1. A few months before starting this blog we had never painted brick, ripped up a carpet, upholstered a chair, made a headboard, caulked anything, changed out hardware, or tackled most of the projects now featured on our How To page. We learned by doing, and that willingness to learn is what led us to share tutorials and ideas as we picked up new skills.
2. Our license plate says “Burgrr” — custom plates were only $10 here, so we couldn’t resist the fun and silly choice.
3. John’s middle name is Freeman in honor of his grandfather (his first name honors his other grandfather named John).
4. My first name is actually not just Sherry — it’s Sherry-Beth. My mom thought it had a nice flow, but growing up I preferred to go by Sherry to avoid sounding overly country. Adopting the shorter version felt more natural and helped me fit in.
5. The irony of my “good ol’ girl” name is that my mom’s side of the family is very Italian. Her full name is Diana Teresa DeCesare LaPadula, and I have relatives with names like Vito, Carmen, and Dominick. My brothers and cousins have more typical names — Daniel, David, Adam, Tim, Jennifer — so Sherry-Beth stands out a bit in that line-up.
6. John kissed me first, which surprises people who know us because he’s the quieter, more reserved one while I’m usually louder and more outgoing.
7. John used to do improv comedy in college and in New York City after graduating, but he stepped away from that scene once he realized he preferred regular sleep and daytime routines. Many of his improv peers went on to become well-known — he knew people who later appeared on shows like 30 Rock and SNL.
8. I had a tumor in my airway (between my nose and my throat) in middle school. It was benign, and after two surgeries I recovered fully. I also had teeth that developed toward the back of my throat and had to be gradually pulled forward with wires — a painful process at the time, but well worth it for a normal smile. I still joke about asking my mom what I ate in utero to end up with all those quirks.
9. John doesn’t drink. Not a drop. He never has, and coworkers quickly learned that after a few office happy hours. He was always fun and engaging without alcohol, never the person you had to escort home. His self-control and confidence in social settings were part of what attracted me to him. Update: We’re not Mormons — that’s a popular internet rumor — but it’s untrue.
10. John and I tried out for The Amazing Race when we were still just friends on the brink of dating. Our pitch was that the race would either make or break any chance of a relationship. We didn’t get a callback, which in hindsight was probably a blessing: my poor sense of direction and outspoken personality paired with his quieter nature might not have made the best team. Still, John has great map-reading skills, a strong sense of direction, and can run — all things that would make him a strong contender with the right partner.
That was a fun little Friday detour from the usual posts. What about you? Do you have any surprising facts that might blow us away? Did any of the things above surprise you — number 1, number 9, or number 10? We’d love to hear your stories.