Valentine's Day: Romantic? Commercial?

We are going in between. We will make a special dinner this weekend (after the kids go to bed), drink some good wine and eat dark chocolate.

We're keeping it quiet and low key as that is how Sir J and I are most of the time anyway. We do set aside time for just he and I though. To have a long candlelit dinner at home, perhaps watch a good sappy movie while we snuggle on the sofa and if we're feeling really reckless, we open a bottle of good wine.

The commercialism does blast us from all sides and angles as you so well pointed out, but we both try hard to opt out of that frenzy. It's hard to believe we have already been married 16 months and to us, almost any day can be a "valentine's day". He comes home a lot with flowers in hand or a special chocolate bar that he knows I love....just because. I don't get out on a daily basis as he does, so I will put little notes in his jacket pocket or briefcase that I know he will find in the course of his day and hopefully smile at whatever goofy sentiment I have written.

So, today will be a lot like most other days. A good many I Love You's will be exchanged, hugs and kisses will be plentiful and we will relax and rejoice over having each other in our lives.

Re: Valentine's Day: Romantic? Commercial?
That's sweet, Lady J!



That's exactly it. We've had another pair of snowdays and took the opportunity yesterday to haul out bits and pieces of paper and ribbon and silk flowers and fabric and copper foil (I had some, turned out to be useful) and markers and stamps, and hand-made 21 valentines, all different from each other. It was a good way to pass time, we both had fun, and it was all materials we had on hand. (Some packets of old-fashioned Valentine-themed scrapbook paper I bought for a buck last year formed the basis for most, but when that ran out I cut up some brown paper bags. I actually like those the best.)

Other than that, we all said "Happy Valentine's Day!" to each other this morning but that's about it. It's an unusual day though because even E.G.'s office is closed -- good thing too, since he's sick -- and we're all home all day. It's nice. (Except for when sickboy starts whining too much -- it's just a cold, and I got precious little pity when I had it last week...)

What I hate about Valentine's Day (and New Year's Eve) is the subliminal
message that if you're alone today, then you must be some kind of loser.

The commericialism is a major pain in the wazoo, but I kinda like getting
flowers and candy for the Lovely Bride even though I know I'm being
ripped off.

George--

Commercialism isn't totally responsible for the the "Loners are Losers" message. The Loner has to own a frantic, quivering ego to believe that everyone else in the whole world is marching in pairs and s/he is a conspicuous loser.

I suppose it makes good sense that there is no day, folk, religious or commercial glorifying Self Sufficiency.

I took the afternoon off work to take Setanta for a little bit of oral surgery.

I held his hand on the way there and back.

For a romantic dinner, I'll be preparing him some nice broth later.

wait now, is this code? shocking!

Yeah, it's ridiculously commercial, but I kinda' like going down to the drugstore in the mall and finding an aisle full of heart shaped candy and cheesey decorations all in red, white, and pink....makes me grin.

Yeah, of all the over-commercialized holidays this is a nice one. Love, baby, love!

One thing I haven't really gotten my mind around yet though is that I still think of it as being about ROMANTIC love, with a detour for elementary-school kids exchanging a classrooms' worth of valentines, but it seems to have become anyone-to-anyone. I think that's fine, generally speaking (for just that reason of not making people who are single and unhappy about it even less happy about it) but I still haven't really figured out what to do about it. It seems like when it's non-romantic it's mostly kid-oriented -- sozlet got (or is getting) gift packages from grandparents on both sides.

Hey, TerryDooisbackandbadderthanever!
How you been, girl?

This is the perfect definition of what love is and how it should be celebrated.

No fancy crap. Just the gift of time and company.

I was out last evening picking up takeout for dinner, I noticed a nicely dressed 20-something man leaving the local 'fine jewelers' with a bouquet of pink and white balloons and two small bags. I'm guessing one had champagne, the other was from the jewelry store. I think someone got engaged last night


Mr B and I shared takeout, a bottle of champagne, and a Bogart/Bacall flick. It was a great night.

Hey George! <blowing> I don't have a lot of time for online antics these days, but I'm making an effort.

A friend of mine who's been dating her current for about two months and just became "exclusive" asked me if she should get him anything for Valentine's Day. My reply: "Hmmmmm, he shows up at your door for every date with something for you. I think he's earned at least a pair of Bruins tickets."

I swear, when Mr. B throws in a load of laundry it is just about the sexiest and most romantic thing in the world. I would much rather have that than candy or flowers.

And, since it happens about as often as Valentine's Day it is a rare treat.

The last Grand Gesture Valentine's day that I recall was back when we were dating. He was a poor student and took me to a lavish restaurant where my ex-boyfriend was our waiter.

That was funny but a bit awkward for all of us.

This is the first year Mo really "did" Valentine's Day. They had to make a mail box for class. He rebelled against the hearts and flowers idea and insisted on a Harry Potter mailbox. And not just any Harry Potter mailbox -- the scene where Harry and Ron run from the giant spiders and are saved by the flying blue car because that is something that he "really, really loves".

I helped out with the kindergarten party where Mo's mailbox was coveted by every boy in the class. Even his teacher thought it was cool.

I think from now on Valentine's Day will be about acknowledging the things we "really, really, love" whatever they may be.

Good for Mo!
I absolutely hated Valentines in grade school.

I found this odd yesterday...

2 different people (besides my husband), both women, wished me a Happy Valentines Day yesterday. One of them was the Fed Ex driver.

I always thought this day was meant to be between people who shared a romantic affection for each other, or at least for a father giving his daughter a gift, etc.

Years ago, this guy I was very interested in (but him not so much me) wished me a Happy Valentines Day, and it really got my hopes up. He seemed surprised by that.

We had a lovely dinner, scrambled eggs with ham and cheese and onions and really good coffee and talked about having forgotten to add green chilies. The lady Diane then watched CSI something on the telly.

We had a lovely dinner, scrambled eggs with ham and cheese and onions and really good coffee and talked about having forgotten to add green chilies. we had imported spanish Marmalade on our toast. The lady Diane then watched CSI something on the telly.

And yet you have summoned the strength to post today.
You're a man of steel, Dys.