Candid Conversation with Host Adrienne Barker

way to— from Florida. You look—

why don't you just come over?

I know, I wish it was that easy. Just reach in and just come to there.

Look, here, here's a hug.

Oh, I love that. You know what, Stacy, I have said before, I don't like watching videos where people like take 20 minutes before they start, so I like to just jump into it because usually I will like fast forward it until people are actually getting to the guts of a conversation. So that's why I just jump right in. So anyways, I thought we were just gonna talk on the phone.

No, this is a little more fancy.

Isn't it cool? You're in my studio, like virtually. And I love— look at how easy it is to have it go down, make sure everything is spelled okay. My eyes are going crazy. So Stacy, you're in my bedroom. Oh, you're my kitchen. Oh, is there any egg on my face? I love you. Look, so Stacy, listen, I talk about you a lot. There's just no— I, I talk about you because of— stop it— because of what you've created in Tucson with the Tucson Business Networking. I, and I say you're— it's such a genius way of bringing people together, and I love that. And now Tim is opening up, so you got to hear Tim. He is such a nice man. Tim is opening up the Tucson, I think he said. So, and that sounds like a great place. A new hotel called— I think it's called the Tucson, the Tucson, like how they used to call Tucson back in the day. It's not open yet. He's a general manager, so when he's open, connect with him, and it could be a new location to hold an event.

How do you know him?

Because I've met Tim through the chamber, and Tim, such a nice guy. So Tim— oh, I'm trying to remember which there was— he was a GM of— he was going back and forth of two hotels that are escaping me. And then he was going to come aboard to help me with a live dinner show, and he was taking over the one of the roles. I can't remember, for a couple years ago. And then all of a sudden he ended up getting a great job on the East Coast for another hotel. So he's a hotelier, been in the business for many years, and I can't remember which hotel it was that he was a GM of, but This new one is coming up, and so he was talking about it. So go back and watch the video with Tim. He's a nice guy.

Sure. What prompted you to contact him?

Oh, I'm reaching out to all my Facebook friends because I really believe that people that know me should know who my friends are. And, you know, people like us, we have the greatest of friends. So when we look at the people that we know, I want to share who I know with my world now, and it kind of vice versa, because you are so special to me, and I talk about you all the time. I just— you really are. And so I just— I just— doesn't make sense that we all kind of know each other, and it's— it's—

I have an extra bedroom if you want to, um, drive out here.

Okay, thank you. You're adorable. You're in a beautiful area.

Sure, we'll take your dog too.

Oh. Pickles is a Tucson dog. A young lady flew him out to me last November, so I'll always remember Angela.

Lovely, lovely young girl.

How is everything? Tell me how you're doing with the COVID-19, with Breakmax, and with, and with the networking.

So Breakmax is great. I've been there— April 1st was 5 years, and It's an essential business. People are still getting their cars serviced. They're not driving as much, but commercial business is still up. We have a lot of accounts, and it's really business as usual. I've just been working from home and marketing from home, so it's a little bit different. I'm saving a lot of money not being out and going to coffee shops. And I've been seeing people on the phone or by Zoom. So everything with BreakMax is, is fantastic. With Tucson Business Networking, we're missing now 2 events for March and April. So that stinks. And they were really great locations. And I really liked my contact people there. So I have, I've done 5 virtual sessions, networking sessions. And then I have another one on Thursday. So I always encourage anybody and everybody and all over the United States, even you, to get on because you sell promotional products, right?

Yes. Is that what you do? Yes.

So, so I love it.

Goodbye from you. I love that. So you have— so are you doing the Zoom where everyone could either be on video or if they don't want to show their face, they can just have the audio?

Yes, both.

I love that. I was on one last week and they did— a guy played the piano, which was really beautiful. And today Shelley played the saxophone. But if anyone has a little talent, it was kind of fun. They broke it up a little bit and he actually did it just like a networking meeting. You go around the room and tell everyone who you are, and then what— then going back, it was a little bit more informal, but it was really lovely. So that's fun.

Should I break out my saxophone from the garage? I played for several years.

Awesome. I love that.

I won't, I won't bring it out.

No, because a lot of times someone is not going to say what their talent is at a networking group, but when they're home, they actually, maybe they'll, they'll want to, you know, do some talent. So just a thought. Kind of cool.

Yeah, no, I don't think so. Not there.

What were the two locations that, that everyone is missing?

A downtown is a great venue to have, have an event because the amount of parking. And since you've lived here, there's a, there's a, there's a place called Playground Bar and Lounge, and Oh, my contact person there, she's just so lovely. Her name is Leah, and she was just heartbroken that, um, all of the events had to cancel. And then, uh, April, it's, uh, my friend Michelle Hatch with Casino Del Sol. So that's gonna be—

was Michelle with the Ramada? No, um, was Michelle with another hotel?

Yeah, I think Westward Look, maybe. Oh, I think so.

I think she— I think she was— okay, I think I know her from— what is the playground about? What was that? What is it like inside there?

So the playground is two stories. On the bottom, it's just a— looks like a, a bar. And, and the, the top is the rooftop, and, uh, it's open, or You can put plastic, I guess, blinds or covers around it, and you can see the sunset and see Hotel Congress and all of downtown almost 360 degrees. And they have strobe lights and music and good food and, and a bar upstairs. It's really— I had it there last March and it was one of the favorite places of the year. So what I'm going to do with these two places is end up duplicating, um, or having— not duplicating, but having two events in a month because my events are the third Thursdays. So I'll make it up somehow.

Well, does she, um, does she— is her crowd usually the U of A students?

Uh, I don't know because I've only been there one other time, was last March for my event, and I don't know what their crowd is, but My crowd last March was, was 200 people and they were all networkers.

Amazing, amazing. I feel like downtown, it must be kind of sad to be downtown where it's, you know, the kids have gone home, right? The students have gone home.

I, I'm quarantined. I go out to the grocery store. I go out to exercise. I've gone to Home Depot a couple times, pretty boring. But I love my home and I don't mind.

That's so nice.

Are you like— it's—

what do you think about what's going on? How, like, how does your brain process it all?

It doesn't. It doesn't. I just worry. My concern in the beginning, uh, was having enough food. So I have a few months worth of food and supplies, and if I couldn't get out No big deal. I feel very sorry for people who lost their jobs, and it's happened within my family and my son. But I think when this is all over, we're gonna have huge opportunities, and hopefully it'll all make up for what we lost.

Yeah, I agree. I agree. Rudy is working over at Earth's Appealing, so they're very, very busy. I mean, like, really busy. My son Rudy, my 25-year-old. So he's with us.

How many kids do you have?

So 4. Sammy, Alex, sorry, Alex. Alex is my oldest at 36. He is an essential employee. He works, he's a, he works for a company that does all of the cleaning of the linen and the doctors, everything that they need in the hospital, the sheets, all of that. He is, and he's a supervisor, so he really shouldn't be driving. To make the deliveries, but unfortunately a lot of the drivers are unable to work. So my son is a soldier, 2 tours in Afghanistan, infantry frontline. So he's a soldier in this battle going out. So he delivers to the field hospitals and he understands the safety of it. So he is amazing. He's 36. Sammy, I think I wanted you to meet Sammy when he lived in Tucson for a while. So Sammy, his home is Shanghai. So he loves Shanghai. He moved there at 21. He was in Tucson for a few years as he was building up his business. He had an idea to sell maces, so he sells a steel mace with like the round ball. And so once in a while— I posted this morning, he had some really great home exercises he is doing. He's just killing it because he just sells so many maces and resistant bands that are unbelievable. I'm looking to see if I have them. They're crazy. And then, uh, Rudy is 25. And he moved to Tucson when I did. So he's over at Earth's Healing, I think on the north side, but he may be sharing. And they're healing medical dispensary, medical marijuana. So, okay, okay, they're up, like, just obviously they're just so up right now. So they try— they're high. So, and he's, he's always loved, you know, the industry himself, even as when I remember talking about that to him when he was younger. He's always had a fascination towards it. But Rudy said that some days it's over 500 people. They're coming in. So they have, you know, they follow all the protocol. But he is working a lot of hours. And then I got pregnant with Alana, my 14-year-old. So I'm 57 with a 40— I got pregnant at 44. So 57 with a 14-year-old. And, you know, she's struggling obviously with the school and, and timing. And she's— I try to get her outside. She's pale as a ghost. Pretty soon I won't even be able to see her against the wall. She's like translucent. So funny. And that's, that's it. My husband, he's working. So Alan is still working. He takes care of, um, he handles the, the traffic and making sure that traffic during construction stays in place.

I didn't even know you were married.

Oh, I— oh yeah, yeah, I've been married for like 20-something years. 20— oh my God, 25 maybe. I think I never knew that. Oh yeah, yeah, I kind of keep him hidden. He's great though. He's allowed me to—

mine too.

He's in the—

he's in the— he took over our kitchen table.

Oh, that's awesome. And see, that's the thing, you know, I think for women this day and age, when we go out and that— we're not necessarily talking about our family, we're talking about, you know, our business and learning about each other. And so I, you know, I mean, I feel bad I never really, you know, I wouldn't really take Alan. He's been watching Alana So for many years he was a stay-at-home dad and that was his role. So he's kind of back in the workforce now and I'm the one that gets to stay home and work from here. So I've been selling promotional products and doing some consulting and I'm very busy with SCORE. So I fell in love with SCORE in Tucson and now I'm with SCORE here in—

let me grab a product and see if you can research this. Okay, give me a sec. This is, uh, right here. Let me see. I'll show you my office.

See that?

See that bookshelf?

I love it.

That's my— those are all my supplies for Tucson Business Networking.

Okay, by the way, you have a cookbook. Oh, your cookbooks.

Oh yes, that's, uh, in my living room. Okay, so I want you to look at this, see if you, um, can, can, can price one— price these out.

22 or 19 for the business card usually. What? 2 cards or like 96?

I'll tell you, hang on just a sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. There's 12 picture— 12 pages of 6.

Oh, beautiful. Oh my God, I'll get you pricing. Wow, that's, that's the beauty of promotional products. Thank you. The logo's nice on there. You Yes, I— it looks like a navy blue. Oh, is it? Oh, it's black. Oh, you did the full color! I love that.

It's full color. So I bought these, um, from a company I refuse to do business with again. No names, I don't do that. Um, but I think I paid about $6 each. I think I can pull up in my taxes. Whoops, I dropped it.

Um, Do you give it out filled? What do you— do you give it out with all the cards filled in it already?

Uh, I ordered 2 batches of 100 in the beginning, um, and I gave them out in the beginning for the first couple hundred people that joined Tucson Business Networking, um, and I think I'm down to 2 or 3 of them.

Do you put the business cards inside though? Do you, do you load them? Do you preload the cards in there?

I would put one of my business cards in there and then, then give it out to a new member.

What I just think you have so many businesses that are involved. Years ago, you would have, you would go to like a couple of the groups and they would, I remember Kissimmee Osceola, they didn't have that many, but when you got it, they would have all the cards in it for all the members that were currently. But you couldn't do that because you'd have to get like a big—

Like a BNI, I think, would do that. Yeah, so this is just one of maybe an idea that I, if I can find it at a good price. I'll get you a good price. I need a gonga. I need a gonga price.

Oh, you got a ganga price. I love that. I love that.

No, I gotta get a ganga price on it.

Okay, okay, wait, I gotta Google that now. What does ganga stand for?

Ganga, ganga, ganga.

What does it mean?

G-O-N-G-A. I need a ganga price.

All right, I have to Google what that means because I really don't know.

G-O-N-G-A. Go ahead and Google.

Okay, well, I love that, I love that. You know, we need— so here in Daytona, we have the chamber, which is great. I love the chamber. I'm in Leadership Daytona. We had 3 classes and then, you know, the virus. But we don't necessarily— we have a couple B&Is, but they're very structured and, you know, honestly not for me. But, you know, I have had good experience with B&Is in the past, just not for me now. And then actually, we don't— yeah, we don't really have anything like what you've been able to create in Tucson. I'm just saying that because I hope Tucson realizes what a treasure they have with you to have the ability to be— and you're so fair priced, and I love you do a video afterwards, your social media, your website. You created a whole packet that's not just let's meet once a month, but it's a whole umbrella of everything. I, I'm so impressed with you.

We also do a business card exchange table also. Because it's really in, in a couple hours we can only get around to seeing a few people. So I always have a table where people leave cards and take cards or, or leave brochures and take them.

Very— that's so nice. All right, I have a question about Breakbacks. I've—

I—

so you do more than break. So did Breakbacks ever think about like changing their name to like Breakbacks and More? Like how— like, I'm just curious.

December of 2017. It had been a locally owned company for 20 years and they sold. They sold to a national company called GB Auto Services. So now we're part of a much larger, over 500 employee company, and there's a lot of pluses about it. Though, and we can buy it bigger bulk and sell at better prices also. But we don't just do brakes, we do tires and windshields and engines and transmissions, God forbid, and anything and everything that has to be repaired. The only thing we don't service are motorcycles.

Oh, wow.

And we just have to get the vehicle in our bays. So we can't do RVs.

That's just so interesting to me because when you see it, it really is so much more. I always thought they should have Brake Max and a plus sign or something so people knew and more.

Well, you know, the founder of the company, one of the partners, his brother opened a company in Phoenix called Brakes Plus. Oh, see, I like that. So you're on, you're on it.

Right, that makes sense.

I didn't realize until a month or so ago, I never knew that your parents had that amazing museum. I want to visit, and I want to— I want to visit, and I'm going to visit one day.

Thank you. Yeah, where's it located? So it's in Connecticut, and it's right in Cheshire, Connecticut. And my parents— so my parents, you know, growing up I had a lot of toys. My brother says he didn't have toys, but I got lucky. I had a lot of toys. My parents started— so they started the promotional products business themselves. Um, when they got— they did, they did. And, um, you know, I, I work for Halo now though, so I don't work for the family business. But my parents, at one point of their life, started falling in love with artwork, Disney art. And they would take us as kids to Disney. And my oldest son Alex, the first grandchild of the family, was always going to Disney, Sesame Street, you name it. My parents went everywhere. At one point, my dad would ride all the rides till he threw up, and then he would just ride them back again. It was pretty, pretty amazing. So my parents started to just fall in love with anything Disney, and then they started to, like, understand the value of collecting toys. But it wasn't about collecting toys because they're not toys, they're they're parts of the history of the United States at that time. So they're not a collectible. They're more than that. They're historical toys that show the value. My dad, he, you know, he really, as he started collecting them, he wanted to learn about each one. So there was a lot of research when he was finally able to have his museum created. And actually, I lived, I lived in the home that was the museum. The museum used to be the barn that I had for my chickens.

Give me the, the website.

I'm sure it's called parkermuseum.com. B-A-R-K-E-R museum.com.

Parker Museum.

Yep, uh, B-A-R is a boy. Parker Museum, M-U-S-E-U-M dot com. The museum could— the website is, um, it's a little older, so, you know, there's some videos I think that we could do A little bit more. So we're—

one more time.

Barker, B-A-R-K-E-R, my last name Barker, and then museum.com.

Okay, I'm there. Okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna look at it.

And then they created the whole atmosphere, and I remember about maybe about 15 years ago we had the, uh, one of the Treasures Roadshows come in. It was amazing. And my parents— my dad, so everything was an event for my dad. He would have loved you. So my dad would have, if he knew he was having an artist or this Treasures Roadshow, he would buy a ton of hot dogs and they had to be all beef, skinless. Like, we're not playing, right? He had to have the right hot dogs so everyone could have as many hot dogs as they want. He would have like Scooby-Doo t-shirts and I would run those tables and he would just have such an exciting atmosphere. And but in this particular case, we had over 1,000 people come because they were able to— the Antique Roadshow— they were able to get their, their toys appraised. And I remember I was waiting in line, just kind of like walking around, and in front of me was someone who had marionettes. And they looked old and kind of crappy, and I would have thought to myself, they're worth nothing. And the people were like, oh! And they said, we need you to come to New York. And so they did. So So they ended up going to New York at a separate time, and it was a very nice appraisal of their piece. I don't think they sold it, but it was really fun. And my dad was also the smartest marketing man ever. He, he know— he knew how to market. And so he's been on the Wall Street Journal, you just name it. He was able to—

his name was Herb Barker. Did he pass recently?

He did, he did. He passed last April, April 3rd. My dad passed. And my mom had passed a year before, but they were, they were just about 70 years. So my dad had a really hard time trying to understand how his wife had passed. And the rabbi would come over and just try to explain to my dad, because my dad would be like, how? Like, he just didn't understand it. And the last year, my dad was very frail, and he would say to me, you know, he was just, he was scared, but yet he missed my mom so much. I mean, he— Gloria, my mom, was everything to my dad. His eyes never strayed anywhere. He was just 100% in love with his redhead Gloria. And the way they did— I got, I got to live with them in 2007.

Howard Cosell story.

We have a young man named Caesar. Caesar Baccaro was writing the book. My parents loved that. So we've got a lot of video of them and, you know, being true entrepreneurs. My dad never graduated college. My mom was She graduated from Bryant University in Rhode Island. And so they had the museum, then they opened up the gallery, and then my dad loved gambling and he loved the horses. So they had— they got a limousine, my family too. So they had a suite over at the Gulfstream in Hallandale. That was fun. Loaded their— their suite was filled with all artwork. It was so much fun. And they would just enjoy a lot of great food. And, and my parents were just— they would have all their friends come in and we would all bet and gamble, and those are the days. I miss that. And my dad also has donated over— I think he's about $1.5 million to $2 million. As a matter of fact, most of the hospitals in Connecticut have artwork from Gloria and Herb Barker. And then most of in South Florida, Miami, Broward, there's just a lot of hospitals that my dad wanted me to— he said when I opened up the gallery here, so I came to Daytona Beach to open up the Fifth Art Gallery, which I did. And that gallery was doing great, but my father passed and I lost all passion for it. Just, it just was too hard for me. So anyway, so we closed the gallery in July, but I really, I just, I learned a lot anyways, just how to open a gallery, how to close the gallery and all of that. But my dad, when I would say to him, Dad, you know, maybe we could bring the museum to Volusia County, he liked that. He always felt that the museum in Cheshire, you know, that gets about 10,000 visitors, really should be somewhere where it would be really appreciated. Not that people in Chester don't appreciate it, but you're talking, you know, South Florida that would get 150,000 visitors a month compared to 10,000. So I'm waiting to talk to my brother. Now the 4 of us are owners of the gallery and the museum. So waiting to talk to them about maybe even taking a decade and have a decade traveling so that the kids can learn about, you know, 1900s to 1910. Because there's so much value and knowledge in toys, and it goes with the history of what was happening in the world. So we'll see.

Well, I assume it's closed right now. So what's your brother doing?

So that they're working in the other business, but the, the museum's closed, and the, the gallery we still can sell online. So we have a lot of great artwork, and my parents, they love the artist. So I have a piece. This is Melanie Taylor.

Can I have that website?

Oh yes, Barker Animation, barkeranimation.com. I love your mind. Not many people like—

okay, so Bark, I'm on it. So I can buy stuff from you?

You're so funny.

Yes, we can.

There we have it. Cool. I know, it really is. Let me know so I get you. Oh my gosh, Betty Boop. So the man that created Betty Boop, Myron Waltz, his son lives here in South Florida. And Myron actually did, um, he created Betty. By the way, was a fat Betty, was a French poodle back in the, uh, '30s. She was, um, she had— she was a little chunky there, Betty, and she was a French poodle. And so they made her in— so Myron Waldman, who if you look up like Popeye— so Betty turned 91 in January, and no, Betty turned— Popeye turned 91, Betty turns 91 this August. But Betty and Popeye together, the— some of the artwork is so amazing. And that's what my dad would donate because my father thought he was Popeye. Popeye was born in 1928, and so was my dad. Popeye was born in January, so was my dad. So my dad really— and my dad never smoked though, he never smoked, never drank. Never did anything like that at all. Never, ever.

When are you moving to Tucson?

When are you moving back? No, I know, I really want to, but I don't know what I'm gonna do. I don't know. You're so funny because I'm your best friend. Oh, I love you, I love you. I'm thinking of running. I gotta show you something.

Hang on.

Is that a clock up there? Oh, on my bed. Is that Snoopy? What is that? Oh, he's so yellow. I mean, no, it's a Woodstock. What's that?

Oh yeah, I can't get this.

Oh my God, I have to take you for a walk. I'm taking you for a walk. I'm plugging this. Okay, ready?

So, Adrian, Adrian, in my garage I have 5 or 6 25-gallon tubs of stuffed animals. Oh wow. Yeah. Oh, how cute!

Wow, that's Garfield. And then I have Garfield, Jim Davis. Whoops. My dad loved Garfield. Oh, he never had— growing up, but he loved— he really did love Garfield. My dad loved all the artists. The thing with my parents is they fell in love with the artists, and then they, they bought all the artwork from the artists. They would just love the artist. And then—

so let me see what else is on your wall.

I love— oh gosh, it's so funny. So I have here, I have— this is a man named Todd Goldman. I think it's going to be upside down, but this one says— the pink one says Miss Gold Digger. I love it. Little Miss Suck Up. I don't know if that's crooked or my— and then this one is Miss Anorexia. Kind of— are these things that we could find on your, on your website? Not those. Those are just a few that my parents bought. I only— I grabbed a few for the um, for my house. I love George of the Jungle. I don't know why I can't just— see, I love George of the Jungle. See him?

George, George, George of the Jungle.

I'll show you what I have. I want to see.

All right, so let me see. Do you see this right here?

What is that? What is that? What is that?

It's a cassette collage of 121 Um, they're all original covers. And then I'll show you— I have to walk out. Who put that together?

Did you put that— did you do that job?

Yep. And then I'll show you this. Wow. So, um, see that? Yeah. Wow, that's 169.

Oh my God, that's so impressive.

Yeah, yeah.

Did you buy that or you put it together?

No, I put it together by hand. And I have, um, I'm going back in my room. I have about 275 covers and I started cutting them out, um, a couple days ago and I'm gonna make another one. So this one is above my desk there.

Let's see if you can see it.

Wow, those are CDs. Oh my gosh, so it's pretty easy. You just take, um, you just take black poster board and you tape it together, and then you paste the cassette covers together. And then I have a big display of all my, my cassettes.

How long did it take you though? That seems like it would take a long time.

Oh, many hours, many hours, many.

How beautiful is that? You really love your music. I think I've seen you in the past going to different concerts.

I do, I do. Yeah, I do love going to concerts.

Yeah, and I remember your son's name is Steve, right? Steven.

Yes.

Yep. Yes, I have a brother Steven. And so he was— so will he go back to his job when this is over?

So he has another job, and I'm not sure that I should tell you, but I'll tell you anyway, because most Jews are— wouldn't— don't like this, but I'll just— it's okay, I'll just tell you what he's doing. He's working for the Arizona GOP, and he's on the Trump victory team.

Oh, how fun for him! So, wow.

So it's a 33-week job, and it pays pretty well, and he can work from home, and he's just calling voters in Wisconsin and Arizona. And it's not a phone call to say, hey, vote for Trump. It's a lot of different questions. And right now he's asking questions about, about the virus and, and things like that and helping people and collecting data.

How old is he?

How old is he? On the 22nd, he'll be 25.

Okay, so he's brilliant. That's really smart. I, so I want to run in 2 years, so I'm here. So that's why I'm thinking I'm really going to stay here and run for city council. I like the area. The people are a lot like Tucson. But so I actually got hired from the Census Bureau to go out because I don't know really what will be like to knock on doors. And I felt that if I'm working for census, I'll get that being comfortable knocking on doors so that when I'll be taught my time. And then I'm looking for a politician when we get back next, you know, we get back to business that I could volunteer for so that— but, you know, I believe I don't, you know, I don't like everything has to be one way or the other. I believe in what that person is able to give to us. And I think that, I think Tim actually said it really well yesterday. Real leaders are gonna come out of this COVID-19, whether it is political, whether it is just real life. You know, there's some leaders out there that don't believe that people are getting sick. They don't wanna understand. They're afraid to give masks to their employees because they think people will be afraid of that. And so they're not protecting their employees. I think that so, so to me, I think what your son is doing makes a lot of sense. It's a really good experience. So that kind of experience will go far in his life.

Let me tell you something about yourself.

Okay.

From the day that I met you, I think at the Tucson Hispanic Chamber meeting, I think it was, maybe I was, I was completely impressed. And the more I learn about you, the more I want to be better friends with you, the more time I want to read what you write, and honest to God, my friend, I truly in my heart believe that anything that you want to do, you will make it happen. I, I don't think that there's anything you cannot do.

Wow, thank you so much.

That really means a lot from you than somebody else.

Thank you, that does mean a lot. Wow.

And you're a brilliant writer.

Oh, thank you, thank you. I, I just think sometimes when I'm talking to someone, I'll be like, that's a story that needs to be told. But I really enjoy that, you know, I really needed to go to the etiquette school. That was the thing. I really, I was, you know, I'd be burping 20 times during this, uh, actually the only reason why I'm not burping is I'm not drinking soda. But see, I would have drank soda, burped, and thought I was funny. So I've come a long way.

You need this. Oh, I lost my dog, but you're a dog mom.

It's hard to lose a dog, isn't it?

I can't get another one.

Oh, I can understand that. It is really, it's just, and these commercials that are on, you know, the SPCA, I'm a CNN watcher, but when they show those commercials on dogs, it's so, you know, it's so hard to understand why people could be horrible to children, to animals, to our, I don't know, just, I would love to see us come out of this where everyone is so amazing because I'm on a board for, um, Healthy Souls International. I met a woman named Maria. So you and I had met, and actually Tucson, they all did a— you know, I really love that chamber too. They did a nice job with the, the way they were building it. But I met Maria, we're at an event together, and I walk up to her and she's alone, and I'm like, can we be friends for like the next hour and a half? So she said yes, and that's so weird. A little bit about her plans, and her plans were that she really wanted to— she was doing Aflac and she wanted to create a disaster relief. I've never seen it from the time I met her in August to today. She has this week delivered— since she— since COVID-19, she delivered 850 meals to those that are vulnerable. So the, the seniors and anyone that has a compromised immune system and is unable to go out, this young lady is— and she everywhere she goes and people go, I really appreciate what you say, but I really like with someone like her. She's like a rock star, the way she's able to get out. What I think I could do here in Daytona Beach— wow, she's a spitfire. She's been to Puerto Rico a few times after the earthquake. She was working there. She flew the night of Christmas, she flew to the Bahamas in order to deliver toys and meals to the 450 families after Hurricane Dorian. So there are so many people out here. We meet them at these networking events and Sometimes it's just you've got to take the minute to really see how they are and, you know, find out who they are. Like, I think of so many— Reena. Oh my God, there's a lot of really—

love Reena. And I, I had a weird dream about her last night— this morning, I gotta tell you. We're at the hotel and there's 20 different ice cream flavors to choose from. True story, can't make this up. So she had a contest, a networking contest that we could all just look at it and smell it and then write down— this is a dream. We had to write down and to know what the flavor was and whoever got the most right won all the ice cream. That was my dream this morning. I know it's weird. It doesn't make sense. So, I mean, I I have over 300 members of Tucson Business Networking. And last week I got another one, which was so cool. It was like, wow, and all this, you know, I, you know, I have a, I have a deal going that people get an extra couple months added to their membership and, and all members automatically extended. But I do a lot for others. But what I get out of it is friendships that I never knew that I would make. So in that it's invaluable. You can't put a price tag on that.

And you know, your Zoom, your networking calls that you're doing now, that may be the only one that a person is really going through. You know, I mean, if you're— you just don't know. That may be the one time a month that they're getting to get on and see other people. And it really does— it feels like a connection. I mean, the next best thing is really this if you can't be there in person. Much better than talking on the phone. Actually, is it weird to think, like, I wonder, will it be weird that we'll say, like, in 5 years from now, you're Do you remember the day that we would actually use this to talk on the phone? How weird would that be? There's like no, no way to talk. You have to look at people and like, I don't know. So I think that this is beautiful, but I have a feeling that this is where you could really again show that shyness that you have, that, that bright light, because doing that, I bet you a lot of people, they don't. And it's fun, right? They're all of a sudden, they're relaxing. Maybe they're drinking a little drink. Diane Donato. Oh my God, she's Heart, love, love, love. I remember meeting her at the casino, and, and that night I was, I was so off. The woman Debbie that I brought with me was like, what is wrong with you? And I'm like, I don't know. But Diane was like so bigger than life to me that I really felt like, like a little like shy because I was like, wow, because I had followed her for so long. And then I got to meet her and I was like, oh my gosh, I love what she's doing now too, being an actress. She's cool.

Boy, you really are connecting. She She and my mom have become good friends. And last August I did a Woodstock event and I had 5 people that were actually at Woodstock come to my event and I, and I interviewed those people. And so if you go to the YouTube channel Tucson Business Networking, there's an interview on her experience. And others from that time. I didn't hear that.

I did see it. It was amazing. I thought all— I actually thought all of your whole marketing towards it was amazing. And what she— it was, it was so cool. By the way, your mom is really, really pretty. I remember the two of you. I remember looking, you were wearing a beautiful dress and your mom. And for some reason, I didn't even know I was leaving Tucson at that time to go to China, but I just remember looking and going, oh, so So beautiful to have such a young mother that she's supporting you at an event with something like this. Like, literally, the shrimp were like this big, right? That was crazy.

Oh, she turned 70 in, in September.

It's kind of weird.

My, my, my mom and dad alike, they're both good-looking people. They're— and they're, they're wonderful. Yeah, I'm sorry.

What are you doing now with your— like, how do you see your parents now? Are you seeing them from afar? Are you—

my dad lives in Vail, which is about an hour from, from my home in Oro Valley, so I haven't seen him the last month. My mom, I've seen her twice. I've been over to her house and I brought her a tray of lasagna, and she came over to see me. So, but nobody else is coming over. We just don't want anyone's cooties. So is she living—

does she live alone?

No, she's married. She's married. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Live alone, there's so many, you know, that scares me a little bit of the isolation. And, and, you know, we have to consider everyone's mental health. And I'm worried about myself, to be honest with you. I feel like I could really like get into a habit of staying at home. Like, what do they say, it takes 21 days or something to make something a habit. What if I have a hard time going out? I could be shy. You know, it takes a lot to go to a new community. Then I was in the gallery, so I was not locked away in the four walls, but I kind of tease to say, you know, in the four walls. Finally, last, like, then I got hit by a car. My car, my car got hit by a car, got rear-ended by a, by a motor vehicle. And then, yeah, yeah, it was pretty painful. So I really have only been out, so I have to go to all these meetings and, you know, and throw that smile on. And I am nervous and I am shy. And I, you know, I'm like, just like anyone else.

Yeah, that would be like, I really can't say I'm shy.

I really am. I really am. I really, really— I think we're related. I don't do— I don't do nighttime events very well, like when it's in a bar or when— I don't know why. There is something a little weird that I, I don't, you know, I don't know. And I'm like, I gotta lose weight. I'm gonna come out like this. I'll be coming out in 6 weeks. My daughter's like, Mom, it's fun watching you grow every single day. They're like, you grow every minute, right, Alana? She's getting skinnier every minute too. What are you making, honey? Come show Stacy. Then we have to go. Let me see. Let me see what you're making here. Oh my God, Stacy. Pancakes. She all of a sudden has this like weird pancake or cheesecake.

Hi to Alana again.

Oh, come here, say hi. Come on, come on, come on, cutie pie. Say hi. Say, yeah, tell Stacy. Come on, tell Stacy how— what it— what is it like being home from school and life like this for you at 14?

Amazing. Yeah.

You miss school?

So are you, are you a freshman in high school or 8th grade?

No, you're not. You're an 8th grader. She's an 8th grader.

Oh man, if I was in 8th grade and didn't have to go to school, I would be so happy. So happy.

She— her hours are all messed up. She likes to stay up late. And the other thing is, so yesterday— or was it this morning, Alana?

She looked beautiful. Adrian, your daughter is beautiful.

You lost weight.

Did you measure?

A lot of this—

okay, gorgeous girl, you're a gorgeous girl. Let me say, uh, you're welcome.

Yeah, she is beautiful, isn't she? I love Stacy.

You're beautiful.

I could stare at her. I do stare at her picture. No, Alana, you have to measure. Oh my God, and you're talking to a woman— Stacy has like a million and a half cookbooks. You have to measure. You can't— you have to measure, Alana. That's why there's a box with ingredients on it. Dying right now. She's literally dying. You have to measure, honey. You can't just like decide that— that's why she makes pancakes, they're either hard as a rock. No, honey, you're not making dough. This is not bread. You have to— you have to put more in there. Oh my gosh.

All right, Adrian, check my Facebook from yesterday, what I cooked. The food was to die for.

Do you use your cookbooks? Like what? Like do you—

like how?

Like tell me. Like, and you went shopping already, so Are you using all the ingredients that you already have in the house?

In March, I spent about $1,200 in groceries and I— my outside freezer is packed. I am ready for—

Smart.

I know, I know. It's packed. And I did a lot of extra cooking for the freezer on purpose. So we don't have a problem. But yeah, I used my—

You knew the meals you were going to plan, or you just— I'm such a bad cook. This is a problem. So I wouldn't even know. So when you were buying food for the freezer, you already— did you already have in your head an idea of what you would make with it, or you're just—

OK. Sure, sure, sure. And there's a— do you cook a lot?

I mean, I have to cook, but I'm not a great cook, nor do I enjoy it. I'm like—

If you can read, you can cook.

I don't like it.

You don't like it?

I don't like it.

No, it's not the crock pot.

Yeah, I'll do a crock pot. I'll do a nice roast. That's much better, Alana. I'll do a nice roast.

So Google, Google a recipe for your crock pot called Chicken Delicious.

And I have chicken, chicken delicious.

No, it's called Chicken Delicious. It's an old, old recipe, and you have to use a can of cream of celery, a can of cream of mushroom, and it's just the easiest and the most scrumptious meal. And it's, it's a staple.

It's a few. Is that similar to like chicken à la king?

Different. I think that uses pimentos.

Oh, okay. Doesn't it? I don't know, but someone had given me a recipe like that. Either you cook the chicken till it falls off the bone And then you can cook over rice, rice or potatoes.

This is definitely not a diet food, but just Google Chicken Delicious and then look at my recipe that I put on Facebook last night. It was amazing, to die for. Oh, that's so nice.

Your husband's so lucky. My husband can't even find the kitchen. It's right here. I mean, really.

Your kitchen's clean.

Oh my gosh, I know, we could just clean. But like, even yesterday I made chicken— I made quesadillas. I don't know, I try. Did you get enough toilet paper when you went shopping? Did you think about toilet paper or paper supplies?

I have more than enough. I gotta go.

I don't even want to tell you. No, that's good. I got a call from a friend of mine. He's like, Adrian— it was like 3 weeks ago— and he's like, Adrian, I'm gonna just give you one advice. Get toilet paper. And I was— and I don't know, you know, I actually listened to him. He's like told me what to get, and so I did. So I filled up our cupboards, and we have enough, I think, for probably like 4 weeks. But he said get toilet paper, and so I'm doing good because I actually listened to him. Though the other day my husband was goofing on me, and he bought paper towels, and then he comes in the house and he's got like a bag of toilet paper that looked like it. And I'm like, oh, you got more toilet paper? And he's like, I made them out of paper towels.

I'm like, oh, don't put paper towels on the toilet. And, oh, anyways, so my, my Jewish deceased grandma, as a child, I would go into her third or fourth bedroom and toilet paper was lined all in her closets, packed. And I never understood. So as an adult, instead of buying one toothpaste I buy 5. Instead of buying 1 bottle of saline solution for contacts, I buy 6. When I buy toilet paper, I buy 100. So, you know.

Oh, I love it. I love it. But so you're lucky too, because actually the stores here, and from what I'm hearing, they're really emptied of a lot of different things. It's, it's, you know, and I, you know, I, um, I don't sell, but I love melaleuca, so I use the sprays that they have, and I just love that product. So lucky enough, they have some hand sanitizer and a couple of things that work, because I could spray it without the dog, worrying about the dog or Alana. So, you know, I spray it on my husband when he gets home. So I love talking to Steve. What does he do for a living? So he is, he works at like traffic, making sure the stop and go, like a flagger. For, uh, construction jobs. So responsible for, you know, the flow and, and web of traffic. So he's been busy, which is nice. Some days he works 12 hours a day, and that's good because when he's here— I mean, he's a lovely man and he'll do things for me, but sometimes, you know, he'll come around, he'll be like too long, he'll try to give me little tips, and I'm like, dude, don't do that to me.

Oh, that's awesome. He's very— stay in touch, my friend.

I will. I'm going to, um, I'll send you the pricing and then I want to, um, get your recipe. And thank you for everything you do for the Tucson market. Seriously, businesses really need businesses like you. I mean, we don't have anyone like you. And I really, you know, I just, we were talking about that, like having someone like you at every market is so important. And the fact of what you've, you've just done such a great job with it. You made it a really fantastic organization. So I'm jealous. I'm jealous.

I, I am. I am going to be franchising this, uh, probably beginning next year. I'm working on it to, to go into other markets.

So I think that, you know what, it's not even just for you. It really is for other businesses. We need this. We need this kind of marketing, which is a lot of fun. And you're not going to always have someone like— but you'll be able to— that could be part of it too, making sure that they have your personality. Would be a great thing. You don't want someone that doesn't have that kind of— I mean, you think business and you're always thinking of bringing people together and how that looks. It comes pretty natural to you. And there are— I have my friend Debbie in Florida, in Orlando, and Debbie Michelle Andrews, Jewish girl, you'd love her too. Her mom, she grew up in the event industry, and Debbie works for Fleming's, and she started Party Planners Network. Out of Orlando, and she will get 250 people. She's got curly hair just like you. She's got your beautiful personality. She's a lovely, lovely woman. So maybe I need to meet her.

You should, you should meet my cousins there, Debbie and Michelle.

Yes, yes. Can you send this to them so they can, they can see? I do. Um, that would be nice. And then maybe we'll connect in another one when this is all over.

And you're in, you're in Orlando?

I know I am actually— I am like a mile from Ormond Beach, so I'm in Daytona Beach but right on the Ormond Beach.

Daytona. Okay, okay, I'll let them know.

All right, I love you. Thank you, Stacy. Thank you. Thank you. I'll be in touch with the pricing. All right, bye.

Thank you.

Bye.