You may think you have plenty of time but all that red, white and pink at the stores says Valentine’s Day is just around the weekend. NOW is the time to be making reservations, ordering flowers and yes, buying that something special for your sweetie. Don’t be that guy or girl that begs as the doors are closing for a few minutes to frantically look at the picked-over card selection at the local Hallmark. I’ve seen that desperation and while we gladly let the registers ring well pass closing, I couldn’t help but think “wouldn’t you rather be home with the one you love instead of at a strip mall at 9?” A little planning NOW will get you home before dinner, and the shoulder that helped cook it, is cold.

If you are looking for cool, not cold, start your search at Naked Art. The gallery on Clairmont is even having a Small ‘n’ Sweet show opening this weekend with drinks on Friday from 5-9 p.m. and chocolates on Saturday from 1-6 p.m. The store is full of jewelry, miniature wall art and other valentine-themed goodies at, what I will say, are reasonable prices. While you are there Friday, Zoe’s across the street is also celebrating the love with chocolates, drinks and specials. After all that shopping you’ll be hungry so take your pick of Little Savannah, Silvertron or V. Richards and make a night of it.

Sunday you can get up and cheer on the folks crazy … I mean fit enough to run 26.2 miles in the cold for a good cause. It’s that time again, the annual Mercedes Marathon. Race starts at 7 a.m. If you would rather just know how to avoid the closed-off streets, here’s the route. Here’s a hint: click on the map to enlarge it. And if you just want to be a couch potato, click to Fox 6. If watching the race makes you crazy enough to think, “Hey, I could do that” then check out Run University. Danny Haralson has a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race philosophy that will train you to run a 5K or 10K. A new session starts February 17.

You may have something better to do. Please comment and rub it in our noses. Whatever you do, be safe.