Can you really go home???

I'm happy to be in Cincinnati with Dad and my loved ones here, and yet I'm sad. Sad that my time here is almost at an end. And sad at some of the changes and differences between here and where I live now. I went to Borders at 9:15 pm the other night (in Cincinnati) and it was closed! I just had to have a certain book. MY borders in Florida is open every night until 11 pm except for Sunday. And then Barnes & Nobles is open every night until 11 pm. This is definitely the dark ages. Yet, Skyline Chili in Cincinnati stays open till the wee hours. Skyline Chili in Cincinnati closes at 9 pm and 8 pm on Sundays. How awful! (Florida's, I mean. For shame!) Walmart in Cincinnati is never crowded. At least not the one on Colerain Avenue near Struble Road. It's practically dead. At least the 3 or 4 times I've visited. In Florida, I wait in line for an hour to check out. Towns like Finneytown and parts of Fairfield and Norwood where I visited this trip didn't look too good. They're going downhill. I'm not too thrilled with Colerain Avenue, either. And yet, I'd love to be here to be near family and friends. That's what really makes or breaks a place. Our loved ones. I haven't had nearly enough time with them, and yet, I've been away from my loved ones in Florida a long time. When I walked into Walmart this afternoon, and the greeter greeted me, "Welcome to Walmart. Have a good day." it reminded me of "Idiocracy" where the greeter tells Luke Wilson, "Welcome to Costco. I love you." At work we used to have to say something similar on the switchboard. I think the operator still does. I had a very vivid dream a couple nights ago, fueled by my visit here, and I'm almost done with an erotic short story I'm going to submit to Harlequin Spice Briefs. Wish me luck. I'm really going to do it. I have so much writing and submitting to do when I get home. I know I'll be chafing at the day job, wanting to get to my night job. I'm already chomping at the bit. So much to do, so little time. I've also been trying to get more into my My Space. Will you be my friend if you're there? http://www.myspace.com/ashleyladdromancewriter