Valentine's Message

So this is the first time I've been on the right side of Valentine's Day - cooing and swapping cards with my sweetheart instead of spending the day in my room posting scornful Facebook statuses - and it's quite the experience.

If I remember correctly, my own contribution to Facebook Bitterness Day last year pointed out that February the 14th was also the anniversary of the death of Dolly the Sheep, and my cousin Jon happily pointed out that it was also the day when Chip & Pin was first introduced. Actually, I think that these offerings represent relative optimism - I mean, it's nice that we found something to celebrate - so it's perhaps not too surprising that I've forgone the cynicism and jumped headlong into Valentine's Day.

Sarah bought me a Jools Holland DVD and perhaps the glitteriest card I've ever seen, I got her an alarm clock* and a relatively bland card, and we stayed up 'til midnight last night (yes, that's an achievement by our standards) to exchange these things. Already today, I have skipped my Cultures lecture (unless you're my parents, in which case it was...cancelled...due to...bears) so that we could meet for lunch, and when she's done in college we're going shopping, because I've decided that I need to start spending less and one can't start being prudent without a tremendous display of spending beforehand.** Tonight we'll probably watch The OC, that being our thing at the moment thanks to Cliffey.

So yes, at any rate, I'm embracing Valentine's Day this year, and here's why: because it's one day when you can be really soppy and corny and you don't have to be ashamed of it. Not that I ever am anyway but society dictates that I probably ought to be.

Except for today. So if you can't celebrate your love for your lover, then celebrate your love for music, video games, your mates, really delicious waffles, Pokémon, or, y'know, anything you have any affection for.

RIP Dolly. There's one less sheep in the world, but it's okay because there's still another sheep who's identical in every way, so it's alright. Unless that sheep is dead too.

Joel.

*Cliffey's friend Gaz told me that a clock is a silly Valentine's present, but nuts to him and his reasonably priced shoes.

**Also, Green Man tickets go on sale tomorrow, but that's DEFINITELY MY LAST BIG SPEND.