CARDcast #4: Teresia Dulaney - Author and Mom of Two Adults with Autism 4 00:00:14.219 --> 00:00:31.200 Greg Valcante: So I'll introduce myself. I'm Greg Bell can t and I'm the director of our University of Florida center for autism and related disabilities and I'd like you to introduce yourself. 5 00:00:32.340 --> 00:00:39.150 Teresia Dulaney: Well, I'm Theresa Delaney and I'm, author of How to Train a superhero. A story of autism. 6 00:00:40.470 --> 00:00:49.080 Teresia Dulaney: I was a stay at home mom all the years that I was raising both my boys. I have two boys on the autism spectrum and so 7 00:00:50.160 --> 00:00:57.840 Teresia Dulaney: I tell everybody, even though I have a degree in elementary ed and special ed that I got the life degree first 8 00:00:59.010 --> 00:01:04.620 Greg Valcante: Great. Tell me. Let's tell tell us a little bit about both of your songs 9 00:01:05.490 --> 00:01:19.500 Teresia Dulaney: Well, Tommy is diagnosed with autism and jack is actually diagnosed with Asperger's and Tommy at the rate. He is right now. He will probably always live with us. 10 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:28.260 Teresia Dulaney: But jack was able to go to college. He has a degree in sports management with a minor in Bible 11 00:01:29.970 --> 00:01:49.800 Teresia Dulaney: And he is able to live on his own. He has his own car drives all that good stuff, Tommy, unfortunately, still has probably the mind of like a 10 or 12 year old and he's obsessed with superheroes and Disney. So he spends most of his time. 12 00:01:50.880 --> 00:02:02.250 Teresia Dulaney: Doing that, but we're actually trying to channel those things into a way for him to support himself. So we were on many projects in that right now. 13 00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:11.400 Greg Valcante: I'll bet you are. Tell me about, you know, their younger years and when, at what age were they diagnosed 14 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:24.600 Teresia Dulaney: And jack was actually diagnosed with Asperger's. Probably when he was about seven and Tommy was diagnosed with autism at five and 15 00:02:26.070 --> 00:02:34.770 Teresia Dulaney: Jack had the more of the language delays than anything. Everything else he seemed to pretty much hit 16 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:36.990 Teresia Dulaney: The normal 17 00:02:38.970 --> 00:02:51.870 Teresia Dulaney: Age whatever milestones of pretty much everything, especially physically, mentally, he, he has more had more of a problem with comprehension. So 18 00:02:53.430 --> 00:02:58.860 Teresia Dulaney: especially things like sarcasm innuendos all that just kind of went right over his head. 19 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:14.310 Teresia Dulaney: For Tommy his, his language was way more delayed he jack was at least copycatting at five and Tommy didn't even start really copycatting till he was maybe about six 20 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:32.160 Teresia Dulaney: And his communication is still you know its extensive as far as but he. It's amazing how you learn how to compensate for your weaknesses. So Tommy has no problem getting his communication across 21 00:03:33.750 --> 00:03:49.860 Teresia Dulaney: As far as what he wants and that kind of thing. So he knows how to write and spell. So if we don't understand him what he's saying to us will say Tommy spell it. I don't understand. And he can spell it so that helps 22 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.790 Greg Valcante: That's great. It's great. So 23 00:03:55.410 --> 00:04:02.160 Greg Valcante: Can you tell me a little more about some of the challenges you faced you in the family faced on your journey. 24 00:04:02.730 --> 00:04:13.860 Teresia Dulaney: Um, for Tommy things were way more extensive you know for jacket was always expressive and receptive language, mostly. So we would 25 00:04:14.550 --> 00:04:30.810 Teresia Dulaney: Work with him on that and I believe he got a little bit of OT when he was younger, Tommy. On the other hand, had major sensory issues he had severe communication delays and 26 00:04:32.010 --> 00:04:44.070 Teresia Dulaney: So most of the challenges we had revolved around that. So there was always behaviors that we were trying to figure out what you know what was the root cause, kind of thing. 27 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:49.290 Teresia Dulaney: And so we just kind of go from there. 28 00:04:51.330 --> 00:04:55.740 Greg Valcante: Any particular incidents that you feel impacted your parenting. 29 00:04:56.790 --> 00:04:57.600 Greg Valcante: Along the way, 30 00:04:57.690 --> 00:05:12.480 Teresia Dulaney: Well, I'll tell you what made all the difference in the world for me because once Tommy was diagnosed, I wouldn't choose like major research mode, trying to figure out, you know, what exactly was autism and 31 00:05:13.110 --> 00:05:19.620 Teresia Dulaney: Whether there was a cure, you know, how could I get help for him, all of that. And so 32 00:05:21.510 --> 00:05:31.710 Teresia Dulaney: One of the biggest things for me especially when Tommy was admitted to back then. I don't know what you call it now, but back then it was called the children's mental health unit and chance 33 00:05:32.850 --> 00:05:33.420 Teresia Dulaney: And 34 00:05:34.860 --> 00:05:47.610 Teresia Dulaney: So when he was admitted there, you know, he's still didn't understand. Come here. Sit down. I mean, there just was no communication whatsoever, but um 35 00:05:49.170 --> 00:05:56.280 Teresia Dulaney: But anyways, he we dealt with that a lot. And then I lost my train of thought was a question. 36 00:05:57.930 --> 00:05:59.970 Greg Valcante: About a particular incident that 37 00:06:01.590 --> 00:06:01.950 Greg Valcante: Thing. 38 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.500 Teresia Dulaney: Right when I went into research mode. 39 00:06:05.580 --> 00:06:17.370 Teresia Dulaney: I came across Temple Grandin and realized that she was autistic and that she had written books. And so I started ordering her books and reading her books and 40 00:06:18.810 --> 00:06:25.590 Teresia Dulaney: When he went on the unit at Shands. It's like I was afraid because I didn't know if he would understand, you know, 41 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:36.690 Teresia Dulaney: Because he would be there all during the week and we would he would come home on the weekends and my biggest fear was that he would would think that we were dropping him off and we weren't coming back to get him. 42 00:06:37.590 --> 00:06:50.610 Teresia Dulaney: Because there was no way of communicating that to him. And so anyways but she she explained so many things of behaviors that she experienced 43 00:06:51.870 --> 00:07:03.630 Teresia Dulaney: And was basically able to tell you what it was like from the inside out to be autistic and I saw a lot of very similar behaviors and Tommy 44 00:07:04.230 --> 00:07:17.940 Teresia Dulaney: And so by her being able to express what was going on with her when she was having these particular things happen to her and how she was relating them then 45 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:28.470 Teresia Dulaney: It helps me understand what could possibly be going on and side Tommy and from there. That's what, that's where I began. I mean, it was trial and error. 46 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:46.050 Teresia Dulaney: And everything that you know cuz autism affects everybody differently. It's not going to be the same. So, not to say that everything that I saw in Tommy was going to be the same exact thing that temple went through. But it gave me a starting point. 47 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:52.650 Teresia Dulaney: And so, so it did, it made all the world of difference in how I parenting after that. 48 00:07:54.120 --> 00:08:08.880 Greg Valcante: Thank you. So you know your concerns about, you know, leaving a child for five days. And, you know, those are the exact same concerns we had back then. And that's why we don't have that. 49 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:11.670 Greg Valcante: Anymore, we just work with everybody. 50 00:08:11.700 --> 00:08:13.200 Greg Valcante: While they're staying at home. 51 00:08:13.260 --> 00:08:23.100 Teresia Dulaney: Yeah. And yeah, and I tell everybody now it's like to tell our story and the things that we we went through in my book, because all of that even like what I went through. 52 00:08:23.940 --> 00:08:28.710 Teresia Dulaney: When he was on the unit, you know, during that time, as a parent, and how it affected me 53 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:39.420 Teresia Dulaney: It affects everybody in way back then. I mean, you guys know way more now and understand more now than you did back then. I mean, that was 30 something years ago. 54 00:08:39.660 --> 00:08:42.030 Teresia Dulaney: Yeah, I'm sure for for people 55 00:08:42.990 --> 00:08:53.880 Teresia Dulaney: You know, like, even back when he was a five, it was even more so for those that you know had autism years before he was diagnosis. Well, I mean, we just know 56 00:08:54.180 --> 00:09:01.530 Teresia Dulaney: Way more now than we used to. And that's the case. I mean we hopefully will always make progress and learn 57 00:09:01.950 --> 00:09:17.880 Teresia Dulaney: You know, as time goes so it is. I know it's very different. Now, the way I hear parents talk about, you know, the things that they're doing for like different therapies and things like that. And we're just so far past that with Tommy that 58 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:28.830 Teresia Dulaney: That I don't, I don't really do a whole lot of research and all of that, like those that are just starting out now. 59 00:09:30.090 --> 00:09:35.790 Greg Valcante: So how old are the boys now and what can you tell us about you know how they spend their days. 60 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:49.980 Teresia Dulaney: Well, top jack is 33 and like I said he went to college and everything. He and I basically run a business together, we started doing that when he got out of college. 61 00:09:51.390 --> 00:09:52.710 Teresia Dulaney: The degree. He got 62 00:09:53.850 --> 00:10:15.510 Teresia Dulaney: Just, it requires more of knowing people to get into that type of field and Jack's communication skills, even to this day are not strong enough that he can really even navigate his way, you know, through really even sometimes it's difficult for him for job interviews, because 63 00:10:16.950 --> 00:10:30.900 Teresia Dulaney: He just doesn't have that authoritative confidence type of personality that he can go in and sell himself in an interview, which is basically what you really need to do when you have one 64 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:43.950 Teresia Dulaney: So, but jack has worked seasonally for Disney all the well since he graduated high school. So while he was going to college during the summer months, he always had 65 00:10:46.110 --> 00:11:01.230 Teresia Dulaney: You always had a job when he came home for the summer. So with between him and and working and us. He was actually able to go through college and come out debt free he he paid we paid for college. 66 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:19.080 Teresia Dulaney: Little bit at a time. All of us working together and restarted this business together and actually now with the publishing of my book and us trying to help build Tommy's Tommy man brands that we're doing right now. 67 00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:24.810 Teresia Dulaney: Then that's kind of we're kind of moving from the other business. We had into this 68 00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:31.380 Teresia Dulaney: And just hoping you know it'll, it'll boom into something big. I don't know what 69 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:44.100 Teresia Dulaney: And then as for Tommy he he spends his days always busy. He loves to make money and he understands that when he was I was homeschooling him for 70 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:49.470 Teresia Dulaney: From, like, the fourth grade on and he 71 00:11:50.850 --> 00:11:52.650 Teresia Dulaney: I taught him how to budget. 72 00:11:53.760 --> 00:12:12.690 Teresia Dulaney: And he started a little car wash business that was kind of his hands on training for budgeting and every since then he just he got the entrepreneurial bug. He is like so into making things and selling things and making money and 73 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:18.180 Teresia Dulaney: I had to put a halt on some of that because as far as 74 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:30.600 Teresia Dulaney: What started me to teach him the budgeting was because you know he has all these dreams of doing all these things and it costs money, and 75 00:12:32.610 --> 00:12:40.770 Teresia Dulaney: Expensive stuff and always want to go to Disney and just all kinds of stuff. And I was like, boy, you need to learn what money is all about. 76 00:12:42.090 --> 00:12:53.250 Teresia Dulaney: So that's when I taught it started in with the car wash business and making money and all of that. And I actually taught him goal setting. He's a huge goal setter like his mother. So when he wants something 77 00:12:53.700 --> 00:13:11.040 Teresia Dulaney: He sets a goal. He makes this little gold chart little thermometer, like you see, you know, when you do in a goal and figures out. You know what, how much he's got to earn and then he just goes at it until he gets what he wants, he does not take no for an answer. 78 00:13:11.880 --> 00:13:17.850 Greg Valcante: Great One, what would you say is his greatest accomplishments and achievements. 79 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:32.250 Teresia Dulaney: Um, probably the fact that, I mean, you know, the thing that I say about Tommy all the time. Is he knows and understands and just enough to want what everybody else has. He wants a wife. He wants 80 00:13:32.640 --> 00:13:44.790 Teresia Dulaney: His own house. He wants his car, you know, but he doesn't have the emotional stuff that goes with all of that, and nor does he understand, you know, the 81 00:13:46.890 --> 00:14:00.300 Teresia Dulaney: I don't know what you would call it the seriousness of it all, you know i mean it's it's to him. Everything's a fairy tale. Everything has a happy ending, you know, all of that. And that's just not the way life is, unfortunately, 82 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:04.860 Teresia Dulaney: I said it would be wonderful if we could live in Tommy's world all the time. 83 00:14:06.150 --> 00:14:06.690 Teresia Dulaney: But 84 00:14:07.770 --> 00:14:11.190 Teresia Dulaney: But his strength, of course, has always been his memory. 85 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:19.950 Teresia Dulaney: And his passion for life and he has a way of making an impact, no matter where he goes like we had a 86 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:23.010 Teresia Dulaney: Gym Membership at Gainesville, health and fitness. 87 00:14:23.550 --> 00:14:36.480 Teresia Dulaney: For a couple of years here, we don't have it now, but he he would go in that place and he would do his thing. And I go work out and do my thing, you know, or whatever, and it 88 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:47.220 Teresia Dulaney: dawned on me one day when we were walking in after months being there when we walk through the door. Everybody's okay tommy. Tommy, you know, and nobody knew who I was. 89 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:51.090 Teresia Dulaney: And I was like, what am I chopped liver, you know, 90 00:14:53.490 --> 00:15:02.220 Teresia Dulaney: I mean he just has a way of making his own friends his own, you know, first impressions and impacts with people and 91 00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:10.890 Teresia Dulaney: You know they that he and jack both they love unconditionally. They never see the worst are in bad in anybody 92 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:21.840 Teresia Dulaney: They always see the good first and and Tommy is a hard worker. Let me tell you he is not lazy at all. 93 00:15:22.260 --> 00:15:34.770 Teresia Dulaney: And I could go on and on about all the things that he does around the house without us even asking him to do. And we get spoiled. Because if you ever go stay the night with somebody else then 94 00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:39.900 Teresia Dulaney: He didn't take care of this. Or he didn't do that, you know, because 95 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:55.920 Teresia Dulaney: He's just done it for so long but but i think one of his strengths of courses is memory and then the fact that that he is he really is a very hard worker and he loves to work and he loves to have money in his pocket. 96 00:15:57.780 --> 00:16:09.210 Greg Valcante: Well, and I bet that personality that personality that you know makes him make friends and and so that when he goes to the fitness center. Everybody that's, you know, that's quite an asset. So 97 00:16:09.750 --> 00:16:10.110 Teresia Dulaney: Yeah. 98 00:16:10.470 --> 00:16:15.120 Teresia Dulaney: I think he runs the sound system at our church every Sunday and 99 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:19.860 Teresia Dulaney: Though he he he has his own thing, you know. 100 00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:25.980 Teresia Dulaney: It's just not enough that I would ever feel comfortable with him. 101 00:16:27.270 --> 00:16:29.670 Teresia Dulaney: You know, living on his own necessarily 102 00:16:31.050 --> 00:16:46.080 Teresia Dulaney: Because, and then the biggest part of that is when he was 16 I tell this story in my book, he actually was in a burn accident and he burned 66% of his body in second and third degree burns and 103 00:16:47.130 --> 00:17:01.230 Teresia Dulaney: That was kind of that pivotal thing of, okay, well, you know, he just has no sense of danger. And so for that reason, I would be very uncomfortable, you know, with him living by himself. 104 00:17:01.260 --> 00:17:05.220 Greg Valcante: Yeah, sure. Well, let's talk about your book a little bit. Let's 105 00:17:06.300 --> 00:17:10.560 Greg Valcante: Talk about what made you decide to write a book. And how long did it take 106 00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:20.010 Teresia Dulaney: Well, it's weird because when when Tommy was first diagnosed. I was in a meeting with the early intervention center and 107 00:17:22.110 --> 00:17:29.940 Teresia Dulaney: I heard a parent and other parents get up and speak about her child, and I was there, just 108 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:40.530 Teresia Dulaney: Pouring tears pouring down my face thinking how can you stand out there and talk about your child like that and not shed a tear. You know, I mean, I just was amazed. 109 00:17:41.130 --> 00:17:54.240 Teresia Dulaney: But then I realized that God was using her and sharing her story and and then I felt like later wasn't too long after that that that's what I needed to do as well. 110 00:17:55.110 --> 00:18:11.610 Teresia Dulaney: And so I didn't even I had it in the back of my mind always. And so along the over the years, as some little funny story would happen or some incident that I wanted to make sure I would remember when the time came, I would write it down in a notebook. 111 00:18:12.330 --> 00:18:24.900 Teresia Dulaney: And so by the time that I felt like, by the time I started writing the book, I would have all the material for it. Well, that works fine if you can remember where you put the book. 112 00:18:26.610 --> 00:18:27.810 Teresia Dulaney: Number in the book. 113 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:42.120 Teresia Dulaney: But anyways, um, I guess probably about two years ago, I had said, Okay, it's time to get this done you know and and so I was bound and determined to get it written 114 00:18:43.290 --> 00:18:49.200 Teresia Dulaney: I only wrote on it when I was away on the weekends by myself, which was very rarely but 115 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:56.400 Teresia Dulaney: So it probably took me a little bit. It didn't take long to write it was just getting the time to sit down and do it. 116 00:18:57.030 --> 00:19:13.560 Teresia Dulaney: But I finally finished it. And the reason that I was very adamant about that is because I know what an impact tempo Brandon's books were for me and I felt I feel like everybody because autism affects everybody differently. 117 00:19:15.510 --> 00:19:27.630 Teresia Dulaney: Everybody has her own story to tell and when we tell and share it. We help other people that may be just going through it themselves as well and 118 00:19:28.230 --> 00:19:39.660 Teresia Dulaney: With temple, it probably saved me a lot of time with you know the direction and amount of time and research and all of that. I feel like it helped me 119 00:19:40.950 --> 00:19:53.760 Teresia Dulaney: Save time and in that area because she kind of gave me a jumpstart basically and I hope our book does the same for other parents, you know, everybody's stories are different and 120 00:19:54.840 --> 00:20:02.250 Teresia Dulaney: There's because we're all different, too, because there are some other things that I've got in the book there to about my 121 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:11.220 Teresia Dulaney: Acceptance of the disability and that kind of thing. So there were, there was just a lot there but 122 00:20:13.110 --> 00:20:21.420 Teresia Dulaney: I've had more people tell me that my my book makes them laugh and cry and, you know, and they're just so inspired in the end. 123 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:28.140 Teresia Dulaney: Just because and that's what we hope but we just want to help give hope to 124 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:32.520 Teresia Dulaney: Those and encourage those that are just starting out with autism. 125 00:20:34.170 --> 00:20:44.100 Teresia Dulaney: Is my thing. I think parents need to be expert on their children. And that's what I tell everybody. I'm not an expert on autism. I'm an expert on my children. 126 00:20:44.400 --> 00:21:00.600 Teresia Dulaney: I know them in and out, like the back of my hand. I know they're how they're going to respond to things. I know how I can help them when they you know encounter situations that they're uncomfortable with and just all those things. And as a parents 127 00:21:01.890 --> 00:21:12.300 Teresia Dulaney: Of those, you know, with autism. I think that's very important. So my, my biggest client is basically helping parents to be an expert on their children. 128 00:21:13.290 --> 00:21:14.220 Teresia Dulaney: Thank you. 129 00:21:14.490 --> 00:21:24.600 Greg Valcante: So I've heard other parents say, you know, when they tell about their life with their kids they heard them say, Well, I could write a book about this. 130 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:24.990 Kid. 131 00:21:26.490 --> 00:21:28.080 Teresia Dulaney: Absolutely could for 132 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:31.620 Greg Valcante: Sure. Do you suggest to them if they're interested in doing that. 133 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:46.800 Teresia Dulaney: Well, I say go for it because I think that everybody's story is going to help others in some way, you know and and what may touch one person going through autism or facing autism. 134 00:21:47.730 --> 00:22:03.180 Teresia Dulaney: Um, may help one person. My story might help them, but it may not really impact another person, you know, the same way. So, and like I said autism affects us all different, and we do all have our own story to tell. We do. 135 00:22:04.470 --> 00:22:13.530 Teresia Dulaney: And they're fascinating individuals, they really are. I mean, I could tell you so many amazing things about both my boys that just 136 00:22:14.130 --> 00:22:29.670 Teresia Dulaney: You know, and, and even now they're 31 and 33 and I can't tell you how excited we get when especially when Tommy makes a comment. You know that. So like off the wall or so different from what he would normally say we're like, Whoa, where did that come through. 137 00:22:31.290 --> 00:22:43.530 Teresia Dulaney: The other day I was going down the road, and we were Tommy and I were headed somewhere. And I kind of ran off the road a little bit, you know, and just all of a sudden he turned and looked at me and say, hey, what's where you're going. 138 00:22:44.940 --> 00:23:00.000 Teresia Dulaney: And I mean, that's just not things that he usually says, yeah, so we do we still, it's just like teaching you know when when you have these little breakthroughs, you get so excited you're it's such a little thing to most people, but it's not the US. 139 00:23:00.300 --> 00:23:01.740 Teresia Dulaney: Right, it's not to 140 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:09.570 Teresia Dulaney: Special Needs teacher. It's not to parents who are dealing with it, day in and day out. It's a big thing. 141 00:23:11.520 --> 00:23:17.130 Greg Valcante: So how can others reach you, and learn about your book purchase your book. 142 00:23:19.110 --> 00:23:33.810 Teresia Dulaney: Several ways. I actually have my own website is called our superhero life com it's oh you are superhero life.com you can actually purchase a book from my website. 143 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:38.790 Teresia Dulaney: That one, you can actually get an autograph book from if you want an autograph. 144 00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:44.550 Teresia Dulaney: From us and for me and Tommy man, Tommy, man. Pretty much signs them all to 145 00:23:45.570 --> 00:23:57.000 Teresia Dulaney: You can buy anywhere online Amazon, Barnes and Nobles Walmart com any of those places you can find it online. The thing about our website, though, is 146 00:23:57.780 --> 00:24:06.900 Teresia Dulaney: And you'll read about Tommy because he is on the cover of the book in a superhero costume that he designed 147 00:24:07.830 --> 00:24:18.330 Teresia Dulaney: And we are actually I made the costume and he's on the cover and we're actually in the in the process of trying to get we've filed for the trademark for his superhero character. 148 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:35.700 Teresia Dulaney: And we plan on building a Tommy man brand that's what he calls himself and in his mind Disney's going to make a movie about his superhero one day. So I say, Hey, who am I to say, you know, he could it could happen. 149 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:40.050 Teresia Dulaney: That we are so like right now. We just produced a 150 00:24:41.820 --> 00:24:45.390 Teresia Dulaney: Tommy. Tommy man's story calendar. 151 00:24:46.530 --> 00:25:05.310 Teresia Dulaney: That you can order from our website to and then we have some other Tommy man products now in we're adding stuff every week, but he's already designed like a line of Tommy man clothing and I'm trying to find a manufacturer for those things. So 152 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:08.100 Teresia Dulaney: He has big, big dreams. 153 00:25:09.390 --> 00:25:24.030 Teresia Dulaney: And we're just trying to help him fulfill it. So if you go to our website and subscribe subscribe. We have a special we're giving away a superhero, watch. It's a Invicta divers watch men's divers what 154 00:25:25.050 --> 00:25:35.490 Teresia Dulaney: At in December, so you can buy stuff and you get your name in the drawing for every $10 you spend on our website and then 155 00:25:37.020 --> 00:25:51.360 Teresia Dulaney: If you subscribe to my website, you get five entries to so to win the watch. But that's basically, I mean, we are looking always looking for TV interviews and radio interviews. 156 00:25:52.470 --> 00:25:57.900 Teresia Dulaney: Speaking Engagements until covert hit. I was booked booked up through the month of June with 157 00:25:59.070 --> 00:26:04.500 Teresia Dulaney: Speaking Engagements conferences I was doing a couple of workshops and those 158 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:21.150 Teresia Dulaney: And then just about book signings book events anything and everything just to help get the word out because the United States is a big place. And when you're trying to inform everybody that's a lot of people 159 00:26:22.230 --> 00:26:24.510 Teresia Dulaney: So we need all the jumpstart we can get 160 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:37.710 Teresia Dulaney: Through those avenues. You know, we, I just did an Instagram account for Tommy. So we're fixing to try to do some Instagram stuff and get it to go viral. That way, if we can, so 161 00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:50.220 Greg Valcante: Well, you've got a great story for your story of you and the boys is a great story. So we're so happy to have had this opportunity to talk with you today. Teresa and 162 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.140 Greg Valcante: We 163 00:26:54.150 --> 00:26:58.980 Greg Valcante: are happy to be able to share the share the word and spread the word for you. 164 00:26:59.130 --> 00:27:05.550 Teresia Dulaney: Yes. Well, I appreciate it very much. And if you guys ever. I don't know, you know, with coven and everything. I don't know.