Have you already planned what you’re doing tomorrow, or are you waiting until tomorrow?
Or have you already been bemoaning to your love that the day is “too commercialized” and a “conspiracy of the Big Card and Big Candy”?
Or is it just too much an exercise in enforcing heteronormative gender roles propping up The Patriarchy?
Personally? I enjoy the day (and not just for the chocolate). I tell my husband how much I love and appreciate him often during the rest of the year; yet, I like the tradition of having a day to mark such gratitude – for our spouses, our families and our friends.
Our society is too short on stopping to count our blessings and we are poorer for it. Some things should be beyond politics.
Yeah. Right.
A romantic gal can dream, can’t she?
Got the card; got the flowers. Tomorrow we’ll eat sushi in, then watch a movie. All is well. Have a nice weekend.
Sherm
That sounds like a great plan!
In the early days, the Lovely Bride and I boycotted the holiday in support of our younger selves who were still bitter over having our single-ness rubbed in our faces every February. After we got over ourselves a little bit, we’d make little homemade cards, and I might buy some chocolate.
When we had a little more money, I took her out for a “romantic” dinner; it was spoiled by the realization that the restaurant was filled with some real jerks who thought a single nice dinner could make up for 364 days of neglect. She tried to surprise me another year by buying me flowers, but wound up giving me strict instructions never to pay such extortionate rates for roses EVER!
Nowadays, it’s just another day. We do a good job of showing affection for one another every day, so neither of us feels compelled to make a big deal out of this one arbitrary day. (Similarly, I try to be nice to my mom on days other than the second Sunday in May.)
The one concession I still make is to give her a copy of Ogden Nash’s Valentine poem:
Best. Poem. EVAR!
Apolitical, yes, certainly . . . but even so, don’tcha wonder just a little what John is getting for his pair-bond Cylvia tomorrow? Or, is the resignation gift enough?
This Valentine’s Day, like our upcoming 10th anniversary, will be celebrated while watching our older daughter do an Irish dance performance. We’re deep in that parenting stage where celebrations get shoehorned in around What The Kids Need Done.
We don’t mind.
Sent her an Edible Arrangement at work with a nice mash note, one big enough to share with everybody there. Pineapple hearts, chocolate covered strawberries. She liked.
My wife is taking the dog to the vet tomorrow morning. My plan is to take off while she is at the vet, get flowers, card, standing rib roast, red potatoes with the veggie as yet to be determined and be back before she gets home.
The Prime Rib will be cooked to her satisfaction on the grill along with the potatoes. (the potatoes are quartered, with some fresh garlic, rosemary, ground pepper, onion and olive oil)
I will probably do one of my large sweet onions (peeled, wrapped in foil with butter, fresh rosemary, garlic and soy sauce)
Fresh veggies in the microwave, more than likely, although, I may grill those too.
I’m celebrating Valentine’s by hiding a little tiny balsamic strawberry cheesecake inside of everyone’s pot de creme. Just got another 4 reservations tonight.
Also, prepping broccolini, grating parm, making sure the amuse bouche spoons are crystal clean, basil infusing some oil, making ravioli, butchering teres major, prepping tiger prawn, getting the bisque ingredients ready, etc.
It’s my second favorite holiday of the year. People pay more for dinner tomorrow but they really blow out the stops for drinks on New Year’s.
My mother no longer speaks to me because* I forgot Mothers Day.
Two wives divorced me because* I bought them flowers on the 7th, not the 14th.
Are we sure Hallmark isn’t evil? Nothing like commercialism to poison personal relationships.
*pure lies for to make a point
Our company hired a waffle food truck to dole out said ambrosia, but from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Which, I am lucky to drag into the office before 11, but dagnabbit, I made the sacrifice.
And got the lemon curd and blackberry one.
If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
Valentine’s Day was dreamed up by the Lutheran marketing cabal to pollute our precious bodily fluids.
I have not figured out dinner yet. Got time, wife wont be home until after 7. She is busy at Pebble Beach with the AT&T, her first.
She is at least getting a putter to go with the driver I got her for our anniversary. She has never played a round in her life but, she is taking lessons. Something to fill in if she slows down playing hockey. Now I am committed to building a putting green and driving range in the pasture.
Tough when you are married to a Renaissance woman.
14 hilarious e-cards that describe Valentine’s Day perfectly
My favorites:
Well, not much to participate in here, but this is general enough to proffer as a worthwhile sentiment for all on Valentine’s Day..
Hi Darleen,
Wife and I agreed decades ago to celebrate instead ‘Chocolate Day’, February 15th, when it’s all still as good, and 60% or more off.
We’re much happier for it, too!
All fun, no pressure, and we still have that twinkle in our eyes.
We can do this because every other day in the year is our Valentines day, because of some sage advice we got prior to our marriage: Start every day as though you are newlyweds, end every night as though it’s your last together.
Many blessings on you, and yours.
Don’t go to bed angry also works.
Wish I always lived up to that.
We had a Prime Rib dinner tonight. My wife forbade me to ever buy her flowers for Valentine’s day, so I bought her an antique sewing machine instead…the kind that’s foot powered. Got it at an auction. Best example of one I’ve seen in a long time.
Chocolate Day didn’t work out for us; I went to Walgreen’s and they were already putting out the Easter candy.
Don’t go to bed angry also works.
Good thing I’ve always been a night owl.