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DON
LEMMON ASKS: First of all, what have you been up
to the past 6 months or even more recently if you want
to discuss that instead?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Well, I stumbled across
a really cool horse 2 years ago and found out he liked
turning and burning better than pleasure riding so I
started learning the ropes of barrel racing and contesting
in general and have been having an absolute ball. We
actually ended up Year end high point this past fall,
so the hubby and I had a boat load of trophies and goodies
to take home. I also became president of our local saddle
club and have been really trying to expand it to the
max with more shows and clinics for equine people to
enjoy. I decided in Feb 2003 to get back into modeling
and give it one more last shot.. I really miss it to
be honest and I miss the traveling. Not that I dont'
love OH, just that I like leaving every now and then.
I have some new modeling gigs in the works. I actually
was selected for the Women That Rock Calendar and will
be shooting for that in 4/03.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What would you say is the highlight
of your career so far, your career goal and the coolest
thing you've done the past 12 months? Do they compare?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: If we are talking horse
career, I absolutely love working with the kids at the
clinics and being a clinician.. If we are talking about
the modeling, boy that's a toughie because I'm so proud
of many of the magazines and calendars I've done it's
hard to nail down one.. I had a really good time at
the Hit The Beach calendar shoot down in Cancun,, that
one really sticks out to me and I also look back at
the days I did the Spring Break gig down in Daytona.
I have so many memories from down there, between the
Bike Events, Bikini Contests, all the wonderful friends
I've made.. It's really hard to nail down one. In the
past 12 months, the coolest thing I've done is the Sturgis
Rally for Camel. We had an excellent time last year
and I was able to get a day off and ride all over SD.
We did Mt. Rushmore, Crazyhorse, and DeadWood, and it
was just tremendous scenery all in all.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Who was the first person to tell you
getting into this profession was a crazy idea?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: My father of course..
He hates uncharted territory, if he doesn't know the
ins and outs of it, he's not comfortable with it.. I
always got the speak, "Just go to college and be
a vet, acountant, real estate agent, " ya da ya
da
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Have you made some good cyber friends
at your website that you have yet to meet in person
or people you know you wouldn't have gotten to if it
weren't for the web?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Oh definitely. I met
Tricia Wilds back in 1999 and we have stayed in contact
since. We had a blast in LV and in FL, and actually
we are getting together again in a few weeks when I
go to FL. Another one that I met and adore is Grace
Grimes.. I haven't talked to her lately, "boy I
need to email her" I have also made a great friend
back in 98 named Jim Lewchuck who is a super photog,
and will actually be hangin out and shooting with him
with whilst I'm down there. And you of course,, gosh
we started just emailing back in 97 when I first jumped
on the web and realized we lived a few hours apart..
Hey I'm going to King's Island this year,, wanna go?
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Funny how it usually works. We grow
up wanting to be firefighters or nurses, then rock stars
and actors, millionaires and then reality sits in. What's
your story?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Ya know,, I grew up wanting
to be a horse trainer or vet and when I passed out when
they were gelding a horse back in 10th grade, I knew
that was outta the picture.. I just knew I wanted to
be involved in the equine industry and luckily have
been able to stay in it all these years. I know judge
horse shows and I just love it. The modeling didn't
come into play until my senior year and that's when
I ended up in TEEN magazine.. I would have to say that's
when the wheels really starting turning, but I didn't
dive in head first until 96.. I was just treading along,
working at a local garage and riding the horses after
work. They taught me how to work on cars and still to
this day, I fix em' :)
DON
LEMMON ASKS: How many projects that we know of have
you done that you wish you hadn't and how many projects
are on a shelf somewhere that you wish weren't?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I wish I would have allowed
the Playboy Grapevine release back in 2000. I had begged
and pleaded with Doug Stigliter to pull it due to my
upcoming wedding and I wish to hell now I hadn't of..
That would have been able to up the anty for me and
I just pissed it away, so that one I regret bigtime..
Um,, I honestly can't really think of any projects I
wish I hadn't done. I mean, I was always pretty picky
and nosy about the jobs I would do and so forth.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Any stories of the negatives aspects
of your field that you want to divulge? Do not say no!
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Oh Don,, do you have
a year??????? You know as well as I do, there are plenty
of vultures out there. I really hate it when people
come up to be about there modeling experience saying
that they paid for classes, or paid for pictures.. It's
a real problem here in OH, we have a bunch of crooked
agencies in my opinion.. Thankfully I have no agencies
to thank for my success, because I wouldn't have had
any success if I would have waited for an agency to
do it.. I took my matters into my own hands and freelanced..
Yeah, it's more work, but you are in control of your
fate, not someone else. I also hear stories about industry
people trying to have nookie with the models and stuff...
Hey get references! I have never ever had that problem.
If you ask around, people will divulge the truth.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What are your 5 favorite websites besides
your own and mine?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Wellll, I like IWON,
cuz of the games and the fact you personalize it.. I
also like SpeedHorse.com,keeps me up to speed on the
horse world and All Recipes.com, I'm a closet cook by
heart, and of course Ebay, god love that site! And last
but not least, I go to Rebecca's Garden, since I'm a
gardener.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Got a secret you want to share? Tell
me something nobody knows about you, maybe it's not
a secret, maybe it's not anything special, but something
interesting about you that no one has ever asked you
about until now.
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Okay, don't laugh.. I
show flower specimens, baked goods, and flower arrangements
at my county fair every fall. Yes, I'm a true geek or
mrs. cleaver if you will, I enter about 5 different
classes in the flower specimens on Monday, yes I have
won the marigolds and mum division, and then I put in
one of my famous muffin recipes on Tuesday morning,
and then on Wed night I stay up till about 2 AM and
Thursday morning I enter about 3 or 4 arrangements in
the artistic division of the flower show , which I have
won 2 different divisions and was in the running for
Best of Show, so I'm a closet geek.. If the people out
there actually passed by me at the post office, they
would never recognize me.. I go into Wal Mart with my
shitkickers on and yes, people catch a whiff and look
at me funny.. Hey I gotta get groceries sometime HAHA
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What's the craziest thing you have
experienced in the industry to date or maybe something
you witnessed and didn't participate in that would shock
us, make us laugh or show us another side to things?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Um, well I did witness
something really shocking and I'm not sure how to say
it, but on one of the modeling, 2 of the models started
getting frisky with each other in the car and the first
thing I said was "Get a room" Ya know, have
some dignity man!
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Anything embarrassing ever happen to
YOU when YOU were trying to look cool? What?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: ah yeah. One time at
bandcamp.... he he just kidding.. But seriously, I was
dressed to the hilt down in Daytona one evening and
I thought I would try to wear these heels (momentary
labotomy) anyhow I see these guys that were well,,,
hot. and I'm strutting past trying to look cool, when
appartently sidewalk decided to change altitudes and
needless to say I bit it on the pavement, whacked my
chin,, oh yeah, it was really pretty let me tell ya.
Heck I looked suburnt I was so darn red in the face..
DON
LEMMON ASKS: The biggest lie about your industry
ever is:
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: It's easy to break into
modeling if you're hot.. hah, yeah right. Even noticed
really how many hot girls that are out there, that have
the very same goal in mind? Alot, and you have to be
aggresive and have a heck of backbone.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: The biggest PLUS FACTOR about your
industry ever is:
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: The obvious perks are
courtesy from nightclubs and other outings that know
you. The other big perk is the traveling that it allows
you to do.. I know people that spend thousands every
year, traveling, and ours is paid for, its a tremendous
opportunity, it really is and you have to thankful everyday
for you to get.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Have the people around you changed
since you got recognition for the things you've done?
Maybe those who werent so supportive in the beginning,
suddenly became supportive or possibly vice versa? They
became less supportive?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Nope, because around
here, I'm just ole' heather, nothing special, just the
wild and crazy girl in high school, that showed horses..
My parents are now very supportive which once I started
doing well and making a income back in 97, they realized
there might be a chance and to help me instead of hinder.
My hubby has become less supportive since we had married
back in 2000.. I don't blame him, he'd rather me be
at home at night instead of in Florida, SD, TX, or wherever
else I may end up.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What is your most frequently asked
question and/or what question makes you crazy whenever
someone asks but you somehow remain composed enough
to answer?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I know you're married
but wanna go out with me anyhow? God that one drives
me bonkers.. If you see a wedding ring on someone's
finger, respect it..ya know? What are you really going
to do with your life? Oh gosh, that one drives me nuts
too, cuz the last time I checked, my bills were paid
in full, I have a good piggy bank, and Im' happy,, gesh,
I thought that was good enough for someone's life.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Some people think you when they see
a person on TV or film or in a magazine that they appeared
overnight. They do not realize the work it takes to
get the smallest plug from the media or that meeting
the right person just one time can open up 1000 doors.
However, what is the deal with so many less than talented
or seemingly deserving people handed a golden opportunity
overnight these days? Are we really to believe Ben Affleck
is a great actor? That Britney Spears is a vocalist?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I see it more in singers
than actors.. There are some groups,, I'm just like
how???? How did they get here and who possibly is backing
them financially.. I think there are some talented vocalists
that aren't getting the break they need or the credit
they deserve either.. Personally I like Ben Affleck.
I think he's a pretty diverse actor, I think he looks
great on screen in a multitude of parts, and also has
something very believable about him..I think he gets
into character pretty darn well. I don't know the guy,
so I could be way wrong.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Tell me a joke!
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I gotta good one for
you, that is clean but funny!!!!!!
This elderly lady went to the doctor for a checkup.
Everything checked out fine. The old lady pulled the
doctor to the side and said, "Doctor, I haven't
had sex for years now, and I was wondering how I can
increase my husband's sex drive."
The doctor smiled and said, "Have you tried to give him Viagra?"
The lady frowned. "Doctor, I can't even get him to take aspirin when he has a headache," she claimed.
"Well," the doctor continued, "let me suggest something. Crush the Viagra into a powder. When you are giving him coffee, stir it into the coffee and serve it. He won't notice a thing."
The old lady was delighted. She left the doctor's office quickly.
Weeks later the old lady returned. She was frowning and the doctor asked her what was wrong. She shook her head.
"How did it go?" the doctor asked.
"Terribly, doctor, terribly."
"Did it not work?"
"Yes," the old lady said, "It worked. I did as you said and he got up and ripped his clothes off right then and there and we made mad love on the table. It was the best sex that I'd had in 25 years."
"Then what is the problem, ma'am?"
"Well," she said. "I can't ever show my face in McDonald's again."
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What is your favorite music album of
the year so far and what music group or album do you
listen to most often?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Okay, I'm going to get
stoned by the village when I say this.. I personally
don't know what's been released this year so far, but
in my CD player is a Nelly, Missy Elliot, and Hank Williams
Jr. I know it's night and day, but I love all kinds
of music
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Tell me something about yourself you
feel people tend to forget because you have a bit of
recognition for what you do.... And maybe tell me something
else they do not realize either....
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I'm still very human,
I make mistakes, I try hard, and I will never snub anyone..I
think all people are equal and deserve respect, I wasn't
raised like that.. My parents would disown me if I were
ever a snob. I love making people laugh, being a good
ear for my friends, and really try to set a positive
example for others.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Who is the most intriguing person in
your business besides yourself? Why?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I don't think I'm intriguing..
I'm different in many ways, but I think everyone has
something unique about themselves. I think Shania Twain
is pretty intriguing.. She just does her thing and doesn't
care much what others in the industry think.. I like
the fact she lives in Switzerland to conceal her identity
and just goes about normal life.. It's wonderful and
empowering in book.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Who should hang up their hat besides
Don Lemmon? Why?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Oh Don, the world would
no where near as interesting if we took you out of it..
You have staying power my friend. Your tenascity, humor,
and kind words will keep you around for many years.
Well, I'm glad to see Britney Spears taking a break..
I don't think she should hang her hat up, but I think
she just needs to go back home for awhile and sort things
out.. Figure out where she started from and get her
goals back in line again.. My daughter and I actually
love Britney, but I just feel there was a little too
much , a litte too soon.. She got thrown into the spotlight
at an early age, and when you are growing up in front
of the camera and you have thousands of opinions being
thrown at you, it's very hard to keep that light at
the end of the tunnel as to your goals and so forth.
It goes back to who are your real friends and who are
out to take a piece of you with them.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Tell me the last good mainstream movie
you can remember seeing in a long time that was in theaters,
and the last good video you rented:
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: Actually I just watched
Sum of All Fears and loved it.. I'm way behind on my
movies.. I did watch Jason X, which is the most stupid
movie I have ever seen in my god given life.. I'm a
horror movie buff, but this was awful.. I did like Halloween
Resurrection, though.. I'm going to watch the Ring hopefully
this week
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What is the TV show you watch the most?
What one do you miss? From say childhood?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: The Shield.. I love it
and wouldn't miss a Tuesday night episode for the world..
I turn my ringer off on my phone when it starts. I miss
Dukes of Hazard.. I have great memories from that show,
every friday night mom and dad would lay out a big blanket
on the floor and me and my sis and mom would make brownies
and order pizza, yep those were the good days :) Plus
John Scheider was the hottie back then.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: Ever had someone from school or an
odd job back in the day try and track you down after
realizing it was you doing what you do?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: no not actually..
DON
LEMMON ASKS: If you were anyone else besides yourself,
who would you be (even for just a day, on a good day)
and who did you emulate growing up? Do you still emulate
or try to be like them now?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: I'd be Kelly Yates, the
world famous barrel racer, making a 14 second run..
If I died doing that, I would die happy. As far as modeling
goes.. I always looked up to Paulina Porizkova. She
was the only model that had the square jaw line like
mine and I liked the way she posed in her pictures.
DON
LEMMON ASKS: What did we forget?
HEATHER PARISO REPLIES: You forgot to ask me
where I want to be in 30 years? I want to be with my
horses of course, hopefully with a handfull of grandkids
to play with , living the country life, and of course
still entering my baked goods and flowers at the fair!