Des and I met the old-fashioned way... on the dating site Hinge! My first message to Des referenced the Flaming Heart mascot of Effingham, IL High School, which was the hometown listed on her profile. I came to find out she's even more small town than that as she spent much of her childhood on her Grandpa's farm in Shumway, IL- a town of 250 people. We are both a part Central IL and part Chicago- my dream girl!

I officially asked Des to be my girlfriend in December 2023 and it's been an amazing ride ever since. She birthed a dog son- Butch Cassidy- for us on January 7th, 2024 and she said "Yes" on March 14th, 2025 and made me the happiest man in the world!

Matt and I met on Hinge — proof that sometimes the algorithm really does know what it’s doing. I had listed my hometown as Effingham (the town closest to Shumway since no one knows where Shumway is), where my grandpa lived, my mom grew up, and where I spent many of my summers. I was hoping to attract someone with small-town charm, and even though Matt likes to call me a “small-town poser,” it clearly worked! I found someone who brings all the warmth and values of a small town right into the heart of the city — my dream come true.

Our first date was at a cozy little restaurant called The 9 Muses in Greektown. It was quiet that night, and Matt joked that he’d rented the whole place out just for us. We hit it off immediately and, after a few twists and turns, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend in December 2023.

We welcomed our sweet boy, Butch Cassidy, on January 7th, 2024 — and on March 14th, 2025, Matt got down on one knee and I said yes to forever with him.