Ok all - here's what's been happening.
1. Scary home situation still on hold. I'm playing ostrich in the hopes that things aren't really happening.
2. Came home from dinner last night to find that our 'girls' had escaped their cell (backyard)

and were runnig loose. Luckily, some

happened to hear them in their yards and went out to investigate. Isis (our B&W) came into their yard because she'd seen their cat. Chloe - our white dog - is a follower and clumsy as heck so SHE ran into their trashcan and knocked it over. Well, they recognized them from DD and I walking them periodically and knew they were local so even though they look intimidating - she took a chance and tried to catch them. They both had their collars on but it took a while. Eventually they rounded them up and took them inside. They WONDERFUL people put their own dogs in the back (theirs are inside dogs too) and allowed my "brats" (

) to stay inside. Once they were inside - they went directly to the dogs blankets and laid down. Chloe was the first to allow them to pet her and that was when they got a chance to read the tags. Because it was late - they didn't catch our address on the tag but did a reverse phone number lookup and caught our address that way. Amazingly - they'd been out for about a 1/2 hr. The

lady said that they were very skittish and scared and their hearts were really pounding but once inside they settled down - well the white one did - Isis - would just pace but would settle down long enough to be spoken and head patted only. Chloe would lie down and roll over to have her tummy scratched along with her neck. That Dog is a sucker for neck rubs. She's easily bought!
Anyway, since we got back late, I was scared to see this person standing inf front of DH's car wearing a black hoodie and 'casing' out the house but it turns out that my angel was just leaving an additional note telling us where to find the dogs. Bless her heart. Her house is on the corner of a MAJOR HEAVILY TRAVELED THOROUGHFARE!

We were extremely lucky that they weren't run over. I know exactly what happened/ Isis broke through our very old wooden gate and the rope holding it together busted. She took off and Chloe followed. Even though they are micro-chipped. These dogs rarely are turned back in. In fact, there has been a rash of husky-napping around here. So I consider myself extremely blessed that my girls are back home! THANK YOU GOD! AND MY GIRLS ANGEL!
Now I really must do something good for them. I was thinking some kind of fruit basket or something like that - would do you guys think? I didn't even think about a reward but I did ask her what I could do to thank her. Her response - do something nice for someone else. What a lady I tell you. And a wonderful experience in meeting a new/old neighbor. She's lived there for years but out here -if your more than 2 houses away - we're basically all strangers. She said that while she was scared to approach them she had a hunch they were inside dogs as Chloes coat was too white and shiny to look like they were outside dogs.
3. I have signed on to do the WB Transatlantic Repo cruise. I was 'informed' this morning by a friend that she managed to book some of the last cat 12's that went on special. I thought about this, checked with DH and DD14 about going. While DD wasn't happy - she said - go ahead. I know you need time away. DH said that if this is what I want to do then I should go ahead as we may never have another year like the kind we're having. VERY BUSY at work. HHHMMMM...wonder if he is just trying to get me out of his hair? Oh who cares - as long as I get to visit some of my childhood longings. I always thought it would be nice to visit the rock of Gilbralter. Now, I'm going to get the chance.
I've always wanted to see it ever since as a child, anyone remember those traveling encyclopedia salespeople that would sell thos special, classic books? You spent lots of $$ for color pictures - an 'heirloom' to pass on to your kids? Yeah - those - well, back in '72 or thereabouts my father bought them for us kids and I remember looking at this 'special' place in the world and saying to myself - I'm going there one day. I'm happy because I get to knock off another one of my places-to-visit-before-I-die list. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful life.
And that brings me back to my original point - sorry its so long - just when I think I'm having a bad time, I get knocked up alongside my head and makes me open my eyes to realize - I truly am blessed. I could have lost 2 very important people WELL OK - their dogs - but their still family and instead I still have them. My girls are alive and well - the human ones that is and DH is super supportive and happy that I'm going.