Transcript
Speaker: You know that thing you love that your friends and family don't want to hear about anymore? Tell it to us, Patty and Charlotte. We want to learn all about your weird and wild obsessions or your perfectly normal hobbies that you've taken just a little too far.
Speaker: We want to dabble in your curious interests. Can we interest you in today's episode?
Speaker: Hello, box making Charlotte. Hello, box making Patty. How are you? I m not bad. i feeling pretty accomplished about this box to a degree. i don't know. We're going to talk about it. We're going to talk about it. We'll really get into it. Yes.
Speaker: um And I shouldn't have asked how you are. I forgot. It just, you know, it's that polite thing. um But how... But now I feel the urge to ask how you are. well we're not going to do it. or not what What's been interesting you recently, Patty?
Speaker: I was, as you know, I was in Chicago for three weekends, two full weeks, and I worked from the office while I was in Chicago. And I talked to one of my really good friends one of the days and and was saying, you know, oh man, I'm still not super motivated. And I kind of feel like we're all just... the the B or C team. And, you know, I used to feel like I was part of the a team no matter what. And so then she suggested that I start using that mantra and tell myself, I am part of the A team, which of course I always want to be like, Mr. T, I pity the fool, like is what I think. But um not that, but like,
Speaker: I'm, you know, an A, I'm an A team kind of person. And so using it in micro moments, instead of like, at a high level of like, yes, you're part of the A team, but rather, when I get an email and would normally be like, ah I know I should, you know, like, make note of that or share that out here or file it away there or do this based on that information, but I'll just, whatever. i like, at the moment I'm like, no, you're the A team do what the A team does. And then I like do it.
Speaker: And so I tried that for the two weeks. Well, the second of the two weeks that I was there and that was really great. And then, um, I have been doing it since I've been home too. And now I'm trying,
Speaker: not super successfully because I definitely had a down slump just in ah feelings, emotions, whatever once I got back to St. Louis but I'm trying that with my home now too of like no, you if you want to have hand towels, go get hand towels.
Speaker: Yeah. I love it. I actually love A mantra. I love a good mantra. i Yes. Because cognitive behavioral therapy, I know you know it's used a lot, ah but I really like it. i do think that what we think to ourselves makes such a huge difference, even and yeah in ways we're not realizing.
Speaker: And so something like that just makes a difference. It does. And then for it to be at like this smaller, actionable, right in the moment way is really helpful for me because then it's not just overwhelming of like, well, how do I get there? It's like, do this.
Speaker: And that makes you part of the A-team. Yeah. yeah It's like something that doesn't like prescribe something, but like gives you the feeling of that, like lets you know what to do.
Speaker: Yeah. yeah Yeah. like that Yeah. So that's been really um a good, like you said, mantra and also just kind of thinking about, like you said, ah the words we use are, ah they they do make a difference. So trying to be kind and speak kindly to myself and All of that.
Speaker: Did you get the hand towels? Not yet. It's on my to-do list, though. And um I did. My sister just called, and they were going to stop to get Layla some new clothes for school. And so I said, if while you're there, you happen to see hand towels or a bath rug that you think would be good for me, because the bath rug is disgusting it's stained. It's like, even though I wash it, it, there is no getting, there is no one addressing it. And I'm like, get rid of it, get rid of it.
Speaker: Like done. um But I'm just having such a hard time because I still don't go to target and target is kind of, the perfect place for that stuff. You know, I'm like, where else do you go? I've tried Kohl's. They just didn't have things that fit with what I was looking for. So anywho, so maybe we'll see. I might get surprised tonight and there'll be some and hand towels and a bath rug which I'll pay her back for of course but but very fun because those are things that you use daily or you not touch your feet daily and it makes a huge difference huge like sapping your energy even if it's just a little bit at a time yeah I think that that is yeah awesome
Speaker: And it goes into the whole like feeling like an A-team because I'm like, well, oh, yeah. You know, i i washed – I cleaned my tub with my like super scrubber like electric bathtub cleaner and I was like so happy. And then I was like – and then I turn around and there's this this like – Matt.
Speaker: And it just looks so stupid. I'm like, and then you just kind of like give up. At least I do. I'm like, well, I'm like, okay, so just goodbye. Goodbye. Like I've had it for many years So it's lived a good life. It's not, you know, I'm trying, I'm not trying to be flippant about just like get something new, you know, and add to the landfill or anything. But i it just, I, this is my new, my new approach.
Speaker: Yeah, love it. I do think that sometimes can't, am hesitant to throw things out because of that whole idea of like, Oh, sustainability. But then when I really think about it, I'm like, Oh, I've had this for like many more years than it is in my head. You know, in my head, it's like, you just got this. I'm like, yeah, you just got this seven years ago, 10 years ago. Like it's actually a lot longer right than you think. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah It is amazing. Yeah. okay Well, yea Yes. What have you been interested in lately? I've been interested in karaoke. Okay, wait. Yeah. What?
Speaker: We went karaoke-ing yesterday with a friend of mine. Oh, no. Aaron. Aaron of IFS episode fame. um my gosh. and And also Adam. And we went to a place called Rumors, was spelled R-U-M-O-U-R-S. Ooh, so British. So British, but nothing about it is British. But it was really fun, really fun. We got there early enough that we could sign up multiple times. The very last song, i had already, like, basically, like, my voice was...
Speaker: Kind of shot, but I still did it. And I think it was a mistake, but everybody was having enough of a good time that they were just like into it. Awesome. Okay. What songs did you choose? Okay. I started out with Even Flow by Pearl Jam because I have the hair for Even Flow.
Speaker: Oh, it's all right, like butterflies. Yep. Wow. I don't know that I've ever heard that karaoke. Yeah, I don't think it's karaoke all that much, but I have the hair for it. i have like a lower voice, so I do better with some like man singer songs. And I had done that at a karaoke party that I had gone to. So I'd already been practicing. And i did some like head banging with my hair because there's like a long instrumental period. And so I just like tossed my hair back and forth.
Speaker: And it's it's a little bit hard, but it's it's good exercise I'm working on. Right, because you have to use your core. Yeah, yeah. To not tip over. And I had to stand. i like, made sure – because I watched some videos of Eddie Vedder ahead of time. And i think he stands in a particular way so he doesn't just, like, fall over. oh Yeah, like, with one leg in front of the other. Yes, now that I'm picturing, like, how people usually – yeah, yeah.
Speaker: so I did that and then the next one I did was Sarah Smile by Hall & Oates slow jam yeah that was a one of course you did some Hall & Oates of course always wanted to do that one usually I do rich girl but have wanted Sarah Smile because it's just a great song and it's like you can really don't know get into it get into the groove I'm trying to hear that. Like, I can't.
Speaker: If you feel like leaving, you know you can go. But why not wait until tomorrow? roll But the part is like.
Speaker: Wow. people Good job. Thank you. got it Sarah. Won't you smile a while for me, Sarah?
Speaker: i Yeah, I can't keep going. Because, you know, you don't want them to come for you. Right, right. There's some sort of royalty situation problem.
Speaker: So when you do Hall & Oates, do you choose Which voice you are or are you doing both of their lines? Certain songs of most of their songs are mostly Hall. So. Okay.
Speaker: And then it's just like harmony. a Oates like, okay. The only song where he has a significant role that like most people would know is She's Gone. But the other ones, I think he does a lot of guitar. He's more the guitar guy.
Speaker: oh Yeah, and he he might do some backup, but really it's all Daryl Hall. And he has like he has a range that is tough. So a lot of their songs are just even a tiny bit too high for me.
Speaker: But Sarah Smiles a good range. So I think that's why i like that one. It's kind of like Mariah Carey. You know, like I can just do so many octaves in a single.
Speaker: Yeah, there are certain singers that I don't know that I will ever be able to. I do want to take voice lessons, though, which is part of my ah being into karaoke right now is I want to take. I've taken them in the past, but I want to take them again so that I can get better at having a range because I can't I can't sing anything that's like.
Speaker: obviously like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, how come on Adele, no way. um Dolly Parton's little too high for me, but I would love to be able to sing some of those songs. Somebody sang a Chapel Rhone song and it was like amazing.
Speaker: ah would never be able to do it. Yeah. It was really hard. Well, and then with those, i don't know about you, but even like when I sing happy birthday, there'll be a part where like, it's like, okay, you can either go high or go low. And then I'm always like, let me go low. So I'm like, never going to even try to do the chapel rhone. But like, can I do like, a I don't know how to do harmony, but like, can I do the low chapel rhone?
Speaker: Yeah, that's what I need a professional's help with is going from the chest to the high voice or to the head voice because it it's so hard and I've never been able to really master it.
Speaker: Do you think you would do voice lessons in person instead of, like, would you recommend that that's something better in person than remote? I would think so. I think I would because, well, it would be weird to be singing.
Speaker: i mean, not weird to sing. over I mean, if you got to do it, you got to do it. But, you know, if I can find in person, I'll probably go for that. Because even just with like, I imagine the only voice lessons I've ever seen have been on TV and movies. And so there's always like the voice teacher is like touching your stomach to make sure that you're like, you know,
Speaker: the air is coming from the right place or like playing in the piano and there's a lag. So that would be really hard. And things don't always sound exactly like they sound over the internet.
Speaker: I think there is like a significant, um, part about seeing how you look while you're singing, how you're breathing. The breathing is a big issue for me too. So I would think that that would be very helpful just to have that kind of guidance in real time.
Speaker: Yeah. And your running will help with that because that's like improving your lung capacity. One would think, one would think, hopefully.
Speaker: But yes, I was thinking that too. I also kind of want to I obviously can't work on too many goals at once. I i don't know. i don't know why say obviously since I'm always trying to do it.
Speaker: Maybe that's what makes it obvious. I know. because which ones have I achieved? ah But I also want to i want to become really good at steinholding and enter a steinholding competition. Yeah.
Speaker: what it What? Excuse me? It's like it's like an Oktoberfest type thing where you hold steins of beers beer. I was thinking it was like a person's name, like Ezra Steinhold. And so then you go around steinholding and I'm like, oh. You have to find somebody with that name and then try to hold them. Yeah. In like a spooning situation. And they're notoriously known to be like agoraphobic as well as like not wanting to be touched.
Speaker: Oh, Steinholding. Yeah, you that. Hmm. That's, I was going to say forearm, but it's really like the whole arm, which then is your whole body. Yeah. And I think your core too. So I think that could go along with it too, because I have been doing the strength training twice a week. So if I incorporate some Stein holding esque moves, I think that that's a goal that I could do in conjunction with the other goals. Yeah.
Speaker: okay, what if you get really good at that and singing, and so then you do karaoke while like holding steins, and people bring up like more steins for you to hold and like add on and add on. You probably have to bring your own steins because most bars don't have steins. Yeah. um yeah And now are these glass steins? I think so. I got to look more into the details too because I've seen different competitions where they're holding – Um, I think I've seen ones where they hold two Steins, where they hold one Stein with one hand where it's, they appear to be different sizes. i so I don't know. I'm sure there's some sort of standard. I, part of why I'm into this is well, various reasons. One time Steph and I did enter, ah like a semifinals of a Stein holding contest and she made it to the finals. And so, yeah. And I, I was happy cause I was not the first person out there. in our round uh-huh uh-huh i believe there might have i believe there was a child who was ah who was also competing and she was out before me so that was good ah but then yesterday we were at a place where um they were doing like the finals and there's some sort of like
Speaker: stein holding organization so oh wow yeah i'm gonna ahll have to look into it see if there's like some official rules yeah yeah oh that's fun especially like you said this time of year and then may fest they probably do it too which is right around your birthday so that could be like a good goal for your next birthday yeah yep all right i'm gonna do it maybe you even travel to germany to do it Come on, I'm never going to that good, but I could travel to Germany to watch people do it. Yes!
Speaker: Like, you might get in with the crowd and then you know the people, you know, the woman who's won the finals in in Denver, and so then you have to travel with her to Germany. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, I think so. And then and then it becomes a movie. I think you're right. A buddy comedy. Yeah. I think so.
Speaker: Because you guys aren't actually friends, but she has no social skills. And so you, they like hire you to go along be to like kind of be her mouthpiece um and and get her not jailed in Germany or something. I don't know. You'll figure it out.
Speaker: That's true. I do have high... and relationship building skills and the Clifton strengths skills, but that's a whole other topic that we won't get into now. but But I will tell you the last two songs that I sang for karaoke. Oh, yes, please. Sorry.
Speaker: Then I sang Born to Run by, you know, obviously Bruce Springsteen. Bruce Springsteen. Oh, what a good one. Yeah. I'm from New Jersey. So, yeah. And then the last one was the Robin song.
Speaker: Dancing on my own. Oh, did that get the, ah well, and so this was the one that you were like, i shouldn't have done it. I pushed it, but everybody loved it. Yeah. Everybody was. it Yeah. Which I did know that it's like, you can't not be into that song. If you know that song, even if you don't know that song, you can't not be into it. And I mean, it was, it was not good on my part, like to the point that like, I couldn't sing the first two lines, not because like, there were people who were kind of like pointing at the screen, like, hey, the words are up there. I was like, it's not that I don't know what to note to start on. But that
Speaker: ah But then into it. You need to have one of those blow whistles or whatever. Yeah, like somebody give me the note. oh I was able to get into it, then it it was okay. And then i heard that they were like... All these groups of people who like one one woman from one group of people like apparently ran over to, I believe what the reason she ran over to the area where this other group of women was is because she was going in the corner to dance, to be in the corner. like by Dancing on her own. Yes. And then they all started dancing together and they were getting down.
Speaker: So apparently everybody really enjoyed it and i and they were singing along. And I think that helped hide the fact that I was not singing very much most of the time. ah oh that's so good.
Speaker: What a blast. Yeah. Yeah, it was really fun. And so had you...
Speaker: been were you the one who initiated karaoke have you been here no Erin loves karaoke and so she's gone and she had been to this place before but just one of their private rooms but this was like the main room And apparently they also ah broadcast the sound from the karaoke outside of the place.
Speaker: Luckily, it's not that many people who walk by, but it just kind of have to forget they're doing that. Yeah. Because they're not hearing also like everyone in the bar singing along, for example. so The worst part about that last song that I did was that the person before me was amazing. She was so good. She was wearing like and like a Halloween costume, some one of the Shrek like characters.
Speaker: um But she she just killed it. I don't remember what song she did, but it was amazing. Yeah. That's so wrong. I was like, look good are you for doing it.
Speaker: Thank you. know um And they just announced that they're going to do like a regroup of girls. like um What? Oh. Yeah, girls is getting back together. so I was just thinking of the Robin song and that always makes me think of that show. Iconic. Me too. That's the first time I heard it. So that's the first episode, right?
Speaker: That it appears in. I think so. think so. Yeah. Yeah. um They're doing what, like a reboot? Yeah. Yeah, there you go Same characters?
Speaker: Yeah, it seems like all of the ladies are back. So that's what they'll do, which is which is nice because it's like, you know, what are the chances that you're still hanging out with the same, dating the same people, you know, that you were in your 20s once you're in your 40s or whatever?
Speaker: thirty s I don't know how old they are. Well, that sounds like a great a great time. Did Aaron sing and did Adam sing? They both sang. They were both great. Erin sang, I'm Just a Girl as her first one. Gwen Stefani, no doubt. Part of like, you know, the rage about current situations.
Speaker: And she also sang number of songs, but ah well i think three. The last one was that Journey song. Someday love will find you. Break those chains that bind you. One night will remind you.
Speaker: don't to up ways i don't know if i'm saying that right but it was awesome that's cool yes and then that was journey yeah i didn't know she told me the the name of the song that she was gonna do and i was like all right and then she started singing and i was like oh my god i know this song people loved it um And then Adam stuck to mostly a very, very ninety s sort of lineup.
Speaker: um First was Counting Blue Cars. um the Wait, it's the song that's like, oh shit.
Speaker: Is that the name of the band or is that the name of the song? I know, Cars. Oh, by Dishwalla. Oh, Dishwalla. Wow.
Speaker: That's the one that's like... ah Must have been mid-afternoon. Oh, that's not helpful. It's the one that's like... Tell me all your thoughts on God. Yes. Because I'm on my way to see the...
Speaker: Back when it was like so like what did you call God her? I know. Adam says what he remembers when he first heard it he was like And then oh what else did he he sang like a Joe Cocker song.
Speaker: Awesome. And then um i don't remember what the last one was. i don't have to try to try to I don't think it's the one that's like, if you could only see me. Oh, no, it is that song. eyes so blue one she sir when she there she lo room So, yeah, he is really yeah going with that sort of. of But like the the person, the DJ who is running the karaoke actually. came down because she was right by us during his song and said he's really good wow that's awesome i know she didn't do that for any of the rest of us and she was really good so because she oh she would come down and do it sometimes i love that yeah she was amazing
Speaker: I remember going, did you ever go to Sidekicks? I think asked you this when we briefly talked about Sidekicks before. I just remember there was this elderly woman and she'd come in and it was like such a dive in like the middle of nowhere, you know, like in just a neighborhood. And she would come in, sit at the bar, sign up for her song, sing Crazy by Patsy Cline, then leave. like I think she did that every night you know it was just kind of like every night wow or at least often enough that every time I was there she was there but she she never changed up the song huh no that was her song okay Erin was saying that in Pittsburgh there was this place that she would go to where like every so often this woman
Speaker: who who was a regular would, would get drunk and, so and then sing, um, that for non blonde song. like yes shirt and ah er earlier not and take a deep breath then i get What's what's going on? No.
Speaker: What's up. Yeah. What's up. And then, but she would sing it like, what's going on? Like, And then it was a just toneless, but amazing.
Speaker: but But with such feeling, like I'm really asking this question. What's going on? Yeah. Yeah. Those are my goals. That's to be, have that much stage presence.
Speaker: That's great. Yeah. So now you might go back to um metal karaoke. Yes. I'm going to work on a song.
Speaker: Like I was going to try to, to learn to do the type O negative, negative, negative version of, um,
Speaker: Summer. Summer breeze. Yeah. Cool. That's a good interest. Do you think you'll go back to rumors with an OU? Definitely. we might try some other places too just to get a sense of what's out there and try some private rooms.
Speaker: Yeah. i did do a private room but the only time was when i was in taiwan the land of your mother and her her people um and it was really fun because it was like a group of us like But and I mean, I only knew the people that I was visiting there, but and it was it was fun, but it kind of takes away some of that, like getting to hear other people that you don't know. And like we were all like sitting well. So that you're like sitting on a couch while while singing. And that felt weird. I don't know. So um but i I can see why some people would like it because you can just sing a lot more.
Speaker: Yeah, and I think if you're like nervous singing in front of a bunch of strangers, then... But I kind of agree. Part of the fun of it is like the just random you know like high fives or random like you know songs that you see people sing and how they perform them. And then yeah random ladies dancing with each other.
Speaker: everyone trying to dance by themselves but they're all with each other yes i'll keep you updated on that my progress do um also an update i want you to provide is your your calendar uh your organizer your planner planner that's yeah it came in the mail i'll put a picture up on our on our social medias but here it is it's heavy so so it's like a hard cover but then it's got the spiral which is a gorgeous spiral yeah but it's a hard cover it's sort of like a bendable plastic kind of cover okay
Speaker: And I paid extra for the gold spiral instead of the silver spiral because the color palette is like a dark green with some delicate orange, wispy, like plant looking things on it.
Speaker: And so the gold seemed to go well with it. Yeah. And it's got thick paper and Oh, it's the dividers. It's got tabs, does have tabs. It's got the hours of the day numbered so I could put my appointments down. And also I can read them because at this age, I need things that are bigger.
Speaker: and my other planner, I love my other planner, but i i can't see any of the times I have to. It's really pretty sad in sessions where I have to like hold it up to the light In order to write down the session.
Speaker: So this one. This one appears to be easier. and I have this little. Oh my gosh it's pretty. Vinyl pocket. In the back so I can put my pens. And my erasable highlighters. That I just bought.
Speaker: Wait erasable what? Highlighters? Highlighters yeah. It's like a new... Well, I mean, don't know new it is. It's new to me. Yeah. it's It's like it uses friction, so it uses temperature to Basically, it's changing the color of the highlighter to clear. So it seems like it's erasing, but it's really just changing. I mean, I believe that's how it works, given the fact that... that's so cool. Yeah. It tells you if you... expose it to temperatures above 140 degrees that it will come out clear. So I assume that it is the use of temperature.
Speaker: That's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. Exciting. And have you been using it and you're, and it's working so far? It does seem to be working. i have been using it. My nieces are, I think that this is a thing that is popular with their friends. So it in a sense helps me to connect with them, even though they're like, I've already seen that.
Speaker: But still they're talking to me. but yeah ah still they're talking to me so That makes me think of yesterday. There's that song out that's like, I wish I wasn't Mr. Know-it-all, you know, is are the lines.
Speaker: Oh, you would, I think it's like Teddy Swims or something. You would know it if you heard it. But so I'm driving Emilio around and he goes, what's a Mr. Know-it-all? And I'm like, oh, and what I wanted to say is like, kind of like you, how you're like, I know, i already know. I know that. But Like where you just can't tell them anything because they already know everything, even if they don't.
Speaker: Even if they like didn't really hear you say it in the first place and they don't know what you're talking about. know. I know. i know
Speaker: Anywho. Oh, that's really fun. I attempted to get a planner and it yeah I, well, I was hoping that there would be one at five below when I took the kids there this morning for birthday. They had to get birthday presents for parties. And i was like, oh, that'll be great. They'll have planners there. They had two planners. One was not the way it wasn't in the orientation that I wanted And then the other was really hideous. And it was the, the design of it took up way too much space on the page. So I was like, I wouldn't care if just the cover was ugly. Cause I could just cover that over with something or leave it open all the time. But each page had like just hideous drawings on it and it took up way too much space. So I was like, okay, forget it.
Speaker: um So my hunt as not as intense as yours is will continue. Okay, good. You'll have to let me know if you need any guidance or support because I've done too much research for my own good.
Speaker: i think that's great. Especially since you came to a conclusion. Like, you know, you made a decision. so yeah I had to because it was gonna it was going to take up a lot more of my time if I didn't make a decision. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. So now... I have come to this decision and i am very happy with it so far. Yeah. So I think we've delayed enough. um
Speaker: Now we could share our failures or shames. Should we do ah a simultaneous, well, I don't know how big your box is. Should we do a simultaneous box holdup?
Speaker: No, because mine is still in the clamps. Oh, okay. ah
Speaker: Well, I'll, okay. Okay. um Cool. How should we, how should we go about doing this? Okay. Let me go get it with the clamps on. leave it No, no no leave it in oh no, no, no, no. I'm going show you.
Speaker: it It could be taken out of the clamps by now because it said half an hour. Give me three minutes. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Cool. Okay. Okay. So I got excited to show it to you. So now I want to. Okay. So we can, let's do a reveal. Okay.
Speaker: Three, two, one. one
Speaker: Ooh. Charlotte. Yours is – Mine – These two sides still need to be glued so I can't actually really turn it, but – I love. but Thank you. Thank you. Wow. Yours is perfectly lined. Mine is – Well, we'll talk about. We'll talk about the process. Okay. Yes. We'll talk about the process. I love that we both chose light wood. Yes. I chose – A plywood. It was the cheapest wood at the store. what did How did you choose yours? um
Speaker: Judy had some. Yes, that is that is basically how all these decisions happened. Well, and so i feel awful about it because I do love this idea.
Speaker: i don't know... it It reminded me of the way I reacted reminded me of points of the Mariel conversation where I was like, just so kind of mind blown about her, her, the way her brain works and the way that like she was raised to kind of just like, yeah, go do that. Go figure it out, whatever. And that she just has this sense of like, oh, I will be competent. I will be able. And just, so it was reminding me of that because I was like, there's no way that I can do this. There is no way that I can do this the entire time. I just did not feel like I could do it.
Speaker: But then there was also a part of me that like, despite the fact that I find woodworking to be very interesting and very beautiful, I don't know that I'm interested in woodwork, to in doing woodworking. Yeah. There's a difference between like enjoying it, appreciating it, and then wanting to to do it. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. yeah i feel like i maybe had like a mix of on one hand being like, wow, there's a lot to do and it seems kind of hard because it's the first time I've done it.
Speaker: And then on the other hand being like, but I could do it. It's just one, two, three, four, five pieces of wood if you don't put a lid on it and then gluing them together. And that attitude probably is where I ran into some trouble because I did not, i did not do a good job of measuring twice, cutting once. I measured once poorly, cut, cut some more, some more, sanded, ah tried to shoehorn some pieces together.
Speaker: yeah it That's actually like a really important part. Also using a ah square that has like correct right angles. i would just measure with this like a tape measure, not even a ruler, a tape measure that is not guaranteed to be straight if you don't hold it right. Even if you And don't do that.
Speaker: Don't do that. do that friends. I did. it was fun. So like, even when we were still talking to Caleb in the episode, and he was giving this homework, I was like, or I could just ask Judy to do it for me So Judy, like had over the summer, a um membership at this maker space. So you could just go there and make things, art, whatever. And they have a ton of materials and machines and stuff like that. And she's done woodworking and is very interested in that anyways. And it's just much more of a visual figure it out kind of person than I am in general. So there was that. And i was like, oh, she took the
Speaker: ah Like you had to do an orientation to use certain machines. And so I knew she had done the woodworking orientation to be able to use those machines. So when I reached out to her and was like, hey, do you think we could go to that space? Could I come too? Or could you just like cut some things for me?
Speaker: She's like, oh my gosh, I just canceled it. you know, like my last day with it was yesterday. And I was like, okay, that's fine. And then I was like, where is the saw? We have like a circular saw that was on the dryer for the longest time.
Speaker: And I was like, where is that? And she's like, oh, it was in her husband's truck that gets like parked way far away overnight because you don't want, they don't want it to it's like a work truck van. So I'm like, okay, so I don't have access to that. And I'm like, oh, I bet if I just go to these lumber yards, they'll just cut things for me. Right. And she goes, no. And um I was like, okay. So then I avoided it for a long time. yeah,
Speaker: Then she was like, well, I have this balsa wood. I bought like a, you know, she had like bought a 25 pack of it just to have around, I guess you do that. And she's like, and that is very thin. And so you can cut it with just a Sharpie, you know, not a Sharpie, an exacto. Nice. Okay. Yeah. So one night she did come down and I did sit with her while she walked me through the steps that she was taking Cut all of them. And it was cool to think through. like so
Speaker: And i even i was even like, what what do I want this box to do, though? like What am I going to use it for? What am I going to put in it? How big should it be? Where will I have it? And I was just looking for you know reasons to...
Speaker: postpone But I was like, oh, this could be really nice. I got a new dresser not too long ago. And so i was like, it could be really nice to have on my dresser open partially because it's hard to do a lid so that I can put things in there, but they're not like everywhere, you know.
Speaker: And so I had gotten a piece of mail. Oh, your uncle's book, which we'll talk about at a different time. um The mail that he had sent me. And I was like, that's a perfect size. I really like this size. So I did it the size of the envelope, um which is the size of the book, because like it just kind of felt good um to be able to do that. And so then it was cool that she like would show me kind of some little tricks that she has for how to how to cut it. And then like, you know, the first slice really lightly. And then you kind of have the groove. So then you can go harder and harder. And at each end is where you generally
Speaker: are the hardest. And so then like start in the middle and go through, cause then you can get other areas. And then also asking me, you know, for the edges, she's like, do you want them to come to a perfect point or do you want one to like overlap? And I was like, oh, I like the idea of overlapping. So like each one kind of has an open side and an overlapped side. Um, and you know, just kind of, she was like, it doesn't really matter, but it just could be design preferences, um, and things like that.
Speaker: Now, as Charlotte knows from the bright blue tape, um, I did not get clamps though. I met with Javier of our podcast episode on celebrity gossip, and he was saying, oh, I bet you could even get it at the dollar store, Clamps. He's seen there because he was saying that the dollar store has kind of started to become a little bit of a craft shop. And we were thinking that maybe it's now that Joanne is out of business. They're like scooping in. So that was interesting just to even know that Clamps could be found at a edited dollar store, maybe. Maybe that's an l LA thing. I don't know. But um I didn't get clamps and I didn't even glue this. I put painter's tape in places just to see if it would even work. And that's as far as I got. So I kind of just failed.
Speaker: I would not call that failing because we made boxes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's the assignment. And I think going into this, I had to think to myself, this is a practice box. This does not have to be a good box. This is my first box. box one This is the box that all other boxes will be based on and how I will learn to have a box. And so that helped me at least be like, I mean, probably a little too lax in my measurements, obviously.
Speaker: It was, no you know, a little bit more care could have gone there, but, um but yeah, it, that helps. I'm like, okay, it does not need to look good. It does not need to be even anywhere close to perfect.
Speaker: It is not. It just has to show me how you put together a box. So, I mean, ah it's still it still kind of took me a while to get into It was like buying the wood. I got the cheapest wood. Wood is kind of expensive. It We already knew that, but now I know from going, I went to Rockler.
Speaker: guy was really nice there and um and so i bet it smelled so good yeah yeah it it was just had a nice feel and the guy told me about the different kinds of ways i could you know put the box together like as a beginner like different um joints or something he told me about some way of doing which i had watched some of the videos too and seen like some ways that they did joints. And I was like, I'm going to be gluing this together.
Speaker: And it's, and that's how that's going to work. So, um and then luckily, it was very lucky that Adam already had a saw, like of the circular saws. a sander, an electric sander. We did get clamps.
Speaker: um and but And where did you get those? Was that at Rockler or elsewhere? That was at Lowe's because we had gift cards. Oh, nice. Yeah, we had gift cards. So that helped. And I think Adam is going to think he might want them for something at some point. So that worked out.
Speaker: um And where did you work? Like where did you, what space were you in? In the garage. Nice. Yeah, there is like a kind of a workspace, but it's not really great for any kind of woodwork. So We were like doing the sawing, propping up the wood on like a chair or like a crate. ah Not like horses or whatever they, you know, generally have them on. or Yeah, no. But we did ah get some pictures. So we'll post that too of me wearing like...
Speaker: sandals to saw probably not the smartest there is like a little there's a little guard at the bottom of the saw if you drop it uh-huh uh-huh yeah
Speaker: and wearing safety glasses Good. So, yeah. Where did you – oh, you did it in your place, right? Dining room table. Yeah. Yeah. Because I didn't have the – Is balsam wood affordable? Because that seems like a really good option. Okay. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, but it's very flimsy too. You know, like if you think about it and you're like, oh, I can use an X-Acto knife to get through it. It's not like sturdy. But in some instances, that's exactly what you want. Like she was going she bought it because she was going cut out a bunch of like create butterflies, like kind of, you know, ah it was for like a activity that she was doing some art therapy thing.
Speaker: And she, you know, she figured she could cut out of those. So it's, it's, it's sturdier than cardboard, but not super sturdy, but yes, it is, um, affordable for a pack of 10.
Speaker: It's like eight bucks. Hmm. Okay, nice. I had to look it up because I couldn't remember if what the what it was called. So that's why I had that readily available.
Speaker: I don't know how big, i don't remember how big this piece of plywood was specifically, but I mean, it was not huge, but it was like between 25 and 30, I think.
Speaker: And that, this is like the the very cheapest wood they had. oh Yeah, yeah. yeah They had some very nice woods. I did see the purple wood and I was like, oh my god, beautiful.
Speaker: And I mean, that's that's part of it too. is It's understandable why why furniture, why you know pieces of of art made with wood are as expensive as they are because the not only the material itself is pricey, but then the level of workmanship that goes into it is really impressive. Like, you know, uh, craftsmanship.
Speaker: There you go. Yeah. Cause I think about how much time, energy, attention, and cost it would take to get to that level of crafts craftsmanship. Yeah.
Speaker: And that's expensive. And I, I would love to be able to be good at doing that. Like even while doing it, I thought to myself, I i could be interested in this. Like, this is something that I could get into. it's just, it it feels like such a, like such a heavy lift from where I'm starting from, which is, ah is,
Speaker: It's not exactly at the very bottom. I mean, I was in shop class in school, but other than that, yeah it's really starting from a very low place. Yeah.
Speaker: Right. So it feels both out of reach and very accessible to not to go all the way there, but in that you can learn how to do so many of these things online. So, oh, I want to learn how to make, you know,
Speaker: a cabinet okay you can you can watch video so many videos now on how to do that to be able to do it yourself so in that way it's so accessible but to even as Caleb said like all the machines that some of these people have and and then the wood and the space and the time it's all incredibly expensive um And I think about, like I was thinking about one of my aunts loves to quilt. And I was asking her, you know, oh, have are you quilting anything now? And thank goodness she just got and she just has a new grandson. But she was saying, she's like, it stinks because I love making these, but you can only give, you know, your family is so many quilts. And then you kind of run out of like. So I think about that with this too, where it's great for Caleb, where he can actually make things for their home.
Speaker: or for friends but would there be a time where you're making things and then you're like but I don't there's no use for this like who wants this random thing that I made um and does that take some of the fun out of it because what do you do with it then yeah that might be when you start having to think about okay am I gonna sell my things am I not Because it's like people who love baking, but they can't eat every single thing that they bake. They need people to help them.
Speaker: Otherwise, it's just a lot of cake. Yeah. Yeah. that That was the interesting thing being in the office. Like I said, there's a woman that I work with who loves to bake and she has gotten into bread. And so every Monday and Thursday, those are her two days in the office, she brings in at least two loaves of bread. Wow.
Speaker: And how awesome. But if you didn't work in an office, you know, or if you don't have a regular place to bring that, how that's just so that's a lot of yeah that's a lot of baked goods that can go to waste.
Speaker: Yeah. Then you you could find some area, if you live near an area with people who are unhoused, and you could give them the food. Yeah.
Speaker: That would be good.
Speaker: and don Yeah, that could actually be perfect. You just have to be like, sign this waiver.
Speaker: Or take this and I will not tell you I am. yeah Yeah. No. um So also another thing about the making of the box Is that the same the note the the circular saw, um I feel like it was made for man hands.
Speaker: um Probably was. The way the buttons were, that was the hardest part. It's like you have to hold one button while you hold another button, you know, so that you don't cut yourself or, you you know, cut your finger off and so that you're doing it intentionally. You can't accidentally like turn it on. But it's quite difficult to do when you have my size hands.
Speaker: So I'm just wondering if they are made for man-sized hands. Yeah. Sounds like it. Yeah. That's annoying. So then you have to get like a pink one because then that way, you know, it's for a woman.
Speaker: Yes, but you do have to pay extra for the pink. Yeah, you have just like our razors. um Yeah, but that's that's that makes it tricky. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Yeah. I i mean, that that is what I assume. I don't know. Maybe it Adam seemed like once he figured out like the right hand placement, he was able to do it pretty easily. I mean, it's also his saw, so he's, I'm sure, it used it before, but not for a very long time.
Speaker: I'll also say another thing is that it's very useful to have... like somebody like Judy for you and then somebody like Adam for me who knows a little bit more yeah and is there, has these tools. And then also, particularly in the case of, ah I think usually men, if they see you struggling, they like can't help it. They like want to jump in and and do it for you. Yep.
Speaker: And Sometimes i was like, cool, cool, you can do that. And sometimes i was like, give it to me. It's my box. It's my homework. Yeah.
Speaker: But all the executive functioning parts, like figuring out what I did wrong with the measurements, I let him do. i let him fix that. Nice. Yeah. No, it is. it There is something to having someone there with you.
Speaker: That is very, um and yes, I agree that the fact that they're a little bit better or further along in their journey than we are for this also helps. But even just to have somebody else there to kind of like...
Speaker: as an emotional support and making you feel like, okay, I can, I can do this is a big thing. Like I feel that way, even about like cleaning sometimes, like I'm like, Oh, I wish I could just have a friend over to be here while I clean, you know, like they don't have to do anything. Just like be here.
Speaker: Body doubling even like that. Cause then you kind of have to do it. Yeah. Right. Yes. Yeah. We did talk about that. Yeah. Yeah. So how do you feel about your box? I feel pretty good about it. There's just, there's a few finishing touches to be done with it.
Speaker: And then i feel pretty good. i think I am going to, like when I start making dioramas, I'm going to put one in there.
Speaker: I don't know what that's going to involve. That probably involves more use of tools. But I feel proud. Good. You should. Thank you. How about you? Way to go. um Yeah, I feel like I phoned it in and a little guilty and also like, Caleb, don't take this personally, man. You're so amazing and your interest was so great and your homework assignment was really hard, even though it wasn't really hard. And I love that you believed in us so much. um
Speaker: But yeah, I feel kind of like this was not a team. work on my end. It was the training you do to get to the A-team. It's just that you will probably never choose to get to the A-team woodworking.
Speaker: Right. Yeah. Right. But i I did like this assignment. I felt like it's the kind of thing that we'll remember forever. We'll be like, remember that time we had to make a box.
Speaker: yeah And I just love, I mean, i i feels it feels very in line. Obviously, I don't know Caleb. well at all. I met him on that one call, but it feels very in line with Caleb that he just is such a high performer and therefore believes that everyone can do things. And so I just loved that he gave us something that really was quite a challenge.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. And we, we did it. You found somebody who could show you how to do it. And then now you you have it and it's done. So whether you, you know, use your relationship skills to get it done or, or whatever other skills it's, it's, it's done. Yeah. And I do love that you're thinking how this can go along with diorama. So that's great.
Speaker: Yeah, I do think there will be some some gluing involved, some some hanging out in the garage and using other materials. So this could i I do think it could end up being quite useful for me. Yeah, I get into dioramas, which if you talk about doing something for at least a year or two, i think that's it. It's time to start doing it.
Speaker: So all these things, the Stein holding, dioramas and the getting better at karaoke are all dreams I've held for a while.
Speaker: Well, and the steinholding and the like figuring out like using these machines, the power tools, i think those are going to be in line. Like you're going to be doing some like stretching and and strengthening. Grip strength. Yeah. And those will be like complementary to each other. Like by steinholding, you'll be like, oh, wow, it's so much easier for me to use these power tools now. And from the power tool stuff, you'll be like, oh, it's so much that really helped with my stein holding. And so I think it's very true. And also, did you know that grip strength is somehow correlated to um I don't know if it's living longer or like something to do with older age like. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. It's really important. I remember um like one of my spin instructors that I used to go to her classes all the time was all about that. She was like, do kettlebells, even if you just carry them, because once you lose grips, lose grip strength, you know, that's like, you can't carry your shopping bags anymore. You can't like, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. Okay. we Work on grip strength. Yes. Check. um Okay. Well, this was this was a good time. And then this is, you know, I want the the garage to be like ah like a workspace and a space for this type of project. So this is a start. Now I know...
Speaker: Where the saw is, yeah where the sander is, clamps, all of it. Right. You have those now. It felt empowering to to use that saw.
Speaker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So thank you to Caleb. Yes, Caleb. Send me a picture and I'll send him the the pictures and we'll get his get his feedback.
Speaker: Okay. Cool. Patty's looking at me like, No.
Speaker: Do I just find a different box and present?
Speaker: Look this beautiful jewelry box that I made. it This was a good one. Well, thank you, Caleb. And do you think we covered the lowest and should we give an official lowest and accessibility?
Speaker: Yeah, well, we talked a a good amount about accessibility. Yeah. Yeah, in terms of cost, in terms of manhands on your tools.
Speaker: and And then in terms of Lois, I'm going give it a
Speaker: 35 out of 100 likelihood I would adopt woodworking into my life. But it probably in just a small way where it would adjunct to other things. h I love that word, adjunct. um Yeah, I think for me, it's maybe like a 10. I love the idea of it. I will definitely help out on projects that involve woodworking, but I will not be, I won't be doing it. I just, I, and, and yeah, I won't be doing it.
Speaker: I don't have the confidence. Your role can be a connoisseur, and a user of woodwork. Yes. I will be an appreciator. Okay. And so?
Speaker: And so? Follow us on social media. Tell your friends about us. Give us a rating. Leave a comment. If you check on social media, we will be posting pictures of the boxes, Patty.
Speaker: Yes. Yes, we will. We will. And and of ourselves. Well, at least one of me tempting fate by sawing with sandals on.
Speaker: Ah, Marielle would never. ah oh all right, cool. Well, stay interesting. And stay interested.
Speaker: Thanks for listening to today's episode. Please subscribe, comment, and like the podcast. Follow us on Blue Sky Social at CanWeInterestYouIn. Send us an email at CanWeInterestYouIn at gmail.com.
Speaker: And join us next time.
