April 30, 2024 • 45 mins
This week, we’re knocking the dust off this show with the help of Suzanne Vaughan!
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of Suzanne Vaughan, a visionary who had the foresight to see the COVID-19 pandemic coming due to an unusual spike in demand for protective supplies at her workplace back in early 2020. Fast forward to today, Suzanne has hung up her work boots and is fully indulging in the freedom of retirement. This new chapter in her life is filled with her passions - from the dramatic allure of theater and the magic of lighting design to the meaningful pursuit of advocacy work.
Suzanne gives us a sneak peek into the exciting theater projects she's currently steering in the Winston-Salem area, painting a vivid picture of her creative endeavors. But it's not all curtains and spotlights; she shares the poignant challenges of caring for her mother during her final years and navigating the complex maze of grief after her passing. These experiences have shaped her, giving depth to her story.
Retirement for Suzanne isn't about slowing down; it's about chasing the next adventure, from exploring Pittsburgh to marveling at Niagara Falls, and tracing the scenic East Coast. Even as she juggles various projects, Suzanne dreams of future travels, awaiting the right moment when she's ready to leap into the next big adventure post a significant period of personal loss. This episode isn't just Suzanne's story—it's a testimony to resilience, passion, and the art of moving forward.
About Suzanne:
A native North Carolinian, Suzanne Vaughan has called Winston-Salem home for about twenty-five years. She spent most of her career working for consumable supply distributors, utilizing her customer service, sales, and marketing skills. Now untethered, she is pursuing her passions, which include writing, theatrical lighting and set design, and performing. She also advocates for marginalized communities, animals, and climate change and tries to use her platform to inspire others to break free from the status quo.
Connect with Suzanne:
Instagram: suzvaughan12
TikTok: suzvaughan11
Interested in possibly being a guest on the show? Click the link to get started!
https://forms.gle/V1yGLH9W9Ck2m4TP7
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristen Daukas (00:05):
Welcome to Conversations on the rocks. The
podcast where the drink isstrong and the stories are
stronger. I'm your host, KristenDaukas. And this isn't your
average chat best. Here realpeople spill the tea alongside
their favorite drinks from thehilarious to the heart wrenching
each episode a wildcard. You'lllaugh, you may cry, but you'll
definitely learn something new.
So grab whatever whet yourwhistle and buckle up, it's time
(00:28):
to dive into the raw, the realand the ridiculously human.
Let's get this chat partystarted. Hey, everybody, it's
Kristin. And today I am talkingto my good friend, Suzanne BOD,
Suzanne, to the House,everybody. And for those of you
that are not watching this, youdefinitely are going to feel
(00:51):
missed out because we're veryanimated people. So you know, I
made Suzy and give me her bio,look at her. She's like magenta.
Made Suzanne give me her bio,but I'm really not going to read
that. But I will tell you a fewthings about Suzanne, from my
point of view. First of all, notmany people notice know this,
(01:12):
but Suzanne predicted thepandemic did Yeah, she did you
want to tell us how youpredicted the pandemic? Um,
well, part
Suzanne (01:21):
of it was just because of what I was seeing at work. I
had just started back at a jobthat I worked at, and we the
company sells packaging,janitorial and safety supplies.
So the first thing that happens,it's like late January, like
within the first two weeks thatI've gone back, we start getting
calls for face masks, like andnot just like our usual
(01:45):
customers that use them whenthey're in manufacturing. I'm
talking like, well, one was themanufacturer but they wanted
like full cases of like 500 fortheir overseas locations. And
I'm like, here we go. We'regonna have a pandemic. And it
just picked up because it wasfirst first it was the masks.
Then it was the Purell. Then itwas the gloves. Right? And then
(02:10):
it was the soap. Yeah, toiletpaper didn't come to way late. I
Kristen Daukas (02:13):
know. But you dispense that toilet paper like
it was a Pez dispenser. I thinkI still think I still have some
pandemic toilet paper in mydownstairs bathroom. Every time
I open I'm like the best so yougotta save it right? I mean,
it's truly like into the worldApocalypse toilet paper and
luckily it'll do the job it'lldo the job for you. You'll be
filling it for a while so rightget get some aloe which Hazel
(02:39):
witch hazel is really good forthat stuff folks. is the best so
yeah, so that's why I'm learningas I'm getting older. That was
one of the fun facts aboutSuzanne Suzanne is also a
incredible light designer andshe however what I don't like
about Suzanne and her lightdesigning is it sometimes it
(03:01):
takes her away from socialsettings because she's over
peopled now get by totally getthe over people thing you and I
are sisters in that because youknow you can tell if we're in an
IT something together that bothof us like you can see it like
coming down like literallycoming down. Battery is like Oh,
(03:21):
Cassie bought me a I have toshow it to you the next time I
see you she bought me this penthat's on my backpack and it
says my social battery level andit has a little slider so it
goes from like green to red. Ilove that I need one social
battery empty sticker to it's onmy it's on my laptop. But yeah,
(03:43):
sometimes we just have to Wecan't people as much as we want
to. So yeah, it's so let's talka little bit about what you're
doing now that you are how didyou put it? You put it? I'm
looking at her notes because sheput a where's it where's it? Oh,
dad. untethered she'suntethered. Now friends on
(04:07):
tether. She's on top. Yes, thatis the most eloquent way I've
ever heard of saying I'm earlyretired. Which is what I wish I
could say that. Why can't yousay that?
Suzanne (04:20):
Right. Right. You know, I'm we call it fun employed. You
know, it's gig life. But it'sOh, who's that dog but trying to
that's nice. Yeah, there will bethere will be visits. She's
She's mad that I'm talking tosomebody. That's not her.
Kristen Daukas (04:36):
I love my door open. So anything could happen
here too. Right?
Suzanne (04:40):
I mean, that's the fun part of it, though, right? Yeah.
So I left the job two daysbefore my mom passed away.
Because I was leaving the job totake care of her because she had
gotten to that point where sheneeded full time care. Yeah, and
then she passed away like twodays. So like all the stress and
all the things and the honey 100miles an hour that I was going
(05:01):
through for like seven years wasdone so untethered.
Kristen Daukas (05:06):
How's it feels like, what
Suzanne (05:07):
would I do now? Oh, man, I hope that I never have to
sit at a desk for a long period,like a night, like, you're gonna
sit this cubicle for eighthours? I can't know. And
Kristen Daukas (05:20):
it's so interesting, because I thought
one of the greatest things thatcame out of COVID was these
Boomer males that we actuallyprove to them. That way you
don't have it's like that, butin seat mentality is insane. And
well, that's
Suzanne (05:38):
what I was dealing with the whole time over there. I'm
like, you guys, and my staff,because I was a manager. Like,
they can work from home, we havethe phone systems, we have all
of that. Look at technology,it's a wonderful thing. Let's
make use of it. But
Kristen Daukas (05:55):
unless they can actually count heads and butts
and seat, you're not doing Imean, I get more work done from
home, then I have been prettymuch either strictly working
from home or a hybrid. For thepast 17 years,
Suzanne (06:13):
my brother has been the same way he's been working for
it, because that's what I kepttelling him. I was like, I know
people that have been workingfrom home for like, decades.
It's not new. No, it's not you.
Right. And technology's justgetting better. So it's just
improving, being able to workfrom home,
Kristen Daukas (06:29):
but it also takes a special person to be
able to work from home because,you know, before the COVID You
know, I would tell people thatwas working from home like, oh
my god, I could never do that Iwould be so distracted from I'm
like, actually get in the zone.
And I'm like, I want to get upand go and do launch. I'm like,
Who the hell wants to dolaundry? Why do you Why are you
gonna
Suzanne (06:45):
be doing laundry wants to do laundry.
Kristen Daukas (06:48):
But I get on my cell phone. And like, before I
went back to working for myself,it was more of a hybrid. So I
would go into the office one daya week and I got nothing done
that day. It was guarantee thatthat day in the office, nothing
got done. Absolutely nothing.
They want
Suzanne (07:04):
to have 15 meetings about or just chit chat or, or
just chit chat like how youbeen? Did you watch a while
you're here watch such and suchlast night? No. No, I used to
get it. And again, part of it isbecause it was a manager and so
I had new people coming andgoing you know, there was some
change overwhelms there. Whichis unusual there. But of course
it was pandemic so everythingchanges. And yeah, they come at
(07:26):
Suzanne Suzanne Suzanne Suzanne.
So I'm never got, likeeverything that I wanted done.
And that day done, ever.
Kristen Daukas (07:34):
If people don't have kids, and you are in that
situation, you get a really fastidea of what being a moms like,
Oh,
Suzanne (07:45):
God, yeah, my seriously, I know, that was like
for those three years, I was amom. And I just was like,
because some of the kidsactually could have been my
children. You know, they werelike, early 20s. And I just feel
like there were they were greatkids. I mean, they were I had
great staff members, like Idon't want to say anything
(08:06):
negative about them as people ortheir work ethic, because I
really did have a great staff.
However, I couldn't get anythingdone.
Kristen Daukas (08:15):
With that. I think it's kind of cool, too.
And I think this is a big, bigstruggle for boomers. And is
that younger millennials anddefinitely Gen Z are kind of
turning everything upside downon the concept of work, right?
And I saw something come acrossa few months ago, it was called
(08:36):
was at lazy girl work. And Ididn't like the moniker but I
loved the concept. I'm like, Canwe take a good concept and not
smack a cute little moniker onit? Like, you know, girl boss,
lazy girl, or and it was thewhole, you go in, you do your
job. And you leave. Whereas ourgeneration we were in especially
(08:57):
the boomers like I rememberright. And my stepdad he was
like at work from 7am until 5pm.
And I'm like, I don't want it'slike even now at my age. You
know, it's like I have theperfect amount of clients that
keep me busy that pay my bills.
And could I take on moreclients? Absolutely. Do I want
to? Maybe but I don't want towork that hard. I'm 5055 I do
(09:20):
not I'm done.
Suzanne (09:21):
I turned the Big Five this year
Kristen Daukas (09:25):
five, so it wasn't gonna be a big August
then.
Suzanne (09:29):
It is it is gonna be a very big hot. Alright, so
Kristen Daukas (09:32):
anyways, we're talking about corporate we don't
need to talk about corporatecorporate. So now what are you
know, what are you doing now? Inour local field Hall scene,
Suzanne (09:41):
okay. Like how do I make some money so that I don't
lose my house?
Kristen Daukas (09:46):
There's plenty of ways to do that. Right.
Suzanne (09:50):
So currently, while this I'm getting more contacts
because I'm the residentlighting designer at theater
Alliance, downtown Winston I'vedesigned some at the little
design to show at Little Theaterback in June, February,
February, January, February. Idid February of this year,
(10:10):
February because that, yeah,because it was like Week, Week,
Week, Week, Week of tech week.
And then yeah, I work withspirit gum. I work with Salem
Academy now. Oh, wow. new one.
Yeah. So they are doing andthat's what I just started
today. They're doing Beauty andthe Beast. I know. And it opens
at the 18th for one weekend. ButI'm designing both the lights
(10:33):
and the set. So because a lot ofpeople don't know that I do set
design because I usually don't.
I think the last the last onewas was murder on Oliver it
stained glass, pre pandemic,probably like 17 or 18. Yeah.
19. I don't know. So I've gotthat going on. Today. I painted
the stage, I've got a installfor the new theater because
theater alliance is adding twonew stages. So the bill theater
(10:54):
upstairs is a smaller black box.
So I'm I'm doing theinstallation of the lights up
there. And then I have to likeJersey Boys, which goes up next
Friday over at theater Alliance.
So I've got three projects goingon right now. I took last week
off because I had had like sixin a row
Kristen Daukas (11:13):
last year.
That's yeah, that's why we wereable to see you she actually
took some Right,
Suzanne (11:18):
right. Exactly, exactly. Yeah, yeah, there was
one one Friday and I was like Ihave four shows up right now.
Like any all lighting design,like so I was like on call in
case something happened for allall theaters. Lexington live
also gotta give the you're an
Kristen Daukas (11:33):
inspiration to me in the sense that I've always
said that I could never retire,I would be too bored. But man,
you definitely pack your daysyou really do. You're very
involved. And that's just yourtheater stuff. That's not your
advocacy stuff and things ofthat nature. So damn fun fact,
before I met you, I met you. Andevery time that picture comes
(11:53):
up, I have to share that becauseit's my favorite picture ever.
Which was during pride when yourfirst foray is magenta and Rocky
Horror. And I was down there andI've I've told you the story,
like every time Yeah,
Suzanne (12:07):
I was
Kristen Daukas (12:08):
like, I don't remember that picture, though.
I'll just send it to you again.
Maybe because I forgot allincluded in
Suzanne (12:12):
this. You could do like, Oh,
Kristen Daukas (12:15):
right. So it was I was down there Sydney and all
of her friends. It was her firstPride. And so that must have
been she must be like 12. Soyou're talking 10 years ago. And
that was before I even knew andI like was going through it. I'm
like, Oh my God, that's so sad.
Because you were on the float.
You're on there. My body washere on the rock. And again,
(12:36):
apologies that I was not able tomake this last. I can't remember
why couldn't come to Rocky thisyear. I think it was I don't
know if I was out of town orsomething. There was some kind
of conflict that when ti asked,I was like, Okay, go
Suzanne (12:50):
get a really good set of audiences this year. It was
really it was
Kristen Daukas (12:53):
always a good show. Yeah. So you had a bit of
a so last year when your mompassed, which we've had
conversations about that becauseyour mom and my dad suffered
unexpected. Exactly exact Istill telling you, you still
have to have to plop you onconfessions that confession show
I would love to chat with ya. Soin the show's great and there
(13:17):
isn't actually this month we'refeaturing it's all male
caregivers, which are very, veryuncommon.
Suzanne (13:22):
Yeah, it's usually false. Absolutely. And my
brother is actually a bettercaregiver than I and a lot of
them are. It's more natural.
Yeah. Because for me, it was notnatural. But yeah, he was he's
definitely like, mom would tellme all the time, like what he
did for her when when he wasdown, you know, when she was
down with him for the week orwhatever. And I'm like, he's so
much better at this. But do you
Kristen Daukas (13:44):
think? Is it really bad? Or is that I mean,
you lived with your y'all livetogether, your brother didn't
live there. So I think there's abig difference. And that's, I
mean, when you're in it 24/7It's, I mean, again, it's kind
of going back to like parenting,it's like, yeah, I like to think
I was a good parent, but my Godwhen you're with these people
24/7 And and all this, like needthey need the they. And again,
(14:05):
we're not saying anything, don'tanybody come at us because I did
it for my dad for a year. It's alot. It's a lot a lot. And
Suzanne (14:13):
the only people that understand that it's a lot or
other. Absolutely. If you've notbeen in it, you just don't know.
And it's there's no real way tosay this is
Kristen Daukas (14:24):
what it's like, because every case is different.
Suzanne (14:27):
Every case is different. You know, everyone's
some people have it a lot harderthan I did as far as mobility
and the level of care and thebenefits back to and
Kristen Daukas (14:38):
I was blessed or blessed in the fact that Daddy
was part of the VA system. Soyeah, so much of that was taken
care of. I can't imagine if wehad to deal with the regular god
awful health insurance as weknow it for you know, non
veterans. Yeah, I just can't andthe things that are it's Yeah,
unless you've done it. You justcan't even comprehend it.
(15:00):
There's no training. There's noforewarning. It's just like, No.
Here's a frying pan. You're thebacon. And bam, there you are.
Yes, sizzle. Yeah, go. Andexactly what then you took. I
was so tickled and I was proudof you for lack of a bit of
praise. You're a littlesabbatical, you just pop those
(15:21):
puppies into when you went onleft.
Suzanne (15:24):
Yeah. Because I hadn't had like, well actually traveled
a lot last year because I did goto Cancun last May.
Kristen Daukas (15:31):
At the end of April's,
Suzanne (15:32):
oh, you're gonna have so much fun. We got to talk
about that. Like, where are youstaying and all that stuff. But
yeah, so after that, I was like,You know what, for my birthday,
I'm leaving town. I have notleft this house. I mean, I did
get it again. You know, but Ihave not left. Anything behind
like that, you know, like,really been able to vacate.
Because Cancun was rare, likeCancun was a one out of six or
(15:56):
seven years. You know, like, so?
Because the other vacations werebeach vacations with right. So
it's still you know,
Kristen Daukas (16:03):
so you're still working. And again, right. So
again, like a parent, I wrote anarticle, a blog article years
ago called mom's never get thevacation? Because you don't you
don't just transfer your dutiesfrom Princeton to a place with
sand and then you gotta dealwith the sand. Right? Exams
everywhere.
Suzanne (16:23):
Yeah, you gotta watch him run around. And yeah, all
day. So where do you go? Noteven going. So my first stop
actually was well, actually, Istopped in West Virginia for a
hot second. I was looking forthis. So I use like,
Roadtrippers and like AtlasObscura. And there's another one
(16:45):
for like, all the like, weirdplaces to stop. And there was
like an old carnival old fair,that was dilapidated, but not I
couldn't get into it. Because itwas, I could see some of it from
the road. And it was like way inthis like, you know, am I gonna
die trying to get around thiscorner? I mean, it was like
mountains and like, you know,narrow roads. And then I went to
(17:08):
the that Night of the LivingDead. Where they filmed that,
that the cemetery they fill thatin? I think that was actually in
Pennsylvania by that point. Idon't know. It's a blur. That
was really cool. I have a ton ofpictures from that. I love a
cemetery. Pittsburgh was nextstayed there for great. Oh, my
God. And I had such a greatlittle space. You know, all
(17:32):
these gorgeous old houses aroundme. And it's actually kind of
near the stadium. So I can'tremember what side they called
it, but it was near Randy Vale.
Oh, my God. Did
Kristen Daukas (17:42):
you go to Randy mill?
Suzanne (17:43):
I did. thing, and I only went for a hot minute. Like
I was just taking some pictureson my way out of town. And so
the dogs were in the car. Andthey're barking a little bit
because Mommy didn't let themout because Mommy I just put
them in. And so this lady comesdown from her apartment is like
you really shouldn't did it. Iwas like, I'm literally here
five minutes. You can't handle adog barking for five minutes.
(18:06):
You know, it's not 5am You know,you're I know you're on your
bike down and that's fine,because it's doing I don't care.
But like, it wasn't so bad thatthere was just, you know, I'm
like, you don't need to comedown to the car as I'm trying to
exit trying to go to Randy.
Bill, lady. Yeah, trying toleave Randy Ville I was done.
Yeah, it was an blast. I got it.
(18:28):
You know, we all have ourmoments, but it's also like,
Kristen Daukas (18:30):
just it's not that big a deal. So apparently,
and I don't fly into Pittsburgh,I always drive up. Yeah,
currently. You can see RandyVille from the sky in a plane.
Suzanne (18:41):
Oh, oh, that breaks my heart. So I know. I know. I love
to so many pictures from that
Kristen Daukas (18:48):
we took I absolutely. Okay, so there's
your plug people. If you're inPittsburgh, find Randy Ville,
Suzanne (18:55):
Randy Ville, and I was only saying like three blocks
from there. That's, that's
Kristen Daukas (18:59):
a great. It's also in that area. If you go
back, there's this really coolmuseum called the Mattress
Factory. It's not a mattressstore. It's a Mattress Factory
is so eclectic. And they alwayshave these different
installations. But one of themis there like forever. It's like
you go up and it's a it's like atall house bird house kind of
(19:24):
thing, like so. You go up thestairs, and there's all these
like little miniature things andlike dots, look it up. It's
called the Mattress Factory. Itis so cool. And it's just like
one of those little eclecticthings. And it is like REITs
right there where Randy Ville isjust so that's one of the great
things about Pittsburgh is like,you're just there and all of a
sudden you look around you'relike Well, damn, what's that?
(19:45):
Ah,
Suzanne (19:46):
it was really cool. So I loved walking them in the
neighborhood and looking around,you know, several times a day. I
stayed an Airbnb gives me as I
Kristen Daukas (19:54):
die. Dinah so excited. It was not the first
time you've ever been toPittsburgh.
Suzanne (20:00):
So I have a friend that lives there. So were you
Kristen Daukas (20:02):
completely blown away and how hilly it was.
Suzanne (20:06):
Oh my god, yes. Okay, so here's what's gonna happen
Stella wants to go out so I'mgonna carry Okay, we're gonna
walk a little bit around thehouse. We're taking the trip
you're on there's, we're takingand there's all if you're only
listening
Kristen Daukas (20:16):
to this live, you can't see this. So now we
get a tour of Suzanne's hotelchaos.
Suzanne (20:24):
Yeah, the chaos that is my house. So also, I got a new
mattress, but it was one ofthose beds in a bag. Yeah,
there's a big story behind that.
So my mattress so it has tofluff you know, for 24 hours it
has to expand so it has tobreathe. And so my mattress is
now in the living room. So it'slike, Oh yeah, yeah, so that's
(20:45):
why it is and um, the otherthing is that it was free so
yeah, there's a sort of on thatlet him her outs are probably
bark later. So like to surveyher land, just
Kristen Daukas (21:01):
sauntered in here and jumped up into the
recliner, of which you can't seehim because he's brindle. And it
was my dad's recliner, which isdark brown. So sure. Yeah. He's
like, you can't see me onbalance
Suzanne (21:14):
and I'm on my mattress.
And I have to buy like a deep
Kristen Daukas (21:19):
pocket. Yeah.
Oh, could
Suzanne (21:21):
it seat so I'll be in here again tonight. Salvation
Army
Kristen Daukas (21:23):
over on University. Yeah. Are that No,
no, I'm sorry. Not salvation.
Habitat ReStore. Okay. They sellbrand new sheets. Yeah. Like $15
for King set for King size withdeep pockets. Wow. I don't care
where I buy them from sheets areexpensive. Yo.
Suzanne (21:42):
No, as long as are new.
And I don't even need like Ijust need the fitted sheet. I
because the regular sheets fine.
Kristen Daukas (21:49):
Usually Are you one of those not no top sheet
people? No, I am a top. Becausethat's the thing.
Suzanne (21:56):
It it. I know. I have friends that have that. And I'm
like, I can't do that. Andyou're comfortable. Yeah. Yeah.
And the comforter is the hardestthing
Kristen Daukas (22:02):
for us. And I have a weighted blanket. I don't
want that. No, I need that. Ineed them like that. That saran
wrap in between? Yeah, I needthat later. Yes. Okay, so
anyways, you went to Pittsburgh,and then you went to Niagara
Falls that new? Yeah. So
Suzanne (22:16):
while also visited a couple, like I went to falling
water, Frank Lloyd Wright. So Idid some of those tried to which
ones I could. Yeah. And then Iwent and drove up to Niagara
Falls. And I didn't really Istopped along the way at some
like the lake as a, you know,started coming across some
(22:36):
mouse's barking for shoes. So Idid do that. And, you know, the
dogs and I would take littlehikes here and there. And we
stayed on the Canadian side. Oh,Niagara flies. Yeah. So I did
cross the border. I had gottenthem their little papers, you
know, for travel. cited a littleAirbnb, like tiny home, like a
(23:00):
little cabin kind of thing. Justone room for two nights there.
Because, you know, it getstiring after a while. So I just
I would and I didn't since I wasdoing it very loosey goosey. I
didn't make a lot ofreservations ahead of time,
which has is down false becauseit costs more. But
Kristen Daukas (23:17):
it does, but I've gotten more screwed over by
being overly prepared. Like whenwe moved Cassie out to Idaho. I
what I did is I you know, I hadcertain obviously 2300 miles you
have to like plan it. But I whatI would do is like a I had ideas
(23:37):
of where I wanted to staybecause I want to do the whole
shits Creek thing. And yeah.
motels. Yeah, another thing wasthe one we say didn't care. So
now that's my thing, where we gofor motels. But what did you get
from all that? What was your Didyou have any epiphanies and aha
moments? It was that kind ofwhen you said I'm never working
for the man again. And when wesay the man, we don't mean the
(24:00):
man we mean, right? Corporate,right? Corporate America, but we
also mean
Suzanne (24:08):
we do. But not really, at that point. It was just more
that one was more of a What am Igoing to do next? I don't know.
So I'm going to do this for acouple of weeks. You know, kind
of thing. I don't know if thatmakes sense. You get your
reason? I did. Because I was Ididn't have a show for a couple
(24:32):
a little while. I had a bit ofmoney saved up. So yeah, so it
was really just like, I have notbeen anywhere. There's a lot. I
love to travel. I hadn't gottento do it. There are a lot of
places I've never been to likePittsburgh and Niagara Falls and
I haven't
Kristen Daukas (24:50):
been to Niagara Falls, New York. I haven't Yeah,
it's really pretty.
Suzanne (24:53):
But the Canadian side is very Myrtle Beach like people
have told me really it's verylike yeah, because then there
was like an island on the NewYork side, like goat Island or
I'd have to look it up what itwas called people up there will
know where you can see kind ofthe side of it and there's all
this others and it was beautifuland it was very like a big park.
(25:14):
You know, it's cross littlebridge over it drive over it to
the to it. Yeah, I'd have tolook it up. I'm terrible with
remembering that stuff.
Kristen Daukas (25:21):
My brain.
Suzanne (25:22):
So yeah, yeah. Yeah, so I did that. And it was much more
chill. It's much more chill onthe American side.
Kristen Daukas (25:30):
Interesting.
Yeah, I know. That is reallyinteresting. Because I would
have thought the other wayaround. Yeah.
Suzanne (25:37):
But here's the thing, though, I think might be why is
because all you know, I did theboat thing. You know, where your
poncho? Yeah, you have to have aponcho. Yeah, so it was great.
It was hilarious to watch peopleto like that, for me was I love
to just watch people in the, youknow, chat with somebody for a
(25:58):
few minutes here and there. Butyeah, all of that launches from
the Canadian side. Because theview is better. Like the part
the stuff that you see. And allthe pictures of the falls
themselves. It's better on theCanadian side. So that's why
it's more like, you know, if youwant to walk down and do all
that stuff, most of that's onthe American side. Interesting.
Kristen Daukas (26:17):
Yeah, interesting. Yeah, I definitely
want to get up. I've been Ifigured out after moving Cassie
out to Idaho this summer, thatthere are only three states in
the United States that I havenot been to
Suzanne (26:31):
the lower 48 of all 50.
So I haven't
Kristen Daukas (26:33):
been to Hawaii, Alaska and North Dakota. We were
in South Dakota. We didn't go toNorth Dakota, but every other
state I have either been inthrough, not over because that
would be cheating. But yeah,
Suzanne (26:46):
that is. Yeah, like if you drive through it or stay
there, it counts.
Kristen Daukas (26:51):
And I say so. I have to put that in my plus
column because I've only mypassports only been punched once
and that was down and oh, likeOh, Punta Cana, was it Punta
Cana, I got punched or southernCaribbean? I don't know. But I'm
going to Cancun at the end ofthe month. You get
Suzanne (27:09):
another? Lunch? Yeah, that was my third. Well, I had
to get a new one. And
Kristen Daukas (27:13):
I'm going to Greece for 10 days a 10 day in
Greece. Oh,
Suzanne (27:18):
when are you going September?
Kristen Daukas (27:21):
Oh my god, it's just gonna be so I am going to
pop my American travelingcherry. I don't you know, I just
I wish I had I mean, I have allthe excuses in the world. But
it's, you know, well, first ofall, I couldn't take the kids
because traveling with a familyof five, you know, go into
(27:43):
Myrtle Beach cost of arm and aleg. But imagine
Suzanne (27:46):
Yeah. Now in past I don't know how they got there in
finance. Let's they've got to be
Kristen Daukas (27:52):
exactly. Yeah.
You know, it was only throughthe extreme generosity and
graciousness of my mom, that wetook a few cruises that we did
when the girls were little. Soyou know, I'm grateful for that.
Yeah, they're supposed to go butnow it's like, the reality of
adulting is really setting infor them. Because I go in you
guys, that's two weeks, like afull two weeks because you need
(28:16):
to get there a couple of daysbefore then the cruise is 10
days. I was like, Y'all, youknow, I've got one that's a
server right? And then I've gotanother one that's in food, fast
food management. And then theother one who is at the hotel,
but still that and like that'syour entire because you work for
corporations. You ain't makingwell, two of them. So two of
(28:38):
them have vacation time right?
But the third one the show, youdon't work you don't make money.
That's the nature of thebusiness. So I have a feeling
that they're probably not gonnago which is kind of the but at
the same time, but they're also
Suzanne (28:55):
early I mean, we didn't get to do that soundly. I don't
I didn't get early 20s Like Iyou know, once I left college it
was work mom paid for college.
Yeah. And so I had to find a jobI had to find out but you know,
had to I was like that was so
Kristen Daukas (29:09):
yeah, I had to have the I had to have say one
of the things that I hatedsaying to one of my kids this
here recently of the when I wasyour age,
Unknown (29:20):
oh son podcast sound old weatherbeaten and dog now
there's a podcast calledwheelers dog made with space age
polymers wheelers dog podcastrequires no rubbing. No buffing
it is a humor podcast thatrestores the luster makes the
ears refreshed again we ran theWheelers dog podcast through 50
(29:42):
consecutive car washes despiteall the scrubbing the harsh
detergents and steam that welose dog podcast retained its
glow get the wheels dog podcastwherever you get podcast.
Kristen Daukas (29:57):
I was like dude, when I was your age, I was
living in Chicago. I was in myearly 20s I worked a full time
day job and I bartend that fournights a week. You got no
excuse? You ain't got no money.
Yeah, you need to get your brokeass. A second shot. Yeah, that's
what we do. Yeah. And that wasin 1990.
Suzanne (30:14):
Yeah, and I'm still gonna have to, they're playing
now. Figure out more income,like I'm gonna have to DoorDash
or do this. You know, it's giglife gig life, you never know.
And it's not like, because it iscommunity theater, it is
nonprofit. You just don't makeas much as so. And that's okay.
(30:39):
Like, I'm not by I get it. Butum, yeah, so I have to have it's
not supporting me by itself. So
Kristen Daukas (30:45):
I have an idea for you. And going back to my
sister's from confessions,right. So I learned so much from
JJ and Natalie. And one of thethings that I recently learned
editing their podcast is aboutcertain Medicaid and Medicare
benefits. Yeah, havetransportation. So like if you
(31:05):
need to get to the doctor,right? They have a certain
amount in there that the like,Okay, we'll pay you $100 To so
one of the other sisters. That'swhat she does. She transports
people to their doctor'sappointments and because the
insurance is paying for it. It'seasy. And it's during the day,
you've got a big enough car. Ithink people you could totally
(31:27):
fit three, at least three peoplein your car. I can fit three
people and if each of them ispaying you $100 $300 A trip.
Suzanne (31:37):
I could totally do it.
Look into it a GREAT.
Kristen Daukas (31:39):
I want to be the driver. Like
Suzanne (31:42):
me. I'm a good driver.
Kristen Daukas (31:46):
So as we were saying this whole conversation
thing is totally like twofriends hanging out which we are
having a cocktail. What are youdrinking? We got a I am
Suzanne (31:56):
drinking this. Oh, I'm alternating. I've got this from
the Trader Joe's.
Kristen Daukas (32:03):
Trader Joe's got some good one. Yo, yes,
Suzanne (32:06):
it does. It is one of the ones that gives me the
sweats but the sulfates but notbad because it's a bland, but
it's worth it. It tastes good.
And I'm also drinking. I call itflavored water because it has
the little Squirt. Squirt theflavor element girl, I'm
alternating between the two.
Because I did a lot of sweatingtoday. Okay. I was very, it was
(32:27):
very hot.
Kristen Daukas (32:27):
It was warm. I like walked down to the Harris
Teeter today. And I was like,Whoa, I wasn't expecting it to
be this. Like, you know, beingout in it. You don't realize it
yet. But then you go into likethe icebox that Harris Teeter is
and then you come outside andyou're like whoa. And you're
like it's a lot more human thanI was expecting. I'm not ready
Pass, which is a good thing, Iguess. Because apparently it's
(32:48):
gonna take a nosedive tomorrowand for the next few days. So
yeah, you know, if we can justhow
Suzanne (32:53):
many hurts bad today?
Kristen Daukas (32:54):
Probably.
Probably. We could just keep itaround that mid 70s here in
North Carolina. But no, no.
Suzanne (33:03):
I mean, if we can have a decent Sprite, you know, I
don't mind a couple like off 80degree days like we've had. But
if we can have a mostly decentspring
Kristen Daukas (33:12):
so we can open the windows.
Suzanne (33:14):
Yeah, around winter for like four days, right. And then
it was too muggy in here
Kristen Daukas (33:20):
and my air kicked on. Because I've got a
nest and I have it programmedthat you know like to. And it's
programmed to cert Yeah. Butit's programmed for the air not
to come on till it hits 76 in myhouse. And I was sitting there
working, working, working all ofa sudden I hear I'm like why is
that in no way is that 76degrees up in here? It was 76
degrees in here. Yeah. So what'snext for you? Suzanne? We're
(33:41):
gonna wrap this baby up. Yeah.
Yeah, we've been chatting for 35minutes. And I like you know, we
can talk here all night long.
But then, like,
Suzanne (33:51):
as long as you want?
Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, ifthere's something else you want
to cover, when you can edit andpick and choose, right? I don't
know what's next I am. Becauseoriginally I was like, Okay, I'm
gonna go work. I want to go workat like universal Disney or
whatever. As a lighting tech, orI want to go here, I want to go
there. And I am now like, Okay,I need to wait a year after the
death of where I make majorchanges. Absolutely. So I'm
(34:13):
working on the purge of all thethings and then let's talk about
Kristen Daukas (34:17):
that real quick.
Let's talk because I thinkthat's really cool that you're
doing it. And I'm trying to dothe same thing to I'm not being
as methodical about it as youare. Because for me, part of
that would involve going throughthe kids stuff. And when I say
the kids stuff, I mean,literally the kids stuff because
they came home at Christmas. I'mlike, go upstairs, go through
your closets. And if like, so atthis point, we're looking at
(34:38):
like four and a half years forSidney, Cassie, almost a year.
Like if y'all haven't, then youprobably don't need it because I
am not going to move. I am notgoing to move and have to get a
storage unit to store my kidsstuff that they don't even
remember what it is. I'm notgoing to do it. No, right.
Suzanne (34:57):
Yeah, I mean, and that's kind of like I mean,
clean. Eating out mom's house.
And then like, my brother gotsome of the stuff and but most a
lot of it came here and thensome, you know, we did throw at
whatever. But it was like 43years she was a little bit of a
squirrel. Like that better thanpackrat. No little squirrel
putting her on that foil for thewinter. Squirrel and things
away. So yeah, now it's in myhouse. So I'm not saying I'm not
(35:19):
a squirrel either. And we allhave junk drawers. Right? So I
have a junk drawer. I have aMonica closet, you know from
friends. Do you remember thatepisode? Did Yes. And I was
like, oh, so I have a Monicacloset. And then well, now more.
It used to just be the one andthe one. And then it grew and
grew and grew? You know, I'vebeen here 15 years. So that plus
her, you know, just equates alot of things that I don't need.
(35:43):
Some of it I haven't looked atsince I moved into the house for
mom's house. And
Kristen Daukas (35:49):
that's the number one reason why I'm
probably not selling this houseanytime soon. Because anytime I
start thinking about selling thehouse and moving someplace,
which is probably about every 60days, then I remember how much
cramp I have here after livinghere for 16 years. And I go to
lazy
Suzanne (36:03):
guy did the minimalist Challenge Challenge. So it's so
great. It's you did
Kristen Daukas (36:06):
the maximum minimalist challenge. No,
Suzanne (36:09):
I mean, that's I mean, it's actual challenge, because
there's an actual, there'sactually already names, right.
But yeah, so yeah, I didn't makeit up. It was somebody else.
But, um, so yeah, I didn't do itevery day. Like I knew I got my
math equation I had to forgethad forgotten it, because who
remembers algebra, unless you doit every day. So I got my math
(36:33):
professor friend to remind me ofthe equation. So I would know
what my grand total would be. SoI usually just did it on the
weekends. Or I'd look at adrawer as I was like, cooking
dinner or whatever. And I'mlike, I'm gonna clean this out.
You know, and so I would justkeep a running total. Now I have
a new free mattress, so you gotto let things go. So you can
make room for new things.
Absolutely.
Kristen Daukas (36:55):
And how did you get your free mattress? Let's
talk about that before we signoff.
Suzanne (36:58):
Okay. Yeah, that's. So one of my very dearest friends
has a friend neighbor. They'rethe Beagles are going to town.
And they get bought up. There wego. Her neighbor works with
(37:18):
foundations. I don't know shegets stuff from nonprofit,
whatever. I don't, I don'treally understand what it is.
But anyway, sometimes it'smattresses. And it's like all
shelves, it was very kind andgave me like a box of like it
had toilet paper and it hadbounty bounty paper towels, it
had a Gillette razor it had youknow, so it's all these like
(37:41):
things that are used as samplesor whatever I think probably are
overruns or whatever that justneeds to be that donated by the
corporation. You know, becauseit is either an old style or
like, whatever, I don't evenknow, you know, but there's a
lot of stuff. I don't know ifyou've ever. Yeah, it just
becomes a lot. Again, a lot ofstuff. So yeah, that's how her
(38:05):
neighbor got another thing ofmattress and there was one queen
size left and they brought itover yesterday in the box. And I
wish I'd figured out what I wasgonna do. Before the boys had
left. The boys are now like, Imean, they're super tall 18 and
21 or something like that. 17and six six Junior and then a
junior in high school senior incollege. Because yeah, big
(38:28):
strong, big strong boys. Do youhave no since you were the we
babies? And so they carry thembut I didn't think about it. So
you should have seen me girlwhen I was like no, I'm gonna
set it on the I was actuallygoing to put it in the living
room to blow it and then I waslike no, because the dogs will
be roughhousing as they are nowon this one. You should have
seen me try and get my oldmattress off and slide
Kristen Daukas (38:53):
those things are down. Oh, you don't? They're
Suzanne (38:56):
very heavy. And they don't have handles. Why?
Kristen Daukas (39:00):
i Oh, I remember the times when they actually had
handles on the
Suzanne (39:06):
bottom. Yeah, like I just need one on each side. Just
just enough to be able to gripit right well enough. Right? It
was hilarious. I was laughingwhich of course doesn't help the
like, let's lift this up andmove it.
Kristen Daukas (39:18):
No it didn't everybody gets all like annoyed
because you're laughing and likecome on get serious because we
need to dive all day.
Suzanne (39:29):
What it was just me though, because they'd already
left.
Kristen Daukas (39:33):
My mattress was oh, I wish you if you were
watching this you could see thisbut you're not watching it.
Suzanne (39:40):
This is my MO baby.
This is actually
Kristen Daukas (39:43):
pup vision right now. You have what three dogs
now?
Suzanne (39:49):
I have three I have two big goals. That's the plunder
twins. And they are they bonded?
They are so bonded. They didn'tcome together. Why? Hi, Maya
Leah actually humps she's thegirl. But it's for domination.
You know? This is my daughterand yeah, and even though Moby
was first but my view is muchmore passive. Like he doesn't
(40:11):
care about being the top dog.
But yeah, they'd like to playand then I have Stella she is
going to be third team this yearin September now
Kristen Daukas (40:25):
so senior dogs are special Josie I think it'll
be 11 this year Olivia it'seither a lovin we've had her
this year or she'll be 12 I cani It's hard to ya know, I got
Suzanne (40:36):
her during a show called Little God little dog
laughed that I was in duringtech week because my friend was
like, cool, and it was a strayyou need to take it so but you
know, and my other friends hadpaid for the vet bills and I'm
like, because he knew I wantedyou know, I have a big yard. And
he's
Kristen Daukas (40:52):
you do have a big yard. That's a happy dog.
Yeah,
Suzanne (40:55):
that's a happy happy.
Kristen Daukas (40:56):
I wish Yeah, I think we use it on an acre and I
sit on an acre and I wish myhouse were position more like
yours because I like mines, likeright smack dab in the middle.
So I've got like, all that inthe front and like nobody gets
enormous headaches. Which is whyI have to hire a yard person
because Yeah, but he needs to dowhat he needs to die mow in the
(41:18):
grass. No, yeah, I know. But
Suzanne (41:21):
some covering on it and just don't ever go on the front
yard. Although in
Kristen Daukas (41:25):
my neighborhood, I probably could. But I do want
to sell here soon. So probablyget somebody and be like,
Suzanne (41:30):
a lot of people don't like ground cover. Yeah, what is
happening? I must have touchedsomething with she
Kristen Daukas (41:36):
touched something. Okay. Any last
thoughts? Thoughts? What arethoughts? Thoughts? We fought
this war on Suzanne has lostcommunication. Oh
Suzanne (41:50):
my god. So the Apple Music came on. So out of I don't
know how. Because again. I mean,it is I mean, maybe it was my
boo. But yeah, so the like Ithought I close all the windows
and all of a sudden I hear itwas the it was What song was it?
(42:15):
I can't find it now because itmoved to a different one. But
yeah, it's I think it was a
Kristen Daukas (42:24):
no brainer.
That's my excuse for everythingnow my brain. Yeah, man O'Brien.
All right. Well, thank you, mydear for I'm gonna hit stop
recording here shortly. Butthank you for spending some time
with me. And I pray to God, thatthis actually works. But I won't
know that I'm not even gonnalook at it tonight. Because for
(42:44):
those of you that may not knowtoo much too soon. For years,
I've been on hiatus and Ifinally realized that I was just
being lazy. That was it. BecauseI have so many great people in
my life. And there's people outthere that I don't know that I
want to talk to that have greatstories to share. So yeah, this
is how it goes. I
Suzanne (43:06):
actually want to do I need to do a podcast. Yeah, I
don't know what I would do. ButWell, whenever this was good,
whenever you
Kristen Daukas (43:13):
are ready, I am a much better leader and teacher
than necessarily a student. So Imean, that I will help make that
a much easier process for youwhen you're ready. But I think
you absolutely should. Becauseyour dynamic, great stories, and
(43:33):
you know, you could I
Suzanne (43:35):
do have cute headphones, too. I know I can
get me a little
Kristen Daukas (43:39):
I had to do I just had to do it. I just was
like, but it was only like a $70microphone. So not expensive.
Not bad. Yeah, no, you know,this stuff. You're so between
sound and lighting. So anyhow, Iappreciate you taking the time
to ramble with me because that'swhat this was, this was a
rambling thing. And, you know,
Suzanne (43:59):
I was hoping that's kind of what you like, what
because based on the title ofyour podcast that that's, I
mean, that's how we do it.
Anyway. That's right. It's justrambles and segues and you know,
especially with me you have tokind of like ask me a question
to like get me back on track.
And
Kristen Daukas (44:14):
because I'm the same way and then not only that,
you know, we forget what thehell we were talking about it
mid sentence, we could be givingyou like this really, really
important thing and all of asudden we'd be like to stop
like, what is that man ourbrain? How does that men no
brain? Minute brain?
Suzanne (44:32):
You're not wrong. Hey, no,
Kristen Daukas (44:34):
I usually am not. So say goodbye Sue's by
soon I'm gonna hit stop recordnow and then till next time,
everybody having me we willappreciate you have a
conversations on the rocks. Asthe saying goes, you don't have
to go home but you can't stayhere and that's a wrap for this
week's episode. A big thanks tomy guests for sharing their
(44:55):
story and to you for listening.
Don't forget to share the showwith your friends and spread the
words and if you'd like to be aguest on the show the link is in
the show notes till next timecheers
Welcome to Conversations on the rocks. The
podcast where the drink isstrong and the stories are
stronger. I'm your host, KristenDaukas. And this isn't your
average chat best. Here realpeople spill the tea alongside
their favorite drinks from thehilarious to the heart wrenching
each episode a wildcard. You'lllaugh, you may cry, but you'll
definitely learn something new.
So grab whatever whet yourwhistle and buckle up, it's time
(00:28):
to dive into the raw, the realand the ridiculously human.
Let's get this chat partystarted. Hey, everybody, it's
Kristin. And today I am talkingto my good friend, Suzanne BOD,
Suzanne, to the House,everybody. And for those of you
that are not watching this, youdefinitely are going to feel
(00:51):
missed out because we're veryanimated people. So you know, I
made Suzy and give me her bio,look at her. She's like magenta.
Made Suzanne give me her bio,but I'm really not going to read
that. But I will tell you a fewthings about Suzanne, from my
point of view. First of all, notmany people notice know this,
(01:12):
but Suzanne predicted thepandemic did Yeah, she did you
want to tell us how youpredicted the pandemic? Um,
well, part
Suzanne (01:21):
of it was just because of what I was seeing at work. I
had just started back at a jobthat I worked at, and we the
company sells packaging,janitorial and safety supplies.
So the first thing that happens,it's like late January, like
within the first two weeks thatI've gone back, we start getting
calls for face masks, like andnot just like our usual
(01:45):
customers that use them whenthey're in manufacturing. I'm
talking like, well, one was themanufacturer but they wanted
like full cases of like 500 fortheir overseas locations. And
I'm like, here we go. We'regonna have a pandemic. And it
just picked up because it wasfirst first it was the masks.
Then it was the Purell. Then itwas the gloves. Right? And then
(02:10):
it was the soap. Yeah, toiletpaper didn't come to way late. I
Kristen Daukas (02:13):
know. But you dispense that toilet paper like
it was a Pez dispenser. I thinkI still think I still have some
pandemic toilet paper in mydownstairs bathroom. Every time
I open I'm like the best so yougotta save it right? I mean,
it's truly like into the worldApocalypse toilet paper and
luckily it'll do the job it'lldo the job for you. You'll be
filling it for a while so rightget get some aloe which Hazel
(02:39):
witch hazel is really good forthat stuff folks. is the best so
yeah, so that's why I'm learningas I'm getting older. That was
one of the fun facts aboutSuzanne Suzanne is also a
incredible light designer andshe however what I don't like
about Suzanne and her lightdesigning is it sometimes it
(03:01):
takes her away from socialsettings because she's over
peopled now get by totally getthe over people thing you and I
are sisters in that because youknow you can tell if we're in an
IT something together that bothof us like you can see it like
coming down like literallycoming down. Battery is like Oh,
(03:21):
Cassie bought me a I have toshow it to you the next time I
see you she bought me this penthat's on my backpack and it
says my social battery level andit has a little slider so it
goes from like green to red. Ilove that I need one social
battery empty sticker to it's onmy it's on my laptop. But yeah,
(03:43):
sometimes we just have to Wecan't people as much as we want
to. So yeah, it's so let's talka little bit about what you're
doing now that you are how didyou put it? You put it? I'm
looking at her notes because sheput a where's it where's it? Oh,
dad. untethered she'suntethered. Now friends on
(04:07):
tether. She's on top. Yes, thatis the most eloquent way I've
ever heard of saying I'm earlyretired. Which is what I wish I
could say that. Why can't yousay that?
Suzanne (04:20):
Right. Right. You know, I'm we call it fun employed. You
know, it's gig life. But it'sOh, who's that dog but trying to
that's nice. Yeah, there will bethere will be visits. She's
She's mad that I'm talking tosomebody. That's not her.
Kristen Daukas (04:36):
I love my door open. So anything could happen
here too. Right?
Suzanne (04:40):
I mean, that's the fun part of it, though, right? Yeah.
So I left the job two daysbefore my mom passed away.
Because I was leaving the job totake care of her because she had
gotten to that point where sheneeded full time care. Yeah, and
then she passed away like twodays. So like all the stress and
all the things and the honey 100miles an hour that I was going
(05:01):
through for like seven years wasdone so untethered.
Kristen Daukas (05:06):
How's it feels like, what
Suzanne (05:07):
would I do now? Oh, man, I hope that I never have to
sit at a desk for a long period,like a night, like, you're gonna
sit this cubicle for eighthours? I can't know. And
Kristen Daukas (05:20):
it's so interesting, because I thought
one of the greatest things thatcame out of COVID was these
Boomer males that we actuallyprove to them. That way you
don't have it's like that, butin seat mentality is insane. And
well, that's
Suzanne (05:38):
what I was dealing with the whole time over there. I'm
like, you guys, and my staff,because I was a manager. Like,
they can work from home, we havethe phone systems, we have all
of that. Look at technology,it's a wonderful thing. Let's
make use of it. But
Kristen Daukas (05:55):
unless they can actually count heads and butts
and seat, you're not doing Imean, I get more work done from
home, then I have been prettymuch either strictly working
from home or a hybrid. For thepast 17 years,
Suzanne (06:13):
my brother has been the same way he's been working for
it, because that's what I kepttelling him. I was like, I know
people that have been workingfrom home for like, decades.
It's not new. No, it's not you.
Right. And technology's justgetting better. So it's just
improving, being able to workfrom home,
Kristen Daukas (06:29):
but it also takes a special person to be
able to work from home because,you know, before the COVID You
know, I would tell people thatwas working from home like, oh
my god, I could never do that Iwould be so distracted from I'm
like, actually get in the zone.
And I'm like, I want to get upand go and do launch. I'm like,
Who the hell wants to dolaundry? Why do you Why are you
gonna
Suzanne (06:45):
be doing laundry wants to do laundry.
Kristen Daukas (06:48):
But I get on my cell phone. And like, before I
went back to working for myself,it was more of a hybrid. So I
would go into the office one daya week and I got nothing done
that day. It was guarantee thatthat day in the office, nothing
got done. Absolutely nothing.
They want
Suzanne (07:04):
to have 15 meetings about or just chit chat or, or
just chit chat like how youbeen? Did you watch a while
you're here watch such and suchlast night? No. No, I used to
get it. And again, part of it isbecause it was a manager and so
I had new people coming andgoing you know, there was some
change overwhelms there. Whichis unusual there. But of course
it was pandemic so everythingchanges. And yeah, they come at
(07:26):
Suzanne Suzanne Suzanne Suzanne.
So I'm never got, likeeverything that I wanted done.
And that day done, ever.
Kristen Daukas (07:34):
If people don't have kids, and you are in that
situation, you get a really fastidea of what being a moms like,
Oh,
Suzanne (07:45):
God, yeah, my seriously, I know, that was like
for those three years, I was amom. And I just was like,
because some of the kidsactually could have been my
children. You know, they werelike, early 20s. And I just feel
like there were they were greatkids. I mean, they were I had
great staff members, like Idon't want to say anything
(08:06):
negative about them as people ortheir work ethic, because I
really did have a great staff.
However, I couldn't get anythingdone.
Kristen Daukas (08:15):
With that. I think it's kind of cool, too.
And I think this is a big, bigstruggle for boomers. And is
that younger millennials anddefinitely Gen Z are kind of
turning everything upside downon the concept of work, right?
And I saw something come acrossa few months ago, it was called
(08:36):
was at lazy girl work. And Ididn't like the moniker but I
loved the concept. I'm like, Canwe take a good concept and not
smack a cute little moniker onit? Like, you know, girl boss,
lazy girl, or and it was thewhole, you go in, you do your
job. And you leave. Whereas ourgeneration we were in especially
(08:57):
the boomers like I rememberright. And my stepdad he was
like at work from 7am until 5pm.
And I'm like, I don't want it'slike even now at my age. You
know, it's like I have theperfect amount of clients that
keep me busy that pay my bills.
And could I take on moreclients? Absolutely. Do I want
to? Maybe but I don't want towork that hard. I'm 5055 I do
(09:20):
not I'm done.
Suzanne (09:21):
I turned the Big Five this year
Kristen Daukas (09:25):
five, so it wasn't gonna be a big August
then.
Suzanne (09:29):
It is it is gonna be a very big hot. Alright, so
Kristen Daukas (09:32):
anyways, we're talking about corporate we don't
need to talk about corporatecorporate. So now what are you
know, what are you doing now? Inour local field Hall scene,
Suzanne (09:41):
okay. Like how do I make some money so that I don't
lose my house?
Kristen Daukas (09:46):
There's plenty of ways to do that. Right.
Suzanne (09:50):
So currently, while this I'm getting more contacts
because I'm the residentlighting designer at theater
Alliance, downtown Winston I'vedesigned some at the little
design to show at Little Theaterback in June, February,
February, January, February. Idid February of this year,
(10:10):
February because that, yeah,because it was like Week, Week,
Week, Week, Week of tech week.
And then yeah, I work withspirit gum. I work with Salem
Academy now. Oh, wow. new one.
Yeah. So they are doing andthat's what I just started
today. They're doing Beauty andthe Beast. I know. And it opens
at the 18th for one weekend. ButI'm designing both the lights
(10:33):
and the set. So because a lot ofpeople don't know that I do set
design because I usually don't.
I think the last the last onewas was murder on Oliver it
stained glass, pre pandemic,probably like 17 or 18. Yeah.
19. I don't know. So I've gotthat going on. Today. I painted
the stage, I've got a installfor the new theater because
theater alliance is adding twonew stages. So the bill theater
(10:54):
upstairs is a smaller black box.
So I'm I'm doing theinstallation of the lights up
there. And then I have to likeJersey Boys, which goes up next
Friday over at theater Alliance.
So I've got three projects goingon right now. I took last week
off because I had had like sixin a row
Kristen Daukas (11:13):
last year.
That's yeah, that's why we wereable to see you she actually
took some Right,
Suzanne (11:18):
right. Exactly, exactly. Yeah, yeah, there was
one one Friday and I was like Ihave four shows up right now.
Like any all lighting design,like so I was like on call in
case something happened for allall theaters. Lexington live
also gotta give the you're an
Kristen Daukas (11:33):
inspiration to me in the sense that I've always
said that I could never retire,I would be too bored. But man,
you definitely pack your daysyou really do. You're very
involved. And that's just yourtheater stuff. That's not your
advocacy stuff and things ofthat nature. So damn fun fact,
before I met you, I met you. Andevery time that picture comes
(11:53):
up, I have to share that becauseit's my favorite picture ever.
Which was during pride when yourfirst foray is magenta and Rocky
Horror. And I was down there andI've I've told you the story,
like every time Yeah,
Suzanne (12:07):
I was
Kristen Daukas (12:08):
like, I don't remember that picture, though.
I'll just send it to you again.
Maybe because I forgot allincluded in
Suzanne (12:12):
this. You could do like, Oh,
Kristen Daukas (12:15):
right. So it was I was down there Sydney and all
of her friends. It was her firstPride. And so that must have
been she must be like 12. Soyou're talking 10 years ago. And
that was before I even knew andI like was going through it. I'm
like, Oh my God, that's so sad.
Because you were on the float.
You're on there. My body washere on the rock. And again,
(12:36):
apologies that I was not able tomake this last. I can't remember
why couldn't come to Rocky thisyear. I think it was I don't
know if I was out of town orsomething. There was some kind
of conflict that when ti asked,I was like, Okay, go
Suzanne (12:50):
get a really good set of audiences this year. It was
really it was
Kristen Daukas (12:53):
always a good show. Yeah. So you had a bit of
a so last year when your mompassed, which we've had
conversations about that becauseyour mom and my dad suffered
unexpected. Exactly exact Istill telling you, you still
have to have to plop you onconfessions that confession show
I would love to chat with ya. Soin the show's great and there
(13:17):
isn't actually this month we'refeaturing it's all male
caregivers, which are very, veryuncommon.
Suzanne (13:22):
Yeah, it's usually false. Absolutely. And my
brother is actually a bettercaregiver than I and a lot of
them are. It's more natural.
Yeah. Because for me, it was notnatural. But yeah, he was he's
definitely like, mom would tellme all the time, like what he
did for her when when he wasdown, you know, when she was
down with him for the week orwhatever. And I'm like, he's so
much better at this. But do you
Kristen Daukas (13:44):
think? Is it really bad? Or is that I mean,
you lived with your y'all livetogether, your brother didn't
live there. So I think there's abig difference. And that's, I
mean, when you're in it 24/7It's, I mean, again, it's kind
of going back to like parenting,it's like, yeah, I like to think
I was a good parent, but my Godwhen you're with these people
24/7 And and all this, like needthey need the they. And again,
(14:05):
we're not saying anything, don'tanybody come at us because I did
it for my dad for a year. It's alot. It's a lot a lot. And
Suzanne (14:13):
the only people that understand that it's a lot or
other. Absolutely. If you've notbeen in it, you just don't know.
And it's there's no real way tosay this is
Kristen Daukas (14:24):
what it's like, because every case is different.
Suzanne (14:27):
Every case is different. You know, everyone's
some people have it a lot harderthan I did as far as mobility
and the level of care and thebenefits back to and
Kristen Daukas (14:38):
I was blessed or blessed in the fact that Daddy
was part of the VA system. Soyeah, so much of that was taken
care of. I can't imagine if wehad to deal with the regular god
awful health insurance as weknow it for you know, non
veterans. Yeah, I just can't andthe things that are it's Yeah,
unless you've done it. You justcan't even comprehend it.
(15:00):
There's no training. There's noforewarning. It's just like, No.
Here's a frying pan. You're thebacon. And bam, there you are.
Yes, sizzle. Yeah, go. Andexactly what then you took. I
was so tickled and I was proudof you for lack of a bit of
praise. You're a littlesabbatical, you just pop those
(15:21):
puppies into when you went onleft.
Suzanne (15:24):
Yeah. Because I hadn't had like, well actually traveled
a lot last year because I did goto Cancun last May.
Kristen Daukas (15:31):
At the end of April's,
Suzanne (15:32):
oh, you're gonna have so much fun. We got to talk
about that. Like, where are youstaying and all that stuff. But
yeah, so after that, I was like,You know what, for my birthday,
I'm leaving town. I have notleft this house. I mean, I did
get it again. You know, but Ihave not left. Anything behind
like that, you know, like,really been able to vacate.
Because Cancun was rare, likeCancun was a one out of six or
(15:56):
seven years. You know, like, so?
Because the other vacations werebeach vacations with right. So
it's still you know,
Kristen Daukas (16:03):
so you're still working. And again, right. So
again, like a parent, I wrote anarticle, a blog article years
ago called mom's never get thevacation? Because you don't you
don't just transfer your dutiesfrom Princeton to a place with
sand and then you gotta dealwith the sand. Right? Exams
everywhere.
Suzanne (16:23):
Yeah, you gotta watch him run around. And yeah, all
day. So where do you go? Noteven going. So my first stop
actually was well, actually, Istopped in West Virginia for a
hot second. I was looking forthis. So I use like,
Roadtrippers and like AtlasObscura. And there's another one
(16:45):
for like, all the like, weirdplaces to stop. And there was
like an old carnival old fair,that was dilapidated, but not I
couldn't get into it. Because itwas, I could see some of it from
the road. And it was like way inthis like, you know, am I gonna
die trying to get around thiscorner? I mean, it was like
mountains and like, you know,narrow roads. And then I went to
(17:08):
the that Night of the LivingDead. Where they filmed that,
that the cemetery they fill thatin? I think that was actually in
Pennsylvania by that point. Idon't know. It's a blur. That
was really cool. I have a ton ofpictures from that. I love a
cemetery. Pittsburgh was nextstayed there for great. Oh, my
God. And I had such a greatlittle space. You know, all
(17:32):
these gorgeous old houses aroundme. And it's actually kind of
near the stadium. So I can'tremember what side they called
it, but it was near Randy Vale.
Oh, my God. Did
Kristen Daukas (17:42):
you go to Randy mill?
Suzanne (17:43):
I did. thing, and I only went for a hot minute. Like
I was just taking some pictureson my way out of town. And so
the dogs were in the car. Andthey're barking a little bit
because Mommy didn't let themout because Mommy I just put
them in. And so this lady comesdown from her apartment is like
you really shouldn't did it. Iwas like, I'm literally here
five minutes. You can't handle adog barking for five minutes.
(18:06):
You know, it's not 5am You know,you're I know you're on your
bike down and that's fine,because it's doing I don't care.
But like, it wasn't so bad thatthere was just, you know, I'm
like, you don't need to comedown to the car as I'm trying to
exit trying to go to Randy.
Bill, lady. Yeah, trying toleave Randy Ville I was done.
Yeah, it was an blast. I got it.
(18:28):
You know, we all have ourmoments, but it's also like,
Kristen Daukas (18:30):
just it's not that big a deal. So apparently,
and I don't fly into Pittsburgh,I always drive up. Yeah,
currently. You can see RandyVille from the sky in a plane.
Suzanne (18:41):
Oh, oh, that breaks my heart. So I know. I know. I love
to so many pictures from that
Kristen Daukas (18:48):
we took I absolutely. Okay, so there's
your plug people. If you're inPittsburgh, find Randy Ville,
Suzanne (18:55):
Randy Ville, and I was only saying like three blocks
from there. That's, that's
Kristen Daukas (18:59):
a great. It's also in that area. If you go
back, there's this really coolmuseum called the Mattress
Factory. It's not a mattressstore. It's a Mattress Factory
is so eclectic. And they alwayshave these different
installations. But one of themis there like forever. It's like
you go up and it's a it's like atall house bird house kind of
(19:24):
thing, like so. You go up thestairs, and there's all these
like little miniature things andlike dots, look it up. It's
called the Mattress Factory. Itis so cool. And it's just like
one of those little eclecticthings. And it is like REITs
right there where Randy Ville isjust so that's one of the great
things about Pittsburgh is like,you're just there and all of a
sudden you look around you'relike Well, damn, what's that?
(19:45):
Ah,
Suzanne (19:46):
it was really cool. So I loved walking them in the
neighborhood and looking around,you know, several times a day. I
stayed an Airbnb gives me as I
Kristen Daukas (19:54):
die. Dinah so excited. It was not the first
time you've ever been toPittsburgh.
Suzanne (20:00):
So I have a friend that lives there. So were you
Kristen Daukas (20:02):
completely blown away and how hilly it was.
Suzanne (20:06):
Oh my god, yes. Okay, so here's what's gonna happen
Stella wants to go out so I'mgonna carry Okay, we're gonna
walk a little bit around thehouse. We're taking the trip
you're on there's, we're takingand there's all if you're only
listening
Kristen Daukas (20:16):
to this live, you can't see this. So now we
get a tour of Suzanne's hotelchaos.
Suzanne (20:24):
Yeah, the chaos that is my house. So also, I got a new
mattress, but it was one ofthose beds in a bag. Yeah,
there's a big story behind that.
So my mattress so it has tofluff you know, for 24 hours it
has to expand so it has tobreathe. And so my mattress is
now in the living room. So it'slike, Oh yeah, yeah, so that's
(20:45):
why it is and um, the otherthing is that it was free so
yeah, there's a sort of on thatlet him her outs are probably
bark later. So like to surveyher land, just
Kristen Daukas (21:01):
sauntered in here and jumped up into the
recliner, of which you can't seehim because he's brindle. And it
was my dad's recliner, which isdark brown. So sure. Yeah. He's
like, you can't see me onbalance
Suzanne (21:14):
and I'm on my mattress.
And I have to buy like a deep
Kristen Daukas (21:19):
pocket. Yeah.
Oh, could
Suzanne (21:21):
it seat so I'll be in here again tonight. Salvation
Army
Kristen Daukas (21:23):
over on University. Yeah. Are that No,
no, I'm sorry. Not salvation.
Habitat ReStore. Okay. They sellbrand new sheets. Yeah. Like $15
for King set for King size withdeep pockets. Wow. I don't care
where I buy them from sheets areexpensive. Yo.
Suzanne (21:42):
No, as long as are new.
And I don't even need like Ijust need the fitted sheet. I
because the regular sheets fine.
Kristen Daukas (21:49):
Usually Are you one of those not no top sheet
people? No, I am a top. Becausethat's the thing.
Suzanne (21:56):
It it. I know. I have friends that have that. And I'm
like, I can't do that. Andyou're comfortable. Yeah. Yeah.
And the comforter is the hardestthing
Kristen Daukas (22:02):
for us. And I have a weighted blanket. I don't
want that. No, I need that. Ineed them like that. That saran
wrap in between? Yeah, I needthat later. Yes. Okay, so
anyways, you went to Pittsburgh,and then you went to Niagara
Falls that new? Yeah. So
Suzanne (22:16):
while also visited a couple, like I went to falling
water, Frank Lloyd Wright. So Idid some of those tried to which
ones I could. Yeah. And then Iwent and drove up to Niagara
Falls. And I didn't really Istopped along the way at some
like the lake as a, you know,started coming across some
(22:36):
mouse's barking for shoes. So Idid do that. And, you know, the
dogs and I would take littlehikes here and there. And we
stayed on the Canadian side. Oh,Niagara flies. Yeah. So I did
cross the border. I had gottenthem their little papers, you
know, for travel. cited a littleAirbnb, like tiny home, like a
(23:00):
little cabin kind of thing. Justone room for two nights there.
Because, you know, it getstiring after a while. So I just
I would and I didn't since I wasdoing it very loosey goosey. I
didn't make a lot ofreservations ahead of time,
which has is down false becauseit costs more. But
Kristen Daukas (23:17):
it does, but I've gotten more screwed over by
being overly prepared. Like whenwe moved Cassie out to Idaho. I
what I did is I you know, I hadcertain obviously 2300 miles you
have to like plan it. But I whatI would do is like a I had ideas
(23:37):
of where I wanted to staybecause I want to do the whole
shits Creek thing. And yeah.
motels. Yeah, another thing wasthe one we say didn't care. So
now that's my thing, where we gofor motels. But what did you get
from all that? What was your Didyou have any epiphanies and aha
moments? It was that kind ofwhen you said I'm never working
for the man again. And when wesay the man, we don't mean the
(24:00):
man we mean, right? Corporate,right? Corporate America, but we
also mean
Suzanne (24:08):
we do. But not really, at that point. It was just more
that one was more of a What am Igoing to do next? I don't know.
So I'm going to do this for acouple of weeks. You know, kind
of thing. I don't know if thatmakes sense. You get your
reason? I did. Because I was Ididn't have a show for a couple
(24:32):
a little while. I had a bit ofmoney saved up. So yeah, so it
was really just like, I have notbeen anywhere. There's a lot. I
love to travel. I hadn't gottento do it. There are a lot of
places I've never been to likePittsburgh and Niagara Falls and
I haven't
Kristen Daukas (24:50):
been to Niagara Falls, New York. I haven't Yeah,
it's really pretty.
Suzanne (24:53):
But the Canadian side is very Myrtle Beach like people
have told me really it's verylike yeah, because then there
was like an island on the NewYork side, like goat Island or
I'd have to look it up what itwas called people up there will
know where you can see kind ofthe side of it and there's all
this others and it was beautifuland it was very like a big park.
(25:14):
You know, it's cross littlebridge over it drive over it to
the to it. Yeah, I'd have tolook it up. I'm terrible with
remembering that stuff.
Kristen Daukas (25:21):
My brain.
Suzanne (25:22):
So yeah, yeah. Yeah, so I did that. And it was much more
chill. It's much more chill onthe American side.
Kristen Daukas (25:30):
Interesting.
Yeah, I know. That is reallyinteresting. Because I would
have thought the other wayaround. Yeah.
Suzanne (25:37):
But here's the thing, though, I think might be why is
because all you know, I did theboat thing. You know, where your
poncho? Yeah, you have to have aponcho. Yeah, so it was great.
It was hilarious to watch peopleto like that, for me was I love
to just watch people in the, youknow, chat with somebody for a
(25:58):
few minutes here and there. Butyeah, all of that launches from
the Canadian side. Because theview is better. Like the part
the stuff that you see. And allthe pictures of the falls
themselves. It's better on theCanadian side. So that's why
it's more like, you know, if youwant to walk down and do all
that stuff, most of that's onthe American side. Interesting.
Kristen Daukas (26:17):
Yeah, interesting. Yeah, I definitely
want to get up. I've been Ifigured out after moving Cassie
out to Idaho this summer, thatthere are only three states in
the United States that I havenot been to
Suzanne (26:31):
the lower 48 of all 50.
So I haven't
Kristen Daukas (26:33):
been to Hawaii, Alaska and North Dakota. We were
in South Dakota. We didn't go toNorth Dakota, but every other
state I have either been inthrough, not over because that
would be cheating. But yeah,
Suzanne (26:46):
that is. Yeah, like if you drive through it or stay
there, it counts.
Kristen Daukas (26:51):
And I say so. I have to put that in my plus
column because I've only mypassports only been punched once
and that was down and oh, likeOh, Punta Cana, was it Punta
Cana, I got punched or southernCaribbean? I don't know. But I'm
going to Cancun at the end ofthe month. You get
Suzanne (27:09):
another? Lunch? Yeah, that was my third. Well, I had
to get a new one. And
Kristen Daukas (27:13):
I'm going to Greece for 10 days a 10 day in
Greece. Oh,
Suzanne (27:18):
when are you going September?
Kristen Daukas (27:21):
Oh my god, it's just gonna be so I am going to
pop my American travelingcherry. I don't you know, I just
I wish I had I mean, I have allthe excuses in the world. But
it's, you know, well, first ofall, I couldn't take the kids
because traveling with a familyof five, you know, go into
(27:43):
Myrtle Beach cost of arm and aleg. But imagine
Suzanne (27:46):
Yeah. Now in past I don't know how they got there in
finance. Let's they've got to be
Kristen Daukas (27:52):
exactly. Yeah.
You know, it was only throughthe extreme generosity and
graciousness of my mom, that wetook a few cruises that we did
when the girls were little. Soyou know, I'm grateful for that.
Yeah, they're supposed to go butnow it's like, the reality of
adulting is really setting infor them. Because I go in you
guys, that's two weeks, like afull two weeks because you need
(28:16):
to get there a couple of daysbefore then the cruise is 10
days. I was like, Y'all, youknow, I've got one that's a
server right? And then I've gotanother one that's in food, fast
food management. And then theother one who is at the hotel,
but still that and like that'syour entire because you work for
corporations. You ain't makingwell, two of them. So two of
(28:38):
them have vacation time right?
But the third one the show, youdon't work you don't make money.
That's the nature of thebusiness. So I have a feeling
that they're probably not gonnago which is kind of the but at
the same time, but they're also
Suzanne (28:55):
early I mean, we didn't get to do that soundly. I don't
I didn't get early 20s Like Iyou know, once I left college it
was work mom paid for college.
Yeah. And so I had to find a jobI had to find out but you know,
had to I was like that was so
Kristen Daukas (29:09):
yeah, I had to have the I had to have say one
of the things that I hatedsaying to one of my kids this
here recently of the when I wasyour age,
Unknown (29:20):
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there's a podcast calledwheelers dog made with space age
polymers wheelers dog podcastrequires no rubbing. No buffing
it is a humor podcast thatrestores the luster makes the
ears refreshed again we ran theWheelers dog podcast through 50
(29:42):
consecutive car washes despiteall the scrubbing the harsh
detergents and steam that welose dog podcast retained its
glow get the wheels dog podcastwherever you get podcast.
Kristen Daukas (29:57):
I was like dude, when I was your age, I was
living in Chicago. I was in myearly 20s I worked a full time
day job and I bartend that fournights a week. You got no
excuse? You ain't got no money.
Yeah, you need to get your brokeass. A second shot. Yeah, that's
what we do. Yeah. And that wasin 1990.
Suzanne (30:14):
Yeah, and I'm still gonna have to, they're playing
now. Figure out more income,like I'm gonna have to DoorDash
or do this. You know, it's giglife gig life, you never know.
And it's not like, because it iscommunity theater, it is
nonprofit. You just don't makeas much as so. And that's okay.
(30:39):
Like, I'm not by I get it. Butum, yeah, so I have to have it's
not supporting me by itself. So
Kristen Daukas (30:45):
I have an idea for you. And going back to my
sister's from confessions,right. So I learned so much from
JJ and Natalie. And one of thethings that I recently learned
editing their podcast is aboutcertain Medicaid and Medicare
benefits. Yeah, havetransportation. So like if you
(31:05):
need to get to the doctor,right? They have a certain
amount in there that the like,Okay, we'll pay you $100 To so
one of the other sisters. That'swhat she does. She transports
people to their doctor'sappointments and because the
insurance is paying for it. It'seasy. And it's during the day,
you've got a big enough car. Ithink people you could totally
(31:27):
fit three, at least three peoplein your car. I can fit three
people and if each of them ispaying you $100 $300 A trip.
Suzanne (31:37):
I could totally do it.
Look into it a GREAT.
Kristen Daukas (31:39):
I want to be the driver. Like
Suzanne (31:42):
me. I'm a good driver.
Kristen Daukas (31:46):
So as we were saying this whole conversation
thing is totally like twofriends hanging out which we are
having a cocktail. What are youdrinking? We got a I am
Suzanne (31:56):
drinking this. Oh, I'm alternating. I've got this from
the Trader Joe's.
Kristen Daukas (32:03):
Trader Joe's got some good one. Yo, yes,
Suzanne (32:06):
it does. It is one of the ones that gives me the
sweats but the sulfates but notbad because it's a bland, but
it's worth it. It tastes good.
And I'm also drinking. I call itflavored water because it has
the little Squirt. Squirt theflavor element girl, I'm
alternating between the two.
Because I did a lot of sweatingtoday. Okay. I was very, it was
(32:27):
very hot.
Kristen Daukas (32:27):
It was warm. I like walked down to the Harris
Teeter today. And I was like,Whoa, I wasn't expecting it to
be this. Like, you know, beingout in it. You don't realize it
yet. But then you go into likethe icebox that Harris Teeter is
and then you come outside andyou're like whoa. And you're
like it's a lot more human thanI was expecting. I'm not ready
Pass, which is a good thing, Iguess. Because apparently it's
(32:48):
gonna take a nosedive tomorrowand for the next few days. So
yeah, you know, if we can justhow
Suzanne (32:53):
many hurts bad today?
Kristen Daukas (32:54):
Probably.
Probably. We could just keep itaround that mid 70s here in
North Carolina. But no, no.
Suzanne (33:03):
I mean, if we can have a decent Sprite, you know, I
don't mind a couple like off 80degree days like we've had. But
if we can have a mostly decentspring
Kristen Daukas (33:12):
so we can open the windows.
Suzanne (33:14):
Yeah, around winter for like four days, right. And then
it was too muggy in here
Kristen Daukas (33:20):
and my air kicked on. Because I've got a
nest and I have it programmedthat you know like to. And it's
programmed to cert Yeah. Butit's programmed for the air not
to come on till it hits 76 in myhouse. And I was sitting there
working, working, working all ofa sudden I hear I'm like why is
that in no way is that 76degrees up in here? It was 76
degrees in here. Yeah. So what'snext for you? Suzanne? We're
(33:41):
gonna wrap this baby up. Yeah.
Yeah, we've been chatting for 35minutes. And I like you know, we
can talk here all night long.
But then, like,
Suzanne (33:51):
as long as you want?
Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, ifthere's something else you want
to cover, when you can edit andpick and choose, right? I don't
know what's next I am. Becauseoriginally I was like, Okay, I'm
gonna go work. I want to go workat like universal Disney or
whatever. As a lighting tech, orI want to go here, I want to go
there. And I am now like, Okay,I need to wait a year after the
death of where I make majorchanges. Absolutely. So I'm
(34:13):
working on the purge of all thethings and then let's talk about
Kristen Daukas (34:17):
that real quick.
Let's talk because I thinkthat's really cool that you're
doing it. And I'm trying to dothe same thing to I'm not being
as methodical about it as youare. Because for me, part of
that would involve going throughthe kids stuff. And when I say
the kids stuff, I mean,literally the kids stuff because
they came home at Christmas. I'mlike, go upstairs, go through
your closets. And if like, so atthis point, we're looking at
(34:38):
like four and a half years forSidney, Cassie, almost a year.
Like if y'all haven't, then youprobably don't need it because I
am not going to move. I am notgoing to move and have to get a
storage unit to store my kidsstuff that they don't even
remember what it is. I'm notgoing to do it. No, right.
Suzanne (34:57):
Yeah, I mean, and that's kind of like I mean,
clean. Eating out mom's house.
And then like, my brother gotsome of the stuff and but most a
lot of it came here and thensome, you know, we did throw at
whatever. But it was like 43years she was a little bit of a
squirrel. Like that better thanpackrat. No little squirrel
putting her on that foil for thewinter. Squirrel and things
away. So yeah, now it's in myhouse. So I'm not saying I'm not
(35:19):
a squirrel either. And we allhave junk drawers. Right? So I
have a junk drawer. I have aMonica closet, you know from
friends. Do you remember thatepisode? Did Yes. And I was
like, oh, so I have a Monicacloset. And then well, now more.
It used to just be the one andthe one. And then it grew and
grew and grew? You know, I'vebeen here 15 years. So that plus
her, you know, just equates alot of things that I don't need.
(35:43):
Some of it I haven't looked atsince I moved into the house for
mom's house. And
Kristen Daukas (35:49):
that's the number one reason why I'm
probably not selling this houseanytime soon. Because anytime I
start thinking about selling thehouse and moving someplace,
which is probably about every 60days, then I remember how much
cramp I have here after livinghere for 16 years. And I go to
lazy
Suzanne (36:03):
guy did the minimalist Challenge Challenge. So it's so
great. It's you did
Kristen Daukas (36:06):
the maximum minimalist challenge. No,
Suzanne (36:09):
I mean, that's I mean, it's actual challenge, because
there's an actual, there'sactually already names, right.
But yeah, so yeah, I didn't makeit up. It was somebody else.
But, um, so yeah, I didn't do itevery day. Like I knew I got my
math equation I had to forgethad forgotten it, because who
remembers algebra, unless you doit every day. So I got my math
(36:33):
professor friend to remind me ofthe equation. So I would know
what my grand total would be. SoI usually just did it on the
weekends. Or I'd look at adrawer as I was like, cooking
dinner or whatever. And I'mlike, I'm gonna clean this out.
You know, and so I would justkeep a running total. Now I have
a new free mattress, so you gotto let things go. So you can
make room for new things.
Absolutely.
Kristen Daukas (36:55):
And how did you get your free mattress? Let's
talk about that before we signoff.
Suzanne (36:58):
Okay. Yeah, that's. So one of my very dearest friends
has a friend neighbor. They'rethe Beagles are going to town.
And they get bought up. There wego. Her neighbor works with
(37:18):
foundations. I don't know shegets stuff from nonprofit,
whatever. I don't, I don'treally understand what it is.
But anyway, sometimes it'smattresses. And it's like all
shelves, it was very kind andgave me like a box of like it
had toilet paper and it hadbounty bounty paper towels, it
had a Gillette razor it had youknow, so it's all these like
(37:41):
things that are used as samplesor whatever I think probably are
overruns or whatever that justneeds to be that donated by the
corporation. You know, becauseit is either an old style or
like, whatever, I don't evenknow, you know, but there's a
lot of stuff. I don't know ifyou've ever. Yeah, it just
becomes a lot. Again, a lot ofstuff. So yeah, that's how her
(38:05):
neighbor got another thing ofmattress and there was one queen
size left and they brought itover yesterday in the box. And I
wish I'd figured out what I wasgonna do. Before the boys had
left. The boys are now like, Imean, they're super tall 18 and
21 or something like that. 17and six six Junior and then a
junior in high school senior incollege. Because yeah, big
(38:28):
strong, big strong boys. Do youhave no since you were the we
babies? And so they carry thembut I didn't think about it. So
you should have seen me girlwhen I was like no, I'm gonna
set it on the I was actuallygoing to put it in the living
room to blow it and then I waslike no, because the dogs will
be roughhousing as they are nowon this one. You should have
seen me try and get my oldmattress off and slide
Kristen Daukas (38:53):
those things are down. Oh, you don't? They're
Suzanne (38:56):
very heavy. And they don't have handles. Why?
Kristen Daukas (39:00):
i Oh, I remember the times when they actually had
handles on the
Suzanne (39:06):
bottom. Yeah, like I just need one on each side. Just
just enough to be able to gripit right well enough. Right? It
was hilarious. I was laughingwhich of course doesn't help the
like, let's lift this up andmove it.
Kristen Daukas (39:18):
No it didn't everybody gets all like annoyed
because you're laughing and likecome on get serious because we
need to dive all day.
Suzanne (39:29):
What it was just me though, because they'd already
left.
Kristen Daukas (39:33):
My mattress was oh, I wish you if you were
watching this you could see thisbut you're not watching it.
Suzanne (39:40):
This is my MO baby.
This is actually
Kristen Daukas (39:43):
pup vision right now. You have what three dogs
now?
Suzanne (39:49):
I have three I have two big goals. That's the plunder
twins. And they are they bonded?
They are so bonded. They didn'tcome together. Why? Hi, Maya
Leah actually humps she's thegirl. But it's for domination.
You know? This is my daughterand yeah, and even though Moby
was first but my view is muchmore passive. Like he doesn't
(40:11):
care about being the top dog.
But yeah, they'd like to playand then I have Stella she is
going to be third team this yearin September now
Kristen Daukas (40:25):
so senior dogs are special Josie I think it'll
be 11 this year Olivia it'seither a lovin we've had her
this year or she'll be 12 I cani It's hard to ya know, I got
Suzanne (40:36):
her during a show called Little God little dog
laughed that I was in duringtech week because my friend was
like, cool, and it was a strayyou need to take it so but you
know, and my other friends hadpaid for the vet bills and I'm
like, because he knew I wantedyou know, I have a big yard. And
he's
Kristen Daukas (40:52):
you do have a big yard. That's a happy dog.
Yeah,
Suzanne (40:55):
that's a happy happy.
Kristen Daukas (40:56):
I wish Yeah, I think we use it on an acre and I
sit on an acre and I wish myhouse were position more like
yours because I like mines, likeright smack dab in the middle.
So I've got like, all that inthe front and like nobody gets
enormous headaches. Which is whyI have to hire a yard person
because Yeah, but he needs to dowhat he needs to die mow in the
(41:18):
grass. No, yeah, I know. But
Suzanne (41:21):
some covering on it and just don't ever go on the front
yard. Although in
Kristen Daukas (41:25):
my neighborhood, I probably could. But I do want
to sell here soon. So probablyget somebody and be like,
Suzanne (41:30):
a lot of people don't like ground cover. Yeah, what is
happening? I must have touchedsomething with she
Kristen Daukas (41:36):
touched something. Okay. Any last
thoughts? Thoughts? What arethoughts? Thoughts? We fought
this war on Suzanne has lostcommunication. Oh
Suzanne (41:50):
my god. So the Apple Music came on. So out of I don't
know how. Because again. I mean,it is I mean, maybe it was my
boo. But yeah, so the like Ithought I close all the windows
and all of a sudden I hear itwas the it was What song was it?
(42:15):
I can't find it now because itmoved to a different one. But
yeah, it's I think it was a
Kristen Daukas (42:24):
no brainer.
That's my excuse for everythingnow my brain. Yeah, man O'Brien.
All right. Well, thank you, mydear for I'm gonna hit stop
recording here shortly. Butthank you for spending some time
with me. And I pray to God, thatthis actually works. But I won't
know that I'm not even gonnalook at it tonight. Because for
(42:44):
those of you that may not knowtoo much too soon. For years,
I've been on hiatus and Ifinally realized that I was just
being lazy. That was it. BecauseI have so many great people in
my life. And there's people outthere that I don't know that I
want to talk to that have greatstories to share. So yeah, this
is how it goes. I
Suzanne (43:06):
actually want to do I need to do a podcast. Yeah, I
don't know what I would do. ButWell, whenever this was good,
whenever you
Kristen Daukas (43:13):
are ready, I am a much better leader and teacher
than necessarily a student. So Imean, that I will help make that
a much easier process for youwhen you're ready. But I think
you absolutely should. Becauseyour dynamic, great stories, and
(43:33):
you know, you could I
Suzanne (43:35):
do have cute headphones, too. I know I can
get me a little
Kristen Daukas (43:39):
I had to do I just had to do it. I just was
like, but it was only like a $70microphone. So not expensive.
Not bad. Yeah, no, you know,this stuff. You're so between
sound and lighting. So anyhow, Iappreciate you taking the time
to ramble with me because that'swhat this was, this was a
rambling thing. And, you know,
Suzanne (43:59):
I was hoping that's kind of what you like, what
because based on the title ofyour podcast that that's, I
mean, that's how we do it.
Anyway. That's right. It's justrambles and segues and you know,
especially with me you have tokind of like ask me a question
to like get me back on track.
And
Kristen Daukas (44:14):
because I'm the same way and then not only that,
you know, we forget what thehell we were talking about it
mid sentence, we could be givingyou like this really, really
important thing and all of asudden we'd be like to stop
like, what is that man ourbrain? How does that men no
brain? Minute brain?
Suzanne (44:32):
You're not wrong. Hey, no,
Kristen Daukas (44:34):
I usually am not. So say goodbye Sue's by
soon I'm gonna hit stop recordnow and then till next time,
everybody having me we willappreciate you have a
conversations on the rocks. Asthe saying goes, you don't have
to go home but you can't stayhere and that's a wrap for this
week's episode. A big thanks tomy guests for sharing their
(44:55):
story and to you for listening.
Don't forget to share the showwith your friends and spread the
words and if you'd like to be aguest on the show the link is in
the show notes till next timecheers
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