Oh, S.

Giving money to each other when we can and they are having a tough time is our love language, Sophia.

This is money for a good cause, Sophia.

I've been cleaning and stepped away. Thank you all so much.

Also, the bathroom is now spotless. Now I can move the cat litter back in there, which will save the hall rug.

Sheryl, do you have any polish yourself?

oh Sophia, I am so happy you asked, no need to struggle alone.

Hec, your tale of woe had me in stitches. I was mentally willing you to get milk before I got to that part of the story.

msbelle, you were right.

Sophia, you were right to listen to msbelle. Keep it up, girl. You're making so much progress. My paypal is in my married name, which I just mention so you don't wonder WTH I am.

I think I knew your married name! I wouldn't have come up with it, but it didn't seem strange.

This place is just amazing. When I posted at the beginning of the week, I literally had packed a bag to take to work just in case with clothes and a picture of my grandpa with a pony. Thinking of you all gave me courage, and helped me tell Maria (still haven't told my mom, but maybe I won't have to? Although I am going to join her in the "no presents" quest for Christmas. Most of them were still in my hallway and I had to deal with them.

I am proud of myself too, although the week has just begun really. We'll see when it is coming to an end.

Also, since I basically had to tell the theatre that I couldn't finish the semester, I may finally have the courage to quit. I can take one high stress crazy job, but two (plus the fact that both my replacements in my day job have been more trouble than they are worth. The second one is leaving soon). Drove me over the edge. I have always had this problem and had to do Unfuck your Habitat every time my apartment was inspected, but it was never this bad to where I couldn't do it nor have I ever completely spaced one before. We'll see how board I am by Christmas.

You're doing amazing, Sophia!!

You're doing amazingly well, Sophia. You really are.

Well, here's a baking lesson learned: always lick your fingers! I was about to put a cake in the oven when I figured out I hadn't added the sugar! Yikes.

My daughter's school is having a "harvest festival" today and she begged me to enter the apple pie contest, so I am baking a pie (plus 4 mini-pies in ramekins to use up the crust trimmings). This is an experimental pie with sharp cheddar baked into the crust (and no cinnamon/nutmeg) and it smells SO DANG GOOD.

I would have baked it last night and given myself the morning off, but when I turned on the oven to preheat yesterday, the entire house filled up with smoke to the point where my Nest smoke alarm would not be silenced due to "smoke levels too high." Stupid smart alarm. But I've scrubbed the gunk off the bottom of the oven, and now all is well and my house smells like apple pie instead of fire.