Since I turned 65 and Mel's disabled, I heard that we could sign up at the courthouse for some reductions in taxes we pay to the county and city, and possibly also get a little extra income. So, this morning I took our tax returns down to the county government complex and started signing up. I went to the tax assessors office and I got over $600 in school taxes wiped out, and my property taxes reduced and my garbage and water rates reduced. There were several other things that were reduced, too, but I don't remember what they were. I went downstairs to the tag office to see if there were any discounts I could get off my car tags and they said there wasn't.
Then I went across the parking lot to another building where the Welfare office was located to see if I could have any luck there. One of my brothers and my Mom lives with us and both are disabled. Both are on limited incomes, but I couldn't get anything for them. So out of anger and frustration, I told them I wanted to sign my Dog up for welfare. At first the lady said, "Dogs are not eligible to draw welfare". So I explained to her that my Dog is a mix in color, doesn't have a job, lazy, can't speak English and has no frigging clue who his Daddy is. He expects me to feed him, provide him with housing and medical care, and feel guilty because he is a dog.
So she looked in her policy book to see what it takes to qualify. My Dog gets his first check next Friday.
Damn this is a great country.