The Blizzard made me do it.

Here I sit, another Valentine’s Day fast approaching.  I have never been a big fan of Valentine’s Day – even when I was in a relationship - but being single during this holiday is a decidedly more annoying and alienating experience than is being attached and simply ‘above’ it all.  Choosing to eschew the flowers and candy and overpriced dinners that are the hallmark of February 14^th while being part of a couple is one thing; having to suffer through the parade of balloons, roses and horrid jewelry commercials as a singleton is quite another, and I know which one I prefer.

This coming Valentine’s Day will be my third in a row in the latter situation. Now that I am on the other side of 30, I am starting to have visions of a Bridget Jones-like existence sans Mark Darcy stretch out before me.  Hell, I don’t even have a so-bad-he’s-good Daniel Cleaver on my horizon.

So it is this mind frame that contributed to what I have just done, which is to sink to a new level of patheticness ridiculousness: I have entered a contest to have my virtual celebrity boyfriend come play a private concert at my home on Valentine’s Day.

But really, it is the blizzard’s fault. If Baltimore hadn’t just been buried under 24+ inches of snow, my office would not have been closed today.  If my office had not been closed today, I would not have been at home watching Ellen while wrapped up on my couch feeling sorry for myself, and would therefore not have known about this contest and could not have entered it.

But there I was, all cold and knees hurting, cuddled up on my big red couch feeling like the winter will never end, feeling like the winter that has become my dating life will also never end, when I saw it on the bottom of the TV screen: Go to EllenTV.com to win a private concert with Joshua Radin on Valentine’s Day.

Seriously? My reserves were too low to resist.  My visions of Bridget Jones faded away and in their place was the image of me (thinner), draped elegantly across one end of my couch looking bewitching while a completely dreamy musician sang me love songs and stared into my eyes.  So, in this fit of delusion, I trotted over to my laptop and typed up, in 1500 characters or less, why I should get the private concert. I believe my reasoning went something along the lines of 'He is dreamy, I am single, and I have RA. I deserve the concert.'

Clearly, I did this under the knowledge that I never win anything, so I won’t have to actually be mortified by the fact that I am behaving more like a 13 year old than a 31 year old were he to show up at my door, guitar in hand, this Sunday.

Except of course, that I’m sharing it with all of you here. What can I say.  I live for nothing if not to provide entertainment to others at my own expense.

Comments

[jodi]

well, i for one, hope you win. how exciting would that be? (very.)

[Sara]

Hey Jodi- yes, exciting (and slightly mortifying!). 

[millicent]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[millicent]

Actually, it looks like he is approaching your building in that picture!

[Lana]

Joshua Radin - Ah yes, every girl's dream. He is from NE Ohio and around my age, I wonder if I knew him? You could win, for all you know. The weather isn't pretty for people with RA. Stop feeling sorry for yourself about V-day and spend the evening with some girlfriends. Who needs men anyway?

[Amanda]

Cold weather, hot guy....sounds like a good plan!!! I seriously hope you win if for no other reason so that I can read about it. :)

[Helen]

Oh, I know exactly how you feel! I'd have done the same thing... this is my third single Valentine's Day, too, and I've been on one bad date after another lately, all coming to a big fat zero.

Thanks for the laugh, and the knowledge I'm not the only one! :)

[Ursula]

wait: who is Joshua Radin?

[Sara]

Amanda- thanks! It would be pretty awesome.

[Sara]

Cheers to us both, Helen!

[Sara]

Sadly, most of my girlfriends are in NYC, but thats ok- Im good enough company for myself, Valentines Day or not!

[Sara]

Ursula- Joshua Radin is a most dreamy, very talented singer/songwriter/musician.  I saw him play in NYC twice and hes even better live.  You should check him out- I think youd like his music. And did I mention that hes dreamy?

[Charlie]

Hi Sara, thanks for your email in the new year after I wrote to you when first diagnosed. I am now established on Sulfasalazine and things are pretty damn good. Dont worry too much about the looking for, being loved and the whole love charade with RA, I think youre wonderful, and so am sure you will walk smack slam bang into love when you least expect it- just protect that knee in case you into it slam hard! And be extra mindful of carpet burns when you do!

Charlie