It is that time of year again, people. Valentine's Day, which I'm convinced was devised by a consortium of greedy chocolate and flower companies, is nearly upon us.

This means that guys everywhere are scrambling to make sure their ladies feel loved, and girls are going crazy trying to pick the right present, or at least the one that doesn't scream, "Hey, I'm crazy!"

Conventional wisdom states that it is not a good feeling to be single on Valentine's Day.

I disagree.

I broke up with a girl the day before Valentine's Day, and one big reason was that I didn't feel like putting up with that effort.

For me, Wednesday of this week is simply "the day before my dad's birthday," and that is the way I like it.

However, just because V-Day is a fundamentally stupid holiday that probably yields as many hurt feelings as it does happy nights doesn't mean that it serves no purpose.

This year, I suggest that all single guys and girls, instead of awkwardly calling last weekend's booty call in hopes of a date (and some extracurricular activity), try something novel for a change. Find that girl or guy who has always been there for you, because there certainly is one, and take them out. Maybe you've always wanted to date this person, and things just never worked out, or maybe you've only liked them "as a friend" or vice versa, but they probably deserve a nice night out. It's the least you can do after dragging your sorry rear end to them after making another bad life choice.

I've always felt that V-Day would be better spent enjoying the company of someone you can have a coherent conversation with as opposed to someone you find about as interesting as a cement block.

Yet, in spite of the fact that I suspect many people share my feelings, people still go to the ends of the earth to please their dates, only to find that they don't really like them so much when they aren't drunker than Mel Gibson at traffic school.

Also, don't think that because I'm suggesting you take out a good friend for the night means you can skimp on them because your company is already gift enough.

Spend some money, get a nice dinner, go out to see a movie, and make that person feel like they are special to you.

I realize that Valentine's Day is traditionally thought of as a romantic day and that taking your best friend of the opposite sex out for the night doesn't really equate with romance, but if this best friend is someone you've been enamored with for a while, maybe a sincere show of how much you care about them will push you over the top and put an end to your weekends of hollow hook-ups.

At the very worst, you can follow my plan and have a nice night out with some good conversation.

At best, you could start to write page one of a very nice romance story. If you're single, you've got nothing to lose.

When you're sitting down tonight trying to flesh out some plans for Wednesday, remember the girl or guy who you can pass out next to and not feel the need to get frisky with, the one you like more sober than drunk, the one you would step in front of traffic for. Think of the person who makes you smile when you think about them, the person whose good looks are matched by their intelligence and sense of humor, the person who lights up your world when they come into your orbit, even if you never show it.

Think of the person your roommates always ask you about, the one they actually like being around, the one they tell you that you should date. Think of that person, pick up the phone, and see what they're doing Wednesday night.

If you want this day to mean something for once, and you aren't already taken, make sure the person you're out with is the one who gets you where it counts, romantically or not -- the heart.