So Valentine's Day was a week ago today. Nick and I have never made big deal out of it. Sometimes we get each other a card, sometimes we don't. The thing is, if you're doing this whole relationship thing right, every day is Valentine's Day.

I've had this idea of something to give him—a "just because" gift—and it just so happened that the pieces fell into place on February 13th.

Let me give you the back-story.

Nick and I work for very different companies size-wise. My offices have bodegas and cafeterias. His has beverage vending machines. To put the contrast another way, this means that I get to pay for stuff with plastic, all kinds of coins, AND paper money (in a variety of denominations)…while he is reduced to a few pieces of change and the occasional one-dollar bill. A couple times a week, he gives me that sad little basset hound face and asks if he can go through my purse to retrieve enough money for two sodas.

This has been going on for quite some time now. I give him 70¢, pat his head, and tell him to spend his money wisely: it doesn't grow on trees you know. On those days when he's forced to accept that he's cleaned me out, his sad little basset hound face droops even more pathetically, as if preying on my sympathy is a direct line to the Conjurer of Quarters.

Those two sodas every day give him the armor to fight off a colossal caffeine headache. Sure I want him to have those two drinks, but I'm sick of being left with nothing but dirty pennies (I'm sure if they were all bright, shiny, and new I wouldn't be as put out). Then I had a moment of sheer inspiration while leafing through a catalog for a friend's Thirty-one party.

I ordered a customizable canvas pouch and labeled it "Soda Money."



I went to my bank to get $40 in quarters. I was truly expecting 160 quarters to take up more space than they do, and I actually considered getting a few more rolls…but I decided on the spot that I've been funding his habit for years, and I've already donated more than enough to the cause. I wrapped the pouch in tissue paper and congratulated myself on my sheer ingenuity! Genius, just genius!

In retrospect, I don't know that it was really all that genius. I mean, it has taken me more than five years to figure out that the best way to keep Nick out of my purse is to give Nick money. I'm sure glad all that higher education is paying off.