Nick & his friend Matt were visiting Kevin in Santa Barbara; across town Anna was hosting Josh & Emi. Odd recommendations led them all to the Red Piano Bar - a dueling (ne, collaborating) piano bar on State St. Nick saw a beautiful woman across the bar, but she was deep in conversation with some dude. Shortly after this sighting, Nick was standing at the bar and another woman asked if he was using the bar stool; he wasn't, so he offered it to her & they struck up a dialogue. As it turned out, she was in Santa Barbara with her boyfriend visiting his cousin. Josh was the boyfriend and also the guy engaged in the focused conversation with the girl Nick was eyeing - his cousin, Anna. Emi introduced Nick who then peppered Anna with rapid-fire questions, including the last & final test: "You're not a Republican are you?" She passed the test & they made plans to meet for coffee the next AM, which despite Nick being late & not having his wallet, resulted in him extending his trip an extra 3 more days. A week and a half later, mourning a Dodger World Series loss (at the hands of the cheating Houston Trashtros), Nick drove back up to Santa Barbara to visit Anna & Fisher, and the rest is history.