Great Romances . . . according to the History Channel   The Trumans The Brownings The Robinsons Great Romances . . . according to Time Anne Morrow and Charles Lindbergh Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn Edward and Mrs. Simpson Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton     Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The History Channel   The reason for St. Valentine's fame in one story is that he broke Roman law and married people in secret. Christian legend says that Valentine’s Day is the Feast of St. Valentine. In 270 A.D., the Roman Emperor Claudius II did not want any marriages to take place during wartime. He believed married men made poor soldiers.  But Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed wedding ceremonies. Valentine was jailed and then executed on February 14, by order of the Emperor. Hence, the name and celebration of love on February 14. In another story he was a priest that also cared for the sick. In this story he was executed merely for his beliefs. In either case on the day he was to be executed (February 14) he had a visitor and gave her a  note to reassure her that said "from your Valentine" -- this seems to be the origin of the tradition. Approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each year. Valentine's Day Facts  Say "I Love You" in different languages Shakespeare's love potion remixed How Valentine's Day Works --  Introduction to How Valentine's Day Works, Origins of the Day of Love,  The First Written Valentines, Valentine Symbols, Other Valentine Traditions, What's New with Valentines?, Lots More Information! Free Valentine's Day poems  here's a sample: Valentine's Day Is a wonderful way To make "I love you" Easy to say. Silly Valentine's Day poems  like this one: Love is like a cabbage Divided into two, The leaves I give to others, The heart I give to you. Author Unknown    Love, like a river, will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle.  -- Crystal Middlemas

~ Top 10 Outrageously Expensive Valentine's Gifts for 2005 ~ How to buy a diamond  Diamonds are a girl's best friend, and what better timing to learn about this shiny gem than around Valentine's Day? February is known as love month for many. Often times, men show just how much they love the women in their lives by buying one of the most precious stones known to mankind - The Diamond.   America is gearing up for another expensive Valentines Day, according to financial author and former Price Waterhouse CPA, Jim Trippon. Here is this year's top 10 list for an outrageously expensive Valentine’s Day: 1.  Diamond encrusted Millennium Bra by Victoria’s Secret $10 million 2.  Custom Stuart Weitzman Designer Shoes $1,594,505 Harrods of         London 3.  Gianni Vive Sulman Watch $520,000 4.  Perpetua Watch Winder $3295 (for the $520,000 watch) 5.  Jill Dyball crystal and diamond bridal bouquet $350,000 6.  Wilson Audio Modular Monitor Music Speakers $225,000 7.  Designer Cell Phone from David Morris International of London $104,050 8.  Gianni Vive Sulman Parfum VI - Perfume $88,698 9.  One night in the Imperial Suite at President Wilson Hotel in      Geneva $33,000 10. Golden Opulence Ice Cream Sundae – Serendipity 3 Restaurant,       New York $1,000   To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. -- Bill Wilson

~ Dictionary of Dating ~ Valentine's Day Trivia   according to Marvelicious In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine's Day card. In Japan, girls give Valentine's Day chocolates to boys. Victorians believed that if a lady put a silver coin under her pillow on Valentine's eve, she'd receive a proposal by the end of the year. Valentine's Day didn't become popular in the United States until the 1800s. Love is like the sun coming out of the clouds and warming your soul. - Unknown DATING: The process of spending enormous amounts of money, time, and energy to get better acquainted with a person whom you don't especially like in the present and will learn to like a lot less in the future. EASY: A term used to describe a woman who has the morals of a man. EYE CONTACT: A method utilized by a single woman to communicate to a man that she is interested in him. Despite being advised to do so, many women have difficulty looking a man directly in the eyes, not necessarily due to the shyness, but usually due to the fact that a woman's eyes are not located in her chest. FRIEND: A member of the opposite sex who has some flaw which makes sleeping with him/her totally unappealing. INDIFFERENCE: A woman's feeling toward a man that is interpreted by the man as "playing hard to get." IRRITATING HABIT: What the endearing little qualities that initially attract two people to each other turn into after a few months together. NYMPHOMANIAC: A man's term for a woman who wants to do it more often than he does. SOBER: A condition in which it is almost impossible to fall in love. ATTRACTION: The act of associating horniness with a particular person. LOVE AT  FIRST SIGHT: What occurs when two extremely horny, but not entirely choosy people meet. LAW OF RELATIVITY: How attractive a given person appears to be is directly proportionate to how unattractive your date is.     Why did the cannibal break up with his girlfriend? She didn't suit his taste!   What did the paper clip say to the magnet? "I find you very attractive."

The Meaning of Roses The Meaning of Flowers   Bleeding Heart:  Hopeless but not heartless. Gardenia:  I love you in secret. Gladiolus:  You pierce my heart. Sweet William:  You are gallant and suave. Lily of the Valley:  Let's make up. Rose:  I love you passionately. Violet:  I return your love. Bayleaf:  Hope.   February is for lovers. So, why not show someone how much you care by sending a bouquet or floral arrangement this Valentine’s Day... or any day this month. Although traditional, long-stemmed red roses are not the only way to express love and friendship on Valentine’s Day. Sweetheart or miniature roses are slightly less expensive than tea roses, but are available in the same range of colors. Roses symbolize love, but their colors have special meanings. Pick out the color that best expresses your feelings. Yellow: Joy, friendship, freedom Pink: Happiness, gratitude, appreciation, admiration Creams: Thoughtful, charming, gracious White: Innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence Red: Love, passion, respect, courage Planting Roses Planting times vary all over the country but here’s a quick list. Northeast, and Eastern coast: March until June, October and November North Central: April to June, October and November South Central: December to February Southwest, and Pacific Coast: December and January Pacific Northwest: January to April  Every Rose ~ The Rose Reference Database

~ See's Candies ~   Send famous See's Candy  -- See's Famous Old Time Candies® are well known and loved throughout the West where the company was founded in 1921. If you were to visit a See's store, you would find a sparkling clean black and white shop where your candies would be packed to order as you made your candy selection. See's is headquartered in South San Francisco, California  You may order online. Click on the heart.

~ The History of Cupid ~    A bell is not a bell until someone rings it, a song is not a song until someone sings it. Love wasn't put in the heart to stay, for love isn't love 'til you give it away. - Chanh Kha     Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. He is known as a mischievous, winged child, whose arrows who would pierce the hearts of his victims causing them to fall deeply in love. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother Venus. One legend tells the story of  Cupid and the mortal maiden, Psyche. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Psyche was happy until her sisters convinced her to look at Cupid. Cupid punished her by departing. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished with him and Psyche found herself alone in an open field. As she wandered to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and dangerous than the last. For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box.   During her trip she was given tips on avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead. And also warned not to open the box. Temptation would overcome Psyche and she opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber.  Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid made her a goddess.   Love is strong yet delicate. It can be broken. To truly love is to understand this. To be in love is to respect this. -- Stephen Packe

~ Excuses Why Men Forget Valentine's Day ~ What not to say on a date I used to have a real bad bedwetting problem ... but the last couple of weeks I've gotten it under control. I know we just met and this might seem a little sudden ... but could I borrow five hundred dollars? Go ahead and Super Size - I found spare change in the sofa today. Something tells me that you're very special ... but with medication I can usually ignore it. I don't see my ex-girlfriend that much ... thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice." Do you want to play doctor? That'll be five hundred dollars. Wait till my wife hears about this! I had a good time tonight. I'd love to see you again in six to eight months with good behavior . . . The Florist couldn't find your house, did you move? I sent a candygram. Someone must have eaten it. The Hallmark Store was closed, and I didn't want to send less than the best. I sent an e-mail card. You never got it? AOL must have messed up again! I left a message on your answering machine to meet me for dinner. Where were you? I didn't know you liked jewelry. I thought Saint Valentine's Day was a Catholic holy Day. Your mailman must have been shot in a Post Office Massacre. I thought we would do something different this year. I thought it would mean I was making a commitment. You didn't remind me!

~ Cooking for your Valentine ~  Knock his or her socks off with these great recipes: Traditional Pulled Pork By Chef Kurt Struwe, The Art Institute of California-Los Angeles This dish is great served with fresh coleslaw and hot rolls. 2-6 pound pork shoulders, fat trimmed 12 whole garlic cloves 3 cups cider vinegar Sauce: 1 teaspoon coarse salt 3 1/2 cups cider vinegar 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup prepared barbeque sauce Directions: Preheat over to 350-degrees. Put 3 cups of vinegar, the garlic cloves and pork in a large pot. Cover with water by one inch. Bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Transfer pork to oiled roasting pan. Cover with foil. Save liquid. Remove the garlic cloves and put them in a bowl. Mash the garlic cloves with salt. Add 3 1/2 cups of vinegar, 1/4 cup of the reserved liquid, the cayenne pepper, sugar and a 1/2-teaspoon of the black pepper. Mix well. Baste pork and put in 350-degree oven, uncovered until tender. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees. Baste every 15 minutes for 2 hours. Add barbeque sauce and 8 cups reserved liquid to basting sauce. Shred pork into sauce. A Valentine meal for two By Chefs of The Art Institutes You and yours will truly enjoy this meal of roasted chicken accompanied by fresh vegetables and potatoes. Roasted Chicken with Pan Gravy 1-pound Whole chicken 1/2-bunch Rosemary 1/2-bunch Thyme 1-bulb Garlic 3-tablespoons Paprika Salt & pepper to taste 1/2-bunch Parsley 1-cup Chicken stock 1/2-cup All-purpose Flour 1/4-pound Butter, cold 2-ounces Shitake mushrooms 1-cup White wine Directions: Wash chicken. Dry with paper towels. Season the cavity of chicken. Truss chicken with butcher twine. Season the outside of chicken with rosemary, thyme, garlic and paprika. Roast whole chicken in 350° pre-heated oven. Reserve pan drippings to make the gravy. Remove the pan drippings from the pan by deglazing the pan with white wine. Reduce. Create a roux with flour and butter to thicken the chicken pan drippings into a thick sauce. Thicken pan gravy and add the mushrooms. Season gravy to taste.  Red Bliss Potatoes 10-ounces Red Skin Potatoes 1-ounce Butter, melted 1/4-ounce Parsley, chopped Salt & pepper to taste Chef's note: Potatoes can be served in your own style, either roasted, boiled or sautéed. Directions: Wash, clean and dry potatoes. Cut potatoes into desired shapes. Heat sauté pan. Add butter and toss potatoes together. Move pan to a 375* oven. Roast potatoes until brown and cooked. Toss with parsley and adjust seasoning to taste. Sautéed Green Beans and Carrot Medley 1/2-ounce Butter 2-ounces Onion, finely chopped (1 small) 4-ounce Green Beans 3-ounce Carrots (1 medium) 1/4-ounce Parsley, chopped Salt & pepper to taste Directions: Wash, clean and dry green beans. Cut carrots into desired shapes. Blanch green beans and carrots in boiling water, then shock in an ice water bath to stop cooking. Reserve until needed. Heat sauté pan. Add butter and onion, sauté until tender. Add green beans and carrots, sauté until hot and tender. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Optional: add some chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately. ~ A Valentine Dessert ~ Fudge Truffle Cheesecake 11/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/3 cup butter, softened 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).  In a large mixing bowl, mix together crushed vanilla wafers, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and butter or margarine by hand. Press ingredients into a 9-inch spring form pan. In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips, making sure that they are very smooth. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth. Mix in melted chocolate, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 minutes. The cake will seem under baked in the center, but will continue to cook after you remove it from the oven.

~ Valentine's Day Fun Stuff ~ Free electronic Valentine's Day Cards  like the one above right. Extensive collection of free e-Valentine's Day Cards like the one to the right. Valentine's Online Games   What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day? Hog and kisses!   What did one light bulb say to the other? "I love you a whole watt!"   What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine's Day? Ughs and kisses!  Chock full of fun!  Valentines Games from the past. Enjoy a Happy Valentine's Day with neat stuff at Billy Bear's where you'll find jigsaw puzzles, Valentine's Tic Tac Toe, online coloring book, online Valentine's game. At Free Wheeling see if you can unscramble the letters and solve the puzzle and then try your hand at Valentine's Word Search.  Have a heap of fun at Black Dog's Valentine's Day fun and games. There are a heap of Valentine's Day links at Blackwell's Best. Valentine's Day Graphics - Browse any or all of the 16 pages of Free Valentines' Day Graphics.   Valentine's Day links for more graphics, screen savers, cards, gift ideas, recipes and more are at Best Valentine's Day.  Decorate your computer with a Valentine's Day Screen Saver.

May this be your best Valentine's Day ever!           Ritch            Richard A. DeBiaso Richard's Promotional Products (Formerly Business Boosters) 3205 Whipple Road  Union City, CA 94587-1218 510-429-4803 ~  Serving Business Customers coast to coast since 1986 ~   Richard at  his Union City office and warehouse Map