1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vandercamp. I'm a mother of five, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. And this is Sarah Hart Hunger. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm a mother of three, a practicing physician and blogger. 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: On the side, we are two working parents who love 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: our careers and our families. Welcome to best of both worlds. 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Here we talk about how real women manage work, family, 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: and time for fun, from figuring out childcare to mapping 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: out long term career goals. We want you to get 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: the most out of life. Welcome to best of both worlds. 10 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: This is Laura. This is episode one hundred and seventy eight, 11 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: which was first airing in late December of twenty twenty. 12 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: Our last episode of twenty twenty. Twenty twenty is going 13 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: to be in the books soon, which I know many 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: people are grateful for. Although you know, it's been in 15 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: my case watching Henry grow up this year. It's been 16 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: his first year of life with all this stuff happening, 17 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: and so I wouldn't want to wush it away because 18 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed seeing that. You know, the kids learn 19 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: and grow over that first year. Although weekends and evenings 20 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,919 Speaker 1: and such with babies are very challenging So, Sarah, how 21 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: is how are weekends with holidays going for you with 22 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: kids these days? Yeah, and in full disclosure, this question 23 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: came from it kind of this intro inspiration came from 24 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,279 Speaker 1: Instagram or someone just wanted to hear how our weekend 25 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: days with kids were going these days. So I thought 26 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: that would be fun to talk about. And I wanted 27 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,279 Speaker 1: to know from Laura's perspective if her number of anchor 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: events has changed it all since she had a baby, 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: So we'll see what she says ours have changed recently. 30 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: As I mentioned that Genevieve has stopped napping, So you know, 31 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: we had this built in structure of like go out 32 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: in the morning, rush home, get her to sleep, relax, 33 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: take a nap while she takes a nap, and then 34 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: get up and figure something else out. And now all 35 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: of a sudden, it's like, oh, that structure doesn't have 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: to have to constrain us anymore. Necessarily. I still would 37 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: like to have some kind of afternoon quiet time, which 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: I mentioned previously, so you know we're working on that, 39 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: but you know, if we're both off, we try to 40 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: do some kind of an outing most days. I know 41 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: some people are able to just put her around the house. 42 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: I think the ages of our kids were just not 43 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: there yet. It's not very enjoyable to spend all day 44 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: in the house. I mean, if the weather is terrible 45 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: and we're forced to, then that it is what it is. 46 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: But otherwise we are either going to a park, or 47 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: we're trying to go hiking, or we are trying to 48 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: check out the zoo or some other kind of like 49 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: outdoor attraction since it is a nice season and because pandemic, 50 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: So that's kind of our current structure. And then we 51 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: either eat lunch on the go or eat lunch at home, 52 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: although eating lunch and the go has gotten harder recently 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: because again pandemic. But then when we get home we 54 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: are a little bit more lazy. In the afternoons, some 55 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: screens typically come on, and then we've still been doing 56 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 1: a very regular rotation of takeout night on Saturday and Sunday. 57 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: I typically that's like our family meal, where I cook 58 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: something and it can get a little fancy. Last week 59 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: Cameron requested crab again, so I cooked a bunch of 60 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: dungeness crabs and we had the little things to open 61 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: them and make corn and potatoes and beans and stuff 62 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: and they it was. It was like a nice family dinner. 63 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: That sounds really awesome. I wish my kids would have crab, 64 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: but well Sam will eat lobster in crabs, so yes, 65 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: he's that kid. The others don't know what they're missing. Well, 66 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: with a baby who is crawling everywhere and pulling himself 67 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: up on furniture and such, there is no puttering around 68 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: on weekends. Or you know, here's the thing. There can 69 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: be one person puttering around on the weekends, but that 70 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: means that the other person then needs to be watching 71 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: the baby, and if that is not mutually agreed upon, 72 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: that can lead to resentment on one part or the other. 73 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: So we really have to kind of trade it off 74 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: and say like, okay, here's who's doing what at what time, 75 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: so each of us can get our exercise in or 76 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: any trips or other such things we need to do, 77 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: figuring it out with the other kids activities. Henry is 78 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: still taking two naps at this point, so we're always 79 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: trying to figure out, okay, well, the morning nap, the 80 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: afternoon nap. It's kind of hard to go anywhere. But 81 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: then again, with the pandemic, we have not been doing 82 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: that much anyway. So probably by the time things really 83 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: start opening up for that possibility, he's going to be 84 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: in the one nap stage, which will be fine because 85 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: then we can go do a morning activity, come home, 86 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: do the afternoon nap, and have that time that we 87 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: know will be quiet because the older kids can generally 88 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: do stuff. I mean, Alex is a bit hit or miss, 89 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: although usually if we get him on the computer, he 90 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: will watch it for hours, so we kind of think 91 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: of it as camp YouTube. But the only problem is 92 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: if the other kids decide they want the family computer, 93 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: so we have to make sure that they do not 94 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: want the family computer, like, please watch something on your phones, 95 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: watch something on the iPad, go do something else, do 96 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: not take the one computer that Alex wants. You know, 97 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: kids do grow up. I had this great idea back 98 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: in early twenty twenty, and I had hired basically a 99 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: second part time nanny, partly to help with driving in 100 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: the afternoons and then to do Saturdays, as you know, 101 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: a full day of childcare, so that we could do 102 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: the older kids' activities and not have, you know, the 103 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: stress of having somebody home for the baby's naps or 104 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: somebody having to watch the baby on the sidelines of 105 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: games and things like that, and then, of course with 106 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: the pandemic, we did not that was not able to 107 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: continue that that particular person didn't actually want to keep 108 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: coming whether that was allowed or not, she was not 109 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: comfortable doing so. So that was the end of that. 110 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: And so we've just been on for weekends, and you know, 111 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: I mean it probably it's something I will look into 112 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: again as things scale back up, because you know, we 113 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: haven't had as many places to go, but when we 114 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: do again, I think we're gonna like we will have 115 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: to have somebody home in the afternoon while the baby naps. Possibly, 116 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: you know, as Jasper is fourteen, maybe that person could 117 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: be him. So yeah, I haven't entirely thought that out, 118 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: but we can are not exactly relaxing these days. Yeah, 119 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: and solo weekends, I have to say, which I have 120 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: a fair number of them. Approximately one third of the 121 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: weekends I spend myself with the kids. I used to 122 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: like really hate them, and I feel like they're getting 123 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: slowly better. I just want to mention that. But I 124 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: greatly look forward to the time when I can start 125 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: like inviting people over casually again and not worry about 126 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: viral transmission because I think that then I think it 127 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: will just be great because I can just like have 128 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: play dates and I don't know, I look forward to that. Excellent. 129 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: All right, Well let's go to our interview. Hello, and 130 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: I have Simone de Muno's here. I am so excited 131 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: to have her on the show. She is working in 132 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: a nonprofit sector and she is a Silicon Valley resident. 133 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: We haven't had too many of those, so I'm very 134 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: excited to have a California guest today. And she also 135 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: has some exciting secrets to share about how to write 136 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: a novel during a pandemic, as well as what it's 137 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: like to raise kids with an O pair. So welcome, Simone. 138 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: We're so excited to have you. Thank you so so much, Sarah, 139 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: I'm really really excited to be on today. Awesome. Well, 140 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit about what you're currently doing 141 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: for work, and how old your kids are, and maybe 142 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: how long have you been listening to the podcast, because 143 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: you're one of our listeners who wrote in was so 144 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: excited to come on. Yeah, I don't remember exactly how 145 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: long I've been listening to the podcast. To get into 146 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: my background, I have a master's in public policy, and 147 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: I work at a local nonprofit here in Silicon Valley, 148 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: where I've been for four years. I actually started off 149 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: running the diabetes program, so I thought that's something that 150 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: you might be interested in. I know you have a 151 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: passion for helping with that, and I'm currently an analyst 152 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: and in my spare time I like to write. I'm 153 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: coming out with my debut novel, man Flu in the spring, 154 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: and I've been married for fourteen years and I have 155 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: two boys, ages six and nine, and also a boy dog. 156 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: So everyone is a boy, boy dog and two boys. 157 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: That is fantastic. Actually, ore O pair is also a man, 158 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: just pure testosterone in my house. Oh my goodness. Oh 159 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: that's interesting. I feel like that's probably not as common, 160 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: So I want to know a little bit more about that. Well, 161 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: did you always plan on joining the nonprofit sector or 162 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: had you had spent a stint in the corporate world 163 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: as well. I was in the corporate world for a while. 164 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: I worked in a variety of different positions. I actually 165 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: did consulting for about six years. I took a couple 166 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: of years off after my second child was born, and 167 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: then I decided I wanted to go into something a 168 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: little bit more meaningful, and that's when I looked for 169 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: a position in the nonprofit world. And have you been 170 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 1: at the same place ever since or is it more 171 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: common to kind of go from from different place to 172 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 1: different places. I've been in at the same agency for 173 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: the past four years. So the first two years I 174 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: was there, I was running the diabetes program, and then 175 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: I actually created the role that I'm in now, which 176 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: is the analyst role. I started helping people with data 177 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: questions because I have that background and different systems, and 178 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: also some writing for work communications for our development department, 179 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: and I wrapped all of that up into a totally 180 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: new job that I have. So yeah, I was able 181 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: to create my own job. Oh that's so cool. You 182 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: kind of like designed your own promotion in a way. Yes, 183 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: Oh that's great. I feel like that kind of career 184 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: crafting definitely has helped me enjoy things along the way. 185 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: It's like you just tweak it, and you tweak it 186 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: and it doesn't have to have been a road that 187 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: was traveled by someone before. So that's really cool. Well 188 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: where did you have your So you said you took 189 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: a little bit of time off after at least one 190 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: of your kids. Where did they kind of fit into 191 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 1: your work and career journey. When I was working at 192 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: the consulting firm, I had my first child and I 193 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: went down to part time after having him, and it 194 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: worked great. I worked nine to one most days, or 195 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: for a while I did nine to two every day, 196 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: and then I had Fridays off to take care of 197 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: household tasks. And I'm a big believer in something you 198 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: both have mentioned before, you and Laura, which is have 199 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: that extra childcare if you can swing it, like to 200 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: have extra childcare for getting life tasks done. And then 201 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: so yeah, I was working part time when I was 202 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: pregnant with my second child, and then after having two kids, 203 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 1: I decided it was a bit much and I wanted 204 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: to take a little time at home with both of them. 205 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: So I was out of the workforce for a little 206 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: over two years before starting my current job. And was 207 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: it hard to get back in or was it relatively 208 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: easy to find something you wanted to do? It took 209 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: a while because I was really looking for the right opportunity. 210 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: I didn't just want to take any job. I wanted 211 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: to do something meaningful, and taking that job running the 212 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: diabetes program was just perfect because that was really where 213 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: my interests were at that time, and so I had 214 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: expected to maybe take off one year from work, but 215 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: it was more than two years. So I don't think 216 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: it was necessarily hard. It just took a while. Okay, 217 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: And does your partner have like a fairly inflexible job, 218 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: like similar to my situation or are you both able 219 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 1: to well, I'm interested kind of how you decided to 220 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: choose an open and whether that was a factor with things. 221 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: That's kind of two different things. My partner is in 222 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: the tech sector, so he is he has a very 223 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: busy job. A lot of the day to day childcare 224 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: falls to me. I mean, he's a super involved dad, 225 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: especially on weekends when he has more time, but he 226 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: sometimes has to work late and I can't necessarily rely 227 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: on him to be there to cover certain times. So yeah, 228 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: the O pair is really convenient for our situation. And 229 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: this pair is the first one we've had. He's been 230 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: with us for about two years. We got really lucky 231 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: that when the pandemic hit, we had this childcare situation 232 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: in place, which is really safe and works out perfectly 233 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: for us and also helps the kids learn Spanish. We're 234 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: now in the process of looking for our second O 235 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: pair because there's a time limit to the program. I 236 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: can get into a little bit about the O pair 237 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: program if you want. Yeah, definitely. Actually it was funny. 238 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: Josh and I were not planning on changing our situation, 239 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: but that was one thing that came up. We're like, 240 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: we could get a Spanish speaking O pair and maybe 241 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: that would help me. I can back to be okay, 242 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: But I wanted to know first before you tell us 243 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: more about the old pair program, like what made you 244 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: decide to go with O pair versus daycare versus nanny? 245 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: And actually you said it was two different things. But 246 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: obviously your husband's flexibility or lack thereof, is going to 247 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: be depending on what your flexibility level is, one of 248 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: the deciding factors, right, because if you have two very 249 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: flexible workers, then things like daycare can often work because 250 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: you know you both have a lot of flex but 251 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: it sounds like he does not you have some. And 252 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: so tell us about how you made that choice to 253 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: go with an old pair and how old were your 254 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: kids when you first started going that route. Our kids 255 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: are six and nine right now, so you two years ago, 256 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: they were three and six when we first got the pair. 257 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: How do we decide. Well, we've had a number of 258 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: different childcare situations. We had various nannies. We had some 259 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: great nannies and then we also had some not so 260 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: great nannies. I'm sure everyone can relate to that kind 261 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: of nanny horror story. Yeah, let's not go there. But 262 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: we wanted somebody really reliable and consistent, and we had 263 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: the space in our home, which is part of the program. 264 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: The O pair needs to have their own bedroom, and 265 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: so that could be a factor for people deciding whether 266 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: to join the program. They do need to have that space, 267 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: but it's also very cost effective if you want flexibility 268 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: or if you want a lot of hours of care. 269 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: We didn't need that many hours of care, but we 270 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: did like the flexibility. When we first got the OLP heir, 271 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: he was mostly just helping out in the afternoons because 272 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: the kids were in school or preschool. But now, with 273 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: everything going on, he takes on more hours and that's fine. 274 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 1: As part of the O pair program, was it harder 275 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: to find a mail and was that something you were 276 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 1: looking for. No, we weren't looking for a male specifically. 277 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: We were looking for a qualified person. It was a 278 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: situation where we were looking for someone kind of quickly 279 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: because another child care situation had fallen through, and so 280 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: I think other families may He didn't want a male, 281 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: and we were able to get him for that reason 282 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: more easily because it's it's a process where you have 283 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: to pick the pair and they also have to pick you. 284 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: It's a match. It's like residency or something like that. Yeah, 285 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: that makes sense, and you were open to anything, and 286 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: so by that you ended up with him. And was 287 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: the Spanish something that you were seeking out. Yeah, we 288 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: were looking for someone who spoke Spanish. That was really 289 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: important to us. He's from Spain. And also, I mean 290 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: we weren't necessarily looking for a male, but I think 291 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: it's a benefit because we do have two boys, and 292 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: I really like that they're seeing a male in a 293 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: caregiver role. That's something that's been a nice benefit. Yeah, 294 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: that's really cool. I didn't really think of that angle. 295 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: That actually is really cool to show that can do anything. 296 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: No matter what. You talked a little about kind of 297 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: like the regulations. Just in case some of our listeners 298 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: aren't familiar, do you want to talk about some of 299 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: the rules about old pairs, Like I know they're not 300 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: supposed to stay do like overnight childcare. And I know 301 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: there's certain regulations about the different types of housework they 302 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: are are not allowed to do. Yeah, I'm not an expert. 303 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: I could talk a little bit about it. They can't 304 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: work more than forty five hours in a week, that's 305 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: the big one, and I believe it's ten hours per day. 306 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: And they have to have one and a half days 307 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: off in a row each week, and they have to 308 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: have a full weekend off once a month. In terms 309 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: of housework, they're able to do housework that relates to 310 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: your children or something for the family. So they're able 311 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: to make meals for the family as kind of you know, 312 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: everyone takes turns making meals. They can do your children's laundry, 313 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: but it's not something where you would have them cleaning 314 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: your house. That makes sense. And then I guess I'd 315 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: love to hear how it worked out during the pandemic. 316 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: So you already had him in your home, and so 317 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: was that just like the most wonderful kind of setup 318 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: that you could have imagined. It's been such a relief, 319 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: and I feel so bad for all my other friends 320 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: who are going crazy trying to work and manage Zoom 321 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: school and do house and just do everything that has 322 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: to be done right now without childcare. I know my 323 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: friends are having a really rough time, and for us 324 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: it's just been so nice not having to worry about that. 325 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: We've even managed to have date nights when the restaurant, 326 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: the outdoor dining is open. We've had date nights. You know. 327 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: It's like nobody can even imagine having a date night 328 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: right now during the pandemic. No, it is hard to do, 329 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: especially depending on you know, finding a trusted source of 330 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: childcare and all that. Oh my gosh, well that put 331 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: you in a beautiful position. So that takes me to 332 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: my segue of how were you able to cobble together 333 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: an entire novel during this time. I actually started writing 334 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: the novel before the pandemic. It's a little scary I 335 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: might have predicted this pandemic. Or maybe what I write 336 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: comes true. That could be very scary. I'm to write book. Actually, 337 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: I was telling a friend about my book and he said, okay, 338 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: so for your next book, can you write about me 339 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: winning the lottery? That is awesome, where you could write 340 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: about an author who would whatever she writes comes true. Yeah, 341 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: creepy exactly. So I'm a little scared. But no, I 342 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: started writing in the summer of twenty nineteen, and then 343 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: the pandemic unfolded. I had to kind of incorporate some 344 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: of the things that were happening into the actual story. 345 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're interested in how I actually found the 346 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: time to write the book. I am, although I want 347 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: you to tell our listeners about the story itself as well, 348 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: because it is that was pretty Obviously we're not going 349 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: to have spoilers, but whatever you're comfortable sharing, we're going 350 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: to take a very quick ad break and we're going 351 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: to be right back, and then we're going to hear 352 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: a little bit about this upcoming novel. All right, we 353 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: are back, and whatever author Simone is ready to share, 354 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: tell us about it. And then I also want to 355 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: hear how you managed to get that done. Yeah, I'm 356 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: excited to tell you about the now. So it's actually 357 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: a post pandemic world. The book is called man Flu. 358 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: I should start with that. The book is called man flu. 359 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: And you might think that that's where your husband has 360 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: a cold, he's in bed and you have the same cold, 361 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: but you're up living your life, feeding the kids, running around. 362 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: It's not actually about that. That kind of a funny situation, 363 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: but this it's a thriller. So we're in a post 364 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: pandemic world where ten years prior men have either been 365 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: weakened or killed by this man flu virus and there's 366 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: very few remaining healthy men left. The main character is 367 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: a vaccine researcher who is seeking the vaccine for this virus, 368 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: and of course she meets this handsome neighbor who's never 369 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: yet had the virus, and things become personal as she 370 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: continues to look for this vaccine. Oh my gosh, you 371 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: actually had this prior to COVID nineteen. That is a 372 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: little scary and amazing and also is going to put 373 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: you in a very good position because everyone's going to 374 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: be excited to read this thriller. So this is being 375 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: released like widely in March. I believe, Yes, Wow, that 376 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: is so exciting. We'll have to closer to when it 377 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: comes out. We'll have we'll put like a little like 378 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: link back so everybody can also see your interview again 379 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: at that point, because I want to remind everybody, But 380 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: can it be pre ordered? Not quite there yet, but 381 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: I will let you know all the information when I haven't. Okay, awesome, 382 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: because if it can be pre ordered, then I will 383 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 1: encourage people to go check it out. I know I 384 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: am interested, although I will admit that like I read 385 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: Station eleven in an inopportune time and around January of 386 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: this year, I just like, I really wish I hadn't 387 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: read that, Like it was a beautiful piece of work, 388 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: but I really wish I hadn't actually absorbed it. But 389 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: that's what I had to watch all these pandemic related 390 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: TV shows and read all this pandemic related stuff as 391 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: I was writing the book, just to prepare. And yeah, 392 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be watching it or reading it either. Okay, 393 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: so the second part of my question, tell me about 394 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: this writing process because it had already been started prior, 395 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: but that's when you actually ended up finishing it, which 396 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: is quite a lot of work. And did you you 397 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: were working with a publisher? I am, yeah, I love 398 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: me kissing, I have a lot give us the story. Well, yeah, 399 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: so I started writing writing the book. And I don't 400 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: know if you're familiar with Nano Rimo. Yes, yeah, so 401 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: Nano Ramo National Novel Writers a month. I know you've 402 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: talked about maybe wanting to write a novel someday two. Well, 403 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: that's where people set this goal of writing fifty thousand 404 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: words in a month, which is a good chunk of 405 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: a novel. And I saw that and I thought, well, 406 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: that's a great idea, but there's no way with everything 407 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: else going on in my life, I could write a 408 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: novel in a month. But how long would it take 409 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: to write a novel? And how could I think about that, 410 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: analyze that and plan for it. So that's what I did, 411 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: and I thought, well, if I write a thousand words 412 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: a week, that's a novel in a year. You know, 413 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: I'm not in a rush. I can do that. And 414 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: that was the thought process I had in mind with 415 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: the novel. Let's try to do it in a year. 416 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: So it didn't the timing, you know, it didn't work 417 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: out exactly like that, but it was nice to have 418 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: a goal in mind in terms of my publisher. So 419 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: after I'd been working on this novel for a while, 420 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: I went to a writing conference right before the pandemic 421 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: shut travel down. That was in February of twenty nineteen, 422 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: and I twenty twenty, sorry, twenty twenty, Yes, time does 423 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: not have meaning anymore. You're right. Yeah, February of twenty twenty, 424 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: I went to a writing conference and I learned a 425 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: ton about writing. I improved my writing and met people 426 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 1: in the writing community, and that's where I met my publisher, 427 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: so I started a relationship with her. She was really 428 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: interested in the book. She kept saying, you know, tell 429 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: me when you finished it. I really want to work 430 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: with you on this. And I kept writing even as 431 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: the pandemic picked up, and ultimately ended up working with 432 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 1: her on it. That is so cool, but a great story. Well, 433 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: I'm excited to actually see that it, you know, comes 434 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: out and that you were able to just peck away 435 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: at it like that one thousand words a week. I'm 436 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: sure there was like a significant editing process that had 437 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: to happen at the end, but you basically churned all 438 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: the way through and then kind of went back and 439 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: changed her polished things. Or did you just write it 440 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: perfectly at first time? You know, there's definitely an editing process. 441 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 1: And another interesting point too, is I'm guessing that some 442 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: of your listeners are actually interested in maybe more details 443 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: about writing a book. I don't know, people, sure you 444 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: could certainly share. I have a feeling that are definitely 445 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: more than a handful of people listening, including myself, who 446 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: would love to hear what you have to share. So yes, 447 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: go for that. So I did get stuck at some point, 448 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: and I don't know if you know, there's kind of 449 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: two camps of writing. One is plotters and one is 450 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: pantss Okay, So I started off as a pantser, meaning 451 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 1: I'm writing this by the seat of my pants, going 452 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: to see where it goes as a creative outlet. And 453 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: then I hit a wall because that's a really hard 454 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: way to write a novel. And I found a book coach. 455 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: So the book coach helped me come up with an outline, 456 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: and I outlined on the fly while I was writing it, 457 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: and that really helped me to be able to structure 458 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: it and finish the writing. So yeah, that was a 459 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: really important part of the writing process. And then in 460 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: terms of editing, I've had to go and do some 461 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: rounds of editing. I've had beta readers, so that's when 462 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,199 Speaker 1: you send it out for feedback, and then met us 463 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: based on that, and I do have a professional editor 464 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: who's doing the last final changes right now. Oh that's 465 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: so cool. We had Kim Marie Martin on our podcast. 466 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: She wrote the book The Queen of Hearts, which was 467 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: a big debut novel. She's an emergency room position and 468 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: she was like, I'm a full on PANS. So that's 469 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: when I learned about those terms. She's a very successful PANS. 470 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: But I could see how that would be really hard, 471 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: especially if you're writing a thriller with all these movie 472 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: parts or like it has to tie up neatly. But 473 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: if I'm just kind of winging it, it's very hard 474 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: to do. But that is that is so cool to 475 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: hear that process. And what would you say, from start 476 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: to finish? How long did this take you? Yeah, so 477 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: starting in maybe July or August of twenty nineteen. Finishing 478 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: up the edits now it should be wrapped up in 479 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: early January, and then the marketing piece actually takes a 480 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: lot of time. So I've already started marketing. I have 481 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 1: an Instagram page that I've been building up, and so 482 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: I expect the early part of twenty twenty one will 483 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: be a lot of time spent marketing, a lot of 484 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: podcast interviews hopefully. Awesome. Well, that's so cool and it's 485 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: encouraging to know that you can go from from zero 486 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: to sixty with a great idea for a novel in 487 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: less than two years. That's that's that's really really cool. 488 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: Do you think long term that that's going to be 489 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: your main thing or do you think you're always going 490 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: to be kind of a mixing it up, mixing it 491 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: up kind of a person. Well, writing a novel was difficult, 492 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 1: gonna lie and I started getting into it because I 493 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: like that creative process. I like imagining a different kind 494 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: of world, a world where women are in charge, which 495 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 1: is maybe what we have now where we have the 496 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: first female VP coming in. But that's really exciting to me. 497 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: But I think the novel writing process is it's just long, 498 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: you know. I like writing things that are shorter too. 499 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: And over the summer I wrote about I wrote some 500 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: essays about my experience working in a nonprofit during the pandemic, 501 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: and that was so satisfying to be able to write 502 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: those shorter pieces and just have them done in a 503 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: couple of hours and have them out there. And so 504 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: for now, I think after this novel, I might turn 505 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: to some shorter type of writing just to get that 506 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: quicker satisfaction. And I know you write a blog also, 507 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: so you probably can relate to that, yes, but I 508 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: feel like the vlog is so much easier than what 509 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: i'd call real writing because it's like, generally, I'm just 510 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: writing about my life. So I have this blog where 511 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, I write and I feel like I 512 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 1: can put a phrase together. Well, but I don't write, 513 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: and when i'm ever, I have to force myself to 514 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: write something specific, it becomes like ten times harder. So 515 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: I even though I've written many, many, many, many, many, 516 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: disgustingly many words, because my blog's been around for sixteen 517 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: years and I'm like a prolific poster, I don't feel 518 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: like a writer. So maybe someday I'm going to make 519 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 1: it happen. You're kind of inspirational, so I love it great. Well, 520 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: if you write a blog, then you're a writer. You know, 521 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: you're allowed to call yourself a writer as long as 522 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: you're putting words on there. Actually, I can talk about 523 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: some of those essays I wrote. I think that might 524 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: be interesting too, because it's sure I do with the 525 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,479 Speaker 1: nonprofit and how things have changed during this pandemic. So 526 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 1: maybe people would want to hear about that. So tell 527 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: everybody a little bit about those shorter pieces that you 528 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: enjoyed writing and kind of what some of those hot 529 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: topics were during the pandemic. Yeah, so a lot of 530 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 1: them were related to the work I'm doing it at 531 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: the nonprofit. During this pandemic, I met that I have 532 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: a number cruncher role, but in the beginning of the pandemic, 533 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: because so many of our volunteers are elderly and in 534 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: at risk groups, I ended up helping out in the 535 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: food pantry. So the first essay that I wrote was 536 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 1: called World's Collide during COVID nineteen, and it was about 537 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: seeing the people that came through the food pantry and 538 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 1: the situations that they were in, and then my friends 539 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: and me in the tech world, the conversations those people 540 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: were having about the pandemic and how things were just 541 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: on to totally different levels. And then how I actually 542 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: saw some of the people from I called it World 543 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: Day and World Day being the tech world actually come 544 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 1: in for services during the pandemic and how it was 545 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 1: everything was just so strange and having that experience. So 546 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: that was the first piece, and it's actually coming out 547 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: in a book about women's experiences during the pandemic. And 548 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: then I started writing more just about other experiences at 549 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: the food pantry about life. I expanded to all different 550 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: topics body image, frontline workers and how they need to 551 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 1: be getting more attention, and just I kind of use 552 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 1: that as my emotional processing zone. That's fantastic. And you 553 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: don't have formal journalism training. This just kind of grew 554 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: out of really enjoying putting together these pieces and having 555 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: interest in the topics as well as personal experience. Yeah, 556 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: I have an economics degree for undergrad and then I 557 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 1: have a master's in public policy, so I have no 558 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:36,239 Speaker 1: writing training. I just I enjoy reading. I've always been 559 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 1: a big reader and that has helped me to develop 560 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: a foundation for writing. That is fantastic. We'll have to 561 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: send me links to a couple of your recent pieces 562 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: and we can include those for in Laura's posts when 563 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 1: she posted on this day that it comes out, Oh 564 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: that's so cool. Well, you know you are on best 565 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: of both worlds. So we are not going to be 566 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: ending without a love of the week. And I haven't 567 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: thought of one yet. Yours will been really long. I'm 568 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: just kidding. I have a good one. I have a 569 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: good one. As I mentioned, I'm a big reader, and 570 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: we're big readers in my family. I'm still reading to 571 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: both of my kids. Even my nine year old will 572 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: read with me, which is really sweet. And so I 573 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: have the perfect book recommendation. It's called Front Desk by 574 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: Kelly Yang, and it's middle grade fiction. So middle grade 575 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: fiction is targeted at eight to twelve year olds, but 576 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: you can if you're reading it out loud, you can 577 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: go a little bit younger. I'm reading it to my 578 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: six year old now, and it's the story of an 579 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: immigrant family from China, and the daughter of the family 580 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: is the main character. She's ten years old and she's 581 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: helping her her parents run this motel. And the book 582 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: really gets into issues of immigration, racism, all kinds of things, 583 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: but in a way that kids can understand. And also 584 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: it's enjoyable for adults to read. And the author has 585 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: written a number of other books too, which I'm excited 586 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: to check out. Oh that is so cool. I love that. 587 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: I think I might get that. I bet my older 588 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: two I have a he's seven, but he'll wasn't almost anything. 589 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: So I love the idea of reading it allowed as well. 590 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: So Front Desk, thank you. My love of the week 591 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: is going to be the fact that all three of 592 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: my kids sleep in the same room now, and I 593 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: know that's maybe a little weird, but it's actually really 594 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: really convenient, and it's helped my toddler start sleeping well again. 595 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: And like last night, I was putting them to bed 596 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: and she at the very last moment, she was like, 597 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: I need a story, and I was like, Annabell'll tell 598 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: her a story, and then I'd left and it was 599 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 1: just amazing. Not that I'm cold like that, but I 600 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: had been in there for a solid forty minutes and 601 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: I was ready to go to bed. So the fact 602 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: that my eight year old can take over for me 603 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,239 Speaker 1: and then they're all happy to do that makes me 604 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: very happy. And by the way, my almost seven year 605 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: old had passed out listening to Harry Potter just prior. 606 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: It was just the little one and the big one awake. 607 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 1: So they're all in the same room and it's cozy, 608 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: and I feel like it's like a Dickens novel or something, 609 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: but I whatever works exactly. So that's my love of 610 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: the week. My six year old was up at five 611 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: am this morning. Not your love of the week. No, 612 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, well, thank you, thank you for being 613 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: on Simone de Munos. I'm so excited to read Man Flu. 614 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: Even though it's going to haunt me, I'm still gonna 615 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: read it anyway because it sounds awesome. I'm going to 616 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: haunt you. It's fun. Actually it's I think it's great 617 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: escapist literature, and it doesn't focus so much on this 618 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: scary stuff. It's more about the relationships between the characters. 619 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: There's it's sexy, it's fun, it's god suspense. It won't 620 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 1: keep you up at night. It's not scary. Okay, awesome, 621 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: even better. Well, thank you so much, and again you'll 622 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,239 Speaker 1: will put links to everything in our notes. Is there 623 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: anywhere else they can find you in terms of your Instagram? Yes, 624 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: so my website, my Facebook, and my Instagram are all 625 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: under my pen name, Simone de Muno's and so the 626 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: last name is de m u n o Z. Perfect. 627 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Well that was great. Now we're 628 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: back with our question and answer segment. How we are 629 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 1: doing things like planning vacations for twenty twenty one. And 630 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: it's funny because I had this whole set of like 631 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: podcasts that was recommending people plan all their twenty twenty 632 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: five occasions ahead of time. Like I remember this for 633 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: the end of twenty nineteen. I'm like, look at your kids, 634 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 1: you know, calendar is look at you know, get put 635 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: in for your vacation days. And of course anyone who 636 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 1: did that was gonna be winding up canceling probably a 637 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: ton of stuff, more than they would have had to 638 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: cancel if they had just done it the normal planning way. 639 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: So I'm not sure that we will be doing a 640 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: planning of the entire twenty twenty one. But how about you, Sarah, 641 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: are you are you sort of playing it by ear 642 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 1: as things go along? Yes, I have to laugh because 643 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: I was absolutely that person. And I even had to 644 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: like cancel a December trip that I had booked in January, 645 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: Like who does that? We do? So that was a 646 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: shame and we got half the money back, so that's 647 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: better than none anyway. So yeah, we're not going to 648 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 1: like book anything necessarily. I'll have things in mind that 649 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: like it's kind of like, well if things if we 650 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: feel comfortable flying, because we have not felt comfortable flying 651 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: yet as a family. And actually the school has a 652 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 1: rule about like having to quarantine if you fly anywhere, 653 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 1: so that kind of makes it difficult as well, which 654 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: is fine. So I don't feel like I can make 655 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: you know specific plans about flying. I think will go 656 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: somewhere in the summer of twenty twenty one. Whether that's 657 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 1: driving or flying is unknown. I would love to see 658 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: my niece, either like the whole family or just with Anamel, 659 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: because I think Annabel would love that, and I would 660 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: love to do that with her, like for a long 661 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,719 Speaker 1: weekend or something. But again that depends on flying. And then, 662 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 1: as I mentioned in the last episode, I am very 663 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 1: much hoping that if things are getting better by the winter, 664 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: could be our first family ski trip, which is something 665 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: we've kind of talked about for a while anyway, And 666 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm just putting my energy into thinking about things for 667 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two and beyond, assuming we don't get like 668 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: a new pandemic or a new something. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. 669 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 1: We moved our twenty twenty ski trip Christmas SKII trip 670 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:48,920 Speaker 1: to twenty twenty one, so I guess that's on the 671 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: calendar for that. We're hoping to go to a national 672 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: park in the end of summer. We'll figure out exactly 673 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 1: what that is. You know, I have a different feeling 674 00:33:57,720 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: about flying. I actually feel like flying is fairly safe. 675 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: I know that that's not necessarily reflected in school policies, 676 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: and you need to follow your school policy, but with 677 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: people wearing masks, like the filtration system on the plane 678 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: seems fairly good. I don't think that there have been 679 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: outbreaks traced to totally agree. And if I could be 680 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: comfortable that Genevie would actually keep a mask on, I 681 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 1: would feel better. But I don't think she would for 682 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: the duration of a flight yet. Yeah. No, I mean, 683 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: we took some trips this year and you know, they 684 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: felt fine as people were being safe and we were 685 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 1: being safe. But I know everyone has different comfort levels 686 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 1: with that. I guess you know, we're probably not going 687 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 1: to plan anything major for spring break. We haven't yet, 688 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: and we may sort of play that by ear and 689 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,239 Speaker 1: see what is open. I would definitely love to go 690 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,879 Speaker 1: do something. We were supposed to go to the US 691 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 1: Virgin Islands this year and obviously did not do that. 692 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,800 Speaker 1: I mean not only just because we you know, didn't 693 00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: want to do it in the middle of the pandemic 694 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,400 Speaker 1: in the spring, but the hotel was closed, the flights 695 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: got canceled anyway, like we couldn't have even made it 696 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: down there, So there was that. So, you know, depending 697 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,799 Speaker 1: on how things open up, we may try to do 698 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: some sort of beachy trip in the spring. Definitely go 699 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 1: to the beach this summer. That's something that we did 700 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: this summer for instance, and it was you know, pretty 701 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: easy to stay away from other people and stay in 702 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 1: our own house and that worked just fine. So yeah, 703 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: we'll probably do something similar this year. And hey, big 704 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 1: hopes for you know, twenty twenty two being like a 705 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 1: major travel year, we'll get all that pent up demand 706 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: and unfortunately everyone will and then flight prices will go 707 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 1: through the roof, but oh well, the market at work, 708 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: all right, Well, this has been best of both worlds. 709 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: We'll be back next week with more on making work 710 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: and life fit together. Thanks for listening. You can find 711 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,600 Speaker 1: me Sarah at the shoebox dot com or at the 712 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:53,880 Speaker 1: Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you can find me Laura 713 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: at Laura vandercam dot com. This has been the best 714 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: of both worlds podcasts. Please join us next time for 715 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:03,640 Speaker 1: more on making work and life work together.