Current Mood: amused

This is the first Valentine’s Day in several years that I don’t have a boyfriend. It really doesn’t seem that much different though. In the past, boyfriend or not, the day has been pretty uneventful anyway.

Before I go any further let me just say this: Men, I get it. To most of you, it is silly. It’s commercialized. It’s overrated. You loathe the whole mushy lovey-dovey idea of Valentine’s Day and having to come up with and spend money on a “thoughtful gift”. And if you do it, its merely out of obligation. I get that. Nevertheless, most women love it if their man makes an effort. Getting the flowers at work makes us feel special. Letting us get dressed up and taking us to a nice dinner…well, we just like that stuff.

I have a good friend at work and this dude absolutely adores his wife. He talks about her all the time and is constantly thinking of things do for her and places to take her. He always puts a lot of thought into gifts for her. I know because he often asks my opinion before he buys stuff. And I’m here to tell you her Valentine’s Day gift is rockin! He actually picked out something for her that I’ve been wanting myself for a while. I think she’s going to love it! Honestly, I’d love to have someone who put in just half the effort he does.

Thinking back over the past few years, I’m having a hard time remembering actually being taken out anywhere for Valentine’s Day. That’s kinda pathetic, isn’t it? Not only that, but most of the gifts I’ve gotten, if anything at all, have been half-assed and thrown together at the last minute. Honestly, it’s not about the gift or the meal or the cost of it all. The thing is when there is zero thought put into these gifts, it translates to a woman that her guy just doesn’t care about her. To me, a cooked meal at home would be fabulous if there was thought put into it. Most women aren’t very superficial. We just want to know that our guy cares. We all know I have a track record of picking some real winners though.

A few years ago, I got a dancing mechanical hamster. Yes, really. It was accompanied by a SpongeBob Squarepants Valentine’s Day card. All of it was given to me in a plastic Bi-Lo bag. I actually found this little guy the other day. If you push the button on his foot, he sings “Love Machine”.

That has to be one of the worst.

One year, I had a boyfriend actually break up with me on Valentine’s Day. Nice, huh? We had been together for about a year. We ended up getting back together a few months later and stayed together until the next Valentine’s Day. A couple of days after, we split up again. I did get flowers the second year though. We laugh about it now. I tell him he just didn’t want to get me anything.

Yeah so needless to say, Valentine’s Day has been somewhat underwhelming for me throughout the years. It’s just another day to me. So humor me. What’s your best or worst Valentine’s Day gift or experience?

Remember how I was telling you my father was going to China to meet a woman he had been talking to online? Well, he went and had a fabulous time. And he came back married! Yep, you read that right. I have a new step mom and honestly, I couldn’t be more thrilled. As I go back and read what I wrote just a few weeks ago, I’ll admit that I am somewhat embarrassed and ashamed of myself for being so critical of the situation. While I still believe the whole thing is a bit far-fetched, I also believe its a good thing…. a very good thing. I’ve never in my life seen my father so happy. Ever. And after all he’s been through in the last few years, he deserves happiness.

He brought tons of pictures back from his trip. I’ve put some of the better ones up in my Flickr. Then, this morning she sent us the formal wedding pictures. Some of those are out there too. In addition to the pictures, Dad brought back a DVD that someone had made of the trip. It showed the moment they met at the airport and them getting married {which I’ll elaborate on in a sec} and time he spent with her family. The DVD was what got me, and my brother too. My brother was much more skeptical than I but after seeing them together and how happy the both of them are, he is able to accept and even appreciate the situation. My sister-in-law and I watched it over and over and just cried. To see my dad’s face light up when she is around is indescribable. My heart just floods with joy. You can see the video on my YouTube. Its in two parts.

Now about this wedding… they don’t say wedding vows in China. They go to a Marriage Registration Office where they fill out some paperwork, take their fingerprints and a picture and then they’re married. Then, they go back and have a big banquet with the family and take wedding pictures. Weird, I know.

Anywho, Dad had to come back without her until they can get all of the paperwork in place. If things go well, she could be here in just a few weeks. I can’t wait to meet her and get to know her. I am so excited! Ya know, we live in a small town and I know when word gets out this will be the talk of the town. And to that I say ‘screw what everybody else thinks!’ If they are happy, nothing else matters.

Nothing says “I Love You” like a new set of tires. Its not a mushy and romantic gift, but my care really needs new tires so Tim said he’s getting me a set for Valentine’s Day. I totally wasn’t expecting him to spend that much {but I’m glad he is} hehe! I think we’re going out to a murder-mystery dinner theatre Saturday night too. Totally his idea… I can’t believe it.

Knowing that he’s spending that kind of money kinda intimidates me. I have no idea what to get him… plus, I really don’t have that kind of money to spend. Any suggestions? I got cologne last year and he still has plenty left. What are you getting your honey this year?