Better valentine day's rot than valentine's day riot, which is what we're looking forward to hereabouts. To celebrate the second anniversary of Hariri's death.

First you anthropomorphize MACHINES, then refuse to do the same for ANIMALS?

I can only say one thing.

I'm in love.

You know, someone called me a Cylon at a meeting today.

Just because I rattled off an IP address for one of their app servers off the top of my head.

Bloody marketing idiots.

Carmen (we rescued her from a cigarette factory) takes exception to this post, and would lick you to death if she ever met you.

Pantom: that's as good an excuse as any for sharing this little politically correct love story.

That was hilarious.
And truly, truly sick.

Why the fuck would you buy a Valentine card and pretend it's from the dog? Are they intended to be from one dog to another?

I'll make a wild guess and assume the intent is to be cutesy for the person you lurve. Because affection is, essentially, a self-induced biochemical drug and February 14th is designated as the day to OD. Like St. Patrick's Day, except the vomit is more metaphoric.

Or hopefully that's the case. I will need to off myself soon if bestiality has made it mainstream.

You know, someone called me a Cylon at a meeting today.

Don't tell me you didn't appreciate the compliment.

Well of course I did.

By the way, here's a photo of the Valentine cards I made for the Kitten Club.

When all of them are together it's like being hit by an estrogen bomb. I can't resist the girliness.

We're going out for a fancy dinner on Wednesday.

"....vainly trying to avoid the hordes of anxious-looking men sifting through ghastly pink and red monstrosities, aka "expressions of love"

HA! Isn't that just true, poor bastards, the pressure is all on them. I'll never forget the loooong line at the single-rose seller's next to the Dupont Circle metro station in DC at about 5 pm on Valentine's Day, all men, all trying not to get in trouble for Not Coming Home With Flowers.

Oh I LOVE this idea! I could get Pippin to send Valentines cards to people (ie me).

And my god those cards - did you draw them?! Wow.

Yes, I drew them and stuck on interesting bits from magazines, origami paper, etc.

I rarely give cards, but people are more likely to keep them if they're handmade.

Pippin, is that your budgie?

SP: Isn't that just true, poor bastards, the pressure is all on them.

I've never imposed such conditions on my men. Not interested in gifts that are the result of compulsion/obligation.

Besides, I prefer books.

luckily i planned to move exactly on V-day thus giving me quite plausible deniablility with the GF.

hm... last year an ex girlfriend (who wasn't ex at the time) gave me some rather explicit "coupons." perhaps i should have a little fun and pop the things in someone's post box. what do you think gang? random box, ex's box, or GF's box?

DrDoug,

send 'em to the gang.

If that's not possible, keep 'em for "later use".

SD,

you have a dog ... in Dubai???

--MSK

MSK: afraid i don't have access to a scanner or camera until Saturday but, rest assured, i'll post them for all to see.

I've got the most plausible denial ever, at the moment. viz.

Tom: that's no excuse. if anything... no, wait. i'll stop. no need to suggest certain colours being romantic.

anyway, don't you have some printer paper you could scrawl a valentine's note on or an old newspaper you could make into a paper hat and write "i love you" on it?

excuses like that are for quitters.

Re: V-card photo

Love the bare walls!

Atrociously expensive dinner. That is what I am opting for. No shopping by the assistant, who was confused by the proposition.

Bloody nerdy pious little nerdy git assistants. What good is an assistant if she asks if it is appropriate to shop for my bloody Valentines day bribery?

From the al-Jazeera article:
Amin Gemayel, Lebanon's former president and a prominent Christian leader, told the the Voice of Lebanon radio station that "alien hands" were behind the explosions. "Lebanese do not kill Lebanese," he said.

I just ... yeah. I just wanted to quote that.

Just noticed that Mr. Hogan beat me to it...

Quite the dorm-roomish lamp in the photo...;o)

Ah, what can I say. I have no interest in decorating and very spartan tastes in general. My apartment has nothing on the walls, no photos, no knick-knacks. Function comes first.

Well, except for my bed. Delicious sienna and crimson brocade covers, 300-count burgundy sheets, enough pillows to make a small fort, etc.

Terribly decadent, I love it.

At least your priorities are in order, eerie.

After wife #1 and I parted ways I bought a truly massive bed, the frame was of carved oak and the headboard alone weighed almost 250lbs.

Sadly, now in storage.

So, Ms. E, how did your V-day turn out? Did you run into Suave and Debonair Banker?

(Maybe we should start calling him Rico Suave.)

No, I went out with my girls on Valentine's Day.

Banker makes my life complicated, and I am easily annoyed by complicated situations.

But bankers always generate interest. It's just that their reserve requirements can always keep one guessing. And it's an ever-present danger that a banker is not really interested in your company, but just will end up leaving you a loan.

...then there's premature withdrawal, for which a penalty would need to be assessed, of course...

But bankers always generate interest.

Unless they're Islamic bankers.

Right, in that case they go through a ridiculous convoluted process to hide what is actually interest.

For the religous, interest is the same as use-you-eerie.