Speaker 1: 0:00

This episode sponsored by Kathy L Wall, state Farm Agency Learn more at kathylwallcom. And Stuart Arango, oral Surgery Learn more at saoralsurgeonscom. Welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and today I have a guest host joining me today my good friend Elizabeth Keough Elizabeth, thank you so much for being here today. My good friend Elizabeth Keough Elizabeth, thank you so much for being here today.

Speaker 2: 0:27

Martha, thank you for having me. I'm so excited and honored to join you today.

Speaker 1: 0:31

Well, I think the podcast is like a perfect way to get together with friends, because so many of us see each other every few years or few months and we're like we should go have lunch, we should do this or that, and then life gets in the way and you forget or you get distracted and then you don't get together. But if you have a podcast, then you have like a reason right, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 0:50

This is my first podcast, so I'm excited to be a part of it with you.

Speaker 1: 0:54

I'm super excited for you to be here today. There's been a lot going on in the neighborhood. I mean, a lot of people have been traveling, we had a big storm, and so you're the perfect person to be here to talk about all that.

Speaker 2: 1:06

Well, good, good, I'm glad. Yeah, it's been a fast, quick start to summer, for sure. It really has.

Speaker 1: 1:11

So many people have traveled the world like yourself. Meanwhile, I've just been sitting here at home weathering the storms. You know. So many of us lost power during that storm. That happened the Tuesday after school got out and I, literally after the storms cleared, drove down Lovers Lane, looked over, saw your house there was a giant tree on top of your house and I texted you, not knowing you were out of town, right? And I was like is everything okay?

Speaker 2: 1:36

Thankfully. Yes, my gosh. So I get a text. My daughter, Margaret and I were seven hours ahead in Spain and I get a text that they're taking shelter and there's a tornado siren and all the things. And next thing I know, trees are down, everyone's power's out, transformers are bursting in alleyways. I mean it is crazy. Thankfully we sustained no other damage other than just some tree branches. But our neighbors a couple of doors down, lost massive trees, and one up the street up Athens it actually took their sidewalk out, which they're already repairing right now.

Speaker 1: 2:10

Yes, and I mean, and that happened on several blocks around the neighborhood I drove around quite a bit just to look around there was just gigantic trees just like uprooted, and the sidewalks up like what you're talking about, and I just I can't imagine that wind can do that much damage, but that morning a little bit before 6 am those sirens went off and I remember just like, oh my gosh, what is happening, because usually when those goes off it seems like it's more like in the evening time.

Speaker 2: 2:38

Right, I agree.

Speaker 2: 2:39

It's just such a weird thing to wake up to at 6 in the morning For sure, and you know, the dogs are there, Emily's there, Mike, Caroline all of them are kind of gathered in the bathroom and not knowing what's really going on. And then I think there were people without power. I know one family at least until Sunday night, yes, so everyone was in a different situation, but I feel like, too, that the city was really. I applaud them for stepping up so quickly. We really live in such a great community with the resources around us immediately to step in and help. We actually I think we were talking earlier about how people from all over the country were coming in to help. We had a truck in our alleyway that was from Florida. So guys helping repair the electrical linesway, that was from Florida. So guys helping repair the electrical lines all the way from Florida.

Speaker 1: 3:28

So yeah, on Park City's Chatter I saw so many people comment and talking about talking to the workers in their alleys and just getting to know them and just people from Florida and like just everywhere, like what you're saying, and I just think that's so amazing. I always love any time that people come together for the betterment of everything you know it's just it's always amazing.

Speaker 2: 3:52

Absolutely. How was your house?

Speaker 1: 3:53

Well, mine was totally fine. It was crazy, though, just looking out into our backyard at six in the morning and seeing those trees just blowing and the wind like crazy it just. I knew that there was going to be a lot of damage around, but we didn't have anything at our house. We did lose power, of course. We lost it for about two days, so not near as bad as a lot of people. I don't know what it is about my side of the block, though. If there's an opportunity to lose power, we do, and this has been going on for many years, and usually the other side of the street is totally fine, but this wasn't the case this time. They they were out for for many days too.

Speaker 2: 4:30

Yeah, well, hopefully people are kind of getting their lives back together, especially the sun's finally out today, thankfully, after like more rain and more rain.

Speaker 1: 4:39

Um, it's crazy I know we have had way too much rain so far this summer. I know that's not usually how our summers start out Usually not. Here we are. I wanted to give a personal thank you to our good friend and show sponsor, kathy Elwall State Farm Agency. We have known Kathy for more than 15 years and there is no person we trust more when it comes to insurance than Kathy Elwall. Kathy is always available to help you find the right insurance for your family needs, whether it's covering your home auto or providing a life insurance policy tailored to the unique needs of families in Highland Park. My family trusts Kathy with our insurance and we hope you will too. Please visit kathylwaldcom to learn more and let her know that Martha from the Bubble Lounge sent you.

Speaker 1: 5:22

You were talking about transformers earlier and I saw a lot of people say that you know if you lose power quite often, you should probably ask them to check your transformers, because a lot of times it's just because it's older. Oh right, and that was definitely the case in our alley a few years ago is they replaced it because it was very old and then for a long time we didn't lose power, but then now we're back to it. So definitely have that checked out. I mean, it's so scary out there, especially when you see a giant tree laying on top of your power lines and everything.

Speaker 2: 5:53

Right power lines and everything Right. Well, and it also leads me to a conversation I had yesterday with a friend, talking about when trees fall and who's responsible for the damage. Oh, good point, and there's a Texas law, apparently, that if a neighbor has a tree clearly on their property and if the limb falls onto your property and damages your house, they are not responsible for covering that Right. That's interesting, so, unless it's just a generous neighbor who decides that they want to.

Speaker 2: 6:26

But I think it's sort of like an act of nature kind of law, that, if it falls, that because I think there could be some pretty, you know, touchy situations going on with a lot of this damage, but hopefully everyone kind of gets along.

Speaker 1: 6:44

No, that's such a good point because I think that makes total sense. And just something I've never thought about is if somebody's I don't know their trampoline or their tree breaks off and flies over and does damage, they couldn't help it.

Speaker 2: 6:52

It's just an act of God, I guess is what it probably falls under. Pretty much Exactly right. Yeah, it's an act of God, I guess is what it probably falls under.

Speaker 1: 6:57

Pretty much Exactly right. Yeah Well, there was also so many wonderful acts going on in our community. You know, one of my favorite things about living in University Park is just the sense of community, and all the good things that happen saw was on Park City's Chatter that Catherine Heron from Ola HP offered up her office space to anyone that didn't have power and she had multiple offices and people could come in and work and she was not charging a fee or anything. She just wanted to help the community out.

Speaker 2: 7:29

It was great. My daughter saw it on her Instagram and told my husband about it. So he actually went up there Wednesday and, I think, worked the good part of the afternoon and had a great space and was so inviting and so welcoming and a lot of people were taking advantage of it. So it was really really so generous of her to do that. I mean, she served so many families in so many ways and for her to open up that space was just really helpful.

Speaker 1: 7:56

So appreciate that. When I saw her post I commented I was just like you are amazing. You know, she's just a wonderful human being to begin with. And so many people needed to get back to work and they didn't have their Wi Fi or electricity and all the stuff, and so that was so generous of her to offer that up.

Speaker 2: 8:15

Absolutely yes.

Speaker 1: 8:16

And then another thing that I saw was Andrew Kelly at New York Sub His sign that has been there since literally the 1970s blew off and was destroyed in the storm and people immediately jumped on that and someone started a Venmo collection.

Speaker 2: 8:36

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1: 8:37

And I immediately gave to that because I just think the world of him and everything that he does. He does so much for this community.

Speaker 2: 8:44

He really does, and that sign is iconic, I know. I feel like it's just part of our neighborhood. Yes, definitely.

Speaker 1: 8:49

And it hurts to see something that's iconic being destroyed and no longer around.

Speaker 2: 8:56

Yeah, he's a hard worker and serves, like you said, so many people with the best sandwiches around.

Speaker 1: 9:03

Sure, they really are what I like best is so many sandwich shops. I feel like these days are kind of skimping on the meat. They like load up on the vegetables because those are the cheaper ingredients.

Speaker 2: 9:15

Right.

Speaker 1: 9:15

And he has never let up on the meat.

Speaker 2: 9:18

I know we held a I think we had a highlights party at New York Sub one year. Our girls had their dinner there and like or their after party or something. It was just he even opened it up for that purpose too, so that was that was really fun, I know he loves our community and he's willing to do anything and everything to help us out.

Speaker 1: 9:37

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Speaker 2: 10:38

Well, definitely, it seems to have caused some changes in navigating Cider Plaza. We experienced it firsthand this morning just trying to get to JD's to get a muffin before camp. But obviously it's necessary work. I do feel that supporting the businesses and continuing to do life as normal as much as possible around there is, you know, what we all have to do. But at the end of the day, they're doing it during summer, which is smart. Obviously there's a lot of people in and out of the city in the area right now.

Speaker 1: 11:12

So, yeah, I just I keep encouraging everyone to still go support those businesses. We cannot let them suffer, because there needs to be some maintenance done to Snyder Plaza. But there's a lot of talk about how parking is going to be handled. You know, parking has been an issue since day one of Snyder Plaza, according to history, right, and so it seems as though what they're talking about is having parking meters there and having paid parking per parking spot right now, and that has a lot of people in an uproar.

Speaker 2: 11:45

Oh, I can imagine there's some controversy about that. I actually haven't heard about it until just now, but my goodness, I don't think that's going to fly around here, honestly.

Speaker 1: 11:55

It sounds like there's been a committee that's been working on the parking situation and it sounds like they've weighed a lot, a lot of options and it seems like that's where they're landing. I mean, nothing is official right now, but I just I just think of, like, when I go downtown which is not very often and doing the app and all the stuff and I mess it up. I mean almost every single time, I literally get so frustrated. I'm like hand my phone to the kids. I was like, guys, you have to figure this out or we can't park here.

Speaker 1: 12:26

I'm an old lady that cannot figure out this technology and I get so frustrated so I can't imagine doing that in my little local town square, you know, just down the street from where you and I both live, right, although, honestly, people have their favorite spots there and I don't know that if they put that in, that's going to stop them from going.

Speaker 2: 12:47

People want to go to Bandito's, people want to go to Mustang Donuts, they want to go to Ramble Room, tom Thumb, osgood O'Neill I mean, that's just CVS, you know.

Speaker 1: 12:58

I guess, there's so many staples right there. That's right, it's right in the middle of our neighborhood. How can you not go?

Speaker 2: 13:04

That's right. Well, we'll see what happens, right.

Speaker 1: 13:06

We're just going to have to figure this out and navigate it together right, Absolutely, Absolutely Well if you want updates on the parking situation, just visit the City of University Parks website and they're doing a really, really good job of communicating everything and telling you what's going on.

Speaker 2: 13:22

Well, as always, they do keep us informed. They like to provide updates on, like you said, a whole host of matters. So absolutely.

Speaker 1: 13:32

Well, so from there, dallas has had a lot going on with our sports teams, a lot of exciting things, some disappointments, a lot of things going on with the Dallas Stars going into the playoffs for the Stanley Cup and literally this week, they didn't make it happen and so they are now out of the running, which was a huge disappointment, but the Mavericks are still going strong.

Speaker 2: 13:55

That's right. It is a great time to be a Dallas sports fan. I have to say what an exciting moment for our city and for the fans of the Stars and the Mavericks. But yes, let's go, mavs. It's going to be an exciting series, and I don't think the last time they won the championship was in 2011. So I think it's time for Dallas to do it again, especially with the team that they've built. It's a really special team of players, I think so. Luca Tyree.

Speaker 1: 14:25

I think it's time. Well, I know you guys are a big basketball family. I have personally followed hockey a little bit more than basketball, but I'm super excited. I mean, any opportunity for your city's team to get that far is always exciting.

Speaker 2: 14:39

That's right. And just coming off the Rangers World Series win last fall, I think all signs are pointing to good things. So we'll just take it one game at a time and keep cheering them on.

Speaker 1: 14:52

That's all you can do, and we do have a lot to celebrate. I mean, there is a lot of great things. I feel like that we have very high expectations. We want every team to be the top of their game and everything and win the big championship. But that's not just always possible. But we really do have a lot to be proud of.

Speaker 2: 15:08

That's right, and even the individuals like Scotty Scheffler. I mean, how about that Right? So I mean straight from our own Highland Park High School. I know, I know it's special.

Speaker 1: 15:17

It really is. So, Elizabeth, I have been getting the crime reports for both University Park and Highland Park and I haven't quite known what to do with them yet. Because I want to share some of the things, because there are some interesting things that happen each week in our little bubble, things that would surprise all of us.

Speaker 2: 15:34

Right, I mean even as safe as our community is and you could see a Highland Park or University Park police officer just about every other turn kind of standing around there still are some incidents happening.

Speaker 1: 15:48

Well, there really is Like this one right here that I'm reading about from Highland Park. There was a lady on Oak Lawn that was trying to. She was at a stoplight and there was a pedestrian there that it was their right away to go and they didn't realize that. So she kind of gave a gentle honk to let them know it was time to go. And they didn't like the honk at all and they actually ended up doing some damage with their foot to her car.

Speaker 2: 16:12

Wow, just raging on the driver for no reason, just giving a little nod to it's time to cross the street Right and they actually left a dent in her car. That is wild. I don't know what I would do if that happened to me. I just would get a little bit nervous, I guess. But fortunately everything turned out okay.

Speaker 1: 16:29

Well, I actually had something crazy happen just yesterday up near the Galleria.

Speaker 1: 16:34

Yeah. So I was at a stop, a green arrow light, and the person in front of me had the right of way to go ahead and go, and they were just sitting there and sitting there for the longest time. So I always give a very polite honk I'm extremely reserved about honking because I know how dangerous our world is today and so I gave a gentle honk and they didn't do anything, and then I think I got a little louder after that and so then they moved and I thought all was good. And then I was. I turned left, I was going down, uh on inward, and then all of a sudden I look in my rear view mirror and I see them coming full speed at me, like full speed, right behind me, and then they swerved and then they laid on their horn and then they got in front of me and slammed on their brakes and it was quite scary.

Speaker 2: 17:18

That is scary. That's a little road rage right there and that is definitely that can.

Speaker 1: 17:25

I mean, you just never know what could happen with that. And I, alexis, was in the car with me and I said, alexis, that is the case in point, what I've always taught you you really have to be careful about honking at people, because you never know they could have a gun, they could be angry, they could be this and that, and so you really don't want to do any more than a polite little honk.

Speaker 2: 17:45

Right, especially as you and I both have 15-year-olds learning to drive right. I mean, we've got a lot of things to teach them about being a responsible, respectful driver, coming up on turning 16 and letting them loose.

Speaker 1: 17:59

It is really, really scary. It is Blake is supposed to get his. He has an appointment for his permit this week.

Speaker 2: 18:06

Oh good, that's exciting. So that's funny that you brought that up.

Speaker 1: 18:08

Yes, but that is scary. Like you just think of your kids as these youngsters you know, still toddlers, and then you're about to start teaching them to drive, and it is scary. There's a lot going on out there, so what else do we have?

Speaker 2: 18:20

Elizabeth. Okay, this is a crazy story. Someone a couple weeks ago has gone out. They've gone to the mansion, apparently for dinner drinks, maybe to hear I think they have musicians that play and all that right. So she's ready to go home and she calls a Lyft, heads to her home in Highland Park, she's got her little Chanel bag on her arm value $8,000, gets home, goes to bed, wakes up the next morning that she's left her bag in the lift apparently.

Speaker 1: 18:50

Oh my goodness. But here's where it gets really crazy. It says this happened at 3 am. 3 am. Girlfriend, if you were at the mansion at 3 am, just go ahead and get a room and stay there. Absolutely Right.

Speaker 2: 19:04

I mean it's not worth risking the loss of the $8,000 bag. So apparently she reaches out to the Lyft driver, who then responds who says I've got your bag. So then the lady tries to make arrangements to meet this woman to retrieve her property, and no response.

Speaker 1: 19:23

Oh no, that's it. Well, here's the thing If you have an $8,000 bag you're hanging out at the mansion, go ahead and just splurge a tad bit more and book an Alto. The founders are from our neighborhood, we know we like. We trust them. They have a perfect track record. They will do you right. Just go ahead and splurge a little bit more and buy yourself a little bit of security so you can get your bag back.

Speaker 2: 19:51

I agree, the Alto really is the way to go. It is so serene, so clean, such nice drivers. I agree with you, martha.

Speaker 1: 20:01

I agree with you, Martha. Well, Elizabeth, this has been so fun. I really appreciate you joining me today. This was so fun doing the first police report with you. Oh, I love it so fun. I really appreciate you joining me today.

Speaker 2: 20:09

This was so fun doing the first police report with you. Oh, I love it. So fun and I have to say I was a bit nervous, martha. It's my first podcast, but you made it so enjoyable and it was just so fun to be here and chatting about all things in our neighborhood, about all things Park City.

Speaker 1: 20:23

I know it's fun right.

Speaker 2: 20:25

It really is.

Speaker 1: 20:25

I mean to be on the other side of it. This has been almost six years. That's why it's so fun. That's why we keep going. There's so much to talk about.

Speaker 2: 20:32

There is a lot to talk about. Congratulations to you and Nellie for the great work that you've done with the Bubble Lounge podcast. Well, thank you so much. You have a lot of fans out there, Martha Thank.