Thursday, February 14, 2008

Oh Yeah, Valentine's Day

February 14th has often been a day of romantic gifts for me -- roses, candy, shiny objects, fancy meals, certificates to hardware stores, the gamut. In my six or so decades, I've stepped in love a few times, as Rita Rudner would say.

But not this February 14th. Oh sure, I received an absolutely perfect, white, long-stemmed rose, surrounded by baby's breath and ferns.

From my dentist.

But nothing that needed to be insured. Regardless, the rose was as lovely and fragrant as any really expensive hotel air freshener. And I only had to endure two hours in the dental chair to get it.

Hoping to enjoy its scent all day, I was tempted to wear the pretty fleur in my hair, until I discovered it didn't fit under my polar fleece hat. So I stuck it into the change drawer by the heater controls of my car. At least all the folks at the drive-bys would know that SOMEONE remembered me today. No need to tell them WHO.

With no requests to dress up, do my hair or shave, I remembered I hadn't seen There Will Be Blood, so I decided today would be an appropriate time to pencil it onto my empty dance card. It was that or rent War of the Roses.

Sitting alone in the back row of the local movie theater with my $4 beverage, I was greeted by a couple who literally bounded through the door, saw me, and chirped like a couple of school kids, "Hey, happy Valentine's Day!" 

I responded with, "My dentist gave me a rose!" 

Afterward, we all agreed that the picture sucked, but Daniel Day-Lewis was incredible. Good thing, since he's on screen the whole time. Like No Country For Old Men, the main character of Blood was continually killing people without much provocation.  That pretty much sums up the plot of the movie. Both movies. 

I didn't like the film, but I didn't mind the money I spent, since if you're over 62 you get a two dollar discount. Kind of like going to the movies back when there was one HUGE screen, not seven teeny weeny ones.

Some old fart -- probably my age -- was working the concession stand and kept up the most annoying and non-stop snappy patter to entertain me, while he screwed up my drink order. He was slightly deaf and I had to repeat myself three times before he got it right.

After the show I swung by Boston Market for some soup and a salad for dinner. Ta go. The counter guy clearly felt sorryfor me and tucked an extra one of those cornbread muffins into my bag. The ones they won't take back no matter how much you complain.

I put it in the change drawer next to my one, excellent rose. 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

With what I hear roses are going for these days, that might have been a marriage proposal.  
Hey, at least someone tried.  LOL
Anna

Anonymous said...

And we wonder with movies like that why students (or anyone) are choosing to go in & shoot up everyone! So sad at NIU!

Anonymous said...

dentists charge an arm and a leg
even if you have insurance
I was going to say that
I got lucky yesterday
but, didn't know how you'd take it
happy valentine's day, Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

All my periodontist did for Valentine's Day was tell me that it's normal for bone to be showing in a gaping wound after a gum graft. See, you did better than you think :-)

xoxo

Anonymous said...

I simply cannot watch Daniel Day-Lewis. Not since the absolute horror of sitting through all 8 or 9 hours of "The English Patient".  The old lady who works at my Boston Market is missing her 2 front teeth so sometimes she accidentally spits in my food.  So...I hate Boston Market almost as much as I do Day-Lewis.

With that said, Happy Valentine's Day to all of us!




Anonymous said...

I'm with Remo.  Valentine's Day is the second-most ridiculous Hallmark holiday (with number one being sweetest day).  Call me hopelessly unromantic, but I've never done anything for anyone on 2/14.  On our first VD together, I told my wife (who wasn't my wife yet) that I'd spend the other 364 days of the year acting like it was Valentine's Day.  I don't begrudge anyone who makes a big deal out of it though.

Daniel Day-Lewis was in The English Patient?  Must have been a different version than the one I saw.  And isn't there something patently ironic about going to see There Will Be Blood on Valentine's Day?

Anonymous said...

on the first of last April, i got a card from my urologist:  

SPRING IS HERE
APRIL FOOL
IT'S TIME TO STICK A HOSE
UP YOUR TOOL.

Anonymous said...

NOTE:  Ralph Fiennes was the English patient.

Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. It WAS Ray Fiennes.  Well I guess I hate him too.  

Anonymous said...

never saw "The English Patient"
but, I like that "Seinfeld" episode
when Elaine says that
she hates it

Anonymous said...

happy v-day, big sis.

luvuloads,

ddacn


Anonymous said...

Happy belated VD !  ;)

Have a great weekend!
Chris
http://inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings.blogspot.com