Sunday, February 10, 2013

L'amour

     What a week. There was a new arrival

Benjamin Barker
Congratulations to my cousin and her husband on the arrival of their first.
 
     Her sister, (yes that makes her my cousin as well ), the genius behind Tried, Tested and True Mommy, found out she is also expecting a boy. Congrats again.
 
 
     A trip to the periodontist. Love feeling like I've been smashed in the face with a bat. Top it off with heavy antibiotics that mean: A) I can't drown my sorrows and B) I feel sick all the time. Imagine how happy I was dealing with quips like, "He just wants to be special". I'm not a violent man but I really wanted to punch him in the mouth just to show him how special I was feeling.
 
     Moving on.
 
You win Old Man Winter
 
Two hours of digging
I knew there was a vehicle under there.
 
     And we're back to another Listicles with Stasha.
 
     Seeing all the things you all have in your purses reaffirmed it is NO MAN"S LAND. A sacred space much like a man's wallet. I didn't even venture a comment on most. My mother taught me better than that. (I do want to know how a coyote skin was part of Ellen and Erin's Christmas Tea Party though. Being the intrepid explorers they are I imagine a story there)
 
     I'm on my last day of meds, feeling blah, the perfect setting for our prompt this week. "Oh no you didn't", the craptacular side of Valentine's Day gifting.
 
     Valentine's Day, the day devoted to l'amour. In my house it should have two R's, armour because as every child of the 80's knows
 


 
     I'm not sure why but V'day is almost always a dust up. The feud starts with planning which restaurant, degenerates into, "Fine, we'll just stay home and do take out", resumes with deciding what to order and usually ends up with us in separate rooms fuming over chocolate and roses.
 
     For the record, I like the idea of a day devoted to Love. The reality, I"d just as soon skip the hype, save the cash and go skiing on Family Day just a couple of days later.
 
     I'm also  not great at gifting. Unless I see something that really says "Buy me for ____, they'll love it", I don't. I hate the idea of giving a gift because you're obligated to rather than because you want to or because you saw something the recipient would really enjoy. I don't see the point. I think this is the perfect segue into, Oh no you didn't.
 
1 Probably the worst gift ever, a blind date or ambush as I like to call it. When I was single this happened a couple of times. Invited over or out to dinner with friends, Oh, by the way..... You really see what your friends think of your taste when they try and set you up. Don't do it. Not on Valentine's Day, not ever.
 
Okay, maybe there are some exceptions to #1
 
 
2 Go big or stay home. Last minute dinner at a cheap restaurant because you forgot or couldn't be bothered to take the time to plan... Brrrr, it's chilly in here all of a sudden. Buy some ingredients and cook or better yet, we'll cook together. There's lots of heat in the kitchen.
 
3-9 Remove the tags. I don't need to see the price you put on love, that it was a 2 for 1 sale, that it came from Dollorama, was used, the floor model, scratched, dented or refurbished. I'm not saying you need to spend a lot of money, you don't, but V'day is maybe not the time to flaunt your frugal spending habits.  A buy one get one free tag doesn't scream you're the one I adore. And I want to feel adored.
 
10 Buy for your target audience. If I'm receiving a gift, I'd like it to be my size, a colour I like or something I'd use. This Christmas, three of my four gifts fit my other half like a glove, me like the skin on a grape. How do I know this? I mentioned they were really small, questioning whether they would even fit him. The response, "They fit me perfectly" and they do. Happy holidays darling.
 
    On that note, off to Stasha's to see other V'day flops.
 


     If you'd like to spread the joy a little further, link up with Jennifer on the big day.
 
 
 

16 comments:

  1. Valentines has always been a bust. I've actually been dumped twice on or around Valentines. although, in hindsight -- those boys leaving did turn out to be a damn good gift. HA!
    Now Left Brain is always working on the day. an even still we probably couldn't afford both the sitter and the night out.
    But still, I don't need that One Day -- I'm surrounded by love everyday, and that's enough for me.
    but I will take the chocolates, because that's just the right thing to do.

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  2. I agree, it is better to do a great meal at home than a last-minute one at a cheap restaurant. Congratulations on your family's recent and upcoming joys!

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  3. As always your wit is my favorite and your blog one too. I TOTALLY agree, skip it instead of going cheap or forced. I don't mind. Call a spade a spade and say you forgot instead of scrambling last minute. by the way the guys body is super fine but his face is freaky....like a serial killer....sorry but it is. PS i'm flattered that you commented on my list last week since you mentioned in this post you skipped commenting on many...flattered!

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  4. Holy bad manners....props to the cute family addition. Cute!

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  5. Oh dear, surprise blind date? That's awful!

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  6. Sweet baby. Yes, Benjamin has all those years ahead of him to get this Valentine's thing figured out.

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  7. Mazel Tov on the little one. May they know a world of peace and happiness.

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  8. Gorgeous baby! I disagree with blind dates in general, but I think I would make an exception for the hunk o' man pictured above.

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  9. Welcome to Bejamin! I met my husband on a blind lunch date - married 15 years and counting. He's a retired Marine now but he used to have one of those six packs!

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  10. Congrats to your growing family and finding your car!! Hey, I was set up on a blind date and married him... But I agree with you. Although whoever can find #1 to set us up with will be our BFF forever ;)

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  11. I'm sure this post was great but the picture of the baby made me incapable of coherent thought, and then you spring the ab-y guy on me and I'm a goner. ;-)

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  12. Oh my goodness, LOVE 3-9!! Spot on. And yes, you totally deserve a story about the coyote. Wondering how to get that to you for a Valentine. Any ideas?? Great list, Erin

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  13. Isn't my nephew absolutely adorable?! Thanks for the mention and while I may not consider myself a "genius" I'll take it :) Hubby and I are more into "at home" Valentine's Days. We're not big into gifts, more into memories. Gifts break or get lost, but memories last forever. Homemade dinner, romantic movie, cuddles and laughs always make for a much better night!

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  14. Just popping back in to send hugs and kisses on love day!!

    ZooZoo started my morning off in an epic way by shitting all over the bathroom floor while I was putting the other 2 on the bus.
    (she hasn't been feeling well in her defense)

    So to answer my own Listicle question: it was poop, not chocolate

    So....how was your day? :)

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  15. Are you on twitter???? I think not because i've stalked you. Anyway I nominated you for a Liebster award and you are on my site so check it out and answer the questions so I can laugh. Thanks and see ya at listicles.
    tootles- Kerry

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Thanks for your comment, I hope you enjoyed your time in the "Kitchen".