We had storms yesterday. When they were over, Max, who loves the pool deck, used the pet door and went out.

When I was closing up the house for the night, I couldn’t find him. I always locate all cats before going to bed. I put some clothes on and went out on to the deck to get a better look and I saw that the pool cage door on one side had been locked into a wide-open position.

The last time a door was left ajar, Max went adventuring but came back right away. This time, there was no sign of him hours later. I left both pool doors open to give him access and searched the neighborhood with no luck.

Ed thought he might have been stolen. We also suspected mischief because of the hate that is coming my way.

I could not sleep, stayed on the computer, wrote the events to that point, and I couldn't stop crying. There have been incidents where some sick people actually throw pets into a canal.

I told Ed we should keep both pool cage doors wide open to give him access. I went to bed with my meditation tape, and when it was done, I was still wide awake. I lay there trying to convince myself I could sleep and started crying again and then I heard a bump from the pool area. I got up -- it was now 4:30 a.m. --and went out. I saw a dark shape in the gloom and it was Max. The little bugger had been out 6 hours and if he heard my pathetic calls to him, he ignored them. If I weren't so relieved I'd strangle him.

I had printed out 100 fliers that I planned to distribute this morning. I am wrung out, sleep deprived and coming down off monumental crisis mode.

It is very possible that someone deliberately propped open the pool cage door to give me grief because a human hand has to move the hinge that keeps it open. Would the wind do that? Ed says not possible.

It is now 5:30 a.m. and I am going back to bed. I'm sure Saturday will be shot, but my cat is safe. And I still feel like crying.

xx, Teal