To Heart, or Not to Heart

It's Valentine's Day and before I wish you Happy Valentine's Day I thought I'd wax on a bit about the vagaries of this holiday.

I've been having fun reading pro and anti-Valentine's tweets and blogs this morning. I understand both sides. I'm not a fan of any holiday that makes some people feel bad and Valentine's Day is probably at the top of the list.

On the other hand, I'm of the quixotic variety so I like flowers and chocolate and silly, sloppy romantic sentiments (cheesy to me = funny and I think laughter and love go hand in hand).

Recounting the problems of this holiday is the amazing Heather Brewer. She makes exceptional points all around.

Here's a video on this dichotomous holiday, which I think nicely shows us a balance Valentine Horror and Happiness:



Also, my fabulous friend and author, David Levithan is going to be talking about his book: Lover's Dictionary (which limns the peaks and valleys of that thing called love) on All Things Considered this afternoon - check it out :)

CONTEST! Questioning Cupid

It's here: Valentine's Day! Run!!
But WAIT there's a CONTEST, so stick around!!

As the Bleeding Hearts Countdown was dedicated to undercutting the value of this holiday, the contest let's you take over - it's your turn to rule the realm of love.

Here's how it works:

As most of you probably know, Twilight brought about the fierce rivalry of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob and I'm sure that Breaking Dawn rendered Camp Jacob despondent. But Twilight isn't the only story with romantic choices at stake.

To enter the contest use the comments to change love story history. What doomed couple would you save, who would ride of with who in the sunset? Nominate your couple that should have been and tell us why their love should have beaten the odds. Couples can be literary, film, television or anything else you come up with.

Winners (chosen at random) will be able to select one of these awesome 2010 debuts:

Josh Berk The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin
Cynthia Jaynes Omololu Dirty Little Secrets
Kristin Walker A Match Made in High School
Suzanne Young The Naughty List

Looking for your wistful what might have beens (ranting and raving also warmly welcomed)!

1! Lonely?

REMINDER: CONTEST RULES WILL BE POSTED AND ENTRIES ACCEPTED STARTING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!

Gasp! Tomorrow is Valentine's Day - got plans? Got a date? Remember to buy that special someone an obligatory gift? No special someone/recently jilted - do you have your voodoo doll at the ready? Yes? No? Hate me now?

Misery loves company.

It's easy to find creative types who understand perfectly well that love isn't pink ribbons and heart-shaped boxes. Its brutal.

Crushing on the office mate? Watch Episode #3 - I swear you won't be able to stop laughing.

Or your NaNoWriMo pal?





Or an Angry Little Girl (tm: Lela Lee)?



Or your can prove how unfeeling and lazy you are using this form.

Got more jaded fun to share? Have at it!

2! Romantagonists

REMEMBER: CONTEST SUNDAY! BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY!!

Anyone out there like me who when faced with saccharin sweet, gooey love sometimes roots for the baddies?

Anyone? *crickets*

Even if I'm on my own, I'm giving it up for my top Stop-Love-At-All-Costs Villains:

Maleficent. Okay - so admittedly Prince Philip is one of the hottest Disney heroes out there, but how can you not love Maleficent. She is awesome (rumor has it she's getting her own movie. You go girl!)


Brett and Jemaine.Though not villains in the strictest sense, these two are their own worst enemies when it comes to romance. From petty rivalries to wonky habits I don't think a Mrs. Flight of the Conchords is viable.

Wicked Witch (Snow White's Step Mom). This poor lady doesn't even get a name. But how awesome is her box?! I want a box like that. And Snow White is sooooo annoying. I'd give her a poisoned apple too.

Jacob.
I'm Team Edward, but I still like having Jake around. Do I need to say why? Look at the picture.

Adam. He ultimately fails due to Buffy's awesome kick-ass skills, but at least he tried. Because Riley is a doof. A doof I say.

Any thorns between the roses you like to cheer on?

4! For me?! Ewwwwww

Tired of glittery heart necklaces and still OD'd on Christmas chocolate?



Try these on for size:

Best Anti-Valentine's Gifts!

If you want to share the antipathy.

Or need to be reassured that even high-minded types lose it in the face of love.

Like art? Any of Roy Lichtenstein's prints would look fabulous on your wall.

But if you're feeling particularly vindictive.
Do you have an anti-Valentine's Day wishlist?

Bleeding Hearts Countdown: 5! Heart Break

There seems to be consensus that February is a rough month. In honor of universal grumpiness, I've decided we need to have a countdown. And this countdown will culminate in a CONTEST on Sunday, February 14.

I'm pleased to present you with the inaugural Bleeding Hearts Countdown, also known as What Do To When it's February and You Don't Like Valentine's Day. Each day of the Bleeding Hearts Countdown will be dedicated to love on the rocks and wicked holiday alternatives.

Please note: I love romance. I am lost to romance; hopeless, swooning. My books have lots of romance. I even feel a little guilty about my Bleeding Hearts Countdown because my husband always does really nice things for me on Valentine's Day. But this is the point: my husband does really nice things for me all the time (that is why is he an awesome husband). Valentine's Day bothers me because of its high pressure, romance on cue dynamic. In my mind, romance is best left to its own devices. The culture of Valentine's Day as it exists now kills true romance and instead leaves us with vengeful gender stereotypes that produce awful Super Bowl ads, which endanger my television as I threaten to smash it.

Romance can't be forced. Romance happens. And it is wonderful.

Valentine's Day is a romance tyrant. Let Bleeding Hearts Countdown start the revolution!

So what's your take on Valentine's Day? Love? Loathe? Meh?