h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I usually just treat it like any other day of the year. It's not like anything's going to happen for me...

I disagree. I believe that there are two effective tacs: Ignoring the Day or Inwardly mocking the day. Ignoring it may be harder than it would seem. It really takes conscious effort. The best way to succeed is to involve yourself so completely in something that has nothing to do with Valentine's that you don't have time to realise that it's Valentine's Day until it's already over. Such activities could include making extensive music compelations (180 minute ones, really well thought out, with no repetition of artist anywhere in its entirety), carving a really nice fork knife and spoon out of wood with a dull penknife, or other such suitibly frustrating but time-consuming and ultimately rewarding activities.

The other method, inwardly mocking Valentine's, is much easier to acheive, but tends to turn one into a hopeless cynic for a few days. The activity merely consists of looking at romantics being, well... romantic, and seeing just how foolish and silly they act over eachother. To retain friends, this activity is obviously conducted most effecatiously in one's mind only.

Pursuant to a recent break-up, I discovered the remedial properties of "Temptation Island". No seriously, watching something that largely involves prolonged relational stress genuinely made me feel relieved that I didn't have the hassle.

Other than that you can just get good and drunk and watch violent action movies, and maybe listen to the Joe Jackson song "Happy Loving Couples". Fortunately in Australia at the moment we are getting smacked in the One-Day cricket series by New Zealand and South Africa, so there is far more important things to worry about.

In previous years I have arranged to go out to dinner with a group of my single friends both male and female. Valentines Day should not preclude love between good friends, and it means that you're having fun on the day, not on your own which is enough to make you blue even on a normal day, and you don't have to worry about paying for someone else or all of the after dinner sexual tension. In 3 cases of these outings that I have attended, couples have formed from those present.

In this life you have to be happy and content with yourself first. And that has the only positive outcome if you hook up or you don't.

F-Reek