And I did it–I finished the rewrite for Savaged Dreams and I’m editing it now! I have a lot of clean up work to do, but I should be able to send it off to my editor for round two of edits by Friday. I’m so happy about that! My weekend was mostly work and cleaning, but it’s worth it! Today I’m taking a break for a routine dentist appointment, then I’ll go right back to working on editing the manuscript. It’s hard for me judge if I made the book better or not at this point, but I know I put my heart into trying!
So last night while Wizard and I were we were eating dinner, I mentioned that I was tired but I still needed to write a blog for tomorrow (which is today when you read this). Keep this in mind, it comes into play in a minute 
At that point, the conversation switched to talking about flowers because the flowers my publisher sent me last week are on the table. Wizard commented that one or two of the blooms are starting droop.
For some reason, that set me off and I blurted out, “You know that big romantic gesture in movies and books when the girl comes in the house (or condo or apartment) and finds a trail of rose petals? That flowery path inevitably leads up the stairs to the bed covered in more soft velvety petals?”
“Uh, yeah,” he says, probably wondering how I jumped to that.
I’m on a roll at this point. “Well I hate it. I mean someone has to clean up all those rose petals. And you know it’s the woman who will have to do it. The guy will roll over and go to sleep. I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I’d have to get up and clean up the mess. How is that romantic?”
Wizard’s a little wide-eyed at this point. “I never thought of that.”
“Well I have.” Totally on my soapbox now, I’m go on, “And that’s not all. You know that scene where the guy sweeps an arm across a desk or counter, sending everything on the surface clattering to the ground? Who cleans that up? I’ll tell you who–the woman! I’m not going to be in the mood if I know I have to clean up a mess!”
Wizard is laughing by then. “I’ve never done either of those things.”
No he hasn’t. But he’s done some incredibly romantic-to-me things that others might not think of as romantic. Like these three things I think of often:
–Before I was published, and we were living on a shoestring budget, my computer died. That night, Wizard pulled out the credit card we never used (it was for emergencies) and bought me a new computer. And he spent the evening helping me set it up.
–The time he our washing machine died, and we bought a new one. That’s common sense–we had three boys so that’s not that romantic. But he picked it up after work one Wednesday night and installed it after dinner–doing it just so I wouldn’t be inconvenienced with three young boys by having to wait until the weekend. When I thanked him for doing that when I knew he was tired, he smiled and said, “I’m your husband. This is what I do.” Maybe it’s not romantic to some, but it’s everything to me.
–The day after I’d been taking care of my sick mom all day and came home to the smell of chocolate cake. Wizard was standing in the kitchen next to a plain, unfrosted chocolate cake cooling on the stove. He was beaming because he knew I was exhausted, worried sick and thought it would make me feel better. That was a priceless cake I will never forget.
Those are the kinds of romantic gestures that have stayed with me for years and years.
And last night? After my rant, Wizard looked at me and said, “You just found your blog for tomorrow–all about how you don’t find those standard movie and book romantic gestures all that romantic.” Then he did the dishes. Which is soooo is also a super sexy, romantic gesture in my world!
So how was your weekend, and what gestures do you find romantic…or not?
August 22nd, 2016 at 7:07 am · Link
Yay for finishing the rewrite! I’m sure it’ll be awesome. You and Wizard are an amazing couple. And even if no one else might think those little things are romantic, they’re romantic for you. That’s all that matters.
I’m totally not romantic. I mean, there are a thousand little things we do for each other that show how much we love each other, but whether any of them are romantic is beyond me. LOL, probably part of the reason why I don’t write romance. I pretty much suck at it.
August 22nd, 2016 at 8:39 am · Link
Okay, I’m just a little bit in love with Wizard. Just sayin’…
Lawyer Guy bought me a vacuum cleaner for Mother’s Day one year. All my friends were all up in arms until I reminded them that I ASKED for a new vacuum cleaner. And then he was the one who ran it every week. And still does, 15 years later. It’s the little things–like actually LISTENING to me that makes him so romantic and why we just celebrated 33 years!
FYI? You’ve got this story. Your editor will find any little tweaks the story needs, you’ll fine-tune it and we’ll all love it! Now go forth and edit!
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:13 am · Link
B.E., thanks on the book, I hope so.
I think you’re so right on romantic gestures–it’s really all about how the couple perceives it. Like me, you probably aren’t big on showy things, preferring gestures that really mean something. Which is why I never got those big splashy public proposals
Hope you’re having a good Monday!
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:16 am · Link
Silver, it’s all about what YOU want!! A vacuum is awesome. Just like my beloved kitchen knife set Wizard got me. Your hubby is awesome for vacuuming too!
And yes, listening!! So agree!
Thanks on the book, I’m believing
Now off to the dentist so I can try to hold a conversation with my mouth full of dental tools, LOL!
August 22nd, 2016 at 3:05 pm · Link
Congratulations on getting through the edits :)!
I saw your post on FB about the sinus headache. I hope you got rid of it before the dentist. If not, use a warm compress. Really hope you’re feeling better.
I am so with you on romantic gestures. Those in movies and books are for the birds. That’s all we want is to have more work to do. The nice little things they do for us are so much better, like your washing machine. That is a truly lovely thing to do. Hubs bought me the entire Wustoff set of knives on year. He said I was always in the kitchen and should be safe with good tools. Smart man ;).
Nothing thrilling happened this weekend and that is good ;).
I hope you have a good evening. No more headaches!
August 22nd, 2016 at 6:01 pm · Link
Viki, thanks on the book.
Sinus headache is okay at the moment, thanks! I took meds this morning to clear it up before I went to the dentist. She’s so sweet (and good!) and doesn’t need me sneezing on her
Seems like everyone is going through sinuses and allergies right now so it’s not just me. I’m just crossing my fingers it doesn’t go into a sinus infection–I avoid antibiotics as much as I can.
I love your knife set story! Hubs is a very smart man! If I remember right, Hubs and your son got you your kitty too, right?
August 22nd, 2016 at 6:09 pm · Link
Hubs teased me about where the kitty was until I caught on?. The youngest son and I went to the shelter and adopted him.