“He is four times the man I could have asked for.”

By Jeanine L., 38, South San Francisco, Calif.

Jeanine and Ted

Bulletin

Cheered on by thousands of Yahoo! employees at the company's Sunnyvale, Calif., headquarters, Ted B. proposed to Jeanine L. during Yahoo!'s tenth birthday celebration, on March 2, 2005. After a good-natured chiding by Dan Rosensweig, Yahoo!'s chief operating officer, for repeatedly postponing his first date with Jeanine, Ted knelt and proposed. Jeanine said, "Yes," and accepted a diamond ring. Yahoo! employees in company offices around the world witnessed the event live on the web.

Dan Rosensweig, Yahoo!'s chief operating officer, Jeanine and Ted

Ted begins to propose.

"She said, 'Yes'!"

My sister had met her boyfriend more than a year and a half ago on Yahoo! Personals. I have never seen her happier. I signed up for the service and had a couple of good dates, but that's all it was.

I was near the end of my three-month membership and knew I wasn't going to renew -- not because it wasn't a great way to meet people -- I just thought the man I wanted to meet wasn't on Yahoo! Personals.

On Halloween night 2004 I was waiting for my friends to pick me up for a party and was browsing through the personals. I came across Ted's profile. I was instantly attracted to his photo and discovered we were compatible. I immediately sent an Icebreaker. After a week, Ted responded with the question, "Do you think we are a match"? I told him according to Yahoo! Personals' test, we are a perfect match.

He didn't chase me

I think what made Ted so appealing and attractive was that he didn't chase me, but still let me know he was interested. Our first date was canceled. I was all right with it because he was spending time with his teenage daughter. I saw how sweet it was that she was a priority.

The next date was also canceled and I began to wonder if this was a mistake. Of course, since we were a Perfect Match, I said yes to the third.

That was almost the end of our beginning because Ted canceled again. That did it! He would get to know me really well that night. All in one breath I told him how I was breaking all the "Rules of Dating" by contacting him first, accepting his excuses and being too nice. I asked him if he heard of another book titled, "He's Just Not That Into You"?

"Why didn't he just tell me?"

Before he could get a word in, I told him I was the girl they were referring to in the book, "He's Just Not That Into You." And, why didn't he just tell me if he wasn't "into" me? I also asked him why he kept emailing me and calling me to go out if, he wasn't "into" me?

I took another breath and told him that my ego wasn't broken, just bruised. After I finished all he could do was laugh. He told me he liked the fact that I could open up and be honest. It made him feel comfortable enough to be honest himself. He said he was nervous about us going out and a little intimidated. I let him know I had the same insecurities.

Well, we did meet that night for dinner and have been together almost every day since.

Important and wonderful qualities

Ted has all the important and wonderful qualities that I promised myself I would not compromise in my next relationship. He is kind, respectful, honest, loyal, funny, and an inspiration as a single parent. He has integrity, patience, listens from his heart, and communicates with the deepest empathy. He not only wants to know my passions, interests and desires, but those of my three children as well. Therefore, he is four times the man I could have asked for.

Ted has moved in after three months of dating. I couldn't be more excited to have such an amazing man with an absolutely beautiful soul to share my life with.

He's truly "My Perfect Match"!

Tips from Jeanine

Don't date someone just because they're attractive. Be sure you have at least a few things in common.

Be patient, it takes a while (if you're picky and you should be) to find what you're looking for.

Don't be too judgmental about a person's profile. Some people have a hard time putting words on paper. It's hard to really know someone until you have spoken with them.