So make up some truffles, heart-shaped chocolate suckers, and small chocolate hearts and strew them around to friends, co-workers and family. All recipients will remember you with fondness and be inclined to assist you when you ask for favors in the future.

Here are some "chocolate rules" you may want to share with those to whom you bestow your gift...

• If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.
• If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.
• Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.
• A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?
• If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

And for those who love dark chocolate, just tell everyone that it was prescribed by your doctor for heart disease!