JayTalk

Good evening folks. It's Jay from J talk.

And of course we have our wonderful enlightened co-host Nick from the Nick drop.

I don't know how you come up with these things, man. I swear to God, you must study for like a week, whatever. I'm serious enlightened and of course we've got a wonderful guest, uh, Allyse Gregory. How you doing? Hi guys. Well, I get Clapp. What? I got clapping. Oh yeah. Yeah. The roar of the crowd, the roar. Come on.

We gotta applause. That's right. Gotta have a little applause. Exactly. So, or we can do this one.

that's actually more of her fit today. she, she actually loves what stranger things and a lot of the horror stuff. So that might fit her pretty well. Absolutely. And stranger things is probably one of the best shows ever, ever. Right, right. I think I, you know what, now that you said that I'm in, I'm in the middle of a series right now, when I'm done, I'm gonna go back and watch.

Cuz I haven't seen the third season. I've seen episode one and you gave up. No, I just started. Oh, okay. Good deal. Then. How many times have you seen it? Elise? I. That this, I, I think I've watched the entire thing four times now, this summer way to go. Good for you. That's a way to do it. Yeah. Good for you. So just to give you each time I find something.

Oh, nice. Nice. So today we're gonna be talking about Vango and what Nick. I was gonna say one or two who's the one that lost his ear Vango. Okay. There we go. Yeah, yeah. Yes. So one ear. Yeah, this weekend, uh, Nick, uh, Elise, Abigail, and I all went and checked out, uh, Vango and, uh, it was the immersive Vango. Wow.

Wow. I would've never thought it never thought it would've been that good. Okay. So I, I'm gonna give review time, just a quick review. We'll start with the lease. Give us your, okay. Give us your review. AISE

uh,

so it was amazing. It, it, it, I, it just. The way it was set up was almost, um, I wish it had been a little longer, uh, I just

words can't describe it, or I have found words to describe it. So I, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Okay. Nico. So I didn't know what to expect at all when we, you know, when we planned this whole thing, cause Abigail came up with it and I'm like, heck yeah, I'll go. I thought we were gonna walk through a building and see, not necessarily his true paintings because those things are worth millions or whatever, but like replicas of his paintings and a little bit.

You know, like a little paragraph underneath it saying this painting was made by what touch and such, and this is where he was and that's how he did it. And then I thought we'd walk to the next one. Kind of like you go to an art museum, there's art hanging everywhere. People walking around drinking wine and you know, eating little strawberry snacks or whatever.

And they're looking at these paintings and they're all talking about 'em, that's what I expected when I went. That is not what it was. It was an entire room done by music. I would say it, it was longer than 30 minutes you think? Yeah. About 30. Yeah. Yeah. But the entire room, the walls were probably 25 or 30 feet high and all four walls had his painting style and it was, it was moving.

Brought to life type thing. It was brought to life. And I literally was just mouth open, you know, catching flies the whole time. It was, I didn't expect that. And there were some incredible moments. There were some really bright moments, really quiet moments and the music that was playing with it. I just thought it was amazing.

I, I want to go back now that I've seen it and thought about it. I wanna go back and do it again. No. Okay. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. You're enlightened. Oh yeah. I want there's another one in Houston. I want to go to that one. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So I don't remember that one. I don't remember what it's called, but it's very similar, but it's like the Vango immersive experience or something like that.

It's the different name. So just a couple of things. I actually went on their website just to look up some information about this. 500,000 cubic feet of projection. Wow. That's a lot of cubic feet, 60,000 frames of video. It's actually 60,600 frames of video. That's how much is put into this? Wow, it's insane.

90 million different pixels. Geez. I. Never even looked at any of that. Yeah. So it was very impressive for me. I I'm like Nick, this was really cool. Okay. All the walls were lit up. They put it to life. They made some of the paintings come to life. You know, the sun going across the sky, as they transition from one painting to another, you know, you had the one painting where they were making the smoke come.

Out of the Ash tray or whatever it was, you know, different things like that. That was insane. I liked the fact and I guess this was the more impressive part for me is what they, they also included the floor as part of the show. Oh, I, yes. Yes. You know? Yes. It wasn't just the walls, but it was also, the floor was part of the show.

So how big was that room? Oh, I don't know how big the room was, but it basically, they just gave a, how many cubic feet of projection it was between the walls on the floor, 500,000 cubic feet. That's an insane amount of space. You know, it's funny when I, when I just thought that I'm like, in my mind, what would I think of?

What building could I have been in? That people would understand how big the room is. Yeah. And I honest to God, my first impression to say how big the room was, was a dollar general or family dollar, one of those stores. Yes. But it's even bigger than that. Um, yeah. You know, I would say, yeah, falls are probably a little taller.

And I think it's wider than like a family dollar, but it it's that big or bigger right. Exactly than is. Well, I mean, if you think about it, 40,000 square feet. Okay. There you go. Yeah, yeah. Is an acre of land 40. Yes. Think about that. 40,000 square feet is an acre of land, you know, and between the floor and the walls and everything.

I mean, 500. Yeah, dude. It was. It was amazing. Yes, it was. So that was really cool. I was very impressed with it. Um, you know, the, just the whole bringing it to life. So, um, easy to get to very easy. What do you think, Elise? Yo, I got lost, but that's me. You came in the back way. Again, that's me. I got lost. I exit off the freeway, but again, you know, that's me cause I was fooling with the radio instead of paying it into my GPS.

Um, so guys, I had actually looked into Bega this immersive bank when it first came out. And so I. Everything that I expected is vague. Um, I knew that there would present scenes onto the floor. What I didn't know is that they would make the candles on his hat, flicker the flames on the candles, flickered.

Yeah. And went out at the end. Yeah. They were blowing 'em out once. And to me, that was just, yes. Yes. I, I didn't realize that the people almost seemed like they were moving, so that that's my real take on it. it was awesome. Like I said, I wish, I wish that it had been longer. I wish they had included, but it was just, it was rough taking, see all heart in motion.

I think we're allowed to watch it two times though. Weren't. Yes. We could have stayed there and watched it a second time. Yes. Yeah. Cause it started over and we actually bailed out cuz I said, are we watching it again? Or are we hungry? And somebody said I'm hungry. So I think at all that point, all of us were hungry.

yeah. So, but you know it that's uh, yeah. Uh, okay, so what's your favorite kind of, what was your favorite part out of the whole.

Elise, how do I have to go first? I'll go. I'll be more than happy to go first. I know what mine is. Go first. So you first they go a lot of his stuff, I guess. What do they call him? They call him a post-impressionist painter. Right? Okay. Does that mean that he doesn't do a lot of faces? All of his bodies are, are in a field or, you know, they're not facing the deal.

Right? The one, the one portion were nothing but faces. It was real dark in the room. And the faces slowly came out at you. Yep. Not, not in a fearful way, but that, that right there is the one that I did the panoramic view of the entire. With all those faces, it was a little dark cuz the camera couldn't pick up.

They didn't have anything going on the floor. Right. So it was just the walls. Right. But it still came out clear. It just wasn't real bright. But the faces were the, what I was in awe, all that. If we would've stayed, that's what I would've wanted to see it a second time. Okay. Okay. So yeah, I love the face part of it.

Okay. Elise.

You still there?

Yeah. I went out. I suddenly it's the worst, but it's all we can get in Kingwood. Okay. So, um, what was yours favorite part? Uh,

So my favorite painting by Vango is the nightcap. And when they did okay, the night cafe is not the one with the, do you know one? It is, it's not the one with the pool table and everything. It's the one that's outside with the table. It has a lot of blue and low. Okay. And I wanted to get up and just sit right there by it so that I could be in the night cap.

That was, that was, that was favorite part cuz you know, I mean they were projecting it onto the floor as well. Yes. Yeah. I do remember that. Yeah. You know, I, I, I felt like that was my part. So for me and I think it was it it's, uh, just for those who are curious, um, Abigail went and hers was the blossoms. If I remember correctly.

Yeah. Blossoms. Yeah. Those blossoms. She loves the blossoms. Yeah. And then for me, I think my favorite part, it's a tough call. Cause it was a lot of really cool moments, but it was the one and I don't know what the painting's called. Okay. I didn't, I don't know a lot about van go. I just, you know, I read up a little bit when we were there.

I remember studying a little bit about him when I was younger. Cuz when I was there, I remembered a lot of things, but for me the one scene was the one. When they were in like an alleyway and you could see the bricks. And so every, each individual brick had its own color and, you know, it was very well done.

That was it. I love that one cuz I just, I don't know what it is, but it, you know, city life type kind of look, it was really kind of awesome to me, so. Okay. So that was, that was my favorite. Um, and of course, you know, if you say blossom. Any, anything we did with blossoms, that was Abby's favorite. So just for those of you who were curious, um, okay.

So what did you think of the mirrors? What do you mean the mirrors? When we first entered, remember you had the one place where it was paintings on the left and mirrors on the right. I don't, I don't remember. I thought they were just paintings on both sides. Oh no, no, no. It was crazy mirrors on one side to kinda, yeah.

Oh, I don't remember that. Yeah. It was kinda interesting. I, yeah, I didn't really pay attention to the mirrors because I was looking at the painting. Oh, okay. Maybe that's what it is. Well, and you know what? They probably did the mirrors there for the kids, cuz they were literally crazy mirrors. So I actually noticed it.

And so they actually have it up on their website. They actually show you a picture of the, the mirrors. My thought was very interesting. So, but overall, you know, it was a, it was a great time. I, um, I got pictures, um, of course, and then Abby and Nick, uh, took a lot of pictures as well. Um, Elise, did you get.

I got some from you guys. I didn't take any on my own though. no, you get Abigail at a bunch of, I'm not the picture person. Okay. What did you say, Nick? Abigail emailed me probably 20 pictures. Yeah. That's about how many I got from her too. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, okay. So, um, I've got a question who has opened the poster because I have not, I haven't either still in the truck.

I did. Oh, I did. Okay. And I keep, I keep meaning to take a picture of it because I hung it above my desk at work. Awesome. And again, I, I keep meaning to pay a picture of it, but I, you know, I'm crazy at work right now. And so, um, I used to have a picture of stars. Over my desk. And I had a student who loved the stars and she saw the Vengo picture today and was just amazed.

She stared it for probably five minutes. Good for you. All right. Kudos. Mm-hmm so, okay, so what was it? Um, there's three pricing tiers just for people who don't know. I think it's like 45, 65 and a hundred dollars. As I think the three pricing tiers, right. And the, the 65 and the a hundred dollars comes with souvenirs depending on, you know, you get more souvenirs of course, with the hundred dollars one, but also as the hundred dollars one, you get the, what is it V I P treatment.

Right. You know? So, uh, if you're going to go, I will say, get there early to make sure you can secure your. Yes. or you gonna start the floor? because there were actually a couple people who came late that did sit on the floor cuz there wasn't enough. So, uh, there was some, we got the last seat. Yes we did. I gotta give some kudos out.

There was a kid who actually gave up his bench for this older couple. And he sat down on the floor. And so I gotta give some kudos out, you know, I don't know who the kid is, but you know what, it it's, you know, humanity isn't lost. There was some kid, he had some respect. I, I really appreciate what he did.

Yeah. I saw that was really cool. So anyway, um, anything else we'd like to share about the Vango? Okay. Am I missing anything? Well, we were talking about, there are two of them in Houston. Okay. So the one we went to was the immersive immersive Vango exhibit or museum on Brimore street on Brimore the other one.

I don't know where it is yet. I'm still looking. I could tell you where it is, but go ahead. Is the van go? The immersive experience? Yep. So they're not that far apart, but one of them is, is an experience. One of them is not. Yeah. I don't really know what that means until I see both of them. So yeah. The other one is actually located next to Dave and busters.

Oh, okay. Off Richmond and west timer area. No, no, no, no. I 10 just outside the loop. Six, 10. Oh, I got you. Okay. The big Dave Buster's right there. Oh, okay. Yeah. I've only been to the other one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, but yeah, no, it's, it's right there on I 10, just maybe one exit past six, 10 if you're going west.

So it's right there before you get to Ikea. Everybody knows where Ikea is. Yeah. right now. I know where you're at. so the painting that, the, the painting that I. Brought off the bat. Yes. That tells you about when I did the panoramic view of the room. Yes. Literally. Believe it or not. It's called the potato eaters.

Really? Yes. Okay. It's the face of those people in there. And of course, some other ones, but that's the name of the painting? The potato eaters. Okay. What's it. Any particular reason it's super famous. I don't. Yeah. I don't know why. Okay. I'm, I'm looking at it, but that, that is the one that I thought was really cool, because that was the one where they had the smoke coming up from the table.

Yes. Yes. And they, they animated the smoke. Remember, and that was really cool. And I, I thought that was, that was really awesome. So that was one of the ones that was my kind of, um, Good favorites or whatever you want to call it. Yeah, that one, he did that one in 1885. Oh really? Okay. Yes. And then the one that, um, uh, Abby loves so much, the almond blossoms was done in 1890.

Oh, ni yeah, that was, I hadn't found the van go website, man. I'm all over it. Oh really? Oh yeah. Nice. What you wanna know? I could tell you. What about the one that I love with all the bricks? Oh, I don't know. El you gonna jump in here

for all the bricks. Elise, you jump in here. Night looking. I'm looking. I'm looking. Did we lose her? We may have lost her. There's the one with the pool table called the night cafe. Yep.

Cafe terrace at night. That's a different one. I think that's the one she liked the cafe terrace at night because she said not the pool table. Right. You know, so that was okay. So you remember the, the prisoners exercise where the prisoners were walking inside of that brick building? Yes. That was really cool cuz they were, they were moving, but they weren't actually walking in a circle.

So what's that one called. The prisoner's exercise. Okay. That was the one that I liked. The bricks were really cool looking. They had really great color scheme, you know? Yeah. That's the one you're talking about. Cuz all the bricks look like they're different colors. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So interesting.

Yeah. So any interesting facts about van go besides the fact you already mentioned about his, uh, ear. Yeah, he he's missing a ear, isn't he? Yes. So, and this is what I wanna know. Okay. I, I just looked up, it says how much is the potato eater worth? O okay. In 19. Wait a minute. I don't it's okay. there we go.

Okay. So, um, an audition. In London in 1987, at the time it was valued at $39 in 90 cents. Us adjusting the inflation at today's rate, the think that's wrong, 1987, but it says adjusting the fluctuation at today's rate. The painting is now worth around 91 million. Holy cow. Okay. 91 million. Hey, we've got her back.

She back. Yeah. This time of the evening, I had a lot of trouble with my wifi, so I, um, just use my hot spot on my phone. It's not much better, but it's something. Yeah. Turn off the video. You'll your audio will come through better. So. But, yeah, so we were going through the paintings and Nick, what was the one that she, it was the starry night terrace.

The starry night terrace. Yes, it, I thought it was called the night cafe. Oh, okay. That's the other one? The thought the night cafes, the one the night cafe with the one with the bowl night cafe or the pool table. Wasn't it. I'm gonna tell you. Hang. Going back to it. Tell me, yeah. The night cafe was made in 1888 and it's the one with the pool table.

Okay. Cafe terrace at night is the one that was outside. Yes. And that, that one, that one cafe terrace at night. That one's my favorite. Yeah. Let's see how much that bad boy's worth. That one was really good. I liked that one too. That was one of my favorites. Starry night was always, of course always loved starry.

That's a given. Um, but he, uh, he had a very troubled life. Um, Mr. Vango did. Yes, he did. He, uh, was in the asylum. Um, you know, and it's yeah. I mean, do you wanna share anything there, Elise? Um, he. Was mentally ill. That's another, but you know, back. Right. But back then, they didn't recognize mental illness as a disease.

You were just crazy. Right? They put you, he was a genius too. And, um, I knew that he died by suicide, but I'd forgotten. Oh yeah. I did not know that until you guys told me that, that.

Yeah, that was, yeah. And the way he did it was like really violent, you know? That was just really, yeah. Yeah. I didn't know anything about that in the chest. Yeah. He literally shot himself in the chest. Wow. Elise, here's the deal. You got me beat. My favorite painting was worth 91 million. Your favorite paintings worth 200 million.

I don't. That is crazy. It's only I had one. Yeah, but who would pay that? Plenty of people that was worth a billion dollars off. Oh my gosh. Art collectors around the world. I am sure that that is in the hands. Well, maybe it's not in the hands of an art collector, but there is an art collector out there who would love to get their hands on it.

Right. I wanna find out how much they're all worth. I'm trying to find a list. Interesting of how. Okay. So, okay. Where did he, okay, so he was Dutch, right? Um, yeah, he was Dutch, but he actually died in France. If I remember correctly. Is that I think you're right. I think you are absolutely correct. Yeah. Cuz it actually says I was reading.

Yes. He died in France in 1890. Wow. And he did most of his paintings, like the last five years of his life or less. Oh yeah. Yeah. So, so if my math is correct here, he was 37. When he died. Yikes. He looked a lot older based on paintings and stuff. Um, 30, 37 back then was, you know, life was a lot harder back then.

Oh yeah. The life expectancy was. Yeah. It's fifties for men. Yes. That's why they got married so early. Cuz they weren't expected to live that long. Ah right. That's something to think about that makes you wonder, you know, it's really amazing. These paintings run anywhere from like 28 million to 75 million on average.

Okay. And of course, at least, you know, at least threw down with the 200 million. I don't, I don't, I'm looking for one that's more than that. So, um, are you thinking about taking up painting? Is that what you're trying to say? yeah. You know, the thing about that is you. Yeah. Well, if you do make sure that we can reach out and touch the brushstroke

Did she say the breast stroke or the brush? Oh, okay. Yeah. I said, bur I know. Yeah. B you, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sort of like, you know, the picker it's P C K you know, I'm kidding.

Anyway now. Okay. So any final, any, any thoughts? Anything we wanna share? I mean, I, in my opinion, You definitely wanna check it out. I know it's go. It's gonna be, I don't know when the actual end date is, I'm reading in two different places. Some say August 21st, some places say January, I don't know what the truth is, but I think it was worth it.

I can't imagine the way they laid that building out that, that thing's only gonna run for four or five, six months. I would think that it would run for a couple of years. Yeah. Right now it's it says that one place, when I read, they said early January, and that was it. They're gonna cut it off because here's the whole thing.

They might want to do a different immersive event. Well, that's true. You know, maybe a different artist, a different whatever, you know? So it it's, it's bring something to life. They do a really good job at it, you know? And like I said, Seating wasn't bad. Um, you know, the experience, the music, I was impressed by the audio because it wasn't very echoy.

You know, usually when you're in an open room like that, this the music was done very well. It wasn't blaring it. Wasn't like overwhelming, very clear, very crisp. Yes. You know? Yes. It was very done very well. Overall the production, in my opinion, you know, was just really, really done Wells, trying to come back the portrait of doctor.

That's not what I wanted to do. Ette go shit. What was that? 82 million. Okay. 82 million. Okay. Elise, any final thoughts? So go ahead. Well, I was gonna ask, I was gonna ask, do you think that the mu all of the music was appropriate because, you know, there were, there was one song in particular in there that I didn't feel like fit just right.

And it was the one that had lyrics. Oh, I remember which one you're talking about. I think we all made that. that was the only song that I felt didn't fit. Mm-hmm every other song was great, but there was one song. And I remember us right. Making the comment. I agree. So Abby made it too. So maybe Nick was so enthralled.

He wasn't paying attention. Uh, yeah, I was just trying to keep my mouth closed. It was awesome. so. We will be posting a picture too. And if you haven't checked us out on Facebook, we have pictures there. So go check it out. Yeah. Um, it was awesome. Yeah. So, okay. Final thoughts, final thoughts, Nick, give me your five minute five final thoughts.

So here's the deal. Would I go again? Absolutely. Would I go back more than once? Absolutely. I thought it was just, it, it was, um, just the setting itself. And of course the company that I was with, it was, it was just relaxing. It was amazing. It was visually, you know, entertaining articulating. Yeah. And I'm, I'm still trying to figure out what the song is you guys are talking about.

But I, I think I was so lost in just enjoying the room that. You know, it was just all a part of it. So I, I can't say anything bad about it at all. Okay. Because it was definitely not what I expected. Right. I was honestly expecting to go into a room and looking at one of, you know, and maybe they had one original, you know what I'm saying?

Right. The most inexpensive, original, but everything else was a mock up or a copy or whatever, you know, that's what I was expecting. And then when I went in there, that's that, wasn't the case. So you're still pleasant. You were still very oh, absolutely. Okay. Yeah, I'd go back. I, and I would recommend everybody, even kids, there wasn't anything.

He has a few paintings of like a naked lady and things like that, that I don't remember seeing in, in the, in the deal, right? Yes. So maybe they made it, they cut it back. Cuz he's got probably. 10 to 20 self-portraits that I don't think they didn't do. They didn't do all of them. I don't think they did everything you did.

Yeah. They focused on them. Did some. Yeah. Yeah. But he's got a ton of them. Yeah. So, okay. Yeah. Yeah. I would recommend highly recommend a five stars if that's where we're going. Okay. Elise.

Again, it, it, it was everything that I expected it to be. My only complaint is the one song I would love to go back again. Um, I, I would definitely, I would recommend it. In fact, I have recommended it to several people since we went. Um, I would love to see them do a Monet exhibit like that. Um,

it was just, it was well worth the trip and Yama me. I don't get out unless I have to . And so this, this was definitely a trip that I'm glad I took. Good for your mental health. Yes, it was awesome. Mm. So, well, then go gets a little bit dark here and there, but the company helped it was, the company was amazing if it wasn't for the company, you know, it wouldn't have gone right.

There you go. There you go. That's what I say. So. Okay. Final thoughts. Um, I, I'm gonna tell you, I read the Chronicles review. On the comparison between the immersive Vango and the Vango immersive experience and okay. They rated the immersive Vango good on some of the content and some of the other stuff, but they rated him bad on parking and some of the other things, and I was just like, dude, I, and, and maybe it's when they're at their prime maybe or something, but the parking in my opinion was easy.

It wasn't that crowded, I mean, in and out. So I, I wouldn't say I didn't get lost, but the front side of the building can be a little confusing. Yes. And so they could probably, they could do a better job on that side of it, but otherwise it really wasn't bad, you know, it, it was easy to get into once you kind of understood.

But yeah, other than that, it was, you know, parking was easy, was great. Um, the content was really great. They had those, you know, we went in, they had the paintings and the mirrors, and then we turned the corner and they had that wall where they had the different paintings. And like, like you said, they had the little writings underneath where they talked about different parts of his life, different stages.

And it talked about the dark side of his life too. It just talked about all of it. Um, you know, overall, I haven't been to the other one, so I can't compare it, but I was thoroughly impressed with what they did with this one. I, I was floored. Wasn't expecting it. Right. And so, you know, just the way they brought it to life, that was, I think the big thing for me.

They had the sun going across the walls, the transitioned. Oh, what's that Elise? Oh, I was gonna say maybe we should go to the other one, take a little field trip to the other one so that we can compare the two I'm I'm ready. Down where, where are we gonna have fun time for all of this? You talk, we gotta go bowling.

We got Ren Fest coming up. Y'all wanna go to Vegas. Well, you know, we we're, I'm not going to Vegas. If you get a free ticket and a free room, you wouldn't go to Vegas for three days. I'd go to Vegas. Yeah. If, if it was a free ticket, free room I'm talking about, I could probably buy four round trip tickets right now with my points.

yeah. And it didn't cost anything. So when are we going to Vegas day? That's coming up. So got the labor day. We are killing. That means you and I are gonna have to share the couch. Jay's gonna be on the, on the, the chair and then, you know, Abigail will probably get the bed I'm with Abby I'm share the bed with Abby.

Listen to you guys can, okay. Damn it.

See that. See how that works. Yeah, that is just, that's just wrong. I know. Right. Yeah. Why is that? And you know, what's really funny. I'll sit there and complain about it the whole time and guess where I'll be on the couch, on the couch. Yep. There you go. There you go. Saying that's how it works. I know. I know.

And I'll be happy just cuz we're there, you know, I'm not a big gambler, but like, you know, there's too many millions of things to do in Vegas and not even spend any money, you know? Okay. So there is, I've never been. And it's uncle Marty. It's something you have to experience. You need to put it on your bucket list.

It is. Cause it's something you have to experience just walking up and down the strip that will take you an entire day. If you just take your time and walk, you know, until you get tired, then you Uber back to your hotel, you know? Right. So my uncle Marty used to go to Vegas, uh, uh, once or twice a year for bowling tournaments.

Oh, now see, I would love to sit in on you spend all kind of money. Well, you can, you know, blow your entire year salary if you really want to, but no, I'm good. Apparently he was a really good gambler too. I don't understand it. Well, he was a good gambler then. Why did he blow a year salary? So, well, he blew all his money.

He didn't blow year salary. Okay. So he didn't blow it. He spent a lot, but. He came home with money too. Oh, okay. If that makes sense. Yeah. So see, here's the deal. When you go spend money in a casino at a certain point, they start giving you free sweets and free rooms and the more you gamble and the more you lose, the more you get a bigger suite and the pre you know, that's what I, my brother does it and he did this thing.

That's really smart. I gotta tell you this before he, before we. Soon as he gets to Vegas, he goes to the casino and he borrows $5,000 to gamble on O okay. Makes that $5,000 sticks in, in the safe, in his room and leaves it there for the entire trip. At the end of the trip opens up the safe, pulls the $5,000 out and gives it back to pay his back off.

And it doesn't cost anything to do that if you have a room in that hotel. Okay. But doing that. He gets $5,000 credit on a room for the next time he shows up. Oh. Or something like that. All right. So, and it didn't cost pretty smart. Yeah, of course. You know, we were staying at the golden nugget and Tillman for TIDA.

We went to high school with him, so, you know, we get the perks they picked when I went there for my 50th birthday Tillman, had a limousine come pick me up at the airport and I didn't even know who was doing it. Oh, nice. That was pretty cool. Yeah. That's a good call. Well, if I go to Vegas, I'm gonna spend time gambling because I work too hard for my money to lose it.

Right. I, I don't gamble. I don't gamble because my money is hard to come by. Well, here's the deal. Let me tell you what I want to do. And the reason I brought up Vegas, all I really wanna do when I go. Is eat at one or two, maybe three Gordon Ramsey restaurants. Ooh, that's all I wanna do. Oh, heck yeah. I want to go to his hamburger joint and then I want to go to his steak joint.

I'm sure the steak, joint's probably gonna be like a hundred bucks plus for a steak. Right? I know the hamburgers are in the 45 to $50 range. Oh no. Hell's. Well, you could watch hell's kitchen it's in Vegas, isn't it? No, but no, the actual where you can eat at is in Vegas. Well, I think you have to be somebody special.

I know to show

well, Abby, somebody special. So we'll, we'll, we'll put Abby on that. exactly. So, anyway. Okay. Last, last, last chance. Any, any last comments before we wrap this?

By the way hell's kitchen is in New York. Okay. Well, that's what it says. Well, I know they have one in Vegas, the restaurant. Yeah. You know what? I think that I thought there was, I thought there was one on the west coast. Yeah, there probably is. I think hell's kitchen actually is part of New York and I think that's like an area.

Like Houston has Baytown and Pasadena and oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think hell's kitchen is yeah. When I just realized that cuz it's blocked off on the picture. Yeah. Yeah, no, he actually has been filming the last couple of seasons at the hell's kitchen restaurant in Vegas. That's it? Hell Vegas hell's kitchen restaurant, Gordon Rams.

And you can apply to be on the show, but you know, you have to go when the show's playing and all that stuff, if you get lucky. Yeah. So that's funny. Okay. So, okay. Uh, Elise, last comment.

Um, so this is my first time on the podcast. I was really, really nervous and I'm still a little bit nervous, but you guys are great. This has been fun. Thank you. Thank you. And it has nothing to do with Vango Vegas or health kitchen, but, you know, I just wanted to say thanks for inviting me on. No, it it's good.

You know, and you know, it's uh, do you mind if I tell everybody how we met? Sure. Go ahead. So it's kind of funny, but it's kind of not, um, I have, they went to a strip bar and ran it. No, I'm kidding. Whatever

seriously, Jay was stripping, right? Yeah. The bad part. Yeah. She went to a male strip. You and Jay was working behind the scenes. whatever.

Yeah. I didn't get a lot of tips that day. Okay. Way we sure as hell wouldn't be doing a podcast. If you were banking money, stripping, Jay. I'm just saying. Yeah. Yeah. So thanks. I'm just saying, I don't think I'd be banking, money stripping, but okay. , I'd slip a dollar in your britches. now I'm scared. Kill them now I'm scared anyway.

Right. So, okay. But this is kind of funny. This is kind of, um, so I was swiping on one of the dating apps and of course, uh, I saw her profile and it mentioned. Supporting mental health, uh, you know, suicide awareness. And so I swiped, and I guess I have that on my profile as well. And so she swiped and, you know, the honest truth is, is she, she was just looking for friends to kind of, um, be there.

And since, you know, we both had a common, uh, Passion, I guess that's the way to put it. We're both, you know, very big supporters of the mental health, you know, suicide prevention, you know, it was a, a good, a good match for friendship. And so, um, we've, we've had a lot of fun. Uh, we've already done two events, uh, with all four of us.

So we've, it's been really good. Um, and look what she ended up with. never. Or at least you guys? Um, well, so I mean, I mentioned earlier, I don't get out unless I have to, which means work and the grocery stores that's about it. Um, and so in, in the situation that I am, um, I definitely don't know too many people.

Who've been through what I have gone through. You know recently, right? And so it is nice to have people who have that common ground and, you know, we could talk about these things that we could be honest and upfront, and that helps me. And I like hanging out with Yola fun. We're goofy. You're definitely goofy.

amen. Sister, bring it on. But, um, it, you know, it, it's kinda like, um, cause I, I don't get on that app too much. And at the point that, you know, I swiped on Jay, I, I mean, I was just seeing what's out there. Um, Because I don't feel like I'm meant to spend the rest of my life alone. And maybe I am, I don't know yet.

No, you were just not ready. You're just not ready. That's what you were saying to us in the beginning is you're just not ready. I'm I'm, I'm a hundred percent not ready. Right? One a million percent not ready, but you know, I still . I remember before my person. Before I met him, you know, I remember what the dating pool was then.

And I just wanted to see if it had changed in me, but it, it, so back to the point, it was almost like, um, it was almost like God intervening and giving me people who. I had similar experiences and who I could talk to because you guys know it's really, really hard to talk to your friends, your family, anybody who's not been through something like this, right?

Yeah. About this. And I'm, you know, I mean, I could talk all day long about my person and what happened to him. And my feelings about it and they just nod and smile and give me the it'll get better. And, um, just take it one day at a time, which, you know, we all say that. Right. But with you guys, I know that you've been there, you know?

Exactly. I think what's going on with me. I'm gonna interject here. And I think it, this is a key point. We validate what you're going through because we understand. Yeah. That's what I was. Go ahead. That's I was trying to get to that's what I was trying to get to. I just didn't have words for it. It's been a long day.

No, it's I understand. I underst. So I just wanted to share that, um, we have, you know, really love having a least part of our friend group here. Um, yes we do. You know, so it's been, it's been great for us. It's been great for her at least. I think so. You know, and I agree. Yeah. So, you know, we're gonna continue doing events like this, uh, and it's our life's little kind of support structure, support group.

Amen. We gotta go bowling again. Yeah. I. We gotta pull more in shoes. I know, right? his, his, his bowling shoes no longer talked to him. So , so he crashed, turned in a way, but, uh, I'm just gonna say, um, my last thing and then we'll close it up here. Folks is, um, I really love you guys. You know, love you too brother.

And, uh, it's been great.

Thank you and be so.