Penny for your Shots

Pistol Packin Paula: Champion Gun Twirler, Stuntwoman, and Author - Exclusive Interview

• Penny Fitzgerald

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 46:50

In this episode of Penny for your Shots, I sit down with Pistol Packin Paula, a two-time world champion pistol twirler. From her beginnings in Connecticut to Hollywood dreams and a successful career in Arizona, Paula shares her journey of overcoming shyness and proving doubters wrong. Discover her passion for teaching children, her stunts, and her message that anything is possible. And don't miss her upcoming performance at Wine Camp in Texas Hill Country! Learn about her adventures, including appearances on America's Got Talent, and her dedication to inspiring the next generation. Tune in for an inspiring and action-packed conversation with this multifaceted performer.

Click HERE to watch the Adventures of Pepper and Paula on Prime Video.

Buy the coloring book on Pistol Packin' Paula's website:  https://www.pistolpackinpaula.com/store.asp 

Check out her Interview on the Texas County Reporter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbrbitCAutU 

Register or get more info about Wine Camp: https://pennyforyourshots.com/wine-camp 

00:00 Introduction to Pistol Packin Paula

02:29 Paula's Early Life and Career Beginnings

03:57 Becoming Pistol Packin Paula

06:38 Challenges and Triumphs

08:20 Performances and Public Appearances

09:23 Inspiring the Next Generation

17:34 America's Got Talent Experience

20:54 Networking and Future Goals

24:50 Favorite Drinks

26:38 Favorite Mojito Memories

27:07 Balancing Work and Leisure

28:55 Travel and Meeting New People

29:36 Challenges of International Performances

30:11 Adapting to Different Equipment

31:58 Fitness and Health Maintenance

33:19 The Joys and Costs of Horse Ownership

When’s the last time you did something just for YOU? 🍷✨
Wine Camp 2026 is your chance to escape, sip fabulous local wines, cruise at sunset, laugh around the fire pit, and soak up the magic of New York’s Finger Lakes.

📍 Dates: July 30–August 2, 2026
🏡 Spots are limited, so grab yours now: https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Bring your besties or come solo—you’ll leave with new favorites either way. Wine Camp 2026 is calling. Are you in?

Want support growing your business? Book a free Discovery Call with Penny: https://tidycal.com/pennyforyourshots/discovery-call

Wine Camp 2026: Join the list or save your spot:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp

Become an Insider for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and episode extras:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider

Love cocktails + community? Join the Sipper Club:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/sip

Explore all things Penny: coaching, podcast, events, & more:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com

Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
Or on Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald

Penny Fitzgerald

This week, Penny for your Shots means more than cocktails, because I'm talking with Pistol Packin Paula. You probably already know she's going to put on a show for us this fall at Wine Camp. Pistol Packin Paula is a two time world champion pistol twirler. Yes, that's a thing. Paula's an actor, stuntwoman, athlete, educator, author, and entrepreneur. She loves and cares for animals, personally and professionally, and has a passion for serving her community, especially children. Paula was shy as a child and couldn't see herself ever being in front of an audience. It's her mission now to teach children that they can be anything they want to be, as long as they have it in their heart and they keep trying. When she asked some stuntmen to teach her how to twirl guns, she was underestimated. Maybe even ridiculed. She was small, a girl, and told she couldn't do it. We talk about being challenged and how being told you can't do something was a spark that made her dig in. She proved them wrong, and she's performed in front of thousands and thousands of people, for celebrities, and on TV. Don't miss your opportunity to see Pistol Packin Paula in person, and join us at Wine Camp this September 19th through the 21st in Texas Hill Country. There's more information and you can register at pennyforyourshots.com/wine-camp. Here is Pistol Packin Paula. There you are. Hi. You look great.

Pistol Packin' Paula

How are you? I'm doing good. Good. I have like three jobs I do. So, work museum and then in between I do my own personal dog grooming.

Penny Fitzgerald

You're busy. Yes, I'm busy. Point. Yes, I'm very much so. Yes. Well, okay, so let's back up a second. Where did you grow up?

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, I actually grew up in, uh, Connecticut. Connecticut? Yeah, I was actually born in Massachusetts, moved to Connecticut when I was about, uh, four or five years old. Uh huh. Um, graduated from there, got involved in community theater, went through stunt school. And that's when I came to Cali, go to California to Hollywood, didn't work out as well as I thought it was. So I ended up in Arizona for 16 years working at a theme park for train Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane doing stunt shows. And, um, And that's where my career kind of basically started.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow. So you, um, when you were a stunt person, you were doing like all kinds of stunts or just when

Pistol Packin' Paula

I went through stunt school, um, you learn how to fall off buildings, get caught on fire, do, do car stunts to motorcycle stunts, to horse stunts, to, um, fight scenes and a little of everything. So, I mean, you learn everything that you would have to do on the movies.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, they said, I thought they said, well, you're pretty good. So why don't you try? And so I did and went a little too green, a little too fresh, a little too young.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Not really knowing many people out there and it just didn't go that way. But I look at it as God didn't want me to stay there. You want me to go another direction. Which, now, I became Pistol Packin Paula, so, that's what kind of, I guess was going to be my career. Yeah. People ask you, you know, even when, you, personally, what are you going to do when you grow up? What was your answer?

Penny Fitzgerald

I thought it was going to be an accountant for, for about two seconds.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Oh, I didn't know I was going to be a gun twirler. You know, it just blows people's mind that, you know, becoming a two, two time world champion gun twirler. I mean, I still have to pinch myself and saying. You know, what am I doing? I didn't know I was going to be doing this, but it's been a fun adventure. And, uh, there's been a lot of ups and downs, but just keep on plugging.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, absolutely. So, so when you were, I don't mean to go clear, clear back, but when you were a little kid, were you interested in, um, um, like physical, physical, physical Things like how did you,

Pistol Packin' Paula

well, I was really into, you know, I was into my sports, I did softball and soccer. through high school and through grammar school and played a little basketball, but I'm only 5'2 so I didn't go very far. Um, and then, uh, so I just played sports most of my life and I think sports really kind of saved my life, you know, as in being involved and being part of something. I grew up a very, very shy child. And I'm not gonna go too deep into it, but I mean, my, it wasn't a great childhood. So, um, for what I'm doing today, a lot of people are shocked because I was so shy and had a hard time talking in front of people. And now I perform in front of hundreds of people. And I mean, I was on America's Got Talent where I performed about millions of people. How fun. Yeah. So, uh, so there's a big change there. So yeah, basically. community theater really got me out of my shell.

Penny Fitzgerald

Mm hmm.

Pistol Packin' Paula

but, uh, who would have thunk I'd be a two time world champion gun twirler? Made a movie about me.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, wow. I didn't know that. Oh, look at that. Pepper and Paula.

Pistol Packin' Paula

It's on Amazon Prime. So. Oh, cool. So yeah, so it's, it's weird how life goes sometimes.

Penny Fitzgerald

Right. Well, how did that segue then? You were, you were doing the stunt thing and then got to Arizona. Is that where you kind of discovered you could twirl guns?

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, I actually started twirling guns when I was in stunt school because it was actually kind of a, I saw the guys because it was Western theme, the stunt school

Penny Fitzgerald

mm-Hmm.

Pistol Packin' Paula

tool. And I saw the guys twirling the guns and I said, Hey, it looks pretty cool. Let me try. He said The guns are pretty heavy, you know, because I'm only five, one and a half. Yeah. And uh, at that time I was still five, one and a half Um, but uh, but I worked at it. I wanted to proof a point and, uh, not knowing I was becoming Pistol Packin Paula at that

Penny Fitzgerald

point. Uhhuh

Pistol Packin' Paula

Uh, and I did, I practiced, uh, with one gun and. So when I got finally to this theme park, I started twirling guns again. And they're like, uh, we're against doing that because they're company guns. But then they started realizing that how good I was. They said, Hey, if you can throw it in a show. And one of the stunt shows. And so I started to, and they said, well, wait a minute. If you can twirl two, we'll, you create a show. We'll use it in one of our cookout deals that they did there. And I then became Annie Oakley and doing shows that way.

Penny Fitzgerald

Okay.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So that's how, how it got started. And then I never realized how big it was until I started, people were calling me to corporate parties and it just, it just evolved and took over my life. and so now I here I am 33 years later.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

still twirling guns.

Penny Fitzgerald

Doing bull whips. And doing what? Bull whips. I practice. Oh, holy cow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Get it out here like this. Yeah. Okay. So, um, I do like target hitting and, and even on, uh, America's Got Talent. I, uh, cut a target outta Nick Cannon's mouth. Oh, That's on, uh, it's on YouTube so you can see that.

Penny Fitzgerald

Okay. I will include links to those, um, to your book and, and the movie rather. And, um,

Pistol Packin' Paula

and I do have a book, and I'm glad you said that because, Hey, speaking of books, there it is. Oh, a children's coloring book that I created back in 2010. Cute. Yeah. So it's, uh, this way the kids can, uh, color me along. Oh. Cute. So I did that and I'm always, I have goals that I've always tried to continue.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow. Yeah. You have really, um, like taken your talent and made the most of it. I mean, it feels like you're really, um, you know, combining your talent with a lot of entrepreneurial spirit.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. Yes. Cause I mean, you can only do certain things for so long. Right. I'm big in trying to, trying to figure a way to how to give back to my community and to kids, mainly because through my career, my main goal is try to encourage kids to follow dreams and believe in themselves and not give up because, you know, I could have done that and I wouldn't be where I am today if I just didn't have determination to get to my point where I am in life.

Penny Fitzgerald

So,

Pistol Packin' Paula

and even having an accident, I had a rollover accident back in 2008. And broke my pelvis in three areas and broke three ribs and bruised a lung. And I didn't think I was going to twirl again, but here I am today in 2024.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Into doing my career. So

Penny Fitzgerald

good for you. Gosh. How'd you become, um, a champion? I mean, how did you,

Pistol Packin' Paula

well, there's certain memberships and, uh, groups that would get together and they're all over the country and all over the world. So they would come in and we would compete against each other. one was called the Wild West Arts Club. And, uh, so we compete that way. And I basically competed against men. I mean, there was probably one other woman there, but when I competed the first time it was all men, I beat at that time the world champion that year. So that really, you know, put a feather in my hat.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Atta girl.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Say, wow, I do have something here. So that was back in 2006. Okay. So then my next one was 2009 after my accident.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, good for you.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. So that was pretty cool. Uh, I mean, that one was really a lot of determination and I did cry on that one because, you know, uh, I'm blessed to be here today. I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't, of course, for God. So,

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, good for you. And what a comeback through all of that.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. So that's why I'm trying to show kids that no matter what you're going through in life, that you can still It's all going to come from the heart

Penny Fitzgerald

and

Pistol Packin' Paula

determination to do it.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. You, the will and the, the want to, the heart.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. And you can't be embarrassed. You can't be, feel like you're going to, Oh, I'm not going to do it because I make a mistake and I'm going to look bad. you know, If you don't try, how are you going to find out?

Penny Fitzgerald

Right. Right. And how are you going to look back on your life later? Right. And regret what you didn't try?

Pistol Packin' Paula

Right. And I say if you try and it doesn't work out, well then try again. And just keep on trying until it goes and if it's that important to you. If you try, something else will turn. I thought I was going to be a stunt woman. and it turned out I'm Pistol Packin Paula. I'm not disappointed. I mean, I still can do stunts, but I'm not disappointed that, you know, I wasn't into the movies and doing, being a stuntwoman in Hollywood. Um, that wasn't God's plan. So, uh, so here I am from Connecticut to California to Arizona to Texas.

Penny Fitzgerald

So, yeah. Well, a recurring theme when I'm talking to people and I'm talking to women. it's fear that holds us back no matter what industry you're in, when you push through that fear is when you have the breakthroughs and when you reach the next level. And when you're following your heart, you know, God led you to where you are. And we have these dreams that are put there, but I feel like it's the timing that is not our business. Yeah, it just, you know, where you're led, just follow it and go and let go of them. I'm

Pistol Packin' Paula

still in the process of trying to start, um, an animation, which the characters that you can see, I don't know if you can see them. In

Penny Fitzgerald

your book. Uh huh. Oh, Jake, Jake is a horse.

Pistol Packin' Paula

My horse, uh huh. Tonto is my horse and they're still alive. And then. Oh, nice.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

And then there's.

Penny Fitzgerald

Pepper, Pepper the Dog.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Now Pepper I had to put down back in 2019. So, but, uh, I'll probably get another Pepper 2, but, um, so, but this is, uh, this book goes to his memory.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh,

Pistol Packin' Paula

so yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Nice.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. So, but, uh, so I mean, through this, I want to try to start an animation or a television show to encourage kids to follow their dreams and believe in themselves. So that's kind of my next goal. And. You know, whichever way it goes, because I've been working on that since 2005. but then I got my accident and a lot of things happened through my life and, you know, changes and, and, uh, so God knows his timing. So.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. I think he puts us in others lives too, to, to make things happen.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Collaborations and support. Very much so. Yeah. Okay. My wheels are turning because I just talked to a book publisher. Yes, um, we, I will get you introduced to her for sure, but, um, there may be some other you know, collaborations.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. That's called networking.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And support, support of other women. want to lift you up too. So that's wonderful. And I can't wait to see your presentation. So you are going to be, um, presenting to us. Um, for those listening, I, we have a retreat coming up in Texas Hill Country, September 19th through the 21st. And the 21st is our hoedown where Pistol Packin Paula will be presenting. Yeah, exactly. So will you be doing some like of your, your Whip stuff to your whip and a little of my

Pistol Packin' Paula

gun.

Penny Fitzgerald

There it is.

Pistol Packin' Paula

I'll be doing some gun twirling. doing some shooting, shooting targets, uh, bull whips, doing fancy bull whip work, and hitting targets with my bull whips, and uh, it's about a good 30 minute show, and I get people into it, to the show, and I get a volunteer.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, fun. Okay. Well, I was, I was hoping that you were going to use blanks, but if you're shooting things, you're not using blanks. I'm using blanks,

Pistol Packin' Paula

yes. Oh, okay. The blanks can shoot balloons. Yes. Oh, okay. Okay.

Penny Fitzgerald

Safety first people.

Pistol Packin' Paula

I'm big on that. So, you know, you're, you're safe. As long as you're in front of me, you're, you're fine. But behind you is a problem? Behind me, yeah, it's a slight, slight problem. I don't want to whip anybody. Oh, with the whip. Sure. Wow. Safety is very major to me. I always go over, if I'm actually doing a show for a group of kids and stuff, I always go over gun safety and everything and, um, make sure about that.

Penny Fitzgerald

Nice. Cool. So, um, America's Got Talent. My husband and I watch that. I'm sure we saw you. In 2013 I was

Pistol Packin' Paula

on it.

Penny Fitzgerald

13.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Okay. I didn't go very far. Howard Stern loved me. Other judges were scared of me, so. I can see that. I did cut a target out of Nick Cannon's mouth. He was pretty nervous. Well, I bet I didn't practice with him. I just came out and cut the target. Just did it Thinking about million people watching me. Hopefully I don't hit hit him, you know,

Penny Fitzgerald

right, right,

Pistol Packin' Paula

but I didn't He was pretty scared. He was shaking I bet I would be too yes. The whips go over 750 miles an hour. So

Penny Fitzgerald

oh man Holy cow. Yeah. So how was that whole experience that, um, America's Got Talent?

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, it was, it was fun and interesting. Um, I mean, it's, I feel bad for some of the people, how stressful they got. Um, you know, cause I just went there for fun and that's how you have to go that frame of mind. Just have fun, relax and enjoy. Um, but, uh, I mean, if seriously, if someone said, would you do it again? And I would say probably not.

Penny Fitzgerald

Really?

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Why is that?

Pistol Packin' Paula

It's a, I mean, does not really go much in details. It's a reality show. I mean, you know, um, you know, you got to do everything that they say to do. And it's just, they kind of take the fun off sometimes out of what you're doing. Yeah. Um, so yeah, I've had other friends on it, you know, they have a good experience and then it's, you know, same kind of thing. You did it once, you only have to do it again.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. There was kind of an agenda maybe for,

Pistol Packin' Paula

yeah, it could have been.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So that

Penny Fitzgerald

kind of makes sense. But yeah, that's, um, it's good publicity though for you. I, I would think, I mean, I

Pistol Packin' Paula

was on national TV.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah,

Pistol Packin' Paula

it was on national TV. So, um, people did see me. Yeah. But people that don't understand what I do and how they presented me, you know, I've got a lot of bad comments saying, you know, because. Like they said, I was coming out, I came out shooting, but they made me shoot, made me look like I shot more than I really did. So it made it look like I was just bang, bang, bang. And that was all I really,

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh,

Pistol Packin' Paula

but, uh, it's just part of the business,

Penny Fitzgerald

you

Pistol Packin' Paula

know, them selling stuff. Yeah. So exciting.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

But I had fun with it. It was, I'm glad I experienced it.

Penny Fitzgerald

and I, I mean, part of it sounds really cool. I

Pistol Packin' Paula

met a lot of nice people out there and, um, so that was fun. Uh, you know, really, there's a lot of talented people out there, you know, so it was fun mingle with them and all that. Yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald

absolutely. And, and learn a little bit about your strength and resilience too. I mean more. You already had it, but proved it some more. you know, um, what's something that I haven't asked you that you would love to share.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, I mean, I've been, I traveled all over the country, even been to Australia.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

My business, um, through my career, um, met a lot of different celebrities, um, one, celebrity was Melissa Gilbert. I did a show for a reunion for Little House on the Prairie. Yeah. In Tombstone, Arizona. And, uh, she came up to me and I mean, I was, you know, I knew they were out in the audience, but I didn't, you know, I got off stage. I was standing there. Well, she actually came over with her son at the time and shook my hand. she said, you rocked my world.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, wow. I was

Pistol Packin' Paula

like, wow. And then her son wanted to take a picture with me and everything. So that's neat. And that's my, you know, cause I know one question that you had in your, um, emails, you know, what makes you happy and that is to make people smile and, um, have fun with my show. Forget about their problems for 30 minutes and not think about anything. Just enjoy what I'm doing and making them laugh. Um, that's what I enjoy about my career and kids that come running up to me and give me a big hug, you know, um, saying thank you. I don't know what I did, but I encouraged them in some way. You know, I said, no, I love the show or they'll just come over and hug me. And, uh, so that means that, you know, I don't know if it's because me doing what I do and showing people that and being encouraged to them or what, but it's just neat that I have like, or I'm hearing like two or three year olds are watching my movie over and over and over because I get their parents come to me. I've watched your film about. 300 times And so, and then, then I'm, I tell'em I'm sorry, but they said, no, no, no. It's, it was a great movie. So my kids are enjoying it. And I go, they probably know all the songs by heart and they go, yeah, and the words. So, but, um, that's what makes me do what I do.'cause I, I want to encourage kids to, no matter if you know me being a woman,'cause I was told I couldn't do this. My hands were too small, I wasn't strong enough. And I proved that wrong and being in the man type world of my business, uh, doing it as a woman and continue doing it. Um, you know, so for 33 years, still going with it.

Penny Fitzgerald

Was that a little bit of fuel for you? Like I feel like if somebody says you can't do that.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. No, I, I'm very, I'm that type of person. And if you give me a challenge. I'll do it. Or you say you can't do it. I don't.

Penny Fitzgerald

Watch me.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

I love it.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. Hopefully that will shine off to other kids.

Penny Fitzgerald

Absolutely. I just keep thinking my dad would have loved you. He was, um, well, I had him until he, he was almost 103, three weeks shy and just loved everything. Cowboy, everything. Yeah. And, um, he used to sing little Annie Oakley to me, a little kid. Um, so I, I think he would have just loved to have seen your. presentation and I know he's going to be watching. So

Pistol Packin' Paula

probably has seen it. He's up there watching. Yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald

for

Pistol Packin' Paula

sure.

Penny Fitzgerald

Okay. So I, the other thing that I usually ask is, you know, because my, my, my. Podcast is, uh, Penny for your Shots and usually Shots means alcohol instead

Pistol Packin' Paula

of pistols. I forgot to bring my wine glass. Oh my gosh.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. That was the other question. I was, I, I was talking to my husband about it and he says, well, is she going to be drinking when she's

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, I won't be drinking while I'm twirling. Just like, don't drink and drive, don't drink and twirl guns. That's a really good motto to live by. When the guns come off, that's a different story.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, there you go. Well, and yes, please hang out with us after your presentation. We can have some fun. So what's your, what's your favorite cocktail or glass of wine? What do you like? Uh,

Pistol Packin' Paula

my wine I like is, I like a really good White Zin. Yeah, but I do like a really good carbonate. I'm more of a red wine drinker. Okay, I've been white More of it on this kind of on the sweeter side. Uh huh. But yeah, they don't like a dry wine. Okay, and then My drink that I really like is a real and it's gonna be a really good one.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah,

Pistol Packin' Paula

so

Penny Fitzgerald

it's a what Mojito. Mojito. Mmm.

Pistol Packin' Paula

It's got, they're really, I just, they're really refreshing. They don't, you know, but it's got to be made the right way.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, absolutely. Fresh mint.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. And, um, so that's what I kind of like. I

Penny Fitzgerald

mean,

Pistol Packin' Paula

I like rum drinks, uh, you know, so, but, uh, a really good mojito because I really don't like anything too, too sweet.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. But a little bit. A

Pistol Packin' Paula

little bit, but not.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So what's a favorite memory with girlfriends over a, over a nice mojito?

Pistol Packin' Paula

I don't know. I drank some and I don't remember. No, I'm just kidding. I gotta keep my reputation. Yeah. Yeah. Um, oh man, I work so much. Um, it's probably just actually just sitting down by the campfire when it's chilly out.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yes.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Or by the poolside.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yep.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, but, but generally just because I work, I really do, I work so much to just to have time to sit back and, and enjoy people I work with as, and if I'm doing a movie or commercial work or, um, or my show, but usually when I do my show, I don't. Uh, but, uh, it's nice to drink, but I feel that sometimes you don't have to drink to have a good time.

Penny Fitzgerald

No, that's true.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So, um, to, so to truly answer your question, I don't know if I did or not, but

Penny Fitzgerald

yeah, I, it sounds like, um, you don't get much opportunity to vacation. Do you?

Pistol Packin' Paula

Not really. Yeah. No. Uh, my vacation time is usually going doing shows. Like, uh, the end of August, I go to, uh, Minnesota. Oh, yeah. To do shows up there. Okay. Get away from the heat. Even though sometimes it's kind of muggy there.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Depending on the, usually, but the nights are real nice. Just, uh, nice and cool.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

And I stay at a really nice, uh, friend's house. And so, have home cooked meals. Yes. I don't get much time to eat home cooked meals.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh gosh.

Pistol Packin' Paula

But uh, I eat healthy though.

Penny Fitzgerald

Uh huh.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Um, but um, so, that's kinda my vacation time is, if I can get off and, if that was, I stay away from responsibilities of being home.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

You

Penny Fitzgerald

know. combine work with pleasure a little bit.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

And you meet, and I just love meeting people from all over. That's one thing I like about my job though. It's like I meet people from all different countries, even here at the museum, you know, and meet people from all over the countries and just get to know them and their, um, their lifestyle. And, uh, that's really what is cool. And just to combine what, you know, somebody from Germany to the United States or from You know, Ireland, the United States and learning their customs and. So it's just kind of cool about that.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. And they're coming to you. Do you, do you go to Europe and other countries to do

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, because of the gun situation? Right. After nine 11, a lot of things have changed. Right. Um, but you know, mainly I stay within the United States. I did go to, um, Australia, but I couldn't bring my guns. So I did whips, but I did guns over there, but they had them already over there.

Penny Fitzgerald

Okay,

Pistol Packin' Paula

so, um, and but they're not totally real guns because they can't have those. Oh, right. Yeah Twirl some get to get used to some other guns that I'm so used to mine So that was fun.

Penny Fitzgerald

oh wow, okay Hearing you speak about using some, uh, you know, a different gun, it'd be like a pro golfer going and trying to use somebody else's clubs. I can't imagine the weight, the feel, all of it would be different.

Pistol Packin' Paula

But I mean, it, I did no, no problem with it as you practice it and, and it naturally comes. So, you get used to it pretty quick. And I changed to myself because, um, like if I go into schools, I can't bring. Oh, sure. So I have these fake guns that look real

Penny Fitzgerald

uhhuh,

Pistol Packin' Paula

a little bit lighter than my real guns.

Penny Fitzgerald

Mm-Hmm.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So I gotta get, I gotta practice that before I go in because

Penny Fitzgerald

Right.

Pistol Packin' Paula

You know, I don't want my guns going up into the ceiling Right. Sometimes I'm used to heavyweight

Penny Fitzgerald

uhhuh,

Pistol Packin' Paula

heavyweight, or guns on it. So, yeah. But if, just like anything, it's like, you know, you riding a bicycle and you ride all the different type of bicycles, just kind of work with it a little, and then. You're okay with it.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Huh. Yeah. Things that you, that those of us not in your industry would. not ever think of.

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, I don't think of that. And when you see me do it, a lot of people say you may, I make it look so easy and that the guns look light. Then you put the gun in your hand, you're like, Holy Crow, wow. So that's, that's what makes you feel good on that too, because a lot of guys are like, uh, and they put it in their hands, they're like, wow.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, I'm sure.

Pistol Packin' Paula

All the guys give me a hard time at sometimes, but yes, they are. No, they're not. Then I check it out.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow. So do you have to, um, like, do you lift weights and you, do you do other kinds of. Workouts? I

Pistol Packin' Paula

do workouts. I mean, especially now, as of course, as we get older. Oh

Penny Fitzgerald

my. Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So I try to keep in best shape, um, with the accident I have a metal going through my hip.

Penny Fitzgerald

Uh huh.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So that is now catching up to me and, you know, trying to stay on with massage therapists and to chiropractors and, you know, all that kind of helps me keep my body in shape. If I don't, I'll be in trouble because, you know, not realizing what I did to my body. back then. It's now catching up now.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. Well, and even the stunts that you were doing early on, I'm sure were.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Well, yeah, that does wear and tear on your body, like knees and you know, joints and all that, but the action, it really did a lot of wonders. Messed

Penny Fitzgerald

you up.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. That's pretty good.

Penny Fitzgerald

That was what, what year was that?

Pistol Packin' Paula

It was in

Penny Fitzgerald

2008. Yeah. Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

And, I had to work real hard to get. back in shape, not having insurance. I had to do everything on my own. Right. Cause you're not working for a company. No, I wasn't working for a company at the time. I was self employed.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh boy.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So lifting, you know, hay bales and you know, that type of thing was my, my workout.

Penny Fitzgerald

I

Pistol Packin' Paula

have two horses, so it's not the workout. For sure. And financially. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. They are not cheap. Oh, they're not a lot of people say. I want to own a horse. I go, no, you don't.

Penny Fitzgerald

You know, they eat, right?

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, but the horses are, they, they're great spirited animals and makes my spirit happy.

Penny Fitzgerald

Amazing creatures. Yes. Yeah. Wow. I've got a girlfriend in Florida who, um, rides every, every Saturday morning and it's just her therapy. It's her church.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Getting on top of a horse and just wandering off. Yeah. You're feeling the claps underneath you and yeah, and having an animal underneath you They can kill you in an instant. They wanted to, or hurt you, but they're gentle souls.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. I was on a tour one time in Costa Rica and it was for a company trip, but it was an incentive trip. And one of the excursions was up into the mountains and we had horseback riding. And those horses do it all day, you know, they know where they're going. They know what they're doing. So you're just on there and you're on for the ride. And it was raining and slippery rocks up the mountain, up and down the mountain. And my horse had a friend, frenemy relationship with the horse next to it. And they were like nipping at each other the whole way. I'm like hitting each other. Oh yes. It was, oh my gosh, it was for me. Very scary. Yes. It's funny now, but at the time I'm like, oh my God, this horse is gonna kill me.

Pistol Packin' Paula

they can if they wanted to.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. He clearly didn't want to'cause Yeah, Yeah, Oh boy. Yeah. That was quite a memory and I don't think I'll ever get one on. get on one

Pistol Packin' Paula

again. If you're around my horse, it's Jake. He's a therapy horse in a way. Oh, nice. Scared and petrified. They get around him. They, I don't know what it is with him, but he's just, he's a very relaxing horse. Yeah. Very gentle, um, horse.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

They're both basically retired in a way because one is 29. The other one is 27. Okay. He's my trick horse. He's the Carmelo, which is a, a cream color horse with a white mane and tail and blue eyes like the blue sky.

Penny Fitzgerald

Beautiful.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, they are. And, uh, so, but, um, he, uh, has arthritis in his front feet, which can kind of happen to some horses. so he has, it's hard for him at times to walk and angles. of his foot. So I got to trim him well. He gets on, he's on boots most of the time, just to give him a little cushion to walk. But, uh, so he's kind of, he, he did like over 20 tricks. He laid down, he bowed, he drank from a bottle. He can do some still. He can say yes and no. Get on a pedestal. you know, but now he's basically retired. I can't really ride him anymore.

Penny Fitzgerald

Uh huh.

Pistol Packin' Paula

And so, and then Tonto, who's 29, I can ride him. Um, but you know, his joints are, are aching too, so I don't work them. I feel it. So about that time, a lot of people ask, well, how old can a horse live? They can live all the way up to about 35, if they're healthy enough. But generally the age is, you know, we're between 28 to

Penny Fitzgerald

32.

Pistol Packin' Paula

If some make it that long.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. It's so hard to see them go through the aging process and get, yeah. Yeah. That's hard to, hard to see. I mean, cause they're family.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yes, for sure. But you used to do stunt riding.

Pistol Packin' Paula

I did a little of it. I mean, I trained through it. Uh, you know, I trained to do some of the trick riding and basically only one I really kind of held on to was the hippodrome. When you stand up in the saddle and you lean forward. You have straps that you put your feet in and you lean forward and they go into a full gallop.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

That's, as they call that, the hippodrome. Okay. If you ever watch, uh, rodeos or anything like that, um, you'll see the girls holding the flag.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. And they're standing up and the horse is running.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

It's a trick riding. That's kind of the only one I basically really kept on to. The other ones I didn't.

Penny Fitzgerald

Okay.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So, uh, and you have to have the right horse to do some of your tricks,

Penny Fitzgerald

so.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, for

Penny Fitzgerald

sure.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. So Jake isn't really for hanging on and, you know, doing that type of stuff, but I did get to do the hippodrome for me, so.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow. Yeah, that, I'm, I'm just imagining the core strength that you needed too, to keep your balance up there. Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So I was, I was young, um, at the time. So, uh, but other than that.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow. Oh my gosh. Paula, this has been so fun.

Pistol Packin' Paula

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes. It's great to

Penny Fitzgerald

meet you.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Well, good to meet you. Yeah. You'll see me soon in September. So

Penny Fitzgerald

yeah, absolutely. I can't wait. Now

Pistol Packin' Paula

Now, where are you all located at?

Penny Fitzgerald

Well, we're from all over. I'm in Iowa right now.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Oh, you're in Iowa now? Y

Penny Fitzgerald

yeah, I, um, split my time between Florida and Iowa.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Okay.

Penny Fitzgerald

Um, yeah, and I grew up in North central Iowa, so I'm, you know, have a, I have a yoper, the Minnesota yoper, sometimes Okay. A little bit. So yeah, when you mention Minnesota, I'm like, oh yeah, I, Minnesota. Yeah. Neighbors Yeah. Yeah. And there's, there's some of us from all over. There's, um, coming for in September. We've got some from the East coast, some from, um, the Kansas area.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Oh, wow.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Oh yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So that's, that's going to be really fun.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah. I, and I'm guessing this is going to be very new for everyone. there. Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

I can't wait for everyone to see it.

Pistol Packin' Paula

All women drinking wine.

Penny Fitzgerald

All women drinking wine. Yep.

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, no bourbon, no whiskey.

Penny Fitzgerald

There might be some of that too. We don't discriminate.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Some good places here with some good whiskey.

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, nice. Nice. Yeah. I'm sure. Yeah. We're, we're going to be doing some of that tasting and, um, the day we come see you that afternoon, we're making a cocktail, a craft cocktail together. So, um,

Pistol Packin' Paula

yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald

it'll be super fun.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yes. I can't wait now. Yeah. Oh, good. Yeah. I didn't realize, you know, like I said, I didn't know exactly the whole scenario. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. We're women, all women. And, um, hopefully 50 of us trying to sell out to 50 is what we think we can, handle. This is our first attempt at doing a, uh, a retreat, um, together. So yeah, this will be a super fun

Pistol Packin' Paula

place. Texas. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. I can't wait.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Texas is really beautiful. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. And the wines. Wow. It's kind of, I kind of look at it like where Napa was. 30 or 40 years ago, you know, it's kind of the early stages of really good, good stuff.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah. I mean, you got, I mean, it's like a mile down the road. There's one another mile down the road. Yeah. Yeah. It's a, it's wine row instead of whiskey row and going into Fredericksburg. It's, you know, wine row.

Penny Fitzgerald

Nice. My kind of place.

Pistol Packin' Paula

You'll love it. You'll love it.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. I can't wait.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, same here.

Penny Fitzgerald

All right. Well, thank you so much. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Okay. Yeah. I hear that little no in there. Let me know. Don't cha know

Penny Fitzgerald

Oh, yeah, sure. You betcha.

Pistol Packin' Paula

That's a very famous one. You

Penny Fitzgerald

betcha. Oh, Ope!

Pistol Packin' Paula

Gotta go. I usually get that accent after I hang around with them all. There. And then I come back, I have a little, and then I lose it.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, I, I do too. I, whenever I went up North to visit, I'd come back and be yoping for a week and a half.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Once in a while.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Get your Kringla. That's funny. Oh gosh. Thank you again. I appreciate your time. And

Pistol Packin' Paula

thank you for doing this for me.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, and I will, I'll meet you in person soon. I'll see you as you go by into Minnesota.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, that's for sure. I'll be in there with August. Uh, 23rd, 24th, 25th, I think that week. Oh, cool. Is that

Penny Fitzgerald

the state fair

Pistol Packin' Paula

or

Penny Fitzgerald

what?

Pistol Packin' Paula

No, it's, it's during the same time as state fair, but it's actually, it's called, uh, Allman, uh, gun store and they do a big event where the people can come in and shoot all different type of guns. Okay. Have entertainment. it's really, it's a big event they put on. Um, but it's in Morristown. You ever hear of that? Oh, I have heard of that. Yeah. And it's south of Minneapolis. Um, but they do it every year and they have, you know, my shooting show and then they have another trick shooting with shotgun. They have like a tank and then I have military stuff there.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

You can learn and they have vendors and they have, Civil War people are there putting on a show. Oh,

Penny Fitzgerald

reenactment and stuff.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, reenactment groups and bands and music. Yeah. It's a two day event, Saturday and Sunday. Okay. And I do like three shows a day.

Penny Fitzgerald

Wow.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So that's when I hope it's not hot.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah, August, you never know. It can be.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah, it gets humid. I'm so used to the heat here. So people are like, man, it's so hot.

Penny Fitzgerald

It'll feel nice.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Texas heat after a while. Yeah.

Penny Fitzgerald

I'm hoping by the end of September, it's a little bit. mellowed out a bit.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Hope so for y'all's sake.

Penny Fitzgerald

Yeah. Yeah.

Pistol Packin' Paula

So you drink a lot of water in between your wine.

Penny Fitzgerald

We'll have to do that. Yeah. Good to remember. Yes. Balance, balance your.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Yeah,

Penny Fitzgerald

absolutely. Gosh, well, thank you again. Thank you. And I will, um, I'll see you soon.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Okay, well take care and have a great rest of the summer.

Penny Fitzgerald

Thanks. You too. It was nice meeting you, Penny. You too, Paula.

Pistol Packin' Paula

Bye.

Penny Fitzgerald

Bye.