I think I have paid my assessment fee for this month twice. I sent them a check, per their email stating that the site wouldn't be operational until next month, and this morning I get an email suggesting that the automatic payment will go through, and I need to talk to my bank if I want to stop it. GRRRR. Nothing has shown up yet on my BOA account - neither the check nor the autopay.

It's not a tragedy -- I have the money -- I just hate the messing around to get it right.

I lost in the Superbowl pool, but I won a Papa John's pizza in the coin toss! Got the code this morning, so I just need to decide when I'll use it.

The first real snow of the season is testing my decision to give up my parking space. I got a text message yesterday that snow emergency parking is now in effect. That means parking on the odd side of the street on odd days, and even on even. Since today is an odd, I parked my car across the street last night. I had to park halfway down the block, but still not too far away. So far, so good. I just can't forget, because paying a towing fee would totally spoil the plan!

I watched "Sicko" last night on Infinity on Demand. It got me a little upset -- medical costs are a real bugaboo in my budget, and will be in my retirement despite Medicare -- and I'm very envious of the countries which provide free health care. It does seem we do a much better job of taking care of the fat cats than taking care of the common citizen here. But I don't see any easy fix in the future.

Reminds me of a funny statement by Erik Larsen, the author of "In the Garden of Beasts" (about Nazi Germany). I saw him do a presentation last year, and he commented on how the crazy Obama-bashing websites compare Obama to Hitler BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE! Mr. Larsen shook his head and said, "I've studied Hitler a lot, and believe me, he was NOT interested in health care!" Too funny. I may have told this here before, but it just tickled me.