(image courtesy of Rein, by way of online Valentine card)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, everyone!!!

I really don't have much to say about today's special occasion, except that Rein and I avoided it like the plague, haha! Just kidding. I do not wish to be a party pooper, especially since some of us (and you know who you are) waited a lifetime to spend this day with a significant other. It's just that we've decided to make an effort to turn every single day into a reason to celebrate our being together, instead of celebrating it full-blast on just this one day. Plus, it's also just being practical. Just think of the traffic! Especially in all the hotels, first class restaurants, concert venues.....ugh.

In fairness to us, though, I did still make him a cut-out valentine card "book", tied together with a silver ribbon (pleeeez, no Hallmark cards this time or any time).... and he chose to stick around to watch my 5-hour long First Name rehearsal for Makati Hope school, under the wearying heat of the sun.... and then we spent a full hour making the round of booths at the Megatrade Bridal Fair....and he did send me the heart image above...

Haha. Bring out the mush police!

I remember one special evening a couple of years ago that a certain group of formerly constant friends (and Y'ALL know who YOU are, haha) spent at a lovely suite at the Vivere hotel, after doing a succesful Valentine show at Rockwell. We had massages and bonding food and, to cap the night, exchanged Valentine's gifts with each other!!! (SFX: awwwwww.....) The concept was to draw lots and the person you picked would take on the role of a "girlfriend", to whom we would give an appropriate girlfriend gift. Well, naturally, having received gifts from our "boyfriend" for the night, we ended up with roses, bracelets, heart-shaped door decorations and even a red tube top! It was all really very sweet.

It was a brilliant idea at the time, I have to say, and contributed immensely to the steady rise of everyone's level of Valentine's day self-esteem. Never mind, of course, that 3 members out of 4 of the party were all girls, and that the 4th one happened to be an honorary "girl" as well. Sigh. Haha. But it was a lot of fun. The company was great, the view awesome, and the massages divine.

And so, good Believers-- how are you planning to spend V-Day?

EPILOGUE.....Rein is a closet Believer, after all! He surprised me by dropping by unannounced on my doorstep, bearing a rose and chocolate-covered cookies, and an invitation to dinner. Would've been perfect....had I been home! Awwww, poor one. Anyway, we eventually met up for dinner and a (sort of) movie. Perfect date. The movie was "Maritess & the Superfriends". Haha. Just had to show it to Rein. It still is the most hilarious thing ever created, in my book.

PS. A bomb exploded in a bus under the Ayala MRT station this evening. Terrorism on the day of love. Hmmm... someone's obviously trying to send a message. Dark forces in our midst are at work again, folks. Please continue to pray hard for our country....