It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I’m going to be spending a good portion of the day at a Saturkeyday celebration with friends. Not quite the “family” I spend the actual day with, but pretty close. I am blessed to be able to celebrate my thankfulness twice.

 

As you all know, I am thankful for the people and pets in my life. And not just my pets. One of the highlights of tomorrow will be taking a moment to spoil my friend’s dog, Bear. So far, I’m the one person who can get him to sit on a regular basis. His family’s training attempts have started to be referred to as the Bear eats cheese game. He actually listens to me (when I have a bit of duck or chicken jerky in my hand).

I mention this because friends who were at our Thursday celebration recently had to put down their dog, Boots. While I obviously don’t feel the loss the way they do, I feel sadness for my friends. And it’s because of this that it might seem like some of my pets posts have a theme.

 

 

At Bringing Up Bella, Leslie has been sharing their journey of medication, trying to reduce Bella’s stress. Just like with people, sometimes the side effects are worse than the symptoms, something she explores in the post What Have We Done.

 

Kari at Dog is God in Reverse has a senior dog in her house, a big, senior dog, who is starting to develop some problems, but despite the fact that Tori has Arthritis, I know she’ll be fine, because her people are already on the ball with treatment.

 

Speaking of veterinary care, the Borderblog household is home to a vet, and recently, she also had a friend who recently had to make the difficult decision, and being the person she is, she made The House Call.

 

In happier news, my friends have adopted a new little girl and are integrating her into their household. And in order to make you smile after depressing you, I’m sharing this post from my favorite goofy blogger over at The Chronicles of Cardigan – If You Give a Nutty Pet Blogger…

 

 

 

There’s a minor theme for the financial blogs today, too. You see, many financial bloggers are all about the sales and Black Friday is the day of sales. But some of us hate shopping, and even more, hate dealing with crowds while shopping. Or, at least I do. But I’m not really alone. I know this because both Andrea from So Over This and Sandy at Yes, I Am Cheap chose not to shop on Friday, either. Sandy writes why she’s Anti Black Friday this year, and Andrea, in her most grown up voice, says Black Friday- Pfft.

 

I love looking at real estate, and I’m so excited for Kathleen down in Frugal Portland who is currently looking to buy her first place. Recently, though she came across The Condo That Was Too Good to be True

 

Speaking of new beginnings, my friend at American Debt Project recently accepted a new job and is now considering Financial Transitions with a New Job.

 

And, in some of the most exciting news of the last couple of weeks, my favorite anonymous blogger recently decided he’d rather be Iron Man than Superman, and revealed his secret identity. I hope you’ll all go over and meet Average Joe.

 

 

And now time to introduce the new, or new to me, blogs of the week.

 

Sugar the Golden Retriever blogs at Golden Woofs and wrote this week about giving thanks for our furry friends.

And recently joining the Yakezie network is What Mommy Does. And one of the things Mommy does is help raise money to feed hungry children– which is a great way to remember exactly how lucky we have it.