Episode 10: Historical Fiction and the Feral Cat Porch Takeover with Rep. Pat Outman

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Stef: I am Steph Reed.
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I am the Director of the
Flat River Community Library
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Amanda: and courageous citizen.
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Pat: I'm State Representative Pat Outman.
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I represent, the 91st District
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Cory: Welcome to the
Flat River Front Porch.
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Stef: Hi!
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I'm back with, one of our fan favorites
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Amanda: Oh
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Stef: No, seriously, like one of the,
I mean, in all fairness, I also paired
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you with Brian Blomstrom and he may have
been more of a draw, but we're not gonna,
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we're not gonna look at it that way.
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We're gonna look at it as,
everybody in this community is
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obsessed with you personally.
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I always forget to introduce myself.
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I hope at this point you know who
I am because I do this every time.
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So, Uh, let's keep up, people.
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But, um, I'm here today with There we go.
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Amanda: and courageous citizen.
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Stef: Yes.
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Do gooder and crusader, absolutely, yeah.
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we can say up front that I apparently
kidnapped you from your office in
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Amanda: was minding my own business
in my office and all of a sudden there
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was a knock at the door and the sound
of wind pants and I knew it was over.
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Wind,
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Stef: Yeah, I am, I'm wearing pants
today that make that swish swish sound.
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Yes.
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Um, and that zip off at the knee for
shorts related emergencies, apparently.
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I've never fully understood what,
um, what the value is in, in having
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pants that zip away like that.
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Amanda: it's cool.
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That's cool.
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Stef: Yeah.
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But like, what do you do with the bottom
half when, like, where does it go?
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Amanda: It'd be cool if you could make
it into like, a canteen or something.
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And you're like, put
some, like, get the ends.
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Drink water off of it.
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Stef: my brain is going to that episode
of, of the office where Michael was
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being survivor man and he like cuts his,
his suit apart in order to like fashion
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a neckerchief and stuff like that.
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Yeah.
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And then it gets cold and he
has to put it back together.
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Yeah.
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Amanda: Office.
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Yeah,
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Stef: I mean, I don't.
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I enjoyed The Office, but
like it, it needed to end
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Amanda: needed to end.
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They
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Stef: They do.
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But I did not kidnap you.
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I want to make this clear.
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Um, I asked you to do it sometime
in the next couple of days, and
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you were full of excuses as to
why you had to do it immediately.
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Amanda: you had to do it
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Stef: Eh, I mean, they're partially
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Amanda: mean
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Stef: They're, they're valid if you are
someone who, who gets anxiety over things
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like letting your cleaner know that
your house was not clean to begin with.
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Amanda: Well, it's not, it's someone
coming to my house to deal with my dogs.
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Stef: Mm hmm.
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Amanda: Will this air after spring break?
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Stef: gonna aim for next week.
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Okay.
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So,
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Amanda: Okay, so we gotta
be careful about that.
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I don't want people to know
my house is unattended.
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Okay,
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Stef: Yeah, your house, there
will be somebody there with
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a shotgun the whole time.
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Don't.
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Amanda: But
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Stef: tell you what her address
is, but we will make sure that
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you know that it's very well, well
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Amanda: But I really want
to get the dog areas clean.
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And like, make sure that no one
thinks I'm a bad housekeeper.
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Because that would just
mean the world's ending.
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I think that a lot of times, I
worry about unmanageable situations
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that's never going to happen.
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Like, no way my Amanda's house is a wreck.
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So why do I care?
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Stef: Well, why are your
neighbors in your house?
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Amanda: they're letting the dogs out.
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Stef: Oh, okay.
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What do you think might happen?
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I've seen your house.
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It is pristine.
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Amanda: I don't know.
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Stef: Like, you clearly don't
have any recollection of what
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it's like to live with tornadoes.
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Like, to live with creatures that just
are shedding Ritz Cracker stuff, and like,
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Amanda: those days.
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I remember my floor would get
sticky from holding, like, near his
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Stef: That was so
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Amanda: It would get, like, sticky
near his, like, little, like,
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Stef: They're just sticky creatures.
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They're always covered in crumbs.
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Their face
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Amanda: Yeah, the ring, aw.
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Stef: knows what around it.
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Yeah
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Amanda: You're, like, right in
the middle of, like, stick zone.
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Stef: Stick
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Amanda: Like, everything's sticky.
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Stef: Oh, I thought you meant
like they really like sticks,
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which is also true at that age.
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They're like sticks are
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Amanda: Like the band?
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I'm kidding.
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Stef: Well, yeah, absolutely my
kids are they really go into 70s 70s
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Amanda: I like sticks.
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I don't care what anyone
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Stef: kind of
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Amanda: do, I like them!
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I feel like they're kind of a
joke, but they shouldn't be.
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And they're still touring, I thought.
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Stef: yeah.
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Okay.
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Amanda: I thought so, yeah.
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Stef: profound amount of expertise on, on
bands that are no longer in the zeitgeist
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that are somehow also still touring.
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Amanda: I want to see so many bands but
they don't come around here, it's really
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Like Fred Meiergarden gets some
good things but they haven't
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released their schedule yet.
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We saw Tony Bennett there.
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Stef: That does not elicit any reaction
from me you know who I'm seeing
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that no one will recognize in May?
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Um, a group called Bella and Sebastian
that was a really, yeah, I knew you
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wouldn't, um, you should though,
given your musical proclivities.
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they were like
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Amanda: a,
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Stef: They were a British
folky band from like the early
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Amanda: 2000s.
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Stef: 2000s.
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Amanda: and
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Stef: were very popular in the like
indie, indie world around then.
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nobody knows who they
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Amanda: They sound really good.
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Stef: Elder Millennials are the
only people who know who they are.
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But they're, they're
going to be in Ann Arbor.
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So I'm going by myself
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Amanda: I want to see Depeche Mode.
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But it's like, the tickets
are insanely expensive.
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Stef: That doesn't surprise me.
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Amanda: And the closest Pulp
is going to come is to Chicago.
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and then Weezer and the Flaming
Lips are going to come to
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Yes, they are gonna be together and
it's I think Toronto and then I'm not
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going yeah, these are all concerts.
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I'm not going to go guys I Know but that
was the closest they get and then I want
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to see the flaming lips are gonna be
at that Monroe place Yeah, yeah, I like
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the flaming lips a
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Stef: It's in June or July.
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I know!
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I don't want to
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Amanda: want to stay overnight
I'm so weird about concerts, but
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the thing is, is that I always
regret it, my son loves Weezer,
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Stef: Weezer.
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Which is hilarious
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Amanda: I know.
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He loves Weezer.
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He loves the book Dune.
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Stef: Yeah, I mean, that's, that's like
Star Wars, it's part of that culture that
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just kind of keeps getting passed down.
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Um, 90s music, not so much, I feel
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Amanda: feel like.
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Stef: you know what?
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On those days when you are feeling
like you just can't connect, With your
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teenager and like you just like you feel
like you just don't know him anymore.
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Think about
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Amanda: Weezer.
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I could think about, I saw
Weezer in concert and he's
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like, you saw Weezer in concert?
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Like, yeah, I
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Stef: did.
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That's the most, that's
the most impressed he ever
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Amanda: I know, right?
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That
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Stef: the most like level
of interest he can, yeah.
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Was it for
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Amanda: And you wanna talk about books?
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Stef: books?
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Do we have to?
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No.
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Amanda: no.
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Stef: Do you feel this profound
need to change the subject
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Amanda: No, no, no, no, no.
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Stef: Let's hold off on talking
about books and talk about Kate.
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Okay.
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What's happening with Kate?
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I know that you know.
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I know that the royal family,
passes the inside scoop to you.
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So what's happening with Kate?
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Kate Middleton we're
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Amanda: Yes, Kate Middleton.
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Or, as I call her, the Duchess of
Okay, let's just Princess Kate.
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Stef: You specifically call her
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Amanda: But let's When I call her
on the phone, we're just gonna
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call her Princess Catherine.
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Um.
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Stef: Catherine.
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Um.
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But you guys probably haven't talked in a
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Amanda: Um.
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She's not the Duchess
of Cambridge anymore.
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She's Princess Kate.
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Okay.
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Well, she's kind of like playing
like hard to get with me.
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Um, that'll return to my
phone calls Hard to get?
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Stef: Like, we
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Amanda: we used to talk about
time on the phone, you know?
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And then now she's just kind of
not responding, which is okay.
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She's busy with her three But
do I think she's missing or
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kidnapped or These other things?
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No.
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Stef: She has the stomach issue,
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Amanda: she has every advantage in the
world when it comes to medical issues
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that the majority of the world doesn't.
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So if anyone's gonna make it through
there What do the kids think of this?
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Like, what do their schoolmates say?
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Stef: I'm always baffled by what the
experience might be for an actual
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small child, like, being that.
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And so much more so now than it would have
been even when, Will and Harry were kids.
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Because, like.
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The internet is everywhere.
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Amanda: because, like, the internet
is everywhere, like, these kids have,
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they're just gonna be such a wreck.
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Stef: would just,
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Amanda: It's necessary, but it would
send me into a tizzy, that your
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kids are targets by kidnappers.
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Nobody's trying to kidnap my child.
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Stef: That's good.
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Amanda: I know!
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Stef: Yeah.
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Something to be thankful
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Amanda: Knock on wood!
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Oh!
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This
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Stef: okay.
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Okay.
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Amanda: on
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Stef: okay for you to say
it, but it's not okay for me
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Amanda: This is on air, this will
haunt them, they'll play this at my
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Stef: No, they won't.
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No one will remember
this happened by then.
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I mean, I love my kids, but
they're annoying sometimes.
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Amanda: like Holden is a good
kid and I love him very much.
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He's
248
00:08:54,154 --> 00:08:54,618
Stef: the
249
00:08:54,871 --> 00:08:55,631
Amanda: person to me.
250
00:08:55,835 --> 00:08:59,168
Stef: person to Ryan would
251
00:08:59,276 --> 00:08:59,546
Amanda: say that.
252
00:08:59,546 --> 00:09:00,886
Well, Ryan, what he did
253
00:09:00,936 --> 00:09:08,129
Stef: did wrong, Well, I
was making the crockpot,
254
00:09:08,418 --> 00:09:23,499
Amanda: your son on the air, but
your husband is in the story.
255
00:09:23,499 --> 00:09:29,783
I have to reserve my
256
00:09:29,924 --> 00:09:32,424
Stef: I have to reserve my
opinions about the eating situation
257
00:09:32,424 --> 00:09:34,804
in your house, because I have
thoughts that I've shared, but
258
00:09:34,849 --> 00:09:36,509
Amanda: I know, I know, I know.
259
00:09:36,879 --> 00:09:41,239
in our house we all share very different
diets, and it can cause situations.
260
00:09:41,259 --> 00:09:42,099
I'm a whole food
261
00:09:42,239 --> 00:09:42,799
plant based,
262
00:09:42,974 --> 00:09:44,414
Stef: It's just you cook for them.
263
00:09:44,469 --> 00:09:45,529
Amanda: my diet is a lot.
264
00:09:45,749 --> 00:09:47,009
It's a lot for a person.
265
00:09:47,569 --> 00:09:51,009
it's just, I mean, to me, it
probably tastes good, but I
266
00:09:51,009 --> 00:09:52,039
don't know any better now.
267
00:09:52,534 --> 00:09:53,344
Stef: You don't know.
268
00:09:53,404 --> 00:09:54,064
Oh my gosh.
269
00:09:54,064 --> 00:09:54,514
You make it
270
00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:55,599
Amanda: make it sound
271
00:09:55,624 --> 00:09:56,494
Stef: off pudding or
272
00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:57,199
Amanda: off pudding!
273
00:09:57,199 --> 00:09:57,519
No!
274
00:09:57,519 --> 00:10:00,089
I haven't had a processed
anything since January 3rd.
275
00:10:00,729 --> 00:10:01,149
Stef: Well done,
276
00:10:01,229 --> 00:10:01,669
Amanda: I know.
277
00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,409
So, my taste buds have changed.
278
00:10:03,469 --> 00:10:05,439
Stef: I desperately need
to get back to that.
279
00:10:05,439 --> 00:10:07,899
On that note, we've talked
about nothing in particular.
280
00:10:07,899 --> 00:10:08,679
This is nonsense.
281
00:10:08,717 --> 00:10:12,657
we'll let this nonsense lead into our
guests this week, who I'm sure will
282
00:10:12,657 --> 00:10:15,727
be horrified to be connected with
anything that we just talked about.
283
00:10:16,067 --> 00:10:19,917
Um, who is, who is very
gracious to join us.
284
00:10:20,277 --> 00:10:21,327
Um, join me.
285
00:10:21,427 --> 00:10:25,407
just me, not Amanda this time, um,
to join me to talk about, you know,
286
00:10:25,417 --> 00:10:30,697
life growing up in this area and,
and being representative, um, of our
287
00:10:30,697 --> 00:10:33,237
constituents, his constituents, I suppose.
288
00:10:33,257 --> 00:10:34,447
We, I don't have any constituents.
289
00:10:34,447 --> 00:10:35,357
We just have our community.
290
00:10:35,357 --> 00:10:37,247
our guest this week is
Representative Pat Outman.
291
00:10:40,141 --> 00:10:43,831
Amanda Lee is the director of the
Montcalm area reading council.
292
00:10:44,151 --> 00:10:47,301
Um, which has its office in our building
and um, she's also a friend of mine.
293
00:10:47,301 --> 00:10:49,741
So we've recorded together a
couple times and we just end up
294
00:10:49,741 --> 00:10:51,761
talking about really silly things.
295
00:10:51,821 --> 00:10:55,361
every single time I do this with
her, she'll have one thing at the
296
00:10:55,361 --> 00:10:58,181
end where she'd be like, Oh, don't
let anybody know I said that.
297
00:10:58,371 --> 00:11:00,001
I'm not to sleep until you promise me
298
00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:00,562
Pat: you're going to do it.
299
00:11:00,611 --> 00:11:00,851
Stef: out.
300
00:11:00,911 --> 00:11:02,211
Pat: a good, you're a good I love it.
301
00:11:02,911 --> 00:11:04,341
Stef: so yeah, let's
go ahead and get going.
302
00:11:04,381 --> 00:11:06,231
I'm really happy that
you were able to come in.
303
00:11:06,281 --> 00:11:10,011
I will say also, I will sneak
this in because, I can't imagine
304
00:11:10,011 --> 00:11:10,881
why you would know this yet.
305
00:11:11,091 --> 00:11:13,821
I actually set up a time to,
Have a conversation with your dad
306
00:11:13,871 --> 00:11:15,011
also here in a couple of weeks.
307
00:11:15,021 --> 00:11:15,821
So it
308
00:11:15,834 --> 00:11:16,996
Pat: I actually did know that.
309
00:11:17,051 --> 00:11:17,531
Stef: oh did.
310
00:11:17,736 --> 00:11:18,946
Pat: mentioned that to me last night.
311
00:11:19,006 --> 00:11:23,106
Uh, I live next door to my parents,
so I see, I see my dad a fair bit.
312
00:11:23,156 --> 00:11:25,096
And, uh, yeah, so he mentioned that.
313
00:11:25,106 --> 00:11:25,746
He's excited.
314
00:11:25,786 --> 00:11:25,866
I
315
00:11:25,911 --> 00:11:26,401
Stef: Oh, great.
316
00:11:26,411 --> 00:11:26,751
Okay.
317
00:11:26,776 --> 00:11:27,716
Pat: you guys have that planned,
318
00:11:27,721 --> 00:11:29,781
Stef: Yep, it's like two or three
weeks out, so that'll be fun.
319
00:11:30,171 --> 00:11:31,438
I should just get the whole family, Why
320
00:11:31,466 --> 00:11:31,676
Pat: not?
321
00:11:31,696 --> 00:11:33,236
Might as well invite my wife to come in
322
00:11:33,308 --> 00:11:33,495
Stef: in.
323
00:11:33,495 --> 00:11:34,431
Oh yeah, you know what?
324
00:11:34,431 --> 00:11:37,041
I love, I love interviewing
married couples.
325
00:11:37,041 --> 00:11:38,281
It's so much fun.
326
00:11:38,491 --> 00:11:41,791
especially when I ask them the same
question and see what, yeah, it's
327
00:11:41,791 --> 00:11:42,801
a little like the newlywed game.
328
00:11:42,942 --> 00:11:43,250
Pat: newlyweds.
329
00:11:43,250 --> 00:11:43,558
Exactly.
330
00:11:43,861 --> 00:11:44,236
Stef: exactly.
331
00:11:44,236 --> 00:11:45,786
for anyone who doesn't
recognize your voice.
332
00:11:46,616 --> 00:11:49,786
could you tell us who you are,
where you are on an average day,
333
00:11:49,806 --> 00:11:51,176
and, what you've got going on these
334
00:11:51,356 --> 00:11:51,386
Pat: days.
335
00:11:51,386 --> 00:11:52,096
Sure, sure.
336
00:11:52,316 --> 00:11:53,826
Well, I'm State Representative Pat Outman.
337
00:11:53,826 --> 00:11:58,056
I represent, uh, the 91st District, which
includes, uh, parts of three counties.
338
00:11:58,096 --> 00:12:02,026
Majority of it consists of Montcombe, but
I also represent portions of, of northern
339
00:12:02,026 --> 00:12:03,936
Ionia and, uh, northern Kent County.
340
00:12:04,526 --> 00:12:07,136
like I said, I, am a state
representative, so I spend a lot of
341
00:12:07,146 --> 00:12:08,646
time in Lansing at our state capitol.
342
00:12:09,211 --> 00:12:11,921
I spend a fair bit in district
as well, uh, meeting with folks,
343
00:12:11,921 --> 00:12:15,011
going to various, organizational
meetings, uh, things like that.
344
00:12:15,491 --> 00:12:16,821
a little bit about me.
345
00:12:16,841 --> 00:12:20,011
I, my wife and I, we just
welcomed our second baby into this
346
00:12:20,031 --> 00:12:22,521
world, uh, about four weeks ago.
347
00:12:22,541 --> 00:12:22,981
So
348
00:12:23,431 --> 00:12:24,031
Stef: Wow.
349
00:12:24,301 --> 00:12:27,151
Pat: with a newborn at home and,
uh, you know, it's exhausting,
350
00:12:27,151 --> 00:12:28,261
but, uh, we're really enjoying it.
351
00:12:28,291 --> 00:12:28,721
Yeah,
352
00:12:28,872 --> 00:12:30,291
Stef: Yeah, you are
right in the thick of it
353
00:12:30,341 --> 00:12:31,251
Pat: Absolutely.
354
00:12:31,261 --> 00:12:33,281
And we have a toddler at
home, too, so that just
355
00:12:33,871 --> 00:12:34,431
Stef: Wow.
356
00:12:34,916 --> 00:12:35,846
my heart goes to you.
357
00:12:36,116 --> 00:12:36,956
It really does.
358
00:12:37,226 --> 00:12:41,376
Uh, my, I've got two kids too, but
mine are about four years apart.
359
00:12:41,436 --> 00:12:44,426
I could make my four year old
understand at the time, like, you
360
00:12:44,426 --> 00:12:46,176
need to give me some space, kid.
361
00:12:46,296 --> 00:12:49,086
He was old enough to get it,
but, how old is your oldest?
362
00:12:49,247 --> 00:12:51,991
Pat: he's about a year and a
half, he doesn't understand the
363
00:12:51,991 --> 00:12:53,251
concept of personal space yet.
364
00:12:53,251 --> 00:12:53,351
We're
365
00:12:53,416 --> 00:12:54,896
Stef: Oh, yeah, okay.
366
00:12:55,126 --> 00:12:56,856
Pretty mobile too, I would imagine.
367
00:12:57,041 --> 00:12:57,471
Pat: mobile.
368
00:12:57,501 --> 00:12:58,981
Constantly chasing him down.
369
00:12:59,331 --> 00:13:02,051
Our whole house is a big hazard.
370
00:13:02,051 --> 00:13:02,341
We live in
371
00:13:02,363 --> 00:13:03,705
Stef: in an old house.
372
00:13:03,705 --> 00:13:04,041
So,
373
00:13:04,141 --> 00:13:05,501
Pat: there's that component as well.
374
00:13:05,971 --> 00:13:07,331
Stef: I live in an older house too.
375
00:13:07,331 --> 00:13:09,981
And actually I'm getting ready to
move here just across the street into
376
00:13:10,201 --> 00:13:11,851
Pat: Oh my gosh, congra congratulations.
377
00:13:11,931 --> 00:13:12,441
Stef: Thank you.
378
00:13:12,741 --> 00:13:18,011
Um, and I love old houses, but I,
I've thought multiple times, when
379
00:13:18,011 --> 00:13:20,771
these people built these houses, did
they understand that they were going
380
00:13:20,771 --> 00:13:22,331
to have to have children in them?
381
00:13:23,596 --> 00:13:24,358
assuming they did
382
00:13:24,456 --> 00:13:26,736
Pat: and I'm assuming they did
because back then they had like 12
383
00:13:26,898 --> 00:13:27,152
Stef: house.
384
00:13:27,152 --> 00:13:27,406
Uh,
385
00:13:27,566 --> 00:13:30,476
Pat: but yeah, this
house has zero storage.
386
00:13:30,666 --> 00:13:35,626
The layout is very questionable and
the electrical outlet is very fun.
387
00:13:35,636 --> 00:13:37,626
There's very few of those as well.
388
00:13:37,686 --> 00:13:42,436
And so we're doing the best we can
but it's certainly a challenge.
389
00:13:43,026 --> 00:13:46,096
Stef: as far as I remember, you're
still kind of, you're exhausted.
390
00:13:46,096 --> 00:13:48,636
You're still kind of just like
getting into the groove of it.
391
00:13:48,636 --> 00:13:51,766
But, um, but they're still
kind of sleeping at that point.
392
00:13:51,861 --> 00:13:52,501
Pat: That's right.
393
00:13:52,511 --> 00:13:53,941
we're both absolutely exhausted.
394
00:13:53,941 --> 00:13:55,731
We walk around like zombies
all the time, but it's
395
00:13:55,781 --> 00:13:58,301
Stef: You look very bright and alert
today, I will give you credit for
396
00:13:58,541 --> 00:14:00,041
Pat: appreciate that
looks can be deceiving.
397
00:14:00,421 --> 00:14:04,121
that, but uh, but yeah, I mean,
sleeps and eats all the time.
398
00:14:04,121 --> 00:14:05,231
So it's very consistent.
399
00:14:05,301 --> 00:14:06,861
Uh, you can schedule around it.
400
00:14:06,871 --> 00:14:08,871
The toddler is just a complete chaos.
401
00:14:08,871 --> 00:14:10,861
There's organized chaos, but
402
00:14:11,361 --> 00:14:13,589
Stef: how does the toddler
feel about Are they both boys?
403
00:14:13,644 --> 00:14:14,434
Pat: They're both boys.
404
00:14:14,604 --> 00:14:18,554
my son Miles, he, it's been a
little bit of an adjustment for him.
405
00:14:18,554 --> 00:14:22,264
I will say that, uh, I don't even
think he acknowledged our, our,
406
00:14:22,264 --> 00:14:24,374
uh, baby for the first week or so.
407
00:14:24,374 --> 00:14:26,564
And he's warming up to him now.
408
00:14:26,574 --> 00:14:31,064
He'll give him a pet here and there and,
uh, likes to steal his bankie, of course.
409
00:14:31,094 --> 00:14:33,734
But, uh, I think we're making
progress on that front.
410
00:14:34,529 --> 00:14:36,139
Stef: is your wife home with them or?
411
00:14:36,204 --> 00:14:36,964
Pat: She is.
412
00:14:37,344 --> 00:14:41,524
she'll be on maternity leave for
at least another six weeks so.
413
00:14:41,524 --> 00:14:44,354
And like I said before, we live
right next door to my parents and
414
00:14:44,399 --> 00:14:44,899
Stef: Right.
415
00:14:44,979 --> 00:14:45,559
Oh, that's
416
00:14:45,854 --> 00:14:47,434
Pat: that has been an absolute blessing.
417
00:14:47,504 --> 00:14:50,104
My, my mom is able to
help out a lot as well.
418
00:14:50,174 --> 00:14:50,674
it's been nice.
419
00:14:50,718 --> 00:14:51,670
Stef: they like being grandparents?
420
00:14:52,189 --> 00:14:53,029
Pat: They love it.
421
00:14:53,119 --> 00:14:57,079
Uh, when you invite my dad on here,
that might be all he will talk about.
422
00:14:57,129 --> 00:14:59,299
So you'll have to steer the
conversation at some point,
423
00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:00,649
but they absolutely love it.
424
00:15:00,709 --> 00:15:04,419
Uh, my, my older sister has kids
as well, but lives out of state.
425
00:15:04,419 --> 00:15:05,059
So these are like the
426
00:15:05,283 --> 00:15:06,022
Stef: like the first.
427
00:15:06,022 --> 00:15:06,762
Yeah, they're local.
428
00:15:06,762 --> 00:15:07,009
Yeah,
429
00:15:07,389 --> 00:15:08,179
Pat: Really enjoying
430
00:15:08,269 --> 00:15:08,769
Stef: feeling.
431
00:15:09,189 --> 00:15:10,379
Pat: And it's a blessing to us too.
432
00:15:10,869 --> 00:15:13,029
Stef: having a support system
when their kids are that young.
433
00:15:13,029 --> 00:15:15,989
Just, it can, you can take it
for granted, it makes all the
434
00:15:16,124 --> 00:15:16,414
Pat: all the difference.
435
00:15:16,414 --> 00:15:20,044
Oh my gosh, well I tell people all the
time, like, that is the only parenting
436
00:15:20,044 --> 00:15:21,324
hack that I found actually works.
437
00:15:21,324 --> 00:15:23,104
It's just, move next door to your parents.
438
00:15:23,333 --> 00:15:24,221
Stef: to your parents.
439
00:15:24,221 --> 00:15:24,518
Yeah.
440
00:15:24,518 --> 00:15:28,319
And hopefully they are, still interested
in being around children and they're
441
00:15:28,319 --> 00:15:30,075
not just like, I did this already.
442
00:15:30,075 --> 00:15:30,425
I'm done.
443
00:15:30,765 --> 00:15:31,085
Pat: yeah.
444
00:15:31,695 --> 00:15:35,835
Stef: I'm assuming that you've
obviously been in this area for at
445
00:15:35,865 --> 00:15:37,915
least most of your life, if not all.
446
00:15:38,225 --> 00:15:41,565
So what have been your favorite
memories about, growing up in this area?
447
00:15:41,605 --> 00:15:41,775
Yeah,
448
00:15:41,804 --> 00:15:42,465
Pat: Yeah, you're right.
449
00:15:42,835 --> 00:15:44,835
I've lived in this area my entire life.
450
00:15:45,205 --> 00:15:47,875
Uh, even when I went off to
college, I commuted back and forth.
451
00:15:47,885 --> 00:15:51,805
So I've truly, uh, have lived in
Montcalm County my entire life.
452
00:15:52,215 --> 00:15:53,855
Uh, very happy childhood.
453
00:15:53,935 --> 00:15:56,175
Uh, grew up with just
tons of family around.
454
00:15:56,175 --> 00:15:59,005
Aunts, uncles, cousins, uh, grandparents.
455
00:15:59,005 --> 00:16:01,975
I had a, uh, set of grandparents
that lived just north of
456
00:16:01,975 --> 00:16:03,345
Lakeview and had a farm there.
457
00:16:03,345 --> 00:16:05,125
So I spent a fair bit of time there.
458
00:16:05,535 --> 00:16:08,395
Uh, just, just a really happy
childhood and so many good memories
459
00:16:08,395 --> 00:16:09,565
to be quite honest with you.
460
00:16:09,975 --> 00:16:13,645
Um, you know, things like riding
bikes with my friends around.
461
00:16:13,645 --> 00:16:18,415
We rode our bikes just everywhere
growing up, Attending the, the annual
462
00:16:18,465 --> 00:16:22,185
4 H Fair in the summer, uh, brings
back really fond memories as well.
463
00:16:22,265 --> 00:16:24,735
And really all the fairs and
festivals around here as well.
464
00:16:24,735 --> 00:16:27,995
Seems like every small town has
a, has a parade and a festival
465
00:16:27,995 --> 00:16:32,365
and, very fond memories of, going
to those growing up as well.
466
00:16:32,405 --> 00:16:35,395
And then just, you know, playing sports
and, and just hanging out with my friends.
467
00:16:35,395 --> 00:16:37,865
I just, you know, I look back
at my childhood and, just very
468
00:16:37,865 --> 00:16:39,195
fond memories all the way around.
469
00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:42,140
Stef: I have the bias of having had this
experience as well, but there's something
470
00:16:42,140 --> 00:16:46,270
to be said about sort of growing up in
that small town experience to growing
471
00:16:46,270 --> 00:16:49,445
up in that semi rural experience,
getting to have fun in a small town.
472
00:16:49,775 --> 00:16:51,525
outdoor capacity.
473
00:16:51,525 --> 00:16:53,905
I would imagine it's got to
be a lot harder if if you live
474
00:16:53,905 --> 00:16:57,935
someplace much more urban that,
you get to send the kids outdoors.
475
00:16:58,146 --> 00:17:01,665
Pat: Yeah, and I live about
20 minutes north of here.
476
00:17:01,815 --> 00:17:02,995
So like the Six Lakes area.
477
00:17:02,995 --> 00:17:07,620
And for those that are not familiar,
Uh, it's a small rural community
478
00:17:07,820 --> 00:17:09,210
in northern Montcalm County.
479
00:17:09,210 --> 00:17:10,490
that was just my life growing up.
480
00:17:10,510 --> 00:17:13,620
Just out in the wide open country,
just hanging out with my friends.
481
00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:15,050
Stef: Is that the same
area you grew up in?
482
00:17:15,169 --> 00:17:15,363
Pat: in?
483
00:17:15,363 --> 00:17:15,750
It is.
484
00:17:15,750 --> 00:17:16,030
Yep.
485
00:17:16,050 --> 00:17:17,240
Still live on my family farm.
486
00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:18,920
Haven't, haven't made it too far in life.
487
00:17:19,030 --> 00:17:19,560
Stef: Okay.
488
00:17:19,710 --> 00:17:22,490
So did you build on their property then?
489
00:17:22,490 --> 00:17:24,320
Is that how you ended up living next door?
490
00:17:24,360 --> 00:17:24,960
Pat: Uh, no.
491
00:17:24,970 --> 00:17:27,270
I actually live in, in
the oldest house on that
492
00:17:27,469 --> 00:17:27,950
Stef: property.
493
00:17:27,950 --> 00:17:28,230
Oh, right.
494
00:17:28,230 --> 00:17:30,210
Because you said it was an old house.
495
00:17:30,220 --> 00:17:30,600
Silly me.
496
00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:31,310
I've already forgotten.
497
00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:31,555
Pat: forgotten.
498
00:17:31,555 --> 00:17:32,025
Yes, yes.
499
00:17:32,025 --> 00:17:33,880
So this is like, uh,
almost a centennial farm.
500
00:17:33,890 --> 00:17:39,130
we've, occupied this, this, uh, this
space for, uh, nearly a hundred years now.
501
00:17:39,130 --> 00:17:43,040
And, um, so my parents actually
are the ones that, that built
502
00:17:43,175 --> 00:17:43,765
Stef: Oh, okay.
503
00:17:43,815 --> 00:17:44,485
Yeah, that makes sense.
504
00:17:44,515 --> 00:17:44,825
Okay.
505
00:17:44,890 --> 00:17:47,400
Pat: so, uh, live right next door to them.
506
00:17:47,750 --> 00:17:49,470
Now I gotta ask you, are
you from around this area?
507
00:17:49,795 --> 00:17:53,905
Stef: Um, nobody ever asks me questions
and it takes me a little off guard.
508
00:17:54,125 --> 00:17:56,175
Um, I am from Lowell originally.
509
00:17:56,725 --> 00:17:59,535
So that's where I grew up
and, you know, went to school.
510
00:17:59,555 --> 00:18:03,325
my parents still live right on the border
between, um, the Lowell and Ada area.
511
00:18:03,325 --> 00:18:04,945
So just outside of Ada.
512
00:18:05,305 --> 00:18:07,905
Um, which means of course their,
their property value has just
513
00:18:07,905 --> 00:18:09,525
gone way through the roof in the
514
00:18:09,735 --> 00:18:10,395
Pat: I could imagine.
515
00:18:10,445 --> 00:18:10,635
Stef: yeah.
516
00:18:11,675 --> 00:18:16,325
I went to Central Michigan for my
undergrad and then I, uh, flitted off
517
00:18:16,325 --> 00:18:19,835
to Colorado for about a decade just
to do something different because I
518
00:18:19,995 --> 00:18:21,175
went to graduate school out there.
519
00:18:21,575 --> 00:18:27,515
Um, and I will say that I, I loved
so many things about Colorado.
520
00:18:27,735 --> 00:18:30,105
Um, there were lots of things
to appreciate and there is
521
00:18:30,125 --> 00:18:34,005
interestingly enough a decently
large contingent of people from
522
00:18:34,005 --> 00:18:36,095
Michigan who do move out there.
523
00:18:36,345 --> 00:18:39,050
And also, Who end up moving back.
524
00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,990
it's a funny thing, but, um,
there are lots of aspects of
525
00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:46,270
living in that area that made me
really appreciate here as well.
526
00:18:46,550 --> 00:18:50,090
there were things that, that coming
back that I like little things that
527
00:18:50,090 --> 00:18:51,440
you wouldn't necessarily think about.
528
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,050
like those festivals that you
mentioned, like that's, So many of
529
00:18:55,050 --> 00:18:59,090
the, the towns that have sprung up
in that Denver corridor, they've
530
00:18:59,110 --> 00:19:00,620
been there for about 15 minutes.
531
00:19:00,620 --> 00:19:01,900
They just don't have any history.
532
00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:05,290
Like the entire town is built around
Walmart, which is very convenient,
533
00:19:05,300 --> 00:19:10,043
but it doesn't, it definitely doesn't
have that same sort of hominess.
534
00:19:10,317 --> 00:19:10,565
Yeah,
535
00:19:10,830 --> 00:19:11,680
Pat: and I can totally see that.
536
00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,570
Especially a place like Denver
that just never stops growing.
537
00:19:14,617 --> 00:19:15,196
Stef: stops growing.
538
00:19:15,196 --> 00:19:17,006
Pat: I'm actually ashamed to
say I've never been to Colorado.
539
00:19:17,256 --> 00:19:17,926
Stef: Well, you know what?
540
00:19:17,926 --> 00:19:21,036
I had not been West of the
Mississippi until I moved out there.
541
00:19:21,036 --> 00:19:21,926
So no shame on you.
542
00:19:22,026 --> 00:19:22,476
Pat: Okay.
543
00:19:23,056 --> 00:19:23,916
I still got time.
544
00:19:23,916 --> 00:19:26,356
Stef: to change gears a little
bit, obviously you've got a little
545
00:19:26,356 --> 00:19:29,246
bit of, a little bit of history in
the family, but what inspired you
546
00:19:29,246 --> 00:19:31,366
to, to get into state legislature?
547
00:19:31,666 --> 00:19:32,306
Pat: Oh gosh.
548
00:19:32,346 --> 00:19:33,996
I mean, so many things really.
549
00:19:34,046 --> 00:19:38,086
Um, you know, obviously my dad was
probably my biggest inspiration.
550
00:19:38,096 --> 00:19:41,326
I, through his experience, I really did
just fall in love with the legislature
551
00:19:41,426 --> 00:19:46,866
and, Just the ability to shape policy and
to have the opportunity to, to represent
552
00:19:46,876 --> 00:19:48,636
the state with its 10 million residents.
553
00:19:48,666 --> 00:19:51,176
it was something that, really
called to me in a lot of ways.
554
00:19:51,176 --> 00:19:54,476
And, you know, I think I always
had a calling to service.
555
00:19:54,506 --> 00:19:58,236
Um, one of my biggest regrets
in life was, was not serving
556
00:19:58,236 --> 00:19:59,356
our country in the military.
557
00:19:59,356 --> 00:20:02,731
And so, Like I said, I feel like
I've always had some sort of sense
558
00:20:02,731 --> 00:20:06,531
of calling to serve this country
and nation in some capacity.
559
00:20:06,691 --> 00:20:11,341
so, when the opportunity arose to
run for this office, I jumped at it.
560
00:20:11,821 --> 00:20:14,151
I always knew I would run for
office, I just, I thought I would
561
00:20:14,151 --> 00:20:15,451
do it later in life, like my father.
562
00:20:15,451 --> 00:20:21,371
I thought maybe once I retired because
in Michigan we have such strict term
563
00:20:21,371 --> 00:20:22,831
limits, that's another aspect of things.
564
00:20:22,881 --> 00:20:27,576
It's really hard to, uh, Pause your life
for, for six years and, and run for public
565
00:20:27,576 --> 00:20:31,406
office, I just jumped at it, and I have
no regrets, uh, I love every minute of it.
566
00:20:31,866 --> 00:20:34,536
it's a really challenging time to
be in politics and to serve the
567
00:20:34,536 --> 00:20:37,946
people, just, uh, given the division
in this country, but, other than
568
00:20:37,946 --> 00:20:39,096
that, I mean, just no regrets.
569
00:20:39,096 --> 00:20:40,226
I absolutely love the job.
570
00:20:40,226 --> 00:20:44,426
I absolutely love, love representing
the, the 91st District and, and all
571
00:20:44,426 --> 00:20:45,886
the people of, of Montcalm County.
572
00:20:45,936 --> 00:20:46,976
it's been a tremendous honor.
573
00:20:47,421 --> 00:20:48,001
Stef: fantastic.
574
00:20:48,011 --> 00:20:51,421
I would imagine, a fair amount of
success definitely comes from Being
575
00:20:51,421 --> 00:20:55,031
a good listener and being comfortable
having conversations with people who
576
00:20:55,031 --> 00:20:57,581
might come at you feeling very strongly
577
00:20:57,676 --> 00:20:58,066
Pat: Yeah.
578
00:20:58,186 --> 00:20:58,906
Oh, no question.
579
00:20:58,906 --> 00:21:01,276
I mean, one thing I've learned from
this position, Steph, is people just
580
00:21:01,276 --> 00:21:02,586
want to be heard, for the most part.
581
00:21:02,596 --> 00:21:06,596
I've had so many, People call the
office, just fire it right up, and
582
00:21:06,596 --> 00:21:09,296
uh, chew in my staff out, and then I
get on the phone with them, and just
583
00:21:09,296 --> 00:21:13,346
listen to them, and by the end of it,
we have a very cordial, you know, great
584
00:21:13,346 --> 00:21:15,156
conversation, to honest with you, so.
585
00:21:15,746 --> 00:21:18,506
Stef: and that kind of goes back to what
we were talking about before we actually,
586
00:21:18,516 --> 00:21:20,446
you know, hit the ground with us.
587
00:21:20,496 --> 00:21:23,946
the way we experience so much of
the world around us these days,
588
00:21:23,966 --> 00:21:25,326
it's all hitting us at once.
589
00:21:25,326 --> 00:21:28,226
Like, with the internet, it's,
it's, you know, everything is right
590
00:21:28,226 --> 00:21:30,856
in front of our faces and we're
being inundated and overwhelmed.
591
00:21:30,906 --> 00:21:36,076
It's hard to process it, and it doesn't
feel natural, we are driven to engage
592
00:21:36,076 --> 00:21:39,456
with the people around us, to learn
about our community directly, from
593
00:21:39,456 --> 00:21:42,916
our community, from our neighbors,
and, it's stretching us in a way
594
00:21:42,916 --> 00:21:46,136
And so, having those conversations,
I can imagine it makes.
595
00:21:46,786 --> 00:21:48,666
A very meaningful difference
for a lot of people.
596
00:21:48,811 --> 00:21:49,426
Pat: think it does.
597
00:21:49,426 --> 00:21:52,426
I, I think, I truly think that people, a
lot of times, they just want to be heard.
598
00:21:52,426 --> 00:21:54,766
Whether you even agree with them at
the end of the day, you heard their
599
00:21:54,766 --> 00:21:57,946
concerns, you had a great conversation,
you took the time to listen to them,
600
00:21:57,946 --> 00:21:59,126
and I think that goes a long way.
601
00:21:59,597 --> 00:22:03,349
and you're dead on about, uh, social media
and, you know, Facebook in particular.
602
00:22:03,349 --> 00:22:07,419
It's a, it's really easy to silo
yourself off with social media.
603
00:22:07,459 --> 00:22:10,824
Um, you know, you don't have that
direct, uh, Uh, connection with
604
00:22:10,834 --> 00:22:13,664
folks that you're, speaking to,
like, like you do face to face.
605
00:22:13,814 --> 00:22:16,424
It's really easy to just hurl
an insult out via the keyboard.
606
00:22:16,804 --> 00:22:18,254
you don't see how people react to it.
607
00:22:18,254 --> 00:22:19,994
So it's really easy to
insult somebody that way.
608
00:22:20,044 --> 00:22:21,924
we're losing that direct
connection with people.
609
00:22:22,134 --> 00:22:22,504
Yeah,
610
00:22:22,724 --> 00:22:27,364
Stef: we don't have the context of a
whole human being anymore when we, um, we
611
00:22:27,364 --> 00:22:32,124
think of people as a sort of token issues
that you're either for or against, you're
612
00:22:32,504 --> 00:22:36,534
on one side or the other and there's so
little middle ground, it's hard to see
613
00:22:36,534 --> 00:22:40,514
some of those things there are so many
factors that made you feel this in this
614
00:22:40,514 --> 00:22:43,264
moment about you as a person and yeah.
615
00:22:43,459 --> 00:22:44,469
Pat: Yeah, no question about it.
616
00:22:44,469 --> 00:22:47,019
I still think, though, that we, at the
end of the day, we have way more in
617
00:22:47,019 --> 00:22:51,289
common than And I, I hope people will,
can just sit back and remember that.
618
00:22:51,289 --> 00:22:53,889
I know it's hard to sometimes,
but I really do believe that.
619
00:22:53,947 --> 00:22:56,429
Yeah, definitely.
620
00:22:56,429 --> 00:23:00,109
Stef: obviously there are unique aspects
of state government, but, Would you say
621
00:23:00,109 --> 00:23:03,809
that there's anything in particular that,
feels like state legislature was just
622
00:23:03,809 --> 00:23:06,259
a good place for you to, to dive in?
623
00:23:06,704 --> 00:23:07,774
Pat: Yeah, absolutely.
624
00:23:07,774 --> 00:23:11,394
And I'm one that just
loves working on policy.
625
00:23:11,584 --> 00:23:16,214
Um, and so from that perspective, this job
is, is, you know, a perfect fit for me.
626
00:23:16,214 --> 00:23:19,664
I love looking at a piece of
legislation and, and scrutinizing
627
00:23:19,664 --> 00:23:24,594
it, trying to make it better, uh,
trying to make it palatable, uh,
628
00:23:24,604 --> 00:23:28,154
something that, you know, will benefit
my district and things like that.
629
00:23:28,554 --> 00:23:31,044
there, there are so many unique
aspects of state government.
630
00:23:31,454 --> 00:23:34,112
The state government is pretty
much structured identically to our
631
00:23:34,367 --> 00:23:35,034
Stef: federal government.
632
00:23:35,284 --> 00:23:39,064
Pat: in terms of, the legislative
branch, the executive branch, judicial
633
00:23:39,184 --> 00:23:43,774
branch, we have a, a bicameral Congress,
meaning we have a House and a Senate,
634
00:23:44,324 --> 00:23:47,444
uh, so it, it really is structured,
you know, identical, but there are some
635
00:23:47,444 --> 00:23:52,364
aspects that, that make it, uh, pretty
unique, and one is just, and I think
636
00:23:52,364 --> 00:23:56,854
we talked about this earlier, but just
the close proximity to constituents.
637
00:23:56,874 --> 00:23:58,944
You know, these really are my,
my friends and neighbor that I'm
638
00:23:58,944 --> 00:24:00,194
representing down in Lansing.
639
00:24:00,464 --> 00:24:03,964
In, in state legislatures, um,
they're a much smaller district.
640
00:24:04,474 --> 00:24:08,574
Uh, it just allows for more direct
interaction with constituents and
641
00:24:08,574 --> 00:24:09,844
your representatives that way.
642
00:24:10,344 --> 00:24:15,374
Stef: do you feel like your experience of
it as a representative for a more rural
643
00:24:15,374 --> 00:24:19,544
district is different than, say, for
like, you know, Oakland County or the,
644
00:24:19,569 --> 00:24:21,049
Pat: Oh, no, no question about it.
645
00:24:21,139 --> 00:24:25,949
that's where you see a lot of,
uh, debate and, and, and whatnot
646
00:24:25,959 --> 00:24:28,339
in, in the state legislature.
647
00:24:28,339 --> 00:24:31,589
It's because we are representatives
from all different parts of the
648
00:24:31,754 --> 00:24:32,184
Stef: Right,
649
00:24:32,439 --> 00:24:35,559
Pat: Different values, different
perspectives, uh, different
650
00:24:35,559 --> 00:24:37,249
demographics, things like that.
651
00:24:37,259 --> 00:24:42,944
So You know, a lot of times, um, I'll have
a conversation with my, uh, colleagues
652
00:24:42,944 --> 00:24:45,304
that, you know, represent a, a urban area.
653
00:24:45,954 --> 00:24:49,724
And, uh, and had to explain to them, this
is why we don't like this legislation.
654
00:24:49,854 --> 00:24:53,674
Uh, just because it, it affects rural
Michigan more, in a different way than
655
00:24:53,674 --> 00:24:57,886
it does, in an urban setting Like in
Oakland County, like a, like a Wayne
656
00:24:57,886 --> 00:24:59,696
County, like a City of Detroit, etc.
657
00:25:00,196 --> 00:25:01,406
Uh, but that makes it fun, too.
658
00:25:01,406 --> 00:25:05,666
it truly is a melting pot, the
legislature, of, of different people,
659
00:25:05,686 --> 00:25:07,366
different perspectives, things like that.
660
00:25:07,366 --> 00:25:10,406
So it, you know, it makes it challenging,
but it also makes it really fun as well.
661
00:25:10,456 --> 00:25:13,918
Stef: I would imagine a unique challenge
to bringing that rural perspective as
662
00:25:13,918 --> 00:25:21,198
well is the fact that, simply by trying to
apply resources to, um, the largest number
663
00:25:21,198 --> 00:25:26,678
of people, I'm sure it's easy for a lot of
focus to end up on those more urban areas.
664
00:25:26,978 --> 00:25:32,478
And there has to be a certain amount
of advocacy just for, like, we may
665
00:25:32,478 --> 00:25:37,198
have fewer people in our In our
constituency, but our voices still matter.
666
00:25:37,288 --> 00:25:37,888
Pat: no question.
667
00:25:37,888 --> 00:25:39,988
That's always a balancing act
and that's always a challenge.
668
00:25:39,988 --> 00:25:43,588
You know, the urban areas, they
obviously have more population and so
669
00:25:43,888 --> 00:25:46,918
you see a lot more resources go there
and, and a lot of other things too.
670
00:25:46,918 --> 00:25:49,328
It can be frustrating at times,
but that certainly is, an
671
00:25:49,328 --> 00:25:50,288
accurate assumption, I would say.
672
00:25:50,368 --> 00:25:53,038
Stef: I know that one thing that
there's been so much conversation
673
00:25:53,038 --> 00:25:57,718
about, how to, improve the situation
is specifically making, internet access
674
00:25:57,748 --> 00:25:59,688
available to a broader range of people.
675
00:25:59,688 --> 00:26:05,918
And I think it's really easy to forget
in 2024 how many families, how many homes
676
00:26:06,138 --> 00:26:08,588
don't even have access to that currently.
677
00:26:08,588 --> 00:26:08,801
No
678
00:26:08,898 --> 00:26:12,348
Pat: I mean, really COVID highlighted
that for me, uh, when everybody
679
00:26:12,378 --> 00:26:15,788
suddenly had to work from home, kids
are scrambling to learn from home.
680
00:26:15,788 --> 00:26:18,568
It's like, oh, my gosh, broadband
access, high speed internet
681
00:26:18,568 --> 00:26:20,168
access, reliable internet access.
682
00:26:20,528 --> 00:26:21,908
it's not uniform across the board.
683
00:26:21,908 --> 00:26:22,006
And
684
00:26:22,033 --> 00:26:22,413
Stef: Right.
685
00:26:22,413 --> 00:26:23,143
Absolutely.
686
00:26:23,193 --> 00:26:25,243
as a legislator, we've
been trying to incentivize
687
00:26:25,338 --> 00:26:26,678
Pat: these telecommunications companies.
688
00:26:26,728 --> 00:26:28,538
let's expand into these underserved areas.
689
00:26:28,538 --> 00:26:29,988
I know it's not economical for you.
690
00:26:30,308 --> 00:26:34,058
How can we make it economical
in this day and age, it's a lot
691
00:26:34,058 --> 00:26:35,758
better to have reliable internet.
692
00:26:35,833 --> 00:26:36,553
Stef: It's essential.
693
00:26:36,553 --> 00:26:40,353
Yeah, it's, it's become an essential
service and I know we see every day
694
00:26:40,373 --> 00:26:43,563
the cross section of people who don't
have access for whatever reason,
695
00:26:43,563 --> 00:26:46,363
either because they can't afford a
device, they can't afford, they can't
696
00:26:46,363 --> 00:26:50,033
afford the service, whatever, or they
just simply don't have access to it.
697
00:26:50,223 --> 00:26:54,398
so we see a lot of people who come to
us because There's no way around it.
698
00:26:54,438 --> 00:26:57,458
they're applying for jobs,
they're managing, you know,
699
00:26:57,488 --> 00:26:58,448
social security benefits.
700
00:26:58,448 --> 00:27:00,868
there's any number of things that
they might, they have to work with
701
00:27:00,868 --> 00:27:03,468
a doctor's office and they have,
documents they have to send and whatnot.
702
00:27:04,298 --> 00:27:05,458
You can't avoid technology.
703
00:27:05,458 --> 00:27:05,758
It's not
704
00:27:06,233 --> 00:27:09,973
Pat: you and I know it's a challenge
for some of our, our older citizens.
705
00:27:10,023 --> 00:27:13,013
There's been so many times where
they're struggling with, uh, with
706
00:27:13,013 --> 00:27:15,803
a government department because of
that, that learning curve in terms
707
00:27:15,803 --> 00:27:19,063
of technology and we constantly have
to walk them through the process and,
708
00:27:19,063 --> 00:27:20,443
and try to assist them in that regard.
709
00:27:20,443 --> 00:27:23,703
So, it's a blessing and a curse
all at once, I, I would say.
710
00:27:25,003 --> 00:27:31,338
Stef: you're not Yeah, so
711
00:27:31,548 --> 00:27:33,958
Pat: I spend a lot of my downtime
in the fall and winter when there's
712
00:27:33,958 --> 00:27:35,798
just not as much going on locally.
713
00:27:35,908 --> 00:27:39,448
Uh, a lot of my hobbies are,
are, revolve around the outdoors.
714
00:27:39,468 --> 00:27:41,078
I, I love hunting and fishing.
715
00:27:42,038 --> 00:27:46,558
I think every, every October and November,
my wife wants to divorce me because
716
00:27:47,218 --> 00:27:50,688
every opportunity again, I'm just in out
in the woods, sitting in my tree stand.
717
00:27:51,033 --> 00:27:51,873
Stef: What do they call them?
718
00:27:51,873 --> 00:27:53,393
The, the hunting widows or
719
00:27:53,608 --> 00:27:54,228
Pat: Yes.
720
00:27:54,648 --> 00:27:55,618
that's probably accurate.
721
00:27:55,658 --> 00:27:57,038
My wife could probably attest to that,
722
00:27:57,058 --> 00:27:58,478
I spend a lot of time reading as well.
723
00:27:58,798 --> 00:28:02,688
Uh, actually currently reading a
really good fictional series right now.
724
00:28:02,758 --> 00:28:03,878
hunting, reading.
725
00:28:03,928 --> 00:28:08,488
I have a lot of power sports, you know,
snowmobiles, uh, ATVs, things like that.
726
00:28:08,738 --> 00:28:09,268
Really anything.
727
00:28:09,448 --> 00:28:11,178
I just kind of gravitate
towards the outdoors.
728
00:28:11,238 --> 00:28:12,026
Stef: some regards.
729
00:28:12,026 --> 00:28:12,965
Oh, no.
730
00:28:12,965 --> 00:28:17,188
I mean, this is really
the perfect state for
731
00:28:17,411 --> 00:28:17,561
Pat: never.
732
00:28:17,711 --> 00:28:19,451
I mean, this is really
the perfect state for me.
733
00:28:19,501 --> 00:28:21,311
I mean, there's truly
always something to do.
734
00:28:21,371 --> 00:28:24,511
so many great state parks
and just, uh, you know.
735
00:28:24,941 --> 00:28:26,441
So much access to the lakeshore.
736
00:28:26,911 --> 00:28:31,471
Uh, it's such a diverse and beautiful
state and um, I think that's why I
737
00:28:31,471 --> 00:28:32,751
could never leave it, to be quite
738
00:28:32,836 --> 00:28:33,106
Stef: it.
739
00:28:33,106 --> 00:28:35,266
Yeah, yeah, you get,
you get spoiled a little
740
00:28:35,306 --> 00:28:36,176
Pat: Yeah, a little bit.
741
00:28:36,226 --> 00:28:36,746
what about you?
742
00:28:36,746 --> 00:28:38,106
What do you like to, like to do when
743
00:28:38,236 --> 00:28:39,146
Stef: keep turning this on.
744
00:28:40,316 --> 00:28:41,736
I guess you don't normally get to do that,
745
00:28:41,736 --> 00:28:45,046
Pat: if I try to ask a reporter
a question back, they, uh, you
746
00:28:45,046 --> 00:28:46,016
know, they don't typically.
747
00:28:46,046 --> 00:28:46,896
Yeah, exactly.
748
00:28:46,896 --> 00:28:48,156
This about you representative.
749
00:28:48,456 --> 00:28:49,346
do you have any hobbies?
750
00:28:49,936 --> 00:28:50,866
I assume you read a lot.
751
00:28:51,346 --> 00:28:55,016
Stef: I do, although not nearly as much
as I used to, um, because, you know,
752
00:28:55,016 --> 00:28:58,176
there's just never enough time in the
day, and I've got two young kids, too.
753
00:28:58,506 --> 00:28:59,676
I crochet a lot.
754
00:28:59,706 --> 00:29:01,766
I, I really enjoy making things.
755
00:29:01,816 --> 00:29:06,166
I like to figure things out,
usually it's like at any given time
756
00:29:06,166 --> 00:29:10,256
there's some new thing that I'm,
I'm trying to figure out how to do.
757
00:29:10,276 --> 00:29:15,466
when the ISD was here a few weeks ago,
they were talking about the career center
758
00:29:15,476 --> 00:29:19,666
and all of the different, um, academic
paths that the kids could go on to do
759
00:29:19,686 --> 00:29:21,566
these different trades or what have you.
760
00:29:21,846 --> 00:29:25,636
And I, and while they were talking about
it, I was thinking to myself, man, I
761
00:29:25,636 --> 00:29:28,146
want to do every single one of those.
762
00:29:28,266 --> 00:29:31,066
I want to learn, Diesel engines.
763
00:29:31,066 --> 00:29:32,686
I want to learn construction stuff.
764
00:29:32,686 --> 00:29:34,656
I want to learn the animal husbandry.
765
00:29:34,656 --> 00:29:35,676
I want to do all of it.
766
00:29:35,676 --> 00:29:35,948
Oh,
767
00:29:35,961 --> 00:29:36,471
Pat: I know.
768
00:29:36,471 --> 00:29:39,441
I literally had to stop myself
from signing up for random
769
00:29:39,441 --> 00:29:40,311
classes at the community
770
00:29:40,566 --> 00:29:40,838
Stef: college.
771
00:29:40,838 --> 00:29:41,109
Right.
772
00:29:41,109 --> 00:29:41,653
Just because
773
00:29:41,911 --> 00:29:43,631
Pat: because there's so
many cool things to do.
774
00:29:43,691 --> 00:29:44,811
And, yeah, the Career Center.
775
00:29:44,861 --> 00:29:46,591
I participated in that
as a student growing
776
00:29:46,842 --> 00:29:47,657
Stef: were you on?
777
00:29:47,771 --> 00:29:49,021
Pat: So I did the automotive
778
00:29:49,351 --> 00:29:50,121
Stef: Oh, cool.
779
00:29:50,121 --> 00:29:50,691
Okay.
780
00:29:50,691 --> 00:29:51,617
And, honestly, I did
781
00:29:51,741 --> 00:29:53,891
Pat: I did it just to get out of
school for a few hours, but I ended
782
00:29:53,891 --> 00:29:55,741
up finding out I really enjoyed it.
783
00:29:55,741 --> 00:29:55,741
It
784
00:29:55,786 --> 00:29:56,836
Stef: Right, yeah.
785
00:29:56,841 --> 00:30:00,381
Pat: had some great instructors there,
and so we were absolutely blessed to
786
00:30:00,381 --> 00:30:01,911
have a great career center around here.
787
00:30:01,941 --> 00:30:02,141
Yeah,
788
00:30:02,316 --> 00:30:06,516
Stef: it's, it's fantastic and it's
nice and close by too, which is great.
789
00:30:06,816 --> 00:30:10,246
Um, when I was growing up in Lowell,
we could take advantage of Kent Career
790
00:30:10,636 --> 00:30:14,546
Center, um, but it was still a little
bit of a trek, and, I'm glad that it
791
00:30:14,546 --> 00:30:18,616
seems more kids are being encouraged to
follow those paths, I am one of those
792
00:30:18,616 --> 00:30:23,346
weirdos that thinks that, um, it's great
to provide opportunities for people
793
00:30:23,396 --> 00:30:27,436
To go through, college if that's what
they want to do, if that's their path.
794
00:30:27,536 --> 00:30:30,806
But, if there's a road that they
can go down that, that takes them
795
00:30:30,806 --> 00:30:33,726
towards a particular trade or
prepares them for the world in a
796
00:30:33,726 --> 00:30:35,646
different way, then we should honor
797
00:30:36,011 --> 00:30:37,251
Pat: Oh, no question about it.
798
00:30:37,251 --> 00:30:41,061
Yeah, there's so many great opportunities
within like the skilled trades or really
799
00:30:41,061 --> 00:30:45,701
any of that and so Yeah, I mean kids don't
have to you know a four year institution
800
00:30:45,701 --> 00:30:50,831
is not always for some students Especially
with as big of an investment as it is
801
00:30:50,831 --> 00:30:55,871
nowadays college that is so I mean if you
can, you know get a leg up go to career
802
00:30:55,871 --> 00:31:00,701
center learn a skill and then Progress in
life that way that's that's a great path
803
00:31:00,776 --> 00:31:03,706
Stef: Yeah, and those kids come out
in some cases, prepared to actually
804
00:31:03,706 --> 00:31:04,966
enter the workforce immediately,
805
00:31:04,983 --> 00:31:06,546
Pat: Oh, yeah, most cases they do.
806
00:31:06,876 --> 00:31:07,826
These are such high demand
807
00:31:08,216 --> 00:31:09,236
Stef: Yeah, absolutely.
808
00:31:09,666 --> 00:31:12,756
Pat: And, we're kind of facing a
labor cliff in Michigan a little bit.
809
00:31:12,806 --> 00:31:15,796
We, you know, we have a population
problem and then we have, an entire
810
00:31:15,796 --> 00:31:17,576
generation that's on the cusp of retiring.
811
00:31:17,576 --> 00:31:21,346
And so if we can build that
pipeline, you know, the best we can,
812
00:31:21,346 --> 00:31:22,776
I think it'll benefit the state.
813
00:31:22,776 --> 00:31:24,526
Stef: it would be good for us culturally
814
00:31:24,586 --> 00:31:26,596
to talk more about those paths
815
00:31:26,646 --> 00:31:28,736
with the same value as going to college.
816
00:31:28,786 --> 00:31:31,666
we put a lot of value in that socially.
817
00:31:31,736 --> 00:31:32,756
it's just a choice.
818
00:31:32,856 --> 00:31:33,896
we all have our path.
819
00:31:33,976 --> 00:31:37,476
devaluing anything that is not
specifically the four year college.
820
00:31:37,506 --> 00:31:39,606
It's, it's very misleading.
821
00:31:39,641 --> 00:31:40,381
Pat: Yeah, it is.
822
00:31:40,381 --> 00:31:42,961
I think we've put too much
emphasis on the, on the college
823
00:31:42,981 --> 00:31:44,751
prep aspect of things in school.
824
00:31:44,751 --> 00:31:45,111
that's great.
825
00:31:45,111 --> 00:31:49,141
And we shouldn't stop doing that, but
we should also, uh, we should emphasize
826
00:31:49,151 --> 00:31:50,471
some of these other paths as well.
827
00:31:50,731 --> 00:31:54,711
get people, prepared for,
for life beyond K through 12.
828
00:31:54,921 --> 00:31:58,391
there's some great opportunities out
there aside from going to a four year
829
00:31:58,391 --> 00:31:59,971
institution or a community college even.
830
00:32:00,176 --> 00:32:02,636
Stef: we talked about the, the
young kids a little bit already.
831
00:32:02,916 --> 00:32:06,576
how much different does it feel like now
having that extra loud voice in the house?
832
00:32:06,676 --> 00:32:07,645
Pat: in the house?
833
00:32:07,645 --> 00:32:09,561
Well, it, you know, it's
certainly challenging.
834
00:32:09,631 --> 00:32:12,491
Uh, like I said, we live
in a very small house.
835
00:32:12,491 --> 00:32:12,824
Oh,
836
00:32:13,033 --> 00:32:13,737
Stef: small house,
837
00:32:13,901 --> 00:32:14,661
Pat: a lot of my job,
838
00:32:14,793 --> 00:32:15,145
Stef: Echoey,
839
00:32:15,361 --> 00:32:18,091
Pat: yeah, a lot of my job
consists of virtual meetings.
840
00:32:18,312 --> 00:32:18,664
Stef: meetings.
841
00:32:18,664 --> 00:32:19,526
Oh, okay.
842
00:32:19,551 --> 00:32:23,051
Pat: I have Preface every meeting
with, you know, I apologize.
843
00:32:23,051 --> 00:32:25,201
You're probably going to hear a
screaming toddler at some point.
844
00:32:25,291 --> 00:32:28,651
it's certainly been challenging, but
just, uh, just rewarding at times.
845
00:32:28,651 --> 00:32:31,551
And I, I told you, I have a
tremendous amount of help.
846
00:32:31,551 --> 00:32:33,291
Like I said, I live next door my parents.
847
00:32:33,801 --> 00:32:37,591
Uh, it's been such a blessing to have
them, um, help out as much as they do.
848
00:32:37,591 --> 00:32:41,441
And so I can just send the kids over
there for a quick bit if I need to, two
849
00:32:41,441 --> 00:32:43,141
kids under two, it can be a challenge.
850
00:32:43,436 --> 00:32:45,816
Stef: even just two kids in
general because you're no
851
00:32:45,816 --> 00:32:47,266
longer, what is it they say?
852
00:32:47,286 --> 00:32:52,306
You go man to man instead of, um,
instead of zone coverage for the kids.
853
00:32:52,555 --> 00:32:52,916
Pat: Right.
854
00:32:52,916 --> 00:32:56,351
Well, actually opposite, uh, the
other way around, I think, uh,
855
00:32:56,461 --> 00:32:58,181
uh, at some point, I don't know.
856
00:32:58,221 --> 00:33:00,721
I'm not good at sports, there's a
correct reference there somewhere, but
857
00:33:00,731 --> 00:33:03,341
you get spread pretty thin, that's sure.
858
00:33:03,341 --> 00:33:04,241
And I, I feel bad.
859
00:33:04,241 --> 00:33:07,261
I, I have a job that requires
me to be gone quite a bit.
860
00:33:07,261 --> 00:33:07,741
And so.
861
00:33:08,216 --> 00:33:11,446
Um, my poor wife, she's stuck at
home with the kids a lot, but she,
862
00:33:11,446 --> 00:33:13,206
uh, she managed it just, just fine,
863
00:33:13,826 --> 00:33:17,136
Stef: There, there are some people
who are just equipped for that.
864
00:33:17,176 --> 00:33:18,276
And I've.
865
00:33:18,601 --> 00:33:22,051
I've had the privilege to work with
a lot of those families because I
866
00:33:22,051 --> 00:33:24,951
was a youth librarian for years and
years, the Storytime families were
867
00:33:24,951 --> 00:33:28,581
frequently the families that, that had
one parent that spent a lot of time
868
00:33:28,581 --> 00:33:33,661
at home with the kids and they're not
always women, um, but primarily women
869
00:33:33,671 --> 00:33:37,691
and, um, they are just miracle workers.
870
00:33:38,381 --> 00:33:38,521
Pat: like.
871
00:33:38,781 --> 00:33:39,281
Oh, they really
872
00:33:39,461 --> 00:33:43,691
Stef: Yeah, I, like, I, I was never
a stay at home parent and I am.
873
00:33:44,286 --> 00:33:48,586
In awe of what they do and
how much energy goes into it.
874
00:33:48,636 --> 00:33:51,066
And you are on all the time.
875
00:33:51,066 --> 00:33:51,146
Oh,
876
00:33:51,161 --> 00:33:52,871
Pat: no question about You have no choice.
877
00:33:52,951 --> 00:33:54,691
You have to be on all the time.
878
00:33:55,141 --> 00:33:57,301
Uh, I would pull my hair out,
I think, if I was a stay at
879
00:33:57,306 --> 00:33:57,612
Stef: think.
880
00:33:57,612 --> 00:33:58,836
Me too, me too.
881
00:33:58,886 --> 00:33:59,816
I enjoy my job.
882
00:33:59,866 --> 00:34:01,636
the balance is definitely nice.
883
00:34:02,011 --> 00:34:02,691
Pat: How old are your kids?
884
00:34:02,901 --> 00:34:03,811
I know you said earlier.
885
00:34:04,044 --> 00:34:04,318
Stef: earlier.
886
00:34:04,318 --> 00:34:07,096
Uh, my, my youngest is three,
and my oldest is seven.
887
00:34:07,436 --> 00:34:09,056
first grade here at Baldwin Heights.
888
00:34:09,356 --> 00:34:12,376
he's a little more independent these days,
but, they're both very strong willed.
889
00:34:12,386 --> 00:34:14,066
They both have some big personalities at
890
00:34:14,101 --> 00:34:14,461
Pat: Oh, sure.
891
00:34:14,461 --> 00:34:15,391
Well, that's a great ages.
892
00:34:15,611 --> 00:34:16,091
Stef: Yeah.
893
00:34:16,421 --> 00:34:19,731
when I first interviewed for this
position, I was just finishing up
894
00:34:19,731 --> 00:34:21,641
maternity leave with my youngest.
895
00:34:21,641 --> 00:34:24,461
And so, and we were still
doing virtual interviews.
896
00:34:24,781 --> 00:34:31,351
So I, I was interviewing virtually in
the only, like the only room I could find
897
00:34:31,361 --> 00:34:35,781
that you could hopefully not hear all
the chaos in another part of the house.
898
00:34:36,081 --> 00:34:38,071
I remember them saying like, it's
a little dark where you're at.
899
00:34:38,071 --> 00:34:39,781
And I'm like, I, I had to improvise.
900
00:34:40,316 --> 00:34:46,936
Pat: had to improvise here.
901
00:34:46,936 --> 00:34:56,866
Especially when they're
really little, yeah.
902
00:34:56,866 --> 00:35:03,486
Finding spots for infants
903
00:35:03,673 --> 00:35:06,470
Stef: really little, yeah, finding
spots for infants is very tough.
904
00:35:06,470 --> 00:35:07,487
Yeah, I can imagine.
905
00:35:07,487 --> 00:35:07,741
Um,
906
00:35:08,451 --> 00:35:09,571
Pat: Um, we,
907
00:35:09,921 --> 00:35:10,821
Stef: we made it work.
908
00:35:10,921 --> 00:35:14,111
we were able to wait a little bit of time
for both kids to put them in daycare,
909
00:35:14,111 --> 00:35:16,021
but they were both in it under one.
910
00:35:16,411 --> 00:35:21,311
we moved, my oldest into a preschool
program at Faith Community Christian
911
00:35:21,311 --> 00:35:23,201
here just, just outside of Belding.
912
00:35:23,651 --> 00:35:26,761
they had a nice little classroom cohort,
so they were mostly just, there were
913
00:35:26,761 --> 00:35:28,031
five other kids that they were with.
914
00:35:28,071 --> 00:35:29,881
And that was, that was perfect.
915
00:35:30,261 --> 00:35:34,621
we've been lucky, but I feel like
there is an advantage, especially once
916
00:35:34,621 --> 00:35:39,241
they get maybe two ish or older, to,
to have them have that opportunity
917
00:35:39,241 --> 00:35:44,281
to, to be around other children
regularly, because it prepares them
918
00:35:44,281 --> 00:35:45,731
a lot more for when they're older.
919
00:35:46,071 --> 00:35:49,911
Um, kids that, that come to kindergarten
on the first day that have spent
920
00:35:49,921 --> 00:35:53,421
most of their time at home, it's
a big, it's a big transition for
921
00:35:53,514 --> 00:35:54,194
Pat: question about it.
922
00:35:54,194 --> 00:35:57,184
Yeah, and that's something we gotta
work on with my son, because, like I
923
00:35:57,184 --> 00:35:58,354
said, we live next door to my parents.
924
00:35:58,354 --> 00:36:00,324
And so he's either at our
house or my parents house.
925
00:36:00,324 --> 00:36:02,544
He really doesn't have a ton
of interaction with other kids.
926
00:36:02,544 --> 00:36:05,704
And been slowly trying to introduce
him to, uh, to various things.
927
00:36:05,704 --> 00:36:11,454
We do, we started this like, uh, Toddler
time thing up in Grand Rapids just to
928
00:36:11,454 --> 00:36:12,864
get them some of that social interaction.
929
00:36:12,894 --> 00:36:13,909
I think that is important.
930
00:36:14,404 --> 00:36:15,054
Stef: It is, yeah.
931
00:36:15,054 --> 00:36:17,494
I'm not an early childhood
expert, but I think it actually,
932
00:36:17,584 --> 00:36:20,344
does something significant to
how their brain develops, too.
933
00:36:20,844 --> 00:36:25,174
as they transition from, this concept
of like, I can't remember what it's
934
00:36:25,174 --> 00:36:28,144
called, but it's, it's basically when
they're, they're not playing with
935
00:36:28,154 --> 00:36:30,894
the other children yet, but they're
kind of playing right next to them.
936
00:36:30,894 --> 00:36:34,314
So they're comfortable with them in
their space and then moving from that
937
00:36:34,324 --> 00:36:39,664
to actually engaging and that having
that, um, that connection made in
938
00:36:39,664 --> 00:36:43,094
their brain hopefully you're more
comfortable with people older you get.
939
00:36:43,514 --> 00:36:48,514
obviously you talked a little bit
about how even just being part of the
940
00:36:48,514 --> 00:36:52,774
legislature has changed since when
your dad would have started how do you
941
00:36:52,804 --> 00:36:56,964
think, what's sort of important for your
community and for your constituents?
942
00:36:56,974 --> 00:37:01,004
How do you think that's
changed since, 20 years ago?
943
00:37:01,054 --> 00:37:16,202
Pat: state government at this point.
944
00:37:16,612 --> 00:37:19,432
You know, no shortage of, of
things to divide us nowadays.
945
00:37:19,432 --> 00:37:21,932
And I feel like, and we talked about
this earlier, social media really
946
00:37:21,932 --> 00:37:23,662
amplifies that division in a lot of ways.
947
00:37:23,662 --> 00:37:26,682
that really wasn't as prevalent
when my dad first got into politics.
948
00:37:26,682 --> 00:37:28,422
But now it's, it's
pretty much unavoidable.
949
00:37:28,608 --> 00:37:31,607
Uh, Yeah, certainly.
950
00:37:31,657 --> 00:37:35,867
I am a one specific party, but I,
I have to represent everybody the
951
00:37:35,867 --> 00:37:38,627
best I can, so it's, maybe I don't
represent you well on this issue,
952
00:37:38,627 --> 00:37:42,347
but I hope I represent you well on
this other issue and, and vice versa.
953
00:37:42,367 --> 00:37:46,312
But, uh, Yeah, just the division has
changed a lot, made it more challenging
954
00:37:46,412 --> 00:37:50,232
to serve, but, you know, really the
needs of the communities, those are
955
00:37:50,232 --> 00:37:52,832
still the same, it seems like, from
when my dad first got involved.
956
00:37:52,842 --> 00:37:54,422
Whether, you know, we
have a housing shortage,
957
00:37:54,592 --> 00:37:56,202
you know, our communities
still aren't getting the share
958
00:37:56,203 --> 00:37:57,912
of state resources at all.
959
00:37:58,237 --> 00:38:01,167
as other parts of the state while it's
changed quite a bit at the same, at
960
00:38:01,167 --> 00:38:03,967
the same, time, the issues have kind
of stayed the same, Michigan's kind
961
00:38:03,967 --> 00:38:08,507
of unique in a sense that we don't
really have a diversified economy.
962
00:38:09,057 --> 00:38:11,197
Everything is just so
tied to the auto industry.
963
00:38:11,697 --> 00:38:14,957
Even, you know, even a lot of the
local manufacturing around here, so.
964
00:38:15,447 --> 00:38:17,977
something happens in that sector
of the economy, you know, we're
965
00:38:17,977 --> 00:38:19,187
kind of held hostage in a lot of
966
00:38:19,202 --> 00:38:19,872
Stef: Yeah,
967
00:38:20,287 --> 00:38:24,167
Pat: you know, and so, uh, trying to
diversify our economy the best we can,
968
00:38:24,177 --> 00:38:27,337
although it's kind of a challenge up
in rural Michigan, just given given
969
00:38:27,337 --> 00:38:31,167
the resources and other challenges
that we have, but, uh, but, you know,
970
00:38:31,167 --> 00:38:32,530
housing was one that's been just, you
971
00:38:32,552 --> 00:38:34,052
Stef: just a
972
00:38:34,062 --> 00:38:37,032
Pat: prevalent one throughout the
last number of years because you
973
00:38:37,032 --> 00:38:38,392
want your kids to stay close to you.
974
00:38:38,452 --> 00:38:42,772
you want, uh, to have that relationship
and, and if there's not housing available,
975
00:38:42,772 --> 00:38:43,992
they're, they're going to go elsewhere.
976
00:38:43,992 --> 00:38:46,042
And we're seeing that,
you know, take place.
977
00:38:46,042 --> 00:38:48,822
A a lot of younger people
are, are getting out of Dodge.
978
00:38:48,823 --> 00:38:49,111
And
979
00:38:49,957 --> 00:38:53,257
Stef: then on the flip side, a lot of,
you know, older people are, are staying
980
00:38:53,257 --> 00:38:55,247
in their homes for much longer too.
981
00:38:56,042 --> 00:38:57,932
Yeah, so there's not as much
982
00:38:57,948 --> 00:39:02,027
Pat: Oh, no question.
983
00:39:02,027 --> 00:39:03,067
This is a real estate market.
984
00:39:03,067 --> 00:39:05,127
It's a kind of a supply
and demand issue here.
985
00:39:05,337 --> 00:39:06,607
try buying a house right now.
986
00:39:06,607 --> 00:39:09,767
I mean, no, it's not fun.
987
00:39:09,817 --> 00:39:11,657
Uh, it's not.
988
00:39:11,657 --> 00:39:12,937
Oh, we're building one for that matter.
989
00:39:12,937 --> 00:39:13,557
And, you
990
00:39:13,662 --> 00:39:16,922
Stef: buying a second house, it
definitely, it's a very different
991
00:39:16,922 --> 00:39:19,832
situation than trying to get
into it for the first time.
992
00:39:19,982 --> 00:39:20,852
Pat: No question about it.
993
00:39:20,852 --> 00:39:23,012
And we, we just bought our
first house a couple years ago.
994
00:39:23,252 --> 00:39:26,937
prior to that I just, I rented a
place and, um, you know, that worked
995
00:39:26,937 --> 00:39:29,222
well for a time, but at some point
it's you wanna own the house that you
996
00:39:29,542 --> 00:39:38,563
Stef: want to own the so when,
when you were a kid, were you
997
00:39:38,563 --> 00:39:39,823
a school person or a non school
998
00:39:40,308 --> 00:39:40,808
Pat: You know,
999
00:39:40,823 --> 00:39:42,093
Stef: you like going to school?
1000
00:39:42,308 --> 00:39:44,998
Pat: it's, it's funny because I'm
one that looks and looks at my
1001
00:39:45,138 --> 00:39:47,398
school years as really fond memories.
1002
00:39:47,448 --> 00:39:49,998
I, uh I absolutely love
the school I went to.
1003
00:39:49,998 --> 00:39:50,768
I went to Lakeview.
1004
00:39:50,768 --> 00:39:53,118
It's just a small school in
northern Montcombe County,
1005
00:39:53,118 --> 00:39:54,488
Stef: Oh, is
1006
00:39:54,528 --> 00:39:55,308
Pat: Oh, really?
1007
00:39:55,308 --> 00:39:55,503
Okay.
1008
00:39:55,503 --> 00:39:59,178
Uh, my parents as well, basically my whole
family for the most part went to Lakeview.
1009
00:39:59,178 --> 00:40:01,568
And so, we are Wildcats
through and through.
1010
00:40:01,598 --> 00:40:06,238
Um, but, you know, it's funny, I wasn't
necessarily a school person, per se.
1011
00:40:06,248 --> 00:40:09,558
I, uh, academically speaking, I
didn't take it very seriously.
1012
00:40:09,953 --> 00:40:13,713
I didn't get serious about it until my
higher education career, when I started
1013
00:40:13,713 --> 00:40:15,094
paying for my own college, and then I
1014
00:40:15,144 --> 00:40:16,572
Stef: took it very seriously after that.
1015
00:40:16,572 --> 00:40:16,810
I
1016
00:40:16,817 --> 00:40:20,023
Pat: I took it very seriously after that,
I hate to even admit this, but I was,
1017
00:40:20,023 --> 00:40:22,053
uh, I was a very naughty kid growing up.
1018
00:40:22,443 --> 00:40:26,453
constantly getting into trouble,
uh, hard time staying in my seat.
1019
00:40:26,948 --> 00:40:28,528
Uh, all harmless fun.
1020
00:40:28,578 --> 00:40:32,098
I just like to mess around with my friends
and, uh, not take anything too seriously.
1021
00:40:32,098 --> 00:40:34,838
But I, I, I certainly
enjoyed school growing up.
1022
00:40:35,533 --> 00:40:37,493
It's fun running into my former teachers.
1023
00:40:37,528 --> 00:40:38,288
Stef: Oh yeah,
1024
00:40:38,366 --> 00:40:39,183
Pat: they're just like, really?
1025
00:40:39,433 --> 00:40:41,363
I'm surprised this is the
career path you chose.
1026
00:40:41,465 --> 00:40:41,959
Stef: you chose.
1027
00:40:41,959 --> 00:40:42,701
Oh, well, okay.
1028
00:40:42,948 --> 00:40:44,238
that was another question I asked.
1029
00:40:44,238 --> 00:40:46,898
was there a time that you had
something else that you wanted
1030
00:40:46,898 --> 00:40:48,068
to do when you were growing up?
1031
00:40:48,598 --> 00:40:53,718
Pat: There was, uh, you know, so
I spent most of my, uh, my younger
1032
00:40:53,718 --> 00:40:56,738
years, you know, planning to take
over my family's excavating business.
1033
00:40:57,513 --> 00:40:57,943
Stef: So,
1034
00:40:58,168 --> 00:41:01,618
Pat: uh, excavating, home
construction, uh, I wanted to
1035
00:41:01,618 --> 00:41:03,058
be a farmer on the side as well.
1036
00:41:03,508 --> 00:41:06,608
Uh, so, so most of my
life that was my plan.
1037
00:41:06,658 --> 00:41:11,818
but, um, you know, I, God always has
a different plan for you, and so when
1038
00:41:11,818 --> 00:41:15,768
this opportunity, presented itself,
I, I jumped at it, but, it was not my
1039
00:41:15,768 --> 00:41:18,998
plan, and if I did run for office, it
was going to be, you know, later on
1040
00:41:18,998 --> 00:41:21,238
in my life, maybe my retirement age.
1041
00:41:21,925 --> 00:41:26,294
Stef: be, you know, later on in my life.
1042
00:41:26,294 --> 00:41:29,132
Or maybe my retirement age.
1043
00:41:29,132 --> 00:41:30,267
You know,
1044
00:41:30,628 --> 00:41:31,448
Pat: You know, it's funny.
1045
00:41:31,448 --> 00:41:35,018
I never had, uh, had big aspirations
like that for whatever reason.
1046
00:41:35,018 --> 00:41:36,448
I always just wanted
to do what my dad did.
1047
00:41:36,458 --> 00:41:40,928
And, uh, so if he was going to
be, uh, you know, a postmaster, I
1048
00:41:40,928 --> 00:41:42,318
probably would have been a postmaster.
1049
00:41:42,628 --> 00:41:44,828
you know, I was kind of one of those
kids to be quite honest with you.
1050
00:41:44,878 --> 00:41:48,733
while other kids were, um,
you know, being, Begging to
1051
00:41:48,743 --> 00:41:49,463
hang out with their friends.
1052
00:41:49,463 --> 00:41:51,063
I was begging my dad to
take me to work with them.
1053
00:41:51,473 --> 00:41:55,123
I just wanted to be an
excavator and a farmer and,
1054
00:41:55,173 --> 00:41:57,283
yeah, obviously I took a different route.
1055
00:41:57,818 --> 00:42:00,788
Stef: that's one of the aspects of, State
Legislature, too, is that it doesn't
1056
00:42:00,788 --> 00:42:02,808
become your whole life, either, so.
1057
00:42:03,098 --> 00:42:06,268
Pat: my I serve with people
from all walks of life.
1058
00:42:06,268 --> 00:42:08,285
I mean, they could be a dietician.
1059
00:42:08,285 --> 00:42:08,856
Uh, builder.
1060
00:42:08,856 --> 00:42:10,296
They could be a farmer.
1061
00:42:10,296 --> 00:42:13,466
They could be a doctor, a
lawyer, a lot of lawyers.
1062
00:42:13,916 --> 00:42:15,296
So, you just never know.
1063
00:42:15,366 --> 00:42:18,456
Uh, that is kind of the, one of the
unique perspectives of state legislature.
1064
00:42:18,476 --> 00:42:20,476
These are citizen legislators
for the most part.
1065
00:42:20,506 --> 00:42:20,926
Stef: Right.
1066
00:42:20,986 --> 00:42:21,966
Part time, so to speak.
1067
00:42:21,966 --> 00:42:24,946
Not exactly part time, but
yes, not your whole life.
1068
00:42:24,966 --> 00:42:25,576
Yeah.
1069
00:42:25,676 --> 00:42:30,726
Yeah, which I think there's definitely
some value to that because anything like
1070
00:42:30,726 --> 00:42:35,906
this that you spend your whole career
doing something specific, even with the
1071
00:42:35,906 --> 00:42:39,816
best intentions, I feel like it would
still be easy to sort of lose track of
1072
00:42:39,866 --> 00:42:41,746
what life looks like from the outside.
1073
00:42:41,938 --> 00:42:42,470
Pat: about it.
1074
00:42:42,470 --> 00:42:46,453
I don't want to knock career politicians,
but there is a benefit, to bringing
1075
00:42:46,453 --> 00:42:49,471
a different perspective to, to the
legislative branch of government.
1076
00:42:49,941 --> 00:42:50,871
No question about it.
1077
00:42:51,251 --> 00:42:55,331
Stef: so the core concept behind the
podcast, of course, was this idea
1078
00:42:55,331 --> 00:42:59,221
of like how comforting it is to just
sort of lounge on the front porch
1079
00:42:59,231 --> 00:43:02,161
and engage with the people in your
family and the people who live around
1080
00:43:02,266 --> 00:43:02,486
Pat: I love
1081
00:43:02,851 --> 00:43:03,671
Stef: So thank you.
1082
00:43:03,901 --> 00:43:07,981
Um, so I have to ask, Does
your family have a front porch?
1083
00:43:08,241 --> 00:43:10,246
Pat: They do and they, they did.
1084
00:43:10,246 --> 00:43:12,956
Yeah, we had a nice,
uh, covered front porch.
1085
00:43:13,356 --> 00:43:15,806
uh, it kind of overlooked
one of our hay fields.
1086
00:43:16,081 --> 00:43:17,001
Stef: Ooh, okay.
1087
00:43:17,156 --> 00:43:19,816
Pat: know, it faced the east, so
it was really ideal for sunrises.
1088
00:43:20,396 --> 00:43:21,806
yeah, we loved the front porch.
1089
00:43:21,806 --> 00:43:24,826
Had a nice, uh, a nice
swing on it as well.
1090
00:43:24,826 --> 00:43:28,086
I spent a lot of time out there
reading and, you know, family
1091
00:43:28,086 --> 00:43:29,166
birthdays, things like that.
1092
00:43:29,166 --> 00:43:30,156
It was well utilized.
1093
00:43:30,456 --> 00:43:34,276
Stef: Yeah, no question about it.
1094
00:43:34,276 --> 00:43:36,796
And now
1095
00:43:36,996 --> 00:43:39,576
Pat: And now that we've all moved
out of the house, sadly, now there's
1096
00:43:39,576 --> 00:43:40,826
just a herd of cats out there on the
1097
00:43:40,876 --> 00:43:41,016
Stef: Oh,
1098
00:43:41,056 --> 00:43:41,526
Pat: porch, it seems like.
1099
00:43:42,276 --> 00:43:44,776
constitutes a herd?
1100
00:43:44,776 --> 00:43:48,674
Oh gosh, uh, you know, there, there
could be half a dozen, there could be a
1101
00:43:48,772 --> 00:43:49,195
Stef: there
1102
00:43:49,343 --> 00:43:50,006
Pat: could be 20.
1103
00:43:50,016 --> 00:43:50,806
I don't really know.
1104
00:43:50,806 --> 00:43:51,561
Do
1105
00:43:51,735 --> 00:43:54,275
Stef: be 20, I don't really know.
1106
00:43:54,275 --> 00:43:57,239
They are essentially barn cats, and they
1107
00:43:57,556 --> 00:44:01,246
Pat: They are essentially cats
and they multiply like crazy.
1108
00:44:01,276 --> 00:44:06,106
Uh, my just constantly are to the elevator
buying these big bags of cat food.
1109
00:44:07,066 --> 00:44:09,986
To feed these critters, but,
uh, yeah, it's sadly our front
1110
00:44:09,986 --> 00:44:11,136
porch is a bit reduced to that.
1111
00:44:11,287 --> 00:44:15,263
Stef: our front porch has been reduced
1112
00:44:15,596 --> 00:44:17,046
Pat: Yeah, very much so.
1113
00:44:17,076 --> 00:44:18,806
We don't want to have
feral cats running around.
1114
00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:21,227
Stef: very much so.
1115
00:44:21,889 --> 00:44:24,540
don't want to have
1116
00:44:25,516 --> 00:44:25,626
Pat: right.
1117
00:44:25,716 --> 00:44:26,196
It's right.
1118
00:44:26,607 --> 00:44:28,307
Stef: So, you said you were
reading something, like there
1119
00:44:28,307 --> 00:44:29,667
was a series you were now.
1120
00:44:29,677 --> 00:44:31,707
What is it that you're working through?
1121
00:44:31,777 --> 00:44:31,867
So,
1122
00:44:31,924 --> 00:44:32,162
Pat: through?
1123
00:44:32,163 --> 00:44:33,593
So, it's the last Kingdom series.
1124
00:44:33,593 --> 00:44:35,313
It actually turned into a television show.
1125
00:44:35,403 --> 00:44:38,023
But I've been reading this author,
this guy named Bernard Cornwell,
1126
00:44:38,146 --> 00:44:39,066
Stef: named Bernard Cornwell.
1127
00:44:39,066 --> 00:44:39,373
Yes,
1128
00:44:39,523 --> 00:44:39,913
Pat: time.
1129
00:44:39,913 --> 00:44:41,293
So, this is about the
1130
00:44:41,519 --> 00:44:41,825
Stef: uh,
1131
00:44:42,343 --> 00:44:44,823
Pat: formation of modern
day England, essentially.
1132
00:44:45,083 --> 00:44:46,683
It takes place in the 11th century.
1133
00:44:47,133 --> 00:44:51,483
This is when, You had England, but
it had a bunch of different kingdoms.
1134
00:44:51,883 --> 00:44:53,813
know, there wasn't a central
kingdom there, and they were
1135
00:44:53,813 --> 00:44:55,243
fighting the Danes all the time.
1136
00:44:55,683 --> 00:44:58,493
Uh, so this is the formation
modern day England.
1137
00:44:58,833 --> 00:45:03,363
a guy named Alfred the Great, the only,
the only, uh, king that they called a
1138
00:45:03,363 --> 00:45:07,063
great in England, uh, pretty much, uh,
assembled all the kingdoms and, and,
1139
00:45:07,063 --> 00:45:08,613
uh, started pushing off the Danes.
1140
00:45:08,613 --> 00:45:09,993
And that's this story is about.
1141
00:45:09,993 --> 00:45:11,633
I've been reading it for about a year now.
1142
00:45:11,633 --> 00:45:13,303
There's like 13 books within this series.
1143
00:45:13,321 --> 00:45:14,077
Stef: this Okay.
1144
00:45:14,077 --> 00:45:16,887
Is it, is it um, historical
fiction or fantasy?
1145
00:45:17,367 --> 00:45:17,748
Pat: fantasy?
1146
00:45:17,748 --> 00:45:21,868
It's, uh, I categorize
it as historical fiction.
1147
00:45:21,888 --> 00:45:24,108
It fiction, but it's based
on a lot of real events.
1148
00:45:24,283 --> 00:45:25,000
Stef: real events.
1149
00:45:25,328 --> 00:45:27,798
Pat: you know, some of the characters
are real, some of them are made up.
1150
00:45:27,878 --> 00:45:29,958
Uh, so kind of a hybrid
in between those two.
1151
00:45:30,382 --> 00:45:32,327
Stef: hybrid between those two.
1152
00:45:32,327 --> 00:45:33,786
No, uh, I
1153
00:45:33,938 --> 00:45:38,573
Pat: No, uh, I mean there, well there
is a little bit, they, there, there
1154
00:45:38,573 --> 00:45:42,803
is a little bit of magic within it
as well, but like, uh, shamanistic
1155
00:45:42,808 --> 00:45:45,293
kind of Um, so there just a touch of
1156
00:45:45,529 --> 00:45:46,312
Stef: of that.
1157
00:45:46,312 --> 00:45:46,703
Yeah,
1158
00:45:47,098 --> 00:45:47,573
Pat: low key.
1159
00:45:47,878 --> 00:45:48,269
Stef: key.
1160
00:45:48,269 --> 00:45:49,052
Yeah, okay.
1161
00:45:49,052 --> 00:45:50,682
That is the fantasy that
I can deal with, too.
1162
00:45:51,232 --> 00:45:56,442
Like, anything that is, um, The name
that comes to mind, if you ever read them
1163
00:45:56,442 --> 00:46:00,242
when you were younger, is, uh, there's a
series, by a woman named Anne McCaffrey,
1164
00:46:00,272 --> 00:46:03,112
who does the Planet Full of Dragons pern.
1165
00:46:03,112 --> 00:46:04,692
Like, she had a whole series about
1166
00:46:04,728 --> 00:46:05,798
Pat: Okay, no, I'm actually not
1167
00:46:05,962 --> 00:46:09,832
Stef: But, um, yeah, anything that,
you have to learn the entire world.
1168
00:46:10,112 --> 00:46:13,922
It's, I, again, respect for people
who can immerse themselves in that.
1169
00:46:14,182 --> 00:46:18,012
Um, something that has historical
basis like that, I, I'm much
1170
00:46:18,032 --> 00:46:19,032
more comfortable that too.
1171
00:46:19,532 --> 00:46:20,192
Definitely.
1172
00:46:20,613 --> 00:46:22,893
Pat: and, you know, I
gravitate more towards, uh,
1173
00:46:23,532 --> 00:46:23,882
Stef: uh,
1174
00:46:23,933 --> 00:46:25,383
Pat: Non fiction historical books.
1175
00:46:25,823 --> 00:46:27,253
I read a ton of those.
1176
00:46:27,253 --> 00:46:32,713
I love biographies and things like But,
uh, but, you know, I'm all over the place.
1177
00:46:32,713 --> 00:46:34,353
I mean, I grew up reading Harry Potter.
1178
00:46:34,633 --> 00:46:38,223
Those are absolutely some of my
favorite books still to this day.
1179
00:46:38,223 --> 00:46:38,692
It's funny
1180
00:46:38,712 --> 00:46:41,552
Stef: It's funny you mention that
because the, the one conversation I've
1181
00:46:41,552 --> 00:46:45,002
had thus far with your dad was, which
was for the advocacy day last year.
1182
00:46:45,312 --> 00:46:47,652
Um, and, you know, of course we
were talking about libraries.
1183
00:46:47,732 --> 00:46:51,592
Um, I remember him bringing up Harry
Potter and reading it with y'all when
1184
00:46:51,658 --> 00:46:52,419
Pat: you were young.
1185
00:46:52,419 --> 00:46:53,958
Yeah, actually funny story about that.
1186
00:46:53,978 --> 00:46:57,048
So my, my dad and I read that
series at the exact same we would
1187
00:46:57,048 --> 00:47:00,448
buy, uh, you know, typically one
copy of the book as they came out.
1188
00:47:00,468 --> 00:47:03,028
And, uh, it was always a
competition who could read it first.
1189
00:47:03,978 --> 00:47:07,308
And so I'm, I'm rushing home from
school, reading as much as I can.
1190
00:47:07,748 --> 00:47:11,148
My dad staying up way past his
bedtime reading as much as I can.
1191
00:47:11,148 --> 00:47:15,698
I would get so mad if he'd get too far
ahead of me in the uh, yeah, really fond
1192
00:47:15,718 --> 00:47:17,478
memories of reading that series together.
1193
00:47:17,548 --> 00:47:18,228
Absolutely.
1194
00:47:18,337 --> 00:47:19,557
Stef: Right, and if you've
got the same copy, I
1195
00:47:19,938 --> 00:47:22,688
Pat: Oh, yeah.
1196
00:47:22,758 --> 00:47:26,878
Yeah, it was, uh, it was sort of
a competition we had, but, uh,
1197
00:47:27,058 --> 00:47:28,998
you know, just a great series
to be quite honest with you.
1198
00:47:29,278 --> 00:47:33,008
I still, uh, I still, you know,
look back as those are some of my
1199
00:47:33,008 --> 00:47:34,468
favorite books growing up for sure.
1200
00:47:34,697 --> 00:47:37,307
Stef: Yeah, there aren't a whole lot
of series that you can easily read
1201
00:47:37,307 --> 00:47:40,637
with a parent and sort of both enjoy
it a lot, but that's, yeah, that was
1202
00:47:40,637 --> 00:47:41,837
a definitely a good one like that.
1203
00:47:42,268 --> 00:47:43,078
Pat: question about it.
1204
00:47:43,138 --> 00:47:45,338
Um, do you have any
favorite books by chance?
1205
00:47:46,597 --> 00:47:50,357
Stef: Um, yeah, I, you know, I will
read a cross section of fantasy.
1206
00:47:50,357 --> 00:47:53,767
I, I've read way too much
historical nonfiction as well.
1207
00:47:53,997 --> 00:47:55,837
I have, like, 80 favorite books.
1208
00:47:55,837 --> 00:47:56,167
That's my
1209
00:47:56,523 --> 00:47:58,383
Pat: Yeah, and that's problem as well.
1210
00:47:58,383 --> 00:48:00,283
There's, there's so many
that stand out, though.
1211
00:48:00,573 --> 00:48:03,693
know, like I look at books like The
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
1212
00:48:03,703 --> 00:48:05,963
That one really, I remember
having a really profound
1213
00:48:05,963 --> 00:48:07,223
feeling after reading that book.
1214
00:48:07,293 --> 00:48:09,523
just a great American literature classic.
1215
00:48:09,843 --> 00:48:12,463
Um, just, you know,
trying times in America.
1216
00:48:12,463 --> 00:48:12,943
Depression
1217
00:48:13,038 --> 00:48:13,665
Stef: after Mm hmm.
1218
00:48:13,665 --> 00:48:14,188
Just, uh, just a great
1219
00:48:14,263 --> 00:48:16,063
Pat: you know, migrant
workers and things like that.
1220
00:48:16,073 --> 00:48:18,598
there's just so many great
books that stand out.
1221
00:48:18,598 --> 00:48:20,618
I don't, honestly, I don't think
I could come up with a favorite.
1222
00:48:20,688 --> 00:48:20,958
There's,
1223
00:48:21,011 --> 00:48:21,779
Stef: with a favorite.
1224
00:48:21,779 --> 00:48:25,460
Yeah, it's hard to, I mean, you
enjoy a book one of my favorites is,
1225
00:48:25,540 --> 00:48:29,400
I think it won the Pulitzer in like
2003 ish or something like that.
1226
00:48:29,450 --> 00:48:32,210
it's by Michael Chabon, and it's called
The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay.
1227
00:48:32,210 --> 00:48:38,430
And it's about, um, two, comic book
writers, like writers and artists,
1228
00:48:38,430 --> 00:48:42,440
right during the, late 30s, early
40s, right when the big, like
1229
00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:45,440
all the Superman and Batman and
all those comics, like, took off.
1230
00:48:45,720 --> 00:48:50,441
one of the two main characters
he snuck out of, was it Ukraine?
1231
00:48:50,721 --> 00:48:53,251
Um, one of the European countries
because, you know, his family was
1232
00:48:53,251 --> 00:48:56,361
Jewish and they were trying to get him
out before things got too difficult
1233
00:48:56,381 --> 00:48:57,051
Pat: for him to escape.
1234
00:48:57,221 --> 00:49:00,871
Stef: So, you know, there are things
happening with his family, in Europe
1235
00:49:00,911 --> 00:49:03,801
while he's in the United States and
like he's constantly feeling guilty
1236
00:49:03,801 --> 00:49:07,751
about the fact that he's living this,
this, you know, great comic artist
1237
00:49:07,751 --> 00:49:11,561
life while his family is stuck behind,
um, you know, everything that's going
1238
00:49:11,561 --> 00:49:13,351
on during that period in, in Germany.
1239
00:49:13,701 --> 00:49:19,266
Um, so it's, it's, It has that beautiful
context of that era and, it's like
1240
00:49:19,266 --> 00:49:20,786
writing something about the Titanic.
1241
00:49:20,786 --> 00:49:24,616
it's this very universal, tragedy
that everybody's familiar with.
1242
00:49:24,616 --> 00:49:28,366
And you, I mean, to a certain extent, you
know that where things go for his family,
1243
00:49:28,366 --> 00:49:33,336
it's, it's not gonna be happy, and it's
gonna be rough, but, it's such a beautiful
1244
00:49:33,336 --> 00:49:37,836
encapsulation of that period in, in the
United States too, and like, that's why
1245
00:49:37,846 --> 00:49:39,506
I keep going back to it, is it's so,
1246
00:49:40,247 --> 00:49:41,105
Pat: the
1247
00:49:42,626 --> 00:49:45,896
Stef: yeah, um, my favorites I always
end up reading again and again.
1248
00:49:45,966 --> 00:49:47,816
It's like taking the same
vacation over and over again.
1249
00:49:47,961 --> 00:49:49,721
Pat: You know, sad to say, I
don't know if I've ever read
1250
00:49:49,721 --> 00:49:50,771
the same book more than once.
1251
00:49:51,086 --> 00:49:51,586
Stef: Well, good for you.
1252
00:49:51,586 --> 00:49:53,426
I mean, that means you're diving into new
1253
00:49:53,741 --> 00:49:54,711
Pat: Yeah, that's the problem.
1254
00:49:54,711 --> 00:49:58,331
I find so many good books that I want
to read that I never circle back to
1255
00:49:58,371 --> 00:49:59,671
some of the great ones that I've read.
1256
00:49:59,891 --> 00:50:01,071
Someday I will.
1257
00:50:01,071 --> 00:50:05,641
I got a mental list of books I want
to go back and re read, certainly.
1258
00:50:06,231 --> 00:50:08,021
Who did you say was the
author of that book?
1259
00:50:08,041 --> 00:50:08,931
Stef: Michael Chabon.
1260
00:50:09,051 --> 00:50:11,511
he's a really excellent writer,
but it was just one of those things
1261
00:50:11,511 --> 00:50:14,451
where like, it was such a beautiful
confluence of different things
1262
00:50:14,451 --> 00:50:17,471
that I've enjoyed his other stuff,
but it's never been exactly that.
1263
00:50:17,911 --> 00:50:23,291
Is there a specific area of historical
nonfiction that you know, like, a
1264
00:50:23,291 --> 00:50:27,141
lot about that if somebody put you on
the spot, you'd probably be able to.
1265
00:50:27,476 --> 00:50:28,546
To give an answer on.
1266
00:50:29,366 --> 00:50:32,366
Pat: You know, I, uh, you know,
World War II era, stuff like
1267
00:50:32,666 --> 00:50:34,436
Stef: I, I had a sneaking suspicion.
1268
00:50:34,436 --> 00:50:34,982
I'm
1269
00:50:35,066 --> 00:50:38,486
Pat: but I'm, I'm delving into, uh,
you know, branching out to, history
1270
00:50:38,496 --> 00:50:42,916
outside of the United States, branching
into, history of England and France
1271
00:50:42,946 --> 00:50:44,286
and some of those areas as well.
1272
00:50:44,486 --> 00:50:47,266
I would say I, uh, I know enough
to be dangerous on a lot of
1273
00:50:47,359 --> 00:50:48,002
Stef: of different areas.
1274
00:50:48,176 --> 00:50:51,236
Pat: I don't know if I would nail down,
uh, expert status in any of those.
1275
00:50:51,741 --> 00:50:54,311
there's some areas I would feel
certainly more comfortable than others.
1276
00:50:54,431 --> 00:50:54,781
Right.
1277
00:50:54,856 --> 00:50:58,256
Stef: If it came up as a category in Pub
Trivia, you'd be able to hold your own.
1278
00:50:58,881 --> 00:51:01,221
Pat: know, I surprise myself on
things like Jeopardy every once
1279
00:51:02,111 --> 00:51:05,486
be a certain category, it's like, that
was made for me, I just nailed Yeah.
1280
00:51:05,486 --> 00:51:06,481
European
1281
00:51:07,006 --> 00:51:09,366
Stef: I, European
history is, is definitely
1282
00:51:09,466 --> 00:51:10,461
Pat: fun.
1283
00:51:10,461 --> 00:51:11,671
Yeah, it's fascinating.
1284
00:51:11,876 --> 00:51:15,586
Stef: they were all just always just
sniping at each other back then.
1285
00:51:15,661 --> 00:51:20,011
Pat: crazy to look back and, you know,
even, in those times, Like a lot of
1286
00:51:20,011 --> 00:51:23,791
things were, are very reminiscent of
today and, know, just in tribalism,
1287
00:51:23,791 --> 00:51:25,041
just random things like that.
1288
00:51:25,061 --> 00:51:26,481
It's, uh, it's quite fascinating.
1289
00:51:26,981 --> 00:51:27,381
Yeah,
1290
00:51:27,416 --> 00:51:28,376
Stef: yeah, definitely.
1291
00:51:28,426 --> 00:51:30,806
I didn't tell you in advance I was
going to do this, but it's more fun if
1292
00:51:30,806 --> 00:51:35,971
I sneak it once I had scheduled both
you and your dad coming on, I realized
1293
00:51:35,971 --> 00:51:40,741
that it might be fun to do sort of
a father son version of the newlywed
1294
00:51:40,741 --> 00:51:43,961
game and ask you each questions about
the other person and see if you match
1295
00:51:43,996 --> 00:51:45,096
Pat: Okay, let's go!
1296
00:51:45,521 --> 00:51:46,071
Stef: All right.
1297
00:51:46,121 --> 00:51:50,776
So, um, So we'll do, I have a
handful of questions and I'll have
1298
00:51:50,776 --> 00:51:54,386
you answer for you, and then I'll
have you answer, um, for your dad.
1299
00:51:54,996 --> 00:51:56,106
Um, easy questions, I promise.
1300
00:51:56,516 --> 00:51:57,976
Um, favorite food?
1301
00:51:58,871 --> 00:51:59,701
Pat: Oh gosh.
1302
00:52:00,211 --> 00:52:01,251
And we're, we're speaking
1303
00:52:01,456 --> 00:52:04,296
Stef: So first you, and then do what
you think your, your dad will say.
1304
00:52:04,590 --> 00:52:06,129
Pat: your dad will say.
1305
00:52:06,129 --> 00:52:06,898
Oh gosh.
1306
00:52:06,898 --> 00:52:11,606
My favorite food probably ribs, to
be quite it's something about, uh,
1307
00:52:11,636 --> 00:52:14,156
I, I love, I absolutely love ribs.
1308
00:52:14,206 --> 00:52:17,926
Pizza's up there too, but, uh, you
know, I'm just a big fan of, uh,
1309
00:52:17,936 --> 00:52:19,566
baby back ribs for whatever reason.
1310
00:52:19,873 --> 00:52:21,686
Stef: big fan of,
1311
00:52:22,866 --> 00:52:25,466
Pat: my dad is probably
a steak of some sort.
1312
00:52:25,713 --> 00:52:26,462
Stef: recipes.
1313
00:52:26,462 --> 00:52:31,486
Uh, my dad is probably a steak
1314
00:52:31,851 --> 00:52:33,076
Pat: is no surprise there.
1315
00:52:33,203 --> 00:52:33,951
Stef: sort.
1316
00:52:33,951 --> 00:52:36,198
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
1317
00:52:36,198 --> 00:52:39,666
There is surprise there.
1318
00:52:39,943 --> 00:52:41,441
Yeah, absolutely.
1319
00:52:42,531 --> 00:52:45,446
Pat: I would say, uh, the Upper Peninsula.
1320
00:52:45,531 --> 00:52:46,041
Stef: Okay.
1321
00:52:46,641 --> 00:52:47,571
Winter or summer?
1322
00:52:48,001 --> 00:52:48,631
Pat: Winter.
1323
00:52:48,971 --> 00:52:50,431
say that for both my dad and I.
1324
00:52:50,501 --> 00:52:51,051
Stef: Oh, okay.
1325
00:52:51,081 --> 00:52:52,781
You think that he would
say Upper Peninsula too?
1326
00:52:52,861 --> 00:52:52,991
I think
1327
00:52:53,001 --> 00:52:53,371
Pat: so.
1328
00:52:53,541 --> 00:52:55,631
I, very fond memories of
our snowmobile trips up
1329
00:52:55,736 --> 00:52:55,931
Stef: there.
1330
00:52:56,191 --> 00:52:57,931
Pat: I think he's going to
say winter as well on the UP.
1331
00:52:58,781 --> 00:53:01,361
Stef: Yeah, I mean, there's definitely
special things that you can do
1332
00:53:01,371 --> 00:53:03,781
when the weather is, is snowier.
1333
00:53:04,151 --> 00:53:04,541
Yeah.
1334
00:53:04,851 --> 00:53:09,401
But it also takes a very special kind
of tourist in order to appreciate that.
1335
00:53:09,401 --> 00:53:09,691
Yeah.
1336
00:53:09,731 --> 00:53:09,811
No question
1337
00:53:09,871 --> 00:53:10,321
Pat: question about it.
1338
00:53:10,321 --> 00:53:12,811
It's not for everybody,
but uh, but it's for us.
1339
00:53:12,821 --> 00:53:13,401
That's for sure.
1340
00:53:13,851 --> 00:53:17,943
Stef: us, that's sure.
1341
00:53:18,993 --> 00:53:25,016
Pat: you want to cheat
1342
00:53:25,105 --> 00:53:28,175
Stef: last few years.
1343
00:53:28,175 --> 00:53:30,221
I, uh,
1344
00:53:32,366 --> 00:53:35,576
Pat: Uh, yeah, let's do one
from the last few years.
1345
00:53:35,616 --> 00:53:39,196
I, uh, I would say, and I
haven't seen Dune II yet, and
1346
00:53:39,626 --> 00:53:40,786
really looking forward to that
1347
00:53:41,096 --> 00:53:42,940
Stef: looking forward to that one.
1348
00:53:42,940 --> 00:53:43,677
No, I
1349
00:53:43,916 --> 00:53:46,056
Pat: No, makes want to,
to be honest with you.
1350
00:53:46,056 --> 00:53:48,036
But, uh, I absolutely love the first one.
1351
00:53:48,046 --> 00:53:50,786
My staff tells me the second
one is even better, so.
1352
00:53:51,336 --> 00:53:53,506
I think I'll be making a trip
this weekend to go see it.
1353
00:53:53,516 --> 00:53:55,916
But, uh, probably for the last
couple of years, my favorite
1354
00:53:55,916 --> 00:53:57,176
movie would be Oppenheimer.
1355
00:53:57,323 --> 00:53:58,798
Stef: last couple of years,
1356
00:53:59,136 --> 00:53:59,166
Pat: yet.
1357
00:53:59,166 --> 00:53:59,826
Phenomenal movie.
1358
00:53:59,826 --> 00:54:00,516
Very long.
1359
00:54:00,642 --> 00:54:01,011
Stef: Oppenheimer.
1360
00:54:01,011 --> 00:54:01,748
Phenomenal movie.
1361
00:54:01,748 --> 00:54:02,117
Very
1362
00:54:02,446 --> 00:54:03,446
Pat: is a commitment.
1363
00:54:03,592 --> 00:54:03,961
Stef: commitment.
1364
00:54:04,751 --> 00:54:07,931
And I imagine there's some of that
historical element to it that,
1365
00:54:08,021 --> 00:54:10,011
like, you like your history stuff.
1366
00:54:10,186 --> 00:54:10,656
Pat: I do.
1367
00:54:10,696 --> 00:54:11,026
Yep.
1368
00:54:11,401 --> 00:54:11,591
Stef: yeah.
1369
00:54:11,841 --> 00:54:12,421
How about your dad?
1370
00:54:13,256 --> 00:54:13,956
Pat: Oh, gosh.
1371
00:54:14,566 --> 00:54:16,016
Star Wars or Rocky.
1372
00:54:16,291 --> 00:54:17,951
Stef: Okay, alright,
we're going old school
1373
00:54:17,961 --> 00:54:18,981
Pat: school on this one.
1374
00:54:18,981 --> 00:54:19,236
Yeah.
1375
00:54:19,236 --> 00:54:19,491
Yeah.
1376
00:54:20,001 --> 00:54:22,851
Stef: Did you, did you watch a
lot of the, a lot of those, um,
1377
00:54:22,941 --> 00:54:24,141
series when you were growing up?
1378
00:54:24,259 --> 00:54:26,321
Pat: Yeah, and I still
do, as a matter of fact.
1379
00:54:26,351 --> 00:54:29,791
I still watch both of
them, uh, quite often.
1380
00:54:30,336 --> 00:54:35,136
in the Star Wars series, do you
have a, a favorite, like, or period?
1381
00:54:35,136 --> 00:54:37,766
Yeah, and I'm, I'm kind of old
school in that regard as well.
1382
00:54:37,786 --> 00:54:41,176
Uh, I, I'm a big fan of The
Empire Strikes think that's just a
1383
00:54:41,176 --> 00:54:43,506
phenomenal, uh, movie in the series.
1384
00:54:43,536 --> 00:54:46,746
But also, uh, even one of the
new ones, uh, Rogue One is
1385
00:54:47,384 --> 00:54:47,895
Stef: little
1386
00:54:47,916 --> 00:54:48,036
Pat: one.
1387
00:54:48,066 --> 00:54:50,976
A little darker aspect to it
than, uh, than the other ones.
1388
00:54:50,996 --> 00:54:54,476
But, uh, those are kind of the two
that I gravitate towards typically.
1389
00:54:55,692 --> 00:54:57,606
Stef: that I gravitate towards.
1390
00:54:58,531 --> 00:54:59,711
Pat: We're both going to say wrestling,
1391
00:55:00,036 --> 00:55:00,846
Stef: Oh, okay.
1392
00:55:00,846 --> 00:55:02,326
That is not what I would have expected.
1393
00:55:02,383 --> 00:55:03,052
Pat: have expected.
1394
00:55:03,052 --> 00:55:04,551
Yeah, we, what did you expect?
1395
00:55:04,551 --> 00:55:05,421
I don't
1396
00:55:05,446 --> 00:55:08,596
Stef: I, I didn't, it's not,
I, I will say it's not your
1397
00:55:08,616 --> 00:55:11,726
typical answer for a favorite
1398
00:55:11,731 --> 00:55:12,731
Pat: Yeah, we are.
1399
00:55:12,766 --> 00:55:13,136
Stef: yes.
1400
00:55:13,186 --> 00:55:13,966
But not necessarily
1401
00:55:14,161 --> 00:55:15,771
Pat: Yeah, we are weirdos in that regard.
1402
00:55:15,771 --> 00:55:16,011
We
1403
00:55:16,037 --> 00:55:16,633
Stef: love wrestling.
1404
00:55:16,641 --> 00:55:17,381
Pat: of wrestling.
1405
00:55:17,441 --> 00:55:20,066
And that's like, really the
only sport Sport that we
1406
00:55:20,066 --> 00:55:21,596
even watch for the most part.
1407
00:55:21,596 --> 00:55:22,646
I, well, I take that back.
1408
00:55:22,646 --> 00:55:25,586
I love watching the lions, but
I'm You know, aside from that, I'm
1409
00:55:25,586 --> 00:55:26,906
really not a huge football guy.
1410
00:55:27,326 --> 00:55:30,386
I do love the Detroit Lions, but
we both watch wrestling, uh, high
1411
00:55:30,386 --> 00:55:31,766
school wrestling, college wrestling.
1412
00:55:32,026 --> 00:55:34,146
Uh, international Olympic wrestling as
1413
00:55:34,221 --> 00:55:34,761
Stef: Okay.
1414
00:55:35,426 --> 00:55:35,456
Pat: okay.
1415
00:55:35,456 --> 00:55:37,226
I'm very confident he's
gonna say wrestling as well.
1416
00:55:37,359 --> 00:55:37,867
Stef: as well.
1417
00:55:37,867 --> 00:55:42,941
So, so less on the, like the pro wrestling
side as opposed to the, yeah, cause
1418
00:55:42,941 --> 00:55:45,421
that's a, a different beast, definitely.
1419
00:55:45,431 --> 00:55:45,791
Yeah,
1420
00:55:45,806 --> 00:55:46,866
Pat: very much so.
1421
00:55:47,216 --> 00:55:49,826
Yeah, I never got into the WWE
1422
00:55:50,116 --> 00:55:54,306
Stef: Yeah, yeah, that's very,
it's much more performative,
1423
00:55:54,886 --> 00:55:56,206
Pat: Very much so, yeah.
1424
00:55:56,706 --> 00:55:58,166
Yeah, I don't know if I
fit that target audience.
1425
00:55:58,946 --> 00:56:00,756
Stef: Yeah, but that's, I
mean, that's kind of a fun
1426
00:56:00,756 --> 00:56:01,946
thing that you have together.
1427
00:56:02,556 --> 00:56:03,946
Did you ever wrestle in school?
1428
00:56:03,961 --> 00:56:04,491
Pat: I did.
1429
00:56:04,501 --> 00:56:04,791
Yeah.
1430
00:56:04,841 --> 00:56:06,321
I think my dad would disown me if I didn't
1431
00:56:06,340 --> 00:56:07,166
Stef: if I didn't wrestle.
1432
00:56:07,321 --> 00:56:07,691
Pat: I did.
1433
00:56:07,691 --> 00:56:08,571
I gave it my best.
1434
00:56:08,571 --> 00:56:11,801
I, I wasn't nearly as accomplished
as my dad, but I, I did wrestle
1435
00:56:11,881 --> 00:56:12,961
pretty much my entire life.
1436
00:56:13,506 --> 00:56:17,836
Stef: I feel like, um, in addition
to football, that is one of the most
1437
00:56:17,916 --> 00:56:23,346
physically demanding Taxing sports
that kids that age can participate in.
1438
00:56:23,386 --> 00:56:25,406
Pat: Yeah, it, you know, I
might be biased here, but I
1439
00:56:25,406 --> 00:56:26,906
think it is the toughest sport.
1440
00:56:26,926 --> 00:56:30,356
And I've, had a number of, uh,
friends that have kind of crossed over
1441
00:56:30,356 --> 00:56:33,746
from, from different, um, different
sports and they, kind of agree.
1442
00:56:33,746 --> 00:56:36,366
I mean, it's, uh, it's
different in that regard.
1443
00:56:36,366 --> 00:56:40,636
I you are putting your body through
things that nobody should put their bodies
1444
00:56:40,752 --> 00:56:41,492
Stef: Ha ha ha!
1445
00:56:41,492 --> 00:56:41,739
Putting
1446
00:56:41,756 --> 00:56:42,696
Pat: weight all the time.
1447
00:56:42,726 --> 00:56:42,973
Stef: time.
1448
00:56:42,973 --> 00:56:43,713
Oh, yeah, yeah.
1449
00:56:43,713 --> 00:56:43,960
Yeah,
1450
00:56:44,076 --> 00:56:45,656
Pat: yeah, it's just a
whole different beast.
1451
00:56:45,761 --> 00:56:46,901
Stef: Yeah, I can imagine.
1452
00:56:46,951 --> 00:56:47,581
Well, that's fun.
1453
00:56:47,971 --> 00:56:48,641
Um, one more.
1454
00:56:48,951 --> 00:56:52,331
if you won a hundred million dollars, what
would be the first thing you would do?
1455
00:56:52,946 --> 00:56:54,946
Pat: Oh my gosh, a
hundred million dollars.
1456
00:56:55,281 --> 00:56:58,091
Stef: I picked a higher number because
a million is like, oh yeah, well
1457
00:56:58,091 --> 00:57:01,841
I'll, I'll, you know, I'll buy a nice
vacation home or something like that.
1458
00:57:02,151 --> 00:57:04,831
it's not a, quite as
huge a number these days.
1459
00:57:05,321 --> 00:57:06,231
Pat: Yeah, no question.
1460
00:57:06,231 --> 00:57:07,631
By the time you get done with taxes, too,
1461
00:57:08,243 --> 00:57:08,526
Stef: taxes,
1462
00:57:08,561 --> 00:57:08,751
Pat: there.
1463
00:57:08,751 --> 00:57:12,251
But, uh, you know, I don't know,
to be quite honest with you.
1464
00:57:12,331 --> 00:57:16,011
Uh, I'm not one that's ever, like,
played the lottery or anything like that.
1465
00:57:16,511 --> 00:57:17,751
Uh, so I've never
1466
00:57:18,166 --> 00:57:20,530
Stef: just found it in
1467
00:57:20,841 --> 00:57:21,971
Pat: I just found it in the field.
1468
00:57:21,971 --> 00:57:26,791
First thing I would do is, uh, really fix
up my farm and do something really, really
1469
00:57:26,791 --> 00:57:30,956
spectacular with And then I would build
Probably buy a bunch of hunting property,
1470
00:57:30,956 --> 00:57:33,206
uh, in some other state, to be quite
1471
00:57:33,488 --> 00:57:33,955
Stef: up.
1472
00:57:34,422 --> 00:57:37,066
some other state to be quite
1473
00:57:37,671 --> 00:57:40,346
Pat: yeah, uh, you know, Montana, Wyoming.
1474
00:57:40,346 --> 00:57:40,347
Yeah.
1475
00:57:40,391 --> 00:57:41,036
Stef: say the Pacific
1476
00:57:41,046 --> 00:57:41,846
Pat: Wyoming.
1477
00:57:41,846 --> 00:57:46,796
You know, those, uh, those come to mind
right off the top, of the top of my head.
1478
00:57:46,796 --> 00:57:48,956
Honestly, I don't, that's a
very tough question for me.
1479
00:57:49,006 --> 00:57:50,866
make a bunch of sound
investments, hopefully.
1480
00:57:51,031 --> 00:57:51,721
nothing fun.
1481
00:57:51,721 --> 00:57:54,716
I, you know, I wouldn't go out
and buy a yacht or, or like a
1482
00:57:54,716 --> 00:57:56,036
Lamborghini or anything like
1483
00:57:56,341 --> 00:57:57,231
Stef: Fun is different to
1484
00:57:57,576 --> 00:57:59,676
Pat: Yeah, it really is,
to be honest with you.
1485
00:57:59,686 --> 00:58:00,816
I'd probably buy an airplane, though.
1486
00:58:00,816 --> 00:58:01,686
That would be kind of cool.
1487
00:58:01,751 --> 00:58:02,061
Stef: Okay.
1488
00:58:02,981 --> 00:58:05,481
We're escalating a little bit
here, the more you think about it.
1489
00:58:06,726 --> 00:58:07,676
Pat: So many ways you can go with
1490
00:58:07,871 --> 00:58:08,401
Stef: Right.
1491
00:58:08,581 --> 00:58:09,951
What do you think your dad would do?
1492
00:58:10,456 --> 00:58:12,576
Pat: Oh, gosh, I have no
idea, to be honest with you.
1493
00:58:12,606 --> 00:58:14,106
My dad's even more boring than I am.
1494
00:58:14,914 --> 00:58:17,126
Uh, you know, I, I think he
1495
00:58:17,231 --> 00:58:19,551
Stef: Maybe he would totally go
the other direction if he suddenly
1496
00:58:19,561 --> 00:58:20,371
had a bunch of money in his
1497
00:58:20,456 --> 00:58:23,206
Pat: Yeah, he might, he might totally
change, money might change my dad.
1498
00:58:23,826 --> 00:58:24,306
Stef: Oh, yeah.
1499
00:58:24,306 --> 00:58:26,046
I think, I'm sure it
would change most people.
1500
00:58:26,106 --> 00:58:26,406
Yeah.
1501
00:58:26,466 --> 00:58:31,776
Pat: I could see my dad buying some
extravagant property, some luxurious
1502
00:58:31,796 --> 00:58:36,356
cabin, Maybe in Colorado, Or maybe
just buy a bunch of property in the UP.
1503
00:58:36,626 --> 00:58:38,006
Stef: something outdoorsy
is what it sounds
1504
00:58:38,149 --> 00:58:38,386
Pat: like.
1505
00:58:38,386 --> 00:58:40,031
Probably, for the most part, yeah.
1506
00:58:40,086 --> 00:58:42,576
Stef: those at least sound like.
1507
00:58:42,656 --> 00:58:44,426
Fairly grown up choices.
1508
00:58:44,488 --> 00:58:45,375
Pat: if you
1509
00:58:45,966 --> 00:58:46,266
Stef: Safe
1510
00:58:46,705 --> 00:58:49,051
Pat: time, I would probably come
up with some different answers.
1511
00:58:50,251 --> 00:58:52,781
That's one I've never really thought
about, what I would do if I had a bunch of
1512
00:58:53,037 --> 00:58:53,536
Stef: interesting.
1513
00:58:53,536 --> 00:58:53,966
Okay.
1514
00:58:54,201 --> 00:58:55,561
Pat: Have you thought about that before?
1515
00:58:55,716 --> 00:58:58,966
Stef: I, I feel like everybody
just ruminates on it a little bit.
1516
00:58:58,986 --> 00:59:02,786
Um, just like what it would be like
to suddenly have, I, I, I've thought
1517
00:59:02,796 --> 00:59:05,576
a little bit more about like what
it, the smaller ones, like what
1518
00:59:05,576 --> 00:59:08,516
if somebody just gave me 100, 000,
I'd pay off all my student loans.
1519
00:59:09,064 --> 00:59:10,698
Pat: yeah, I would do
1520
00:59:11,466 --> 00:59:14,346
Stef: but with a bigger amount, I,
I would immediately pass it on to
1521
00:59:14,346 --> 00:59:17,446
somebody else who's more responsible
than me to, to keep track of.
1522
00:59:17,566 --> 00:59:18,356
So I don't, yeah.
1523
00:59:18,406 --> 00:59:22,826
definitely travel some, just, you
know, you know, have the freedom to
1524
00:59:22,857 --> 00:59:23,366
Pat: just, Ooh.
1525
00:59:23,711 --> 00:59:24,001
Yeah.
1526
00:59:24,656 --> 00:59:25,046
I like that.
1527
00:59:25,046 --> 00:59:25,796
Can I add travel as
1528
00:59:25,994 --> 00:59:26,880
Stef: add travel as well?
1529
00:59:26,880 --> 00:59:27,322
Yes, yes.
1530
00:59:27,322 --> 00:59:27,765
Uh, the.
1531
00:59:28,296 --> 00:59:29,536
The time frame is still open.
1532
00:59:29,536 --> 00:59:29,876
We're good.
1533
00:59:30,196 --> 00:59:33,096
and then I've also thought about the
fact that I would really, I think
1534
00:59:33,096 --> 00:59:36,456
I would probably buy a little bit
of property too, but specifically,
1535
00:59:36,556 --> 00:59:38,406
to set up an animal shelter.
1536
00:59:38,586 --> 00:59:44,366
Like, I would, I would love to, to be able
to put some funding into, rescuing animals
1537
00:59:44,366 --> 00:59:49,426
that, you know, that for whatever reason
just have not had a good run in life.
1538
00:59:49,476 --> 00:59:52,876
There are so many animals out there
that they have health issues or whatever
1539
00:59:52,876 --> 00:59:54,456
that, they're hard to get adopted out.
1540
00:59:54,486 --> 00:59:56,086
And giving them a nice home
1541
00:59:56,318 --> 00:59:56,738
Pat: out.
1542
00:59:56,738 --> 00:59:57,206
Absolutely.
1543
00:59:57,206 --> 00:59:57,876
I love that.
1544
00:59:57,906 --> 00:59:58,266
Yeah.
1545
00:59:58,636 --> 01:00:00,946
So you mentioned traveling, Have
you ever traveled international
1546
01:00:01,641 --> 01:00:02,401
Stef: I have.
1547
01:00:02,481 --> 01:00:06,441
I spent a while goofing around in my early
twenties, um, which is really the time
1548
01:00:06,441 --> 01:00:07,981
in your life to goof around if going to.
1549
01:00:08,331 --> 01:00:11,651
I walked away from school for a
little bit and I spent some time,
1550
01:00:11,771 --> 01:00:15,551
um, living on next to nothing in
Western Europe for a little bit.
1551
01:00:15,951 --> 01:00:18,491
Um, and then came back because
I didn't have any money left.
1552
01:00:18,781 --> 01:00:22,731
I feel like if you have the opportunity
to do that sort of thing, when
1553
01:00:23,221 --> 01:00:26,311
you're at a point in your life
where you have no obligations yet,
1554
01:00:26,321 --> 01:00:30,181
you're not, you're not tied down
to a whole lot, and you don't mind.
1555
01:00:30,756 --> 01:00:32,866
Living, uh, next to nothing.
1556
01:00:33,746 --> 01:00:36,906
Because, you get older and you're like,
Okay, well, I want to sleep in a room
1557
01:00:36,906 --> 01:00:39,006
that doesn't have 17 strangers in it.
1558
01:00:39,036 --> 01:00:42,006
Because, a lot of the hostels in
there, you're, you're sleeping around
1559
01:00:42,006 --> 01:00:42,966
a bunch of people you don't know.
1560
01:00:43,016 --> 01:00:46,576
being comfortable with the idea
of having everything, that you
1561
01:00:46,676 --> 01:00:50,646
have with you day to day in one
backpack that, having that freedom
1562
01:00:50,882 --> 01:00:51,502
Pat: That's awesome.
1563
01:00:51,502 --> 01:00:53,312
I think that's one of
my biggest regrets, too.
1564
01:00:53,312 --> 01:00:56,302
I mentioned the military aspect of
things, but like, doing something
1565
01:00:56,312 --> 01:01:00,032
spontaneous like backpacking through
Europe in your early 20s, I feel like,
1566
01:01:00,812 --> 01:01:03,242
I have a little bit of regret of
not doing something like that.
1567
01:01:03,262 --> 01:01:04,512
That would have been really cool.
1568
01:01:04,552 --> 01:01:08,492
Kind of like you said, experiencing
all of that and kind of, uh,
1569
01:01:08,502 --> 01:01:11,682
frequenting the hostiles and something
like cool and edgy about that.
1570
01:01:12,266 --> 01:01:14,766
Stef: I will also acknowledge
that it's definitely a privilege
1571
01:01:14,766 --> 01:01:16,386
to be able to have done that too.
1572
01:01:16,446 --> 01:01:20,856
I was lucky enough that, my family
could get me over there it's definitely
1573
01:01:20,856 --> 01:01:24,246
harder to do when you know that
there's more at stake financially.
1574
01:01:24,296 --> 01:01:27,356
my passport has unfortunately been
expired for a while and I haven't
1575
01:01:27,356 --> 01:01:29,936
had good reason to, to renew it, but,
1576
01:01:30,242 --> 01:01:32,592
Pat: Well, I'm hoping to get a
passport at some point in time.
1577
01:01:32,602 --> 01:01:36,742
My wife and I are planning a
big trip to Italy and maybe
1578
01:01:36,832 --> 01:01:38,032
venture over to Greece too.
1579
01:01:38,282 --> 01:01:39,452
I've never been international
1580
01:01:39,476 --> 01:01:39,626
Stef: before.
1581
01:01:39,656 --> 01:01:40,226
Oh yeah.
1582
01:01:40,226 --> 01:01:40,616
Okay.
1583
01:01:40,762 --> 01:01:42,542
Pat: will be a entirely new experience.
1584
01:01:42,592 --> 01:01:44,112
I would love to do a
little bit of traveling.
1585
01:01:44,122 --> 01:01:44,712
Absolutely.
1586
01:01:45,216 --> 01:01:47,376
Stef: I can recommend
Germany for food too.
1587
01:01:47,637 --> 01:01:49,437
Pat: Germany's on my list big time.
1588
01:01:49,467 --> 01:01:52,457
I mean, a lot of Europe is, I
would love to experience Germany.
1589
01:01:52,528 --> 01:01:54,718
Stef: I'd love to experience Germany.
1590
01:01:54,718 --> 01:01:56,909
My wife is a foodie.
1591
01:01:56,927 --> 01:01:57,977
Pat: My wife is a foodie.
1592
01:01:58,457 --> 01:02:01,157
absolutely likes some wine
too, so that's why I think, uh,
1593
01:02:01,187 --> 01:02:02,447
she's really gonna enjoy Italy.
1594
01:02:02,897 --> 01:02:03,335
Stef: absolutely.
1595
01:02:03,335 --> 01:02:07,278
She'll have her reviews
about France, to be
1596
01:02:07,280 --> 01:02:09,200
Pat: heard mixed reviews about
France, to be quite honest with you.
1597
01:02:09,200 --> 01:02:09,530
There
1598
01:02:09,640 --> 01:02:13,140
Stef: there's certainly aspects
of, of, and it's a big country,
1599
01:02:13,190 --> 01:02:16,930
that romance for like Paris and
whatnot, it just, it passed me by.
1600
01:02:16,930 --> 01:02:17,830
So, and
1601
01:02:18,119 --> 01:02:20,645
Pat: so, and I've, I've heard
similar sentiments to that.
1602
01:02:20,655 --> 01:02:21,915
I thought I would love Paris.
1603
01:02:22,165 --> 01:02:24,535
I thought there, you know, that,
that would be a city that I
1604
01:02:24,535 --> 01:02:25,625
would really gravitate towards.
1605
01:02:25,645 --> 01:02:28,505
But, uh, getting a lot
of bad reviews on Paris.
1606
01:02:28,525 --> 01:02:29,345
Stef: It's kind of gross.
1607
01:02:29,505 --> 01:02:30,395
Pat: that's what I hear.
1608
01:02:31,015 --> 01:02:31,535
Um.
1609
01:02:31,595 --> 01:02:32,815
Stef: it's not the 1800s.
1610
01:02:32,865 --> 01:02:34,115
it's very metropolitan.
1611
01:02:34,155 --> 01:02:35,515
it's very dirty in a lot of, a
1612
01:02:35,822 --> 01:02:41,682
Pat: um, they, you know, many of
them, they, you know, they learn
1613
01:02:41,880 --> 01:02:46,510
Stef: Um, occasionally, many of them,
they, you know, they learn English
1614
01:02:46,510 --> 01:02:47,840
as part of their academic career.
1615
01:02:47,840 --> 01:02:52,240
So by the time they're adults, they,
they are fairly fluent And there is a
1616
01:02:52,240 --> 01:02:57,055
little bit of derision for people whose
French is not up to their, there's a
1617
01:02:57,055 --> 01:02:58,960
little like, please don't speak my I,
1618
01:02:59,055 --> 01:02:59,635
Pat: Don't even attempt.
1619
01:03:01,130 --> 01:03:02,460
Stef: um, I like.
1620
01:03:03,055 --> 01:03:05,695
Pat: Just the fact that they could
speak English to me, that would be very
1621
01:03:05,826 --> 01:03:06,476
Stef: be really helpful.
1622
01:03:06,476 --> 01:03:06,692
Yes.
1623
01:03:06,692 --> 01:03:12,172
in Europe, most of the cities, it's, it's
fairly easy to find people who speak Or
1624
01:03:12,562 --> 01:03:18,502
to, to learn just enough, of the language
to be able to order the food you want.
1625
01:03:18,672 --> 01:03:19,282
that's enough.
1626
01:03:19,802 --> 01:03:22,192
I would recommend London over, over Paris
1627
01:03:22,247 --> 01:03:23,407
Pat: Okay, duly noted.
1628
01:03:23,502 --> 01:03:27,242
Stef: especially if you're, English
history is your, because I mean, there
1629
01:03:27,252 --> 01:03:29,982
are areas of, of London that are still
1630
01:03:30,927 --> 01:03:31,147
Pat: not
1631
01:03:31,342 --> 01:03:33,982
Stef: original to when the city
was first formed as a city, but.
1632
01:03:34,542 --> 01:03:39,402
Pre original, like there's Roman ruins
still and stuff there, so, um, if you're
1633
01:03:39,402 --> 01:03:40,462
a history nerd, it's a good place to
1634
01:03:40,467 --> 01:03:41,317
Pat: Oh, big time.
1635
01:03:41,317 --> 01:03:41,747
Yeah.
1636
01:03:42,497 --> 01:03:42,657
Lundin.
1637
01:03:42,677 --> 01:03:45,267
That's how they, that's how it's said
in the book I'm reading right now.
1638
01:03:45,342 --> 01:03:46,342
Stef: Oh, okay, yeah.
1639
01:03:46,447 --> 01:03:50,147
Pat: kind of pre London, but yeah, there
is that aspect of it's like two towns.
1640
01:03:50,147 --> 01:03:54,217
There's like the old Roman part
of the city, then the, the rest
1641
01:03:54,217 --> 01:03:57,257
of, uh, the people in London think
it's all haunted, so they stay
1642
01:03:57,257 --> 01:03:59,427
over on the, on the new side, of
1643
01:03:59,557 --> 01:04:03,792
Stef: Um, there's always been a little
kid part of me with anything European
1644
01:04:03,842 --> 01:04:08,902
thinking that it must have felt so
different than growing up in the United
1645
01:04:08,902 --> 01:04:12,572
States because you're surrounded by
things that have been there for thousands
1646
01:04:12,572 --> 01:04:15,192
of and you just take them for granted.
1647
01:04:15,527 --> 01:04:18,897
Pat: Well, it's, it's really remarkable
to look back at how young our country is.
1648
01:04:19,407 --> 01:04:20,217
not that old.
1649
01:04:21,087 --> 01:04:24,047
Stef: I feel like there's some, there's
value in the fact that's our experience.
1650
01:04:24,047 --> 01:04:25,667
We, we got to form a little bit later.
1651
01:04:25,667 --> 01:04:27,057
We got to be a little more purposeful.
1652
01:04:27,517 --> 01:04:28,147
Pat: absolutely.
1653
01:04:28,147 --> 01:04:31,417
we paved the way for a lot of
countries in, in terms of, forming
1654
01:04:31,512 --> 01:04:34,512
representative democracy and,
establishing a constitutional
1655
01:04:34,512 --> 01:04:35,622
republic and things like that.
1656
01:04:35,632 --> 01:04:38,872
we were able to see all their
mistakes and learn from them.
1657
01:04:39,292 --> 01:04:40,972
there's some great
aspects to that as well.
1658
01:04:41,347 --> 01:04:41,497
Stef: Yeah.
1659
01:04:41,497 --> 01:04:42,207
it's a good place to be.
1660
01:04:42,802 --> 01:04:42,862
Pat: no
1661
01:04:43,787 --> 01:04:48,017
Stef: Okay, on that patriotic
note, um, I've really liked having
1662
01:04:48,017 --> 01:04:49,697
the chance to chat with you.
1663
01:04:50,387 --> 01:04:50,837
it's been fun.
1664
01:04:51,027 --> 01:04:54,217
And I'm really curious to see what your
dad says and if you guys match up on
1665
01:04:54,247 --> 01:04:54,667
Pat: Me too.
1666
01:04:54,667 --> 01:04:57,047
I'm going to be very
disappointed if, uh, if I'm dead
1667
01:04:57,892 --> 01:04:58,507
Stef: thought
1668
01:04:58,507 --> 01:04:59,707
Pat: I know my dad pretty well, but we'll
1669
01:04:59,987 --> 01:05:01,447
Stef: Maybe it'll be
a learning experience.
1670
01:05:01,767 --> 01:05:03,587
give you a chance to get
to know each other better.
1671
01:05:03,626 --> 01:05:06,387
Pat: it will But, uh, this has
been an absolute privilege.
1672
01:05:06,417 --> 01:05:09,177
thank you so much for having
me on my first podcast.
1673
01:05:09,187 --> 01:05:11,057
Uh, I love this library.
1674
01:05:11,057 --> 01:05:13,197
it's a beautiful place
and, and thank you so much.
1675
01:05:13,202 --> 01:05:14,092
Stef: Thank you very much.
1676
01:05:17,285 --> 01:05:18,465
Did you send me something?
1677
01:05:18,755 --> 01:05:20,105
Amanda: I might have, it was a mistake.
1678
01:05:20,315 --> 01:05:20,465
You
1679
01:05:20,677 --> 01:05:22,175
Stef: sent me a thumbs up.
1680
01:05:22,305 --> 01:05:26,825
You're like, yes, I'm favor of
continuing this conversation.
1681
01:05:26,825 --> 01:05:30,535
that's the level of what this has become,
we're also Facebook messaging each
1682
01:05:30,535 --> 01:05:32,355
other simultaneously while doing this.
1683
01:05:32,485 --> 01:05:34,125
it's like next level
friendship right here.
1684
01:05:34,535 --> 01:05:38,085
Um, so I figured since the first.
1685
01:05:38,510 --> 01:05:41,680
Part of us talking was just complete
nonsense from beginning to end and
1686
01:05:41,680 --> 01:05:45,030
I, my apologies again for that to
anyone who, who trudged through it.
1687
01:05:45,030 --> 01:05:48,750
Thank you for staying with us and
for listening to, Pat, who I'm sure
1688
01:05:48,750 --> 01:05:51,220
was, much more logical and concise.
1689
01:05:51,590 --> 01:05:54,340
to change it up here, what we're
going to do is for those of you who
1690
01:05:54,340 --> 01:05:58,210
are not aware, In our catalog, our
library catalog on BiblioCommons,
1691
01:05:58,530 --> 01:06:02,790
um, there's an option to take a look
at everything that has recently been
1692
01:06:02,790 --> 01:06:04,730
released and has come to our shelves.
1693
01:06:05,040 --> 01:06:09,750
So if you're interested in finding this,
um, if you go to our main page, there's
1694
01:06:09,840 --> 01:06:14,175
an option At the top that says explore
and then when you go to that drop down
1695
01:06:14,175 --> 01:06:18,815
it says new titles and then you can use
The drop downs from there to specifically
1696
01:06:18,815 --> 01:06:22,975
look for adult titles or kids titles
if you want to look for books ebooks
1697
01:06:22,975 --> 01:06:27,555
audiobooks You know, whatever you can
narrow it down but for right now Amanda
1698
01:06:27,555 --> 01:06:32,555
and I are looking at our list of the
most recently sent to the shelves or
1699
01:06:32,555 --> 01:06:35,290
recently ordered adult book titles.
1700
01:06:35,360 --> 01:06:38,650
So we're gonna sort of flip
through a little bit and see
1701
01:06:38,650 --> 01:06:40,520
what, what strikes our fancy.
1702
01:06:41,140 --> 01:06:42,610
So, what are you seeing?
1703
01:06:42,610 --> 01:06:43,090
You've that
1704
01:06:43,570 --> 01:06:43,900
Amanda: I know I
1705
01:06:43,980 --> 01:06:44,790
Stef: seen something.
1706
01:06:44,860 --> 01:06:48,120
Amanda: I found a it's called The
Divorcees by Rowan Beard, I believe.
1707
01:06:48,130 --> 01:06:49,510
Stef: Okay, sounds like fiction.
1708
01:06:49,600 --> 01:06:49,970
Amanda: fiction.
1709
01:06:49,970 --> 01:06:51,920
This is fiction and I don't like fiction.
1710
01:06:51,920 --> 01:06:52,640
So
1711
01:06:52,670 --> 01:06:55,190
Stef: being disingenuous right from
the start you don't read fiction.
1712
01:06:55,300 --> 01:07:00,900
Amanda: you know me, you know, a novel
set at 1950s Reno Divorce Ranch explores
1713
01:07:00,900 --> 01:07:04,270
the complex friendship between two women
who dare to imagine a different future.
1714
01:07:04,630 --> 01:07:09,309
What drew me into that
was the 1950s Reno and
1715
01:07:09,610 --> 01:07:10,130
Stef: Okay.
1716
01:07:10,607 --> 01:07:11,407
a Divorce
1717
01:07:11,452 --> 01:07:13,142
Amanda: And Divorce Ranch is in quotes.
1718
01:07:13,367 --> 01:07:13,877
Stef: What does that
1719
01:07:14,072 --> 01:07:14,542
Amanda: I don't know.
1720
01:07:14,542 --> 01:07:15,792
That's, see, now you're
1721
01:07:15,827 --> 01:07:18,557
Stef: going to have to read the book
to find what a Divorce Ranch is.
1722
01:07:18,567 --> 01:07:22,187
It sounds like something that would
be on a show that you would watch.
1723
01:07:22,617 --> 01:07:25,527
So, in summation, if they turn this into,
1724
01:07:25,597 --> 01:07:29,152
Amanda: would be all over it.
1725
01:07:29,632 --> 01:07:30,002
I see.
1726
01:07:30,082 --> 01:07:31,472
Yeah, there's a lot of
good things on here.
1727
01:07:31,712 --> 01:07:32,307
Stef: I only
1728
01:07:32,392 --> 01:07:33,882
Amanda: I only can read so much, though.
1729
01:07:34,091 --> 01:07:36,747
Stef: mean, that's literally
true of all human beings.
1730
01:07:36,955 --> 01:07:39,862
Amanda: human beings.
1731
01:07:39,862 --> 01:07:40,402
I,
1732
01:07:40,567 --> 01:07:43,677
Stef: this is cheating because I'm
not looking at it from the actual
1733
01:07:43,807 --> 01:07:47,267
list, but the one that I'm reading
right now that also just came out
1734
01:07:47,327 --> 01:07:49,807
is from an author named Philip B.
1735
01:07:49,807 --> 01:07:54,417
Williams that's called, wow, I can't,
Hours, there we go, that's the name of it.
1736
01:07:54,837 --> 01:08:03,467
Um, it is a really fascinating, magical
realism story set in the 1840s, that
1737
01:08:03,717 --> 01:08:08,737
focuses around a woman who is a conjurer
and who frees, a number of slaves
1738
01:08:08,737 --> 01:08:12,807
through magical means and then forms this
community out in the middle of Missouri
1739
01:08:12,807 --> 01:08:17,127
and the Interesting sort of folk tale
things that happen in that community.
1740
01:08:17,177 --> 01:08:17,927
Oh, it's so good.
1741
01:08:18,177 --> 01:08:21,527
it's the first novel i've picked up
in a while and it was largely because
1742
01:08:21,577 --> 01:08:25,362
the name of the author reminded me
of somebody that I knew and then I
1743
01:08:25,362 --> 01:08:28,962
opened the book and realized that it
was somebody I knew that it was one of
1744
01:08:28,962 --> 01:08:30,942
my friends from, from my MFA program.
1745
01:08:30,942 --> 01:08:33,962
So I was really excited about that, which,
you know, good for him because he's a poet
1746
01:08:33,972 --> 01:08:35,812
and he's writing big beautiful novels now.
1747
01:08:35,812 --> 01:08:36,362
So check it out.
1748
01:08:36,362 --> 01:08:38,552
It's really good, but you'll
have to wait until I'm done
1749
01:08:38,602 --> 01:08:39,262
Amanda: Oh, brother.
1750
01:08:39,642 --> 01:08:41,922
I'm trying to, like, I've read
books from the library, the
1751
01:08:41,922 --> 01:08:44,262
news section, recently, and
1752
01:08:44,527 --> 01:08:48,137
Stef: The new section is just so, it
just makes things so much easier because
1753
01:08:48,137 --> 01:08:52,147
there's fewer to look at and it gives
your brain something to center on.
1754
01:08:52,147 --> 01:08:56,857
Oh, I don't even do that anymore.
1755
01:08:57,132 --> 01:08:58,542
Amanda: do I only talk about new books?
1756
01:08:58,609 --> 01:09:01,475
Okay,
1757
01:09:01,750 --> 01:09:02,390
Stef: so I think you're,
1758
01:09:02,555 --> 01:09:05,825
Amanda: okay, so I read
this book last week.
1759
01:09:06,225 --> 01:09:08,275
And it, Sally Field in pieces.
1760
01:09:08,735 --> 01:09:09,225
Stef: Oh, okay.
1761
01:09:09,265 --> 01:09:10,555
Amanda: is so good.
1762
01:09:10,655 --> 01:09:11,885
Stef: that one's not that old, is it?
1763
01:09:11,995 --> 01:09:13,055
Amanda: 2017.
1764
01:09:13,255 --> 01:09:13,795
Stef: Oh, okay.
1765
01:09:13,925 --> 01:09:16,525
Amanda: But it's so good,
really recommend it.
1766
01:09:16,985 --> 01:09:21,095
And then a new book, The House of Hidden
Meanings by RuPaul, that was very good.
1767
01:09:21,145 --> 01:09:21,725
Stef: Okay.
1768
01:09:21,915 --> 01:09:23,555
Somebody really likes celebrity
1769
01:09:23,762 --> 01:09:24,925
Amanda: Somebody really does.
1770
01:09:25,585 --> 01:09:29,035
Um, Oh, this is an older book, but I
really think people should read it.
1771
01:09:29,575 --> 01:09:32,455
It was in order to live a North
Korean girl's journey to freedom.
1772
01:09:32,815 --> 01:09:33,515
It's about it.
1773
01:09:33,515 --> 01:09:34,375
It was so good.
1774
01:09:34,425 --> 01:09:36,035
That is like a life changer for
1775
01:09:36,178 --> 01:09:36,601
Stef: Oh, wow.
1776
01:09:36,601 --> 01:09:36,813
Okay.
1777
01:09:36,813 --> 01:09:37,025
It's
1778
01:09:37,115 --> 01:09:38,025
Amanda: really, really good.
1779
01:09:38,465 --> 01:09:40,465
And then, I mean, there's so
many on here I've read that are
1780
01:09:40,625 --> 01:09:42,125
Stef: Stop using your Goodreads!
1781
01:09:42,315 --> 01:09:45,205
totally, go back where we We're
all, we're all on the same page
1782
01:09:45,385 --> 01:09:45,665
Amanda: Okay.
1783
01:09:45,685 --> 01:09:45,915
On the page.
1784
01:09:46,095 --> 01:09:46,325
No, but
1785
01:09:46,395 --> 01:09:51,355
Stef: Um, I want to know, personally,
what the secrets of the octopus are.
1786
01:09:52,025 --> 01:09:53,335
what are those octopus secrets?
1787
01:09:53,335 --> 01:09:55,995
That's a new book by Cy Montgomery,
that's a non fiction book.
1788
01:09:56,465 --> 01:09:58,315
I, yo, what secrets?
1789
01:09:58,365 --> 01:10:00,695
I didn't know that there
were any secrets, and now I
1790
01:10:00,700 --> 01:10:01,200
Amanda: smart?
1791
01:10:02,110 --> 01:10:02,610
Stef: Are they?
1792
01:10:02,680 --> 01:10:03,190
Amanda: I heard they were
1793
01:10:03,310 --> 01:10:07,190
Stef: have this image of them
being kind of, like, grumpy.
1794
01:10:07,240 --> 01:10:08,980
Amanda: Can't they escape
from things as well?
1795
01:10:09,940 --> 01:10:10,150
Probably.
1796
01:10:10,900 --> 01:10:12,530
I remember there's someone escaping.
1797
01:10:12,530 --> 01:10:13,840
I'm trying to look at other good books.
1798
01:10:13,840 --> 01:10:15,990
You
1799
01:10:16,070 --> 01:10:20,180
Stef: you see a new, um, nonfiction
book about the Tudors, too.
1800
01:10:20,210 --> 01:10:24,060
And we have one, we have one about
Elizabeth I that just, um, hit the
1801
01:10:24,060 --> 01:10:25,340
shelves called Young Elizabeth.
1802
01:10:25,890 --> 01:10:26,740
Um, so that's fun.
1803
01:10:26,740 --> 01:10:28,350
I'm only finding nonfiction books.
1804
01:10:28,560 --> 01:10:29,360
So, I guess.
1805
01:10:29,765 --> 01:10:31,735
I hope you are interested in non fiction.
1806
01:10:32,275 --> 01:10:32,855
That's my, that's my
1807
01:10:33,191 --> 01:10:41,795
Amanda: Yes, specifically
celebrity memoirs.
1808
01:10:42,386 --> 01:10:42,765
Stef: of
1809
01:10:43,035 --> 01:10:44,425
Amanda: No, there are like a lot
of good books I want to read.
1810
01:10:44,455 --> 01:10:45,405
That's the problem, okay?
1811
01:10:45,405 --> 01:10:53,090
I feel like, Between TV and then books,
it's like always like a competition.
1812
01:10:53,180 --> 01:10:55,510
Because I have to keep up with my
TV, but I also have to do this.
1813
01:10:55,820 --> 01:10:56,380
And I also have to
1814
01:10:56,455 --> 01:10:57,955
Stef: Who is making you do this?
1815
01:10:57,995 --> 01:11:00,115
Like, who is, who are you, like,
1816
01:11:00,160 --> 01:11:01,350
Amanda: Kate Middleton, course!
1817
01:11:01,360 --> 01:11:01,610
Just kidding.
1818
01:11:01,740 --> 01:11:04,100
Stef: don't talk about anything
in her personal she keeps you
1819
01:11:04,100 --> 01:11:07,360
on with your reality Good on
1820
01:11:07,665 --> 01:11:10,085
Amanda: I know, I just feel like
it's just to keep up with stuff.
1821
01:11:10,265 --> 01:11:10,775
That's fair.
1822
01:11:10,905 --> 01:11:11,915
I'm trying to like you, but I
1823
01:11:12,040 --> 01:11:12,480
Stef: Gotta be in the zeitgeist.
1824
01:11:13,435 --> 01:11:17,035
Amanda: I also just like going to the
shelves and picking things like fun too.
1825
01:11:17,373 --> 01:11:19,620
Stef: appreciate about this the
fact that you can actually see the
1826
01:11:19,620 --> 01:11:23,460
book covers because that is the one
downside to just perusing the shelves.
1827
01:11:23,610 --> 01:11:26,650
I feel like I'm like, a little
bit spoiled at this point.
1828
01:11:26,650 --> 01:11:30,320
So when I walk over to those shelves,
I'm like, all I see is book spines.
1829
01:11:30,960 --> 01:11:31,750
isn't enough for me.
1830
01:11:31,760 --> 01:11:32,650
I need a cover.
1831
01:11:32,750 --> 01:11:36,693
Amanda: I'm reading from the
new section here, Slow Noodles.
1832
01:11:36,693 --> 01:11:41,073
it's about girl from
Cambodia who was there during
1833
01:11:41,323 --> 01:11:42,293
Stef: who was there during
1834
01:11:42,313 --> 01:11:45,543
Amanda: the Cultural Revolution,
like the extermination of the people
1835
01:11:45,543 --> 01:11:47,473
who were considered, educated.
1836
01:11:47,913 --> 01:11:51,973
And it's about her life,
um, through kind of recipes.
1837
01:11:52,843 --> 01:11:53,013
interesting.
1838
01:11:53,013 --> 01:11:53,563
It's really good.
1839
01:11:53,943 --> 01:11:56,113
I hate to even say what it's about.
1840
01:11:56,113 --> 01:11:59,553
I'm only maybe like 45
pages in, but very good.
1841
01:12:00,253 --> 01:12:01,695
Stef: very good.
1842
01:12:01,695 --> 01:12:02,415
Yeah,
1843
01:12:02,723 --> 01:12:03,533
Amanda: Yeah, they have been.
1844
01:12:03,857 --> 01:12:04,578
Stef: been.
1845
01:12:04,578 --> 01:12:05,299
Yeah,
1846
01:12:05,403 --> 01:12:09,563
Amanda: yeah, like the sweet and
sour mango thing sounded good.
1847
01:12:09,624 --> 01:12:11,787
Stef: thing sounded good.
1848
01:12:11,787 --> 01:12:12,508
So
1849
01:12:12,543 --> 01:12:16,623
Amanda: guess you'd say I also like,
um, things about Asian Americans too.
1850
01:12:16,843 --> 01:12:19,613
Like that one about North
Korea, and that kind of stuff
1851
01:12:19,903 --> 01:12:20,943
Stef: Those two books do point in
1852
01:12:21,013 --> 01:12:21,373
Amanda: that out.
1853
01:12:21,373 --> 01:12:21,553
Yeah.
1854
01:12:22,223 --> 01:12:23,233
I always do read that.
1855
01:12:23,383 --> 01:12:24,843
Stef: Yeah, you, you like things about
1856
01:12:24,913 --> 01:12:26,993
Amanda: like things about people.
1857
01:12:27,093 --> 01:12:29,183
And usually females,
too, when you think about
1858
01:12:29,423 --> 01:12:29,563
Stef: makes
1859
01:12:29,893 --> 01:12:30,363
Amanda: Yeah.
1860
01:12:31,473 --> 01:12:34,373
Stef: it makes you feel a
part of that experience,
1861
01:12:34,573 --> 01:12:36,433
Amanda: I don't want to be part
of some experiences, though.
1862
01:12:36,823 --> 01:12:39,103
Stef: Or maybe, maybe makes you more
grateful for your own experience?
1863
01:12:39,133 --> 01:12:41,423
Amanda: And that is horrible to
say, because I feel like that
1864
01:12:41,423 --> 01:12:42,923
makes me kind of a bad person.
1865
01:12:43,058 --> 01:12:43,290
Stef: person.
1866
01:12:43,290 --> 01:12:43,523
Why?
1867
01:12:43,943 --> 01:12:47,473
Amanda: I don't know, like, I'm so
grateful I'm not them, but I think
1868
01:12:47,473 --> 01:12:49,223
it makes me appreciate my life Right.
1869
01:12:49,643 --> 01:12:50,781
I would take the positive.
1870
01:12:50,781 --> 01:12:53,853
Yeah, like when I like, I'm like,
uh, these people are grateful
1871
01:12:53,853 --> 01:12:55,033
for like half a bowl of rice.
1872
01:12:55,063 --> 01:12:57,763
I should get my stuff in gear and be a
little more grateful for what I have.
1873
01:12:57,817 --> 01:12:59,656
Stef: Yeah, it is
1874
01:12:59,923 --> 01:13:00,823
Amanda: it is context.
1875
01:13:00,823 --> 01:13:02,253
But no, there's a lot
of good books out there.
1876
01:13:02,253 --> 01:13:03,533
People need to go to the library.
1877
01:13:03,963 --> 01:13:05,113
Why are people, why
1878
01:13:05,120 --> 01:13:09,373
Stef: are people I'm just
1879
01:13:09,453 --> 01:13:09,503
Amanda: joking.
1880
01:13:10,323 --> 01:13:11,403
I was like, me personally.
1881
01:13:11,473 --> 01:13:11,993
Stef: This counts.
1882
01:13:12,003 --> 01:13:14,823
No, I don't, I mean, you're
literally three feet away from me.
1883
01:13:14,823 --> 01:13:15,453
I know where you are.
1884
01:13:15,483 --> 01:13:17,333
I'm talking about people we're talking to.
1885
01:13:17,733 --> 01:13:19,113
Um, can we talk about books more though?
1886
01:13:19,133 --> 01:13:19,633
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
1887
01:13:19,633 --> 01:13:20,023
Okay.
1888
01:13:20,413 --> 01:13:23,143
one of the new novels that we
have that just came out this month
1889
01:13:23,153 --> 01:13:24,523
is called Can't We Be Friends?
1890
01:13:24,553 --> 01:13:28,033
And it's a novel, about
Ella Fitzgerald and Monroe.
1891
01:13:28,073 --> 01:13:28,863
Amanda: Really?
1892
01:13:28,873 --> 01:13:29,333
Yes.
1893
01:13:29,423 --> 01:13:32,533
Stef: So it is historical
fiction, but it contains the
1894
01:13:32,533 --> 01:13:33,683
stories of both of those women,
1895
01:13:34,058 --> 01:13:34,498
Amanda: okay.
1896
01:13:34,548 --> 01:13:39,148
It's just, see, I get nervous
with historical fiction, so good.
1897
01:13:39,148 --> 01:13:49,688
I'm glad you get nervous too, cause
I get, it makes me nervous that I'll
1898
01:13:49,798 --> 01:13:51,458
think of that story really happen.
1899
01:13:51,729 --> 01:13:52,075
Stef: if
1900
01:13:52,418 --> 01:13:55,908
Amanda: And if, if it didn't really
happen, like, I feel like it's kind of
1901
01:13:56,548 --> 01:14:01,778
like someone writing a fake biography
and it makes me really nervous.
1902
01:14:02,100 --> 01:14:05,383
Stef: easy to integrate it into what
you know, know about the person.
1903
01:14:05,883 --> 01:14:09,843
Um, there was an, there was another, I
mean, a lot of people have probably heard
1904
01:14:09,843 --> 01:14:13,903
of this, but there was the, uh, really
long novel that Joyce Carol Oates wrote
1905
01:14:13,903 --> 01:14:16,213
about, Marilyn Monroe, Blonde, um, Yes.
1906
01:14:16,243 --> 01:14:16,823
Which read.
1907
01:14:17,138 --> 01:14:19,768
Probably half of because
it was like 200 pages.
1908
01:14:19,768 --> 01:14:19,788
It
1909
01:14:19,803 --> 01:14:20,833
Amanda: was very long.
1910
01:14:21,168 --> 01:14:24,568
Stef: but I mean that talks
about her relationship with
1911
01:14:24,583 --> 01:14:25,512
Amanda: Charlie Chaplin's son
1912
01:14:25,688 --> 01:14:29,368
Stef: a couple of actors from
the time like Charlie Chaplin's
1913
01:14:29,368 --> 01:14:30,658
son and then like another
1914
01:14:30,778 --> 01:14:33,788
Hollywood person, but I'm like did
she actually know these people just
1915
01:14:33,788 --> 01:14:35,428
something that Joyce Carol Oates
1916
01:14:35,648 --> 01:14:37,418
Amanda: See, that makes me
nervous, you, And I've read a lot
1917
01:14:37,418 --> 01:14:39,068
of books on Marilyn Monroe too.
1918
01:14:39,308 --> 01:14:41,238
Cause I think she's a
fascinating character
1919
01:14:41,683 --> 01:14:44,073
Stef: I mean, she's a, yeah, she was an
1920
01:14:44,398 --> 01:14:45,128
Amanda: Yeah, no, but
1921
01:14:45,173 --> 01:14:45,613
Stef: but yeah,
1922
01:14:45,808 --> 01:14:49,098
Amanda: she's so, I just, and
she's still popular this day.
1923
01:14:49,470 --> 01:14:52,310
Stef: There aren't a whole lot of
actors from that era that have,
1924
01:14:52,413 --> 01:14:56,293
although they've got that Cary Grant
miniseries came out with Jason Isaacs.
1925
01:14:56,488 --> 01:14:57,118
Amanda: So here's the thing.
1926
01:14:57,178 --> 01:14:59,028
Is it only available on that?
1927
01:14:59,188 --> 01:14:59,638
Is it?
1928
01:15:00,323 --> 01:15:02,293
Stef: I think it's one of
those streaming miniseries
1929
01:15:02,323 --> 01:15:05,733
Amanda: Because the last thing I knew was
only available on this, like, Britbox,
1930
01:15:05,773 --> 01:15:07,673
which is like a UK streaming service.
1931
01:15:07,703 --> 01:15:09,623
I was gonna get Britbox just for that.
1932
01:15:10,128 --> 01:15:11,928
Stef: I mean, you could
always just briefly get it.
1933
01:15:11,948 --> 01:15:13,958
you're not getting married to Brett Box.
1934
01:15:14,203 --> 01:15:15,453
Amanda: Do you know what his real name is?
1935
01:15:16,008 --> 01:15:17,068
Stef: it one time, but I have
1936
01:15:17,103 --> 01:15:17,903
Amanda: Archibald Leach.
1937
01:15:18,513 --> 01:15:23,073
Very similar to my maiden name, Leach,
but I'm the Scottish version, L E I T C H,
1938
01:15:23,083 --> 01:15:24,883
and he's the English version, L E A C H.
1939
01:15:25,139 --> 01:15:27,038
There we go.
1940
01:15:27,708 --> 01:15:28,248
Stef: we go.
1941
01:15:28,358 --> 01:15:31,228
If you ever wonder to yourself, What is it
1942
01:15:31,468 --> 01:15:32,101
Amanda: is
1943
01:15:32,508 --> 01:15:34,158
Stef: has in common with Cary Grant?
1944
01:15:34,398 --> 01:15:34,978
Now know.
1945
01:15:39,308 --> 01:15:40,208
Also a person.
1946
01:15:40,636 --> 01:15:42,558
Amanda: person.
1947
01:15:42,608 --> 01:15:46,788
Stef: I'm very disappointed
that our, the latest Simone St.
1948
01:15:46,788 --> 01:15:50,318
James novel, Murder Road, has been checked
out before I could get my hands on it.
1949
01:15:50,528 --> 01:15:54,118
Um, I'm looking forward to
being underwhelmed by that book
1950
01:15:54,298 --> 01:15:54,648
Amanda: book?
1951
01:15:54,958 --> 01:15:58,228
Stef: um, the, the
author's name is Simone St.
1952
01:15:58,268 --> 01:16:02,538
James and she does this, all of her
books are this sort of beautiful
1953
01:16:03,732 --> 01:16:04,002
of
1954
01:16:04,052 --> 01:16:04,912
Amanda: horror and
1955
01:16:05,067 --> 01:16:06,007
Stef: mysteries.
1956
01:16:06,257 --> 01:16:08,617
she does a lot of supernatural
mystery type stuff.
1957
01:16:09,307 --> 01:16:12,607
Um, my favorite of hers, is something
I'm not gonna be able to come up with.
1958
01:16:12,617 --> 01:16:13,467
Something about a hotel.
1959
01:16:13,802 --> 01:16:14,172
Amanda: Ooh.
1960
01:16:14,407 --> 01:16:17,797
Stef: I really love that one book
and have been sort of like vaguely
1961
01:16:17,797 --> 01:16:18,997
enjoying other stuff she's written.
1962
01:16:18,997 --> 01:16:22,607
But she has one that just came out
and it's got a bunch of holds on it.
1963
01:16:22,607 --> 01:16:23,027
So I'll probably
1964
01:16:23,048 --> 01:16:24,605
Amanda: it, there's so
many good books out there.
1965
01:16:25,215 --> 01:16:26,495
They're coming out left and right!
1966
01:16:26,595 --> 01:16:29,705
Stef: Yeah, there's just, there's
not enough time in the world
1967
01:16:29,745 --> 01:16:31,465
Amanda: I do, when I go on my walks, I
1968
01:16:31,575 --> 01:16:32,695
Stef: and Tana French, too.
1969
01:16:32,925 --> 01:16:35,845
She's a big mystery writer who
just has a new one that came out.
1970
01:16:36,145 --> 01:16:37,325
hers are funky.
1971
01:16:37,326 --> 01:16:42,785
Like, mistaken identities, and like,
they're, like, it turns out that there's
1972
01:16:42,795 --> 01:16:47,345
some personal meaning to each, cause all
of her books, The, detective changes for
1973
01:16:47,345 --> 01:16:51,125
each one, and then it turns mystery has
some significance to, like, there's one
1974
01:16:51,125 --> 01:16:55,255
called the likeness, where it turns out
that the detective is, like, pretty much
1975
01:16:55,255 --> 01:17:01,375
the doppelganger of the woman who actually
was killed, she, like, goes back and
1976
01:17:01,375 --> 01:17:06,845
pretends to her, to see, like, if anybody,
it's a very glass onion kind of situation.
1977
01:17:07,115 --> 01:17:09,805
Um, sorry if I spoiled the
glass onion for anybody.
1978
01:17:10,085 --> 01:17:12,950
Um, But yeah, it's enjoyable.
1979
01:17:13,080 --> 01:17:14,740
Amanda: is like a dangerous conversation.
1980
01:17:14,880 --> 01:17:15,060
Stef: How
1981
01:17:15,330 --> 01:17:17,470
Amanda: Because it's like, there's
so many books I want to read now.
1982
01:17:17,700 --> 01:17:20,980
Stef: Of all the dangers that you could
be encountering in this world, having more
1983
01:17:21,240 --> 01:17:21,470
Amanda: true.
1984
01:17:21,610 --> 01:17:24,400
I know, it's just, there's
so many good books out there.
1985
01:17:24,810 --> 01:17:25,870
And I love reading.
1986
01:17:26,410 --> 01:17:28,130
Stef: Who are you talking right now?
1987
01:17:28,230 --> 01:17:29,510
Who is listening to this right now?
1988
01:17:29,510 --> 01:17:34,940
Like, I'm hoping that the majority of them
are people who generally enjoy reading.
1989
01:17:34,940 --> 01:17:35,730
It's okay if you don't.
1990
01:17:35,740 --> 01:17:36,400
No judgment there.
1991
01:17:36,600 --> 01:17:39,510
But seriously, I feel like
you're not at any risk at this
1992
01:17:39,910 --> 01:17:41,736
So, we should probably finish
1993
01:17:41,820 --> 01:17:42,140
Amanda: Okay.
1994
01:17:42,610 --> 01:17:42,940
Okay.
1995
01:17:43,050 --> 01:17:45,960
Well, all I've got to say
is that I love the library.
1996
01:17:46,169 --> 01:17:46,516
Stef: library.
1997
01:17:46,920 --> 01:17:49,070
Amanda: been using the
libraries for, since I was,
1998
01:17:49,080 --> 01:17:52,825
uh, I look at books like candy.
1999
01:17:53,072 --> 01:17:54,592
just delicious and wonderful and
2000
01:17:54,969 --> 01:17:55,839
Stef: you vacationing?
2001
01:17:56,209 --> 01:17:56,669
Total left
2002
01:17:56,849 --> 01:17:58,129
Amanda: New York City!
2003
01:17:58,609 --> 01:18:00,169
We're staying in Brooklyn!
2004
01:18:00,543 --> 01:18:01,954
Stef: not been there before?
2005
01:18:01,954 --> 01:18:02,307
I've
2006
01:18:02,379 --> 01:18:03,149
Amanda: never been there.
2007
01:18:03,619 --> 01:18:04,989
I want to see the Brooklyn Bridge.
2008
01:18:05,389 --> 01:18:06,959
And I want to go to a
bunch of cool restaurants.
2009
01:18:07,245 --> 01:18:12,731
Stef: to go to a bunch snobby,
This is my favorite, obscure,
2010
01:18:13,461 --> 01:18:15,711
southern African restaurant
2011
01:18:15,876 --> 01:18:17,876
Amanda: we're going plant based places.
2012
01:18:18,861 --> 01:18:20,761
Stef: That, that should,
that should get going right
2013
01:18:20,946 --> 01:18:25,456
Amanda: And like, So my husband and son
will go, okay, people I know you didn't
2014
01:18:25,456 --> 01:18:27,816
know this, there's three meals in a day.
2015
01:18:28,486 --> 01:18:34,366
So, um, I know, so one of those meals is
going to be plant based, so they're gonna,
2016
01:18:34,461 --> 01:18:34,901
Stef: that's not
2017
01:18:35,126 --> 01:18:37,016
Amanda: I'm gonna haul
them to like, a place,
2018
01:18:37,481 --> 01:18:39,061
Stef: if you, if you find really good
2019
01:18:39,476 --> 01:18:40,056
Amanda: I know,
2020
01:18:40,291 --> 01:18:43,011
Stef: places, they can
disguise it so stealthily
2021
01:18:43,056 --> 01:18:45,566
Amanda: stalking these places,
like I know the menus, the
2022
01:18:45,566 --> 01:18:50,276
prices, I'm so excited, yay,
2023
01:18:50,571 --> 01:18:50,851
Stef: back.
2024
01:18:51,111 --> 01:18:54,201
Okay, thank you so much
for letting not kidnap you.
2025
01:18:54,471 --> 01:18:57,911
Amanda: I'm just glad that, um, I
had this time to come talk about
2026
01:18:58,031 --> 01:19:00,711
books and everything else we
2027
01:19:00,981 --> 01:19:03,181
Stef: Tell, yeah, tell
hello Alright, take care.
2028
01:19:03,181 --> 01:19:03,601
Have a good trip.