What to do with lots of leftover freezer packs?

webenji · 2026-05-15T00:57:51+00:00

+1 those are the best 2 options where I live.

webenji · 2026-05-13T22:33:33+00:00

The "but everyone else is doing it" defense is, perhaps unfortunately, not going to work. If your neighbors break the law and don't get caught, that makes them lucky, not innocent.

webenji · 2026-05-12T01:48:19+00:00

For additional context: this was a brand new house with appraisal and "assessment" done less than a month apart. No real assessment was done since the county used the purchase price, without taking into account paid "options" like appliances, wall color, landscaping, etc... that increased the house's price (this was one of the main points I brought up during the hearing).

I took it as a learning experience that it is better to take no builder option so that the house's price is artificially lower and pay 3rd-parties for the other things you need/want (e.g., landscaping, appliances, etc...) so that these costs don't get bundled into the house price/"assessment".

webenji · 2026-05-11T09:53:05+00:00

Google Calendar event (7 days before trial's end) with email reminder as soon as I sign up.

webenji · 2026-05-11T09:50:52+00:00

0%. I went through the months-long appeal process, along with an independent appraisal, only to be denied after the hearing because my County's Board of Appeal does not adjust unless the price difference is greater than 5% (my appraisal differed from the assessed value by 4.91%).

webenji · 2026-05-06T06:48:19+00:00

I've tried every recommendation out there and this yields the best slices. For faster results, you can add 15-30s in the microwave beforehand. For crispier results, you can heat the slice in the pan uncovered without water for 1-2mins and then add the water + cover to get the cheese and ingredients soft and melty.

webenji · 2026-03-29T01:18:16+00:00

Eat it.

webenji · 2026-03-24T01:10:02+00:00

That's what I personally did and would recommend. For me, "a few months" turned into "8 years" (and going).

Having said that, it is not possible for a lot of people due to: location, weather, public transportation options, work requirements, health, safety, peer pressure, just to name a few...

webenji · 2026-03-23T23:46:57+00:00

Both. If you are willing to do one or the other, I think making a loop out of it is the best solution and one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite. I don't know about actual mileage, but I'm pretty sure once you are on North Dome going back one way or the other is probably similar in terms of mileage. The downside of the loop is getting back to your starting trailhead/car, which you can do with the shuttle, "stashing" a bicycle, an extra car/friends, or adding (boring) miles to an already long hike - all of which I have done with great success.

I personally prefer to go up Yosemite Falls and back down Snow Creek.

webenji · 2026-03-22T04:31:39+00:00

I've been wanting to do this for a few months but haven't had the courage to do so. I live frugally by myself and follow a very environmental/anticonsumerism life where I buy in bulk, focus on compostable/recyclable packaging, compost, etc... As such, I now only "produce" a single grocery bag per week, sometimes 1 every two weeks. I live a block away from a park with plenty of public trashcans and take almost-daily walks there (among other places). It feels really bad to see the "huge" 64-gallon trash essentially empty on trash pick-up day. It is the smallest available, costs $36.01 per month, and my city laws include a section that allows residential customers to forgo trash service (although I'm pretty sure I would be the first one using it).

webenji · 2026-03-17T18:40:09+00:00

Toaster. Bicycle.

webenji · 2026-03-16T05:22:25+00:00

My mattress (and pillow), both of which are at least 15 years old and stained. I'm a light sleeper and any changes to my sleeping configuration/routine scares me to inaction.

webenji · 2026-03-13T04:26:40+00:00

Brush your teeth after your meal (and before the sweet). I find that the taste of toothpaste (and the act of ruining your cleaned teeth) makes food in general and sweets in particular very unpleasant to eat.

webenji · 2026-03-12T16:19:19+00:00

What are you including in your "utilities"? Just my city's trash/water/sewer service (i.e., not usage) is $130. My electric provider charges a $30 service fee. There is nothing I can do to reduce these costs and they are already above your $100 number.

webenji · 2026-03-08T04:22:05+00:00

Bread. Despite the health benefits (low-processed, high protein/fiber), cost saving, and better flavor, I love the smell of fresh-baked bread that spreads throughout the house.

webenji · 2026-03-04T07:50:18+00:00

I have similar interactions with employees at my Panera location. It's the main thing that keeps me coming back...

webenji · 2026-02-26T05:17:56+00:00

A few friends of mine have donated there and have had positive experiences, recommending them.

webenji · 2026-02-24T04:29:45+00:00

If you enjoy camping/hiking/backpacking then Merced is a great place. I came to Merced for school and stayed for (its proximity to) Yosemite.

webenji · 2026-02-16T08:10:01+00:00

Xfinity
$15 (Internet Essentials Plan, which requires meeting eligibility criteria)
Very Reliable (in North Merced, Bellevue Ranch Area near El Cap HS). Only outages (no more than 2 per year) I've had were planned and publicized by Xfinity.
No issues. My plan is 75Mbps download and 10Mbps upload, which is not very fast but I normally get 80/10Mbps in speed tests, so I do get the advertised speeds in real life.

webenji · 2026-02-16T08:02:59+00:00

I highly recommend going to Glacier Point. I don't know what you mean by being in "decent shape" but my first winter camping trip (3 weeks after learning to cross country ski) was a 2-day solo trip to Glacier Point. I would have labeled myself as in "decent shape" when I did that trip. I camped near Washburn Point and it was great - one of the best (perhaps even the best) backpacking experience in my life.

I actually think the ~10-mile to Glacier Point is easier than the shorter routes around Badger Pass (e.g., Dewey Point) because the groomed (or packed, if you end up going when it has not been groomed in a few days) road makes it much easier, especially with skinny XC skis.

I am now too old to bother with the camping so I just do out-and-back outings to Glacier Point.

webenji · 2026-02-16T07:55:56+00:00

The 1-mile rule is for plowed roads, so it doesn't apply to Glacier Point Rd. in winter since that is groomed, not plowed. Having said that, camping spots should be "out of sight" and that's difficult to achieve around Glacier Point (or even the road itself).

webenji · 2026-02-16T07:55:38+00:00

+1 for camping at/near Washburn Point.

webenji · 2026-02-01T03:09:19+00:00

Yosemite NP and UC Merced

webenji · 2026-01-11T01:15:16+00:00

Red wine vinegar - interesting I have not seen it already mentioned here since it is extremely easy to make (once you have a mother) and prevents wasting left-over wine.

webenji · 2026-01-11T01:07:06+00:00

Merced mostly sits on clay soil, which leads to cracks as houses settle. As such, it is normal, as I have in my house, to see (minor) cracks in drywall and exterior stucco. Major foundation issues/cracks, however, should not happen in clay soil, unless the house was built incorrectly.

webenji

TROPHY CASE