A little freaked out

I am very grateful we have a dog. Sometimes I complain about her; she is very needy and has some OCD tendancies, which can be hard to handle in a person, let alone an animal, but last night I was reminded of how important she is.

I always lock the house up like a ship going into a hurricane when I go to bed, but that doesn't keep me from being a little scared of all the "what- if's" when Brian is at work and I'm on my own. Last night at about 3am Clara started barking ferociously! This was not the first time she had done this, and in the past I have seen cat eyes glowing back at me from the back patio, so I usually write it off as some sort of scurrying animal. I did check things out this time, because she was barking louder than usual and much more angrily. I even let her into the backyard where she ran around sniffing for about 5 minutes an then came back in still growling. Nothing seemed too unusual, so I went back to bed and assumed it was nothing.

Then Brian came home this morning and pointed out that the front security door was standing open! I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check to make sure it is closed and locked before I go to bed. It has a sticky lock that sometimes tricks me, so I can see how it may have been left unlocked, but I KNOW it was closed. That can only mean that someone came up to the door and opened it. Sure, the front door was locked also, but I'm sure it would take a not- too- skilled thief to figure out how to get past those rinky- dink contraptions. Just the thought of someone lurking outside my front door while the kids and I sleep inside makes me shudder!

All I know is that I am grateful for a dog who barks at everything that comes within 20 feet of the house, even if it is annoying when it's just a cat. I will never complain about her again!