Chris Pirillo » marriage

Kat Got Engaged!!

Chris — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:14:23 +0000

Kat Got Engaged!! is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Yes guys, it’s really true. Our very own Kat is off the market for good. Mike – aka Mouse in chat – asked her to marry him last Friday, just before Kat did the weekly giveaway!! She accepted, and they are planning to get married on May 16th of this year. When talk on our Ventrilo server turned to the pending nuptials after the giveaway, I had to be sneaky and record it all for posterity sake!

Even happier news… Mike and Kat are expecting a brand new baby Geek sometime in late September! I know that many of you have been asking on a regular basis how she is doing. Kat reports that all is “mostly well”. She’s awfully tired, so go easy on her in chat you guys! She has a lot of “morning” (read: ALL DAY) sickness, but that’s slowly getting under control. Otherwise, she’s doing wonderfully, and is very happy.

This now makes two marriages that I am sort of responsible for. A couple of years ago, two of our other long-time community members met and ended up getting married. BigRedPimp and TSSTechAngel are still happily hitched, and still a large part of our community of Geeks! Go me! Maybe I should open my own Cupid business or something?! What do you think?

Congratulations, Kat and Mike. All of us here in Pirillo-land wish both of you nothing but years of happiness!

A Quick Way to Save Your Marriage in Three Easy Steps

Chris — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:11:44 +0000

A Quick Way to Save Your Marriage in Three Easy Steps is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is Mark Medina’s submission for the HP Magic Giveaway. Feel free to leave comments for this article as you see fit – your feedback is certainly welcomed! If you’d like to submit your own how-to, what-is, or top-five list, you can send it to me. Views and opinions of this writer are not necessarily my own:

A marriage is a sacred bond that makes two people in love share their whole lives forever. However, it’s not always sunshine each day and there are sometimes rains, storms, and even thunder that occurs in a marriage life. Keeping it alive helps the couple understand each other well. They must have respect, patience and the will to survive any problems they may encounter.

In many marriage situations, money is one of the problems that can cause couples to fight. Sometimes the love cannot be found when you are both feeling angry or mad. You have to cool down things first before confronting your husband or wife. Sometimes it’s better to sit down together and hold each others hands. Look straight in his/her eyes, and feel the love you have for each other. When you feel the passion and love inside, you’ll both realize that you don’t need to quarrel about such problems. By looking in each others eyes, you’ll see how you both tell each other that “everything’s going to be alright”. It really helps save my marriage because every time we had money problem, it’s all we do to lessen the problem instead of adding another.

Another expert said that it takes both partners to agree on a set priority. Do not make it something like forcing her to go along the flow that you like. It will make your partner feel less important, not worthy or disregarded because of such a thing. Many people who had troubles with things like that in their marriage say, “One of the simple things that really helped save my marriage was giving my utmost respect to my partner. She feels loved and important because I always let her know what I think, and consult on everything with her”. We all know that as humans, we have equal rights that the other must respect. The boat should always keep its level above the water to prevent it from sinking.

The third quick way to save a marriage is keeping an honest line of communication open with your partner. Always check on her if you are encountering any problem. It’s a bad idea to just let her guess how you feel. And it’s also very bad for him/her to know your problem from another person rather than you. The trouble will be sure to rise every time it’s like that. Another person who has gone through a marriage problem speaks of her experience and how she had coped with it, saying: “We are living with my in-laws and sometimes I don’t like how they treat me and our little son regarding his traits. I told my husband and it had help save my marriage.”

I wish you the best of luck with your relationship problems. Saving a marriage isn’t the easiest thing to do, but with the right know how and advice, it can be! Don’t get a divorce, learn how to save your marriage today!

Can Marriage be Saved without Talking about It?

Chris — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:09:16 +0000

Can Marriage be Saved without Talking about It? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Any book that Ponzi has ever given me on the subject of relationships makes me shudder. I’m a dude. Dudes don’t read those books! However, when she handed me this one, I couldn’t help but reading it after I saw the title: “How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It“.

The review of this book on Amazon says it all:

“If you’ve ever told your spouse, ’I talk until I’m blue in the face,’ or ’It’s in one ear and out the other,’ stop whatever you’re doing and read this book immediately! You’re about to discover why talking things out isn’t always the best way to get through to your spouse or achieve more closeness and connection. More important, you’ll learn exactly what you need to do today to truly transform your relationship forever.”

It’s a short, easy read, which is important to guys. It was really interesting to read, from a Geek standpoint, and from the ‘guy’ mentality. You know what I mean: a guy doesn’t TALK about his relationships. *gasp* Are you kidding me? That can’t happen.

I was afraid to read the book, truth be told. Most of these books are either written by women, for women… or by a guy who wants me to think like a woman. However, the introduction of the book made me sit up and take notice. It validated the way I tend to approach things. It helped me understand why I do the things that I’m doing inside my marriage. The book didn’t want to try and change me, which is important to me.

Ponzi and I are very different with our communication styles. We co-exist somewhat peacefully when we remember that we are two different people. This book is wonderful for helping us to keep that special connection we have, without over-complicating things by talking in the wrong way. It helped me understand how I was doing things and saying things, and see how they impacted Ponzi. Marriage is a learning process, and it takes a lifetime to master. When you learn more about yourself, any relationship you’re in is going to become stronger.

If you’re a Geek (or even not one!) and in a relationship of any kind, I highly recommend reading this book.

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Relationship Humor

Chris — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:43:24 +0000

Relationship Humor is a post from Chris Pirillo

Ponzi and I have been married for a little over a year now, and it’s been pretty amazing – no joke. I can’t imagine my life without her, if only because she has given me a true reason to live. I’m not just trying to score public brownie points here (or make the rest of you look bad). There’s no secret to how we make things work, since we both work with one another from the comfort of our own home: HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR.

There are days when our respective funny bones aren’t in sync, but those days are few and far between when we’re really in the thick of things – it’s when we get bored that things tend to get stressful. Because of that, I’ve been given giggle-clearance to post the following comics… which means, when Ponzi saw the images, she giggled (which I believe is akin to giving me permission to continue sharing them with the world).

And now, let’s see if I can get a giggle out of you:

I swear, these conversations really happened (well, maybe the comics were BASED on actual conversations). I think I’ll continue with the comic catharsis indefinitely (when inspiration strikes).

My Wedding Vows

Chris — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 01:15:25 +0000

My Wedding Vows is a post from Chris Pirillo

[From our Wedding Ceremony]

Ponzi, some couples will never know love the way we have known it. Our connection was instant, and that undercurrent of comfort has carried us to celebrate our love with friends and family on this very night.

While we certainly have had our fair share of disagreements, I simply cannot imagine being without you. The loss would be unbearable. You have enriched my life in every possible way.

I promise to keep our family’s well-being a top priority. You understand my dedication to (and passion for) technology, and have embraced it as a part of me – instead of trying to change me into someone I’m not. Even though, yes, I’m wearing black socks tonight instead of white ones.

I promise to give you the same level of respect as you do me. You have never embarrassed me in public, and I’d like to believe that my own social skills will continue to improve with your guidance.

You are the kindest, gentlest person I have ever known – and although I know you wouldn’t hurt a fly, I also realize that you’d want me to swat it for you. I promise to do that, so long as you get half the spiders that cross our respective paths.

On our first date, at the deli, I had a flash vision of you standing there in a wedding veil. Although I’m typing these vows on my computer, with you typing yours on your own computer next to me on the couch (with our dogs, Wicket and Pixie, napping quietly beside us), I believe that this vision has finally come to fruition.

You are my vision. You are my sight. You are my soul mate. As such, I also promise to come and love you up a minute on a regular basis – your honey bunny baby bear.

Our Wedding Ceremony

Chris — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 01:00:03 +0000

Our Wedding Ceremony is a post from Chris Pirillo

Chris and Ponzi, I greet you. And to all of you, dearest family and friends, and on behalf of Chris and Ponzi, I welcome you as well.

Let your presence be welcome, let your hearts be glad, for everything there is a season, and a time and a purpose. And this is the time and this is the place to celebrate the wedding of Chris and Ponzi – and we are happy and we are grateful!

A wedding is a wonderful occasion. It is an important ritual filled with hopes, dreams and excitement… and one that celebrates the lives of two people and those they love… and one that celebrates different cultures and friends and beliefs from all around the world. We are here today to celebrate the love that Chris and Ponzi have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as marriage partners.

Let us open our wedding ceremony by blessing this sacred space and with a blessing for Chris and Ponzi: May our couple, Chris and Ponzi, be blessed now and forevermore; may their love be nurtured by each other and all their friends and family, always and forever; may this marriage be cradled in their hands and nurtured by their love and devotion; may this man, Chris, grow strong in the arms of this woman, Ponzi; may this woman, Ponzi, grow glorious in the love of this man, Chris; may the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love; may all the world be blessed hereby.

For some time now, Chris and Ponzi have known and loved each other. They have been strengthened by their love and have received many blessings through its beauty and tenderness. Today and with conscious choice and great joy, Chris and Ponzi enter into the sacred partnership of marriage, vowing to be partners through the triumphs and trials – the ups and downs – of their shared life.

For those of us blessed by a true partnership of love, we feel safe in the presence of our loved one. There is no need to hide any part of ourselves for fear of being judged or rejected. We can just be together from moment to moment, fully recognizing that by freeing one another to be truly who they are, we are loving each other more.

Marriage is a reflection on our histories as well as on our future, on our losses as well as our hopes and possibilities. And so, as Chris and Ponzi wed, it is worthwhile to contemplate that they could not and would not be standing here today if they had not followed their own star home and done what they needed to do to deliver themselves to this point in their lives.

A true marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy between two people. It is a great and challenging adventure into the depths and heights of caring, affection, trust and understanding.

A true spiritual marriage is a journey of transformation. In marriage, we do not give ourselves to another, but rather surrender into something greater while maintaining our well-being as individuals. A truly sacred marriage union is a vehicle that allows us to know our true selves by reflection through our loved one.

And so, we celebrate with you, Chris and Ponzi, as you begin your precious, sacred and unique marriage journey as husband and wife. As life partners, your relationship is lovely in its innocence, mighty in its strength and abundant with possibilities. On behalf of your loved ones here this evening, our dearest wish for both of you is that you have the great good fortune to share happy marriage, and that you continue to light up the room for each other, for the rest of your lives.

Chris loves you very much, Ponzi, and he is so proud to become your husband this evening. From your very first meeting to all of your time together as your relationship has grown and matured… Chris is very confident in his choice of you as his life partner. In Chris’s words: “We met each other online – what more could a geek want? Ponzi always has my best interests at heart, both personally and professionally. She is my soul mate.”

And Chris, well, you are indeed one lucky guy! This wonderful woman standing before you loves you dearly and Ponzi is so honored to become your wife this evening. As Ponzi shared with me, “I love Chris most when he’s just being himself – original, intelligent, lovable and silly. He never ceases to amaze and excite me with his passion. He makes me laugh and reminds me not to take life so seriously – something I unintentionally do. He’s my perfect ‘other half.’”

Chris and Ponzi, you give us hope and we are so delighted to be your witnesses tonight. We are touched by your happiness; we are moved by the courage of your love. And It gives us great joy to celebrate your wedding day with you.

I now turn to the parents of our groom, Joe and Judy – I know you take great pride in your son, Chris.and the love and respect you have for him he also feels for you. Chris and Ponzi are grateful to you both for raising Chris to be the man he is today and thank you for your part in their marriage. May we have your blessing on this occasion?

I now turn to the parents of our bride, Sam and Phyllis – I know that you take great pride in your daughter, Ponzi, and the love and respect you have for her, she also feels for you. Ponzi says that she got her sense of adventure from her mother and her sense of strength from her father.and perseverance from both. Chris and Ponzi thank you for your part in their marriage. May we have your blessing on this occasion?

Chris and Ponzi are absolutely delighted that all of you, their dearest family and friends, could be here tonight to share this special moment with them. They have asked me to thank each and very one of your for your love, appreciation and support… and for sharing this most special and intimate of moments with them, their wedding day. In Ponzi’s words: “It’s a dream to have all of you here to celebrate with us. I’m humbled by the love and friendship we have in this room. There are no words that can express the great fortune we have in the community you create for us to love and be loved in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this special day with us.”

I know that some of you have traveled far to be here this afternoon.Chris and Ponzi would especially like to acknowledge and welcome Ponzi’s Grandmother, Bobbie Jo for making the trip here from North Carolina to be here this evening – welcome, Bobbie Jo.

And so, in your best voices, and with the words, “We Will,” I now ask all of you, family and friends, if you are willing now and always to sustain and strengthen this marriage by upholding both Chris and Ponzi with your love and support.

Now I, Annemarie Juhlian, a non-denominational Celebrant, am duly authorized by law to officiate this, your marriage, according to the laws of Washington State.

Chris and Ponzi, since it is your intention to join in marriage..will you now please join your hands as well as your hearts?

Chris, will you have Ponzi to be your beloved wife, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope and love? Will you listen to her deepest thoughts, be tender-hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of her, and stand faithfully by her side in sickness and health? Choosing Ponzi above all others, will you undertake to care for her well being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?

Ponzi, will you have Chris to be your beloved husband, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope and love? Will you listen to his deepest thoughts, be tender-hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of him, and stand faithfully by him side in sickness and health? Choosing Chris above all others, will you undertake to care for his well being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?

And now, Chris and Ponzi will say the most powerful, most loving words two people can say to each other. They will take their wedding vows. And Chris and Ponzi have each written their vows that they will now share with each other and all of us.

[ My Wedding Vows / Her Wedding Vows ]

So we come, Chris and Ponzi, to the presentation of the rings by which you symbolize and bind your love for each other. Your rings are adornments, carefully chosen for their beauty and simplicity. They quietly sit on your fingers, reminding you of the power of love and the pledge of your partnership and love.

And when you have been together for a long, long time, you will look at your rings, and you will feel the indentation they have made on your fingers. And you will know that these rings contain all of the memories of what your lives and your relationship have been.

Robert, may I have the Bride’s ring, please?

Chris, please slip Ponzi’s ring on her finger and repeat these words, phrase by phrase, after me… “Ponzi, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow to you. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.”

Maryam, may I have the Groom’s ring, please? “Ponzi, please slip Chris’s ring on his finger and repeat these words, phrase by phrase, after me… “Chris, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow to you. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.”

In ancient traditions, the signing of a marriage certificate symbolized the joining together of not only the couple but two families. In celebration of the vows that Chris and Ponzi have taken this evening, our couple along with their two witnesses, Robert and Maryam, will sign their marriage documents.

So as the marriage documents are signed, I invite all of you to send Chris and Ponzi and invisible wish, prayer or good thought as we launch them into their married life together…

Chris and Ponzi, on this sacred day, your wedding day, we ask that the love you share give you strength.

May the dreams you share bring you hope.

May the beliefs you share bring you peace.

And wherever you are in your journey through life, may your hearts always find their way home.

And as I am so very privileged to bring you together in marriage today, I have a personal wish for both of you. My wish is that many, many years from now you are able to look back on your life together – pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled – and that you are able to look at one another and be able to say: “Because of you, I have lived the life I’ve always wanted to life – because of you, I have become the person I always longed to be.”

Chris and Ponzi – by the love that has brought you here today.by the vows you have exchanged and by the integrity of your commitment… in the presence of your dearest family and friends.it is my pleasure and my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your marriage with a kiss!

Wedding Plans and Notes

Chris — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 20:19:20 +0000

Wedding Plans and Notes is a post from Chris Pirillo

Family and friends are starting to stream into town
I must keep my ring warm for it to slip onto my finger
I’m very hungry, but don’t know if I can eat
I have to get my car washed and my nails done today
The wedding rehearsal begins at 4:30 tonight
Our rehersal dinner is going to be awesome
All tuxedos have been picked up and are at the hotel
I should probably shower before leaving the house to get Peet’s
Consider me completely incommunicado until Sunday
When our ceremony begins, a transcript will be auto-posted here

Friends Forever

Chris — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:26:27 +0000

Friends Forever is a post from Chris Pirillo

I’ve known Robert Scoble for years – long before blogging was blogging, and long before he was working at Microsoft. I was lucky enough to be present at his nuptuals a few years back, too. He embodies the true geek spirit, and anybody who says otherwise simply does not know Robert like I’ve known him. Maryam is, without argument, his soul mate – and I’m so happy that they’ve found one another. For this reason, I’m equally as thrilled to have Maryam as Ponzi’s matron of honor.

The two of ‘em invited us down to stay with them at their Half Moon Bay home. Before I commit a social faux pas, I just had to say “thank you” in a public fashion. Ponzi and I had a great time. The combination bachelor / bachelorette party couldn’t have been any better. I saw a fantastic Pacific sunset, I got to hang with old friends, I got to meet industry visionaries, I got to attend a fantastic drag show at Asia SF, and I got to drink a $14 mimosa at the Ritz.

I don’t have a wedding page (or site) set up yet – I think I’m just looking for the right Web template to use for it. I must document these experiences now while they’re still fresh in my mind. We’re less than a month away from getting married. Ponzi and myself, that is – not Robert and me! Anybody know of any good WordPress wedding-styled templates (or someone who could put one together for us)?

Our Carribean Honeymoon

Chris — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:04:17 +0000

Our Carribean Honeymoon is a post from Chris Pirillo

I’m not sure I can write about Ponzi anymore, because there’s a slight chance she might misinterpret my intentions or any ensuing comments of yours. However, I’m still free to talk about my own life! At least, for now? I’m happy to report that I officially ordered our honeymoon this afternoon. We’re going to be spending New Year’s in the Carribean, on a Regent (Radisson) cruise ship, the Seven Seas Voyager:

Fri Dec 29 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sat Dec 30 – At Sea
Sun Dec 31 – Progreso / Merida, Mexico
Mon Jan 1 – At Sea
Tue Jan 2 – Roatan, Honduras
Wed Jan 3 – Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala
Thu Jan 4 – Belize City, Belize
Fri Jan 5 – Costa Maya, Mexico
Sat Jan 6 – Cozumel, Mexico
Sun Jan 7 – At Sea
Mon Jan 8 – Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Tue Jan 9 – Fort Lauderdale, FL

I’m sure she’s going to love doing [blank] and [blank], and we most certainly will be doing a lot of [blank]ing during this time. You’ll have to fill in the blanks. I can tell you what I probably won’t be doing (personally), though: scuba diving, laying out in the sun, and/or snorkeling. Just about everything else is possible and/or probable. And yes, I’m fully aware that our honeymoon coincides with CES (for which our show will certainly have a presence).

Wedding Vows

Chris — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:47:05 +0000

Wedding Vows is a post from Chris Pirillo

The Wedding Date

Chris — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 06:26:57 +0000

The Wedding Date is a post from Chris Pirillo

December 9th. Yes, we’re sure this time – the invitations have gone out (although I’ll never share the story of what happened with our “Save the Date” cards). We’re getting married in a few weeks! The ceremony will be taking place in downtown Bellevue in the evening. Of course, we’ve been busy with a million other things as of late, so I hope that the invitations got out to everybody.

I think we have about three wedding planners lying around the house, but I’m relying completely on Ponzi to tell me what I need to do and where I need to stand. We have the tuxedos all picked out, and… I think that’s where my duties officially end. We discussed groomsman and bridesmade gifts over a pancake breakfast this morning, and I think we’ve come up with something truly unique.

Our Wedding Registry at Amazon

Chris — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 07:03:53 +0000

Our Wedding Registry at Amazon is a post from Chris Pirillo

Well, we’ve officially put our wedding registry online at Amazon. Ponzi picked everything, as most of it is what she knows we need. I can’t believe we’ve lived this long without a covered cake pan. Hell, I didn’t even know they made covered cake pans! Oddly enough, she didn’t select any bedding, bath, or decor items. Guess that means we’re going to be living out of our kitchen. I hear Calphalon is quite comfortable, actually.

Setting up a home means different things to different people. Are you homebodies who love to curl up on the couch with a Hepburn and Stewart classic? Or are you always on the go, heading off to soccer practice or serving up a round of badminton in your backyard? Or maybe you can’t wait to mix up cocktails in your swank newlywed pad. From electronics to sports gear to barware, your registry should be all about who you are as a couple, how you like to spend your free time, and what your passions are.

Yeah, but I already have a copy of Joe Dirt on DVD…

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.