This page is best viewed by opening your browser window all the way: Press your F11 key to open, press F11 again to return. Turn up your volume to hear the background music. "Crazy" - written by Willie Nelson - words at bottom of page.  Great Love Lines "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" -- William Shakespeare "How do I love thee; let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach. . . -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning "In the spring a livelier iris changes on the burnished dove; In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." -- Lord Tennyson "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 "Love, like a river, will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle." -- Crystal Middlemas Say "I Love You" in different languages   Love Quotes "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." -- Bill Wilson "If music be the food of love, play on" --Shakespeare "What we love to do we find time to do." --John L. Spalding "It is never too late to fall in love" -- Sandy Wilson Love is not finding someone to live with; it's finding someone you can't live without -- Rafael Ortiz Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. -- Leo Buscaglia Love is like the sun coming out of the clouds and warming your soul. -- Unknown  Great Romances The History Channel's Valentine's Day Great Romances featured on the History Channel The Trumans The Brownings The Robinsons 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   What Men and Women Really Want on Valentine's Day A new, nationwide study by the National Confectioner's Association (NCA) reveals what men and women want on this Valentine's Day.  A Penchant for Pralines?  When asked to select the sexiest Valentine's Day candy, men were more likely than women (25 percent vs. 23 percent) to select specialty candies such as truffles, pralines and caramels. Men were also more likely to select dark chocolate, whereas women felt milk chocolate was the sexiest candy to give a spouse or significant other. Procrastinate Later. It's no secret that most men wait until the last minute to purchase gifts, especially on Valentine's Day when leftover roses sell at reduced prices. Surprisingly, more men than women (8 percent vs. 6 percent) selected “the evening before Valentine's Day” as the ideal time to present a loved one with candy.           Intimate Settings. Both men and women desire a romantic, private setting for their special Valentine's Day. According to the survey, nearly 40 percent of respondents rated “in front of the fireplace” as the most popular place to share candy. For women, the second best place to savor sweets was after a nice dinner. Not surprisingly, men preferred enjoying the treat “in bed.” Breakfast in Bed? Both men and women (32 percent) felt that waking up with a sexy sweet is the best way to start Valentine's Day. Too sweet for send-offs. Only one percent of respondents selected “right before breaking up” as the ideal time to present Valentine's Day candy. However, of all the respondents, men were twice as likely then women to select candy as a parting gift. See the survey results "What Men and Women Really Want on Valentine's Day"   Valentine's Day Tips Tip: Women, consider exploring more sophisticated gift ideas for your spouse or significant other this Valentine's Day. Just because your man is a sports junkie, doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the finer things in life! Tip: The most interesting and romantic gifts are often the ones that involve the most thought and planning. Exchanging gifts the day before Valentine's, gives couples more time to share them together. Tip : In front of a fire or in bed, a romantic location is always preferred to present a sweet treat to your Valentine. Pick a place that commemorates a special memory, moment or occasion in your relationship. Tip: Nothing beats starting Valentine's Day by being intimate and impromptu. Surprise your loved one with their favorite sweets before or after breakfast in bed. Tip: Unless you're looking to sweeten the blow, don't waste your good candy on a bad break-up. Information from: National Confectioners Association (NCA),     Valentine's Day Trivia The most expensive Valentine card ever sent was by an Indian Prince to a woman in London in 1891. It was set in carved invory surounded by diamonds and cost 250,000 pounds. 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.    Jokes 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." ~ 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!   Poetry?  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    Slamming Valentine's Day poems like this one: My love for you is like a rose, One that's dead and never grows.   The Washinton Post's Competition of Outrageous Poems about Valentine's Day like this one . . . Of loving beauty you float with grace If only you could hide your face   Excuses Why Men Forget Valentine's Day   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!  Valentine's Day Origin The origins of Valentine's Day are murky. We do know that the ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, a spring festival, on the 15th of February.  With the introduction of Christianity, the holiday moved to the 14th of February -- the saint day that celebrated St. Valentine.  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.   Happy Valentine's Day from Mars Happy St. Valentine's Day from the Red Planet! The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) captured this unique view of a bright, heart-shaped mesa in the south polar region on November 26, 1999.  Click photo for more information.       Another Valentine shape on Mars. Click photo for more information.          Valentine's Day Ideas for Singles Pamper yourself Buy yourself cute Valentine's Day gifts which could be flowers, a cute teddy or a dress you have been planning to buy since long. Singles may also indulge themselves by going in for spa or head to toe beauty treatment. Indulging in books, CDs, and gourmet meals can be a good way of enjoying the day for some. Have a party with friends Plan out a dinner or movie with best friends. You may also throw a “singles party” or “Un-Valentine's Day Party” at your home and have a blast. You will know that life is fun in the company of loving friends. Acts of Service Singles can spend Valentine's Day in the meaningful way by spending time with the needy and downtrodden. You may visit an orphanage or old age home and spend time with the inmates there who are always in need of love and affection. Visiting hospitals and giving roses to sick can also be a touching way of experiencing bliss on Valentine's Day.  Express Gratitude for friends and dear ones Instead of feeling depressed and ashamed for not having a significant other to spend the day, singles can spend Valentine's Day in a constructive manner by expressing love and affection for people around them. One can thank and greet Valentine's Day to one's parents, friends, colleagues, neighbors or anyone dear.  Think Positive Singles can make the most of Valentine's Day by thinking positive and fighting away Valentine's Day blues. One should not spend the day sulking for not having a spouse or beloved to spend the day in a happy manner. Most Expensive Valentine's Day Gifts Valentine's Day 2008 Top Ten Most Outrageously Expensive Valentine's Gifts    HOUSTON, February 13, 2008 - With US consumer debt surpassing a staggering $1.7 trillion, America is gearing up for another expensive Valentine's Day, according to financial author and former Price Waterhouse CPA, Jim Trippon. Trippon, who runs a boutique wealth management firm in Houston, TX, is considered one of America's foremost authorities on the financial habits of American self-made millionaires. "Well intentioned gifts on Valentine's Day often produce money arguments the rest of the year," says Trippon, who has released this year's top ten list of the "most outrageously expensive" Valentine's Gifts.     The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend nearly $100 on average for Valentine's Day this year. Given credit card rates often at 24%, and assuming minimum payments, Trippon says this year's day of love will cost the average American Cupid closer to $1,300 when interest and finance charges are included. "Some people really go overboard with their spending," Trippon says. "It's not necessary to buy extravagant things to express your love."     Here is this year's top 10 list of the outrageously expensive Valentine's Gifts as Jim Trippon sees it: 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 $3,295 (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, Switzerland $33,000      10. Golden Opulence Ice Cream Sundae -- Serendipity Restaurant, New York, $1,000 Trippon says people stay in love when they get educated and start acting intelligently about money together. "Get real and deal with your budget. Be honest with each other about your habits and come up with a plan for how you will spend your money as a couple. It will improve your love life!" Trippon recently completed an extensive three-year study of 537 millionaire retirees. He has documented his findings in his new bestselling book, "How Millionaires Stay Rich Forever: Retirement Planning Secrets of Millionaires and How They Can Work for You."  A Chocolate Beetle for Valentine's Day The Valentine's Day madness has apparently spread around the world, as evidenced by this chocolate-covered Volkswagen Beetle parked in front of a supermarket in China. After first wrapping the vehicle in plastic, seven enterprising car company employees slathered on 440 pounds of chocolate, resulting in the day's biggest internal-combustion chocolate truffle.   The Meaning of Roses  How the Rose became the Valentine's Day Flower According to popular legends red rose is considered to be a favorite flower of Venus - the Roman mythological Goddess of Love and Beauty. Hence the red Rose came to be associated with love and romance. Historians believe that the tradition of giving red rose on Valentine's Day became popular in the 1700s when Charles II of Sweden introduced the Persian custom of "the language of flowers" to Europe.  Rose, Pink Perfect Happiness   Rose, White True love, purity of the mind, charm, reverence, innocence, happy love Rose, Red Love, Passion, Respect & Courage Rose, Single Red  I Love You Rose, Deep Red Unconscious beauty  Rose, Burgundy  Unaware Love Rose, White and Red  Unity Rose, Orange Passion and Energy Rose, Yellow Friendship, joy,  cheerfulness & celebration  Rose, Light-Pink Grace, gentility, friendship,  sweetheart or admiration Rose, Dark-Pink  Thankfulness Rose, Peach Desire and excitement or appreciation Rose, Lilac or Lavender Love at first sight, uniqueness and enchantment Rose, Coral Desire  Rose, Orange Enthusiasm and desire Fascination; I am fascinated and enthusiastic  Rose, Black Farewell or "It's Over"  Bouquet of Red and Yellow Roses Happiness and celebrations - Congratulations Bouquet of Red and White Roses Bonding and harmony Bouquet of Yellow and Orange Roses Passion - Passionate Thoughts Rosebud Rosebud - Red Rosebud - White Rosebud - Moss Tea-Rose Roseleaf Beauty and Youth Pure and Lovely Girlhood Confessions of Love I always remember You may hope  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 - see above chart  Violet  I return your love  Bayleaf  Hope 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 View and shop for Jackson & Perkins' New Aromatherapy Roses   The History of Cupid 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.   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...  Thank you for visiting However you spend Valentine's Day,  be happy and stay safe.  ~ Joanne Contact Joanne Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker, e-PRO Realtor® (510) 429-4800 website: http://www.joannegardiner.com Our primary services in the San Francisco Bay Area are: East bay real estate,  Hayward real estate, Castro Valley real estate,  Danville real estate,  Dublin real estate,  Fremont real estate,  Newark real estate, Niles real estate, Pleasanton real estate, San Leandro real estate, San Lorenzo real estate, San Ramon real estate, Sunol real estate and Union City real estate.  The types of real estate in which we specialize are:  houses, homes, condominiums, townhomes, garden homes, PUDs, single family homes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, modular homes, duets, residential income property, duplexes, tri-plexes, four-plexes, small apartment complexes and special use properties.          Willie Nelson                             Patsy Cline  Fun Candy  Facts More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is the fourth biggest holiday of the year for confectionery purchases (after Halloween, Easter and Christmas). American men say they'd rather receive chocolate than flowers on Valentine's Day, especially those over the age of 50. Sixty-eight percent of men age 50 or older say they'd prefer receiving chocolate over flowers from their sweetheart on Valentine's Day, while just 22% said they'd rather have the flowers. On February 14, 270 A.D., Roman Emperor Claudius II beheaded a priest named Valentine for performing marriage ceremonies despite the Emperors’ decrees outlawing them. “Claudius the Cruel” outlawed marriages when Roman men began refusing to go to war in order to stay with their wives. Another Roman martyr named Valentine was jailed and passed the time by writing love letters to his captor’s daughter, signed “Your Valentine”. During the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that birds chose their mates each year on February 14. Legend has it that Europeans began to emulate the ornithological practice. It is believed that in the 17th century, lovers began exchanging mementos on Saint Valentine’s Day, perhaps heeding the words of Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “Sweets to the Sweet”. A natural aphrodisiac? As an elixir for love, chocolate has been believed throughout history to bring smiles to the broken-hearted and to prompt amorous feelings in both men and women. It is believed that Madame Du Barry served it to all her suitors; Casanova consumed chocolate instead of champagne to induce romance; and Montezuma, the king of the ancient Aztecs, believed chocolate would make him virile. In the 1800’s physicians commonly advised their lovelorn patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining. Information from: National Confectioners Association (NCA), one of the oldest and most respected trade associations in the world.    Conversation Hearts   The 10 new 2008 sayings The 2008 edition of Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts, an iconic part of Valentine’s Day for more than 100 years, honors Mother Nature and the unpredictability of weather – and relationships.  The 10 new weather and nature-inspired sayings, such as: “Melt My Heart,” “In A Fog,” and “Chill Out,” capture the day-to-day frenzy of forecasting changing weather patterns and pay tribute to Americans’ ever-evolving affections.  Other new weather and nature-inspired sayings include: “Cloud Nine,” “Heat Wave,” “Sun Shine,” “Get My Drift,” “Wild Life,” “Nature Lover,” and “Do Good.”  This Valentine’s Day, love’s in the forecast, come rain or shine, sleet or snow! “Each year we look for new sayings that encourage sweethearts to express their feelings in a different way,” said Lory Zimbalatti, NECCO’s marketing manager and a member of the team that chose the new 2008 sayings. “This Valentine’s Day season, we decided to celebrate Mother Nature with our new Sweethearts sayings that highlight the excitement and unpredictability of the day-to-day change of weather and people’s love lives.” Conversation hearts began back in 1860.  Daniel Chase, brother of NECCO founder Oliver Chase, invented the process to print mottos on candies. Originally, the candies were “cockles” – small, crisp, scallop shell-shaped candy wrapped in colored paper with printed sayings. The Sweet Hearts, the name used for candies with mottos inscribed directly on them, were invented in 1900. The candy was cut into shapes like horseshoes and baseballs. This allowed for longer sayings to be printed on them such as “How long shall I have to wait? Pray be considerate.” This enabled would-be-lovers to send messages to each other. As time went on, the sayings became shorter and more to the point. The familiar heart shape was also produced. Original sayings include “be mine,” “kiss me” and “my man.” Every year new sayings are added. About 8 billion hearts will be produced this year; that’s enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Ariz. and back again 20 times The peak selling season for conversation hearts last only six weeks, but confectioners produce the candy year round. Walter Marshall, who is responsible for developing the sayings on NECCO candy hearts, gets suggestions from his nine grandchildren to reflect the attitude young people have toward love. Recent additions include "You Go Girl" and "Yeah Right." Information from: National Confectioners Association (NCA), trade associations in the world.  Chocolate Sweethearts take note: almost everyone loves chocolate. In a poll of 1,015 men and women just conducted by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA), chocolate was ranked as America’s favorite flavor. Couple this with the fact that 53 percent of women in the same CMA poll said they feel that getting a Valentine’s Day gift is important - and the gift to choose becomes obvious: a heart-shaped box of chocolates. It may also warm your loved one’s heart to know that some chocolates are loaded with naturally occurring substances called flavonoids which may help maintain a healthy heart (eaten in moderation, of course). As though anyone needed another reason to enjoy the food whose Latin name, Theobroma Cacao, means food of the gods. “Valentine’s Day is the single biggest day for boxed chocolate sales,” notes Larry Graham, president of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and National Confectioners Association. “More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of delicious chocolates will be sold for the holiday to deliver messages of love and caring."   Valentine's Day Fun Facts   Share these Valentine's Day fun facts with your friends to amaze them this Valentine Day. About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in the U.S. each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas. Women purchase 85% of all valentines. In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets. Parents receive 1 out of every 5 valentines. About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets. Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers. Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year. California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America. Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period. 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women. Men buy most of the millions of boxes of candy and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine's Day. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling. The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day. Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentines Day candy box in the late 1800s. Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.