Walk into the GAB on most Valentine’s Days and you will think you’ve entered a parallel universe. Democrats and Republicans deck themselves out in red and pink. Normally serious aides decorate desks with all the red hearts available at the local CVS Drug Store.

Think of the Valentine box that won the fourth grade decorating contest and you’ll get an idea of what the GAB usually looks like.

This year, things were more subdued.

Valentine’s Day came on a Saturday, which left people confused about which day was the appropriate substitute. The economy and the budget are in the tank, so spending money on red tchochkes just didn’t seem as fun as it might have in the past.

Still, people came up with ways to celebrate. My secretary, Donna Knicely, asked for donations to the food bank in lieu of flowers and chocolate. Since she has an artistic bent, she arranged the cans of tuna and the boxes of cereal as artfully as any still life.

Staffers on the 8th floor put their recycling skills to work. They even crafted a rocking chair out of milk cartons. And there was more than enough chocolate to give everyone a sugar high.

Back to serious business on Monday. Meanwhile, Happy Valentine’s.