Like many modern day romances it all started with an app - or two! After a few too many bad dates or getting my hopes up with online communication and then being let down in person, I knew that I needed to get the first date out of the way to figure out if the 'spark' was there. Shortly after matching with Michael - for the second or third? time, either I suggested or he did, to meet up for drinks ( we both love bourbon ) and Michael suggested Ale Emporium. I was fairly nervous and not sure how it was going to go, but after ordering wings and talking for hours (literally) I knew I wanted to spend more time getting to know this guy. The second date was what really impressed me, as Michael suggested going Frisbee Golfing, which was something I had never done. Michael took teaching me in stride and didn't laugh too hard when my first throw went directly into a building clear to our right. Our first summer was spent getting to know one another, introducing the dogs, (which we both agree would have been a deal breaker if they didn't get along), meeting one another's friends and learning one another's hobbies. It wasn't long before we were introducing each other to the families and planning holidays with each other. Michael has always supported my crazy - about a month into dating I found a trio of stray kittens in my neighborhood and he didn't blink an eye when I told him I was going to care for them until they could be surrendered to the humane society. He has embraced my hobbies - and often thinks I'm trying to kill him when I take him hiking with me. And I have embraced his along the way - I have gone to a number of his games and have even looked the other way when he's fallen on the ice. We even have shared a few as we have fostered 9 puppies & dogs over the past year, and added a permanent new member to the family, Sadie.

Caitlin and Michael met online. With both having a fondness for good beer and better wings, a first date was set for Ale Emporium. Both left after having a great time. After a round of disc golf (no barns were safe) and an impromptu lunch date at the Children's Museum, they decided to have the dogs meet. They've admitted this was a make or break moment. Fortunately, Steve and Luna got along well. Caitlin shared her love of tent camping, insisting that there was no need for the rain fly to be staked down. Michael was a true gentleman and ran around in the middle of the night staking it down in the pouring rain to stop the deluge flooding the tent. Caitlin humors Michael's love of hockey, even asking him if there's a game on that he wants to watch. She sometimes comes to his games, and will even pay attention for a little bit. After almost a year of living together, he got a ring. He presented it to her before going to a Monet exhibit. She said yes. And the rest will be a lifetime of making plans and having fun…