The Winter Of Incessant Basement Flooding

Winter '08/09 will go down as the Winter Of Incessant Basement Flooding. So far the basement in the front house has flooded four times this winter, requiring us to do the following (in no particular order):

• Sump-pump gallons upon gallons of water onto our driveway and into the street during a days-long snowstorm, creating an ice rink at the end of our driveway.
• Bring in the "big guns," i.e. borrow a sump pump with a hose that looks like it could fight fires. See above.
• Inquire about replacing our now-fried electrical board for the brand new furnance for the downstairs apartment.
  
• Have Roto Rooter come out to clear the root-infested drain pipe. Twice.
• Cringe whenever the temperature rises enough for the ice to begin melting and then frantically check the basement for water.

I have to say though that after I (mostly) handled the first flood all by myself, I felt pretty frickin' awesome. Two years ago I would've wanted to lay down in the fetal position and/or call my dad.

Learning how to take care of a home, I've learned, is mostly baptism by fire.