Dan is in California this week, for a conference that is habitually scheduled on Valentine's Day. It's a computer geek type of conference, and I'm convinced they get a discount on the conference center for scheduling it that week, and they just figure it doesn't matter because they assume that none of these guys have girlfriends or wives, and therefore can't think of anything more exciting than hearing Bill Gates speak on Valentine's Day. But that's just my personal opinion. Dan actually gave me some great gifts on Sunday, and we're going to celebrate with a night out later in the week. I just tell you this to introduce the following story:

Because of my temporarily-single state, I found myself wading through the consequences of Valentine's Day this evening, as I tried to get some food and go home after a long, long work day. I originally thought I would pick up some takeout from one of my favorite restaurants, only to be informed by the guy on the phone that the wait ... for takeout ... was an hour and a half. So I went to Whole Foods to pick up some of their great pre-prepared food, and had to fight my way through a crowd of men who were, at 6 p.m. on Valentine's Day, buying flowers. The floral area was like a mosh pit, there was so much elbowing and shoving going on. Seriously, gentlemen! It's just one day a year! It's not like you don't know it's coming!

So a poll, male readers: How far in advance did you get ready for Valentine's Day? Make me proud, men. Don't tell me you were one of those guys in the store at 6 p.m.

Or if you were, maybe you want to consider commenting under a pen-name.