Valentine shmalentine!

Just a friendly reminder that this a blog of rants, and not at all eloquently written.  It's pure babble, OK?

I don't know the history of Saint Valentine.  I don't really care to take the time to find out.  But there's really one main reason I dislike Valentine's Day.  It's a marketing gimmick.  Most holidays are, but this one preys so heavily I think it only comes second to Christmas (maybe third to Halloween) in its pervasive nature.  At least there's a "reason for the season."  But with Valentine's Day, not so much.  It's entirely for greeting card and candy companies, florists, and jewelers to pressure consumers to buy affection from their loved ones, sparks of interests, or what have you.  It's advertising at its finest.  They influence you to think, "If I don't buy this product, it means I must not care for my loved one as much as I say.  What will others think if I'm the only one who doesn't send flowers or candy to them? I haven't been very romantic all year; whatever I buy this day will make up for it!"  The only action that speaks louder than words on Valentine's Day is the act of buying.  If you really care for the person you're with, you don't wait for only one day a year to impress them.  Who you are and your actions every day make you desirable.  Romantic suprises throughout the year make your relationship thrive.

On the other hand, I won't deny that not having a Valentine for Valentine's Day stings me a little.  It's a reminder to me that I don't have a special someone of my own to spend Valentine's Day with, especially when last year I did.   It's even worse when I have an infatuation with someone and she is unavailable. (Story of my life and fodder for another blog post.) This year, I spent it with a date-rejected buddy of mine as well as a couple of other bartender friends working the other side of the bar.  I raged (half-jokingly) against Valentine's Day by getting drunk and putting bitter, anti-love songs on the jukebox. I shot pool. I joked. I laughed. I had fun. But I still went home alone.

Two years ago or so, when I held so tightly to a much more hopeless view of my life, I created an "Anti-Valentine" iTunes playlist.  It hasn't changed much.  I still add songs to it if I think about it, because I still listen to it when I feel a little heartache now and then. And because they're fun to sing to (alone of course). I won't apologize for any of them being cheesy either!

Heart - “Alone”
Miranda Lambert - “Kerosene”
Orgy - “Blue Monday”
Rolling Stones - “She’s So Cold”
Paramore - “Misery Business”
Dramarama - "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)"
Marilyn Manson - "Tainted Love"
Plain White T's - "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)"
Justin Timberlake - "What Goes Around..."
The All-American Rejects - "Gives You Hell"
OneRepublic - "Apologize"
Kanye West - "Heartless"
Three Days Grace - "Pain"
Alice In Chains - "Nutshell"
Jimmy Eat World - "Get It Faster"
Fleetwood Mac - "Go Your Own Way"
Keith Urban - "You'll Think Of Me"
Linkin Park - "Valentine's Day"
Anberlin - "Feel Good Drag"
Metallica - "Die, Die My Darling"
Little Big Town - "Good As Gone"