When we think of Valentine's Day, we tend to think of a man and a woman celebrating together. If you aren't paired at this time, here are 18 neat ways to celebrate Valentine's Day YOUR way.

1. Celebrate with a child! If you don't have one, borrow one! Invite your grand-daughter over for an afternoon of tea with tiaras and tutus, making Valentines, and reading
Valentine's books. Got a boy in your life? How about some slap-jack or Pente, video games and a candle-lit dinner with fondue - to keep those hands busy! Nice red catsup is good
enough for the sauce!

2. Give a party at a children's shelter. The Volunteer Director is trained to help you! Simple refreshments, favors, plan a game, tie-dye t-shirts, crafts, play the piano and sing.
It's the thought and the companionship that count. Games? Play musical chairs, tying big red bows to the front of the chairs. Pin the Lips on Ms. Valentine - draw "her" on posterboard - use moving eyes, false eyelashes and pipe cleaners for hair. Put each kid's name on a pair of red lips cut out of construction paper with tape on back. Blindfold them with Valentine scarf and proceed! Valentine Bingo - make bingo cards with Valentine items instead of numbers to call. Use February theme to increase number of items - groundhogs, Presidents Lincoln and Washington, candy, hearts, doves, lovers, Valentines, etc. Serve "Love Potion" for the beverage.

3. Make it a special day for someone in a retirement or nursing home. Put on that bright red sweater and your Valentine tie - $12 and it's perfect, red with white hearts: http://www.rainbowconnection.com/ties/T-11448.html; or Taz in love and red braces available here http://store.yahoo.com/tiebar2 and head on over! One friend of mine takes something he bakes called Terribly Naughty. I believe it has pecans, peanut butter, chocolate morsels, marshmallows, butterscotch pieces, pure butter, at least a pound of sugar, and brandy in it. He's very popular!

4. Have friends over for a Valentine's Party. Sing love songs, watch a video, make an outrageously beautiful buffet spread. Have everyone bring a grab bag gift. Have a poetry
contest. Romantic songs list here: www.inspirationpoint.com/ipmusic.htm.

5. Call up your son and daughter-in-law and tell them you're coming for the weekend to take care of the kids so they can go celebrate. Bake Valentine's cookies with the kids and have a red dinner - red jello hearts, heart-shaped pasta with tomato sauce or heart-shaped pizza, Hawaiian punch and cinnamon hearts in hot cocoa. "Willie Wonka" video, everyone gets in the big bed with Nana, snuggle-time, dogs included. Woo hoo!

6. Celebrate with your animal companion. There's no more reliable source of love in our lives. Get a deeper connection with your beloved animal companion with Jacquelin Smith, Animal
Communicator, www.jacquelinsmith.com. Consultations, booklets, tapes.

7. Bake some homemade dog biscuits. Recipes here: www.gurney.co.uk/pads/bone.htm. Take your dog for a walk in the park, and on the way, drop off your treats at the local animal shelter.

8. Take your animal companion with you to a nursing home or convalescent center. Many facilities are making this opportunity available for their guests. You can deck your dog, cat, ferret or rabbit in a festive Valentine scarf for the occasion:www.petbandanas.com/valentines-bandanas.htm.
Red vest, tie, bows, boas! and other festive wear for your small furry friend here: http://www.cosettescloset.com/valwear.html.

9. Enjoy the day helping others. A local place of worship might be building a house for Habitat or going Valentine caroling at a housing project. If not, why not? If not you, who?

10. Book a Valentine cruise on the Costa cruise line and dance the nights away. Be a gentleman host, or dance with one! Gentlemen dance hosts "work" from 8 pm to 1 am every
night, visiting with and dancing with women cruise guests. Great vacation for singles! Gentleman, don't forget your red cummerbund and bowtie: http://store.yahoo.com/tiebar2/solcolcumbow.html. Wait til the last minute when the rates go down really low.

11. Have friends over for a Valentine Day Brunch. Make pancakes and fried eggs shaped like hearts http://www.romanticgifts.com/RomanticGifts/njscat.nsf/adminCatalog
/E329061D73D3165188256A31001EE646!OpenDocument&15.+Kitchen
+$+Dining) serve with strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries, some nice crisp bacon, strawberry daiquiris and nice hot tea. Yum! Set a terminally romantic buffet table and fill the DR ceiling with pink and/or red helium balloons.

12. Check for special events in your town. A romantic Valentine pops concert perhaps?

13. Get away for the weekend and see some great art. Strathmore Hall, located in an historic mansion in North Bethesda, Md. is having their annual "Art You My Valentine?"
juried exhibition thru Feb. 22. From love at first sight to the last kiss goodnight, romance and friendship are in the air, as artist members create to the theme of Valentine's Day. Bring one home; they're all for sale.

14. Organize something with your civic group. If the New York Giants can do it, so can you. They'll be visiting patients in Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian on Valentine's Day.

15. Call your favorite aunt or your bratty little brother and head for "New York in Love." The Museum of the City of NY is featuring an exhibit of 19th Century Valentines.

16. Try something zany. The Embassy Suites, Richmond, Va. Offers the King's Dominion Package - 2-room suite, breakfast, reception, indoor pool and Jacuzzi and 2 adult tickets to go ride that roller coaster! There's more than one way to 'lose your heart' on Valentine's Day.

17. The Winter-storm adventure! Ancient Cedars Spa, Vancouver Island at the Wickannish Inn, situated on a rocky promontory at the westernmost point of Chesterman Beach, at
the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Enjoy the spectacle of 20' waves pounding the coast from your room with ocean view, deep soaker tub, and fireplace for optimum
viewing. All spa amenities, epicurean dining and "the storm-watching experience". Slickers provided. Bring along some friends, your pet, and/or a good book!
www.wickinn.com/Frames/HPfrm.htm

18. Feed your heart! Curl up with a good book. "A General Theory of Love," of course, by Amini, Lewis and Lannon.

© Susan Dunn helps clients get organized with the Don't Die
at 50 Weekly Organizational Calendar, the Gooding
Accountability System, coaching, and Internet courses. Visit
her on the web at www.susandunn.cc and
mailto:sdunn@susandunncc and GET ORGANIZED.