That's right. Valentine's Day is less than a week away. And for many of us who haven't been shot in the rear by Cupid, this time represents a period of great despair. Believe me, I should know. I can count my Valentine's dates on one finger.

In recent years, however, my likelihood to lament on the day of love has vanquished significantly. If fact, I really don't care anymore. I've realized that while I was sitting at home depressed, half the people on dates were feeling the exact same misery. Why is that? Because there is nothing romantic about Valentine's Day.

I see acts of true romance everyday. In my ballroom dance class, there's a couple who gleefully struggles over every step. In August, I saw many young lovers sharing lunch by trees near Old Main. And my roommate is the biggest romantic of all. Not only does he run up his phone bill every night talking to his girlfriend in San Diego, he frequently sends her letters and audio-taped messages. Now that is what I call romance.

But Valentine's Day? Give me a break. Just like you expect to get candy on Halloween and see fireworks on the Fourth of July, you expect you and your loved one to go out on Valentine's Day. And because expectations are so high, you're usually forced to go all out. That's why you get all decked out. That's why you buy the flowers and the candy. That's why you make reservations at the Penn Stater. Now you may say your mate doesn't have to do a thing for you. But I know if he or she took you to Mickey D's and the Happy Valley Motor Inn, you would not be too happy.

This is where Valentine's fails on the issue of romance. For a night on the town to be truly romantic, it has got to be spontaneous.

Of course some of you think you will spontaneously find love on the 14th. Man, you better check yourself. You can't fall in love on a specific day. Love evolves through time. Now a Valentine's date could potentially turn into something much bigger. But if you haven't known the person very long, the odds of that occurring are not great. The 14th is not a good time for a first date; the expectations are even higher. On a normal date, you're attempting to learn about the person. On a Valentine's date, your attempts are clouded with dreams of romance. If that date doesn't fulfill those dreams, the entire evening becomes a disaster. I believe a Valentine's affair is a fine way to cap off a series of outings. But if you've recently picked up your partner on the IM track, you may be wasting your time.

And most likely you'll be wasting your money too. It is well-known that businesses begin to salivate at the beginning of February. Along with Christmas and Easter, Valentine's ranks as one of the top consumer holidays. During the next five days, all forms of media will be plastered with Valentine's advertising. As I was typing this column, I saw a Kay Jewelers commercial telling men to be the "true romantic" by purchasing a Valentine's diamond.

And while conducting research about the topic on the World Wide Web, I was drilled with even more ads. You just can't get away from it.

And you can't get away from the prices, either. If one were to order a dozen roses from 1-800-Flowers, they would have to dish out $79.95. And if restaurant costs resemble what I paid for my prom meal, a dinner may run up to $100. I won't even mention hotel costs. As I have said before, the expectations drive up the cost of a Valentine's date, a fact businesses know all too well. Let's face it -- Valentine's Day is nothing more than a commercial farce hidden behind the veil of romance.

Do I have a date for Sunday? No. Do I care? Maybe a little. But unlike many others, I will not go out of my way to find a date. It's pointless. Romance cannot be forced. It must bloom like a rose in the spring. And until we find the right rose, our Feb. 14s may be a little lonely. But who cares? I'd much rather wait for true love than wallow in a fantasy known as Valentine's Day.