It’s that day again!

If you’re a guy in a serious relationship, formulating a plan for a perfect Valentine’s Day is a definite must. Just ask the gals. It’s their day.

Fortunately, there are some precautions men can take to avoid being booted out by their female companion. So, I’ll offer some advice: be cautious and choose your words carefully and avoid being stingy.

It’s like going fishing. When you catch a small fish you throw it back in the water, preferring to catch Big Brother. When you catch Big Brother, you let him go, too, waiting for Big Daddy.

So if Big Daddy doesn’t show up on Valentine’s Day, watch out! Abort! Get out of the room! Run for the hills! There’s nothing worse than an angry woman.

Now that’s not to say I don’t have good memories of Valentine’s Day. Sure, it was fun in the second grade, getting a card from your classmates and the pretty pony-tailed girl in the second row. That was the essence of Valentine’s Day: sharing with those around us – with our friends and mom and pop and grandma and grandpa. Even my dog got his very own Valentine Day card.

But those days are over. My experience now leads me to believe that no matter how hard you try, giving your gal a gift you can’t pronounce won’t make a difference if she feels it isn’t sincere. Any doubts and you’ve got problems. And don’t conveniently forget its Valentine’s Day or spend the day with your guy pals. It’ll just make matters worse.

Now I can’t pretend that I haven’t been flattered by my wife’s valentines over the years, but if Valentine’s Day disappeared completely, I wouldn’t miss it one bit. I’m quite contently married so I don’t need a special Valentine or a box of chocolate candies to remind me.

Don’t think it’s my problem; it’s the single guys that have to worry.

In fact, the whole affair has become, in my most humble opinion, overcommercialized with Valentine candies arriving earlier on the shelf each year – like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. You can’t get away from the jewelry commercials and cheap chocolates at the local retailer.

Still, if you want to impress your significant other and would like to avoid a devastating romantic comedy or tragedy, here are a few things you should definitely avoid.

First, skip the King Ranch tour in favor of a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant. Don’t take her to Hooters or a sports bar and plan your special occasion ahead of time. Always make reservations.

Second, avoid any gift in a small box (earrings, rings, necklace) if your intentions don’t include getting on your knees to propose. The last thing you want is for your date to get the wrong impression.

Third, dress up for the occasion. A nice shirt and tie will let her know your appearance is important. It’s also a good way to show you’ve taken the time to please her.

Additionally, don’t get her a box of chocolates she saw the day earlier at the dollar store or Wal-Mart. Think Macy’s or a well-known chocolate shop.

And lastly, avoid bringing up issues that are personal in nature; don’t talk about money; and don’t flirt with the waitress or cashier and never … never … under any circumstance, pay attention to anyone else other than your date.

Guys need to remember that on Valentine’s Day, it’s the guys who stand to lose the most.