Maybe Cupid never had this in mind...

Before I launch into what I'm sure some will interpret as a tirade, I'd like to start off with a little bit of pleasantry...in the wonderment sense. I saw a homeless man today with scraggly, unkempt, and longish brown and grayish hair waving in the wind. His threads were dark and soiled. He stomped about in a peculiar glee. And in his hand he had two long stemmed crimson roses. They were brilliantly crimson. It was an enchanting sight...something so disparate in foundation. To see someone so dingy and to see such natural beauty associated with him was striking. I had to do a double take. If only more things could overwhelm my attention like that with greater frequency.

Valentine's Day. Now some of you may think that I am a bitter and morose individual because I really don't understand the stodgy nature in which our society celebrates 'love.' Flowers are nice. Chocolates? Sure, I like them, I guess. But when did these things become how people show others that they love them? You go out and dine at a restaurant, inevitably serving some dank 4-course pre-fixe meal that everyone has to order. The restaurant is able to justify inflating their prices and what you and your ravishing date get is an insipid and underwhelming meal for double what it really should cost. Valentine's Day is actually quite possibly the worst day in the entire calendar year to go out and eat. You will inevitably be disappointed. And if you aren't, chances are that you don't have a very good sense of taste or idea what being served well is like. Thanks, but I'll pass on the ho hum. I'll be the guy trying to do something with my hands or something that involves atypical strategy...whimsy if you will. Can't promise that it will be pretty or taste good. In fact, it could be disastrous. But I will have effectively utilized effort. You know, the real kind.

And perhaps you say, 'Good luck finding a girl that will adopt that line of thinking.' I would answer that you're absolutely right. I'm not going to find that many girls that share my discernment. But remember, I look for extraordinary. I pass on the vanilla. And I know that she's out there.

A little bit of creativity, folks. I know that you have some.