What do men want for Valentine's Day?

[Curmudgeoness]

My radio station is doing an online poll, and it got me wondering. There were only three options in that online poll---jewelry, dinner and a movie, and sex.

I am ashamed to say that I jumped right on the stereotypical answer. Apparently the people answering the poll think the same thing that I do...0% say jewelry, 20% say dinner and a movie, and 80% say sex. Maybe that is the right answer for most men, or maybe us women are just being shallow to think that is all there is in a man's mind.

So, men, what do you want for Valentine's Day?

[Scuba]

1. All of the above.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. And nothing else?

A back rub? Silk underwear with little hearts? Candy?

[Scuba]

5. Um, more sex?

[OriginalGeek]

2. I really don't wear jewelry

sooooooooo.........

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Soooooo.......

dinner and a movie?

[OriginalGeek]

35. It's a start!

It probably should not be Tex-Mex though.

[malthaussen]

6. Quality time.

I scarcely know how to help you with this. The poll is terribly limited. As it happens, I don't like jewellery, am not much of a movie-watcher and dislike going to the movies. But I would hope that if I actually had a Valentine, we might share the odd dinner and a bit of the old slap and tickle as an ongoing part of the relationship. So that for Valentine's or any other holiday, what I would want would be a more enhanced or focussed instance of what is ongoing between us.

-- Mal

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Oh, I am not limiting this to what that poll suggested.

This is open-ended.

So.....for you it is an odd dinner and sex? How odd does the dinner have to be?

[malthaussen]

9. Ever hear of the Sacred Meal?

Use your imagination as to the main course...

-- Mal

[Curmudgeoness]

11. So I was right all along.

It is not a stereotype.

[malthaussen]

12. Nope.

Men don't want sex for Valentine's Day. That's way too few times.

-- Mal

[Curmudgeoness]

15. .......

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. A can opener.

Specifically, a Swing-A-Way that attaches to the wall.

The one I have on the wall is Harvest Gold (Clue: that means it's 40 or more years old). I live in what was once my grandparents' house, so it's time for a new Swing-A-Way.

Found it on the Internet.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Lucky you.

My can opener WAS avocado green, but the colored plastic broke off years ago.

Well, at least you are easy to buy for, you don't have high hopes.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

37. The can opener was for hubby. We both cook.

He got me some wireless headphones.

[idendoit]

13. I am a man and I won't to love and be loved.

[malthaussen]

14. You won't?

That's so sad!

-- Mal

[Curmudgeoness]

17. So......

sex for you too? Damn.

[kwassa]

16. Something.

Valentine's Day seems like a one-way holiday. Men get stuff for women.

I would like reciprocation, and appreciation.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Something?

That narrows it down.

Come on, guys. Women are counting on you to give us ideas. I don't disagree with you, it is a one-way holiday. But you aren't making it any easier on us to reciprocate.

[kwassa]

21. I said something because ....

nothing is the usual gift.

Take us to dinner for a change. Buy a card. Shit, buy us flowers.

Anything!

[Curmudgeoness]

22. Excellent.

I really do agree with you. So, I bought you a heart.

[kwassa]

23. Thank you very much. Happy Valentine's Day to you.

and quite honestly, the heart you bought me will probably be the only thing I get for Valentine's Day, along with the other hearts here.

Such is life.

[Curmudgeoness]

24. Don't feel bad.

I am alone as well. Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers at the grocery story after Valentine's Day, when the price returns to normal, and put them on the table to enjoy. Or buy half priced candy after it is over and enjoy. You have to embrace the life you have.

[kwassa]

33. The problem is ...

I'm married. 19 years. Still married.

This has more to do with the conventions of Valentines Day than anything else. There is societal and mostly commercial pressure is for men to buy gifts for women, hopefully expensive gifts, from the commercial aspect.

The best part of it is children. Kids give Valentines to everyone.

[Initech]

19. Beer and strippers?

[Curmudgeoness]

20. Ah, finally, a romantic!

You had better hide!

[Earth_First]

25. Dinner is just fine with me...

a bottle of wine to the table and a warm conversation with my wife.

[Curmudgeoness]

26. I hope you get it.

It really is hard for women to know what to get for men on Valentine's Day.

[Earth_First]

28. It can be...

I do nearly all of our meal planning and preparation, so its also a 'night off' benefit for me.

Good luck.

[Jamaal510]

27. She could give me

some money for a gift, and some sex for V-Day.

[Curmudgeoness]

29. Too typical.

And oh so unromantic. Money? Sex? Is that all there is too life?

And men wonder why they don't get remembered on Valentine's Day.

[Skittles]

30. blow jobs

[Curmudgeoness]

43. I'm going to kick your ass! nt

[TeeYiYi]

59. Sounds like you're a job creator. ..nt

TYY

[NightWatcher]

31. peace and quiet?

Sorry, I'm a stay at home dad of a toddler and I'm tired of hiding out in the bathroom for a little peace and quiet during the day.


Of the given choices, I'd take the dinner out. I'm a sucker for good sushi

[marzipanni]

47. Get that toddler out in the fresh air.

Yay! Nap time!

[ScreamingMeemie]

69. Someday you're going to miss these days...

Okay, not really but it sounds good, eh?

[Arcanetrance]

32. Considering I'll be spending it alone I want it to go away that's what I want for valentine's

[pokerfan]

34. A new impeller for the snow blower

I'm easy.

[lastlib]

36. Screw Valentine's Day, I'm holding out for this:

http://steakandbjday.com/

. . .

[Art_from_Ark]

40. You know, in Japan girls give guys gifts on Valentine's Day

and the guys reciprocate on "White Day", March 14, which happens to coincide with that unofficial "holiday" described at that web site.

[davidpdx]

84. Same here in Korea

I got nothing. Can you guess what my wife will get on March 14th? LOL

[Art_from_Ark]

86. Do they have "giri chocolate" in Korea?

"Giri chocolate" (or "giri choco" for short) is a custom in Japan wherein a female gives some man or men in her life (like her boss, co-workers, teachers, etc.) chocolate for Valentine's Day out of a sense of "duty" or "obligation", but there's nothing romantic involved. I got something like that yesterday and I'm trying to figure out whether it was merely "giri choco" or something more than that.

[davidpdx]

88. I don't know for sure

But given that both are heavily influenced by Confucianism it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

[In_The_Wind]

46. Almost anything I say is going to be taken the wrong way ...

[img][/img]

[lastlib]

50. (Like the old Indian said, Keep mouth shut--foot not get in mouth."......)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

38. "I don't want somebody telling me when I have to buy a present."

"I only want to give a present when I feel like it."

This translates as "I'm a cheap bastard and all women are gold diggers."

My response was, "Well, if you weren't interested only in money you would get me a $5 coffee mug."

This was a guy who was so unfeeling that he couldn't understand why I would sit there and cry for an hour after he got me NOTHING for Christmas when we were married. Accepted presents from me, got me nothing, sat there and looked clueless when I cried over that. Several years in a row. Didn't love me or care about me.

[Curmudgeoness]

44. This "was" a guy....

I hope this guy is long gone. No one deserves to be treated like that.

As to "I only want to give a present when I feel like it"---if they feel like it often, I wouldn't feel bad if I didn't get a gift for Valentine's Day. Although I have the feeling that this was not the case.

Take care.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

48. Divorced the SOB a long time ago.

I've been with my soulmate almost 20 years.

I got him a new wall mounted Swing-A-Way can opener for Valentine's Day. We had a 40 year old one that my grandmother had, and it was time for a new one.

We both cook. I can't eat a lot of the stuff he fixes, due to food allergies and not liking a lot of things. However, he's gotten really good at sukiyaki & egg drop soup with extra stuff in it. Yum!

He got me some USB wireless headphones, so everything is cool.

[Bucky]

39. What do I want...?

[cliffordu]

41. I want to get out of that whole 'holiday'

But I've always known, when in a relationship, I better NEVER try and get out of it.

[yuiyoshida]

42. In Japan, on Valentines day its the Men who recieve the Chocolate

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2014, 08:28 PM - Edit history (1)

If the men reciprocate, its on WHITE DAY which is later on, a month or so after.

[Curmudgeoness]

45. Wow. I am very glad that I don't have to wait in that store!

I think that is a good idea, though. We should have a day when women buy gifts for their men. I can see why men feel put upon.

[marzipanni]

49. Someone left the tools out in the rain...

Last edited Thu Feb 13, 2014, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

and I'll never have that recipe again!








(re: the original photo~ I know that's a dusting of cocoa on the chocolate tools...Mrs. See's Candy makes St. Patrick's Day walnut fondant "potato" complete with pine nut "eyes" and cocoa "dirt"!)

ttp://

[kwassa]

52. Someone left my cake out in the rain.

and it took so long to bake it.

Tools rust in the rain.

[Art_from_Ark]

63. That chocolate is called "Urawaza"

"Urawaza is melting in the dark
All the sweet brown chocolate flowing down
Someone left the tools out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to fake it
And that gal won't give me another set again
Oh noooooooooo"

By the way, "urawaza" is kind of like a practical joke. The ad says "tickle a man's fancy with this practical joke chocolate".

[marzipanni]

66. My huzz said, "that's pretty clever!", when I read it to him, and I say it's cute.

Last edited Fri Feb 14, 2014, 01:06 PM - Edit history (1)

BTW Is that a chocolate moose?

[raven mad]

74. I don't know from chocolate moose -

but here's a vanilla one!

[Wait Wut]

77. Not at my son's house.

He's got this bizarre romantic streak for a retired Marine, big burly biker. His wife is Okinawan. Last year, she came home from work and there were 15 heart shaped boxes of chocolate on the floor leading to the...bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet was a 3 foot talking Chewbacca that she wanted and a dozen longstem roses.

She took the boxes of chocolate to work and all the women she worked with fell in love with him.

I'm not interested in the reciprocation part. Gross.

[yuiyoshida]

78. Well of course not, Your son is an American...

Americans over seas hardly follow the traditions of some countries, because we are AMERICANS DAMN IT! ...Japanese follow their traditions.. its part of their culture to do so, going back to before the days of edo.

[Wait Wut]

79. I guess I should have been more clear.

My son did all that for her...

...she made him a card. It was sort of a role reversal of what would happen in Japan.

[dawg]

51. I just want someone to make me feel like I'm special ...

loved and cherished in a way that is unique to me.

It wouldn't really matter how she decided to go about doing that. It's the thought that counts.

[TeeYiYi]

53. Sex goes without saying, right?...

How about dinner and drinks...AND sex. Skip the movie.

TYY

[Curmudgeoness]

55. Does it?

I suppose it is an easy gift....saves lots of money.

But oddly, that would not be a good gift to give to most women. Not that we don't like sex, but there is more to life. Really.

[TeeYiYi]

56. What gift?...

Sex is not a gift. It just is. I would think both people would want to have sex on Valentine's Day, regardless.

No, it doesn't save money. You should both be going out for a nice dinner with wine, followed by a few drinks and dancing at 'the Club', followed by home for some amazing sex.

TYY

[PasadenaTrudy]

54. Mine wants

to hole up in his studio and paint! Okay with me, I'll read

[Chan790]

57. Honestly.

I'd like a thoughtful gift. I'm a trained chef...I can make my own damned fancy food. I don't wear jewelry. Sex isn't a gift.

Nothing says I love you like a mandoline.

[R B Garr]

58. You mean a mandoline like one of those fancy slicers?

Last edited Thu Feb 13, 2014, 12:01 AM - Edit history (1)

What kind would you get? A French mandoline that go for about $200? Or that Benriner kind for $50 or so? I just thought I'd take this opportunity to ask you since you're a chef. Actually, I've been thinking about getting him a Staub grill pan because every time he wants to use a grill pan I complain because they are so hard to clean, but that Staub looks nice.

Personally, I think shared experiences are nice. We just went to Vegas for a one-night trip a couple weeks ago, but I'm thinking we'll maybe drive up the coast to Monterey and enjoy a ride together. It's fun to take little day/overnight trips, and they are always memorable, you know, stopping for coffee here and there and pastry, and then discovering a cute little restaurant somewhere.

Well, happy Valentine's Day to you and to all the DU men and everyone.

[marzipanni]

65. I agree, taking little trips is fun!

My husband said his geology professor in college told the class that in the 50's and 60's, he and his wife drove a V.W. Bug all over California, making a point of discovering new places each weekend or vacation, including the back roads' back roads!

Meat juices/fat stuck, even burned, on a pan? In my experience, H2O, heat, and a little time clean (almost) all pans. "Deglaze" with water and heat as though you're making a sauce. If they don't loosen with water and heat and a spatula or spoon to encourage the stuff off, leave the hot water, cover and let it sit. I always do this with my iron pans- if the pan had ridges for grilling I'd use a heat resistant scrub brush while "cooking" the water.
Once or twice I've scorched oatmeal or peas black like lacquer in a stainless steel saucepan, so I soak it, covered, overnight with clorox diluted with water.

This is a comment on thekitchn.com about Staub grill pans-
"I just saw "Good Eats" on Food Network hosted by Alton Brown and he said that if you put coarse salt/kosher salt on the bottom of your grill pan that it will save you from the sticky stuff. The salt is a rock (essentially) and that it will not burn. Try it. Hope it helps. Lisa"
I remember my mom sprinkling salt in a pan before cooking burgers or steak, so I often do that, too.

[R B Garr]

67. Thanks for the info on the grill pan and cleaning! Just reading the description of

cleaning the crud that gets down below the grill ridges is enough to now make me doubt even the Staub pan I was admiring. So far, we've tried two grill pans, and neither one has worked out, by my standards anyway. The first one was just a regular, cheap Lodge cast iron, which immediately started looking rusty from too much soaking (I'm not an avid user of cast iron because of the care issues). And the second one was just cheap Cusinart pan I got from Home Goods, and drippings from grilling just never clean off like I prefer despite soaking and taking brushes in between each ridge over and over again. The Staub looked like it had a very smooth finish for cast iron and had wide enough grill ridges that it would be eash to get to all areas. I'll try the salt! Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your husband. I've just been planning our little trip up the coast, and of course the rates everywhere at least double because of Valentine's Day, but I think we'll go ahead and do it anyway just for a change of scenery. We even make trips up the coast to Gilroy, CA to pick up our garlic seasonings we like (it's called Garlic Dude Dust, and I use it on almost everything), so I got a kick out of your story about your husband's college professor and his wife. Have a good one!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

60. I think men just want to see their woman be happy and smile

Whether it's pleasing her in bed or pleasing her emotionally, men mainly want to know that they have savoir faire, that their choice of restaurant was appreciated, their sexual technique such that it is was pleasurable, their choice of romantic setting impressed her, whether it did or not. Of course there are assholes who only view a woman as an object, don't care if the woman enjoyed herself, don't bother even showering or shaving and only want to get off. But I think the vast majority of men want to be seen as James Bond, a man of the world in a woman's eyes and care mainly about whether she was impressed. The male ego is tied up in concern over how a woman sees him and thus ultimately his self image as a "winner". Acquiring that feeling from a woman is more important than any shaving lotion, necktie, or basketball tickets he could get from her as a gift. But this assumes that she's already given him sex at some point in their relationship, therefore assuring him that at some point in time she'll give him sex again, and there isn't that mindless, primitive urgency to get her in bed the first time.

[Demo_Chris]

61. That's a secret. Delete it and type 'sex'. nt

[Iggo]

68. Shhh!

You're gonna get us caught!

[Sherman A1]

62. I have everything I need or want for Valentines

I have Love. Little remembrances are nice, but hardly necessary. Spouse has some health problems so for her it will be some flowers and a card. We already got a mutual gift item for us both and we will go out next week for a small dinner and some time together. I usually try to avoid restaurants and holidays as servers are overwhelmed and its just too crowded to be enjoyable.

[adirondacker]

64. A new sled...

http://www.ski-doo.com/showroom/freeride/137/details

[Boom Sound 416]

70. A night out with the boys

[Curmudgeoness]

81. Noooooo. Not on Valentine's Day!

Some guys are just too romantic for their own good!

[Alkene]

71. Gainful employment. n/t

[sl8]

72. Low expectations. n/t

[raven mad]

73. I asked him. (Sry, my mistake......)

A bowl of cereal, a cup of coffee, his lunch, and a hug.

[Moondog]

75. Honestly?

To be remembered sufficiently fondly to be offered good wishes on Valentine's Day. Everything else is truly secondary.

[Curmudgeoness]

80. Happy Valentine's Day, Moondog.

[AnneD]

76. What do men want on Valentine's Day...

the same thing they want the other 364 days. Food and sex, not necessarily in that order. I tell hubby it is a good thing his penis is attached because I am certain he would lose it otherwise.

And they are never too old for either and if they stop wanting one or the other, get them to the doc quick. The more I get to know men the more I appreciate their uncomplicated nature.

[mythology]

82. I'm a bit weird, but while sex is certainly appreciated and enjoyed

I'd rather spend the time enjoying a good meal/bottle of wine and talking at home, or getting a more personalized gift. Giving a piece of jewelry just seems so bland and generic.

So for somebody like me, getting an older computer I can refurb, or a new graphic novel, or given that my body is always in a state of disrepair due to heaping lots of abuse on it, a massage (non-couples variety). Of course, given two of the things I listed, one can imagine the dilemma of what to do for valentine's day isn't the most common experience for me.

But the idea of sex being the "reward" for getting the right gift for her for valentine's day seems a little insulting.

I also have a problem because of my personal history. I watched my dad do fairly well at times with the big things, like valentine's day, but utterly screw the pooch on the day to day details. So to me, it shows much more that you care by randomly buying her flowers, or taking her on a picnic just because it's a lovely day, or you thought of her smile. That is how you prove you care. Not buying a fancy necklace once a year.

[Curmudgeoness]

87. Aw. You melted my heart.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

[davidpdx]

83. Honestly for me, none of the above

I'm a bookhound so that would be my answer. A book and a box of chocolate would make me happy.

[B Calm]

85. Reservations for him and his buddies to a fishing resort in mid June

up in Northern Ontario.