Valentine's Lament

[the December King]

I'm in a relationship now, and don't really care about this holiday. I try to do spontaneous stuff with my SO whenever I think of stuff to do, it means more than a mandated and forced love day.

Before the relationship, I did my best to ignore it. Being single had it's ups and downs for me, but I was sad about it/ focused on the negative aspects of being single most when I was admonished, or otherwise had it thrust in my face. Best to hunker down and... well, actually, the comic strip said it all.

Avoid it and chill.

EDIT: You know what, though? it IS fun to watch little kids get excited to get little cards. It's like a mini-Easter for chocolates, too, and it's cute to watch the day-care kids having fun.

I keep having to try and see things from the point of view of my kid.

That's not a complaint, it just means I shouldn't be so set in my ways.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

It's a construct designed to make you feel insecure so that you buy stuff. If you're not in a relationship, you're supposed to feel inadequate and buy stuff to make you more attractive; if you are in a relationship, you're supposed to buy stuff to "prove your love".

I'll save my money, thanks.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Here's the thing. Love is a brain parasite. This holiday is a corporate attempt at squeezing that parasite for all its worth, a sort of parasite of parasites, if you will. It's cold, calculated cynicism wrapped in love hearts and puppies, with the occasional date rape thrown in like a razorblade nestled in a Halloween apple, except less sensationalised.
Now, brain parasites are alright I spose, as long as it's a two way thing of equal consent. But if it's real, every day should be a brain parasite celebration day, not a corporate annual obligation. Some couples I know have their anniversary as the brain parasite day, which is fair enough if every day is too much celebration for the ungrateful lazy bastards.

When I tell someone they're my favourite brain parasite, they, weelll...they run away. But I like to think they at least knew i was honest. And myself. And that's all you have to be to achieve you dreams! Failing that, MDMA is an acceptable substitute and the comedown is way more bearable.

LOL! Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel? X D


OT: I get more Valentines than I know what to do with and always have so I probably shouldn't bring up that part here. ALTHOUGH If you would like to bring some cheer to someone who is down on Valentines, bring some flowers, plants, or plushies to those in Hospitals and Nursing homes who don't have loved ones that come visit them. I donate my flowers and gifts to patients and they really seem to appreciate the thought. Some may have never received anything in their life, and it can really brighten their day when feeling down.

If you do not know anyone in particular to bring gifts to, dropping them off at a nurse's station at the Hopsital or front desk and tell them to give them to someone who has none and they will know exactly what to do with them. It does not have to be Valentines day though to do this, people appreciate the thought no matter when you send gifts.


EDIT: In my family it isn't just sweethearts who give gifts, I exchange gifts with my siblings, friends, peers and parents as well.. anyone who you love in your life. A nice note telling them you care means more than some may realize.

 

[Saint of M]

Happy Singles Awareness Day. Enjoy the 70% off chocolate.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

LOL! Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel? X D

That was the positive, upbeat family-friendly edit! Anyway, my therapist says I really shouldn't. Luckily for her, I don't exist and am just a figment of her imagination!

Hm...just had to Google 'figment' cause it didn't look like a real word anymore. That's weird.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

LOL! Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel? X D

That was the positive, upbeat family-friendly edit! Anyway, my therapist says I really shouldn't. Luckily for her, I don't exist and am just a figment of her imagination!

Hm...just had to Google 'figment' cause it didn't look like a real word anymore. That's weird.

How Meta can you get? You're a Made-Up Construct that self-defined using a word that didn't look real to you...

 

[Xprimentyl]

That said, the first Valentine's I gave my missus was a plush carrot, happily accepted... make of that what you will.

Euphemism?

Divorced for a year-and-a-half now. Never been happier.

Funny thing, divorce. One minute, you?re ready to spend the rest of your life with that special someone, the next, you?d love to go to the precise opposite side of the planet from that same person and establish a life there without them. I was with my ex-wife for 8 years (married for 4 of those on the day I filed the uncontested divorce and the judge said ?divorce is granted,? I did an involuntary fist pump; a stranger high-fived me on my way out of the court room; it was awesome.

That said, since my marriage, Valentine?s Day has always been a very ?meh? holiday for me. My current girlfriend was raised a Jehovah?s Witness; she hasn?t practiced in years, but grew up with a general indifference to all holidays, so thankfully, she doesn?t want or expect much for any of them, least of all the Hallmark ones. I got her a pair of earrings, and we went out for dinner and drinks at a piano bar; we got drunk, fooled around, then passed out? shit we do all the time; it was literally just another Thursday. People, get yourselves a Jehovah?s Witness S.O.; they might wake you up early on Saturdays, but you save a shit-ton on annual bullshit and pageantry.

But speaking of corporate-constructed cash grab holidays, I just learned that Sweetest Day is only a midwestern/northeastern USA thing? It?s basically Valentine?s Day, but in October and entirely secular (no saintly pretense.) Talk about a bullshit holiday; when I lived up there (in Ohio,) I remember girlfriends reminding me Sweetest Day was coming up, and thinking, ?didn?t we just do this in February? And aren?t we about to do it again? in February???

 

[McElroy]

I only bother because this relationship-thing (that I frankly know very little about) is the most important thing I can think of, and so I must, must pursue it although I seemingly can't find success on my terms.

What makes it so important? Life is too short to waste trying to make relationships work. Things are soooooooo much simpler if you're single.

I've spent enough time alone already.

Sometimes being alone fills me with a sense of overwhelming dread. I usually just ignore it. Of course this means my mental state has gotten a lot worse over the years. But I'm ignoring that too.

Nowadays I automatically evaluate each woman I meet based on how likely we are to end up together. And I really mean automatically, if my mind's not too occupied with anything else I'll often obsess over women. Not some fantasy or dream women either but the young and pretty girls I meet at the university, in classes, in hobbies and other activities. Like you, I also recognize it's probably not good for me, but I can't think of an alternative. It's a heap of issues that just keeps rising up with every new disappointment.

 

[jademunky]

Funny thing, divorce. One minute, you?re ready to spend the rest of your life with that special someone, the next, you?d love to go to the precise opposite side of the planet from that same person and establish a life there without them. I was with my ex-wife for 8 years (married for 4 of those on the day I filed the uncontested divorce and the judge said ?divorce is granted,? I did an involuntary fist pump; a stranger high-fived me on my way out of the court room; it was awesome.

Good to hear. We managed to just work through a paralegal and never had to set foot inside a courtroom (Canadian laws might be different). The two of us were together 11 years, married 7. For me it was a gradual case of the person I previously most looked forward to hanging out with becoming someone I was finding excuses not to. Also fights about money.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I spent last night out with a social group I belong to. I had the fun time of listening to a conversation about how people these days are waiting to long to have kids while I sat there as a 37 year old without kids. Made me really uncomfortable.

Valentine's Day is a reminder to me of all the girls my friends tried to set me up with:

A girl who got kicked out of her parents' house because she got pregnant with a guy she worked with - after just one week of meeting him. Last I heard she became a stripper after they broke up and the guy left her with the child and no support. They had to move every two months as the bf spent all of their rent money on recreational mary jane by the fourth week of each month.

Another girl from Amsterdam who casually declared that America deserved 9/11. That was a quick no from me.

Another girl who HAD a boyfriend when we met. She told me she was just sticking with him until "something better came along". Yeah, no thank you, you hot, steaming pile of garbage.

A girl who had a callus on her right palm. I guessed it was from swinging on a pole and I was right. She wasn't looking for 'Mr. Right', she was looking for 'Mr. Right Now' as her boyfriend was kicking her out of the house.

Aaaand the last one, a former drug dealer from California who bragged about how easy it was to rip off other dealers.

Oh, there was the girl who came out of the closet not long after somebody tried to set me up with her.

.

I'm good being alone for now. I need to get the fcuk out of Florida.

Holy shit! Where do your friends find these women??? Do they not know anyone "normal?"

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

How Meta can you get? You're a Made-Up Construct that self-defined using a word that didn't look real to you...

Meta-cubed? Metaception? Quick...This must be documented before it all faaaaa[small]aaaa[sub]aaaa[sub]aaaa[sub]aa[sub]a...[/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/small]

 

[Schadrach]

It's a stupid holiday designed to make you feel like if you don't buy expensive stuff for your sweetheart, you're a terrible person, and also makes single people feel lonely.

When I was alone it was discount chocolate eve, secondary to Easter which was discount chocolate egg eve (which was better because I like Cadbury eggs and peanut butter eggs).

I still don't spend much money on it, a box of chocolates and supermarket roses.

This year was different - cheap chocolates and roses for valentines, that weekend was overpriced pizza and coffee and proposing at a shelter at a state park -- it was a repeat of our first date (which is why I proposed at that shelter at that park).

 

[RaikuFA]

I have no qualms with being lonely on this day, it?s all the bad shit that happens to me on this day. V-Day is my Friday the 13th. One year I got food poisoning, another I got beaten so badly I had to see a doctor about my injuries and got detention(and coming back I got nothing in my box like Ralph Wiggum since this was 5th grade). My dog from my childhood died another vday. A girl I was dating cheated on me on that day, and last year my dad tried to kill himself(mind you this was the first vday with my current girlfriend so I spent it crying in her arms).

Fuck this day but for different reasons.

 

[Saint of M]

You know, I have to wonder: While there are many Saint Valentines, It begs to be asked why the holiday that revolves around amorous love and affection is associated with a guy that was beaten, stoned, than beheaded?

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

I have no qualms with being lonely on this day, it?s all the bad shit that happens to me on this day. V-Day is my Friday the 13th. One year I got food poisoning, another I got beaten so badly I had to see a doctor about my injuries and got detention(and coming back I got nothing in my box like Ralph Wiggum since this was 5th grade). My dog from my childhood died another vday. A girl I was dating cheated on me on that day, and last year my dad tried to kill himself(mind you this was the first vday with my current girlfriend so I spent it crying in her arms).

Fuck this day but for different reasons.

I'll join on this bandwagon. My dad's stroke was on Valentine's Day, 2006. Has never been the same since.

 

[Baffle]

It begs to be asked why the holiday that revolves around amorous love and affection is associated with a guy that was beaten, stoned, than beheaded?

It's a metaphor for marriage.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Valentine's Day is the anniversary of Australia going to decimal currency in 1966.

I'm glad I don't have to muck about with pounds, shilling and pence, so there's that.

 

[RaikuFA]

I have no qualms with being lonely on this day, it?s all the bad shit that happens to me on this day. V-Day is my Friday the 13th. One year I got food poisoning, another I got beaten so badly I had to see a doctor about my injuries and got detention(and coming back I got nothing in my box like Ralph Wiggum since this was 5th grade). My dog from my childhood died another vday. A girl I was dating cheated on me on that day, and last year my dad tried to kill himself(mind you this was the first vday with my current girlfriend so I spent it crying in her arms).

Fuck this day but for different reasons.

I'll join on this bandwagon. My dad's stroke was on Valentine's Day, 2006. Has never been the same since.

Same one where my dog died. At least she was 12 when it happened. Docs said she she shouldn?t have lived past 10.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

Same one where my dog died. At least she was 12 when it happened. Docs said she she shouldn?t have lived past 10.

That hits me. I'm looking forward to my first Dog when I move to Canada. I know it's in the past, but my sincere condolences.

 

[RaikuFA]

Same one where my dog died. At least she was 12 when it happened. Docs said she she shouldn?t have lived past 10.

That hits me. I'm looking forward to my first Dog when I move to Canada. I know it's in the past, but my sincere condolences.

You?re gonna love it. They?re the best. All they ask for is your love(and whatever food you?re eating).