HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: It's Valentine's Day, but do we have to talk about it?
Let's do a Jungle Red poll:
1. Do you care about Valentines Day?
Hank says: No. Not since I was traumatized in grade school and KNEW everyone else had more valentines than I did and I still get unhappy thinking of it. And THAT is really silly.
Reds and readers: How about you? Is this a wonderful day for you?
Continuing the poll:
2. Are you DOING anything about Valentine's Day?
Hank: No. I am happily flying to Cleveland, continuing my real-life in-person book tour for THE HOUSE GUEST, where I will be appearing at the fabulous Cuyahoga County Public library tonight at 7PM ET. SO excited. Will any of you be there? (And speaking to the SinC Chessie Chapter on Saturday! Cannot wait for that, either. Hope to see you there, too!)
3. Did you buy anything for anyone for Valentine's Day?
Hank: No. Well, yes, I made sure Jonathan has food while I am gone on book tour. Actually, that's just as romantic than candy or flowers, right?
4. Will you watch a romantic movie on Valentine's Day?
Hank: Well, no, I'll be in a hotel, probably watching Chopped or something reliable. Or sleeping.
5. But if you DID watch a romantic movie, what would it be?
Hank: My favorite romantic movie? Ah...The Philadelphia Story? Working Girl? (Are those considered romantic?) Jonathan would definitely say Dr. Zhivago.
Extra credit: How about The English Patient? I say: not my fave.
6. But still. Have you ever been immersed in a truly fabulously bad Lifetime movie?
Hank: On last week's book tour, I was in my hotel room searching madly for something on TV, and happened on something called..Ah, something like The Psycho Exercise Trainer. Reds and readers, I was riveted. How could something be that wonderfully bad? I could not turn it off.
SO--copy and paste and answer:
1. Care about Valentine's Day?
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
EC: TEP?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
Waving to you from 30,000 or so feet, where I hope we do not see any UFOs or whatever they are calling all theses things. If you want to ignore Valentine's Day altogether, we can talk about UFOs.
Any thoughts on those?
1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteWell, it’s kind of sweet . . . if that counts as caring, then I guess I do . . . .
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
We’re having a special dinner . . . .
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
I got a card for John . . .
I sent the two littlest grandbabies stuffed toys [a little dog with a Valentine heart in its mouth] . . .
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
Probably not; we’ll see . . .
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
“Sleepless in Seattle”
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
Um . . . no.
[No thoughts on UFOs unless they're responsible for all those strange things floating around all over the country.]
Joan, you are constantly wonderful! And always an inspiration. Thank you. And I love love love sleepless in Seattle! Every time !
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? I do. I love the hearts and pinks and reds. I love decorating two tables in the foyer for Valentine's. Of course, I'm fond of February in general as it's my birthday month.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Nope. I dislike going out to eat on occasions where restaurants will be crowded. We will probably cook some steaks.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Yes. I bought two new Valentine's Day decorations, a cute gnome holding an envelope that says, "Happy Valentine's Day" and a cute little white porcelain house with a red heart on it. I've bought husband a card and some candy. I bought and have already delivered my granddaughter a Valentine package containing a "Wednesday" (as in Addams family) t-shirt and a Wednesday Funko Pop, plus a heart of Godiva candy and a set of coloring pencils to go with a Stranger Things coloring book (the adult coloring books). Daughter and son-in-law got candy. Son will get his candy sometime this month. I love buying gifts on Valentine's Day.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Maybe. I'll see if I want to or not tonight.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? That's a tough one. I'll name three. The Holiday, Love Actually, Notting Hill
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? I can't remember any movie titles, but I know I've caught some bad ones on LifeTime.
UFOs? I think the stories about them are fascinating, and although I'm not convinced they exist, I do believe there is lots in this world and beyond we are clueless about.
You are wonderfully in the spirit, and that is so great! And your grandkids are so lucky :-) do you have you – – – clearly you know what’s cool! Xxxxx
DeleteI'm hitting my palm against my forehead now. Hahaha! I thought that EC: TEP? was some kind of typo, so I just deleted it. Now I know what you were talking about, Hank. I did love The English Patient, but it's too sad to revisit much. I put TEP and Out of Africa in the same category, epic films that sweep us into the scenery and story but break our hearts.
DeleteOh, I loved Out of Africa.
DeleteElizabeth, I loved it, too. I think it's time for me to watch it again.
DeleteI meant to add that my favorite Valentine decoration I bought this year is a Betty Boop diorama I got from Etsy. I just put my Funko Pop Valentine Betty Boop in it, and it’s a Betty Boop Valentine scene. It even has a little light you can turn on. I have it posted on my FB page.
ReplyDeleteOh adorable! Cannot wait to see it! Xxxx
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteNo
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
No
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
No
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
No
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
The Way We Were
EC: TEP? Never seen
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
Yes, and I turn them off 10 minutes in.
But you have to admit those movies are pretty hilarious. I mean – – they’re kind of irresistible, because you know exactly what’s going to happen, and yet. …
DeleteWe will have to talk about The Way We Were at some point… It’s a whole blog, I think !
The Way We Were! Tear-jerker! So many sad love story movies were made around that time.
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? - Not particularly. Does "sometimes" count? (It really depends on how busy we are with other things. Right now our bathroom is being remodelled, which I'm quite excited about.)
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? - Eating in, because by 10 pm (or, as they say here, 22:00) I have to be ready for bed, after my Zoom poetry meeting back in Sacramento that ends at 11:30 (23:30).
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Normally we buy flowers to enjoy, and that's it. No cards. But right now we are still waiting for our shipping and have limited vessels to use as vases.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Nope.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Well, both Rajan and I would say, Dr. Zhivago - the original one with Omar Shariff and Julie Christie. It's one of our favorite movies.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Mmm. I can't say that I have.
UFO's? I think they do exist. Look how hard we are trying to get to the Mars, Jupiter and beyond. Right now it's unmanned, but earth people are trying to reach the stars. It's hard to believe we are the only advanced entities in the universe/multiverse, so why wouldn't others be trying to do the same? (I don't believe in alien abductions, though.)
I love your comments, and your life sounds very exciting and eclectic! Love that! Was there a remake of Dr. Zhivago?
DeleteYes there was a remake, with Keira Knightley. It actually was truer to the book, but it didn't have the same magic.
DeleteOh golly, what a risky remake …
DeleteAnd congratulations, HPR, for what sounds like a fabulous book tour.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, thank you! It has been quite astonishing, I have to say, and I am in the Uber on the way to the airport right now! Xx
DeleteSorry about yesterday and the recipe request. I was busy trying to plan our trip to Alaska this summer to join a small group adventure to see grizzly bears. You cannot believe what has happened to prices there since we were last there in 2010. Anyway, it took all day. ALL DAY.
ReplyDeleteROASTED CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 (3 1/2- to 4-pound) whole chicken, giblets saved for soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 recipe pan sauce (optional) (Sorry, I do not have this to share.)
We prefer to use a 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken for this recipe. If roasting a larger bird, increase the time when the oven is on in step 2 to 35 to 40 minutes. Cooking the chicken in a preheated skillet will ensure that the breast and thigh meat finish cooking at the same time.
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position, place 12-inch oven-safe skillet on rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees. Combine salt and pepper in bowl. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub entire surface with oil. Sprinkle evenly all over with salt mixture and rub in mixture with hands to coat evenly. Tie legs together with twine and tuck wing tips behind back.
2. Transfer chicken, breast side up, to preheated skillet in oven. Roast chicken until breasts register 120 degrees and thighs register 135 degrees, 25 to 35 minutes. Turn off oven and leave chicken in oven until breasts register 160 degrees and thighs register 175 degrees, 25 to 35 minutes. (I do not open the oven during this process to look at a thermometer or for any reason, and neither should you. If the chicken really needs more time, that is easy to correct by roasting it a bit longer.)
3. Transfer chicken to carving board and let rest, uncovered, for 20 minutes. While chicken rests, prepare pan sauce, if using. Carve chicken and serve.
JUDY'S NOTES: I always use a cast iron skillet for this recipe. Because we use kosher chicken, which is brined, I do not salt the chicken in this recipe. This cooking method magnifies the saltiness. I have never made it with non-Kosher chicken so do what they suggest the first time you make it.
This is absolutely fascinating! And I am trying to figure out how it can work what do you mean by pan sauce? Like… Broth? Thank you so much for this, and cannot wait to hear about your Alaska adventure!
DeletePan sauce is probably gravy made from the drippings, of which there will be a lot. I just defat the drippings and use it for sauce. This recipe leaves lots of yummy sauce in the skillet.
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not overly
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Not this year
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? A card for Irwin. He brought flowers home yesterday.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No. I'll be reading. My friends just published some books.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Anything with Cary Grant. (sigh) I do like Notting Hill. How about The Empire Strikes Back?
EC: TEP? Never saw it. (sorry)
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? AAMOF: Just the other night I watched the latest Jennifer Lopez movie on Prime. It was terrible, but she was lovely. Irwin left the room after the first scene.
Oh, you are hilarious! Now I absolutely need to see that movie! Xxx
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? - No.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? I buy a small candy token to give to people in my life to stay on their good side which never hurts. At trivia night this past Thursday, each of the female bartenders and waitresses got said token.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? N/A
EC: TEP? Never seen it, never will.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? The only movies I have watched on Lifetime have either been Xmas movies or the rare mystery movie they make. While not generally GREAT movies, they haven't been as fabulously bad as the woman scorned in love gets her revenge somehow type of movies that is Lifetime's stock-in-trade.
You are absolutely wonderful, Jay! And I bet you are a fabulous trivia partner!
DeleteJay, lovely gesture to give tokens to each of the female bartenders and waitresses. Diana
DeleteI am also on an airplane, but to Puerto Rico, not to Cleveland. It's my 19th anniversary, and I am sitting next to him. That's plenty of celebration right there!
ReplyDeleteAh, there it is! By me, Edith
DeleteIt's like we all became anonymous overnight. Today I had to sign back in to every thing. Everything!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? No. Memories from Grade 1 or 2 of being forced to give EVERY kid a card; it seemed at best silly and at worst like being asked to lie.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? No.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? I love Sleepless in Seattle.
EC: TEP? I don't know what this is...
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Watched, yes. Immersed, no. Entertained in an odd way, yes. Just about any Hallmark movie around Christmas.
You know, you just made me realize I have never seen a Hallmark Christmas movie. I might have to try one this year :-)
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteFrom Celia: Yes, use every excuse for LOOOVE!
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
No,
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Of course. There are two hearts sitting on the dresser, one for Victor and the other for me filled with Lynn Wrights chocs. Then #1 G’son was sent, away at college, chocs also from Lynn’s prolific hands together with her Love you, a tiny choc sheet covered with chic curls for fleece. G’son #2, whose 18 yr old body is a temple, only eating clean, received a a Japanese scrubby cloth and expensive shower wash as he loooves his showers after gym. Then a special flower for my daughter and a Choc Ewe for another dear friend.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Nop,
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
movie?
Don’t have one but what about Casablanca, or Cleopatra, there’s a real life romance as well going on there.
EC: TEP?
Not sure
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
Probably but don’t remember which.
You are adorable!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? NO
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? NO
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Not yet but I do buy discounted chocolates afterwards!!
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? NO
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Affair to Remember, Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Nope again
Grace, Valentine's Day (or any candy based holiday) is good only for the discounted candy sales the next day! LOVE IT!
DeleteI wondered when someone would mention An Affair to Remember🤗
DeleteOh, this is perfect! The first time I saw an affair to remember, I cried for about a year :-) xx
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? No, I don’t like too commercial days. I prefer expressing my love through the year
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? No
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Combining this question with the UFO’s one, one of my favourite romantic film is STARMAN with Jeff Bridges
EC: TEP? No
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? I can’t remember
Danielle
Starman! A great movie! Xx
DeleteRhys:
ReplyDeleteSO--copy and paste and answer:
1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not much. We have an ongoing joke that John gives me the same plastic roses and balloon every year. They are now almost 20 years old!
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
No
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
A card
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
No
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
Sleepless in Seattle?
EC: TEP?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
Mana Mia? The singing was… not the best. But I loved it
Loved Mamma Mia! On my birthday I went to see it on stage in the City with Sign Language interpreters! And loved the movie too. Wonderful casting!
DeleteDiana
I truly think giving the same roses and balloon for 20 years is one of the most romantic things I have ever heard. Truly. And I loved Mamma Mia ! It made me cry, too, why is that ?
Delete1. Care about Valentine's? Not really. Just curious to see if Frank remembers it.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything? Nope. Maybe watching workmen if they come today.
3. Buy anything? No. But I make a card for Frank every year and this year's is mailed and received. He really liked it!
4.Watch a romantic movie? I doubt it.
5. Favorite romantic movie? Random Harvest with Ronald Colman and Greer Garson. Sigh.
The English Patient? Mesmerizing
6.Bad movie? Oh yes. Depends how bad or trite it is whether I'll stick with it or not.
Ohhhhh Random Harvest! That’s the two cigarettes, right? And what’s the quote?
DeleteCare about Valentine's Day? Nope.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Nope.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Nope, but my older nephew brought me flowers and chocolates yesterday after I performed an afternoon of emergency babysitting on Sunday. :-)
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Nope.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY
EC: TEP? Nope.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Yep. I SAILED TO TAHITI WITH AN ALL-GIRL CREW, starring Gardner McKay, frequently shirtless and in swim trunks. 'nuf said ;-)
I had a crush on Gardner McKay when I was in the sixth grade. Adventures in Paradise!
DeleteHa! I have never seen that movie, but I can actually picture it! Xx
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? – No, fake holiday
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? – doing laundry and making soup
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? – no, having a snowstorm today, need milk tomorrow – good thing we eat out of our freezer, so will have steak & salad for supper. Making I will make a chocolate dessert - lava in a mug?.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? – nope, currently watching Vera – is that romantic?
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? The Best Marigold Hotel – anything with old people being fun.
EC: TEP? – it was a long nap! So was the book…
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Possibly tonight’s other show – Crossfire – may have to quit.
Tom Allen (a host of CBC2 music) suggested yesterday that if you were going to rush out to get your sweetie something nice for the day, that you should step out soon as by tomorrow all the roses and the heads of lettuce would be all gone. A sign of the economic times! (I would love either…)
Is Crossfire the one at a resort? Jonathan and I disagreed about that one, I have to say…
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? As I get older, not as much
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Going out to dinner with hubby
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? A card
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Watched romantic movies but not on V-Day.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Casablanca, 3 Men & a Baby, Sleepless in Seattle
EC: TEP?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Oxymoron?
Maybe…. Xxxxx
DeleteAnd a big WAAAHHHH! Hank's on her way to Cleveland and I have to work tonight! :-(
ReplyDeleteNo-o-o. Not fair!!
DeleteFlora, this is where you develop a cough that is just debilitating enough to keep you out of work but clears up just long enough for you to go to the book event. Then PRESTO! You feel better tomorrow.
DeleteJay, I like the way you think!
DeleteJay, too late! I'm actually going in early to help out a colleague (who would've given ME the time off if only I'd known early enough).
Delete
DeleteOh, this is so disappointing! So disappointing! Rats. Next time. It was an incredible event, though I have to say… There were at least 50 people! Yay.
EC: TEP? Oh get it now! Extra Credit - Yes, and I loved that movie.
ReplyDelete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not passionately, but it's one day of the year The Hubby buys me really good chocolate, so that's nice.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? I got the aforementioned chocolate and bought The Hubby a card. That's about it.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? See Question 2.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? - We are regular rom-com watchers, but tonight will probably be the final episoe of "The Recruit" on Netflix, which is a little outrageous and yet intriguing at the same time.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Um, maybe "Love, Actually." Never really thought about it.
EC: TEP? Never seen it and have no desire to.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Maybe once or twice, but I have blocked it from my memory.
Hank, I know what you mean about school. "You must give everybody a Valentine" was not a thing when I was in elementary school and I always had noticeably fewer cards than everybody else. It was demoralizing.
Horrible. Xxxxx truly.
DeleteSafe travels, Hank! Once upon a time, I drove from Cincinnati to Cleveland to hear Louise Penny speak. Great event, friendly crowd.
ReplyDeleteOh how great!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Counter to everyone else here, yes! It's my Wedding Anniversary afterall. However, my husband died in 2014, so... it's one of those days that's a little on the difficult side.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Made a Valentine with my 1 1/2 year old granddaughter for her parents. I did all the work, she gets the hugs. Which is the way it should be.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Some kids' cards to put out in my Little Free Library for my young customers.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? - Maybe. RomComs are a favorite genre anyway. Along with mysteries.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Don't know that I have a favorite, but happy to rewatch a RomCom anytime I'm feeling blue. So Valentine's Day? Bring it!
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Yes. I can't remember the name of it, but do remember shaking my head and wondering WHY?!?!? :)
Hugs to you, my friend. Anniversaries are always tough for me. It has to be doubly tough if the whole media universe is celebrating it without you. Hang in there, and know that you are not alone. Take notes if you're a writer, so you can use it all later in a character.
DeleteAwwww…. Love you.
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not anymore. I used to, when I had a Valentine I could lavish love on. When he died, I used to get together with a single female friend and we'd have dinner and great conversations in the least romantic restaurants we could think of. These days I’m usually in rehearsal for a concert which is, trust me, about the least romantic thing I could do.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Not this year. Rehearsal doesn’t start until Sunday.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Nope.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Nope.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? The Princess Bride.
EC: TEP? Never watched it.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? No. If I’m immersed, there’s usually something halfway good about it.
We should do a whole blog on Princess bride !
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not really. I believe that we should be kind and loving 365 days a year.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No. But my cats were very loving and snuggly this morning and my husband's gone out to buy a bulb for my dead tail light and he will install it. I made choc cupcakes for my colleagues at work (with one or two for the husband). That's my idea of a very nice day.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? No.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No. But I am reminded how my practical husband loves soppy romantic movies much more than I do. My husband's and son's favorite movie for a long time was IQ (if Albert Einstein had a daughter and she met mechanic Tim Robbins and fell in love with him when she thought he was a genius, but it was a plot all cooked up by Einstein {Walter Matthau}).
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Can't think of one off hand. Maybe Zefrelli's Romeo and Juliet, but I understand that is politically unacceptable these days.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Probably many, but can't now remember the names.
Oh! IQ sounds wonderful!
DeleteNot my thing. My monthly blog date is today, so I did a bit of research. Turns out that Valentine's Day has siblings: Galentine's and Palentine's celebrations. At least one tavern in town is advertising a women's night only axe-throwing special tonight. Gotta love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is especially hilarious!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not as much as I used to. A friend who's a medievalist prof at Xavier just posted the most hilarious bit of Jewish history about the feast day. I'm thinking of adopting that bit instead of the traditional.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Not really. Steve insists on going out for dinner tonight with our dear neighbors ( he's 81 and she's nearly 92). I'm leery of how crazy restaurants are going to be.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? I have a card I bought a long time ago, like pre-Covid.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Probably not.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Some Like it Hot. Dr. Zhivago. Three minutes of The Last Mohican ("Stay alive. I will find you!") The English Patient? Really? Can't remember it being romantic.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Can't think of one offhand.
Happy Valentine's Day to all the Reds and Reds-adjacents! Women's axe-throwing night for the win!
Okay, if this becoming proficient in axe-throwing is going to become a thing, I'm definitely going to be staying on the good side of everyone here. :D
DeleteLOL, Jay!
DeleteHah! My carpet cleaning service just emailed me that they loved me. Maybe I'll reserve a space for the axe-throwing party after all.
DeleteKaren, please, please share the hilarious Jewish history of anything! Jewish history is rarely funny.
DeleteJudy, I've cut and pasted it here, but I'll try to share it on Facebook, too.
DeleteJew Who Has It All
1d ·
#DearTeachers,
Tomorrow some of your Christian students may be observing the Christian holiday of Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh, more commonly known as Christian Tu B’Av. It is one of their important religious ‘Feast Days’ that even the least frum observe. The holiday falls on Shvat 23rd this year, which is 14 Febuairiy according to the #Christian #holy #calendar #of #Pope #Gregory.
Even though we are all accustomed to celebrating love on Tu B’Av in the summer, Christians have a tradition of celebrating Yom Saint #Valentine Ha’Kadosh as their own #cultural #day #of #love #and #friendship in the bitter cold of winter.
Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh originated in an ancient pagan holiday called ‘Lupercalia.’ Men would sacrifice a goat, tear the goat’s hide into strips, dip the strips into the sacrificial blood, and slap women with the bloody goat-hide strips, believing it would make them more #fertile.
#Christians changed the #holiday to ‘Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh’ in honor of an early Christian #tzaddik who was known for performing marriages among young people, and who was executed by authorities for his beliefs.
On Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh, young Christians visit the kever of Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh at a Christian shul in Medinat Eire, to daven for a successful shidduch. Christians do not wear white nor dance in vineyards for their holiday.
Modern Christians also have a number of fascinating folk beliefs surrounding the holiday. They believe that an invisible cherub called “Cupid” armed with a bow flies around and fires magic arrows through the heart. Instead of killing them instantly like the Angel of Death, Christians believe the arrows help them find their bashert.
Oddly, despite being considered a cherub, #Cupid is depicted as an adorable winged baby instead of a fearsome, four-faced guardian of the mishkan or Gan Eden.
Obviously, Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh and Cupid are #religious #figures and should not be incorporated into any #PublicSchool classroom activities or decorations.
Contrary to popular belief, Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh is not only for lovers. Christians sometimes observe it among friends by trading heart-shaped cards, chocolate confections, or hard-packed sugar with words of lovingkindness printed on them.
A religious Feast Day is obviously not an excuse for violating our #PublicSchool district’s evidence-based, developmentally sound public health restriction on the distribution of sugar in the classroom.
If a student gives you a heart-shaped card in honor of their holiday, you may accept it. You will not be suspected of an inappropriate relationship nor subject to disciplinary action by Human Resources.
There are no work restrictions on Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh. The students at our school are too young to make the traditional pilgrimage to Medinat Eire, so absences will not be excused.
Thank you, as always, for all your hard work!
Shavua Tov,
Principal Tamir Yarkoni
#MedinatAmerica
OMG! That's so clever!! Thanks, Karen!
DeleteThat’s so great!
DeleteI'm on deadline - book due TOMORROW!!! Short answer, and yes, I know it's ironic since I'm the romance writer of the group but...no, no, no, no, The Painted Veil (Ed Norton - OMG) and I can't think of one because deadline. LOL.
ReplyDeleteReading your Royal Valentine today. Diana
DeleteYou can do it!! Xx
DeleteMy first husband was big on showering me with flowers and candy on Valentine's Day. The problem was, he was also showering other women with same. Did I say EX husband? My current husband is not big on any gift-giving, so I have learned to get my own gifts--things I really want rather than candy I don't need. My favorite Valentine's Day story was when my (current) husband and I had had a really exhausting day and decided to go out to eat. Our first choice, a usually quiet restaurant, was packed with people. One down the street, same. So we went to one of our favorite places. It was always busy, but they could usually squeeze us in. I went in and asked if they could find a table for us. The hostess, whom we had seen many times, laughed and said, "You don't know this is Valentine's Day, do you?" We had a good laugh--and went home to eat leftovers.
ReplyDeleteI think you just wrote an entire novel! Xx
DeleteHappy Valentine's Day to Reds and Readers!
ReplyDelete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Nope - unless I find Peeps, I care about Peeps!
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Er, not unless you count making shrimp and broccoli for supper. Shrimp are kind of heart shaped, right?
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Nope - way, maybe. Wine, but it wasn't specifically for Valentine's Day.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? LOL - not likely
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Oh, I think You've Got Mail, but sometimes others sneak in there.
EC: TEP? Loved the movie, but not my idea of a romantic flic.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Can't think of one. I'm sure there have been.
Are there valentine Peeps?
DeleteIt’s really hard for me to copy and paste more than a couple of lines on my phone. So I’ll just say I don’t really care about Valentine’s Day, and I don’t celebrate it. I can’t think of any romantic movies that I absolutely loved. I DO decorate my all season tree for Valentine’s Day. A year ago, I kept my tree up after Christmas, and I now decorate it for each holiday or season. It especially cheers me up during the bleak winter. It currently sports a garland of hearts. There’s a bunch of red and white hearts surrounding the base of the tree. And I kept some of the red Christmas ornaments on the tree.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh, my parents got engaged on Valentines Day— six weeks after they met! My dad always gave my mom flowers on Valentine’s Day. When my mom was pregnant with me, their first-born, her due date was Valentine’s Day. However, I didn’t make my appearance until three weeks later. I’ve always said that I was trying to hold out until spring!
DebRo
A Season tree! That is so brilliant!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not really. Now I see you thinking, of course, she's a widow, why would she? But neither Ross nor I were into V-Day. We would usually go out later in February, because in Maine, restaurants are easy to get into off-season if it's NOT a going-out-to-eat holiday.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Writing, grading, teaching. I'll text my kids and wish them a Happy Valentine's, and then feel guilty, because MY mother always sent each of us a card no matter how old we got. Sigh.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Nope, and neither should you. There was an article in the Washington Post about "stufflation" - all those companies have expanded the molded plastic interiors, so the actual number of chocolates in one of those shiny red heart-shaped boxes is about one-third of the amount you used to find when they used little fluted paper cups to hold the candies.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No, because I'm off romantic movies right now I've been really into foreboding, cold series with a mystery or SF at the heart, like THE RIG, THE HEAD and FORTITUDE. Snow and ice, bleakness, death: that says February to me.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? An Affair To Remember. So perfect, although I wish there was an edit without the little kids singing. Was that some sort of 50s thing?
Second pic: Now, Voyager. Why yes, I do love tragic romances, why do you ask?
EC: TEP? See, tragic romance, love of, above.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Well, last week I enjoyed SHOTGUN WEDDING with J-Lo and Josh Duhamel, and I would definitely qualify that as Fabulously Bad, although maybe not as Fabulously Bad as her most recent previous film, Marry Me.
Julia, see above, re: chocolates my nephew brought me. I ate the whole 'box' already because there were almost no chocolates in the box.
DeleteI remarked on the J-lo film above. I watched. Irwin fled after 1st. scene. It was fabulously bad!
DeleteIt looks like we are all going to have to watch that J Lo movie together :-)
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? How do I answer this? Let's put it this way: when I was seven, a family friend gave me a white handkerchief with red embroidered hearts at my father's funeral. And that was only the beginning of various Valentine's Day indignities that come with being female, like four years of passing by the college dormitory desk to see vases of roses not waiting for me.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Specifically? No. We're doing our Valentine's Day dinner on Friday after I do a weigh in for a doctor who has a history of being snide about weight gain. Last year, he couldn't button his lab coat, so I was safe. This year, if he's ripped, I'm in trouble. But I also have an ace no one wants to have up my sleeve. ;)
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? I was shopping in Five Below, my current guilty pleasure, when a card with two cats caught my eye. The text inside the card wasn't sappy and summed up how I feel. I gave it to Rod this morning.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Meh. We're currently binging "Dr. Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet" where we've seen the subtle signs of his romance with Petra growing and then their wedding picture. #LeSigh
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Not a movie, but "Friends." I love Monica and Chandler's relationship. How it deepened from friendship.
Have a great appearance tonight!
So much interesting stuff in that comment! Thank you! And yes, thank you, it was amazing..
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteI'm a single guy. You do the math. :) Not really. It's fine, but it's nothing I'm excited about.
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
I've got a dentist appointment today. Do I know how to celebrate or what?
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
Nope
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
Not sure if I will watch any today, but I have been watching a couple over the last few days. One of them was a Doris Day movie, so nothing new/contemporary.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie?
The Princess Bride. Or Beauty and the Beast. Maybe Tangled? Up?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
I'm sure I have, but I can't think of any right now.
UFOs are hovering outside my condo right now. (Okay, not really, but I had to say something about them, too.)
Mark, I love Beauty and the Beast. Danielle
DeleteEnchanted is anther wonderful musical.
DeleteI so agree with you about Doris Day movies!
DeleteHank, you’ve made me laugh out loud with the UFO comment. And that is love enough. Happy Valentine’s Day! Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteXxxxxx awwww
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not really.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No. I usually try to make something nice for dinner, but too busy to think about it this year.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? No. It’s the one week a year that I don’t buy flowers at Trader Joe’s, because the price is double normal. I usually get Rick a card but I forgot this year. See above.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentine’s Day? No, unless you count the new season of CB Strike on HBO. I absolutely LOVE this series (based on Robert Galbraith’s/aka JK Rowling’s Cormoran Strike novels.) The unacknowledged tension between Strike and Robin is pretty romantic.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Truly, Madly, Deeply. Also The Holiday, Love Actually, Notting Hill. Nothing too tragic here.
EC: TEP? Oh my gosh, the saddest movie ever. But the score is amazing. In one of my books Gemma is learning to play “Kip’s Lights” from that film. So beautiful.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Probably, but have erased from my brain. We might torture ourselves with the new J Lo movie, however.
I love that we picked three of the same movies--The Holiday, Love Actually, and Notting Hill. I can watch these over and over and over again.
DeleteGosh, I wrote at 6:00 this morning but it seems to have disappeared. I was telling Hank that I also was going on an airplane today. Now we have arrived in Puerto Rico, on our 19th anniversary, and that's a pretty good Valentine's Day to me!
ReplyDeleteEdith wrote that!
DeleteFabulous, Edith!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young child, it was always fun to celebrate Valentine's Day because we would make something in class for our parents and there was always delicious chocolate candy and heart shaped cookies. These days it reminds me that love is possible. I am such an optimist.
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
Just pretty cards for relatives and friends. Before the pandemic, my girlfriends and I would have Galentine's Day party for those of us who were single and between boyfriends. We would stuff ourselves into a "stupid" (pun for stupor) with takeaways like bruschetta, pizza, heart shaped cookies, ice cream or gelato and other yummy food.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day?
Romantic movie on Valentine's Day? There are so many that I love. I love many rom-com movies from the Hallmark channel. I also loved Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and The Holiday (with Jack Black and Jude Law).
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Again, too many to choose from!
EC: TEP? funny story about the English Patient. Before streaming videos, a new friend and I were at a movie theater and I was asking about movies with English subtitles and my new friend insisted on translating for me though I could ask the cinema manager myself (eye roll here). This new friend totally MISUNDERSTOOD me and thought I was asking if The English Patient had English subtitles when I was asking about another movie (I think it was a French film). This friend said they said sorry no subtitles for The English Patient. After this friend left, I went back to the cinema by myself and asked then found out that Yes, the French film had English subtitles.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? Trying to recall if there was a bad movie that I was immersed in.
Diana
1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not so much, no.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Hubby is out of town all week, so...no.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Nope
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Ewww.... ;-)
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Not sure I have one (see #4)
EC: TEP?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? That I'll have to think about.
Our romantic holiday was to days ago: the anniversary of when we first became a couple back in HIGH SCHOOL - 49 years ago! I'll celebrate that over a Hallmark holiday any day. <3
I wish Cleveland weren't *quite* so far away from Yellow Springs (4+ hours, caddy-corner across Ohio) or I'd certainly be there to join Hank!
Awwwwww —thank you! Next time ! Xxxxxx and that is the best story!
DeleteI mean—49 years ago! Xx
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Yes, not for romance but for acknowledging feelings of love for family and friends with small token.
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? Wearing Valentine socks, sending warm greetings to family and friends.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? Card and small treat for the husband. This year Kissypoo granola from the Brainstorm Bakery, a small Minnesota company.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? Sometimes.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? We watched Tootsie at the Free Friday Flick on campus the night we got engaged in 1983, so that would be my favorite.
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie? I tend to blank on the names of the bad ones.
OK, I could love valentine socks! Xxx
DeleteAnother favorite romantic movie is Lady and the Tramp. 🍿🎥
ReplyDeleteOH, YES!!
Delete1. Care about Valentine's Day? Not anymore. When my son Tommy was in elementary school, he and I used to have a great time making a silly husband/father Valentine for Peter, full of terrible puns!
ReplyDelete2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day? No. But Peter and I agreed quite a few years ago not to do more than say Happy Valentine's Day to each other!
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day? I sent my sister a Valentine, as I do every year. And she always sends me one.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No, we'll watch the last episode of the most recent "Happy Valley" production, a brilliant but very dark British crime series. The opposite of romantic, I'd say.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Many good ones have already been mentioned, like "The Philadelphia Story" and "Notting Hill," but one that I have watched over and over is "Kate and Leopold" (2001) with Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman--not just romance, but also time-travel. I love it!
"The Opposite of Romantic"-- what a great title! xx
DeletePS Glad you asked about this, Hank. It's so much fun to read what everyone else thinks of V-Day.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that the Jungle Red Writers is a fabulous group of talented writers, and I am excited to read Deborah's new novel, A Killing of Innocents. I love her books. Happy V Day, everybody!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I have always loved best about Valentine's Day is the punny cards!
ReplyDeleteOMG -- all those NOs. And all those movies cited above where it ends with one of the couple dying. Okay, maybe that's how the love will live forever. No getting old and fat and farty with each other. :^0
ReplyDeleteI'm a Valentine girl. Maybe later on I'll watch Some Like it Hot. Nothing like a movie that begins with the St. Valentine's Day massacre and ends with "Nobody's perfect."
1. Care about Valentine's Day?
ReplyDeleteYes, in a fun way - I am a teacher.
2. Doing anything for Valentine's Day?
Making cards for the grandchildren, and for friends. I always hang a garland of cards that my sons made when they were little.
3. Buy anything for Valentine's Day?
I usually do. At least conversation hearts they are so much fun.
4. Watch a romantic movie on Valentines Day? No.
5. What's your favorite romantic movie? Unashamedly love actually
EC: TEP?
6. Have you ever been immersed in a fabulously bad movie?
There are scenes I love from some movies that are not so great