we are all alive

so we finally found someone to hang out with tonight after three days of pretty much just listening to the news... and then the fire people repealed our evacuation order so we got to go home instead. we are fine, the place is fine, the cats are fine. our little trooper twilight just a minute ago happily slew a peacock feather and then lay on her back to wash a paw. hobbes is sleeping in the middle of the floor. balloon is being alert but no longer crying and begging to be held (which he did pretty much the whole time we were in san clemente). even shadow only hid for about twenty minutes before coming out for a snack.
there were sixteen messages on our phone. several from friends and family wanting to know how we're doing, four from my boss... (whoops!) and one from my brother: "hey. just callin' to see what's going on. uhhhhh, i guess you guys are at work... talk to you later." methinks someone doesn't watch the news.