From a press release from teamdating.com (bear with the pr stuff, I have commentary below):

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 11, 2008. As a follow up to an independent survey conducted last Valentine�s Day, where social dating website TeamDating.com polled married and single men ages 25-40 years old on what they thought about V-Day, this year�s survey gave the women a chance to clue the guy�s in on what really matters when February 14th comes around. For the men, regardless of marital status, the results of last year�s survey were highlighted by:

* 95% of men saying it was their least favorite Holiday
* 80% of men not being able to remember what they gave or what they did the previous year
* And a staggering 90% of men not even knowing that it falls on February 14 every year

When 500 married and 500 single women in Los Angeles and Orange County were polled various questions regarding the day so dreaded by their opposite gender, the results actually proved that more than anything, men are simply missing the boat. Often times, societal norms and pressures dictate that a certain protocol must be followed when the day comes around every year. This normally includes some combination of flowers, candy, possibly jewelry, topped off by dinner that normally required a reservation be made weeks in advance. However, the resounding comment that came back from women was not about WHAT they expected, but rather what they did NOT expect � the same thing as the previous year! Over 99% of both married and single women confirmed that the worst mistake a man can make is doing exactly what they last year.

The women were then asked to rank certain possible Valentine�s Day gifts, and here is your Top 5:

1. A picnic dinner that is planned at a location new to the women
2. Breakfast in bed in the morning
3. Flowers sent to their office or place of work, or wherever they are and have never received them before at that location
4. Dinner out a restaurant that they have never been to, followed up by a possible movie
5. A romantic home cooked dinner

�The results we see in this survey simply further show that men really have no clue,� explained Teamdating.com Chief Dating Officer Ray Doustdar, an expert in relationships and the online dating market. �Men feel that no matter what they do, it won�t be enough. Taking a creative approach with something out of the ordinary versus falling back on the old reliable such as flowers and candy seems to be the key ingredient for the Valentine�s Day recipe for success. At the end of the day, women mainly want to see that you put some effort into whatever you did. Interestingly enough, their Top 5 answers potentially end up being less expensive than just the default candy, flowers, and dinner that we fall back on. Men often complain about money wasted on this day, and now can only blame themselves. How�s that for irony!�

This has to be a joke. Are women really that hung up on this stuff? Really? Do partners not do this kind of thing throughout the relationship and thus wait for February to put this huge pressure on each other? Or, particularly, on the men, apparently; do women not have to bestir themselves for Valentine’s Day, simply waiting to be pampered until the tables turn on Steak and Blowjob Day on March 14?

I’m not a Hallmark Holiday Hater; I think designating days to remind us to honor our parents, grandparents, secretaries, teachers, lovers, etc. is kind of fun. I don’t object to Valentine’s Day at all — I just think that it’s gotten too nuts, if people have the rudeness to criticize the *gifts* their lovers gave them. I’m delighted if someone I love takes me to dinner, or makes dinner, or sends flowers, or texts “oh hey I almost forgot, happy Valentine’s Day,” or whatEVER.

We are not *entitled* to such things, no matter what day it is. A gift is a gift. A card is thoughtful. So is a phone call, a text message, an email — any reaching out to say hey, I love you, you’re sexy, I choose you again and again.To me, doing the same thing as previous years says he remembered that I liked something, and wants me to be happy again.

But given the choice, I’ll take a steak — after 12 years, I’m no longer vegetarian — and a blow job any day.