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In lieu of chocolates, roses, and cards

2/14/2012

2 Comments

 
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I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. It's silly to me. Why do I need to tell my significant other, family, and friends that I love them one day of the year just because the calendar tells me so? Why can't I tell them every single day of the year if the meaning is there?  I feel, if your significant other, family, and friends truly loved you, they'd show, say, and express it all the time - not try to make it up to you one day of the year when Hallmark, Hershey's, and flower shops make their most money.

As a kid in the 80s, it wasn't a requirement to bring in Valentine's Day cards to school. The reason? A lot of families couldn't afford them. So in lieu of cards, we'd cut out hearts and paste (yes, paste- you know -the kind that came with a wand and you had to brush it on) pretty things like lace, glitter, and ribbons to them in art class. We'd then hand those hearts to our special Valentine, usually a parent or a teacher. Me? I threw mine in the trash because I knew my efforts would go unnoticed.
As I moved around Massachusetts, growing up in foster care, I'd eventually have Valentine's Day cards purchased for me to hand out. I'd go through the painstakingly difficult task of trying to remember everyone, I'd then give them out, and never really seemed to get any in return... people never remembered the "new girl". I'd go home sad and depressed, feeling unwanted and unloved. But as I grew older, and the 90s brought in a new era, I didn't NEED to celebrate that stupid holiday. I didn't like feeling unwanted and unloved on that day; I pretty much felt that way every day of the year, why dwell on that one stupid day?
Then I got my first "real" boyfriend as a freshman in high school. I finally felt accepted. Loved. Wanted. And it was all that I dreamed of and more ... until he dumped me four days before Valentine's Day. He had gone skiing and returned from the trip feeling "differently" about our relationship. Once again, that darn holiday was thrown in my face. Ugh! I vowed, never again! I also knew the reason was because he didn't get me a gift and figured that was the "easy" way out of having to get one. Little did he know I could've cared less. His loss, oh well... We did end up going back out, and once again he dumped me right around my birthday... once again more than likely because he felt pressured to buy me a gift... once again, his loss.
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*** I had typed up a whole bunch of stuff here but my PC is so slow it go caught up in a freeze moment and then internet explorer decided to wipe everything clean. With this said, I'm going to attempt to write everything that I had just written as  heart-felt as I had originally had it, though I doubt it'll make the same impact. Stupid PC. Stupid internet explorer! ***

My point is, I don't need a special "holiday" to tell my significant other, family, or friends that I love them. I make a point to tell them I love them every night when I put them to bed. I tell them I love them each morning before they leave for work or school. I tell them I love them when I call them, just because, and make a point to tell them before I hang up. I tell them when I message them, text them, or e-mail them. If I don't tell them, there are times I don't even have to; it's said in my actions, my words, and my genuine caring for them. If they don't know that I love them and appreciate them for who they are, then I suppose they'll never know, because I really, truly, honest-to-goodness do. Each person is in your life for a reason, it's up to you to make a point to recognize that - and I have. I love you all. I don't know what the equivalent of "bro-mance" for girls are, but I love you all in your own, each, individual way and I hope you know this... But I digress... I didn't want this blog post today to be about me expressing my undying love and affliction for you all (Little Rascals anyone?), rather, I wanted to share with you my top 5 movies... yes, I will partake in this fesitivity and make it my top 5 movies of "love". But be aware, they may not all have a happy ending, because that's the way love goes.

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# 1 - Down with Love
Catcher Block is a man's man, man about town, who knows his way around the ladies. Barbara Novak is the brilliant, best selling author of the woman's guide, "Down with Love". When the two meet... er... don't meet actually, all things go awry, with Catcher becoming Buzz, seeking the expose of the year.
Starring Renee Zellweger as Barbara Novak and Ewan McGregor as Catcher Block.

This movie is just too freaking cute for words. It has "chick flick" painted all over it, if the pink lettering and all pink smattering (dress, chair, pink-hued carpet) didn't tip you off. But I loved it. I can watch this movie a thousand times and never get bored. It has that classic, old-world, 50ish style, campy music, and even Judy Garland singing. If you're single, downing a carton of Ben & Jerry's this Valentine's Day, and sad, I assure you this movie will make you smile.

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# 2 - Step Brothers
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a little Bro-mance. Dale Doback and Brennan Huff just became step-brothers. From sleep-walking schanenigans to their Prestige Worldwide "Boats 'n Hoes" video, this movie will not let you down. Laughs are what you need to get through this "single awareness" holiday. It's all about love, really it is. There's nothing that says, "I love you, Bro," more  than slamming your new step-brother in the face with a shovel in an attempt to bury him alive.

Starring Will Ferrell as Brennan Huff and John C. Reilly as Dale Doback.

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# 3 - The Princess Bride
OK, yes, now we're getting a little mushy, but hey, it's still funny!
A crazy, but brilliant Sicilian, a loveable giant, a swash-buckling pirate, a sword wielding, revenge-fueled Spaniard, and a soon-to-be princess all take action in this tale. Every young girl's dream, a deliciously handsome boy that says, "As you wish," with every request. I will admit this is where my love for Cary Elwes was forged. As a  doe-eyed little six-year-old, I grew up envisioning a handsome, swash-buckling pirate would whisk me away from the cruel world, to live with him forever... alas that never happened, at least the pirate part. This adorabe movie is something you'll want to watch. It's funny, romantic, and just plain good. 

Starring Cary Elwes as the Dread Pirate Roberts and Robin Wright as the Princess Buttercup.

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# 4 - Ella Enchanted
This is one of my favorites too... well, of course since this is my list of favorites, right? Anyways, it's just too freaking cute. If you're bored and you need something feel-good and campy, Ella Enchanted has got what you need. Once again it's funny, romantic, and full of heart ... and oh wait, is that Cary Elwes too?! Why, yes! Yes it is! :)

Ella was given a gift, the gift of obdience, and like most fairytales, Ella's mother dies, leaving her with her father, who almost immediately gets married to an ugly, old, step-mother, with ugly, pompous daughters. While Ella is initially happy at the idea of new siblings, and sisters to boot, she soon learns her little secret will be used to their advantage, which could possibly ruin everything Ella has created for herself. Along comes a handsome prince, who is soon to be king, and he comes rescuing her again and again. Add a sprinkling of the campy music I am oh-so-fond-of, and you've got a masterpiece here! Starring several popculture "stars" today, such as Heidi Klum, Minnie Driver, Vivica A. Fox, and a few others. It's sure to become one of your favorites too!

Starring Anne Hathaway as Ella of Frell and Hugh Dancy as Prince Charmont.

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# 5 - Enchanted
I know this list has kind of become childish, but you really can't help but love the humor and romance of these more recent movies - admit it! Sometimes Disney movies have all the elements a girl is looking for in prince charming, sometimes they have that thing we need to get over the dreaded "holiday" blues and push forward to the next day, when chocolate, flowers, and all other things delicious and beautiful go on sale.
Enchanted starts off as one of those regular Disney cartooney movies, but quickly becomes real - intermingling the childish and the adultish humor we look forward to picking up as adults, knowing our children won't get the drift. I love Amy Adams. She's just too freaking cute. She's got a great voice, and yes ... there is some of that wonderful, campy music that I love. I was suprised to see Patrick Dempsey, but he's definitely hot eye-candy, so it was nice.
This movie stars Giselle, a girl living in the forest with her animal friends until the day she meets her Prince. Unfortunately Prince Edward's step-mother is a nasty, old witch, Queen Narissa. When the Queen meets Giselle, she is threatened by her beauty and is afraid the girl will take her crown, so she pushes her into a wishing well. It is there that things take a whole new meaning for Giselle ... things I won't divulge because it'll ruin the plot, so go ahead and rent this - or NetFlix it or whatever people do these days.

Starring Amy Adams as Giselle, James Marsden as Prince Edward, and Patrick Dempsey as Robert Phillip.

Well, folks. There you have it. My top 5 movies about "LOVE". I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and if you have any suggestions, don't be shy, feel free to comment them to me. I'm always up for a good movie!

And... just for saying sake, Happy Valentine's Day!

2 Comments
Maca link
3/24/2012 12:26:16 pm

THX for info

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Peta link
9/7/2012 09:11:20 pm

will return before long

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    J. A. Titus

    Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Wife.  Full-time worker, part-time worker, and writer.  Lover of anything Eeyore, reality cooking, and horror.  Eclectic music taste, reading taste, and movie taste.  No need to further question my mentality, it's been wrapped up in this little summary. :)

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