This is going to sound odd, but small talk gets really awkward when you aren’t white and can’t pass. It’s been really obvious to me when I travel away from major metropolitan areas or the coasts.

We Like Ike! We Like Ike!

Shake Shack in Dubai. Usually I’m coming back from India and from family imposed vegetarianism and alcohol prohibition. A beer and a burger with bacon is bliss after that.

Wrong Asexual Robot. Guess again? First two don’t count.

I’m glad you had a living situation where that could work. :)

I’m pretty sure it was the patches not the actual gaming that got us.

I started the process of having these conversations after we basically ended up with “guests” and SOs that stayed with us or nearly 3 months straight. When there are no plates or common cookware available, because it’s all been left in the sink dirty (next to an empty dishwasher), then they snark at you for hairy legs…

We’ve solved that problem by having better taste in roommates.

There’s the rub, isn’t it?

I’m in Camberville. The housing stock is old and way too expensive already (single family homes go for nearly a million. 1 bed condos start at 500k.).

I haven’t had always decent roommate experiences. Having a roommate sit-down at the beginning of the lease where you all hammer out the details, and re-visit as needed, keeps everyone from getting resentful. So here’s a small subset of the crazy...

I think it’s the proximity to the airport, the tech workers, and the T that they want.

As far as I know, no one in Boston/Massachusetts wants to give a tax incentive for Amazon to come here.

I’ve been third-wheeled by my friends. Let me tell you, it sucks. My tightest friend group can go down some serious deep holes conversation-wise. Worse still? Being third-wheeled, or fifth-wheeled and basically exiled from common spaces in your own home.

Found a therapist and started going to therapy weekly.

Oh man I loved my first baby-sitting job. It involved an angelic 8 year old, pizza, tons of Capri Sun, and the most adorable golden doodle puppy.

Half the reason I have my current job is that I can speak both “Tech” and “(insert esoteric academic field here)” and bridge some truly gaping canyons of comprehension between staff, hardware providers, and service providers. The truly dangerous folks are the ones who know you can do something, but have zero…

Pro-tips from a woman in a technical role (IT):

I’m happy for her? I mean she has worn the same pair of Manolo slingbacks for years. It’s about time she chose something more supportive, flat, and comfortable.

I make a bastardized southern sweet teas with various versions of this. Always use strong black tea to make about 32 ounces of concentrate. While hot stir in basically a cup of the yuzu marmelade after you remove the bags. Then add enough ice to get to 64 ounces.  The Ginger and Jujube sweet teas are also popular…