I'm not into Valentine's day, but I thought this was a hilarious video (about 5 minutes long).

Why, thank you, Mike. Yes, I will be your Vawentyne!


--- great video!


- NonE

Happy shallow relationship day.

me and Zeb went to the Toronto Zoo! there was a fantastic 'clouded leopard' and great Urang Utans and some disappointing gorilla's, a pygmy hippo, a huge rhino, a funny tapir, and some reptiles and fish and birds and other boring stuff. we were quite late so we only saw half of the zoo, so we might go again

While I did not have a valentines day per say we did celebrate a tad on Sunday. A long time friend came down for a visit and we decided to drive on down to Cajun/Creole land fro some fun! Fun we had. I would say we tempted fate a couple of times as we did not heed all the warnings. New Orleans is a dangerous town and every local will share the latest news and blues. We decided to venture into the 9th ward and see what has become of the community under water. The X's remained on some the doors. Owners in every 3rd or 4th house were working on their cars, painting some trim or sweeping the stoop. We were smiled at and waived to for the most part. On our very sobering journey around we noticed on a busy street an old black man with dread locks and young boy (9) in festive attire with braids. They were selling valentine baskets on a card table, laughing and chatting the Sunday away. I looked over to my friend and said "I think we should buy a basket-you?". No beat missed my friend replied "yes". So attempting to navigate the traffic we looped the car around and pulled up on the curb to purchase our basket. We were greeted with the most welcoming demeanors and began our descent into joy. We chatted to these two who had been displaced by mother nature and the foils of man, two who had seen and lived through what most of us will never know. As we inquired to them they generously offered the truth but with pep. How long were you displaced? How is the community doing? How are you doing? What basket do you recommend? etc. They had nearly finished redoing their home and after all they endured were full of questions about us, our home towns and shared they were glad we joined them for a chat. They were just out selling some baskets for the daughter of one and mother of the other. We bought a mid priced basket $20 on their advice. Just as we were leaving the mother/daughter came out with a sandwich for her son. We started chatting and laughing with her about the two characters we met at this table of love. Mom beamed with pride at her two rascals and thanked us for our kind words. We were sad to leave and stoically drove away. As we drove we were snooping at the basket. "what the hell are we going to do with this? we have eaten enough shit on this trip". we laughed, (among other things) and I said lets find some old doll to give it to. So we turned and again entered the neighbor hood, this time with a mission. We drove many streets nearly abandoned and did not get a wave or a smile for some time. Finally we turned the corner and there was a grammy sweeping her stoop. We pulled up "good day mam" and she turned and gave us the final look of our lives, this was it we thought...we are dead. "hello" we said... she glared... we shook..."Mam" we said "we just wanted to give you this"... and squeezed the basket through the crack in the car window. "oh uh" she paused... gave us a once over and the face of death melted into the "sweet little ol doll" we hoped she would be. We yelled in unison "HAPPY VALENTINES DAY" ... she stood up leaned back a bit and teared.. and not a second later the front door of the home opened up with a young boy singing to rap music, 5 little girls under 4 come running out and we could see a shadow of two on the sofa inside. NOISE and laughter. The old doll laughed realizing she did not have to explain her mood as she could see from the look on our face all was understood. "Thank you" "Thank you"she said ... she winked ..." Say thank you kids..now girls you go in and split this up among everyone ok". A long pause as they walked in the house. She spoke out of the corner of her mouth in a mischievous low tone "you have just bought me 15 minutes of peace and quiet....the best valentines gift I could of asked for" we laughed again... she then yelled "thank you again, enjoy your day" and another "wink" ...and in laughing unison we said "we will and thank you!!!

Good story. Thanks!