Rational thinking colliding with romance this Valentine’s Day

LYNN – Jean Hagberg is practical when it comes to this most romantic, albeit, somewhat contrived, of holidays.She will take advantage of day-after-Valentines sales to buy discounted candy and take a low-key approach to celebrating the holiday. In a year when the economic downturn has candy retailers, florists and card stores offering sales and keeping an anxious eye on the cash register, consumers are wearing their hearts on their sleeves but keeping their wallets firmly stuffed in pockets and purses.The exceptions to the rule are perpetual romantics like Janet Spiegel who says “every day is Valentine’s Day with my husband” and, of course, those public faces of romance: Celebrities.Here’s a look at what stars from music, film and TV have planned for Feb. 14.Melissa Leo, an Oscar nominee for best actress, is keeping things simple. “I’ll make a Valentine for my son, and I know I’ll get one from my mom,” she said. “That I know for sure.”Best New Artist Grammy winner Adele has mixed feelings about the holiday: “I don’t like Valentine’s Day. Well you know what, I don’t like Valentine’s Day if I’m single, but if things sort themselves out by the 14th, then ?”Actress Teri Hatcher would rather establish her own holiday. “I’m thinking of throwing a Single Awareness party for all of my friends. No, I’m not doing that. I’m kidding,” she said. “What are my plans right now? Making Valentines for my daughter’s school, and probably putting together little things for her. I don’t have any plans.”Supporting actress Oscar nominee Viola Davis celebrates year-round: “Me and my husband, we just usually eat a fabulous meal at a great restaurant. I have to tell you, and I’m not trying to be melodramatic, with my husband, every day is Valentine’s Day. So it’s just another day.”Dakota Fanning gets into the holiday spirit. “I love Valentine’s Day,” she said. “I think I love hearts, and I love pink and I love candy and flowers.”Grammy-winning singer Duffy said she’ll spend the evening singing to “beautiful men.” “It’s the day where love dreams come true. No, actually. It never worked for me,” she said. “But I am playing Heaven, it’s a gay club ? so I’m playing this concept with all these beautiful men. Unfortunately that are not really into me in a romantic sense. But here’s hoping.””The Office” star Jenna Fisher has platonic plans: “A friend of mine’s daughter is having her bat mitzvah on Valentine’s Day, so that’s where I’ll be.”Although the sour economy may take some of the sweet out of the day, the annual celebration of hearts and flowers is slightly sweetening international relations. Israel is relaxing its blockade of the Gaza Strip to let through 25,000 carnations headed to Europe for Valentine’s Day.But the head of the Gaza flower growers’ association said that was “nothing” compared to the 40 million flowers a year that came out of the territory before the blockade.The flowers will be Gaza’s first exports in a year. Israel has blockaded Gaza since Hamas militants seized control of the territory in June 2007.Israeli military spokesman Maj. Peter Lerner said Israel agreed to let the flowers through at the request of the Dutch government and Gaza farmers.Lerner called the move an Israeli gesture and said it did not indicate any change in the overall policy toward Gaza.But Mohammed Khalil, head of the Gaza flower growers’ association, dismissed the move as “nothing.”Khalil said Gaza used to export 40 million flowers a year, so 25,000 carnations is insignificant.”We had to feed the flowers to the animals because we couldn’t export them,” he said. “We are afraid of losing our reputation in Europe and are afraid to plan ahead.”Associated Press material was used in this report.