What Women Want

My colleagues have put together some fine lists of things to do to avoid getting “the look” – or worse – on Valentine’s Day, especially when you are making a sincere effort to please your lady love and show and show her you really do care.

Don’t give her the “Buns of Steel” video. Check. Don’t buy cheap flowers at the gas station. Check. And trust me here, if she's in the mood for lingerie, she'll buy it and give it to YOU as a gift.

But what DO you give her that will melt that heart of hers?

1.     Flowers are great, but roses are cliché. In my case, they also take my breath away. And not in a good way. I'm allergic. Tulips are perfect. Gerbera daisies are gorgeous. And if you really want to make some serious brownie points, husbands, give her a bouquet of the flowers she carried at your wedding. Hint: dig out that wedding album. Take it to .

2.     Improbably, guys -- and I can just see all your faces out there -- she wants a clean house. I know you're just not understanding this because you don't see dirt unless it moves by itself. But there's nothing more romantic than walking through a clean house that you didn't have to use every drop of your energy cleaning yourself. If your excuse is that you never do it right, think Merry Maids.

3.     Two tickets to a Broadway show she likes. Or the ballet. And you must go along. And you may not fall asleep during the performance.

4.     Get her an iPod and load all your special songs on it. This will get you the same reaction as the bouquet of her wedding flowers.

5.     The height of bedroom elegance does not have batteries. Instead, think 600-count cotton sheets. Your result will be the same. Guaranteed.

Happy Valentine’s Day!