Things We Like

​It tickles us when readers want to know more about us. We get asked about family, past jobs, favorite foods, TV shows, movies, and so on. We’re not private people. We’ve lived in too many small towns to worry what people think about us. It’s just that we’re… not that interesting.
 
But since some of you asked, we’ve put together this list of things we like. And a few things we don’t. Many we agree on, on others we’re not even close.
 
Okay, here we go… try to stay awake!
 
Family: We’re a blended family of four kids. The joke is that we’ve been together so long that no one can remember which kids are whose. Paul and Cody had part-time gigs with the Kansas City Royals in the early 2010s. A supervisor approached Paul and said he’d just learned that Cody was his son. “I can’t believe I didn’t already know,” he said. “You look so much alike!”
 
You guessed it. Cody came with Robin.
 
In addition to three daughters and a son, we have two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a future son-in-law. We also have three granddaughters and two grandsons. Two of our kids live in the Kansas City area, one is in Tampa, and one is in New Jersey. They and their significant others have jobs ranging from teacher and aviation mechanic to stay-at-home mom and football coach. Our oldest daughter recently returned to school to become a physician’s assistant. What we’re most proud of is that they’ve all grown into caring and loving adults.
 
Robin is a nurse by trade, but for the past fifteen years she’s worked in leadership. First as director of obstetrics in a suburban Kansas City hospital and, more recently, as an executive for a multinational company that makes medical education products. She has an MBA and a PhD. Paul spent thirty years as a teacher and school administrator before transitioning to full-time writing a decade ago. Of all the jobs he held, it was the time he spent as a high school teacher that was most rewarding. Over the years our careers have taken us from rural communities to Kansas City and the Tampa Bay area. 
 
But enough of that stuff. Let’s get to the important issues. Ready?

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​Where did we get married? Gulf Shores, Alabama. On the beach! At sunset! Cody was ringbearer. He lost the ring. That’s a story for another day.
 
Favorite food? Both of us love pizza! Robin likes pineapple, so we order half-and-half.
 
TV shows? Ted Lasso (Robin). Everybody Loves Raymond (Paul).
 
Movies? Pretty Woman and anything Hallmark (Robin). Mr. Holland’s Opus (Paul) But he also loves those vigilante movies like Billy Jack and Equalizer. He binges them when Robin is out of town.
 
Music? Both of us love 70s/80’s pop. Robin leans toward Little River Band (She’s seen them in concert at least five times) and Lionel Richie. She also loves classic country. Paul's secret love is 80s R&B acts like Johnny Gill and Surface.
 
Person Most Admired? Robin is quick to say her mom for her intelligence and sass. Paul goes with Ronald Reagan, who he first heard speak at a college rally.
 
Things Robin likes that Paul doesn’t? Sauerkraut, cottage cheese, coffee, vegetables, shopping (Paul is a terrible shopper).
 
Things Paul likes that Robin doesn’t? Running, bratwurst, fantasy baseball, biographies, talk radio (Robin falls asleep).
 
Favorite things to do together? Family time, chill at home, eat out, Friday beach walks, pickleball, hanging with friends. And writing books.
 
And speaking of writing books, another question that comes up is, who does what? How do two people write together? That’s a question for next time.

Love y'all, Robin Paul