guiy — so this was something that was really a prominent feature of his, was that, every time we saw him, he always had a different seemingly very serious, very rich girlfriend. Like every week he'd have a different woman over and they were always kind of young, and it always seemed like they were a real item and, and and they always seem to have money.
So I understood from my dad that these women often loaned Guiy money. So, when Guiy offered to borrow my hundred dollars, I had second thoughts. I was like, I don’t know. And I looked at my dad and I was kind of like, should I do this? And he threw up his hands, and basically was like, not my money, it's your decision. Which is kind of crazy. But I mean, you know, I guess from his perspective, it was like a hundred dollars, you know, and maybe there’d be a good life lesson to me.
So I agreed because I was kind of greedy and I'm like, okay, like I do want that 10% interest. I want that money to increase value as quickly as possible. So he wrote me a postdated check for the amount right then on the spot. And I was like, okay, you know, whatever, what the hell? Like, he's my neighbor. I know where he lives. Like he's not going to get away by not paying me back. I'll get it eventually.
Now it should probably come as no surprise that the check bounced. And it wasn't long after that Guiy got arrested. So I'm not saying I had anything to do with it, but he did get arrested at our house. So, we invited him over for dinner and we went out for pre-dinner drinks. And when we returned, the FBI were waiting in our driveway. I think he was arrested for forging a US passport.
So they're dragging him away in handcuffs. My dad's running after the feds with the camera, he's like cursing at them and screaming and being like, this is a mistake, we're going to sue you! And he's like, flash, flash taking pictures. And I'm like, totally flabbergasted. I'm like, what is going on? Like, just to see like someone get arrested, in real life. Not even by police, but by these federal agents, it was all crazy.
Annie:
Wow.
Daisy:
So then like literally five minutes later, one of my dad's best friends shows up, maybe 10 minutes later, and this was someone who lived like at least a half an hour away. And he's like, Oh yeah, we're having dinner with Ben tonight. And I was like, I thought we were having dinner with Guiy. And he's like Oh, no, he got arrested. And it just kind of dawned on me then that my dad had doubled booked, almost as if he knew Guiy was going to get arrested. So I thought that was kind of interesting.
So about a year later, I got a call from the TV show hard-copy, who were doing a segment onGuiy and they asked me to do an interview. So, the film crew met me — my mom had a hat studio, a hat shop in lower Manhattan. So they agreed to meet me.
Annie:
You were nine at this point.
Daisy:
Yeah. I'm nine. I just started a new school. So this film crew meets me at my mom's hat studio, and after the interview, they ask for a shot of me walking down the street, wearing one of her hats. So I'm like, okay. But when the piece aired, this is kind of how it went, you know, it goes “Guiy de Montfort. Had an illustrious career as a con man. For years, he seduced beautiful women and broke their hearts — and their bank accounts! Until he crossed paths with eight year old Daisy Carrington.”
So they totally fingered me as the vigilante, like eight year old vigilante who got back
Annie:
And then you're walking down the street wearing like a hat and your puff sleeves, I’m sure!
Daisy:
No, I mean, it's like black and white footage. I'm like walking down the street. I mean, I look like a crime fighting Blossom.
[laughter]
I'm like, I look like I'm coming to get him, you know? So I don't know. I never really knew how hard copy found out about that story. Looking back on the segment, cause I still have it, the photos of Guiy being arrested, the black and white ones that my dad took, they aired in the same segment. Which didn't really clue me into the fact until recently that maybe my dad set Guiy up and then sold his story to the tabloids, like never occurred to me until like a couple of years ago. I'm like, is that what happened?
And I mean, he always told me that basically the landlord next door had a really bad judge of character, he was a bad judge of character and he rented his two units out to two different con men. And the other con man who had some other game, but didn't like Guiy on his territory. This is the story my dad always told me. He was the one that called the feds and turned him in because he wanted Guiy off the property. He didn't want him like in his, in his vicinity,
Annie:
Only one con man per property! So did you ever look him up?
Daisy:
Yeah. There's articles on him. I mean, he’s actually a bit, kind of illustrious. There was like this whole profile on him. He didn't stay in American jail forever, I mean, he was back in the UK at some point. He actually was kind of notorious. So if you do look him up, I mean, you can find him online. They had stories written on him. I think that there might've been a documentary on him at some point. So it wasn't just me and my running in hard copy. I mean, he was like in the eighties, popular tabloid fodder, particularly in the UK.
I didn't even sniff them out. I mean, I had nothing to do with this, but the way a hard copy ran the story, it was definitely like, it was me. I put him behind bars, like I'm like this eight year old, incredible vigilante. And, not often, but there were a couple of times, like in the few years after that, every now and then I would get recognized. Like I remember a couple of people would be like, I think I saw you, you put this con man behind jail. I was like, all right. Yeah. Like it happened, I think it happened twice, but it was kind of very funny that it did. I
Annie:
Alright, last Daisy story for this tangentially related dog episode. Tell me about your relationship with Mike Teavee.
Daisy:
Oh my God. Okay. So as a kid, I was really terrified of Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory.
Annie:
The movie?
Daisy:
Yeah. Now, a super side note. I had a massive crush on Gene Wilder. So that's why, cause I love Gene Wilder. I even wrote him a love letter as a kid, like loved him. But it was the one movie I couldn't watch because when I watched it, I think I was like seven or something, super terrified of it. So, you know, overcoming this fear, I think when I was about 12, a friend of mine in middle school, it kind of became our personal cult classic. Like watched it again as a young preteen and was able to watch it and not be super terrified of blueberry girls and drowning and chocolate and all of the things that are genuinely scary about the movie and kind of appreciate its campiness.
So we basically watched it. You know, you get obsessed with movies. So, one of my friends and I, we watched it every week, every week, and just became absolutely obsessed with it. And I think we kind of had a crush on Mike Teavee. Cause the actor at the time when it was filmed, he probably would have been about the age we were when we were watching it, you know, 13, 14, and he was handsome.
So, we were looking at the credits, and then we noticed that the actor that played Mike Teavee had a really unique name, and his name was Paris Themmen. So we were just like, let’s look him up. Now this is before the internet. So basically I literally dialed, information dialed 411, and it was like, give me the number to Paris Themmen. And it was listed, he had a listed phone number, so called the phone number and this guy answered the phone and he's like, Oh yeah, Paris doesn't live here anymore. He's moved to California. So we're like, Oh, can we have that number? And then he's like, who is this? We're like friends. And he's like, Oh, okay. Gave us his number. Didn't think that was suspicious at all.
And so we ended up calling and we, we got him and we were like, are you the, are you the Paris Themmen who’s Mike Teavee? And he was actually lovely, but he laughed. And he was like, I'm not admitting to anything, but I mean, we ended up talking to him for like, Oh, I think for a couple of hours, I think. He was very sweet, totally indulged us. He wasn't an actor anymore at that point. And, you know, answered all of our kind of burning questions about, you know, various gestures or this or that, you know, kind of geeky stuff that, that maybe between the characters of Mike Teavee and Willy Wonka and, got his interpretation of events.
He sent us a signed autograph picture as well. He said he did not get very many of these calls at this point, that there was one, one person who sort of, in shaky handwriting would send them fan letters every now and then, but that was..
Annie:
I think that's such a sweet story. It's like the most sweet, wholesome story of like pre-internet fandom.
Daisy:
Yeah. Yeah. So, it was nice that we were able to kind of make that connection, and yeah, and that was enough to sort of satisfy my kind of Willy Wonka obsession. And I don't think I really watched it quite as frequently after that. It was just like, it was a nice closure, I suppose, to the whole thing.
Annie:
To your Willy Wonka period. Well, I would love to watch Willy Wonka with you and Laura and Bruno and Magnolia.
Daisy:
Yeah. It is a scary movie for a young kid.
Annie:
It’s scary but also, the funny thing is like, it looks so rough around the edges compared to how things look now. All the special effects are like, not that special, but it kind of adds to the charm.
Daisy:
No, for sure. Although, I don't know if Bruno and Maggie yet have like, if their special effects tastes are like super developed, maybe they are. You never know.
Annie:
At this point I think we could totally thrill them with it.
Daisy:
Yeah.
Annie:
I love the music, the candy man can.
Daisy:
Yes, no, absolutely. I mean, I even wrote fan fiction!
Annie:
Well, I think actually inspired by your obsession with Mike Teavee, in college I had to do some kind of internet research project. I don't really remember what it was, but it was back when an internet research project was like a thing. And I tried to find the oompa loompas like what all the different Oompa Loompas were doing then now. I mean, now, then. And it was like a funny early internet rabbit hole I went down. I don't think I reached out to any of them, but it was fun just finding them and I'm sure Mike Teavee probably now has a Wikipedia page and whatever. Back then you actually had to call 411 to find these people.
Anyway. Thank you so much for indulging me. And I miss you guys. I can't wait to be back in New York.
Daisy:
Absolutely. Well, we miss you too. And we will, and we'll definitely be back forMaggie's birthday in January. Yeah. So that'll be super fun. So we'll, Oh God, I don't know what we'll do. God come winter, and you know, the outdoors isn't really as much of a thing, but we'll figure it out.
Annie:
Figure it out. I love you.
Daisy:
I love you too honey.
Links:
Learn more about Daisy Carrington at DaisyCarrington.com
Learn more about Guiy de Montfort here
Daisy's dad was screenwriter Robert Carrington, who wrote, among other things, the Audrey Hepburn movie Wait Until Dark.
