Valentine's Day is already here again. It does this every year - we just finished putting away Christmas and New Year's decorations, and now we’re supposed to worry about another holiday? It hardly seems fair.

In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Joel Barish says that it is a day created by greeting card companies. Maybe he’s right, but that doesn’t mean it can be ignored. There is a lot you can do to celebrate Valentine's Day, just remember that the key is preparation. Don’t let it sneak up on you like it always does to me.

Knoxville, just like any other city, has several unique opportunities for a Valentine's date. A laid-back evening may consist of dinner at either La Costa or Tomato Head in Market Square followed by the Tennessee Theater’s 8 p.m. showing of “An Affair to Remember” starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Or if you want to dodge the crowds, celebrate a day early with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra as they present “Jazz is for Lovers” at 8 p.m. at the Bijou Theater.

If possible, use this as a chance to take a short trip to the mountains to watch the sunset. It will probably be freezing cold, but that just means you’ll have to keep each other warm, right?

I also recommend a handwritten card. Hallmark can make their money on all the other holidays. If you want to be romantic, no one will do it better than you. You may not be artistic or creative, but we can all write a “roses are red” poem. Just put your mind to it.

And if you really just don’t care to celebrate such a seemingly contrived holiday, just get together with some like-minded friends and watch “Lost” at 10 p.m. on ABC.