The gift: A potted cactus.

The note: "I'm stuck on you."

The song: "Stuck on You," by Lionel Richie.

What's the difference between a "gift" and a "present"? See the index listing to find out.

504 Doesn't he deserve a trophy for being the "World's Best Lover"? Doesn't she merit a loving cup to celebrate her latest accomplishment?

Trophy shops have a wealth of ideas waiting for you. Just think of the romantic possibilities of plaques, medals, ribbons, nameplates, certificates, and banners. And they all can be personalized, engraved, lettered, or monogrammed.

GIFT IDEAS (II).

505 Romantic songs and romantic movies go together: Get the song "Some Enchanted Evening," by Jay & the Americans- And rent the movie South Pacific, featuring the song.

Or-surprise your partner with tickets to the musical.

Get the song "Summer Nights," by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John- And rent the movie Grease, featuring the song.

Or-surprise your partner with tickets to the musical.

Cathy 1986 Cathy Guisewite. Reprinted by permission of Universal Press Syndicate. All rights reserved.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

-William Shakespeare 506 Give her a variety of jewelry: Rings Bracelets Necklaces Earrings Watches Pins Ankle bracelets Toe rings Hair accessories Belly button rings

GIFT GIVING FOR DUMMIES.

507 Don't buy practical items for gifts. Appliances are wonderful, but don't give them as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or for any event that is in any way a romantic occasion! (A friend learned this lesson the hard way. For their very first Christmas together, he gave his wife... an electric broom. She still tells the story, thirty-seven years later.

508 Don't forget about charm bracelets. They bring good memories alive, and they provide a built-in gift idea for any occasion.

Exceptions to the "No Practical Gifts" Rule: 1) Gourmet kitchen utensils for cooks.

2) Garden implements for gardeners.

3) Tools for handymen (or women).

509 Gifts for her: anything from Crabtree and Evelyn. Take my word for it. Visit a nearby bath shop, or find a Crabtree and Evelyn boutique, or call them at 800-CRABTREE, or visit www.crabtree-evelyn.com.

510 He was a golf fanatic. She was a chocoholic. She gave him a Ping putter with this inscription engraved on the shaft: "I love you more than chocolate."

He gave her a dozen boxes of chocolate golf balls. The enclosed note read: "I love you more than golf."

Discuss with your lover the chapter "Memorize This List." It will inspire many great gift ideas.

GIFT WRAPPING FOR DUMMIES.

511 Creative gift wrapping: Use Sunday comics for wrapping paper.

Use cartons of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream for boxes.

Use real flowers instead of bows.

512 Be prepared to gift-wrap your gifts. Remember: The presentation is nearly as important as the gift itself. You do a great disservice to yourself as well as to your partner when you're too casual about how you prepare and offer your gifts and presents. Nicely wrapped gifts have twice the impact as those that are poorly presented. Thus, have extra wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, and boxes around at all times.

Wrap all her gifts in her favorite color.

513 Wrap your anniversary gift in wedding paper.

514 Buy several heart-shaped boxes of Valentine chocolates. Dump out the chocolates and save the boxes for later in the year. (Note: It is nearly impossible to buy heart-shaped boxes at any time of the year other than early February.) Use these fancy heart-shaped boxes for wrapping birthday gifts and anniversary surprises.

"None has ever become poor by giving."

-Anne Frank

TELEVISION.

515 When it comes to TV, less is more. Now, I don't expect you to reduce your TV watching to zero. (Heaven forbid!) But here's a realistic approach to reducing your TV habit and freeing up some significant time for yourself and your partner: Pick three shows that you often watch but which you could easily do without. Cut them out altogether.

Don't watch any reruns!

If you watch the news, do chores at the same time. The news doesn't need your full attention, and this kind of multitasking will further save you time.

Never watch anything while it's being broadcast. Tape all the shows you want to watch on your VCR or DVR. First, this allows you to zap out the commercials, saving you about eleven minutes per hour of TV-viewing time. And second, this gives you control over when you watch TV.

Definition of a "Quickie": Making love during a commercial break.

Create a romantic surprise based on your lover's favorite TV show!

516 Are you tired of running to the video store for your fix of romantic movies? Why not simply watch the romantic classics on Romance Classics TV? (From the AMC/American Movie Classic people.) 517 Make a "Mission Impossible" voice recording.

"Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to meet a handsome, dark-haired stranger for a romantic dinner at the elegant Posh Cafe, tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. I suggest you take on the role of a mysterious and ravishing beauty..."

Leave the voice recorder with a note, "Play me."

RADIO.

518 Call a local radio station and request a special love song to be dedicated to your partner. Make sure she's listening!

519 Schedule a weekly Saturday evening date to visit Lake Wobegon together, by listening to America's most romantic humorist and storyteller, Garrison Keillor. Tune in for two hours to a Prairie Home Companion on your local public radio station. Listen to the live podcast at www.prairiehome.publicradio.org.

520 If your partner loves to sing in the shower or sing along while the radio blares in the car, here's a great gift for him or her: Karaoke software electronically removes virtually all of a lead vocal from a stereo record, cassette, or CD, while leaving the background music. Visit www.mtu.com to purchase vocal elimination software.

To help you create a soundtrack to your own personal love affair, bring home some new music once a month: January: Power of Love, Luther Vandross February: Come Away with Me, Norah Jones March: Forever Friends, Justo Almario April: Distant Fields, Gary Lamb May: No Name Face, Lifehouse June: Livin' Inside Your Love, George Benson July: Sun Singer, Paul Winter August: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey September: Heart String, Earl Klugh October: Openings, William Ellwood November: Ten Summoner's Tales, Sting December: Something of Time, Nightnoise 521 Many people have told me that their best romantic memories are carrelated. We all drove to and from our dates with the radio on. We all went parking on Lovers Lane with the radio providing mood music.

Reconnect with those romantic memories by creating a custom CD of music that was popular during your dating years.

Insert the CD in her car stereo. Set it so the first song begins as soon as she turns on the ignition. (What a great surprise!) Or go for a leisurely ride in the country and listen to the CD together. (What a great, nostalgic date!)

1-800-ROMANCE.

522.

800-762-6677-for balloon-o-grams 800-543-1949-for a romantic trip on a Mississippi riverboat 800-CRABTREE-for great bath accessories 800-214-9463-for wine with custom labels 800-444-3356-to have a custom romance novel written 800-SANDALS-for couples-only Caribbean vacations 800-MARRIAGE-for Marriage magazine 800-919-3990-for Brisa Music 800-322-0344-for gifts from the Smithsonian 800-829-BEAR-for the Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

800-LOVEBOAT-for Princess Cruise Line 800-888-0987-for games and puzzles 877-322-1200-for Harry & David gourmet foods 800-367-0343-to attend a Marriage Encounter weekend 800-3-STOOGE-for Three Stooges stuff 800-423-9494-for lingerie 800-888-8200-for more lingerie 800-323-9525-for still more lingerie 800-FAREOFF-for the Travel Smart newsletter 800-233-4499-for worldwide adventure travel 800-JIGSAWS-for very cool jigsaw puzzles 800-637-0098-for gifts for lawyers 800-862-8537-for hot air balloon adventures in Europe 800-FLOWERS-for flowers

Chapter Theme Song:.

"Call You," Reel Big Fish

WWW.ROMANCE.COM.

523.

www.jic.org-to learn how to choose quality jewelry www.1800flowers.com-for flowers www.proflowers.com-for flowers www.threestooges.com-for-nyuk, nyuk, nyuk-Stooge stuff!

www.eroticprints.org-for info on The Erotic Print Society www.perfumania.com-for a huge selection of perfumes www.victoriassecret.com-for lingerie www.cdnow.com-for music CDs www.virginmega.com-for music CDs www.godiva.com-for world-class chocolates www.sharperimage.com-for all kinds of cool and techie stuff www.imdb.com-for The Internet Movie Database www.isbn.nu-for hard-to-find books www.addall.com-for out-of-print books www.abebooks.com-for used books www.yournovel.com-for a custom romance novel www.creativeworksstudios.net-to have a song custom written www.landsend.com-for outdoorsy/casual clothes www.ebay.com-for all kinds of things being auctioned www.bestfares.com-for an international travel club www.luxurylink.com-for auctions of high-end vacations www.innfinder.com-for bed and breakfasts www.bedandbreakfast.com-for more B&Bs www.virtualflorist.com-to send virtual bouquets and messages www.travelocity.com-for discount travel arrangements www.hotels.com-for discounted hotel rates

CONCEPTS (I).

524 Do you know the difference between the "urgent" and the "important"?

Mixing them up causes us to lose sight of our true priorities and the really important things in our lives.

The urgent is what demands your attention right now: deadlines, details, and short-term priorities. It may be what's important to you, but more often it reflects the priorities of others.