Where Oh Where Has My Big Huge Dog Gone?

Been too low energy in the evenings to post lately. I've been sleeping poorly, waking up a couple times a night and getting up early with a sore back/shoulders, but not *that* poorly. Don't know if it's preggo tired, solo parenting tired (Josh has been out the last few nights in a row), or just general holiday season overwhelm tired, but yeah. Not much has happened between kid bedtime and me bedtime, except maybe a bit of light reading and a bath or two. I hope this is just a phase.

I'm only posting in here tonight because I'm worried and need to vent: Tomo (our enormous akita, for those of you who don't know) ran away today and she still isn't back. It's been hours and hours. The workers who are currently deconstructing our driveway (have I even mentioned this project yet? I don't think so...we're replacing our driveway. Cos we didn't have enough going on, I spose.) accidentally left the gate to the front yard open, and she skedaddled. That was at some point this afternoon. Josh (and even Dri, who came over after work) have been scouring the neighborhood on foot and in the car, but no sign of Tomo so far. The Humane Society said they hadn't seen her when I called right before they closed this evening (we'll have to look there again tomorrow and file an official "lost pet" report). We just don't know what else to do. She rarely gets out and about these days, so I'm worried that when she bolted (in fear? in excitement? who knows) she got far enough away that she wouldn't be able to figure out how to get back. And it's COLD outside tonight...there's been frost the last couple mornings. I mean, I know she can take care of herself, generally--she's a big strong fierce doggie, and I'm more afraid for the wildlife than for her, as far as that goes. But she doesn't know from cars, and we're right next to one of those rural highway type streets that's supposed to be a 45 mph speed limit but which everyone goes freeway speeds on. I'm also worried about what might happen if she meets other dogs--she's not a submissive dog herself, and there could be trouble. I know she's ok with people, but who knows if she'll let other people get close to her if she's out there running around freaked out by all the newness. I hope she does--she's got an ID tag on, so if someone could manage to grab her, they'd hopefully call us. Or bring her to the Humane Society, and they'd call us. I just hate the not knowing, and of course my brain keeps trying to jump to the worst conclusions and figure out what to do if she really doesn't come home ok.

Waugh. I'm rambling I know, just sticking together a big mishmosh of worries without any attempt at editing. But I'm just feeling so anxious and unhappy about this situation...and hopefully the worries are better out than in. :(

Please come home, doggie dear! Your pack is worried about you!