Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for Feb. 9, 2004

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 | 8:13 a.m.

Phone-y feelings?

Don't have any plans or a date for Valentine's Day? Look on the bright side: At least you won't be forced to dine Saturday night in some snooty restaurant packed with lovers who will pay entirely too much for mediocre meals and extravagant gifts in some culturally mandated attempt to prove how much they care.

Oh, well. Maybe next year.

To make sure you don't mess up Valentine's Day 2005, be sure to break from wallowing in your self-pity for a while and call (866) 588-8477 to chat with Trish McDermott, vice president of romance and resident dating expert for online dating site www.Match.com.

On Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time, McDermott will field questions about gift choices and dating data specific to Valentine's Day. If you ask nicely, she may even share the results of a recent Match.com survey of 800 singles throughout the country. Among the findings:

Virtual strangers in the night

Don't just sit there and sulk: Do something about your single status, urge the hi-tech-courtship experts at yet another, similar-sounding dating service, www.MatchedUp.com.

Before beginning an online soul-mate search, the company urges those looking for love to follow its tips. Start by devising a good opening line, and be sure to steer clear of bad as well as cheesy ones, such as "Don't worry, I won't byte."

Mind your "cyber manners" and follow proper "netiquette": Refrain from typing entire messages in capital letters. Don't write things that might offend others. Employ those annoying "smiley" symbols (made with punctuation-mark keys) to "soften" and/or clarify irony-ladden sentiments.

Remember that scheduling an F2F (face to face meeting) can be dangerous. In "digital relationships," resist offering your phone number early on and, for safety's sake, always meet dates in public places.

Dogged by love

Instead of stressing over your lack of a significant other, spend the evening in the company of someone who consistently showers you with kisses and attention, only asking in return for the occasional scratch behind the ears and (maybe) to share your bed.

Doesn't Fido deserve at least that much consideration on Valentine's Day? Heck, for that sort of dedication, probably a whole lot more.

Show Spot (or Fluffly, as the case may be) how much you care by taking your four-legged friend out for a, um, romantic moonlit walk in The Pet Stroller ($129.95), available through online-gift retailer www.MidnightPass.com. The stroller's open-mesh carrier is designed to hold small dogs (up to 25 pounds) and cats, and attaches to a wheeled cart. When your pet pal is not on board, the carrier can be separated from the cart, and the latter can be used to haul groceries and such.

Don't own a pint-sized pooch? Maybe you wouldn't be caught dead behind the handle of some wimpy buggy. Either way, it's not a problem: A larger "SUV" stroller model ($189.95) is also available.