Single Valentine's Day

So, it's that time of year again. That time when everything changes to pink and red. Little paper hearts and cutout cupids stick to store windows and the silver wrappers on Hershey's Kisses become a red shiny color. Flower shops are overrun with orders and candy stores stock up on those little pastel hearts, each engraved with their own hot pink message, urging the receiver to "be mine" or telling them that they are "hot stuff." A time of year to show your significant other that you love them.\nBut what about those people who don't have someone to purchase that unnaturally large teddy bear for? What do you do if you are single on the Valentine's Day, the holiday of love?\nA lot.\nIt is very easy to fall into a bout of depression when love is in the air and you are still flying solo, but not to worry. There is no reason why Valentine's Day can't be a happy day for all people, regardless of relationship status.\n"I don't think Valentine's Day has to be avoided by single people," sophomore Julie Gurovitsch says. "It is a day for love. You love your family and you love your friends. It doesn't necessarily have to be a girlfriend or a boyfriend."\nIn the past, Gurovitsch has spent the day celebrating rather than sulking. Last year she went out to dinner with her roommate, and after delivering valentines for her sorority's fundraiser, she will do the same this year.\nManager of the South Point Psychology group and licensed health counselor Julie Matthews says that spending time with friends is the best medicine for a bleeding heart.\n"We encourage people not to isolate themselves… and engage in things they like doing," she says. "(If they are alone) people tend to feel worse because they think more about it."\nDestructive behaviors including drug and alcohol abuse, crying, sleeping and channel surfing are indicators that you might need help, says Dr. Ron Zodkevitch on his Web site. Zodkevitch hosts a radio show about many of life's difficulites and offers similar information on his site. The page devoted to Valentine's Day explains the history behind the day, offers advice on what to give for valentines and tips for the single person.\nIf you find that you could use some help on Valentine's Day, Matthews says her clinic accepts walk-in patients or you can try the emergency section at the Center for Behavioral Health at 645 S. Rogers St.\nBut if you want to skip the doctor's office there are a few other options you can look into.\nIF YOU WANNA GO OUT WITH YOUR PALS…\nAlthough Matthews and Zodkevitch suggest staying away from drugs or excessive alcohol use during bouts of Valentine's depression, local bars will be catering to both couples and single people on Feb. 14.\nYou and your friends can escape the holiday at the Bluebird Nightclub and sip on 75-cent Long Island Iced Teas while listening to the musical stylings of Dave and Rae.\n"I think people will come out in groups even without dates," says Bluebird General Manager Dave Kubiak. "We encourage them to come."\nIf Kilroy's Sports Bar is more your style, you can find will have a wide range of drink specials on V-Day. When Miles from Home takes the stage, you and your crew can down shots of Absolut for $2.25, $4.50 pitchers of Jim Beam, and 32-oz. Miller Lights for $2.75.\n"Everybody else will be here," says Officer Manager Janet Parker. "Maybe they won't have to go home alone."\nLocal band Laborious Clef member Darren Lipper suggests doing something a little out of the ordinary on Valentine's Day, such as renting a "crazy" movie or going to see a band you wouldn't normally think about seeing. And even though Lipper's band doesn't have a gig lined up yet for Valentine's Day, he is hoping they might be able to perform that night.\n"(When you are) performing you can touch so many more people…and make them feel good," he says. "It's a good contribution to the whole holiday thing."\nFor those of you who cannot get into the 21-and-over bars, Rhino's All Age Music Club is having a Valentine's Day party of its own. Rhino's Valentine's Day show will feature Ultimate Fakebook and the Red Hot Valentines. Cover is $5 and the show starts at 8 p.m.\nBut if you don't want to go out to the bars, you and your friends might want to wander down to the Kinsey Institute's Sex and Humor exhibit at the School of Fine Arts gallery.\nMore than 200 items from the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction collection of art, artifacts, books and photographs will be on display. The gallery will feature all sorts of things that might make you think twice about the sex act. Decorated condoms, postcards, greeting cards and many other novelty items all have a place in the show.\n"Sex and humor has been linked together for many many years," says curator of the exhibit Catherine Johnson. "There is something a little absurd about sex… a lot of artists found humor in it."\nPieces in the exhibit come from a wide range of time periods and cultures. One replica of a Roman figurine protrudes from a piece that is more than 2000 years old and other pieces come from the 18th century. Items from Mexico, Thailand, the United States and several European countries all have a place in the exhibit.\nThis special event is a good place for the love-lorn on Valentine's Day, Johnson says.\n"Hopefully they will find it humorous if they are sad about being alone," she says.\n"They can go see this show and laugh a bit about sexuality."\nFreshman Alex Chrisman says one of her friends threw a "Single Girls Party" party for her and her other girlfriends several years ago. They dined on fettuccine and just "had fun being single girls."\n"We didn't talk about not having boyfriends," she says.\nYou can even give your friends a little smile before you go out for a night on the town with a little help from Sigma Delta Tau sorority. For $2, you can send your amigos in the dorms, fraternities and sororities a pink Valentine's card with a chocolate. All the money goes to Prevent Child Abuse America and each valentine is hand-delivered.\n"It's a really nice simple way to show somebody you care and that you are thinking about them," Gurovitsch says. "And it goes to a good cause."\nIF YOU WANT SOME TIME TO YOURSELF…\nValentine's Day is also a good time to rediscover how much fun being by yourself can be, Zodkevitch says on his site.\n"Instead of feeling unloved and rejected, agree to enjoy your own company," he says.\nThere are many places that will pamper you to your heart's delight for a small fee and are only a short walk away.\nAt the campus Health Center, you can schedule a massage and put it on your Bursar bill. You can either schedule a 45-minute, full body massage, or a 15-minute back and neck massage. Either way, you will come out more relaxed, says Director of Health and Wellness Education Anne Reese.\n"A massage is a great gift to give yourself," she says. "It can reduce stress… and increase feelings of well being."\nReese says the process for a 15-minute massage is simple and enjoyable. When you arrive at the center, you fill out a short form and the massage therapist brings you into the room. After discussing your problem areas with the therapist, you lie down on the special cushy massage chair so the therapist can go to work. All of the masseuses are licensed massage therapists and there are still several 15-minute appointment slots open for Feb. 14.\nIf you can't make it to the Health Center, don't worry, you still have lots of options. At the Mira Salon, 213 S. Rogers, you can get a facial, manicure, pedicure or even a seaweed-peppermint body wrap.\n"I think it is a good day to get some pampering done," says receptionist Kelley Bateman. "I say it is OK to be single… go out and do something for yourself."\nAnd just because it is a salon doesn't mean guys can't enjoy it as well. Bateman says many men get manicures, pedicures and even partake in the occasional facial.\nFacials can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and cost $35 to $80 dollars.\nIf you are into a little alternative healing, you could try an aromatherapy massage at Carmen Delgado's Oasis Spa, 221 E. Kirkwood Ave. Different combinations of scented oils can trigger the release of different hormones, Delgado says. There is a scent for almost every occasion. If you need a pick-me-up, you can try sage or grapefruit. If you need to get rid of some anxiety, try a little lavender or orange blossom.\n"It's good for the psyche," Delgado says. "I am in the business of making people feel good about themselves." \nAfter you have relaxed at the spa, all you have to do to get a romantic dinner for one is pick up the phone. Delivery places in Bloomington are abundant and open almost every hour of the night. Try a sandwich from the Village Deli or Brave New Deli and finish it off with a Cyclone from Jiffy Treat. Whether it's ice cream or falafel, it can all be brought right to your door.\nDON'T SWEAT IT…\nSome people think Valentine's Day is a holiday that has become commercial and corporate.\nReese shares a similar point of view.\n"All these types of holidays are blown out of proportion," she says. "Sometimes they are just mere occasions to give and receive presents."\nBut whether you think Valentine's Day is an evil ploy by the executives at the greeting card companies or a beautiful time to celebrate the love between two people, this year you can have the confidence to celebrate the day no matter who you are with.\n"Being happy alone is one of the best qualities a person can have," Reese says.\n\nTOP 10 MOVIES for the single gal/single guy on Valentine's Day...