Here are three terrible Valentine’s Day gifts and what you can do to ensure you don’t get them:
- Exercise equipment - Unless your mate has very specifically requested a new workout DVD, gym membership, diet book or voucher for plastic surgery, don’t go there. Even if your gift of good health is grounded in the best of intentions, you are sending the message that your significant other is less than perfect. If you fear you may be on the receiving end of a new pair of toning sneakers, don’t be subtle. Say “Remember that romantic dinner we had last Valentine’s Day? It would be so nice to go back to that restaurant again sometime.”
- Stuffed animals - Though plush toys (stubbornly) remain one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts, giving your true love a stuffed animal is only appropriate if you still need your parents’ permission to see an R-rated movie. When the occasion arises, let your significant other know that you are all set in the pink teddy bear department. Say something like “What a sweet little guy! This is the perfect way to complete my stuffed animal collection – I won’t ever need another one!”
- Drug store chocolates - Nothing says “I picked this up at the last minute on my way home from work because I completely forgot about Valentine’s Day,” like a cardboard box of stale candy wrapped in dusty cellophane.
Timing is everything, so be sure you start dropping hints about a week or so before V-Day. That way your honey has plenty of time to find the perfect gift… or at least to come up with the perfect excuse.
2011’s Super Bowl XLV was to be the experience of a lifetime for thousands of football fans. For some 3,200 of them, however, the big game was a big bust. This year, nearly 250 of those ousted from Super Bowl XLV are willing to give the NFL a chance to make it right, says Brian McCarthy, Vice President of Communications for the National Football League.
Cowboy Stadium was the scene of a seating debacle last year when officials at the Dallas venue were forced to turn away thousands of Super Bowl fans whose temporary seats had failed to meet mandatory safety regulations. Some fans were barred from the game completely, while others had to wait to get to their seats or were relocated to the standing room only bar area.
To appease disgruntled fans, the NFL offered several pretty attractive options. Fans who were relocated to other areas of the stadium could choose to take either a cash payment equal to the face value of their ticket or a single ticket to any future Super Bowl. Those turned away at the gate were offered cash equal to three times the face value of their ticket, plus a ticket to this year’s contest in Indianapolis; one ticket to any future Super Bowl, including airfare and four nights in a hotel; or a check for $5,000 or more, depending on their expenses.
According to NFL officials, about 246 fans affected by the Dallas seating fiasco are set to use those complimentary tickets to attend Super Bowl XLVI on February 5th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. Capacity for this year’s game is approximately 68,000; only 254 temporary seats were added to the stadium and all have been approved by safety officials.
Will you be tuning in to watch the Super Bowl this year? Did you know that out of the hundreds of people that have won the Super Bowl over the years only three have won as both player and coach; Mike Ditka, Tom Flores and Tony Dungy.
