Friday, July 22, 2022

Fly On The Wall In A Covid House


Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall group blog postings hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado, Today, there are three of us opening our homes to our readers for a glimpse at what goes on behind closed doors. What did the fly catch at our place? Covid, that's what. Everyone in my family has had it at one point or another including the grandbabies, but so far I have evaded it...until today, with a positive test. Husby has been home sick all week and then he generously shared his cooties with me. I woke up yesterday with a scratchy throat, runny nose, and a nasty cough. Thanks, Babe! And before you ask, YES we are fully vaxed and boosted! 


This virus comes on the heels of having to say goodbye to my favorite fur baby Savi last week (you can read about it HERE) which nearly did me in emotionally. I'm still trying to grasp that my sweet girl pug companion is gone. I was trying to stay busy this week to avoid the pain of her absence, and then BAM! I got Covid! 

Rather than focus on the craptastic week I've had, let me share some photos from a recent family outing in May that we had to celebrate my beautiful grandson's first birthday (the only person missing is my youngest son since he had to work a double that day and missed the party!). 

***All of the lovely photos below are courtesy of Amber Schnakenberg Photography at https://amberschnakenbergphotography.mypixieset.com/about/ 



















By the time you read this, I'll probably be in bed with a thermometer, extra blankets, hot tea, and....well, a cheese danish would be nice. Feel free to send some my way......


***WANT MORE MENO MAMA? If you love classic board games, check out my latest article for Family Minded  HERE  Then, take a look at my latest pieces for Always Pets--- Unusual Rainforest Pets HERE and my absolute favorite topic--squirrels-- HERE. I also have some yummy summer recipes (smoothies and BBQ!!) featured in AARP/The Ethel which you can see HERE and HERE

Buzz around these other blogs for a peek into some other homes:

 
Baking In A Tornado    https://www.BakingInATornado.com

                                 

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver         https://thediaryofanalzheimerscaregiver.com/blog.html/

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Saying Goodbye: A Little Eulogy For My Four-Legged Friend


Unless you have owned a pet that you loved more than you ever thought possible and considered a member of your family, you will not understand my need to write this eulogy for my four-legged friend. I know people are not supposed to compare the loss of a pet to the loss of a human, but grief is a tricky thing. No two people experience it the same way, and it's impossible to put a degree or timetable on the pain. 



On July 12 at 1:30 a.m., we had to help our sweet pug Savi cross the rainbow bridge. As many of you who follow me on social media know, our pup became unexpectedly and gravely ill 5 weeks ago. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease as well as a bad gall bladder. We did everything we could for her---got opinions from four different vets, numerous blood tests and ultrasounds, made sure she had the necessary surgery (removal of gall bladder and spleen), transfusions, multiple medications, and two weeks in a canine ICU. We spent every dime we had left because the prognosis for her was good---she had an 85% recovery rate. For a while there, we thought we had a miracle dog---she bounced back so quickly, even the doctors were astonished. But last weekend she had a major setback---she stopped eating, stopped drinking, and did nothing but sleep. I knew it was the beginning of the end for her and started counting the hours until the dreaded day came. Everyone warned me that I'd know when it was time to let her go by the look in her eyes, but I refused to accept that. I was confident she was not in pain yet and would hopefully pass peacefully in her sleep. But there was still that little spark of hope in me that she would somehow bounce back again. 



She didn't. Late Monday night her breathing became hard and rapid. I held her for the longest time, and when she looked up at me, I saw it in her eyes, just like everyone said I would. She was telling me it was time. My husband and I drove her to the clinic in the middle of the night and said our final goodbyes.

Next week, we would have celebrated Savi's 10th birthday. I have lost family members, friends, and numerous pets before, but this ranks right up there as one of the most painful losses ever---maybe because it went on for five long weeks of hell. 

Savi came to us from a pug rescue group 9 years ago, and it was love at first sight. She has been my constant companion, my fur baby girl, my sweet angel. She was family. She loved to sunbathe on the deck and her favorite food was salmon. Whenever I took warm clothes out of the dryer, she would hop on the pile, roll over on her back and take a long nap. I called her my "little piggy" because she had a plump, pink belly. There were so many kisses and snuggles with her---she was the most loving dog I have ever known. Savi sat on my lap every time I plopped down on the couch to rest, and she always slept beside me in bed for the nine years we had her. I got so used to her pug snores that they actually comforted me and helped me fall asleep. Now I cannot even sleep in that bed and instead have moved temporarily into our guest room. To say that my heart is broken is an understatement. My heart is completely shattered. 

RIP Savi, I'll see you on the other side, precious girl. This home will never feel the same again without you. 

  

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Looking For Term Life Insurance? Here's Everything You need To Know!

Are you looking into Term Life Insurance for your family? There is a lot of confusion out there about the different types of insurance, but my guest today on the blog is here to answer all of your questions. 

When Should I Purchase a Term Life Insurance Policy?

Find out when you should start seriously looking at term life insurance quotes and how you can secure the best possible rate that works with your budget

For a lot of people, life insurance may seem like something that isn’t necessary until later in life. While it is true that having life insurance when you are older is essential, many people put off finding a plan for far too long. If you are unsure whether or not you should start searching for term life insurance quotes, we’re here to help! We’re going to be walking you through how term life insurance policies work and the best time to purchase a plan. Let’s get you one step closer to finding the best life insurance quote for you!

What is Term Life Insurance?

Before we can explore term life insurance quotes, we need to learn a bit about how term life insurance works

Many young people don’t understand how life insurance works.

There are two main categories of insurance policies that you need to be aware of as you begin searching for the best way to get insured—term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Permanent life insurance is sometimes referred to as whole life insurance. A permanent or whole life insurance plan is exactly what it sounds like—it never expires. You will remain insured for the remainder of your life and you will accumulate a cash value over time. As you get older, this cash value can be used to pay for essential services like healthcare. However, permanent life insurance is by far the pricier option which means that many people choose to go with a term life insurance policy that better fits their budget.

A term life insurance policy—on the other hand—lasts only for a designated amount of time. The average timespan for a term life insurance policy is anywhere from 20-40 years. Unlike permanent life insurance, term life insurance does not accumulate a cash value. As we mentioned, term life insurance is far less expensive while still getting you the coverage you need. For most people in their 20s or 30s searching for life insurance, a term life insurance quote is preferable over permanent life insurance.

When is the Best Time to Get Term Life Insurance?

The younger you are, the cheaper your term life insurance quote will be

Don’t wait too long to purchase life insurance.

Too many young people don’t know that they are in the best position to secure a term life insurance quote. There are a lot of factors that insurance companies look at when they evaluate your application. One of the main factors they look at to determine your monthly rate is your age. For a healthy person in their 20s, the cost of term life insurance can be as low as $25 per month.

Another sign that you should secure a low life insurance quote as soon as possible is if there is someone else in your life that depends on your income. This includes people who are married and new parents looking for insurance. In the event of your untimely death, you want to make sure those around you are financially secure no matter what.

Additionally, people in their 20s and early 30s need to consider life insurance if they have a lot of outstanding debt. This can include student loans, car payments, or mortgages that have yet to be paid off. Should the unthinkable happen and you are uninsured, your debts will be passed to your family members which can cause added stress. So, if you are in your 20s or 30s and fit any of the criteria that we mentioned in this section, the best time to secure a term life insurance policy is right now.

Why is it Better to Get Life Insurance When You’re Young?

Life insurance companies more readily insure young, healthy individuals

The older you get the more likely you are to develop chronic illnesses.

You might be wondering why we are recommending securing a low life insurance rate in your 20s or 30s. The reason is pretty simple—these are the years when you are young and in most cases healthy enough for the insurance company to see you as a low-risk investment. Of course, some factors will drive up the cost of your premium even at a young age. But, if you are healthy, you will have no problem securing a low rate from an insurance company.

The longer you put off getting insurance, the more likely it is that you will develop medical conditions or other risk factors. These risk factors can include chronic illness, tobacco use, high-risk jobs or activities, and your previous medical records. Not to mention, it is a much lower risk for an insurance company to insure someone who is 25 for 30 years than it is to insure someone who is 45 for 30 years. While it is still possible—and highly recommended—that you get coverage no matter your age, it is definitely far cheaper to secure a low rate while you’re young.

What Are Some Ways to Save Money on Term Life Insurance?

Beyond purchasing life insurance when you are young, there are some other ways to make sure you are getting the best rate possible

Minimize your risk factors for the best term life insurance rate.

For a lot of young people searching for an insurance policy, money is tight. That’s why we’re including a few tips to make sure that you can get the best term life insurance rate possible. Let’s take a look:

Undergo a Medical Exam - Some insurance companies offer no-exam insurance. While this may be a necessary option for someone who has a chronic illness or another underlying condition, it is not well suited for someone young and healthy. Without performing a medical exam, the insurance provider will assume that you are high risk and you will be presented with a higher-than-normal monthly premium

Quit Tobacco Usage - This is easier said than done, but it is a major factor that life insurance companies consider. People who use tobacco are far more likely to develop illnesses in the future, which drives up the cost of term life insurance.

Limit High-Risk Activities - When you apply for life insurance, there will be a section on the application that asks you to detail any high-risk activities you are involved in. This can include hobbies or your profession. High-risk professions include jobs with a high risk of personal injuries like mining or logging. High-risk recreational activities can range from skiing to dirt biking.


If you are considering purchasing life insurance, now is the time to start looking. The younger you are, the better rate you can secure for a term life insurance policy. That means the best time to purchase life insurance is right now! After you’ve purchased your plan, you can rest easy knowing your loved ones are financially protected no matter what. 



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