It’s that time of year again. Time for my annual contribution toward the $20B spent for the Valentine’s Day holiday. Oh yeah, I’m an active and willing participant. Sort of. I defy a few categories and have made up a couple of my own. I generally fall in the (mostly) practical gift guide–and categories-not-really-named. I use the time as an excuse to pick up clothes–the kinds Ames never picks up for herself. Lame excuse to help with her wardrobe but it’s worked for a few years. I also normally pick up a few bags of candy–not as direct gifts rather as candy-dish fillers for guests and as a treat in lunches. Again, lame but it works.
Setting our own category has grown a bit of a life of it’s own the last few years. We’ve been fortunate to live where V-Day couples runs take place–and the climate’s favorable enough to hang out for a few hours afterwards with friends. This year we chose the neighborhood run purely out of convenience. Fall out of bed 45 minutes before the start and I still had five minutes to spare. A little above freezing with perfectly calm conditions. Perfect.
Even more perfect is the coup scored by the neighborhood Champps sports bar. More than 1000 participants in the run and by 10:00a.m. –when on a normal Sunday they’re not even open until 10:00a.m. Almost every table and barstool was filled with racers. Free flowing mimosas likely helped. Announcing event winners may have played a little part. Showing the Olympics on all 100+ TVs surely played a part. Playing bizarre music (think karaoke friendly–Jack & Diane and a couple by The Little River Band that escape me.) Karaoke. Instead of turning on the Olympics volume. That didn’t help their cause–but didn’t seem to cause anyone to leave. 350+ (stated capacity–surely more were present) * $12/per = $4200 before noon. Pretty good take for a constantly confused bar (we normally avoid it).
Not exactly the typical Valentines outing but it’s what’s worked for us the past few years. If only we can figure out what to do with the odd race-bag freebies…..
And yes, any animals in the house always get something for the sweetheart holiday–this year Samantha will get this giant hoof thing–not the tiny single $3 version; we’re talking about something that looks as if the beast was chopped just above the ankle and that whole section put on ice, preserved and wrapped. It’s pretty graphic looking. She’ll love it.