Show, then aid - Sabine

We had dogs that would howl at cop sirens growing up. Mind you, this was pretty much a daily occurrence where we lived, so it got old fast. Yelling at them didn't work, keeping 'em inside didn't work, petting them to calm them down didn't work. Not even water worked, and my folks were too cheap for bark collars. They borrowed a family friend's paintball gun and my father climbed into the tree (we're still trying to figure out how my 200+ lb father climbed up 3 4" thick steps and into the tree) and popped the dogs with bright pink stink bullets whenever they started barking. Granted they were a collie mix and another thick furred mutt, so it really didn't hurt them. After getting popped every time they did it over the weekend, they quit and went to go lick their "wounds." Never did bark at sirens after that.

Making beef stew this morning. I walked to the store to get some celery and potatoes, and on the way I looked into every dumpster I passed, just as practice, to get used to the idea.

I managed to stay up last night, and once I had picked up the girls and delivered them, I was awake enough that I stayed up to 2. A storm rolled through at 1, so I got to listen to the rain pounding. This morning everything smelled fresh and delicious.

I don't think the water treatment is cruel. Allowing people or animals to experience unpleasant consequences from their behaviour is much less cruel than letting them continue and face even worse consequences. A blast of water sounds like a pretty good balance point; unpleasant enough to motivate change, but not bad enough to cause injury or trauma.

[QUOTE=Judg;978645]I don't think the water treatment is cruel. Allowing people or animals to experience unpleasant consequences from their behaviour is much less cruel than letting them continue and face even worse consequences. A blast of water sounds like a pretty good balance point; unpleasant enough to motivate change, but not bad enough to cause injury or trauma.[/QUOTE]

^ agree! :) We had to put a bark collar on our stupid dachshound because she would bark at every single noise she heard! and we have dog doors so out she'd run and bark her face off at everything! The first time we put the bark collar on her and she let out a bark --- SHE DID A COMPLETE BACK FLIP!!!!! HAHAHAHA! We laughed so hard we almost fell over! Okay -- sounds mean, but it worked! As long as she was wearing that collar she wouldn't bark - but she knew if the collar wasn't on she could bark. I wish they had something for peeing on the carpet! She left so many stains........ don't miss that dumb dog at all. (accept for when the cat brings in a mouse)

Sorry you're husband is feeling down - but understandable. Job hunting can be a real self esteem killer. Something will happen soon -- I feel it in my bones!

Just a bunch of job stress yesterday. I didn't want to write about it, but could seem to think of nothing but it.

I have been getting more walking and bike riding in to save on gas. A good side effect of being broke. Today we did a walk around the pond with all the dogs and then Honey went riding. Chica had a sleep-over at her old house last night, then came scratching at our door at 7am. Salem was happy to see her. (Chloe was still asleep.)

Took two personality tests as part of job applications yesterday. Who thinks of this stuff? Last night I had a dream wherein someone said, "Sabine is not smart enough to do that job.' Scared me awake, but I refused to let it KEEP me awake.

Dinner tonight will be sausage and potato casserole. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel, here, but there's not much let in the freezer.

I hope things turn around on the job front for you really soon, Sabine. It makes my heart hurt to see your family struggling like it is. Hopefully on one of your dumpster peeks (I hate to call it dumpster diving), you'll find something really nice that can be sold for a great deal of money - like an antique chair or something... or better yet, an accidentally discarded winning lotto ticket!!! Yeah, that one... that's what I hope you find. :)

Thanks for your good wishes, Jenn. We pulled out the last of our IRA money, and it is good to know that when it gets here, with unemployment, we will be able to meet the November and December mortgages, and the food and utility basics. Not looking beyond that.

I AM taking some bags that I've made to a craft fair next weekend. Here's hoping they will be very popular. I'm also thinking of bringing fudge. Fudge is ALWAYS popular.

There was a comic who Honey and I liked to watch on the Comedy channel, and one of his routines involved this song:

I'm a fatty-boom-ba-latty, fatty-boom-ba-latty
Little fattty, fatty
Fatty-boom-ba-latty

It's very catchy, and lately it has been running through my head because I can SEE myself getting fatter. Usually, it creeps up on you, and one day you're surprised to find yourself fatter.

No surprises here. I can SEE the fat piling on.

:(

Chicken strips and coleslaw for dinner last night, with homemade honey mustard sauce. It was tasty.

I MISS SASHIMI! MISS IT, MISS IT, MISS IT!

I've been scouting different dumpsters in my neighborhood, mostly getting used to walking up to them and looking in a a natural manner(no furtive looking around) and trying to overcome my feeling of embarrassment. This morning I got to the point of opening up some bags and stirring the contents around a bit, to see what is in there. Slow steps.

I've mentioned before that sometimes when i am walking to and from the grocery, I imagine myself on a hunt, tracking a chicken or cow, and making a successful kill. (Yes, I know I am a little strange.) Well, for dumpster diving, I think I will be imagining myself coming upon a lion's kill, and celebrating like a true scavenger.

I'm also figuring out the schedule of when the dumpsters get emptied. I think for my first ventures, it will be easier to work with a dumpster that just has a few bags in it to check out. I am resigned to not finding things at first. My first goal will be to get used to the idea, and gain some practical skills (hooking the bags toward me, how to open them easily, etc).

Today I DID manage to cheerily wave at someone who saw me looking in the dumpster. They didn't look disgusted, so that's a victory. But I guess if you see a middle-age housewife in a navy dress looking in a dumpster, your first thought is NOT 'she's scrounging for food.' Maybe they think I am checking to see if they have been emptied on schedule.

I need to acquire some supplies to keep in the van: a stick with a hook at the end of it, my work gloves, and a safety vest. Also, my old tennis shoes. And a flashlight. So far, all my forays have been in the daylight, but I might be doing evening dives.

The two grocery stores closest to me have compacting dumpsters connected to their stores. All the dumpster diving sites warn NEVER TO GET INTO A COMPACTING DUMPSTER. Quite rightly. So I'll need to scout around for stores (maybe in older places, where they don't have all the updates?) that have easy-access dumpsters.

Have you checked out the food bank in your area? They do tend be rather carb-heavy, pasta, etc. But sometimes you can get fresh food too. The one in our area, which is in my church, has no qualifications or embarrassing questions - anyone who shows up gets food. Same with the fuel assistance program. I know your energy requirements are a bit different in your area than they are in Maine - ours runs to heating oil/propane/firewood.

I am hoping and wishing and praying for something good to happen on the job front NOW!!!

Sabine-
I don't think the smaller Tom Thumbs use compactors. You might also check and see if Fiesta has a safe dumpster. I think you might have better luck in some of the poorer neighborhoods, as well, as those usually aren't as prosperous as the ones in more well to do areas. If you're near it, you might check the ones in South Oak Cliff, Pleasant Grove, West Dallas, Duncanville, and Lancaster.