February 16 is Discount Negotiated Affection Day
(hey look it's that picture of John's office Christmas party that I promised ages ago)
The history: Discount Negotiated affection was born out of unfortunate timing. February 14, 2004 John had actually bought a bottle of wine, rented a chick flick and had plans of ordering us roast chicken subs. Moments before John is to pick me up he sends me a message on MSN. He was wondering if it was okay if Dave and Adam watched a movie and hung out that night. Oh the rage I felt. Both of them had girlfriends at the time but for whatever reason they weren't seeing them that night. I felt like I had no choice but to say yes. So the evening consisted of Dave burning dinner (potatoes and I think stew...I can't remember I was so mad.) Watching a horrible foreign film on their crappy TV. The TV cut off the subtitles so it was more a pantomine than anything. I remember at one point I was short with John and Dave his roommate said, "Come one guys it's valentines day!" I could have killed him on the spot. When Dave went to take Adam home we had about 10 minutes of alone time and then John offered to go to 7-11 to get us snacks. We went to 7-11. In the 10 minutes we were gone Dave had returned with a new batch of friends and they were all huddled around John's computer watching something online. Again could have killed all of them, including John, on the spot. So we went to John's room spent maybe 20 minutes together before John had to drive me home so I could make curfew. Worst Valentines day ever! You should remember this was the first time I had actually ever been in the same city as my boyfriend on valentines day so I was beyond excited about the prospect of a Valentines day with John. And when I heard he had actually bought a bottle of wine, I was over the moon! If you knew John in 2004 you would know that before that day be had never in his life ever purchased a bottle of wine.
The next day we were talking and I expressed my disappointment. As did he. So he decided we should have a do over on the 16th.
So after my last class on Monday the 16th John and I walked back to his place. Picked up roast chicken subs on our way and enjoyed subs, a bottle of wine, a chick flick and as an extra surprise John had bought me some discount valentines day chocolate. And thus Discounted negotiated affection day was born.
We don't do valentines day. We celebrate discount candy and on sale valentines day products. We can only give it to each other if it was on sale. Heck, John was going to buy my engagement ring on sale in the spirit of the holiday but the place he wanted to buy it from closed for renovations the day after valentines that year.
The benefits of celebrating Discounted negotiated affection day are plentiful! It's cheaper, places are less crowded and just last year the Manitoba government made it a stat day so we get the day off work too. Also you know what? It's nice to have our own little tradition. If Hallmark and the like are going to tell me I have to have one specific day where I have to love my husband even more than I usually do I should be able to pick the day.
So happy discounted negoitated affection day! May your chocolates be 50% off and your flowers slightly wilted but a good price!
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