Multimedia Love

I'm usually ambivalent about Valentine's Day. For people who are in relationships, it's either a good excuse to get out of their ruts and be romantic with each other (although it's kind of sad if they need an excuse in the first place) or it just puts undue pressure - usually on the guy if it's a hetero couple - to live up to unrealistic standards of what "love" or "Valentine's Day" is supposed to be like. For singles, it's either depressing to be alone, exhilerating to know you're not stuck in some unsatisfying relationship like so many others, or entertaining to laugh at those who are spending a ton of money on their loved ones just because they're told to.

But, this year, for the first time in a long time, I will be celebrating Valentine's Day. Nothing over-the-top, but something I'm definitely looking forward to.

I thought I would share two things. The first is Shakespeare's Sonnet 29. I know, a love poem from Shakespeare is not very original. But I'm new to poetry and I thought this refreshing, uninhibited belief in the redemptive power of love, though melodramatic for some tastes, would be appropriate.

When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least,
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising,
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate,
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

All right, that's enough of that schmaltziness, right? The second gift is a commerical from Saturday Night Live courtesy of YouTube.com. If you're more in the "Valentine's Day is just a corporate-induced, captialist excuse to waste money on crap you don't need for someone you probably won't be with a year from now" camp, then this satire is for you. And anyone else who likes, you know, funny commericals. Enjoy!