LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES Tips for not shooting yourself in the foot while celebrating Cupids arrow

Whether you are enamored of the day, or among its humbuggers, the arrival of Valentine's Day cannot be ignored if you are in a relationship and would like to keep it that way.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: STEVE DUBIN, PR WORKS, (781) 878-9533, sdubin@prworkzone.com

LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Tips for not shooting yourself in the foot
while celebrating Cupids arrow

DATELINE: ISSUED JANUARY 13, 2003...
Whether you are enamored of the day, or among its humbuggers, the arrival of Valentine's Day cannot be ignored if you are in a relationship and would like to keep it that way.

As we await the fluttering arrival of everyone's favorite chubby cherub, Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together, the worlds largest personal introduction service, has drawn upon his years of experience to offer advice on how not to mess up this red-letter day of romance.

There is no reason to let February 14th slip by without a suitable effort to show your loved one how much you care," Falzone said. Having a wonderful evening on Valentines Day may not seem to be rocket science, but there are certainly a number of pitfalls that need to be avoided to ensure romantic fireworks."

Don't wait until the last minute

A staggering majority of couples will all be looking to secure three things in the days leading up to Valentine's Day -- flowers, chocolate and restaurant reservations. The problem is that there are only so many restaurants with only so many tables. Florists can only secure, arrange and ship so many roses. The best chocolates will fly off shelves in a heartbeat.

If you want to impress your partner, you need to act NOW to secure these must-have items. Don't be fooled by the instant gratification of Internet shopping. Waiting until the last minute will mean, in a best-case scenario, that you pay exorbitant price mark-ups. In the worst (and highly likely) scenario, you may find yourself all dressed up with nowhere to go on the big day.

Don't sacrifice intimacy.

Everyone loves to be wined and dined and a visit to a romantic restaurant tops most people's list of Valentine's Day activities. But such dinner plans can actually undermine the days intention. That bistro may be lovely on a weekday in October, but on Valentines Day (which ranks with Mother's Day as the two busiest in the food service industry) that quaint eatery will be packed to capacity, loud and, due to the need to turn over tables as quickly as possible, leisurely dining may not be an encouraged option.

This is by no means to suggest skipping a nice dinner. But keep in mind, given the frantic pace the restaurant staff must accommodate, that the romantic mood you seek may not be on the menu that night. Be sure to factor in time privacy, intimacy and romance, perhaps by mapping out a nearby spot where (weather permitting) you can stroll hand-in-hand in the moonlight. Whispered sweet nothings beat out a swearing busboy any day in our book.

Don't be rushed

It has been an increasing trend for employees to request (with ample advance notice) working a half-day on February 14th. If you can do so, it would be well worth it. Having a few extra hours will ensure ample time to relax, clear your mind, pick out a special outfit and enjoy an unhurried evening where the focus is squarely on your loved one.

Don't overdo the food or wine

Nothing will put a damper on your post-dinner romantic plans like being bloated from one too many trips to the dessert cart or an extra glass of wine that shoots straight to your head. You will be thankful for your moderation as the night progresses.

Don't be constrained by gender roles

It seems to be an assumption by many that Valentine's Day is all about men treating women. Not that there is anything wrong with old-fashioned chivalry, but there is also nothing wrong with a twist of role reversal. There is no reason that a woman cannot make an effort to equally treat and flatter her significant other by sending him flowers at work, crafting a romantic note to slip into his jacket pocket or any other suitable gesture to set his heart to fluttering.

Don't be boring

Dinner, flowers and chocolate may be the pre-requisite purchases, but make every effort to be more creative when it comes to professing your love. An unexpected candlelit dinner at home is always a welcome surprise. Bringing home a romantic film that you both enjoy fits the bill. Finding "your song" on the Internet and e-mailing the MP3 file to your special someone. Anything you can do to be creative and personalize the day should be attempted.

Don't mope

If you happen to be among the many who don't have a romantic interest this Valentine's Day, try not to let it get you down. Rather than being cynical, use the day to thank the other loved ones in your life. Send flowers to mom or take grandma to dinner. Also take the opportunity to reflect on the steps you may need to take to find someone new and resolve to once again get serious in your search for love. With a good attitude, perseverance and a little luck you'll be right on track for having to worry about next year's dinner reservations.

FINDING LOVE FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
The merger of The Right One with national franchises of Together created the world's largest introduction service. The alliance is a marriage of convenience for customers -- offering a more consistent product, a greater number of potentially compatible mates and more flexibility in transferring memberships to another geographic region.

Today, with an ambitious plan to open between 12-24 new offices a year, Together and The Right One have more than 125,000 members -- many of whom have their memberships on hold while they take the time to explore a successful relationship. With more than 500 employees, Together and The Right One gross more than $45-million a year in revenue.

ROMANTIC LOCATIONS
The Right One has offices and affiliates located throughout the United States, including: California (San Diego); Colorado (Colorado Springs, Denver); Florida (Boca, Tampa); Georgia (Atlanta); Hawaii (Honolulu); Illinois (Chicago, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford; Downers Grove and Bloomington); Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Bettendorf); Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln); New Hampshire (Bedford); New Jersey (Cherry Hill, Hackensack); Massachusetts (Hingham, Chestnut Hill, Shrewsbury and Woburn); Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Monroeville); Rhode Island (Warwick); Wisconsin (Madison, Appleton and Milwaukee); Texas (Dallas, Austin).

North American locations and affiliates of Together are: California (Encino, Irvine and Los Angeles); Florida (Palm Beach); Indiana (Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend); Kansas (Wichita and Kansas City); Louisiana (New Orleans); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Minnesota (Minneapolis); Nevada (Reno); New Hampshire (Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem); New Jersey (Bridgewater, Clark, Colts Neck and Lawrenceville); Ohio (Cincinnati); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg and Doylestown); South Carolina (Greenville); South Dakota (Sioux Falls); Texas (Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont and Houston) and Virginia (Falls Church).

(Editor note: For interviews with the colorful and articulate Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together and author of a recent book on the history of dating, please contact Steve Dubin, PR Works, at (781) 878-9533 or, by e-mail, at sdubin@prworkzone.com. A contributed article, that expands upon the theme of this press release, is also available.)