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i recaulked the bathtub today. it's been a long time coming. the latex had pretty much turned black from mildew. it wasn't high on my list of priorities since nobody ever uses the shower but me. but since i might be housing another chinese research scientist roommate at the end of the month (6 months this time, i'm reluctant, but could definitely use the money), i figured now was a good time. it's been less than a year since i last caulked, and already i have to replace it. maybe i didn't do it right so this time i went by the book. first i cleaned the tub and the tiles with a combination of mildew and hard water remover. then i removed the old caulk with a razor blade and an awl. next i prepared the gaps, first by spraying with a cleaner containing bleach, followed by some paper towel drying before scrubbing the area once more with rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. finally it was time to caulk. i'm no expert, but i think i do an okay good. i squeeze the caulk into the cracks, then i smooth it out with a wet finger, wiping off the excess on a paper towel. by the time i was done, i probably had an equal amount of discarded caulk. the hard part now is waiting 24 hours for the latex to cure. i think this was my mistake last time, i didn't wait long enough. however this meant no showers, no matter how stinky i get.

i cooked up a pot of edamame beans for lunch. kind of a weird choice, but i love edamame, and definitely more nutritious than what i normally eat in the afternoon (protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and full of vitamin A, B, and calcium).

in the evening i had some ramen for dinner.