How we met
At work, November 1998. Unbeknownst to her, Li was being quietly stalked from the very beginning. While away on business in Colorado one week, her Christmas cactus was being voluntarily cared for by Dan, who generously added MiracleGro to its drinking water every day. Terry Sherman, Li's then-roommate and and fellow coworker, astutely commented to Li, "I think he likes you." This statement was even more profound when taken to account the fact that Sherman is not one to voice such strong opinion unless the conversation is about whether or not Nintendo is coming out with a new version of MarioKart.

Dan continued to stalk Li for several months before inviting her to a party at a friend's house one snowy weekend in January 1999. They show up at friend's house, only to find they had interrupted their host's lazy Sunday afternoon. The party was yesterday. Dejected and a little embarrassed, Dan walked Li back to the car, grabbing a hold of her hand so she would not slip on the icy pavement. This act of gentlemanly kindness was not lost on her, and so several years later when Dan asked her to marry him, she said Yes.

The Proposal (a lot of you asked)
The date was September 11, 2000. Li had just returned from a short weekend visit to Atlanta. While at home in Atlanta with old high school friends, there was much speculation as to when Dan would pop the question. Li pretended she didn't know, but she knew it was going to be soon. She knew The Ring had been hiding somewhere in their apartment for at least a month but could never locate it.

She also did not want to let on too prematurely because she would then lose $150 or so to Tim Storc, with whom she made a rash bet many years ago as to who would be married first.

In any case, that silly and totally non-binding bet did not matter much at all once Li returned to Boston. Before going to bed, Duckworth and Pig (two stuffed animals from FAO Schwartz) decided to put on a one-act play with the help of Dan. The play was entitled, "How Dan and Li met" (please refer to paragraph #1 at the top of this page for a recap).

There was much skipping and hopping and laughing in this play, but just before the final curtain closed, the mood suddenly turned serious. Dan --portrayed by Duckworth -- turned to Li -- protrayed by Pig (haha!) -- and said, "We have been very happy so far, but there is just one more thing I need to be completely happy." He then knelt down on one fuzzy knee, and, well, here we are, planning a wedding!

VanBuren and Baxter, our other halves
Outwardly, they're just two cats. One orange tabby, the other black tabby. But inwardly, they mean so much more. When Dan proposed to Li, he knew he was also proposing to VanBuren and Baxter. Over a bowl of freshly poured CatChow, VanBuren and Baxter both meowed "yes."

The Lore of Cat and Duck
Li = Cat. Dan = Duck. Li + Dan = CatDuck.
Now before you gag because it is just so gross, we did not formulate these names for each other. Indeed, Li got her nickname in college from her good friend Anne Stowell (who just HAPPENS to be nicknamed "Kitty" herself ). And Dan got his name from some dude at work because Dan used to do this thing where he would quack like a duck at meetings and...well anyway, as you can see, it is a long and potentially confusing story. But the point is, somehow these names have stuck. I only use "Dan" when he has left the toilet seat up, or something like that, ha ha.

Today
We are enjoying homeowning life in Boston. Futons and halogen lamps are slowly being replaced by sectional sofas, real mattresses, and floor lamps from Pottery Barn.

Li is currently the sole breadwinner of the family as all three men -- Dan, VB and Baxter -- are at press time, jobless. There is unlikely hope for VB or Baxter, but there is hope for Dan yet. He is right now busy at home baking cookies and fixing dinner, I'm sure, while Li is at work producing this very important web site. Hey Dan don't forget, NO raisins in the oatmeal cookies this time OK? Don't make me say it twice. (Actually, Dan has thus far proven to be a superior house-spouse, more than Li was when she wasn't working. You read it here, don't make me say it twice.)