I've missed Western New York. You don't think you'll miss the place you grew up. You know all its faults. You know it has no jobs and high taxes. You know the weather is terrible over 6 months a year. You know the canal is insanely polluted. But damn if I didn't miss that canal. I missed the old stone buildings, I missed the sense of history, I missed living in an area I "get." I liked California and it taught me a lot, but it wasn't "home." I'm happy for now to be back in my quaint little canal town with a church on every corner (even though I'm agnostic.)

So in summary: I'M HOME!!