ROMANTIC TIPS: “The problem with Valentine’s Day (Part 4)”

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And one more blog in a (seemingly) never-ending series of relationship tips and romantic insights that have been recommended by 4 out of 5 doctors.

The trouble with Valentine’s Day is that . . . It’s simply unbalanced. I don’t mean mentally unbalanced—although being infatuated does make one a bit mentally unbalanced (but that’s another story)—I mean that Valentine’s Day is economically unbalanced.

Here are the stats: 

• Last year, in America, the average man spent $149 on Valentine’s Day for his gal. 
• Meanwhile, the average women spent $32 on Valentine’s Day for her guy.

Seems unfair to me. Unless, of course, the women’s liberation / feminist movement has been rescinded, and we’re back in 1959. Hold on…Let me check on that—and I’ll get back to you on this tomorrow. 

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1001 Ways to be Romantic
10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

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By Greg Godek.

Chief investigator, studying the effects of gender roles on the gift-giving habits of men versus women for Valentine’s Day. Or—If men are from Mars, and women are from Venus, is this a valid rationale for a lack of parity in gift-giving between the genders. 

ROMANTIC TIPS: “The problem with Valentine’s Day (Part 3)”

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(And yet) another in a never-ending series of relationship tips and romantic insights that might help—or at least couldn’t hurt— your relationship.

The trouble with Valentine’s Day is that . . . The already-romantic don’t really need it . . . the adamantly-unromantic just don’t want it . . . and the romantically-impaired are annually punished by it. 

Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day simply doesn’t work. If it did, I’d be all for it. 

Let’s give a sucker a break and let these guys off the hook, okay? The dozen roses they buy? A feeble attempt to make up for lost time. The expensive box of Godiva Chocolates? Romance inspired by guilt. 

And let’s have a little more respect for the women. I mean, really, ladies: Are you honestly pleased with roses grudgingly given, with chocolates hastily grabbed, with trinkets ordered on the internet, with a “custom love letter” penned by a hired ghostwriter? Are you really willing to settle for so little? Do you really have so little self-respect? 

You deserve better. He deserves better. Go share a bottle of wine, then talk for a little while, then make love. There. See?? Everybody’s happy. 

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1001 Ways to be Romantic

10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

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By Greg Godek.

Director of the Save-The-Romantics Fund-Raising Initiative, helping the romantically impaired since 1981.

ROMANTIC IDEAS: “The problem with Valentine’s Day (Part 2)”

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Another in a never-ending series of relationship tips and romantic insights that address topics of interest to men and women alike.

The problem with Valentine’s Day is that it’s pink and red and frilly. In other words, it’s feminine. 

Now, there’s nothing wrong with “feminine”—heck, guys love “feminine”!—but there is something wrong with only feminine. And that’s what Valentine’s Day has evolved into. Look at the ads, look in the store windows: Pink and red and frills as far as the eye can see. Not a hint of masculinity to be found. 

Is it any wonder that guys head for the hills on Valentine’s Day?!

NEXT: “Okay, now what??”

Want more??

Available on amazon and at bookstores...

1001 Ways to be Romantic

10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Greg Godek.

Director of the Valentine’s Day Anti-Defamation League. 

LOVE TIPS: “Little Things Mean a Lot”

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Forget the diamonds and Ferraris and trips to Paris…It really is true that little things mean a lot. (Bunches of scientists, wearing real lab coats, have studied this. [Who knew that scientists could be a source of romantic ideas?!])

• Little things that bring a smile to her face: A kiss upon waking up. A romantic text.
• Little things that remind him of you: Slip a photo of yourself into his brief case or lunchbox. 
• Little things that will bring a tear to her eyes: Tape one of your wedding photos to the bathroom mirror. 
• Little things that have special meaning to just the two of you: Write a note using phrases from his/her favorite TV show. 
• Little things done on a consistent basis: Open doors for her.
• Little things that are really special to him/her: Chocolate. Not just any chocolate—but the exact type and brand of chocolate. (This makes a big difference to true chocoholics.)
• Little things that are really special to him/her: A new book by his/her favorite author.
• Little things that are really special to him/her: Create a playlist of favorite love songs. 

Want more??
Available on amazon and at bookstores...
1001 Ways to be Romantic
10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

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By Greg Godek.

Executive Vice President in Charge of Little Things.

ROMANTIC IDEAS: “Everything I Know about Love I Learned from Robin Williams”

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I’ve always believed that romance and humor go together. They go together like like milk and cookies…like day and night…like yin and yang…like Bogart and Bacall…like John and Yoko.

Robin Williams, in a thoughtful mood during an interview:

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

What you say to your partner is important. The way you say it is important. The ideas (positive, supportive, caring, exciting, soothing, loving) that you share with him/her will change the world. 

Robin Williams, making a profound aside in the middle of a stand-up routine:

“You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.”

“A little spark of madness.” Sounds like a great definition of love to me.

Robin Williams, in “Dead Poets Society”:

“Language was invented for one reason, boys: To woo women.”

I’m not sure if that’s true from a strictly anthropological point-of-view. But most women love it when you express yourself, your feelings, to them. 

Robin Williams, in “Flubber”:

“I love you with all my heart. With every cell, with every molecule, with every atom. I love you on the subatomic level.”

You know, if you can find great romantic lines in a Disney comedy, you can find them anywhere.

Robin Williams, in “Dead Poets Society”:

“…poetry, beauty, romance, love…these are what we stay alive for.”

It wouldn’t hurt to stop and reflect on this for 10 minutes, once-a-week.

Want more??
Available on amazon and at bookstores...
1001 Ways to be Romantic
10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

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By Greg Godek.

A card carrying member of the Robin Williams Fan Club since Mork and Mindy  (1978).

ROMANTIC TIPS FOR HIM: “Foreplay (Part 2)”

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Sex tips in a step-by-step format. Take notes.

• Approached properly, foreplay begins first thing in the morning and builds throughout the day. 
• Yes, I mean that literally. 
• You wake up, roll over, and face her: The way you look at her is important.
• You wake up, roll over, and face her: The way you touch her is important.
• You wake up, roll over, and face her: The first thing you say to her is important.
• Shower together. Wash her back. Slowly. 
• Make small gestures throughout the day: Bring her a cup of coffee. Leave a note in her purse. Take out the garbage without complaining. 
• Stay in touch throughout the day: Via phone, email, text and Facebook. Maybe Skype.
• There are a few additional aspects to foreplay…But we’ll get to them later. 

Hey, don’t take my word for it…Here’s what Doctor Ruth has to say about foreplay: “Why is it that men understand that a car engine needs to be warmed-up before racing, but they are baffled by the fact that a woman’s ‘engine’ needs to be warmed-up before taking it out for a spin?”

Want more??

Available on amazon and at bookstores...

1001 Ways to be Romantic

10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Greg Godek.

A founding member of the Doctor Ruth Fan Club.

ROMANTIC TIPS: “The problem with Valentine’s Day (Part 1)”

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The problem with Valentine’s Day is not that it’s a “Hallmark Holiday” (a holiday concocted by the florists, jewelers and greeting card makers just to make a buck). No, the problem with Valentine’s Day is that it’s not a holiday at all. I mean, do you get the day off work??

We have “real” holidays that celebrate gluttony (Thanksgiving), consumerism (Christmas), and hot dogs and explosives (Independence Day)…

…And we also have a variety of other important holidays, including the celebration of weather-predicting rodents (Groundhog Day), tall vegetable matter (Arbor Day), and, of course, pair-bonding and reciprocal expressions of affection characterized by an excess of dopamine secretions in the brain (Valentine’s Day). These three “holidays” are, as everyone knows, have been consigned to Second Rate status: They do get listed on the calendar, but they don’t get recognized in any official capacity. 

Sorry, you’ll have to celebrate the most important thing in the world—love—during off-hours. 

Want more??
Available on amazon and at bookstores...
1001 Ways to be Romantic
10,000 Ways to Say I Love You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Greg Godek.

Apologist for Cupid.