1001 Ways to Be Romantic: Now Completely Revised and More Romantic Than Ever

Copyright © 1999, 2008 by Gregory J.P. Godek

Cover and internal design © 2008 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover photo © Corbis

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

1001 Ways to be Romantic® is a federally registered trademark of Gregory J.P. Godek.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

Dedications

Also by Greg Godek

Acknowledgments

• Sam & The Group

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Contents

Introduction

Index

Once Upon a Time

They Lived Happily Ever After

Little Things Mean a Lot

Bigger Is Better

Creative Gifts

Creative Gestures

Romance on a Budget

Spare No Expense

The Most Important Things I’ve Learned in Twenty Years of Teaching Romance

The Ten Commandments for Loving Couples

Left-Brained*

Right-Brained*

Romance for Dummies

Romance for Smarties

What’s Your Romantic Style? (Men)

What’s Your Romantic Style? (Women)

Flowers

Chocolate

Jewelry

Perfume

Champagne

Lingerie

It’s Not What You Do—

—But How You Do It

To Do

I Do

Do’s & Don’ts

Don’ts & Do’s

Do

Don’t

You Must Remember This

A Kiss Is Just a Kiss

A Sigh Is Just a Sigh

The Fundamental Things Apply

As Time Goes By

(Play It Again, Sam)

Love Notes (I)

Love Notes (II)

Freshman Lessons

Sophomore Lessons

Junior Lessons

Senior Lessons

Le Boudoir

La Cuisine

Love Notes (III)

Love Notes (IV)

I Love You

Ai Shite Imasu

Be Creative

Be Prepared

Always, Always, Always

Never, Never, Never

Gifts, Gifts, Gifts

Sex, Sex, Sex

Love Notes (V)

Love Notes (VI)

Lovesick

Prescriptions for Love

Help for the Hopeless

Hope for the Helpless

Travel Tips

A Suitcase Full of Romance

Fun & Games

Weird & Wacky

Cats & Dogs

Satin & Lace

Strategies & Examples

Bed & Breakfasts

Gifts & Presents

Presents & Gifts

Daily & Weekly

Monthly & Yearly

Yin & Yang

Yang & Yin

Mozart

Elvis

Lame Excuses (#’s 1-4)

Lame Excuses (#’s 5-8)

Lame Excuses (#’s 9-12)

Lame Excuses (#’s 13-14)

For Men Only

For Women Only

For Singles Only

For Marrieds Only

A Month of Romance: Week 1

A Month of Romance: Week 2

A Month of Romance: Week 3

A Month of Romance: Week 4

The Golden Rules of Romance

Rules Were Made to Be Broken

Be My Valentine!

Kiss Me, You Fool!

The Mathematics of Romance

The Calculus of Love

Couplehood

Parenthood

Erotica

Exotica

Creating an A+ Relationship

The Relationship Report Card

Common Sense

Uncommon Sense

It’s the Thought That Counts

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

S.W.A.K

G.M.F.L

Can’t Buy Me Love

I Want to Hold Your Hand

Help!

All You Need Is Love

At Home

At Work

Sweet Stuff

Kid Stuff

Funny Stuff

Cool Stuff

Dirty Stuff

Sex!

Surprise!

Celebrate!

Outrageous!

Passionate!

Games People Play

Games Lovers Play

Off the Wall

On the Wall

The Myths of Romance (I)

The Myths of Romance (II)

Men Are from Mars

Women Are from Venus

Men Are (Not) from Mars*

Women Are (Not) from Venus*

Tuning In

Fine Tuning

Starstruck!

Lovestruck!

I’m in the Mood for Love

I’m in the Mood for Chocolate

The Gospel According to Godek

The Gospel According to Godek (Revisited)

Getting Down To Business

Funny Business

Resources (I)

Resources (II)

Resources (III)

Resources (IV)

Slightly Outrageous

Quite Outrageous

Slightly Naughty

Quite Naughty

Shopping for Dummies

Advanced Shopping Strategies

Words of Love/Shakespeare’s

Words of Love/Poetic

Words of Love/Your Words

Words of Love/the Ancients

Memorize This List

Memorize This List, Too

Togetherness

Twogetherness

Two

Two (II)

Bonus Pages: Beyond 1001

The 99 Best Love Songs of the Twentieth (and Twenty-First) Centuries (#’s 1-25)

The 99 Best Love Songs of the Twentieth (and Twenty-First) Centuries (#’s 26-50)

The 99 Best Love Songs of the Twentieth (and Twenty-First) Century (#’s 51-75)

The 99 Best Love Songs of the Twentieth (and Twenty-First) Century (#’s 76-99)

Songs to Help Express Your Feelings

Best Love Song Duets

Best Broadway Love Songs

Best Romantic Movies & Best Romantic Movie Couples

Best Romantic Comedies

Great Date Movies

(More) Great Date Movies

Gift Ideas (I)

Gift Ideas (II)

Gift Giving for Dummies

Gift Wrapping for Dummies

Television

Radio

1-800-ROMANCE

www.romance.com

Concepts (I)

Concepts (II)

Erotica (I)

Erotica (II)

Happy Birthday! (I)

Happy Birthday! (II)

Money Makes the World Go ’Round

Love Makes the World Go ’Round

Do It Outside

Do It in Public

Just Do It!

Just a Little Bit Naughty

The Gift of Time

Time for Love

For Singles Only (I)

For Singles Only (II)

For Marrieds Only (I)

For Marrieds Only (II)

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Anniversary

Happy Birthday

Custom-Made

One-of-a-Kind

Do-It-Yourself

Hide-and-Seek

Creativity Exercises

Exercising Your Creativity

Go Away!

Bon Voyage!

Cars

Sports

Dining In

Dining Out

By the Number

By the Book

Engaging Ideas

Will You Marry Me?

Marriage Matters

Monogamy—Not Monotony

(More) Kid Stuff

(More) Funny Stuff

(More) Cool Stuff

(More) Concepts

(More) Do-It-Yourself

(More) Custom-Made

(More) Surprises

(More) Flowers

(More) Romance on a Budget

(More) Bubble Baths

Thinking of You

Think Different

Choreography

Creativity

Cruisin’

Lovin’

Please, Mr. Postman

You’ve Got Mail*

Mindset of a Romantic

Thinking Like a Romantic

Love Is

Love Is

The Way to a Man’s Heart*

Recipes for Romance

Aphrodisiacs

(More) Recipes for Romance

Classic Romance

Classical Romance

Classic

Classy

Picture This

Picture Perfect

Flower Power

More Power!*

Greg & Karyn

Heart & Soul

Moon & Stars

Science Fiction

Wonderful Weekends

Mark Your Calendar

February 14th

Valentine’s Day

For Lovers—of Books

Sex—by the Book

Married…with Children

Kid Stuff

Rituals of Romance

Romantic Rituals

Oldies but Goodies

Oldies but Goodies: Movies

Movie Madness

Mad About You

Great Escapes

Getting Away from It All

An Anniversary Gift List

A Romantic Basics Checklist

Generating Ideas

Romantic Brainstorming

A Kick in the Pants

Motivating Your Partner to Be More Romantic

Motivating the Romantically Impaired

Attitude Adjustment Section

License to Love

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

Little Love Stories (I)

Little Love Stories (II)

Notes from an A+ Relationship

Recipe for an A+ Relationship

Romance Across America

Romance Around the World

The Right Stuff

The Write Stuff

Real Men Are Romantic

Real Women Are Romantic

Guy Stuff

Gal Stuff

Characteristics of True Romantics

Characteristics of Crazy Romantics

Speaking of Love

Speaking of Romance

What’s in a Name?

The Meaning of a Name

And Now for Something Completely Different*

What Is Your Quest?

Getting to Know You

Staying in Touch

Messages

Massages

ABC

XYZ

FYI

Gift Ideas

Coupon Ideas

How to Understand Each Other

How to Bed & Breakfast

Soundtrack to a Love Affair

Guidelines for a Love Affair

Bubble Baths (I)

Bubble Baths (II)

A Touch of Class

A Touch

Work

Play

Sex Tips for Gals

Sex Tips for Guys

Romanti¢¢¢ Ideas

Romantic Idea$$$

Lawyers in Love

MBAs in Love

Hearts (#’s 1-75)

In My Humble Opinion

My Personal Favorites

Best of the Best

Best Brief Advice

Top 10 Reasons to Be Romantic

Top 45 Reasons to Be Romantic

The End

The Beginning

About the Author

Bye!

Introduction

Love may make the world go ’round, but it’s romantic love that makes the ride worthwhile. We need love, but we crave romance (just like you need broccoli, but you crave chocolate!). It’s romantic love that allows you to say emphatically "I’m in love with you, instead of merely, I love you."

This book is about re-igniting passion and deepening intimacy. It is for young and old, singles and marrieds, men and women. It is for you if you want to turn your relationship into a love affair.

Why are so many marriages mediocre and boring? Not because they lack love, but because they lack romance. Love is lukewarm, comfortable—while romance is hot, exciting! Everyone wants passion and romance in his or her life. But—

Love in the twenty-first century is about practicing old-fashioned values with a modern twist. It is about honoring the timeless values of honesty, commitment, and caring, while expressing them creatively, uniquely, and passionately.

And this is where romance comes in. Romance, you see, is the expression of love. Romance brings love alive in the world. Without romance, love is a sweet but empty concept.

I believe that expressing love is our purpose as human beings. Therefore, anything that helps you achieve this purpose is a good thing.

Once Upon a Time…

…two people fell in love. Just like you. They did all

the classic romantic things. But the passion faded

after a few months. Is this inevitable??

1e He gave her perfume. She gave him cologne.

…They Lived Happily Ever After

Go beyond Generic Romance. Couples with A+

Relationships* know the secret of creating unique and

personal ways to express their love.

2 Give your lover a dozen roses—and do it with a creative twist. Give eleven red roses and one white rose. Attach a note that reads:

"In every bunch there’s one who stands out—

and you are that one."

3 Sending a birthday card isn’t just a good idea, it’s an obligatory romantic gesture. But how about doing something different this year? On your lover’s birthday, send a thank you card to his or her mother.

4 Gallantry never really goes out of style. So every once in a while kiss her hand with a flourish. Note: The proper way to kiss a woman’s hand is to lower your lips to her hand. You don’t raise her hand to your lips.

5 Thoughtfulness is merely the beginning! True romantics know how to go above and beyond the call of duty: Following a bubble bath you’ve prepared for her, wrap her in a towel that you’ve warmed up in the dryer.

Little Things Mean a Lot

Bigger Is Better

13 Go for it in a BIG way. Pull out ALL the stops. Don’t tip-toe into being more romantic. Be outrageously romantic.

15 Make a GIANT greeting card out of a big cardboard box.

16 Make a custom banner—a BIG banner—to welcome him home from a trip (or just to say I love you!). Use construction paper and crayons, or poster board and markers, or old sheets and spray paint.

Creative Gifts

18 Roses are fine—but a simple daisy can really communicate your feelings if you give it with flair. Pick a single daisy. Attach a note that says: " She loves me—she loves me not. " (But don’t leave anything to chance: Trim the daisy so there is an odd number of petals!)

19 You can create a theme gift-and-gesture by selecting the right love song:

• Get the song I Dare You to Move, by Switchfoot—And rent the movie A Walk to Remember, featuring the song.

• Get the song Northern Sky, by Nick Drake—And rent the movie Serendipity, featuring the song.

• Get the song I Love You, by Sarah McLachlan—And rent the movie Message in a Bottle, featuring the song.

Creative Gestures

22 Being a liberated gal, the bride wanted to use a hyphenated last name when they got married. Being a romantic guy, the groom observed that the hyphen is also a minus sign. Hmmm—what to do?? The creative couple now writes their name like this: Mr. & Mrs. J. Smith+Brown.

25 Play Trivial Pursuit. (In preparation for the game, create some custom cards that ask trivia questions about your relationship.)

Romance on a Budget

26f Kiss for five full minutes. Cost: Absolutely free.

Spare No Expense

The Most Important Things

I’ve Learned in Twenty Years

of Teaching Romance

28

• How is more important than why.

• Gender stereotyping blinds you to your partner’s uniqueness.

• The speed of love is 1.7 mph.

• The metaphors of love you use create your reality.

• Romantics are happier than most people.

The Ten Commandments

for Loving Couples

29

Left-Brained*

30 For those of you who like to analyze and compute things:

• Reduce your complaining by 50%.

•