Archive for January, 2009
We have two pit bulls. When we retire, we are traveling in an rv & pits, and several other breeds are not allowed, no matter how sweet they are. We've been trying to find homes for them, but it looks pretty bleak.
I have consulted our veterinarian, who put me in touch with someone. She said that she's had 3 friendly pits on the pit adoption website for 2 years. She advised me to put them down.
I've found a pit adoption website myself who have so many who weren't abused as mine were before I got them. They aren't being adopted because either your home owner's insurance will skyrocket or be cancelled. The people who want pits want them for all the wrong reasons. One wanted one for a warehouse guard dog. From my experience people who have guard dogs starve & abuse them to make them mean, as they do for fighting dogs. Someone else wanted one to hunt hogs. She has all of her dogs in cages outside & only brings them out to hunt. If I can't find someone who will treat them as pets, I'd rather put them down.
Footnote: we can't afford to stay in this house after we retire. The rv is not really a choice.
Retirement is not an option, either. I'm already out on disability & he will be soon.
We have been trying to turn public opinion of pits. We take one of them out to public functions in parks. Little kids play with both of them!
The news only shows the bad ones, which had bad owners. Dogs aren't bad by nature. They are trained to attack & kill & they can be rehabilitated. Dogs respond to love.
We've already explored all of the options. People who answer the ads want them for breeding (they're both 'fixed') or fighting, etc. We've been at this for almost 2 years.
nikko- Apparently you didn't read everything. Sometimes the plans you make do not work out. We did not plan to become disabled.The pits are rescues. sSmeone else was irresponsible. How old are you?
One more thing. I have been responsible my entire life. Not only for me, but for other people as well as animals. We can't anticipate what life will throw at us. Of the people I've taken in over the years only one has turned their life around.
well header, I'd rather be dead. I am going to list every option I can think of to get these dogs "seen" and hopefully adopted to wonderful homes. The problem is, the list isn't going to help if you don't take action. So put ads in newspapers even in newspapers that isn't in your own town, there are online classifieds like hoobly.com and oodle.com, put them on there. There is a website called petfinder.com you can put them on their classifieds and you can also do a search for shelters in your area. call these shelters and see if they know any one that is looking to adopt a pit or two. Some shelters may even be willing to put your dogs information on their own list of animals on petfinder - so if any one searches that shelter your animal will also pop up with your information. If they offer to do this, give them a picture!! People will fall in love quicker with a picture than just worlds describing how sweet a dog is. Call local vets and see if they have any clients that are looking for another dog. Put an ad on craigslist and up at super stores. If you have anyone interested in one of your dogs, ask if you can do a vet check on them. what that is, is them calling their vet and releasing their records for you to then call the vet and see if their previous animals (or current) have been to the vet and are up todate on vaccines and fixed (if you choose to have your dogs go to a home that fixes their animals) You can also "use" an application from any shelter as a base to make your own application so you know where your dogs are going. Also, usually if people say its ok to do the vet check, they have nothing to hid, its the ones that laugh at the idea that you need to stay away from. I really hope this helps. But remember you need to put in the extra effort if you want to find a great home for these guys. I wish you the best of luck!!
My dream getaway is to take a lengthy road trip from Washington, D.C. (where I permanently reside) to San Francisco, to Miami, and back. I've already spent very long in thoroughly tracking routes to take, completely excluding major Interstates. I have prepared an itinerary that lasts nearly three months with many cities, towns, and sites.
I plan on taking either a car, or an RV, something to be comfortable in. I'm not sure if I should bring along other people, but it would help with gas prices and any tolls I may come along. I'm trying to leave space for spontaneous stops and random places to explore, so I haven't planned much beyond that. I also have the problem of financing it. I think it would cost so much money, even though I plan on sleeping either in the car, on a campground, in a tent, or in an RV, I do plan on staying overnight at certain destinations (Vegas, L.A., Dallas, Miami, Myrtle Beach, places where people would stay at a resort) to sleep on a bed and just have accommodations indoors for a couple of nights.
I imagine my entire trip to cost at least 8,000USD (excluding the cost of the RV) for supplies for the road, medical supplies, insurance, indoor stays, resorts and parks where there is a charge, pit stops, reserves for medical emergencies, outdoor gear, and entertainment.
What else should I be prepared for on the road or at destinations? I'm planning on seeing everything between DC and L.A. so you know that it includes a hefty lot. I want to be prepared. I also have a cat. Should I bring him with me if I have an RV? I don't trust anyone else to take care of him for months while I'm away, plus I want his company.
Just make sure you have access to extra cash in case something comes up… And I don't think you mentioned gas in the post, but surely you thought of it…
About 6 months ago I lent my landlord "friend" 22 thousand dollars to help her pay her mortgage. She was in deep dept and was going to lose her house. I was also living there at the time, in one of her rooms she was renting out.
She promised to pay me back by refinancing after I lent her the money, or by getting a loan from the bank. It turned out that she was not able to get the loan, or refinance. And was not able to pay me back. She is now paying me whatever money she can get from her tenants that live in her house now that she rents out. She sleeps in her RV in her backyard and has no other job. One of her other tenants that lived in her guest house failed to pay her and owed her 4 thousand dollars. She had to evict them, and got no money from them. And therefore nothing to give me.
She is 53 years old. I am 27. I just want back my 20 thousand dollars. I live in WA state and just moved here a year ago. I don't know the laws here. And I don't know what to do.
I am currently living in her cottage house but am considering moving back to NY where I came from, a year ago. However I don't want to leave without getting this resolved. She wants to pay me through mail when I move but that is not good enough for me. I have no money because she has it all.
What should I do? Since I can't even afford a lawyer. We did not make any contracts when I loaned her my money. We were friends and I trusted her.
You should get a lawyer. It would be of your best interest and money well spent! That doesn't mean you have to sue her- maybe you can reach some kind of agreement with this "friend". She owns properies and maybe that can be a tool for you. 20 grand is a lot of money and I think you have learned a big lesson here. Good luck.
I'm interested in buying a used (1994 or 5) Fleetwood, Bounder/Allegro/Winnebago RV. I'm looking at something that sleeps 6 or more people — the very large, bus-looking vehicles. What will the insurance on something like this cost? I'm in Mississippi.
Are there any other significant upkeep costs that one might not realize when purchasing their first RV?
Mississippi, USA w/ good driving history. Husband and I each have 2 speeding tickets and that's it.
Thanks to all. So, as it turns out, my own current insurance company (for my suv), Progressive, quote RVs right on their website. It will cost less to insure a '94 RV than my '99 Expedition, about $1200-$1400/year for very reasonable coverage. That's for 30-150 days of usage throughout the year.
Help yourself - you can check your quotes in internet, for example here - car-insurance.22web.net
About 6 months ago I lent my landlord "friend" 22 thousand dollars to help her pay her mortgage. She was in deep dept and was going to lose her house. I was also living there at the time, in one of her rooms she was renting out.
She promised to pay me back by refinancing after I lent her the money, or by getting a loan from the bank. It turned out that she was not able to get the loan, or refinance. And was not able to pay me back. She is now paying me whatever money she can get from her tenants that live in her house now that she rents out. She sleeps in her RV in her backyard and has no other job. One of her other tenants that lived in her guest house failed to pay her and owed her 4 thousand dollars. She had to evict them, and got no money from them. And therefore nothing to give me.
She is 53 years old. I am 27. I just want back my 20 thousand dollars. I live in WA state and just moved here a year ago. I don't know the laws here. And I don't know what to do.
I am currently living in her cottage house but am considering moving back to NY where I came from, a year ago. However I don't want to leave without getting this resolved. She wants to pay me through mail when I move but that is not good enough for me. I have no money because she has it all.
What should I do? Since I can't even afford a lawyer. We did not make any contracts when I loaned her my money. We were friends and I trusted her.
What a great friend you are to help out another. Since you didn't get a contract written up, I strongly suggest getting her to commit to signing something. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can certainly file a lawsuit against her for the money owed. You would need to file in superior court in Washington state. You can download the necessary paperwork or even purchase the forms in a stationary store. There is one in Everett. If you need any help, please feel free to email me. Best of luck to you.
When my BF and I got together,I worked two jobs and was scraping by,miserably. He says he admired me for it. I told him right off that I would do anything to not have to work as much,because it was killing me with my bipolar disorder.(Bipolar is the only thing I have been diagnosed with so far,but It feels like something much much worse.) This condition makes it impossible for me to work any job in which I have to deal with the public in public places,about half the time,and it doesn't give me more than about an hour's notice to when I'm going to get that way. I've never kept a job more than 6 months because of it.
When I lost my second job, he said it was okay. He could handle my share of bills. When I lost my second job it was considered wrongful termination by the state,and he said as long as I could get unemployment we'd still be okay. It took a couple months, but I have unemployment now,and I am using the"time off"to clean for him,help him deal with his stresses,and most importantly,find free or low-income-oriented psychiatric help so I can get back on some fucked up experimental meds in the hopes of finding one that makes it so I can at least work again.(I had to stop meds before because the side effects made it way worse while having to work.) I am using the money to pay MY bills,including payments and insurance on a car that I drive him everywhere in because he doesn't drive. So it's basically like I have one job again,financially.
The money is not enough to pay my share of rent,and though I'd be happy living in my old place,an RV,he needs to live in a $700-a-month apartment. Every roommate we've had has flaked on the bills and now we're alone again and things are tight. I pay my bills, he pays his and rent and the occasional movie or video game with his $10-an-hour job. We agreed that if I ever have any extra leftover from unemployment I would give it to him,but with food,I never do.
Now I got some Christmas money from my family,about $150. They all live very far away,but when I was with them we would always go shopping together for Christmas presents,even when I lived on my own because they knew that if they gave me money and not presents I would spend it on bills. My family and I agreed that after I moved here none of us would ever spend present money on bills; the only reason we don't have actual presents is because we can't afford to have them shipped,and plus it's always"you were doing okay before without the money so spend it on presents for you!". I even am obligated to call or write them to tell them what nice things I spent it on. But this,for some reason,just pisses my BF off! His family never gets him anything,not even for his birthday,and it has come up in many a nasty arguement that he thinks I should give my Christmas money to him for bills. My question is: What should I do? Should I break my family's only Christmas"tradition"and recieve a lovely guilt trip from them about it,just to barely help with bills? What am I supposed to do when every time I start thinking about what they would have bought me if they were here,what to spend it on,he gets furiously angry and calls me,of all things,spoiled? I haven't bought a single thing for me since my birthday,6 months ago,and it was the same deal then too. I can't decide, am I wrong for wanting to?
I made a mistake. I mean I lost both first and second jobs. I do not work now, not for another few months at least.
Summary: We're poor. I pay my bills, he pays rent. I have Christmas money, he wants me to give it to him for bills. If I do that my family will hate me. What should I do?
First off - don't denigrate yourself: "Bipolar is the only thing I have been diagnosed with so far, but It feels like something much much worse"
That can be totally debilitating. Are you getting support from your B/f in coping with it?
If he is not supportive, find your own space and learn to love yourself. Anything else you've said are just symptoms.
I have the money to buy more propane now, but I do *not* have the money to buy a whole conversion kit to make it so I can attach a portable tank to my RV. It is my only place of living and it is still very cold here, plus I can't cook or have hot water without it (and electric heaters don't cut it; not even close!)
I'm a bit panicked here. I have 1/4 tank left which will not last long and I have called every single company in the phone book. Nobody delivers to RVs now because the tanks attached to them are too small for them to make profit with the damned gas prices!
These can't be my only options. Where else can I look? Conversion kits cost upwards of $150, which I will not have before this runs out, plus I will have to pay someone to install it for me and then the actual tank is $40, if I want the smallest one which will have me driving to refill it once or twice a week.
I work two jobs, and have applied for cash assistance, but I can't get a big enough loan for it either. Help!
I had this problem in AZ… I'm not sure why you need a conversion…I was able to hook a small tank to my hookup when I couldn't afford to have my huge tank filled, which was often when it was just me and my kids.
Have a trusted neighbor guy look at your set up and determine if you can do it that way.
Sorry about your situation. I hope you get it taken care of quick! 
I am planning an extensive RV trip, will be renting one to go along the California coastline (mostly).
I've never done this before, so I need A-Z suggestions on; where to stay, tip on the RV life, suggestions on rental places and types of RV's, etc.
Any help would be most appreciated!
Jalama beach is the ultimate spot. It's about a 30 mile drive off Highway 1 to a dead end..aka Jalama Beach. The closest city I believe is Lompoc, which is to the north of it. Edwards Air force Base is also near by.
This place has around 60 miles of private coastline, minus the surfliner Amtrak train of course. There are campsites and even a general store and restaurant. The Jalama Burger is not to be missed either. It is truly unique for being part of the California coastline.
The 30 mile trek in and out can be scary to say the least. Motor homes are allowed through but the road is not a two way street by no means. If you are not comfortable driving that rented RV, don't bother cause the road ain't for beginners.
Risky but well worth it….have fun.
I'm heading that way on a roadtrip from Calif.. I'm driving a 34'RV and towing my car. Must love dogs, I have 2.(they gotta like you, too!) I'm a smoker, sorry to say, but, hey, I'm a smoker. I have no timeline so I'm pretty flexible. Just looking for a little company, for a little while. I'm normal, don't worry. I have insurance. I have a valid D.L. I'm not wanted by the law. Need a ride? I'm actually going to West Palm Beach, if I like you! Oh, me? I'm female,51, and hella funny!
Head over to http://www.craigslist.org and click on rideshare under your city and under Orlando to find a traveling companion.
Good luck! - Stuart
I know you can't get 100+% back on remodel projects most of the time, but I want to know which of the projects I list will give our home value the biggest "boost". We have about $20k to put into our projects, but after that we will need to get a home equity loan, and right now we have little to no equity. Here are the choices:
1. All new energy efficient windows
2. New kitchen countertops, cabinets, sink, fixtures (our appliances are already SS)
3. Turn our screen porch into a sunroom (will add 400 sq. ft.)
4. New RV/boat carport
5. Finish partially built detached garage (its about 75% finished, just need to finish drywall, re-finish ceiling, and add garage door)
Typically, kitchen & bathroom projects yield the most return on investment. The sunroom also sounds like it would be valuable.
http://www.costvsvalue.com/index.html