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EP17 - Gen X is the Best Generation! · Oh And One More Thing

0:10
Some old friends facing our fears, laughing through the
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chaos and drinking some beers. So here's to the laughs, the
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crumbs and the cheers. All the awkward moments.
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And we're still here. Because in the end, we're just
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doing our thing. It's our crazy life. 01 more
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thing. One more thing.
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Welcome to Oh and one more thing, a podcast where 2 long
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time friends try to figure out what the heck is going on with
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this crazy thing called middle age.
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It's a mix of stories of how we navigate our lives and maybe
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some questionable. Advice.
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Some days we're wise, other days we're just trying to remember
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where the heck we left our phone.
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So join us as we laugh, groan, and maybe even learn a little
0:50
something about surviving in the second-half of life.
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Oh, and one more thing. Hey, I'm Rob and welcome to
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Owen. One more thing.
1:07
Hi, I'm Brian. How the heck are you today, Rob?
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I am phenomenal. It's sunny, it's 80, it's
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beautiful. Whole beautiful fall day right
1:15
now. Yeah, I love it.
1:17
I love 'cause you know what's terminal, 'cause you know what's
1:19
around the corner. What old man winter?
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But I like winter. Well, I like winter too, but
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what I. Like the best is the change of
1:26
season. Love the change of seasons.
1:27
Fall is my favorite season. Yes, love the fall.
1:29
'Cause it's crisp outside, yeah. And it's football season.
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Well, why did I think of that? Sports.
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Obviously sports, right? Yes, I'm very excited about
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that. So, you know, as a couple of
1:40
Gen. Xers, we've hit that weird stage
1:43
where we're smack dab in the middle of you've got your
1:45
parents who still think e-mail is cutting edge, and you got the
1:48
kids who speak in Tiktok. Right.
1:50
What the heck is that? What the hell?
1:51
I don't know, and you might not know what a Rotary phone is
1:56
well. We know, but we do.
1:58
Yeah, they don't. But it's kind of like living in
1:59
a time warp. So today we're diving into the
2:02
generation gap, Boomers, Gen. Xers, Millennials, if I can say
2:06
it correctly, Gen. Z and maybe even get a little
2:11
alpha in the. Alpha Oh, that's something new.
2:13
So what's changed, what hasn't, and how we're all somehow
2:17
surviving? Barely.
2:18
Yeah, barely. You know, I heard Boomer and
2:21
Millennium and the zoomer walked into a bar.
2:22
Yeah, yeah, that's right. Gen.
2:24
X just got ignore it again. Hey, I heard a joke the other.
2:30
You did. Let's hear.
2:31
It I know I want to tell a joke for it.
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OK? The grandson looks over his
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newlywed wife and asks her. Will you pass the honey, honey?
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She giggles and passes the honey.
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The father, not to be outdone, looks over at his wife and says,
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will you pass the sugar? Sugar.
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She laughs, you old charmer and passes the sugar well.
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The grandfather looks up, makes eyes with his wife 55 years and
2:54
asks will you pass the tea bag? That sounds so inappropriate,
3:02
but I like it. And you're absolutely killing
3:05
me, Smalls, You're killing me. Kind of goes with the
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generational theme we have today.
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So do you know all the generational labels?
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I think I do. OK, I mean, I mean, I don't you
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don't probably straight up and honest, I don't, I I have a good
3:17
working knowledge, but I mean seriously, who creates these
3:19
labels and why do they stick? Well, so I've learned that the
3:22
generation labels are not created by a single entity or an
3:25
official person really, but they are often popularized by
3:29
writers, researchers, and social commentators and then adopted by
3:32
the public. Okay, well Phil, you asked.
3:34
I did, I did. That's exactly what I asked for.
3:36
So should we list them and what they mean?
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Sure, let's list them. Okay, so their last generation
3:41
was 1883 to 1900. Why do they call it that?
3:44
Well, the term lost Generation refers to the people who came of
3:48
age during World War One and were characterized by a sense of
3:52
dilute disillusionment. Disillusionment.
3:55
Can you say that like? That's a long word.
3:57
Disillusionment. Illusionment.
3:59
And aimlessness in the post war war world.
4:03
They're not still walking around lost though, right?
4:04
No, those are zombies. OK, go ahead.
4:07
All right, well then I I do it on to the next one.
4:08
So nineteen O 1 to 1927 is the greatest generation made famous
4:13
by Tom Brokaw. He did a whole book on that.
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I thought we were the Greatest Generation.
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Well, we are. But but, but in history they
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were first, the greatest generation.
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We're, we're very close second. But I know they got that name
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because of their resilience and patriotic spirit during the
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Great Depression and World War 2.
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OK, Well, I'll give them that. That's fair.
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Yeah, in 1928 to 1945 is called the Silence, Silence Generation.
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I'm being silent because they're the Silent Generation.
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Oh, I got it. So this group was perceived as
4:44
quiet and conforming, especially when compared to the generations
4:47
that came before and after them. They grew up during the Great
4:50
Depression and World War 2 and are characterized by tendency
4:52
towards caution, traditionalism and a preference for stability.
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OK, so that makes sense. 1946 to 1964 Baby boomers.
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I know that one, yes, Yeah, OK. This is because of a significant
5:06
increase in birth rates following World War 2.
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Brown. Brown.
5:10
Yeah, right. Mm, hmm.
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Yeah, yeah. There, there was a busy little
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generation. Then of course the the best
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generation. The best generation would be
5:18
generation X 1965 to 80, so this term was initially meant to
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represent an unknown or undefined generation, reflecting
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the sense of ambiguity and a departure from the
5:29
characteristics of the preceding baby boomer generation.
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So that's interesting, right? Undefined generation.
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It didn't know what to do with us, right?
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Exactly. And look how we turned out.
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We turned off phenomenal, but you know.
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Better than anybody else. And it goes back to, you know,
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we were latchkey kids and we were going through the
5:45
technology changes we've talked about in previous.
5:47
So we have to learn everything so.
5:49
From the analogue style of technology to today, you know,
5:52
So everything has gone through US.
5:54
Yep. Absolutely. 1981 to 1996.
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The millennials are also called Gen.
5:59
Y Yeah, I. Think millennials?
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Isn't that kind of a derogatory statement in their world?
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I don't know. I don't know.
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Anytime I call somebody a millennial, I get a side, they
6:08
get crabby with me. The generation's experience of
6:11
entering adulthood at the start of the new Millennium.
6:15
The term Millennial is more helpful than Gen.
6:18
Y because it provides context related to that significant
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time. And you know, it's funny, in the
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years 81 to 96, for some reason, I thought millennial was, you
6:25
know, older like, like during the, during the 2000.
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I thought it was 2000, but it's not.
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But it's not right. They came of age at that time.
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Which is weird. So which makes sense.
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And the next one, generation Z97 to 2012 Generation Z is named as
6:38
such because it directly follows Gen.
6:40
X and Gen. Y.
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So you know. That makes sense, right?
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I didn't know what what else to call it.
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I guess I know what the next next one's called too.
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Continuing the alphabetical sequence, the term zoomers.
6:50
I've never heard that that term before.
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You haven't heard zoomers? I've never heard zoomers.
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Oh, I've had. I've heard zoomers.
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I've heard that. The term Zoomers is also
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sometimes used particularly in reference to their digital
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fluency and the fact that many came of age during the COVID-19
7:01
pandemic and spent a significant amount of time using online
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platforms like Zoom. OK, well that makes.
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Sense so see. OK, Oh, maybe that's why I knew
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zoomers. I wrote this.
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It's all coming together. When I go back to read them and
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go like, Oh, yeah, yeah, that's information.
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Now, 2013 to 2024 is Generation Alpha.
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OK, So it's named as such because it is the first
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generation to be born entirely within the 21st century and is
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the start of a new generational sequence.
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There you go. And I noticed you ended that in
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2004, which let me guess, 2025 and beyond.
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Gen. beta, right? Gen.
7:40
Beta. So if you were just born this
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year, which obviously you're not listening to the podcast, hey.
7:45
Why would you put the health in? Because you're a baby.
7:49
Maybe your parents are listening and you're forced to listen to
7:50
it. Well, OK, I'm.
7:52
Still waiting in my book. But yeah, then I'm sure it'll
7:55
move on from beta. Actually go up so I but Gen.
7:57
beta is tentatively scheduled to 2036 from what I hear.
8:00
That's what they say. What they say?
8:01
OK, well what the Google. Tells me well.
8:03
Someday, when you're old enough to listen to this little little
8:05
baby Blake. Little baby, little
8:07
granddaughter Blake. Well, Blake, were you listening
8:09
to the podcast when you were a baby?
8:11
Well, in 20 years when you're listening, you're the first to
8:13
Gen. beta, so congratulations. All right, so here we're taking
8:22
our spring green minute right here to talk a little bit about
8:24
liquid aeration. What is liquid aeration?
8:28
It is fall time. So aeration tends to be, the
8:30
fall tends to be the most popular time for aerations.
8:33
But we start something new in this year called liquid
8:35
aeration. So your typical aeration, I
8:37
think most people know what that is.
8:38
You have a little machine that runs around and put the little
8:40
plugs out of your yard. Little plugs that looks like
8:42
little turds. Yeah, little turds all over
8:44
here. They're see if you have an
8:45
irrigation system or a area invisible dog fence, it's a good
8:49
chance you're going to hit the lines.
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If they're not marked appropriately, can cause damage.
8:53
I don't have either one of those.
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So you're fine, but even better now is liquid aeration so.
8:59
Tell me what that does because I don't understand.
9:01
So your mechanical aeration covers on average about 7 to 8%
9:04
of your yard. Just because the spikes are
9:05
spaced about 2 1/2 inches apart. Sure, liquid aeration is going
9:08
to give you 100% coverage. You're going to cover, it's a
9:11
liquid application. You're going to cover the entire
9:12
yard. You're you don't have to mark
9:14
anything. You don't have to mark your
9:15
sprinkler system, your invisible dog fence.
9:17
You don't have the little poopies all over the yard when
9:19
you're done. Nobody likes pooping, nobody
9:20
likes poopies. So what it is, it's actually
9:23
soil revived products. So what it does, it'll breakdown
9:26
your thatch little bit of your thatch layer and actually kind
9:28
of it enhances the soil itself. So it gives a better growing
9:31
environment for the grass and the turf.
9:34
Now, personal experience on this, this is kind of new for
9:36
us, but we're kind of going full force with it because this stuff
9:38
is awesome. I got a little part of my yard
9:41
back, back, backside of my yard, 15 years.
9:43
Every year. I aerate it.
9:44
I overseed it. Can't get grass to grow.
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I mean, it's very acidic. We have a bunch of pine trees
9:48
there. It's shady.
9:50
When we get heavy rains, the water piles there.
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So it's just, it's not a great area to begin with.
9:54
Well, earlier this year back in June, I did a liquid duration in
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the yard, so I'm going to give it a shot.
10:00
And then I just threw it on a bunch of seed right after it.
10:02
I didn't dig it in, I didn't cover it up, just slapped down
10:05
some seed. And then we got a massive
10:07
rainfall, which probably helped pound it into the ground a
10:09
little bit. But 15 years I couldn't grow
10:12
bass back grass back there. Now it is the best looking part
10:15
of my yard. And no one can see it because
10:16
it's in the. Backyard, right, But it's
10:19
phenomenal. So the stuff I'm telling people
10:21
that stuff works, it's phenomenal.
10:22
So. So what confuses me is the fact
10:24
that it's liquid aeration, which aeration already gives me the
10:28
visual of digging up my yard, right?
10:31
And this isn't and. I just can't make that
10:32
connecture. So what it is because it it does
10:35
the same effect, it helps relieve the compaction, which is
10:37
what a standard aeration does help relieve that and you get
10:40
the air and the nutrients back down the cell level.
10:41
It opens up the pores of the soil to get those nutrients and
10:44
the and the elements down to that root level, which is what
10:47
you want done out of a narration.
10:48
And it does breakdown the thatch layer a little bit.
10:50
Same thing as narration. Cool.
10:52
Well, sign me up. I want that.
10:53
Done. You're on the list.
10:54
Thank you, Liquidation. That's our tip of the week.
10:58
Awesome. Thanks, Rob and Spring Green.
11:00
Absolutely. Wait, wait, what the heck is
11:03
that? Do we have a guest?
11:05
I think we do. It is none other than Rob's mom.
11:09
Welcome, Marianne. Well.
11:11
Thanks for having me guys. So we're talking about
11:14
generations and maybe you can give us a little bit of light on
11:18
the Boomer generation because. Because you're a boomer.
11:21
I am a boomer. You're a boomer, Yeah.
11:23
So tell us a little about being a boomer.
11:25
Gosh, being a boomer was born in late 1946, so I'm kind of one of
11:30
the early baby boomers. Early boomer?
11:32
Yep. But I'm I'm out there.
11:34
Most of my friends are baby boomers too.
11:37
I would I would guess. That's good, yeah.
11:39
Life is good as a baby boomer, actually.
11:41
OK, so why what is We had this conversation in our episode last
11:45
week. We talked about one of one of
11:47
our friends, Manny, was asking what was like for us growing up
11:49
in the 70s and 80s and how life is different today.
11:53
So from your perspective, being born in the 40s, what is what is
11:57
so different today and what's been the biggest gap, I guess I
12:00
would say? Well, we had the best music
12:01
ever. I know you guys think you have
12:04
it, but noon you so 50s and 6th 5th.
12:08
Oh gosh, The Beatles came out when I was in high school.
12:12
And were you all the rage for The Beatles?
12:15
Actually, no. Oh no.
12:16
It's hard to believe, isn't it? Who was who was your?
12:19
Favorite Gosh, Gene Pitney, Luke Christie and yeah, I know you
12:23
guys are looking at me like who and the H are those?
12:26
People. They they were some great thing.
12:29
You'd have to pull up some music by them.
12:32
These days I'm into Josh Groban, so that's a totally different
12:35
story. But still current, Yeah.
12:37
Weren't you big Ellis fan back in the day?
12:39
I remember. I liked Elvis OK, but I wasn't
12:42
the hugest. Elvis did see him once out of
12:44
the old. Do you remember?
12:45
You know you wouldn't remember the old Met.
12:47
You weren't alive. Yes.
12:48
You were. I went to my.
12:50
First concert at the Met. OK, at the old myth that was.
12:53
Still up in the 90s? Come on, was it that?
12:55
Yeah. I thought if it was gone a lot
12:57
longer than that, I saw Elvis out there.
13:00
Really. Oh yeah yeah yeah.
13:02
Went and bought tickets as soon as they went on sale and had the
13:05
Nosebleed seats for a small fortune.
13:09
That's cool. Where now he was younger.
13:11
He wasn't in his older age at that point.
13:13
No, he wasn't big and fat then. Right, he's just trying to be
13:16
nice. Well.
13:17
Let's face it, I'm sorry if I've offended any Elvis fans, but
13:21
that poor man did get big and fat.
13:23
He didn't. He didn't.
13:24
The peanut butter banana sandwiches probably weren't his
13:25
friend. Yeah.
13:26
Also also saw Tom Jones out of there.
13:29
Oh. No.
13:30
I'm sure you've heard of. Oh yes, you don't, Tom Jones.
13:33
Went with Rob's dad's cousin's wife.
13:37
Oh, and both of us were going. We hope nobody stands up and
13:41
starts screaming. We didn't want to have any of
13:43
that and as soon as he walked out, we stood up and started.
13:47
Screaming you were those people. You were those people you just
13:51
can't help. That's amazing.
13:53
So really, I guess I, so mom's visiting from Arizona up in
13:57
Minnesota right now. So very happy to have you here.
13:59
Thank you. We'll have to get you here
14:00
during the winter because that's a much different, you know, you
14:02
did live here forever. I mean, you did for years and
14:04
years and years. So you're not not used to the
14:05
winter, but it's been a good what, 25 years since you've been
14:09
up here in the winter? At least yes.
14:10
Yeah, you're due. Which is why I would like to
14:12
come back for Christmas. But I'm thinking I don't know if
14:15
I want the cold. Yeah, you do.
14:16
That's great. So, and let's ask you the most
14:18
important question of the evening.
14:20
What was it like raising the most magnificent sun in the
14:22
world? She didn't raise me.
14:26
I'm sorry, I can't reach. I can't reach the.
14:27
I can't reach the that. Was good, Ryan.
14:32
He was actually a pretty good child.
14:34
Yeah. Oh, was he?
14:36
But unfortunately, I'm not sure. I was always the best mother.
14:39
Oh, you were fantastic. Mom, well, thank you.
14:40
Honey, I love that. Don't kid yourself.
14:42
Well, no, it's I think I I was a yelling mother because.
14:46
Oh. You're a yelling mother, but.
14:49
Let me give you the reason why I could say to Rob don't, don't do
14:53
that and he keep doing it. I had raised my voice.
14:55
Rob, don't do that. Well, after so many times of
14:59
doing that, pretty soon you just start at that top level, right?
15:02
So that's why Mom became a screamer.
15:04
And I do apologize. No, that's OK.
15:06
You know, a part of the problem too was, you know, I, I was an
15:08
only child, so I, I had nobody to bounce off of.
15:11
So I I had to entertain myself a lot so that.
15:13
All that was it. Yeah, I will tell you, if I
15:16
could have been a grandmother before I was a mother, I would
15:19
have been the best mom ever. Yeah, right, right.
15:22
Grandkids are pretty cool, I will have to admit.
15:24
So I'm still. Waiting for mine, right?
15:26
All right, well, so today we're talking about we're talking
15:29
about why Generation X should be called the greatest generation.
15:31
So feel free to chime in. You know throughout here, mom,
15:35
but but we're going to lay out why we're the best generation.
15:38
We're here to defend Gen. X and say that we're the
15:41
greatest. Absolutely, Absolutely so.
15:43
I'll try to not giggle. All right.
15:46
Hey, Mary Ann, come on now. So Generation X is often
15:49
celebrated for it's adaptability, competence with
15:51
technology, and independent spirit forged by growing up in a
15:54
period of significant change, including the rise of personal
15:56
computers and the Internet. Apple 2C Oregon Trail.
16:00
There you go. They're seen as effective
16:02
communicators, strong work ethic, and skilled at bridging
16:05
generational gaps. Their unique experiences have
16:07
shaped a generation known for its resilience and ability to
16:10
navigate both the analog and digital worlds.
16:13
Well, I will say that your generation is probably the smart
16:16
ones when it comes to cell phones and computers because I
16:21
don't know a lot. And so I'm calling Rob all the
16:23
time saying, hey, honey, how do I do this?
16:25
How do how do I do that? My phone is not working, my
16:28
computer's not working. And he'll usually just walk me
16:31
through it and he'll fix it and he's not even there.
16:34
Not even there, yeah. OK, shout out to my kids.
16:37
Listen to this. We do know something.
16:41
Hard to believe. Hard to believe, right?
16:43
So why Gen. X is considered the best?
16:46
Why we have a list? Get out.
16:48
Let's hear it #1 adaptability and resilience.
16:52
Gen. X experienced rapid technology
16:54
and social changes from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the rise
16:57
of the Internet, forcing us to adapt and become resilient.
17:01
This adaptability has made us adept in navigating new
17:05
challenges and opportunities. Right, so.
17:08
I would totally agree with. That I, yeah, absolutely
17:10
wouldn't. Yeah.
17:10
I mean, it's amazing to me how fast a change from where we were
17:14
at in the late 70s right to even in the mid 80s, how it just
17:17
everything just skyrocketed. It's it's adapt or die.
17:20
Yeah, you have to. You have to.
17:22
And I think that's probably the same everywhere.
17:23
I mean, our kids are adapting as well.
17:25
Yeah. But I just feel like it was
17:27
thrust upon us, right? And I'm by no means am I
17:31
demeaning current generations, but the current generations are
17:35
raised on technology. Like right now.
17:38
If like when your kids are three and four, the start action up,
17:40
you slap a phone or a tablet in the face and here go watch a
17:43
video for a little bit. It's not not saying it's wrong.
17:45
That's just what we do now. Right, it's and and the
17:47
babysitter. Right.
17:48
And we didn't have that option. It was we need to find find a
17:51
way to. You either played a board game,
17:53
right? Or you played cards.
17:55
Or you had to go outside. Or you had to make your fun.
17:58
Exactly. Yeah, exactly.
17:59
Yep. So #2 technological savvy, which
18:03
we just talked about. Thanks, Mom.
18:04
And I'm technically savvy not. We'll keep thinking that.
18:09
Well, so we're not digital natives.
18:11
We were the first to grow up with personal computers and the
18:14
Internet, making us comfortable with technology without being
18:16
overly reliant on it. This balanced perspective allows
18:19
us to appreciate both the benefits and drawbacks of
18:22
technology. You say we weren't, you know,
18:24
we're not reliant on it, which I know I can read a map, I can go
18:27
out and do things without technology if I needed to,
18:29
right? But IA 100% rely on it.
18:31
Oh absolutely, I you mentioned. I think in the last podcast that
18:35
you know everything, your job, your your company runs on the
18:38
Internet, everything. And so if it went down or all
18:42
those things changed, you know, it would be difficult.
18:44
Right. I mean, we could still work, we
18:46
could still get stuff done, we could still service customers
18:48
yards, but it just adds a whole another layer of complexity.
18:51
We're now just, you hit a button, you go do it and you're
18:53
done. There's a lot more steps
18:55
involved, a lot more paper, a lot more to figure out where
18:57
you're going involved. So it's just, yeah, it's crazy
19:00
how technology has made us better in some respects, but in
19:03
other respects made us, we're not self capable as much as we
19:08
used to be, right? Now one thing I can do is I can
19:10
build a fire because why boys? Yes, yes.
19:14
Yes. You were. #3 independence and
19:18
self-reliance. Many Gen.
19:20
Xers were latchkey kids, as we've talked about many times,
19:24
meaning they spent significant amount of time unsupervised
19:26
after school, fostering a strong sense of independence and
19:30
self-reliance. This kind of upbringing has
19:34
contributed to their ability to work autonomously and take
19:38
initiatives. Right, so we had to learn how to
19:40
fend for ourselves, right? Yeah.
19:42
And it's why mom and I were talking earlier.
19:43
We're talking. So my daughter Kayla was over
19:45
for a little bit and we had dinner and she recently moved
19:48
into department with her sister and we were talking about
19:50
dinners and moms. Like when Rob was a kid, I'd,
19:53
you know, make dinners from on Sundays and throw some in the
19:55
freezer so you had some meals during the week, which that's
19:58
what I do. If they, the parents weren't
19:59
home, they're doing whatever we had to work or bowling or
20:01
whatever they're doing. I could slap something in the
20:03
microwave and have dinner and suggest that to Kayla.
20:07
So, I mean, we learned how to fend for ourselves.
20:09
I mean, my money with help. I wasn't making us help from
20:12
Mom. But I mean, it wasn't as simple
20:15
as, you know, throwing chicken Nuggets and air fryer.
20:17
I mean, you actually had to think a little bit.
20:18
So Marianne, were you working at a time that you made these meals
20:21
ahead of time? Absolutely worked at the YMCA in
20:24
Ridgedale 15 years. No, wait a minute.
20:27
What? The YMCA?
20:29
Yeah, Who went to YMCA camp every summer?
20:32
This guy over here. We've heard about the YMCA camps
20:36
we have. He went to Camp Christmas tree,
20:38
he went to Ikogwan Ikogwan, which was an overnight camp, and
20:42
he went to an overnight computer camp.
20:44
Once I did once. Wow, and an overnight.
20:47
Wonder you're tech savvy? Overnight golf camp did a horse
20:50
camp. Yeah, lots of camps.
20:52
Yeah, camp, Camp. Yeah.
20:53
OK. So Marianne, were you excited to
20:55
drop him off at camp? And then, you know, drive home
20:58
was like, yeah, got rid of him. Well, the first overnight one
21:02
was kind of nervous. Made me not for him.
21:05
I was nervous. He wasn't nervous at all that.
21:07
Was a great time. Yeah.
21:08
But it was hard because I think that was the first time you had
21:12
really let him out of sight. But I think he enjoyed it and I
21:16
think it was. It was good for all of us, Yeah.
21:17
It's a great time. And then a couple years later I
21:19
remember I did 2. So usually it was the two week
21:23
overnight camp, usually at a cog one at a cog one about two
21:25
weeks. And I mean, a couple years later
21:27
I went two weeks or two sessions straight, so like a whole month
21:30
so. Wow, did you want to be a camp
21:32
counselor? Probably briefly thought about
21:36
it, but then yeah, kids. We let Jordan do that.
21:41
Jordan does that one right, yeah.
21:42
So, well, I went to Boy Scout camp.
21:45
Can you believe it? Yes, I've heard that before.
21:46
And that's where I learned to sail and tie a knot and make a.
21:49
Fire. Make a fire.
21:50
All those fun things. And I went to French camp.
21:54
We, we side note, speak very much French.
21:58
And so at dinner, which is big group dinners, you had to only
22:01
speak French to pass the food. I didn't eat much.
22:05
You lost some weight that trip. I did.
22:09
My friend Tony spoke fluent French.
22:11
Oh, there you go. He helped me out.
22:12
He's. Your buddy?
22:13
Yep, yeah, that's good, all right #4 strong work ethic.
22:16
So despite the slacker stereotype, Gen.
22:18
X is known for its strong work ethic and commitment to getting
22:21
the job done. They value hard work and are
22:23
often willing to put in the effort to achieve their goals.
22:25
I would totally agree. Hard work.
22:27
That's us. Absolutely every.
22:29
Every single one of us yes, no, maybe not everybody, but I would
22:34
say and I and we talked about this earlier too, is that
22:36
there's there's a definitely a different work ethic as you go
22:39
through the generations and again, not that that's bad, not
22:41
ripping on anybody. It's just, I think because of
22:43
how we were raised, we were just, again, we were raised to
22:45
fend for ourselves and be a little more self reliant and
22:48
it's just, it's just a different background than what we're used
22:51
to now. And it's, it is different
22:52
because of our time versus as technology came in, kids were
22:57
raised differently, right? You know, so it does, it does
23:00
make sense. Yeah, absolutely #5 effective
23:03
communication skills. Growing up in the pre social
23:06
media era, we developed strong communication skills, both
23:09
verbal and written for some people.
23:11
Some people. We are good at expressing
23:14
ourselves clearly and effectively.
23:16
Again, for some for. Some people, which is.
23:18
Crucial in collaboration and leadership.
23:20
Like replying to text in the timely manner.
23:22
I know you have a thing with that.
23:24
If I don't reply, you're calling me saying why did you reply to
23:27
my texts? Dude, I'm busy.
23:29
You're not that busy. I know what you do for a living.
23:31
You're not that busy. I know.
23:32
I'm kidding. I'm totally.
23:33
Not usually that busy, but. No.
23:36
And if you don't get reply immediately, but you know within
23:39
the day dude, that's all. That's all I'm saying you.
23:41
Expect more than within the. Day even.
23:43
Just give me the thumbs up. I know and I realize if I if I'm
23:46
1/2 hour late he's looking at his phone waiting for that
23:49
reply. You know going to fix this, I'm
23:51
going to get you on Life 360, so I know you're at all the time.
23:53
I actually thought about that today.
23:56
You know, he could know that I'm picking up my car from my oil
23:59
change and I'll be right over. That's right.
24:00
I wouldn't, I think it's a good idea.
24:01
I think it's a great idea. We, we may have to look into
24:03
that. Yeah.
24:04
All right. Number six, Bridging the gap.
24:06
Gen. Xers straddle the baby boomer
24:08
and millennial generations, possessing a unique
24:10
understanding of both the analog and digital worlds.
24:12
This position allows us to act as a bridge between the two,
24:15
facilitating communication and understanding across
24:17
generations. Marianne, you've, you've already
24:20
expressed the fact that Rob knows the digital side of things
24:23
and helps you out. Yes.
24:24
Would you agree that that we, you know, we tend to bridge that
24:28
gap between your generation, our generation, etcetera?
24:31
Oh, there's there's no question. There's no question.
24:34
There are a lot of dummies out there just like me.
24:36
I do have friends who are very techie went just like Rob and
24:39
you are, but not a lot of us. Well, I think what's different
24:43
here, you know, if I compare you to my mother who doesn't have a
24:47
cell phone, doesn't have a computer, doesn't have an
24:49
e-mail, and she's against it, She doesn't want it.
24:53
So I've never, I never had to do that for my parents.
24:55
But you are on e-mail, you are on Facebook, you comment back
24:59
and forth. So I think you're light years
25:01
ahead. I agree.
25:03
Oh, I'm so proud of. Myself, I didn't realize I
25:07
signed up for a tech support position based on my birth year.
25:12
Yeah, you wanted to get that rim shot.
25:13
Had a caddy get the rim shot in. Yep, all right. #7 practical and
25:17
resourcefulness. I I think I'm both No hey.
25:22
No, you are absolutely. Thank you.
25:23
Support me on this one. Not debating you at all.
25:26
X is known for its practical and resourceful approach to problem
25:30
solving. We are not afraid to get our
25:31
hands dirty and find creative solutions to challenges.
25:35
Tools, tools, sports. I do like tools, sports, you
25:39
know, it's we're wavering on that.
25:40
Power equipment. I love power equipment.
25:43
It's like heaven on earth. I know, I know.
25:45
Right, I like to do a new project in the house, so I get a
25:47
new tool. Right, I know, obviously excited
25:49
when I need to go buy something new.
25:50
You know, OK, so recently I had a tree cut down and my neighbor,
25:55
I was going to use his chainsaw and so he ended up cutting it
25:58
down, which is great for me, but I'm like, oh shoot, I didn't get
26:01
to buy my own chainsaw. That's too bad.
26:03
But it is on my list, on your list, kids, if you're listening,
26:05
I want the chainsaw, the. Sad part is when you need a tool
26:08
like that, you use it once, then you don't use the.
26:10
I know. I don't want to cut any more
26:11
trees. I know I still want the chains.
26:13
I want one but do yeah that just sounds like more work in the
26:16
future. Cut firewood.
26:18
Well, that is true, you could do that.
26:19
Because I can what? Build a fire.
26:21
Build a fire. I thought you're going to say
26:23
cut wood like a fire makes a little more sense.
26:28
All right #8 financial security and stability.
26:30
So Well, I know, right? That's that's the theory the.
26:35
Theory is yes. So Gen.
26:37
Xers are often in their peak earning years and have
26:39
accumulated significant wealth. Or debt that's.
26:44
Funny or debt is right? Yeah, right.
26:46
They're more likely to own property and are generally more
26:48
financially secure than younger generations.
26:50
Who are these people? Right.
26:52
Well, I think the people I've met.
26:55
They're never in my I. Don't know if I know them
26:56
personally, but I think I met them so.
26:59
But yes, in theory, yes, you should be at a point now when
27:01
you're in your middle age. We should have a little more
27:03
money kind of hanging out and be able to hopefully own a home and
27:06
those kind of things. But life happens, man.
27:08
Own a home? Yes.
27:09
But but again, things happen. I mean.
27:11
Three cars, yes, right. You guys have three kids.
27:13
We have two kids. I mean just.
27:14
Lake cabin, Yes. Lake cabin things happen.
27:16
Oh, I guess I do own some things.
27:17
You know, some things. Yeah, that's awesome.
27:20
Have I told you about the seven? PS What are the seven?
27:22
PS Can't. Remember them now.
27:25
Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.
27:29
What proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance?
27:35
If you. I know you can't see me but I'm
27:37
counting on my finger so make sure I get 7.
27:39
So help me understand what those mean.
27:41
They mean that proper prior planning prevents piss poor
27:45
performance. OK, the way you said it confused
27:48
me as their individual words that meant something else.
27:50
But you're saying them in sequence to as a sentence, as a.
27:53
Sentence. It's a sentence.
27:54
Well, now you threw me a loop on that one, right?
27:57
So live by the seven PS and all is well in the world.
27:59
OK, why didn't you write that down for me?
28:01
Well. Because it's more fun to watch
28:03
you struggle and squirm. I struggle every day.
28:07
Rob, I know. #9 appreciation for quality.
28:11
Gen. X is described as a discerning
28:13
generation that values quality and respect for their knowledge.
28:18
Yeah I think generally knowledgeable.
28:21
They are not easily swayed by trends.
28:23
Not true and prefer to make informed decisions.
28:26
That I totally agree with. I would much prefer to make a an
28:30
informed decision. However, I tend to be a little
28:34
sporadic and impulsive. OK, I would debate that comment
28:38
you just made a hundred 100% because you tend to be extremely
28:41
thorough on your decisions. OK.
28:43
Thank you. So let me let me put this.
28:45
OK, So what were you guys doing this weekend with your new
28:48
kitchen lights? Researching.
28:51
And how and how you? Called me, we were in the office
28:54
researching kitchen lights. OK, so.
28:55
They had they have LED lights under the kitchen cabinets and
28:58
they broke so they had to replace them.
28:59
So how long did it take you to research those?
29:02
Well, after we bought the replacement set that we didn't
29:06
like. And.
29:07
Legit. Legit.
29:08
Legit. Right, but they weren't bright
29:10
enough. Yep, and we went back to Amazon
29:13
and continued to look again. And we ended up buying a very
29:17
expensive set, but it works with our other lights.
29:19
OK. And so I'm happy.
29:20
And how long does that research process take?
29:22
Oh, only four to six hours. See now we just would have went
29:27
just like took over 2 minutes, bought the damn light to him.
29:30
Not with the lives. You have to read the reviews.
29:33
Oh my. God.
29:34
You got to know if you're getting a good deal or not.
29:36
Sure, sure, because all Amazon reviews are 100% accurate.
29:39
Well, you read all of them. There's no.
29:40
There's no. Bots out there at all putting
29:42
reviews out there, hey? Stop.
29:44
Stop tainting my view of the world.
29:46
Such if it had been easier just to go to Lowe's, and if you
29:49
didn't like them, return them and buy some other ones.
29:52
Oh darn. That's the boomer.
29:53
Boomer right there, right? Right.
29:54
Go to a store right buy it. We do tend to overthink, and
29:58
we're boomers just like very practical, right?
30:01
Right. Wouldn't you agree, Boomer?
30:03
Yeah, I practical. Yeah, practicality, I would.
30:05
Because because like again, they, they grew up without the
30:07
Internet. So I mean that's if you need
30:09
something, go to the store. I shocked my son today because I
30:11
ordered something off the Internet with my cell phone for
30:15
the first time ever and he said you've never done that before.
30:19
You are a techie. Well, here I am in Rob's house.
30:23
I have to be. Right.
30:25
Exactly. Exactly.
30:26
But so the lights we did put up in the cabinet that we didn't
30:28
like, I chose not to return them because of what I'm going to do
30:31
with them. I'm going to put them behind the
30:32
TV in the. Basement I like.
30:35
It that mood lighting? Yeah.
30:37
That's awesome. We have two TV's like that.
30:38
It's phenomenal. Yep, like it.
30:40
All right. So really appreciate for quality
30:42
is more, I mean, as far as I'm concerned more like champagne
30:44
taste on a beer budget. Yeah, exactly.
30:47
Unfortunately, even beers are expensive now.
30:49
Stupid craft breweries. I like Craft.
30:51
I love them too. God, they're expensive.
30:55
But they taste so good. So good.
30:56
I know, right? Right #10 Cultural impact.
30:59
Gen. X has had a significant cultural
31:01
impact, influencing music, fashion and film.
31:04
They're known for their contributions to grunge music,
31:06
indie films, indie films. It's a hard word, the concept of
31:11
irony as a lifestyle. OK.
31:14
Plus, you know, pie rolls, whatever.
31:17
And hand in the shape of an L on her forehead.
31:20
That's a smash slot. Did you ever do that?
31:23
All the time, All the time, all the time.
31:24
I did it to my kids. I did it today.
31:26
You didn't. No, you didn't.
31:27
No, wait, no, yesterday. Yesterday.
31:29
I actually, yeah, I did. I think I did it to your wife as
31:31
your. We were leaving.
31:32
We were leaving the craft brewery, as a matter of fact.
31:37
Oh my gosh. So I mean, I think given all
31:39
that, that's why we are the greatest generation.
31:41
I would agree with that. Mom.
31:43
Oh, whatever you say. Good answer, mom, good answer.
31:46
Glad you're here. From my vantage point, I have a
31:50
friend. I think in this day and age,
31:52
kids need to be able to read a clock, not a digital one, a
31:55
regular clock. And they should be able to write
31:58
in cursive. I have a very good friend whose
32:01
older daughter is an adult. Her mother said, hey, we're
32:05
going to pick you up at 3:15. And she didn't know what 3:15
32:10
meant, Really. She literally had to be told at
32:13
15 minutes past the hour. Yeah.
32:16
And I think it's important for kids to know the basics.
32:19
Right. Yeah.
32:20
I mean, I don't think they really teach Christopher schools
32:22
anymore. They.
32:23
Don't. They don't Which Or like reading
32:25
a map. Yeah, I mean, I know that your
32:27
your phone and GPS takes you where you want, but yeah,
32:29
there's a day right coming a day.
32:31
And you know, it's funny to me, like also like they don't teach,
32:33
like they said how to read a clock, how to write in cursive,
32:35
but. Basics.
32:36
Right, basics, but they won't do a class on like basic financial
32:42
acumen, like right, how do I balance my checkbook and make
32:44
sure I have money available? And those kinds of things, like
32:47
things that are like life skills that that you would need, those
32:50
aren't taught either. Right.
32:51
How did you learn to balance your checkbook?
32:53
Mom. Yeah, literally.
32:55
I mean, just yeah. We started pretty young and
32:57
started a checkbook. And when I first got a checking
32:58
account I'm like I I don't know how to write the check.
33:01
Right. How do you write?
33:02
It my parents taught me how to write the check.
33:04
Yeah. We, we might, my youngest
33:05
daughter got a, a check. We had to show her how to write
33:08
a check. I mean, she had no and again,
33:10
she's never done it before. So not, you know, not bad on
33:12
her, but that's a skill that I mean that's something basic I
33:14
think should be taught. You know, and, and now the kids
33:17
today, they don't even have checkbooks and they don't even
33:19
actually usually touch physical cash, Venmo, everything, you
33:22
know, everything is digital. Yeah, he's digital.
33:25
So when are you going to Venmo me what you owe me?
33:28
I'm on it. Just kidding.
33:32
As always, please follow us on the socials at O and One More
33:35
Thing Pod on Facebook and Instagram for highlights and
33:38
news of our upcoming shows and if.
33:40
You have any show ideas or just want to give us some feedback?
33:42
Send us an e-mail at oandonemorethingpod@gmail.com.
33:45
We'd love to hear from you. OK, well, that's all folks.
33:49
Hey, and oh, and one more thing. Gen.
33:51
X, the only generation that survived drinking from the
33:53
garden holes, riding on the back of a pickup and rewinding
33:56
Blockbuster tapes, all without a helmet or a therapist.
34:02
Hey, thanks, Bob for joining us. It was fun to.
34:03
Have me here. Thanks for having me guys all.
34:05
Right, bye everyone. Bye man, I'm feeling old and new
34:09
by Watcher.