1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,737 Hi, I'm John Cadillac Seville, and welcome to What's Good with John and Joyce. 2 00:00:03,737 --> 00:00:05,105 And Joyce is not here today. 3 00:00:05,105 --> 00:00:07,273 She's on special assignment. 4 00:00:07,273 --> 00:00:09,909 So it gave me a chance to give a call to a dear friend of mine. 5 00:00:09,909 --> 00:00:11,945 We're going to be doing a fundraiser together, 6 00:00:11,945 --> 00:00:15,215 in the next few days, and looking forward to that. 7 00:00:15,215 --> 00:00:18,218 But what an accomplished young lady. 8 00:00:18,218 --> 00:00:18,885 I'm going to say. 9 00:00:18,885 --> 00:00:21,454 I know you have a business in Branford, 10 00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:23,423 and she does so many good things in the community. 11 00:00:23,423 --> 00:00:25,125 She is an absolute giver. 12 00:00:25,125 --> 00:00:27,193 And that's kind of like the premise of this show. 13 00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:29,796 What's good being kind to other people. 14 00:00:29,796 --> 00:00:32,098 Elaine, welcome to What's Good with John and Joyce. 15 00:00:32,098 --> 00:00:34,868 And today it's what's good with John and Elaine. 16 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:35,602 Thanks, John. 17 00:00:35,602 --> 00:00:37,504 I really appreciate you having me. 18 00:00:37,504 --> 00:00:40,607 So tell me a little bit about you, you know. 19 00:00:40,607 --> 00:00:41,241 Yeah, a little bit 20 00:00:41,241 --> 00:00:44,477 about you and your business and how you got from point A to point B. 21 00:00:45,345 --> 00:00:47,647 Well, currently, I'm the co-owner of Gracious 22 00:00:47,647 --> 00:00:50,650 Gibson Home with my daughter Zoe. 23 00:00:50,717 --> 00:00:54,087 But my background started in corporate marketing, 24 00:00:54,087 --> 00:00:56,423 and then I had another small business of my own. 25 00:00:56,423 --> 00:01:00,393 But I still work in residential home organizing and move management. 26 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:01,528 Organizing. 27 00:01:01,528 --> 00:01:02,762 I can use that. 28 00:01:02,762 --> 00:01:05,131 Yeah, I know most people can. 29 00:01:05,131 --> 00:01:08,268 It's it's great to be able to help people, even in your job. 30 00:01:08,268 --> 00:01:10,036 That's that's the part that I love. 31 00:01:10,036 --> 00:01:13,039 And that was almost 20 years ago that I did that. Wow. 32 00:01:13,339 --> 00:01:15,809 That. So, it's been a long journey. 33 00:01:15,809 --> 00:01:16,709 And your husband does 34 00:01:16,709 --> 00:01:18,778 has a very successful business here in the shoreline as well. 35 00:01:18,778 --> 00:01:20,013 Stu. Yeah. 36 00:01:20,013 --> 00:01:23,883 He, works for a small company on the New Haven Hartford. 37 00:01:23,950 --> 00:01:25,718 Right. Terminal. 38 00:01:25,718 --> 00:01:28,455 So he's been there for 40 years. 39 00:01:28,455 --> 00:01:31,257 40 years, and people that starts a job and never. 40 00:01:34,094 --> 00:01:36,262 It is because I remember my dad, when I was growing up, 41 00:01:36,262 --> 00:01:40,133 used to work for the old UI company, and he. Yes. 42 00:01:40,133 --> 00:01:41,568 And he was there forever. 43 00:01:41,568 --> 00:01:43,903 But more and more people are transient nowadays. 44 00:01:43,903 --> 00:01:46,206 You don't really stay in the same spot too long. 45 00:01:46,206 --> 00:01:48,374 Something. But, he found it, I guess. 46 00:01:48,374 --> 00:01:49,576 Yeah, apparently. 47 00:01:49,576 --> 00:01:50,910 So. Tell me a little bit about you. 48 00:01:50,910 --> 00:01:52,245 What you do in the community. 49 00:01:52,245 --> 00:01:53,513 That's what really attracted to me. 50 00:01:53,513 --> 00:01:55,148 Initially, you gave me a call. 51 00:01:55,148 --> 00:01:56,583 Why did you do some kind of a benefit? 52 00:01:56,583 --> 00:02:00,487 You have a fashion show coming up and asked if I would be the MC for it 53 00:02:00,620 --> 00:02:03,690 not to be one of the fashion models, but to actually emcee it. 54 00:02:05,325 --> 00:02:07,961 And I'll just, 55 00:02:07,961 --> 00:02:09,762 But I got these big size 14ft. 56 00:02:09,762 --> 00:02:12,832 I'm not the most, you know, I'm a little bit clumsy at times. 57 00:02:12,832 --> 00:02:13,666 Yeah, yeah. 58 00:02:14,968 --> 00:02:17,971 So. Well, to be honest with you, 59 00:02:18,538 --> 00:02:21,341 when we started, and opened the gift shop, 60 00:02:21,341 --> 00:02:24,577 I had, toned down my organizing business. 61 00:02:24,944 --> 00:02:28,448 And while I say I had more time, I don't really think I did, 62 00:02:28,882 --> 00:02:31,584 but I think when you have a small business in a small town, 63 00:02:31,584 --> 00:02:35,188 it's very important to, connect yourself in the community. 64 00:02:35,655 --> 00:02:39,425 And, I've been living in Brantford my whole life, 65 00:02:39,425 --> 00:02:43,963 and so certainly I'm connected to my community in a variety of ways. 66 00:02:44,364 --> 00:02:47,700 But it was time to maybe start giving back in different ways. 67 00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:51,504 So, I was asked first to, 68 00:02:52,505 --> 00:02:56,576 join the board of directors for the, Branford Festival. 69 00:02:56,643 --> 00:02:59,112 And that's coming this weekend. 70 00:02:59,112 --> 00:03:00,914 That's the 15th, I believe. 71 00:03:00,914 --> 00:03:02,015 Saturday, the 15th. 72 00:03:02,015 --> 00:03:04,317 So big festival weekend. 73 00:03:04,317 --> 00:03:05,985 But, that's where I started. 74 00:03:05,985 --> 00:03:10,290 And then it's I have I have a feeling that once you start 75 00:03:10,423 --> 00:03:13,326 getting involved and people know that you have taken 76 00:03:13,326 --> 00:03:18,097 a position on the board of directors, suddenly all of the of course, 77 00:03:18,097 --> 00:03:21,267 of course, it just seems to be the law all of a sudden one. 78 00:03:21,267 --> 00:03:24,270 Then it just kind of like metastasizes and it keeps going on and on. 79 00:03:24,837 --> 00:03:29,275 The, organization that is sponsoring the fashion show that you mentioned, 80 00:03:29,609 --> 00:03:32,679 few moments before is the Branford Arts and Cultural 81 00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:36,049 Alliance, or Baka Gallery on Main Street in Branford. 82 00:03:36,049 --> 00:03:36,616 Right. 83 00:03:36,616 --> 00:03:42,288 And, we run the business primarily on, all of our fundraising, 84 00:03:42,622 --> 00:03:46,292 the gifts of, you know, our generous donors and, 85 00:03:46,292 --> 00:03:49,295 of course, by grants, if you can find them and get them. 86 00:03:49,696 --> 00:03:51,764 But that's that's more and more difficult, isn't it? 87 00:03:51,764 --> 00:03:55,335 To get those grants is in writing a grant proposal. 88 00:03:55,401 --> 00:03:56,502 Oh, yeah. 89 00:03:56,502 --> 00:04:00,673 Yes. It is, but, we have this idea of 90 00:04:00,673 --> 00:04:05,378 how could we have a smaller fundraiser, but to involve 91 00:04:05,378 --> 00:04:08,848 and engage the community and the other businesses on Main Street. 92 00:04:09,215 --> 00:04:12,418 So we came up, our committee came up with the idea of a fashion show, 93 00:04:12,952 --> 00:04:16,356 and we have, some other small businesses from town. 94 00:04:17,257 --> 00:04:23,029 We have, first off, our, generous, underwriter for certain part of it is. 95 00:04:24,430 --> 00:04:26,432 Yes. Yes, we 96 00:04:26,432 --> 00:04:29,435 have splash, which is Karen Aragonese. 97 00:04:29,435 --> 00:04:30,937 Yes. Hey, Karen. 98 00:04:30,937 --> 00:04:32,905 Yeah, yeah. 99 00:04:32,905 --> 00:04:36,442 Lane, the owner there, we also have 100 00:04:36,442 --> 00:04:41,080 a, we have Illusions boutique, which is Francine Piscatella. 101 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:45,351 She's got a, salon and boutique down in Long, right. 102 00:04:46,386 --> 00:04:49,722 And, the last one we have is actually out of North Haven, 103 00:04:49,722 --> 00:04:54,160 but it's camouflage clothing, and, someone had a relationship with them. 104 00:04:54,193 --> 00:04:56,429 We figured why not? You sure? Include them. 105 00:04:56,429 --> 00:04:57,597 Yeah, exactly. 106 00:04:57,597 --> 00:05:03,069 So it's taking place at the Pine Orchard Club on Sunday, June 22nd at 430. 107 00:05:03,069 --> 00:05:07,507 And we've got quite a few tickets sold, but I think it's going to be a fantastic 108 00:05:07,507 --> 00:05:08,074 event. 109 00:05:08,074 --> 00:05:11,277 Go. You see local models. 110 00:05:11,277 --> 00:05:15,081 All of the models are local from Branford and the surrounding areas. 111 00:05:15,081 --> 00:05:16,316 So if nothing else, it 112 00:05:16,316 --> 00:05:20,053 you have an opportunity to come out, have some good food, good music. 113 00:05:20,053 --> 00:05:22,288 You're emceeing our event for us 114 00:05:22,288 --> 00:05:25,958 and to just have a nice relaxing afternoon watching the fashions. 115 00:05:26,659 --> 00:05:27,527 It seems like a lot of fun. 116 00:05:27,527 --> 00:05:30,596 And Pine Orchard, you know, I do a lot of weddings and parties there as well. 117 00:05:30,596 --> 00:05:33,333 It's just picturesque down by the water. 118 00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:35,635 But I love the fact you're doing something with the community right now 119 00:05:35,635 --> 00:05:38,538 and doing your part to kind of spotlight a lot of these businesses, 120 00:05:38,538 --> 00:05:41,541 because since Covid, a lot of them have been hurt. 121 00:05:41,774 --> 00:05:45,411 Some of them haven't really bounced back the way, you know, they like to in many, 122 00:05:45,411 --> 00:05:46,346 many cases. 123 00:05:46,346 --> 00:05:48,047 And I like the fact that you're doing your part 124 00:05:48,047 --> 00:05:51,317 because it's something not just local, but even across the country. 125 00:05:51,617 --> 00:05:53,219 I think it's a trend that more and more people 126 00:05:53,219 --> 00:05:56,689 are trying to do events that help a lot of local businesses. 127 00:05:57,256 --> 00:05:59,859 John, or even ten years ago, did you ever hear 128 00:05:59,859 --> 00:06:02,862 the term shop local support? 129 00:06:03,029 --> 00:06:05,832 Small business I don't, I don't me neither. No. 130 00:06:05,832 --> 00:06:08,835 And I think with you know 131 00:06:08,935 --> 00:06:12,004 Amazon it's a great tool when you need it. 132 00:06:12,505 --> 00:06:16,609 But if we continue with buying online 133 00:06:17,009 --> 00:06:21,914 and not even going into the larger stores in our town, you're going to see 134 00:06:21,914 --> 00:06:24,951 you know, they're just won't be any small businesses anymore. 135 00:06:25,118 --> 00:06:26,152 And there is room for both. 136 00:06:26,152 --> 00:06:29,789 As we all know, there's room we can coincide, coexist with each other. 137 00:06:30,089 --> 00:06:30,757 But you're right. 138 00:06:30,757 --> 00:06:34,026 When my wife and I decide to go to a restaurant, we're going local. 139 00:06:34,594 --> 00:06:36,629 I mean, I prefer not to do the chains. 140 00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:38,498 With all due respect, there are a lot of good chains out there. 141 00:06:38,498 --> 00:06:41,701 But if I have a chance to go local or go to a local gift shop, 142 00:06:42,168 --> 00:06:45,505 you know, or a local coffee shop, I want to support that business. 143 00:06:46,139 --> 00:06:46,839 Absolutely. 144 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,776 And that's another way of building relationships in your town, too. 145 00:06:49,776 --> 00:06:52,678 You might see somebody you know, but you know what? 146 00:06:52,678 --> 00:06:56,082 It's if a family or an individual has decided 147 00:06:56,082 --> 00:06:59,185 to open a business, they don't just do it. 148 00:06:59,719 --> 00:07:02,054 Matter of fact, I don't think many people do it to make money. 149 00:07:02,054 --> 00:07:06,259 They do it because they have a desire to be in their community. 150 00:07:06,626 --> 00:07:10,196 It's not just about opening a business and making money and, 151 00:07:10,229 --> 00:07:15,268 you know, going there day in and day out when you decide to open a small store 152 00:07:15,501 --> 00:07:20,006 in a reduced economy, in a time when we do have the ability 153 00:07:20,006 --> 00:07:23,309 to buy online, it's an extremely scary proposition. 154 00:07:23,643 --> 00:07:25,945 So you're doing it for a lot of other reasons. 155 00:07:25,945 --> 00:07:27,246 And we did. 156 00:07:27,246 --> 00:07:29,849 We opened our business for other reasons as well. 157 00:07:29,849 --> 00:07:31,551 And now what are those other reasons? 158 00:07:31,551 --> 00:07:35,354 Well, my daughter has some special needs and a lot of people know that know me 159 00:07:35,354 --> 00:07:37,190 because, we were featured 160 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:40,193 pretty prominently when we first opened because it was unique. 161 00:07:40,593 --> 00:07:43,196 But, as a result, college 162 00:07:43,196 --> 00:07:46,199 wasn't something she was going to do or interested in doing. 163 00:07:46,265 --> 00:07:49,335 So we took some money that we had for college and we said, well, 164 00:07:49,335 --> 00:07:51,571 we want to make an investment in her future. 165 00:07:51,571 --> 00:07:56,943 So, we gave her an opportunity to choose what she might like to do. 166 00:07:56,943 --> 00:07:59,011 Wow. 167 00:07:59,011 --> 00:08:03,082 I have a lot of background in business building, so I've been teaching her 168 00:08:03,082 --> 00:08:07,587 the last few years about how to build a business and how to, you know, 169 00:08:08,554 --> 00:08:12,258 make relationships, you know, be less anxious 170 00:08:12,258 --> 00:08:15,795 when she's speaking with individuals and making those connections. 171 00:08:16,162 --> 00:08:19,031 And, you know, it's it's been great for her. 172 00:08:19,031 --> 00:08:21,434 We call it the College of Life. 173 00:08:21,434 --> 00:08:24,704 I love it, and I love the fact that you're investing in your children. 174 00:08:24,704 --> 00:08:27,707 I suspect students the same way, but so many times 175 00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:30,243 people say, okay, just go out there and swim. 176 00:08:30,243 --> 00:08:31,477 You get on your own. 177 00:08:31,477 --> 00:08:34,981 I understand that everybody is equipped to be able to do that, 178 00:08:34,981 --> 00:08:38,217 but I think some people might be and they just don't think of it. 179 00:08:38,284 --> 00:08:38,818 Right. 180 00:08:38,818 --> 00:08:40,820 You know, because if you think your child 181 00:08:40,820 --> 00:08:44,423 is going to go to college, you probably have stash some money home. 182 00:08:44,757 --> 00:08:47,126 And if they don't, I'm sure not. 183 00:08:47,126 --> 00:08:49,862 The last thing on their mind is starting a business with that. 184 00:08:49,862 --> 00:08:50,496 Sure. 185 00:08:50,496 --> 00:08:54,066 But you were going to give it away to the, institution anyway. 186 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:57,336 So even if we never make any of that money back, 187 00:08:57,837 --> 00:09:00,273 it doesn't make a difference because we've invest it 188 00:09:00,273 --> 00:09:03,309 in what my daughter has learned in the last 3 or 4 years. 189 00:09:03,476 --> 00:09:08,014 I love the fact you have a plan because so many people go to business plan. 190 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:09,148 We didn't just do this. 191 00:09:09,148 --> 00:09:10,483 I get that feeling with you. 192 00:09:10,483 --> 00:09:12,885 But I mean, I mean, you're organized that way too. 193 00:09:12,885 --> 00:09:14,520 But so many people go through life without a GPS, 194 00:09:15,588 --> 00:09:18,357 and then they wonder why certain things happen. 195 00:09:18,357 --> 00:09:20,793 You really have to be intentional, don't you? Yes. 196 00:09:20,793 --> 00:09:24,830 And kind of just to piggyback and then I know I've talked a lot, but no 197 00:09:24,830 --> 00:09:26,132 this fascinating. Yeah. 198 00:09:26,132 --> 00:09:30,703 So going back to supporting local, we, 199 00:09:30,703 --> 00:09:35,474 have merchandise in the store that's created by local artisans. 200 00:09:35,875 --> 00:09:38,844 And if we decide that we want to bring something in 201 00:09:38,844 --> 00:09:42,515 that I can't find, an individual who makes it locally, 202 00:09:42,782 --> 00:09:46,185 I seek out of Branford or out of the shoreline. 203 00:09:46,285 --> 00:09:48,454 Sometimes it's even across the country. 204 00:09:48,454 --> 00:09:52,058 But it might be somebody who just is a small town. 205 00:09:53,225 --> 00:09:54,527 But they're not here. 206 00:09:54,527 --> 00:09:58,331 But we're still supporting, yes, all business efforts. 207 00:09:58,331 --> 00:10:01,367 So it's a small business supporting other small businesses. 208 00:10:01,567 --> 00:10:05,137 And of course, we have to supplement with some of the larger, 209 00:10:05,304 --> 00:10:07,573 wholesale items as well. 210 00:10:07,573 --> 00:10:10,009 But we do our best to support local. 211 00:10:10,009 --> 00:10:12,745 And the thing is, even though this podcast is going global 212 00:10:12,745 --> 00:10:16,282 and we're talking about local in our own backyard here, this I think, resonates 213 00:10:16,282 --> 00:10:19,285 with people all over the world about supporting your local community. 214 00:10:19,652 --> 00:10:21,253 Wouldn't you agree? Absolutely. 215 00:10:21,253 --> 00:10:21,554 Yeah. 216 00:10:21,554 --> 00:10:25,157 Yeah, there wouldn't be there wouldn't be a small business Saturday 217 00:10:25,157 --> 00:10:27,259 during the holiday. That's right. 218 00:10:27,259 --> 00:10:27,426 Yeah. 219 00:10:27,426 --> 00:10:28,961 And that's one of those things I really look forward 220 00:10:28,961 --> 00:10:30,696 to promoting when I'm on the radio as well. 221 00:10:30,696 --> 00:10:33,933 I mean, just you have your, your Cyber days, your Cyber Mondays, 222 00:10:33,933 --> 00:10:36,969 but promote those small business because your small businesses, 223 00:10:36,969 --> 00:10:40,206 so many people think if you own a business you're raking in the money. 224 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:42,408 Not so much. Right? 225 00:10:42,408 --> 00:10:42,975 Right. Elaine? 226 00:10:42,975 --> 00:10:44,243 Not so much. 227 00:10:44,243 --> 00:10:47,146 You know, some that are very, established. 228 00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:49,782 Maybe they are some newer ones. 229 00:10:49,782 --> 00:10:55,655 I can attest to the fact that they're really not, but, you know, I always say, 230 00:10:55,855 --> 00:11:00,459 stop in to a local business first if you don't find what you're looking for. 231 00:11:00,593 --> 00:11:02,294 I don't think anybody expects you to buy 232 00:11:02,294 --> 00:11:04,630 something that you really don't want or need. 233 00:11:04,630 --> 00:11:10,036 But I think that if you have a moment to stop in and look at a local store 234 00:11:10,036 --> 00:11:13,873 first, you could be doing so much more good than you realize. 235 00:11:14,206 --> 00:11:14,840 Absolutely. 236 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,510 And the thing is, if you don't have it, you can say, listen, I don't have this, 237 00:11:17,510 --> 00:11:20,146 but I know another store that does that all the time. 238 00:11:20,146 --> 00:11:21,781 And we could piggyback, right? 239 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:24,417 Send people all the time to the other. 240 00:11:24,417 --> 00:11:25,451 Don't you love doing that? 241 00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:29,021 I love it, and they'll call me so-and-so said that you sent them here. 242 00:11:29,021 --> 00:11:30,690 I said, well, of course I did. I didn't. 243 00:11:30,690 --> 00:11:32,458 We don't carry right? 244 00:11:32,458 --> 00:11:34,827 And I love doing the same thing, even with my businesses, too. 245 00:11:34,827 --> 00:11:37,830 If I don't have a DJ available for a certain event or something, 246 00:11:37,930 --> 00:11:39,265 all my guys are booked up. 247 00:11:39,265 --> 00:11:42,902 I'll send them to another company, and I freely share my information. 248 00:11:42,902 --> 00:11:46,739 If I'm mentoring young people, I freely share because it's not mine to 249 00:11:47,006 --> 00:11:49,842 to kind of like, you know, I want to be able to 250 00:11:49,842 --> 00:11:53,045 it's a gift and invest in people, help them. 251 00:11:53,045 --> 00:11:55,181 There's plenty to go around, isn't there? 252 00:11:55,181 --> 00:11:57,817 For all of us. It really is. 253 00:11:58,784 --> 00:11:59,618 So again, you know, 254 00:11:59,618 --> 00:12:02,822 just, talking about you and your background getting you from A 255 00:12:02,822 --> 00:12:05,991 to B, some of the other things you've done in your past to get you where you are. 256 00:12:05,991 --> 00:12:08,561 Right now to kind of set you up for success. 257 00:12:08,561 --> 00:12:10,429 I'm always fascinated about that. 258 00:12:10,429 --> 00:12:13,632 As you were a teenager, you know, going, oh, right. 259 00:12:13,632 --> 00:12:17,970 So this just popped into my head, my background, I'm Greek Orthodox, 260 00:12:18,237 --> 00:12:22,341 and if you know anything about, you know, the Greek Orthodox 261 00:12:22,341 --> 00:12:26,579 churches, mostly we are a huge, very tightly knit community. 262 00:12:27,713 --> 00:12:27,980 That's right. 263 00:12:27,980 --> 00:12:30,116 The Bible was originally written in Greek. 264 00:12:30,116 --> 00:12:30,783 It was. 265 00:12:30,783 --> 00:12:36,122 However, one of the other things is we're an extremely, cultural group. 266 00:12:36,589 --> 00:12:42,094 And when you share a culture within a community, a church community, 267 00:12:42,461 --> 00:12:45,464 it becomes more than just the place you go to worship. 268 00:12:45,831 --> 00:12:48,534 It becomes the place that you go for 269 00:12:48,534 --> 00:12:51,537 relationships, camaraderie. 270 00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:54,173 So I was blessed 271 00:12:54,173 --> 00:12:58,110 to have had all of this through the Saint Barbara Greek 272 00:12:58,110 --> 00:13:01,113 Orthodox Church that was initially on Dwight Street in New Haven. 273 00:13:01,147 --> 00:13:02,948 We're now on, Race Brick Road and. 274 00:13:04,216 --> 00:13:06,452 I grew up in my church. 275 00:13:06,452 --> 00:13:08,954 I always had two sets of friends. 276 00:13:08,954 --> 00:13:11,190 It was the school friends and the church friends. 277 00:13:11,190 --> 00:13:14,193 And many times I would mix them together. 278 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,498 But what being a part of a community like that does is it 279 00:13:19,498 --> 00:13:22,768 teaches you from a very young age 280 00:13:22,768 --> 00:13:26,172 about being a part of something. 281 00:13:26,839 --> 00:13:31,343 And then we had, you know, our church 282 00:13:31,544 --> 00:13:34,847 started a enormous Greek festival about, 283 00:13:35,414 --> 00:13:40,219 oh, it's probably going on 47, 48 years ago. Wow. 284 00:13:40,486 --> 00:13:45,991 And so then, you know, as teenagers, you're volunteering, right? 285 00:13:46,192 --> 00:13:48,627 You're running a booth. Yeah. 286 00:13:48,627 --> 00:13:52,932 In the prep, you're learning to be an adult running the errands. Yep. 287 00:13:53,499 --> 00:13:54,733 You're picking up the trash. 288 00:13:54,733 --> 00:13:55,935 Yes. Whatnot. 289 00:13:55,935 --> 00:14:01,941 And so from a very young age, it was instilled in us to be like 290 00:14:01,941 --> 00:14:03,542 the worker, right? 291 00:14:03,542 --> 00:14:08,214 Drones at a very young and to serve, to serve, to serve. 292 00:14:09,081 --> 00:14:11,784 And so I think I don't think 293 00:14:11,784 --> 00:14:14,787 I know that's the foundation of, 294 00:14:15,087 --> 00:14:19,058 you know, where I learned to love to give back. 295 00:14:19,692 --> 00:14:24,463 And the church has been a stable force in my life as far as giving back. 296 00:14:24,463 --> 00:14:28,667 You know, there have been ebbs, you know, where you're raising your family. 297 00:14:28,667 --> 00:14:30,069 Maybe you pull back a little bit 298 00:14:30,069 --> 00:14:33,072 or you're caring for a parent, you pull back a little bit, but 299 00:14:33,072 --> 00:14:36,475 people know that you just need to be asked, 300 00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:39,945 you know, if they really and truly need your help 301 00:14:39,945 --> 00:14:43,682 when you're not right there giving the there's no better feeling than giving. 302 00:14:43,682 --> 00:14:47,052 And when we do that each and every week with our church as well, we just had 303 00:14:47,052 --> 00:14:51,323 serve our city recently and, in the town where we're broadcasting from now. 304 00:14:51,323 --> 00:14:53,792 And it was just so cool to bring people together. 305 00:14:53,792 --> 00:14:55,094 And the lessons 306 00:14:55,094 --> 00:14:58,364 when you get families together, like you were saying, with what you do with church, 307 00:14:58,664 --> 00:15:02,234 and you have grandparents working alongside their kids and their grandkids, 308 00:15:02,468 --> 00:15:06,272 it also what you're learning 309 00:15:06,272 --> 00:15:09,275 from working alone. Yes. 310 00:15:09,308 --> 00:15:14,113 Or individuals who are far older than you and generations of people will. 311 00:15:14,113 --> 00:15:17,516 Now you're you're learning, 312 00:15:17,516 --> 00:15:21,854 the recipes, how to cook, how to culturally dance. 313 00:15:21,954 --> 00:15:22,454 Right. 314 00:15:23,422 --> 00:15:25,024 Well, that's something I'm still trying to learn 315 00:15:25,024 --> 00:15:28,060 how they, you know, we're all taught how to do breakdancing. 316 00:15:28,827 --> 00:15:31,430 That we all passed down to our children if we're still involved 317 00:15:31,430 --> 00:15:35,000 now my husband is not I was not born Greek Orthodox but 318 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:40,372 he embraced yes culture and we have passed that along to our children. 319 00:15:40,372 --> 00:15:46,578 And so you know my son, he's at the church as often as he can be with his schedule, 320 00:15:46,578 --> 00:15:50,082 and he's doing what he can do, you know, when he can do it. 321 00:15:50,082 --> 00:15:55,187 But that festival is now in, you know, third generation. Wow. 322 00:15:55,554 --> 00:15:56,455 I worked it. 323 00:15:56,455 --> 00:15:58,657 And, you know, now my children are working. 324 00:15:58,657 --> 00:15:59,625 It is amazing. 325 00:15:59,625 --> 00:16:00,693 You mentioned your Greek. 326 00:16:00,693 --> 00:16:06,065 You know, my wife and I had our wedding in Athens, Greece, back in 2008. 327 00:16:06,065 --> 00:16:08,400 We were married over there. I went over there with my. 328 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,803 Yeah, it's just beautiful. The people are so wonderful. 329 00:16:10,803 --> 00:16:12,705 That's where I had my first taste of gelato. 330 00:16:13,772 --> 00:16:16,608 Some of the best gelato I know. 331 00:16:16,608 --> 00:16:17,743 I know you didn't, 332 00:16:17,743 --> 00:16:21,313 but I had some of the best gelato to this day, even though you didn't invent it, 333 00:16:21,647 --> 00:16:22,381 it was just amazing. 334 00:16:22,381 --> 00:16:25,551 The food over there is so good because you don't have the preservatives in it. 335 00:16:26,085 --> 00:16:28,620 Phenomenal, right? Italy. 336 00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:29,688 Same thing. 337 00:16:29,688 --> 00:16:32,624 I mean, in most of Europe you're going to get outstanding meals, 338 00:16:32,624 --> 00:16:34,426 but, in Greece, absolutely. 339 00:16:34,426 --> 00:16:35,260 Yeah. 340 00:16:35,260 --> 00:16:36,795 Let's talk a little bit about your travel too, 341 00:16:36,795 --> 00:16:39,965 because we were talking before we went on air today about travel. 342 00:16:39,965 --> 00:16:42,368 You said, I love to travel. 343 00:16:42,368 --> 00:16:45,037 Yeah. 344 00:16:45,037 --> 00:16:46,772 When I was in college, 345 00:16:46,772 --> 00:16:51,343 my first semester, junior year, I begged for my parents 346 00:16:51,343 --> 00:16:55,748 to be able to take a semester overseas, in London. And, 347 00:16:57,216 --> 00:16:58,784 they had no problem agreeing. 348 00:16:58,784 --> 00:17:02,087 I did my best to make my contributions, but so did my family. 349 00:17:02,187 --> 00:17:03,255 Yeah, right. 350 00:17:03,255 --> 00:17:04,957 So made happen. 351 00:17:04,957 --> 00:17:09,395 And, while I studied for about six months in London, 352 00:17:09,395 --> 00:17:13,899 I had the opportunity to travel to quite a few countries 353 00:17:13,899 --> 00:17:17,703 on weekends or breaks and whatnot, and I just. 354 00:17:18,237 --> 00:17:21,473 Wow. On weekends you get to travel the countries for breaks. 355 00:17:21,473 --> 00:17:24,843 Oh my goodness, I love it going. 356 00:17:24,843 --> 00:17:27,613 You know, it's like I was going to Florida, right? 357 00:17:27,613 --> 00:17:29,848 Right. And you're in a whole other country. 358 00:17:29,848 --> 00:17:30,482 I love it. 359 00:17:30,482 --> 00:17:33,285 Throughout the years I've maintained, my travel 360 00:17:33,285 --> 00:17:37,056 two years ago I went to Thailand with, college friend of mine, 361 00:17:37,056 --> 00:17:42,127 and I just got back from two weeks, we went to with the same, friend. 362 00:17:42,127 --> 00:17:45,130 We went to, Prague and the. 363 00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:48,267 I was watching vicariously my wife Patty and I. 364 00:17:48,434 --> 00:17:50,669 Oh, my God, that trip was so beautiful. 365 00:17:50,669 --> 00:17:54,073 And the architecture and the structures, the churches and the buildings. 366 00:17:54,373 --> 00:17:56,108 Surprisingly, Budapest, 367 00:17:56,108 --> 00:17:59,511 Hungary turned out to be my favorite city of the three that we visited. 368 00:17:59,578 --> 00:18:01,280 Wow, now you say, surprisingly. 369 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,516 Why? Well, I had no expectations for Budapest. 370 00:18:04,516 --> 00:18:07,152 I hadn't taken the time to really look into it, 371 00:18:07,152 --> 00:18:09,688 but that's a very common trio. 372 00:18:09,688 --> 00:18:15,260 When you travel and you do just the cities ride very popular trio of cities. 373 00:18:15,627 --> 00:18:17,830 Prague was beautiful. 374 00:18:17,830 --> 00:18:19,398 Yeah, beautiful. 375 00:18:19,398 --> 00:18:20,599 The architecture. 376 00:18:20,599 --> 00:18:24,136 I don't know if you know this, but Prague was one of very few cities 377 00:18:24,136 --> 00:18:28,474 that was not destroyed in any way, shape or form during World War two 378 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,643 because Hitler loved. 379 00:18:32,444 --> 00:18:35,214 I never heard that before they came in. 380 00:18:35,214 --> 00:18:38,083 Everything preserved thing they did everywhere else, 381 00:18:38,083 --> 00:18:41,353 but they destroyed nothing. Wow. 382 00:18:42,154 --> 00:18:44,590 So, that's one of the reasons 383 00:18:44,590 --> 00:18:49,128 why it still stands and still looks as beautiful as it does now. 384 00:18:49,128 --> 00:18:50,162 You've done a lot of traveling. 385 00:18:50,162 --> 00:18:52,464 Your favorite, favorite place you've ever been? 386 00:18:52,464 --> 00:18:55,934 I know it's it's tough, but if you had to pick one place, 387 00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:59,204 you could only go one more time. 388 00:18:59,204 --> 00:19:00,839 Where would it be? 389 00:19:00,839 --> 00:19:01,940 Why not? 390 00:19:01,940 --> 00:19:04,943 Because I'm Greek in Greece. 391 00:19:05,677 --> 00:19:08,680 And three times. Wow. 392 00:19:08,714 --> 00:19:12,284 And every time I say oh I don't need to go back I've seen enough. 393 00:19:12,885 --> 00:19:15,420 I haven't even seen a 394 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:18,423 my last trip was many years ago, 395 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:22,794 three weeks traveling the whole country by car with my son and 396 00:19:23,862 --> 00:19:24,563 his cousin. 397 00:19:24,563 --> 00:19:25,898 Now what are they experience? 398 00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:30,869 Wow. We went from the islands all the way up to the Mykonos 399 00:19:30,869 --> 00:19:33,071 and all those way to the Salonika. 400 00:19:33,071 --> 00:19:39,244 And, I didn't realize how diverse the topography and the areas of Greece are. 401 00:19:39,244 --> 00:19:43,815 Yes. That the dry areas, the mountainous areas, the, you know, 402 00:19:43,815 --> 00:19:46,818 the beaches, the coast, the islands is 403 00:19:47,085 --> 00:19:49,788 you can almost never see enough of it. 404 00:19:49,788 --> 00:19:51,323 So that's my favorite book. 405 00:19:53,859 --> 00:19:54,760 But there are a lot of 406 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,664 exotic countries out there too, so it's hard to pick, you know? 407 00:19:58,664 --> 00:20:02,501 My favorite city, though, still is Istanbul. 408 00:20:02,501 --> 00:20:04,369 And really. 409 00:20:04,369 --> 00:20:07,372 Wow. What did you like so much about it? Yes, 410 00:20:08,407 --> 00:20:11,076 it's like parts of Canada when I've been up there very, very clean. 411 00:20:11,076 --> 00:20:12,778 They vacuum the cobblestones. 412 00:20:12,778 --> 00:20:16,014 Really like big industrial vacuums, you see. 413 00:20:16,315 --> 00:20:17,683 They really do that? 414 00:20:17,683 --> 00:20:18,584 Yes they do. 415 00:20:18,584 --> 00:20:21,486 Wow. And, the food is outstanding. 416 00:20:21,486 --> 00:20:25,057 And, the city is just probably one of the most unique cities. 417 00:20:25,424 --> 00:20:27,593 The people are real friendly. 418 00:20:27,593 --> 00:20:29,695 They're fine. Okay. 419 00:20:29,695 --> 00:20:30,996 Not friendly. 420 00:20:30,996 --> 00:20:34,700 It's as you know, there's an enormous cultural difference between, 421 00:20:35,234 --> 00:20:38,070 you know, Muslim in America. Sure, sure. 422 00:20:38,070 --> 00:20:40,806 So there's no hostilities. 423 00:20:40,806 --> 00:20:43,408 I think it's just that, 424 00:20:43,408 --> 00:20:45,444 I don't know that it's like going into another country 425 00:20:45,444 --> 00:20:47,079 and people are walking up and saying. 426 00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:50,249 And everything, but no issues whatsoever. 427 00:20:50,249 --> 00:20:53,652 I would recommend any person having the opportunity to go there once. 428 00:20:53,752 --> 00:20:56,121 It's like over in Iceland, everybody's so friendly. 429 00:20:56,121 --> 00:20:56,555 There. 430 00:20:56,555 --> 00:21:00,125 Yeah, I, I just had a buddy get back from Iceland recently 431 00:21:00,125 --> 00:21:01,460 and he said it's worth it. 432 00:21:01,460 --> 00:21:03,495 I've never been there is on my bucket list. 433 00:21:03,495 --> 00:21:05,497 But he says John you need to get there. 434 00:21:05,497 --> 00:21:08,200 He was there for ten days and loved it. 435 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,736 He said it was a different weather system every day. 436 00:21:10,736 --> 00:21:16,174 Most unique place you may ever get really, of any place, Place I bet. 437 00:21:16,308 --> 00:21:17,509 And you've been to a lot. 438 00:21:17,509 --> 00:21:18,010 Yeah. 439 00:21:18,010 --> 00:21:21,413 And, we had this wonderful tour guide. 440 00:21:21,413 --> 00:21:24,850 We went to Iceland, and what I loved the most was his. His. 441 00:21:24,916 --> 00:21:27,919 He must have had six masters, right? 442 00:21:28,020 --> 00:21:29,121 80 of things. 443 00:21:29,121 --> 00:21:33,325 But he said, as we were traveling along, he says, you are looking 444 00:21:33,558 --> 00:21:36,561 at the bottom of the ocean floor right now. 445 00:21:37,229 --> 00:21:39,765 And as soon as he said that, 446 00:21:39,765 --> 00:21:42,934 you started looking at everything different, 447 00:21:42,934 --> 00:21:46,405 because, you know, Iceland rose up from the bottom of. 448 00:21:46,738 --> 00:21:47,372 Yes. Right. 449 00:21:47,372 --> 00:21:47,739 Yeah. 450 00:21:47,739 --> 00:21:50,108 And, it's very geological. 451 00:21:50,108 --> 00:21:53,078 There's almost no green anywhere. 452 00:21:53,078 --> 00:21:57,849 One of the reasons eating in Iceland is extremely expensive. 453 00:21:57,983 --> 00:22:01,353 You mentioned fresh and everything is sure nothing is fresh. 454 00:22:01,353 --> 00:22:03,722 There it comes. Everything comes from simple. 455 00:22:03,722 --> 00:22:05,857 Everything that you eat comes from some place. 456 00:22:05,857 --> 00:22:06,758 Right? 457 00:22:06,758 --> 00:22:08,894 So, it was still good, right? 458 00:22:08,894 --> 00:22:10,929 And it was fresh, but it was expensive. 459 00:22:12,998 --> 00:22:13,365 Now what? 460 00:22:13,365 --> 00:22:15,067 Where else would you recommend? Because I. 461 00:22:15,067 --> 00:22:16,134 I'm trying to put a bucket list. 462 00:22:16,134 --> 00:22:17,836 I love to get to Ireland. 463 00:22:17,836 --> 00:22:20,739 I get to Ireland. Okay. Yeah. Ireland. 464 00:22:20,739 --> 00:22:22,174 I've talked to so many people that have been there. 465 00:22:22,174 --> 00:22:27,312 They said just with natural beauty, incredible, you know, cliche. 466 00:22:27,312 --> 00:22:28,613 All the shades of. 467 00:22:28,613 --> 00:22:29,414 Sure, sure. 468 00:22:29,414 --> 00:22:32,184 I mean, you know, Italy is outstanding. 469 00:22:32,184 --> 00:22:35,187 I like the older countries, right. 470 00:22:35,253 --> 00:22:38,457 That really have, you know, the ancient history. 471 00:22:38,657 --> 00:22:41,793 And when I go, I'm not going just to look, I want to be there, 472 00:22:42,094 --> 00:22:44,363 you know, right in the front row. Right. 473 00:22:44,363 --> 00:22:47,265 And I want to hear everything, and you want to absorb it 474 00:22:47,265 --> 00:22:50,268 all, all kinds of questions. 475 00:22:50,535 --> 00:22:52,037 That doesn't surprise me. 476 00:22:52,037 --> 00:22:54,639 But you know what? Everybody that's good, that's good. 477 00:22:54,639 --> 00:22:55,507 I think it's great. 478 00:22:55,507 --> 00:22:58,777 So, but, you know, one place I, I, 479 00:23:00,011 --> 00:23:02,381 I know that your spiritual 480 00:23:02,381 --> 00:23:03,215 Israel. 481 00:23:03,215 --> 00:23:06,184 I would love to go to Israel where Jesus 482 00:23:06,184 --> 00:23:09,187 walked the stations of the, of the. 483 00:23:09,187 --> 00:23:15,460 Yes, yes, it is about as moving as anything you'll ever see. 484 00:23:15,927 --> 00:23:18,764 I've heard that from so many people, Elaine, but that I was. 485 00:23:18,764 --> 00:23:22,234 And it's just so sad that there's just so much disarray over there 486 00:23:23,034 --> 00:23:25,837 and where Jesus, you know, walked in, came from. 487 00:23:25,837 --> 00:23:29,040 But I know that's another story, but we just, we pray for that region. 488 00:23:30,242 --> 00:23:32,511 You know, a quick comment about that. 489 00:23:32,511 --> 00:23:36,648 I was in line to, stick my arm in a hole. 490 00:23:36,848 --> 00:23:40,986 That is where, you know, where Christ's, cross was found. 491 00:23:41,319 --> 00:23:44,689 And, you know, somebody behind me, his wife, and he says, 492 00:23:45,357 --> 00:23:49,428 how do they know that's where them you know, Christ was found. 493 00:23:49,961 --> 00:23:53,565 And, he was a little, you know, he was a little glass half empty. 494 00:23:53,665 --> 00:23:56,735 Hmhmm turned around and I said, you know, it 495 00:23:56,735 --> 00:23:59,738 probably isn't the exact spot, right? 496 00:23:59,805 --> 00:24:03,742 This is the spot that we have chosen to venerate. Yes. 497 00:24:04,376 --> 00:24:07,779 For considering the spot. 498 00:24:09,047 --> 00:24:11,249 He had a whole different outlook after that. 499 00:24:11,249 --> 00:24:14,419 And, you know, that was a very diplomatic way of handling that. 500 00:24:14,619 --> 00:24:17,923 Yeah, because I was probably thinking the same thing. 501 00:24:17,923 --> 00:24:18,490 Right. 502 00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:22,360 But that's what I said to myself so that it meant more. Yes. 503 00:24:22,861 --> 00:24:25,163 When I said, what am I feeling down in this hole? 504 00:24:25,163 --> 00:24:26,198 Yeah. 505 00:24:26,198 --> 00:24:27,232 That's where faith comes in. 506 00:24:27,232 --> 00:24:29,968 You just have to have faith, you know, that to happen. 507 00:24:29,968 --> 00:24:33,839 So let's just, talk one more time about the event coming up 508 00:24:34,206 --> 00:24:37,809 this Sunday, this coming Sunday week from Sunday. 509 00:24:38,009 --> 00:24:41,012 But when this when this broadcast is on, it's going to be this Sunday. 510 00:24:41,513 --> 00:24:41,880 Yeah. 511 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,382 So it's going to be this Sunday over the Pine Orchard Country Club. 512 00:24:44,382 --> 00:24:45,283 And tell us a little bit more 513 00:24:45,283 --> 00:24:48,720 about that event and, and what people can do to get tickets. 514 00:24:49,321 --> 00:24:55,060 So, the event again is a fashion show featuring fashions 515 00:24:55,060 --> 00:24:59,764 from a variety of different, local shops. 516 00:24:59,764 --> 00:25:02,601 Between Branford and North Haven. 517 00:25:02,601 --> 00:25:08,340 And, we have a lot of local, models who are going to be showing off their stuff. 518 00:25:08,340 --> 00:25:12,644 And, we have shoe designers and local jewelry designers, 519 00:25:12,644 --> 00:25:16,014 and they're providing the accessories, but they're brand for people 520 00:25:16,014 --> 00:25:20,619 who have either designed or, you know, actually made those accessories. 521 00:25:20,619 --> 00:25:23,655 It's at the Pine Orchard Club for for the love, the Pine Orchard. 522 00:25:23,688 --> 00:25:24,322 Yeah, yeah. 523 00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:28,593 And, you're going to be our armed. 524 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:30,929 That doesn't mean you don't have to come now. 525 00:25:30,929 --> 00:25:33,732 Come on. Don't let that dissuade you. Pick the energy. 526 00:25:33,732 --> 00:25:34,466 Yeah, yeah. 527 00:25:34,466 --> 00:25:35,534 What about that? 528 00:25:35,534 --> 00:25:39,237 And, tickets are available either at the Bunker Gallery 529 00:25:39,237 --> 00:25:43,975 or online at Branford arts.org Branford arts.org. 530 00:25:44,075 --> 00:25:47,245 So it's coming up on Sunday the 22nd right? Yes. 531 00:25:47,445 --> 00:25:48,980 And can't wait to see you there. 532 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:51,983 And Elaine, you've been an absolute joy to have on today. 533 00:25:52,083 --> 00:25:54,886 Filling in for Joyce, who is on assignment right now. 534 00:25:54,886 --> 00:25:56,054 But I'm John Cadillac Seville. 535 00:25:56,054 --> 00:25:58,056 This is what's good with John and Joyce. 536 00:25:58,056 --> 00:26:00,825 You can catch us on all streaming platforms. 537 00:26:00,825 --> 00:26:01,693 We appreciate you. 538 00:26:01,693 --> 00:26:02,827 If you need a pick me up, 539 00:26:02,827 --> 00:26:06,097 this is the place to be 30 minutes every week and tell your friends about us. 540 00:26:06,464 --> 00:26:08,667 You have an amazing day and bless you and your family. 541 00:26:10,135 --> 00:26:10,969 I am John Cadillac 542 00:26:10,969 --> 00:26:13,972 Seville from What's Good with John and Joyce. 543 00:26:14,105 --> 00:26:16,441 And a little advice from the ocean today. 544 00:26:16,441 --> 00:26:18,310 Be sure of yourself. 545 00:26:18,310 --> 00:26:20,278 Come out of your shell. 546 00:26:20,278 --> 00:26:22,414 Take time. The coast. 547 00:26:22,414 --> 00:26:24,716 Avoid peer pressure. 548 00:26:24,716 --> 00:26:26,651 See life's beauty. 549 00:26:26,651 --> 00:26:28,520 Don't get tied down. 550 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:30,155 Go out there and make some waves.