"VD"
The Anti-Schmoopy Zone
The other night I was reminded *once again* that most artificial and trivial of 'holidays' is near - "Valentine's Day" or VD. I briefly spied an animated VD special in the form of a Peanuts cartoon in which good old Charlie Brown once again gets the shaft. It brought back those harsh elementary school memories of just what a silly-assed popularity based event it was. And things really haven't changed all that much 40 years later.
The bottom line - I don't like VD in any shape or form. It is a totally commercial excuse to promote card (and diamond) sales during a normally slack time of the year. There is No intelligent reason to agglutinate all that pent-up schmoopy-ness into a massive $$$ display of cheesy jewelry, dead flowers, fancy dinners, and corny card giving on a *single day*.
So why celebrate ONLY on the 14th of February? That is the *worse* possible day - as that is when all the other unimaginative couples are out. Go out a few days early or later and avoid the stupid crowds and the hype. And don't just buy cards and gifts for your SO on VD, their b-day and xcessmas. Buy or make your own little gifts and cards and give them at random times throughout the year. These small, thoughtful items will mean much more than going apeshit with the credit card on BIG ticket crap on Valentine's (unless you're the poor fool whose SO is one who loves uber amounts of swag ).
Lupercalia!
Now the Romans had it right with the Lupercalia, the mid-February (13 - 15) fertility rites involving lots of nudity, whippings and young women. Naked (mostly) young men going about whipping young women with a Februa does have a certain appeal.
Yes, the Doctor heartily approves of this.
Now ladies, line up and receive thy doctor's "blessings"...
*g*
The other night I was reminded *once again* that most artificial and trivial of 'holidays' is near - "Valentine's Day" or VD. I briefly spied an animated VD special in the form of a Peanuts cartoon in which good old Charlie Brown once again gets the shaft. It brought back those harsh elementary school memories of just what a silly-assed popularity based event it was. And things really haven't changed all that much 40 years later.
The bottom line - I don't like VD in any shape or form. It is a totally commercial excuse to promote card (and diamond) sales during a normally slack time of the year. There is No intelligent reason to agglutinate all that pent-up schmoopy-ness into a massive $$$ display of cheesy jewelry, dead flowers, fancy dinners, and corny card giving on a *single day*.
So why celebrate ONLY on the 14th of February? That is the *worse* possible day - as that is when all the other unimaginative couples are out. Go out a few days early or later and avoid the stupid crowds and the hype. And don't just buy cards and gifts for your SO on VD, their b-day and xcessmas. Buy or make your own little gifts and cards and give them at random times throughout the year. These small, thoughtful items will mean much more than going apeshit with the credit card on BIG ticket crap on Valentine's (unless you're the poor fool whose SO is one who loves uber amounts of swag ).
Lupercalia!
Now the Romans had it right with the Lupercalia, the mid-February (13 - 15) fertility rites involving lots of nudity, whippings and young women. Naked (mostly) young men going about whipping young women with a Februa does have a certain appeal.
Yes, the Doctor heartily approves of this.
Now ladies, line up and receive thy doctor's "blessings"...
*g*