Do you like Valentine's Day, ignore it, or dislike it? Is there a certain thing you like to do to celebrate (or denigrate) this holiday?

-- ann monroe (monroe@chorus.net), February 11, 2000

Answers

My friend Cat puts it best when she says that thanksgiving and valentine's day are the two dumbest holidays because it's celebrating what you should do on a daily basis anyway (be thankful for what you have, and to love the person you love you love them)... that and i've never actually been able to celebrate valentine's day with anyone, sooooo... =) you get the idea.

-- Diego (drafael@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

Black Monday... I made a CD of anti-love songs this year... You Ought to Know, by Alanys Morrisette, You Don't Love Me Anymore by Weird Al, things like that. I get very cynical around Valentine's day. I mean, I love my husband, and we do exchange gifts, but I hate that there's a "day" to give your sweetie roses (esp when florists jack prices on roses so high) or chocolates. Not to mention all the stupid "buy her a diamond or she'll dump you commercials. I don't want a diamond, I have never wanted a diamond. I hate diamonds. (my engagement ring is a saphire, in case you care... ) V-day also has the problem of being the week before our anniversary (married Feb 21) which was not planned for v-day, but centered around wanting to go to Mardi Gras for our honeymoon (we didn't get to go, long story...) so he "owes" me two gifts... v-day and anniversary and I "owe" him two.

Ah well

-- KT Hicks (kt_hicks@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

Last January began the year of my great success (finally) --- ok ok , just on the career front. When I was a starving college student, many friends did wonderful and expensive things for me --- flew me to California for vacation, took me out to dinner, bought me pretty dresses, sponsored a Texas vacation. The only requirement was that I return the favor to my new starving or not so slightly starving friends once I made it.

With my first few paychecks, I planned two activities which were carried out on Valentines Day (a Sunday). The first is that I bought my Co-captain his dream electric guitar (one he couldn't afford) --- a 1985 Gibson Explorer, Honey finish. The second is that I took my 15 closes friends out to Magnus for chocolate martinis. Mostly they were single friends, and many were bitter single friends. We wore lots of elegant black attire, and gave fluffy happy presents. We made much merriment, and it was one of my fondest memories of 1999. How could it not be one of the top ten, with the 15 most wonderful people in the world (at least that I know of, and I have met many people)?

This Sunday is hte anniversary of that event, and I expect at least 15 of the world's most fabulous people will show their faces again. This year, in honor of bittersweet holidays, we are reading bitter poetry and drinking chocloate martinis. And, well, I am sure that bitter will fade in such company, and that the subject of our poetry will eventually turn to honey-sweet.

Come by if you are in town --- joy is in the ears that hear these hearts sing.

Ms. Enigmatic

-- Ms. Enigmatic (enigma@chorus.net), February 11, 2000.

the concept is beautiful. a day to honour love in all it's many forms, to celebrate the one driving force that motivates the world. but i would agree with Diego and KT - the fact that valentine's day has become something of a commercial obligation takes away from the original intent. no one should feel that they *have* to buy expensive gifts in order to demonstrate their love for another. love itself is gift enough.

i like valentine's day, however. it's an opportunity to make people feel special and loved, and not just that one certain person, either. everyone i love. doing something small just to let my ashke-ones know i'm thinking of them. the smiles i get in return are treasured and beautiful. had i the funds, i would love to do something truly extravagant for them. make some dreams come true. one day...

not having ever had the joy of being in a position to celebrate the day with a significant other, i cannot speak for any specific memories...but one day, there will be some fantastic ones. i hope. :P

-- cher (bear@netspeed.com.au), February 13, 2000.

Hey, Cher, what does "my ashke-ones" mean? I assume it means beloved or something like that, but I was wondering where it comes from and why you chose that particular phrase...

thanks for any information

KT - collector of knowledge...

-- KT Hicks (kt_hicks@yahoo.com), February 13, 2000.

hi KT,

'ashke' is a term i stole from a series of books by Mercedes Lackey, called 'The Last Herald-Mage'. roughly translated, it means 'beloved', but the connotations are a little more subtle. it implies a lifebond, meaning that the people involved will be together for the duration of their lifetimes. i've always loved the concept, and the word itself is beautiful.

when i use it singularly, i'm referring to my first love and now best friend, phillip. in plural, then i include all of my circle of treasured ones.

as an aside to anyone who enjoys high fantasy - i highly recommend all of Mercedes Lackey's work, and especially 'The Last Herald Mage'.

respect, cher, sublord of shameless rambling and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey.

-- cher (bear@netspeed.com.au), February 13, 2000.

I am not a fan of the commercial ways of celebrating any holiday and every holiday even my birthday has been invaded by commercialism. I just choose to celebrate them in my own way and do not choose to let the commercialism guide it. (I gave no traditional gifts to my sweeties!) I have also never been to shy to celebrate or give gifts in between the shared holidays our society does together. So, to me Valentines Day?..What fun!

Valentines Day is especially fun when you have multiple sweeties to celebrate it with. It has also become very fun lately since I have parties connected with it like our poly groups annual theme meeting and ms. enigmatics parties. But of course ms. enigmatic has a theme party for every occasion.

I will have to get her to think about one for Ground Hog Day next year.

-- Lee (leet@megsinet.net), February 16, 2000.

I love it!!!!!!!! its my birthday so its one of the few holidays i like...

-- Dean Cullen (deancullen1@msn.com), February 17, 2000.

Hmmmmm, and then there was Groundhog Day...............

*tiny, sassy glint in eye*

Be careful what you wish for...

-- Ms. Enigmatic (enigma@chorus.net), March 14, 2000.