Bah humbug!

Can I say that for Valentine's Day?

This is not a "holiday" that we observe.  It's a day of love but shouldn't every day be about love?  I love Angry and he loves me.  Do we need to honor that more today?  I think not.  Our plans include going to the gym tonight after work and having tacos for dinner after that (to use up some leftover hamburger).  Good enough.

According the the History Channel website:

"The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death."

Wow!  That's a sad story.  Sort of a bummer for today.

They also say:

"Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France."

That one's at least a little sweet to read.  A love story.

If you are interested and want to read more, visit their site.

That same site also says that "approximately 150 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually."  Not in my house.

For those of you that do celebrate, Happy Valentine's Day to you!  I hope that you and your love have a great day.  And for my female readers, I hope you get some nice jewelry today. 

For those like us who don't really care, have a beer or something when you get home from work!!