I wrote a note to Shir to see how she was doing. Her reply -

Hi! Thanks for checking in. Life is indeed very busy, but I am still alive. I will check in as soon as I have the chance.

Hugs,

Shir

Thanks for checking in! Sorry that I neglected this place for so long (I am still lurking here a bit every now and then but I am very behind on all posts. I skipped just to update. You are a good and sane place, as far as sanity has to offer in 2020-2021). Hugs and ~ma and belated celebrations to all of you.

I am trying to finish my thesis and work as usual, but most importantly, I am trying to survive a bad roommate situation (how bad? I'm not stressed about my thesis). I'm constantly stressed about picking up after her because she is not taking care of things that she is saying she'll take care of/waking me up (by making a lot of noise, not intentionally) late nights and very early mornings, which happens 3-4 times a week). She will be thankfully gone in the beginning of December, but until then, my life is under Hurricane Roommate. I really hope that I won't have to ask for an extension because it's difficult to write (and live) like this.

Next roommate looks a lot better and a lot more responsible, but my lords, next place I'll be renting alone. I'm 500% done with roommate drama.

Ugh, I do indeed hope for much better roommate compatibility next time. Is there a peaceful spot like a library where you can write?

Yes. I'm now at the library most of the time (or on the grass outside the library, if the weather is nice).

Matt, is it a new jar of sauce, or has it been hanging out in your fridge?

The latter, though I had sealed it really tight. Everything tasted okay and no aftereffects today, so whatever the case the mystery blob was harmless.

Yay for harmless mystery blob!

I'm trying to purge a bunch of stuff from my house and closets, without as much success as I would like. I tried taking several formal type dresses to a couple of consignment shops, no luck. My sister bought a bunch for her son's wedding, and never returns anything. Dresses with tags still on them! Most of my piles of clothes that are too big are headed for the women's shelter, but these are inappropriate. Next call is to the community theater. They were pleased decades ago when I gave them Stephen's tuxedos. So maybe?

eta: Found that the Women in Distress thrift store in Fort Lauderdale like fancy stuff donations, as well as any of my other clothes or household stuff. So it is likely that they are headed there. American Cancer Society picks up, but it isn't a big deal for me to cart stuff down to the thrift center.

Hi, Shir. Nice to see you here. I didn't mean to sound the alarm, it just seemed overly long since we'd seen your bright and shining font.

I am trying to survive a bad roommate situation (how bad? I'm not stressed about my thesis)

Oh. That is bad. Best of luck riding out Hurricane Roommate and, of course, on your thesis.

Thanks for checking, Laura.

The latter, though I had sealed it really tight. Everything tasted okay and no aftereffects today, so whatever the case the mystery blob was harmless.

I'm glad it turned out fine, Matt. Once you break a seal on a jar or package, bacteria gets in, so I don't think closing it tight again does much. Boiling the heck out of it does, though.

My oldest son (who lives alone) thought he could just keep a jar of sauce in the fridge until he finished it, no matter how long that was, until he called about an unidentified glob on top, that I'm pretty sure was mold. He now freezes what is left from the jar in baggies. He is the picture of frugality, for which neither my husband nor I can take the credit.

He now freezes what is left from the jar in baggies.

Hi, I'm 50 now, and I literally NEVER thought of doing this until now. (Although usually I use up pasta sauce when I make lasagna or shepherd's pie. Not always, though. There are times when it turns into a horrific science experiment.)

I have stored homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer but somehow never occurred to me I could do that with jarred sauce. Huh.

I am hanging out in a tiny airport for hours and hours before a 5 hour flight. All my relatives had 4pm flights and so we got here at 2pm….my flight is not until 7pm and I need to check a bag but since there’s only one flight by this airline, the desk isn’t open for two more hours! So I am chilling outside security and trying to not spend all my money on kindle books.

Shir glad to hear you’re ok even if that sounds like an awful roommate—I hope the new one is moving in at the beginning of December not the end!

Timelies all!

Mr. S woke up at 5:30 this morning, after waking up at 5 yesterday morning. It’s not just that he’s awake, but that he’s active and noisy. Sleep is overrated, right?