... issues and tissues with a touch of the spicy from the spirit hag ...

 

valentines day.

 

the mere phrase makes most people sigh in romantic anticipation.

 

i, however, prefer to regard it as a commercial racket fed by gullible fools.

 

i know that’s not very girly of me, but i really just don’t see the point. valentines day just makes single people feel like losers and married people feel obligated.

 

for example: the newspaper where i work has a ‘valentine love messages’ page that i am required to edit, but would prefer to vomit on.

 

why, i ask you, do humans undertake this sudden compulsive quest to spout bad poetry in newspaper classifieds accompanied by poorly-drawn cherub graphics and nicknames like ‘mr honey trousers’ ?

 

well, because everyone else does, obviously.

 

everybody, it seems, except for me. i can’t be bothered.

 

this fact makes my husband the envy of his friends.

 

one of whom has a wife that cries every valentines day no matter what he does.

 

one year, he bought her lingerie and she accused him of being obsessed with her body. and cried.

 

the following year, he took her to an expensive hotel and she accused him of wasting their money. and cried.

 

this year, he has decided to do nothing at all. he figures she will cry anyway and at least this is a lot less expensive.

 

i see his point. but she is still going to kill him.

 

for the other 364 days of the year, this guy is a devoted husband and father who loves his family.

 

but every february 14, he is suddenly a thoughtless louse who ‘doesn’t know what his wife wants’, and i happen to find that unfair.

 

if your partner fails to get you the ultimate in thoughtful, expensive, extravagant and/or in-every-way-perfect gift this valentines day, perhaps you should bask in the compliment this really is.

 

it says ‘i know you don’t need proof’. it says ‘i was busy looking after our life or doing my job’ sometimes it even says ‘i’m still HERE, aren’t i?’. and that’s what matters, isn’t it ?.

 

 


Comments (Page 1)
2 Pages1 2 
on Feb 14, 2006
Right, like we need one special day to show love for someone special. Any (every even) day is good for that. Although, candy is yummy.
on Feb 14, 2006
I think Valentine's Day is good for children... at least it was when kids would spend time making hearts and cards out of colored paper, glue and crayons. Nowadays, the norm is store bought cards because we're all too busy to make 25 cards individually.

I made Kole one for this morning (I'm on nights) and my sister is going to drop it off to her at school this afternoon. She'll be happy and surprised.

From a single woman's perspective, I just don't give a shit. Sounds bitter, but really... it ain't.
on Feb 14, 2006
Lovely article mig. Coincides with some of my recent thoughts. It is all a scam.
on Feb 14, 2006
The latest stats on american spending for valentines day is 101.00 per person, great scam the flower, card chocolate and jewelry companies have going,

coll and I do not paticipate except for a card,

I will cook {as usual} but tonight I will set a romantic table.

Coll is my 365 day a year gift from GOD and I do not need one day to celebrate that.
on Feb 14, 2006
The latest stats on american spending for valentines day is 101.00 per person


That is insane! Sorry to say, but what a waste of money.

I will cook {as usual} but tonight I will set a romantic table.

I am married and that is what we usually do to celebrate Valentine's day. I didn't even get my husband a card this year, and he didnt get me one. It's no big deal to us, because I agree with you that when you are in love you do not need one day of the year to tell the person. You should be showing it all year long, not when retail stores or florists say you should.

LW:
I might, (since I have to go out today anyway) pick Him up a little doo-dad for His desk or a small box of candy that I know He likes, but I also know that it's not EXPECTED of me, so it won't be a big deal if I don't. The same applies to Him, I don't have any expectations, but I won't turn down any surprises, either.

See, I completely agree with you here. We both know nothing is expected of either of us, but if one of us does decide to do something special the other one will be appreciative. On the other hand, if neither of us gets each other anything, we know that will not result in hurt feelings or anger.
on Feb 14, 2006
Unless you happen to be one of those kids who doesnt get any. Then it's totally, unbelievably, heart-renderingly, humiliatingly AWFUL.


I was thinking of that when I wrote it, and agree. More effort by today's schooling system (at least in this area) sees that this kind of stuff is steered NOT to happen, which is why they send home class lists with every student's name on it.
on Feb 14, 2006
which is why they send home class lists with every student's name on it.


My four year old's class is having a "to-do" for them. In fact they seem to celebrate everything these days. It's fine with me as long as the kids have fun. She usually comes home with a colored picture or some activity they did. Plus the get goody treats. Parent's usually have to send something for the kids to enjoy. I'm sending cupid pops that changes color. My two older kids don't go through this anymore thank God! Now it's her turn, wait til elementary school comes up, I'll be in for it!


As for my hubby and I, we usually don't do much, probably a card or we'll buy chocolates for all of us to enjoy which I did already, the kids enjoy them. My hubby gave me the most beautiful card, not because of what it looked like but because of what he wrote in it. Who knew...he has such beautiful "words" in him! I was touched.

Seriously though, Valentine's Day is such a money-hogging scam.....but some people enjoy it so what the heck, let em.
on Feb 15, 2006
Mig, I'm with on this one. My wife and I both think it is a scam or, as a friend put it, a Hallmark holiday. The story you relate about your friend and his wife I've heard a hundred times, in slightly altered forms. Thankfully, it is a story I'll never have to tell.
on Feb 15, 2006
'for example: the newspaper where i work has a ‘valentine love messages’ page that i am required to edit, but would prefer to vomit on.'
Does the fact that some other people may enjoy St. Valentine's Day really make you want to vomit on their messages? Sheesh, take a valium.

'everybody, it seems, except for me.'
You're the only one who thinks it might be a commercial scam? Don't kid yourself.

Surely the point is this - if it appeals to you celebrate it, and if it doesn't don't. You say 'i can't be bothered', but at the same time you are bothered enough to post this article. By arguing so vociferously AGAINST St. Valentine's Day, you accord it the very creedence, importance and respect you appear to be arguing it doesn't deserve.
on Feb 15, 2006
'for example: the newspaper where i work has a ‘valentine love messages’ page that i am required to edit, but would prefer to vomit on.'
Does the fact that some other people may enjoy St. Valentine's Day really make you want to vomit on their messages? Sheesh, take a valium.

'everybody, it seems, except for me.'
You're the only one who thinks it might be a commercial scam? Don't kid yourself.

Surely the point is this - if it appeals to you celebrate it, and if it doesn't don't. You say 'i can't be bothered', but at the same time you are bothered enough to post this article. By arguing so vociferously AGAINST St. Valentine's Day, you accord it the very creedence, importance and respect you appear to be arguing it doesn't deserve.


wah, wah, wah....
on Feb 15, 2006
'wah, wah, wah....'
What an enlightening contribution.
on Feb 15, 2006
By arguing so vociferously AGAINST St. Valentine's Day, you accord it the very creedence, importance and respect you appear to be arguing it doesn't deserve


What a load of rubbish. JU is all about this very thing: having an opinion. If you agree or disagree, well fine and good. But berating someone for actually having an opinion of their own is, quite frankly, conceited, IMHO.
on Feb 15, 2006
for the most part that is furrycanarys forte, complain, punch holes and never really contribute.


no offense furry this is just MY OPINION.
on Feb 16, 2006
'But berating someone for actually having an opinion of their own is, quite frankly, conceited, IMHO.'
I didn't berate her for having an opinion, but for what I perceive as 'protesting too much', i.e. overstating the argument.

'JU is all about this very thing: having an opinion. If you agree or disagree, well fine and good. '
Unless you are perceived as disagreeing, it appears ... Which I don't, really, I just think Mignuna blows the issue out of all proportion.

' for the most part that is furrycanarys forte, complain, punch holes and never really contribute.'
And if that's not an empty, unconstructive, hole-punching contribution, MM, I don't know what is ... But hey, you're no stranger to hypocrisy.
on Feb 16, 2006

um, hi, can i wade into this. lol . sheesh. well, it is just one persons' opinion. namely mine. and i stand by it, just as i stand by the rights of others hold a different opinion.

that said, i was tongue-in-cheek here, perhaps i should have made that plainer ?. thanks for your contributions everyone.

mig.

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