Collegiate Romantics

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, for you out there with lovers, bf/gf's, random hook partners, snuggle bunnies, silly geese, or whatever you want to call your intimate partner, i figured i'd cook up some ways to make the 14th special and memorable for the both of you. of course, i know this is hypocritical considering i don't have much of a love life, nor does it look like i'll have one anytime soon...(sigh)...i can still be romantic. well, i can still have a very romantic mind and have the sense to know what is actually romantic.

just follow my instructions and you are guaranteed an amazing day/night!! so, here are "CJo's 10 Steps to Romance at College":

1. Start Early. the key to preparing for a romantic occasion is starting in advance of the actual date. my suggestion is to start at least 3 days before your special occasion. start with small hints or clues and work you way up to the big shabang. you must be thorough in your planning, or the night won't have the effect you desire. start making reservations, purchasing gifts, etc. as soon as possible.

2. Brainstorm. think up a list of things that your significant other/object of affection loves. personalization is what makes any occasion special. if you know and have a list handy of things which are guaranteed to make them swoon/shed their clothes (who are we kidding, we all want sex), it will make your planning easier. make sure to customize the event with all the personal touches that he/she will adore.

3. Love Songs. compile a playlist (and perhaps burn onto a CD) of the ultimate love songs. now, there is much liberty you can take in assembling this list of songs. everyone's musical tastes are different. just make sure the songs are special to that certain someone. hard, heavy rock could float their boat. showtunes could tickle their fancy. i'm not saying make a list of party songs, but nice, easy romantic songs which will progress the evening along nicely are the key. this involves arranging the playlist in such a way that starts off with a certain mood and progresses (slowly, but steadily) toward another (if you catch my drift). **if you desire, i could give some suggested songs i find irresistable. just ask in a comment**

4. Initial Contact. do something on the 1st day of the 3 day program like send a poem or a love note to their college mailbox. this will catch them off-guard, first of all, to find a note/poem in their mailbox. this will spark their interest as well. case 1: if you're in a relationship, do not let on that you know about the gift. make the note/peom as anonymous as possible. act as if nothing is out of the ordinary. case 2: your job is easy...just send the letter anonymously from a "secret admirer."

5. Pique Interest. on the 2nd day, do something like leave flowers or candy or some token gift that they will enjoy outside of their dorm room door with an ambiguous note attached (even if they know the giver, you'd be "cute" this way). leave it early enough in the morning that it will be an unexpected surprise, and so that they get it when they first open the door. make sure you address it. we wouldn't want a jealous roomate trying to claim it! i'll save what to do on the 3rd and final day for later in the list!

6. Love Songs: Part Deux. if you really want to put some icing on this love-cake, enlist an a cappella group to serenade your funny valentine during the day before your special evening. dependin on whether or not you have a friend in that group, you may want to offer them money to do it. offer, but do it in a way that they'll be sure to offer service free of charge. approach someone nice in the group and propose the idea. coordinate where the singers should meet your date with a song. you may need a friend to help position the date in a certain location at a certain time.

7. Help! help is always needed. you cannot pull off a really special evening alone! get the help of his/her friend to occupy their time while you pull off the intricate set-up for the big evening. the set up should be done on the day of the event. just ask one of your common friends or one of her/his friends to distract them while you work your magic behind the scenes. they'll never see it coming!

8. Clear Space. this is key!!!!! be polite, but you need to ask their roomate (if they have one) to leave the room for a few hours. i don't propose you kick them out for the night, but ask nicely if you may have the space between 7 and 10 p.m. or so (however long they're willing to stay out). be very careful how you go about this. be sure to ask nicely, or it can lead to sore feelings and strained relationships.

9. Decorate. blanket the room with candles (though illegal, be careful..because they are pretty!), set up music, have a special, comized/personalized gift waiting. you should also have flowers and and a meal of his/her favorite foods waiting. do some take out from a nice restaurant (doesn't have to be the most expensive), but transfer the dishes to some nicer containers. you should have thought of the perfect food in step #3! set it up so that the space is dimly lit, though well decorated and intimate.

10. Enjoy the Company. last, but never least, enjoy the night! if you have pulled off the set up, and the mood is right, then the evening should fly without a hitch. add the prepared soundtrack to your night, and let things progress naturally. he/she will be putty in your hands. make sure to compliment them often on thier appearance and how much you truly care for them. say it, and mean it! be polite, be kind, be caring, be responsible.

Have fun* kiddies!!

*no glove, no love!