Things I Love Thursday — Valentine’s Day Edition

The Internet has reminded me that Valentine’s Day is all about love. (And the Boy has reminded me that it’s all about “celebrating a Christian saint with images of a flying, bow-wielding pagan god!”) But as much as I dig Cupid, I’m a little bit in love with love. I’m also a little bit obsessed with “Things I Love Thursdays,” a positive-living idea shameless stolen from blogger Gala Darling, and what better Thursday to chronicle my amorous inclinations than this fine fourteenth of February?

1. Canada Post! There’s nothing as exciting as opening the mailbox and seeing a letter addressed to you in vaguely familiar handwriting. Yesterday was a crazy amazing day for mail: a package my mother sent finally arrived, and well stocked it was with soup, instant Indian food, shortbread cookies, my favourite granola bars and of course, a handwritten letter. There was also a (handmade!) card from the Boy’s aunt and uncle, inviting us to dinner next week when he comes to la belle province. We be getting sophisticated.

2. Trashy TV shows. I had a Modern Family binge over Christmas break, lunched over season four of Sex and the City throughout January, and am now just getting caught up on Hart of Dixie. Summer Roberts is back in action! In first year, one of my residence friends and I had a “trashy TV/classy alcohol” tradition in which we he would mix G&Ts or margaritas and we would mainline The O.C.

3. My bed. It’s pretty rad. It welcomes me with open arms each and every night — and some afternoons too — and never insists that I do anything more strenuous than watch Claire & Phil’s shenanigans. It’s also big enough for snuggles with the Boy, but not so big that I have to roll over multiple times to get from my lamp one the left to my clock radio/glass of water on the right.

What gives you warm fuzzies??

Valentine’s Day When You’re Far, Far Away

He’s okay, I guess.

Last year, I boarded as many airplanes as I was old: twenty. And yet I only visited three provinces. I’m not an important executive, flying across the country to convene with marketing gurus or to schmooze with potential clients. Nope, I’m just a third-year arts student who lives far away from her main squeeze. But it’s not too bad. Porter Airlines often has 50% off sales, so a Montreal-Toronto flight is only $50 each way (alas, before tax), and they offer free (alcoholic) drinks and the amazing Terra Chips on board. Plus, my parents live in Toronto so I can stop by the house, have a mom-cooked dinner and poke my cat’s stomach before getting driven to the Boy’s in Hamilton. So really, I have nothing to complain about.

Favourite feline ever.

But what does one do for Valentine’s Day when one’s paramour lives hundreds of miles away? Let’s go through our options, shall we?

1. Ignore everything. Valentine’s Day is just an opportunity for Hallmark/florists/Godiva to bleed your bank account white. Well hi there bitter brain. You might have a point… But I maybe sorta kinda like milk chocolates I can’t digest and flowers that’ll whither soon?

2. Reunite! It’s only six hundred kilometres! It’s only six hundred dollars! Do it do it do it! Don’t be silly, self. You’ve been watching too many Julia Roberts movies. The Boy is coming just a few days later. Plus the 14th is a school night and you have an early class the next day. Stay put.

3. Get chip-faced on the couch with the girls! But what about the Boy?

4. Skype! I guess? But that’s what we always do. Chat while wearing a lurid pink sweater and eating dark chocolate fondu take-out? Try and watch a movie online, if the Internet allows such synchronicity?

I don’t know, blogosphere, what is one to do? Send me your tips!