Nurturing Romance: How To Keep Dating Your Spouse

Dating your spouse shouldn't end after marriage - it should evolve into an intentional practice that keeps connection alive through every life stage. Join us as we peel back the curtain on our favorite date nights from over two decades together, revealing how these experiences have nurtured our relationship through parenthood, career changes, and life's unpredictable moments.

From the breathtaking vineyard picnics at Fainting Goats Winery where we sipped wine surrounded by autumn foliage, to intimate City Winery concerts where performers like Chante Moore sang directly to us, we explore how these special moments create lasting bonds. We also laugh about our infamous Montreal birthday surprise - a perfect example of how even "disasters" become cherished memories that strengthen relationships.

But our conversation goes deeper than just recounting experiences. We unpack why dating your partner matters, especially when life gets busy with children and responsibilities. Whether it's a surprise candle-making class followed by a boutique hotel stay, or simply restaurant-hopping through Marietta Square sampling different cuisines, these intentional moments of connection have been vital to maintaining our spark.

Perhaps most importantly, we emphasize that meaningful date nights don't require extravagance. Sometimes our most special evenings happen at our local Mexican restaurant - what matters is putting phones away, being fully present, and genuinely engaging with each other. We've discovered that finding balance and humor together during both planned dates and life's unexpected challenges creates resilience that carries through decades.

Ready to reinvigorate your relationship with fresh date ideas and a renewed perspective on connection? Listen now, then subscribe and share your own favorite date experiences in the comments!

Send us your Questions or Comments and we’ll answer them on the show.

Don't forget to Like, Comment, Share, and Subscribe.

Thank you for listening!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 2 (00:10):
The Refreshingly Normal Podcast.
Welcome back everybody.
Thank you for tuning in to theRefreshingly Normal podcast.
I am Kifla.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
And I am Cree or Lucrecia.
Oh, I said that last time,lucrecia.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
So thank you all for tuning in, thank you for
allowing us to be in your ears,whether it's in the car, at home
, at work, wherever it is, wehope you stick with us and tell
a friend Come on now.
Nobody likes to listen alone,so get some more people you know
with you that can join in thepodcast, listen and experience,
and then you can have greatconversations.
You know what I'm saying, solet's talk about it.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
All right, so first things first.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
I'm so excited.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Let's talk about what have you been watching lately.
I'll start.
Okay, my new favorite show isBuilding the Band on Netflix.
Have y'all seen it.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's your favorite though.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Right now it is, and I'm trying not to binge watch it
, but I have been binge watchingit.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
it's just a cool concept not the show that you
like, but your favorite show,like you're right now.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
We said right now, but still you are talking like
you is is in the list a favorite.
This is my favorite show, like I, don't know, because I I like
reality shows and shows kind oflike.
I don't know, I just I don't.
I don't know if it's up alltime, but it is up on my top
list because the concept is justreally cool.
Okay.
So normally like when they do amaking the band or putting the

(01:59):
band together, they're likepeople behind and I don't know,
this could be rigged too,because reality ain't always
reality we know a littlesomething about reality.
Yes, we do well, we should talkabout that one time when we were
all house hunters.
No, he's spilling the beans.
Okay, we won't spill the beans.
Any hoodie do so.
I don't know, but typically youknow, you have somebody putting

(02:21):
these people together.
Then you find out like theywere in these, like they like
specially handpicked.
Anywho, if y'all have notwatched building the band, it's
like they have all these umsingers.
I don't know how many singersthere are, but they're like in
little pods, almost similar tothe dating show um uh work blind

(02:44):
date, uh dang ultimatum no, itain't.
Ultimatum is love blind is loveblind, yeah so is love blind,
where they?
you talk to people through awall.
So with the singing thing theyget to hear everybody sing and
they're in their own little likelittle cubicle pods and they
sing and then people votewhether or not they want to keep

(03:08):
them there and they have to getat least five or more votes to
be able to stay.
And then you listen to peopleand you decide would that be
somebody I could harmonize with?
Would I want them in my group?
And they're putting thesegroups together, but they get to
form their own group from whothey listened to and they liked,
and then they get to talk tothem.

(03:28):
See about, do we kind of meshpersonality wise?
we have things in common and thegroup could be three or four, I
think okay, because that's themax of the groups.
It could be all, it could beall girl, it could be mixed, it
could be whatever it is, and soit was just.
I thought it was just a realcool concept how it goes.
And so they come down to onlysix groups and if you have not

(03:50):
been picked, then you have to gohome.
If you don't get at least, uh,five votes, you gotta go home.
And so right now they got thesix, and I don't know.
I just really like it.
I think it's just a cool littleconcept.
Whoever put it together, it'scool.
And then also, I haven't got.
I just really like it.
I think it's just a cool littleconcept.
Whoever put it together, it'scool.
And then also, they haven'tgotten Kelly Rowland yet.
The only reason I startedwatching it at first because I

(04:10):
was looking for Kelly Rowland,because I like Kelly Rowland and
Tasha ain't on there yet andI'm about on.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
That's how they do it .

Speaker 1 (04:17):
I'm about on.
That's how they do it.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
They get and then boom.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, so they got me in.
I watched the first couple andI was like, oh wait, I kind of
like it.
So Kelly's not on there yet.
I think she's going to be onthe next episode, but I might be
on episode four or five.
Kelly ain't on there yet.
So just so you know, Kellyain't going to be on there until
about the fifth or sixthepisode, but anyhow that's my
show.
Building the Band.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
On Netflix building the band on netflix and don't
nobody gotta walk for nocheesecake.
Take that, take that, don'ttake that.
Okay, what?
What have you watched lately?
Um, show wise nothing.
Um, the last movie, likesomething.
The last thing that I actuallysat down and watched, last movie
, like the last thing that Iactually sat down and watched
was Happy Gilmore 2 with AdamSandler.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
That was the last thing you watched.
Yeah, that I paid attention toyou didn't pay attention to the
movie with Eddie Murphy thenthat we watched on.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Oh, yeah, yeah, Okay.
So what was that called?
Well, anyway, the movie withKiki, kiki palmer, eddie murphy
and pete davidson, um, whereeddie murphy and pete were, um,
they were what do you call thosearmored car drivers, and kiki
palmer was a thief, and so, yeah, yeah, I did watch that.

(05:39):
I take that back.
So I watched that and adamsandler yeah um, Though they
both were good.
I'm a.
I'm a fan of Adam Sandler.
I'm a fan of Eddie Murphy.
I like Kiki.

Speaker 1 (05:51):
The pickup is what the movie's called.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, the pickup Okay , but no, no shows.
I'm waiting until the footballseason start.
I'm not waiting on that andthen I'm gonna watch a couple
games, not many.
I only have select players thatI like to watch, like Jalen
Hurts, lamar Jackson, shaduaSanders, travis Hunter okay, but

(06:18):
I'm not a huge fan of theirquarterback.
Personal reason I met himbefore he was not.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
He was not kind no.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
Maybe it was a bad day.
He was disrespectful Becauseyou know we coached against him.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
Well, maybe he's changed.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
I hope he has.

Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
But you know, just you know.
But you got to be respectful.
Like they say a lot of peoplethat say they'll never remember
what you did, but they willremember how you made them feel.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
That used to be on my signature line of my email.

Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, and I don't, you know, when young men are
disrespectful, especially in,you know, in the sporting
industry, because you know a lotof times we take hits for you
that you know and and help youdo things that other people
wouldn't help you do, and he wasreal, you know, kind of
disrespectful, so so I hopeyou've changed I hope that young
man has changed too yeah, allright, what else?

Speaker 1 (07:17):
um, what has been?
Just to kind of put a littlejoyful thought in your brain,
what has been your favoritething about the past week or two
?
Any favorite thing that comesup for you.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
Well, my brain is like gone right now.
Today is a rough day.
I'm dealing with lockjaw andall that stuff.
I don't know what's going on.
Let's see.
We had some good lovemakingsessions.
That was great, my lord.
Uh, I'm grown.
Okay, girl, that was good.

(07:54):
Uh, you know nobody's up by theway, you got a lot no, but uh,
no, um, what else?
I'm getting my groove at work alittle bit in the new position
in the new position, I'll get mygroove on at work.
Uh, you know I'm enjoyingeverything.

(08:15):
Um, gotta get your groove onthat's, about that's.
That's.
Let me see what else.
What did we do?

Speaker 1 (08:24):
well, we haven't done much because I was sick.
Old man covid got me first weekof school, beat me down, so I
we didn't do much.
This past weekend I went got myhair done and we tried a new uh
sushi place.
Yeah, but my favorite thingabout this past week.

(08:46):
It may not be a favorite thingto everybody, but I feel really
good about it.
Sunday I got a lot of thingsdone at home.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
Oh yeah, you did.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
I got my pantry cleaned out.
I got my refrigerator cleanedout.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
You got it, you did it um.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
You did.
What else did I do?
Wash clothes oh, got all thelaundry done, watched a movie,
had some oh, even got my rundone and I had planned to do an
easy run.
But then I got on there andthis lady was really trying to
get with me and she was tryingto race me.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yes, she did and I was so mad she got me.

Speaker 1 (09:30):
I thought I got her at the end and I looked and she
just passed that's what happens.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
You never think you.

Speaker 1 (09:35):
You keep running as if you're playing running from
behind man so she she got me soI was mad about that, but I ran
with kirsten and she has such agood playlist it had like, oh,
destiny's Child.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
Yeah, it was a good playlist.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
It was a good playlist.
So I got my run done, got donewith that, had some wine, had a
movie, so I just felt realproductive on Sunday.
I haven't felt that productivein a while, so that was a good
day.

Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, that was good for a Sunday for you not to miss
things, because normally foryou not to miss things, because
normally, when we're productive,it's because it's like we're
checking things off the list,yeah, and then it's like you're
not really enjoying it.

Speaker 1 (10:11):
But you just check, check, check yeah.
So I felt good to like have thepantry all together and all
those things.
Those are things I've beenwanting to do but, whatever
reason, I was able to focus onit and somebody felt like it was
the b-12 drop set gave me.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
I use the main one, saying it was those drops.
Then in the morning we'd saywhere my drop set, where my drop
set before I go to work.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
They didn't help me at work.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
Where my drop set.

Speaker 1 (10:37):
They didn't help me at work on Monday, though I felt
tired on Monday, I mean, I diddo a lot of training on Monday.
I felt tired on Monday, I mean.
I did do a lot of training onMonday, but I just didn't feel
like I felt on Sunday.
So I don't know what it was,but anywho, that was my joyful
moment for this past week.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
Well, I know I got B12 shots the other day and they
say, oh, you should feelsomething in an hour or two.
Yep, I felt sleepy.
It didn't do nothing to me, Iwasted I think he needs an
infusion 25, 30 dollars I thinkit was 25, and I tipped the man
five dollars.
So you probably need yeah, Iprobably said the iv work better
, so I said I'll try it.
But this is, it's expensive orcostly, I would say well, you

(11:18):
get what you pay for you do, youdo and I just, I just want to
figure something out.
but if I don't figure it outbecause I can sleep 20 hours and
still be tired, I don't knowwhat's going on.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
No, we don't.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
I don't need much.
No, all right, let's jump intoit.
So great catching up with you.
As always, my dear, it's good,good talking to you.

Speaker 1 (11:41):
That's your story, okay.

Speaker 2 (11:43):
All right.

Speaker 1 (11:46):
So what we want to talk about today, I think it
would be cool to talk about someof our favorite date nights.
So, like we have always beenbig believers in making sure we
still date each other, as theboys got older, we made sure to
do it more often.
Now, when they were little, itwas a little bit challenging

(12:07):
because you got to findbabysitters and all the things.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
It was still a priority.
Yeah, we still wanted to do it.
Some people say, oh, we can'tdo it.
Da, da, da.
And even if you know what manwe're so blessed.
We got some amazing boys, evenduring their childhood.

Speaker 1 (12:24):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
We could take them places with us where they were
not like, they weren't hollering, weren't doing none of that,
and we could still be like,enjoying each other as if we
were on our date.

Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yeah, you know what I'm saying.
Yeah, we do, and I thinkoverall I like to say about our
boys is that you know how peoplelike when summer's over or
summer's going like, oh, I can'twait till they go back to
school or the weekend oranything.
But for our boys I really forsure do not remember saying that

(13:07):
I'm ready for school to startback, so they can be in school,
or they could be like we reallydrive me crazy.
Yeah, we never had thatchillings.
Yeah, we never had that withthem, like even in the
summertime, um, the uh, myin-laws or they always want the,
the grands for a month, for thesummer and they always want
them for a month and we like wecan give you two weeks, but we
got trips, we got trips andthings that we want to do with

(13:28):
them too, because it's summerand so, um, they would spend, I
think, our boys were two weeks,two weeks yeah yeah, they would
spend two weeks and then,because we always wanted to have
our time with them and tripsand just to be home, and even if
we're just going to the libraryor Home Depot for the art stuff
or whatever free stuff wasaround, we wanted to be able to

(13:52):
spend time with them and then so, yeah, so we could make a date
out of anything.
However, we on purpose try tomake sure we do date nights with
our boys and now, even thoughthey're older, we keep it going

(14:15):
so we are going to talk aboutour top five date nights.
Which ones did you enjoy themost?
So I wonder if any of them willmatch.
We did not even look to seewhat each of us put for our date

(14:40):
nights.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
Nope, we didn't.

Speaker 1 (14:42):
So do you want to go with yours first?
We want to go one for one?
Yeah, we didn't, so do you wantto go with yours first?

Speaker 2 (14:46):
We want to go one for one.

Speaker 1 (14:47):
Yeah, let's do one for one.

Speaker 2 (14:49):
Okay, so I'll go first.

Speaker 1 (14:50):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (14:51):
My top five and this is in no particular order.
Yeah, mine isn't either theseare just, you know what pops to
mind, like we've had a lot, yes,we have had a lot.
So, and not to say I didn'tenjoy any of them, you know more
than the other, but these arejust some, and some of them were
recent, of course, since my oldbrain.
These are some that are recent,so I would say one that really

(15:14):
stood out.
You know what I'm going to gowith.
I'm going to start with mynumber three.
Ok, my number Well, not eventhird spot, ok.

Speaker 1 (15:24):
Just said it.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
We went to.
It was a surprise.
Who did the surprise?
Me or you, I did?

Speaker 1 (15:32):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
I did the surprise.
You see, one, two, three, threeof these, four of these are
surprises for me.
One surprise from you oh, sothis one here was recently.
Oh, what was it so?
uh, this one here was recentlyfebruary okay I've been wanting
to do this for the longest, forthe longest.
And we went to alvin ailey tosee alvin ailey uh dance

(15:58):
ensemble the ballet at uh foxtheater in atlanta.
And uh, I'm talking, I've beenwanting to go and see an Alvin
Ailey production for 20 plusyears, like before we even
married.
I wanted to.
You know, one of my dreams wasI was going to be a ballet

(16:19):
dancer back in the day.
Really, my daddy said we ain'tgoing to be putting on no dress,
jumping your ass around here.
So, uh, you know that with thatleft, I couldn't do that.
And you know, because one of myum, len swan I remember len
swan mentioned somebody, he didballet or something.
They were saying man he lookslike a ballet dancer catching

(16:39):
footballs and stuff and, um,yeah, and, and I wanted to do
that.
Well, he was like nope.
So yeah, avon ailey was it was.
It was everything I hoped itwould be in more, um, it was a
little to me, it was a littleshort, um, but it was.
It was long, but I think it wasit was short because I was so

(17:01):
excited about it yeah and intoit, uh, but I would love to do
it again, so yeah, I almost putthat on my list.
So what did you put I?

Speaker 1 (17:11):
almost put that on my list and, in regards to you
doing ballet, I could totallysee you wanting to do ballet we,
uh, one of our sons did tap andhe went to this little tap
school and he was.
Was he the only boy?

Speaker 2 (17:25):
yes, in his class.

Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, that's up yes, and those little raggedy girls
made my baby feel bad.
They talked about him being aboy in tap class, and so one day
he went to class and he toldthem they were ignorant because
they did.
There are lots of tap dancersthat are male tap dancers.
So we gave him a whole list ofthem to go and tell them who
they were.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
But after that recital he was like I'm done we
was on the wrong side of town tobe talking too bad.
You know there's a lot ofbunnets and stuff over there, so
we didn't want to be.
You know tapping, you know,yeah, capping them, little them,
little heifers.

Speaker 1 (18:02):
They just didn't know about all the male tap dance.
Their parents should haveenlightened them.
Yeah, anyways, all right.
So mine, in no particular order, was a my surprise for you okay
, what is?
It was your birthday when wedid the candle making and I did

(18:24):
the hotel and it was astaycation.

Speaker 2 (18:26):
That's what I put on.
I put as the first one.
I listed, did you?
I listed a staycation.

Speaker 1 (18:30):
That was good.
It was at the Crafted CreationsCandle Studio near Beaufort
Highway.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
By the brand.
No, the H Mart, h Mart by the HMart.
Out there, it's black owned.
Y'all know where it's at.
It's black owned.

Speaker 1 (18:44):
Y'all know where it's at.
It's black owned, absolutelyCrafted Creations Candle Studio
upstairs.
You can bring your own wine.
We just finished melting ourcandles the end of last year.
They smelled so good.

Speaker 2 (18:58):
Yeah, so good, so, so good.

Speaker 1 (19:01):
But yeah, that was a really good time.
The music they had a vibe goingin there.
Yeah, it was very good.
It was really good.
We enjoyed it.
We did dinner.
Your favorite place he goesalways for his birthday is the.

Speaker 2 (19:11):
Optimist.
That's one of Howell Mill,howell Mill Road.
Yeah, the Optimist.

Speaker 1 (19:16):
If you like oysters, it's a perfect place for raw
oysters, because they getoysters from all over they get
oysters from all over, all over,yeah, so, anywho, that is one
of mine.

Speaker 2 (19:27):
Um, that I thought was, and the hotel was nice, the
hotel had a rooftop bar.
It was a little boutique hotelvery very nice yeah.

Speaker 1 (19:33):
Yeah, that was that one.
I think I felt like it was athompson, but I could be wrong I
think it was a thompson um, butyeah, that was a really nice,
nice staycation and I thinkthat's all we and we ended up
going to get dessert somewhereon Howell Mill.
I feel like too, yeah, butanywho, yeah, the candle making,
that is a great date night Ienjoyed it.

Speaker 2 (19:51):
So that's one and two for me, oh okay.
Yeah, so we had Alvin Ailey andthen staycation.

Speaker 1 (19:56):
Okay, what's?

Speaker 2 (19:56):
yours.
The next one is the F MountainGoats Winery.
I have that one too.
We had the picnic outside inbetween the vineyards, so it's
probably about 45 minutes fromus.

Speaker 1 (20:11):
It's in Jasper Georgia.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Jasper, georgia.
Yeah, 45 minutes and beautifulview from the vineyard.
It's really like the rollinghills.
You can kind of see the rollinghills and then they have in
between the different vines theyhave picnic tables or areas
where you can bring a towel or ablanket.

(20:33):
Yeah, and you can be out there,you know sitting down, and
you'll pay a certain price andit comes with a little picnic
basket and like a bottle of wineand some wine and cheese and
stuff like that, but you couldalso bring your own food.
And when we went the weatherwas perfect Like I had jeans and
a long sleeve shirt on becauseit was before I left, it was
fall.

Speaker 1 (20:54):
Was it fall or winter , because I thought it was right
before I left, because theyhave a certain time when they
stop.
It's sometime in October thatthey stop doing it.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
There's a close off date for the picnics in the in
the vines.
It had to be late because Ibecause I remember knowing I was
going to be leaving, going tofilm yeah yeah, so and so, and I
didn't get that, okay, untilaround about october.
Yeah, so october I found out Iwas going to be leaving the film
to go to, but I know wherewe're going, but anyway, yeah,
it was.
Uh, I was going to be leavingthe film to go to, but I know
where we're going, but anyway,yeah, it was a beautiful scenery

(21:28):
.
Did they have live music?

Speaker 1 (21:29):
They did have live music.
You could, we, we could, wecould see it in the vines Right
we could hear everything, butthat was a very, very nice day.

Speaker 2 (21:39):
The weather was perfect, everything was perfect.
The weather was perfect, thewine was amazing, you know, the
people there were amazing.
So that was my.
I guess that's my third, sinceyou know, the staycation was,
you know, said by you.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
So the last day is October 26th.

Speaker 2 (21:58):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (21:59):
And I think we went on the last day.

Speaker 2 (22:01):
Yeah, and it's perfect, I wouldn't go untilober
because it's so hot yeah thatyou would be probably
uncomfortable and it's notraining as much then too it's
not raining as much.

Speaker 1 (22:11):
And then the, the, the, what's it called foliage or
whatever, the leaves thefoliage will be all the fall
colors so that's what wasbeautiful for us, because the
drive up you just saw all thered, yellow, brown leaves and
just a beautiful drive up anddrive back, and then when you're

(22:33):
in the vineyard you get to seeit too.
Um, and they'll come and takepictures for you and, yeah, that
was a nice surprise yeah, itwas great, yep so that was that
okay.
So that takes off one from mine.
Okay, this one was one fromwhen we were in the old house

(22:54):
okay, where is okay?
This was a birthday surprise.
I don't know how old I wasturning, but when I came home
you had already like, uh wentand bought me the outfit for the
birthday.
It was like that teal dresswith the wraparound material and
you had.
You had bought the jewelry andeverything.

(23:18):
So when I came he was like,okay, we're going for a surprise
for your birthday.
I got your outfit.

Speaker 2 (23:23):
This is the first house.

Speaker 1 (23:25):
Mm-hmm.
Kurt's house.

Speaker 2 (23:26):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (23:27):
And so that and I actually really liked the outfit
.
It was very cute, and so I waslike, oh man, so the outfit was
like a little dress and I don'tknow if you did the you had
everything ready to go, like Ididn't have to think about a
thing, and so I enjoyed that.
That it was like the wholeoutfit and it was like real cute

(23:49):
and we went with that's the one.
We went with Russ and Kim tothe Melton.

Speaker 2 (23:54):
Pot, oh to the Melton .

Speaker 1 (23:54):
Pot.
Okay, we went on that littlelike double date for my birthday
.
But yeah, I enjoyed that.
I birthday, but um, yeah, Ienjoy that.

Speaker 2 (24:08):
I think I enjoy most was like the whole thing was
like now okay, from outfit toplace and all the things.
So, because I know my boy russlistens and uh, kim, she, you
better start listening kim.
So, um, when was this now, Idon't know, in the, in the In
the first house First came to.

Speaker 1 (24:22):
Georgia.
We moved to Georgia in 2006.

Speaker 2 (24:26):
Maybe it was like we stayed in that house for like
two years.

Speaker 1 (24:33):
I don't know how long , yeah, and then a year, a
little bit long, yeah, maybe so.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
And then almost a year and a half in the other
house.

Speaker 1 (24:40):
Yeah, about two or three years.
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (24:42):
So we'll say that's about 2008.

Speaker 1 (24:43):
2008, mm-hmm.

Speaker 2 (24:45):
So listen up, let's go out to my.
I like to call him my brother,you know, because not only is he
my frat brother, but we're veryclose.
Kids call me Uncle Keefler,russ and Kim.
2008 was the last time we wentout, that's all I got to say.

(25:06):
We need to fix that.

Speaker 1 (25:08):
Shall do.
Come on now.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah, all right, mine , okay, let's see.
My next one is Okay, I'm goingto go with this.
Okay, I was on the road foryour birthday this year because

(25:32):
we had two parts and this wasone.
And who did we see?

Speaker 1 (25:35):
For my birthday.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yes, it was a surprise.

Speaker 1 (25:42):
Oh, we saw, Miss Tina Tina Knowles.

Speaker 2 (25:43):
Yeah, we saw Miss Tina Knowles at, not the Fox.
What was?

Speaker 1 (25:47):
it Tabernacle At the.

Speaker 2 (25:48):
Tabernacle.

Speaker 1 (25:49):
For her book tour.

Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah, for her book tour that was hosted by Tyler
Perry, and that was just one.
It was cool because you had noclue and you know I hate doing
surprises because I hate lookingat your face, because it's not
what you want or not what youexpected.
And even if you are happy aboutit, it don't give that look at

(26:15):
the beginning.
And you know me, I'm like itdon't even that look at the
beginning.
And then, and you know me, I'mlike it don't even matter no
more.
We'll tell y'all about uh much.
Let me tell that at the end.
Yeah, we'll tell y'all aboutMontreal later.
So, uh, but when we, you know,we did that little surprise and
stuff, that was cool becauseonce she's a Beyonce fan, we're

(26:36):
both Beyonce fans.
Um, and I love miss Tina andshe definitely seemed like
somebody out of a mother that Iwould always be talking to, um,
um, and so, just to have thatwhole vibe, we had nice tickets,
we had a nice seat thatincluded access to one of the uh
, private, uh bars and they hadlittle little finger foods.
Nice seat that included accessto one of the private bars and

(26:58):
they had little finger foods.
Not much, but it was still.
You know, you was able to beaway from the crowd, you know,
get your drinks and all thatstuff early, but it was real
cool and she was hilarious.

Speaker 1 (27:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (27:11):
Miss Tina is so down to earth, so funny, and I mean
she really is like like when Isay mama tina, she really is
everybody's mama team, like yeah, well, I ain't gonna say
everybody, because some peoplemama ain't you know they mean or
whatever, but she is, she just,she was nice, very, I mean just

(27:33):
cool to to hear her talk abouteverything.
So it was, was amazing, thatwas a good night.
And then because you weresmiling the entire night and so
every time I would glance overthere, that's what made it
better for me, that's what madeit more memorable for me.
So that was my, so that's myfourth one.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
Okay, one of mine and this one is like, not even like
a surprise planned anything, itwas just something I kind of
thought of on the spot where wedid the uh restaurant hopping in
marietta square that was a goodnight yeah.
So in marietta square if y'allhave not been to marietta square

(28:12):
lately, there are a lot of nicelittle restaurants there.
They're cute inside, justreally good for a date night.
So we decided we were gonna do,um, go to a restaurant, get a
little bit of something here anddrink, and then go to another
one.
And so, um, one of mycolleagues, she had gone there

(28:38):
for a date night with herpartner and so I was like, well,
I want to try it.
So we went first to Mariettaproper, super cute inside.
They even have a a speakeasy.

Speaker 2 (28:51):
We didn't do the speakeasy.
It goes downstairs.
It's downstairs yeah.

Speaker 1 (28:54):
And we didn't do the speakeasy.

Speaker 2 (28:55):
We still haven't done it.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
We still haven't done it, but I just really wanted to
do the bar thing because thebar thing is so cute.
Yeah, and I'm glad we did,because when I now yeah, we had
the best.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
The best bartenders, best bartenders.

Speaker 1 (29:06):
The bartenders were amazing.

Speaker 2 (29:12):
They made some good strong drinks, very strong
drinks they were, you knowtalking, you know to us fun and
talking to everybody really, youknow, but very attentive to
everything you know with us andstuff.
So that that was they were.

Speaker 1 (29:24):
Yeah and they have like small plates so we ordered
small plates of things and thesmall plates were very good, so
we did that and then we leftfrom there and we went to the
other place was called bottegaitalian market.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
So we went there and got a glass of wine glass of
wine, and they have slice ofpizza slice of pizza.
Yeah, but the pizza looksreally thick, but it is was very
soft, very, very soft and airy,like focaccia bread, but it was
the airiest, like Very, verysoft and airy.
What do you call it?
Focaccia bread or somethinglike that, but it was the
airiest like lightest focacciabread I've ever had.
But you know, anytime we orderthat bread at a.

Speaker 1 (30:04):
Real place.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yeah, at a winery or something like that, it's light.
Even like I think we had itsomewhere when we had it on the
sandwich.
No, in sandwich.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
I had when I had that vegan sandwich.

Speaker 2 (30:15):
It was super light, super light, so maybe yeah, so
it was super light.

Speaker 1 (30:20):
So we went there and had a glass of wine, had the Do
you have the sorbet?

Speaker 2 (30:25):
I mean, do you have the gelato there?
We didn't do the gelato there.

Speaker 1 (30:29):
So we did that, and then our last stop, because I
was already feeling good.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
She was Because Marietta Proper did us right.
Mar, I was already feeling good.
She was Because Marietta Properdid us right.
Marietta Proper Did us properly.

Speaker 1 (30:38):
I feel like did we have two drinks?

Speaker 2 (30:40):
I thought we had two.
No, because we had either twoor three at Marietta Proper.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
Okay, maybe we had two or three.

Speaker 2 (30:49):
Because they were so good.
They were so good, I think wedid.
We have wine.

Speaker 1 (30:53):
No, that was the difference.
The second time.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, it wasn't that good.
No, because we had.
Yeah, the guy had to mix.
Yeah, we had two drinks, that'sit.
Uh-huh, we just had two drinks,but they were so good.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
And oh, here's another thing to know about
marietta proper.
If you go, they make sure to of, uh, of women liquor um makers
or wine makers, whatever makersthat include women and minority

(31:26):
wine and, uh, spirit makers orwhatever um.
So we were able to get unclenearest there.
There was another one you triedthat was um.

Speaker 2 (31:37):
That was a black owned um, but I can't think of
what it, they had, they had, ofcourse they had, um, not brown
estates but the other uh theyhad brown estate what's?
The ladies, the sisters.
You know what I'm talking aboutthe bride yeah, mcbride sisters
, they had that of course sothey um have all, so you'll get
to.

Speaker 1 (31:54):
You can try a variety of winemakers that aren't the
typical ones you'll see in bars,or or even your uh liquor store
, or, as they say in the south,get packaged though you won't
see, um, some of those placesthere.
So that was really cool to seethat, because when we looked up
there we were like, because weon purpose try to like, that's a
lot of black-owned alcohol upthere and then I researched it

(32:20):
and it was like, oh yeah, theowner.
The sommelier.

Speaker 2 (32:24):
Yeah, the sommelier and the lead chef, I think it
was.
They said they make it theirbusiness to support and make
sure they, you know, sell out oftheir um establishment.
Women and minority owned umalcoholic beverages.

Speaker 1 (32:41):
Cause when we go to uh, what's the place?
We go to total wine.
And we go to total wine.
There used to be a lady thattold the wine by us in Kennesaw
and we would tell her every timewe see her where are the latest
black owned products y'all haveand she'll tour.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
It was owned products y'all have and she'll tour like
a tour.
Huh, it was just like a touraround.
Total, I mean about 20, 30minutes of just telling us.
And even like she's what arey'all looking for?
We say, just show us everything.
Boom, she goes all around thestore and I mean, you know it
ain't just telling us, though,like you research it and it is
legit stuff, yeah, and so we tryto get different things, you
know, all the time.

Speaker 1 (33:16):
So yeah, that was really cool.
So that's one thing aboutMarriott proper.
That's something that makes youtwist your arm about of going,
and then the last place inMarriott Square that we went to
was Hampton Harry's.
So Hampton Harry's.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
Which one was that?

Speaker 1 (33:29):
That's where you had the oysters.
I forgot what I had, but it'sthe one that was decorated.

Speaker 2 (33:38):
Oh yeah, but it's the one that was decorated like oh
yeah, yeah, yeah, now that was,it was a beautiful scene.
Yeah, because they changed theinside according to the like,
the holiday or the seasons,uh-huh, so it's beautiful inside
.

Speaker 1 (33:46):
Every time you go, things hanging from the ceiling,
but it changes like the select.
Yeah, yeah, the select yeah,the select is always the same,
though, but the the light alwaysthe lighting colors is is
different.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
No, the flowers, though, but the lighting colors
is different.
No, the flowers are there, butthe lighting colors, because I
know when I look at them onInstagram.

Speaker 1 (34:01):
It changes, yeah, or?

Speaker 2 (34:02):
they have like the frosted tassels, something like
that, hanging Now the place thatwe went to for brunch this year
with the upside down Christmastrees.

Speaker 1 (34:12):
That's the select.

Speaker 2 (34:13):
What's across the street?

Speaker 1 (34:16):
That's the select.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
What's across?

Speaker 1 (34:19):
the street.
That's a select.
What's across the street withmegan and I and oh the asian
place.

Speaker 2 (34:21):
That's what I'm talking about, that place there,
because there's sometimesthey'll they'll.

Speaker 1 (34:24):
I don't know about that, but that place.

Speaker 2 (34:26):
Why would they have upside down christmas trees all
year round?
Yeah, they didn't, so I'm lyingcome on now, y'all, y'all,
please, all husbands, clip thatpart, rewind it and and say
women do.

Speaker 1 (34:38):
I wasn't lying, I was mistaken.

Speaker 2 (34:40):
Nuh-uh, too late, don't show, no, this part.

Speaker 1 (34:42):
But just show the other part.

Speaker 2 (34:43):
That's cool, all right.
So what else?

Speaker 1 (34:45):
So that was all.
So that's a great idea for adate night, if you want to go to
Marriott Square and just kindof bar or restaurant hop.

Speaker 2 (34:54):
The only downfall of Marriott Square, would you say,
is what?
Parking?
That's right.

Speaker 1 (34:58):
Parking.
You're going to have to pay forparking for one.

Speaker 2 (35:01):
So if you expect to pay for parking, you're more,
it's easy, it's more comfortable.

Speaker 1 (35:07):
It's really not.

Speaker 2 (35:08):
it's not that costly, no, it's just that sometimes
you be like it's free right here, yeah, and you know how it is
every time.
You uh, pass it or, let's say,you park, and then you walk past
a parking spot, it's empty.
Yeah, when you walk past a freespot, yeah but yeah, parking
isn't that expensive, only timeit is if there's something
happening in the square yeahthen the prices of some of the

(35:31):
parking lots go up a little bitbut other than that is, it's not
that costly but, to be honest,the next this is what I said I
want to do next time when I knowbecause a lot of times we don't
know we're going to mariettasquare until we're out and about
and say let's go to mariettasquare, but the next time when
we know we're going, I'm sayinglet's just uber oh, that's smart
, you know what I mean, becausethen I'm careful too.

(35:52):
I was like I don't want to drink, just drink a glass of wine,
but.
But like there's MariettaSquare is so chill and laid back
, like we could really say let'spre-game.
Yeah, you know, let's go aheadand just have a good time,
because that other place we usedto go to, that the little, the
little place that used to stayopen, they would serve pizza
later Two birds.
Two birds, yeah, and so you know, there too that's a nice little

(36:13):
bar and they have some reallynice drinks and we would have to
monitor ourselves because, likewell, we still gotta drive.
Well, I was like I still gottadrive back home.
He still gotta drive so, but wedefinitely next time.
That's what I said I want tostart doing.
I wish we would live a littleclose to atlanta, because we
there's so many places we wouldlove to do that we would over
our butts off there so yeah,that was a nice little day night

(36:34):
.

Speaker 1 (36:34):
I will say I I don't even remember the evening, the
last part of the evening.

Speaker 2 (36:41):
Yeah, she was, it was , the weather was good, it was
so nice, and we was just walkingaround and like we really
enjoyed, though we really had agood time at the proper.

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, at Marietta Proper the bartenders were great
.
Now we did go a second time andthe bartenders had changed.
Or maybe our bartenders weren'tworking.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
It was more so.
That night was like they wastrying to get to the next person
.

Speaker 1 (37:02):
But we also went late .
They were almost about to close, so maybe that has something to
do with it too.

Speaker 2 (37:08):
They weren't in it.

Speaker 1 (37:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:14):
But next time I want to go there.
I think we'll go to theSpeakeasy just to see.
I would like to do a speakeasytour, because there are several
speakeasies in this area.
The only one that we've reallybeen to was the one over there
by the one by South City Kitchenby the sandwich place.

Speaker 1 (37:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:27):
But our favorite new sushi spot has a speakeasy.

Speaker 1 (37:32):
That's awesome.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Yes, eight Sushi Lounge.
Oh yeah, the one is calledAfter Eight.
It's a speakeasy right nextdoor to it called after eight.

Speaker 1 (37:40):
We gotta do an episode just about our food
adventure yeah, we do okay, okay, so all right, what's?

Speaker 2 (37:45):
your.
This would be my last one.
My last one on the list is uhcity winery, shantae moore.
I was gonna say vivian Greenbecause that was the first time
we went and we, we, we.

Speaker 1 (38:00):
I introduced Vivian Green to you back when we were
in Dallas, when we were datingyeah, and, and we was.

Speaker 2 (38:07):
I mean we played Vivian Green out, we did like,
played her out.
And and what was so cool aboutVivian Green was that second
album when she had her child.
She was into jogging and youwere, you played it.
We were back here, so it wassomething.

(38:27):
You started jogging and so youkind of played.
I was like okay and I kind ofplayed it because she was going
through her postpartum, yeahyeah, and I played it purposely
sometimes because I knew thiswas somebody you'd like and I
was trying to see if it was okay.
She likes to work out and itwas something that maybe would
you know be like.
Oh, this is let me just getlost in this because Vivian

(38:50):
Green is just amazing.
We loved her.
But Shantae Moore, we weresitting right next to the stage.
We always try to sit next tothe stage.

Speaker 1 (38:57):
Shante Moore, we were sitting right next to the stage
.

Speaker 2 (38:58):
We always try to sit next to the stage At the City
Wine Room too.
Yeah, because if we don't sitnext to the stage I feel like
I'm losing.
It's no point in going Like.
There's been a lot of concertsthat there were tickets two
tables back and I said nobecause I waited too late to get
the tickets right next to thestage.
Okay, but Shante Moore sang herface off Like we were listening

(39:20):
to a CD.

Speaker 1 (39:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:22):
Like she hit them notes.

Speaker 1 (39:24):
She hits those notes in real life and she was funny.

Speaker 2 (39:26):
And she interacts with everybody.
I loved her personality.
Yes, she interacts witheverybody.
And she got a chance to sing aspecial part for Cree.
Sing it.
What did she say?
She said Shante's got no.
She said Cree's just got a manright here and he's been good to

(39:49):
her.
And then she'll go to somebodyelse and say what's your name
and she'll say that's your manand they say yeah, and they say
OK, and then she'll sing thatpart for them.

Speaker 1 (39:56):
That was so cool.
Yeah, that was good.

Speaker 2 (39:58):
Yeah, that was real good.
But I mean I love City Winery.
City Winery, I wish if I hadthe money.
What would you do?
I would have like, because youcan get like membership where
you kind of get discount ticketsand you know early tickets and
you get a wine package everymonth, so like that.
But if I had money I would dothat and I know it's not

(40:19):
expensive to some people's taste.
But you know, educators withboys going to college and
student loans we got to pay andcars we're paying for.
Yeah, you right, yours wasforgiven forgiven well, anyway,
I'm a life loan learner, so Ithink I just keep getting
degrees, so I ain't got to keeppaying them back.
So, but anyway, but like Iwould love to have a membership

(40:44):
to City Widery.

Speaker 1 (40:45):
I didn't even know they had a membership.

Speaker 2 (40:47):
Yeah, everything has a membership, chaz, not
everything.
Mcdonald's, starbucks, the cart.

Speaker 1 (40:53):
Oh you right, people do get points.
Yes, I don't eat McDonald'slike that.
So I don't know, I don't eatMcDonald's like that, I don't
know.
That's how I eat McDonald's.
That's true.
You can't.
The more you pay, the more youget.
Exactly Starbucks, exactly.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
I definitely would go to City Winery.
We saw my cousin there, myrna,when we went to City Winery with
Myrna tell about your mama anddaddy what they do.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
Remember when we went to City Winery with Myrna Tell
about your mama and daddy, whatthey do.

Speaker 2 (41:23):
So we go to City Winery and my cousin Myrna
Clayton she's a jazz singer, arenowned jazz singer all over
the nation.
She's always in Germany, she'sreally good, yeah, I mean sings
her butt off.
And I admired Myrna ever sinceI was a little boy.
Myrna is older than I am, mucholder than I am, I'm going to
say much older, but she's olderthan I am.

(41:46):
And as a little kid, when sheused to come to check us out in
Foley, Alabama, I used to go oh,that's my cousin Myrna, because
I knew she sang and and she'sjust bubbly and I mean
everything you know, just realcool.
And so, um, we went and saw herat City Winery and and I uh
bought tickets for my mom and,and my mom does the thing where

(42:06):
she invites everybody always,and so then my aunt and my uncle
came, and so my dad was there.
So afterwards it was anautograph.
Well, it was cool one of us.

Speaker 1 (42:17):
They just happened to be there.
We didn't know they would.

Speaker 2 (42:19):
I know we didn't know but it was like after the show.
Yes, so my and one of myclassmates, uh, april jones, was
up there singing too, fromalabama state yeah and so that
was crazy to see there.
And so, um, we're, we're, uh, atthe end of the show, you know,
because we wanted to say hey toMyrna and everything, because
that's dad's, myrna's mom and mydad are first cousins All right

(42:45):
, two sisters, children.
And so we didn't know that theBlind Boys of Alabama, the
gospel trio I think it is gospelgroup they were there.
So everybody was, oh my god,the blind boys alabama.

Speaker 1 (42:59):
So they was actually taking pictures with people now,
yes, and listen my, mymother-in-law, she, she love is
jesus's home home girl she knowsall thing, gospel thing, jesus,
all things she's the secretaryof the pearly gates.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
Yes, you know what I mean.
So Alabama was like a Creemeeting Beyonce or Janet Jackson
, and so we was taking pictures.
So we got mama up there to takepictures.
Though Mama was taking no, shewas one of the taking pictures.
They were standing bythemselves and mama was over
there saying, okay, okay, lookright here, look right here.

Speaker 1 (43:42):
We was like uh, granted, they can't see, they
can't see, oh, oh, oh, sorry,sorry.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
Sorry, I said just snap the picture, Just get in
front of them and snap thepicture.
So mind you, like I said, thisis the Blind Boys of Alabama and
my mom up there telling themlook over here so she can take
the picture, so they can look ather camera.
Oh my God, we died laughingthat night man.
But that was, that's just CityWinery.

(44:07):
But my, yeah, my last one wasCity Winery Chante Moore on the
Maze, and that was a surprisevisit too.
Right, you didn't know.

Speaker 1 (44:14):
Yeah, I don't think you knew too right, you didn't
know yeah I don't think you knew, I don't, no, no, no, I knew
shantae because I bought thoseyou bought those.
Yeah, you bought vivian, Ibought vivian, right um, I knew
about shantae, um you did,vivian, and I put city winery
concerts okay because vivian,the tickets we bought, we got to
actually meet her and talk toher and take pictures with her.
Yeah, um, and she was so sweettoo yes, she was she was very

(44:36):
sweet too, so yes, she was.
She was very sweet too.
So, yeah, I really love the.
I love intimate concerts, sowhen we get to do those, I enjoy
those most than the big arenaconcerts.

Speaker 2 (44:49):
Yeah, like what we saw, Tamar.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
We got to see Tamar at the Tabernacle.
That was nice.
She sang her face off.
We got to see Janet Jackson atthe.
Fox.
I mean to see Janet Jackson atthe Fox.
That was just awesome to seeher so up close.
We saw.
Joe and Tamiya.

Speaker 2 (45:12):
That was a smaller set, but Usher was because he
came.

Speaker 1 (45:15):
Oh, oh, oh, I know y'all all saw Usher, but we saw
him in las vegas.
Yeah, man that was so cool yeahfor the residency for the
residency and being so close tohim in the crowd and yeah,
nothing beat that when peoplewere like, are you going to the
arena to see us?

Speaker 2 (45:33):
I was like I don't need to.
Yeah, no, we him there and heshowed his butt.
It was amazing.

Speaker 1 (45:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (45:38):
Yeah.
So, anywho, those are some ofour date nights.
What about your last one?
That's, what's the other one?
Okay, I have the City Wateries,city Wateries, city Wateries.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
City Wateries concert .
Yeah.
So, yeah, so those are mine.
So, and also for us.
Sometimes we have things thatare planned surprises, but then
some days we just a date nightis going to our little Mexican
place around the block.
I mean you can make anything.

(46:09):
A nice little date night, Imean anytime that just you and
your partner can, you know, justhave a little bit of alone time
to put the phones down and justtalk and enjoy each other.
You should find moments forthat, at least once a month.

Speaker 2 (46:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's, that's at the least.

Speaker 1 (46:28):
That's stretching it Like it don't have to be
extravagant.

Speaker 2 (46:32):
Yeah, yeah, it don't look.
You know and we know.
Let's just say, for example, intoday's economy or whatever,
you know, you know money istight.
You know, in the last episode,remember, we talked about the
Valentine's.

Speaker 1 (46:46):
Day thing Twenty five dollars so what we did was we
really?

Speaker 2 (46:50):
we said we're going to challenge each other to 20.
You can spend no more thantwenty $25 for Valentine's day
gift and um.
And so I got a piece of paperand I got all the students to
sign it and stuff have itValentine's day.
It was because I know she loveskids.
She loves, you know, students.

(47:10):
I was like you can't tell.
And kids were so enamored toknow that I'm keeping a secret
from Mrs Scott.
You know what I mean.
So they were.
It was just so cool to evenwatch them be giddy about it.
And then you know we, I boughtsome stuff from eat C's out in
Dallas to have dinner with youknow smaller meal and it was

(47:32):
like a three course Cause I hadlike a little smaller appetizer,
little small meal shrimp yeah,like a little small little
appetizer, little small meal Alittle shrimp, yeah, and a
little piece that we shared.
Dessert, yeah, and justsomething like that.
Man, you know a littlecreativity $25.
But I'm going to be honest, italso depends on your partner.

Speaker 1 (47:54):
Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
So you got to be careful who you select as a
partner, because you know whenyou got people talking about get
the bag and do all this,they're going to laugh you out
of your residency.
You know if you come at themwith a $25 deal, you know so.
For those of you talking aboutyou know you know so.

(48:17):
For those of you talking aboutyou know you got big finances
and you got big high standards.
I'm not talking to you.
I'm talking to the averagecouple who appreciates each
other, who appreciates theeffort that each one are doing
for each other, that they'redoing for each other.
That's who I'm talking to.

Speaker 1 (48:37):
Yeah, doing for each other, that they're doing for
each other.
That's what I'm talking to.
Yeah, because the thing about itis like I mean, I just think
with life, life can you neverknow what life will hand you,
and so you could be up, and thenwhat happens when you're down?
Yeah, you know.
So I don't know.
I just think, just those littlechallenges and sweet little
things, um, you do really wantsomebody.
That is okay with the smallthings.

(48:59):
It doesn't always have to bebig, elaborate things.
I think of one of our sons.
He has his girlfriend and nowhe likes to spend money, so he
don't hold on to it.
But for Valentine's Day he didwant to do something special for
her and his money was a littletight, and so they did Subway
and he did a little blanket andhad the Subway, and Subway was

(49:22):
giving out roses on Valentine's.
Day Subway was Yep Subway wasgiving away roses on Valentine's
and so they had their Subwayand their rose and they just
watched a movie and set up alittle small picnic inside in
our little loft area and wasable to watch a movie or do
something like that.
So you know, you just reallyhave to be okay with the small

(49:48):
things, because I think when youappreciate the small things,
God blesses you with the bigthings.
So I just think that's justimportant to remember.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
Yeah, and but it's.
You know I mean this.
We didn't mean for this to be awell, actually dating episode,
cause we talked about our topdates.
But, um, like, you reallyreally have to be intentional in
who you select as a partner.
And I know when people say,well, we're just casually dating

(50:19):
, okay, well, understand, becareful when you're casually
dating and it becomes intimate,because it only takes one time,
it only takes one sperm toconnect with one egg in order
for you now to be linked withthat person for life.
And if this is a person that youwas just having fun with, a

(50:41):
person that you didn't seeyourself with, then it may
affect the way you raise yourchild.
You know you are linked withthem forever.
You know when, when you're on adate with a person and you're
really trying to that's whatdating is is getting to know
someone, is getting to know ifyou and this person can you know
, are compatible enough to betogether in the long run.

(51:03):
You got to be smart about it,like for real.
I understand it's all fun, like, but you got to be real about
it, especially when you'resaying is this who I want to be
with and I and, and you got tolook beyond just the like.
Yes, we are attracted to looks,but you also have to, and when

(51:24):
I say look beyond the looks, Imean what else is there in
addition to?

Speaker 1 (51:28):
yes.

Speaker 2 (51:28):
And I'm not saying that everybody's beauty is
different.
What I consider beautiful isdifferent than what somebody
else may consider beautiful.
You know what I'm saying.
But what else is there to thatperson?
And that's what I'm saying,because, man, like, how are they
with with with your parents?

(51:49):
How are they with kids?
How are they with strangers?
How are they in stressful times?
How are they, you know, inexciting times?
Are they jealous of you?
Are they excited for you?
Or, you know, are all kinds ofstuff.

Speaker 1 (52:04):
Oh gosh, I can't think of that one guy.
I just saw his thing on on umdang on Instagram today.
He's a comedian and he and hiswife's there.
Sometimes he does things withTabitha Um.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
Kevin on stage.

Speaker 1 (52:19):
Yes, and he was saying you find somebody that
even on your worst day y and hewas saying you find somebody
that even on your worst day,y'all can still make light of
the worst day?
Oh, of course.
And so, yeah, that is true thatyou want somebody that can
y'all can balance each other outon the worst day, because he
and his wife were having, theywere trying to travel and their

(52:40):
flights were getting delayed andthey needed to be somewhere.
That was important and theycouldn't, and just travel was
the worst day for them that day,but they were still able to
stay level-headed.
But to have somebody that y'alljust balance each other off on
the worst day, yeah, thinkingabout that, but you said that a

(53:01):
couple of episodes back.

Speaker 2 (53:03):
You said that that's what I brought to you.
I taught you how to, whenthings are going crazy, to just
you know what is it keeping usfrom?
You know.
You know being late keeping usfrom getting hit by something,
or keeping us from dealing witha rude parent at work, you know,
being late.
God has a purpose foreverything.

(53:23):
You just have to find light init.
You know, but and we, we have away of always finding humor in
it.
That's just that's our.
That's our best.
I don't want to say weapon, butthat's our best.
Asset is is finding humor inall situations and being able to
laugh through it.

Speaker 1 (53:43):
Now I will say, it don't mean that we don't have a
moment where we cuss a littlebit.

Speaker 2 (53:47):
Oh, yeah, we laugh a little bit but it doesn't last
long.

Speaker 1 (53:50):
I think, that's the biggest thing.
Like we'll cuss and fuss and beupset about it but we get over
it.

Speaker 2 (53:57):
Okay now, okay now.
And then we'll be like you.
You remember that movie, I knowright.
We would just bop bop, bop bop,so we would go through all of
those motions.

Speaker 1 (54:06):
And that could lead us to talking about the birthday
surprise that didn't go so well.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
Child, that birthday, let's end it with that you want
to talk it's this Okay, so.

Speaker 1 (54:24):
This is going to end it.
This was a date night.
That date something.
Go say it.

Speaker 2 (54:30):
This.
This almost ruined every my God, every me doing anything for
her ever again.
I was going to be basic basicJacek and if that's a name,

(54:51):
basic basic jacek, somebodynamed jacek.
Yeah, they named jacek millerjones, but um, okay.
So her birthday, I told her getyour passport, we're going,
we're know going to do thisthing.
So y'all excited, you know whatdo I need to wear?
And I'm telling her to weareverything because one, I don't

(55:11):
want her to know where we'regoing.
You know, bring a littlesomething for everything.
All right, long story short, weget to the airport and the lady,
and I told the lady, I said,you know, don't say nothing, you
know she don't know what she'sgoing, all right.
So we probably and I say thatyou know kind of like under
breath, back in the day, whenpeople used to cut the call
collect and we didn't have nomoney to call collect, so soon

(55:33):
as you have a collect call frommama, this key for competing
your practice over stuff, likethat said, hey, don't say where
we're going because she don'tknow where we're going.
And she looked at me when itdid it look like, okay, you know
, and lip dropped down, okay.
And so at the end of checkingus in, she was like all right
from atlanta to montreal andcream looks at me and said

(55:56):
montreal, montreal first of allI didn't't know what Montreal
was.

Speaker 1 (56:05):
Montreal, what's that ?

Speaker 2 (56:08):
What, what, and the lady looked at me and was like
and she was like she was so shefelt so she didn't feel sorry
that she spilled the beans, shefelt sorry that she spilled the
beans and nobody wanted thebeans.
That's what she felt sorryabout.
And so I'm like God man.
So now, the whole time we inthe airport going to our gate
and all that stuff, she lookingall crazy like Montreal, what's

(56:29):
the name of that?
Montreal, I bought, I boughtthe tropical.
I bought that's when sheresearched where it was.
She's in Canada and she's likeCanada who's?
even want to go to Canada.
So we get to Montreal.
I mean, I have a nice flightand everything, you know, we get
to Montreal, beautiful hotel,sophie.

Speaker 1 (56:48):
So first we went to New York and then to there.
Right, I felt like we stopped.
Did we stop?
I don't, I'm not sure.
I thought it was straightthrough, but it where.

Speaker 2 (56:55):
either way, we get to Montreal.
You know cab ride, everything.
We get there beautiful hotel.
It's a boutique hotel, sofitel,and we were staying in what
they considered to be the artsdistrict of Montreal, all down

(57:17):
the street museums and artgalleries and all that kind of
stuff.
So we get there and say, okay,we got dinner, all right.
So we're on our way to dinner.

Speaker 1 (57:23):
We're walking, it's cold and rainy.

Speaker 2 (57:26):
It's drizzling.
It wasn't raining, raining,drizzling, and so we're walking.

Speaker 1 (57:34):
But it had rained a lot before.

Speaker 2 (57:35):
Yeah, it rained a lot before.
There was puddles of water onthe side of the road which leads
me to this part.
So we're walking and you knowI'm doing the gentlemanly thing.
You know I'm on the on the sidecloser to the curb and we
stopped for a moment because Ithink we had to get ready to
cross the street.
And then this car you can tellit did it on purpose because it

(57:58):
was just driving all of a suddenyou hear him, he revs his
engine, splashes us and thewater hits right all on us it
was the devil.
I'm looking up at the sky likegod.
Why?
What did I do to get this thatI'm about to get?
And she was like, oh my god,that's just some bullshit,

(58:19):
that's oh my god, this is, andso I'm like I was soaked, so I'm
like I was soaked.
So I was like okay, let's justgo back.
No, we out here now, we outhere, we out here, this is gone.
I'm like, but baby, you win, Idon't care, this is gone.
And I was like I was so mad.

(58:39):
I was so mad, I was like God,why is that forsaken me?
I was so mad, I was like God,why is that forsaking me?
I was so upset we get to theplace and the place.
We had jazz that night too.

Speaker 1 (58:51):
No, that wasn't jazz, that was sushi.
What was the first Sushi?
Yeah, we did sushi, because bythe jazz side I was good.

Speaker 2 (58:58):
But I'm saying, but it was, but your mood changed.
What made your mood change atthe restaurant?
Because the walk home was muchdifferent.

Speaker 1 (59:08):
Maybe it was just the vibe.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
Once I got the vibe of the city, I don't know, but
all I know is like I was sodisappointed, you know what I
mean.
And then we had dinner and even, like I said, maybe it was the
wine, because when you came homeeverything was great.
Coming back, you know thelights and all symbols, you know
bright, and we're in the cityand we see the, the ancient
buildings and stuff, and we getback to the hotel, you know, and

(59:31):
then, of course, the nextmorning we go to the wide
workout and um, walk around thisbeautiful city of Montreal and
the rest, the rest of the tripwas amazing, but, uh, I just
knew right then that it was over.

Speaker 1 (59:44):
I was ready to fly back that same day, actually,
matter of fact, when she saidMontreal, because I was ready to
say give my whole life, eventhough I know there's tons of
places in the world, never oncethat we talked about Montreal,
never once that I've spokenabout Canada, never once that we
talked about Canada.
Now we did talk about a lot ofplaces that had beaches and I am

(01:00:08):
really like like the tropical,like I thought it was gonna be a
Jamaica, I thought it was gonnabe an Aruba.
I just knew that's where wewere going, that's what I packed
for y'all.
We got that.
I had to buy clothes.

Speaker 2 (01:00:25):
I was cold, but we've been, we've done beaches.

Speaker 1 (01:00:29):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:00:30):
You know what I'm saying, but it was like but we
had not done beaches out thecountry.
No, but I wanted.

Speaker 1 (01:00:36):
Other than the cruise , that ain't the same.

Speaker 2 (01:00:38):
But I wanted to do something that I knew would be a
surprise.

Speaker 1 (01:00:42):
And I succeeded.

Speaker 2 (01:00:42):
It was a surprise.
Well, and I succeeded it was asurprise.
It was a surprise, and but letme tell y'all straight up y'all,
when it come to, when it's herbirthday or anniversary, I get
sick because I can't.
I'm like, I'm worried about ifit's gonna be about any like.
If if is, is she gonna beimpressed like I'm?

(01:01:03):
I'm easy to please when itcomes to because I like
everything and I like the effort, sometimes more than I like the
event, but that makes me likethe event even more.
You know what I'm saying.
Just for people to say I'vedone this for you and they're
happy for it makes me so happythat you know somebody's doing

(01:01:23):
it, but for me it's like but,but I'm not I am appreciative.

Speaker 1 (01:01:30):
I had just maybe it was my fault for already in my
brain, thinking I knew what itwas going to be.
And so, uh, yes, that's where Ithought I was going to go.
The ladies that I worked withthey're like where do you think
you're going?
And and where I thought I wasgoing to go, the ladies that I
worked with they're like wheredo you think you're going?
And so I thought it was goingto be that.

(01:01:50):
And yeah, I just.
I do wear my emotions on myface.
You will know what I'm thinkingor feeling because it will pop
up there first, before I evenrealize my face has shifted.

Speaker 2 (01:02:04):
It's a lot.
It's a lot of this when we,together, fix your face, fix
your face.
That's your face.
They see you.
Fix your face, yes.

Speaker 1 (01:02:10):
That's.
That's just me, but once I gotover that I wasn't at the beach
laying out.
Montreal was a very beautifulplace.
We had a fantastic time and itwas definitely a place I would
never, ever choose or would havenever even chosen what is it?

Speaker 2 (01:02:30):
a place that you would love to return to I would
love to return to it so heactually did a good job after
all.

Speaker 1 (01:02:36):
I just had to get over the shock because I'm
telling y'all in my mind I wasthinking I was gonna be laying
poolside ordering me some drinksand being cute, um, in my
little swimsuit and everythingso I have a couple of years,
what we do like, uh, women dowith their babies.

Speaker 2 (01:02:55):
I have a couple of months oh lord for me to prepare
for her 50th yes and what I'msaying, a couple months, you
know calculating years you know,you know, somebody say my baby
is 56 months.

Speaker 1 (01:03:07):
Yeah, I'm not going to be 50 in two months.

Speaker 2 (01:03:08):
No, so it's stressful already of thinking about where
we're going to go.

Speaker 1 (01:03:15):
He should not be stressed.
I have grown since then.
That was 10 years ago Come onnow.
So listen, I'm all about peaceand joy.
It will be fine.
Please do not stress yourself.

Speaker 2 (01:03:31):
Come on now.
Let me let y'all know.

Speaker 1 (01:03:34):
And I think like, and that also was like the
beginning of our trip,adventures like out the country.

Speaker 2 (01:03:40):
That was our first.
That was our very first, ourfirst non-cruise trip out of the
country, of course, Because Ihad just got my passport.

Speaker 1 (01:03:49):
You had a passport, but you had to get it renewed
and it was delayed and allthings.
But yeah, that was thebeginning.
So you know, I feel like it'sgoing to be fine.

Speaker 2 (01:03:58):
And if she trusts me, I never steer her wrong.
Yes and see, we always have agood time, no matter where we go
.

Speaker 1 (01:04:06):
And listen after that trip.
I trust you.
I trust you completely.

Speaker 2 (01:04:11):
When I tell y'all my my feelings.

Speaker 1 (01:04:17):
I know his feelings are hurt.
I apologize, didn't I?

Speaker 2 (01:04:20):
You did, I think you did.

Speaker 1 (01:04:21):
You didn't even have to.

Speaker 2 (01:04:22):
You didn't have to, because when I knew at the end
you had a good time.
You know what I mean.
A lot of times, things that wedo, you know a lot of times you
don't have to apologize.

Speaker 1 (01:04:31):
Well, I still do, because that's important.

Speaker 2 (01:04:33):
Yeah, but you know I don't go and say you going to
apologize to me.

Speaker 1 (01:04:39):
I don't because I know.

Speaker 2 (01:04:40):
I'm wrong, I'm going to make.

Speaker 1 (01:04:42):
I'm going to right my wrong.

Speaker 2 (01:04:44):
But, even, but, even.
With that being said a lot oftimes, I know that if something
was what I felt was done wrongto me, was not done wrong to me
because of who I am.
It was probably because of thesituation.
Yeah so much that has bottledyou in.

Speaker 1 (01:05:04):
It was miscommunication.
Yeah, or I was the closestthing, I was the much that has
bottled you in.

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
It was miscommunication yeah, or I was
the closest thing.
I was the closest outlet at thetime.

Speaker 1 (01:05:09):
It was miscommunication and telling me
to pack the wrong clothes.

Speaker 2 (01:05:15):
But you have to prepare.
When you are surprisingsomebody like to throw a monkey
wrench in it, you got to tellthem.
Just to prepare for anything Iain't, do you?
Like that and in today's worldchild, you got to prepare
because we don't know what theweather going to be like Like.
Look at California.

Speaker 1 (01:05:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:05:32):
But you know, I'm different, tyrone With surprises
, am I not?

Speaker 1 (01:05:37):
Yes, but I'm.

Speaker 2 (01:05:37):
I'm very different.
I don't look, I don't search.

Speaker 1 (01:05:43):
He doesn't, but I would not have let him pack 9100
degree weather to go to 67degree weather.

Speaker 2 (01:05:55):
You had some things that were.
You had some things that werewarm.
You had some things that werewe were at H&M buying clothes
now, look, I didn't know howcold it was, because when we
went to, uh uh, bota bota thespa and we had that outside part
where we had to be in a in thehot tub, we were cold.

(01:06:16):
We had to put our necks all theway to our chin just to stay
warm so our face was cold andsomebody had me packing 90 to
100 degrees, but even thatclothes.
Even during that I was, we hadan amazing experience.

Speaker 1 (01:06:32):
We did have an amazing experience.
If you have not been tomontreal, it is a beautiful
place.
It is so beautiful, it'sartificial yeah, and then the
language mostly spoken there isfrench, and the signs are in
French, and um, and in July inQuebec, which is close to
Montreal they have a big city,what they call it?
They kept saying Quebec citythey have a big jazz festival.

(01:06:53):
Um, that is on my bucket list.
It's going to the jazz festivalin Quebec.

Speaker 2 (01:06:57):
Maybe we'll do that, cause you know Kimani loves jazz
too.

Speaker 1 (01:07:00):
Yeah, when he gets his lady friend.
So anywho, with all that said,all date nights or all date
vacations may not go well, butthey can go well um in the end
and um you may have somebody whois not appreciative at the
beginning but they'reappreciative at the end and and
and like to say don't throw thebaby.

Speaker 2 (01:07:19):
I mean don't throw cree out with the bathwater.

Speaker 1 (01:07:21):
No, don't do it.

Speaker 2 (01:07:22):
Give her a little time to warm up after she
finished saying.

Speaker 1 (01:07:25):
Montreal, Montreal.
I was like what the hell is aMontreal?
I don't even know where that is.

Speaker 2 (01:07:33):
Oh my God, I want a refund check, please.
I felt like crap that day.
What, oh, it is who you are.
And then the rain, and it waslike, oh my God.
All right and then the rain andit was like oh my god, alright,
alright, y'all wait, wait onemore thing before we leave
what's?

Speaker 1 (01:07:48):
up.
We started with joy.
We end with joy.
What's one thing you'regrateful for?

Speaker 2 (01:07:51):
I'm grateful for my family man cause, like I was
just telling my co-worker today,I said no, yesterday we had a
back to school night and theywanted a meeting, wanted
teachers to beat up for ptsa.
I said, look, I like going home.
Like I love going home like areal, real, real talk.

(01:08:14):
I I'm not the kind of personthat sits in my car and be like,
all right, let me go in hereand see what's going on.
I like I'm ready to get home.
We're racing to get home, youknow.
I know I am to see my wife.
I'm ready to be home, I'm readyto lay beside her, sit beside
her, talk to her, all that kindof stuff, you know.

(01:08:36):
So I'm grateful that I have afamily, that I enjoy that and I
will pop my collar that I wassmart and diligent and patient
with choosing the right personto date.

Speaker 1 (01:09:00):
Now I'm going to ditto that.
But I think sometimes theenjoyment of our family, that we
sometimes just get lost in eachother, where we don't even have
to, well, for me I guess Ishould say we don't need nobody
else, just me and you, ooh, baby, I mean I'm content with being

(01:09:23):
at home, and I think our boyscan sometimes be that way.
Baby, I mean I'm content withbeing at home.
And I think our boys cansometimes be that way too and so
we have some of our friends andwe're like we need to call them
so we can do a date nighttogether or hang out or whatever
.
But we just get so comfortable.
But anywho, yeah, I'm gratefulto have a comfortable space,

(01:09:49):
because not everybody has acomfortable, peaceful space.
Protective environment To be in.
So, yeah, I'm grateful, I'mgrateful for that.

Speaker 2 (01:10:00):
You stole.

Speaker 1 (01:10:01):
She just said it Okay , I'll say something else I'm
grateful for, then I'll saysomething else I'm grateful for.
Then I'll say something elseI'm grateful for what you
grateful for.
I actually am grateful for myjob, the work I get to do now
Like I really enjoy it, I feelCome on now.
Like I always feel like Iworked in my purpose because I

(01:10:25):
think children are somethingthat I'm supposed to be with but
you don't see.
I don't see children, notchildren.

Speaker 2 (01:10:33):
You don't see the results for children until a lot
of time.

Speaker 1 (01:10:39):
You was my favorite teacher.

Speaker 2 (01:10:41):
Yeah, but this I can say you're getting feedback
immediately.

Speaker 1 (01:10:46):
yes, and that's good for you.
Yeah, so I enjoy it.
I feel like it.
Um has helped me grow um and umyou don't sweat as much when
you present.

Speaker 2 (01:10:58):
Oh listen, when I used to present y'all.

Speaker 1 (01:11:00):
I used to wear a black because I was a sweating
fool.
And now I don't even do thatanymore, but I used to be a
sweat school and so I don't dothat anymore.
But, yeah, I enjoy it.
I feel like it's leading me toa new, another I should say new,
but another purpose.
Like any whom, I'm always aboutgrowing and going and doing new

(01:11:23):
things.
I'm not afraid of change andgrowth, and so, yeah, so I'm
grateful for this opportunitythat I have now, because I feel
like this opportunity ispreparing me for another
opportunity, so I'm grateful forthat.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
So we always say we and you know me and I will say
I'm rubbing off on you with that, because I don't let moss grow
under my feet like I'm always,because you always say you're
trying to play the guitar,you're trying to DJ, you're
trying to do this, you're tryingto do that, you're trying to
podcast, but it's like I have todo what the heart says do yeah

(01:12:01):
and doing what the heart says domean you're true to exactly who
you are and you grow in manydifferent ways and I know that
and I tell you all the time thisis only a stepping stone for
you, it's only a springboard foryou.
Get every what I say.
Get every what from themtraining, yes, whatever all the

(01:12:24):
things because it's gonna helpyou be your own boss, yeah, and
you're gonna do it.
But then I'm telling you I,girl, you know I ain't gonna lie
to you.
Now, don't lie to me.
I'm gonna lie to you, I'll jokewith you, but I ain't gonna lie
to you.
You're gonna be like it's it's,it's just crazy.
You are going to be walkingaround on somebody's stage with

(01:12:46):
one of them little microphonething right here on your by.

Speaker 1 (01:12:49):
Janet Jackson.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
Yep, talking about, you can do it.
I ain't saying that.
I ain't saying that I know youhave it in you.
You are amazing.
You're going to be doing yourown TED Talk Watch.

Speaker 1 (01:13:07):
You think I'm kidding .
Beloved Beloved, beloved no youare amazing.

Speaker 2 (01:13:08):
You're gonna be doing your own TED talk.
Watch you think of it.
Beloved, beloved.
You're gonna do your own, tedtalk, though watch, it's gonna
be cool.
Yeah, it's, it's gonna beamazing.
So I mean, you know you gotthis.

Speaker 1 (01:13:24):
Oh, thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:13:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:13:27):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:13:27):
No problem.
Well, families, it's been great.
Uh, we got some episodes comingup where we're going to bring
some guests on, whether it's ourboys or, uh, my cousins and my
brothers.
We're going to have some somewhat we call it, what they call

(01:13:49):
round table discussions.
Yeah, we're going to have someround table discussions.
So I mean, I know y'all likelistening to us, you know, but
we definitely got some people inmy family country, down home,
people that we're just a crazyindividual.
We're going to be in your home,in your car, on that walk with

(01:14:10):
you, on that treadmill with you.
We're going to be in your lives.
So continue to listen, continueto like, comment, subscribe,
share.

Speaker 1 (01:14:22):
Yeah, and we just hope we bring a little bit of
joy.
Yes, that's what we like to,yeah, and we just hope we bring
a little bit of joy.
Yes, that's what we like toprovide and hope.

Speaker 2 (01:14:31):
It's the joy and laughter.

Speaker 1 (01:14:31):
Keep hope alive.
Keep hope alive, and not onlywith our joy and laughter.
We also like to leave you witha little something to think
about.

Speaker 2 (01:14:37):
That's right, that's right.
And to grow from.
And we ain't trying to get deep, nope, we can get deep
Sometimes.
This one, we ain't trying toget deep, no, we can get deep
Sometimes, this one.
You see, hey, y'all see, shesaid I can get deep, oh sure,
hey.

Speaker 1 (01:14:48):
I can get deep, deep, all right.
With that being said, we areending today.
Thank y'all for listening.
Subscribe, it's free.
It is free, and like and leaveyour comments.

Speaker 2 (01:15:06):
Adios amigos, your comments.
Adios amigos, we love y'all.
Bye, appreciate you.
Bye, the refreshingly normalpodcast.
Freshly Normal Podcast.