Saving money, Losing money and other things

Just got done with my shopping trips for the week and man it is exhausting. I have really gotten into the coupon thing. It is amazing how much money you save, especially when you match it with sales. My Super Kmart was doing double coupons up to 2.00 so my sister (I got her into it too, now) came over and we went. The weird thing is...we both spent the same amount and had the same total after coupons but we got different things. Then I went to Target and got a rain check that they told me yesterday I could not get. I went back today and had no problem. The girl yesterday just did want to take the time...totally ticked me off. Then I went to CVS. Overall, my total at all stores was 110 and I spent 50.00. wish I would have taken a picture to show you all I got because it just amazes me. It is hard work because it takes time to get all the coupons together and figure out where the best places to go each time but it is so worth it in the end. I can not believe how much money I have wasted over the years!

Anyway, today is my mom's birthday so Happy Birthday Mom! She does not read here, thank God, but just thought I would put it out there. Yesterday we went to my sisters and celebrated moms and hers birthday. I made my ice cream pie for my mom. It is our favorite. It was hard to have it sit in my house after making it and not eat it. Then we all went to the casino. It sucked! We all lost. :(

I can not believe it is almost October. Where has the time gone? I have been out of work for 3 months...it does not feel like it. So 2 funny things about the job search. 1. I got an email from a company that wanted me to apply. They were listing their perks, and no joke, one of the perks was..."free access to walk around the office.". LOL Phew so happy they would not chain me to my desk. Anyway, it turns out that company is a scam because they were asking for my credit info before they even meet me. Yea sure I will get right on that...UM NO WAY! 2. I applied to a MAJOR cable company ( I won't mention the name but they are pretty big all around so you can probably figure it out) because my BIL works there and likes it. Plus, it is basicaaly a job tailored to what I have done. I mean if someone wrote a job description describing what I have done for the last 15 years of my life, this job would have been it. Plus a major perk with them is they will pay for IVF. I mean I really do not want to go into a call center again but it would have been waaaay worth it. So, I get an email from them on Friday, saying they have decided that I am not qualified enough for the job. Oh really, I do NOT even think they read my resume! It's their major LOSS because I am sure they are going to hire some person that has half the experience of me or less and they will quit or something and they will have lost out on a good employee. I just found it HILARIOUS that they said that I was not qualified. It proves they did not even look but  I think they should have just said, at this time all the positions are filled and we will keep you in mind for the future...IDIOTS!

Sammy has been doing REALLY good (besides being VERY lonely). He is feeling so much better, I am so glad that I TOLD the vet to give him anti inflammatory drugs. Who knows what would have happened if I had not...

We picked up Katie Jo's ashes. She was cremated because her original "mom" wants her to be buried with her. I had to call the vet inquiring where they were because they told me it would be a week and it was 10 days and I had not heard. She said she called our old phone number from 5 years ago and then said "you signed off on it" (very snotty). First off, you have my right phone number because you have called me several times at it...2nd when I "signed off" on it, it was when I was hysterically crying because I had just lost my dog. You handed me a piece of paper and said can you verify that this is her name and age. Nothing (that I remember) about phone number. 3rd I was not mad or anything I just asked where the ashes were because it had been a while. So hubby picks up ashes and I tell him I want to keep some of the ashes for us. I have put a box together with her collar, favorite toy, favorite blanket and then I was going to put her ashes in there and then if we end up staying here I will bury her in the backyard or if we move I will bury her there. Hubby says NO! He says he has no desire to keep her ashes. I burst into tears because I just want to have some piece of her and he says fine. I know it may be weird to some people but I needed that.

Well, that is what has been going on with me the last few days. I hope all is well with all of you and that you have had a WONDERFUL weekend.

Talk to you soon!

I'm going

Well, I decided to go...Sammy is doing really good (in fact he seems like his old self) and I know my MIL will take care of him as if he is her own. He likes it there because they spoil him. I will take the crate in case they need it but I am sure things will be fine. They only have 2 stairs on their deck so he won't have any to go up and down. She also uses the same vet so if something happens she knows where to go and I can be home soon in 3 hrs.

We really just need to get away and since we will never be able to afford it any other way... Unfortunately we can't take him with us and I do think that would be worse because he would go nuts in a new place. We should have fun with my nephews. I will be calling lots to check on Sammy. My mom is going to take Katie Jo and the cat and birds will have the house to themselves. I have never left my cat alone but the last time we took her to MIL and she was horrible. She did not eat or drink for days and tore up FIL arm when he tried to get her out from under the bed. My MIL has 5 cats so that does not make Mia happy. She is a people cat so I am sure she will be sad but she will be fine for 2 days.

This is the one thing that sucks about being an animal lover and owner...whenever you leave you have to find places for them. When you have 1 it isn't bad but when you have 5 it is a little more difficult.

Anyway, I am looking forward to it, even if it is camping. I hope everyone has a GREAT Memorial Day Weekend and I will talk to everyone on Sunday or Monday...Time to pack.

Should I stay or should I go? I don't know...

Today was such a good day with Sammy. He seems like his normal self but the problem with that is...he is not a good listener. He wants to jump and go up and down the stairs. Does not want to stay in his little home and his look, like we hate him, just breaks my heart. I am kind of irritated because I feel like I am the one that had to figure out how to treat him. Is that not what I pay the vet for? Why would he not figure out that the anti inflammatories would help? I mean I do not know yet if this is going to be the entire answer to our problem but right now it is looking promising. The only problem now is Sammy has figured out that we are giving him pills in his favorite food...cheese and therefore does not want it. This now forces me to do it the hard way and basically force it in his mouth. Sometimes he is good at hiding it in his cheeks and then casually shaking his head only for us to see a pill flying out...he thinks he is sneeky. Anyway, I am happy he is feeling better and lets all continue to hope it stays that way.

So I am conflicted...we have the opportunity to go with my nephews and my sis and BIL camping this weekend. They went there for Memorial weekend and loved it. This time they got upgraded to a cabin and invited us to go. I really want to go. I originally said we would go before the whole Sammy thing got bad and now my nephews are very excited. But I am worried if I go. We would take Sammy to his moms. He would get much love and care there. The only thing I would worry about there is she has a puppy, a Pomeranian, and he is hyper crazy and I worry if that would get Sammy all hyped up. If he continues like he is, doing well then I really want to still go. If he is bad then for sure I would not go but I worry if I go...what if something bad happens? Am I horrible for wanting to go and leaving him? We so need to get away even it is camping...which I am not a big fan of but since it is in a cabin that does make it better. We have not done anything since we went to Florida almost now 2 years ago. We really need to go and have fun...but I worry about MY baby...I do not want anything to happen to Sammy. As of right now I would have to say I honestly think he will be ok...but I don't know...

I guess I will have to make a judgment tomorrow. We will be leaving on Friday and coming back Sunday. We will be about 3 hrs away so I guess IF we do decide to go then IF something bad were to happen then I could be home soon...ugh I do not know what to do...

Sammy update

Well, I talked to the vet today but not because he called me. I called him and he 1. said they will not do a payment plan...along with the other 8-10 vets I called today...2. gave us some anti inflammatory drugs for Sammy that worked for him the last time. He is doing really good today which is good news but makes it hard for us to keep him calm. He thinks he can do anything today. I am hoping that tomorrow goes well too because DH works from 8:00 - 5:00 instead of his normal 4:00am - 1:00pm. Which means I will be with him all day and will not have a car...though hubby can be home in minutes I really just need it to be a good day.

I did talk to the Humane Society and they said they would do a payment plan IF we pay 66% up front which is hardly what I would call a payment plan but I guess it is better then nothing. So if Sammy is not well on Thursday when hubby gets paid then we will take him wither there or to our vet.

Please pray or send good thoughts or whatever that he continues to improve from here on...my heart can't take any more. Thank you all for all your kind words...it means the WORLD to me!

I am a HORRIBLE fur baby mom!

Things have not been well...with my doggie that is. I thought he had turned a corner. That getting him to the vet last week would do the trick...it obviously has not. I know it has pretty much monopolized my blog lately but it is monopolizing my life as well. Last night and mainly this morning was the absolute worst. Hubby was at work and Sammy was pacing. All of sudden he just stood there and yelped and screamed for 5-10 minutes straight. It was like someone had a death grip on him and was hurting him so bad. I ran to him and tried to get him to lay down. He is not suppose to be up and around. We are suppose to cage him...I don't have one.

I tried to call the vet to find out what I should do and he was in surgery. They said he would call us back...it is 7:45 pm and he hasn't. I tried to call them again at 4:30 and they said it may be late because he was very busy today.

Today has been draining. All I have done is cry. I do not know what to do. I am sad because he hurts so bad and that I do not have a dime to my name. I am hoping that my vet will work out a payment plan with us and help. I just want someone to help him. I looked on line to see what I could do if You have an emergency with an animal but you are unable to pay at the moment. I could not find anything. all I found was a bunch of people saying..."Well then you should not have a dog if you can't afford it."...HUH if it were only that easy! What about the people who did have a job, who could provide the love and support for the dog but then hit some financial bumps in the road, like losing a job and now is struggling to get by. What about the person that would do anything to help your fur baby but does not have any resources. What is a person suppose to do? Oh as soon as I lose my job I am suppose to take all my animals to the pound so they can NOT find them a home (i live in Detr.oit everyone is broke) and the kill them. UH NO! Would you do that with your child? I wish there was some law that stated they had to help them whether we could afford it or not. Like with humans there should be SOME PLACE to go. I have not found any...

So I have sat here...almost paralized with what to do. I have had animals die in my life. I have pretty much always had animals but in my adult life I have never really had to deal with a sick animal who I do not know how to help. I just need the vet to let me make a payment plan and I will do anything to help Sammy...I so wish I would have bought insurance for him.

I thought this would be what I would be going through with Katie Jo. Although it would be hard I would know it is because she is old, she has lived her life. Sammy is only 8...he has a ways to go. I am hoping he has not gotten better just because he really has not just laid down and done nothing. I mean he hasn't been up and running around...he isn't like that normally...he is a huge sleeper but he has been up and walking around. Sometimes when we are not paying attention or haven't been home he has jumped up and down from the couch...gone up and down stairs. So today after calling around and then doing some MacGy.veresque moves I think we have rigged up something to prevent him from moving around too much. We moved the bed against the wall, took our broken closet door and laid that against the bed so he can't get under the bed and then moved a little dresser in front of the opening. Throw in a blanket and pillow and food and water and there is his new home. He can walk about three steps and that is it. So I told him if he does not lay with us in the living room he must be in there. We put them in there for a while and he stayed but then started scratching to get out. We brought him to the living room and he never moved a muscle after that he just laid on the couch except when we carried him to go outside. We did finally find a crate that my neighbors had for a dog that they just put down. We are going to put him in there if he does not follow the rules. :) He may hate it but it is for his own good. I wish I could make him understand that.

My hope is we can get him to lay down for a few weeks and then he will start to feel better...or better yet we can work something out with the vet. My fur baby just looks at me with the saddest eyes and I feel like a failure as a fur baby momma! Maybe that is why I do not have real kids...I suck...I can't even help a dog! He wants me to help, he NEEDS me to help him and all I can do is say I LOVE YOU AND I AM TRYING!

Nephews and their pics

Last night we babysat my nephews. First we had No.ah by himself because Joey was the ring bearer in a wedding and then I went and picked Joey up so mom and dad could go back to the reception. Jo.ey was so darn cute in his tux. He insisted he was ugly and wanted everyone to say so. It must start at a young age with boys not wanting to be dressed up. He received a toy rocket for his present for standing up in the wedding and he was so excited about that. When I got back after picking him up Noah who was half asleep when I left was now wide awake and running around having so much fun. he kept telling me he wanted to dance and would just run and jump on his but or something. He has no fear of anything. he can bang his head so hard and then get up like nothing happened. Jo.ey is such the complete opposite of that.

Anyway, No.ah was playing rough with his Uncle as usual. the next thing I see is he falls and he comes up crying holding his hand. He won't move his pinky finger and it is swelling up. I thought it was broken so I get ice and try to call mommy. He stops crying after about a minute after the ice and says "I feel better". so I say make a fist, which he does with the other hand. i say "do it with the other hand." He does (not with the pinky) and yells "I did it I did it!". I start checking it out thinking I feel bone and have DH look at it. he squeezes and No.ah starts crying again saying it hurts. I put more ice on it and he says it feels better. I call sis again and No.ah is in the background saying..."I not crying. I not crying." He was all smiles like nothing happened. I of course was still worried. Jo.ey says he is calling the dr and pretends to call and tells No.ah he has to go to the dr. No.ah was happy about that. I am thinking please Lord don't let it be broken. Anyway, as the night goes on he is off and on about it hurting and I try bending it when he is not paying attention and he does not react so I start to feel better that it is not broken. Basically I think he jammed it pretty good. He was just so good about it and so cute. He kept telling me he wanted a hug or a high five. I told him I would give him a great big bear hug and he said "No, I want an Aunt Shell hug." ...they just melt my heart all the time. Well, my sis let me know that she checked it out this morning and it is not broke so that is good news. I felt so bad.

We came home last night and Sammy was back to yelping. So after looking up info about his pain meds I gave him a little more and he finally went to sleep with DH. Today he seems ok.

Today, we went to MIL to help move furniture around after she had a bunch of people over for the last month. She needed help getting the house back in order. Then I went to a friends house that I had not seen in about a year and we went to a late lunch. It was nice catching up with her. Actually, the house I live in was hers. Her and I started work at the place I just left on the same day and we became friends. She moved and bought a new house and was paying 2 house payments. She knew I wanted a house so one day after she had left the company she called and asked if I wanted to buy her house and she would pay the down payment and closing costs. I was sold! The house was great because her husband was in construction and everything except the bathroom had been redone recently.

It was nice getting caught up. We can never get schedules to coincide because she is pretty busy with her 3 kids. So we have been trying for months to get together and today was like the only day we could get in. I had fun. I am home now and hubby is going to his friends now for a while.

Well, I am happy this week is over and I am hoping that next week goes a lot better.

For your enjoyment...and mine...Here are some great pics of my nephews...
Jo.ey

Noah

Both

Do they make neck braces for dogs?

The last couple days have been a little crazy. Yesterday Sammy was doing better then he has in a long time. He was running around and playing like usual. i was so relieved. So lat night I went to my moms and visited with her, my nephews, my sis, BIL, and my mothers best friend from when I was young. I have not seen her in probably 10 or more years. she moved to California a long time ago. She was in town for her sons 40th birthday and she wanted to see my sis and I so we went over. She was so much fun when we were young. We used to do crazy things. We would celebrate random things like the 3rd day of the month or something weird and we would go get ice cream. There are a couple things I destinctly remember...

1. We were celebrating something like a Saturday and we went to get McDonald's and then we ate it in a grocery store parking lot. Big celebration...right. Now I think it was cool that we did that...back then as a teenager I was devastatingly embarrassed.

2. One time she said we were going to go to get ice cream and go to this really cool park she heard about. We all piled in the car and then we drove into her back yard. She had a really big back yard.

3. We went to a state park and we were there pretty late. We walking pretty far from the car on some hills and then we saw something in the sky that looked a lot like a UFO and it was close. I remember her freaking out and taking off running. We all followed screaming and running down the hill as fast as we could go.

I have many memories of her and my mom. They were fun times. She was my favorite friend of my moms. She definitely tells it like it is and I like that. It was really nice to see her. she is doing well after being really close to dying a year or 2 ago...I think.

I saw my nephews and as usual they were cute. We are going over to babysit the little one N.oah because they are going to a wedding and Jo.ey is going to be the ring bearer. Oh he is going to look ADORABLE in his tux. I can't wait to see him.

Anyway, I got home around 11:00 and then Sammy was worse then he has ever been. We figured out it was his neck because he would not turn his head and if we touched it he would cry. So we decided we would take him to the vet today. Last night though, was HORRIBLE. He did not sleep at all. all he did was pace up and down the hall way ALL NIGHT and cry. I would try to get him to lay down but he would only do it for like 3 minutes and then yelp and then start pacing again. This was exausting and heartbreaking at the same time because there was nothing I could do to make him feel better.

As soon as the vet opened I made an appointment. we took him at 3:00 today. As well as everyone else in the free world. This place was the busiest I have ever seen it. It was crazy. Sammy was so good. He is a whiner though when we go because he thinks everyone is there to see him and when they do not pet him he does not understand. Today though he was the best he has ever been...even in the car...he HATES the car...although he always THINKS he will like it...he NEVER does.

We explained to the vet what has gone on in the past week and he asked if Sammy had any Bea.gle in him. I said yes he is part Bea.gle. He said neck injuries are common with Bea.gles si he gave him a shot and gave us some pain medication for him to take. He said if he does not start feeling better in a couple weeks that we will have to bring him back for x-rays and more shots. (I hope not because we inquired to the cost and all of it will be 300-500 dollars. UGH!) Hopefully this will do the trick. He said though not to let him run around or jump because that is what happened yesterday. He felt better and then around like a mad dog and then hurt himself worse...So we have to keep him calm for the next month. Hmmm this should be interesting...I wonder if they have doggy neck braces...LOL. I feel so much better now that we took him in! He is sleeping comfortably right now. AHHH!

Hopefully I will be getting a good night sleep tonight and Sammy too.

Going No Where Fast

I've kind of been in a little funk and feeling frustrated the last few days. I feel stuck. I am not going any where. I feel like I am a hamster, running on one of those wheels, going as fast as I can but getting no where.

I am 35, no job, no kids, no money, and no possibilities of any of those things in the near future. I have sent my resume to what seems like every company in the state of M1ch1gan yet, no responses unless it is for a scam or sales positions. That just really does not seem possible. I mean I suppose I could get a job at some fast food restaraunt but I make more money on unemp1oyment so I won't be doing that.

I am not sure about Sammy. I thought he was doing better and then yesterday he did not seem to good. Thankfully he has not been throwing up or coughing anymore but he just mopes around. He is clearly not himself. I guess the yelping has gotten a little better too. He does it about once or twice a day and it is a little whimper. I feel bad for him and I feel guilty that I have not taken him to the vet because I need to wait until we get paid. I could have taken him on Saturday but I honestly thought he was doing better...so I paid bills. I just REALLY wish he could tell me what is the problem.

Oh, let me tell you what I think is the cutest thing and I think my other dog Katie Jo did the other night. So, the other night, at about 1:00 am Katie wanted to go outside so I let her out. When she came back in she laid down for about a half hour. I was half asleep watching a movie on the couch and I hear he go to the food dish and eat for a minute and then push the bowl around because it was empty. Then she started pacing back and forth between me in the living room and my DH in the bedroom. She does this usually when she wants to go outside or she is trying to tell us something. It is cute but can sometimes get annoying when you can't figure out what she is trying to tell you and every few seconds you her click click click of her nails up and down the hallway.

So I get up and say do you need to go back outside and she just stares at me. I look at the food bowl and see that it is empty and say, "oh are you hungry and want more food?" and she perks up and gets excited. So I have hit the nail on the head. I grab the bowl and fill it with food. She comes over to me and licks my foot and goes to the bedroom for 1 second then comes back to the living room and lays down and goes to sleep. She did not eat any of the food. So I try to get her attention and say come on Katie here is some food. She looks up, uninterested, and then goes back to sleep. I sat down confused and then Sammy comes out and eats some food. Then it hits me...Katie was totally trying to take care of Sammy. She knew she ate the last of the food and wanted to make sure Sammy had some. She got my attention and then went back and let Sammy know he could come eat. At least that is what it seems like to me. Is that not the cutest thing? I think she knows that Sammy is not feeling good. What a good dog!

Well, thats it for me right now. Nothing going on in my life except a bunch of crap. Hopefully Sammy will start feeling better soon...and me too.

Crazy people and my doggies

ok I admit it...I said I wasn't going to watch octo m0m but I totally did. It was like train wreck...you want to look away but you just can't. It was so totally boring!!! The voice over kept saying "and you are not going to believe what we got on tape!"....It was the birth. Why would I not believe that? It is not like she is a pioneer. That no one else has ever shown that on TV. Um I think I have seen that 1000 times. Other things that drove me crazy...She totally acted like she hated the attention but you could tell she LOVED it! Isn't she the one that wanted someone to pay a million dollars for her story? Then she tried to say she has nothing done to her lips. Really? Do you have a bridge for me to buy too? Then she started putting Kate down for getting a tummy tuck and just showing off for TV. Whatever...pot meet kettle! The one thing I felt bad for her about was her mom. Her mom was on her case and not supportive at all. I understand that she has made some bad decisions but she is your daughter after all. You can disagree with her choices but you should still try to be there for her and support her instead of going to the media and saying bad things about her.

on why she did it...She says she could not imagine them destroying her frozen embryos and that is why she transferred all of them. I can understand to a degree but have you ever heard of donation? There are other things you could have done. This was not your only choice and your doc should never have allowed this.

Oh and the other day on our local news they reported some woman says she is pregnant with 12 babies. WHAT!? Then they said that they don't know if it is true because the woman refused to have an ultrasound. UMMMM...then why are you reporting it? Isn't that just feeding into what this woman wants. Stop giving attention to crazy people. The news should be for....(and I know this sounds crazy) LEGIT NEWS!!! This is why we that really struggle have a hard time with people understanding how we feel. we get associated with crazy people!

Anyway, enough about octo mom and crazy people. Something is wrong with my dog Sammy. 2 nights ago he was laying down sleeping and then all of sudden he just let out this yelp that sounded so bad! I checked him all over and found nothing. Then he would not sit still for more then 5 minutes. He would lay down then get back up. Finally I gave him one of these calming pills we have for storms and such. they don't usually work but I thought I would give it a try. It eventually worked. He has been eating and going to the bathroon just fine but every couple hours he yelps out in pain. Yesterday we checked him over again and we found an area under is front leg that he has scratched to death! It is so bad so we but some salve on it that we have for Katie Jo but I am not sure if that is it. Nothing else seems to be the problem. This happened a couple years ago and we took him to the vet but they did not find anything. Sammy hates to go in the car and when we get to the vet he just cries and cries like someone is trying to kill him. The vet really can not get x-rays of him because he is such a wreck about it. Last time we went to the vet and he just gave him some steroids to take at home but once we got home Sammy was perfectly fine. Never to yelp again. So I am not sure if I should tramatize him and take him to the vet or if it is the thing under his leg and we will just keep putting some cream on it and wait for it to heal. I don't want him to hurt that is all I know. I think I will call the vet and see what he says. Usually they won't give any inbo without seeing the dog...which totally sucks! I really wish dogs could talk it would make this so much easier!

Here is my Show and Tell for this week...

These are my babies or at least 2 of them.

My dogs. #1 is Sammy He is 6 and a beagle mix with I think a dalmation butI do not know for sure. We rescued him from the Humane Society. When we went to find a dog we went directly to this cage that had this dog cowered in the back. My husband instantly said I want him. The lady at the Humane Society said "you don't want him". (Nice, aren't you suppose to try to help find a home for the dog?). She said "he is very timid. He was abused when they brought him in and he will not be good with kids" . They did not know his name so they named him Wimpy (again great way to try to help the dog). We took him for a walk and just knew he was the dog for us. I said right away he looked like a Sammy and so we took him home that day. We have had him for 4 years and he is a GREAT dog! He is spoiled rotten. When we first got him he was afraid of everything! If kids came arond he would duck under cars or beds. He never begged and he stayed in the corner and shook. Well, we broke him of all those things, including the begging. Now he barks at us if we don't give him some of our food. He is a great dog with kids because he is so mellow. My friends kids come over and take him for a walk and he never takes off he just stays by their side. The only thing is he hates Thunderstorms...in fact he is crying right now and trying to jump in my lap because we had 1 rumble of thunder like 10 minutes ago. He doesn't like fireworks or if we clap our hands, so needless to say he doesn't like it when we are watching sports. He hides in the bedroom. He is so much better now and he definitely gets a lot of love!

#2 is Katie Jo. She is a full bred Schnauzer. She is like 12 or 13. We got her from a friend of our family who just passed away this last March due to lung cancer. She is old but I think bringing to our house has breathed new life into her. She was very depressed when we got her which is understandable she had been in a sad environment for a year and she just lost her mom. But she is happy now! She runs and plays with Sammy and she does not take any crap from anyone. She is definitely our watch dog. If someone comes to our house that she doesn't know she will go after them. Once you get in the house and she sees we are ok with you, then she is ok. She has OCD for sure! When she eats she has to touch her nose to floor several times before eating (kind of like Robert in Everybody loves Raymond). If you interrupt her she has to go through the whole process again. It is pretty funny. 

I love my animals! I don't know what I would do without them. Some how even when I am having a bad day they can bring a smile to my face and they have a calming affect. They love me no matter what and they never have anything mean to say. Just lots of kisses and love. What more could a person want?