(Anti) Valentines?

So I've started a blog. I was about to write yet another rant on our favourite social website -the big F B- and thought that this was the time to start a blog. I've been thinking about it for years, and lately blogs seem to be generating a fair amount of interest, so onto the bandwagon I hop.
Seeing as this is my first post (of what will probably be many), I'd like to point out that you shouldn't expect much from this blog. I may post a ton of things that you may not agree with, and that's fine, just go write your own blog about it =) Also, I rarely write short pieces. If you don't like it, don't read it, no one is forcing you to. Or maybe someone is, in which case, you should probably try and get help with that.
I *plan* to do a few things with this blog. Number 1 is rant obviously, it helps me to be a nicer person when I venture out into public, I also plan to share my baking or craft creations, favourite products, and of course my least favourite products. I will also happily share various tips I've picked up over the years if it's called for in some way-there's always a way!

So with that out of the way, let's get into the first rant..

Valentines day is coming up. Two days away in my part of the world, and I cannot wait! I cannot wait, that is, until it is over. Now, those who know me may be sitting there thinking "Wait what? You have a significant other!"
Yes, yes I do, but that doesn't automatically mean I love Valentines day..
Valentines day has got to be one of the biggest crocks out there, I would even go as far as to say it's worse than Christmas. Why? Because it involves people's emotions more. The thing is though, it shouldn't.
Don't get me wrong, I am under no illusion about why people DO get so emotionally involved in Valentines day. If you don't have a significant other, no matter where you go chances are you'll see so many "love drunk" couples being all smoochy and lovey you'll want to puke-or run into the arms of a bottle of booze.. (for me it's the former).. If you do have a significant other you might look forward to the look on their face when you reveal an organised suprise, or when they open that present you spent hours agonising over.
I know these things because I used to be like that. I would try and think of what kind of thing my significant other would like to do, where they would like to go, what could I get them that would make them happy?
I like to make people I care about happy (I should hope everyone does, though I know a few people that concept missed lol).
This is where my problem with Valentines day starts. We want to make the people we care about happy. For most people there is no one way. This is where we get sucked into a load of bs that I personally think has the strong potential to mess up a relationship. Valentines ruin relationships? Never!
Some of you will know that due to recent events, plus my birthday coming up, funds are a bit tight. I was under the impression that my significant other and I weren't doing anything for Valentines (just like Christmas) because neither of us have a decent amount of the moolah at the moment. A friend asked what we were doing, and I outright told him nothing because we have no money, and I discussed it with my significant other. I was fine with that. We're still together now, after recent events, and anyone who's been in the same situation can tell you that what we just went through is one of THE biggest tests on your relationship out there (minus the obviously stupid things like adultery and such-and by that I mean don't cheat on your partner). I know I love him, and I know he loves me (I could get all sentimental and soppy about this, but I'm not going to). So when he uttered the words "what do you want to do for Valentines day?" I had no words. My mind went blank. I think I cautiously said "I thought we weren't doing anything 'cause we have no money?".
Which brings me to today's discovery. A local daily deal website emailed me with their latest bunch of crap (I have yet to be offered anything of interest), in it I saw something about roses, I thought eh Valentines day, must be cheap surely, I'll go have a look, it might be nice.
When I got to the page my mouth dropped open. They were calling HOW MUCH for a single rose a deal? Twelve dollars. They were charging twelve dollars, on special, for one rose. Normally that ONE ROSE costs TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS. If either price seems reasonable to you then you're either out of your mind or you have a good enough pay packet to not give one iota of a shit, because that is ridiculous. You can get a freaking rose bush for less than that.
I remember years ago I decided to buy a rose (amoung other things) for the guy I was with at the time... It cost me nine dollars-which I thought was expensive, but I didn't get your general red open rose so I thought it was an ok trade off.
But that's only where it starts. It starts with roses, or chocolates, or candy, or jewellery, and the next thing you know you've got all of them plus dinner plans and no money for the next two months.
Where does it end? Just like everything else with girls Valentines is another thing that's super competitive. Oh what'd your boyfriend get you? Oh a bunch of flowers? Mine got me a diamond bracelet. Oh wow you guys didn't have sex? But it's Valentines! -I didn't realise sex had pre programmed dates that I was obliged to attend.
What a lot of us don't realise is that it's also a pretty big deal for the guys too. Most guys are the caretaker types. We all know they can be a bit immature and immersed in their own worlds, but for a lot of guys they just want to take care of their girl (or guy). When they have guy friends who are also in relationships, they might feel less of a man, less of a provider, if they feel that their friend's significant other did more than he did himself. And girls don't do a whole hell of a lot to prevent that.
Apart from the obvious and ridiculous level that the commercialism of Valentines has risen to, here are some other reasons I don't like Valentines day.
A point I mentioned above-expectations. People expect you and your other half to do things. Sex, dinner, give presents are all amoung the most expected. But why? Why do we all have to go to dinner on that day? Why do we have to give presents on that day? Why do we supposedly have to express our love on THAT DAY?! I'm not a big fan of doing anything anyone tells me to, so I sure as hell have a problem with being expected to have an emotional outpouring of love on a specific day. I'd like to think we're capable of suprising each other with little things throughout the year-I was pleasantly suprised a little while ago when my other half cleaned the kitchen.
It's not really a suprise on Valentines day. I personally would rather have a nice suprise ...when it's a suprise..
I much prefer to go out to dinner when mutually agreed and organised-not just because everybody else is. Which brings me to the next reason I don't much like Valentines day.
I don't much like people. This is something, if you don't already know, you will come to learn. What does this have to do with Valentines? They're everywhere on this day. More than usual. And being all soppy *puke*. I personally have a bit of an issue with PDA. I don't really like it, I think that sort of thing is personal and should be (mostly-mostly!!!!) kept that way. Personal. In your own personal space.  Certainly not in the seat right in front of me on the bus. And definitely not while I'm trying to eat my damn dinner. If I were rich enough I would arrange home massages. THAT is what I think would be fantastic. Something relaxing.
Why is Valentines day such a big deal? So competitive? So commercialised? Why can't we just relax with our loved one? We'd all probably say that that is what we *do* do. But deep down most of us will acknowledge that that's not entirely true.
Whether you do or don't have a special someone to share this Valentines day with, just remember, it's a DAY. That's all it is. Relax and enjoy it however you choose to, you'll enjoy it so much more when you stop worrying about it so much... (and when you find a place away from all those sickening highschool students who are "in love")
~^_^~