Search TIMES ONLINE SPECIAL REPORTS LA Notebook June 21, 2005 Off-white sofabed, large, ugly: would suit prospective marriage partner LA Notebook by Chris Ayres THE FIRST TIME I met my fiancée, she gave me $500. I had, naturally, asked her for more. But 500 was the sum agreed, and a few days later we arranged our first date. Now, I know what you’re thinking here. And the answer to your question, obviously, is yes: I paid for her drink. What kind of cad do you think I am? I realise that an exchange of hard currency is not the traditional way to begin a lifetime commitment to another human being. But then, if Lucie had not turned up at my West Hollywood apartment to buy the off-white sofabed that I had advertised on Craigslist.com, we would never have met. The only downside is that the damn sofa — about as wieldy and attractive as an M1 Abr

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