Why Not Celebrating Valentine's Day is Awesome

I'm not going to be one of those self-righteous people who runs around on V-day talking about how "my relationship is so good we don't need a special day to enjoy it," etc etc etc.  While that is most certainly one of the major reasons we don't "do" Valentine's (other than its modern roots as nothing but a way for card companies to make money), I'm assuming most couples who celebrate the day don't really need one, either.  Whether or not a couple is into Valentine's Day shenanigans is really not a valid barometer to measure the state of one's relationship.  But I don't celebrate it, and it works for me.  Here's some good reasons to forgo the occasion all together!

• Ever tried to get a table at a nice restaurant on Valentine's?  I actually have not, but I am well aware of how difficult it is without making a reservation far in advance.  Even if you have a reservation or can get a table, your dining experience is going to be shaped by crowds, grumpy waitstaff, and a rushed meal.  I don't know a single food server who doesn't work every single Valentine's, and from what they've told me, people are lousy tippers on this night in particular.  Probably because they've already spent all their cash on some sort of Kay Jewelers fiasco.  
• Speaking of Kay Jewelers... I love you!  Here's something shiny!  More on the diamond industry in a moment, but what is up with this practice?  I'll let Family Guy elaborate on this tradition.
• Did I mention our modern-day understanding of Valentine's Day is little more than a capitalist venture into the marketing of people's deepest and most personal emotions?  There's that.  But there's more.  Far from just greeting cards, Valentine's Day is a huge money maker for some of the most corrupt, most abusive industries on the planet: chocolate, flowers, and diamonds.  It's just nice to completely avoid supporting these industries on their biggest day of the year.  
• Oye, the heterosexism!  That's right, I said it.  Valentine's Day may be celebrated by couples from a range of relationship styles, gender identities, values, marital statuses, etc, but family diversity is rarely reflected in the cookie-cutter Valentine's products we're offered.  This may just be a merchandising standard, you know, cater to the lowest common denominator, but it gives a totally different message: love is uniform, and deviations from its norm are not acceptable.

Well that's that... I could go on for days (who, me?), but it's Valentine's Day, which means I've got to get busy on my feminist theory reading for Wednesday!