Who iwanna hear about iwannaprettyone!

[gwendolyn]

I just did a search for a thread on you and didn''t see one!

I always perk up when I see your posts, so I''d love to hear a bit more about you, darlin''. If that''s ok with you, of course (so I guess we will see if this gets approved to know if it is or not!)

I know you are living in Texas now but are originally from England, you''re getting married soon (

), you''re halfway through a master''s degree, you have great hair (I covet it) and are a total knockout!

So, some of the things I''d be curious to know...

Whereabouts in England did you grow up?
How did you and your honey meet?
How does Texas compare to the UK?
What''s your current job and how do you think your master''s degree will affect your future career?
Do you have any pets?

And, most importantly, what''s your favourite flavour of ice cream?

 

[iwannaprettyone]

GWENNIE!!! Oh thanks for starting this thread. I am thrilled really.

Ok, goodness where to start?

Alright let me do life part 1 and let you chew on that for a bit....(OMG dissertation)

I was born in Southampton, England in the early 80’s to a middle class, wonderful loving family. I have an older brother who is an aspiring golf professional and is a completely amazing friend to me. My parents have been married for 35 years and I admire them hugely. My father is an engineer by trade and went through an apprentice program to get to where he is today. My mother is retired but was an accountant for 20 odd years.

Growing up was always adventurous. My father came from a separated family which I imagine was super hush hush back in the day. When dad was 10 years old his mother remarried a farmer and therefore I spent a lot, and I mean A LOT, of time shoveling cr*p, milking cows and grooming horses. I started to ride horses at three years old and that has been a passion of mine ever since.

At 14, I was involved in a date rape incident with a friend of my brothers, but decided to keep that a secret from everyone. Big mistake. This trauma in my life manifested in problems with body image and addictions which robbed me of a lot of happiness during my high school years. Yikes, I can’t believe I am divulging this information- who knows who might see this.

My father got offered an opportunity in Texas back in 1995 and moved over to start a satellite company as the land was cheap as was the exchange rate of labor. It was supposed to be a 6 month project, but after 2 years we packed our things and headed to the land of all things large, ha!

I will never forget the day we took of from London. I was thinking to myself, “Wow, this is a whole new start for me”. It was bitter sweet, last year of private school and I was a prefect of the senior class (prefect is a pupil who has been given limited, trustee-type authority over other pupils in the school). I thought I would never find new friends that loved me like the ones I had know from Pre-K.

Landing at DFW was surreal. I was in awe of the vastness of the Texas sky and how different everything seemed not to mention being July and the hottest summer in decades. The vehicles, the accents, the music…omg the music! Dad had bought a Dwight Yoakum c.d. and was playing it in the car on the way to our new home. I proceeded to sob as it was SOOOOO horrible! Lol, now I actually like the guy. At that time our new house was 70 mile west of the metroplex and the closer we got the bleaker I feared my future to be. Small town Texas is less than glamorous to say the least! The first night we went to Wal-mart, the horror…again I sobbed “where are all the kids and the pretty people”. School was out (2 year mandate on a visa) so it was a lonely old summer for me until I met JB.

JB was a 65 year old cancer survivor. My dad met him at the local coffee shop. Talk about the quintessential Texas cowboy. Lived on a ranch, member of the sheriffs posse, drug his cow dog and bird dog everywhere with him, put peanuts in his Pepsi etc etc. Dad told the guy that I was sad, bored and lonely so JB took me under his wing on the ranch where we would ride all day, shoot the bs and I would listen to stories about the good ole days. If it was broke “there ain’t nothin’ you can’t fix with duck tape and wire” (pronounced WAWR) of if it was injured it was “a long way from the heart”. I’ll never forget the day we went to find “day labor” this sound sooooo terrible but I don’t mean to offend. We drove down to the “corner” and JB spotted a couple of workers. Quickly, he rolled his window down and said “you boys wanna come paint ma fence?” The men looked at each other and obviously did not understand English. So, JB leant in a little further and said “I SAID... YOU BOYS WANNA PAINT MA FENCE?”. For a little British girl I thought this was horrific and hilarious at the same time. I loved this man. He passed away to cancer 5 years ago now.

High school was a blur, but I played soccer and that was awesome! Did a catalog shoot for Gap...Moving on.

2001 moved 4 hours away to Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX, 2003 Graduated Cum Laude. Sorority life, the works.

Receiving my undergraduate degree was not something that I ever imagined possible in my future. Growing up in England and then moving to the United States made higher learning some what of a gray area. My drive to succeed paired with my parent’s support became the major factors in my decision to continue my education. College, like the cliché, truly was the best years of my life. In truth I wanted to proceed immediately to get my Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting, but an academic counselor advised me that a stint in the “real world” would be the most advantageous choice. Three years after graduation and I now understood exactly how some professional experience can change your perception when choosing a Masters degree. I am now half way through an MS in Management and Leadership through a Texas A&M school.

Currently I am employed at an aviation manufacturing company working in export compliance as a Compliance Officer and Regulatory affairs admin, which is a long stretch from the Accountant I once aspired to be. They pay my tuition for school which is a complete bonus.


to be continued...

 

[iwannaprettyone]

The honey…

This is a long story. I met him in 1997. I was in a High School drama class and he showed up to visit his beloved theatre teacher (this was sooooo rigged). The teacher was telling me about this guy she taught last year who was gorgeous and debinar blah blah blah always wanted to date a red headed English girl, being the skeptic I was like “yeah, whatever Ms. H). Well in he walks.

Swoon. Just one of those guys that lights up a room ya know. She had failed to tell me that he had hair down to his a$$ and a bleach orange goatee and played in a heavy metal band. We met briefly but I told him thanks but no thanks.

Anyway, I met a man in 99 and we dated for 3 ½ years and found out he had been sleeping with my best friend for about half of that. WOW, if that won’t knock you down nothing will. I thought I would marry that person. I went a little off the deep end after that but soon sobered up and went of to college.

After graduation I moved back home and was going to a party at a local bar. I walk in and see the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He stood up and gazed at me. It was a moment indeed. Later that evening he walked over and asked me if I had traded my English accent for a southern one, I coyly smiled as I couldn’t figure out who this guy was. I summoned my friends help and turns out it is long haired rocker guy gone short haired hotty on me! A couple of weeks later I went to a valentines bash, I ran into him again. He asked me to dance. Being close and dancing with him, our bodies fit and the whole world disappeared. The song ended and it we walked silently back to the table. He stuttered over his words and asked for my number. I told him if he wanted to find me he was going to have to work a little harder then that!

A couple of weeks later I was grooming my horse on a Sunday afternoon. My mother came rushing out of the house saying about a message for me on the answering machine. She was soooo excited. I went inside and it was so sweet it said “Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. IWPO, my name is *** ***** and I am looking for your lovely daughter, please have her call me. Um, I really hope this is Kathryn’s parents”….

I called him back and we scheduled a date. We talked on the phone everyday for hours that week… I show up for the date and sit and waited…and waited…and waited. I get a voicemail the saying “I am so sorry I have been dealing with some craziness, like some 6 feet under kinda stuff.”

I was thinking about the HBO drama and I was furious and pretty much counted him out at that point.

I went to my best friends’ house the next afternoon and we were on the front porch drinking a glass of wine and smoking the “I just got stood up cigarette”.

My cell rings, it’s him. I wasn’t going to answer, but my friend insisted. Turns out he stood me up as his father suddenly passed away. What do you say? I told him that I was totally there for him and to let me know if I could do anything for him and his family.

After that we were pretty much inseparable.

 

[ladypirate]

IWanna--thanks for telling us about your life! Your stories are really interesting.

Do you still have your English accent?

What are your favorite foods?

What''s your favorite alcoholic beverage?

 

[gwendolyn]

Wow! I love the way you described your first impressions of Texas (and WalMart, hahah), and the fascinating story of how you and your honey got together! I am *so* sorry to hear about the date rape incident, and I think it shows how courageous you are (honestly) that you can talk about it in that manner. I can only imagine how something like that affects someone so young. And yet here you are, beautiful and charming and strong and intelligent! You''ve had to deal with a lot, especially considering how young you are. Kudos for being awesome.

I still want to hear if you have any pets and what ice cream you like, though.

I''m sure there are other questions I have too, but my brain is fried at the mo''.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:59:44 PM
Author: gwendolyn
Wow! I love the way you described your first impressions of Texas (and WalMart, hahah), and the fascinating story of how you and your honey got together! I am *so* sorry to hear about the date rape incident, and I think it shows how courageous you are (honestly) that you can talk about it in that manner. I can only imagine how something like that affects someone so young. And yet here you are, beautiful and charming and strong and intelligent! You''ve had to deal with a lot, especially considering how young you are. Kudos for being awesome.

I still want to hear if you have any pets and what ice cream you like, though.

I''m sure there are other questions I have too, but my brain is fried at the mo''.

JB taught me to get busy living or get busy dying. It is a simple mantra but you can''t spend you whole life dwelling on the past and risk hindering your future.

Let''s see, pets. Yep I have to rescue dogs and a paint horse. They are my babies!

One of my pups is Blue Heeler x Kelpie and the other is Blue Heeler x Australian shepard.

Icecream- I love pistachio icecream and creamy banana from cold stone creamery! YUM!!!!!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:54:37 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady
Wow!!! You''ve had a very busy life my dear! Thanks Gwen for posting this!

Ok.. silly things..

Favorite food, color, place in the world, flower, if you could talk to anyone in the world past or present who would it be.. uhm.. and.. if you could do anything in the world what would it be?

Favorite food, wow that is tough I would have to say Thai. mmmm

Color I''m a redhead so red is probably my favorite followed closely by green.

Flower- I adore love and peace roses.

I would love to do lunch with Audrey Hepburn. She was a classy and amazing humanitarian.

Anything in the world? World Peace? I am going to have to think about that one a while....hehe...


I am dying to go to South Africa, you been?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 6/19/2008 2:08:58 PM
Author: iwannaprettyone

Date: 6/19/2008 12:59:44 PM

Author: gwendolyn

Wow! I love the way you described your first impressions of Texas (and WalMart, hahah), and the fascinating story of how you and your honey got together! I am *so* sorry to hear about the date rape incident, and I think it shows how courageous you are (honestly) that you can talk about it in that manner. I can only imagine how something like that affects someone so young. And yet here you are, beautiful and charming and strong and intelligent! You''ve had to deal with a lot, especially considering how young you are. Kudos for being awesome.

I still want to hear if you have any pets and what ice cream you like, though.

I''m sure there are other questions I have too, but my brain is fried at the mo''.

JB taught me to get busy living or get busy dying. It is a simple mantra but you can''t spend you whole life dwelling on the past and risk hindering your future.


Let''s see, pets. Yep I have to rescue dogs and a paint horse. They are my babies!

One of my pups is Blue Heeler x Kelpie and the other is Blue Heeler x Australian shepard.


Icecream- I love pistachio icecream and creamy banana from cold stone creamery! YUM!!!!!

JB sounds like a wise man.

Do you have any pics of your doggies or your horse? I''m sure more than just me would like to see them.

And excellent choices on the ice cream! It''s quite an important thing to know about someone, y''know.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Dean on the bench, Walter on the porch...bless.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Budman!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 2:21:51 PM
Author: gwendolyn

JB sounds like a wise man.

Do you have any pics of your doggies or your horse? I''m sure more than just me would like to see them.

And excellent choices on the ice cream! It''s quite an important thing to know about someone, y''know.

Not bad for an old country boy, lol. I think about him a lot but he lived everyday to the fullest and never looked back.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/19/2008 2:45:00 PM
Author: iwannaprettyone
Budman!

Ooh he is gorgeous!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Oh Iwanna, I am soooo glad you have a thread; you are one of my favorites!

hehe Your dogs are beautiful and your horse is gorgeous!!! Any plans for where the honeymoon will be?

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 3:03:25 PM
Author: Skippy123
Oh Iwanna, I am soooo glad you have a thread; you are one of my favorites!

hehe Your dogs are beautiful and your horse is gorgeous!!! Any plans for where the honeymoon will be?

Hi skip!!

Thank you soooo much!

The honeymoon well I am a little concerned with hurricane season and all. FI wants to do Hawaii, which is fine but seems like an awfully long way to fly and will be expensive. I would mind doing a Sandals resort or something.

Any suggestions? What did you do?

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 2:52:00 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/19/2008 2:45:00 PM
Author: iwannaprettyone
Budman!

Ooh he is gorgeous!!!

Thanks!!! He is a babe. I swear he thinks he is a big dog.

 

[gwendolyn]

Awww, they''re all beautiful!! Those dogs are beauties and that horse is so handsome!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/19/2008 3:06:32 PM
Author: iwannaprettyone

Date: 6/19/2008 3:03:25 PM
Author: Skippy123
Oh Iwanna, I am soooo glad you have a thread; you are one of my favorites!

hehe Your dogs are beautiful and your horse is gorgeous!!! Any plans for where the honeymoon will be?

Hi skip!!

Thank you soooo much!

The honeymoon well I am a little concerned with hurricane season and all. FI wants to do Hawaii, which is fine but seems like an awfully long way to fly and will be expensive. I would mind doing a Sandals resort or something.

Any suggestions? What did you do?

Gosh, I don''t know. hehe I guess it depends on what you like to do; I have never been to a Sandals resort (I heard they are beautiful)!! We went all over Italy for our honeymoon; with the dollar the way it is I guess I would avoid Europe. I love Hawaii, that is where I wanted to go for our honeymoon and finally convinced hubby after 2 years of being married to take me there; he now loves it. When is your wedding? How exciting, I love your invites btw.

That is a neat story about the friend who took you under his wing; I am sorry about his passing. He sounded like a wonderful friend you will always have fond memories of. Your FI sounds wonderful!

 

[miraclesrule]

Wow, such a captivating story!! I love how you can convey the Texas drawl in your writing. It must have been a culture shock for you to arrive in the south from London.

But I am a sucker for a romatic story and yours is one of the best ones I have ever read. It''s amazing how a man can clean up, eh? Ilove that so many of the gals on this thread had a destiny relationship with their SO. It''s ao heartwarming.

I sure wish I had a JB in my life. I am going to have to remember his mantra. It''s very appropriate. I am glad you have kept his memory alive in this thread.

 

[FrekeChild]

Wow. Fascinating so far Iwanna!!!Budman is a hottie! I love horses and miss them like crazy (I used to ride-English-when I was younger).

More more!!!!!And I like pictures!!!!!Hint hint!!!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/19/2008 11:30:57 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Wow. Fascinating so far Iwanna!!!Budman is a hottie! I love horses and miss them like crazy (I used to ride-English-when I was younger).

More more!!!!!And I like pictures!!!!!Hint hint!!!

Ok, what else??

 

[FrekeChild]

Anything else. More about the transition from England to Texas? (For the record, I am SO SO sorry you went from eng to tx-yuck!)

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/20/2008 5:46:36 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Anything else. More about the transition from England to Texas? (For the record, I am SO SO sorry you went from eng to tx-yuck!)

Funny thing is, I go back to UK on occasion and I am soooo glad I am in Texas now. It really is an amazing part of the world.

Hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, deserts and so much more!

This is my home, it is not much but it is in the country and I LOVE IT!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

oops forgot attachment

 

[miraclesrule]

Oh, it looks so peaceful out there in the country. How close is the closest neighbor?

 

[iwannaprettyone]

half a mile? It''s pretty peaceful.

 

[gwendolyn]

Nice! That is a beautiful place to live, with so much space between you and other people. I love it! That''s the kind of peace I would love to be able to find someday. Not anytime soon, though, with me moving to London and all.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

I don''t envy you living in London poppet! I am so glad that you and your honey will be together soon.

I am ready for my FI to move home. He lives 2 hours away right now, which isn''t far but it is inconvienient.

I am exhausted today. Recouperating from Bronchitis and laying in bed working on homework for summer school.. YUCK.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 6/22/2008 2:09:58 PM
Author: iwannaprettyone
I don''t envy you living in London poppet! I am so glad that you and your honey will be together soon.


I am ready for my FI to move home. He lives 2 hours away right now, which isn''t far but it is inconvienient.


I am exhausted today. Recouperating from Bronchitis and laying in bed working on homework for summer school.. YUCK.

Bronchitis? Oh no, that sounds positively miserable, and without your honey to dote on you to make you feel better! I hope you rest up and feel better soon. You''ve been to the doctor and are on antibiotics, I hope? (Haha, sorry, I know you already have one mom...

)

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 6/20/2008 5:46:36 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Anything else. More about the transition from England to Texas? (For the record, I am SO SO sorry you went from eng to tx-yuck!)

Starting school was really the most difficult thing. I had to take CLEP exams to figure out where abouts I was intellectually. Well, not to brag but I aced all of them so I had 2 years of blow off classes, fun stuff like art, theater, soccer, volleyball, welding (don''t ask)....

The accent made for a nice novelty in small town Texas, but the endless questions quickly became tiresome. I remember getting ready to go on stage for the schools production of "Black Elk Speaks" and a classmate saying "Ya fixing to go on stage?"...I must have looked at him dumbfounded, apparently "fixing to" mean preparing to do something. I use it all the time now lol

Another favorite, excuse the profanity reference is to say "Shut the front door"....which means shut up, or your kidding me. lol

One thing about Texas is the heat and the wind...my goodness.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

I went to the Dr. on Tuesday, but I must confess I am not feeling much better. FI came home on Friday and has been running around catering to my every need. Poor dear, he has been an angel and still tells me I''m pretty even when I know I look like crud.