First Encounter

Regional Robotics Competition

After a couple of days of chatting and getting to know one another, Brad asks Cat out to lunch. She reluctantly accepts.

First Date

Miyaki's Sushi, Palo Alto

Brad learns that Cat has never tried sushi, so they meet at Brad's favorite sushi bar. Afterwards, they walk around Downtown Palo Alto and get to know each other better.

Brad Leaves for UCSB

Santa Barbara, CA

As a farewell (with much sadness and an uncertain future), Brad and Cat have a picnic at Foothills park. Cat (much) later admits that this is the point she realized she was falling for him.

Cat is Accepted to UCSB

Santa Barbara, CA

Cat is accepted to UCSB to study Psychology. She resists the urge to tell him over the phone, instead waiting until her Spring Concert to pretend to be sad before excitedly blurting out that she got in.

First Apartment Together

Isla Vista, CA

Brad graduates from UCSB with a BA in Philosophy and enters the workforce full-time. After more than five years of dating, Brad and Cat moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment behind a Domino's Pizza. Brad spends much of the year commuting to a job in Burbank while Cat completes her undergraduate studies.

Cat Gets Into Grad School

UCSB - Santa Barbara, CA

Cat is accepted into the Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology graduate program at UCSB. Looks like they'll be in Santa Barbara for a while longer! Talk of more permanent accommodations begins. Brad leaves his job in Burbank and finds something a little closer to home.

Become Home Owners, Acquire Kitties

Goleta, CA

Brad (with generous support from his parents) buys a little condo in Goleta. The same week they move in, Brad and Cat adopt two adolescent cat - Fala and Ellie - from a local shelter. The new family moves into the condo along with Dan, a fellow graduate student and soon-to-be lifelong friend.

Cat Graduates!

UCSB - Santa Barbara, CA

Cat completes a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. She begins work as a Vocational Counselor in Santa Barbara. Brad continues working in technology. With grad school behind them, Cat and Brad begin to figure out what's next in life.

Sell House

Goleta, CA

Almost 6 years to the day, the house is sold. Brad and Cat take the first of many steps to transition back to the Bay Area, and pack up the home they've built together. Moving is tough, exciting, and sad all at once. They move into a temporary apartment and begin job/house hunting in the Bay Area. Every free second is spent with the incredible friends they've made and will sorely miss.

Move to Bay Area

South San Francisco, CA

Cat begins a new job in San Francisco. Barely 24 hours before work begins, Brad and Cat move into a lovely home in South San Francisco. The cats enjoy all the cardboard boxes, and the extra space to run around. Cat and Brad hurriedly unpack enough clothes to get Cat to work the following day.

Brad Proposes, Cat Accepts

South San Francisco, CA

After returning home from an overseas business trip, Brad asks Cat to set aside a day to spend together. Brad wakes up early and makes Belgian waffles. They go out shopping, and Cat gets a dress "for a nice dinner". At 3:15pm, Brad asks Cat to marry him, making use of a bunch of rubber pigs. Cat excitedly says yes. They each inform their parents, friends, and Facebook(his, hers).

They're Finally Getting Married!

Redwood City, CA