Latest / Pretty In Pink Again / Episode 66: Why Women Everywhere Are Suddenly Obsessed With Mahjong | Inside the Mahjong Movement with Expert Jamie Dalton

Transcript

Episode 66: Why Women Everywhere Are Suddenly Obsessed With Mahjong | Inside the Mahjong Movement with Expert Jamie Dalton · Pretty In Pink Again

• 0:00
  I'm Christina.
• 0:01
  And I'm team.
• 0:01
  And this is the pretty and Pink again podcast where motherhood meets rediscovery.
• 0:16
  Welcome Jamie Dalton, co-founder of Gold Coast Mahjong.
• 0:19
  Like so many women after motherhood, Jamie found herself searching for something that was just for her.
• 0:24
  She tried it all and quickly realized tennis was just not her thing.
• 0:27
  But then she stumbled upon Mahjong and everything changed.
• 0:30
  Originally learning the game so she could play with her one hundred and two-year-old Chinese grandmother during visits, Jamie quickly became completely hooked.
• 0:37
  Alongside her co-founder, she launched Gold Coast Mahjong, and within the past year, the club and community have absolutely exploded.
• 0:45
  Women everywhere are suddenly obsessed with Mahjong.
• 0:48
  Some are even calling it the new golf for women.
• 0:50
  But why?
• 0:51
  What is it about this game that brings so many people together?
• 0:53
  Is it strategy?
• 0:54
  Is it the aesthetics?
• 0:55
  Is it the ritual of gathering around a table?
• 0:57
  Is it the social connection that so many women have been craving?
• 1:00
  Jamie is spilling it all.
• 1:01
  Jamie's teaching style and fun-first philosophy have made women feel more comfortable, confident, and welcomed into a space that can otherwise feel intimidating.
• 1:11
  So today, we are diving into what the hype is all about, why women are falling in love with Mahjong, and how you too can get started.
• 1:18
  So Jamie Dalton.
• 1:20
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:21
  Co-founder, Gold Coast Mahjong Club.
• 1:23
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:24
  Let's get going.
• 1:25
  Yay.
• 1:26
  We're so happy to have you here today.
• 1:27
  You're so happy.
• 1:28
  I'm so excited.
• 1:29
  I'm so excited.
• 1:30
  Yeah.
• 1:30
  I, like this game, I want everybody to learn.
• 1:34
  And when people tell me they haven't learned yet, I'm like,"What do you mean you haven't learned yet?" Well, I just said that.
• 1:37
  You're missing.
• 1:37
  I haven't learned yet- I know and I am, I do wanna learn.
• 1:40
  I'm really intrigued by this.
• 1:41
  I think this is really cool.
• 1:43
  I love the idea of using your mind.
• 1:46
  I like that it's social.
• 1:47
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:47
  It's got like, all the components for a good hobby for any woman.
• 1:52
  But I feel like moms especially, I feel like when you just wanna get out of the house and learn something.
• 1:57
  I know.
• 1:57
  We talked about this like a couple weeks ago, too, where you don't need it to be like tennis, where it's like so strenuous and this is like- Physical good for your mind.
• 2:05
  Mm-hmm.
• 2:05
  And I feel like that's what we need right now.
• 2:07
  Mm-hmm.
• 2:07
  So I've never played.
• 2:09
  T's a player, but I've never played, so I wanted to- I'm a beginner player.
• 2:12
  I hope you're convincing by the end- I'm a beginner player of this.
• 2:13
  I, oh, I am convinced.
• 2:14
  I feel like when I started playing tennis, it was for the outfits and the looks.
• 2:18
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
• 2:18
  And now that I'm playing Mahjong, it's also for the looks.
• 2:21
  I'm decorating rooms in my house based on where I wanna put the table- Well, they're really pretty and the tiles- Yes and the mats.
• 2:27
  So pretty.
• 2:28
  And there's something very calming about touching the tiles.
• 2:31
  Yeah.
• 2:31
  And I don't know.
• 2:32
  I'm, I've- Like, very soothing totally bought into this.
• 2:34
  Mm-hmm.
• 2:34
  But we wanna hear a little bit about you because this is a newer business for you.
• 2:37
  Mm-hmm.
• 2:38
  You've only been, you've only launched a year, right?
• 2:40
  It will be a year next month.
• 2:42
  Oh my God.
• 2:43
  Wild.
• 2:43
  Yeah.
• 2:43
  And you guys have- It's- exploded wild.
• 2:48
  I thought it was gonna be a little, side hustle, so I, like, learned as a hobby.
• 2:52
  I have a 102-year-old Chinese grandmother.
• 2:54
  Oh.
• 2:54
  And a friend- God bless like, a daycare mom was like,"Hey, do you wanna learn with, like, three other moms and at school?" And I was like,"Yeah, I've been wanting to learn." So we learned Hong Kong mahjong, so it's completely different, and that is similar to the one that my grandmother plays.
• 3:11
  She plays Taiwanese mahjong, so there's, like, 40 different versions out there.
• 3:14
  Wow, okay.
• 3:15
  Wow.
• 3:15
  But one American version?
• 3:17
  One American version.
• 3:18
  Okay.
• 3:18
  So that's probably what people are playing around here.
• 3:21
  But anyway, so I learned Hong Kong version first, we took,, like, eight two-hour private lessons.
• 3:28
  Lot of lessons.
• 3:29
  But we were very chit-chatty, and so I felt like I learned, like, 50% of it.
• 3:34
  Mm-hmm.
• 3:34
  And I was like,"You know what?
• 3:35
  I'm gonna sign up without my friends," and I went to a different class.
• 3:39
  Just, like, I was like,"I love you guys, but, like, I wanna learn.
• 3:41
  I wanna be able to play." So I signed up, with a different group of friends, but we were, like, at a odd number where we couldn't sit together.
• 3:49
  So mahjong you play with four people.
• 3:51
  So there were six of us, so two of us had to sit at a different Got to the table, and they pulled out these, like, National Mahjong League cards, and I was like,"What?
• 3:59
  What is this?" I thought I signed up for mahjong.
• 4:02
  It turned out to be American mahjong.
• 4:04
  Hong Kong mahjong doesn't use a card.
• 4:07
  So after you had already taken these other lessons and played this other way?
• 4:10
  I just assumed- That it was a thing I- it was gonna be the same.
• 4:13
  Right.
• 4:13
  So- Of course I, I get there, and she's like,"Oh, let's do the Charleston." I was like,"What?" Like, completely different.
• 4:19
  Wow, so it's not just different rules, it's kind of like a completely- And different number of tiles different game.
• 4:22
  Wow, okay.
• 4:22
  So, the tiles are similar, so Hong Kong version, there's 144 tiles.
• 4:28
  For American, there's 152, so the eight tile difference is jokers.
• 4:32
  You don't have jokers in American mahjong.
• 4:34
  Mm-hmm.
• 4:34
  You don't have a card in American mahjong.
• 4:36
  So, people always liken Hong Kong mahjong to, like, building blocks because you can pivot, easily.
• 4:44
  You're making your own hands, where American mahjong people liken it to more like a puzzle.
• 4:50
  Mm-hmm.
• 4:50
  So it's already determined how you're gonna win with, the different hands, and you have to match, the pieces to the puzzle based on your tiles.
• 4:58
  Got it.
• 4:58
  So, like, I like that analogy because- Mm-hmm people are like,"How is it different?" That's how it's, different for somebody that doesn't play both versions.
• 5:06
  So, that's how I fell into American mahjong, and then I sat at a table with this girl named Emily who is my business partner now.
• 5:14
  So we be- like, became fast friends, connected from just sitting at a mahjong table in a class together, you know?
• 5:20
  So it was really cool.
• 5:21
  And so you guys just felt like you loved this so much and you wanted to team up to teach this to other women.
• 5:27
  Did you know that mahjong was going to explode like this at that time?
• 5:33
  Or was this kind of before?
• 5:34
  Before.
• 5:35
  It was before?
• 5:36
  So, there were a couple, like, American mahjong classes, popping up.
• 5:40
  But it, it was more in, like, a formal classroom, like, kinda setting.
• 5:44
  So my business partner, Emily, was like,"You know what?
• 5:47
  I'm..." We were all hosting at our houses, and she's like,"I'm gonna host one at Lazy Sister." It's, um, like, a modern Chinese restaurant in Norwalk.
• 5:56
  And I think it has, like, 10 tables of four.
• 5:58
  She wasn't trying to make money.
• 5:59
  She was just like,"I'm gonna invite, like, my friends." And it sold out within, like, two minutes.
• 6:03
  Wow.
• 6:04
  And so I was one of the tables at that event,'cause she invited me.
• 6:08
  And the next day is when I texted her.
• 6:09
  I was like,"Can we take a walk?" I th- and then she's like,"I think you're thinking what I'm thinking." Yeah.
• 6:14
  Yeah.
• 6:14
  I was like,"Yeah." We're onto something.
• 6:15
  Yeah.
• 6:15
  Yeah.
• 6:15
  Yeah, yeah.
• 6:16
  So- So at this point, did all of your friends know how to play, or were you teaching at this event?
• 6:21
  Or were you all going- So we actually hired another instructor,'cause we weren't instructors at that point.
• 6:26
  But we call it guided play Guided open play So it's, like, somebody that's taken a couple lessons but doesn't feel quite comfortable playing, and you have, like, an instructor there- Mm-hmm to ask any questions So you can flag somebody over and be like- Yeah"Can you take a look at this for me?" Mm-hmm.
• 6:38
  Yeah.
• 6:38
  Okay.
• 6:38
  I like that.
• 6:39
  And it's good,'cause you don't feel intimidated, right?
• 6:40
  A lot of people won't sign up because they're like,"Oh, I've only taken a couple classes.
• 6:43
  I'm nervous that, like, somebody else knows more than me.
• 6:45
  I need help picking my line." And then Emily and I were like,"Wait," I think we know enough, and, like, we got our certification through Oh My Mahjong.
• 6:54
  Mm-hmm.
• 6:54
  It's one of the tile lines.
• 6:55
  But we actually, self-educated ourselves a lot, just, reading and, taking as many classes as we could and, some of our favorite instructors, like, just getting tips from them and then just, improving the lessons- Right like, to make it fun.
• 7:09
  You guys seem to have a very unique way about you, your type of teaching- Mm-hmm your, like, sort of, like, the culture of your club.
• 7:18
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:18
  Talk to us a little bit about that and how you decided, like, what you wanted to implement into your brand.
• 7:24
  Yeah, so I think we always say fun first.
• 7:26
  So there are some leagues that are super competitive.
• 7:28
  And we try to make it not intimidating, so people that might have taken only two classes, we're like,"No, come," because you'll now play for five weeks in a row, and you'll gain your confidence.
• 7:40
  And so many people have signed up for multiple leagues after that,'cause they're like,"You're right." And now I'm meeting, like, the same people that come for five weeks.
• 7:48
  Like, it's hard as an adult to meet people in an organic way, and it feels very organic because you're playing a game.
• 7:56
  So, if you don't feel like you mesh, like you have something kind of as a- A buffer a buffer.
• 8:00
  Yeah, right.
• 8:01
  So anyways, the league is really fun.
• 8:03
  Like, we do it at, I don't know if you've ever been to, um, The Galley in Nor- it's, like, my favorite place.
• 8:08
  Um, it's like right on the water.
• 8:10
  So this is all down in Southern Connecticut.
• 8:12
  So we do a lot in Fairfield County.
• 8:13
  Fairfield County.
• 8:14
  Um, but we're trying to, like, branch out here.
• 8:17
  So we have an instructor we just hired in Fairfield that's probably, like, the furthest or closest to you.
• 8:23
  Um, we're trying to get into West Hartford right now.
• 8:27
  Mm-hmm.
• 8:27
  Um, I don't know.
• 8:28
  If anyone you know- So you're expanding wants to be an instructor.
• 8:30
  Well, if anybody listening wants to be.
• 8:32
  Yeah, I know.
• 8:33
  I mean, it's popping up.
• 8:34
  People like it so much.
• 8:36
  Yeah.
• 8:37
  But who do you think made this cool?
• 8:38
  Like, do you think it was, like, the millennials that made this cool?
• 8:42
  Well, I think during COVID it really blew up in Dallas.
• 8:45
  Um, so Oh My Mahjong and The Mahjong Line are, like, the two big- mahjong companies, and they have really beautiful, colorful, fun tiles, which I'm sure you've played- Mm-hmm on one of them, so it started in Dallas, and I think it was like, it prog- I feel like it's progressed slowly up n- to the northeast, and it's, like, hitting us now, and I think it's a lot of m- moms.
• 9:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 9:09
  And I would say primarily we have probably like 30, 30s to 40s, but as young as, like, my daughter's age, six, to, like, somebody r- was retired and called me today, and she's 80 and wanted to join a league.
• 9:22
  So it's everybody.
• 9:23
  It's great that you can learn it young, and it's something- Mm-hmm that can carry through, like, the rest of your life, which I feel like that's probably what's drawing a lot of women to this- Mm-hmm is that they don't feel like they have to be, like, at their peak physically.
• 9:36
  Yeah.
• 9:36
  You want that mental component.
• 9:38
  Right.
• 9:38
  I think we've talked before about saying that when you're there, you're checked out.
• 9:43
  Yes.
• 9:43
  Like, you have to kind of remove yourself from, like, the everyday.
• 9:46
  You have to pay attention, but then you're also able to socialize.
• 9:49
  Yes.
• 9:49
  So it's kind of like the best of all worlds for moms.
• 9:52
  100%.
• 9:52
  So I understand why there is such a draw to it for women.
• 9:56
  Mm-hmm.
• 9:56
  Yeah.
• 9:57
  And I think there's also, this trend of- I'm noticing a lot more of my friends not drinking as much, or, people are just trying to be more health-conscious- They're like looking to maybe for- and not go out to eat as much looking for other ways to socialize- Right without that drinking component- Yes or without the going out.
• 10:12
  It doesn't have to be a late night.
• 10:13
  Yeah.
• 10:13
  It's just something that it's, it really checks a lot of the boxes- It does I think for our age group.
• 10:18
  It does.
• 10:18
  And I think, like, if I was telling my husband,"Oh, I'm gonna go out for, a drink," I'd feel guilty where- Mm-hmm like, this is good for your mind.
• 10:24
  Right.
• 10:25
  But also it just holds you accountable.
• 10:26
  Like, if you've told three of your friends,"We're gonna play mahjong tonight," and you don't show up- Mm now they have to either scramble and find somebody else, or it's just not as fun.
• 10:37
  You can play- They, they come in there's ways to play with, like- Right less people, but it's- Right like, not as fun.
• 10:41
  Right.
• 10:41
  So there's, like, a, an accountability factor.
• 10:42
  Well, it's like playing tennis.
• 10:43
  Yeah.
• 10:43
  Like doubles tennis.
• 10:44
  Like you- Yeah would never wanna be let, that person that was left out.
• 10:47
  Right.
• 10:48
  But you don't have to worry about tearing your ACL or, like, throwing your back out.
• 10:52
  Right.
• 10:52
  You know?
• 10:52
  And some people aren't- Like, you do when you're playing like skilled in the physical stuff- No right?
• 10:55
  So- There really is Talk to us a little bit about the origin of this.
• 10:59
  Mm-hmm.
• 11:00
  Like, where did this game come from?
• 11:01
  Where was it originated?
• 11:03
  Mm-hmm.
• 11:03
  Um, I would love to touch on that- Yeah before we kinda get into, like, where it, what it's turned into now with American mahjong.
• 11:09
  Yeah, so the game, they say, was a mix of, like, tile games and card games.
• 11:17
  It originated in China in, like, the 1800s.
• 11:19
  And so it came over to America from a businessman named Joseph Babcock in the 1920s.
• 11:27
  And when the game came over, people were playing all different types of versions of the game, and nobody could play together.
• 11:34
  So- The National Mahjong League formed, and it was a group of Jewish women in New York City formed a, this group where they basically were like,"Okay, we need to figure out the rules towards the game so everybody can play together," right?
• 11:45
  'Cause it's not fun if everyone's playing their own version.
• 11:48
  And so in 1937 they formed the National Mahjong League, and that's like the card that we play with.
• 11:54
  So it come- the card...
• 11:56
  Even though what's fun about it is if you've played the game for, like, 20 years, a new card comes out every year.
• 12:03
  So you have, like, a different puzzle, basically different puzzles to, like, try to figure out every year.
• 12:09
  So it doesn't get old for, like, very experienced players.
• 12:13
  Or you can, like, go back and play on an old card- Yes if you wanted to also, which is fun.
• 12:17
  And people do that.
• 12:17
  They'll go on eBay and buy, like, a card for, from, for someone's, birthday year.
• 12:21
  So, like, they'll- Oh, that's such a good idea it's, which is fun.
• 12:23
  Love that idea.
• 12:23
  Oh, that's a really- So- a really good idea it's really cute.
• 12:26
  Like, or an anniversary.
• 12:27
  As long as you're all playing with the same card.
• 12:28
  Right.
• 12:28
  So we don't need to play with, like, the most recent card.
• 12:31
  You're just playing with whatever year, like, you decide, and you all play the same card.
• 12:35
  So it's real- it's, like, it's fun.
• 12:37
  I might take that part out of this podcast,'cause now my friends are all gonna know what they're getting- for their 40th birthday this year.
• 12:42
  It's really fun.
• 12:42
  86 cards.
• 12:44
  I, it's so fun.
• 12:45
  So if you were to be new to this- Mm-hmm what is the best way to learn?
• 12:51
  Do you learn on the card first?
• 12:52
  Do you learn on the tiles first?
• 12:54
  Like- Yeah give us a little Mahj 101.
• 12:56
  Yeah, so I always tell people, I first start off my lesson, I say, like,"Mahjong's not a hard game.
• 13:01
  It's just not an intuitive game," because obviously I'm oversimplifying this.
• 13:08
  It's kind of like learning, a new language because, like, when you're reading the card, what you think things should be are not.
• 13:15
  So I first, actually I, we lay out all the tiles, 152 tiles, by suit, and we liken naming the tiles to, like, a deck of cards, right?
• 13:24
  Mm-hmm.
• 13:24
  So there's, like, three main suits, and then we talk about, like, the matching dragons, and then we have all these, like, little analogies and, like, word plays for you to help remember.
• 13:37
  There's so many rules.
• 13:38
  So I think that's more, like, the int- people are like,"I'm not smart enough to learn," and it's more like, no, there's just, like, a lot of rules, and like anything, if you're learning a new language, it takes practice.
• 13:47
  And I tell people, just, like, play And it'll eventually click at some point.
• 13:53
  So, while you can maybe teach yourself online, I would say spend the money either, like, from an instructor or, or a good friend that knows how to play and, is patient enough to teach you.
• 14:04
  I was trying to teach my mom, and I was like,"I love you, but, like, I don't know if I have the patience- to teach you." And so I,, found a class near her and I was like- And you're-"Sign up for this" an instructor- I know, like, I love my mom- teaching thousands of them but, she was asking a lot of questions.
• 14:17
  I was like, so it was funny, with her class she was like,"We haven't even, like, learned the Charleston yet," and it was like class four.
• 14:23
  And I was like,"What do you guys do?
• 14:24
  Like, what have you been doing the f- first four- Asking a lot of questions Yeah.
• 14:28
  And she's like,"It's a bunch of seniors, Jamie.
• 14:30
  Like, it takes us a long time to..." I was like,"Okay, Mom." Um, so anyway, so yeah, you talk about the tiles, and then I talk about the card next, and I'm like- Okay"Don't be intimidated by the card.
• 14:41
  Let's, like, talk about the different headers." So I always, like, start off that there's flexible sections and then there's, like, fixed sections.
• 14:50
  So, like, the flexible sections are the ones with the words, so, like, any, like, numbers, um, consecutive run, winds and dragons.
• 14:59
  And then when I say numbers are our fixed sections, it's like the 20, 26, 2, 4, 6, 8, um, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 3, 6, 9.
• 15:09
  So when I say fixed, you're basically using the numbers that's in that header.
• 15:14
  When I say flexible, like consecutive run, you have options to, like- It could be any numbers- Right as long as they're in a row.
• 15:20
  So that's kind of how I start.
• 15:21
  Like, okay, you have nine neighborhoods, and that's generally what these sections are telling you.
• 15:26
  Right.
• 15:26
  And then- On the card it gives, like, an example.
• 15:29
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:29
  And the example's, like, one, one, one, one, one.
• 15:31
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:31
  And I thought I had to have, like, all ones.
• 15:33
  Right.
• 15:33
  But it's not.
• 15:34
  It's like any...
• 15:35
  It was, like, any number- Right that was, like, four of a kind or three of a kind or whatever.
• 15:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:40
  So it take, I mean- Yeah the card is a little, you have to decode it.
• 15:43
  You have to decode it, but then also- And read the little fine print people are like,"How can I get..." Yeah.
• 15:49
  The, so there's fine print, so we always talk about the fine print, too.
• 15:52
  And then we always go over the definitions.
• 15:53
  So there's, like, a lot of definitions in Mahjong, like what is a single, a pair, a pung, a kong, a quint, a sextet.
• 16:01
  And they're like,"Wait, what are you talking about?
• 16:03
  Like, I need to know vocabulary." But I always tell people, like, it's actually, I don't think people ever realize it's on the back of the card.
• 16:09
  Like, it's literally like a, you know the cheat sheets when you take a test in high school?
• 16:13
  Yeah.
• 16:13
  And you had, like, one little card to write everything?
• 16:16
  Yeah.
• 16:16
  That, like, that's what this is, basically.
• 16:18
  Oh, I didn't even realize there was a back.
• 16:19
  Yeah, it literally says, like- I don't think I've ever looked at the back.
• 16:21
  It literally says, and a lot of people don't, so I'm just giving you that hot tip.
• 16:25
  But- That's a great tip it's amazing.
• 16:27
  So all that's on here.
• 16:29
  Okay.
• 16:30
  It's not every rule, but it's, like, the rules that you would- Okay you know.
• 16:33
  So tiles, then card.
• 16:35
  Then card.
• 16:36
  So Gold Coast, we have like our own method of teaching.
• 16:39
  My business partner thought of it on an airplane and like wrote it literally on a napkin.
• 16:45
  She had this idea where We teach, like, how to read the card before we teach the charleston.
• 16:50
  So the Charleston, before you even start the game, it's a series of up to six passes, potentially, where you're passing tiles that you don't want.
• 16:59
  So I say it's like it's pruning a tree.
• 17:01
  So, you've kinda picked a branch,, like a neighborhood that you wanna be in, and you're trying to cut off all the stuff you don't want and collect more of what you want.
• 17:11
  So in this process of the Charleston, you're passing three tiles and you're collecting three tiles.
• 17:16
  So each time you're doing that, you're hoping to get more towards your hand.
• 17:22
  It's really intimidating for somebody to start the Charleston, and people often stop the Charleston after the first...
• 17:29
  So there, in the Charleston you have two Charlestons, Charleston one and two.
• 17:33
  One is required, the second is optional.
• 17:38
  People will often stop after the first'cause they're like,"I just wanna get to the game.
• 17:41
  This is, like, very overwhelming to me." So I tell people,"Okay, we're not even gonna learn the Charleston yet." So we actually, like, teach in a way where we're gonna learn how to build a hand first and play in, in that kind of way, and then we'll get into the Charleston.
• 17:56
  And people- So that you know what you're looking for.
• 17:58
  Exactly.
• 17:58
  'Cause I think it would be confusing.
• 18:00
  Very confusing.
• 18:00
  I do agree with that.
• 18:01
  Yeah.
• 18:01
  Okay.
• 18:01
  So we, we teach in a little bit different method than probably most instructors teach, and I think that that's super helpful.
• 18:08
  And then people are like,"Oh, I get why you taught it that way.
• 18:11
  I got why you skipped that whole..."'Cause the Charleston's a very big part of American Mahjong.
• 18:16
  So yeah, that's kind of the way we teach people- Okay that way.
• 18:20
  Yeah.
• 18:20
  So you teach people how to build a hand, what to look for- Mm-hmm to get that, and then secondary- Is the Charleston the passing.
• 18:27
  Yeah.
• 18:28
  Got it.
• 18:28
  So like when I start my lesson, I usually always say,"Okay, the game, first of all, is not, it's not a hard game, but it's just not intuitive.
• 18:36
  So let's start there.
• 18:38
  Second, what is the whole point of American Mahjong?
• 18:40
  Like what is the goal of the game?" And I have the 152 tiles like laid out.
• 18:45
  I'm like,"You will be dealt 13 of these randomly." Mm-hmm.
• 18:48
  Like you, you're not- Like cards.
• 18:49
  Yes.
• 18:49
  Yep, okay.
• 18:50
  13 of these randomly and you have it on this lip of your rack so nobody else sees.
• 18:56
  And the whole point is to hopefully figure out a line in the card that you will be picking up and discarding tiles to achieve one of the lines in the card.
• 19:06
  So each line in the card has 14 tiles though.
• 19:09
  So your final tile that you pick up is your, where you say mahjong.
• 19:13
  Okay, so that's completing like the set.
• 19:15
  It's you're winning.
• 19:15
  It's completing the whole- Is that- like line.
• 19:17
  Okay, got the line.
• 19:18
  So technically in the card there's like 72 lines.
• 19:23
  But there's actually over 1,000 winning combinations.
• 19:26
  So that's where Christina was saying- Mm like,"Oh, the parentheses is so important," because there's so many, like, options within each line.
• 19:33
  And that's why people find it overwhelming,'cause they're like,"How do I memorize the card?" I'm like,"You don't need to memorize it.
• 19:38
  You just have to kinda know the pattern recognition." And it's up to you, though, you have all the tiles.
• 19:43
  They're not forward facing.
• 19:44
  Right.
• 19:44
  So it's like cards, right?
• 19:46
  Where I'm just trying to give- Yeah like, analogies.
• 19:48
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 19:49
  So it's, everything's facing you.
• 19:50
  Mm-hmm.
• 19:51
  And you know what you have- Mm-hmm but you don't know what anybody else has.
• 19:55
  So there's points of the game that you can do exposure.
• 19:57
  So it's like when it, you complete a grouping.
• 20:00
  So if you, like, look on the card, you'll see these little spaces between each grouping, and if you pick up a tile a- and it completes your grouping, you can expose your tiles on your rack.
• 20:12
  Okay.
• 20:12
  So you'll Racks have, like, kinda two parts.
• 20:15
  There's a, like, a flat part that you can put your tiles out on- Mm-hmm and then a, like, a lip part- Okay where everything is, like, concealed.
• 20:22
  Hidden.
• 20:22
  Right.
• 20:22
  And so- There's a whole strategy.
• 20:25
  So when I tell people when we're teaching, I'm like,"Today we are getting, like, the tip of the iceberg.
• 20:31
  If you keep playing, you'll start to learn, the strategy behind it and, what to expose and what not to expose and when to use a joker and when not to use an- a joker.
• 20:39
  Like, but we are not gonna get to it today." Yeah.
• 20:40
  'Cause I think it overwhelms people when you give them...
• 20:43
  They're like,"Let's just, like, talk about rules today." Each time we'll chip away- Mm-hmm and, like, it, you know- Right uncover the whole iceberg.
• 20:51
  'Cause it's like you're probably still learning.
• 20:54
  I- I actually, like, even though I've played for a few years, like, I learn from other people their tricks and tips.
• 21:00
  So it's like it's such a, like, the game has a lot of depth to it.
• 21:04
  How many- It's so fun how many l- lessons do you think you need to take in, in order to feel comfortable playing a gang up- a game?
• 21:11
  Like playing on your own?
• 21:12
  I'm sure.
• 21:13
  Yeah, I'm sure that that's, it varies, but h- what are you finding?
• 21:16
  Do people need like four lessons?
• 21:18
  Do they need 10?
• 21:20
  Yeah.
• 21:20
  How much of a commitment is it lesson-wise before they can feel- But yeah, yeah like they can play and this could be a social component?
• 21:27
  Mm-hmm.
• 21:27
  So a lot of instructors will require, like, okay, you have to take three to four lessons, and you have to sign up.
• 21:34
  But we find we don't wanna intimidate people- Mm-hmm by that time commitment,'cause it's hard.
• 21:40
  Signing up for anything, and I think that's a lot of reasons why we don't sign up for things, right, as moms,'cause you're like, you put yourself last and you're like,"I can't find four consecutive Thursday mornings that I can, like, learn." Right, right.
• 21:50
  You can't.
• 21:50
  Right?
• 21:50
  Conflict with something else.
• 21:51
  Yeah, it's like, okay, now this is becoming burdensome, and, like, I can't find the time.
• 21:55
  So we always say you can sign up for each class, like, individually, but we recommend at least two.
• 22:02
  Two.
• 22:03
  Before you feel like people- We recommend at least two.
• 22:05
  I would say, like, four times playing is when it starts, like- Clicking clicking.
• 22:10
  Yeah.
• 22:11
  Like, I recently taught the same group four, and they're so funny.
• 22:14
  They're like,"Oh, you're like our little lovey.
• 22:15
  Like, we can't, like, let go of you yet." I was like,"You guys are ready.
• 22:18
  Like, you can go.
• 22:19
  Like, you can play on your own." You're ready to fly.
• 22:21
  Like, I was, like, I was...
• 22:21
  You're like,"You're paying me right now- Yeah to, like, watch you guys play." I was like,"You, I'm just reconfirming what you already know," right?
• 22:28
  I think that by that fourth lesson, they were like- They're good"You guys, you're good." Okay, I think that that's a good thing to know.
• 22:33
  And also, you're playing with the same group, everybody's gonna see patterns differently.
• 22:37
  If one person picks up on something faster, one person is better, a better dealer maybe, or what.
• 22:42
  You know?
• 22:42
  Mm-hmm.
• 22:43
  Like, you can always rely on the people that you're pl- Like, if you're all- Yeah learning together, you can kinda rely on each other- Right, yeah you know, to help each other out until you're at a good point.
• 22:52
  But I think it's important to know what you're signing up for- Right and like, what the expectation, because I'm sure people obviously wanna learn, but then they want this to be something where they can look forward to going- Mm-hmm and they can look forward to playing and socializing.
• 23:06
  So I think that that's helpful to know- Mm-hmm in the back of your mind, like, okay, you probably need to commit to two to four-ish lessons- Yeah before you can do something like this.
• 23:15
  And that's helpful for people to know so that they don't get frustrated or discouraged- Mm-hmm or they don't, you know, they're, they're- Yeah they know that you have to put in the work- Work, right before you kind of get something out of this.
• 23:25
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 23:25
  But to your point, I think that that's very reasonable- Mm-hmm to take like two to four lessons.
• 23:30
  Yeah.
• 23:30
  Then you feel like you can sort of play, and you'll obviously be with other people that are probably at the same level as you.
• 23:36
  Yeah.
• 23:36
  And so everybody can kind of learn and- Yeah figure it out together.
• 23:39
  Yeah.
• 23:40
  A- and so I always recommend people to try to find three players, like, to learn with, so that they can kinda keep going together at that same pace.
• 23:51
  I think it's just like you all have to kind of start at the same level- Well, that's a, I think that's a good tip otherwise someone's like waiting.
• 23:55
  Yeah.
• 23:55
  Yeah.
• 23:55
  Yeah.
• 23:56
  I think that's a good tip, and then you don't wanna be pulling somebody who maybe is playing the game very strategically.
• 24:01
  Yeah.
• 24:01
  You don't wanna pull them into a group- Right of people that are learning.
• 24:04
  So I th- I would assume that this is very similar to, like, golf for men, which we've used that analogy before.
• 24:10
  Yeah, yeah.
• 24:10
  Because it's like you don't want to be with people who are, like, slowing down the group, right?
• 24:15
  Yeah.
• 24:15
  Like, you want, everybody wants to, like, advance- Yeah to the next hole.
• 24:17
  But there's not, there's not a handicap in mahjong like- Right there is in golf.
• 24:21
  Or is there?
• 24:21
  No.
• 24:22
  So I, we always tell people, like Emily and I will always tell people, if you, let's just say you want to be, you know, someone is having a party and you're, and they, they all know, but, and you wanna be part of it, right?
• 24:34
  Just pick a line.
• 24:35
  Like, don't even really...
• 24:37
  No one knows what you're playing, right?
• 24:38
  Mm-hmm.
• 24:38
  So, like, your, your tiles can be concealed.
• 24:41
  No, and you're just picking up and discarding the whole time.
• 24:43
  Nobody needs to know you don't know what you're doing.
• 24:45
  Like, ser- like- You could fake it if you just wanna- Fake it till you make it fake it till you make it.
• 24:48
  Just hang out.
• 24:49
  Like, nobody- Right needs to know.
• 24:51
  Right.
• 24:51
  Like instead of- You're going for it get, if you get thrown off, instead of sitting there and being like,"Ugh-"I don't know what I'm doing I got nothing.
• 24:56
  Yeah, yeah.
• 24:56
  Ugh, I got nothing." Yeah.
• 24:57
  "Oh, my hand is dead." Like- Yeah just- Just, just keep just, just keep on- No one needs to know moving.
• 25:02
  One in, one out.
• 25:03
  And you just wanna be there socially, right?
• 25:04
  Yeah.
• 25:04
  Like, it's, it's fine.
• 25:06
  So if you- You know if you are kind of the slower one of the group, it doesn't really alter the rest of what everybody's doing?
• 25:14
  You know, keeping the pace of the game, I would say for, like, players that play more regularly, that's, like, kind of an important etiquette.
• 25:20
  Right.
• 25:21
  Like- Okay, etiquette if, if- Yes, right you're waiting, like, it just kinda, like, slows the pace down.
• 25:26
  Just, like, read the room.
• 25:28
  If people are kinda going and they're waiting on you for a long time, just like- That's really interesting.
• 25:32
  Yeah.
• 25:32
  Let's talk about some other mahj etiquette.
• 25:34
  Yeah, I like that.
• 25:35
  Mm-hmm.
• 25:35
  I like that word a lot.
• 25:36
  Mahj etiquette.
• 25:36
  I would love to hear some mahj etiquette.
• 25:38
  Mahj etiquette.
• 25:39
  Okay, biggest beginner mistake at a mahjong table?
• 25:43
  Hmm.
• 25:45
  I think the biggest mistake is thinking that it's too hard and then just, like, stopping.
• 25:51
  Mm-hmm.
• 25:51
  So I always tell people- Mm I feel like the first few times that Emily and I played together, there were so many things I did wrong, and you're just gonna eventually correct them as you go along.
• 26:01
  So, like, don't...
• 26:02
  I've had people come to a lesson, like, a, um, a year later, and like,"Oh, I haven't played for a year." Just, like, just keep going.
• 26:08
  Just keep going.
• 26:09
  Keep going.
• 26:09
  Keep going.
• 26:10
  Is it rude to touch somebody else's tiles first?
• 26:13
  Yeah, so we always say, like, just touch your own tiles.
• 26:16
  Everything in the middle is kind of, like, the walls are everybody's tiles.
• 26:20
  Okay.
• 26:21
  Fastest way to annoy an experienced player?
• 26:25
  feel bad, but s- I was playing with someone yesterday and they were, like, saying everything that was happening.
• 26:31
  Like,"You're not gonna like these tiles.
• 26:33
  Oh, I know what you're playing." I was just like, all right, let's just- So it's a little like poker where you gotta kinda keep it to- I know, like, just- Keep it to yourself yeah, just play.
• 26:39
  Yeah.
• 26:39
  Or like calling out, like,"Oh, I see your tiles and when- Yeah, or like,"I don't like these tiles.
• 26:43
  Oh, I'm not gonna win.
• 26:44
  I don't have a joker." Oh, okay.
• 26:44
  I'm like, all right, we don't need to play-by-play.
• 26:46
  And sometimes that's nervous talk, so just like maybe muzzle it with the nervous talk.
• 26:51
  Yeah, it's fine.
• 26:52
  Or let's just have some fun- Yeah talk socially, play the game- Right, right, okay yeah.
• 26:56
  Um, what about eating while you play?
• 26:58
  Because I'm- I mean, I love eating anywhere, so- Well, I've been at- Like, I know mahj nights where there's been, like, nosh on the table, but then, like, you have the, your Cheeto fingers on my nice tile.
• 27:08
  I know, you can't think about it too much.
• 27:09
  I know.
• 27:09
  I know, and everything looks so pretty.
• 27:10
  It's like- So I, I don't know.
• 27:11
  So- Yeah what are your thoughts?
• 27:12
  I mean, so we host so many events that involve food, so you probably know, like, my stance on it.
• 27:18
  But, I mean, yeah, if you're sick, like, probably don't come to the event'cause people are, like- You're touching everything.
• 27:24
  Okay.
• 27:24
  Yeah.
• 27:25
  Yeah, okay.
• 27:25
  And like you're close quarters, like, for a few hours.
• 27:28
  Okay, open table talk, good for conversation or takes away from the game?
• 27:34
  I think if you're playing socially, I, I mean, I like talking, but not, like, too long, right?
• 27:39
  Like, let's...
• 27:40
  Uh, when it's your turn, kind of keep attention.
• 27:42
  Needs to be moving.
• 27:42
  Right.
• 27:42
  Okay, I feel like all of these answers are yes, but read the room.
• 27:45
  Yes, but read the room.
• 27:46
  Yeah.
• 27:46
  Yeah.
• 27:46
  Because it's really different when you're- Yes, read your table.
• 27:49
  Yep.
• 27:49
  Yeah.
• 27:50
  Um, is slow playing annoying?
• 27:54
  I think, I always say for an experienced player, too, like, be slow if you can with new players because, like, you want to encourage them to keep playing too, so, like, be patient.
• 28:05
  Okay.
• 28:05
  But yeah, it's read the room again.
• 28:07
  All right.
• 28:07
  I mean, it, it really depends on who you're playing with, right?
• 28:10
  Because you also at the end of the day want people to invite you back.
• 28:14
  Like, there are people where like I don't want, I don't like playing with so-and-so because they take the game too seriously.
• 28:18
  Right.
• 28:18
  So it's like you, you're s- People say actually the way you play mahjong tells a lot about your personality.
• 28:27
  That's very interesting.
• 28:28
  So you feel like people can get a little bit too competitive.
• 28:31
  People can't, like- I mean, people's, like, whole personality- Give us some scenarios comes out in mahjong.
• 28:35
  It's, very interesting, so my tennis team started playing mahjong together.
• 28:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 28:40
  And what I love about it is when we play tennis together, people are trying to, for the most part, like tennis is supposed to be fun- Mm-hmm but you're also competing to win your match.
• 28:49
  Mm-hmm.
• 28:49
  So on the court, like the sweetest, nicest person can be a little bit more like, you know- Yeah, yeah, yeah cutthroat- Yeah, yeah or like, you know- In it to win it, right in it, I'm in it- Yeah to win it.
• 28:58
  But I've noticed at the mahjong table it's not necessarily the same.
• 29:03
  It's- Same, yeah yes, they wanna win- Yeah but it's not as, like, as competitive.
• 29:08
  It's like a much softer side-...
• 29:09
  of competition.
• 29:10
  Yeah.
• 29:11
  And I'm sure some people's personalities can still be, like, in it to win it, but that- Yeah just doesn't seem to fly.
• 29:17
  Yeah.
• 29:17
  I bet you some people are physically very competitive and some people can be very, like, mentally competitive.
• 29:24
  Oh, yeah.
• 29:24
  Like, if it's kind of like a smart thing where you're like- Yeah"I need to win this," but then physically some people are, like, endurance-wise they have it in the it to win them.
• 29:32
  So I could see, like, what you're saying where it's very personality coming out.
• 29:37
  Yeah.
• 29:37
  I think it depends.
• 29:38
  I mean, I'm going off topic, but- No um, someone I, I remember had said the reason they thought mahjong was becoming so popular, too, is that you don't need that physical, like, capability, too, right?
• 29:54
  I actually do love working out, it just, I'm not hand-eye coordinated, so tennis is not my thing.
• 29:59
  That's how I feel.
• 30:00
  Yeah.
• 30:00
  Yeah.
• 30:00
  I'm like, okay, keep me, like, on a bike or, like- Yep I'll run, but I don't know, mahjong- Kind of like do it for yourself.
• 30:08
  Yeah, yeah.
• 30:08
  I kind of do like this, like I, I can be a competitive person- Mm-hmm but I'm not, like, a physically competitive person.
• 30:15
  Yeah.
• 30:15
  So I do think that, like, I might get competitive playing- Yeah, yeah like something like this.
• 30:19
  My competitive personality might come out a little bit.
• 30:22
  What about, um, what's the funniest thing that you've seen happen at a game?
• 30:28
  Or just maybe a game night.
• 30:29
  Like- Yeah.
• 30:30
  No, so there's a thing, there's one tile called birdie bam.
• 30:35
  Bird...
• 30:35
  Well, it's technically the National Mahjong League, y- you call it a one bam.
• 30:39
  Okay.
• 30:40
  Oh, and it's the tile that has a bird on it.
• 30:41
  A bird on it.
• 30:42
  So there...
• 30:43
  And which I, like, love this history of this tile.
• 30:46
  It's, like, beautiful.
• 30:47
  Um, so all the tiles, there's craks that are short for Chinese characters.
• 30:52
  There's bams, short for bamboos.
• 30:54
  And then, dots that they look like dots.
• 30:57
  Mm-hmm.
• 30:57
  So traditionally they were, like, Chinese coins.
• 31:00
  On the one bam is a bird, and it usually sits on a bamboo.
• 31:05
  All the sets have gotten a little crazy now, so sometimes people are like,"What?" Like,"What is that?" So there's a bird, and traditionally it's more of a house rule slash maybe a drinking game.
• 31:15
  You put the one bam down and you say,"Birdie bam.
• 31:19
  Cheers." And, like, you cheers.
• 31:20
  Do you guys do that?
• 31:21
  We haven't gotten to that yet.
• 31:22
  No?
• 31:23
  No.
• 31:23
  Okay.
• 31:23
  So that's, like, people's...
• 31:25
  I love that.
• 31:25
  I always teach that in my 101 even though it's, like, not really part of the game, but people love it.
• 31:29
  So there's four bird bams, and you call it birdie bam.
• 31:33
  Cheers.
• 31:33
  And you take your glass and you, like, cheers.
• 31:35
  So the whole table cheers.
• 31:37
  But one, I guess, one group in the South that taught us that their group, like, goes like,"Caw caw," and they'll, like, do that instead of the bird- birdie bam.
• 31:46
  And so we were teaching and, like, the group had, like, such a fun time doing that the whole time.
• 31:52
  It was like they were making all these different bird sounds.
• 31:54
  I was like,"Oh, this is interesting." But, um, anyways, so yeah.
• 31:58
  It's cute.
• 31:58
  I just...
• 31:58
  It's fine.
• 31:59
  Like, it just, it's fine.
• 32:00
  Like, you have the, like, these inside jokes and, you know.
• 32:03
  How long does a mahj session usually take?
• 32:05
  Like, what would you cap off playing at?
• 32:07
  Like, when are people gonna start to get kind of antsy and over it?
• 32:10
  Mm-hmm.
• 32:10
  I think, like, an ideal night is, like, two to three hours.
• 32:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 32:14
  Um, new players can take, like, 45 minutes per game.
• 32:17
  Experienced players, like, 15 minutes a game.
• 32:19
  Oh, wow.
• 32:20
  Oh, okay.
• 32:21
  Yeah.
• 32:21
  So, like, you can get a lot of games in.
• 32:22
  Oh, wow.
• 32:23
  All right.
• 32:23
  What's a Maj attire?
• 32:25
  Oh, Maj attire.
• 32:25
  What would you say Maj attire?
• 32:28
  pajamas- It really ranges jeans- Oh, yeah tennis skirts.
• 32:31
  What do we- It ranges.
• 32:32
  So- That's a good question.
• 32:34
  I know, it is.
• 32:34
  I would not know what to wear.
• 32:36
  So I, I love it'cause it, you can make it as unfancy, like we had PJs on yesterday, and typically when I'm playing with my friends at a house, I'm wearing, like- Comfies.
• 32:46
  Yes.
• 32:47
  Yep.
• 32:47
  A lounge set.
• 32:48
  Yes.
• 32:49
  And then if you're going out, like we have events, people, like, get dressed up.
• 32:53
  I love that when people wear, like, their, those big, like, brimmed hats, um, and, like, the...
• 32:57
  Have you seen people wearing, like, these aviator readers that are, like, t- No um, dimmed?
• 33:02
  I'm getting so targeted for these now that I'm gonna buy them.
• 33:04
  But, like, a lot of people are starting to wear these, like, kinda like poker, right?
• 33:09
  When people wear glasses.
• 33:10
  Oh, yeah.
• 33:10
  They're wearing them for mahjong.
• 33:11
  Oh, and the other little- So you're tired attire must-have.
• 33:14
  I was never a nail person, but, like- show a- show us your rings or your nails because you have the best nails.
• 33:19
  It's so fun.
• 33:19
  These are a little...
• 33:19
  I'm getting them redone tomorrow.
• 33:20
  Wait, tell me, wait, tell me- Yes the correlation to having, like, nice nails.
• 33:24
  Yeah, Are you doing, like, tap, tap?
• 33:25
  Like, what are you doing?
• 33:25
  Well, no.
• 33:26
  So a lot of, like, the Jewish tradition, there's a part of the game where you're washing the tiles, so you're like- Right, your hands are out out.
• 33:32
  Yep.
• 33:33
  Which I always tell people, have you seen the shufflers?
• 33:35
  Yeah.
• 33:36
  So I actually, like, hate the shufflers.
• 33:37
  Oh.
• 33:37
  That's my personal...
• 33:38
  So, like, American mahjong, they have all these accessories.
• 33:41
  You don't need shufflers.
• 33:42
  Like, they're, they look like salad tongs.
• 33:42
  Of course the Americans- Yeah have accessories Right.
• 33:44
  So, like- No okay, so that's how to mix all the tiles up befo- Yeah, they're like sa- salad tongs, but I feel like they're such beautiful tiles, like, why are we, like, treating them like salad?
• 33:51
  So it's fine.
• 33:52
  I tell people- But that's before- don't buy that before you kind of disperse them to everybody?
• 33:55
  You, like, mix them- Okay with your hands.
• 33:56
  Okay.
• 33:57
  And I think it's so pretty.
• 33:57
  Just like how you would shuffle a deck?
• 33:58
  Yes.
• 33:59
  Okay.
• 33:59
  Everyone puts the tiles in the middle face down, and you, like, all four of you are just, like- Oh, so- moving these tiles around and it so, sounds so pretty.
• 34:07
  And so the game mahjong actually means in Chinese sparrow.
• 34:13
  And so they say that the sound of the tiles sound like sparrows.
• 34:16
  Oh.
• 34:17
  Like, that, that clicking sound that's what that means and that's where the back- But you are showing off your, you, that's the time to drop your jewelry- So you show off, like, your nails- and your nails your rings.
• 34:25
  Like- Who knew?
• 34:26
  So once I got into mahjong, I got into nails.
• 34:29
  I was not a nail person before.
• 34:29
  Okay, so maybe- Wow mahjong attire is some more simple clothes, but the rings- All the bling the bracelets- Wow the bling.
• 34:36
  I love that.
• 34:37
  So.
• 34:37
  That's a really good tip and that- It's fun kinda sucks for me because I was gonna take, like, a full-on nail break this summer, but I also wanna get into mahjong.
• 34:44
  Were you really?
• 34:45
  I was literally gonna do, like, clean girl nails, and now I'm rethinking that choice.
• 34:48
  I literally was.
• 34:49
  Just for mahjong.
• 34:51
  Now I'm like, well, if I'm gonna get- You don't need your- into mahjong- but people do I can still wear the rings it's funny, when you're mixing, when you're, like, mixing- Yeah people are like,"Oh, sorry, don't look at my,"I didn't get a manicure." Oh my gosh.
• 34:58
  Yeah, but that's- Yeah really interesting.
• 35:00
  All right.
• 35:01
  I have one last question.
• 35:02
  Mm-hmm.
• 35:02
  And I think I know the answer to this.
• 35:03
  Oh.
• 35:05
  Um, is mahjong replacing book club?
• 35:08
  Ooh.
• 35:08
  100%.
• 35:09
  No, I'm, so I'm part of a book club and- Same we all stopped reading after, two books, I lo- I actually love reading Same, also same I just don't have the time, and it's also, like, so much pressure, right?
• 35:19
  Where mahjong, it's like once you know the rules and, like, how to play- Right you can just pick up.
• 35:23
  Well, and also sometimes if you're intrigued by something- Mm-hmm like I just binged watched Off Campus and I wanted to read all of the books right away.
• 35:30
  Yeah.
• 35:30
  I'm not gonna wait for book club to read the, you know- The book you want till it's my turn to pick that- Right book, yeah.
• 35:36
  And sometimes I can't read-'Cause you're also on someone else's schedule.
• 35:38
  Yeah.
• 35:39
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 35:39
  So my book club, we're actually go- I'm going tonight.
• 35:42
  I didn't read the book.
• 35:43
  I don't even know what book was assigned this month, but shocker.
• 35:46
  But I am hosting next month, and I told the girls already, I said,"We're playing mahjong." Mm-hmm.
• 35:51
  We're n- we're not doing, like, book club.
• 35:54
  Book club.
• 35:54
  It's, like, this group, but we're playing mahjong.
• 35:56
  It's your same, it's your same group.
• 35:57
  Who, who's in.
• 35:58
  It's my same book club- Yeah, yeah, yeah but we're playing, when I host it at my house we're playing mahjong.
• 36:02
  Mm-hmm.
• 36:02
  So.
• 36:03
  Yeah, no, I love that.
• 36:04
  Mm.
• 36:04
  I feel like a lot of book clubs are becoming kind of both.
• 36:07
  So it's like a hybrid.
• 36:08
  Yeah.
• 36:09
  'Cause a- all the people I know at book club know how to play mahjong.
• 36:12
  Yeah.
• 36:12
  And they, we've done that before where we talk about the book for, like, a hot second and then- Well, yeah, book, uh, book club is a great idea and t- but everybody is just a- Till you have to read right, until you have to read and then you're putting pressure on having read the book in time for book club.
• 36:24
  And then people won't show up if they didn't read, and then it's like,"We're not ready to come." And we wind up, or you're just going and it's basically just a, like, it's a disguised hangout.
• 36:32
  You're saying, like- Yeah, yeah, yeah"Okay, we're doing book club"- Which is also okay which is also completely fine, but- Yeah I think that this is- Yeah yeah, this is still giving people a reason to get together, but then you're playing something- Yes while you can chit-chat and still socialize.
• 36:44
  Right.
• 36:44
  So I feel like I would be...
• 36:46
  We'd be, we would be remiss if we didn't address this.
• 36:49
  There's been a lot recently written about mahjong becoming trendy again, including articles in The New York Times, um, and some other conversations regarding the cultural appropriation- Mm-hmm around that.
• 37:02
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:02
  Um, and I would love for you to expand upon that,'cause I know you were interviewed.
• 37:06
  You and Emily- Mm-hmm were interviewed for this article.
• 37:09
  Yeah.
• 37:10
  Well, The New York Times article came out earlier in the year and- Or you were interviewed- By The Wall Street Journal by The Wall Street Journal.
• 37:17
  Right.
• 37:17
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:17
  And- In response to that in response to that.
• 37:19
  Right.
• 37:20
  Well, so The New York Times came out with...
• 37:22
  I mean, really every newspaper and magazine is doing, like, a mahjong article right now, um,'cause it's, it is so hot and- But what was the gist of The New York Times?
• 37:32
  Yeah Like, why did this get so much press?
• 37:33
  Yeah, so, Oh My Mahjong is one of, like, the first like, big tile companies to kind of commercialize American mahjong- Like, make it more mainstream and make it, like, more mainstream.
• 37:43
  So The Mahjong Line and Oh My Mahjong are based in Dallas, and that's kind of...
• 37:47
  We talked about the origins of the game and how it came, became more popular.
• 37:51
  And so Oh My Mahjong, and The Mahjong Line have gotten some criticism that their tiles are, like, a little cheeky and have changed some of, like, the tile faces.
• 38:02
  So, like, traditionally we talk about, like, cracks, for example, are traditionally Chinese characters.
• 38:07
  So, like, the one is one in Chinese.
• 38:11
  Um- And then two, s- so on and so forth.
• 38:15
  So instead of that, like for example, they'll have something that's not even like a Chinese character related symbol, so like the Texas line for example, they have like different images of like a cowgirl or, like a boot or something.
• 38:30
  Yeah, and one of them- And instead of a Chinese symbol- Yeah, instead...
• 38:32
  Right they commercialized it and- And it, it's so far off from what- Yeah the traditional tile is.
• 38:37
  It's, well, it's removing a lot of the meaning.
• 38:39
  The history of it.
• 38:40
  The history and the...
• 38:40
  Right.
• 38:40
  Right, so like people are like,"Okay, you're taking our game- Right our like game that originated in China to commercialize it." Right.
• 38:47
  And so that's where- Right, to brand it almost the cultural appropriation is coming from, right?
• 38:50
  Yeah.
• 38:51
  And it's a slippery slope because I understand wanting to make things mainstream, and it can be exciting when more people are excited- Yeah about something- Mm-hmm that has beautiful origin roots.
• 39:02
  But if you're removing things that made it what it is- Yeah I can see why that...
• 39:08
  It's almost disrespectful.
• 39:09
  Yeah.
• 39:10
  Right?
• 39:10
  Yeah, so I can, I can definitely see both.
• 39:12
  Like, I, there's times that I like like a fun colorful tile, but I, I actually do appreciate more of a traditional- Mm-hmm tile.
• 39:18
  I think it's easier to learn, too.
• 39:20
  Mm-hmm.
• 39:21
  Like, if you're learning Red Dragon and it's pink because you're playing with a pink set- It's very confusing it could be a little confusing.
• 39:26
  Yeah, yeah.
• 39:27
  You know?
• 39:27
  Yeah, so we, we actually just like polled people recently,'cause we were just curious, like what are people like more attracted to in terms of tile sets?
• 39:34
  And people actually do like more of a traditional- Mm-hmm easy to read tile.
• 39:38
  Because that's the other thing, it's, like we talked about standardizing the rules, it's like you're also trying to familiarize yourself with these new tiles that you're playing with.
• 39:46
  It is fun.
• 39:47
  It definitely is fun- Yeah to have different tiles, don't get me wrong.
• 39:49
  I have plenty of fun sets.
• 39:52
  But, so anyways, when we got, interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Jamie Waters did a really great job of, um, kind of unlike The New York Times where they were focused on this one American mahjong company- He really, like, focused on both American mahjong and Hong Kong mahjong, which are the two, like, big players right now that- Mm-hmm you know, we're- everyone's playing those two games right now.
• 40:14
  And he interviewed the Green Tiles Club out of New York City, and then us for, like, the American mahjong, like, expert.
• 40:20
  And I think he did, like, a great job highlighting, how the games are unique and different, but then, like, the origins of the game.
• 40:25
  Yeah.
• 40:26
  And he got you guys talking.
• 40:27
  He got-- He has people talking about it.
• 40:29
  Yeah.
• 40:29
  You know, it's nice to talk about your culture- Yeah and the origin.
• 40:32
  Well, that's why I l- I-- For me, if people, people will ask me,'cause I am half-Chinese, they'll be like,"Oh, like, so how do you feel about it?" Mm-hmm.
• 40:39
  And I was like,"You know, if this didn't become popularized in America through, like, these, these- In Dallas, yeah yeah, and, like, the Jewish ladies that formed a different version of mahjong so people could play, one, we wouldn't be connecting, right?
• 40:54
  Like, everyone would probably still be playing different versions.
• 40:57
  And there, there are a lot of other versions you can play, but at least this, like, helps formalize, one, that we can all play together.
• 41:03
  And then two, like, we're now talking about the origins.
• 41:06
  People are curious.
• 41:07
  Let's talk about, like, the origins of the game.
• 41:08
  Where did it come from?
• 41:09
  Like, people are curious.
• 41:10
  There's so many, like, new books coming out about mahjong, too- Mm-hmm where, you know, maybe you're not playing the Hong Kong version, but you're, like, curious to learn where the game came from.
• 41:18
  Yeah.
• 41:18
  So it's like we- You're passionate about it- and then you end up doing, like, a deep dive on it because you wanna learn more about- Yeah what you're doing.
• 41:24
  And it, and, and I don't know if those discussions would happen, right?
• 41:27
  So it's like I think there's a lot more good than- ba- you know, negative stuff.
• 41:33
  Right.
• 41:34
  Well, since you talked about tiles, I would love to segue into some of your favorite brands and favorite tiles.
• 41:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 41:39
  'Cause I feel like with any new hobby, it's all about the merch.
• 41:43
  Mm-hmm.
• 41:43
  And you talked about Oh My Mah Jong!, and what was the other one?
• 41:47
  Um, the Mah Jong! Line.
• 41:47
  Those are, like, the two- And the Mah Jong! Line big ones that kind of started.
• 41:50
  Yeah.
• 41:50
  But since you, I mean, this is your job, like, you must have some favorites.
• 41:54
  Yeah.
• 41:55
  Um, I am loving the Miss Mah Jong! line.
• 42:00
  They're, like, beautiful.
• 42:02
  They're a little, like, thicker it's funny.
• 42:05
  Once you start playing, you'll have, like, a preference towards the feel- Right of the tile.
• 42:09
  It's very specific to the way you like the sound of the tile and, like, the feel of the tile, and people have very strong opinions about it, so much to the point where we're at, like, retreats and people are like,"I don't like this tile.
• 42:20
  Can you switch it out?" Like, we have extras to, like...
• 42:24
  Anyways.
• 42:24
  Wow.
• 42:25
  So Miss Mah Jong!, I really like.
• 42:27
  I have a set.
• 42:27
  So the Wall Street Journal had me pick my favorite, like, tile, favorite- Oh, I love that bag, too now.
• 42:33
  That's really cute.
• 42:33
  I'm like, I'm like, there's this pretty bag.
• 42:35
  She's pulling it, these tiles out of a beautiful bag.
• 42:38
  You know Beth Glad?
• 42:38
  Maybe somebody you guys wanna talk to.
• 42:39
  She makes, like, all of these in our town, but, um- Beautiful so beautiful.
• 42:42
  Do you recommend playing first, like in either going to lessons and playing first, and then kind of getting a- Yeah, definitely don't invest, like- Okay.
• 42:51
  That's a- I actually will tell all my students,'cause people wanna buy things right away.
• 42:55
  Right.
• 42:55
  'Cause they get, like, so excited and are like,"I wanna buy all the things." Of course, especially when you see all these pretty things.
• 42:58
  You're like,"I need this and I wanna play it at home." Yes.
• 43:01
  But you're saying, like, the feeling and the look and all of that is so different, so- Yeah do you have any recommendations?
• 43:08
  Yeah, so, like, I think that's also, I'm going off subject, but people like coming to our events because we- used to, we used to have, like, really only, like, two tile lines that we would carry- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm at all of our events.
• 43:21
  And now we've really tried to find, like, the small, mom-and-pop, tile companies.
• 43:26
  They're literally have, like, 100 that they're selling at a time, There's, like, wait lists for these things.
• 43:32
  Wow.
• 43:32
  Um, and so- Right.
• 43:33
  You said you have, like, somebody that hand-paints things.
• 43:36
  It's just, like- Like, a beautiful craftsmanship.
• 43:38
  Wow.
• 43:38
  Like- Yes I love that.
• 43:40
  So, the, there is a tile set we have, it sells out in like two seconds.
• 43:43
  Mm-hmm.
• 43:43
  So we really try hard to own, like, all the different ones, so that when you come to our events, people, like, actually love it.
• 43:50
  You can feel them.
• 43:51
  You can try them out.
• 43:51
  Right, right.
• 43:51
  Like, people are, like, shopping almost.
• 43:53
  So this is from Miss Mah Jongg set?
• 43:55
  Miss Mah Jongg.
• 43:55
  And it comes with that card that shows you- Yes what every tile is.
• 43:59
  Yeah, so Miss Classic.
• 44:00
  Oh, like a little legend, okay.
• 44:01
  It's, like, a jade.
• 44:02
  I'm really into jade lately.
• 44:03
  But, um- Those are beautiful so they're really pretty, and they, like, have a different sound.
• 44:07
  I know it sounds, like, so nerdy at this point, but it's like- But can you do it up to the mic?
• 44:10
  No, but it's like a whole thing.
• 44:12
  Yeah.
• 44:12
  Yeah.
• 44:12
  Ooh, I love it.
• 44:14
  Feels good.
• 44:15
  Um, so I, love this set.
• 44:16
  I just think they are somewhat traditional.
• 44:18
  So what I'm getting, what I'm getting from you is that if you do wanna invest, you can still get, like, an aesthetic one that kind of, like, fits your vibe, but you would go a little bit more of the traditional images, right, that are on the tiles?
• 44:31
  So I tell people, buy the cheap one on Amazon.
• 44:34
  Like, 60 bucks you can buy, like, the racks and the tiles.
• 44:39
  Like, just to start practicing.
• 44:40
  If you wanna, like, zhuzh it up, buy a nice mat,'cause all the tiles will go on mats.
• 44:46
  So I, I brought two today.
• 44:48
  I know the mats are beautiful.
• 44:49
  Yeah.
• 44:49
  That's what I always think.
• 44:50
  I know.
• 44:50
  So this is, like, one of my favorite companies, and I also recommend it.
• 44:52
  Oh, they're so pretty.
• 44:53
  Ooh.
• 44:54
  So this is a different, so the Oh My Mah Jongg- Ooh is, like, a different, um- It almost is like a yoga mat.
• 44:58
  Yes, I was gonna say.
• 45:00
  It's, like, thicker.
• 45:00
  I feel like I- I actually love these,'cause we do a lot of events, and when things spill- Oh, this is vinyl it's like a, it's like a leather-like vinyl.
• 45:06
  Well, it's kind of like a, like a leather.
• 45:08
  Like a leather.
• 45:09
  But that's, that, this is what you lay down on the table- Yeah to play off of.
• 45:12
  So, like, let's say you have, like, those Amazon matching pairs.
• 45:13
  So pretty.
• 45:13
  You just put it on this mat.
• 45:15
  Yeah.
• 45:15
  Like, in a ready- It, yes, this already zhuzhes it presentation, right?
• 45:19
  Yep.
• 45:19
  Well, and also, if you're not playing on a card table And you have to plan something else.
• 45:24
  This kinda g- makes you your whole- Yeah space.
• 45:27
  Yeah.
• 45:27
  And then, then I tell people,"You don't even need a card table.
• 45:29
  You just, you can buy, you can buy like a fold-up table- Mm-hmm and then put like a, a pretty, you know, tablecloth over it." Mm-hmm.
• 45:37
  And then it comes out.
• 45:37
  And then the mat.
• 45:37
  Yeah.
• 45:38
  Then- Right like don't invest yet because you'll start playing with other people's tiles and you're like,"Ooh, I like that.
• 45:43
  I don't like that." And- Good tip.
• 45:44
  I think that that's a really good tip'cause the tiles can get ex- Yes like if you buy a nice set- Yeah it's like$500 just for the tiles.
• 45:49
  Yep.
• 45:50
  Like, just for the tiles, so.
• 45:51
  And I, I think that that's so interesting that you called out like the sensory component of it.
• 45:56
  It really is.
• 45:57
  Because I really wouldn't have thought about that, but I understand, like, that you get like attached to playing and it's so handsy.
• 46:04
  So handsy.
• 46:04
  So- What do they call that on Instagram?
• 46:06
  ASMR.
• 46:06
  ASMR.
• 46:07
  ASMR.
• 46:07
  Yes, for sure.
• 46:09
  What about the racks?
• 46:10
  Look at this lamp.
• 46:10
  Oh, I love that.
• 46:11
  So cute.
• 46:12
  Oh, for the middle of the table?
• 46:13
  So this is like, it's like really, we love these.
• 46:15
  These are like Addison Ross lamps.
• 46:17
  So- So those, that's just like a little touch lamp?
• 46:19
  You don't need, but- what is that for?
• 46:21
  For ambiance?
• 46:21
  It's just like for light.
• 46:23
  Just for light.
• 46:24
  But you can put it in the center.
• 46:24
  Just for all of us 40-year-olds that can't see.
• 46:27
  You'll find things to buy.
• 46:28
  Like, as you're become more of an addict- Right this is literally almost like you have like your, it's a tablescape for mahjong.
• 46:34
  It's amazing.
• 46:34
  So we have somebody- You could leave it out in your house- Yes all the time.
• 46:36
  Yeah.
• 46:36
  It's so beautiful.
• 46:36
  We have somebody in our company who's going to be a partner soon, and her name's Claire.
• 46:42
  Um, her handle's prettylittlemahj.
• 46:44
  So she's part of us.
• 46:45
  But she basically just does tablescaping.
• 46:48
  Like, people will reach out- Genius to her and be like,"I have these tiles.
• 46:51
  What mat should I buy?
• 46:52
  What, like-" Right.
• 46:53
  So like-'Cause you want it to coordinate and look beautiful.
• 46:55
  It's like almost like an interior designer- Wow but just for your mahjong stuff.
• 46:58
  Mm-hmm.
• 46:58
  This is so pretty.
• 46:59
  So these are like- Okay, so she's- And then there's like dice dish.
• 47:00
  Like you- Oh, yeah I don't know.
• 47:01
  You get into like- Yep all these things that you don't need but need, you know?
• 47:05
  So it just, it makes it look so pretty.
• 47:07
  And then- But, but when you're having a dinner party- Yeah you set the table, and you don't need everything.
• 47:13
  I know.
• 47:13
  But like- But it just like makes the vibe you wanna set the table.
• 47:15
  Yeah.
• 47:15
  Yes.
• 47:15
  You wanna put f- beautiful- Mm-hmm flowers out or like, you know, tablecloth or this.
• 47:20
  Like, it, it just makes it special.
• 47:21
  Yeah.
• 47:21
  Yes.
• 47:21
  So if you're sitting down to play a card game or to play a tile game with a few friends, make the table special.
• 47:27
  I know.
• 47:28
  And- Why not?
• 47:28
  You really only- It's fun need one set, right?
• 47:30
  Yeah.
• 47:30
  So like invest, invest in a good set.
• 47:31
  Well, also, like that lamp that you have, like you can probably get something at Home- Use a brand.
• 47:35
  Yeah, yeah and you can probably get- Yeah something at HomeGoods.
• 47:37
  Mm-hmm.
• 47:37
  A little gold one, and then you can put it out somewhere else.
• 47:40
  100%.
• 47:40
  You know?
• 47:40
  Like you don't have to go all in on everything.
• 47:42
  And you can do small upgrades, like kinda like your hou- you know, house.
• 47:44
  Or like the little dish things.
• 47:46
  Yeah.
• 47:46
  Those are great.
• 47:46
  You could probably get like a candle holder- Those are great or something to mimic it.
• 47:49
  Like- Oh my God.
• 47:51
  You're, now you're getting me- What are you pulling out here?
• 47:52
  These are your racks?
• 47:52
  Now you're getting me into like...
• 47:54
  Yeah, I love this company, Tigre de Tartan.
• 47:57
  Have you ever heard of them?
• 47:57
  No, but you're gonna have to give us the names of everything- Yeah that we can put in the show notes.
• 48:01
  Yeah.
• 48:01
  She's great.
• 48:01
  'Cause, and if you have codes for everything.
• 48:04
  So that's what, why women are liking it to golf is they're like,"Well, you're spending this much on- You need a different club and a club.
• 48:10
  Yep, yep, on the bag.
• 48:12
  You know?
• 48:12
  On all the- I know.
• 48:13
  This is, like, a set, so for me, I justify it.
• 48:15
  I'm like,"Oh, this is a set, like, I can give to my, like, my kid," you know?
• 48:18
  I'm just assuming the- Yeah.
• 48:19
  Well, when we were at Ashley's house last week, one of the girls that was playing said that they were just cleaning out her family home from when she was a kid, and- And she found a- they found a mahjong set from the'70s and a card, but it was, like, 1974 or something.
• 48:32
  I love that.
• 48:33
  And there was four of them in the set.
• 48:35
  She was like,"We're gonna play off of this card." I'm like,"That's so cool." That is so fun.
• 48:39
  You know?
• 48:39
  Yeah.
• 48:39
  It's, it's- So like when I visited my grandmother, she still has, I mean, it wasn't like a nice set, but like I, it has so much meaning, right?
• 48:48
  Yeah.
• 48:48
  Like the hands that were playing, they're that color, like that, that yellow aged color.
• 48:53
  Mm-hmm.
• 48:54
  Yeah.
• 48:54
  It's just like so beautiful thinking that somebody else played on the tiles and too, like originally you said that you wanted to start this game to play with your grandmother.
• 49:03
  Yeah.
• 49:03
  Like how cool now that you can play with her.
• 49:06
  Play with her.
• 49:06
  You know?
• 49:07
  I know.
• 49:07
  It's like- And that when- it's really special if y- she passes her tiles to you, like you'll have her with you when you're playing.
• 49:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 49:12
  Like her fingers were on those tiles.
• 49:14
  I know.
• 49:14
  And I, I think people love the game because it connects generations too.
• 49:17
  For sure.
• 49:17
  Mm-hmm.
• 49:18
  So it's like, it's a game where it's still fun for like an adult to play, but like kids, like like it.
• 49:24
  Like I feel like kids pick up on it so quickly.
• 49:26
  The age range is wild.
• 49:27
  Oh, it is.
• 49:27
  And I just think that that's really, really cool and really special.
• 49:30
  Right.
• 49:30
  'Cause if you're like playing Uno- Yep.
• 49:31
  Yep it's like, you know, it's boring to an adult and there's no strategy involved.
• 49:35
  And like, you know, and now like this game, I feel like just ties so many gener- I don't know.
• 49:40
  It's beautiful.
• 49:41
  Like I don't know any other game that really does that.
• 49:44
  Right.
• 49:44
  You know?
• 49:45
  But- Yeah.
• 49:46
  I'm hooked.
• 49:47
  I know.
• 49:47
  It's amazing.
• 49:47
  I am, yes.
• 49:48
  And I am really, really antsy to learn.
• 49:51
  I, I know.
• 49:51
  You need a teacher.
• 49:51
  I know.
• 49:51
  I need, I just need to find time.
• 49:53
  I know.
• 49:53
  And I need to find- Will you do a Pretty in Pink Gold Coast Mahjong event with us?
• 49:56
  Yeah.
• 49:57
  I know.
• 49:57
  We should.
• 49:58
  I know.
• 49:58
  We definitely should.
• 49:58
  Well, tell us about like your, like this is a club, so do you have a membership?
• 50:02
  Do you have events?
• 50:03
  Like how do you jump on this?
• 50:06
  Yeah.
• 50:06
  So we're actually thinking about dropping the name club because we've been doing so many other events, not just locally.
• 50:13
  So it's still very important for us to have the home base because the community, I feel like, has been really built around mahjong.
• 50:22
  So we do like events.
• 50:25
  We've done every school.
• 50:27
  And so we'll usually- Host it at the school or there's a bunch of restaurants that we've become friendly with and, or we'll host it at a restaurant and it sells out the entire restaurant every time, so they're like win-win, right?
• 50:40
  And so we'll do it like on a Monday night, like a slower night for a restaurant and we'll basically like take over and play mahjong and then we grew into leagues which is that competitive five-week kind of where people are consistently playing, right?
• 50:52
  So people were asking for more, like,"I wanna consistently see the same people." So then we expanded to leagues and then we went to retreats.
• 50:59
  So I think we were kind of like one of the first mahjong companies in the retreat space.
• 51:03
  Now it's kind of everyone's trying to get into the space, but the Mayflower Inn in Washington, Connecticut.
• 51:08
  Mm-hmm.
• 51:08
  Mm-hmm.
• 51:09
  We did- Yeah, Christina and I were just there.
• 51:10
  Yep.
• 51:11
  It's really pretty, right?
• 51:11
  Beautiful.
• 51:12
  Oh my God, gorgeous.
• 51:13
  So we did, one retreat in February and it sold out within like a week.
• 51:20
  And like we're putting a lot like on the table in terms of like we're a very new business, so it's like we have to put down like a significant deposit for a new business and, you know, so we're like,"We're gonna take the risk." And then that sold out within a week and we had a waiting list and sold out another retreat.
• 51:35
  So we just did one in February, March, and April.
• 51:37
  Wow.
• 51:37
  And we're like,"All right, we gotta like find a new spot." But three retreats there.
• 51:42
  Um- Are you gonna take this on the road?
• 51:43
  Like what's the dream, like where, would you do a dream retreat?
• 51:47
  Hopefully eventually we'll go, like, abroad, but we have a lot, like, lined up.
• 51:50
  So Canyon Ranch, I don't know if you- Oh, wow.
• 51:53
  Beautiful hired us.
• 51:54
  Yep.
• 51:54
  So we're gonna do one in- Wow Lennox and one in Tucson- Wow this summer.
• 51:58
  And then have you heard of the Dunlin in South Carolina?
• 52:02
  It's like an Auberge property similar to Mayflower in South Carolina.
• 52:06
  That one just sold out this week.
• 52:07
  Wow.
• 52:08
  And then we'll have one in Kennebunkport in October.
• 52:12
  Yeah, it's just like we've been doing a lot of retreats.
• 52:13
  That's the open.
• 52:13
  Any open spots, I feel like- I feel like- in case you have any of our Pippa Mahjong that want to join like, those are all, like, people are like,"Where are you traveling?" Yeah.
• 52:18
  I'm like,"Honestly, it's like work retreats." Yeah.
• 52:20
  Like, because- That's amazing but they're fun.
• 52:21
  They're amazing.
• 52:21
  You need to be in Charleston, South Carolina.
• 52:23
  That one, like- That's like all girls it's gonna be a good group.
• 52:25
  Yes.
• 52:25
  It's, it's a bunch of people that actually went to our Mayflower retreat, and they- Cool.
• 52:29
  Wow we called them, like, double offenders.
• 52:31
  Like, they're doing it again.
• 52:32
  Yes, they're going again.
• 52:32
  Yeah.
• 52:32
  That's so exciting.
• 52:33
  So fun.
• 52:33
  How many people go on the retreat?
• 52:35
  We try to s- cap it at even numbers, right?
• 52:38
  Mm-hmm.
• 52:38
  So it's always, like, a little tricky'cause some people will pair up in, like, you know, doubles or singles.
• 52:44
  So I think that one's, like, close to 60.
• 52:46
  Wow.
• 52:47
  Yeah.
• 52:47
  Wow.
• 52:48
  So it's fun.
• 52:48
  That's really, really exciting.
• 52:49
  That's amazing.
• 52:50
  Like, it's kinda like sleepaway camp for- Yeah adults.
• 52:53
  I love that you're doing this.
• 52:54
  It's so fun.
• 52:55
  So fun, so creative.
• 52:57
  It's so fun.
• 52:57
  And so ballsy.
• 52:58
  Like, it's, like, a lot to...
• 52:59
  You started a business with, like, a newer friend.
• 53:02
  Yeah.
• 53:03
  Right?
• 53:03
  Yeah.
• 53:04
  And you both put your creative minds together, and look at you.
• 53:08
  Yeah.
• 53:08
  Yeah, it's so fun.
• 53:08
  Selling out events left and right.
• 53:10
  It's so fun.
• 53:10
  Not just in your hometown, like, all over the place.
• 53:12
  Yeah, this is really cool.
• 53:13
  So fun.
• 53:13
  I know.
• 53:14
  I know.
• 53:14
  Well, we're like the perfect complement though.
• 53:16
  Um, Emily was a CFO in her prior life, and I like more of, like, the creative side, so we kind of complement each other in that way.
• 53:24
  You always need a good balance.
• 53:25
  I know.
• 53:25
  Yeah.
• 53:26
  We were, Christina and I did an episode a couple weeks ago about the behind the scenes of, like, what a shitshow it is to run a business.
• 53:32
  And- Especially when you have another person you know?
• 53:34
  I don't know how people do it alone though,'cause so many people are doing this, like, alone, and I'm like,"It's so nice to have, like, somebody." I agree.
• 53:41
  It is so nice to have somebody.
• 53:42
  I agree.
• 53:42
  But you do have to get into a good workflow.
• 53:44
  Oh, yeah.
• 53:45
  Because if not- For sure you're, like, chasing your tail and I think the wrong person could be a disaster.
• 53:49
  Oh, that could be- You know?
• 53:49
  Yeah.
• 53:50
  So 100%.
• 53:50
  You're cleaning up somebody's mess.
• 53:51
  Yeah.
• 53:51
  You are in the right relationship.
• 53:52
  Or you're doing all the work and somebody else- Yep, right.
• 53:53
  Correct.
• 53:54
  If you think, I c- if you say, like,"I don't know how I'd do this without this person," then you're in- Yes in marriage with the right person.
• 54:00
  Yes.
• 54:00
  Yeah.
• 54:00
  Couldn't agree more.
• 54:01
  Emily and I also very much believe in a lot of signs, so we say we're, like, a little woo-woo sometimes.
• 54:06
  But, like- That's how you have to be yeah, we really didn't know each other.
• 54:09
  We kinda, like, just were, like, we felt like it kinda just happened so easily, right?
• 54:13
  Yeah I mean, I've known her maybe a year and a half now.
• 54:15
  Yeah.
• 54:16
  You know?
• 54:16
  Uh- Well, we appreciate that she- I know.
• 54:18
  She- Well, we're sad that she's not here- I know because she's in the newborn phase, but we appreciate that, you know, you were able to come on- Yeah you know, your behalf.
• 54:25
  Okay.
• 54:25
  We can't let our guest out of here without sharing our Pink Spotlight.
• 54:28
  So if you are new to listening, uh, to us, uh, Tia and I share our Pink Spotlight every single week, which is a person, place, thing, tip, mantra, quote.
• 54:37
  We always add to the list.
• 54:38
  It's like anything that's like- Anything.
• 54:40
  Anything that's making life a little bit better for us this week and then for our guest, it's kind of like the floor is yours to share anything.
• 54:48
  Do you wanna go first, or do you want one of us to go first?
• 54:50
  You know, it's at the top of my mind.
• 54:52
  I- Go for it then.
• 54:52
  I read something.
• 54:53
  I think it was yesterday on Instagram.
• 54:54
  I have to be on Instagram now all the time- Yeah, right like, for business.
• 54:58
  And, you know, I, I already mentioned this, but, and why I love mahjong, like I'm a kind of an introvert, so mahjong's, like, perfect.
• 55:05
  Like, I love four people, and I've had to go to a lot more, like, networking kind of events- Mm-hmm now just for, like, our business.
• 55:13
  And I read somewhere, it was like- Always walk into a room just assuming people like you.
• 55:19
  Oof.
• 55:20
  And it gives off an energy.
• 55:22
  'Cause, like, energy is really big, right?
• 55:24
  Like- It is so big.
• 55:25
  Y- sometimes you get so into your mind and you're like,"You know what?
• 55:28
  I'm just gonna, like, be quiet'cause I'm, like, feeling a little intimidated." And then, like, other people are like,"Is she, like- Yep is everything okay?
• 55:33
  Like, she seems a little standoffish," when that's not the case.
• 55:36
  Right.
• 55:36
  So just walk into a room and be like,"Everyone just, like, loves me.
• 55:39
  And I feel like you give off that vibe of like- Yeah, you like- Yeah exude positivity.
• 55:43
  Yeah.
• 55:43
  And then I also feel like that, like, attracts people to you- Right when you have that vibe.
• 55:48
  Yeah.
• 55:48
  And even if, I don't wanna say if you fake it, it's not really faking it.
• 55:52
  It's just, like, putting your best foot forward and, like- Right your most positive self- And getting out of your head right.
• 55:56
  Like, get out of your head.
• 55:56
  Your most positive self forward.
• 55:58
  Yeah.
• 55:58
  Exactly.
• 55:58
  And then I feel like that attracts people to you.
• 56:00
  Attracts people.
• 56:01
  Yeah.
• 56:01
  Exactly.
• 56:01
  I love that.
• 56:02
  And it's so, it's so true.
• 56:02
  That's a great reminder for that.
• 56:04
  Great tip.
• 56:04
  Yeah.
• 56:04
  And also, like, give everybody the benefit of the doubt.
• 56:07
  If you walk into a room and somebody else is, like, a little- Yeah you know, chances are they're probably- Yeah A little overwhelmed a little overwhelmed.
• 56:15
  Yeah.
• 56:15
  You know?
• 56:15
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 56:16
  We can all be a little scary.
• 56:17
  Yeah.
• 56:17
  That's a really special tip, I think very timely too, because I feel like we're coming out of, like, the COVID world.
• 56:23
  And I feel like moms, there's a lot of people, like, going back to work and having to do what you just said, like, where you're all of a sudden used to, like, working- Like thrown into something from home and now you have to go out.
• 56:31
  And, like, even just for socializing, I feel like that's just a really great thing- Mm-hmm to keep in mind.
• 56:36
  Mm-hmm.
• 56:36
  I like that.
• 56:37
  I'm gonna use that for myself.
• 56:38
  Yeah.
• 56:38
  All of our female founders- Yeah who have to go out into the wild- Yeah and are the face of their businesses.
• 56:43
  Yeah.
• 56:43
  I think people genuinely want to, like- build a genuine connection, right?
• 56:48
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
• 56:48
  Like, people want to, like, get to know you, and I think you just have to go in- Yep with that mindset.
• 56:53
  I think you can- Sometimes you have to do a pep talk to yourself.
• 56:54
  Like, I'm gonna go in and- Yep.
• 56:55
  Okay.
• 56:56
  You know?
• 56:56
  Sometimes you can be so in your own head- Yeah that you're almost, like, doing a disservice to yourself.
• 57:00
  Yeah.
• 57:00
  So I love- Right that tip.
• 57:01
  That's so good.
• 57:01
  It's a good tip.
• 57:01
  What about you, T, do you have one?
• 57:03
  Yeah, so mine is this past weekend, you know, it was, like, shitty weather.
• 57:08
  So my husband was like,"Let's just take the kids away for the night.
• 57:10
  Let's just, like, do something fun.
• 57:12
  Let's not get crazy.
• 57:13
  Let's not just sit in this house and rot and be miserable'cause it's raining out." So we took the kids to Boston for the night.
• 57:18
  Oh, fun.
• 57:18
  We drove up on Saturday morning, we drove back Sunday night.
• 57:21
  Yeah.
• 57:22
  And we just stayed, like, one night in a hotel, and it just reminded me of being a kid and staying in a hotel with, like- Love it my parents and my sisters and doing, like, a hotel nighttime swimming session.
• 57:32
  Like, nothing crazy.
• 57:33
  Mm-hmm.
• 57:33
  Just, like, hotel pool, sleeping in one room together, watching a movie on the TV.
• 57:37
  We took them to this indoor mini golf place.
• 57:39
  We walked around.
• 57:40
  And yeah, it was raining- Mm-hmm but, everything was fine.
• 57:42
  We had a great weekend despite- So fun the weather.
• 57:44
  That's really fun.
• 57:45
  So fun.
• 57:45
  And I don't know, my kids are getting a little older.
• 57:47
  It's getting easier to take them places- Yeah It's also nice to, like, get away and- Yeah leave, like, your chores be- like, right?
• 57:54
  Yes.
• 57:54
  Yeah.
• 57:54
  'Cause if, even, you- Leave the chores behind people would argue you could do the same thing if it's raining, but it's like- No, it totally...
• 57:59
  I think sometimes removing- It's, like, nice yourself from the house.
• 58:02
  Yeah.
• 58:02
  I have to be reminded of that all the time,'cause I feel like when you're there, and there, it's the chores, it's everything else.
• 58:07
  Yeah.
• 58:08
  When you remove yourself from that, even to do the fun things, it's an energy shift.
• 58:12
  It's different.
• 58:12
  It's like- Yeah e- for, even for the parents, like, I feel like you're just like,"Okay, new place.
• 58:17
  It's, now it's exciting for everybody and everyone's on the same page." Yeah.
• 58:22
  We did mini golf at this place called The Putt Shack.
• 58:24
  Mm-hmm.
• 58:25
  Which I was looking around to see if there was any around here.
• 58:28
  So have you guys done mini golf with your kids yet?
• 58:30
  Not yet.
• 58:30
  Yeah.
• 58:30
  We're going, we actually are gonna soon.
• 58:31
  One, one can do it and one- Yeah kind of wanders.
• 58:33
  So when we play mini golf, like we're usually off to a good start, and usually by like hole three or four we're like,"Oh my God.
• 58:38
  Get us out of here." Yeah, it gets a little repetitive.
• 58:39
  So it's all digital, so when you put your ball down it says on the screen- Oh, how?
• 58:43
  It's like ADD.
• 58:44
  Oh.
• 58:44
  It's like golf for like ADD- Yeah, yeah people.
• 58:47
  So it's like,"Hi, Christina." Like it tells you like,"Okay, it's your ball.
• 58:50
  It's your turn.
• 58:51
  Like you go." Not like my kids fighting like,"No, it's my turn," or- Yeah, yeah, yeah"That's my ball," or,"That's my ball." And then when you touch the ball it tells you like one, two, three, like how many holes you got.
• 59:01
  Oh, that's so interesting.
• 59:01
  And then it keeps track of the score so it's a little competitive.
• 59:05
  Yeah.
• 59:05
  And then at the end it tells you who the winner is.
• 59:07
  And if you do- That's kinda nice.
• 59:07
  We never score- Yeah because-'Cause for that exact reason nobody wants to do it.
• 59:11
  That's fun.
• 59:11
  So anyways, we did that.
• 59:12
  It was fun.
• 59:12
  That's cute.
• 59:12
  It was just like a fun little getaway.
• 59:13
  Was it indoors?
• 59:14
  It was indoor.
• 59:15
  Oh, okay.
• 59:15
  It's indoor.
• 59:15
  Yeah, The Putt Shack.
• 59:16
  So that was my, uh- I love that little Bon Tempo 24-hour- I love that.
• 59:19
  Oh, man getaway.
• 59:20
  So fun.
• 59:21
  That's fun.
• 59:21
  Yeah.
• 59:22
  Mine is gonna be my husband this week, because he really stepped up and helped me out today.
• 59:29
  And I feel, so- Aw I completely put this in my calendar incorrectly- Oh, no and thought that this interview was for later this afternoon.
• 59:38
  And I am like a hybrid where I'm like with my kids some of the time, I have a nanny some of the time, and my husband helps out.
• 59:45
  So it's like a lot of moving parts all the time, which is good, but then it's also very confusing and it's not consistent.
• 59:51
  And like mistakes can happen.
• 59:52
  So it was, like, completely my mistake, and I I, I kind of had, like, a panic attack today when I realized the mistake that I had made, and he just stepped up and said, like,"I got it." There was a full morning that was supposed to be activities with the kids, preschool drop off, preschool pick up, lunch, like, kind of getting it back.
• 1:00:10
  Everything.
• 1:00:10
  And he just said,"I got it." You know?
• 1:00:12
  Like, there's been enough- Oh times where I think that I've done that for him.
• 1:00:15
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:00:16
  And he just said it, like, without guilt, without, like, you know,"You'll get me back later." Yeah.
• 1:00:22
  It was just kind of like,"I got it.
• 1:00:24
  Go do your thing." And it's, it's hard when you have, like, two working parents because we do a lot of tag teaming.
• 1:00:31
  Yeah.
• 1:00:31
  And that's good and bad.
• 1:00:32
  It's- Yeah but there's no defined roles with that, where it's like this is always me, this is always you.
• 1:00:37
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:00:37
  And so we do a lot of, like, weaving in and out and who's with them today and who's with them tomorrow.
• 1:00:43
  And it was, it was just, like, a nice reminder that when I do that for him next time, that's the way to handle it.
• 1:00:50
  Right.
• 1:00:50
  Is just I got it.
• 1:00:52
  With no strings attached.
• 1:00:53
  Go.
• 1:00:53
  Yeah.
• 1:00:53
  Like, don't worry about this because I think I tend to sometimes be like,"Okay, well then, but then later on I'm gonna need this." Yeah.
• 1:01:01
  And it always comes with, strings attached right, right.
• 1:01:03
  And it was just kind of like,"I got the morning.
• 1:01:05
  Go do your thing.
• 1:01:06
  I'll see you later.
• 1:01:07
  Don't worry about it." Mm-hmm.
• 1:01:08
  And it was, like, a really good reminder that- Love that I'm gonna do that next time.
• 1:01:12
  It was just, like- It was appreciated it was the, it was appreciated and it was also just, like, the healthiest way to handle something.
• 1:01:17
  Yeah.
• 1:01:17
  You know?
• 1:01:18
  Like, which is, it was a really nice reminder.
• 1:01:20
  I think that's a very healthy way to offer help.
• 1:01:22
  Yes.
• 1:01:22
  Like, you need help?
• 1:01:23
  I got it.
• 1:01:24
  Yes.
• 1:01:24
  No questions asked.
• 1:01:25
  Because he really could.
• 1:01:26
  Not you need help, let me just- Yeah, and I'm sure he had- make you spiral to move things around and, or- But he didn't tell you that but he didn't tell me that.
• 1:01:31
  Yeah.
• 1:01:31
  He just took it and said, like, you, like,"I got this." And it was just so, like, there w- I didn't have to do any- Like, you don't have to worry about the stress then and I also didn't have to do any, like, pleading of, like,"Oh, well, okay, in order for me to do this, then I da, da, da, da." It was just like,"No, I got it.
• 1:01:45
  Go.
• 1:01:46
  Like, worry about this now." Yeah.
• 1:01:47
  Oh.
• 1:01:47
  And I was like, I don't do that all the time.
• 1:01:49
  Like, sometimes I do- Yeah but sometimes I make it known how inconveniencing it is- Yeah that I have to do this.
• 1:01:56
  I think we all- We all do it I know.
• 1:01:56
  But I think it was like- Yeah to, to, to T's point, it was just a good way to handle anything.
• 1:02:00
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:02:01
  Like, at work it could be, like, any time someone's asking, they need help and you're stepping up, you do it with, with no strings attached.
• 1:02:09
  Right.
• 1:02:09
  Like, I got this.
• 1:02:10
  Go.
• 1:02:11
  Right.
• 1:02:11
  Like, everyone's busy.
• 1:02:12
  Right.
• 1:02:12
  Everyone F's up sometimes, and like, you just do it.
• 1:02:16
  Yeah.
• 1:02:16
  Yeah.
• 1:02:16
  I love that.
• 1:02:17
  It was just really nice.
• 1:02:19
  So- So nice I know.
• 1:02:20
  All of them.
• 1:02:21
  Usually we're like- So nice"Um, this lipstick this week is life-changing." Oh, I love that.
• 1:02:25
  And this week we're like- It's funny, like- Yeah I- That's the vibe we're all in this week when I used to just see a therapist after, like, postpartum stuff- Mm-hmm um, my, I, I would always, like, go on and on about my husband, and I'm like,"Oh, Rob, today I, I told, like, my therapist how great..." He goes,"I wish you, like, told me that stuff." Yes.
• 1:02:41
  And I was like,"Sorry." It's easier to say it to other people sometimes.
• 1:02:44
  Like, the way you, like...
• 1:02:45
  Yeah.
• 1:02:45
  I'm like,"I swear I do, like- I know I, I pump your tires- I know all the time outside.
• 1:02:48
  You know?" Like, I'm always talking about you, just not to your face.
• 1:02:51
  I know.
• 1:02:51
  My husband gives really great content, really great content, as I tell him.
• 1:02:56
  Yeah, but he, in, like, the best way.
• 1:02:57
  The best way.
• 1:02:57
  Yeah.
• 1:02:58
  Sometimes, like- In the best way funny stories, but sometimes with, like- Like, he called once when we were recording, and he was like,"W- I have to pick up the kids." I was like,"I need you to pick up the kids from school." He did the exact thing.
• 1:03:06
  I was like,"I need you to pick up the kids from school and take them to the dentist." Like, Christina and I had, like, an oops with recording.
• 1:03:12
  I'm still recording, like,"Can you go to the school and pick them up?" And he's like,"Where do they go to school?" Like, Oh, my...
• 1:03:18
  I'm, that sounds like my husband.
• 1:03:18
  What, where am I going?
• 1:03:19
  Where, where- Yeah where do I go?
• 1:03:20
  Yeah.
• 1:03:20
  What do I do?
• 1:03:21
  Wait, I have to take them where?
• 1:03:23
  Where is the dent- Yeah, yeah.
• 1:03:23
  Like, he asked so many questions.
• 1:03:26
  Yeah.
• 1:03:26
  And I was like,"Mm-hmm.
• 1:03:27
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:03:28
  Mm-hmm." She was so calm about it.
• 1:03:29
  Yeah.
• 1:03:29
  But in another life, I would've been like,"You're annoying.
• 1:03:32
  You're not helping.
• 1:03:33
  You're giving me more work to do." Yeah.
• 1:03:34
  Yeah.
• 1:03:34
  He was just also just making sure.
• 1:03:36
  He was really trying to get the whole system down.
• 1:03:38
  Yeah, yeah.
• 1:03:38
  So,'cause there was a lot of moving parts.
• 1:03:39
  Yeah.
• 1:03:39
  So he wasn't trying to be, like, a, like, a useless husband that didn't know.
• 1:03:43
  Wait, but he know, but he, but he caught himself doing it,'cause he said- That's the best line of all time he said,"I just reattached an arm today.
• 1:03:50
  You'd think I could figure out how to pick up- Oh some kids from school." I'm like,"Well, you said it." Not me.
• 1:03:55
  Like, well, thank you for, for, like, acknowledging how ha- like- Yeah the amount of things- Yep the mental load.
• 1:04:02
  Yep.
• 1:04:03
  You have- You know?
• 1:04:03
  oh, that word, mental load.
• 1:04:05
  I know, I know.
• 1:04:05
  I know.
• 1:04:06
  That word, mental load.
• 1:04:07
  Like- Well, that's why I think- You know what?
• 1:04:07
  It's so true.
• 1:04:08
  Like, I just don't know how to- That's why, I think this- I know.
• 1:04:10
  There is no other word for it.
• 1:04:11
  Yes, but that's why I think this hobby is so great, and it's very inspiring, and I hope...
• 1:04:16
  I wanna play.
• 1:04:17
  I really wanna make- Yeah time.
• 1:04:18
  I've said that.
• 1:04:19
  Like- You're gonna love it.
• 1:04:20
  I'm gonna love it.
• 1:04:20
  'Cause it's so calming.
• 1:04:23
  And you really can play at your pace.
• 1:04:24
  Yeah, like, once you get over the rules and stuff.
• 1:04:26
  It- Right.
• 1:04:26
  In the beginning, I do think- Yeah people, you People get overwhelmed- You know what?
• 1:04:32
  'cause they're like, it's a lot.
• 1:04:32
  Like, people like, it's just so funny when people learn- But- they're just like holding their head, like you know what?
• 1:04:35
  I think that if it was something that was passive, then people would be out there with their phones and they would be distracted.
• 1:04:43
  Yeah.
• 1:04:43
  And I think that because there are so many rules and there's so many things to learn, and you do need to concentrate when you're playing- Yeah that's a good thing.
• 1:04:51
  It is, yeah.
• 1:04:52
  It's a good thing to remu- to remove yourself.
• 1:04:54
  We're all so, like, productive all the time, and we put so much emphasis on output and all the things that you can get done.
• 1:05:01
  And, like, this is something where you need to go and, like, kind of remove yourself from- Yeah the outside world and pay attention, but then you also can socialize.
• 1:05:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:05:09
  And so I think that this has been v- a very inspiring conversation.
• 1:05:12
  I like getting to know, like, the history of it as, like, a non-mahjong person yet.
• 1:05:17
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:05:17
  So I think, like, I listened to this conversation, and now I'm, like, even more intrigued and w- and inspired to learn how to play.
• 1:05:24
  Yeah.
• 1:05:24
  So I think that this has been great.
• 1:05:25
  And just, like, thank you for coming on and, and- Yeah explaining all this.
• 1:05:29
  Thanks for having me.
• 1:05:29
  I think it's so important and really cool, and this is awesome that you're doing this.
• 1:05:32
  No, I love seeing women, like, connect.
• 1:05:35
  Yes.
• 1:05:35
  I wish, like, I had this when I first moved to town, because it's like, it's so hard meeting people- Mm-hmm as an adult.
• 1:05:42
  And we were talking about this- Yeah a little bit.
• 1:05:44
  That's not tied to, like, your kids.
• 1:05:46
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:05:46
  Like, you're still your own person, right?
• 1:05:48
  So, like, some of my closest friends are people I met, like, prior to having kids,'cause it's like- Right that's, they like you for who you are- Yeah as a person, right?
• 1:05:56
  Right.
• 1:05:57
  And then- And for your personal interests- Right not because your common thread is that you both have- Is like schools or activities- Do you live in the same town?
• 1:06:03
  or sports or like- Yeah.
• 1:06:04
  It's such a good point.
• 1:06:04
  And not to say you can't have friends that way, but- Yeah you know, that, that came first, right?
• 1:06:08
  I think that- So, like- it, it connects you deeper.
• 1:06:11
  It's also, it's wonderful to have friends that have kids the same age or that's how- Yeah you met them through.
• 1:06:16
  But when you meet them for reasons for yourself- Right I think that that just sets you up for, not that you can't have success in those other friendships, but it just sets you up for so much more success- So much when your bond is, like, outside of that.
• 1:06:30
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:06:30
  And it's not because of your husbands, it's not because of your kids, it's not because of something, it's because of you- Right and your interests.
• 1:06:36
  Exactly.
• 1:06:37
  And- Well, and it takes away, like, the people that don't really wanna drink anymore- Right don't have that excuse necessarily not to hang out with you.
• 1:06:43
  Right.
• 1:06:43
  Or- Right when I first moved to town, you know, we thought we would have kids much quicker, and, like, it's so hard- Same to meet people without- Yep you know.
• 1:06:52
  So we were doing, like, the whole IVF stuff, and, like, I, I don't...
• 1:06:57
  People are like,"Why did you move here?
• 1:06:58
  Like, you don't have kids yet." I'm like,"I thought we were gonna have kids sooner," but like- That was me too we, and we have people- Yeah that come to our league being like- Yep thank God, like, the league exists because, like, we- I can't, I cannot even make this up.
• 1:07:10
  There is a man coming through the wall right now- I know with a machete.
• 1:07:14
  Like, what is that sound?
• 1:07:16
  It's literally on the wall right behind us.
• 1:07:17
  Is that where your, um, the artist is that- The entertainment center is.
• 1:07:20
  Yeah.
• 1:07:21
  I c- I don't, I don't- T's been.
• 1:07:22
  T's had construction at her house for, like, 47 years at this point.
• 1:07:25
  I can't.
• 1:07:26
  I can't.
• 1:07:26
  Has it been a while?
• 1:07:27
  It has been,'cause my husband started the construction'cause he does all the construction for us.
• 1:07:32
  Okay.
• 1:07:32
  Then he got busy with work, and- stopped.
• 1:07:35
  And so now I had to hire somebody to finish, so this is a hire.
• 1:07:37
  Our PIFAs are very understanding gals, and so they probably know.
• 1:07:41
  Yeah, everyone probably- Yep that's been through construction gets it They're like,"Get, we get it, girl." Yeah.
• 1:07:44
  Like, we get it.
• 1:07:45
  So, but- Yeah thank you for coming on, Jamie.
• 1:07:47
  Yeah.
• 1:07:47
  Thank you.
• 1:07:48
  This has been so amazing.
• 1:07:49
  Thank you so much.
• 1:07:49
  All right.
• 1:07:50
  So we will leave where to find Jamie in our show notes.
• 1:07:52
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
• 1:07:52
  And some of your amazing, you have some c- uh, discount codes.
• 1:07:56
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:07:56
  And some of your great, like, favorite places to shop, tiles and mahj accessories.
• 1:08:01
  Yeah.
• 1:08:02
  Yeah.
• 1:08:03
  I mean, you'll go down a rabbit hole once you- Yeah go on the website, so.
• 1:08:05
  Well- And if you, uh, if you're a newbie to mahjong, you can definitely follow, their account is amazing.
• 1:08:10
  It's so much fun.
• 1:08:11
  And there's, like, so many great tips on there, and I feel like Anybody will love following along there.
• 1:08:16
  So we'll make sure to leave all that in the show notes, and then T and I will be back next week- Yep with another episode.
• 1:08:22
  But thank you guys so much for listening in.
• 1:08:25
  You can rate, review, and subscribe to us, and follow us on Instagram.
• 1:08:29
  Our link is in the show notes.
• 1:08:31
  Yay.
• 1:08:31
  Thank you.
• 1:08:32
  Bye.