[Satchmo]

Yeah it's a manufactured day to drum up sales. But the girlfriends/wives sometime see it a day of committment, a lottery win, or if you're fortunate enough, just another day.
I don't usually partake other than having a home cooked meal together. But this year it's getting close to 3 year together, so I'll probably throw in some flowers.

[Wyatt]

I honestly don't care about it that much, but my fiancee is really into it, and I was so broke I was unable to celebrate "properly" last year, so I've got to step it up this week. She has to work late Wednesday, so I'm taking her out for a nice dinner Friday night.

[Yontsey]

Instead of getting my lady flowers, I got her these cookie bouquet thingys from Cookie By Design. It's 7 heart shaped sugar cookies with each one having a different color frosting and different sayings on them. Theyre done up real nice and made to look like a flower bouquet. Im hoping she likes them since we live so far away from each other, I cant take her out or cook her a meal.

[InactionMan]

We went up north to her family cottage for the weekend. We spent most of the time hauling water up from a hole in the lake and keeping the fire burning so we didn't freeze to death. It was nice.

I can't get with the flower/jewelry part of it. It's so tacky and thoughtless. I can't wait for it pass so all those damned ads trying to guilt guys into buying diamond encrusted crap will be off the airwaves.

[zippy]

Yes, but only because she makes me.

[Banana]

On young'un's end, I am given to understand that some schools and daycare has decided to ban trading of valentines card because it is 1) an outlet for favoritism, 2) a device to insult and belittle others, and/or 3) because some were hurt by lack of cards.

I'm not sure if that is good thing so I'll suspend my judgment.

[spikeh]

I'm single, but I do celebrate it when I have someone to celebrate it with (boo-hoo). Usually I'll make a home-cooked meal and get a gift, last time I celebrated it I gave my then-girlfriend a 1GB iPod Shuffle and took her out for a meal. She got me, um, a t-shirt. Whore.

[AWR]

Nope. Not since 1992, when I started dating my girlfriend/wife. And thankfully too. What a bunch of garbage, imo. Everybody out there on a command performance. TACK-EH!

My wife is Spanish, a Catalan to be more exact. Mutual agreement led to the banishment of Valentine's day; we replaced it unofficially with Sant Jordi. The tradition is to give a rose and a book to your friend or sweetheart. http://www.barcelona-on-line.es/noti...ublicacio=1637

While it still involves commercialism, it is much tamer - and who doesn't like a rose and a book.

And what is it - generally - with girls making a great big thing out of it, while their boys suffer?

Edit: laugh a spikeh post.

[psmith2.0]

How funny...I was going to create a thread like this. I've really OD'd on the TV, radio and print commercials for the holiday, and was going to vent a bit. Imagine that...



I don't know.

I'm single, but when I've been with someone during Valentine's I always did a little something. Then again, I try to make the person I'm with feel loved, admired and special 365 days a year, so, ideally, February 14 is "just another day" (maybe with a nicer dinner or something).

<cue violins>



I think it's been twisted and abused, by both sexes: it's the one day otherwise shitheaded, neglectful (or abusive?) dolts can "score points" by buying a silly bear or flowers, and if their S.O. has their general expectations lowered enough (via time and previous outcomes), they'll think it's the greatest thing ever. It's sad, frankly. And I know people in that exact boat. I feel terrible for the women (and I want to throw a beating on their boyfriends/husbands).



But I also know lots of womens who use the holiday as an "excuse for loot", for lack of a better term. It's "get me this, this and that...or else". I've seen that stuff with my own eyes, so both sides are guilty of acting up during this holiday. Seems to bring out the absolute worst in some people, no doubt.

Having said all that, being single this time around, I've got a nice dinner planned with my hand. I got it some flowers and a card, and then we'll have a nice, romantic evening at home.







I'm going to hell on a firetruck...you people would do well to just ignore me when I say stuff like that

[BuonRotto]

We've made Valentine's an excuse to take a weekend trip to the mountains this coming weekend, and take a hike up Looking Glass Rock.

As for The Memorial to the Martyrdom of Saint Valentine, I'll probably do a slight variation on the flowers thing (roses are so cliche, actually, flowers are in general -- maybe a bonzai or bamboo stalk!), get a nice treat for her dog, Jude, and cook her dinner.

I should mention that this is our first Valentine's, so this is special, but it's also setting a precedent, isn't it?

[turtle]

I don't really do anything special on Valentine's Day. I treat my wife like a queen everyday so I don't really do anything special on a day like this. I guess part of it is the bad taste in my mouth created by Hallmark to drum up sales and such. To me, just treat your SO with great care all year long and you won't have to make up for it on Valentine's Day.

[709]

I'm single for the first time in many years, so I don't plan on doing anything spectacular. When I'm with someone I'll usually try to do something beyond the flowers/dinner thing. Last year I bought my SO a plane ticket to visit some girlfriends in California, and previous years/lovers have gifts ranging from handmade boxes filled with assorted lovelies to designer lucite chairs. I don't know. When I'm attracted to someone I tend to go overboard sometimes. This year I'll be squeezing an extra one off in celebration.

[spikeh]

Originally Posted by 709 This year I'll be squeezing an extra one off in celebration.

+1 kudos.

[billybobsky]

No and no one should.

[Robo]

I'm having a No-Life Loser Singles party with my no-life loser single friends.

[billybobsky]

You should invite your former coworker... that will spice things up...

[turtle]

Originally Posted by billybobsky You should invite your former coworker... that will spice things up...

[thegeriatric]

No. After being married for almost 34 years, we don't bother, we still love eachother as much as we did all those years ago. Wev'e just got to old to bother about Valentines day.

[psmith2.0]

That's awesome!

[atomicbartbeans]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 I've got a nice dinner planned with my hand. I got it some flowers and a card, and then we'll have a nice, romantic evening at home.

*chortle*

Better hope Carol doesn't stumble across that.

I was having a conversation with a friend at lunch today; she wanted to know what to get her boyfriend for V-Day. I told her to shave her nether regions, but turns out she already did as his Christmas present. Then I told her there's nothing more he'll really want from her... I got slapped for that.

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by atomicbartbeans *chortle* Better hope Carol doesn't stumble across that.

I know. I'll get scolded or get some mean looks flung my way.

Some folks - okay, murbot - can pull that sort of thing off. I can't...

Originally Posted by atomicbartbeans I was having a conversation with a friend at lunch today; she wanted to know what to get her boyfriend for V-Day. I told her to shave her nether regions, but turns out she already did as his Christmas present. Then I told her there's nothing more he'll really want from her... I got slapped for that.

As well you should.

[Yontsey]

Originally Posted by atomicbartbeans I was having a conversation with a friend at lunch today; she wanted to know what to get her boyfriend for V-Day. I told her to shave her nether regions, but turns out she already did as his Christmas present. Then I told her there's nothing more he'll really want from her... I got slapped for that.

That should just be standard practice.....I have a dream, that one day all bushes will disappear.

[709]

I'll miss my forehead carpets.

[World Leader Pretend]

I get a $100 savings bond every valentine's day from my grandparents. Other than that I really don't do anything special. I don't view it as a real holiday.

[Ryan]

I'm buying a flower for a girl who's been flirting with me for a few days, and I'm working on what to write on the card, but that's it for me.

[Schnauzer]

yes, its a good day to ask out girls

[Freewell]

Hmm... Valentine's Day you say???

Let me think...

I wake up every morning/afternoon of my life next to the most incredible man on the planet. He listens to me, (even if he does have the insatiable urge to fiddle with something constantly!) values what I have to say, and has even learned that we women do not always want you guys to *fix* everything... just listen!

He is funny... Actually he is quite often downright hilarious; he keeps me laughing and almost always puts a smile on my face! He tells me constantly how beautiful I am, whether I have make-up on or not. This same man is an incredible companion, intelligent conversationalist, fabulous father to our children, and world-class lover.

He encourages me when I am down, tells me (without fangs) when he thinks I am wrong, (I hate it when anybody tries to blow smoke up my ass!) always believes in me, often even more than I believe in myself, respects me greatly and is the most delightfully mischievous "little boy" you have ever seen!

He is not afraid to say he is wrong when it is true; he continues to work on his own weaknesses as he lovingly puts up with and helps me to overcome mine. He is a great leader, both spiritually and as the head of the house. He is honest, trustworthy, faithful, generous and loyal... Oh and have I mentioned that he is the sexiest thing on two... uh, make that three legs?!

Every day we live together, laugh together, love together and share with one another our hopes, dreams, fears and failures. No one on the planet has ever loved me the way he does. It was his love for me that gave me my first true glimpse of how loved and cherished I am by God. What a revelation!!

And you wanted to talk to me about Valentine's Day?!?

[specter]

Originally Posted by Satchmo Yeah it's a manufactured day to drum up sales. But the girlfriends/wives sometime see it a day of committment, a lottery win, or if you're fortunate enough, just another day. I don't usually partake other than having a home cooked meal together. But this year it's getting close to 3 year together, so I'll probably throw in some flowers.

I agree, that this is an artificial day, but still it is a little holiday for me. My girlfriend takes it very seriously and tries to arrange a small party for just two of us.

[AsLan^]

The Koreans have embraced Valentines and expanded it somewhat.

Valentines day (women buy gifts for men), followed shortly thereafter by White day (men buy gifts for women), followed by Black day where you have to eat noodles with a particular black sauce if you didn't get any gifts from anyone!

When was dating my future wife, I didn't know about White day and Black day so I bought a Valentines day gift. She liked that and I've continued to do so rather than participate in the White day and Black day.

[curiousuburb]

I've never understood the value of buying cut flowers... here honey, have something dying. Downhill from here, baby.

For more than a decade now, if I'm buying something floral, I'll buy a mini-rose bush in a pot, so at least it's got a chance of responding to nurturing, and improving with time. <Hint, hint.>

After a concert which was the start of the tour for the jazz band I'd gone to see, I put one of the mini-rose bushes on stage for the sultry singer (amidst a huge collection of cut flowers from family and friends of the band). Months later, at the end of the tour, the band was back in town, and I delivered a matching mini-rose bush.

The singer made a point of coming straight over and thanking me, saying that I had provided 'the only life on the bus' for much of the tour, long after the fancy bouquets had gone stale, and that the original bush was still kicking. She smiled, gave me a smooch, and I've never given another perishing plant again.

Cheaper than the cut kind that get insanely overpriced on V day, happy indoors, and ... universally well received.

$10 for three, dude... smart money.

[tangent]

Live Crimbo trees in pots too. Less needles, and after a few years, you've got a holiday hedge.

[/tangent]