So who out there thinks Valentine's Day is for the birds? Do all those romantic commercials about proposals, jewelry, chocolate candy in heart shaped boxes and roses make you sick? Are you a St. Valentine's Day Scrooge? Do you hate the fact that you feel you must get something for your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend as well as your kids to show how much you love them? If you don't you'll disappoint them, right?
Well, if you're a man and you feel this way, you better hope to God that your girlfriend, fiance, or wife feels the same way. Don't know? Find out. It's a big deal to some women. Just as bad as forgetting your anniversary or a birthday. If you're one of those "Modern Couples" and you just don't give a shit because Valentine's Day is every day or that's what you tell each other, well good for you. Just remember to tell yourself that when you're at work and every other female in the office gets a dozen roses delivered to her desk with a sexy note. Just remember that you have modern values and you don't need to be reminded you're loved.
Whatever. One year I got a box of chocolate dipped strawberries from my boyfriend, delivered to my desk. All the girls were jealous and some of them told me they just didn't do Valentine's Day. Why did they seem so pissed at me because I received a sexy gift? I had a lot of fun with those strawberries when I took them home. Yum!
I'll never forget one year I was working as a secretary back when I was very, very young. I was 19 years old and my boyfriend sent me a dozen roses for Valentine's Day. The receptionist who had several kids and had been married a good while called me on the phone and told me I had something waiting at the front desk. When I got there, she smiled and said she was changing her thoughts on Valentine's Day. Suddenly she wanted a dozen roses! She had an agreement with her husband to not do Valentine's Day. They were ABOVE it. Again...whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a commercial holiday but it didn't start out that way and you don't have to spend a lot of money to take the time to tell someone you love them.
I buy my honey a goofy pair of boxers every year with some crazy Valentine saying. Gives me an excuse to tell him to model them for me and then one thing leads to another. They cost like five bucks. I really don't care if he buys me a thing or not. It's nice but we've been together for 10 years. However, it DOES still thrill me every single time he remembers. And Wal-Mart roses are just as special as $100 roses delivered from a florist. Nothing sexier than seeing him come home carrying a bouquet of roses, wearing a sexy grin. I toss him his $5 boxers, we open a $10 bottle of Barefoot Merlot, toss a Red Barron in the oven, turn on Netflix, start a fire and cuddle on the couch. And our three children, they each get a cute stuffed animal and some candy from Wal-Greens. Valentine's Day = $50. Not much moolah to make it a fun, special day.
What are you going to do for Valentine's Day? Be a scrooge or do something fun, sexy or sweet? I'd love to hear your stories.
And while you're at it, don't forget to hop on over to Day 13 of the MY LITTLE TEXAS TORNADO TOUR at
All I Want and More! Check out my favorite movie cowboys, read an excerpt and enter to win a copy of the book!
Happy Valentine's Day ~ Ruby Vines
In fact, I have to struggle to get work done in the early morning hours. For whatever reason, my body wants to sleep but at night I come alive! Maybe because I was born at 11:45 pm. I don't know. One thing is for sure, it works really well for me because I can get my little ones to bed and stay up late writing and working into the wee hours, among other things. 
So when the weekend rolls around, we are total night owls! We've been known to leave our little ones with our teenager and drive to the lake and watch the swans swim.
Everything changes at night. For me, those changes are beautiful and calm. Peaceful. When most of the world is sleeping, we go out and live. Night owls have to eat too. One of the favorite Night owl spots for late night dining is Waffle House!! Who doesn't love a buttery waffle drizzled with maple syrup?
Go in the fall. They have a yummy pumpkin pie waffle that is to die for! We love to go eat in quaint Italian restaurants or hidden away Mexican cafes. 
We've been known to have a coffee in a cozy coffee shop while the rain slides down the windows. 
