S2E17-"Ain't Nobody Got Time For That" Special Guest-Sue Acton

0:08 Dude, good morning, good morning. Why are you covering half your face? What did you do? Because I'm not happy with my jowls, your jowls. I feel like I have to now that I'm turning forty seven in October ninety seven. In October, I've noticed that my face is starting to fall towards the ground. That's called gravity. Fuck gravity. Nothing can be held up for too long. I could pull a couple of lines up, like just have pulleys in the in the ceiling maybe and you can get away. That were kind of you know, Oh, I just think lying on my back no jokes would make a lot more sense. So how are you good?

0:57 How is your birthday month progressing? Well, it's started this weekend because I'm a few days away. But yes, we're recording already. Hi. Hi, Well you put on a happy face. I put on this. Do you like this wig? It's called the Lulu. It's from my collection. That's at about to turn sixty three. I've got many faces. But yeah. So Friday night I went to a concert at the Fillmore, the legendary Fillmore here in the city, which I hadn't been to too many times. But it was fun. It's a young country artists that I saw on Instagram, like, oh, it's the music's nice, and they said, oh, he's coming to San Francisco. So I went to see him. It was good. And then yesterday afternoon, Saturday afternoon, I went to a place that I'd never been to before, and it's apparently been in the city for many years.

1:49 It's called the city Scape Skybar. It's in Union Square on the forty sixth floor of the Hilton Hotel. Interesting street. So into the you know, go into the lobby, go up to the forty sixth floor, and you have this spectacular view of the city. Nice. And so one side faces the downtown financial district and the bay, and then the other side faces you know, the rest of the city heading towards the west. For it's the ocean, but clear, beautiful day, and I mean the whole city is right beneath you. It was pretty nice. So we just I want a couple of friends for some cocktails and appetizers in the afternoon. And then today you didn't ask for Gary, why are you wearing Hawaiian shirt?

2:37 Wait, let me just set it up for you. But Hi, Gary, why are you wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I don't know, no help. Set that up? Really good? No, because this afternoon I'm gathering with some high school friends of ours for a Hawaiian theme cocktail party. Shut the front or are you kidding? For my birthday just happens to fall, you know today? Uh? So I decided why I would dress the part? Uh? And then I asked, what can I bring? Anything? Well, maybe like a dessert. So I looked up Hawaiian desserts and I made how pia.

3:18 Okay, it's so. Dessert. It's that like a custard. So if you go to my Instagram account, you will see I have posted already because I've made it last night. Okay, okay, Well I look forward to seeing it because your Instagram account is always under siege with all of your followers being the influencer that you are with how pia or want to want a pia? Whatever you make, whatever. You call it, just trying to grow the business. Maybe you could create a Hawaiian dessert business. Well, let's see how the how pia goes. First, how pia is what it's called h a u p i A how pia? How? Yeah? Okay?

4:00 So yeah, well, welcome part to that we'll see some of our friends that we've mentioned or as guests. Uh Giju will be there. Sure? Nice? Yeah, so nice. And I sent out an evite last night, which I don't know if you've checked your email, that a previous guest from this podcast from the East Coast, a miss Jamie Lizzie, is coming to northern California at the end of this month. And I learned that actually from speaking from our soon to be on guest yesterday. Yes, and we will connect the dots when she joins us. We will, won't We gets a mystery. We have a mystery guest, and this will be a first timer for her. Yes, she's from high school that we know were from there, but there's another connection and we will explain that.

4:47 Excellent. Okay, well, let's let's put your how I want to Pia on hold? How Appia? How? How Apia? And then we'll come right there. Okay, how Pia? I don't know how? All right, hold on second. It's always about we're back. I'm so anyway, Hi, Gary, how are you? I'm good? How are you? I'm good? And welcome to Don and Gary do in sixty We're here to unwrap, unpack, and navigate the world at this age. Yes, yes, sorry, I gotta try something new and keep it fresh every time.

5:34 Maybe it'd have birds chirping in the background. Our crickets when I told my dad joke in the last episode. You can find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, our iHeartRadio, and wherever amazing podcasts are found. We're on Instagram, Facebook, and we're also on Blue Sky. Now if you want to catch the actual goods and get a load of all of this and a load of that, take a look at us on our YouTube channel which is under FI for Pod Productions or at p FI for pod However, you'll find us. Believe me, I know we're so popular and so incredibly you know, relevant to the world. People just can google us and then we'll show up. So get in line, get in and Gary, where can they reach us on email?

6:18 That would be Don and Gary doing sixty at gmail dot com. Perfect and finally, don't forget to reach it. Let me do it. And finally, don't forget to reach out for us on our pod page website. Thank you Gary for doing your pot Can you point one more time to the middle point? Okay? Pod page our pod page website, and we'll put the liner notes where you can find that in the links below. Anyway, so we're done with that. I murdered that intro, didn't I? No, no, no, it's all good. It's all good. They know us, they know where to find. You would think after seventy three years of doing this podcast that I would memorize that, but I just I can't. So how are you? How are you doing good?

6:59 Yes, we start talking about I'm starting my birthday week. Oh is it a week or a month? You used to be you know it depends, okay, but you had asked me off air, what am I doing on my actual birthday, which is Wednesday, September tenth. It happens to me my day off from work. So I'm planning lots of good things, starting at ten am with an eye doctor appointment. Fancy, but I. Had scheduled it for the week before, but his office call said, oh, he can't make it on the third, can we move it. I'm like, I guess we can do it on the tenth. So I doctor appointment and then I will follow that up at noon with going to the pharmacy to get my flu shot.

7:48 You go, you crazy? You know, it's wild, crazy things. Just a whirling dervish of activities on your birthday and. After that, who knows, maybe lunch. Well, how does it feel feel any different? No? No, you know, it really doesn't feel different. I have not been one of those people that when I turn a certain age, like it's either good news or bad news. It's just it's kind of like for me, like New Year's Eve, it's just one of the midnight No I gets you. No, I'm not dreading it. It's just it's just it's part of life. Right. Well, I've ran into a neighbor yesterday and she had a birthday recently. Issues. I just turned the big eight.

8:29 Oh oh, I said, Well, I'm turning the big six three, or you can call it six point three, which is actually good because that actually brings the number down a bit. So this is the six point three version of yourself. Okay, okay, And you know we always have to come out with a new version. Yeah, well there you go. Speaking of which, let's talk about you. Oh okay, should we can? We? Should we can we exist? Okay? Well, I walked down to the beach yesterday, taking a bike right down to the beach. Today, did a lot of garden this morning. I can barely stand up or make a fist because I've been clenching a trench trying to trench out weeds today.

9:09 So it's got a name. Does he though anymore? Just an object? Yeah. So it's been a busy weekend, but fun. Weather's still hot. It's gonna be eighty one degrees down here today. So are you at home? I'm at home, okay, because it's too hot over there, and I don't know. If you take a look at my Instagram page, you'll see how I was posting our last trip down to Palm Springs, where he said, let's go Palm Springs, go to the house, stay by the pool, blah blah blah, and I recorded me in the garage and one hundred and twelve degree weather creating a storage cabinet, which uncomfortably enough tend. I measured the cabinet, then I measured my height and I would fit inside the cabinet.

9:53 So I'm not sure how I feel about the request to create the cabinet. So I saw that. That's why I thought you were in Palm Springs right now. No, it was from a week ago, actually no, but again, if we don't show up or you don't see me for the next week, please alert the authorities because something might have happened. You know. Just look for the cabinet deep in the corner. And unfortunately I did. I was asked to step into it to see if I fit. Stupid that was That was a bad move on your right there. Anyway. Yeah, so that was my week. So what are we talking about today? So we have a guest who is a member of the club. Yes, big surprise, someone who went to high school with I was thinking about that, like, we know a lot of people from high school.

10:40 I think that's a good thing. That's a great thing. I mean, I mean we've had guests on this podcast in our previous one that we're not, you know, from high school, but like a good ninety percent of them. Oh and we still keep in touch on me. As I said, I'm seeing some friends from high school later today or a cocktail party. Well the relevance again is because you know, this is our podcast is focused on talking about people and how they're unpacking and navigating the world at this age, right, So we're all basically the same age within two or three years. So I think it's great to let people know that we're all doing okay, or where we're struggling, or how we're finding new reinvention. And that's why I love this segment so much, because we get that chance to speak with these people and keep in touch with them.

11:25 Right. So, as I alluded to earlier, the guest joining us in a few minutes is this will be a first time that this has happened with a guest because she is related to a previous guest on this podcast, and we will unravel the mystery. Okay in just a moment or two. Okay, Well, actually I think I hear something. Is that a door bell? Someone waiting to come and be asked to let in? Should we let them in? Gary? I think we should? Okay, here we go. Well, well, well, well hello, well, well hi.

12:06 Since we were just talking about you, well, since we're on YouTube and also on Apple podcast where they may not see you, welcome to actin thank you to Don and Gary doing sixty. I was mentioning a little teaser in that you have in addition to being a friend from high school, you have a special recognition because you're the first guest that we're having on this podcast. That is related to a previous guest. Do you know who that is? Gee? I think it might be my sister. That's correct, who Jamie Lizzie who was in one of our previous episodes. And I mentioned to Don that she was coming to California later this month. Y, Yes, she is.

12:56 We will see her in person, not on podcast, but in live and in. Person and live in person. Yes, when's the last time you guys saw her in person. Out here in California? I don't know how often she comes, but. I I don't remember the last time she was here either. I think it was the same time we saw you. I saw you, Sue, which was that Phoebe's get together. I think, Oh, then that was like twenty sixteen or something. Oh my gosh, really, I say it was at Phoebe's house. It was a holiday party, I believe. And it was before the pandemic that. Yes, and it was right before my daughter went away to college. Yes, the only reason why I know the year. Gary, and also before we get started. I did. We did have a sound in audio check with Sue yesterday and you weren't there. But I did give Sue the compliment that she was much more adept at technical issues and logging on, and she was perfectly crisp and bride.

13:50 She came on right on time, as opposed to her sister, if you call that. Took us about twenty minutes to get. No. But there's a lot of editing in that episode. Oh my goodness. I can imagine. Someone through no fault of hers because of technical difficulties. She'd be speaking and then she'd go silent or cut off or something. It was just, oh, no, we won't have that problem my parents. I was doing a lot of this. Oh no. She kept like making a point by putting your hand down and would go like that in like a small earthquake. So oh yeah, anyway, but anyway, let's talk about you. Yes, yes, So what I mentioned before you came on is we know you from high school.

14:36 Mm hmmm, one hundred years ago. Sue and I have kept inched all these many years. Now. I did see her at the party, but other than that, because you live up in the Sacramento area. Yeah, we're in Elk Grove. Yeah, twenty five years wow, wow, yeah, almost twenty six years actually. So here's a little bit of no. So it has she wears many hats I do no particular order. She's a wife married thirty nine years. Wow, that is correct, Yeah, mom to three kids. Yeah, Danielle and Kyle. Yep. Do you want to scare us and tell us how old they are? Sure? So Kyle, Kyle is the oldest, and he will be thirty seven in November. Then Marcus thirty three, and Danielle is twenty seven. They're all kind of spread out.

15:28 I think it's a small miracle that Kyle and I are the same age. I'm not sure how that happened. So, yeah, I call that. I know it is kind of it is kind of crazy. Let me tell you. Moving on, Yes, let's move on. And then. I believe your career has always been in. The medical field, right, yes I am. But then you have a business that you've been promoting on social media recently, and so how new is that actually? Yeah, well for since twenty nineteen. That's when I got the business license and did all of the official website, did all that kind of stuff I sell. I have my own Facebook group that where I sell quite a bit to same people over and over, but then recently just into the store because I have a fabric I guess obsession, and I'm my happy place is sewing, and I'm going to sew it. I need to find an avenue to sell it because it'll just sit here in a closet. So and my grandson is just an itty bitty tiny baby right now, but he will be getting things.

16:43 He's gotten things all along, but he will be getting more things as it gets older. That it'll give me a little bit of an avenue that way. But I needed to find a place to sell in person, not really an outdoor market type of person. Tried it a couple of times, didn't really like it. Plus says, you all know, it's one hundred and thousand degrees up here in Sacramento and the markets are during the summer, and so I was like, now I need to find something else. So, yeah, I have my stuff in a store that is run by well, the person that owns the store is she does all vintage and then she has about seventeen vendors in store. And I just recently became one of those vendors and it's been fun.

17:27 I saw a promotion. So the name of the store is super Burn super Bum. Super Bum is the store. Yeah, and my business, yeah, and my and My business is belly Boo Botik. The program. Belly Boo Botik. It's all one word. It was named after my daughter's nickname. When she finally decided that stop calling me that, we're like, oh, I'll just name the store after you. So yeah, we used to call her dad Yelly belly boo long long time ago. She's gonna love this. Now, I know she will, and she'll be watching it too. I'm sure. I'm as sure she will.

18:08 So you said you started in twenty nineteen, So the timing of that was that because of the pandemic, or you had already kind of thought about it and just happened me that that's when it started. Yeah, No, So what really happened was my daughter went away to college in twenty sixteen. I knew I needed an avenue to keep myself busy. She and are very close, being the only girl. She and I did a lot of things together, and she went away to Chicago for school, so it wasn't like she could just come home on the weekend and you know, do stuff. So I need and I had already known how to sew, but times have changed, and when I started researching, I found all sorts of new direction. I'm like, well, I don't like the old fashioned patterns. But then I found PDFs where you can print on your printer, and I just started practicing.

18:57 And then, like I said, I have a fabric obsession, and I would see so many different fabrics and started buying and thought, Okay, I need to figure out what I'm doing here. So so that's kind of how it grew. And then as I was talking to Don yesterday, I just started researching and finding new technology, new ways to do patterns. Discovered projection, which seems to be the quickest way to do it, so I don't have to print out so I'm not wasting paper anymore. But I had a projector putting the ceiling in my sewing room and it projects down onto a cutting map and it's very quick and easy and you can do all sorts of different sizes quickly. And yeah, that's so that's kind of how it grew. But I knew, I just I knew I needed something and it has definitely filled the bill.

19:45 So is this something too that's going to it sounds like, oh, you're passionate about it. You have been right, and then yes, actually are turning this into or reinventing it into a business again or now. Yeah, I just right, I'm getting a little bit more to where I can have a little bit more time, you know, to spend on it, because not only is there sewing, but there's also doing the books, which is not my favorite and I and I really I I do everything I possibly can. Did not have time to do that, but that's part of you know, having a business is taking care of all the book work, okay, and spreadsheets and everything else to make sure I'm legit. Is this going to take you into the next thing?

20:27 I mean, we're all we're all we haven't talked about that yet, but we're all considering or contemplating or planning for retirement eventually. Yes, number of years. So is this something you have actually are projecting into taking over your work time. Yes, that's what I would like to have happened. Yeah, I mean, I you know, if it sells, it sells. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But that's really kind of where I'm headed, you know, I would like to do that in my retirement. Yeah, that's great. But also you embrace a lot of technology, so you're way ahead of the game for the rest of US boomers who you know the TV clicker? So, I mean, well, I can. Tell you that. So my daughter is very tech savvy, and I've learned a lot from her, But I also work with a bunch of people all the same age as her, and I've learned a lot from them. I mean, I'm definitely you know what bothers me. Most I think is when things change, like wait, it worked this way, Why why are you changing that? Exactly? And that's where my frustration comes into tech. But once I learned it, I'm usually pretty good with it.

21:32 Well, don't you hate you? Finally you finally wrap your head around something technology wise, and all of a sudden you have to reboot it and all of your settings are gone or all everything has changed. You have to go back and figure like I don't even know how I set any of that. Yep, exactly. If my if my laptop dies, I'm going to be in trouble because it's old and it works and it has I know where everything is and how to do it all. And then if I have to buy a new one, it's going to be I'm going to have to send my daughter a ticket to come home and help me out and. Write up a ticket like, here's your work order. You need to computer exactly. By your ticket to fly home, But the ticket is actually completing the work on my computer. Yes, that's cool given this new ish business, and you're still working in the healthcare industry.

22:17 Yes, so I am. What's your your time split between the two? So I am very lucky to be working at a Dignity health clinic down the street from my house. I'm less than a mile from there. Generally what I do is come home during lunchtime and so either so or I played the piano. Those are my two options. I try not to do housework. I try not to do anything like that because you know, it's my time and it's generally when nobody else is around. So you play the piano. I do. I've played a piano for many years. Did not have a piano for many years when we first got married, but I would have to say I've had the piano now for about fifteen. We found a piano at a storage locker situation storage unit situation, and turned out to be it was all a refurbished inside, but it's very old and it's an upright fits right into my living room nicely. And I just retaught myself since I had not played in a long time, but that I did that about fifteen years ago. But I don't play in front of anybody, so when they're gone, I sit down there and I play what I want to play.

23:25 You know, it's just for you, really it is. It's a very relaxing outlet for me as a sewing. It's like, you know what, you're stressed out, go so something, sit down and play the piano. Do do any of those things? And my job at work has recently changed where I have moved into a supervisory rule, so I have a little bit more leeway with time as well, so I can get there early in the morning, take some time in the afternoon, and get out of there a little bit earlier than you know what I used to do. And it's been working out well in that aspect. And in terms of the the clothes your producer, Are you the only person show you already have a team of people assistants who are helping you or.

24:08 Just me, just me, it's tell me. Do you want to expand that anyway too? Like are you planning on growing it that way or is this something that's a passion project? Is about you and your. Time, and yeah, it's all all me. I did. I did have somebody from where I work helped me out in some of the outdoor markets, but I really don't plan on doing any more of those. And it focuses on children's clothes. Or do you have a Yeah, So I mean I sew for adults. Occasionally I'll have someone ask me to make some you know, shirt or something which you know, And I sew for myself occasionally as well, but mostly kids. It's it's usually newborn up to like size fourteen is pretty much what I go with. Yeah, and I belong to a lot of sewing companies that have patterns that I enjoy.

24:57 And you know, we can't submit a work or for Donn and Gary doing sixty onesies. Oh I do make onesies. I don't know. I don't know if they fit us. Yeah, I don't think so maybe one and a half seas. Oh there you go. So sewing has been a passion? Has that always been or is this something that kind of came later? Oh? My grandmother was uh seamstress. I learned a lot from her, but I would when the kids were babies, I would like hit and miss like, oh, let's see if we can try to make something cute, you know, And so I did do that occasionally, not the same quality that I'm doing now, definitely with not the you know type of machines that I currently have. But yeah, I've been interested in it for a long time, just had kind of gone back and forth, back and forth, and then it was really out of research research where I saw that, you know, different things are available with it, and of course the Internet has been a great asset for you know, that kind of stuff.

25:59 Right. Here's why I think this is so valuable. I think this is valuable because we talked about retirement. But also one of the things that I hear many times for people who are retiring is they don't know what to do once they've given up that full time job. But it sounds like you're really embracing technology research, you're passionate, you're really jumping into it. So I think you're way ahead of the game when it comes to next steps for yourself. Too, right, Yeah, I mean I really don't think I'm going to be bored. I mean that's what everybody says, you sah, you sure you want to retire, And really I'm not sure. I'm not sure when I want to retire. I know before I took this new role at work that I was planning on retiring shortly after turning sixty five, and it may still happen. It is something I'm still kind of, you know, working around. My husband does not run and retire, so when he reached my personal will probably be more of a you know, we want to travel, like I do have a grand baby that they will not be living close to me, I'm sure, so we will be want time to do that kind of stuff.

27:00 But I know he recently started a new job, so he's like, well, I'm not I don't want to retireing. And he's a little bit younger than me, just just a tad younger than me, so so I'm not quite sure what's going on with him at the moment. But I mean I may take time and just you know, you go to work and I'll love my time, and then when you retire then we'll you know. But I do plan on keeping the business and sewing and doing what I until I till I can't. Yeah. But also the beauty of it is is your business, so you can put as much or as little time in it as you want, right you're driving the bus. Absolutely, And and what I do a lot of times when I know I have, like I have a lot of family coming out in the next two weeks, as you had said so. And I also had a Halloween pre order for my Facebook group. Stole a bunch of stuff there and then I gave them a four week turnaround.

27:53 Times so I'm like, but then there are chants of time where I don't have that going on. So then I'm sewing for different things, and whatever doesn't sell, I pretty much take to the store. Well, we need to write up an order for a turkey onesie, a pumpkin onesie, and a Christmas tree onesie for the show. Absolutely, are the holidays busier for you? I mean as you go into the fall in the holidays. Yeah, And any time of celebration is busy for me because I usually do a pre order and I have I either custom order fabric or I have a place that will do fabric as much fabric as I need, but I know that it's always there, so I can pre order and then if a bunch of people order it, then I just order more from that place. And a lot of times I'll do digital files from Etsy, a seamless digital file that they make I can have made, and I have a shop that will make that into fabric for me. So I just chop around for a lot of what's in now, what kids like, what you know.

28:58 But holidays are a big. Halloween's huge. I think it's probably my biggest one. Easter is big, Christmas obviously is big. Fourth of July is big. So anytime any of those come up, I usually have, you know, I'll go and put like six seven eight fabrics on Instagram and Facebook and say, hey, you know, pre order what you want, and then I'll have like a little thing with the styles and the prices posted and then people will will order. I think we're going to call you a mogul going forward. And Eve embraces so much of this. Yeah, I mean, I've I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned a lot about you know, sewing.

29:42 I've learned what technology has brought. I knew there's people that print fabric at home, which I don't really want to do, but I find that interesting as well. Wow, you know, hey, sorry quick quick quick questions. You mentioned the workplace and how people and we're going to refer to anyone younger than that as the children. So yes, then they're all younger than me. Well all of us. So in your office you said you work with a lot of people that are younger than yourself and they've actually helped you with a lot of technology and that have you in any way, and not specifically to your office, but in general or in anything out there, have you experienced any forms of agism? And that can be anything subtle. It could be you know, very straightforward or whatever. I don't know if you.

30:28 Have it's kind of funny. So I've been working there for quite some time. But in most there's a group of girls that are probably to my daughter's age that I've you know, become close to. I don't think agism is really the right word, though. There are things that I do and then they think it's the funniest thing. But it's like I'll leave my phone on a desk somewhere and then I'll come out and so I fors my phone, find my phone, I'll get it and then they've taken fifteen selfies like toddlers. Do you know half had? Okay, I must have five hundred pictures of the people from work taking selfie. So it's that kind of stuff where you know, they make light of it. I've never been oh my god, you're so old, you're not able to do this kind of stuff. I mean, I have a group, a good group of people that I do work with.

31:14 Where I get kind of flustered with though, is I work with doctors that are the same age as my children, Like, wait, how can you be in charge of somebody's cardiac health when when you're you know, like my son or my daughter. That I find that odd. I have newser do you know? No, but you know, and it's just I find it funny. I just you know, And and I'm sure I'm the oldest person there. There's no questions. List howser take time, show us some respect. Yeah, but yeah, I mean I work with a good group of people, for sure. That's wonderful. And you've worked for a number of years, You've established in some really great relationships, which.

31:58 Is yeah, I've worked for dig for quite some time. But and I've been in a couple of different clinics, and I've been where I am now for about maybe four years. But a lot of the same people were I already knew a lot of those same people. So okay, so. Are you like a mentor to them? Do you have that role? Uh? A little bit, A little bit. Sure. There are a group of girls that wanted to learn how to sew, so we've had some sewing lessons at my house. Nice. But even at work, and there's there's a lot that you know, you you can teach the young people about certain things and and they do. They do look forward. Occasionally. I did help somebody move out she was having some issues.

32:40 I'm like, Okay, well this is the plan. You should do this, this, this and this. You know. So that kind of stuff not not really work related, but uh, I think, as you know, as an older person, that they're I'm comfortable with, or maybe they don't have a good relationship with their you know, family or whatever. We have a pretty open door here and I live down the street from the clinics, so I definitely have had that role. Sure. One of the questions we ask, I guess, is is there ever a particular age that maybe you weren't looking forward to turney? For some people a forty or fifty or sixty whatever, you know, it just they don't sit well with that. Other people just kind of let it flow and it happens. How do you fall on that?

33:28 Yeah, it doesn't bother me. I feel like I've earned my I've earned my age. Yeah, I don't have an issue moving forward in life in an age I feel like you are, you feel like what you feel, you know what I mean. I look in the mirror and I see what I see. But I'm like, well, I don't feel like I'm sixty three years old or whatever. You know. Yeah, I don't have any issue with it, and I really don't want to go backwards. Like, no, I've been there, done that. I mean, may I may have had a few regrets along the ways, but I don't feel like anything needs to be changed in that aspect. Right, I'm the same way. I can look back at a certain age and you know, especially with you know, with friends, I've had forty plus years and look back on you know, experiences there, But I don't do I want to go back and relive them. No, I'm good.

34:16 I mean I have the memories and that's exactly. Yeah, I've got pictures, I've got you know, you guys are obviously in contact with a lot of friends from high school. You've done way better than me. I mean, I'm, you know, in contact with a few here and there. But my best friend, who I know, Don and I talked about yesterday, Ellen Hoffman, come on the podcast. She and I are still very close friends. I mean, she's the godparents to my one of my kids, and and I do make time to see her. She makes time to see me when she can. She did recently retire last spring, so hope and she will be at our big family party coming up. So hopefully in the in the coming months and years will be able to connect more.

35:02 But we talk to each other every single day. Wow. And in California or. Yeah, she's an American canyon right by Valeo in the Valeo area. Yeah. Yeah, And she's been there for at least twenty five twenty six years and retired from she was a CFO of a construction company that she retired from. Wow. Yeah, so she's she's doing very well. Yeah, yeah, I noticed. I know, Gary. I don't know if you remember, but I recall Sue's mother very well. I'm getting a lot of your mom right now from you. Yeah.

35:42 By that is she was she was, as I recall she was very She had a dry sense of humor, very straightforward. She was actually quite funny because she would like make little comments about me. Do you feel maybe could you? Is there any influence that your mom handed over to you or any way she influenced you? Absolutely? I mean, you know, I love your mom. She was so much fun. She took Okay, I got some story. She gave me some. I was sick at your house. I think I don't know what I did, but I got sick at your house in Foster City when you and Jamie were there as something happened. Took really good care of the kids that came over to visit you guys. So I just wanted to didn't mean to rect, but it just I had very full memories of her. And I think, just where you're wearing your hair right now, I'm just getting a lot of your mom.

36:27 So we do look a lot. Ali aes that's my child, my daughter as well. Yes, yeah, so yeah, my mom's doing great. Actually she's up and reading. She lives right near my brother right down the street, and and she's doing well. But yes, she was a good, good caregiver to all of us who came to that house. We had a pretty open house, right and uh, and a lot of that, I mean, she was a younger mom. I think a lot of that played into that. You know, I had my kids a little bit later in life, and I mean not later late. I had my daughter later, but the boys I have around the same time. But she was always and my dad as well. I mean you probably don't know my dad as well, but because when they divorced it was right around that high school age.

37:10 But but yeah, my mom's. Doing great good. I'm glad to hear that. Yeah, I will tell her you said. Hello. Oh, well, she better be watching this because you know, we're paying you a huge amount of money to be on this podcast. So let me go back. And another question we ask is if you could go back to your younger self and you can pick the age we always asked, is there advice that you would give that younger self a stake back now on you know. Yes, I do have one regret, and I think it's not finishing school. Not that it has hindered anything for me, I don't think because I have like five thousand classes, no degree, and I actually have a pharmacy Tech degree that I've not used. There's that, yeah, But I mean, I guess it's helpful in my job currently, but it's not.

38:14 I'm not using it as the pharmacy tech part of it. But yeah, I think that's my biggest regret, is just not you know, and life happens, you know, you start school. I mean, I got married, I had kids, and really it was just the progression of life. And I had a job, so it didn't really you know, but you know, I've always been very interested in classes, So I've taken classes. I know, even when my kids were young, I took online classes just in things I was interested in, and a lot of it medical, even though I was working in the field. I mean I did a lot of medical biology that kind of stuff, and then and then the pharmacy stuff, and then I did a separate pharmacy tech thing. But I've never I've never used it. But I mean knowledge is good, no.

38:56 And especially in the health industry. I mean there's always new things coming out and new energy and new things, so it's a constant learning process. You're never just going to stop. And you know, oh absolutely, and this day and age, the medical field is crazy, yeah. And I think they could use your help over the CBS dealing out the drugs. So if you have. Got, I've got my own issue with That's funny. A question that wasn't really on the list, but I was thinking about the other day. No, it's an easy one, I think. I think it's when you think about everything your lafe and your family and your kids and your new grandmother as of earlier this year, right, and then with you know, growing your business, uh, and then think about everything else is going on around us out there.

39:46 There's anything that keeps you up at night. No, actually there is not. I am pretty good quickly, right you think about it. I'm pretty good about shutting things off. I really am. I know other people are not. I've had to discussions with other people about it, and I cannot tell you why. But I'm very much like if it's happened, it's happened. I can't change what occurred. And you know, in my own life anyway, and you know, move forward, do you have to move forward? But so no, I do not lose sleep. I do pretty well. But in my case, I just think of as I was growing up. I have three older brothers, so as our parents got older, it was never concern on their side because the four of us were always around to help them out, especially as I got older and they needed more help. So, right, my dad literally ninety two, my mom is ninety eight.

40:40 Wow, that's amazing. One brother is like, you know, the one to take you all the doctor's appointments and handles that part. I'm huh, take care of paying the bills. And I'm a social director. So we all have a role, right, Yes, So they have that built in support system so they never have to wear like, oh do I have to do this on my own or especially as they get older, if they don't have family around, you know, how are they going to get by on certain things? But in my case, no partner, no kids, and I think I'm like and I live alone, and I'm like part of it. Not that I lose sleep over it, but it is a concern for me in terms of you know, what's going to happen at you know, if I have an accident, all you know, where am I going to go? Right? Yeah?

41:20 I do. I think about that stuff occasionally. It doesn't keep me up at night, but I always think, Okay, which one of these kids is going to. That's why you had kids, so they can take care. Of you exactly. And I and Bruce's mom lives fairly close to us and is ninety just turned ninety, and Bruce has no other family members, so it's it's just him and his mom and it's us and I do a lot of that for her. She is in an independent living apartment situation. It can be a system the thing when she needs it to be. It is not right now she's able to do everything on her her own, but she really she stopped driving it that I don't know, she was like in her early eighties maybe and was like, okay, now what. So she she got herself into a place where she could, you know, still socialize and didn't have to worry about driving anywhere. But you know, she does have the appointments and has that kind of stuff going on.

42:19 And I can definitely see how we may need that in the future, you know, right. Yeah, we're talking in another episode Don and I about you know, if we're looking ahead, if I can't continue to live on my own, do I move into like a senior community or assistant whatever it is. But at least here in California, they are super expensive. They are super expensive. We're very lucky that she's in a situation where she can afford it. I'm not sure we would be able to afford it for sure, right So and then my husband is actually very resistant to that. So we'll see what happens when the time comes. But and actually I'm worried about having a two story house.

43:03 So we have a two story house, and I've been wanting to downsize, you know, and he's like, no, because we have He loves the neighbor loves the neighbors, loves the people down the street, loves you know, everything about where we are. And who can afford to buy a house at this point in time? I mean, you know we're. Sitting I wonder about that for kids right now because I was looking at the prices, like when we you know, new construction in my neighborhood is now at two million bucks around. It's crazy, crazy. Even if you put twenty percent down on a house and you had the cash and then you had a payment that we figured this out. I know this is weird, but like at two minutes, I know that's a very high amount, but it'd be nine thousand dollars a month. Yeah, who can afford that?

43:45 I worry about kids, like your children are at that age where they're contemplating it maybe and thinking about buying a home or not. But it's like, I don't know how how the kids, the children actually can do this right now, because anywhere even in Elk Grove, Sacramento, all of comm Yeah, I. Would think California is out for sure. I do. My Mark, my middle son has owned a home. He owned a home in Oklahoma. He is in the military, though, so I mean they get housing allowance, they get, you know, help with the down they get you know, so a little different for them. But they sold the house, made good money on it when he had to go to Hawaii for the Navy. But he's planning and buying another one when he comes back. But now you're looking at houses in Oklahoma, which as some of the ones that he has sent me to look at are. You know, they're four hundred and five hundred thousand dollars and look like mansions and they're on a chunk of land, you know, And so yeah, they won't be able to do in California for sure.

44:43 I understand. I understand, And I'm like talking to my daughter about you know, do you think you might want to buy a condo or buy something. You know, she's in an apartment, but half of her stuff is still in her bedroom here. So I'm like, but she's in Oregon. Correct, Yeah, she's in Portland. Portland, okay, so yeah, I mean a little more affordable. Maybe it depending on she wants to settle there too, right, because that's a commitment. Right, And that's that's exactly what she's like. She says, no, I don't want to buy anything. But you know, I see what she pays in rent, which is about what I pay in my mortgage, you know, and I'm like, it's crazy. M Sue. Let me ask you a question. This is a different one. Is there any question that you wish people would stop asking you? I mean, I don't know people because I don't know or start asking you. Is there a question you would like people to start asking you?

45:35 Either or. I really don't have that. I've yeah, I don't have people asking me things that. Well, some people. I mean the way why I'm referencing that is because some people say, oh, how old are you? It's they don't. Oh yeah, no, I don't get that at all. Okay. People that I work with that know me know where I'm at. You know, you don't have any because you don't have any sensitivity about being asked. No, absolutely not good. I mean, yeah, I don't know. I'm okay with it. Like I said, you know, ages age, it's it's how you feel is more important. And you know I have aches and pains, but I don't think I feel like I'm you know, going down the deep end or anything. I spent yesterday afternoon painting. Were we doing our backyard patio thing that so I've got all these boards in the backyard and one of my younger friends and myself we're out there painting yesterday afternoon. And yes, do what my body feel like it today? It absolutely does.

46:39 And I still have to go out and paint more today, you know, but I'm I'm in good health. I go to the gym, I'm you know, I do all the things you're supposed to do. So you know, we'll see if it works. But the future is bright and Rosie right now. Right, Yes, it absolutely is good and. You are able to do. You like to travel. I know you guys have gone to Hawaii a couple of times. Yeah, so we've gone to Hawaii a few times. I mean my son's been there for a couple of years, so we made the truk a couple of times, went to one different island, and we actually were supposed to be going to Maui when the fires happened, so we quickly switched to to the Big Island. And then just when the when my grandson was born, Bruce and I and Danielle went over and h and saw him. So that was in February. He was just like six seven weeks old. Then nice, Yes, he's like a real little person now though, and I'm like, oh, two weeks. We'll see him in two weeks.

47:39 But they're just in Hawaii temporarily. I mean they yeah, they're no there, he's so he'll be back in Oklahoma. That's where his next job is. They'll actually be here at our house in November for about a month. There's usually a time span in between when they moved to different posts, so they'll they'll all be here then, and then actually after this party that we're having at the end of September, they're going to Oklahoma to see if they can actually buy a house that they've been looking at, so it'll be there when when they move right, So they'll actually be moving there in December. But yeah, I like to travel. I've I've not gone a lot of different places. Recently. I saw Jamie I think about a year ago in February. Last February back in Baltimore with my mom. We went. When Danielle was in college, I was back and forth to Chicago four years every six months, so which I mean I grew up in you know, Wisconsin, so but we both loved the city of Chicago. I would like to go back, even though she's not in school, and you know, do some stuff there. My husband and I talk about doing some sporting things. I'd like to go see the Giant spring training in Arizona one year. I mean, we start talking about stuff like that, and he's into NASCAR.

48:58 We've looked at going to some now scars things that are like we've been to the ones here in Sonoma, but other places, you know. Sure, So yeah, that kind of stuff. You're keeping busy, that's great. Yeah, yeah, oh I think so it's important. I mean we mentioned that, you know, the high school friends, a lot of them have stayed in the Bay Area, so it does make a little easier to you know, plan some things. Yeah, a couple people we went to high school with who are year ahead of us. They both Elises Ada and Amy both both retired this year. So I hosted a pot luck picnic a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, and then some of the folks and I are getting together November the Felolia State that's in Woodside for Halloween and also for Christmas. They decorate the house and the gardens, so we're beautiful in November to go.

49:51 There's like eight or ten of us right now that are like, we'll do dinner first and then go. We bought to some house and tour the gardens and so on, so it'll be fun. So yeah, that's absolutely fun. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I'm on Facebook and I see things here and there. I Mean we do travel down to the Bay Area occasionally, not very often. I mean, we moved out of Foster City, and when we go down there, we're like, it's so different. They've changed so many things down there. I'm like, what the seven eleven is a school? What happened? Yeah, and the cost of real estate over there has just gone crazy. It was even crazy back then. I Mean, I know it's crazy everywhere, but I mean that's why we moved. We wanted to buy a house and there's no way we could have done it there, you know. And Elk Grove has been a really good place to raise my kids for sure. I mean good, good education system and yeah, it's got a small town feel and though there's a lot of people here nice.

50:46 Well that was the reason why. The only reason why I was able to buy my condo twenty one years ago is that I couldn't have paid full market value. But they had a program for first time home buyers. Oh yeah, my got it that so you basically buy it kind of in partnership with the city. So the downside is that if I want to sell it, I can't sell it in the open market at the full market vats. Oh yeah, I have to go back to the city and they work out a formula. So I could never sell this and then just go buy another place. You know, and you're pretty happy there, correct, Yeah? Yeah, moving, Yeah, no, what we talked about it. But it's like, well, my family's here in the Bear, so I'm not going to move out of the Beyer, out of state to especially and when I'm older, like where am I going to move to to a place I don't know anyone. No, not doing that. Yeah, but that's the idea of the conversation about well maybe you move into a senior community or or you know, with another friend we buy a place together. There's something where you still have some connection to someone, but just move out of the area or moving buy another place by myself.

51:54 I wouldn't do that. Yeah, we're trying to, you know, say for retirement. So say for retirement. What's that? That's probably a whole nother podcast. With this business growing. I mean, it doesn't sound like you have any plans of slowing down anytime soon. No, not, not anytime soon. Yeah, I'm hoping that it. I just hope that I can. I mean, I I I want to be able to create more, I guess, and I constantly finding new patterns. I'm like, oh that's kind of cool. And you know, patterns are reasonably cheap. Is there a style that you do go towards the vintage styles or you stay with what's current or like I.

52:38 Try to be Yeah, well I try to be current. There are definitely baby trends when they when when I see a new a new pattern or something, I'll usually try it just so I can see how it works. I do have a couple of people in Texas of all places, that buy a lot from me, and I tend to sew for their kids' ages, but as they have grown, because one of them has been me since some was the very beginning. And then they advertise if you go onto my website, some of the kids that you see pictures of there, they're the people that are buying from me in Texas. So I give them a little bit of a discount if they advertise my stuff, you know, on websites and things, and give them a little bit of a discount. So so yeah, so I do tend to be I try to be trendy. I don't sell the character stuff usually. I know, Disney is a big copyright situation, so if I sell that, it's on the sly it's not on my website exactly, but either anything else. But I only know pet patrol was in popular for a while, and you know, that kind of stuff I tend to stay away from. But other than that, the styles are, you know, I try to see what's in what are kids wear and what are babies you know, or now I'm asking my daughter in law, what do you what does he wear more of you know, is it the onesie?

53:58 Is it? You know there there's this one thing I make that I really really like, but I don't know if it's you know, what's the word easy? Yeah? Is it easy for them? Is it? You know, something more complex? But it's a onesie that has a T shirt attached to it, so that you know, it's they can wear a pair of pants and it looks like just a T shirt and a pair of pants, but it, you know, it stays tucked in because it's a onesie. So it's kind of an interesting thing. But it's an adult size. I'm not sure my my my pad that I sew that I cut on is big enough for that, but but it's it's kind of cool.

54:41 Do we have your website to be able to promote It's. Just www dot Bellyboo boutique. It's all one word dot com. Okay, please send us some artwork anything with the logo you've designed. I can. I can send you my card. We will plug you like yes, we will then your sales into the stratosphere. Perfect like calling out sick at work because I've got a sew. Hey on another question here, sue you know, our segment here is called Ain't nobody got time for that? And the reason why we called Gary came up with that because he's actually the mastermind on the funny titles and things.

55:21 But is there anything that you just don't tolerate anymore? There's something you're just done with and you have no patience for. Yeah, I really have no patience for anything but that I can. I can. There are a couple of things that bother me. I very much don't like, especially at work. You know, the younger generation does not have the same work ethic that I think our generation has, Yes, and I get very frustrated over that. They have a lot of different technology or different avenues that they can take to not work, which we were never privy too, I think when we were going through the ranks. I get frustrated over that for sure. The other thing that drives me insane. And I don't know about you guys, but when I go to a store and I want to buy something and it's locked, that kills me. I'm like, Nope, I'm gonna buy it on Amazon. I Am not going to stand in this aisle and push a button waiting for someone to.

56:19 Show up and push it again, and push it again, and push it again. Because if I can't get my laundry, sup, Come on, what is up with that? Yeah? Yeah, no, that that bothers me. So they get a lot of online business because I won't do that. I agree. Yeah, I used to have used to work in office with younger folks and they're you know, shooting. Yeah, I'm just looking around perplexed, like am I the only one actually working? It would drive me nuts. Yeah, So, I it's kind of funny because before I took the supervisory role where I'm in the same clinic I was in prior. But my prior role was I was the lead over the front office. You know, the girls that check in the patients, and there's like six of them up there, and yeah, sometimes I see stuff up there and I'm like, uh, hold off, we need to have a little meet meeting of the minds here now.

57:20 I'm actually my office is back in the back office where the patients and the m as and stuff, and they're they're much more serious and and and there I see things that are you know, and I'm not even see them doing great things. You know, I can't say that they don't. And we definitely have people that catch things that oops, this shouldn't have happened. Let's you know, safety things, oops, let's make sure this doesn't happen type things. But overall, yeah, I'm the younger folks are It's a different generation for sure. And then I think, how did I raise my kids? Because I know my daughter is not like that. Of course, her job is a little different and is locked in a booth. She is not, you know, they go to work every day. You know, I don't have I don't see in them what I see with people that I work with. So I'm kind of wondering what. I don't feel like I did anything extra special, but maybe I did, you know, well, I think, well, I feel like I was raised with parents that had a good work ethic as well. Yeah, and I feel like that's you know, I learned that from them. And you know, I think our generation is different in that aspect for sure. And I do think the kids coming up through COVID are they've had a hard a hard situation.

58:43 I think I'm glad my kids were kind of past that. My daughter had. She graduated the year of COVID, so no graduation, which to me was devastating, and she was. She turned twenty one, got her degree all in that twenty May of twenty twenty, and they did had not discovered the zoom graduations or anything at that point in time. Once she got her degree in the mail or her diploma in the mail, she was over it. I'm still not over it. I'm like, I wanted that graduation, you know, I feel like I earned it. She survived college. Yeah, yeah, so I don't know. I think that generation coming through is I think that's a harder thing.

59:31 Okay, you ready for a quick lightning round? Sure, Okay, it's real easy, Okay, I don't think too much about it. Okay, Ready, here we go. Red wine, white wine, champagne, beer, or soda? About a mixed drink? Okay, I would like toptail please God? Yeah? Good? Okay, we're on a roll. Movies, comedy, horror or romance comedy. Okay, A morning person or a night. Owl night Owl. Okay, this might be a reference. You might not get it. Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Walking Dead. Probably Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

1:00:11 Okay, I know the answer to this one. Cats are dogs? I have both. I'm gonna say dog. I do. I'm gonna say dogs, but I have I have a very old cat and I have a very very crazy dog. Okay, okay, perfect perfect combo for your Yeah. Yeah, sweet snacks or savory sacks. Oh, I like them both. Okay, I would, I would. I would like pretzels and M and M's together. That's a good answer. That's my my go to city life or small town a small ton Okay, sushiir tacos, tacos. Okay, do the kicking. Oh sorry, do the kicking. Don't do the cooking or do the dishes cooking for sure, Okay, do the cooking. Celebrity gossip or true.

1:00:58 Crime, true crime? I'm okay. Pineapple, pineapple on pizza? Yes or no? Yes? Yes, good for you? Housewives or survivor Oh neither, okay? Good coker PEPSI coke? Okay? I Gary, so. Neither. I love you both. And I'm so happy you guys are doing this and that you're together and and everybody gets to see you. Well, we'd love to get to see you because I'm honestly we haven't seen you for quite a long time. Yeah, and Gary, were you going to talk about bringing anybody together in the Bay area. I can edit this too.

1:01:47 So no, Jamie will be staying while she's in San Francisco at Todd's house. So he's asked me to send out an ebit there. They're doing a gathering, uh while she's here, because I know how many days, I don't know how many day she's here completely. I guess she's staying with them for a couple of days. So she's for like a week or two, do you know. Yeah, she's coming in on the Saturday, the twentieth, and our big family thing is on Sunday. She is just staying here in a hotel as I have no room in my house. For her, too many fabrics. But my poor children I have. I have my son, his wife and the baby staying in my daughter's old room and my poor daughter is on the couch. Nobody will be in the sewing room. But she she's gonna just be here Saturday night to the party on Sunday.

1:02:42 After the party on Sunday, I believe she's going up to Redding to be with my mom for a few days. Okay there. What's going on after that? I really don't know. I know that she did mention that she was going to be seeing you guys on Saturday, the following Saturday, right. Yeah, so the falling weekend for a couple of nights, She'll be staying at Todd's house, so he's organizing a gathering there. So my husband and I actually have tickets to the Giant's game on that Sunday, so we will be down there, but it'll be on Sunday, so I'm not sure we would be able to make that Saturday, but I told Jamie, so I talked to Jamie this morning, so I said, you know, we'll try to figure something else out because you know, I don't know what's going on. I took a little bit of time off of work just so I could figure things out with them. I don't know, Okay.

1:03:31 The party that we're having here on Sunday, though, is I've got my aunt and uncle coming from Wisconsin, who I've not seen since they moved back there, and my brother his wife. The kids or the girl, they're not kids, they're Danielle's age. They're like just a little younger than my daughter. One of their boyfriends. I've got Ellen and her husband are coming. I've got a whole house full of people coming, so I know they'll all be here for that all day long. So nice. So I'll have I'll have. Yeah, I'll have eight hours or more of Jamie than. So there's going to be more time, more than enough. I love my sister Jamie.

1:04:11 I love you. We love just giving a bad time fun and we weren't joking with her exactly. Yeah, well, this has been so much fun. Has been fun. Y. Yeah, I'm glad I agreed to as well. Thank you for the invite. And we have to help promote your business, so we have advertisements. Okay, yeah, I'll send I'll send you over a business card. Perfect, and thank you again for coming on the podcast. We truly appreciate it. You did great, you were wonderful. Gary sometimes is questionable, but you did great, so well. Thank you. This is apparently my my year of getting out of my comfort zone.

1:04:52 So okay, well, we hope you weren't uncomfortable because you did great. You were absolutely not. This was better than I anticipated, so thank you. It's very nice. And please say hi to all of your family and your family we say hi because they better know who we were are. Everybody knows. My My daughter was so funny though, because she said do I know them, and I said, I'm pretty sure that Gary has met you, oh, because he used to come. A long time ago. Well, I know you've bet you were at the house after we were in that same house we were in with my family once everybody else moved away, so I know you'd been to the house. But she's a little struggler with my you know, she's far apart from the boys, So I don't know if you had better or not done. Yeah, yeah, I know you met the boys.

1:05:41 Yeah, but I'm even then to spend a super. Long time, super long time they were little little guys. Yeah. Okay, Well again, thank you for being on the podcast. Thank you for having me. Of course I'm going to stop this, but please don't hang up yet because you want to make sure that we get every single bit of this. Okay, thanks, how puy lack of nookies got me. Come on, I want to let you anyway I met. We want to thank our guests to acting for joining us. We will be promoting the heck out of that one at her business, so we stay tuned any closing remarks before we shut it down.

1:06:26 No, I would just love to see I will go visit your Instagram page so I can see the hambo pana wana kana collie ye know whatever, you're Hawaiian dessert, because that sounds really good and hopefully you can post some pictures from it. But no, it was wonderful speaking with Sue. It's great catching up with her. She's doing so well. I'm so excited for what her future is going to be rolling out with it right. Business is on fire, it sounds like, and the kids are all doing well, and you know, everyone seems to be on a really good vibe, so I'm very happy for her. Yeah, yeah, it was great, So all right, Well, on that note, then we were going to close out this episode. Remind everyone that you can find us on pot page, which is our website. Yes, and you can also hear us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. We're available on Blue Sky.

1:07:21 You can see us in all our colorful glory on YouTube five per pod email us. Gary, excuse me, it's not Gary, it's Don and Gary. Let's get it right. We'll change it next season, Gary and Don. Oh no, it's always Beauty before age. Don and Gary. You're in sixty at gmail dot com. I think I got all our platforms. Yes, listen. They'll figure it out. They're smart people. They are. They are all hundreds of thousands of yes. So, thank you did a great job. Questions, Thank you it was fun, Yes, all right. Well then you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

1:08:05 You do the same with your hawa. Okay, you do that talk like an Egyptian sorry references. Yes anyway, Yeah, talk to you soonculator. Bye bye,