Take your capitalism and shove it

Sigh.

So, first there was water spitting out under the house. We had to get the plumbers in to patch the pipes, dig up the yard to find and remove the blockage, and clear out the grey water outlet pipe.

Then the electricity started playing up, so we had to get the electrician out here to fix it. There's still a plastic bucket in the yard that is serving as a temporary fix because three thousand dollars is a LOT of money right now. Turns out whoever wired this place had no idea what they were doing and what they did was illegal. I'd still like to find the inspector we hired before we bought this place and deafen him with my outrage.

Then, the toilets stopped working and we had to call the plumbers again. Who, again, had to dig up the yard trying to find the septic tank. Turned out the septic tank probably hadn't been emptied for 20+ years and was full to the top. Had to have it pumped out. Was not expecting the pumping to cost $350 and was further shocked when we received the $500 bill from the plumber!

This weekend, the water tank stopped filling up. The controller has been flaky since we moved in, and we suspect it was the original installed when the pump was drilled in 1986. Usually, we could leave it and it would suddenly realize there was something it was supposed to be doing, and would pump away for a while until the tank was full. We knew we'd have to replace it one day, but did it really have to be now? Looked online, controllers aren't expensive. Looking at maybe $100 or so, which normally would be ok, except with all the other emergency bills lately it's going to take some magic to arrange things so that we don't have a big problem. Of course, the water tank is now empty, we can't wait for one to come in the mail, but luckily they carry them at the hardware store, too. Yay!

For $250.

To my credit I didn't say anything in the store. I did let Steve pay, though, because I couldn't. I was barely controlling the hysterical scream that wanted to burst out of my chest like that alien in that movie... you know, Alien.

So what's next? What's going to finally send me over the edge? I know there's more, there's always more, and none of it is good.

Last month I thought we might actually be able to make it. We were finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and I was starting to feel like we were making head way. I had such good hopes for 2016, and February has murdered each and every one. It's the second month of the year, and I think I'll just sleep for the rest of it. I didn't realize that light at the end of the tunnel was a dollar sign.

Sometimes it's so stupid, it's hard to believe it's true

Ugh. You know those times when you see an ad online, and you know you really shouldn't click it, but you do anyway because you have no self control? Yeah, well...

Actual screen shot. 

The new blog craze! Where have these people been living for the last, what? 20 years?!

So, yeah, I clicked. I love this part, "thanks to a new blog platform called SiteBlog anybody can start a blog and have it online in minutes with no skills required." You know, kind of like all the other blogger sites that offer the same exact thing and have been around for yonks.*

And seriously? They're saying you can make $3,000 to $6,000 a month? Welcome to lala land! Population, these people!

Although, that being said, one of the bloggers I follow was saying she had a couple thousand EXTRA dollars to give to charity due to her blog. So maybe it's just me. Or maybe it's just her. Who knows?


*Yonks is a scientific term** meaning a lot, or, as in this case, a long time.

**Not actually a scientific term.

Failed Crows and Kitten Craziness

I know the saying says that when you own a home, you're always fixing something. But is it really normal for so much to go so wrong in the first year of owning a house?

This morning our toilets stopped working. That's kind of a big deal when all three of you spend all day at home. So, for the second time in 6 months, we had to call the plumbers out. It took them 4 hours just to find the stupid septic tank, and when they did, oh my. It's full. As in completely! The toilets stopped working because the pipes were full! It looks like this thing has never been pumped. We should've known this was going to be a problem when we bought the place and no one knew where the septic tank was. Joy. This comes on the tail end of some large and unexpected bills that have tapped us out and I made the announcement this morning that there is zero spending until payday. I'm not even sure how we're going to get groceries, we might just have to make do with what we've got for a few extra days.

So, to make myself feel better, I decided to watch some of our videos that I've been trying to share but my computer hates me so it's failed every time. Let's see if it will work now. I apologize in advance if I got your hopes up for nothing.

First up, failed crowing. The roosters are trying their voices, but they're not very good yet. Here is Denzel greeting the morning.

Jynx is making herself part of the tribe quickly!

Even Asha secretly loves her. I've caught them playing a few times, but Asha won't admit to it. 

And if a kitten chasing a ball can't make you smile, what can? 

I apologize for the video wobble. Apparently, I do not make a good cinematographer. 

And before you say it, yes, she was an added expense we didn't need. But, as I said, the large bills took me by surprise. We were in a much better position a few weeks ago. But, that's the way it goes, I guess. And she really has earned her keep. I didn't really realize how much I needed her.