It's hard to believe that more than a week has passed, and tomorrow I head back to icy Pennsylvania. But there I was, counting the hours before I had to board a plane and fly back to the comfort of my own home and the loving arms of my wife Wendy. I am at times such a soft touch when it comes to emotions. I have to hold back the tears when I say goodbye to friends, even when I know I'll see them all again. I so much enjoy the company of my friends and cherish the time we spend together.

So, with that all that in mind, I knew I had to wrap things up today in preparation for tomorrow's return flight. My back was strained from a combination of sitting in too many theaters over the past week and shoveling 2 feet of heavy snow on Monday. So I took it easy. I had laundry to do, e-mail to answer, and blogging to do. And although I somehow always get behind with my blog, I try to be diligent and steadfast. I know I'm not writing to a big audience, but certainly don't want to let down those who are constantly checking the daily blogs. I pushed forward. Tonight "The Boys" (Mel, Clayton, Kurt, and I) were going to screen a double bill of "Best of Fest" in Ogden.

I got my laundry churning, ate some breakfast, showered, and then headed out for a little fun. Although my back was not up for a snowshoe or ski, I decided I would fetch Drake and take him for a good long walk around the neighborhood. Drake has become a friend to me as well, and he and I have in the past 5 years gone for long hikes and snowshoes along the mountain ranges surrounding Emigration Canyon. A mix of Malamute and Shepherd, Drake is loyal and protective. With him by my side I always feel safe and protected. He may be 10 years old, but he is as strong as a 3 year old pup. He's cuddly, fuzzy, and damn cute. I walked up to his house, shoveled my way to his pen, leashed him, and we headed out. We walked some 2 miles to Mel andDeb's, with Drake walking by my side, watching for interlopers, and marking the edge of every driveway we passed (drake did the marking, not me BTW). Dogs... gotta love them, especially Drake. Once back at the house, I gave Drake some water and loaded him in my car and took him home, saying my final goodbyes to my four legged friend. I'll miss him too.

I drove back home after securing Drake's pen, changed, and prepared for tonight's film screenings in Ogden. Mel soon returned home and we began tonight's festivities, heading out to pick up Kurt and Clayton. The boys were soon on the road. Ogden is a small town North of Salt Lake, once a railroad community. It's a town on the verge of a rebirth, still struggling to re-populate and revitalize its downtown district. It struggles for an identity. There is one Sundance venue in Ogden, Perry's Egyptian Theater, a beautifully restored 800 seat theater. Mel and Clayton have a friend that runs this venue during Sundance and it has become an annual tradition for them to screen a few films here during Sundance, thanks to their friend Carla.

Tonight's films were obviously Award Winners, part of the Annual free public screenings of "Best of Fest" They included "An Education", which won World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic, and "Sin Nombre", winner for U.S. Directing Award: Dramatic. With booze and snacks in hand, the boys were anxious to see tonight's films. After a bit of live organ music, the lights dimmed and the projector kicked into gear. I'll tell you a bit about the films in the next blog entry, so stay tuned for my trip's conclusion and my after-thoughts on Sundance '09.

More to follow. In the meantime... Butter up that popcorn, turn down the lights, and crank up that projector baby, I want to see some more films!

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