Here it is. The Big Day of Love.

A special Valentine’s Day shout out to our U.S., Canadian and Allied troops deployed across the globe. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones.

I’m reprising one of my favorite V-Day posts here today. It’s from 2008. I’m still wondering about this boy and this girl. Do they have a date tonight? Have they moved on to other Valentines?

Not smarter than an eleventh grader…

We went to our favorite watering hole to grab a bite of dinner this evening. Walked in the door and found pink and red balloons tied to chairs and a big basket of flowers at the reservation counter. Not the usual watering-hole decor. Yes. Valentine’s Day. But we weren’t celebrating over dinner — just having a meal in our neighborhood pub. I breezed up to the staff and asked for a table for two.

“Do you have reservations?”

Reservations? This is a pub in the burbs. Pretty decent food. But…. No. Nada. No reservations.

We needed to wait while staff conferred.

Another couple came in. No reservations. Waiting.

A third couple came in. No reservations. Waiting.

As we lined the entry — like so many wallflowers — waiting for the conferring to finish, in walks a lanky 16-year-old who will eventually grow into his hands and feet. He strides up to the counter with his young valentine in tow and clears his throat. “I have a reservation.”

The hostess cracks a big smile. “Your name?”

The grown-up wallflowers — we all look like Bambi caught in the headlights. The sweetie and I disappeared into the night to find another spot to dine — praying it wasn’t going to be anything with an arch or staff in headphones.

That’s why I are not smarter than an eleventh grader. Ouch!

Hey. Hey. Hey.

p.s. Elen hopes it was a special evening for he and she who had reservations!

Wishing all a Happy Valentine’s Day. May you be spending it with someone you love.

Mr. G, honey — In the words of the King of Soul, Sam Cooke…You send me.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6kzP5dHuZI

Elen

Author Virginia Kantra (whose Children of the Sea series I love) put this up at Facebook, so it ended up on my wall.

Now, it’s here. For you.

Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syxwkc36jas

Elen

I’m shredding my world today, or large chunks of it anyway. This is not my first day of shredding. Won’t be my last. I’m an experienced shredder.

Xena, Warrior Shredder!

There is no time for tweeting, texting, instant messaging, Skyping, surfing, Facebook-ing. I need both hands to shred if I want to keep my fingers intact. And I do. I surely do.

So I thought I’d give you a warm-up to Monday.

A prelude. A precursor. A preface. A preamble.

None of those. I’m just messing with you.

A preview. Stop it!

A glimpse of the Big Day of Love.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV7u4GwDM20

I love animation. Totally brilliant.

Inquiring minds want to know. Do you have big plans for the Big Day of Love? And will those plans be executed on the day, or the weekend prior?

Elen

FYI — Calgon did not take me to Puglia, Italy yesterday. Major bummer.

It’s two V-days later, and I’m wondering how that lanky eleventh grader is doing. He’s not sixteen anymore, and he’s probably growing into his hands and feet. He’s, no doubt, working on a start-up company somewhere. One thing’s for sure. He’s got a date and a reservation!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Elen

And one of the many things I’ve discovered is the land of @gapingvoid — aka Hugh MacLeod — cartoonist, author, CEO. He speaks to me. I don’t question why. He just does. End of story.

It’s the talented cartoonist I’m focusing on here. This, from his Love series, came in my inbox today –

© Hugh

I’m thinking, Hell, yeah! Just kiss me. My kind of Valentine.

Are you listening, Mr. G, honey?

Mr. G?

Honey?

He should really wander over here more often and find out what I’m saying about him.

I’ve received seven of these original lovelies giving a nod to Valentine’s Day, the commentary with each and every one — priceless. I know. I know. @gapingvoid would not use the term lovelies, but we’re in the land of Elen now.

This one spoke to the romance writer in me –

© Hugh

When Valentine’s Day has passed, @gapingvoid will be returning to his usual edgy self. I’m looking forward to that, too.

Check out his site here. Or Hugh’s Daily Cartoon here. Go. See.

And MacLeod — You can draw cartoons on the back of business cards, on napkins, I don’t care. Just keep drawing them!

Yep. World of discovery. Srsly.

Elen

Images courtesy of http://gapingvoid.com