So... on the plus side, I got a job!  I had a job for a day, then quit!  Looong story short I accepted a job not really knowing what it entailed, and then on my first day I found out it was door-to-door sales.  So I quit.   It was 100% commission and we all know I don't have the personality for that.  I'd never make any money.  So that sucked, but now I have a real job!  I'm working at a general practice veterinary hospital as an "Animal Care Coordinator".  Sounds impressive, huh?  Basically I'm a receptionist, but I like this title better!  Its not fantastic pay, but its pay, so I'll take it!  I'm thankful I found this place!  There are two doctors that are just wonderful!  I've only been there two days, but I already love them!  There are only a handful of employees, but everyone seems great so far.

So that's the happy stuff, now onto the raining part!  Well, we had the flea issues... aaaand, they're back.  We're on round three of flea treatments.  I can't tell you how much I hate dealing with these stupid little jumpy biting bugs!!!  After the first fleas I took the cats to the vet and got an ($80) injection of Program for each cat.  It lasts 6 months and kills fleas.  Neat huh?  So I signed up, we got the shots.  We also got Capstar, which is an oral pill that kills adult fleas.  Sweet -- double protection.  So we tried a combination, but needless to say something's not working.  Now that we're on round three I talked to my new vets today and they claim Program doesn't really do anything.  I did some research online today that said Program basically makes the babies unable to get out of their eggs.  So the adults keep living happy little lives, but the babies can't come out, so eventually they die off.  The kicker is, if you get fleas again, they keep living until they die, basically.  So, I'm perterbed because I wasted $160 on a drug that isn't working properly.  Sooo now we get to try a new drug that will hopefully work a lot better.  Also, we really hope this is the last time they have to spray the apartment.  Oh yea, and we have cockroaches... we've been here 2 months and have killed 23 cockroaches.  Travis' office-mate has lived here 8 years and has seen 5.  FIVE!  grr.  So now we're spraying for those too.  So we're living in a big chemical mess!  woo!

That takes care of the bugs... today I noticed Pringles (my girl kitty) was having some bladder issues.  I took her into the vet expecting to hear she had a UTI or something, and instead found out she has bladder stones!  Sweet!  So there's a surgery... I haven't seen an estimate yet , but, unfortunately, our only option is surgery.  And, unfortunately for Travis, these are our babies!  So we rack up a little more debt... what's another few grand?  Its not like we have any money anyway!  I can't imagine life without my babies :)

I think that's about it.  Lots of crappy things, lots of expensive things.  But, the best part is my kitty can be fixed!  That's the most important thing.  Its going to cost an arm and a leg, but she's my girl, and she's got a lot of years left, and I'm going to make sure she gets to enjoy them!

Always have to look for that silver lining

Hello Everyone, from bright, hot, blue skied, sunshiny Florida!!!  We are moved in and are officially Floridians!

The entire process was long and exciting, never a dull moment for us!  We planned to leave Indy around noon on Friday, which would give us plenty of time to arrive at our new apartment in St. Petersburg around 10am Saturday when their office opened.  Well… this is where the fun began.  We had someone from our front office come over and do a walk through to make sure we wouldn’t be charged for anything when we left, and found out we used the wrong type of paint on my bedroom walls.  So either we could paint it before we left, or we could pay them $300 to paint it.  Well, we’re poor, and could arrive in Florida at any time, so we bought some rollers and brushes, the apartment people supplied the paint and floor covering, and the four of us went to work (me, Travis, his dad, and my mom).  I think we finally pulled out of there around 2pm.

 So we were on our way!   Mom and I stopped at the airport to put some things in her car (she flew home today), and the guys picked up the car dolly for the Penske and grabbed some lunch.  We were about to Eidenburg when Travis called to tell me they apartment wouldn’t be ready until noon on Saturday because they have to replace the carpet… neat!  So mom and I stopped at the outlet mall and shopped for a few minutes!  We made our way through Indiana and Kentucky, and finally met up with the guys in Tennessee, but lost them again when we went through the mountains.  Apparently the Penske truck doesn’t like going up and down steep slopes!  After Tenn we spent about 6 hours making our way through Georgia, and finally found ourselves in Florida, where we stopped for some breakfast.  I’d been driving for quite some time, and was starting to get really tired, but then I saw the signs for Tampa, and I began to wake up!  When we finally crossed the bridge I was literally bouncing in my seat I was so excited!  A few minutes later and we arrived at our new home around 9:45am after way too many hours on the road!  We unhooked Travis’ car and peeked in our windows before heading over to the office, which, in hindsight, we should have never done, because it lead to a whole new myriad of problems…

The poor lady who was working on Saturday was new, and clearly didn’t know what was going on in the world.  We had problems with the lease, and huge issues with the pet deposit.  She was trying to tell us it was a $500 non-refundable deposit PER PET!!  That wasn’t going to fly, especially since they told us $150 on the phone.  Long story short, she found out she was wrong, its $250 per pet, and then my irate mother ended up getting that waved for us anyway!  After the pet fiasco, we learned the carpet wasn’t finished yet, so we had another hour to kill.  When we finally got into our apartment, we wanted to walk out.  The place was filthy.  Everything was dirty (except our new carpet).  There was literally a clump of dog hair laying on the counter.  Its hard to believe anyone cleaned this place before we moved in.  The lady was supposed to come over and do a walk through with us, but never did, so we just made a list of everything that’s wrong with the place and everything we had to clean (which was … everything).  I spent two hours on my hands and knees cleaning the floor in the spare bathroom, and I’m only half way done.  There’s paint on everything.  My mom spent about 5 hours in the kitchen cleaning the fridge and stove and cabinets and pantry… it was just dirty!!  Anyway… we ended up getting things clean and the truck unloaded.  Between Saturday and Sunday we got most everything put together while our parents were here to help.  Sunday we went to Treasure Island Beach and yesterday, mom and I went to Clearwater Beach.  I’m gonna like it here!

Once we got past the annoyance of having to clean our apartment top to bottom, and started putting things in their places, its starting to feel like a home.

We absolutley love the layout, and I love how HUGE it feels compared to the last one!!  Even on paper it didn’t look like it would be that much bigger, but it really feels like it is.  Another plus is our view, we’re on the backside of the building, but instead of being closed in by a fence and bushes, we look out into the community and to a lake with a beautiful fountian!!  We have trees and palm trees and birds and ducks and cranes and squirrels and LIZARDS EVERYWHERE!!!!  Its just beautiful!  Although I’m not a fan of the bugs.  There was the world’s biggest bug in my kitchen the other day and I nearly wet myself when it ran out from under the fridge.  Although we came home last night and it was dead on the floor… good kitties!

Travis started work Monday.  He’s not sure he’s going to enjoy his job, but I think he’s happy to have an income after a year without.  I still don’t have a job, but once I get a cell phone with a local number, I’m going to send out more resumes.  There are stores all over where I could get a couple part time jobs, but I’d really love a M-F 8-5 so that we can hang out on the weekends and go run on the beach in the evenings!!!

I dropped my mom off at the airport earlier today so we’re on our own now!  Travis should be home from work in a few hours.  There are still boxes that need to be unpacked, but, honestly, I just need a break (which is why I’m typing this)!  Once everything is put away and our internet is hooked up (I’m borrowing from the neighbor now), I’ll post some pictures of the new place.  Let us know when you plan to visit!!!  We have a pull out couch in the living room and a futon in the “fun room” that are empty now that the rents are gone.  So just let us know!  I think it took me about half an hour to get to the airport and back, so we’ll pick you up and give you a free place to stay if you’ll come visit!!!  Hopefully we’ll see you soon, keep in touch!

Much love,

Sara and Travis

Yay!  Big news!!  Travis got a letter today from Stetson University saying he was accepted for the fall semester!  Yaaay!!  So we're officially going to Florida (as if it wasn't official enough already).  We've been looking for apartments and found some good ones, but my parents are actually thinking about working with us to get a house.  So that's pretty exciting as well!