SPEAKER_00: 0:06

Welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson. We are doing a year-end recap today, and I have invited several friends in to join me today, and we have a full house. Ladies, can you please introduce yourselves?

SPEAKER_03: 0:18

Hi, Martha. I'm so happy to be here today. I'm Tony Bowen and um happy new year.

SPEAKER_01: 0:24

Hey Martha, Kim Gregory, and we were here last year, so glad to be back. Thanks.

SPEAKER_00: 0:30

Hi, Martha. I'm Lisa Bedford. I'm glad to be back. Well, ladies, thank you for joining us because I literally asked all of them just hours before we're recording. And we're recording on New Year's Eve. So thank you guys so much for being here. In other words, we have no lie. No, they all have plans tonight. It's just they were available at this particular time. She bribed us. With foo, right? Yep. That did it. Well, we are going to just talk about just kind of reflecting back for the year and what's to come and those types of things. And so I invited some friends to join us, and we are just gonna have a lot of fun today and just talk about all sorts of things that happened this year.

SPEAKER_02: 1:09

Can we talk about the fact that you were elected citizen of the year, nominated and chosen? Yes, let's talk about that.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17

Well, that was definitely a big highlight of the year, and I was super honored. Um I've done a couple of interviews about it, and they always ask, How did you get the news? And it's actually a really funny story that for some reason the magazines aren't exactly covering. Tell us. So we can cover it here. So the mayor called me. I was in my office, which is in my home right off the kitchen, and it was this summer, like in late June, I think, before 4th of July. And he called me and my heart was absolutely racing because it's kind of like if the principal calls you from your school, you assume something's wrong with your kid or something. And I'm like, oh my gosh, why is he calling me? And so he tells me I have been chosen as citizen of the year. And I was so ecstatic. I was trying to like maintain my composure while I was on the phone with him. And then we hang up. It was a very brief phone call. And my son, who is very chill and very relaxed, was in the kitchen just steps away. And I ran in there and I was jumping up and down. I was so excited. He goes, Mom, are you okay? Just like as chill as he could be. I'm like, Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. The mayor just called me and said I'm citizen of the year. And he's like, What's that mean? I'm like, I'm not exactly sure. But it's a huge honor, and I'm super so excited.

SPEAKER_02: 2:34

You know when I was so proud of you. Okay, fourth of July parade, you riding in the car.

SPEAKER_00: 2:39

That was pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01: 2:40

That was I was so proud of that. That's my great. And your hat was awesome.

SPEAKER_00: 2:44

Well, so I thought it was going to rain, or I thought it was going to raise. It did rain. I thought it was going to be like a hundred degrees and super sunny. So I wore this gigantic sun-blocking hat. And then it didn't, it wasn't sunny. It was very overcast. It was raining. And really humid. Very humid. Really humid. Yes, there was a lot of sweat involved.

SPEAKER_03: 3:04

But it was so great. And it was fun to see you. Well, to wave to you.

SPEAKER_00: 3:09

It was so fun. It it's a very special memory that I will always have for the rest of my life. A huge honor. And I absolutely loved every minute of it.

SPEAKER_02: 3:20

Let's talk about like some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that maybe we don't get to see when you're doing this bubble lounge thing. What was the most embarrassing moment?

SPEAKER_00: 3:30

You have one, I'm sure two, three. Well, I can think of one, but I don't think it actually happened in 2025. Um, there's there's a big one that I'll share. I think it was the year before, actually, to be honest with you. Um, the Texas Rangers reached out and wanted me to be involved in a charity event that they were doing. And I was so excited. I mean, who doesn't want to be involved with a big sports team like the Texas Rangers? And so we had a Zoom call set up. And normally I dress very professional on Zoom calls if somebody's going to see me. And this one day I had just worked out and I had a hat on. I did not look so great. And I just thought, you know what? He works for a sports organization. It'll be okay if I just kind of show up and we're just there. Look sporty. So the Zoom camera comes on, he gets on, and the first thing he says is, New York Yankees. Martha. I know. I know. I I I literally wanted to cry and then I wanted to take the hat off, but then the hat, the hair was all smooth. And I didn't know what to do. So we went through the phone call. There was all sorts of exciting opportunities here, et cetera, et cetera. And I never heard from again. I did follow up a couple of times. It was radio silence after that. And what was really sad was I bought a uh Texas Rangers hat the very next day. It came on Amazon. I still have it in my closet, but yeah, that was really embarrassing.

SPEAKER_01: 5:07

I think you should send him this episode. I think you should like redeem yourself with this guy.

SPEAKER_00: 5:12

I'd love to, because I would love to work with these guys. It was it really was humiliating.

SPEAKER_01: 5:17

You know what? Sometimes a little bit of humility gets people to come back.

SPEAKER_00: 5:21

Absolutely. You're right.

SPEAKER_02: 5:23

What about your favorite? What was your favorite moment from 2025 on the BL?

SPEAKER_00: 5:28

That's what I mean. That's such a good question, the BL. Well, I loved working with you, to be honest, this year, because Lisa filled in many times for Sean on the field with me. And it was just fun to have your energy because you were just so positive and upbeat and energetic. And we always had fun driving to the games together. And it just was neat to have you out there on the field with me as opposed to Sean, although he has done an amazing job. Oh my gosh. It just is a different feeling. Yeah, it's like girl time versus husband and wife time. Right. So I would say that was definitely a big moment.

SPEAKER_02: 6:06

For me, I mean something I hadn't done before. I've been on the field and like taking pictures, but as far as being a part of the BL, that was fun.

SPEAKER_00: 6:20

I don't mean just a DJ like as playing music at parties, but like a real DJ back in the day for K-E-G-L, right?

SPEAKER_02: 6:28

Absolutely not. No, for mixed one at 2.9. It was in the fans that one. Yeah. Or that one. Yeah. I I had a great run.

SPEAKER_00: 6:37

And she has really good stories about rock stars like Tommy Lee from Motley Crew and a whole lot of others. I need Lisa to come over.

SPEAKER_01: 6:43

My son wanted a DJ board for Christmas. So I bought him a little Fisher Price one as a joke. Oh, yeah. And now he's gonna go buy the Pioneer this week. Oh, like the real one. No, he's getting a real one. And he's got he already has a big speaker, should be fun. But okay, Martha, I want to ask you something because we spend a lot of time in the park cities. And it feels like we never leave. We have our regular places we go to. That's not complaining. And it's been fun this year. So thinking about what was like your most parked cities moment of the year.

SPEAKER_00: 7:15

The fountain? Let's talk about the fountain. Well, that is a good point. You know, there's been a lot of changes in the bubble this year with the construction and the redesign of Snyder Plaza. And thank you for covering that. Right? Thank you.

SPEAKER_01: 7:30

Like you let me know when I should walk over versus drive over. Right. Really appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00: 7:35

I just treat it like we live in this small little town, and anything and everything is a big news moment. So something like the fountain or the redesign of Snyder Plaza, S-N-I-D-E-R, not with a Y, guys. Just so everyone knows. Like it really gives us the cringies when people misspell that. Anyways, um the the fountain redesign has been a very hot topic of the year, I would say. And it is bigger, it's taller, all the things. And there was a night after a game, after being at Banditos, that we stopped by and we just kind of observed it and we're like, okay, we see what people are saying here. All the lights and the The Vegas style. Right. People are calling it the Bellagio Fountain and things like that, even though it doesn't, it's not like synchronized to music or anything. But I mean, I guess it could be it's really pretty in the daytime.

SPEAKER_01: 8:27

Yes. No, I walk to Center Plaza and I think it's really pretty. But it it at night. I'm I'm in agreement. The lights are a little bit much.

SPEAKER_00: 8:35

Yeah, it it doesn't feel very bubblish, right?

SPEAKER_03: 8:40

That's the only word I can think of. No, it just it really does not have the character I feel like that it had before they replaced all of that. We were sitting outside the other night at a restaurant and it was pretty with the trees around it and all lit up, but it really was missing that special element that I think I know and have seen with my kids growing up and going to the fountain and getting the seeing the tree lighting, and it was just so special. And so I love that you covered that too. I think that really was a hot topic for the community to kind of weigh in on and and yeah, it just doesn't have the same feel.

SPEAKER_00: 9:15

Well, I do think we will see some changes, and I'll definitely pass along everyone's comments. I'm sure they've heard them already, but I will reiterate everyone's comments. But um, this was the first year that the Rotary Club wasn't in charge of the tree lighting, it was passed back to the city. So they didn't really want to shake things up too much. They just kind of wanted to be status quota. And so I think that they will take everyone's feedback. I think we'll see a very different situation next year.

SPEAKER_01: 9:45

Speaking of the tree lighting, uh, I remember Sean telling a story about uh one of your uh sponsors, Mother Modern Plumbing, and how someone came up to you at the tree lighting to talk about using them.

SPEAKER_00: 9:55

Oh my gosh, such such a good memory. Yes, that did happen. A stranger who I've never met before came up and said, I just want to tell you an interesting story is I called Mother Modern Plumbing, which is your sponsor because I heard of them on your show. And I had a like late night, you know, emergency and I didn't even know if they'd be available. And I called them on a whim after hearing about them, and they came out, they helped us, they didn't even charge us, which I think is crazy. And she's like, I just want you to know I will use them forever now because they were so amazing.

SPEAKER_02: 10:31

And you're talking about, you know, what keeps Bubble Lounge working are your sponsors. Who are some of your other sponsors?

SPEAKER_00: 10:37

Yes, SA Oral Surgeons, who my daughter had her wisdom teeth taken out with a couple of years ago. Uh, love those guys.

SPEAKER_02: 10:45

They've been in for a long time, right? They have.

SPEAKER_00: 10:47

They have. Um, they've been wonderful. And then Kathy L. Wall, State Farm Insurance, she is a personal friend and she's been a sponsor for a long time. And we have used her, and I've also referred my own mom, who's in her 80s in Fort Worth, to her, and all is well so far. I mean, if I trust her with my 80 plus year old mother, you know, I definitely trust her and highly recommend her.

SPEAKER_02: 11:09

I know I had a like a forehead slap moment because I had to relocate my parents from their assisted living, and you had told me, but I didn't, it was too late. But Cambridge Caregivers, that's one of them too, right?

SPEAKER_00: 11:20

Yes, I absolutely love those guys. Thankfully, I have not needed their services as of yet, but um many friends have, and I absolutely love them. I mean, they're just compassion for what they do and wanting to match caregivers with families is just like unbeatable.

SPEAKER_02: 11:39

All right, let's talk about one of my favorite bubble lounge episodes. It would be Mr. Tuxedo. I absolutely love doing that. My son Jesse and I got to be a part of that, and that was so much fun. Thank you for that.

SPEAKER_00: 11:54

Well, we absolutely love supporting small local businesses. That's how I know Tony, in fact. And we're all wearing the sweaters right now. Oh my god, we'll definitely post a picture. But um, I love those guys. And so they reached out and they wanted to work together somehow, and they wanted to uh promote tuxedo rental for centennial, I think it was. It was that uh Blake was actually out of town for for a lacrosse tournament. And so he wasn't available to do anything. And I thought of Jesse and I thought of you, and I just I kept thinking about oh my gosh, we could have so much fun with this. So we created this silly video and it went very viral. I loved it. I had so much fun. And it they both got in touch with their inner actors, wouldn't you say? We did.

SPEAKER_01: 12:41

We just I want to come back to these sweaters for a minute. They're so beautiful, they're so beautiful, and I think Tony, you guys do such a great job. You guys are super. And I met Tony at Kyomega Christmas this year. And I called Martha right away. So I do want to say if there are any Indiana moms out there, I'd like to get sweaters made for Indiana, but I need 11 of you to join me. But Tony makes the most beautiful sweaters, so we should absolutely do that. Just call me. They're so great.

SPEAKER_00: 13:05

Well, it is a 12 minimum, right?

SPEAKER_03: 13:08

It is. I've loved doing them for Martha and for Bubble Lounge and being able to create your brand has been awesome. And I've loved seeing you on the sidelines too at the games, the football games this season, wearing them or wearing the Scots ones we've done. And I had a question. Was there any funny moment you had this year being on the sidelines at the Scots game? Like you would get run over by any of the football boys or any funny interviews, or it's always fun to see you down there. And I'm always curious how you like go about to like find out who you're gonna interview and how that all works.

SPEAKER_00: 13:39

Well, there's been a lot of funny moments. There's been a lot of close calls. My mom, who I mentioned, she's now 84 at this moment, she watches on Game On Sports all the games, and she sees me down there and she will text me and say, Oh my gosh, you almost got run over. Or if you're not careful, you're gonna get run over. And then two minutes later, you get run over. I almost do. So it's kind of funny. And she'll say, See, I told you, but then she's so funny because she should be a sports commentator. Like she is really good at it, and it makes me jealous because I'm not as good at it as she is. And so she'll like recap the moments. That offside kick, you know, really could have been a thing, but you know, it just didn't work out. And so it's hilarious to see her commentary, but there's been a lot of interesting moments. Um, the kids are always so nice and so excited to be involved and all that. So that's always fun. Um, Lisa, you were on the sidelines with me. Can you think of anything?

SPEAKER_02: 14:35

Well, you know what I had the most fun was not football. And you would think was volleyball. I had never watched a volleyball game. We went to the state of a adventure. That looked really fun. Fun, so fast paced. The student section was on fire. That was fun.

SPEAKER_00: 14:50

It really was. And literally, if I stopped to try to post a score update, there was like five more points, you know. Literally, if you blinked, you missed something, right?

SPEAKER_02: 15:00

Thankfully, we were sitting in front of uh one of the players, to me, was the last name. It's her grandparents. It's a parent, you know, double check. How do how do we say this? It was so fun.

SPEAKER_03: 15:09

I loved it. I know. It was fun to see you guys there supporting the team and the community, and especially with them winning state. That was such a such a fun day.

SPEAKER_00: 15:17

Well, just those moments of teams, I think volleyball is amazing, but there's so many teams that we don't focus on in Highland Park because we're very focused on a couple. A couple of others football. And so I love highlighting those that don't always feel the love and don't always get the spotlight.

SPEAKER_02: 15:40

And actually, Bubble Lounge kind of got into that because there was one game, and I mean, we just had rain delay after rain delay. So we did bus takeovers. I got to really highlight the band. Yes, they are amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 15:53

That was so fun. We literally were just trying to fill time and like entertain ourselves because we kept being told that it was going to happen at some point in time and start back up. And so we literally started getting on buses and just talking to the different groups. The cheer.

SPEAKER_01: 16:08

That was so fun.

SPEAKER_00: 16:09

Yes, it really was. That's a good memory.

SPEAKER_01: 16:11

Thinking about fun, I want to know your favorite interview.

SPEAKER_00: 16:15

Oh my goodness. Well, it's like trying to pick your favorite kid. Like you only have one kid, but I have two. You can't.

SPEAKER_01: 16:21

I only have one. You can, you can pick God bless me with one because had I had more, I would have favored him. So he knew you do like him a lot. I do. And that's why we highlighted golf is here. Thank you, Martha.

SPEAKER_00: 16:36

Of course, of course. Well, I guess if I would have to say it, I would say the interviews after the camp mystic travesty happened. I everyone in the neighborhood wanted to do something to support, you know, raise money, show the love, something. I didn't know what I could do. So literally all I could come up with is doing an episode that could help support the community. And so I had Chris Garada, who is the head rector of St. Michael and All Angels, which happens to be my church, and because I know the guy, come in and we talked, and he just always provides such a positive outlook and like just you know, so much information to help people through. And I got a lot of positive feedback from that episode, and I really appreciated that. And that's literally again the only thing I could think I could do to help the community, and I think it did. A lot of people commented about it, and then the week after that, we had Marissa Mullins, who lost her daughter in a tragic car wreck the year before, pretty much a year to the date of when she came on. And I think that was also extremely helpful for so many people because that's just like your worst fear as a parent is something awful to happen to your child. Like none of us she just crossed herself. I love that, Kim. Um I I just think that that's just the worst thing that as a as a mom that you can imagine. And like, how do you go on from there? Oh my gosh, I'm getting checked up now. So I appreciate Marissa so much for her strength and her power to be able to come on and she just talks so matter-of-factly, like what her family went through and how they're dealing with it and how they're moving forward. And I got so many great comments about that. So I think those two things side by side, I think it helped a lot of people. I don't know if the families that lost kids listen, I have no idea. But a lot of people in the community, because we all grieving, yeah. We all felt it as a whole. I mean, the green ribbons, all the ribbons are still up to this day. And so we're still feeling it.

SPEAKER_02: 19:02

The Christmas lights. Have you seen the hearts? Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 19:06

We're grieving. And I think that was healing for us too. Like we needed that. You know, we sometimes we don't know what to do or what to say or how we get through it, too. And so it was so timely and so important. And it was really, really great.

SPEAKER_00: 19:20

Well, it's something that I really appreciated about this community is just the closeness, like the ribbons kind of tie us together, right? It shows support, it shows like we're all in this together. We hear you, we see you. And that's something that I really like about this little community is just the tightness. Like you can't get this just anywhere.

SPEAKER_02: 19:41

Yeah. Well, something about Martha, I'm gonna change gears here. Not only is she behind the bubble lounge, but she is also a high school cafeteria volunteer. And I am a day captain on Thursday.

SPEAKER_00: 19:54

She really appreciates me.

SPEAKER_02: 19:56

I do. Well, I'm I'm you're you never miss. Well, a few times, but Right. Find a sub. You find a sub. That's okay. And I really appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00: 20:04

Well, of course. I think it's so important. Like, I feel like we as parents, we kind of slow down when they get to high school and we're like, oh, they don't need us anymore. But they do. They do.

SPEAKER_02: 20:14

And I love the kids that come through and they're like, oh, you're the bubble lounge lady. They're so sweet. And the teacher that was like, you know, you help me because I moved here and people, you know, referred the bubble lounge. And you've you've really, you know, had me tap into the community that way.

SPEAKER_01: 20:29

I remember doing cafeteria duty max senior year, and he was like, Mom, you know that I'm a senior and that I'm not going to eat in the cafeteria. And I had never had a chance with my work schedule to do it. And I even did it this last year, even after I graduated. No way. What? That asked me present. Monday. Monday. I would come in on Mondays. Well, now that I'm now that I'm back in the office, I can't. But it was really fun to see the kids and to have kids on the golf team. Hey, Mrs. Gregory, how's it going? And and people would come up and see me, and Mac would say, Oh my gosh, you you talked to people today. And I saw him walking by one day. And I started yelling his name as he was walking by and he kept walking.

SPEAKER_02: 21:08

Oh, I would have thought he would have outgrown that.

SPEAKER_01: 21:12

Right. No, but then his friend came over and that forced him. I said, tell him if he would like to keep his car. He needs to come say hello to me. So he did.

SPEAKER_00: 21:20

So funny. I feel like all the kids go through a phase where they're so embarrassed about you. Like I remember both of my kids in middle school would not make eye contact with me. And then they kind of grow out of it and it's all good. Great to see you.

SPEAKER_01: 21:34

Okay. So can we do something uh sort of like New Year's Eve-ish?

unknown: 21:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_01: 21:39

Okay, we didn't talk about it ahead of time. I know, I know. That's thank you. Thank you. So, so something you're grateful for this year.

SPEAKER_00: 21:47

Oh my gosh. I am grateful for so much. I cannot believe we just celebrated seven years of doing the podcast. I had Lucky seven. I had that is a lucky number. You're right. I had no idea if people would listen, like what would happen. I was so nervous before we launched. And for so long, no one said anything or acknowledged it. So I'm like, oh my god. You were just talking to yourself. Like, oh my gosh, do I keep doing this? Do I stop? I don't know what to do. But it was fun. So I kept going. And I am so grateful that people are still interested and they're still listening, they're still following, and all the things. I can't say that enough. I'm so grateful for the sponsors, the people listening, just the people that would like to be on the show, all the things.

SPEAKER_01: 22:40

Thank you for indulging me when we get together and I'll say, let's talk about the bubble out. What are you going to do in the next few weeks? What are your ideas? She's like, okay.

SPEAKER_00: 22:48

No, what's funny is because I usually don't know. Like right. You usually do do it on a whale.

SPEAKER_02: 22:54

You said that's a New Year's resolution. I did. 100%.

SPEAKER_00: 22:58

I actually don't do New Year's New Year's resolutions. I would say it's more of an altercation for 2026. Let's reword it. You know, reword it. That yes, the last minute thing needs to come to an end because it creates a lot of stress and havoc.

SPEAKER_02: 23:14

Hey, you got us today though.

SPEAKER_01: 23:16

I know. Well, I want to know what you two are grateful for too, not just Martha. So, Jody, come on. What are you grateful for? Tony. Tony.

SPEAKER_00: 23:24

Oh my gosh. Let's point out that we don't know each other. Oh, yes. I do want to say that most of us have never met before. Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 23:32

But only for a brief moment.

SPEAKER_00: 23:33

Yes, a carmega.

SPEAKER_01: 23:34

Right. And I'm good with faces terrible with names. Okay. Grateful. Grateful. Grateful. Um. She looks like a Jody. That's what it is.

SPEAKER_03: 23:42

You do. You look like a Jody. Okay. That's a great name. Um, I am grateful for new connections and new friendships through my business. Like Martha. Like, I think that's one of the most fun things about having a business in the park cities. We were just talking about community. Yes. Is that you do get so much support from the people around you.

SPEAKER_01: 24:00

I love that.

SPEAKER_03: 24:00

And you meet so many great people. Like I have a freshman in college and an eighth grader. So we're still in middle school, about to get out. So happy. But there's so many people in between that I would have never come across because of, you know, you really meet a lot of people because your kids are the same age, right? So, anyways, just having a business in the park cities, I feel like has opened up my whole world to so many different people and connections. And thankful for the people like Martha who has supported me this year and my journey. And um and you too. I love it. I love it. I know. Give business off like that. What is the name of your business? My um business is sweater X Sweater, and we are a custom sweater line.

SPEAKER_01: 24:37

So we gorgeous custom sweaters.

SPEAKER_03: 24:39

We can do anything on a sweater. We're collegiate licensed, um, working with a lot of really great organizations right now, a lot of great schools, um, a lot of stores. So we're really expanding, going into our third year in 2026. So it's been fun. It's I'm really passionate about it.

SPEAKER_00: 24:53

Well, I have to say, it's just been fun watching you all these years. Like you started out small, as we all do, and like you're giving me great motivation. You're in with the Chiefs now, for goodness sakes.

SPEAKER_01: 25:04

But the Chiefs is the sweater that I want for Indiana is the one I saw that was the Chiefs one with the collar. Oh, I remember it. I love little top. I love it.

SPEAKER_03: 25:15

We're just we're doing some sweaters for the Dallas Stars too. So I'm really excited about that. It's really big deal. It's fine.

SPEAKER_00: 25:22

Like it started out so small and just you know, mom. Working out of my kitchen table.

SPEAKER_03: 25:31

Yeah, let's see if I can hook you up.

SPEAKER_01: 25:32

I don't have any stars gear.

SPEAKER_03: 25:34

You're there.

SPEAKER_01: 25:34

I I actually borrowed one of Sean's hats one year. This is funny to go to a stars game with Memphis, and my dog ate it.

SPEAKER_00: 25:41

Like literally.

SPEAKER_01: 25:44

And so then I was like, like the dog ate my here's the hat. I need it really. I didn't know one. Yeah, it was terrible. Well, you'll have them soon. They're coming. Okay, good. Yeah, I'm going Sunday against the Canadians. Oh, fine. I wrote a limerick. Oh limerick.

SPEAKER_02: 25:59

I did. 25 was a tough one. Lots of ups and downs, and then some. The downs took a toll. The ups made me lull. That's in laugh out loud. And on this last day, I am done. That really ain't good as well.

SPEAKER_00: 26:14

Oh my gosh. I can't believe you had the time to do that. Well, I tried, I leave us because you know, we're all thrown curveballs each year. It just happens. Yes. She has had more than her fair share of some curveballs this year. Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 26:31

My husband had cancer, and then my parents' facility closed down the same day I found out my husband had cancer. So I had 30 days to find them a place. And it's just the last thing that happened, y'all beware. My son's car was stolen in front and our driveway in front. It was locked and everything.

SPEAKER_00: 26:51

Right here in the bubble, everyone.

SPEAKER_02: 26:53

I think there were eight cars that were stolen out locked. I guess so. Be careful.

SPEAKER_00: 26:56

There's certain models that they're after, right? I think a Ford is one. Yeah. A Ford is one. Okay.

SPEAKER_01: 27:01

Well, it is nice to see that you're still smiling and bringing Rising like a Phoenix. No, I think it's so important. I was on the phone with someone today, and he said to me, something's different. And I said, you know, I really spent 2025 surrounding myself with very positive people and really trying to see the good in anything that happened. And it's hard sometimes, right? But I think that when you can, I do a grateful journal every day and I write down at least one thing that I'm grateful for. And when you start to think about it, there's so many things that we take for granted. And thinking about, you know, meeting you, I wouldn't have known that. You're bringing a lot of good energy and happiness. And I think when you do that, those things that are beginning to weigh us down are lifted up. And I just am very thankful every day for all the grace that's given to me. And and um I don't know, made me think about it when you were talking about it.

SPEAKER_02: 27:51

Yeah, I like that. I'm gonna do that. A grateful journal. So every day.

SPEAKER_01: 27:54

So I have a calendar, and then the back of it has notepads in it because I only want the monthly, and I write in the back every day. And it's just little things, right? Or it could be big things. And um I don't know, I think it really makes a difference. I think I think I've evolved as a person by really looking at at the good in anything that happens. And then if something isn't good, then I just don't put the energy there any longer. And that's hard for me because I'm a Pisces and I want to love everybody and I can't do that. So not that you wanted my deep thoughts with Kim Gregory, but I did.

SPEAKER_00: 28:26

I wanted really good. That's something that I have not done is uh have a gratitude journal. And I know a lot of people do it, and I really would like to incorporate that into the New York New Year because I feel like life goes so fast, we get so caught up in just what we're doing every day and trying to keep our head above water that you do forget to to appreciate the good moments. You know, I think about oh sorry, go ahead, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03: 28:54

Oh, I do think that's not Jody. Jody Tony.

SPEAKER_00: 28:57

Not Jody. Go ahead, Tony.

SPEAKER_03: 28:59

Well, I do feel like, you know, when you start put focusing on the positive, it's you know, it's life is stressful. Like I think 2025 was stressful in a lot of ways, obviously, for dumpster five stress, yes. I mean, even you know, there's good and bad, but I think when we do focus on the good, and there's so much good in that and in the people around us and in our community, it does make us happier, it makes us more positive, you know. If you can look at the good in life as and but we're gonna have bad things too, and I think we have to be realistic about that. But I think if we really focus on the good and being grateful for, because there's a lot to be grateful for, we really do have a lot to be grateful for and um our health, I'm sure. Now really focus on that and and being thankful for all of that. I mean, I think there's there's so much I think you're right.

SPEAKER_01: 29:45

Well, you know, I resigned a few years ago from my my role and people were shocked. And Martha went on this journey with me. And in 2025, I've now gone back to do something, and it ended up being my dream job. I love what I'm doing. But as I was on the journey for two years not working, and I wanted that senior year with my son, which is why I resigned. I want to spend a senior year with him. It was the best gift ever. But in that time off, what I really figured out about the gratitude was when something doesn't feel right, I now know that that is, you know, a gift from God that I'm saying, oh, that's not right. I don't feel right about it. Instead of forcing it like I used to, I'm now grateful for the things that I have. And like it just changed my outlook. I looked at my son the other day. He's in the middle of recruiting for for things and he was going on about something. And I said, You know what? This sounds really stressful. And he's like, You don't understand. I said, Oh, I believe me, my life is stressful. You know, a stressful job, all these things. And I said to him, if it feels this stressful now, it's not right. And that is a gift, and it probably means you won't get it, and you should feel feel okay with that because the things you don't get, be grateful for that. And he just looked at me like I was crazy.

SPEAKER_00: 31:04

That's hard to hear, right?

SPEAKER_01: 31:05

Yeah, and I'll but I'll tell you especially when you're young. Right. And Arthur went through the journey with me, and there were so many things where people were like, You haven't worked in two years. You're gonna become irrelevant. I'm like, no, God has a plan. It's coming. He did say that too. Out of the blue.

SPEAKER_00: 31:18

I remember you saying that.

SPEAKER_01: 31:19

Yeah, and I called you and I said I just got my dream job. It was amazing. Wow, that's a story. But I think that gratitude has just really helped me through because there were a lot of times when I was like, Oh gosh, am I gonna be like not able to stay in this house or whatever it is, and you get through it.

SPEAKER_02: 31:36

So to Martha and the Bubble Lounge.

SPEAKER_00: 31:39

Yes, to all of you, and thank you for always being such great friends and supporting the bubble lounge and all the things. We really appreciate it. 2026, what's new? Well, looking at a lot of different things. Um, mix it up. I feel like we've been kind of doing the same thing for a bit. Uh new music, for example. Um I have never been really crazy about our little intro song. New sweaters. Oh, we do sweater. Pretty cute. We'll we'll post a pick. Um but for the new song, we were thinking about opening up a contest with like people from the band or people from maps program, or who knows? Oh, that's gonna be a good idea. I mean, anybody could participate that likes to compose music and would like to like submit something.

SPEAKER_02: 32:35

But your one is like da-da-da-da-da. Isn't that the one that you open with? Uh maybe it is time for a change.

SPEAKER_00: 32:42

I know it's been seven years, and um I was never super crazy about it. I let someone else pick it that may be in our room right now. But we we needed to launch it. So I was being a little too uptight about picking the just the right thing. No, you were uptight about something. I do overanalyze things. Yes. That that that's a fact. And I was doing that. So he's like, we just need to launch. We're gonna pick it. Why can't Blake do something on the drums for you? Oh my god. Right. Yeah, my son does have you wouldn't believe the most elaborate drum set in our house. Oh, it's even more elaborate. Just get some new ones. And brought a few more things. Wow. Oh so yeah, we have full-on drums. Yeah, maybe like Blake should do something. Or look for drum intro. Sure. Yes, that would like. I mean, Lee, like this could sweep it.

SPEAKER_01: 33:38

I don't I mean I don't know why we didn't put this connect the dot sooner. Come on now.

SPEAKER_00: 33:42

We'll see what he can come up with, but we may put that out there.

SPEAKER_01: 33:45

He's gonna like like throw darts at me or something.

SPEAKER_00: 33:47

No, he's gonna love it.

SPEAKER_02: 33:48

And if somebody has a suggestion of something they want to see, oh my gosh, yeah, the bubble lounge, what do they do?

SPEAKER_00: 33:54

I love community input because this is a podcast for you, the community here. So I would love for you guys to reach out anytime that you have a guest or a topic idea or anything that we can do better. I love input. So um reach out on the website bubble lounge.net, and you can submit. I know, isn't that crazy? I had to think about that for a second. BubbleLounge.net. Or you can DM me on Instagram or Facebook. D uh Instagram is better because I'm there more than I am Facebook. So I would love to hear from you guys. Well, happy new year. Happy New Year to everybody and thank you for a wonderful year. Cheers. That's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson, and we will see you next time.