Yeah, it freaked me out in Peru that all the eggs in the supermarket were just out on shelves. I figured that maybe you just can't keep them like that for months like I do the eggs in my fridge...

In general, though, I"m very much "any doubt? throw it out" because I all too often have no idea when I opened it, or when I bought it, or whatever. That's mostly my issue--the things that are all "Good until November 2024! ...but use within 4 days of opening!" and I"m like "What? I...can't eat it that fast"

There is a lot of margin built into "use by" dates.

I have never cracked open a bad egg, even though I have used some pretty ancient eggs. I only use pasteurized eggs for things in which the eggs are not fully cooked, though.

The kitten lives in the bathroom most of the day . with a giant crate - food and liter box. I want to take a bath , but the crate takes up a lot of room. but it is too early to put the kitten in his crate for the night. So I am waiting ...

I am a very accommodating cat parent

Go Team Itchy Special Fragile Flowers!

My eyes shall join you!

I am very liberal when it comes to use-by dates, unless it's chicken, pork or seafood.

I keep butter in my grandma's silver butter dish, even in the summer. We use it too fast for it to turn rancid, and when it gets REALLY HOT in the summer, I have a cool butter dish thingie that keeps the butter cool.

I hate hard butter.

Aw, my brother's girlfriend just spent the last ninety minutes trying to cheer me up about my dating woes. She's a good egg. Also:

Her: and I havent known you for very long but it seems like your parents raised some amazing people
Me: Bizarrely enough.
Her: lol
Her: I think Kiran's the way he is because of you
Her: you were first and you turned out not an idiot
Her: you made him cool lol
Me: Ha, and now he's cooler than me.
Her: or i guess
Her: nerdy
Me: He's my role model.
Her: switcharound? lol

P-C, I like your brother's gf.

Oh em gee, y'all. Damp towel in microwave for 20 seconds then wrapped around sore neck might be better than chocolate. It certainly has more fiber.

Kiran's gf rules. Do you know the Maria Butterly song? It's sad, about a Kieran who died but I wonder if it is pronounced the same.

Eggs! When in doubt submerge in water. If they float: throw them out.

Humans cannot tell if food is bad good by smelling. If your cat will eat it, you're probably OK.

WindSparrow! I keep meaning to email you and thank you for the wonderful cat food info, and then my hamster brain gets distracted. So I'm thanking you here and now before I forget again. Thank you!!!

Yay for sweet white devil girlfriends!

Fire ant update: minimal swelling, minor itching. I'm going to do the hair dryer trick again in a bit, but even with just doing it once, I am totally blown away.

That hair dryer trick seems too good to be true. Why has nobody told me before?

Speaking of things I wish someone had told me sooner, do y'all know how easy it is to swallow a pill if you put it under your tongue?