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05/21/09 12:53 - 76ºF - ID#48712

Credit Card Legislation

I've been waiting for a post from Vincent or Joshua or Jim on the credit card legislation, but I guess I'll go first.

A news article in the Buffalo News touched on the ups and downs of the legislation.

Bankers, apparently, are stating that they may be "forced" to initiate or raise annual user fees; take away bonuses; or otherwise develop practices that would be "damaging" to those individuals who use credit cards responsibly.

Well, bankers, I don't need your credit card. So if you plan on charging me an annual user fee or taking away my cash-back bonus, go right ahead. I have no "right" to a credit card with no annual user fee and a cash-back bonus. But I certainly have the freedom to cancel the card and rely solely on my debit card; cash; and checks (or in other words, I will return to a "pay as I go" system).

There is obviously a connection between the credit card industry and the healthcare industry given that a portion of people in significant credit card debt are paying healthcare related bills. I can imagine a scenario where the unintended consequence of a decrease in available credit is to put further and immediate pressure on our current health care system and our future approach to health care in our country.
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Permalink: Credit_Card_Legislation.html
Words: 221
Location: Buffalo , NY


05/15/09 07:59 - 62ºF - ID#48676

I hit the thrift store jackpot

Four fabulous looking tops (which made me do a happy dance in the dressing room) and one pair of pants. $21.00 That's a darn good night of thrift shopping.

I'm wearing one of the tops now. And it looks really good on me. Too bad Drew isn't here to admire me, but I still look good regardless of his presence or not.

Drew might be away, but I'm feeling cute, sociable and thirsty for a beer. I might wander down to The Place for a drink ... let me know if you would like to join me.
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Permalink: I_hit_the_thrift_store_jackpot.html
Words: 95
Location: Buffalo , NY


05/07/09 07:31 - 52ºF - ID#48611

Pet Sitter

It's that time of year where we need a pet sitter. I'll email you the dates if you're interested.

We're hoping for a highschool or college student who wants to make a little extra money and will do a decent job.

They would need to stop by twice a day to feed and water the animals, let the dog out, scoop some litter and give eyedrops daily to the cat. We would also need the back and front gardens watered maybe 2-3 times during the week.

I hate to ask friends because it's a lot of work, I think, especially since most of our friends work and they would have to get up and come into our house before work.

If you know anyone who's reliable in this area and would like to make a little money, maybe around one hundred dollars, ... please let me know.
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Permalink: Pet_Sitter.html
Words: 146
Location: Buffalo , NY


05/06/09 05:03 - 69ºF - ID#48604

Math fun at work

I needed to explain to people at work the differences between:

5:30 as in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

and

5.5 as in 5 hours and 1/2 of an hour.

An inability to distinguish between the two has led to a serious documentation error.

As in, they would take 5:14 (5 hours 14 minutes) and subtract a half hour of time by doing the following. 5.14 - .5 ending up with 4.64 which is not correct.

An inability on my part to adequately explain to them the difference between the two has left them with blank stares and me with a head that's going to explode.

We'll try again tomorrow.
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Permalink: Math_fun_at_work.html
Words: 98
Location: Buffalo , NY


05/03/09 05:27 - 62ºF - ID#48586

Free flowers

I have three lonely snapdragon flowers that didn't make it into my hanging flower baskets and nowhere else I really want to plant them. Three isn't many, but if you want them, e-mail me.
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Permalink: Free_flowers.html
Words: 34
Location: Buffalo , NY


05/02/09 03:38 - 57ºF - ID#48573

Running races

I'm hooked.

I've only run three 5ks.

I'm not exceptional at it.

But I can't wait for the next run.

There's an internal drive to do the next race to get the faster time or to run a longer race and to keep physically pushing myself.

Somehow, improving my race times or running longer routes by myself isn't a legitimate feat unless I do it with a mass of sweaty people on a Saturday morning.

The free meal and beer is a motivating factor, too, I suppose.


Props to (e:James) who ran a spectacular 23 minute 5k today in the race!



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Permalink: Running_races.html
Words: 101
Location: Buffalo , NY


04/20/09 01:06 - 44ºF - ID#48452

School Board

I've had some minimal exposure to the Buffalo public schools and those exposures have caused me concern.

I've been wondering how to get more involved or follow more closely the situation of schools in Buffalo. An opportunity became apparent when (e:Drew) and I found out that someone we know, Rebekah Williams, is running for school board. She told us that generally only 5% of eligible voters vote in the school board election!!

So I'm going to take the first steps in getting involved by 1) educating myself on the candidates and 2) voting in the election.

The election is Tuesday May 5th. And at the bottom of this article



is some information on upcoming debates so you can meet the candidates.

I'm probably going to the debate on the 27th. If anyone wants to come along, give me a holler!



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Permalink: School_Board.html
Words: 145
Location: Buffalo , NY


04/16/09 08:59 - 37ºF - ID#48398

Relief from pain through pain

My sensitivity to smoke has drastically increased over the past year. It only takes small exposures to smoke now to convince my sinuses to produce gallons of mucus to stuff up my nose and drip down the back of my throat producing that lovely scratchy, throat clearing, coughing sensation known as post nasal drip. When my sinuses are stuffed and my head full of pressure, I walk through my days in a sort of fugue. It will take a solid week before I clean it out of my system through cup after cup of hot tea, hot showers, and lots of nasal irrigation.

The only real life from the condition, I discovered, is running. The 20 minutes I ran yesterday, my body was so absorbed by the good pains of running that the bad pains of post nasal drip faded away.

If only I can run 24-7 through the next week until it clears out.
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Permalink: Relief_from_pain_through_pain.html
Words: 154
Location: Buffalo , NY


04/05/09 03:03 - 44ºF - ID#48299

Chicken Pho

Yesterday was a rainy cold day so it seemed like a perfect time to finally attempt chicken pho soup.

I spent yesterday afternoon buying the ingredients. And in the evening I put together the broth for the basis of the soup.

I couldn't find chicken necks/backs/etc... so I bought 2 chickens. One I chopped up to make the stock and one was cooked to make the chicken meat for the soup. The one that made the stock was falling apart tender at the end, and it's waiting in the freezer to be transformed into chicken noodle soup or egg noodles and chicken.

Today I finished off the broth by skimming the fat and pouring it through a sieve to strain off all the spices and what nots added for seasoning.

Then I put together the bowls of soup. Rice noodles in the bowl. Top with chicken, cilantro, diced scallions, and pepper. Pour 2 cups of broth in the bowl. Basil, mint, limes, diced chili peppers, fish sauce, and chili garlic sauce on the side to add as desired. Yum.

image

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Permalink: Chicken_Pho.html
Words: 181
Location: Buffalo , NY


04/05/09 01:37 - 42ºF - ID#48298

Shopping Tip

Ever go to Wegmans looking for fresh herbs and wonder at the cost of them?

Go to An Chau International Market, a Vietnamese grocer, on Niagara St.

Get a large clump of basil in a baggie for $1.00.

Get a large clump of mint in a baggie for $1.00.

Get a bag with 20-25 thai serrano hot peppers for southeast asian cooking for less than $1.00.
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Permalink: Shopping_Tip.html
Words: 63
Location: Buffalo , NY


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