Thursday night, I watched Citizen Kane. I've never seen it before and man was it great! I should say I watched it Thursday night up to a point. That point being when I fell asleep. I woke up Friday morning and picked up where I left off. Man was it great! By the time I finished the film it was around 12. I thought to myself, you know, you didn't make any plans, you have Friday off, why not kick it back to Ohio? I put down a big bowl of food for my cats and I was off to Ohio by one o'clock. The highway was great and the leaves are at the height of changing, very lovely. It also snowed, I couldn't believe it -- The day before I was walking around without a jacket! In my hurry to take off, I only brought old-school Van Halen CDs with me. I love VH but for eight hours! --That's too much. I got back and hung out with my Mom. Saturday, I got my oil changed -- in my car, ha ha! and waited for the nephews to come over. I was greeted with a friendly, "Hey, diaper head." I retorted, "Oh yeah, poop bottom." I love the kids! My Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law, nephews, niece and myself had a good dinner. Thanks, Mom. Saturday night, I said good-bye to the kids and started to wash my dirty clothes. As you may or may not know my Dad passed away earlier this year. Anyway, I just said something simple to myself like, what about all his stuff? And damn it if the water works didn't start. It's hard to describe when that happens, you just get a heavy heart. I haven't felt like that since earlier in the year. It's so hard to talk about it with my Mom or my Brother. I am like my Dad in that I keep it all bottled up on the inside. It felt good to let some of it go. Not too long after it happened a friend who went through the same thing told me, you'll never really get over it and damn if he wasn't right.

OK, I have to switch gears here. Sunday, I got up early and drove back to NJ. Good drive. I was supposed to go to a wedding on Sunday but going back to Ohio kind of ruined that. I have to be honest, I wasn't in the mood to dance with someone else's wife or girlfriend. Always a bridesmaid, you know what I'm saying? Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't go. Maybe this will make up for it -- Craig and Rebecca, may you have a long, happy life together. That was something, right? That's it for today.

God Bless America!!!!