Dia de San Valentin
Manolo says, once again the Dia de San Valentin it approaches! And woe unto the man who neglects his duty in the matter of providing to his beloved the Frenchy chocolates, the fine wine, the red flowers, the fancy perfume, the jeweled trinket and/or perhaps the weekend trip to Paris.
Such the man the Manolo he would not care to be on the day after the Day of the Valentine.
Thus, it once again falls to the Manolo to remind his men friends to open the hearts and the wallets during this the most important day of the year for the matters of love.
Yes, perhaps your woman she says to you that she “could not be happier” than to receive your traditional gift of the Whitman’s Sampler, presented as it has always been, in the Wal-Mart bag with the receipt for the auto parts and sweat pants still inside.
Trust the Manolo, if this happens again this year, your woman, she has died the little inside.
And yes, the Manolo he knows perfectly well that you cannot buy the love, at least not at that price.
Indeed, he also knows that the true love it is not dependent on the giving and the receiving of the gifts, that we should love and be loved irrespective of the quality of the gifts that are involved.
Yet, at the same of the time, it is only natural that we should wish to shower our beloved with those frivolous things which make the life more pleasant, those things which indicate the esteem in which the beloved is held in our hearts,
Thus the Manolo he would urge his men friends to take the time, to spend the little moneys, and to consider carefully that which is to be given. It is most important.
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Comments
Agnes 18 years ago
While I would not judge a man based on whether he spends the little money on the most important day of the year to spoil his love, I can’t help feeling that the Manolo you are indeed a precious specimen of your gender!
Wish you a wonderful weekend.
Fausta 18 years ago
The Manolo, you are a gentle man!
Liz 18 years ago
Guys always fail to realize that t’s not the money, so much as the time. I’d rather have something inexpensive that was obviously picked out just for me, than the pricey but easy gift. Of course, if he wants to pick out something expensive with some thought behind it, I’m hardly going to complain.
And fellas, remember, lingerie isn’t a gift for her, it’s a gift for you. She’s just implementation. Really. Yes, it’s a nice thought. But, if you buy me underwear, you had better be giving me something else as well. Maybe some Prada shoes.
Phyllis 18 years ago
Manolo, I hope your Valentine remembers *you* with a wonderful memento as well!
e 18 years ago
Manolo, since you seem to be an expert in all things, I wonder what you’d suggest to me, a girl who just started dating a guy a mere five weeks ago. After such a short period of time, I’d be hard-pressed to call us “boyfriend and girlfriend.” However, the guy and I have agreed that we’re not dating other people. This guy is very shy, and doesn’t like to be the center of attention. I’d be happy to ignore the “holiday” in deference to his attention aversion, but ‘at the same of the time,’ I don’t want him to think I don’t care enough about him to take the trouble to recognize him and the day. (I neither desire, nor expect anything from him.)
I’m worried that if I blow it off thinking he’d rather it be blown off, and I turn out to be wrong about him wanting to ignore it, then I risk leaving him feeling hurt that I blew it off, if you know what I mean. Should I get him a little something, hide it, and only break it out if he has something? That’s the only solution I can come up with.
Please help!
e
JaneC 18 years ago
Perhaps the Manolo would like to know that the sweetheart of the JaneC provided her with a very lovely early St. Valentine’s Day last evening, as the JaneC must sadly work on Tuesday night. Though he is a college student and thus somewhat lacking in funds, he arrived handsomely dressed, bearing the prettiest pink roses he could find (the JaneC’s favorite color), and took the JaneC to dinner at a classy restaurant. Though there were only half a dozen roses, and the sweetheart could not afford any wine (a college student’s finances are depressing indeed), the effort put in to his appearance, the choice of restaurant, and the quality of the flowers, as well as being more than agreeable company made it very memorable.
The JaneC hopes that other gentlemen will take the Manolo’s advice for making this Valentine’s Day (and every Valentine’s Day) memorable for their ladies.
Gomez Addams 18 years ago
Dear E:
If you two are already…well, you know….intimate:
Just do something sexy. That’ll be enough.
e 18 years ago
Thanks Gomez, that would be great advice if it had gone that far, but it hasn’t yet. I’m at a loss. I appreciate that you took the time to read what I wrote and respond. Thank you.
Linda 18 years ago
Speaking of WalMart, I recommend avoiding the card that chimes:
Roses are red
Sometimes they’re thorny
When I’m not with you
I just feel so …
Charmed, I’m sure.
e 18 years ago
Gomez, I should add, before you deftly point out that perhaps ‘intimacy’ could be the actual answer to my dilemma (and that would be an excellent idea), that we can’t yet, as he can’t function with condoms and we haven’t been for our tests yet. Oh the joys of dating in these modern times.
Manolo the Shoeblogger 18 years ago
Ayyyyyyy! Too much information! Too much information!
jezebella 18 years ago
too much information indeed. And, my sweet “e”, any man who claims he cannot use condoms is full of it. I hate to poison your mind only five weeks into a relationship, but seriously: he’s either lying or he’s simply not trying. If he wants intimacy enough, the condoms, they will not be a hindrance.
nat 18 years ago
Oh, Manolo! Please do not show pictures of the Whitman’s, even in joking. The mens are likely to misunderstand and give us the cheeeeep chocolate instead of the Godiva or the Lindt or the Lake Champlain delights. Give us the good stuff!! ;)
pinkmirage 18 years ago
Hear hear! I entirely agree, especially after I heard a man talk about how he is going to purchase Valentine gifts at 50% off on Wednesday for his poor girlfriend….pah, he does not have the wisdom that you have!
Voilette33 18 years ago
To “e”
A book, my dear. Love poems, a bio of some one he admires, a bio of some one you admire, something urbane and witty, something warm and homespun….
You decide. But No hidden agenda readings!
La BellaDonna 18 years ago
La BellaDonna, she has the dilemma. The love of La BellaDonna’s life, he has implored her to let him know what she would like for the Day of St. Valentine’s. La BellaDonna does not wish to enlarge the forest preserve for the ursus teodorus, and she has given the permission for the chocolates, of which she is fond, but restricts severely. Sadly, the love of her life may not be physically in a position/location to obtain the good chocolates, so La BellaDonna will gracefully accept (and share) whatever chocolates appear. Truly, she would rather not have the chocolates, but as for choosing something else … the love will be working the 18-hour days, if he is lucky, and longer if he is not. La BellaDonna would just prefer to have him home, but that will probably not happen. La BellaDonna does not wish to ask for the gift that would entail his working longer, but does not wish to appear ungracious, either, and asks the Manolo for his advice.
Never teh Bride 18 years ago
The Beard suprised me early with a very special gift indeed. I volunteer at a no-kill shelter for cats and feel in love with a beautiful flame point Siamese named Mannix. For Valentine’s Day, The Beard adopted Mannix in my name…much to the annoyance of Kilgore and Moya, our first two cats.
Tomorrow, we will go out for a special meal and then attend a screening of Casablanca at a beautiful old theatre. It’s our Valentine’s Day tradition.
jj 18 years ago
Unfortunately, the jj’s husband will be out of town on the unromantically-timed trip of business. While we have a lovely mini-vacation scheduled for the following weekend, I am sad to say that I will be spending tomorrow evening with my alternate boyfriends Ben & Jerry. :-( And possibly some hot dutch speed skaters courtesy of the olympics. ;-)
NtB: Congratulations on the new feline member of the household!
Never teh Bride 18 years ago
Thanks, jj!
e 18 years ago
Sorry about all that info everyone! I wasn’t thinking.
Donna B 18 years ago
Manolo, I think I am the teensiet bit in love with you, in an internet-type way, of course. You have a such a gracious heart, that we and your real-life Manolo circle are very fortunate to know you.
PS Have you ever thought about writing for Television Without Pity?
Laura K 18 years ago
My loving husband of 25 years takes me to the Shoe Dept. at Nordstrom to celebrate this special day. He waits patiently while I try on as many pairs as I like – sometimes even from the “salon” section. He offers his opinion and then he pays for my selections and carries the bags. It is indeed a most satisfying celebration!
JaneC 18 years ago
Ah, my sweetheart had more surprises in store, besides Friday night’s lovely dinner: a quartet of ladies in red dresses showed up to serenade me this afternoon with their acappella rendition of “It Had to Be You” and present me with some chocolates. It was very funny, as class was about to start and 20 of my classmates and two professors were looking on (they all applauded). It was also very sweet.