Who have you met on the Internet? I'm discussing On-Line Dating on my show

[Radio_Lady]

in connection with the opening of the movie "Must Love Dogs" with Diane Ladd and John Cusack -- and I need your help.

Have you found that special someone -- or know someone who has -- through the Internet? Are you willing to tell me your story either by being interviewed by telephone, private messaging me, or just writing your journal here?

I'll also contact you (please make sure you have Private Messaging activated) if you wish. If this thread goes well, perhaps we'll have a couple of good laughs together! I actually met my husband through a NEWSPAPER AD he placed in the Boston Globe looking for a housekeeper! This was in 1972, when there were no personal ads. I was doing my talk show on WEEI-AM in Boston; he was a sales manager at a local computer company. We are the same religion and he is five years older than I am. Would you say that it was fated? You bet!

It's a neat story, and I'll reveal it to you as we go along together. I kind of became his housekeeper, but I told him the ad just kind of called out to me. He was a widower; his first wife had died of cancer at age 34, leaving him alone with three kids. I brought two youngsters to the family, and we raised five kids together. It's been a pretty nice life since our wedding in February, 1973.

Here's the movie synopsis:

Plot Summary for "Must Love Dogs" (2005)

Sarah Nolan, a young pre-school teacher, is looking for love. After a series of disastrous, but hilarious, dates she decides to swear off dating for good. Her well-meaning family and friends are not going to let her give-up quite so easily though. They enroll her in on-line dating where she meets what could be her perfect man, but... he loves dogs and his ad states that she MUST LOVE DOGS also. Sarah doesn't though - in fact she can't stand them. So she borrows a dog to impress him with hilarious results. Can she overcome her dislikes to enjoy a relationship with her new found love or will both two legged and four legged friends intervene?

Links to this movie are at:
http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0417001/combined

We'll be previewing the movie tomorrow (Tuesday) night, and it opens wide in most locations on Friday, July 29th.

So, who HAVE you met on the Internet? I'll be checking for YOUR reply!

In peace,

Radio Lady

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. My husband!

The ever-so-sexy and amazingly wonderful reprehensor. :loveya:

We'd be glad to help.

:hi:
FSC

PS- Edited to add.... many wonderful internet cousins doing genealogy!

[Radio_Lady]

3. Cool! I'll need some idea of how it happened, where you are, whether

you might be available to take a telephone call on FRIDAY, JULY 29th at your home or office. I'd call you from Portland, OR from the radio station. I get started at around 8 AM Pacific Time (please convert for YOUR time zone and tell me what works for you).

You can PM me with the details, but I guess it would be better to tell me a little about how it happened... I'm all ears...

[Scout1071]

38. I hope your husband and cousin aren't one and the same.

I'm just saying.

[Radio_Lady]

39. Hey, hey -- that's internet cousins... if you get my drift.

That's OK in most states. You go sit in the straight chair, Scout1071. We prefer it to the straight JACKET...

[fudge stripe cookays]

42. No worries, Scout.

Although we have both traced ancestry to Quebec in the 1700s.

His ancestors were DOING the scalping, and mine were on the receiving end, if ya know whutta mean.

:-)
FSC

[crispini]

2. Well, I met a nice guy,

but we didn't hit it off, and I introduced him to my friend, and they are now engaged! So there ya go.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Oh, maybe that will qualify! Nice idea... is he a DUer? What site

were you using, etc. etc. Inquiring minds want to know.

By the way, I will READ your account or story if you can't tell it to me by telephone (station pays for the call). Post it here or PM me.

Also, if the thread is kept active, I'll be able to post information on WHEN the show can be heard on the Internet, and HOW YOU can hear or record it.

Are you planning to see this movie? It's getting some "preview" reviews already at:

http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0417001/usercomments

We -- the movie reviewers of America -- are usually asked to wait to review the film until the day that the films open wide (in most or all markets). But many people don't have that obligation, or ignore it completely. Sometimes the publicists for the studios "embargo" reviews. In other times, movie reviewers heeded those messages -- but now? All bets are off.

Keep those cards and letters coming... oh, heck ... just write and push "Post message" ...

[crispini]

15. Well, I was using, um,

Salon.com personals -- they're a syndicated personals site, I think it's the same personals as "The Onion" and "Nerve.com" -- I think they're really Spring Street Personals or something. Anyway, he and I went out for coffee a couple of times but there wasn't a whole lotta "there" there. Then a month or two later I was out at a concert with a girlfriend of mine and ran into him and he later emailed me and asked me if I'd mind passing on her email address and I did so and there ya go! :7 This was about a year ago and they're still dating and are engaged. Yay!

[Radio_Lady]

Crispini, that's a neat story. I guess this is more of a business venture

than I realized, but these "verbal chains of love" are intriguing, too. I've heard of Match.com, but didn't realize that Salon.com had personals, too. I read some of their movie reviews there.

What a nice gesture! I will research these sites a little more so I can discuss this on my show.

You can be a part of it, or just listen to it. Just let me know.

[progmom]

4. my best friend

we met on a rickie lee jones discussion board.

on edit - but i guess that doesn't really count as dating, then, does it?

[Radio_Lady]

11. Well, I was hoping it would be more of a "we got together and

married and lived happily ever after" -- but I understand. You are computer friends, then?

[Lisa0825]

5. I have met dozens of people in person from the internet....

no serious relationships, but plenty of long friendships. One of my best friends began as an internet buddy. My brother is married to a woman he met online. I've had a lot of fun internet dating, but haven't made a major connection so far. But the friends I've made online are gold.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Wow! We're supposed to be meeting up with a DUer in August --

he PMed me and I responded yesterday. He's probably working today so haven't heard about that yet.

Are there any funny or weird experiences you'd like to relay? Anything will be grist for this mill. I haven't been single since 04/02/73, but I've had a few flirtations -- especially in chat rooms on the Usenet in the early 1990s when I talked about my show.

Would your brother like to chat with me or sign on to tell HIS story? That would be peachy!



Off topic: I just had the most delicious peach. Yum! Let's hear it for summer fruit!

[Lisa0825]

19. My brother is kinda shy, but his wife may want to talk.

I'll ask her.

I was just thinking about it, and I actually have more friends in real life who I first met online, than who I met in person originally. I'm very grateful for all the folks I have met on the net! :loveya:

Funny stories.... oh here's a cute one. I met a girl named Tara through mutual friends one night. We went on to be good friends for a couple years. One night, we were talking about internet dating, and it turns out that we had dated the same guy at different times and neither of us liked him because we both thought he was really boring! We'd both met him through the same dating site (matchmaker.com) and this is in a city of 3+ million people!!! The net makes it even a smaller world!

[Radio_Lady]

23. That's excellent? Whoda thunk it? Three million people? Wonder

what the odds are of THAT?

I love the name Tara, but don't know how to pronounce it. I was once corrected by a marketing person when I said it one way; she wanted the other. Can't find the diacritical (or whatever) marks to explain it to you hear. People are really sensitive about their names, aren't they?

[fudge stripe cookays]

43. We're grateful for you too, sweetie!

FSC, who "first" met Lisa driving around in a van in Ames, Iowa in January 2004!

[terrya]

6. I'd like to, but...I'd have to check with my partner first.

I'm not sure if he'd want to have me mention it.

May I get back to you? :-)

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. Go ahead

Just make sure you say how wonderful I am in bed.

[terrya]

12. Well, I'm not sure if I should discuss that on here.:-)

Thanks. I saw this post and thought I could talk about us.

SHMILY,
T

[Radio_Lady]

20. Just PM me and I'll give you more details. I don't exactly understand

your hesitation, but assume you would be more comfortable PMing me?? Your move...

[terrya]

21. No. no...Intravenous Demilo is my partner.

I was referring to talking about how good he is in bed on here. :-)

[Radio_Lady]

25. Well, it's out now. Let's see if the moderators leave it out, if you know

what I mean.

By the way, you all should see the movie "March of the Penguins" -- what we animals do for sex (and love) is pretty interesting compared to what the Emperor penguins do -- doesn't even compare!

Read about this amazing flick and see it if it comes to a theater near you. Excellent documentary! Rated an "A" on Radio Lady's Entertainment Report Card.

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0428803/combined

[Radio_Lady]

24. What can I say, Intravenous? You're wonderful in bed, we all know it!

[Radio_Lady]

10. Of course. No problem. I just remembered something funny ...

After we began seeing each other, he told me he had previously signed up with a computer dating service, and he had been out on a few dates, but nothing had worked out, before me. Also, after I began to spend more free time at his home (read: almost live together, but kept my apartment in Boston for many months), he continued to receive telephone calls.

Sometimes I answered as if I were the housekeeper! Lots of women clients who got his name and telephone number and they kept calling him for months. But there was no internet; that was the difference.

We laugh about all the gals I fended off!

[terrya]

16. Well, I just got the go ahead.

I met my partner online...on a gay message board. We hit it off right away...just clicked. We emailed and found more of an attraction. Then we exchanged pics and REALLY were attracted. A glich...I live in Chicago and Doug, my partner, lives in Toronto. But...we found that we were really attracted to one another. And so...we made plans to meet. We decided that I would go up to Toronto (hey, I'd never been there and wanted to visit. What better excuse?). I took the train...14 hours. I got off the train, a bit tired...and scared. Thie was the big moment...I didn't know what would happen and I had butterflies in my stomach. But...as I walked into the train station, I saw Doug...holding a sign with my name on it...with a big smile on his face. And then...my heart melted. I fell in love with him then and there.

And that was 5 years ago. We're still apart...it's difficult sometimes. But I'm trying to get up there. But...I want to thank him. He's been so patient with me. I just hope he realizes that he's the best thing to ever happen to me. I was so sure I couldn't find someone. How did I know I would find the man of my dreams?

Well...that's my story. That's OUR story. :-)

Terry

[Radio_Lady]

27. Terry, that's so wonderful! I am happy for you -- this is coming from

a 66-year-old woman, wife, mother, stepmother and grandmother who has been married three times (count 'em!). My husband calls himself my "current" husband (what a joker!).

I once worked with a gorgeous woman named Joan C. in the beauty industry. We had a fabulous day together, calling on her salon clients and we went to a bar for a light dinner. After one or two beers, I told her that she was so beautiful and talented that I could really feel the vibrations -- and if I had an ounce of homosexuality in me, she'd be the one!

I hope this doesn't sound like a rendition of "some of my best friends are gay" -- but I actually fell in love in high school with my drama teacher, Ernest Montgomery, who was my favorite teacher. I copied his handwriting and wrote him long letters and was intensely seductive (of course, he never responded). One day, he told me he was in love with a man who was in a movie -- was it "Spartacus"? I don't recall. I think he even told me his name. Sad ending: this teacher commited suicide by putting his head in a gas oven over some stupid accusation at the high school that he had stolen some money. That was in May 1956. He is buried in Johnson City, Tennessee. It was a real tragedy.

My best book publicist from Boston is a lesbian woman. They got married the first day they could in Massachusetts -- I think it was legalized on May 17, 2004 -- am I right? Her partner just did a show with me on HER new book. She's a wonderful writer. Their picture appeared in USA Today when they were married.

May I read your story using your -- what do we call it now -- screen name on my shoe? Do you want to chat with me on Friday morning? It's up to you. It's Oregon Public Broadcasting, a PBS station in Portland, OR. Let me know.

By the way, I know that Canada just passed laws allowing gay marriage. What happens if an American wants to marry a Canadian? That's pretty interesting!

[Radio_Lady]

17. Sure. I hope this thread stays up for a couple of days. Kick it if

you're a regular.

Here's the ad my sweetie placed in the Boston Globe:

"Live-in housekeeper for widower and 3 loving, helpful child(ren), ages 9, 12, 14. (Name of Massachusetts town) home w/ pool, own bedroom w/ TV, salary arranged start September Telephone XXX-XXXX, if no answer: XXX-XXXX"

I had no reason to even be looking in the Sunday paper in the help wanted section that day! I was fully employed with a SIX-day a week, four hour a day radio show. I was alone in a rented apartment with two small children, ages almost 2 and 3. I had two previous husbands and didn't want to get remarried. The father of my children told me he didn't love me anymore in 1971; we divorced in early 1972 and I got the job in Boston. I arrived on May 15, 1972. I don't even know why I cut the small ad out and put it in my wallet. Forgot about it for about two weeks... (to be continued...)

[BikeWriter]

22. A suggestion. Your story would make a fascinating book in itself. :-)

[Radio_Lady]

28. Thanks, BikeWriter! If someone wants to write a book about this

subject, they're welcome to it! I don't have the time or inclination to write books -- but I review them on the radio. That's the main thing I do is interview authors.

Actually, I didn't write a book about it, but another topic that I latched on to is non-custodial mothers. I had a medical problem in 1980 and my two young children moved to another state to live with their father and stepmother when they were 11 and 10. Under pressure, I had to agree to let him have them until they were 18, and paid him child support. I appeared on radio and TV extensively speaking on that subject, and did a show with Phil Donahue and another one with Oprah Winfrey. There was a huge influx of mail and I organized a national support group for women who did not have custody of their minor children for any reason. I put 6,000 women together in an organization called Mothers Without Custody, Inc. and was the founder and first president of that group. Other people succeeded me and the group may still be listed in some places in the US.

In the 1980s, a psychologist named Geoffrey L. Greif (that's right, "e" before "i") and co-author Mary S. Pabst actually wrote a book called Mothers Without Custody -- not sure if it's still in print. So, welcome to my world.

[BikeWriter]

50. Hey, Lady. You have 100% of my respect for your accomplishments...

and activism. My children experienced the abusive child support system from 180 degrees opposite of yours.
I continuously sent evidence to the authorities my ex and children were being abused in a certain redneck state. If I'd known to what extent I'd have ridden up and broken a lightweight's arms and legs.

[Radio_Lady]

72. Sounds tough, BikeWriter. Not sure of your gender or the circumstances,

but it sounds tough. Are you still involved in this situation? You put it in the past tense, so I hope everyone made it through OK.

BTW, I like your blue moving gears... neat.

I used to ride a Raleigh bike with the older style hand brakes (just a bar under the handles) when I went to UCLA. It was pretty beat up, but it got me to and from class. When I moved to New York City in the early 1960s, hated using the subway and buss system. After I got married in 1963, my husband I and bought two three-speed Raleighs, and I used to bike from Third Avenue and 28th Street to midtown Manhattan to various jobs. Just locked up the bike on a post and never had a problem -- no Kryptonite locks then. I remember my husband's bike was stolen.

Oh, and I biked in full regalia for the office -- wearing a dress with stockings, high heels, and had my hair done a few days a week to keep me from being too windblown. There was no such thing as business casual. The Con Edison guys used to whistle at me.

Found this photo of me in high school, taken at the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, Florida. (I wore that bathing suit once, and washed it in cold water in the bathroom. It shrunk before my eyes into something that looks as if it were made for a doll -- it was made of 100% wool. Itchy, but pretty, at least for that day. I took it back to the store and they gave me my money back.)

[Orsino]

8. My wife found me....

...on Match.com ten years ago last month, back when it was still a free service. We were both divorced, and sick of games, so there was no BS--just two people honestly interested in each other. Two weeks later we had the best first date in the world, during which we seriously discussed marriage, and we made the engagement official a couple of months later. Not sure when, really; it sort of just grewed. We actually married a year after we met, and it's been bliss ever since.

So we sorta say that we just had a tenth anniversary, though on paper it's just been nine years.

[Radio_Lady]

30. Wonderful story, Orsino. Oh, the Shakespeare Tavern -- I don't know

about it. Where is it? I have to learn to do those HTML hyperlinks.

Yes, we had a 33rd anniversary of our meeting in June, 1972 a few days ago. I spoke first with his sister at the original telephone. I told her I wasn't applying for the job, but just wanted to speak to the man who had placed the ad. He called me at my apartment. I can still remember staring out the window of my tawdry, tiny little walk-up apartment at 1706 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, MA, looking at the street lights. He now says I was nice, but talked fast and sounded "a little desperate" (What do you mean, a little?) After asking him his age and his religion, I told him, "If you're interested, come on over here and let's go out "Dutch treat" (do people still say that?) for Chinese dinner." He showed up at the appointed hour, and we walked to the restaurant a few blocks away on Chestnut Hill Avenue in Boston.

A couple of years ago, our nephew got married in Walpole, MA. On that trip, we briefly went back to the restaurant -- different name, different owners, but we shared a hug and dinner again. A moment in time that changed everything for us.

[Orsino]

44. Also met many gamers via the Internet.

As I write this, my wife and I are gaming with a couple of people she met online in the nineties. They're good friends, and we get to see them annually at DragonCon. We'll spend an evening at the Shakespeare Tavern (downtown Atlanta, walking distance from the convention) for Julius Caesar.

[Radio_Lady]

69. Julius Caesar? (OK, but I'd have guessed "Romeo and Juliet")

"Et tu, Brutus?"

[Orsino]

74. After having seen it there a couple of times, we're sick of R&J.

The rampant sexism in Shrew also irks us.

I haven't seen JC, though, in more than twenty years, since dozing off in an uncut version in Williamsburg.

[Radio_Lady]

75. Have you ever heard of Ashland, Oregon? Shakespeare almost year round!

If you ever get a chance to come to Oregon, it's just a wonderful place... We went once for a weekend and enjoyed it very much. Here are a couple of links:

http://www.orshakes.org/
http://www.orshakes.org/tickets/theatres.aspx (shows Angus Bowmer Theater)
http://www.orshakes.org/tickets/todayat.aspx

They do other plays at the same time as Shakespeare. We actually saw a comedy by George F. Kaufman comedy called "The Royal Family," very loosely based on the Barrymore family. You may not be familiar with it, but it was hilarious.

Information at:

http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=7658

[Orsino]

77. Yep. I lived in Eugene briefly in the eighties.

Never got to Ashland, though. Dammit. I loves me some Shakespeare.

[Ariana Celeste]

14. My SO and I found each other-

as far as we're concerned we're married. :) Just haven't gone through the legalities yet.
I was in a tough relationship with a guy and had started spending more and more time at my mom's house again, surfing the net and chatting in the rooms I used to chat in. My SO and I had been online acquaintances for some time before then but never really close. Between him and my mother and my other online friends, I got the strength to leave this guy who was being neglectful, and hurtful. I started talking more and more often with my SO and we discovered how much we had in common, and it felt like things were just falling into place- we could finish each others sentences even at that point. It was only weeks of chatting before I bought a one way ticket to Indiana (I lived in Washington State) to be with him. We didn't bother meeting at first- the only precaution I took was an extra $500 in case I needed to fly back home for any reason.
That money was spent on the two of us within a couple of weeks. :7
We've lived together for a year and a half now, and couldn't be happier! We've met each other's families, and I talk to his mom regularly online- we're good buddies and talk about everything. My SO and I can do anything and everything together. We share the same ideologies with just enough difference to allow the occasional debate, which we both thoroughly enjoy. We learn from each other, and learn together.
We recently got a puppy together, whom we think of as our first kid. :)
Things couldn't be better.

[Radio_Lady]

31. Great story! I'd love to speak with you on the radio, but no one has

come forward to take a telephone call on Friday, July 29th. OK if I read your story on the air and use your screen name only? I'll post more information on how YOU can hear the program as soon as it gets scheduled, most probably the following Monday (08/01) in the afternoon.

A puppy? My beautiful Cocker Spaniel "Buffy" was my first child with my second husband! When I got to my "current" husband, we each had a dog. Regrettably, his dog, a Keeshound mix, chased children on bicycles and people on motorcycles and almost bit someone in the neighborhood. We had to find him a home in Carlisle, Massachusetts, on a farm, where the people guaranteed me he'd never see a bicycle or a motorcycle. My stepkids have never forgiven me for that, but that's another story...

After Buffy passed away at age 14, and all the children had gone away to marry or to school, we bought Spicy, my beautiful Sweet Spice of Alpen Knoll (a "faux" kennel we put together in name only with a Scrabble board, using letters from our two names). Spicy bounded out after a snowstorm and was killed instantly by a four wheeled vehicle. Both dogs are buried in front of our former home in Massachusetts. We are now child and pet-free travelers of the world...

[Ariana Celeste]

33. Of course it's ok!

As for a phone call, not sure. I get very nervous and start to stutter and sweat. But you are more than welcome to use my story, and if you want any more details, free to PM me anytime. :)

I'm sorry about your dogs. :hug: My little girl is 11 weeks old, a german shepherd chow mix named Peanut of the North. Housebroken by 9 weeks, taught herself how to fetch already, she's super smart. She gets very jealous of me when my SO pays attention to me, it's too cute. He is obviously her favorite.

[Radio_Lady]

34. OK. Not a problem. I'll use your story and post a message about

how to hear the show.

Ariana Celeste -- what a gorgeous name! It sounds just heavenly.
What does Ariana mean? I've heard this name, but never known what it represents.

Thanks for remembering sweet Spice. She only lived with us for four delightful years. At least her end was quick. The car came down the road in January and it was over in a minute. The young man who was driving stopped and said he was so sorry. My husband was so moved he wrote a little poem about her called "The Best Little Dog in the World." Now I'm getting all teary-eyed...

I used to train dogs in New York City when I lived there. Mostly purebred dogs, but a German Shepherd/Chow mix -- does she have a black tongue? That must be one beautiful dog.

The people who run the radio station are totally or legally blind. The program manager has a German Shepherd named Iris. She's very sweet, but has a loud and scary bark. I love dogs, but don't have the time to care for one now. Just my hubby -- he's my one pet!

[bertha katzenengel]

18. Mrs. Venation and I met on the internet.

I don't have time to tell the whole story. We've been together for five years. I moved across the country to be with her. We're deeply in love and committed for life.

Oh -- and we're lesbians. And they tell us that two men together or two women together do not make a marriage. Baloney.

[Radio_Lady]

32. Right on, my friend. See my previous posts.

Much luck and love to you. One of my best friends in high school has been in a commited relationship with her Susan in the state of Maine up into the 1990s -- and still is, as far as I know. I see she is still listed on www.switchboard.com at the same location. We are coming up to our 50th High School reunion next year. I hope I get to see them both again. We spent a wonderful weekend and she is in business and provided me with two special braided rugs I still have in my bedroom. Red-white-and-blue true...

Thanks for sharing.

By the way, the lesbian publicist I mentioned up thread shares her name with her spouse, and vice versa. So it's like the husband using the maiden name of the wife along with the reverse. I did see that only one other time with the minister of the church I went to with my grandson. Luckily, both the man and the woman had one syllable names! Great idea!

Looks like using hyphenated names for the children or the wife in traditional marriages is going out of style. Too bad. I still use my maiden name (my father's surname) in my career, and my husband's name in my personal life. Having been married two times before, means I've got more names than God (really!), counting the names I used on air, etc.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. I've met a bunch of really nice people

on Nancy Kalish's website, lostlovers.com. I contacted my high school sweetheart (NOT by way of the internet, by the way) in 2000 after 37 years apart, and we both realized that despite the long period of no contact, we were still very much in love with each other. One problem -- we were both married to other people. This website is a support group for people dealing with issues that arise in such situations. I was very active there for the three years it took us to work out our situation (we're now married to each other), and I made many dear friends there, several of whom we've met face-to-face.

The internet is such a wonderful invention.

[Radio_Lady]

35. Very nicely told, Blue...! Totally heartwarming! I saw a TV show about

ex-Mayor Rudy Juliani's ex-wife (can't recall her name). Same thing happened to her -- she reunited with a high school sweetheart and they are happily married.

Yes, the Internet has changed our lives so much. It's a deep and profound change, maybe like the automobile or the airplane -- but more. Someday, perhaps, we won't have to pound these keys -- my fingers are just tingling and I have to take a dinner break.

Keep those stories coming. I'll be back...

By the way, I have told my husband I wanted to be cremated and my ashes scattered when I die. Today he retorted, "Hey, no problem. You've been scattered all your life!" Funny guy. He loves science fiction and he has told me he wants his head frozen when he dies. What can I do with those directions?

Food... now... back later after a couple of hours.

[khashka]

29. My story

I met a man on the internet. We talked in email for a while. And then we met. And I fell absolutely, totally, head over heels in love with him. Still am.

This is where the story gets weird. He had just come out of a coma when I met him. Stabbed 23 times and hit in the head with an axe 3 times. Had to learn to walk again and never got all his vision back. His body was covered with scars and dealing with PTSD was a primer for hell.

A few freaking emails and I met a guy who was so screwed he could have been the movie of the week? And I fell in love with him? And he with me? And the thought he might have died and I'd never have met him makes it almost impossible to breathe?

My life is not a bed of roses and sometimes I wonder why God hates me so much. And then I look at him or think of him and I know I must be God's favourite son that He would bestow this blessing on me.

And all from a damn Internet connection :)

Khash.

[Radio_Lady]

36. There is an obituary in the Portland Oregonian today about a man

who had Lou Gehrig's disease. After he got the diagnosis, he decided to become a minister. He sounded like a wonderful fellow and died at 62. His present wife married him rather recently. He had to use signals to say "yes" to her. I think I got all the facts straight, but I'm typing this in a hurry. Don't believe me? Here's the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1122285413293480.xml&coll=7

What a strong thing love is!

[Radio_Lady]

37. Kick this for the night crowd. They're REALLY using the Internet...

What else is there to do? Look at the moon?

Let's continue on the other side with our discussion of on-line dating --

Are you going to see "Must Love Dogs"? I'm a sucker for romantic comedy (loving called ROM-COM in the industry).

Wonder if there's anything at:

www.rom-com.com
www.romcom.com
www.romcom.org

(I hope these aren't XXX rated. If so, mods will kill this post...)

Now try these (none of them are mine)

www.radio_lady.com (won't hyperlink... wonder why?)
www.radiolady.com (oh, I know -- this one's in Italian)
www.radio-lady.com (nothing here)
www.radiolady.org (nothing here)

[Radio_Lady]

40. R U serious, Khash? How DO you DO it?

God doesn't hate you. Why blame it on Him?

Sometimes I think that God gets the short end of the stick.

Thank you, God -- when something goes right.

Damn you, God -- when something goes wrong.

It's OK. The universe may be more accepting than you think.

In peace,

Radio Lady

[khashka]

45. I R Serious

And I do it the same way we all do.

As for God... I don't believe he works that way really. We rise or fall by our own grace or our own mistakes. God notices but doesn't cause it, we do. And He is proud of us or not proud of us, as we deserve.

Khash.

[AlienGirl]

41. I met Everythingsxen here on DU

He moved to Seattle to be with me, and we are engaged.

I also met my former roommates (and good friends) online, though not here on DU. One of them is a DUer now, but I dunno if she wants me to tell who she is!

Tucker

[Radio_Lady]

60. Haven't had much time to collate this thread (sorry -- it's so hot and

I went swimming today).

But I'll work on it by Wednesday evening for sure.

Appreciate all your PMs too.

We love Seattle! Get away there as much as we can (we're in Portland). We actually lived in Milton, Washington, near Federal Way, for six months August to December of 2000, while my husband had a software contracting job. We rented a small apartment at Surprise Lake. He worked 10 hour shifts, 4 days a week, Mon.-Thurs. Friday we left for home in Oregon and Sunday, back to Washington. It was fun -- I just kept busy with lots of projects and cooking, etc.

Last trip there was amazing -- had drinks and dinner at the restaurant on top of the Renaissance Madison, which is now a Marriott hotel, I believe. We stay there whenever we can.

In peace,

Radio Lady

[WindRavenX]

46. Mostly good

My last ex-boyfriend we met online thru democraticsingles.net, and it was great, until he went batshit crazy on me. Bi-polar is a nasty, nasty thing x(

Met my current SO from the internet as well- things are going well.

Oddly, the men I've dated off the 'net are just as insane as the ones I've dated online...so...go figure.

[Greyhound]

47. If you're still looking, my Love & I met through the DSN...

advertised on Air America. It was free then and we were both just looking to waste some time, debate some politics, and, for me anyway, have something to do besides flip channels on the propaganda box. They (DSN) used to have a chat feature on the site and that's where I found myself spending more and more time, due to the fact that I live in a very Repug area, of a deep red State, so it was refreshing to hear from people that don't believe *Co has a direct line to Almighty God. The dating horror stories I could tell you, but I digress. One of the more strident chatters was called NRH, and I found that I agreed with her on everything. Not only did I agree with her, but I constantly found myself posting the same thing, often word for word, that she just posted (she types much faster than I do, so it always looked like I was copying her). Soon the whispering (PMing) started.
At this point I should mention that she lives in another state, and I certainly wasn't looking for 'A Relationship', having become comfortable with the fact that I'm never going to want children and, therefore, there's no need to get married (I don't like the legal aspects), I would to spend the rest of my life building great memories with a series of willing women. Imagine my surprise to find that I am, apparently, sharing a brain with a woman hundreds of miles away.
The rest is pretty typical, I went to her to meet and check out the veracity of our internet claims, it was love at first type. She is exactly who she said she was, as am I. We finish each other's sentences, or even more commonly, start the same sentence together. There's so much more, you probably wouldn't believe it. I know that, at times, I don't.
She's moving here in 2 weeks. :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce: :hug: :loveya: :bounce:

[fudge stripe cookays]

53. greyhound, that's awesome!!

I love reading all of our common stories. Isn't it the coolest getting to know someone inside and out even before you finally meet in person?

Sharing a brain...that sounds about right! Congrats!
FSC

[Cerridwen]

54. Love at first byte.

It's a hackneyed joke now, but true.

I had just spent the last 7 years attracting some of the weirdest guys. A bit out of character since previously, I attracted mostly nice guys. So, after the most recent took the toilet seat when he left, I decided to "get over it" and accept the fact that I wasn't going to meet the kind of man I wanted in my life.

I wanted someone who was caring, compassionate, funny, intelligent, loved dogs and other animals, is kind, is progressive politically, likes to dance or who is willing to learn, has already has his family or isn't interested in having one (I'm 47 and I've chosen to not have children and I've already been a step-mom and helped "raise" my sister), who treats people with respect rather than derision, and someone who can see the "woo woo" side of life ("There are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.").

I threw my hands up in the air (metaphorically speaking) and said "I give up! He's not out there, he doesn't exist. Okay, time to move on."

I was home sick during the holidays. I was too sick to go out but not so ill to just "sleep it off." I went online and goofed around here at DU. Someone posted a link to a democratic singles site. I figured I'd check it out and see if I could find some people to chat with. I prefer chat to message boards as it's more immediate. After a few weeks of chatting with like minded people; what a relief that was in and of itself, I met Greyhound. I had seen his profile and picture at the DSN site and thought he had a kind face with that hard to pin-down thing known as "character." When he came into the chat room that evening, it seemed he was someone I'd like to get to know better. I was thinking more about making a new friend rather than any sort of a romantic relationship as he's 300 miles away and both our schedules were full. That, fortunately, was not to be.

We "clicked" almost immediately. We spent a couple of hours in chat trying to scare the other one off - "You think that's bad, well I've done xyz123 in my life. Run away. Go ahead. I know you will." To which the other would respond, "Oh yeah, well I've done abc456 in my life. There, I told you. Now YOU can run away." Two people who'd been burned and carried the hurts and wounds from past relationships and heartbreaks, exposing our scars to each other and waiting for the other to "walk away" in disgust. Text on a chat screen. I started to fall in love.

We messaged each other back and forth for what seemed like weeks after that; in fact it was only a few days. We started talking on the phone for hours and days on end. For the next couple of weeks my friends never saw me that I didn't have my phone to my ear. We met in real life just a couple of weeks after meeting in that chat room. Much to our mutual relief, the feelings and connections we experienced online and over the phone, translated into the real thing in the real world.

There's much more, let me know if you'd like to hear "the rest of the story."


edited to add: I'm off to work shortly and can't get to this right this moment but will continue if others care to hear the rest.

[Radio_Lady]

66. Cerridwen, I will use some of this on my show. I don't know what the DSN

is but you'll tell me if you have time.

You'll have to tell us the rest of the story -- just like Paul Harvey. Did you get engaged? Marry? Live happily ever after? (That's for fairy tales, I guess.) At least, tell us how you paid your telephone bill.

Just got home from seeing the movie, "Must Love Dogs" -- I'm going to review it on opening day, Friday, July 29th. Suffice it to say that it's good summer fare -- lots of laughs, and definitely brought back memories of our coming together.

John Cusack and Stockard Channing are excellent. I love Diane Lane, but she could have used just a tad better script or some different direction in this movie.

No children's OK with me... I interviewed the author of "The Baby Trap," a gal named Ellen Peck, AFTER I'd two of them. (Oops...) However, I did let them live with their father, my ex-husband, for about seven years. That helps.

More later because I've got to go to bed! I have a swimming "date" with my grandson tomorrow (read: my daughter has an appointment and I'm babysitting... but grandparenting is fun!).

[Radio_Lady]

61. Neat story. I'll get back to you tomorrow after the movie....

It's 91 degrees here. What to wear? Maybe naked, but they wouldn't let me in the theater because they'd be laughing so hard.. and pointing!)

[Beware the Beast Man]

48. Yes! My wife (fellow DUer Cathyclysmic).

We met in a Yahoo chat room little over 4 years ago. Neither of us had the intention of getting into a serious relationship, but we just fell for each other.

[Radio_Lady]

64. Chat rooms were very frantic earlier on. They looks like unassembled

plays to me with the quick exchange of thoughts.

I don't know if they're different now. Haven't visited them == message boards work very well, and private messaging adds to it.

We're lucky to have it! Wonder what it will look like in 100 years?

In peace,

Radio Lady, Lover of Communications (It was my major in college.)

[Dastard Stepchild]

49. Both my husband and a very serious girlfriend...

Both met on Yahoo Personals. The GF in 1999 and the husband later in 1999. Both are the true loves of my life.
I married the guy.... the gal I keep in touch with every few years.

With the husband, I was supposed to be in England with my family over the Christmas holiday, and I ditched them and stayed here in the US. I stayed behind because of another guy, but I ended up finding my husband's ad on Yahoo (after being thoroughly fed up with this other guy's antics).

The gal was a great lady from Ireland. She was in town for a month visiting friends. We almost didn't meet - we made plans to see a play at this small theater, but my friend and I arrived late. We walked in late and I inadvertantly sat next to her. She overheard me complaining to my friend after the play endedt. I was going on about how he ruined my night because he made us late and I missed the girl, and she overheard us and introduced herself. :)

[auntAgonist]

51. met my husband online in IRC chat.

married now for 5 years. I moved from Ontario to the USA to be with him.

[Radio_Lady]

67. Wow! Do you have dual citizenship or something like that?

I don't know anything about immigration for the purpose of marriage. Is that difficult? Do you have family still in Canada?

We're going to Victoria, BC, Canada on vacation in a few weeks. It's a beautiful place. I'd like to go to other places in Canada some day. Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has a program called Great Lodges of Canada which is amazing. I'd love to take the train across the Canadian Rockies. We've been to Montreal a couple of times and love the Jazz Festival.

My former husband and I spent our honeymoon in Quebec City. It was December 21, 1963, the longest night of the year. (No comment...)

Thanks for sharing today. Stay cool. I don't know where you are in the USA, but it will probably be a hot one in most places.

[auntAgonist]

70. I have

more than one citizenship. I'm a British Subject, born and raised in Scotland. I have Canadian Citizenship and I have permanent resident status here in the USA.
Getting residency here in the US wasn't difficult at all. I arrived in MI and married my husband, we saw a lawyer the following week and he prepared all the paperwork. It wasn't hard. Cost about 2000.00 by the time we were done.

well worth it to have an immigration lawyer handle stuff.

[Radio_Lady]

71. I know I'm late with this, but "welcome to America" -- wish it were in

better shape politically, but that's not the purpose of this thread.

We took a trip to Northern England and Scotland a few years ago and just LOVED it. We went to Glasgow, Isle of Skye, through the Scottish countryside and the best time of all in Edinburgh, where I danced with a man who was born on my birthday (May 31 -- he was in his 80s, and it was fun). We even tried the haggis at that dinner -- not bad! I love the wonderful Scottish music and have a CD of a local singer that I put on quite frequently. The trip included a little bit of time in London, and we vowed to go back.

My husband just told me we're going on a European holiday next year in the spring. It will consist of one week each in Paris, Edinburgh, London and New York City. We'll be away for a month! I'm pretty excited!

Only downside is -- we're limited to ONE piece of luggage weighing 44 lbs. on Air France. If you bring a second bag, you have to pay 3 Euros a pound. How do you pack for a month in one suitcase? That will be interesting...

My son-in-law was raised in the Detroit area and his parents and sister still live there, although his parents spend the winter in Boca Raton.

Gotta get going on this thread! Thanks for your input!

[EstimatedProphet]

52. I did meet someone online, but it didn't work out

She had a lot of security issues. She had gotten burned a number of times by men, and she refused to let herself feel things for men anymore beyond a certain point. We would spend every day for several hours either on the phone or on the internet talking, and when I did finally have the chance to meet her, we hit it off well. However, once it looked like it might become serious in real life too, suddenly she didn't believe there was anything to it and she claimed she was just humoring me.
It hurt a lot. But I'm now glad I didn't end up entangled with her.

[Radio_Lady]

62. Sorry, EstimatedProphet. Better gone than entangled inappropriately. n/t

Good luck in the future.

[scarlet_owl]

55. I met my husband through Yahoo personals.

We've been married close to five years now.

[Radio_Lady]

68. Another score for Yahoo. When they say, "Do you Yahoo?", it must

have a special meaning for you two, scarlet_owl.

Appreciate your joining the conversation :-)

[Radio_Lady]

56. GOOD MORNING, DU -- SHAMELESS LY GONNA KICK THIS --

so others can hop aboard. What is your story?????????????????

APPOINTMENT THIS PACIFIC MORNING, but then will get back to you... thanks for all messages.

[Wickerman]

57. This is a great thread

I "re-met" my now wife via email. I dated a wonderful gal in high school and college - for reasons of immaturity (mine) and such (hers) we broke it off and went our separate ways.

Flash forward 20 years and I find an email address for her. I send her an email to say hi and the emails never stopped. They turned into phone calls, visits, and eventually me moving across the country. Texas to Minnesota - brrr!

I found the job that allowed the change via the internet, and it happened to be in the same building she had just accepted a job in! Not bad for a town of 75k.

We are very happy and fall more in love each day. I love the internets.

thanks for a fun thread.

[Radio_Lady]

59. Thanks, Wickerman. I'm off to see the movie about on line dating

which is now receiving a few reviews. "Must Love Dogs" is opening wide on Friday, June 29th, the day I will be recording my radio show.

Appreciate your being a part of it. Great to hear your sweet love story!

In peace,

Radio Lady

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

76. We met here on DU

:loveya:

[Radio_Lady]

78. Do you want to PM me and be a guest on my show on Friday?

Sweet picture -- you're a really cute couple!

Cyndee_Lou_Who, if you want to talk about your relationship on my program, please PM me your telephone number. I would call you between 8 AM and 9 AM Friday if that's convenient. I'll give you more details by PM.

By the way, this is a no-stress RECORDED audio program which will be heard on Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Golden Hours." See my other posts for details.

Otherwise, I wish I had a TV show so I could show your adorable photo!

See my original posts about the show and how I met my husband of 32 years by answering his advertisement for a housekeeper in the Boston Globe. That was in 1972, before there were personal ads on the Internet!!!

[Radio_Lady]

79. Kick for the night crowd until the movie opens -- you can still jump on

board. (This is a busy day on the DU.) Did anyone have anything to add?