I love that V-Day card! Sage.

First, I don't recognize Valentine's Day as a holiday. Unless I get to sleep in on a work day and not have to come to the office, it isn't a holiday. That said, what's not to like about celebrating romance or the lack there of? If you are in a new relationship, you can have an excuse to be all lovey-dovey. If you are in a stale relationship, you can be reminded of how much better it would be if you weren't in a stale relationship. And if you are single, you can think about how it is Thursday and the week is almost over. What a great country.

Plus we get to be reminded of Christian Martyrdom. More cards to should weave in themes of martyrdom as well as St. Valentine as the patron saint against fainting and against the plague. He's a useful patron!!

I'm not into the V-Day thing either. Just starting dating a new guy (2-3 weeks) and just DREAD the whole "what would you like for V-Day (and/or) what would you like to do for V-Day" conversation. My answer pretty much goes like this "I don't like cards, it's too early for jewelry, don't want to go to dinner with a zillion other couples and a 'limited menu', watching my weight so I don't want chocolates, flowers are nice but how can you justify spending $100 on something that you'd spend $40 on 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after V-Day?" And that's just him asking me what I want - that doesn't include me thinking I HAVE to do something for him because he may do something for me. My cash flow is very low, so my dilema is how do you get out of V-Day without seeming like a V-Day/love Scrooge?

While I think Sweetest Day is ridiculous, I like the tradition of Valentine's Day and that it reminds people to be nicer / more loving year-round or at least through Feb. 15. One recent Valentine's Day I spent the evening drinking white russians and making a chocolate creme pie... I am thinking I will do something similar this year. Hot buttered rum and cheesecake?

Oooh. Heather, you had me at hot buttered rum. I'm down.

JTK, I don't have a problem celebrating romance, I just hate to be told when to do it. And that I'm a hater if I don't celebrate it on that day.

Susan K, that's a good question. I've actually been pondering that myself...

Do you hate Christmas because you are being told to remember Jesus' birthday? I mean, sometimes we need a kick in the pants to remember certain things that are more important than the annoying meetings and endless stacks of paper and emails and bills on my desk.

Personally I don't like the contrived feel of Valentine's Day, but there are certainly worse things than being reminded to appreciate someone who is foolish enough to stay in my company long - they deserve celebration.

Susan K - I feel your pain! I don't think there is a good solution to that one, though. It may have to be a non-descript evening at a fine American chain restaurant.

I agree with Heather - we shouln't have to be told when to celebrate love. So many people take love for granted though.

Love is truly a gift and should be treasured every single day. I know between work/school/kids/everyday problems, it can be easy to forget (hopefully just temporarily) that love is the most important thing in a relationship. If there is love, everything else can be worked out.

Pretty profound for a love scrooge, huh? :-)

My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year, but I've already told him I don't want to make a big deal out of it. Every time I've bought into the hype, it's been a letdown -- and the prices for dinners/flowers/gifts are obscene.

Susan K -- if you want to do something, do what we're doing and stay in. He's making dinner, I'm making dessert.

Everytime I've been in a relationship come St. V's day and am told to not make a big deal of it, what happens? I don't make a big deal out of it and my female companion goes off the reservation. Then there are tears and agony. Then she starts fight with me. And then there is no snoo-snoo. Explain that one away and I will gladly subscribe to your theories. Until that time I see no choice but to take said women to restaurants, bring them flowers and a goofy card with a train on it that that says "I choo-choo-choose you."

Ah, love.

I throw a party on V-Day. For all the singles and the cynics.