I kept saying, "Back home," in LA and my friends there were convinced that I was talking about my house there (that I am selling, severing my ties to that city for good). They can't seem to realize that I have moved back home to New York, the place I called home throughout my 17 years in LA.

It's thirty degrees here but it feels balmy to me. The 50 degrees in LA with just a sweater is a lot colder than 30 in Manhattan with a down coat.

I've got one more week of vacation before school starts up again and I'm spending it dreaming about my book coming out, finally. Rodale has finished copies but I haven't seen one yet. We've gone back and forth on the cover. I can't wait to see how it finally looks. i've never worked so hard nor so long on a book. Now I really want the world to hear about it.

My kids were besides themselves to see me again. I missed them desperately while I was in LA. Their mom left the next day and she left them each Valentine chocolate hearts on their beds. I was hoping that she would stay longer, a friend had even offered her a free apartment, but the kids loves the chocolate. Moments later Ava run up to me with a paper napkin. I just smiled, didn't get it. Then I noticed that the square was tilted like a diamond and the top corner had been folded in and a notch at the top. She'd made a heart out of the napkin. My own heart swelled. I'll keep it forever. It was such a simple gesture but so pure.