The ***OFFICIAL*** Friday/Saturday Night Singles' Thread <BR>Feb. 10 and 11, 2006

2.10.06 | apackof2

[apackof2]

The ***OFFICIAL*** Friday/Saturday Night Singles' Thread

Feb. 10 and 11, 2006

Pitch hitting for Scott tonight and Ok, ok I know, it early but what the heck!

The History of Valentine's Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

Today, 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 -- his crop of potential soldiers. 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.

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, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Did You Know?

- 192 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)

- Nearly 60 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 120 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same ages.

- There are 33 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same ages.

2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually.
That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day.

- 145,800 marriages are performed in Nevada during 2004.
So many couples “tie the knot” in the Silver State that it ranked fourth nationally in marriages, even though its total population that year among states was 35th.

U.S. Census Bureau

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

But how ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?

FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

Remember:

This is a thread for singles, not a thread about the misery of singleness --
no moping allowed! :-)

Favorite romantic song, movie, poem, photo, story?

[TheresaKett]

I have been to the grocery store at 2 or 3 am, and its .... uhm... interesting, so I can imagine.

[RockinRight]

If you can work with it, then more power to you!

[pcottraux]

Actually, I did that too. Me and my friends would sometimes go to Wal-Mart very late in the night.

Also in college, sometimes at, like, 2 in the morning I would head out to the Huddle House (Waffle House like place) and order giant meals. I wouldn't eat much during the day, and then I'd strike out for the HH. Maybe I'd make a good Muslim?

[pcottraux]

Yeah, when Paul_Denton was in charge of the list, he would not show up at times and I was sort of the backup emergency guy. I've posted the thread a time or two.

[RockinRight]

We used to go to Denny's at 4am and get Grand Slam breakfasts after a long night out. Aah, the good times...

I'm getting old! lol...

[TheresaKett]

I heard the other day that the average person spends 7 years of their life doing laundry. It seems like a never ending thing, so I could see that. At least we have a washer and dryer, could you imagine washing clothes in a river, beating them with a stick and hanging them to dry.... Wonder how many years of their lives were spent cleaning clothes

[pcottraux]

Yeah, even I reminisce about those days...and it was only a few years ago!

My major was English, but most of my studies involved napping and goofing off with my friends.

[TheresaKett]

When I was in HS, I worked at Knotts Berry Farm and we always went to breakfast at Denny's or Kenos after we closed down the park at 2 AM.

[baker_girl]

LOL!

I'm doing my laundry too.

I didn't know there was a singles thread...the things you learn when you stay up past 10...

[RockinRight]

LOL..."those days..." You're 21, right? Just a kid, dude!

[TheresaKett]

welcome

[pcottraux]

I know, but I often seem a lot older than I am (I discovered nastolgia at age 16.)

[TheresaKett]

Reminds me of my nephew, when he was 7 (he is now 16), he said to me...a long, long, long time ago when I was 5.....

we just cracked up

[pcottraux]

I'd hate to see a full breakdown of all the years in one's life one spends doing trivial things.

You know, one peculiar thing I saw in a laundromat once...a family of immigrants actually taking pictures of each other doing their laundry.

[TheresaKett]

I'd hate to see a full breakdown of all the years in one's life one spends doing trivial things like waiting at a red light, or in my case, sitting in California rush hour traffic......what a waste of time

[RockinRight]

LOL...

[RockinRight]

That's just funny!!

[baker_girl]

Thank You.

I just had to start another load of laundry.

WooHoo!

[TheresaKett]

One of our friends in Hawaii has a neighbor who is ALWAYS outside cutting his grass with his scissors. They have asked him several times why he doesn't get a lawn mower and he always asks, why change the way I always did things....He is old and retired, so I guess he likes to cut his grass all day...who knows. Its almost like we can find their house by looking for the man with the scissors.

[pcottraux]

Well, I was 16 when I first realized...hey, wait a minute. My childhood's OVER. It's gone forever...and man, I sure did enjoy it. It made me sad.

My best friend and I in college loved to go on Bigfoot searches. My school was in a part of Georgia that was real swampy and full of wilderness.