Is it time to hide?

These numbers are getting a little high. It's enough to make one dizzy. Mauly-Bones got so tired of it, she stuck her head in the sand (well, under the bed anyway).

Senators decided Saturday (Feb. 7) to cut the stimulus proposal from $900 billion to $780 billion. A vote is expected this week.

That's a lot of money and dog treats. It's a little overwhelming to think about how this "package" is going to stimulate the economy. Businesses, employees and just general dog bystanders are learning every day how the U.S. economy is solely built on spending.

With people losing their jobs or fearing the loss of their jobs, they don't spend as much. Mom keeps saying that she has limited spending to food and gas. She's been doing that since August.

Mom made an exception recently after Mauly and I destroyed a bed I had had since I was a puppy. We made a hole in it. We played around until we could get the white, fluffy stuffing out and eat it. My first bed went in the trash after Mom and Mr. Food Boy bought a new one for $18.95 plus tax.

Oh, she and Mr. Food Boy will occasionally go to the movies (the matinee is a steal at $3.25) and will treat themselves to a meal out – once or twice a week. Mom says they don't have to worry, right now, and they're lucky. Others, who are losing their jobs and homes, are not so lucky.

I hope these lawmakers know what they are doing. The proposal has some good projects like school nutrition and adding money to government agencies. The media-types keep talking about dollars, but I don't recall seeing any story looking at the economic impact.

Is it one of those scenarios like every dollar spent is multiplied in the community. I'll keep my paws crossed that it means something like that. If it doesn't, I'll find a bed to hide under, too.