The Other Half: Matt

>> Who: Matt (last name withheld to protect the innocent)
Girlfriend: Shannon Riffe of Rifferaff




>> When I met Shannon...
We met in Brooklyn in the summer of '03, I was traveling with a friend who was visiting his girlfriend and Shannon was living with said girlfriend. After a fun weekend we met up again in the fall at the grocery store, I said "lets make dinner" and we did...now here we are.


I like pointing. I like cream cheese bagels. I am really into container gardening. I like turtles. I spend too much time on the internet.


1. What would you say are the three most important things that you do to support Shannon her creative/blogging endeavors?

- Help her work through ideas, I am big into “constructive criticism”
- Help her with any tech stuff, setting up the blog, helping with her
website, giving her my old laptop so she can internet properly.
- Drive her ass everywhere :)

2. Living with someone who works long and irregular hours can be tough... from missed dinners to not being able to do simple things like relaxing and watching your favorite shows together as often as you'd like... How do you stop the craziness from impacting your relationship? Can you please offer some survival tips for those in similar situations?

Considering I’m the one with the longest, weirdest hours (I'm a grad-student), its not too crazy for us. Shannon is cool as a cucumber, always on top of whatever she is working on, so its really my busy schedule that introduces any craziness. As far as advice for others? We make sure that our work lives don’t interfere with our personal lives, its never been an explicit declaration, its just the way we naturally function. Sorry I don’t have any sage advice.

3. Your house/apartment doubles as Shannon's soap factory. Could you give us a sense of what it's like living with a soaper? Please describe what typically happens once you come home from work [apartment door opens]...

Space is certainly the largest issue for us (me). Shannon is a clutterer, and she expands to fill all available space. Currently we have a small apartment (especially for a soaper like Shannon and a tinkerer like me), so this makes things a bit cramped (thankfully we are moving to a bigger place in the fall). I spend a lot of time tidying up. I often have to get out of the house when Shannon starts soaping, the combination of scents can be overwhelming. Thankfully she does a lot when I am at class or out, I guess my busy schedule helps in that regard. Whenever I come home, Shannon is usually doing something on the internet in the “living room.” I put quotes around our living room because its more of a work room. The room is about 50-60% occupied by Shannon’s craft stuff. We have piles of stuff everywhere. Sometimes, to my chagrin, I find she has been working on the kitchen table. Like I said, space is an issue.

4. What was the strangest thing you've done to support Shannon in what she does?

Using 4 or 5 different kinds of soap in the shower and then giving a detailed review afterwards.

5. What is the easiest and hardest thing about being Shannon's other half?

Shannon is an introvert and I’m an extrovert, balancing that can be tricky. I am always game to go out and be spontaneous, but Shannon always wants a plan. The best part about being Shannon's other half is being a part of Shannon's life. She is a wonderfully creative person whose world I feel privileged to be a part of. She always surprises me with awesome. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

6. What's your favorite RIFFERAFF product and briefly explain why it's your favorite.

My favorite item is the “Happy Birthday Dude” cards. Because Shannon didn’t think people would like them, but they always do well at fairs. I knew people would like them...cause I like them!

Thanks Matt!!