The Jay-boy and I aren't married, but are almost seven years into a domestic partnership. I met him on a Friday night at a bar while listening to the house Irish band. He was reading a book, I was curious what he could be reading that was so fascinating that he could concentrate on it despite the din and crush of people around him. So I asked (it was a Patrick O'Brien novel, if anyone was wondering). Several months later, he casually asked me what I was doing the next day. I told him: "nothing much, probably just laundry. Why?" He said: "wanttodosomethingtomorrowsomethingwithmenotreallyadate?" (yes, no spaces or punctuation anywhere in the sentence!) And he was looking out the window intently at the dark when he said it. I liked this guy okay, and saying no would have been like kicking a puppy. So I said "sure, why not." He was in a state of shock for a few seconds because he didn't think I'd say yes. We then decided on a trip to a maritime museum up the coast aways. I was late (as usual), and he was sure I'd finked out at the last minute. We had a great time and made a second date to go for a walk. I showed up minus my dog, and he made me go back for Clancy. Then we realize that we have the same three favorite poets. Our fledgeling romance survived several months of a long-distance relationship, and four months of living with his mother. We signed up with the city's domestic partnership registry when it started, and are as happy now as when we first started seeing each other.