Bah Humbug. I know it’s the wrong season and all, but I’m just going to throw that out there.

Valentine’s Day is for suckers.

If it tomorrow weren’t Feb. 14, how many of you would still be seeking out the candy and flowers and shiny gifts, planning to dote on or surprise your loved one?

That figure, whatever it works out to be, likely exposes the hypocracy of the whole thing.

It seems to me like love is something that you should give to your loved one every day, regardless of the holiday. But I guess, following the same progression as many an American holiday, maybe Valentine’s Day is just another excuse to buy stuff and eat massive amounts of sweets.

Maybe I’m just perturbed because my wife is going to be in eight hours away, in a different state, leaving me alone for the holiday of love. Maybe I’m on to something.

Either way, despite my best intentions, there’s still a healthy dose of sap in this week’s edition to accompany Cupid’s favorite time of year.

But, for the record, we could’ve just as easily went with a Friday the 13th theme, cynically lambasting all the red and pink and flowers and candy with a sledge hammer of death metal and a photo feature on the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

But instead, we’ll do what any lonesome dude planning to spend Valentine’s Day alone would do — we’re going gambling.

Special to What’s Up this week, North Kitsap Herald reporter Tara Lemm (also the voice of the WU nutrition column Nature’s Kitchen) offers a special report on the state of the often-considered recession-proof gambling industry. Meanwhile one of the local tribal casinos rents out our inside spread (where the feature story usually lies) to help celebrate its anniversary.

And What’s Up is betting it all on red.