While visiting a climbing gym in Chicago, I started a 5 minute conversation with this girl about a particular climbing route. In no time at all, I discovered that we both were living near Madison and she was looking for a group to climb with. She gave me her number and then I spent the next few days insisting to my cousin that we were just friends. Fast forward a couple months of climbing, one reluctant 8 am 7 mile run, and a night out watching comedy and eating Indian food- I was smitten. And she came around a little later too!

I was in Chicago visiting family over the holidays. I went climbing with a friend from college when a "rando dude" (according to her) asked me about a route - not unusual at a climbing gym. It was unusual however to discover that he was also living in the Madison area, and he invited me to join his climbing group. Since I wanted to get back into climbing after a hiatus I gave him my number. This all happened over about 5 minutes. After climbing together for a month I was intrigued and wanted to become better friends. Sometimes he'd make me laugh so hard I'd fall off the wall! When he asked me if I wanted to hang out sometime "as maybe not just friends," I was game! Because I had plans that weekend we had to reschedule - for Valentine's Day. Had a lovely time at Panera and seeing a community theater play! And the rest is history! P.S. I did not know he really didn't want to do that 8 am run I accidentally persuaded him to join me on! XP