Day 5, 6, 7 -something l hate, like, and a place to travel

Day 5 is posting a picture of something you hate.  This was pretty easy to figure out.  I hate it when people judge me-or others- when they do NOT know me, my situation or my life. 

 

Day 6 is then the opposite- a picture of something I love.  Again this is easy to select.  I don't have a picture of my entire family of who I grew up with but I will give you a visual of my number one love! :) 

 

Day 7 is a picture of a place I would love to travel.  I always envision a place with sandy white beaches, a warm/hot sun, ice cold beverages, a great place to relax and read a fantastic book with the calming waves of the ocean in the background.  

Day 3 and 4 combined

Day three is to be a picture of a cast from a favorite show. 

I would not say it is my FAVORITE show, but it is a guilty pleasure of mine.  This cast I like- ATL is a bit boring; OC is very snobby and NY was pretentious.

I also really enjoy the History channel, HGTV and DIY network.

Just married and in the limo bus

Day Four is to be a picture of your favorite night.  I have three of them, but only have a picture of two:

The first one is obvious- we were surrounded by family and friends for our big day.  It was an incredible wedding in January (and no I was not cold, it was 62 degrees that day) and even though my flowers were dead- the love that Dana and I had for each other was blooming!! (sorry, i couldn't resist the play on words)

Dec 31, 2010

This night made the cut due to so many people who aren't always able to all get together made it out.  Even though most of my family bailed on us, the ones that showed up showed the town of Kearney how it is DONE.  And those who are friends that came out to rock New Year's Eve 2010 became family.  Once you are in the circle, you are always in the circle.  Bryan and Amy had come back from CO, Sadie and Matt came from GI, it was a great night!  My jeans may disagree..



My third and most definitely my best night was March 23, 2005 when Drew James Iverson got his swagger and joined the Iverson family. After waiting past his due date (3/17) the doctor finally induced me on 3/23.  I started labor around noon and by 3 I was ready to have this bowling ball out of my body.  I pushed for almost an hour and a half, finally said to the nurse- I don't know what you are going to do, but I quit.  And I know that I will not be having a C-section; so this is your problem now.  (I am NOT exaggerating) Finally at 8:35 pm- the doctor came in, tugged the big-headed tow head out with forceps and he was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen.  He was so good and just the best baby.  He even let out a laugh later that night when the nurse was there with us.  She just about passed out- she said she had never heard a baby laugh in her 22 years of being a nurse.  She said it was good karma.  So therefore I KNOW they switched my child with someone else by the time we left the hospital.... hahaha. 

And all of these nights have fan-tabulous stories behind them... all for another blog day my friends, all for another day. :)

30 day Know Me, Love Me! Day 2- ppl I have been closest to the longest....

I'm digging some of the activities that I have seen on Facebook or other blogs.  So I am going to apply it here on my own blog.  :)  It is called "30 day" where you post a picture and write a short reflection of the theme for that day.  For the first day, you are supposed to add a picture and type 15 facts of me.  Well, I already did 25 things about me, so I will count that as day 1.

Day 2- A picture of a person that I have been the closest with the longest.

My twin brother, by 30 minutes- Bryan

 This is the my most obvious answer.  He and I go WAY back.  Way, way back.  In fact, so far back that I remember seeing him the minute our eggs were released and sperms raced to get to us.  I was hoping he'd make it too; after all I knew I would be the first to be fertilized.  I thought it would be nice to have someone else to hang out with in that dark place for those 9 months.  Despite he being a boy, and I a girl, we have been very close.  Admittedly, once he went away for his 6th -10th year of college in Lincoln, we slowly drifted apart- or branched out- depends on how you look at it.  At one time, we were pretty inseparable (out of the womb) and I enjoyed those times.  He always looked so cute in my dresses and ribbons in his hair....

Jenna, Melissa, Me, Jenn

 Well these girls were my rock in college and continue to be so. Through break ups of boyfriends, late night studies, sorority drama and mayhem, they had my back.  Even though I don't get to see them as often as I would like to now that we are all working, mothers, wives etc; when we do get to meet up, it is like we never left the AOII house!  There is no one else I would rather sing made up verses of song with; drink toga punch with; shop all day with; watch 90210 with every Saturday morning after drinking all night with; laugh or cry with (and sometimes it was at the same time!)

My BFFLMNOP, Becky

This is my first great friend that I had made as an "adult"- if you claim and adult 24 years old.  We met at a middle school that we worked at and developed a fast friendship.  She and I took some master's classes together, we vacationed with our spouses together and had kids in the same year (she is beating me by one kid...some day I will catch up!)  She has truly been there for me in all my worst days and nights, my highest of highs and my lowest of lows.  I know that she loves me know matter what and now that I am even farther away and she has a little toddler again, times are rare and in between- but when we do meet up it is like we never parted.  Cod with fries and jack and coke's for three dollars anyone???


Someone I knew (and THOUGHT was a friend) once said "Friendship is about proximity."  Well, for the most part I tend to agree with that.  You go through high school thinking you and your best friend will ALWAYS be friends, nothing will keep you apart etc.  However, it doesn't work that way. Life happens, people move, people change and grow, interests are developed or changed so then you take a look around and your best friend is no longer at your side.  But you pink promised, right?  You maybe even poked your little finger with a needle and SWORE you would always be there.  And some of you may have even put a wad of spit in your palms and shook on it.  (That would have been the end of our friendship if you tried that with me!!)  So friendship can be about where you live and how often you get to hang out.  Makes sense.
However the part I don't agree with is that friendship is ONLY about proximity.  No way.  I think we all have friends that maybe we've had since childhood, high school, or college or just the last job you had a year ago; and you still take the TIME to foster that friendship.  You call them, email them, FB them, write them, visit them whenever you are thinking of them or get time to do so.  If you were friend of mine- whether it has been 35 years like my brother and I; 16 years like my college friends; or 10 years like my co-worker- you will ALWAYS be my friend.  Maybe you know how you affected my life, maybe you don't.  But I can tell you that I do cherish everything we have been through and I thank you for your ears, tears, smiles and miles of friendship you have given me.  LOVE YOU ALL.

25 Things You Don't Know About Me

In no random order:

1) I was adopted by my step dad on Nov 7, 1979. Bryan and I were three years old and he has always loved us as his own.  Proud to be a STUMP!

2)I have never drank coffee.

3) I am a rap lover.  I could sing all the lyrics to Jay-Z's, Dr. Dre and Tupac songs!

4) My middle name is Faye, named after my mom's best friend.

5) I love to bake more than cook.  I hate cleaning up either.

6) My first word was "Kiss my butt"

7)  I have 3 keys on my keyring.

8) Dana gave Drew his middle name.  He said we should name him James for the church we got married in (St. James)

9) I have 20 dollars in my wallet and lots of change- which usually I only have lots of change.

10) Tuna Tetrezzini Tuna Helper is my favorite "helper" box.

11) In high school, I used to eat a turkey sandwich for lunch EVERY DAY.

12) I zip up my pants first, then I button them.  This is also easier laying down.

13) Pretty sure I would win a "best Kiss" award if they gave that out.

14) For years, I never ate breakfast. 

15) I always sleep on my left side.  That way when I pass out from drinking too much, I can just throw up and not choke on it.

16) I hate math. 

18) My shoe size is a 10.

19) I want to be an interior designer or a furniture restoration person.

20) I am totally into bird silhouettes and lanterns.  I  know -crazy.

21) I think I know who killed Jon-Bonnett.

22) The grossest thing to me is someone else's hair. Heck, even my own hair in the shower gives me the heebie-jeebies.  So, anyone else's hair -any where; on a desk, on a chair, sink, etc will send me over the edge.

23)  I pull off self-confidence like no other, but most days I am quaking in my shoes or unsure about myself.

24) I have never smoked anything....ok, that isn't true.  I did at one time go through a period where I would smoke Swisher Sweets when I was with my brothers.  And a couple of times I smoked salmon.

25) I LOVE LOVE LOVE drinking pickle juice.  Start from the jar.  So if I ever offer you pickles, you might want to opt out.

My Love and our Back Story

Valentine's Day is here! So in honor of this lovely day, I will take you back to the day of which my love, Dana and I met. 
There is a small back story here- and it goes like this.  My sorority sister, Jennifer Pieper and I were roommates for 5 years once we were out of college- yes, it is true, there is someone who could put up with me for that long.  And as far as I could tell, she loved rooming with me and I loved rooming with her.  So, she had an older brother named Jason who occasionally would pop up here and there and we'd all meet for drinks, rodeo's etc. One of Jason's best buddies is Dana.  So off and on, every once in a while, Dana would come along and so we actually met earlier than most people think.  However, every time we'd meet up as a large group, we were always dating other people....well, ok, I was always dating other people or just gotten out of a relationship.
So Jason ended up dating someone and getting married.  I was invited to the wedding because at that point I had infiltrated the Pieper's family and Paul and Connie (the 'rents) thought of me as their long lost, loud-mouth, funny second blond kid in their family.  Low and behold, Dana was also there as he was an usher in the wedding.  One important fact is this wedding was taking place in Dodge NE.  A very VERY small town, and they do weddings a bit differently there.  They rent out the town hall for the rehearsal dinner, have homemade EVERYTHING for dinner and then just hang out play cards, hit the bar and tear it up the night before the wedding. 
I was the third Pieper sister (there is a younger Peeps) and I met Grandma, Grandpa, etc at the Dodge Community building.  Eventually all the guys and gals were slowly coming in for the start of the rehearsal soiree. And in comes this hunk of a cowboy in a grey hat, tight Levi jeans and a smirk- and he looks like Patrick Swayze.  And I'm not kidding when I say this-keep in mind it had been years since I last saw him- as he walked in, I turned to the youngest Pieper sister and said "That is the man I am going to marry." 
So as I gauge him to see if he has a date coming etc, (he did not) I kept an eye on my prize all night.  I would growl is a chick got too close to my man.  I shot dirty looks to those who even tried to impress my love. I would pull my finger across my throat to a broad who even attempted to talk to him. So dinner was over, toasts were made, drinks were being poured and the card games were beginning.
I sat directly across from Dana so I could tease him, seduce him and win him over by just my gaze.  However, the man would NOT look at me!  EVER!!  Oh, so that is how he wants to play it?? I knew I had to up my game.  The dude to his left got up and went outside to smoke and I snagged that opportunity to sit right next to him.  This guy was going to notice me whether I had to gouge his eyes out with forks and sit them in front of me!!  So, as I sit down next to him- he GETS UP TO LEAVE!!!  The nerve! The audacity! DOES HE NOT KNOW WHO I AM?? I waited him out but he would not come back.  Yet, as soon as I got back to my original seat, he returned.  GGRRR.  Oh, it is on.
As the night progresses, I wasn't sure how to read him- but I was having a good time.  The Pieper family and their friends really know how to party and the small town atmosphere was really great.  As the card game started to wind down, the wedding party and me decided to hit the local bar.  We walked two blocks over, dodged a cow and pulled up cornstalks along the way.  We were ordering drinks and I was standing next to a table when I feel a tug on my jeans.  I look back and it is Dana, "You can come sit by me if you want."  CHA-CHING. REEL HIM IN BABY!!  So flirting my best flirt I finally got the kid to open up and talk to me.  When I asked him why he wouldn't look at me or let me sit by him earlier, he replied "I was sneaking peeks at you all night. Plus if you sat next to me, I couldn't see your beautiful eyes." Before the bar closed and we parted ways he asked if I would save him a dance at the wedding.  I replied, "Well I'm not guaranteeing anything, I do have plenty of other fellas that want to dance with me too, but we'll see."  And I sauntered out leaving him with a great view of me walking away.
The next day at the wedding, I couldn't get over how handsome he was in a tux.  He smiled at me and my heart just knew he was going to be my husband some day.  We had a great time dancing, drinking and enjoying everyone around us; but it also felt like we were the only ones there.  I will never forget the butterflies and fireworks that I felt when I was around him.  He truly made me feel like a teenager again and I was 27 years old.  As the dance wound down, we were getting ready to leave and he offered to walk me to my car. As he walked down the steps, he turned and just planted the most sweetest, gentle, genuine kiss on me that I will never forget. Even 8 years later I still get that bubbly warm feeling of that kiss.
I'm not going to blog on here that we've been happily married every moment - but there is not another person in this world that I would rather be with than him.  There is no one that I would rather have as the father of my child.  I knew that the minute I "re-saw" him.  I still know it today.
Love ya TIGER.

Random Questions about me!

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?
I would love to be something creative; like a wedding decorator, florist (did this when I was a teen and LOVED it) writer, stand up comedian.  Or maybe a counselor so I can tell people how to stop making a mess of their lives....probably wouldn't get repeat customers- but I could probably fix their problems in the first session! :)

Q: What are your hobbies?
I love to read.  I like to scrapbook, but I never do.  I have Drew's year one book done, but not anything else! I love playing sports and always enjoy running...water for my bath!! hahaha

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  All I can remember is wanting to be a teacher. Maybe I sold myself short, or maybe I was right on track....yet to be determined.

Q: What are your guilty pleasures? 
Naps. Cuddling with my son. Window shopping. Naps. Going to any bookstore.

Q: What is your biggest fear?!
My life ending too short where I won't get to watch Drew grow up, graduate college, getting married, giving me grandbabies! And another fear is not being able to ever have another child. 

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
What I wouldn't do to go on a vacation that isn't going to CO to visit my brother.  I LOVE that, but it'd be nice to go Hawaii or Florida or even Boston.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your gut.


Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?             
Since good looks isn't a personality trait, I guess it'll have to be my sense of humor, and I do believe he has it!! I'm in for it!! :) 
 
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?
My grandpa who passed away when I was 12.  I'd love to tell him all the things I have done and get his input.

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:
I am a sucker for cookbooks. :)

Things I learned this weekend:

1.  You can be whoever you want to be in a bar.  Last night, I was a professional comedian from Kansas City, making my way to Chicago and hoping to eventually make it big in the Big Apple.  The thing is, the guys we told believed me.  And it wasn't just stupid shmucks we were talking to (I mean come on, do I waste my time on those types .... anymore?)  These were people who were professionals and of course with my quick wit I was able to be believed.  I told them I was in town for a girls night out and I needed material.  They gave me plenty!!

2. Again, you can be who ever you want to be.  Last night, I was Amber.  Amber Rose, which just happens to be my favorite Victoria Secret perfume.  Thankfully the crowd I was with heard me introduce myself as that and played along with. 

3.  Whenever you think you are the oldest person in the bar, there is always a lady that looks rode hard, and put away wet, with a banana clip in her hair.

4.  Alcohol does allow people to open up and be honest.  I'm so glad a friend of mine finally admitted she wants to be like me.  I mean, who can blame her, I am the definition of awesomeness. She is already a few steps towards her goal, she owns an Equinox and has a little boy, and a great body. And she has great taste in clothes and friends!!

5.  Whenever you think you are the oldest person in the bar because the banana clip girl left, in comes the man with the official Civil War hat.  And when you ask him if he was grey or blue,  but doesn't smile, you know HE'S too old to be in a bar. Especially Amber Rose who is looking for material for her next stand up comedy gig.

6.  If you are able to convince the waitress not to suck helium out of a balloon that is in the shape of a 40, you are doing the world a service.  And when you tie that balloon onto your purse and walk around with it, everyone in the bar tells you that you look great for 40, you don't look over 28, etc. It was a built in compliment balloon.  I'm thinking of making sure I get one for anytime I go out.  Next time it might be 50 just to see what some people say.

7.  I hate to say it, but blondes do have more fun- especially if you are a dyed brunette waiting to make it in to her next hair appointment to become a blonde again.  I think we entertained everyone at the establishment we ate at AND the bar we stopped at.  We may not have been the youngest, hottest or richest- but we were hands down the funnest!! It was like a revolving door for us; people wanted to talk to us, be near us, buy us drinks, play pool against us, touch us, ask us our autographs, buy us new cars, birth our children- you know how it is.  And I can't wait for a night out again when I'm blonde and my "I wanna-be Brooke" friend will be too, and then the cops will have to be called as it will get DANG-ER-OUS!!