Legend of Dragoon Side Quests: Defeating the Dragoon Spirits

In order to take on the Dragoon spirits upon the request of Shirley, players need to be on the fourth disc with the ability to ride on Coolon in Zenebatos, the ancient Wingly city of laws.  Of the seven Dragoon knights from the Dragon Campaign eleven thousand years ago, only four are available to fight, obviously, because Rose, Zieg, and Shirley are already accounted for in the plot.  After completing Zenebatos, fly on Coolon to Deningrad.  From there, trek through Kashua Glacier and the snow fields to once again reach Vellweb.  Continue on to the spot where Shirley first requested your help.  She will appear again and vanish, leaving you to vanquish the knights.  Save at the nearby access point and enter the doorway.  There is no particular order in which to fight the Dragoon spirits, but there are certain methods to consider when fighting.  My team consisted of Dart, Albert, and Rose at levels 34, 33, and 32 respectively.  Make sure to go into each battle with full spirit point gauges for each player you intend to use.  Each battle earns 300G, 6000EXP, and the elemental stone of the Dragoon. 

Damia (9,500HP) – Blue Sea Dragoon Spirit

The easiest and shortest of the battles, Damia focuses on Diamond Dust and Dragoon additions, for the few attacks she delivered.  Start the battle using a Speed Down on her, followed by a Power Down.  Power Up should be used on Dart.  With this combination, have Dart blast Damia with Final Burst.  At this point, Dart was Dragoon level 5 and dealt more than 3200 hit points of damage.  As the Power Down only lasts three turns, not all of Dart’s Final Bursts will rack up that much damage.  Use Albert to dole out physical attacks while Rose takes care of item usage.  I equipped Dart with his Fire Sword and Amulet for more magic due to Final Burst usage and Rose and Albert with spirit point boosting items since curative items are not necessary.  For lower level players having difficulty, equip therapy or physical rings and designate one player as a healer.  Use Psyche Bomb X to deal some good damage too.

Belzac (16,000HP) – Golden Dragoon Spirit

While having a larger amount of hit points than his fellow Dragoons, Belzac is weak against magic attacks.  Throw a Power Down and Speed Down on Belzac, while using Power Up on Albert or Dart, whoever you choose as your magic dealer.  Equip this same person with an Amulet.  Blast away with Final Burst and Gaspless, and use Rose to fire away Psyche Bomb X.  When not in Dragoon form, have Rose defend, as Belzac’s physical attack can take Rose out in one hit.  Astral Drain does decent damage, about 1,000 hit points.  Make sure to use additions with high SP return so as to gain Dragoon form to use more magic attacks.  If need be, rely on those high-powered magical attack items collected from Zenebatos to get the job done.  Belzac is very slow, so consecutive hits really allow players to quickly whittle away hit points. Magic attacks such as Meteor Strike take away little HP, especially when in Dragoon form. 

Kanzas (12,000HP) – Violet Dragoon Spirit

This Dragoon is fast, lightning fast, so equip your choice player with a Bandit’s Ring or Dancer’s Ring.  Rose can be swapped out for Meru in this battle, as her Rainbow Breath and speed stat come in handy.  Magic attacks work, but not as well as additions from Albert.  For this battle, I equipped Albert with a physical ring, Rose with a therapy ring, and Dart with a bandit’s ring.  Albert is particularly weak to magical attacks, so casting Rose Storm will help lower damage.  Due to his speed, Kanzas blasts out attacks after almost every turn of each player on the team.  Use Dart’s turns for Final Burst or Dragoon additions, followed by strong additions like Moon Strike.  Rose is strong against these lightning attacks and does well striking with Hard Blade.  Rose is once again the healer and item user.  Remember, Speed Down and Power Down should be used right away on Kanzas, then Power Up and Speed Up on your player who deals the most damage.  Use Astral Drain when necessary.  Kanzas’ Dragoon attacks only deal damage to one player at a time, making it easier to heal, but depending on the move, the damage can be severe.

Syuveil (10,000HP) – Jade Dragoon Spirit

Much like Albert, Syuveil has strong offense, weak defense.  As before, Speed Down and Power Down on him, while using Power Up and Speed Up on Dart equipped with Amulet.  Final Burst it up while Rose attacks with regular or Dragoon additions.  Albert can cast Rose Storm if you want, reducing Syuveil’s Wing Blaster to nothing.  The Special option works well here, allowing Dart to blast his Dragoon addition, but do not engage this mode until the desired status items have been thrown.  Use additions with high SP gain to quickly enter into Dragoon mode, especially for Albert.  During the ten or fifteen turns of battle, Syuveil never released his dragon, relying on Dragoon additions and Wing Blaster.  He does not invoke Rose Storm.  Psyche Bomb X makes a nice dent when used by the Power Up character too.

Overall, these battle were easy, taking only about ten minutes each.  Even at level 34, I did not need DS armor of any type and only used two Healing Rains.  Most of the time, I did not equip therapy or physical rings, and simply attached Wargod’s Sash or Spirit Rings to Albert and Rose to build their Dragoon levels.  If you find rough waters, rely on healing every other round, defending when needed, and blast away with Final Burst.  Good luck and dragonspeed.

Legend of Dragoon Side Quests: Defeating Magician Faust

The Magician Faust is an optional boss of the game, available after collecting the 50 Stardust from Martel and acquiring the Vanishing Stone.  Dominate the Wingly city of Zenebatos and take a ride on Coolon to Kashua Glacier.  Follow the path leading to Flanvel Tower and make your way through the winding tunnels until you reach the save point before the boss battle previously fought in the game.  Warp through the right-hand side port to arrive in a small, dark room.  Faust will appear, warning travelers to flee before he attacks.  Yet, with Vanishing Stone in hand, the now known apparition of Faust disappears, and Dart is allowed to descend into the Taboo area.  Follow the linear path to reach a Dragon Helm and a room with a save point and three Wingly warp tunnels.  The order of choosing does not matter; each path leads to a lower room with a large platform surrounded by three entrances.  The first and second entrances your character discovers will break away, leaving one route to Faust.  My final path was using the middle port, riding the tunnels until I reached a point with four options.  Choosing the rightmost tunnel lead to the last path to the platform where Dart and the others crash down into a dungeon where the real Faust appears.

Before battle preparations should consist of stocking at least five each of Angel's Prayer, Healing Breeze, Healing Fog, and Healing Rain.  MP healers and magic items will not be helpful, unless you want to spam Rose Storm like crazy.  When choosing a team, consider speed and magical defense.  I used Dart (Lv. 36), Rose (Lv. 33), and Albert (Lv. 35), despite his low MD, because Rose Storm saves lives and often determines the outcome of high-powered battles.  For equipment, I used Therapy Rings on Rose and Albert and gave Dart a Dragon Helm and Physical Ring to dramatically increase his HP.  Legend Casque is not required to defeat Faust, and I would dare say using one is cheating.  Dragoons are completely capable of handling this insane magician on their own.  Fully charge all SP gauges beforehand, mainly for Dart and Albert, and use additions delivering high damage and 100 SP gain.  Strategy is key to the battle.  Do not expect to attack every turn with every character, because you will achieve "game over" in less than five turns.  Most importantly, save before entering the final path; this battle may take a few tries to conquer.

Magician Faust (27,000HP)

Faust provides a veritable onslaught of magical attacks, ranging from small blasts from his wand to gigantic fire spheres hurled from the heavens that destroy unprepared parties.  Do not use magic against him; simply rely on additions, Dragoon additions, and healing items.  The first attack is up for grabs depending on your team selection and the speed of characters.  In my case, Albert attacked first, followed by Faust.  I tried different scenarios, using Special Mode, throwing Speed Down, defending on the first move -- my party died every single time.  Faust's first move is always a huge meteor that instantly kills Rose and Albert.  Dart is then forced to play catch up while fighting off the magician's powerful attacks.  Instead, immediately invoke Albert's Dragoon mode and use Rose Storm, protecting all party members from devastating HP loses.  Follow up transforming Dart and having Rose heal or defend, depending on character HP.  Rose remains to be the healer and item user for the rest of the battle, because she has a higher tolerance to magic attacks and can withstand a few attacks when not defending.  Albert should rarely attack in human form, as one magic blast can take him out.  He is there for Rose Storm, and the occasional attack when you need more SP.  Faust will attack a few times during one turn, up to four moves in a row, meaning defenses should be kept at maximum.  In Dragoon form, Dart's addition blasted over 1800 HP from Faust, while Albert reigns supreme at 2300 plus attacks.  Speed Down does not truly slow down Faust, although Power Down works wonders on his stats.  Use in conjunction with a Power Up on Dart to increase attack strength.  While whittling away his HP, Faust releases strong spells when his HP is at half, and again when it is at a quarter of the full amount.  In preparation for these spells, have Rose Storm invoked while defending with Rose and Albert.  Following this strategy, Faust will go down in about 30 minutes.

Your ultimate prize?  10,000 gold, 20,000 experience points, and the amazing Phantom Shield.  Plus bragging rights.  Totally worth it, right?

Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne: Challenging Bandou Shrine

After obtaining all 24 Magatama, visit the Cathedral of Shadows to receive a special item needed to access Bandou Shrine.  Link to Assembly of Nihilo and travel northward toward the small shrine atop the sandy hill.  The gravestone will react and warp the demi-fiend to Masakados’ resting place.

Immediately upon entering, take the right path and enter the red shrine.  From the warp point, follow the spiral path until the pillar.  This is the first of four boss battles within the shrine.  Bishamon uses fire-based attacks, meaning ingest Gehenna or any other Magatama with strength against fire.  His attacks: Hellfire, Maragidyne, Dragon Eye, Tarukaja, Tempest, Dekaja, Debilitate, Makakaja, Megidolaon, and Prominence.

Upon winning, return to the beginning and take the left path into the yellow shrine.  Continue along the path, remaining north at the fork.  Spiral down to another fork and take the rightmost path to the second pillar to face Zouchou.  His attacks consist of Dragon Eye, Makakaja, Bolt Storm, Maziodyne, and possibly more, but I knocked him out witnessing only these moves.

Once the Kishin is defeated, return to the fork before the second pillar and take the left path to reach a cache cube containing 50,000 Macca.  Go back to the first fork encountered after entering the yellow shrine.  This time, turn west and follow the downward slope to reach yet another fork.  Turn north and spiral down toward the lowest floor of the shrine.  From the blue soul, head southeast onto the ramp to find the third pillar hiding Jikoku.  His attacks include Dragon Eye, Makakaja, Glacial Blast, Mabufudyne, Focus, and Bufudyne.

Head west back up the ramp, following around until the fork.  Continue south and take the next west turn.  Before entering the purple shrine, turn around to find a cache cube with another 50,000 Macca.  From the warp point, head south into the green shrine.  The last pillar remains at the end of the path.  Koumoku awaits, ready to use his wind element, although he mainly slammed me with a physical assault.  Moves shown are Rakukaja, Dragon Eye, Rakunda, Deathbound, Zandyne, and Mazandyne.

Head north, east, south, east, south all the way down until the stonewall, then east for a cube with 50,000 Macca.  Turn around and head west toward the blue soul, then north on the higher, flat path.  Head east at the next fork, and continue east until the stonewall.  Turn north and follow the path downward until the fork.  Turn west to reach the front of the inner sanctum.  Open the door to retrieve the prize from Masakados.  To leave, take the northern route back to the yellow shrine.

The strategy for winning is basically the same for each Kishin.  Build up team strength using Tarukaja, while Debilitate tears down enemy stats.  Provoke or Taunt boost attack even further, and the party should be able to take the extra damage if properly trained into the 80-level range. Deal out the attacks, healing with Medidiharan when needed and making sure to use Freikugel (mine dealt 2500+ damage).  Remember to equip Magatama resistant to each element of the Kishin currently being challenged, as well as using party members with magical resistance.  I start with Bishamon as the first battle, because he is the easiest to travel toward and proves to be the toughest.  Defeating him first decreases the chance of losing further into the shrine; no save points exist like in other dungeon areas.

10 Uncommon Video Games from the 90’s Every Gamer Should Play

Star Tropics (1990) – Chronicling the life of a young boy named Mike Jones, Star Tropics involves cave exploration, alien bad guys, and fighting off enemies with a magical yo-yo.  The story begins with Mike visiting his uncle, Dr. Jones, on C-Island only to find him missing.  Baboo, Dr. Jones’ assistant, lends Mike a submarine, a crucial component of the game, in order to island hop to find clues about his uncle’s disappearance.  Defeating cavern bosses grants Mike extra hearts that increase the strength of his yo-yo.  The intensely colored 2D graphics and memorable music add to the game-play, but the true genius comes from increasingly difficult chapters and puzzles swirled around a complex and unexpected plot.  Owners of the original game were surprised with an unusual clue to solving Uncle Jones’ disappearance, a physical letter to be dipped in water.  New gamers fear not, Star Tropics is still available for purchase on the Virtual Console for Wii.  (Released by Nintendo for NES).

Mansion of the Hidden Souls (1994) – The game-play is slow, the music repetitive, and the storyline short, but if you look past the bad, Mansion of the Hidden Souls is a story worth the experience.  Mansion resident June is summoned by the elder to solve the mystery of the blood red moon by speaking with other ghosts and solving puzzles.  The ghosts appear as butterflies that transform into eerie human heads that, at times, react fiercely to stories and events of the plot.  Over ten spirits haunt the mansion, leaving June with an overwhelming task of moving from room to room searching for clues.  Combine the floating heads with random encounters, paranoia-inducing music, and voices that always seem to trail off to get a creepy game that keeps you looking over your shoulder every few minutes.  Remember, try not to make Cathy angry. . .  (Released by Sega for Sega Saturn).

Astal (1995) – On a world known as Quartilia, young Leda and her protector, Astal, watch over the planet and bring life to all inhabitants.  While the goddess, Antowas, sleeps, an evil force, Jerado, fights to takeover the world with his warrior, Geist.  Astal ravages the land after Geist kidnaps Leda, only to awaken Antowas and receive punishment for ruining her creation.  Imprisoned on the moon, Astal watches as Leda is stolen once again, causing him to break free and finally rid Quartilia of Jerado and Geist.  Play the game as Astal and his bird companion, racing through over 20 levels of gem-like enemies and larger-than-life bosses.  Each level is side scrolling, split between player-controlled time and computer-controlled time.  The planet resembles its name, a plethora of quartz crystals sparkling in time to twinkling music, like faeries with a dark sense of humor.  If you have two controllers, one player can control Astal while the other uses the bird to help fight enemies.  (Released by Sega for Sega Saturn).

Suikoden (1995) – Although popular among veteran gamers, Suikoden is probably unknown to new video game enthusiasts.  The first role-playing game (RPG) of its kind, Suikoden boasts a turn-based battle system that invokes physical and magical attacks through the use of runes, the cornerstone of all Suikoden games.  Wander the world as the hero and recruit the 108 Stars of Destiny to build an army, construct your own castle, and return peace to the land.  To be successful, an RPG must possess a deep, spiraling plot, believable characters, music and graphics to match the feel of the game, and, most importantly, the addition of challenging quests and puzzles to receive 100% completion of the game.  Trust me, Suikoden excels at all of these traits.  Without a guide, some serious footwork is required to recruit every Star of Destiny, and if you don’t know where to look, you may find your save file reaching over 60 hours of gameplay.  And I loved every second of it.  (Released by Konami for PlayStation).

NiGHTS into DREAMS (1996) – Flying around a dream land, collecting orbs of Ideya, and fending off Nightmaren may sound simple, but only with speed and exact maneuvering will players defeat Wiseman and deliver peaceful dreams.  NiGHTS into DREAMS opens to reveal two children, Claris and Elliot, who have fallen prey to nightmares due to fears in the real world.  With the help of Nights, a Nightmaren who has betrayed his creator Wiseman, each child flies through Nightopia to collect their missing Ideya, colorful spheres of light which hold positive pieces of their personalities.  Each level or dream consists of four Mares where players must fly through the dream to collect points.  Each Mare is graded, and passing grades go on to a boss battle hosted by one of Wiseman’s top Nightmaren.  Characters fly in a whimsical 2D environment, but can also use their human counterparts to walk each dream in 3D.  However, the dream will end if caught by a beeping alarm clock.  For diehard fans, the game music is unforgettable with its upbeat tempo and flute-like sound.  While the Sega Saturn version may be difficult to find, Nintendo released a new game, Nights: Journey of Dreams, for the Wii.  Not the same experience, but at least it gives gamers a taste of Nightopia.  (Released by Sega for Sega Saturn).

Glover (1998) – Have you ever experienced a game so frustrating that you screamed in conjunction with a Donkey Kong throw of the game controller?  Well, Glover will make you do just that, along with slightly cry when your ball is destroyed with one life left at the end of the level.  Confused?  Good, because complete sanity should be abashed when playing this game as an enchanted white glove that must save the kingdom from his evil counterpart, Cross-Stitch.  After a corrupt potion spills and turns the kingdom into a wasteland, Glover must return the kingdom’s transformed crystals to the wizard’s castle to restore the realms.  Glover would normally be a simple, linear adventure game with fun, crazy levels of carnivals and dinosaur forests, but adding a required bouncy ball into the mix proves to be extremely challenging.  Players must travel with the ball throughout every level, using its different forms to solve puzzles and cross barriers.  Add in thin ledges, ball-snatching enemies, repetitive music, and slightly off camera angles to the party for a borderline breakdown of gamer sanity.  But, to be a true gamer, one must face hardships (and chest pains) to save the world.  I’ll see you again in three months with missing hair and the gleam of bouncy balls in your eyes.  (Released by Hasbro Interactive for N64)

Bomberman Hero (1998) – Picture it, an adorable, long-eyed warrior cloaked in white, pink, and blue.  Atop his head rests a small, pink bomb.  Although he looks cute, Bomberman is a serious warrior who will stop at nothing to save the princess from the evil Garaden Empire and their leader, Bagular.  Bomberman must travel to different planets, exploring various stages to reach the assigned bosses under Bagular.  Each planet offers a new visual experience, ranging from dark forests and snow covered mountains to volcanoes and pyramids.  Not only can Bomberman run and jump, but some stages also require the use of flying and submarine modes.  Stages are ranked based on the number of points collected, gold being the highest possible rank.  Those who achieve gold rankings for every planet will unlock special minigames and an alternate ending.  No worries though, stages can be replayed an unlimited number of times in order to achieve a perfect score.  So if you love throwing bombs at enemies, especially salt bombs at slugs, use Bomberman to fulfill your pyromanical desires and save the princess from the empire (insert Star Wars music).  (Released by Nintendo for N64).

Tonic Trouble (1999) – Eating your vegetables has never been more important, especially when faced with oversized killer carrots and turnips.  When spaceman Ed finds an unknown can of sludge on the table, he does what any sane person would do, throws back his head and takes a nice, big swig.  The nasty flavor causes Ed to dispose of the liquid, which makes its way to Earth and into the hands of the evil Viking, Grogh.  The potion transforms Grogh and the surrounding lands, and Ed must fights his way to the can to prepare an antidote.  Each level consists of collecting parts to build a catapult that will fly Ed to Grogh’s kingdom.  A variety of weapons are earned throughout the game after saving The Doc from his haywire robots.  Ed must travel through canyons, glaciers, and ancient pyramids to find all of the machine parts.  With the help of Suzy, The Doc, Agent Xyz, and some magical popcorn, Ed stands a good chance against defeating Grogh and bringing peace back to Earth.  Despite an inventive plot and range of challenging levels, my two gripes of the game would have to be the poor camera angles and load times of the game, known for causing partial freezes and glitches during gameplay.  If you can ignore those flaws, Tonic Trouble is a fun adventure for all types of gamers.  (Released by Ubisoft for N64).

Jet Force Gemini (1999) – Defeat the evil Mizar and his insect army by cruising the galaxy as the brother-sister-dog trio known as the Jet Force Gemini team.  The only crew left from their organization, Juno, Vela, and Lupus must go from planet to planet saving natives and killing alien bugs in order to stop Mizar from destroying the galaxy.  Jet Force Gemini is a product of Rare, known for their graphic styling and catchy music.  Gameplay exists as third-person shooting with a multitude of weapons to use.  If accuracy isn’t your gig, you may find yourself consistently running low on ammo, one of the big challenges of the game.  Certain members of the team, with each team member hosting different abilities like swimming and flying, can only explore specific planets.  Although most levels are tedious, requiring the rescue of every tribal to acquire 100% completion, the game is worth the experience, testing gamers’ attention to detail and shooting skills.  Halo and Call of Duty just can’t stand up to this N64 galactic classic.  (Released by Rare for N64).

Legend of Dragoon (1999) – Yet another gem in the RPG world, Legend of Dragoon has some of the best custom music ever created for such a long and in-depth game.  Players begin the game on the continent Endiness with Dart, a blonde, rough-looking guy who is immediately attacked by a giant dragon.  Physical attacks are launched using a sync system where the X button must be pressed when a series of squares align in the middle.    Throughout the game, Dart travels through different regions and meets companions who join his quest to destroy the black monster that killed his parents.  Each member of the team resonates with a Dragoon spirit, equipping them with various elemental powers and armor of matching color.  Exploring the expansive map requires a lot of time and patience in order to collect all of the treasure chests and key items.  Although battling becomes monotonous when power leveling, the storyline is captivating and the side quests allow players to gain more knowledge about the characters’ pasts.  Misplaced trust, murder, and secret love flourish throughout Dart’s life, unbeknownst to him and the player until the very end.  (Released by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation).

I Spy an Easter Guy (or Bunny, that is)

May your eggs be yolky and baskets full of chocolate, always chocolate.

~The Vegetarian Cat

Psychotic Fish

Are you a fortune teller?  Can you tell me how to find the nearest path to enlightenment, however drenched with wrath, consistently wrapped around my little finger, a string no bigger than a C from a bass summoned by the god of thunder, a constant reminder that hind sight is 20/20 even when I have plenty of voices to tell me otherwise, to tell me how to die and live in the same breath.  Nine lives of constant glances over the shoulder, wondering when the thin string will continue to wrap around my body, slithering past navel to neck where even the slightest cough sends trickles down my spine.  How many times will I fight to make music, a serenade of notes no human can hear, decibels sounding to the ears of fancy chinchillas and vampire bats, out hunting each other for a midnight snack, consciously choosing to avoid tried and true sustenance, leaves and fruits and insects?  But how many of us would attempt the oddest obstacles, climb the strangest pinnacle in the face of a hooded man holding a blade, eerily reflecting the exact shade of skin enrobing my body, collapsing on the nearby grass, a simple modification of carcasses from centuries of passing.  I wonder, are you a fortune teller?

Or the same hooded man around my neck? 

Puppy Birthday & Couponing Chinchilla?!?

Insert d'awwws now

My adorable family Dach-Pom celebrated her 6th birthday yesterday, complete with squeaky rubber chickens and some cheesecake-inspired Ben & Jerry's ice cream (dogs love dairy oh so much).  With all of the festivities, she also managed to swipe the catnip bird I purchased for my Garfield-iend orange tabby.  The blue feathers, the crinkly stuffing, the thought of chewing on something you are just not suppose to have. . . it was too much temptation.  My sweet Bella managed to maneuver past my Girl Scout Cookie induced hypnotic state and snatch the poor bird between her tiny teeth.  The bird didn't stand a chance.  And now, among the scraps of felt and feathers, all that remains is a polka dot carcass, covered in the sweet scent of puppy drool and desire.  But it's filled with catnip - I don't think my tabby will mind the canine bite marks too much.

On a more informational note, giving ice cream to my pup is not a regular occurrence.  Too many treats of any kind are harmful to any animals' natural diet.  Ice cream is a pretty safe choice for dogs in small quantities.  The protein and calcium content are fairly high, and, depending on the flavor, sugar levels can be in the lower range.  Make sure whatever treat you are giving your pet, you have researched if it's harmful to their digestive system.  Some toxic and/or dangerous foods to avoid giving dogs and cats are: chocolate and cocoa powder, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins, mushrooms, fatty meats and trimmings, fish bones, raw eggs, poinsettias, and lilies.  Dairy can also be an issue, depending on your pet and the number of lactase enzymes produced in the stomach.  If you want to give your pet dairy, only provide a very small amount at a time to see if there are any adverse reactions.  Vomiting and diarrhea are key signs.  Remember, dogs may love getting pieces of hot dog or some Kraft cheese slices (processed cheese = bad), but those treats actually shorten their lives.  Choose a healthier option, like carrots or natural dog biscuits from the pet store.

If you've been keeping up with the blog, you now know the Vegetarian Cat is a couponing fiend.  Tomorrow, I will be teaching my first course about the basics of saving money using these magical forms of paper money (currency is actually made from linen and cotton).  I usually print the majority of my coupons from websites like coupons.com or target.com/coupons.  When I first got my chinchilla, I would often take him to his room (yes, he has his own room) and clip coupons while watching him bounce off of the walls and play basketball.  Until I found out the truth.  My darling child, the fruit of my love, is a coupon addict.  Neatly stacked piles of freshly clipped coupons scattered across the bed.  Coupons hidden under toys, boxes, and bed sheets.  Corners nibbled and torn.  My Fuji apple had turned rogue, stealing coupons faster than I could cut them (sounds a little like a Dach-Pom I know).  Despite the apparent rush he feels from nibbling paper, I had to halt our couponing time together, cold tofurkey.  I feel it's best for both of us.  Now, after a recovery period, he still steals toys and treats from my unsuspecting hands, maybe a piece of hay now and then.  But the coupons are tucked away from prying chinchilla paws.  Hopefully he never finds my binder.

Now, you know you want it. . . it's time for:

*** Coupon Deals of the Week ***
Walgreens
Select seeds, 5/$1 with in-ad coupon
Tylenol Precise Heat Patches 3-4 pack or Pain Relief Cream 2.5 oz. $5
- use $5/1 Tylenol Precise from RP 2/19
Kleenex Facial Tissue 24, 70, or 100 sheets $.99
- use $.50/1 Kleenex from SS 2/12
All Laundry Detergent 28-40 loads $3.50
- use $1/1 All Detergent 
Hunt's Tomato Sauce 8 oz. $.39 with in-ad coupon
Goody Ouchless Elastic hair ties 27 pack, $2.99, receive 2RR

CVS
Coldcalm 60 ct. $6.99, receive 6.99ECB
Slim Fast bars 5 ct. or shakes 4 pk., 2/$10, buy 2 receive 2ECB
- use (2) $1.50/1 Slim Fast shakes 
- pay $7, receive 2 ECB
Poise pads and liners, on clearance, price varies between $2-$4
- use Poise coupon 
Schick Intuition, Quattro for Men/Women razor 1 ct. or 3-4 ct. cartridges $8.99, receive 3 ECB
- use $2/1 Schick Intuition razor or $2/1 Schick Quattro razor from RP 1/15
- pay $6.99, receive 3 ECB

Looks a lot like my orange tabby. . .

 Now, I'm off to eat some yummy Greek yogurt and play with my baby.

~ The Vegetarian Cat