This lovely, happy face belongs to Lexi - our rescued from a puppy mill, American Bulldog mama. We have worked with her for 9 months and she is probably the best dog in the world (sorry Spidey). On Friday night, while out chasing her stick, she stepped in a rabbit hole and tore her ACL. Ouch. Now she needs an expensive surgery to fix it. The vet said it's not a big hurry (people can wait 18 months for the surgery!), but if it isn't done it will be a persistent lameness. Oy vey. Have any of you had an animal with this problem? Did you do the surgery? Or did you not? I'm looking for opinions and advice here...
Oh, and while she was at the vet I asked about the very stinky bum issue and it turns out she has an infection in her anal gland (just what you wanted to hear, right?). At least that is an easy fix and she is now on antibiotics, all the stuff she's slept on is in the laundry and my house should be stink free soon!
Meanwhile, I am busy pricing items for my very last garage sale! That's right - I am actually down to the last of the things in my house that are ready to leave. I can't believe it! There are empty drawers and cupboards in every room and IT FEELS GREAT! Once this garage sale is done I will declare my house officially stripped! I am so excited to move on to other aspects of the Stripper Project and to work on stripper maintenance. The first thing on the list will be paperwork and a filing system (more on that later).
How are things coming along in your homes? Are you noticing progress? Are you doing well at keeping things from coming in to your homes? Have you made any changes that are going to stick forever?
The not shopping has been a big change for me and to realize that we really don't need anything has really made me aware of what I am doing with my money. It's a good start to living well below our means, getting out of the last of our debt (not that much) and now building another emergency fund. I hate emergencies that take my money away.
Ok, enough money whining.
Drop me a comment here or on facebook with opinions or advice about the dog and let me know how the stripping is going at your house. I need some encouraging stories!
Sorry I have no advice about the dog...but I constantly lead a "stripper" life! I always have a thrift store box on the go...and although mortgage broke...no debt on any credit cards or LOC's. It is a good feeling to live like that! And the paperwork thing...I have some great methods to control it! I know you will do a good job, but if you are looking for any ideas just let me know! Heather
ReplyDeleteHeather, I am ALWAYS looking for ideas to curb the paperwork clutter! Paper is my biggest downfall at home. So let me know your top tips!
DeleteThere are no words to express the degree to which I HATE paperwork! I've automated just about everything that I can, but still, I feel overwhelmed by the piles and piles that just keep arriving!
ReplyDeleteI fear I don't have much advice to offer on the dog front. I actually bought health insurance for my cats a few years back... part of me thinks I'm crazy, but it's really nice to know that injuries and illnesses will be covered.
I did dog-sit once for a dog that had recently had surgery to repair a torn ligament. I had to take the dog to the vet where they gave it a check up and put on a fresh cast. The owner had requested that I walk the dog at a nearby park after the appointment... which I dutifully did. In her words... "Oh, you don't need to keep him on leash, he's really good and won't run or anything." So, I get to the park, I open the car door, the dog runs out and before I can even call to him, he was flying through the air straight into the lake! So then we went back to the vet and got another new cast... Oy Vey!
Best of luck with little Lexi... she's a heart breaker for sure!
I have to laugh at your description of the dog taking off for the lake! That is something that Lexi would do :) Telling Lexi that she has to lie down for 10 days is like telling a 3 year old they can't do anything except sit in a chair.
DeleteI have never had pet insurance before, but I think I will be taking some out now. (I know that won't help me for this situation, but should anything happen again.)
Why is paperwork such a big deal for so many of us?? I have a lot of my stuff automated as well, and I don't get very much junk mail anymore, yet the piles still accumulate. I dream of the day that I can be an organized paper person.