Aimee Baxa had almost given up on dating. In 2001 she had a string of bad experiences, from a guy who didn't say anything during their date to one who wouldn't stop talking about his ex-girlfriend.

"I was frustrated," said Baxa, 32, a registered nurse at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Honolulu. "I just wanted someone I could connect with, someone I could talk to about anything."

A co-worker wanted Baxa to meet a friend, Richard Molina from Guam, who now lived on Maui but was flying in for a party that October.

Baxa was reluctant — but desperate. So she said OK.

"I was like, 'Whatever,' " she said, laughing.

She went to the party with no expectations.

When she saw Molina standing next to the mailbox as she drove up to her friend's house in Salt Lake, she freaked.

"I thought he was cute," Baxa said. "I got so nervous I drove past him and went straight to the bathroom!"

Though they didn't talk much that night, Baxa did volunteer to drive him and his sister back to the Waikiki hotel where they were staying. He took her up on the offer.

On the drive home, they kept stealing glances at each other in the rearview mirror. (Molina sat in the backseat.) And the best part for Baxa: The conversation was great.

"He was easy to talk to," Baxa said. "It was very comfortable."

After Molina returned to Maui, where he was working at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa, the two continued conversing over the phone and through e-mail.

Their first phone call lasted five hours. That's when they discovered they were both reading the same book: "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama.

"That's when I knew," Baxa said, smiling.

Two weeks after they had first met, Molina moved to O'ahu in search of better employment. He moved in with a friend in Salt Lake.

Since Molina didn't have a car, Baxa, who lived in Waipahu, would drive him to work every day. On their days off, the couple went to dinner, played tennis and watched movies.

It was Baxa's generosity and unconditional love that won Molina over.

He'll never forgot the time he was sick at home and Baxa came over with soup, medicine and DVDs for him to watch.

"I never had that feeling before," said Molina, 32, now a cook at Minato Japanese Restaurant. "I thought, 'This girl is really good.' For the first time I felt like that."

He returns the favor, getting up early to make her favorite tea before she heads to work and taping greeting cards to the bathroom mirror.

"I do what I can," he said.

In February 2002, Molina moved in with Baxa at her family's home.

Living together illuminated their differences. She's impatient and fiery; he's calm and rational. But they found they balance each other.

"He really calms me down," Baxa said. "He's so nice and respectful. ... He's just the sweetest guy in the universe. I feel blessed to have him in my life."

In April 2003, the couple decided to get married. They talked about what kind of ceremony and reception they wanted and started looking for sites.

That took longer than they both anticipated. Finally, they nailed down a date and location: Nov. 27, 2005, at The Royal Hawaiian hotel. They chose November because both their birthdays fall in that month, along with their anniversary and Thanksgiving.

"It's my favorite time of the year," Baxa said.

In between her wedding plans — and now full of confidence — Baxa decided to pursue a childhood dream: stand-up comedy. She did stints at various open-mic events around town.

"I knew from a young age that I could make people laugh," said Baxa, whose idols include Margaret Cho and Chris Rock. "I feel that energy on stage. I feel like a rock star. It's a good feeling, to own the stage for a few minutes with all eyes on you."

She hasn't been back on stage since their November nuptials. But the couple have other goals in mind now, such as going on a European cruise, saving money to buy a house and starting a family.

"People say once you get married, that's it, you're tied down," Molina said. "But I don't feel that way. I feel like we've been together forever."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.