Reuniting over the Web and dress up your dog

While searching cyberspace I found my long-lost love. Or at least someone with the same name.

Reunion.com reports that it has more than 22 million members on its online "people finder." And none of them are looking for me.

I don't know if that's a good thing. So, I don't have any cyberspace stalkers. That's a plus. But of those 22 million people, not a single one has typed in "Becky Bosshart." I'll get over that.

Reunion.com markets itself as helping people find, reconnect and stay in touch with "old friends, lost loves, business colleagues and family members." Web site members can conduct searches for other members, e-mail others, post and read messages and share photos.

I decided to try it out because I'm a reporter and that's what I do. I will humiliate myself for the benefit of readers; I have no problem with that.

As soon as you register and pay the fee, $3 a month for one year or $2 a month for three years, you can see if anyone has ever searched for you. Like I said before, no one cares about me. "Becky Bosshart" is no friend to the 22 million members of Reunion.com.

But the real fun is typing in the name of someone you want to find. I felt a little sneaky doing this, like I'm prying into someone's therapy journal.

So I type in: Rick Ryan. Age? 25 (I guess). State? How am I supposed to know? I haven't seen this kid since I was 10. I left it blank.

Rick Ryan was the first crush I ever had. At least that I remember. I know his name, who could forget that great alliteration? And that's all. He was popular, ignored me and always dated girls named Alison. The first Alison had freakish blond curls that looked perpetually wet and Alison 2 had a strong Texas accent and a paper-white face.

Of all 22 million members there are 34 "Rick Ryans." Of those, three of them are 25 or near that age. One lives in Nevada. Imagine that! His profile didn't tell me anything else about him. Really, I could've found this out by picking up the telephone book.

I'd like to say I e-mailed him and asked something like: "Did you attend Mather Elementary School, date two girls named Alison and completely ignore a red-haired girl named Becky?"

But I didn't. I've changed a lot since elementary school. I'd rather just think he missed out.

For more information on this Web site visit www.reunion.com. Registration is free, but if you want any of the benefits you have to pay. Other Web sites, such as classmates.com, also provide this service. Or your fingers can do the walking.

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Does your toy poodle look divine in a devil's costume? Submit a photo of your pet in costume to PETCO.com's Howl-o-Ween Pet Photo Contest for a chance to win a year's supply of pet food. Send your pet's photo along with your contact information, and a brief description of your pet's unique qualities, to photocontest@petco.com. Submission will be accepted until Oct. 10. The top four entries will be judged by online voters from Oct. 18 to 31. PETCO will also hold a Halloween celebration on Oct. 31.

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The Public Relations Society of America Sierra Nevada Chapter is accepting entries for the 2004 Silver Spike Awards. This annual event showcases the best in PR tactics and programs during the past year, according to the chapter. The competition is open to any agent, company, association or government agency. Agencies may also submit entries on behalf of their clients.

Categories range from special events to internal communications. Entries are due Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. Entries must be mailed or delivered to Rose/Glenn Group, 299 S. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV 89501. For more information on rules or entry forms visit www.prsareno.org or contact Katie Nannini, Silver Spike director, at 770-3347.

Contact Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.