WATERLOO - Googly-eyed lovers beware. This Valentine's Day might bring a revolution of the unromantic, unattached or just plain disinterested. Many say the holiday is a fabrication of greeting card companies, while others simply scoff at the idea of setting aside only one day for love. Valentine's Day is not just for couples anymore, as anti-Valentine's Day celebrations and those rejoicing in their singlehood are becoming more common.

According to an OkCupid.com poll of 1,000 singles, 57 percent of respondents say Valentine's Day is a commercially-fueled "Hallmark Holiday."

Dave and Tamara Lipinski of Traer are one couple who decided to nix the holiday a couple of years into their marriage.

"We both just kind of looked at each other and said 'Is this any fun for you?'" Dave said. "If you have to remember a specific day to do something nice for your partner simply because corporate America is telling you to, that's kind of pathetic."

Dave believes that doing random acts of kindness for his wife, such as helping around the house or developing a scavenger hunt for her, show his love much more than a diamond ring could.

Tamara, for her part, said she does her best to keep up the house and recently threw Dave a party for his 40th birthday.

"It's not like we go around saying 'Ban Valentines Day.' If that's what other people want to have as a special day that's fine. What we've decided is based on our beliefs," she said. Tamara added that while they don't broadcast their lack of love for the holiday, no one has responded negatively to the news.

Dave said a firm grounding in the Christian faith helps him and his wife focus on God's plan for them instead of the materialism of the day, or any day. "I think it sends the wrong message," Dave said.

Among those not celebrating the mid-February holiday, sentiments range from vehemently opposed to a more neutral stance.

One Web site, titled "Love Is Evil" (L.I.E.) has a Valentine's Day countdown that paints the day as something akin to the Y2K apocalypse. The author offers thoughts on everything from the day's motivation (money) to it's consequences (the degrading and depressing of single people everywhere).

Antivday.com hosts a variety of forums on the topic, as well as selling a slew of Anti-Valentine's Day merchandise, including baseball caps and T-shirts with such messages as "Cupid Rejected Me," "Stop Commercialization of Love" and "I think, therefore I am single."

Some companies are cashing in on those who shy away from Valentine's Day.

Laurie Henrichsen of American Greetings said the company is using its new line of anti-Valentine's Day greeting cards to fill a niche, albeit a small one. Of the 2,400 Valentine's Day greeting cards available, only 10 designs feature anti-Valentine's Day sentiments.

Anecdotally, the response seems good so far, Henrichsen said.

"People call and tell us they like the cards. We think they'll do well," she said.

And Valentine's for friends and family members still make up about half of all cards sold. Henrichsen said woman-to-woman friendship Valentines are especially popular.

"We don't want to exclude people who might not have a serious relationship but might still want to celebrate the day or have fun with it," she said.

Contact Laura Grevas at (319) 291-1482 or laura.grevas@wcfcourier.com.

{M3Need an anti-love anthem? Courier staffers offer this top 10 list of tunes to choose from.

"Hate Me" - Blue October

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division

"Foolish Games" - Jewel

"She Loves Me Not" - Papa Roach

"You've lost that loving feeling" - Righteous Brothers

"Sometimes Love Just Ain't enough"- Patti Smyth, Don Henley

"Just Say No To Love" - Tony lommi with Peter Steale

"Love Stinks" - J. Geils Band

"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell

"You Give Love a Bad Name" - Bon Jovi

{M3Do you consider "valentine" a dirty word? Forget a candlelight dinner. Here are some anti-Valentine's Day ideas:

Tear up old photos of past boyfriends.

See an action or horror flick with the girls - no love stories.

Share the love, and research a new charity to support.

Light some candles and take a long bath.

Have a UFO party - "Unattached Females Only."

Refuse to wear, eat or touch anything red or pink.

Visit the card store and laugh at men frantically trying to pick up the "right" card.

Celebrate the 12th annual Al Capone Day, also on Feb. 14, with a shot of whiskey.

{M3Source: Womens Inc. magazine