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- [00:01]
A
Your reminder that Retreat 2026 tickets are available now on our website. Come hang with us.
- [00:09]
B
Hi, I'm Emily.
- [00:10]
A
I'm Ashley and this is Books with your besties. Hello.
- [00:17]
B
Hello, besties.
- [00:18]
A
Hey. Welcome back from Europe.
- [00:21]
B
Thank you. I was so fortunate to get to go on a two and a half week trip to Europe. First the uk, we spent time in London, then the Algarve in Portugal. It's like the southern Portugal coast. And then we went to flew into Geneva, Switzerland and drove through France to Cormier, Italy. It's like a tiny little mountain town in the Italian Alps. It was magical. And then we had one day of sort of road tripping back to Geneva. It's only like a two hour drive. So we went south a bit into France and went to Annecy, which was gorgeous, and back up to Geneva and then made our way home through London again. Got a little more time in London.
- [01:00]
A
That was so fun to follow your unlike. Unlike me who posts 85 times a day on all platforms everywhere. Emily is rarely on social media and it was so fun to get to follow your stories. And I feel like, I mean, I said this to you, but especially when you were in France, I was like, that's what France looks like. Because you just, I don't know, you have like, I have Paris in my mind, not like France countryside. It's the beauty of it. Absolutely blew my mind.
- [01:26]
B
Yeah, it was a really neat trip. We got so many different exposures to different things. And yeah, I loved posting. It was so fun to share the trip because partly I just had a number of friends say, send me pictures and I was like, oh man, I can't, you know, I can't, I can't send each family member and each friend pictures. And I knew that most of my circle would be watching Instagram, so that was just a great way for me to kind of get it there.
- [01:51]
A
I was talking to Ben about it saying, you could not have gone. I mean, you could have in the picture of the big world for. But when it came to where you went in Europe, you could not have gone to three more different places. Right? Like you started with London, this like big hubbub, crazy city, and then Portugal, where it was more like chill, the beach, whatever, and then Italy, but not like where we went in Italy, not on the coast, like in the middle of what looked like a little ski town. So it's like you had these three very unique experiences on this one trip.
- [02:19]
B
Yeah, we were laughing about that in terms of packing. We were like, we're Going to take carry ons. But we're also, we need to pack four city living and like a little bit better, nicer dressed, plus beach and pool time, plus mountain and hiking. Like, what's funny is I took one pair of closed toed shoes. It was these Toms sneakers and I wore those hiking and also around London and also every. And they worked perfectly. They were like beige too. People were like beige tennis shoes. Like, how are those going to last you three weeks? I was like, I'll throw them away at the end if they're really gross. You know, they looked pretty good. I washed them in the sink a little bit once, but they, they stayed clean.
- [02:56]
A
And like fe. If you were going hiking or if I were, I would be like, I need to get some like hoka trail shoes. But when you're traveling, you're just like, well, this is what I have. So this is what's going to work.
- [03:05]
B
Yeah. I was like, let's not break an ankle. But here we go.
- [03:08]
A
Did your. Okay, I promise this whole episode won't just be about your trip. But you guys, this is the first time Emily and I have talked about it. We tried to talk about it yesterday, but life, life was lifing for both of us. Did your. Do you feel like your kids came away with. I don't want to say a favorite place, but if, if you said like, you need to go back to one place, where would you want to go back?
- [03:25]
B
You know, people keep asking them, what did you love the most? And they're like, I don't know, that's hard. I think they just really enjoyed the journey of it. Like, they were amazing. First off, I don't know, I lucked out in some way. Both my kids are so quiet. They're just quiet children. Like I was laughing about that. I thought people on the planes must be like, oh great, here comes some kids sitting in our section. Are you freaking kidding me? They're going to sit right behind me, you know, or whatever. And then my kids were the quietest people on the planes. Didn't even order drinks or anything. You know, they're like, just like, just have their headphones on listening to their book. Just silent, you know, it just wasn't hard to manage their behavior. They're really well behaved. They're really awesome. And they were just so resilient, so easygoing. Just really enjoyed it. And I think they just liked all of it.
- [04:08]
A
Yeah. And that's a. I feel like that's a big question to ask kids. Like, wow, you just got Back from experiencing, like, three. Because also, three different locations brings three very different cultural experiences. And that, I mean, this is something that will impact them for years to come. That they'll reflect on the trip and, like, what it. What it did for them.
- [04:26]
B
Yeah, I think for me, London, so much fun. Okay, But I'm gonna tell you, I. I know. I'm just like, you're not asking any of these questions. I'm like, let me just tell you all my life story about this trip.
- [04:37]
A
I'm the one that told you I wanted you to do an old school slideshow. I'm like, please make one and talk me through your whole trip, day one to the last day. I want you to do that. So just go for it.
- [04:47]
B
Don't you think? Next week with Kristen on our girls trip. We're going on a girls trip. I should put up. I should just put up a, like, fake slideshow with like 400 pictures and be like, hey, Kristen, here we go. She'll be like. She's like, I'm gonna need a few drinks. I would love it.
- [05:02]
A
I'd be like, let's go.
- [05:03]
B
Don't mind if I'm reading during this. Shouldn't be more than three hours. Kristen, we'll get through this.
- [05:08]
A
Okay, Keep going. Cause I do want to hear all about it.
- [05:11]
B
Okay. One thing I noticed. Okay, so London, here's the thing. It was very similar to America. Like, I get it, it's a different country, but I felt pretty comfortable. You know, it's English speaking, but beyond that, there's something culturally. Okay, the last time that I went to the UK, that I went to London, I was 18 years old. I'm 45 now. Right. So this is like pretty long time. We'll say. And there were no cell phones when I was 18. We just didn't have that yet. There were like. I think my boyfriend in high school had a pager, you know, and we were like, cool. You can get a hold of him when you're away from home. And I. I got my first cell phone when I was 20, and I wasn't one of the last. And there was certainly no texting. There was no social media. I don't know. Facebook came around, I think, when I was in grad school, and that was like the first. Or there was MySpace in college or something. Maybe not the same thing. Anyway, the point of all of that is the last time I traveled, the culture was really defined by what was right around you. So I remember it being kind of a culture shock in every place. Like, Including London. And I was just reflecting on the fact that we all share so much common interest and knowledge now with social media. We're all seeing the same things, the same styles, the same concepts that the kids, Gen Z in London looked like Gen Z in America. Like, their hairstyle was the. And clothing was very similar. And I'm not saying it's exactly the same because I certainly don't want to dismiss nuance that I missed because I'm not British and really value and appreciate that, you know, the distinctions that they have from American culture, it was just like much more like melded. Like we're much more of like a melting pot as a world with how much we share through Instagram Reels and TikTok and all of that kind of stuff.
- [06:55]
A
Yeah, that's such a great point. I, I feel like my, my kids too, in London, it was the place that made them feel the least uncomfortable and not uncomfortable in a bad way, but they didn't have to try very hard to become more a part of the culture. And in, in other places in Italy, it was like, no, you're going to have to try a lot harder here. So I think London for kids too is just fun because I, I felt like they really got to experience the city because it's kind of an easier place to take kids.
- [07:24]
B
Yes. Oh, my gosh. And we just, we loved it. I loved London. I thought it was just a gorgeous city. It was so fun. I mean, I love being in a different culture, even if it's nuanced in a. In a less extreme way. It was just so nice to be experiencing something different. That was fun.
- [07:39]
A
And then you just have to tell everybody a little bit about all the places. Then you went to Portugal and that was just. Yeah. I mean, I think it was, what, like day three that you were like, okay, I really get why people love it here.
- [07:49]
B
Yeah. I think in hindsight, I wish we had gone to Porto. People love Porto, Portugal. And we went to just the Algarve Coast. It's very much a tourist region. It feels a little bit. And I, I don't want to dismiss again, the nuance, but like a little bit like, if you're like, oh, I'm going to Mexico and you're going to Cabo San Lucas, you know, you're like. But really, I'm not getting like a true authentic flavor of Mexico. Felt a little like that there. It's so many tourists from the UK and, and Ireland. It was like very popular for. They're in a colder area, so coming down to the beach. It's sort of like us going to California for beach warm beach time or whatever. So it's felt like less immersive, I guess, in that way. Oh my gosh. The old town. Though their streets in the Old Town were made of tile placed in patterns to create art on the ground here. We're like, here is black asphalt and it probably has potholes and that's that. And it was just, it was really cool to have that sort of older historical feel to it. And it was so fun to walk around the old town and then very magical. We did a boat ride. We. I wish we had done it on day one because I think I like, it would have like flipped a switch in me on what I was seeing that was so different. Went into like the, the caves and the Benagil Caves are like the most famous caves in the Algarve region. Like if you look up anything, it's like, go take a boat tour into the Benagil Caves and the boats will actually drive in. So you're in this cave, in this massive cliffside with the ocean, you know, there, and there's like, you can look up and in the Benagil Caves, my daughter threw up over the side of the boat.
- [09:21]
A
Oh yeah, you did tell us that. I thought. I forgot. Oh yeah. But Durham, Durham was like, good job I made it off the side of the boat also. Yeah, kudos for that. He's like, good job.
- [09:30]
B
So seasick, poor baby. And I was like, why didn't I give you duram? I mean, before this one, like every flight, every one of the seven flights, I, I drugged her. But this one because she gets so, so much motion sickness, so. Poor thing. And then we drove from the caves out to watch the dolphins and that was incredible to find this pod of dolphins. There was a newborn baby dolphin. We had a marine biologist on board and she, you know, was doing the tour and so she was teaching us all these different things about the dolphins, which was super interesting. And she's like, that dolphin is two, maybe three weeks old. Like dolphins when they're born, have this certain striation, like striping on them and it goes away after a couple of weeks and you can still see it a little bit on this baby. It was so small, it was so cute. So anyway, that was really fun.
- [10:13]
A
I can't believe you saw that. And then you went to Italy, which just when you sent, when you posted the. Or maybe you sent it, I can't remember if you sent it or posted it, but like the first Picture day one, with the background that Ben and I showed it to Ben, he was like, that place doesn't look real. He's like, that place does not. Physically. It looks like AI. It looks AI picture.
- [10:32]
B
When we were driving in, we're like, this looks like a postcard. Have hundreds. This is what I can put up for Kristen. I have hundreds of pictures of just like the same mountains and like driving in and videos. Because I couldn't. I couldn't stop. And we'd be standing there in the town, all of us, and we'd be like, look at that mountain. Like, that's insane. It was. There's huge. It was the tallest Mont Blanc, where we were is the tallest mountain in Europe. So it's Thai. It's over 15,000ft. And it's like literally looming right above us and then all of these Alps around it all over the place. So these were really, really big mountains in front of you on your face, you know, it was magical. And too, as we're driving in, Steve's like, it looks like a postcard. And I'm like, I know. And then I was like, there's a rainbow. There's a freaking rainbow. Like, is this even just a picture from.
- [11:25]
A
You did a little picture from your balcony. And it was like meant to be. Just like a little picture of your coffee and the, like, I don't know if it was. It wasn't a canal or a street. It was just like a narrow walkway or something. And even just that picture, Ben was like, just put me there.
- [11:41]
B
Oh, I know.
- [11:42]
A
Just put me there. I would. I'll be happy for life.
- [11:45]
B
It blew my mind, that place. It blew my mind that there was just flowers everywhere and these spectacular mountains. Okay. And I'm just going to tell you what the highlight of the trip was. But we decided, let's do a hike one day. We had perfect weather this whole trip. I mean, the whole trip was like, rigged in our favor. I kept saying it was like somehow we were just like destined to have this, like, phenomenal trip. Probably because I was so anxious before. And also, I will just say about that, I think that's actually a mindset thing that happened to me early on because things went well at the front end. I was like, everything's perfect. And so then no matter what happened, I was like an hour and a half flight delay. That's nothing. Thank goodness. We're still going to, you know, like, we made it. Like, it was like basic things that should happen, like, oh, we didn't die. Like, this is the best trip ever. But anyway, so we went to hike in the Alps. We're like, let's go for a hike and we'll hike up to this alpine lake. Well, first you have to take a gondola up. Then we took a ski lift up, which was so much fun. And so you're going way up here, right in elevation pretty quick. And then the hike is so steep. So, so steep. So we're hike. We hike up, we see this little funky alpine lake. It wasn't quite the magical lake that you think of for alpine lakes. It was more like a mud hole. We were kind of laughing about it, but we're like, whatever. It was a nice hike. And then we hiked back down and we're like, let's get lunch. There's a viewpoint and there's something. These refugios are like refuges for anyone who's hiking through the Alps. There's like all this, all these hike throughs, and you can stop at these refuges all throughout. And they have cots, toilets, showers, you know, for. For hikers. So it's. It's campy. It's campy. Like, it's a wooden structure with, like, really basic toilets. Nothing fancy, like, very much like campy kind of place. And there's all these picnic tables with umbrellas, colorful umbrellas, and it's super casual. And we were like, yeah, let's see here. It's rated. Well, you know. Okay, tell me what in America you think they would be serving there at best, Probably.
- [13:41]
A
Maybe you could get a cup of coffee if you wanted one. Possibly a crappy beer and some sort of, like, packaged something. Nothing good.
- [13:51]
B
Or like a hot dog, you know, like frozen French fries and like a burger that was. With a frozen patty.
- [13:57]
A
Yes. Like, what I'm. What I'm envisioning is like a baseball concession stand at like, a little. That's probably the food that's offered.
- [14:04]
B
Yeah, like maybe. Yeah, some real, like, frozen camp type of food. Like partially melted American cheese in a styrofoam container. Right. The food was the best, maybe the best food on the whole trip. Like, it was big, giant white ceramic plates with. My kids shared a steak and potatoes. It was probably 14 ounces of just like perfectly cooked, simple steak. I was like, does anything come on top of it? She was like, no, this is Italy. I was like, I love it here so much. She's like, welcome to Italy. Absolutely not. Like, there's nothing on it but, like butter and love and, like, some herbs, you know, and it was just the most ridiculous tasting food ever. Homemade. We had homemade lasagna. And then, you know, of course, wine. And everywhere you go, there's beautiful wine glasses. And it's a. They expect you to sit there for two hours and enjoy your lunch. And I'm just like, this is heaven. This is heaven. We're the spectacular view. We've just hiked. Everybody's wearing like backpacks and it's dirty and you're having the best food of your life. It's great.
- [15:05]
A
That was the picture you did send. I'm just, I'm just reminding everybody I am the person that got personal pictures sent to me. But that was the one you sent. And Ben and I kept doing this for people who are listening and can't see. I'm like spreading my fingers to blow up the photo. We were like, what is that food? What is that food? Because it was like a charcuterie board on meth.
- [15:23]
B
Oh, yeah, that. That was another one. That was a different one.
- [15:26]
A
Well, that was a different one. Okay.
- [15:27]
B
That's how cool Italy is. That's how good Italy is. We sat at like a fancy place in the town square when the Scottish Celtic parade came by. Yeah. Because they were celebrating Celtic week. Because why not? You know? And there was like Italian dance troops dancing. And I mean, it's the most incredible place ever. And they're just, we're sitting there having wine and actually, this is another funny story. I order a glass of wine and they bring out some snackies, like wasabi, peanuts and chips and all, you know, like four or five things. And I was like, I love this place. I love it here. And then we're sitting there and they come back out and they start putting down this whole charcuterie board and focaccia, like a whole plate of focaccia. And then like cheeses, meats, all kinds of things. And I go, we didn't, we didn't know. And then I realized what was going on. This is just free. It just comes with your wine. You've got to have a snack. It's 4:30 in the afternoon. It's time for your snack in an American restaurant. They're like, order something.
- [16:21]
A
Or was your. How far was that from where your brother lives? And was that their only stop or were they doing more of a vacation too?
- [16:29]
B
That is, they had a, you know, two hour flight and then the. Where we were was really off the beaten path. So they flew into Torino, which is like about an hour and 40 minute drive. Hour and 30 minute drive from where we Were. And we flew into Geneva only because that's where we could get a direct flight to which was also like an hour and 40 minute drive.
- [16:48]
A
When was the last time your kids saw their cousins? Was it your papa's funeral? No. When was it?
- [16:55]
B
That might have been it. That. Was that it?
- [16:57]
A
Or when he was still alive and it was his birthday?
- [16:59]
B
No, they, they were there at the funeral.
- [17:02]
A
Anyway, I was trying to think of when the last time because they just looked like they had the best time.
- [17:06]
B
They did. We see them like maybe every two years just because we're so far apart. You know, once a year for really lucky. But like they're in Italy. They've been there for one year. They are there one more year. And we. They said they won't, they won't be visiting. Probably in the.
- [17:22]
A
Yeah.
- [17:22]
B
Interim. Which I understand. They're like, you know, then, then he'll be retired from the military and they don't know where they want to live. Maybe Italy, maybe Spain, maybe. Maybe America. Can I just, can I just, can I just tell you some perspective from traveling too that I'm like so disgusted with America about? Like, I love America. God bless America. Okay? Love this country. Don't love what people, what's going on in our government and the direction it's taking right now. Like not saying I'm a hater and like tell me to go. Tell me to move to another country and like become an immigrant. Fools. Anyway, was like, why was I not born in Switzerland? Like I told my dad, I was like, I have a bone to pick with you. Why did you and mom not have me in Switzerland? These people all speak. And like two in northern Italy, like a lot of these places. First off, everywhere they speak at least two languages. Everywhere they all speak English and they all speak whatever their official language is, their primary language. But in Switzerland they speak like four languages. Like three to four. And they're like, oh no, I don't really speak English. I'm just barely conversational. I'm like, your English is about as good as mine. So that's the American education system. Your education system did a great job. Bang up job too, you know. So I am so lamenting that I know one language and then you know a teensy tiny bit of Spanish. And it made me really want to learn Italian being there. Beautiful.
- [18:39]
A
Yeah.
- [18:39]
B
My brother is very impressive with how much Italian he can speak just having been there a year. And he, he, you know, he works on his Italian, but he was, I was really impressed with his conversational ability.
- [18:49]
A
Even Listening to my sister, you know, she's fluent in obviously English, Spanish, Portuguese. I think she's fluent in five languages. I don't know what all five of them are because that's just part of what she does for her work. Right. Like, she helps keep languages that are going to die alive. And just hearing her talk to her daughter, Charlie, I'm like, oh my gosh, Charlie is going to grow up speaking Spanish, Portuguese and English because my sister just goes between all three of them. And I thought exactly what you're saying. Like, A, I wish we were more intentional here about learning other languages. B, how kind of gross is it of us that we don't and everybody else is expected to learn our language?
- [19:26]
B
Yep. I really wish, you know, we had the same kind of influence like Cormier does. Right. We're a really small town where I live and we are historic and we're really cute. And it's like, wouldn't it be cool if we had international visitors that came all the time from France or something? And it would like, compelled us all to learn French, but we just don't.
- [19:46]
A
Did you feel like. So one of the takeaways I had when we came back and I had a hard time deciding if this was because I'm on vacation, because your mindset is just different, your priorities are different, or if it really was something I was feeling in these different communities we were kind of becoming a part of on vacation. When I came back, I just felt like, oh, I want to live my life in a slower, more intentional way. And that lasted about something six weeks. And then I went back to the like crazy American way of just like hustle, bustle, grind, all the things. Because it's hard not to. But did you feel that when you were there?
- [20:18]
B
Totally. I mean, just the saying hello, they all close all their shops. All the shops were closed from like 1 to 3:30. Like 2 and a half hours. 2 hours, 1:30 to 3:30. Pretty much everything was closed for the most part. A few things were open, but they just put a note on the door. They opened back up at 3:30 and they take intentional time to go and have a long lunch or take a nap or take a rest. And what is the point, you know, of go, go going all the time? We have such an unhealthy work life balance here. We're so into productivity and we're not even that productive. Because sitting in an office for eight hours or trying to do the same thing for eight to 10 hours is actually the antithesis of what you need to be doing to be productive. Do you know there's. There's research evidence that shows that taking a walk in the middle of the day or working out, even if it takes in the context that it takes time away from your workday, so you do not extend your workday to make up that time. You are more likely to be more productive than had you worked through.
- [21:19]
A
Oh, I believe it.
- [21:20]
B
It's so stupid. And we're like 15 minute break. Be back in 14 and a half minutes.
- [21:26]
A
Well, just the intentionality there, too.
- [21:28]
B
I felt like of.
- [21:29]
A
And I say there like I'm some big, giant traveler. We've been on one trip to Europe, but even here, where, like, when we go out to dinner, it's about like, how fast can you sit down? How fast can you eat? How fast can we turn this table over? I don't honestly think there was a meal we had traveling where it took us less than 2 hours, 2 and a half hours, because it was all intentional. Like, enjoy your wine. Don't. We're not in a hurry for you to order. We're not. And like, oh, no. It's going to take us a while to make this because it's fresh and it's healthy. I mean, the best food I have ever had has been traveling. Even when I intentionally try to do a good job here in America, I.
- [22:06]
B
Have to tell you, you, you know, you said you, you wanted to slow down. Food for me was something that was a takeaway for me. I'm like, man, we are eating so much processed stuff here. Like, the bread. I was. I've been noticing this really recently with my kids. The bread I've been buying for them doesn't mold at all. I've been like the last couple months, like, this is not okay. Like, what's happening here, of course can buy other bread. Of course I can. But, like, these are the what are on our shelves. And my kids were like, oh, we like this kind. This is good. Okay. You know, whatever. It's regular bread. I'm just, just so disturbed by it. I'm actually. I got my KitchenAid mixer out because I was like, you know what? Once a week, I could make two loaves of French bread. Yeah, I really can. It's not hard.
- [22:47]
A
Well, and just then it makes me. This is a topic for a whole nother day. But then I'm like, I have access to that. Like, I have access to trying to feed my kids in a healthier, more intentional way. Not everybody does. And even when we try our best here and like, it's still not what I experienced when traveling.
- [23:04]
B
That's. That's one thing. I mean, we just noticed everything we ate, we're like, this is so much better because it's homemade breads on everything. Right. Homemade bun on a hamburger. My kids got, you know, like all the homemade pastas, of course, but just everywhere. That was true everywhere. In Portugal, my kids got a hot dog. It had shredded carrots on it and like shredded potatoes on it, which actually they thought was amazingly delicious. So it's like something unique, but like the meat was better. And because they don't allow the weird stuff that we sell in the same way. Even if they do allow it, like, I know they allow food dyes. We always like to say, oh, they banned Red 40. No, they just call it something different. Right. They have the same things that we have, but their standards are just higher for what their expectations are. Right. So they, they react differently in that way. Like they're not gonna serve you a bun that is. Has been sitting on the shelf for nine years. And it doesn't matter because it doesn't mold anyway.
- [23:59]
A
Right? I mean, that. We noticed that too. I'm like, oh, that's because this tomato came from that tree that's right outside your cafe. And the cheese came from like, you made it here. Yeah. Our biggest takeaway was the food for sure when we came back. I think people are getting really sick of hearing just me on Monday Catch up. So you need to say, did you read anything when you were there?
- [24:20]
B
Okay, I. I still haven't even.
- [24:21]
A
Tell them what you watched and tell them what you watched. Cause I'm so excited.
- [24:24]
B
I'll be like, you're gonna die when you hear. Okay, so listen, here's what I. I was reading Stolen by Tess Stimson. It's so good. I. And actually some of the pages fell out. I mistreated this book so badly, I took it to every place we went. And like. So I'm not quite done with it because I was listening a lot cuz we were on so much traveling. I feel better if I listen than if I read when I'm like in a vehicle. And that was a lot of our reading time. So I listened to a few books and I'm actually listening to something really funny right now. It's called Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by M.J. wassmer. And it's about, it's apocalyptic. It's about a couple that are at a resort, like in the Bahamas, and the sun explodes and so then they. There's no sun. You know, it's like they're plunged into darkness and it's trying to figure out like survival. But it's. It's very clever.
- [25:10]
A
I have.
- [25:11]
B
I watched on the plane on the way back. Should I tell my story about my plane ride?
- [25:15]
A
I think you should. I didn't want to ask because I didn't know how recent the trauma was and how it might feel to retell it. But of course, everyone wants to know everyone's worst travel story.
- [25:24]
B
Okay, mine's worse than everyone else's. But also I've made multiple friends gag telling the story. So, like, warning, if you have a sensitive stomach, I will try to not. I will try to leave out some details.
- [25:34]
A
I'll tell. I want to interrupt you and tell you immediately after you told me. I was with my mom and I told her and my mom looked at me and she goes, I hate you for telling me that story.
- [25:42]
B
I know, I know. My friends are of Donald's and Ellen were Liz, like, you gotta stop. And my dad too. They're like, okay, so here's my travel story. I get on our flight from London to Seattle. It's a nine and a half hour flight. And I sit down in my seat and I'm all excited and happy and I had had to kind of use the restroom before I got on the plane. So like I was like, we're out of time. We just need to board. Like, I'll just go later. So relatively quick and into the flight, like 30, 45 minutes, kind of first good opportunity. I got up to go use the bathroom and when I came back the, there was like a little food. I know, I'm sorry. Something on my seat. I'll just expedite this part, but I will just tell you what I discovered with a napkin and the wet spot on my pants. I was like, is there something on my pants? To my child, like, he's like, yeah, it's like wet. That there was something on my seat. And I was sitting and I was looking stricken because I think I had figured it out. And this, this flight attendant walks by and she's like, oh, is everything okay, my love? And I was like, no, something's on my seat. And I think it's on my pants and I think it's vomit. And I think at first she was like, let's just see, you know, she was really sweet and so helpful. She's like, gets a little wipe and she's like, I have to go get gloves and cleaning supplies and my manager and it Was fully in the crack of the seat, like, seeping out from the previous flight, full on so much. I won't tell you any more than that, because I know everybody's gagging right now and, like, turning off this show. And the manager was just, like. You could tell he was, like, disgusted and horrified. This couple, this older couple sitting behind us was like, what did you see? Spill. I was like, there's vomit in my seat from the last flight. And they're like, oh, my Lord. They're like, you need more wine. And then when the lady was cleaning it, we're like, she needs wine, too. To her manager, it was so bad. And the manager came over three times to apologize, and he's like, okay, I'm so sorry. And I'm gonna. You know, one what I can do to make this right is I can offer you points for our flight or you can file a complaint. And I was like, I'll totally take points. Like, I don't want to file a complaint. Like, I understand this happens. They gave me pajamas to change into, like, from first class. So I had pajamas on. But of course, then I'm having to wear pajamas the whole day, you know, And I have, like, vomit pants. And it just, like, was gross. And it grossed me out, like, a lot of the flight, like, thinking about it. And I would get like, is that it? Does that smell like vomit? You know, here and there. Like, even though it had been, like, cleaned and, like, sanitized. Anyway, he comes back, like, halfway through the flight. He's like, okay, I can get you your points now. He's like, but the max I can give you what on an flight is 8,000 points. I was like, nothing. I know. And these were premium economy seats because we had used points to try to get, like, we. We use our points. Like, we are good at points, right? So we had paid points to get this premium economy, and they were, like, 40,000 points per seat one way. I was like, let's go ahead and do that whole complaint thing you were mentioning. So he's like, okay. Because I was like, no, I'm not taking 8,000 points for sitting in a biohazard on an airplane and then having to wear pajamas through the airport for the rest of the day. So they. Anyway, they. He filed a complaint.
- [28:35]
A
I'll tell you guys, the funniest part about this was that Emily had wi fi only for a few minutes and texted this story to our friend Kristen, who we're meeting next week to go on a trip. And I essentially was like, I Might. I might cut out you guys, but I just had to tell you that story. So we were left hanging with, like, Emily sat in a pile of vomit on an airplane and now has no WI fi.
- [28:55]
B
What's so dumb is that the manager kept coming back being like, can I get you anything? Like some champagne from first class? And I was like, I'm good with this wine you got for here, you know, in our area. So I didn't really want anything. But you had to pay like £19 for wi fi for the whole flight. And I was like, I don't want to pay. Pay that. So. So I just, I. I did the 20 minutes of free WI fi and then was like texting you all and then. And then it would cut out. And after I did it like three times, it never let me do it again the whole flight. So it's like eight hours left with no WI fi and I'm. It said like, voucher code. And I really thought about. I was like, should I ask the guy for a voucher for free WI fi on this flight? But I was like, no, it's fine. It's fine. I'll just watch tv. So then I was just beside myself. I couldn't really sleep. I was just sort of like sitting there in my little zone with my vomit seat. So I watched the first seven episodes of the eight episode season of White Lotus season three. So I haven't fit. I haven't watched the last episode. But don't you love it so good?
- [29:56]
A
I love that show.
- [29:57]
B
I love the characters. I love everything about it. It's so fun.
- [30:00]
A
Wait, so season three, that's not this season?
- [30:03]
B
Yeah.
- [30:03]
A
Oh, it is this season.
- [30:04]
B
Wait, is there a season four?
- [30:06]
A
I'm. No, I'm trying to remember. Is this the one that Walter Walt. Are they in Thailand?
- [30:09]
B
Yeah.
- [30:10]
A
Okay, then. Yeah, then that's the current season. Oh, my God. So you haven't finished.
- [30:14]
B
Okay, I really need to. So I need to go find it. And usually you can like pay on Amazon or Max or whatever for like one episode. Sometimes I'm gonna try that. And if I can't do that, then I might just have to do a one month. I wouldn't pay for the Wi Fi, but I'll pay $17 for, you know, HBO for one month so I could watch one episode of TV.
- [30:32]
A
Wait, when we are on our girls trip next week, we can watch the final episode because I have, you know, I'm a total. I have all of them. Giving you into all of them.
- [30:43]
B
Okay, that sounds good.
- [30:47]
A
You talking about that. This is a total change of topic. But it's just something interesting. I talked to you a little bit about this. My oldest son is almost 16. He is having his first foray into dating. It's very cute. She's just adorable. I know her family, but this is what they do together when they're not physically together. They on their phones, just, like, we talk about shows. They watch a show together. So they FaceTime. They both pull up Netflix and they say, like, okay, press play. And then they just watch a show together and talk about it while they're watching it. And I'm like, this whole, like, dating with technology thing is so. But I remember in high school, I would be on the phone with my quote unquote boyfriend for like, two hours. And I'm like, what did we. What were we talking about? What?
- [31:29]
B
We talked. Because I know I was on the phone, too. I'd be on the phone for hours and hours. But we. I didn't have a TV in my room.
- [31:36]
A
No. My parents would never.
- [31:38]
B
No. And so there was no access to anything.
- [31:40]
A
Right.
- [31:40]
B
So we just talked.
- [31:41]
A
Right? So I have to. I have had to ask other people that have older children than I do, like, is this. Is this a normal thing? And it is. I guess they just kind of also facetime constantly, but don't even talk. So they can just kind of like, hang out and be together. Like, my friend Mary will be like, yeah, Teagan's boyfriend will just be on the phone, like, in the background when we're eating dinner. And Mary will just be like, hi. So it's this really weird.
- [32:06]
B
You're like, do you want to come over and be in person?
- [32:10]
A
Right. But then nefarious things can happen.
- [32:12]
B
No, I love it. Let them date online only. Just let them date. Only be like, you're your FaceTime girlfriend. Just FaceTime. You guys don't need to get together.
- [32:20]
A
I was talking to the mom of this girl, and she was like, I love that they get together every day. And she's like, I love that they get together in person and do stuff, because then they're not on technology, right? She's like, they're not on phones. They're not playing video games. They're together. And I'm like, well, I don't know what's better right now. Well, I'll tell you. While you were out cavorting yourself around Europe having the best time, I did get to talk with Ashley Winstead and Cara Ruda.
- [32:45]
B
So fun.
- [32:45]
A
Kara just. I mean, you know, she is just an absolute Delight. And talking to her about Jill is not happy. Was so fun and she's just so excited to come back to Retreat and. And she has another book coming out. And the COVID reveal was the day that she was doing an interview with us. So that was super fun. And then the day that I talked with Ashley Winstead was the day Brian Kohberger said he's going to plead guilty. And we have. And you know, she. She and I had a whole conversation about how she became obsessed with true crime after her dad passed and talked a lot about why the Idaho murders were a part of this book. And that day was the day it happened. And so we just got into a big conversation about that and about how some of the families felt like, no, we want a trial like this doesn't give us answers. It's great.
- [33:33]
B
Some of them felt. Some of them felt closure from it. Right. And some of them felt like they wanted him to be able to get the death penalty.
- [33:39]
A
Yes. So it was just. But it was fascinating. So she gets on the call and this is the first time we've talked with her. Em. Right. So she gets on and right away she goes, oh my gosh, can you believe today is the day we're talking? And I yell at her. I was like, ashley, that's my question for you. Don't talk about that yet.
- [33:55]
B
And I was like, this is going great.
- [33:57]
A
I Yell at her 10 seconds in. But she was lovely. And she said she has watched Retreat for two years. And she was like, I kind of just always wished and hoped I could be a part of it. So she's like, the second we invited her, she was so excited.
- [34:12]
B
I. Here's the thing is these authors are all so awesome. Like, I wish we could have invited all of the previous ones back. We could add new ones every year and just grow and grow. And maybe we can. We just have to move locations. That's the problem.
- [34:23]
A
Right. It would be so hard because, you know, the other person, when we announced that BA Paris is coming, immediately Liz Nugent was like, I was hoping it was me. So all of these amazing authors that we would maybe not even ask because we would be like, how do we have the audacity to ask this person want to be a part of it?
- [34:41]
B
I want them all to be a part of it too.
- [34:43]
A
I know.
- [34:44]
B
If only we had the capacity and could do that. We're just going to have to make this like a three day thing with multiple locations in like a bigger place.
- [34:54]
A
Yeah. Um, and I think the only other update from Retreat when you were gone. Is that Jason Rakuluk, like, publicly said in his I saw that.
- [35:03]
B
I'm so excited. He's like, I guess this will spur me to keep going. Get this book done. Oh my.
- [35:10]
A
We are both so excited and want to remind you that retreat 2026 tickets are on sale right now. We have authors BA Paris, Ashley Winstead, Lucinda Berry, Kara Ruda, Heather Gudenkopf, Sarah Pekkanen and Jason Rakulik coming. We also have 28 expo authors and we cannot wait to see you for a three day fun time in Arizona. Thanks for listening.
- [35:35]
B
For more content, find us on Patreon at the Creepy Book Club.
- [35:39]
A
Happy reading.