We are a lucky, lucky family.  The smoke on Monday and residual odor?  Caused by a gas leak in the HVAC unit that sparked a small fire.  We are very lucky it was a small fire and it stayed a small gas leak!!!  The repairman shut the gas off to the HVAC unit yesterday, and will back today to fix it today (he didn't have the parts with him, of course!)  Lucky, lucky us!!!!  We have a cold house (62 degrees inside when I got us this morning) but no other damage.  I've got the pellet stove turned up this morning - we'll be warm soon!

My mom's had a rough week - her brother Joe died last Friday, and her sister Jenny died on Christmas.  Neither one were in the greatest of health, but....you just tend to assume that they will just keep going.  Jenny had been in and out of the hospital so much lately with so many complications that I think we were kind of getting used to it.  Joe was still working (as a courier) and died on the job.  They think it was a heart attack for him, but they scheduled an autopsy, so we'll know more later.