Valentine S Day

Although Feb. 14 is an important day for relationships, local marriage and sex therapist Todd Creager says, it’s not the only day. “Use Valentine’s Day as a springboard for the next 364 days to be romantic. And if you think that day is a rip-off, just look at it as a reminder to value your relationship,” he said. In Creager’s new book, “The Long, Hot Marriage,” he attempts to dispel the myth that ardor goes away as a marriage lengthens.

Michele Marr, For the Independent Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs, love is eternal. -- 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 Sooner or later, as Valentine's Day approaches each year, someone is bound to ask me the question: How did Michael propose to you? Then I have to tell them that I'm not exactly sure he did. He did of course. But not in the way people mean when they ask that question.

Danette Goulet Either you love it or you hate it generally. There is really no in between when it comes to Valentine's Day. If you have a valentine it is an excuse to express your love and be assured that you are loved. If you don't have a valentine you curse the insensitive dolts who came up with a holiday that allows the loved to rejoice and the lonely to wallow. So who were those folks? There are those who say it is merely a holiday cooked up by greeting card companies to boost sales during the down time between Christmas and the many spring holidays, births and wedding invitations.

For people who couldn't care less about candy hearts ... If you think Valentine's Day is a trumped-up holiday, a marketing scheme with a Hallmark hangover, a socially constructed concept created to fatten the wallets of the candy, card and flower industries, we've got the day for you, too. You might be the type who avoids restaurants like the plague, cringes at the color pink, gags at the taste of candy hearts and...

No reason to shy away from the day As confident as you are about your single life in all its independent glory, let's be realistic. Nobody without a date should spend Valentine's Day alone. So celebrate being single -- with your friends. THE NON-DATE Feast on appetizers and beer at Gallaghers. Swap stories about all of the horrible people you've dated. Send valentines to all your single friends and invite them over for a party. Have each member bring a cute, single friend they're not dating.

The Huntington Beach Independent went to Harbour View School and asked students, 'What would you like to say to the soldiers who are fighting in Iraq?' "I want to say thank you for fighting for the freedom of Iraqis and I wish them a happy Valentine's Day." TRAVIS SPARKS, 11 "I just wanted to thank the soldiers for fighting for our country and I hope they come home safe and soon." KRISTEN DURKAN, 10 "I wish them a happy Valentine's Day and I wanted to thank them for fighting for our safety."

Michele Marr Some marriages may be made in heaven, but every one is sustained, or broken, on earth. On Thursday and Friday, Calvary Baptist Church will sponsor a weekend workshop, More Than Married!, designed to make the marriage experience richer, more rewarding and more intimate, and to ask the question, "What does God desire from my marriage?" The workshop is intended for couples at any stage in their marriage, couples who are about to be married and also for men and women of all ages who are single, divorced or widowed but who hope to marry, for the first time or again, some time in their lives.

The new Asian fusion dining spot, Digg's Restaurant & Bar in Huntington Beach, just started offering a weekend brunch, along with weekly specials including Local Love Mondays, where Huntington Beach residents receive 20% off and Ladies Night Wednesdays, featuring various food and drink specials for the ladies. Digg's ambiance is perfect for group dinners, romantic dates or a casual drink at the bar. Dinner favorites include the dakine, tender-sliced, marinated beef with broccoli and onions in a Mongolian sauce around a steamed rice pyramid; salmon pesto penne; Hawaiian Hali (Alaskan halibut filet crusted with macadamia nuts and topped with Island salsa)

They've arranged flowers for the cities of Orange County for almost 25 years. And after a quarter of a century in the floral industry, flower shop Love N' Bloom has their fair share of Valentine's Day stories. "We had a gal that bought a G-string for her boyfriend that worked at a dealership," said Carmen Fober, owner of Love N' Bloom. "We put his name on it and put it on a big teddy bear with balloons and delivered it to that poor guy. I'm sure that he got it all day long from his coworkers.

This week we're talking historic milestones. First of all, Valentine's Day marks the 15th anniversary of the major state acquisition in Bolsa Chica, which tripled the size of the state ecological reserve. And last month was the 20th anniversary of the Bolsa Chica mural being created (at 5811 McFadden Ave.). And the Amigos de Bolsa Chica was officially incorporated in 1976, 36 years ago. So I thought I'd first catch up with some of the founding members involved with the rescuing of Bolsa Chica.

They've arranged flowers for the cities of Orange County for almost 25 years. And after a quarter of a century in the floral industry, flower shop Love N' Bloom has their fair share of Valentine's Day stories. "We had a gal that bought a G-string for her boyfriend that worked at a dealership," said Carmen Fober, owner of Love N' Bloom. "We put his name on it and put it on a big teddy bear with balloons and delivered it to that poor guy. I'm sure that he got it all day long from his coworkers.

This week we're talking historic milestones. First of all, Valentine's Day marks the 15th anniversary of the major state acquisition in Bolsa Chica, which tripled the size of the state ecological reserve. And last month was the 20th anniversary of the Bolsa Chica mural being created (at 5811 McFadden Ave.). And the Amigos de Bolsa Chica was officially incorporated in 1976, 36 years ago. So I thought I'd first catch up with some of the founding members involved with the rescuing of Bolsa Chica.

The SoCal Honda Dealers' Helpful Guys in Blue played Cupid on Valentine's Day in Huntington Beach and other Orange County cities, reminding people of love, just in case they forgot. The Guys in Blue, who work as part of the SoCal Honda Dealers' Helpful Campaign, started out in Huntington Beach at a gas station on Adams Avenue and gave a single wrapped rose with a card. The rose could also be gifted to someone special, said Destin Judy, the campaign's spokeswoman. Giving out roses on Valentine's Day isn't the only thing the Helpful Guys in Blue do; they sometimes fill up gas tanks for free or hand out cold water bottles in parks.

The new Asian fusion dining spot, Digg's Restaurant & Bar in Huntington Beach, just started offering a weekend brunch, along with weekly specials including Local Love Mondays, where Huntington Beach residents receive 20% off and Ladies Night Wednesdays, featuring various food and drink specials for the ladies. Digg's ambiance is perfect for group dinners, romantic dates or a casual drink at the bar. Dinner favorites include the dakine, tender-sliced, marinated beef with broccoli and onions in a Mongolian sauce around a steamed rice pyramid; salmon pesto penne; Hawaiian Hali (Alaskan halibut filet crusted with macadamia nuts and topped with Island salsa)

Laguna Beach’s favorite sea lion “couple” bid adieu over the weekend, flipper in flipper. Makia and Alto, two sea lion pups who were rescued by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in November, returned to their natural habitat Saturday morning at Crescent Bay. Michele Hunter, director of operations and animal care at the center, said caretakers and sponsors thought Valentine’s Day would be most appropriate to celebrate the...

Although Feb. 14 is an important day for relationships, local marriage and sex therapist Todd Creager says, it’s not the only day. “Use Valentine’s Day as a springboard for the next 364 days to be romantic. And if you think that day is a rip-off, just look at it as a reminder to value your relationship,” he said. In Creager’s new book, “The Long, Hot Marriage,” he attempts to dispel the myth that ardor goes away as a marriage lengthens.

To many, Valentine’s Day has become nothing but a parade of products. There are the old Valentine’s stand-bys — the obligatory boxes of chocolate; the frilly heart-laden greeting cards. The broken-hearted and lonely are often downright bitter at the romantic tradition. So for those who hold a bit of a grudge against Valentine’s Day, Fred’s Mexican Cantina will host a party to celebrate “Singles Awareness Day,” an alternative take on the Feb. 14 holiday.

The Huntington Beach Independent went to Harbour View School and asked students, 'What would you like to say to the soldiers who are fighting in Iraq?' "I want to say thank you for fighting for the freedom of Iraqis and I wish them a happy Valentine's Day." TRAVIS SPARKS, 11 "I just wanted to thank the soldiers for fighting for our country and I hope they come home safe and soon." KRISTEN DURKAN, 10 "I wish them a happy Valentine's Day and I wanted to thank them for fighting for our safety."