Yesterday started out as what passes for normal in my not-so-normal life. I worked a normal ten hour day in my office staring at a computer screen, had a delivered lunch from the deli and answered ten phone calls from clients. I came home from work to find a message on my answering machine from good friends.

"We need to go out of town for a few days and need you to house sit for us. We know you can't live here but please come over during the days. There are packages scheduled to arrive just ...