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.

Sophia, were you only staying because quitting is difficult?

I had a few reasons

1. I like working with the students 2. I was reluctant to give up my identity as a theatre professional with a day job 3. I was afraid to lose my friend Katie 4. It is difficult to quit. I have actually never quit something except one job at the University for another one in a different department and JCPenney. And JC Penney called and asked me to come back. I was fired once. Everything else was mostly recurring theatre jobs where they just ask you each time when they were putting together a crew and if you couldn't do it they stopped asking eventually

That sounds so hard, Sophia. Does it feel like something you need to do now, for you?

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

Ugh. That's the worst! That (and not a lot of good counter space) is why I started putting things away as I use them, but I'm not consistent about it.

How did the cake turn out?

Sophia, you really are amazing. I'm so proud of you! And if a roommate isn't a possibility right now (in terms of staying on top of this), there are many of us here who would be happy to be accountability partners, if that would help.

Jessica, that pie sounds amazing.

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.)

Same. And how's your kid, Cindy? I've been thinking about all of you.

It's homecoming weekend here in a college town, so the Beer Mill (our building is next door and we have to use their parking lot to get in and out of ours) opened at, like, 8 am or something, and has been rocking ever since. I am not a huge fan of homecoming weekend, I have to say.

Also had optimistic news about my bakery boss, Catherine -- she's going to lose the sight in that eye, but not the eye. And it will still look like it's doing what it's supposed to, following the other, etc. Still waiting to hear if there's liver or other involvement, though.

And so far the only real bakery disasters have been a burned/not quite puffed batch of bebe choux and no quiche for this weekend (which was the bigger problem, in my eyes). We're doing it! We're keeping it running! So far, anyway.

there are many of us here who would be happy to be accountability partners, if that would help.

I might need to take you all up on that. Maria and I also decided once this big push is over she will come over every weekend to help me clean up the boxed off places, so hopefully that will help. But I am good at the big push and terrible at routines.

Frankly, I feel like having at most two dishes and silverware and like five black dresses is the way to go right now. Nothing is bringing me joy because I feel like I let my stuff down by not caring for it. I know that endowing the objects with feeling is part of my problem, but I think it will helps right now to not acquire more stuff.

I just cleaned my furnace. It was disgusting. I also think my landlord should probably do that, but it is in my house and there is no filter on the air blower.

I think it will helps right now to not acquire more stuff.

Honestly, do what you need to do right now to get through this without adding more stress.

I also think my landlord should probably do that, but it is in my house and there is no filter on the air blower.

Ugh, the landlord should really take care of the filter, though. Even if he just provides the filters so that you can change them. t makes note to see when the last time we changed the furnace filter was

There should probably be a filter, don't you think? And that sounds like a landlord responsibility, so you should probably ask him about it.

You are doing so amazingly well, Sophia--my pompoms are getting a workout. And I'll bet you're all cleaning-chic and adorable in your peekaboo netting-sided leggings. Do you have a jaunty kerchief on your hair? You probably should, just for coolness.

Yes, Cindy, how's your son? And you? And the rest of the fam all holding up with this course of treatment?

I have a circus going on across the street--our wonderful neighbor died last year and they're having her estate sale today. The wranglers have been organizing, displaying, and pricing things all week, and there's a huge, truck-top sign with balloons. I don't think this neighborhood has ever seen such come-and-go traffic. And it's fun watching people come and go in their Saturday estate-shopping duds. We're expecting company, so Himself did park the cars in front of the house, one of them partway across the carport. They'll text when they're close and one of us will run out and back up our car so they can scoot into the carport when they get here.

The way the furnace is made, there doesn't seem to be a place for a filter. It is built into the wall and has one vent pointing toward the living room and one toward the rest of the house. Maybe heater is a better term. There are no pipes.

Also, I must not be the only one doing clean out. The garbages are so full! I found a brand new in package pink pair of crocs and I took of my filthy flip flops, put on the crocs and went back in. So an even exchange and the flip flops were filthy and cold.

I do not have a jaunty bandana. I seriously thought about it while at Walmart!

Also a broom is better than a vacuum for removing spilled garam masala powder from a carpet.