My basement is starting to take in water.

Eeeee! Did you tell your landlord?

Eeeee! Did you tell your landlord?

Yeah. He called the plumber to make sure it wasn't a leaking pipe, and the plumber said that a lot of people in our neighborhood have been getting water in their basements with this storm. He said there's nothing to do about it right now -- the house is over 100 years old, and the foundation is stone, and the water is coming in through the cracks.

You're welcome to park on our block of St. Thomas next time it storms- we've never had an issue with flooding between first and second...

You know, I wonder if that's because you don't have curbs, so the water can be absorbed by the grass. Hmm.

Yikes, Hil.

Ouch, I'm sore today. Probably a combination of working out and the rain outside. I think I'll still to stretching and weights at home today.

From personal experience, I strongly suggest never letting any company take money from your checking account. Either use your checking account's Bill Pay to pay them (so you can stop it whenever you want without any hassle), or else use a credit card, for reasons already mentioned.

I second this. I had a huge issue with a gym with this.

Askye, when I have bones (from a chicken I roast or debone, or a rotisserie from the store, etc.), I just throw them in a freezer bag. When I have leftover bits of onion or herbs (like parsley stems, or I've chopped a little too much whatever, or the herbs in the fridgeshave gotten dried or wilted), I throw that in the bag as well. Whenever the bag gets full, I just dump it in a pot, add water until the stuff is covered, and simmer for two hours. It usually makes about two quarts.

Yup! I learned this from here, and it is so great!

I was just reading through my latest issue of Cook's Illustrated last night, and they had what looked like a good recipe for easy roast chicken. I'll post it after class tonight.

I might stop by Bally's after class (depends on if I'm in the mood to work out at 10:00 pm!), but I will definitely be going there tomorrow after work. I stopped by last night at 5:15, and the parking was insane--I had to stalk people as they were leaving the building. I did manage to snag a treadmill and walked 30 minutes (1.2 miles only, though), but didn't have the energy to swim for another 30 minutes like I was originally planning.

If the price does go up significantly there on Friday like it might, I think I'll just hold off on joining until the end of the year. My membership at the park district pool is good through 12/30, and I can always use the little workout room downstairs here at the office. That way, I don't have to worry about the drive to Bally's through construction zones. I know darn well that they'll be having big discounts on memberships for the New Years Resolution people, so signing up after Christmas should be pretty cheap.

Here's a video done by the local free paper (Seven Days) about the clean up process in Waterbury. It includes Steph's brother and The Alchemist. [link]

Yeah, I can't watch my brother in that without crying. Or see the FUCKING BAR being sawed into pieces and thrown in a dumpster without crying.

He's interviewed about 3 minutes in, and then again at about 7 minutes in.

Also, I am agog at his mustache. NEVER in his life -- that I'm aware of -- has he EVER had a mustache. He has, however, often had a long chin-beard with no mustache, like some Amish hipster.

Steph it was tough to watch, especially seeing your brother get choked up.