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Helpful romantic advice
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Also by Ben Smidt and Anissa Marien:
- Helpful romantic advice (September 23, 2004)
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by Ben Smidt and Anissa Marien
Thursday, September 23, 2004
What’s the deal with no advice column? Recently the two of us were wondering why the UW’s leading periodical failed to leave out one of the most essential parts of a newspaper … an advice column! Since we are both advice column enthusiasts, we thought why not include this entertaining and resourceful part of an everyday newspaper ourselves? Really, where else can one take pleasure in others’ pathetic problems and sob story testimonials, while at the same time secretly feeling grateful that someone else had the balls to address the issue? What can we say? It’s a relief to find out someone else has had the same unusual predicament.
Fortunately for those of you out there wishing for an advice column, we have decided to fill that empty void and create one that offers you the ability to ask any and all questions regarding relationships and love life in general. You may ask, who are these two people and why do they feel the need to give us advice on our lives? Well, that’s simple … we have experience and want to help. We believe that our sometimes dysfunctional but always entertaining relationship can be used as a tool to aid others. First, let us give you some insight as to who we are.
Well, we met through a dating service and are about to celebrate our two-month anniversary together … NOT! Did you really think we were that lame and had such little experience? When our friends refer to us as “the married couple,” they aren’t lying. When you’ve been together for five years and six months, you start to get that connotation. Oh yeah, and not to mention the engagement part. Here’s a little bio on each of us that we wrote about one another — to keep things truthful.
Ladies first … Anissa is 23 years old and graduated in May from UW. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese and enjoys travel. She is obsessed with card making and scrapbooking and has begun to start her own business to satisfy her creative drive. In her free time she shops and parties … a lot. She’s a typical “girly girl” most of the time.
On to Ben … he’ll be 22 in October, and his life revolves around photography. As one of the photo editors and sports page designers at the Badger Herald, he aspires to work as a photojournalist at a newspaper once he graduates this May. If he doesn’t have a camera in his hand, he usually has a beer. He’s forgetful but kind-hearted and really loves Anissa.
Together, we have shared countless experiences that have made us stronger and wiser as a couple. These experiences are part of why our relationship is a success. Getting engaged in Seville, Spain, last March took our relationship to another level and furthered our understanding of one another. So trust us, if you can imagine. We have been through it, and that’s why we want to advise and help others with any questions they may have about anything pertaining to relationships, whether they are in one or not. It’s easy to ask advice. Simply e-mail or write in your questions. We are published twice a month, and don’t worry, this is the last time you’ll have to hear about us. Don’t forget the column is called, “What’s the Deal With …?” Think of this column as “Dear Abby” meets “Sunday Night Sex Talk With Sue” and you’ll be just fine.
