More than nine million pet owners are expected to buy gifts for their pets this Valentine's Day. My kitties are lucky I still feed their mangy asses.
15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day. Now, Thats just sad. I'm assuming the card reads "I love you, signed Me"? Or do they think they are faking us out by signing it "All my Love, George Clooney"?
“Love is a grave mental disease.”
- Plato
According to the condom company Durex, condom sales are highest around Valentine's Day, which are 20 percent to 30 percent higher than usual.Guys, do you really think that heart shaped box of drug store chocolate will entice us to drop our drawers? Keep dreaming, fellas.
Conversation Hearts: In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first "Conversation Hearts" — then called "Motto Hearts." According to NECCO, eight billion of these little candies are sold between January 1 and February 14. There is a company called 'kissandmakeup.com" which offers x-rated conversation hearts.
Penicillin, a popular treatment for venereal diseases such as syphilis, was introduced to the world on February 14, 1929. How appropriate.
"When you are in Love you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams."
--Dr Seuss
The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day. I think someone didn't get the memo about fictional characters
"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."
--Sam Keen
Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentines Day candy box in the late 1800s. And we have been receiving low grade chocolate in them ever since.
Teachers receive the most valentines, followed by kids, mothers, wives and sweethearts. EVERYONE sucks up to the teacher
Through out ancient mythological writing, there appear to be either two Cupids or two sides to the figure of Cupid. One is the son of Mars and Venus. He is a lively youth who delights in pranks and spreading love. The other is a son of Nyx and Erebus, known for riotous debauchery. I'll take a little of both, Thank you.
Falling in love is so hard on the knees.”
- Aerosmith (the rock band)
The oldest surviving valentine dates from 1415. It is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.
Pleasure of love lasts but a moment, Pain of love lasts a lifetime.
--Bette Davis
The roots of St. Valentine's Day can be traced back to the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year. Can we mention that we're thankful this did not catch on?
“Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.”
- Jules Renard (French author)
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. Today, to wear your heart on your sleeve means being transparent with your affections.
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
Mother Teresa
In the United States, 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with their sweethearts. Bill and I spent our first Valentine's Day in Bob Evans, dressed to the nines, because everyplace else was packed.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
--Helen Keller
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone,
Love,
Donna
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 79
Uh, women buy a lot of condoms these days, Donna.
Richard,
Merely a figure of speech, hon. All the little beasties have full luxurious coats.
I live not that far from the NECCO factory, former NECCO factory. Cambridge used to be the center of Industry and then became the world lead in MITdom.
Don't feel sorry for the little demons, they eat better than we do...lol
- Jules Renard (French author)
This is so true.
Thanks Donna I enjoyed reading this. I hope you and Bill have a wonderful Valentines Day
I've spent a few New Years dinners in Wendy's, with a date, too, it's not just Valentine's day, with us, it's a lack of the ability to plan a date, entirely.
It was fun finding them. Thanks
MJ,
Bill and I laugh about our first few Valentine's Day dates, all at Bob's. When we were dating, we went to Bob's a few times a week, because it was close to home. At the time, I had one of those "You might be a redneck..." calendars, so our standing joke was "You might be a redneck if your idea of a romantic evening out is a trip to a Bob's on the OTHER side of town.
You big spender, you!...Actually, I wouldn't mind a Wendy's date myself..I love their burgers.
A lot of mine and Bill's 'dates" ended up being stay at home affairs, cause we would get too caught up in the moment, conversation etc...to actually go out the door..lol
Vicky,
Back atcha, my friend.
But those whose most important relationship is with their pet? Now THAT's disturbing. Can we all say "bestiality"?
You make a good point. I didn't receive anything for about 10 years, by choice. I wouldn't let my hubby celebrate, because we buried my Mom on Valentine's Day, in '79.
I can say "beastiality", but I think those who buy VD gifts for their pets are jsut a little over the top. I don't think there are any romantic overtones to it, but I've been wrong before...lol
The one who ignored the holiday and disappeared altogether for three weeks, beginning about a week before the holiday? I don't even remember his name.
I will be buying my own flowers this week, but only because it's something on my to-do list from Mariana's weight-loss group (I'm behind). On second thought, I'll wait until after the 14th, since prices rise dramatically the week before The Big Day. Or maybe a nice flowering plant for my garden instead.....
Go with the plant. I read that the average cost of a dozen long stemmed red roses is between $79 and $120, depending on your location, while the rest of the year, they go for about $58-60.
I read some mighty juicy VD trivia, but I tried to keep this somewhat benign.
Drug store? I get the highest quality chocolates from the dollar store...
Your partner is one lucky person.
Boy, do things change as we get older. Yes, my heart is warmed by receiving flowers on Valentine's Day. If you're female, it always works. Even if you're allergic. (GUYS? TAKE NOTE!!!)
But these days? Nah. No big deal. Just another cheap green vase I don't have to send to the landfill. I'll grow my own, instead.....tee hee!
Being without a Valentine can be a sad day. The first VD without my hubby was particularly sad one for me. While he ALWAYS griped about spending the money, at least he got something. He died in January, '01, so that one was bad for me. My daughter and I went out for a nice dinner that day, and we got each other gifts.
As for the vases, send them to your local nursing home. Funeral homes often send leftover funeral flowers to homes to be re-vased and donated to the residents. They are always in need of free vases to put the poseys in..
and giving, and giving, and giving......
Good suggestion on the vases, though.
Whenever Valentine's Day comes around, the first thing I think of is the "St Valentine's Day massacre" in Chicago in 1929.
"Drug store? I get the highest quality chocolates from the dollar store..."
Dollar Store Chocolates? Stuart, that's...that's...CHOCOLATE BLASPHEMY! Please tell me your joking!
I'll readily admit to purchasing fine chocolates for myself, but not as a Valentine's gift...that would be just creepy. I love myself, but I have my limits.
This actually did happen one time but "No" I didn't send myself the box of chocolates but as I said in the beginning, I considered it!
Ghirardelli or Godiva chocolates are my preference, coupled with a card and a bouquet of some type (roses, carnations, fruit).
She seems to like it!
You seem like a true romantic, who knows what his sweetie likes. Bravo to you!
Cowtown is so messed up.
Nope, our "regular" Bob's used to be on S. High , and the "special" one we went to for VD was the Grovetucky location..lol..Its funny, but neither of us can stomach Bob's anymore..
This isn't all bad: "Bill and I spent our first Valentine's Day in Bob Evans, dressed to the nines, because everyplace else was packed." Not what you had in mind, but surely one of the most memorable Valentine celebrations.
Yep, it is one of our, or at least my, favorite memories.
Click here to send a Love Out Loud ping.
Have a Great & powerful day W/J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /a>
Thank you for the history lesson. I had no idea Romeo and Juliet were based on real people. I guess I need to dig up my seventh grade English Lit teacher and tell him about it..Seventh grade was when I read the tale last, and haven't thought much about it since.
Just goes to show, ya learn something new every day.
Sarah,
Good luck with that..lol
I think it is inherent that we women complain when receiving chocolate "I might as well just rub them on my hips and get it over with"..but yet, we eat it up. Also, I think it might just be a mortal sin to let good chocolate go to waste.
I'm all for self love, but don't think that's what Valentine's Day is about. To me, that's almost as icky as sending romantic notes and gifts to children and pets.
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa - Thanks, now I understand why I don't waste any love on Mother Teresa.
Starting in 1st grade. We all had to write a Valentine's card for each of our classmates, a list of names provided, I wrote "To__, love, Georgiana" For the rest of the year I was teased about loving this one or that one!
then my father died as I was taking his Valentine to the hospital. Then m y Amazon Parrot, Arthur died two years ago on Valentine's!!
When married, my husband would always manage to be out of town on the day and no recognition of it!
Whatcha gonna get at that site? They offer many more things than naughty hearts. Actually, I thought the candy necklace underpants and bras were pretty neat. We wantsa pics!!!lol
mona,
Shows does it? Guilty as charged...Its all Bill's fault, God Bless him.
I prefer the Brach's hearts too. For some reason the Necco remind me of dust. I haven't bought any, but I've snatched a few from others.
Georgiana,
I know what you mean, we buried my Mom on Valentine's Day in '79, and I couldn't bring myself to celebrate for about 10 years after.
My day of dread is Feb. 11, which is coming this Weds. Mom had her first heart attack on 2/11/75, our house burned down 2/11/76, My sis almost died giving birth to twins on 2/11/74, and Mommy died 2/11/79. Nothing has happened since Mommy died, so I've come to think of the date as "her" curse, but I'm wary on that day nevertheless.
Happy Valentine's Day, Donna!
Sugar, You've got the RIGHT idea!!!!
I found the info at a myriad of websites, encyclopedias and my own muddled brain. Glad to give you a smile. My job is complete.