As Valentine's Day approaches, there are more commercials with happy couples swinging around and laughing and generally looking like they are beyond mind-blowing ecstatic. And also, as VDay approaches, there are more angry whines from people around me and generally lots of steps back for the independent women movement.

Before I'd ever had a boyfriend, I felt this same way, to some extent. I had a love-hate relationship with Valentine's Day. I mean, on the one hand, it was the day I got free candy and cute little cards. On the other hand, it was the day I didn't have a boyfriend. In the past, the latter would have mattered much more. I would always think, Why don't I have someone? It felt as though any Jane, Sue, and Mary could get a boyfriend, so why couldn't I?

Now, I'm in a much better place. Without a boyfriend, I don't have to worry about whether he's going to make the right big gesture, or worry about what I'm going to do for him on Valentine's Day. Instead, I can chill with my friends, and make some chocolate truffles to distribute the love. And hey, if I'm ever in the need for some lovin', I know who to call. What could be more perfect than a non-committed Valentine's Day?

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Little notes: Dear Blogger, let me have your babies. You've changed the comments format so that we can see all the previous comments when we write our own, and baby, that's hot.

Also: was just watching on HBO the story about an old woman (70ish at the time) who got raped and fought to keep her rapist behind bars repeatedly. Damn she's a strong woman. Now there's a role model. She had to face him in parole hearings and finally, after 12 years, he told her he was sorry. Sexual offenders make me angry because they usually repeat their offenses right after they get out of jail. Why is the government not doing something about this?!