"jumped the big chocolate truffle shark?" Amy

now that's an image that cracks me the frell up...

as for the day? I've pretty much forgotten it... I've only ever had one girlfriend who even gave me anything at all on the day. It's always been my obligation to buy and plan and stuff. Since I'm the type to naturally do that kind of stuff at various times anyway, let's say I was non-plussed.

I like the Japanese set up... girl gets guy chocolates on Valentines and guy gets girl stuff on White Day a month later.

V-day is fun for the kiddos. We are still in that "decorate the shoebox" place in life. So it can be a good time to haul out the glitter and glue and the cinnamon bears.
As for the hubby and I? We agreed years ago that V-day was a stupid holiday made up by Hallmark and Hershey's. We're romantic with one another on our terms. Not because Wal-Mart tells us we have to be.

I'll take us out to a place she likes on a different day... Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter are good days to avoid restaurants.

What day is that again? Am I supposed to be doing something?

Vampire pub crawl, raises money for charity, great costuming and fun. Also give off the wall kitchy VD gift, winner has the most blatant corruption to give the other
this might win this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6lz-CRIdf8

Interesting around here, as that is my wife's birthday. She forbids me from buying her flowers at V-day markups and she does not want to fight dinner crowds, but I ignore the day at my own peril.

Amy, do you get a lot of cards from fans?

If I bother to take note of it at all, it's to be a curmudgeon and note that the day was created by the chocolate, flower and greeting card industries and serves a dual purpose in guilting attached guys into buying shit, and reminding single people that they are losers no worth buying shit for.

UW Girl, the "decorate the shoebox" place in life is a good one. Hope you all have a great time!

As for my sweety and me, we both really like chocolate. So we wait until Valentine's Day is over and buy some dark chocolate on clearance.

And I might see if I can find something dog-friendly for the sweet little old pug lady.

Valentine's day is also my mother's birthday. She's 72 this year. She loves a fuss to be made over her even as she asks for no presents.It is always a challenge to find a present that is not a present for her so she feels properly appreciated. We don't do anything else except celebrate with Gramma. It's good.

My ex point-blank refused to go out for dinner on Valentines. She's a reserved person most of the time and hated the idea that everyone could see it was meant to be a "romantic" event. I used to cook a candlelit dinner for her at home instead. We both enjoyed that.

Not seeing anyone seriously enough to boycott.

But if anyone needs a reason to be booty-call-averse, here ya go:

http://us.cnn.com/2012/01/27/justice/new-york-kelly-accusation/index.html?iref=obnetwork

The saturday after I am getting a day sans kids, then DH and I are going to Wicked, then to a hotel. I don't care a whit if it's on the day or not, but it's a great excuse to do something together. He'll buy me a new book, I'll give him a BJ, life will be good.

Also, DH buys the 3 girls candy and a rose each. And until this year, he would go to a daddy/daughter dance with the 2 oldest. Working nights now means that's scrubbed. That makes me sad.

"Also give off the wall kitchy VD gift"
The gift that keeps on giving?

I just got out of a sexless marriage. For the sake of those that only get laid Christmas, Birthday, and Valentine's Day, please stop 'wars' against any of those occasions.

Well, it's less tiresome than Christmas hype, IMO. For me, what matters on Xmas is getting to be with interesting people, if possible. Thankfully, none of my relatives enjoys giving or receiving anything expensive anymore - and an unofficial rule is, little kids should not expect ANYTHING fancy/expensive from anyone other than a parent!

However, I do think that teens should be given a break. Just as they (well, the girls, anyway) are sensitive about their birthdays being ignored, they're sensitive about Valentine's Day being ignored by their S.O.s. Give them time to grow out of it before saying "I don't ask you to do that for me; don't ask me to do it for you."

And, of course, don't just give - ask for something in return. Every time.

I agree Gog, I cant help but wonder if she had managed to get an abortion before her boyfried with the vasectomy found out she was pregnant if there would have even been a rape charge

Am I the only one who's noticed that EVERY SINGLE ad is telling guys what to buy their women? Has anyone EVER seen the reverse?

I think it's a waste of time, but I don't care if other people celebrate.

And I don't get why kids are buying presents for their parents. Seems to me it's supposed to be for couples.

We don't make too big a deal about Valentines Day around our house, bu this year Hubby got me an early present.
A lovely Ruger LC9. He was so excited, he didn't want to wait until the day of to give it to me.
Best present I've ever gotten.
But again, usually, we don't make a big deal about it. I'd rather have the little surprises for no reason than the forced gift because of a particular holiday.

I like the Japanese set up... girl gets guy chocolates on Valentines and guy gets girl stuff on White Day a month later. -- SwissArmyD at February 2, 2012 1:02 PM

Well if we did it right we could give the ladies a single rose and chocolate and/or maybe a nice dinner on V day and they would observe SBJ day on March 14th.

No boycott, but I do find the level of hype a tad too much. But it happens with many holidays.

Expectations well ya that might be tough.

SwissArmyD what about Black Day for all this single people.

Jim P. Ha forgot about that holiday.

That is sad, but momof4, how wonderful that he did that. I always loved doing stuff with my dad ...

Perfect. In the space of 3-ish hours you completely contradicted your own post.

V-day won't be blacked out until women decide it is.

Which amounts to using four words to say "never".

As a single individual, I'm just going to ignore it, except for getting Mom something.

Honestly it's gotten to the point where complaining about Valentine's Day is just as cliched as the holiday itself, if not more so. It's not exactly groundbreaking news that this is a made-up, Hallmark, over-commercialized holiday. But some people enjoy the excuse to celebrate with their friends/family/significant others, decorate, eat chocolate, just break up the mundanity of everyday life. If you celebrate fine, if you don't celebrate fine too; but what's annoying is people who make a hugeee deal about it either way.

I, with every fiber of my being, HATE the forced, commercial feel of every fucking holiday. Hallmark and every retail outlet in America has ruined each and every one of them.

Having relieved myself of the burden of my true feelings, I will now admit that I will be purchasing a Hallmark card (blank inside, thank you)and at least a dozen roses for my wife of 27 years.

DAMN IT

We will be taking it easy on Valentine's day itself, but I'll take my wife out somewhere nice for dinner some time close enough to count. I know it's a commercial holiday and all, but whatever, I don't need much justification to do something special; however, neither of us care enough to fight the crowds that night.

I will be baking heart-shaped cookies with pink icing. I will also hide heart-shaped love notes around the house. I will make an extra effort for dinner. Maybe candles.

I will probably receive flowers or chocolate.

We will be spending 10$ on 12 small boxes of chocolates from Sam's. 7 will go to the kiddos and the rest will be given to neighbor friends they like. That's it. Nothing else to do.

Valentine was a Roman citizen and a Christian saint and was executed by beheading for officiating at weddings for legionaires, who were forbidden marriage by Imperial edict.

Oh, so romantic.

I would think that VD day meant giving your partner the clap.

I would think that VD day meant giving your partner the clap.

It just might. When you care enough to give the very best.

Back on topic: Of course V Day is commercial. If people can make a buck, they will. That doesn't mean we have to get sucked into it. My husband and I will probably buy a bottle of wine and make a fancy dinner. Putting aside one day for a little more romance is fun.

My wife and I really don't go much for that sort of thing -- she doesn't eat much candy, and doesn't see the point of flowers. Maybe something small for each of our daughters.

I agree a lot with Shannon's post above.

I know Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday and a lot of people hate it, but for me it brings back childhood memories, and I like all the hokey hearts and candies and crap that goes along with it. Of course, I tell my husband not to get overpriced flowers or any of the crap that I have no use for, but I did tell him that I want chocolates this year, and I want them in a heart shaped box!

Generally I don't care, and most years we don't do anything, maybe just decide on a nice meal to cook together at home and then some together time. This year though, I'm six months pregnant and I feel like this is going to be our last "just us" VD, so I want to make a small deal out of it. Nothing fancy, just something fun, something to look forward to.

Last year we went to a comedy club and it was awesome. We might do that again this year, but we haven't decided yet. We're probably just going to make a nice meal together the day of, and take a bubble bath together, and have some us time. Comedy club is only open Thursdays, so we might do that too.

Seconding Angie's post! ((Especially since last year *I* was six months preggo!))

Hubby & I really have been dying to have an "us" night sans baby (and sans guilt). We figure this is the perfect time to use a gift card that we got in November & go to an Italian joint for a sit-down dinner. No movie, but maybe stroll the bookstore and then home to a baby in bed. And then a mommy & daddy in bed!! ^_~

I don't understand the hate for "the commercialization" of holidays. Maybe it's cuz I'm from a generation that saw the creation of TV shows based entirely on toy sales, but to me, the commercialization is part and parcel. It's fun, it's kitschy, and it's once a year. What does it hurt? I use it as an excuse to bend our budget to buy sweetie something he's been lusting over in the store (this year it's Legos), which since Baby has arrived, has been tighter than normal.

The way things are going with the economy -- if I had a GF, about now I'd be looking into what the lowest price, quality, nice, little handgun I could get her and make sure she has her Bug-Out-Bag well-stocked and handy.

There is nothing more caring than saying I care about your safety.

I'm going to say something very politically incorrect.

In my personal experience... and this is based on real life, not virtual life, I know you all exist and have real lives and stuff, but I only know you from the net and so you don't figure into my personal experience... the people who make a big stink out of hating Vday are one of the following:

a) Single, and jealous of those in relationships
b) In a relationship but not really into the other person and trying to send the message that their SO should not be expecting a ring, ever, or that they are bored with them
c) In a relationship with person B and in denial, "Oh, it's not that they aren't into ME it's that they aren't into Valentine's Day!"

Or it could be we're smart enough to recognise a fake holiday created wholly by businesses and dont buy into the the idea that one day a year is the day to show your signifigant other thet you really do care

As I said, it's based on my experience and you, being someone I only know online, don't count as someone I know.