practical valentine

update 1: Mish Mash has better (?) ideas of how to celebrate the day.

update 2: ...and a poem.

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For the guys and gals out there who need giftgiving tips for their sweetie this upcoming Valentine's Day, here's a . . . novel . . . idea.

(expanded upon an idea in a forwarded email) :

Here's a helpful hint for this Valentine's Day: Give your significant other potatoes instead of roses.

Think about roses - they only last about a week, maybe two weeks max if you leave them in water. Their only purpose is to be pretty, so that's like saying "My love for you is fleeting, and based solely on your appearance". Roses twist in the wind, which implies fickleness. Roses also have thorns, and you probably do not want your significant other associating you with "pain" any more than he/she already does.

Now think about potatoes - they last for much much longer, and not only will they not rot, they will actually sprout and grow, even without any attention. That part alone makes it a good symbol, but there's more! Potatoes are actually useful. There are many ways to enjoy potatoes:

• you can peel them
• you can boil them, bake them, fry them, and mash them
• you can julienne them
• you can make chips from them
• you can plant them and grow more
• you can let them grow in a cup of water in your windowsill
• you can use them to copy simple graphics
• you can play games with them (okay, just two games, "mr potato head" and "toss")
• you can even make a battery with them!

That's like saying "I have many ways in which I show my love for you". You just can't do any of those things with roses (except for perhaps tossing them). Potatoes are roots, which reminds your significant other of the deep-rooted-ness of your love. And although potatoes may be ugly, they're still wonderful, so that's like telling your significant other "It doesn't matter at all what you look like, I'll still love you".