This is not a trick question. How much is a hamster worth?
You paid $5.00 for the thing. $30 for its first cage. You have paid $7 a piece for hamster balls for them to get exercise and each hamster has had 3 different balls in a year. Then a cage upgrade that cost another $50--each (two hamsters). Not to mention the bags of bedding, all the special treats, the cage add-ons (about $15 each). The pen for the play area for them to roam without disappearing. The 'toys' for the play area. Another $75.
This morning I did something I told the kids I would NOT do when we bought these little rodents. I took one to the vet. Yep. My son's hamster, Jacques Von Hamsterveel (the name is bigger than he is) started acting funny last night. He keeps falling over and spinning around. He is tilted to the right. Ear infection. INNER ear infection. It cost me $97 for the vet to check him out and pronounce the hamster well cared for (ya think? that hamster is pampered way better than I EVER was) and then tell my son that the hamster either has an central ear bacterial infection OR a tumor. He gave the hamster a shot, handed me some medicine with a very tiny syringe and told us to call him in a week. $97. For a $5 hamster.
But how do I tell my son, "We'll just toss him and buy another."? I have grown quite fond of the little balls of fur. They grow on you. I even nicknamed the thing ChubbyBubba. Every since we went to Disney World and came home to find that Jacques had busted out and found the bags of hamster food and treats and had himself a never ending feast...and his belly had swollen significantly.
We'll see how it goes. The doctor said we should notice improvement within a couple of days. If we don't and he isn't better in a week? Well, we won't think about that. For now.
I wonder if the hamster antibiotics will work on me? Yesterday was a good day. Today is back to crap. Just shoot me.
(in me 'ead). But I plan on being back to my blog posting by May. As you know...the best laid plans of mice and men...when I'm back you'll all know it. I will no longer be dancing on the edge of my volcano...it will erupt. 
