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.

OMG I want that pie in my mouth right now

It seems like a nice day for baking. I have been to the store and have supplies and some cheap cleaning clothes (I have been cleaning in dresses. We accidentally went to the juniors section in Walmart, so now I am wearing leggings with peek a boo netting on the side. Ah well, they were on $4 clearance.

I am deep cleaning the hall and stairway today.

I was freaking out because I though my dumpster was too small, but then I realized I read feet and not yards. It will be fine!

I want pie and cake, -t.

Jessica, good luck in the contest. Your pie sounds amazing.

Good catch, Jesse.

Setting up a true mise en place drives me crazy. (I hate you, cooking shows! There is no sous chef in my house.) It feels like doing that takes as long as the active-cooking phase, but if I don't at least lay out all the ingredients (not measured, just in their storage containers) at the outset, I often forget something.

When I'm really on my game, I put each one back in the cupboard as soon as I've used it, so I'm almost done with clean-up, by the time the food is ready or in the oven. (I'm maybe on my game about 33% of the time.)

Also, since I basically had to tell the theatre that I couldn't finish the semester, I may finally have the courage to quit.

Sophia, were you only staying because quitting is difficult?

but if I don't at least lay out all the ingredients (not measured, just in their storage containers) at the outset, I often forget something.

I did that! The sugar was sitting right there! Just not in the bowl.

I would also like Jess's pie.