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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 9, 1997 æ÷m-19110F Finding love on the Internet By STEVE LeBLANC Special to The Champion T racy Dionisi began using a computer chat line last year while suffering from insomnia. Six months and countless conversations later she found the cure for all those sleepless nights - a star- crossed soul mate to fill her dreams. The 34-year-old mother of two met her true love in early September after retuming home from a party. Recently separated, she had been frequenting chat lines simply to alleviate stress and loneliness up until the fateful night. "I never dreamt I could meet someone on the Internet," recalled Ms Dionisi, a Milton resident for the past eight years. As luck would have it, Mr. Right - Tom Willett of Salem, Oregon - was surting the 'Net for automobile web sites when he accidentally clicked on the chat line. A newcomer to this social setting, but not a com- plete rookie, he admits he was pretty nervous during their first encounter. But the awkwardness quickly vanished once he realized how much they had to share. "We have everything in common, it was like her life was the exact same as mine," said Mr. Willett, from his Oregon home, referring to his own two children, their relationship status and hopes for the future. "We just instantly clicked." Ms Dionisi uses the same term when describing their on-line conversations. She was instantly drawn to her long-distance web-pal and knew she loved him within a few short weeks of their initial meeting. Recalled Ms Dionisi, "I had told him that my par- ents were moving back to England and how depressed I was about it. "He promised he'd be there when they finally left and that very night he was. He was very supportive and it was then that I knew." Their cyber-net courtship lasted another two months before she would receive a photograph of Mr. Willett She had told him repeatedly before this how she would love him no matter what he looked like. During these two months they chatted every day. In addition to on-line conversations, they rang up a combined $5,000 phone bill and sent countless e- mails back and forth. "Al your life you search the world over, looking for that one true love. 1, at 31, finally found mine. I have found my one true love in you," said Mr. Willett in one e-mail, adding in another, "I love you with all my heart and soul, forever and always." Earlier this year he decided he couldn't wait any longer and told Ms Dionisi he'd be coming up for a Valentine's Day visit. But after hot-footing it north in record-breaking time, he wasn't quite able to express his true feelings right away. "He met me at the door with flowers but was so ner- vous that all he gave me was a peck on the cheek like he'd give his grandmother or something. It was pathetic," quipped Ms Dionisi. "I was nervous too and stared at the floor for the tirst 45 minutes. After that we relaxed and he gave me the right kind of kiss." This proved to be the start of a 10-day union that .culminated with a marnage proposal - rivaling any from the silver screen. Knowing that his true love had always wanted to be proposed to in the rain, Mr. Willett waited until last Tuesday's downpour to get down on one knee and pop the question. He did so outside a donut store where he first stopped upon arriving in town, one the two later frequented over the week. "At first I said 'what' because Ijust couldn't believe 'it, then I cried and said 'yes,' " Ms Dionisi recalled with a smile. "It was my fantasy proposaI. Mr. Willett returned to Oregon two days later but is planning to move his automobile detailing business to Halton as soon as possible. While their days on the chat line may soon be over, both advocate it. "Without the whole physical attraction thing or . other people around, there's nu distractions. You can get to know the real person," said Mr. Willett. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Tracy Dionisi met her true love on the Internet. Last Tuesday, just days after their initial face-to-face encounter, she accepted his marriage proposai. Apartment dwellers can compost thanks to lowly worms By MERLE LANGERTof cumposting indoors," said Ms Johns, whu has of two others. "Some people think it's dangerous to compo Special t The Champion had a syste m at work in her own office for six One can start a small unit using a simple plas- indoors because it produces harmful gases," M Apartment dwellers and condo owners who years. tic bin with a For those who want a one-stop sys- Mazur said. "The fact is that the worms speed u felt guilty about throwing kitchen scraps down The concept is exactly the same as any back- tem, there are vermicomposting kits available the process so much there are no gases andi the garbage chute have an altemative. yard composter, except the worms accelerate the that come with everything needed to start, uses less oxygen than other methods." They can compost. process. The little critters eat and expel an including the worms. Once you have this wonderfu t rich compost i It's easy. They get some red worms, a sitte amount equal to their own weight every day, The region does not handle vermicomposters your apartment what should you do with it? soit, a banana peel or two and they're on the meaning finished compost can be produced in su Ms Johns refers inquiries about the kits to a Either use it for houseplants or give it to yoî way. about four months. Toronto company specializing in the process. friends who have gardens. Vermicompostinghas been around for awhile Not only do they eat a lot, they are also "A medium sized kit that includes everything For Ms Johns there appears to be another ben according to Lynn Johns, the customer service extremely prolific. An egg only takes about three is approximatelyn$90," said Stian Mazur, of etit. coordinator for Halton Region's planning and weeks to develop and can produce as many as Canadian Original Vermicompstit g Ltd. Whie emptying her lunch scraps into the b public works department. twenty young worms. Within a year there shuuld "Thats pretty standard and its a good s we for Ms Johs was asked whether she realized shi Naturally, she would like t see more peuple be enough to give a handful away to a friend to an apartmnent or condominium." was talking to the worms and referring to the getting involved. get them involved with indoor composting. Ms Small kits are $64 with large retailing at $110. as "fellas. It became popular about six or seven years Johns' office system started with one pound and Mr. Mazur also wanted to dispel a myth about I know I am," she replied. I take a lot ago and to my knowledge, it's the only method has been the breeding ground for the beginning indoor cumpusting. pride ln these worms. )st r. p it n Ur n- in le m of Tr i 1