Lousy Love Holiday

Anti-Valentine's Day

It’s no mystery as to why I don’t celebrate the Holiday of Love. If you are like me and you hate all the hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day, then we are not alone. According to the History Channel, recent years have seen a boom in the anti-Valentine's Day card and merchandise market, and you can even buy t-shirts promoting February 14th as "Singles Awareness Day." Like me, if you should find yourself single on Valentine's Day, or if you're in a couple and still prefer to ignore the overzealous florists, jewelers, confectioners and card makers of the world, you can still make the most of the day--or at least get through it with minimal discomfort. I have become aware that many men believe this “holiday” is a scam from the florists, greeting card and candy companies just to generate money in the economy and profits in their pockets. Well, it couldn’t hurt to stimulate the economy could it? Nevertheless, couples can take the low-key approach (maybe a quiet dinner at home, a movie or a concert) while like-minded single friends can organize an anti-Valentine's Day party or outing--no red or pink or chocolate allowed. If you're single, don't hesitate to treat yourself to a great meal, a warm bath, a funny movie or something else equally comforting and indulgent. Above all, take comfort in the fact that February 14th is, in the end, just another day. This year, I may be dining alone, watching an appropriate movie like Fool’s Rush In…no, not really. I think Van Helsing or another vampire movie may be appropriate.

Valentine Veritas

Looking for Love
- 188 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)
- Over 50 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine's Day a procrastinator's delight. (Source: Hallmark research)
- There are 119 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same ages. I wonder what the numbers are for those around 40? And where do I meet them?
- There are 34 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same ages.
- 904: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and pulled in $489 million in revenues. Maybe I should open a business. No, the last time I tried to set two people up I ended up married to the guy….still married to the guy. Lucky Jawana (not really, I am better off than she is).

Be Mine
- 2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day. I must start making phone calls or set up a warning system.
- 147,300 marriages are performed in Nevada during 2005. So many couples "tie the knot" in the Silver State that it ranked fourth nationally in marriages, even though it's total population that year among states was 35th.
- The estimated U.S. median ages at first marriage for women and men are 25.3 and 27.1 respectively, in 2005. The age for women rose 4.2 years in the last three decades. The age for men at first marriage is up 3.6 years.
- 72%: The percentage of men and women ages 30 to 34 in 2005 who had been married at some point in their lives - either currently or formerly.
- 4.9 million opposite-sex cohabitating couples maintained households in 2005. These couples comprised 4.3 percent of all households.

Until Next Time.