This issue of individual personalities brings up the Golden Rule of Romance: Know your woman! You can forget about any packaged plan or romance list of "romantic things to do". Some good ideas might be on a list, but just because it is there doesn’t mean it is right for the woman in your life. I love surprises and maybe you like them too, but just because you and I like them does not mean your partner would like a surprise party on her birthday or anniversary.

Some women would much rather receive something they have been wanting for years and have been dropping hints about for the past six months. For example, when she makes the statement, "that’s pretty", or "that look like fun", what does she need to do, drop a tire iron on your head.? You guys say, " I’m going to get me one of those, I want it". We would tend to say, "that looks nice".

Are diamonds always right? Most women would not spurn that diamond necklace, but you always run the risk of the diamond not being large enough or the style not being quite right. For some women, there is no such thing as a diamond too small or having too much jewelry. For other women, well, it's ok but she really would rather have had __________(you will have to fill in the blank here). Know thy woman!

Straight to the point, what does romance mean to a woman and what does it mean to a man. For men, romance is a means to an end and the end is almost always sex. For a woman, romance is the end and for us, it is difficult to separate sex and romance because they mean the same thing.

This does not imply that men don’t enjoy doing romantic things, setting up romantic scenarios and engineering romantic moments. Men are engineers by nature. They are the builder-uppers and tear’er-downers of our species. For a man, romance presents a challenge, a mountain to be climbed, a part that needs fixed and a race that is dangerous and threatening. Romance is an enemy that must be conquered.

But men should remember that all the flowers, candy, jewelry and candlelit dinners in the world won’t do a thing for your relationship if what your sweetheart really wants is new wallpaper in her bedroom. It is not true that there are unmarked graves of men everywhere who bit the dust after they bought their women a kitchen appliance for Valentine’s day. A new stove is not a bad gift, if give to the right woman at the right time. One more time guys.. know your woman.