MY FIRST "NO VALENTINO" VALENTINE'S DAY

A NOTE FROM MARIA:

I can't remember the last time I had no Valentine's Day date (my youth excluded); it doesn't mean I had no Valentine, just that he was not physically present to celebrate it with me.  (SMILE.) That didn't stop me from paying tribute to Cupid's day that is devoted to love and romance.  I gathered several girlfriends and we celebrated Valentine's Day in a different way -- the way women know how:  lots of food, conversation, laughter, stories, games and gifts.  The restaurant was the perfect place for such an event.  Located in Mission Valley's Hazard Drive Circle, Randy Jones' All American Sports Grill served great food, and this one's extra:  FREE fabulous desserts for everyone (regularly $5.50 each).  How did I manage to get free desserts for everyone?  I just asked the owner, and he said, "Okay."  My dessert was a Lava Cake, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with mint leaves.  The cake was shaped like a volcano (naturally), with chocolate lava cascading from its top and down to its side, creating a black sand beach onto the plate.  :-) Criselda's meal was delayed tremendously (forgotten, more like it); but no problem. . . she got a free meal for it. 

We had a gift exchange, but everyone can steal someone's gift away if so desired.  My gift, a book with my art print inside, and a set of stationery, was stolen three times (maximum number a gift can be snatched).  It was a fun game organized by Sheila.   At the end of that game, I gave away smaller gifts (like door prizes), which surprised and pleased them.


Let's not forget the highly spirited discussions about MEN, of course, after all, it was a Valentine's Day.  Interesting stories.  One confessed that she hasn't gone on a date for 7 years; another confided in us that she's a serial dater.


Another game we played was "Truth or Fiction" - In this game, we gave three macro-stories and only one of them was the correct one.  Each person would guess which one was true.  The best "fakers" won prizes.  That was also a lot of fun.  Some of the stories were very impressive.  One was a chef for Barron Hilton at his yacht, another "can see dead people"; another dated a well known professional athlete; another was a winner in a TV reality show (similar to "The Bachelorette"); and another had a boyfriend who proposed to her while skydiving with the proposal written across his parachute or canopy.


All in all, it was a great Valentine's Day with friends.  We missed the "boys" but. . .oh, well . . .we can't have 'em all.

 

 Criselda ordered a chicken sandwich with gourmet french fries; and for her dessert: see below.  YUM-YUMM!!

THE GIFT EXCHANGE/STEAL

EACH ONE PICKED A NUMBER THAT CORRESPONDED TO A GIFT ON A TABLE.  SOME WERE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THEIR GIFTS, BUT IF ANOTHER GIFT WAS MORE DESIRABLE, SHE WOULD STEAL THAT GIFT FROM THE OWNER.  A GIFT CAN ONLY BE "STOLEN" THREE TIMES.  THIS STEALING GAME MAY RESULT IN LONG FACES FROM THE VICTIMS, AND HAPPY FACES FROM THE VICTORS (as you can see from the pictures).

 Lizette got my gift.  A card on it said: "Dream on, dream on, dream until your dream comes true" - an Aerosmith favorite of mine.  Excitedly, she opened the gift while everybody watched.

 "Oh, look. . . it's a James Patterson novel, with an art print of Maria's painting inside.  There's also a set of fancy stationery in the box."

Lizette was so happy with her gift choice.  But, wait a minute. . .somebody else wanted it, too, and under the rules of the game, she could snatch it away from Lizette.

 

It was La Donna!

 

And La Donna looked so happy that she was able to steal Lizette's gift.

But wait!  The gift could still be snatched away from La Donna.

(It takes three times before a gift can be immune from snatchers.)

 

And sure enough. . . Holly did.

And Holly became the final owner of my gift.

"Oh, good. . .  two in one gift. . . I'm so lucky!" - - - Sheila

Sheila was so happy to get a matching Safari candles.  Of course, they would be snatched away from her grasp.

Because somebody else wanted the matching safari candles.

 And Sheila was not happy about it.  Can you tell?

The safari candles thief (Sandi) was very happy.

So. . .that's the way the game is played.

 

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 BUT THAT 'S NOT ALL!!

After the regular gift exchange, we distributed smaller gifts, like sets of greeting cards, journal books, sets of writing materials, and games. It was a very giving day.

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, LADIES!