Oh Laura, I'm so sorry it's been so tough with your son. It was so lovely to see your face today.

Errr, do me a favor, would you? Please? Feel about those walls to see if there is unusual warmth. This is probably just irrational fear, but the idea of there being shorted wires smoldering crossed my mind. With life being the way that it is, I need reassurance.

Siince it came to mind I have tried to shut my brain up. But in the one in a million chance that something were to happen like that and I didn't say anthing... well, I'd have to follow you to the afterlife to make my apologies.

You all need to read Clifford Simak's City, because you need to read City, but also so you'll know about cobblies.

The preface begins, "These are the stories that the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north."

Aw Laura... so much is helpless and unknown here.

But there are a couple of things you DO know, right? He is big and strong and smart and young. He is unlikely to come to serious harm no matter what a little fool he is being. He also has a kind heart and was raised with love, so he's unlikely to commit serious harm either even if he's being a jerk.

He'll come though this.

Andi, I can now report that I have put my hand on all the walls and there is no heat. I also have three smoke detectors for my one bedroom apartment.

Cobblies? ::shudder::

Mine is APP-lic-able or a-PLIC-able?

The preface begins, "These are the stories that the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north."

Simak rocks. Have you read I Goblin Reservation?

I don't know what got into Penny a few weeks ago, but she was in her favorite spot (under the bathroom sink) and she started growling and hissing. I ran in the hall and startled her out but her tail was puffed up probably 3 times the size.

The bathroom sink/cabinet has a small squre hole cut in it for the pipe to run down and she's always sticking her nose trying climb into the hole. There's nothing under there, but it was like she saw something.

Will thinks that maybe a cat got under the mobile home but I don't see how. Or that the heater scared her but she's never reacted like that.

Freaked me out and she's never acted like that again.

There's nothing inherently scary about cobblies. They're from other dimensions and only the dogs can sense them.

I have read every word Simak wrote multiple times. I probably love Waystation the most, but it's like picking a favorite child. As far as I'm concerned, he's sf's most under-rated author, and, at his best, he's as lyrical as Bradbury.