Well, this is going to be a rant and a bit of a pity party today. (But indulge me; the humidity here is low enough that things almost burst spontaneously into flame when you touch them, and I'm on the verge of developing a migraine. I took both my allergy meds and the usual migraine-killer when I got up but they're not fully working yet. Probably what I need is to go home and get out my little humidifier and sit over it for a couple of hours while reading one of the nifty new books from my Daedalus order that came yesterday, but I've got class this morning at 11 and I've still got the dreaded GIS paper breathing down my neck).

Anyway.

I was trying to watch the local news this morning. See, an "alleged" murderer escaped from the local jail. He is thought to still be somewhere in the county. In fact, late Saturday evening, he was spotted running up the very street I live on (probably about the time I was sitting on my sofa, watching a "Law and Order: SVU" rerun).

So, I'd kind of like to know if it's, you know, SAFE to leave my house or if I run a chance of becoming a hostage instead of getting to my office safely.

They ran about a 15 second blip on him: a house in a town directly east of us was burgled, some clothes and a passport were stolen, maybe it was him.

And then on to the "real" news story of the day:

FLORIST SHOPS ARE REALLY BUSY TODAY!!!!!

*mouth hanging open*

Let me 'splain something to you, news-bunnies: it would be a big story if it were a Major Guilt-Inducing Hallmark-Trumped-Up Holiday and the florist shops were NOT busy. It would be a big story if it were an ordinary "blah" day, and the florist shops WERE busy. But florist shops being busy on Valentine's Day? What's going to be your next story? That the Pope is Catholic? That bears make #2 in the woods?

I mean, criminy, people - there's a dangerous criminal on the loose, this is the sixth jailbreak of a dangerous criminal in as many months, our county jail apparently can't hold people and the director is claiming it's because those of us they're charged to protect aren't paying enough taxes, and you're interviewing the chick who puts bouquets together? Something's wrong here.

And the WHOLE morning was like that: singing telegrams, restaurants, online dating, a couple that's been married 60 years.

And then - this is the thing that nearly made my head explode (and I don't think it was the pending migraine either) - they had on a counselor. To talk about how single people cope with the holiday.

And the lead newsbunny is interviewing her. And her first question:

"Are single people sad on Valentine's Day because there is a cultural expectation to be part of a couple?"

And I'm sitting there, screaming at the television: WHAT HAVE YOU DEVOTED THE LAST 45 MINUTES TO?!?! Florist shops! Singing telegrams! Candy!

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

The counselor did her best - but she didn't get much time, and kept getting interrupted. She did make the point that some people in our culture are so screwed up by the couple's mentality - that she saw women who worked two jobs and gave their paycheck to their layabout live-in boyfriend who never did anything but drink beer, watch tv, and yell at her, and yet that woman considered herself more "blessed" than her single sister. And she also mentioned - and didn't use the phrase "double standard" but I will - that a man eating out alone is seen as a man-of-business, a guy sitting there with his book, and it's all good, whereas more often than not, a woman eating out alone is seen as "that poor thing" who can't find someone to eat with her.

I will say there is a restaurant chain which I will never patronize again - ANYWHERE - because of the way I was treated in one of their branches. I was out shopping and needed some lunch. It was a weekday, after the noon rush, the place was NOT busy. I waited at least 5 minutes at the "let us seat you" station - and then had the seater ask me if I was "alone" or if I was "waiting on someone" (no big deal, that). But then, after I got seated and had my menu, I waited nearly 10 minutes - and was getting up to leave - when the waitress came over and said, "Oh - I thought you were waiting on the rest of your party." Did I TELL you I was waiting? NO! They absolutely seemed mystified by the concept of someone eating out alone - and it was a horrible experience, I felt like I had some kind of contagious disease the whole meal.

So anyway. In the spirit of "it could be worse":

I could have a live-in lover who beats me.

I could have some guy in my life who quit his job when he learned I make a decent salary, and who know lies on the couch and watches "Montel" while I labor in the vineyard of the mind.

I could have someone who belittles my interests, who rolls his eyes at my knitting and my books.

I could have someone who is immature, and who always needs me there to reassure him.

I could have someone who screams at me, who is a perfectionist that flies into a rage if his eggs aren't cooked just so.

I could have someone who cheats on me yet is insanely jealous and gets angry if I talk to another man, even one of my married colleagues.

I could have someone who abuses alcohol or drugs or who gambles our money away.

But I don't. I have a roof over my head, and a job I enjoy, and hobbies that make my life fulfilling. I have people around me who care about me and a good relationship with my family.

And yet - there are those who would look at me, and pity me, because one thing is absent from my life - and for that matter, it's one thing that most of the time I really don't miss.

The world is a strange place.