A kiss is just a kiss: Mr. B got some dating tips from Michael Bloomberg in the Fort Worth Business Press and now may have to actually invest in Valentine’s Day. Shudders! But good friends -- chef James Morris and food fantistico Robbie Tawill -- at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel may have come to the rescue for B and five of you. It is kitchen duty Tuesday, Feb. 9 for us as James & crew will romance us with the vagaries of Valentine’s eating and cooking throughout the vast kitchens of the Worthington. Then, and this is the romantic then, we each will be able to invite one guest to eat what we sow, er saw. A complete dinner with wonderful wines provided by Vidalia’s Restaurant.    B is a PB guy: Shelly Thompson, the commissioner of communications for the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, is a very popular woman. Yes, it’s time for Girl Scout cookie sales … did you just think Thin Mints? Shelly brought us 24 boxes of Thin Mints and 24 boxes of Caramel deLites and after son NoBGood got done ravishing, we have a box of each to give away. OK, seriously, if Chamber elves Monta and Andra don’t mind the extra work, we’ve got 4 boxes of each variety (total 8 boxes) for 6 winners.   Ricks on the bricks: Greg Ricks wanted to get the word out that he was the new ad sales rep for Casa Manana's Broadway at the Bass series. Most people send out a press release. Not innovative Greg. He is sending out two pair of two tickets to Casa’s opening-night presentation of Tuna Does Vegas Feb. 9.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK         Last week, the Fort Worth Convention Center ballroom was filled with more than 500 business execs eager to hear what is coming up in 2010 for commercial real estate. Experts from six different fields shared their insight at the annual Tarrant County Commercial Real Estate Forecast. Go here for more details.   Sponsored by

Shhhh, we won’t tell: Mr. B is taken with Carlene Altom of the Fort Worth Plastic Surgery Center. Sitting next to her at a Chamber event was like a free liposuction treatment. And when these 65-year-old eyes began to droop and wrinkle, Carlene and Dr. Robert G. Anderson Botoxed B back to bee-yoo-ti-ful. So, what are you waiting for? We’ve got a January-only special of a Botox treatment for one area – crow’s feet or between the eyebrows.

Proud of America: Feel free to complain because it relieves stress, but led by you, the people, and guided by the principles of the American Red Cross, we should give ourownselves a large pat on the back for our aid and prayers for Haiti.   

A good investment: Suzie Hill of her namesake company was trying to explain what her daughter, Karen, did for the Hill Company (Basically, everything.). “Well, Karen has been with me since the ’80s…” “Really? She wasn’t with you since she was born?” B asked.  Suzie laughed. “I meant that since the ’80s, I’ve been getting my return on investment from her A&M days.”

Six degrees of separation: An aunt of Sandee Treptow, marketing maven for Reliant Energy, was married to Don Shula, and his uncle was THE Don Shula. Sandee still has to pay at Shula’s 347 Grill in the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa, which hosted the Chamber Business After Hours last week.   Fame not fleeting: Soon after having her bootstraps-to-brakes story told by the Fort Worth Business Press, Tari Dudley and Aaron’s Automotive & Performance was featured on Channel 33. Aaron’s Automotive markets to female clients.

I brake for …: The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."

Ouija Board: During last week’s Chamber-hosted 2010 Commercial Real Estate Forecast, Integra Realty Resources Managing Partner Ben Loughry said it “was time to re-load.” Specifically, he said the medical office sector was strong and that self storage was an investment opportunity. He forecast to tread lightly because of the $1.7 trillion of maturing mortgages by 2012. Rob Sell, residential developer, said higher natural gas prices were helping luxury residential sales. Sell also said rising interest rates later this year would put some “urgency into buying.” Anybody else think Sell is a perfect name for a homebuilder?

No longer hamstrung: A Newz-E-Letter reader who wishes to remain anonymous in case PETA is reading, says the last time North Texas cooled down like it has her hamsters froze in the garage. She had to use a hair dryer to get them moving.

Family ties: It will be another boy for facelogic’s Kally Walton, who is expecting in July. And Kim Campbell of EdwardJones is emptying her nest (or gaining some fly-by-nighters) as both of her kids became engaged during the holidays.    Still in good shape: The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is 120 this year. You can fan it on Facebook and vote for one of two anniversary logos, which will be used throughout 2010.

Ed-u-kay-shun: Boss Miserly Mistress keeps suggesting “other” venues for Mr. B’s (lack of) talents as our renewal contract talks have become ink-stained arguments. Her latest idea is for Mr. B to go back to school at Tarrant County College. Miserly says 39,781 students are there, a 15 percent increase over last spring, and they are improving their skills. Or, she says B could be one of the 1,750 weekend-only students at the Trinity or Northeast campuses.

Coming full circle: Nina Petty, new Vice Chancellor of Real Estate and Facilities at Tarrant County College District, is back overseeing the former RadioShack building, which was her baby boomer when she previously worked for the Shack. She will be real estate professor for the district’s five campuses.

Coming home: Chris Petta, a Fort Worthian though he’s been working in Dallas, is back home as Senior Veep of Real Estate Services for Innovative Developers, Inc.

Saying Grace: Now, THIS is PR. David Faries, a critic with the Dallas Observer, wrote about the crispy fried oysters at Grace: “These may stand as the most remarkable fried oysters served in the D/FW area.” Adam Jones, if you’re reading, could you invite some of us to a taste testing to give a second opinion.   Kudos: All the Chamber Am-bass-adorables are great, but John Porhamer of Cowtown Insurance and Charles Cox of Charles Cox Insurance were selected fairest of them all. Porhamer is the 2009 Ambassador of the Year and Cox is the 2009 Ambassador's Choice for the second year in a row (think People's Choice.)

Drive time: Those of you that bought ads (and even those that didn't) on the Chamber's Fort Worth street map can go to this link and see an online offering -- www.maplocator.com/fortworth. Hope you drive as well as this thing navigates. The printed maps are for sale online for only $2.00 each.

Good versus evil: On the same day Mark McGwire was admitting the obvious (he had used steroids), four Texas Rangers baseball players were delivering a $10,000 check to the Cedar Hill High School baseball team, whose locker room had been vandalized during the school’s winter break.