A Public Service Announcement

**Alan H** · 3rd February 12, 05:38 PM

Valentines Day is around the corner.

Take it from the man who has forgotten this event several times. Do you treasure your dignity? Perhaps you would prefer sleeping in your bed rather than on the futon in the family room for a month.

Employ the OHIO principle.

The OHIO principle is something outlined in a book I had, for ADD-afflicted folks. OHIO stands for Only Handle It Once. In other words, don't EVER, EVER pick up a letter, or a bill, or a notice and read it and put it back on your desk thinking "I'll deal with that, later" ONLY HANDLE IT ONCE. Are you listening? It's bloody VALENTINES DAY.

Valentines Day is February 14th. Do not close your browser and think "I'll get the card / flowers / chocolate / hard liquor / diamonds / Ferrari / tartan accessory item /tickets /or escape plan ......."later".....

You're gonna be SORRY.

You all so..so...SO owe me for this!

**Really a McQueen** · 3rd February 12, 08:15 PM

Already have a card to send to very dear friend. Reminder set on the old computer to mail it by the 8th, so it arrives by the 14th.

**CDNSushi** · 3rd February 12, 08:26 PM

Already on it. I try to live by the "30 second" principle. If it's going to take 30 seconds or less to do, do it NOW. Not later, not when you "get around it it," not when you think you'll have a greater desire to do it, and not when you think it MAY be more convenient. If it's something that is quick, do it NOW.

(Although in this particular case, Valentine's Day gifts would take a bit longer than 30sec).

**Mickey** · 3rd February 12, 08:37 PM

Great reminder Alan. And if I may expand on this a little...

When your SO says some rubbish as "You don't need to get me anything"... "Don't get me anything".... "I don't want anything"... You are being set up. Don't fall for this. Get SOMETHING. It doesn't have to be large, but a card AND...

Married 19 years, been together longer. I bought that story once... ONCE.

Do your SO right.

**Mike in Dayton** · 3rd February 12, 09:03 PM

No S.O. here so February 14th is just another day on the calendar for me.

I do agree with the "handle once" principle. Easier to say then do sometimes because bad habits run deep.

**cessna152towser** · 4th February 12, 04:40 AM

In my misspent youth I used to buy a valentine card for my teenage sweetheart every year until one year she rebuked me for wasting money on it. Since then I have never sent any valentine cards. When Ann was alive I would buy her a Polyanthus plant every year on February 14th, and after keeping it indoors for a week or two it would be planted outside in the garden and several of these plants have gone on to outlive her.
This year I am in the process of setting up home with a new partner so we will probably mark Valentine's Day in a new way.

**ForresterModern** · 4th February 12, 05:36 AM

Alan
Thanks for the interesting acronym way of remembering to complete important tasks immediately. Notorious procrastinator here. And since I grew up in Ohio it should be easy to remember the acronym too.
But no problems remembering Valentine's Day as it is my first son's birthday, and four other important birthdays in the family are spread over the two weeks before and after that date. So I am good.