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?

[Darkwolf377]

Yeah, I think then he wouldn't be such a shrinking violet.

He should date all three of the Dixie Chicks at once, that would give all of them street cred.

[RockinRight]

He should date all three of the Dixie Chicks at once, that would give all of them street cred.

And VD!

[pcottraux]

Yeah, that does sound like one of those eHarmony commercials.

I have a very good idea what I'm looking for, but sometimes I wonder if I'm living with my head in the clouds.

[baker_girl]

Thankfully my friends and family have not gone that far....yet

I don't think I could handle a blind date.

[pcottraux]

WIth me, it's like the you like the person you were set up with, but they don't like YOU. Then things get ugly...and somehow it's all YOUR fault and the matchmaker is mad at you.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Wow you're the Steven Spielberg of dating!

EEEEEEEEKKK!!!! Is that a complement? I don't know. I'm currently mad a "Steve" right now for making Munich. And on top of that, the Olympic opening is showing late-night on the left coast right now and all they can sing about is PEACE, and endless choruses of "Imagine", and I am throwing things at the TV right now to shut these peaceniks up. I HATE that Marxist song!

[RockinRight]

I've had that happen too! Or, she liked me and I couldn't stand her and then she became this stalker.

[pcottraux]

You could turn the TV off.

At least Steve is probably making Indiana Jones 4 next instead of a political movie.

[pcottraux]

Well, the whole stalker thing only sort of happened to me once.

[RockinRight]

The things these peaceniks don't understand is that peace is not the absence of war, it's the presence of justice.

[Darkwolf377]

Of course you are. That's what romance is all about. I think people are constantly torn between wanting that romantic ideal and just wanting a woman they can TALK with. After all the relationships I've seen go sour I know that's what I'm looking for, someone I can trust and can talk about stuff with. That doesn't sound like so much, so maybe I'm too particular about the looks.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Now come on, that reads like one of those dating ad scripts, including the pause before...until it happend to ME!

Eeew! You're right. I've had too much wine tonight.

It's a true story though, I talked to my husband for seven months online before ever meeting him.

[Darkwolf377]

It was meant as a compliment--everything he touches (for the most part) makes money.

Belch don't get me started on that lefty happy crappy.

[baker_girl]

Maybe then one of the Dixie Chicks, can say something stupid and put an end to Kanye's career.....it's just a thought

[Darkwolf377]

Excellent point. And yet they all have those "If you want peace work for justice" stickers on their crappy cars, which really means "If you want peace, work for abortion on demand and welfare. And gay marriage."

[RockinRight]

I'm out. Goodnight!

[pcottraux]

I'm glad I live in NC.

[pcottraux]

Keep on Rockin.

Will we see you tomorrow night?

[Darkwolf377]

Or they can sit on him during some coke-fuelled orgy and that's that--he's gone and they go to jail for ego-slaughter or something.

[baker_girl]

Goodnight