Last week saw the unfortunate passing of Valentine’s Day. I hate Valentine’s Day. People I have dated will say it is because I have a penchant for unsentimentality, that I am unromantic, and that I am a bit of a love party pooper. (Well, the ones who are still bitter would likely say these things.) A few days before the “big” night of the 14th, I went to a yearly literary party (we usually get together at Christmas but the timing didn’t work out this year) and I went around to everyone saying “Happy Heartbreak!” in my most saccharine voice. I was hoping that the boorish literary crowd would indulge my hatred of cheap emotion and bad chocolate. I wanted to joke about heartbreak, loss, and Nina Simone. I was playing the role of V Day’s arch-nemesis.

Instead, everyone looked at me like I was pathetic. I got pep talks, blank looks, and requests for more martinis. (I was playing bartender.)

But I’m not particularly heartbroken at the moment. In fact, I am dating a few different people who rock my world. I have amazing friends. My life is overflowing with love of both the erotic and platonic sorts.

So please don’t attribute my blase attitude about Valentine’s Day to bitter unrequited love. It has more to do with hating throwaway objects and too shiny emotions. And I don’t like sugary treats. I prefer savoury!! In general I hate feeling “forced” to display emotions and depth of feeling. I never hug mascots. Clowns with painted smiles freak me out. (I do like the tragic ones.) I dislike buying gifts for people’s birthdays and/or anniversaries. I resent trotting out the (commercial) love as proof of… caring? commitment? friendship? But at the same time, I’m a deeply caring and sentimental person… I just don’t show it with stock phrases and Hallmark. When I am going to say something special to you, I really mean it. I don’t use words like love lightly. If people do so with me, I get suspicious. Wouldn’t you?

So I think I might have found the right V Day event in Toronto and you should come too! Apparently some local writers are going to read stories about love gone wrong, bad girls, sex soured, scorching heat and a new twist on lust that is guaranteed to leave marks. Sounds purrrrfect.

Not sure why it is happening more than a week after the yuck day, but I’m going to go check it out:

Get Your Lit Out - Heartbreaker
Thurs, Feb 22
Doors open at 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. (it says here “until hearts reach fever pitch”)
Edward Day Gallery
952 Queen St. West (just west of Shaw St., entrance through courtyard).

With cool queer writers Marusya Bociurkiw, Rose Cullis, Tara-Michelle Ziniuk, Julia Gonsalves, Chanelle Gallant, and Lisa Foad.

The promo reads “Heartbreaker is also prepared to break the spell of your winter hibernation. So unwrap yourself from that blanket, roll out of bed, bring your soggy love letters and empty chocolate boxes, and be prepared to get read to!”

See ya there!