New Year. New Me.

I am planning on making some real life changes for the year 2009.

1st - I registered for two classes (Math 1218 & History 1140) College MATH! WOOT-WOO! After these two classes (as of Summer 09), I only need 15 more credits, which one more Sociology/Humanities classes and the rest 10-12 credits of elective courses.

Only 15 FRICKIN MORE CREDITS!! I NEVER thought I would get this far!! As you can see how excited I am to take college math, this is my 4th math class, and the ONLY one I'm getting credit for, the rest were all zero level :(

But so 15 credits left x $108 (tuition) = I am $1,620 away from achieving my AA.

I just never thought I could do this.

So there is Summer 09 and Fall 09. I could take like two elective over summer (6-8 credits), then fall a humanities class (3-5 credits) and then one more elective class.

So I think I should graduate after Fall 09!! Wow.

So this is really my biggest goal for 2009. If I can acheive this, I can really do whatever I want.

But so to get me to this point ($1,620), I need a plan.

My current wage breakdown.

Takehome Pay is $658.91 / wkly (which includes $75 of savings & $25 Flex Spending - out of sight out of mind - I used to take this out monthly to pay my AFS payment.)

$658.91 x 4.33333 = $2,855.25 / mo


$2,855.25
-1,245.00 Rent
- 500.00 Car Payment & Insurance
- 300.00 Utilities
810.25 Remaining
- 400.00 Savings ($100 / wk)
410.25 Spending / Misc.

So I will be saving $400 per month, then $400 from my check savings = $800 per month.

I will probably take Charlie's food out of my savings, if I need to, thats roughly $100/mo.

This also includes me paying the entire rent. My mom is supposed to pay $500, but with her unstable work and everything, I dont want to have to rely on that, but if she can pay $300 or something, thats great, I'll put that in my savings.

I finally feel like I have a plan, and that I may get somewhere.

What I really want to do is be able to open a high intrest rate savings account. I applied at Etrade which has one, but I was denied. Hello its for savings, not a cc. It just really sucks earning like 0.2%.

Ok, so that is my plan of action for 2009.

1. Finish remaining credits for my Associates in Art.
2. Really, really save money; then disperse for emergency fund ($3000-5000), and goal savings (school, vacation).

Oh, I would also LOVE to get a 2nd dog this year. But I dont think we will until Mom is in a full time position. And can rely on her paying $500 rent.

Made it.

Well last week I had my trustee meeting for my bankruptcy.

I was pretty nervous, but everything went fine. She said that everything has been approved. My attorney said I should get discharge paperwork in 8-10 weeks.

And then we decided (at work) that Donna should hold onto my garnished wages until I get my discharge papers, to make sure that the entire judgement was accepted, and that I dont still owe the $3150 that has been withheld.

But with that said, the bankruptcy, the garnishment stopped, I have been trying to save $100/wk.

What really sucks is that as I am getting my head out of debt and able to actually save money, my mom is sinking deeper and deeper. It has been an entire year now that she hasnt worked a 40 hr week :( Not one. She has bounced from 24-32 hours, but pretty steady at only 24. This has her bringing home about $1600 a month. And as of Jan 1, she wont have health insurance anymore. I am terrified of something happening and she wont have insurance.

I just wish that we could be doing well together. It just really sucks.

Sad

Isn't it weird how you can feel like you know someone you've never even personally met, but somehow they are part of your daily life?

I have been listening to Steve Dahl daily for the last 8 years or so, just after James and I met. I started listening to him in the afternoons at work until I got home, then they invented the podcast and I began downloading the rest of the show to listen to in the morning. Then last year Steve and Buzz left CKG for mornings on JackFM. I actually liked them mornings, I'd listen on my way to work, then immediately following the show I'd listen to the podcast from the beginning.

Today that part of my life ended. I'm so sad. But its weird because its not like Steve and Buzz were actually my friends or anything, but I spent my days listening to them.

Steve's enthusiasm and excitement about local sports turned me into a sports fan. I even like to hear about hockey.

Steve's antics and quirks have affect my life too. I always call 105.9, Le Douche. I know to always hit the carving station at a buffet and to stay away from the turkey, you'll never eat your money's worth.

At least I have all of the "Best Of's" on my itunes. I'll just have to listen to those until Steve and Buzz find their way back to the air.

Fwd: Wheaton Illinois Petland Worker SPeaks Out about Petland

-----Original Message-----
From: Jordan Matyas <jmatyas@hsus.org>
To: Jordan Matyas <jmatyas@hsus.org>
Sent: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:07 am
Subject: Wheaton Illinois Petland Worker SPeaks Out about Petland

Former Petland Kennel Manager Speaks Out

November 20, 2008

Former Petland kennel manager Denise Jenke recently spoke to The HSUS about what she says she saw while working at the Wheaton, Ill., Petland: truckloads of puppies shipped to the store by brokers, many of them sick—and customers being regularly misled about their origins.
Although Jenke brought her Chihuahua home from the store during her employment, she agrees with The HSUS that the best way to stop puppy mills is to stop supporting pet stores that sell puppies. The following are edited excerpts from an unrecorded telephone interview with Ms. Jenke.
HSUS: When did you work at Petland?
Jenke: From October 2006 through January 2007.
Did you have any idea about puppy mills before?
No, no idea. I had never heard of them.
Take Action for Dogs:
Contact Petland now, and help end puppy mill cruelty »
How did you learn about where the puppies at your store came from?
When I first started, they [the sales manager and store owner] said the puppies came from 'USDA-approved breeders.' Me, being naïve, thought, "Well, USDA. That must be fine." Then when the puppies came in on trucks, they were in such poor condition. They came in with runny eyes, some were kinda lethargic and nervous, a lot of them were sick, many had upper respiratory infections and had to be put in nebulizer before sale.
When I was trained to put [the puppies'] information into the computer I had to put in the names of the breeders into the computer. That is when I noticed that the guys who brought the dogs in from the trucks were not the breeders! I asked the sales manager, "Do these dogs come from puppy mills?" The sales manager told me, "Yes, these puppies are from puppy mills, but we don't tell our customers that. We just tell them that they are from 'USDA approved breeders.'" That is when I did my own research on the Internet and learned all about puppy mills.
What were your expectations for the job when you started?
It is a business, and they are there to make money. My position was kennel manager, so I thought I would take care of the dogs, make sure they were clean, healthy, and socialized. My job was the wellbeing of the animals. But it didn't quite turn out that way. Instead of helping the animals, I was working to promote puppy mills.
Did you have any idea how widespread the use of puppy mills was at Petland and other pet stores?
During my interview for the position I asked where the puppies came from. They told me USDA. Since I didn't know much about it I thought, if they were approved by the USDA then it must be OK.
What about the dog you brought home while you were working there?
He is a 15-pound Chihuahua named Chico. He has a Grade 1 luxating patella in one rear leg. [A luxating patella is a knee problem that can cause lameness in dogs.] He is really big for a Chihuahua! The breed standard is like 4-6 pounds. He obviously was not bred to fit that standard. But he is my world, and I love him to pieces.
What is his story?
Well, he came in off the truck. When the puppies first arrived on the truck, it was my job to do a quick exam of each dog to see if they were OK. If they looked bad, the owner would send them back on the truck. When Chico came in on the truck, the sales manager was showing me how to do the exams. We are not vets, though! She inspected Chico and said that he had a Grade 3 to Grade 4 luxating patella and that he should be sent back to the breeder. She then talked to the owner who agreed to send him back. I decided to take him home instead.
My personal vet says that Chico only has a Grade 1 luxating patella, not a Grade 3 or 4. The sales manager who examined him was not a vet, and she gave a wrong diagnosis. They should have had a vet check him instead of us, with no medical experience.

After the interview, Denise said that although she took Chico home during her employment at Petland, now that she knows the truth of the industry she was indirectly supporting, she encourages others to choose adoption.
Is there a message you would like to send to people thinking of buying a puppy from a pet store?
Yes, you go into a puppy store and you see the puppies, and a lot of people know they come from puppy mills, and they feel sorry for them and want to buy them. Or people buy on impulse. Bottom line is, puppy mills are never going to stop until people stop buying puppies from these stores! People need to be more educated about rescuing or finding a reputable breeder.
I think customers who go in to these stores are getting ripped off. The pet store pays like $100 each for the puppies! People think they are getting a "purebred" but then the puppies have congenital defects and other problems. I just wish more people would think more about shelters and rescues ... People need to see what goes on in a puppy mill. When you see it, then it hits you.

Jordan Matyas
Illinois State Director
Humane Society of the United States
333 W. North Avenue, 259, Chicago IL 60610
Office: 312.643.0339
Cell: 312.206.2646
Fax: 312.277.7199
Email: jmatyas@hsus.org

--
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www.theanimalrescuesite.com

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Fwd: Petland Investigation

Please read this and pass it along.

For those of you who do not know about puppy mills and backyard breeder, this cause is what is closest to my heart. This cause is what drives my life. This cause is what causes me to cry myself to sleep.

Please know that ALL petstores are supplied by puppy mills, or backyard breeder. This even includes Charlie. Charlie and I are VERY lucky that he hasnt had any disease this far. That is quite the opposite of petstore puppies.

Please tell anyone that you know that is planning on buying a petstore puppy, or a dog from a breeder that is sketchy, to just visit a shelter, or rescue group. Shelters and rescue groups even have pure breed dogs, even puppies. And dont forget to visit your local Animal Control as well, because these dogs do not have long to get adopted, they get put down after a few days.

Please educate yourself and others.

http://www.napervillehumanesociety.org/adoption_dogs.cfm

http://www.magnificent-mutts.org/available.html

http://www.dupageco.org/animalcontrol/availanimals2006.cfm

Thank you,

Krissy & Charlie

-----Original Message-----
From: Jordan Matyas <jmatyas@hsus.org>
To: Jordan Matyas <jmatyas@hsus.org>
Sent: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:05 am
Subject: Petland Investigation

Eight-Month Investigation by The Humane Society of the United States Reveals National Petland Chain Tied to Large-Scale Puppy Mill Cruelty

(Nov. 20, 2008) – Today during a news conference, The Humane Society of the United States revealed the results of an 8-month investigation into Petland Inc., the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores. The results reveal that many Petland stores across the country are supporting cruel puppy mills, even while telling unsuspecting customers that the dogs come only from good breeders.
There are approximately 140 Petland stores in the U.S., selling tens of thousands of puppies each year. In the largest-ever puppy mill investigation, HSUS investigators visited 21 Petland stores and 35 breeders and brokers who sold puppies to Petland stores. Investigators also reviewed interstate import records of an additional 322 breeders, USDA reports and more than 17,000 individual puppies linked=2 0to Petland stores.
According to Stephanie Shain, director of The HSUS Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, "Petland stores investigated by The Humane Society of the United States are perpetuating the abusive puppy mill industry, where dogs are treated not like pets, but like a cash crop. They know that consumers won't stand for the cruelty inherent in mass-breeding facilities, so they make outrageous claims to hide the reality that the dogs came from puppy mills. People have a right to know exactly what they are buying, but the real victims are the breeding dogs who are confined to life in a cage for as long as people are duped into buying their puppies."
This is the latest in a series of HSUS investigations exposing abuses at puppy mills, dog auctions, and pet stores around the country. The new Petland investigation revealed:
Despite assurances by Petland staff and on their corporate website that the company knows its breeders and deals only with those who have "the highest standards of pet care," many Petland puppies come from massive commercial breeders in Missouri and other Midwestern states, where hundreds of breeding dogs are packed into cramped, barren cages -- often for their entire lives, with no socialization, exercise, or human interaction.
· When HSUS investigators visited 35 of the large-scale breeding operations linked to Petland stores, they witnessed puppy mills where puppies are factory farmed in large numbers. At many, investigators saw appalling conditions: puppies living in filthy, barren cages reeking of urine, with inadequate care and socialization.
· Many of Petland's puppies are not supplied directly by breeders, but are purchased from a "middle man" -- large-scale "pet distributors," otherwise known as brokers -- showing that the company may not even know who the breeders are or what their standards of care may be like. The investigation revealed that some of Petland's brokers are also buying from puppy mills.
· Some of Petland's puppies are ordered online using a pet auction website called the Pet Board of Trade, demonstrating that many Petland stores are not screening breeders as its website claims. In fact, in some cases they may not even know the breeder's name until after purchase.
· One of the most common sales pitches made by Petland staff is that they use "USDA licensed" breeders. However, investigators reviewed publicly available state and USDA inspection reports for more than 100 Petland breeders and found more than 60 percent of the reports listed serious violations of basic animal care regulations. Many USDA breeders exhibit a long history of substandard care and yet remained licensed. While USDA regulations are minimal, some of the Petland breeders are not even complying with these basic animal welfare standards.
· Documented USDA violations at some of Petland's breeders and suppliers included dirty, unkempt enclosures; inadequate shelter from the cold; dogs kept in too-small cages; and inadequate veterinary care. Some of the breeders were found with sick or dead dogs in their cages.
Puppy mills are a source of unbearable cruelty where breeding animals are kept in tiny cages without any socialization for the sole purpose of supplying pet stores and the Internet market with puppies. The HSUS urges all of its members and supporters to spread the word about the great suffering associated with these mills, which also contribute to tragic pet overpopulation.
Editors Note: The HSUS has broadcast-quality video and photos available from this investigation for viewing and download by news media outlets at video.hsus.org


Jordan Matyas
Illinois State Director
Humane Society of the United States
333 W. North Avenue, 259, Chicago IL 60610
Office: 312.643.0339
Cell: 312.206.2646
Fax: 312.277.7199
Email: jmatyas@hsus.org

--
Click DAILY to give FREE Food & Care

www.theanimalrescuesite.com

www.freekibble.com

Fwd: Fw: PETCO | Save 20% at PETCO's Friends & Family Event - One Day Only!

----- Original Message -----

From: PETCO.com

To: jquinn13@cox.net

Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 3:35 PM

Subject: PETCO Save 20% at PETCO's Friends & Family Event - One Day Only!

Jennifer, your friends and family save what we save! 20% off on Sunday, 11/23 only! Having trouble viewing this message? View this message online. Please add PETCO (newsletters@email.petco.com) to your email address book.

Save What We Save! 20% Off* In-Store Associate Discount! Dear Jennifer, We have a special gift for all our friends and family! Use our associate discount and get 20% off* your in-store purchases on 11/23/08. Just print this email, fill out a P.A.L.S. application (if you are not already a P.A.L.S. member) and visit your local PETCO store! Pass this along to all your friends! *Restrictions apply. Make sure we have your current email address to continue receiving these special offers and invitations. Update your P.A.L.S. account online at http://newsletters.petco.com/servlet/cc6?ilJQTTBWQSSVrzbmpggSUxJhzfQgLlVaVSR Print a P.A.L.S. application. Fill it out and bring it to the store with you.

*Restrictions apply. Grocery dog/cat food brands and cat litter not included. Grocery brands not included Pedigree, Cesars, Kibbles 'n Bits, Purina Dog Chow, Purina Cat Chow, Purina Deli Cat, Kal Kan, A Good Life, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Meow Mix, Whiskas, Chef's Blend, 9Lives, Sheba, Arm & Hammer, Fresh Step, Jonny Cat, Scoop Away, Scoop Free, Tidy Cat and Tidy Scoop. Discount cannot be applied to PETCO Gift Card purchases or purchases made at PETCO.com. Print this email and bring it to your local PETCO store to receive the 20% off your purchase. You received this email because you are a PETCO associate or have signed up to receive our Friends and Family offer. You have not been subscribed to any other emails. To receive exclusive online discounts, pet tips and more sign up for PETCO emails at http://newsletters.petco.com/servlet/cc6?ilJQTTBWQSSVrzbmpggSUxJhzfQgLlVaVSA. If you are currently subscribed to PETCO.com's promotional emails and would like unsubscribe, please click here. Read our Privacy Policy. Questions About Orders? Comments or Concerns? Contact us by email at http://newsletters.petco.com/servlet/cc6?ilJQTTBWQSSVrzbmpggSUxJhzfQgLlVaVSD or call us toll-free at 1-877-738-6742. This message is from: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. 9125 Rehco Road San Diego, CA 92121

--
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www.theanimalrescuesite.com

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