Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day - Happy Valentine's Day!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Since this blog does not publish on Saturday, I shall dedicate today's blog to Valentine's Day!

Saint Valentine's Day (also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine) is a holiday observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a holiday in most of them.

St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to February 14 and added to later martyrologies.

A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.

The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").


My lovely wife, Laura, intimated that she would find great favor in my sending her a single red rose.

While her hints that this would please her were gentle, I quickly realized the efficacy that would, necessarily, follow such an act on my part!

Never one to follow the directives of others, however, I determined that a single red rose would certainly not suffice as an expression of my love for Laura. I had, then, an impressive bouquet of 12 long stem roses and 10 white flowers.


This bouquet adorns her desk at her work. It shall, no doubt, serve as impetus for others to espouse love similarly.

Additionally, I gifted Laura with these—albeit less lovely, perchance, yet certainly more utile—offerings:

KitchenAid KCO273SS 12" Convection Bake Digital Countertop Oven - Stainless Steel

Winsome Wood Utility Cart, Natural

Sage Kitchenware Stainless Steel Pepper Grinder

OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Standing Paper Towel Holder, Brushed Stainless Steel

Chicago Metallic Non-Stick 4-Piece Oven Set

Red Rose Day, In the News, Juicing for LIfe, Backgammon, and Enjoy

Red Rose Day - Today is Red Rose Day!

Red Rose Day is a time to enjoy and appreciate America's favorite flower—the red rose. A red rose signifies love. A June setting for Red Rose Day is very appropriate, as this is by far the most popular month for weddings.

In addition to being the most popular cut flower, roses are also the most popular flower in flower beds and around foundation of houses and outbuildings. They are easy to grow and produce a bounty of sweet-scented flowers from June until the first frost.

Did you know? Each rose color sends a different meaning to the recipient. Make sure you send the right message.
Rose colors and their meanings:

In the News - They walk among us!

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Juicing for Life - Laura and I are now on day TWELVE of our 30-day juice fast—Juicing for Life!

As you may recall, we were inspired by a movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead that documented the juice-fasting program of Joe Cross. We visited his Web site, Reboot with Joe and became determined to follow his lead. The results have been incredible. We have experienced renewed energy, increased awareness and mental acumen, weight loss, and increased good health.

When I began this program Sunday, June 1, I weighed 229.8 pounds. This morning, I weighed 221.1 pounds—a loss of 8.7 pounds since we began this program!

I have enjoyed playing backgammon since I was four years old. Throughout the years, I have honed my skills to such a degree that I have encountered great resistance from even the most skillful of players to engage me in competition. Laura has never exhibited a desire to play the game—although I have urged her to do so often.

Last month, Laura surprised me greatly by announcing that she wished to learn the game and have me tutor her and teach her the classic moves. I eagerly set about tutoring her. After several weeks of playing, Laura has become a formidable player! I discourage all from meeting her in backgammon battle. Her skill, and the regularity with which she rolls doubles, make her a daunting player!

Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!

Red Rose Day and Love

Red Rose Day - Red Rose Day is a time to enjoy and appreciate America's favorite flower—the red rose. A red rose signifies love. A June setting for Red Rose Day is very appropriate, as this is by far the most popular month for weddings. Red roses are in bloom in the gardens across America this month.

In addition to being the most popular cut flower, roses are also the most popular flower in flower beds and around foundation of houses, garages, and sheds. They are easy to grow and produce a bounty of sweet-scented flowers from June up to the first frost.

Did you know? Each rose color sends a different meaning to the recipient. Make sure you send the right message?

Rose Color Meanings

Red - Nothing sends the message of love more clearly than a red rose. Make that a dozen! The meaning of this rose color is quite clear. Red roses represent love, beauty, courage, and respect.

White - White is the color of purity and innocence. It also represents silence or secrecy, reverence, and humility.

Pink - Appreciation, grace, perfect happiness, and admiration.

Dark Pink - Appreciation or gratitude.

Light Pink - Admiration or sympathy.

Yellow - Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, and the promise of a new beginning.

Orange - Desire and enthusiasm.

Red and White - Given together, these signify unity.

Red Rosebud - A symbol of purity and loveliness.

White Rosebud - Symbolic of girlhood.

Thornless Rose - Love at first sight.

25 Things Love Does - Love...

1. Makes people willing to put even the most coveted things at stake.

2. Unifies through the only commonality needed to understand one another.

3. Creates an inner warmth and willingness to be loving and kind to others.

4. Makes every one of life’s hardships and tragedies seem worth it.

5. Provides a sense of purpose.

6. Compels so deeply you’d risk or give your life.

7. Makes the coy outspoken and the outgoing coy.

8. Reforms the jaded and hopeless.

9. Puts people in touch with their true selves.

10. Accepts without condition.

11. Embraces what is, and people as they are.

12. Is unwavering with compassion and forgiveness.

13. Is willing to let go if need be.

14. Connects people of all races and creeds.

15. Unites countries and peoples otherwise war-torn and separate.

16. Uncovers what’s most true.

17. Makes people completely reform their ideas of what is “attractive.”

18. Either provides convincing evidence of a higher being or at least of the concept of fate.

19. Closes personal distance.

20. Takes down otherwise unbreakable walls.

21. Keeps people coming back to the thing that either has or has the potential to destroy them.

22. Seems to change people, but really just unveils their true selves.

23. Inspires and unfolds.

24. Makes you just mad enough to devote your entire life to another person.

25. Makes way for peace: sometimes with oneself, sometimes with others, but most often, with all the uncertainties that come with life.