Now that it is just Cory and I sharing my house, we are refiguring chores. Though I prefer to call them "things that need to be done to maintain a household". I know that is longer and technically what is what a chore is. I differentiate basically to help CJ realize that he is an adult and if this what his house, he would have to do all these things by himself. Not sure if that makes sense now that I write it out.

We have also had a rule of, if you are going to complain about something not being done in the house, you better make sure all of YOUR responsibilities are handled.

Hive mind question for teachers:

One of the "fun" things Mac will get to occupy his time with electronics this summer will be some workbooks. PSAT study guide will be one, but I would like to find something that teaches general study habits. Suggestions?

I am looking at How to Study by Ron Fry.

We are both pretty lax about chores, but that also means there's no simmering resentment, along the lines of "I *always* clean the Waterford chandelier, but you *never* polish the ancestral silver!" (Or, you know, mop the floor and clean the baseboards JESUS CHRIST HOW DO BASEBOARDS GET SO DIRTY???)

My labor is all on me, since I live alone. On one hand, that means that I can set the level of effort based on what I'm willing to live with. (Laundry always gets done. Dusting, not so much.) On the other hand, when I'm too sick to clean the tub, the tub just doesn't get cleaned. It does mean that the only one making a mess that needs cleaning is me (well, me and the cat, but he's surprisingly tidy). Living in an apartment is useful, since the lawn mowing and external building upkeep is included in the rent.

Living in an apartment is useful, since the lawn mowing and external building upkeep is included in the rent.

Dear god, such a relief to know the lawn and the roof and the water heater and the stopped-up toilet will be taken care of by someone else. That said, I should vacuum this weekend. After I buy a car.

JESUS CHRIST HOW DO BASEBOARDS GET SO DIRTY???

Ancient curse. Or possibly gremlins.

We desperately need to make some room in our budget for a cleaning person, because the house is just filling up with dust at this point. We're both pretty good about doing the really gross things like cleaning the bathroom, but I hate dusting and vacuuming with a vengeance, and it's not doing my allergies any favors.

I'm boggled at where all the dust comes from. My windows aren't open on a regular basis, I open my front door only long enough to go through it. And yet . . .

I'm just off a fairly busy street and the amount of dirt that comes in from the windows being open is mind-boggling. Then add in the animals and JFC this place.

Our house also permanently smells like dog. No amount of Febreze or dark magic can get rid of that smell.

I'm boggled at where all the dust comes from.

A fair bit comes from us. Dead skin cells, external dust carried in on clothes, etc. Also, as we wear clothes, the fibers rub against each other and shed microscopic textile particles, which become part of the dust. Tiny amounts of paper fibers fall out of books whenever we move them or turn a page. Likewise magazines, newspapers, junk mail, and other paper products.