I'm carding you, sweetheart

I can't decide which is more fun -- sending or receiving valentines.

Okay, okay, getting lots of cards is definitely a pleasure, making up for the painful Valentine's Days in elementary school when the girl sitting next to me wound up with a mountain of cards on her desk and I had a modest hill of valentines, most from the nice kids who brought cards for everyone.

I'm planning to send lots of cards this year, mostly because I'm blessed with lots of love and partly because the makers of greeting cards are reminding me of more reasons than I might have thought of on my own to drop a card in the mail.

This year, American Greetings has come up with packages of cards that don't cost a bundle. For $3, you get a trio of grown-up billet-doux with such messages as: "I didn't planet this way... but I'm glad our worlds collided."

You'll also find Valentine's Day cards from the cat, the dog and the crabby people in your life. My personal favorite is a $4.99 musicial card that belts out "At LAAAAST.... My love has come along!"