Who Italia-Come On Down, You''re the Next Contestant!

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/22/2009 2:15:57 PM
Author: princessplease
Oh, an LV???!!! Any pics to share???

I am buying it in Las Vegas. It''s our tradition. He bought me my first one on our honeymoon in Vegas...second one on our first wedding anniversary in Las Vegas...and so on...

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Wow, he gave you a LR AND a LV???? You lucky girl you! Post pics please

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/22/2009 2:18:17 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Wow, he gave you a LR AND a LV???? You lucky girl you! Post pics please

I am clearly bad with the posting picture thing. I will try to gather everything...house, car...pictures and post them...I''m just lazy, and frankly I struggle to post pictures here because I struggle to find names...

 

[monarch64]

Date: 7/22/2009 1:08:34 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 8:38:49 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Italia, I noticed in the flutes thread that your anniversary was this week. Congrats!! Did you and Mark do anything fun? Did you get anything pretty???

Oh, thanks! Yes, I had a lovely anniversary. Mark gave me a Land Rover and we have a tradition that he buys he a LV purse. I cooked dinner, we took it easy. It was so weird having an anniversary during the week...maybe I''m alone in feeling like every one should be on a Saturday. We have a very relaxing and casual night. It was lovely.

Happy belated Anniversary! Can''t wait to see the new LV, do you know which one you''re getting yet? Btw, did you guys get married downtown or in the suburbs? Do you have pics or a wedding thread over in BWW? I bet your wedding was fab.

I hear you on struggling to post pics, sometimes it takes me a couple of days to take the pics, upload them to my computer, then find time to get them posted. As far as naming, them??? I just use different numbers and the same names for each pic within one album. Hey, don''t you have an iphone? You need to learn how to take pics on the spot and post them to PS straight from your phone!!!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/22/2009 3:08:24 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 7/22/2009 1:08:34 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 8:38:49 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Italia, I noticed in the flutes thread that your anniversary was this week. Congrats!! Did you and Mark do anything fun? Did you get anything pretty???

Oh, thanks! Yes, I had a lovely anniversary. Mark gave me a Land Rover and we have a tradition that he buys he a LV purse. I cooked dinner, we took it easy. It was so weird having an anniversary during the week...maybe I''m alone in feeling like every one should be on a Saturday. We have a very relaxing and casual night. It was lovely.

Happy belated Anniversary! Can''t wait to see the new LV, do you know which one you''re getting yet? Btw, did you guys get married downtown or in the suburbs? Do you have pics or a wedding thread over in BWW? I bet your wedding was fab.

I hear you on struggling to post pics, sometimes it takes me a couple of days to take the pics, upload them to my computer, then find time to get them posted. As far as naming, them??? I just use different numbers and the same names for each pic within one album. Hey, don''t you have an iphone? You need to learn how to take pics on the spot and post them to PS straight from your phone!!!

Thank you, thank you!

I am leaning heavily towards the Galleria GM. But it always depends on seeing them for myself and carrying them on shoulder.

Mark and I got married in Lisle. It was a blast...I loved every minute of it. We thought about getting married DT...but we had so many OOT guests, I needed a centrally located space...easy highway access, airport access, travel.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 7/22/2009 2:45:28 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 2:18:17 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk

Wow, he gave you a LR AND a LV???? You lucky girl you! Post pics please

I am clearly bad with the posting picture thing. I will try to gather everything...house, car...pictures and post them...I''m just lazy, and frankly I struggle to post pictures here because I struggle to find names...

LOL lack of an imagination is no excuse young lady. My pic names are usually dnfljkshgjklns.jpg or something like that. It can be a PITA to have to resize them all so I feel your pain.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 7/22/2009 3:24:17 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 3:08:24 PM
Author: monarch64

Date: 7/22/2009 1:08:34 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 8:38:49 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Italia, I noticed in the flutes thread that your anniversary was this week. Congrats!! Did you and Mark do anything fun? Did you get anything pretty???

Oh, thanks! Yes, I had a lovely anniversary. Mark gave me a Land Rover and we have a tradition that he buys he a LV purse. I cooked dinner, we took it easy. It was so weird having an anniversary during the week...maybe I''m alone in feeling like every one should be on a Saturday. We have a very relaxing and casual night. It was lovely.

Happy belated Anniversary! Can''t wait to see the new LV, do you know which one you''re getting yet? Btw, did you guys get married downtown or in the suburbs? Do you have pics or a wedding thread over in BWW? I bet your wedding was fab.

I hear you on struggling to post pics, sometimes it takes me a couple of days to take the pics, upload them to my computer, then find time to get them posted. As far as naming, them??? I just use different numbers and the same names for each pic within one album. Hey, don''t you have an iphone? You need to learn how to take pics on the spot and post them to PS straight from your phone!!!

Thank you, thank you!

I am leaning heavily towards the Galleria GM. But it always depends on seeing them for myself and carrying them on shoulder.

Mark and I got married in Lisle. It was a blast...I loved every minute of it. We thought about getting married DT...but we had so many OOT guests, I needed a centrally located space...easy highway access, airport access, travel.

Central location was key for me, too, I got married in Oak Brook, we had a ton of OOT''rs as well.

The Galleria is a really cool bag! I like that you''re getting your anniversary gift during Mark''s b-day trip, that was smart!

He doesn''t need to have ALL the fun, lol!

 

[monarch64]

Italia, I just thought of something else, I always want to ask people from Chicagoland about this because it''s such an interesting topic to me: do you have any good "sopranos" or "connected-type" stories? It seemed like, when I lived there, everyone had a fun tale to tell about who they knew who might be "connected" or that type of thing. My ex-SIL is a teacher and tutored a family who was supposedly a known mob family. I loved watching The Sopranos, and I''m just utterly fascinated by any movie like Goodfellas, the Godfather movies, etc., so living around Chicago and hearing all the fun gossip was awesome.

Also, whatever happened with the Drew Peterson case? I remember you posting about that because I think you said you were in pretty close proximity to where he lives or something. Craziness!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/22/2009 10:38:15 PM
Author: monarch64
Italia, I just thought of something else, I always want to ask people from Chicagoland about this because it''s such an interesting topic to me: do you have any good ''sopranos'' or ''connected-type'' stories? It seemed like, when I lived there, everyone had a fun tale to tell about who they knew who might be ''connected'' or that type of thing. My ex-SIL is a teacher and tutored a family who was supposedly a known mob family. I loved watching The Sopranos, and I''m just utterly fascinated by any movie like Goodfellas, the Godfather movies, etc., so living around Chicago and hearing all the fun gossip was awesome.

Also, whatever happened with the Drew Peterson case? I remember you posting about that because I think you said you were in pretty close proximity to where he lives or something. Craziness!

Haha. I have no "mob" stories. I''ve been on the mob tour of Chicago, if you ever get the chance--and it interests you--go! Very informative and interesting.

I think, in general, Chicago is very "connected" place. I imagine many deals are one hand washing the other, you know what I mean. It does seem like every week a "new" something is coming up, someone is out of the fire and into the flame.

As far as Drew P....there is a huge gag order on the whole thing. Not a word. The "public" doesn''t hear anything anymore--not locally and certainly not nationally. I think it''s done to keep a jury pool clean, but maybe to finally shut Drew up. He''s still in prison.

I will tell you though, being so close...the day he was arrested, there was "feeling" in the air. People seemed joyful he was finally being held accountable. I''m sure anyone who followed the case was excited...but being "close" to location, we felt it deeper. There were flyers in car windows, and store fronts when Stacy went missing. Searches were held every day. The team actually searched behind my medical building which is located in Bolingbrook--my parking lot is a "cop hangout" after business hours.

I''ve read both books on the case. One made Drew out to be a stone cold killer, the other made him look misunderstood. It was interested exposing myself to both books. Its like the saying goes, no matter how flat you make a pancake it still has two sides. One of the interesting theories about the case was offered by the pro-Drew book...it took its roots in the Riley Fox case, the little girl who was raped and killed. Her father was arrested in the case. Eventually DNA cleared him. The Riley family eventually sued the state, and walked about with a large sum of money. In tune with that, the author suspected that prehaps Stacy is alive...that Drew and Stacy cooked up a plan for her to disappear until a time when Drew was arrested for her murder. Once she turned up, Drew would be released and could possibly sue the state for an un-Godly sum of money. But...it''s just a theory. She''s been gone for a long time...and I doubt any mother could stay away from her babies, by choice, for that length of time. I just pray for closure for her family.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 7/23/2009 8:18:37 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/22/2009 10:38:15 PM
Author: monarch64
Italia, I just thought of something else, I always want to ask people from Chicagoland about this because it''s such an interesting topic to me: do you have any good ''sopranos'' or ''connected-type'' stories? It seemed like, when I lived there, everyone had a fun tale to tell about who they knew who might be ''connected'' or that type of thing. My ex-SIL is a teacher and tutored a family who was supposedly a known mob family. I loved watching The Sopranos, and I''m just utterly fascinated by any movie like Goodfellas, the Godfather movies, etc., so living around Chicago and hearing all the fun gossip was awesome.

Also, whatever happened with the Drew Peterson case? I remember you posting about that because I think you said you were in pretty close proximity to where he lives or something. Craziness!

Haha. I have no ''mob'' stories. I''ve been on the mob tour of Chicago, if you ever get the chance--and it interests you--go! Very informative and interesting.

I think, in general, Chicago is very ''connected'' place. I imagine many deals are one hand washing the other, you know what I mean. It does seem like every week a ''new'' something is coming up, someone is out of the fire and into the flame.

As far as Drew P....there is a huge gag order on the whole thing. Not a word. The ''public'' doesn''t hear anything anymore--not locally and certainly not nationally. I think it''s done to keep a jury pool clean, but maybe to finally shut Drew up. He''s still in prison.

I will tell you though, being so close...the day he was arrested, there was ''feeling'' in the air. People seemed joyful he was finally being held accountable. I''m sure anyone who followed the case was excited...but being ''close'' to location, we felt it deeper. There were flyers in car windows, and store fronts when Stacy went missing. Searches were held every day. The team actually searched behind my medical building which is located in Bolingbrook--my parking lot is a ''cop hangout'' after business hours.

I''ve read both books on the case. One made Drew out to be a stone cold killer, the other made him look misunderstood. It was interested exposing myself to both books. Its like the saying goes, no matter how flat you make a pancake it still has two sides. One of the interesting theories about the case was offered by the pro-Drew book...it took its roots in the Riley Fox case, the little girl who was raped and killed. Her father was arrested in the case. Eventually DNA cleared him. The Riley family eventually sued the state, and walked about with a large sum of money. In tune with that, the author suspected that prehaps Stacy is alive...that Drew and Stacy cooked up a plan for her to disappear until a time when Drew was arrested for her murder. Once she turned up, Drew would be released and could possibly sue the state for an un-Godly sum of money. But...it''s just a theory. She''s been gone for a long time...and I doubt any mother could stay away from her babies, by choice, for that length of time. I just pray for closure for her family.

Your experiences with the Drew Peterson case are very interesting! See, I figured you were true crime book fan and I was right! That''s another reason I thought you''d have some mob stories to share, I guess. Anyway, I remember the same *feeling* you describe (ok, similar feeling, since I was in the near west burbs but you were obviously way closer to the actual "alleged" scene) going on. There weren''t flyers on cars or anything, but at work I recall that all of us were glued to the radio and internet all day long listening to Drew call in to gloat and be an a-hole in general. I didn''t realize he was in prison! I''ll have to backtrack and research the story again so I can catch up. Very sad situation. I hated how he used his 15 minutes of fame to degrade Stacy and try to get his ego stroked. It was sickening.

One of my theories on her disappearance is that he had connections and she joined the WPP. I''m probably totally off-base, because it would obviously be impossible for a mother to stay away from her children just to save her own life. But...stranger things have happened, ya know?

How''s the Vegas trip planning coming along? It''s coming up in the next few weeks, August, right? You must be getting excited!!! Oh, and anything ever happen as far as progress on the Jag purchase?

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Hey Monarch

Yes, I do like true crime. Some cases. Drew struck an extra cord with me simply because it was so close--I don''t think I''ve ever been as interested in any other crime case.

The WPP is an interesting theory. I never really thought of it. I think I just get hooked on the fact that he was so boastful about the whole thing...total d-bag. He''s in jail for killing his 3rd wife right now, Kathleen Savio, and is awaiting trial.

As far as the jag goes...we ended up buying one on Tuesday. It is a black XJR. Beautiful car. We looked at many other jag''s...trying to find the right one, but nothing fit. I wanted to buy him a classic car, but I wasn''t prepared for the "risk" involved. So, we ended up at the Jag dealership, same as Land Rover, so they worked with us since Mark just bought from them the week before and just bought a car off their lot. It''s a great car. Supercharged, fully loaded...a great "cruiser" car. It isn''t what I invisioned when I started this process, but it isn''t my car, his happiness is what counted the most. We''ve added a few features that are stictly for fun...a DVD player in dash, we''re adding some blacked out rims. And this fits his idea of a fun car, so I''m all good.

I haven''t given up on the idea of a classic car...neither has Mark...we''ll continue to look and when we find the right one, it will join our fleet.

His party...is in full swing. I''m ready. I''ve ironed out the kinks, and now I''m just in "count down mode". I cannot wait! It''s going to be fantastic. I finished "welcome bags" this week, and they are super cute.

Thanks for asking!!

 

[bebe]

one word:

PICTURES

ya gotta know you can''t tell us you just got all these new pretties and not share

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/24/2009 8:21:13 PM
Author: bebe
one word:

PICTURES

ya gotta know you can''t tell us you just got all these new pretties and not share

I will post some this weekend, I just need to get on the ball. I''m so bad with the picture thing.

 

[bee*]

Date: 7/24/2009 8:21:13 PM
Author: bebe
one word:


PICTURES


ya gotta know you can''t tell us you just got all these new pretties and not share

ditto! I would love to see pics-the car and the bag sound fab. When is your Las Vegas weekend?

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/25/2009 10:03:50 AM
Author: bee*

Date: 7/24/2009 8:21:13 PM
Author: bebe
one word:


PICTURES


ya gotta know you can''t tell us you just got all these new pretties and not share

ditto! I would love to see pics-the car and the bag sound fab. When is your Las Vegas weekend?

We leave for Vegas August 11th and return the 18th. So a few more weeks. I''m stalking my bag on their site though!

 

[loriken214]

I wanna see, too, please and thank you!!!!

Lori

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/25/2009 9:58:19 PM
Author: loriken214
I wanna see, too, please and thank you!!!!

Lori

Add me to the list that want to see the pics!!!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I promise that at some point I will get the pictures taken, uploaded and posted.

It''s on my long list of things to do!

I apologize for not being more on top of things...although it''s not an excuse, I''ve been busy. Today has been emotionally/mentally exhusting. I was planning on doing pictures...but you know what they say about the best plans...

 

[monarch64]

Date: 7/24/2009 8:18:17 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Hey Monarch

Yes, I do like true crime. Some cases. Drew struck an extra cord with me simply because it was so close--I don''t think I''ve ever been as interested in any other crime case.

The WPP is an interesting theory. I never really thought of it. I think I just get hooked on the fact that he was so boastful about the whole thing...total d-bag. He''s in jail for killing his 3rd wife right now, Kathleen Savio, and is awaiting trial.

As far as the jag goes...we ended up buying one on Tuesday. It is a black XJR. Beautiful car. We looked at many other jag''s...trying to find the right one, but nothing fit. I wanted to buy him a classic car, but I wasn''t prepared for the ''risk'' involved. So, we ended up at the Jag dealership, same as Land Rover, so they worked with us since Mark just bought from them the week before and just bought a car off their lot. It''s a great car. Supercharged, fully loaded...a great ''cruiser'' car. It isn''t what I invisioned when I started this process, but it isn''t my car, his happiness is what counted the most. We''ve added a few features that are stictly for fun...a DVD player in dash, we''re adding some blacked out rims. And this fits his idea of a fun car, so I''m all good.

I haven''t given up on the idea of a classic car...neither has Mark...we''ll continue to look and when we find the right one, it will join our fleet.

His party...is in full swing. I''m ready. I''ve ironed out the kinks, and now I''m just in ''count down mode''. I cannot wait! It''s going to be fantastic. I finished ''welcome bags'' this week, and they are super cute.

Thanks for asking!!

XJR''s are, indeed, beautiful cars! So happy to hear that you and Mark found a car for him that makes him happy! Now *taps foot* what exactly is the purpose of an in-dash DVD player? I''ve sat in Chicago traffic enough times to know that distractions like that can lead to fender-benders, miss! Is it something he wanted to have for his favorite passenger so she wouldn''t be bored? LOL!! Ps, what are "blacked out" rims? Did you go to Patrick? I hear they''re great...I was ISO a pre-owned Saab/BMW/lux car a couple years ago and was told several times that Patrick is great to deal with.

I did hear about D. Peterson going to jail for the Salvio charge, i totally forgot about that when I posted earlier. What is it with the last name Peterson/Pederson and wife murder?! (Remember Scott and Laci?)

Glad to hear things are coming together for the Vegas trip. It sounds like you''re a party planning extraordinaire! I worry about your Dinner-In-the-Sky experience...I''m amazed that you got so many people on board to actually do that! I went to the Top of the Rock experience at Rockefeller Center a few years ago when it opened and I was freaked out by it, but it was fun. I''m not really afraid of heights, but I can''t imagine having wanted to enjoy a meal so high up! Your welcome bags sound really fun, everyone loves Vegas and I bet you will all have a great time out there. It''s awesome that everyone involved was able to take time off work to come join you both--true friends!

Hope you''re having a great weekend! Looking forward to pics *someday soon!* LOL!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/26/2009 12:23:27 AM
Author: monarch64

Date: 7/24/2009 8:18:17 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Hey Monarch

Yes, I do like true crime. Some cases. Drew struck an extra cord with me simply because it was so close--I don''t think I''ve ever been as interested in any other crime case.

The WPP is an interesting theory. I never really thought of it. I think I just get hooked on the fact that he was so boastful about the whole thing...total d-bag. He''s in jail for killing his 3rd wife right now, Kathleen Savio, and is awaiting trial.

As far as the jag goes...we ended up buying one on Tuesday. It is a black XJR. Beautiful car. We looked at many other jag''s...trying to find the right one, but nothing fit. I wanted to buy him a classic car, but I wasn''t prepared for the ''risk'' involved. So, we ended up at the Jag dealership, same as Land Rover, so they worked with us since Mark just bought from them the week before and just bought a car off their lot. It''s a great car. Supercharged, fully loaded...a great ''cruiser'' car. It isn''t what I invisioned when I started this process, but it isn''t my car, his happiness is what counted the most. We''ve added a few features that are stictly for fun...a DVD player in dash, we''re adding some blacked out rims. And this fits his idea of a fun car, so I''m all good.

I haven''t given up on the idea of a classic car...neither has Mark...we''ll continue to look and when we find the right one, it will join our fleet.

His party...is in full swing. I''m ready. I''ve ironed out the kinks, and now I''m just in ''count down mode''. I cannot wait! It''s going to be fantastic. I finished ''welcome bags'' this week, and they are super cute.

Thanks for asking!!

XJR''s are, indeed, beautiful cars! So happy to hear that you and Mark found a car for him that makes him happy! Now *taps foot* what exactly is the purpose of an in-dash DVD player? I''ve sat in Chicago traffic enough times to know that distractions like that can lead to fender-benders, miss! Is it something he wanted to have for his favorite passenger so she wouldn''t be bored? LOL!! Ps, what are ''blacked out'' rims? Did you go to Patrick? I hear they''re great...I was ISO a pre-owned Saab/BMW/lux car a couple years ago and was told several times that Patrick is great to deal with.

I did hear about D. Peterson going to jail for the Salvio charge, i totally forgot about that when I posted earlier. What is it with the last name Peterson/Pederson and wife murder?! (Remember Scott and Laci?)

Glad to hear things are coming together for the Vegas trip. It sounds like you''re a party planning extraordinaire! I worry about your Dinner-In-the-Sky experience...I''m amazed that you got so many people on board to actually do that! I went to the Top of the Rock experience at Rockefeller Center a few years ago when it opened and I was freaked out by it, but it was fun. I''m not really afraid of heights, but I can''t imagine having wanted to enjoy a meal so high up! Your welcome bags sound really fun, everyone loves Vegas and I bet you will all have a great time out there. It''s awesome that everyone involved was able to take time off work to come join you both--true friends!

Hope you''re having a great weekend! Looking forward to pics *someday soon!* LOL!

Ha! The DVD player is just for fun. It was something extra he''d enjoy having, so why not? The blacked out rims are simply black rims. His whole car will be black on black with cream leather (of course). We figured if it wasn''t going to be classic...and only a year or two old...why not make it special in another way?

I don''t know what it is with the Peterson last name. There was also an author with the last name Peterson who killed his wife. Scary.

I spoke with everyone about the Dinner In The Sky event...and gave them a total "out" if they weren''t up to it. Everyone seemed pretty excited. Mark is friends with a lot of lil'' dare devils...they ride motorcycles, most are cops. It was honestly a pretty easy sell. I mean, we''re only up in the sky for like 30 minutes.

 

[monarch64]

I think even I could handle 30 minutes as far as the Dinner in the Sky thing...last time I was in Vegas we did the Stratosphere revolving restaurant, that was pretty fun even if the elevator was awfully shaky when we got above the 90th floor! But, I''d already done dinner on the 95th floor of the Hancock building, so I guess that''s why it wasn''t a huge deal...most of your friends have probably done that as well.

If you and Mark get a chance and want to do another crazy fun thing while in Vegas (you may have already done this since you''ve been there before), you should do one of the helicopter tours of the GC, with the champagne brunch landing within the canyon. Super fun, but I had a panic attack on the flight out when we did it! I was alright after some champagne, maybe I should have had a drink before we took off.

They''ll give you a DVD of your experience, it''s a nice souvenir to take home, you can re-live the excitement!

 

[Indylady]

Italia, I just wanted to say that I love reading your posts and I am so glad that I stumbled upon this thread!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/29/2009 10:24:54 AM
Author: szh07
Italia, I just wanted to say that I love reading your posts and I am so glad that I stumbled upon this thread!

Awe thanks, you''re sweet

 

[joflier]

Just wanted to pop over and say hey - glad to see you have your own thread! Your posts are always very thoughtful and encouraging!

So, do you plan to make Chicago your lifetime home?

 

[ams0124]

So my computer just ate my post...darn! Note to self: need to remember to copy before I post

Anyway, Italia I just saw you have your own thread and I''m thrilled!! You''re one of my favorite posters here, your responses are always so insightful. It''s been great reading about you and Mark...he seems like a wonderful man and a great husband!

I''m with everyone else who would love to see pictures...home, wedding, the welcome bags that you''ve been working so hard on

, etc. Whatever you''d like to share.

Thanks again for sharing your story with us! I''ll have to think of some questions to ask you

 

[LilyKat]

Hi Italia!

I just came across this thread by accident - I''m pretty new here, but I''ve already noticed how thoughtful, helpful and kind your posts always are. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don''t mind?

- how do you manage to get up so early?! Do you go to bed really early, or just function on less sleep? Any tips for those of us who struggle to get up early?

- I also met my SO online. How did things progress for you? Did you know as soon as you met that he was the one? Do all your friends and family know how you met?

Sorry if I''m being nosy, feel free not to answer anything you don''t want to.

 

[Indylady]

Date: 7/30/2009 10:36:32 AM
Author: LilyKat
Hi Italia!

I just came across this thread by accident - I''m pretty new here, but I''ve already noticed how thoughtful, helpful and kind your posts always are. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don''t mind?


- how do you manage to get up so early?! Do you go to bed really early, or just function on less sleep? Any tips for those of us who struggle to get up early?

- I also met my SO online. How did things progress for you? Did you know as soon as you met that he was the one? Do all your friends and family know how you met?


Sorry if I''m being nosy, feel free not to answer anything you don''t want to.

Same question! How do you wake up so early?

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I guess I can wake up early because it''s whats my body is used to. No great secret.

I don''t have a "bed time"...I go to sleep when I''m tired, sometimes its as early as 7p or as late as 1a. But regardless, I get up at the same time each morning. I usually give myself a 15 minute buffer--thank God for snooze. I take a shower, lotion, brush then wrap myself up in a big fluffy robe and head back to bed for another 30 minutes. I have curly hair--so instead of fighting with that, I take 30 minutes to snuggle my dogs and husband. My 2nd alarm chimes, and I hop up and get dressed, kiss everyone good bye and head off.

As far as meeting Mark...I expected nothing. Actually, less than nothing. The first picture I ever saw of him lowered my expectations, he was wearing a huge black cowboy hat and a big ol'' belt buckle. I was horrified, lets be honest. But, I still agreed to meet for coffee--which is the perfect first date. In walked this very refined man who was handsome and funny, and he dressed nicer than I honestly thought--he was wearing very stylish basket weave leather shoes, lightly pressed black pants, a very modern collared shirt with perfectly matched cuff links. He was dreamy. We had a great first date, and I was excited--but realistically cautious.

Within the first few weeks, I knew. It wasn''t one thing that flipped switch--there were big things and little things. I had been in a really bad relationship before and was engaged, so I knew but I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It didn''t. He kept on being amazing, and he was first to speak of marriage--I didn''t. Within a good two months of really perfect happiness, I knew for sure that this was it.

People laughed at first...3 months and engaged, that''s nuts. But I spent so much time with him that if he had been playing me for a fool, keeping it up would have almost been impossible. He never hesitated introducing to his family, friends, co-workers. He was very open and loving and I knew in my gut this is who he is, there is no hidden agenda or BS behind it. That made it easy for me, after 3 months, to make a life long commitment to him.

So yes, it moved quickly but I didn''t go into it husband-hunting, I let it just take its natural course. I think thats what made it work.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 7/29/2009 12:38:56 PM
Author: joflier
Just wanted to pop over and say hey - glad to see you have your own thread! Your posts are always very thoughtful and encouraging!

So, do you plan to make Chicago your lifetime home?

Chicago is home. Someday we may move, but I''ll always be from here. I''m very lucky to have these roots and I can''t imagine loving anywhere more--although a beach would be nice.

 

[joflier]

Date: 7/30/2009 7:07:05 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 7/29/2009 12:38:56 PM
Author: joflier
Just wanted to pop over and say hey - glad to see you have your own thread! Your posts are always very thoughtful and encouraging!

So, do you plan to make Chicago your lifetime home?

Chicago is home. Someday we may move, but I''ll always be from here. I''m very lucky to have these roots and I can''t imagine loving anywhere more--although a beach would be nice.

Well, Lake MI isn''t far away!

So how exactly does the internet dating thing work? Do they match you based on your personality? Likes/dislikes, hobbies? I''m just curious, because I could see that perhaps being an option for me in the future.