the perfect way to end a crappy holiday

I have to admit. Valentine's Day is not my favorite. And as much as I would love to say it's because I hate all of the commercialism and not because I'm single, it's not. I always think it would be better somehow if I had someone special in my life to share it with. Even if we ended up going to McDonald's and watching something lame on TV - because it wouldn't matter what, it only matters who.

Ever since I was little, my mother has always made a big deal out of giving us Valentine's day treats, a small present or something. Last year we got a gift certificate for a deluxe car wash - practical and totally something that I'd never pay for. But this year, my sister was gone and I didn't get an early morning wake up from my mother. I forgot that it was Valentine's Day until some couple was being ooky on the radio. I deliberately did not wear pink and listened to Fiona Apple on my way into work. I was, as we say at work, a little bit crunchy today. Plus, I had chills all day and that didn't make it better. And when I got home, as I expectantly looked in my mailbox, and once I realized that there was nothing in there for me, I threw myself a pity party. I crawled into my bed, but then couldn't sleep, so that was kind of a bust too.

The only thing that has kept me feeling ok all day was that Storyhill was playing tonight and that I was going to see them. What's not to love? We got there late, the parking situation was horrendous and there were literally hordes of people standing in line. We had tickets, but SO many people. And then - they were all sitting on the freaking floor! I don't know how many of you have been to a concert at the Varsity - but it is NOT a sitting venue. You stand. Especially when there are that many people, you are courteous, stand and move so that more people can get in. I had my toes stepped on at least fifty times, had about four tall gropey couples in front of me (we got in towards the back where people were not sitting) and we were generally in a bad mood about it. But then the boys came on and there was so much love. Until during their fifth song, this crazy man was bopping around in the middle of the audience and finally went up on stage. We all thought he was a nutjob. But then he announces that he is the owner and that they are WAY over their legal capacity and that the fire marshall is kicking us all out. We got 'claim' checks that are supposed to be good to make it up.

ONLY FIVE SONGS. It was the strangest evening ever. So sad for the boys. They looked sad. And we were sad. Really a shame - you'd think they could have counted tickets more carefully and made sure that there weren't so many people. You'd think.

Two things made my day brighter. I got a cute kitty valentine from a coworker that made me smile and my sister called me from Hawaii. She was the only person that actually said, 'Happy Valentine's Day' to me today. Sure, she sounded kind of loaded and she's in freaking Hawaii, but I have to say, it made my night that she called. Sometimes, I forget how close we've gotten and how much I appreciate that.

So there you have it. The perfect way to end the crappiest holiday known to mankind. And to the hope that someday, I will be complaining about how I went to McDonald's on Valentine's Day. :)

Happy Valentine's Day, friends. I'm sending love and thoughts your way, along with the chocolate that is at my desk. Eat it up.

Quote o' the day (Valentine's edition):

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up." -James Baldwin