Two in one hour.... I am a stud..... not really

Ya'll know what day it is? That's right! It's TUESDAY!!!

Oh all right. It's Valentine's day. Time to throw your money at Hallmark and American Greetings, Russell Stover, and any number of jewelry stores. Never mind the other 364 days you're given to show someone that you give a damn. Today HAS to be the day. Why? Because the merchandisers say it is.

A little lesson for you courtesy of The History Channel:
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.

I choose not to celebrate. I think that I show my love of life to the special people in my life 365 and not just on day in February.