Pre-Valentine's Day

In two days, it will be the most loved and hated day of the year. There will be tons of colorful flowers and teddy bears all over! You will also see people dressed in black to protest the day and show their hatred day of love. I have never celebrated Valentine's Day with a significant other but I have no animosity or bittiness for the holiday (besides the candy heart sayings getting absolutely ridiculous). Nor am I one of those insanely hopeless romantics in the ridiculous amounts of romantic comedies produced in Hollywood.

Being single at the age of 23 is much different from being single as a child in elementary school on Valentine's Day. I remember being given a brown paper bag for all the Valentine's cards and gift to be given by all my classmates. Being very competitive, I saw this as a contest of who would receive the most cards and gifts; sadly, I don't think I ever won. I wasn't not completely selfish though since I also tried my best to convince my parents to purchase the most awesome Valentine's Day cards to hand out to my friends. These cards usually included lollipops or some other sweet candy. Those cards still may be the best Valentine's gifts ever (even Michael Jordan and Disney got into the action!). Even back then, I was hesitant to use that L word.
But as I grew older (and more mature?), my interest in Valentine's Day decreased dramatically (probably due to the lack of romance in my life). Though, I never have ever tried to participate in the holiday, whether it is the conventional method in asking a lady on a date, or sending a carnation to someone through a student council fundraiser, or being a secret admirer to one of my few crushes throughout the years. At least I never had Dilbert's problem:

At least this will be extra special! But you will have to read Thursday's post to see what that is! It will be a Valentine's Day I will probably never forget! Woot!
But all I know is that one can't avoid Valentine decorations just look at a local Kroger's...
