Dated February 2006
Special Valentine's Day Issue

It is no secret that one of my all-time favorite authors to read on romance, relationships, love and dating is this Oprah expert. You have the chance to romantically ignite your relationships and receive over $1,400 of FREE bonuses with what is deemed as the best romantic collection ever.

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• Monthly Mentor - The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe
  
• Perspective - When Howard Met Sirius
  
• Journey With Jessica - A Velentine's Day To Remember
  
• Couples Corner - The Zipper And The Zapper
  

Welcome to the segment I like to call, Sugar For My Coffee!

Here we discover the individuals with whom this author would be most honored to sit across from and enjoy a coffee break. I close all my writings with this entrance into The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe to introduce my readers to another Success Mentor for life empowerment. That person's presence at the table would be Sugar For My Coffee!

She said, "Men enjoy and want romance but sometimes find different things romantic or are conflicted over their poor romantic skills."

We will meet our guests in a moment!

Before we do, I wanted to ask if you could find yourself interested in the following?

• Why Your Mr. Smooth Looks So Impressive But Feels Like an Imposter
• Why Sex Unlocks A Man's Emotions (Guess Who Holds The Key?)
• Why It's So Natural for Him to Look and So Hard to Forget What He's Seen
• Why the Reluctant Clod You Know Really Does Want Romance

Ladies, if you want to know men better, you need this information.

My wife and I both found this site and the book she has written of great value. If she would make the website as resourceful as the book by adding articles, this would be among my top recommended sites and among the greats online.

Today's coffee break guests: Shaunti Feldhahn

Shaunti Feldhahn started out as an analyst on Wall Street, and ended up a surprise best-selling author. Her latest book, "For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men," has become a popular conversation-starter for men and women around the country!

Several follow-up books are in the works for 2006 release, including "For Men Only," and a second "For Women Only" book. Shaunti is also a nationally-syndicated opinion columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a business and marketing consultant, and an active participant in several non-profit and policy initiatives.

Shaunti holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University, and a Bachelors in Government and Economics from The College of William & Mary in Virginia. She served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee during a time of national banking reform and later worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, tracking the Asian-market crisis (particularly Japan) for leaders at the highest levels of the Federal Reserve System and the federal government.

I think you will really enjoy Shaunti Feldhahn’s website.
For more about me visit here.

Did someone say, "Pass The Sugar, Please"?

This is the area of our newsletter where we try to take perspective of current events.

A new window will open so you can return here with ease, so please enjoy the article When Howard Met Sirius

This segment helps us add a bit of estrogen to the testosterone mix of our newsletter.

Hi everyone! Stan here! Estrogen will have to wait until next time.

This section, this issue, should be titled, Jessica's Journey instead of Journey With Jessica. I will be sharing with you the journey Jessica will have for Valentine's Day. Shhhhhhhh, she doesn't know!

I got together with a friend from church and together we have set this up for our wives.

At exactly 9:00 am Valentine's Day, my wife will meet his wife at Starbuck's. My wife will carry with her an envelope containing three things that she cannot open until they meet.

The envelope contains:

• A Happy Valentine's Day note from us
• Two Starbuck's gift certificates
• A picture of the two of us guys

You would have got a kick out of watching us two grown men get into the little photo booth in the mall and close the curtain for this picture. Yes, people were watching and snickering. But, this picture was important! It will be the passport our wives use during the events of the day.

After opening the envelope, they must proceed to the counter, show the picture and ask,

Have you seen these two men?

This will cue someone behind the counter to hand them a large heart-shaped candy box of chocolates. The box will also contain envelopes 2 - 4 that they must open in sequence when prompted.

The note in envelope one tells them to open envelope two as soon as they receive the heart.

Envelope two contains two Spa Gift Certificates and their appointment time from 10:00 - 1:00 for this pampering. They cannot open envelope three until after their spa treatment.

Between 12:30 & 1:00, they must open envelope three that contains a $50.00 gift certificate to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

As they enter the restaurant, they have to again show the picture and ask,

Have you seen these two men?

They will be seated and while they eat the host/hostess will bring them each a dozen roses that we earlier in the day delivered and set up with the host/hostess.

After finishing their meal they can open envelope number four.

This envelope lets them enjoy an afternoon of shopping with the gift cards inside and directs them to meet back up with us at 5:00 pm where the day began.

At 5:00, we will be dressed up and waiting for them out front of Starbuck's, each of us holding another dozen roses. We will then take a carriage ride to the restaurant we reserved for our evening meal.

This will be the events of our day. Pray that it all goes off without a hitch and that it will be a Valentine's Day to remember.

Happy Valentine's Day! Until next time,

Stan

In this segment, we will share timely thoughts and articles on relationship building.

Ah, the crisp, fresh gentle night air.

How well I remember those childhood nights of running across grassy meadows chasing lightening bugs.

Inevitably, I couldn't stop those nightly interruptions of my playful solitude.

BZZZZZZZZZZ--------------ZZZZZZAAAAAAAAPPP!

Followed again by,

BZZZZZZZZZZ--------------ZZZZZZAAAAAAAAPPP!

Smoke, a little flame, and the aroma of fried bugs filtering through the air. I remember thinking, "why don't they just stop flying into those crazy things?"

You ever spend any time watching those Bug Zappers with ultraviolet lights that bugs just can't resist?

Do you know that when it comes to the body, relationships and sex, they speak volumes?

I was again reminded of all this while watching the movie, "A Bugs Life" with my four-year old. You may remember the scene. There's a camping trailer in the distance with a light on the front porch as two bugs fly in the night conversing in dialogue.

Bug one alarmingly screams at bug two: "No! Larry, no! Don't look at the light!"

Bug two states in slow motion: "I c-a-n'-t h-e-l-p i-t, i-t'-s s-o b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l."

ZZZZZZAAAAAAAAPPP!

I did some research on Bug Zappers. Care to know what I found out and why, just like the bug, many of you who haven't learned to control the zipper are getting burned by the zapper?

A Bug Zapper, more formally known as an electronic insect-control system, lures bugs into it and kills them with electricity. They have fluorescent light bulbs, usually of mercury, neon or ultraviolet (black light). Two wire meshes surround the light bulb and are electrified with a transformer to kill the insects.

It works because many insects see ultraviolet light better than visible light. They are more attracted to it, because the flower patterns that attract insects are revealed in ultraviolet light.

Isn't that interesting?

The Zapper appeals to a bugs natural instinct and appetite, makes them feel that wrong is right, and then lures the bug into pain and misery by a fire that burns instead of a fire that warms.

Where am I going with this?

We don't talk about it much these days, but when it comes to the body, relationships and sex, there is a fire that warms and a fire that burns.

Just like the bug being lured to the Zapper, many are being lured by their natural instinct, confused by the misinformation that abounds and burned by the heat.

You see, when it comes to sex and relationships, you need to know some things:

• We are being seduced by an over-emphasis on the bedroom and the body
• The heart longs to be wanted for a lifetime of nights and not just a night of a lifetime
• Being full-of-brandy-eye-candy and toys-for-boys is not where women get their value
• When it comes to the body and relationships, "tuning in" will rock your world far more than "turning on" every time
• You can chase desire if you wish, but the real longing of the heart is for love, companionship, oneness and intimacy
• Living for the moment can cause you to miss the lifetime
• Your sexual past does affect your relationship future
• The current trend of making sex more about recreation than relationship is empty and leaves scars
• The "Master Designer" of our bodies has more in mind for sex than downloading 3 x 5 images into computer screens, marketing images in glossy pages of magazines, "Girls Gone Wild" videos and "Spring Break" parties

Without naming names, recent history has shown us many people of fame and notoriety who have gotten zzzzzzzzzaaappped.

Maybe reading this will help you not be among them.

If you can get a grasp on these things, you will be on your way to better relationships and better sex. But if you are blind to these things, you could be next in line to be burned by the heat.

When you learn to control the zipper, you'll have better control of the zapper.

Let me have it, right between the eyes. Please reply to this e-zine. I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think. Email me here.