Take the Elevator
This podcast is purely about elevating people through individual life stories and experiences in the Elevator. In the Elevator, what's key is maybe changing your perspective; having self-actualization; embracing your purpose; and acting on it as we grow from one another. There is a whole different point of view when you look up to elevate.
Take the Elevator
329th Floor: August Magic on 8/8/24 from Celebrations, Book Release, and SoCal Adventures
Ever wondered how the power of a single number can change the course of events? Get ready to uncover why August 8, 2024, holds numerological magic for us. From celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary to the exhilarating release of "Oswald," our latest book in the Fuzzy Furry Forest series, this month is packed with milestones. We also dive into surviving the sweltering heat of Southern California and the unexpected adventures of malfunctioning air conditioning, adding a hilarious twist to our daily lives. Feel the energy as we share the joys and hiccups of August, a month that's as challenging as it is memorable.
Join us as we reflect on the incredible journey of writing together, highlighting the rewarding experience of bringing "Oswald" to life. Learn about the collaborative magic that makes our stories resonate with messages of personal growth and societal values. We'll also touch on the pure delight of immersing ourselves in fiction, the back-to-school hustle, and the importance of strong routines. Whether you're commuting or sipping morning coffee, let our stories of laughter, wisdom, and timeless tales elevate your day. Tune in and connect with us on this incredible journey.
Look-up, and let's elevate!
hey, it's jen the builder and cory, and we are both ecstatic to be here with you today that's a understatement right following. So I'm excited about the date 8 8, 2024 and I didn't realize that so many people were into the numbers and, uh, the power and the numbers on that day yeah, that's really rocking my world.
Speaker 2:like when you first said that, jen, it was like, oh, okay, yeah, because I was thinking about like 8-16 or 8-12 or something like that, and you were like, no, it has to be 8-8.
Speaker 1:For the release of the book. Yeah, that's what you're talking about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so I was just like I didn't know how many people registered numbers to be so significant and I know you do, and I know I've talked about numerology and numbers in the past. But it's a big thing, it's a real thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it actually is a triple eight kind of date. Aside from August 8th, 2024 equals eight, because two plus two and four is eight, yeah. So whenever you do digits and threes, it's even more powerful, and so eights represent new beginnings. It's even more powerful, and so eights represent new beginnings. And so a lot of people you know have their different rituals or things they do on that day, such as journaling, specific things. They had practices that day because it was a new beginning, so they intentionally did something, so, moving forward, it would kind of stick. So those were some of the things that we saw, but in our world we chose 888 um to introduce oswald, so oswald is flying free yes, oswald is out and about and, um well, actually bound, but doing his thing.
Speaker 2:guys, I just really wanted, really wanted, to give you a heads up on why August is so kind of crazy for us and big for us, because let's start with one of the more significant parts of August. That's Jen and I's anniversary, and it is actually our 18th anniversary, which is a big deal.
Speaker 1:you know it's our anniversary.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is. People don't stay married nowadays, and that's not a a frown upon that. What it is is that you have to acknowledge when it is working and then, when you do stay together, you have to. If you don't, then you're overlooking a huge part of life. The second thing is that it's both yours and my birthday in August.
Speaker 1:It is You're the 28th, I'm the 30th.
Speaker 2:Indeed so.
Speaker 1:August is a huge month and there's other things that are happening in August, like my work anniversary, and it's just an overall awesome month. Yeah, it's a hot month too. Yeah, so let's connect with our people and just kind of share easy stuff about what's going on, and we'll jump into the book. Yeah, so it's ironic.
Speaker 1:let me tell you, we have a two-story home and summers here in southern california oh god, can be brutal so we've been reaching like 103, sometimes 106 weather yeah and our ac on the second unit wasn't working and by the time I'd be done with work and get upstairs and this is it like eight at night, because I wouldn't go upstairs until it was time to pretty much get ready for bed. It was like 93 degrees up there.
Speaker 2:And we're just basting like little chickens.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, and so we got our AC fixed. But man, that was a doozy because we thought we're going to have to get a whole new unit. It has to be $8,600.
Speaker 2:Oh boy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a huge amount, that's a whopper. So here's the. You know we're about second chances and we love the second opinion. A third opinion and we got the cheaper uh rate, and the guy was here in the heat. God bless him fixing it outside his soul.
Speaker 2:I just could imagine it was one of the hottest days too yeah.
Speaker 1:So now, upstairs is great, but but here's the thing, isn't life just funny this way? The other day I'm sitting here while working from home last week to be exact and I'm like the AC doesn't feel like it's coming on, like I can hear it but it's not coming on, and I look at the thermostat and I just think, oh, maybe someone hit a bunch of numbers and programmed it. And I'm going to ask Corey when he gets home. Anyways, guys, upstairs is fixed. Upstairs is beautiful, downstairs not so much, but not too bad because it stays pretty cool here. So, like right now it's 82 degrees. It's tolerable with hands.
Speaker 2:It's tolerable. It's not that bad. Yeah, but we still want to get it fixed.
Speaker 1:Definitely so. That's what's going on in our world. As far as that, um, the thing, what we call a crisis, I call that a crisis, I'm sorry. A home at 93 95 degrees is a crisis for me, definitely. Um, and not to mention the edison the Edison bill that goes with the AC bills, right. So upstairs we had to be temporarily fixing things, so we had a room, ac and fans going and I think that ran more energy than a centralized air upstairs.
Speaker 2:It really does and you see it. But that's life. And when it hands you lemons, you make lemonade. When it gives you rock, you make lemonade. When it gives you rock, you make rock and roll.
Speaker 1:I'll take it. At least that's what I say. Sounds good. What else is going on, Corey?
Speaker 2:Well, you know me, jen, I'm always pushing and working and pulling and trying to get things going with the whole artist world. You know, the band has kind of been on a sabbatical and we're about to jump right back into things and I got a lot of information about that. But we're going to hold on that. But Oswald released and we're already seeing books selling. We're already seeing movement on the website If you're not familiar with that, that the fuzzy furry forestcom, um and again, books are selling and we're having a good. That's so awesome. I'm having a personal good time like I'm dancing all the time on the inside, like and I caught you on a reel actually.
Speaker 1:So everybody if you follow me on instagram, um, I just shared a reel of cory and so people have always asked how does cory keep up with you? What's that look like? Because everyone thinks I'm so high energy and I tell people that cory's at a whole nother level, especially after work. See, I done, expended my energy during the day and ready to calm down by, you know, by five o'clock Meanwhile. That's your like boost of energy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man.
Speaker 1:So very rarely, though. I just want you all to know that, corey, on those reels, that's not going to be an everyday thing. I will share with you as I can, as I've been permitted to do so, and I just love that I got to share glimpse of you with other people. So, anyways, on my instagram, jen the builder underscore elevate um. You'll see a reel of cory celebrating we got our first delivery of the books.
Speaker 2:We each ordered one and we both got them at the same time, and that was such a cool way for you to celebrate yeah, and I just want to give you a heads up on why that's so monumental because we we got the uh authors proofs but they weren't the official book. These were the official books they had. They didn't have the not for resale marker watermark on it.
Speaker 1:They were ready to go. This was the final. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And so it was just joyful.
Speaker 1:Yes, and so here's another thing that was a challenge. We had some back and forths on the book. You know we thought the quality was right and I don't know. You know you think you've seen it all and then you look at it book you know we thought the quality was right and I don't know, you know you think you've seen it all and then you look at it again you're like, oh man, how did I miss that? And oh, there's something else I missed. So we want to give a special shout out to Vanessa, our partner, our illustrator, who just was so patient, and then our daughter, kayla, who assisted with the whole release as well. Thank you both for your part in it and just for being patient.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can't say enough about both of those individuals. Vanessa is incredible you can follow her on V Montano and she just has an amazing outlook on her artistry. And then Michaela, our daughter, is, uh, extremely talented, extremely gifted and just so techie about everything so shouts out. To both of them, thanks to you both and thanks, jen, for reminding me to to talk about that absolutely so.
Speaker 1:cory l body, and I'll save that name on purpose, because when you look them up on Amazon to find the books in the Fuzzy Furry Forest series, you want to look up Corey L Boddy. Yeah, anyhow, you have now the second book. Yes, it's official. How does that?
Speaker 2:feel. I feel like I broke the mold. And it's weird because and I'm so anxious to answer this question and I'll try not to ramble on too much but I was anxious because this was literally the first start to finish in a short amount of time that I put this book out. Ruffles was a reprint. I had already written that years ago, Right, and so it meant a whole lot more to me to start it and finish it all in one swoop, opposed to the stops and starts that typically happen when you're in a project and I'm just so happy I'm busting at the seams. If I had some, I can't say enough. If I had some seams, I would bust. I just I can't say enough about it. And this is what I want to share with the group.
Speaker 2:And then segue into a question for you, Jen, so strong about. It might not be something to save the world or to save lives, but it may change the world because this is your perspective on how to do something or how to accomplish something Move the needle in any you know shape, form or fashion. It just means so much more to you. This wasn't a Jen's in school. Jen's busy, Jen has a whole bunch of stuff to do so. She can't be a part of this. This was one of those things like I, I, I determined within myself I'm going to draw Jen in and I want her to give her input on this just as much as mine. And so where you didn't physically write on this one, but you did on the next one, and I know you want to keep that a big secret, but I can't help it. I just gotta say something about it I think you shared on that.
Speaker 1:The last I did I did.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna keep sharing so I'm sorry, just get used to that. But what I want to ask you is you being a part of a passion project and having your say so, your implements uh, taken consideration. How does that make you feel? How do you feel about Oswald sitting in front of you, knowing that you contributed to it as the way you did?
Speaker 1:That's a good question.
Speaker 1:So I am excited and I you know I don't want to take away from your excitement, but I think I'm as equally excited because this book, really, if you knew us from behind the scenes, I think it's a good representation of where we're at in life. So what I mean by that is back to what you said the turnaround time on getting this book out was so short in comparison to ruffles, right, yeah. So just pondering on why is that? Well, we're more grounded, we're in a, in a place in life where there's been growth and and we've done certain things in our lives that allow for creativity, know, because with creativity, when you've got drama going on, it really clots the flow of you know what comes from you. So what I love about this is it wasn't planned, at least not on my part, to be involved in Oswald. I've always kind of been your cheerleader on the sideline, like, yes, write your book, yes, make, yes, make it rhyme, you know, in that kind of way. But this one, um, you allowed me to contribute much more, and so it.
Speaker 2:You just are proud of the finished product and knowing that you had a part in it means so much more yeah, and it's a lot like, not the physical aspect of birthing a child, but the emotional and mental and when I say physical I mean the pain aspect. There is a physical aspect that takes place this book, from conception to realization, sitting in front of your door and you know my baby's outside, I gotta go get her and take care of it. You know, um that that's just one of those feelings that I'll never get used to. It's like being in that delivery room and expecting something very exciting and and you want to see it grow, you want to see it take, you know, have legs and walk and eventually wings and fly.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's a pun on Oswald having wings and flying and just doing very well in this place we call Earth.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, what excites me about the place that's called earth is our last episode. You'd asked me why I enjoy reading so much and I gave a list of reasons why books. So this book will continue even after you're not here. I'm not here, and so I always think, if I didn't know cory l body and I had ruffles and Oswald and all the future books in this series what would it tell me about the writer? And so I think these books really show who you are ethically, what we're about, morally, what our values are, and just the challenge on the status quo. So I'm going to go here a little bit, because here's what excites me.
Speaker 1:Let's go Is that in Ruffles, and we'll just keep it on Oswald. But in Ruffles, the book, you see the wise old owls play in how things go down right. In the second book he realizes oh man, not so wise. And so as a culture, as a society, we can sometimes shame the person that causes the big rift, right, as if we are all not flawed. But we want to enhance and highlight the one mistake someone made. And so in this book that's for children. Your children learn that sometimes, even when you have the best intentions, they don't pan out. But it doesn't mean that book is closed on you. It means that they're still learning. That can happen.
Speaker 1:There's more chapters, right, but this is what you see in this book. Oswald exercises wisdom, but in a different way, and what I love about the series and how it's unfolding is that it's in the most unexpected ways you can see in in the forest series, um, for learning to happen, for community to occur right in the true sense of the word. So I think that's what I'm really excited about too is the product itself. It's not just, oh, it's a children's book. We just wrote it and published it, just to say we published a book no no, this is, this is is.
Speaker 1:this is an art. This is something that comes straight from your heart, corey to the rest of the world, and they're going to get to know us very well through these books.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'd like to give just a little bit of insight on what the accomplishment or the goal was and is and will always be. It's always to teach, it's always to give some kind of lesson, a life lesson. So you know, it was a great idea to have a race because it's in fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what Ruffles was I mean life is competitive, right, that's what Ruffles was pretty much based around, and then even in the having fun there was a mistake made, and in the second book there's an acknowledgement of that mistake and and that's crucial in this day and time, because we just don't want to admit when we're wrong- but and here's the irony too, and it just came to me so the whole wisdom theme.
Speaker 1:And then there's this other theme where we've defined what winning is. But what is winning really? Is it in the actual thing itself or is it in the thing that you get long term that really influences how you behave and who you become Right?
Speaker 2:And that's the key, is who you become and the final outcome. And, as I was saying, you know, did you just say who?
Speaker 1:Who, I sure did.
Speaker 2:As I was saying, you know, the owl realized he made a mistake and again, that's something that we struggle with in society today Just admitting that we made a mistake, we were wrong, and we need to course correct in real time and figure out how to make our wrongs right. That's something that we, as children, had to accept. We had to apologize to people, we had to tell people we were sorry, we had to admit that we were wrong and that we shouldn't have did something, and we tend to lose that as we get older. We don't want to be called out, we don't want to be told that we did something wrong or hurt someone's feelings, and the reality of it is that stuff still exists.
Speaker 1:Right and that reminds me too about because this wasn't a thing when we were growing up is like, if you tell me, well, you know that just was wrong. I felt that was wrong. Sometimes the responses and I've been guilty of doing it as well that's your perspective, it's not mine. So what happens there is I gloss over how it's made you feel and I almost feel justified because made you feel. And I almost feel justified because, well, I acknowledge your feelings, um, but here's my feelings too, and I just it wasn't wrong and and I see that you feel that way, but it was. That's not the way it was for me. You see what I mean. So we've lost the art of apologizing, even, and understanding, um, how much an apology can do for healing. Now, I also believe that sometimes people just don't realize that they should apologize. So then we have to build our own selves up to be able to heal, even though that apology is not given. You see what I'm saying absolutely so.
Speaker 2:The moral message in oswald is just simply this you can offer the apology nine times out of ten, which you'll read in the book.
Speaker 1:Um, your friends, don't even hold you to whatever you think you did wrong, because it's not that right, it's so magnified in our heads right, yes, and then what I love too about this book is there's a friendship or relationship here, and people see it as betrayal, and so it also shows how it's that one side of the story. And it isn't until you have dialogue that the truth comes out, and then you can figure out what that that's really about, and I'm telling you this is all in a 14 page fully illustrated book, and that's why I'm excited, because how does this happen? How does something with this much value happen? And you might say, oh, jen and Corey already sharing about the book, why would I buy it? Well, let me tell you why because it's a book that supports and promotes dialogue. So in this book there's amazing dialogue with a bunch of different creatures and parents. As you're reading it, here's my challenge to you all Find your different voices or different accents, different tone, pitch in the different characters and it's so much fun to read that way.
Speaker 1:Create the characters the way that you want them. And, by the way, corey has this whole behind the scenes. And who is Oswald? Who is Ruffles? I mean down to the T of where they're from, their upbringing, and so, corey, what I love too is that these books really, really promote inclusivity and belonging, and with that comes the fact that there's diversity in understanding how our upbringing, our society, where we're from, how those all shape us and see, that's the thing. Like I know, ruffles is from England and he's very astute, and I know that Ringo is from the Bronx, right America, east Coast, and so with that he comes a certain type of personality that he brings to the force. Anyways, I could get lost in this. I I mean before, cory, I was reading books and I would critique a book, at least to myself or to the book reading club that I'm in, right, and the fact that I get to critique a book series it's written by my partner is amazing, and Corey will tell you, I give feedback all the way around Good, bad and different.
Speaker 2:Yeah, sometimes it's very round and sometimes it's very sharp.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it can be brutal. So that, by the way, keeping it real that's something I'm working on in my growth too is like I teach people, I partner with people all the time, communicate in the way that person wants to be communicated with, to where they're going to hear you and listen to you, and that was a learning moment for me in the process of giving feedback or asking questions or saying, hey, I think we need to redo this. So here's a word for me in the fuzzy, furry forest. And then elevating Genco is gentleness. That's such a beautiful word. It's actually one of the fruits of the spirit, isn't it? Yes, it is, and so I am calling that out because I need to bear more fruit in that area, especially when it comes to Genco.
Speaker 2:Awesome, I love it to Genco Awesome, I love it. I love all those things. Guys, if you're hearing this podcast and it's inspiring you to want to read Oswald to your children, or your children are listening and they're saying I want to know more about Oswald, I encourage even adults together.
Speaker 1:I recommend this for a book reading club I do I definitely. 14 for a book reading club I do I definitely. 14 pages. It's playful and yet it's so full of things that I promise, If you get into it and you have a good book reading club and people who are open and and share, everyone's going to get something different. I promise I agree.
Speaker 2:A hundred percent. The one ask that I do have is that you leave me a review on Amazon. I just learned that Amazon really rewards people who sell things and get reviews, so I ask please give me a review, a good one, preferably Now. If you just didn't like it, then you just didn't like it.
Speaker 1:But we still want to know one, preferably now. If you just didn't like it, then you just didn't like it. But we still want to know. But you can let us know face to face, or send us an email, or, you know, send me a dm, we're open for all that.
Speaker 2:But amazon doesn't need to know that and, and that's that's what I have for this episode. I just really want to encourage you know, number one. Number one keep reading, keep enjoying books. We're getting away from the art of reading and it's fun. Number one. Number two it allows you to reading fiction books that have this kind of content, allows your mind to grow and expand, and it's even said that it furthers life, because you're in, you have a degree of enjoyment and laughter and I promise this is my guarantee reading this book, you will laugh at least one time yeah, I also want to say that we kept it in the affordable range.
Speaker 1:We didn't go up in price. It's still 9.99. Like ruffles was, and I am going to say this if you have not purchased ruffles was, and I am gonna say this if you have not purchased ruffles, it's, for me it's a must read before oswald because there's so much substance there and it will be a missing part. So this series is meant to start off with one book and follow the second, the third and into the ninth and maybe even into a twelfth book. We were talking about some things down there.
Speaker 2:Oh.
Speaker 1:Well, man, I hope that there was a connection here with us today. I know it was a lot about the book, but that you felt like you got to know us better and that maybe we're going through the same thing, where there's a bunch of crises popping up and we just deal with things one moment at a time and learn to celebrate the wonderful things that are happening as well and just balance that out. And kiddos who have gone back to school oh, did that happen?
Speaker 2:It sure did we felt it in Ontario Mills, I mean yes, they were packed for back to school shopping it was so packed that I literally walked through the door and said not today made a u-turn.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yep, yep. So anyhow, I hope y'all are having fun at school. Parents, I know the routine's changed up again. Man get strong on that morning routine and the evening prior and just set yourselves up for success and avoid some of that frustration that we put on ourselves by procrastinating or whatever it is.
Speaker 2:And the one thing that we get enjoyment out of school starting back is that it allows for the parent who listens to us in the morning on the way to work to have that time once again.
Speaker 1:Take us with you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we don't mind.
Speaker 1:School's back in session, that's another song. Anyhow, everyone, you know what's it. Take the elevator, we say, look up and let's elevate every day, elevate every day, elevate every day, elevate.
