Valentine's Day... the highs and lows.

Why is it that every holiday seems like it's tailor made for women? This Sunday is Valentine's Day - or as Janel likes to make me call it, "Janel Day". A day where your partner, who knows you love them unconditionally without fanfare for most of the other 364 days in a year, expects...nay, DEMANDS that you prove it by way of enough pink infused gifts to look like someone threw up a giant bottle of Pepto Bismol all over the world.

I love my wife - and I look forward to sharing special days and times with her, but I will not go out and buy roses for her (she HATES roses - more on that in a later post, I promise you!). Chocolate? Sure - but that's because I like chocolate and will weasel my way into sharing it with her.

When possible, based on time and finances, we like to celebrate our special days (anniversary, birthdays, "Janel Day") by taking a trip down to NYC. It's a 90 minute train ride to NYC from where we live, and we usually go try and score tickets to a Broadway show by winning the ticket lottery - if you have no idea what that is, you show up at the theater 2 1/2 hours before showtime usually, fill out a ticket with your name and 1 or 2 tickets (2 is always the limit). About 2 hours before the show, they draw names to cover a certain number of tickets - usually between 20 and 30, and ALL at the front of the house - prime seats!! If you are drawn, you can buy these premium tickets for roughly $30 (normally about $180) each - however you must pay CASH. We have won three ticket lotteries in our time - we saw Rent, In the Heights, and the new West Side Story - and all three were fantastic. So, depending on time, finances, and the weather, that looks to be our plan for this Sunday again.

I feel bad for those who have no partner. I was in that group for a LONG time, and I used to absolutely hate Valentine's Day. The thought of going to a club or bar to meet with other bitter singles on that day just makes my skin crawl. I can see it now for most of these people - lots of alcohol, "Hey, you're cute (as viewed through beer goggles)" "So are you" - an alcohol infused sexual encounter, then even more bitterness the following day, because nobody ever calls the next day.

I find it very amusing that Valentine's Day and Venereal Disease can both be abbreviated VD. Draw your own conclusions on that one!

I am lucky though. I finally have someone special to spend my Valentine's Days with - even if it is "Janel Day" and never "Bill Day". "Bill Day" will come when the Rangers make the Stanley Cup Finals, and there won't be any advertisements on TV for that!

On a personal note, I'm happy you all seem to enjoy my little brain droppings - I'll try to keep them coming, but I am back to being a working man, so there won't be as many frequent entries, so I'll try to up the quality!