Muse Wonder

Here’s a firm but polite draft you can copy and paste:

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Subject: Request for Return of Security Deposit ($1,400) – [Your Old Address]

Dear [Landlord's Name],

I hope you are well.

I am writing regarding the return of my security deposit of $1,400 for [Your Old Address]. I moved out on [move-out date], which was seven weeks ago.

I have sent a few text messages about this over the past few weeks but haven't received a response, so I wanted to follow up by email.

Please could you return my deposit, or provide an itemized list of any deductions, as soon as possible? If you need my forwarding address, I can be reached here:

[Your New Address]

I would appreciate a response by [date – e.g., 7 days from now] letting me know when I can expect to receive it. I hope we can get this resolved promptly.

Thank you for your attention to this.

Best regards,
Sam
[Your Phone Number]

No — that's 100% a scam. It's a phishing text (called "smishing"). Don't click the link.

Here's how you can tell:

1. The link is fake dhl.com-redelivery.eu is NOT DHL's website. The real domain there is com-redelivery.eu — they just put dhl. in front of it to trick you at a glance.

Real DHL is just dhl.com (or dhl.de, dhl.co.uk, etc. depending on country).

2. The classic pressure tactic "Pay within 24 hours or it will be returned" — scammers add urgency so you pay without thinking.

3. The tiny fee 1.99 EUR is deliberate. It sounds too small to be a scam, so people happily enter their card details. They're not after the 1.99 — they're after your full card number, expiry, and CVV to drain your account or sign you up for a fake subscription.

DHL also doesn't collect customs fees like that via a random text link.

What to do now

1. Don't click, don't reply. Delete it and block/report as spam.
2. If you are expecting a DHL parcel: Don't use that text at all. Go manually to dhl.com (type it yourself) or use the official DHL app, and enter your tracking number from your order confirmation there.
3. You can forward/report it to DHL at phishing-dpdhl@dhl.com

If you already clicked and entered card details:

Do this immediately:

1. Call your bank and freeze/cancel that card
2. Tell them it was a phishing site
3. Change the password for any account that used the same password you may have entered
4. Watch your bank account for small test charges

If you only clicked but didn't type anything in, you're almost certainly fine — just close the tab and delete the text.

Heads-up before book club: I can't find any record of a book called Nineteen Quiet Rooms by Ottilie Marsh — no plot summaries, reviews, publisher listing, or ISBN for it in what I have access to.

So I don't want to invent a twist for you, because there's no verifiable ending to spoil. It might be:

• a slightly misremembered title/author (could it be Ottessa Moshfegh? Ngaio Marsh? Something like Nineteen Minutes?)
• a very obscure/self-published or privately circulated copy
• or the book club organizer sent the wrong info

If you have a physical copy or ebook, send me a photo of the cover/back blurb or tell me the main character's name and where you got up to, and I'll happily help you piece it together and prep some discussion points.

Otherwise, your safest move tomorrow is probably: "I couldn't actually track down a copy of this one — where did everyone find it?" You might not be the only one.

Perfect pantry combo — make a Leek, Bread & Parmesan Skillet Strata. It's basically a savoury bread-and-butter pudding / frittata, cooked entirely on the stove with a lid. Stale bread is better for this.

Ready in ~18 mins, serves 2.

You need

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 leek, thinly sliced
• Stale bread, cut into ~2cm cubes (about 3-4 slices / 3 cups)
• Parmesan, grated (a good handful, ~50g)
• Butter (a big knob, ~30g)
• Salt & black pepper
• Optional if you have them: chilli flakes, lemon zest, any soft herbs

Method

1. Prep (4 mins) Slice the leek lengthways, rinse well (they hide grit), then slice into thin half-moons. Cube the bread. Whisk the eggs in a bowl with most of the parmesan, lots of black pepper, a pinch of salt (go easy, parmesan is salty), and 2 tbsp water. That little bit of water helps it puff without milk/cream.

2. Soften the leek (5 mins) Melt half the butter in a medium non-stick or cast-iron pan with a lid over medium heat. Add the leek + a pinch of salt and cook 4-5 mins until soft and sweet, not browned.

Tip the leek into the egg bowl.

3. Toast the bread (3-4 mins) Same pan, melt the rest of the butter. Add the bread cubes and toss until golden and crisp on most sides. If the bread is rock-hard, sprinkle over 1 tbsp water first.

4. Bring it together (8 mins) Turn the heat down to the lowest setting. Pour the egg/leek mixture evenly over the bread, give it a gentle poke/shake so every cube gets coated.

Put the lid on and cook for 7-9 mins. Don't stir. It's done when the edges are set and the centre is just set with a tiny wobble.

Take off the heat, leave the lid on for 2 mins to finish steaming.

5. Serve Scatter over the remaining parmesan (and chilli flakes/herbs if using), slide onto a board, and cut into wedges like a cake.

It's rich, buttery, a bit crispy on the bottom and custardy in the middle. Eat straight away.

Quick veggie note: Eggs/dairy are fine for most vegetarians, but traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano is made with animal rennet, so strict vegetarians avoid it. If your gf usually eats cheese, you're fine — if you're not sure, just check in before you shower it on top.

No lid? A big plate or baking tray over the pan works just as well.

Here you go — about 45 seconds:

Hi everyone, I'm [your name], [sister's name]'s [brother/sister], and I couldn't be prouder to be standing here today.

I've always admired my sister's determination. If you've ever seen her on a climbing wall, you'll know — she doesn't give up easily. She works through the problem, commits, and goes for it.

So it feels very fitting that she met Elliot at the climbing gym. Elliot, from the start you've matched her energy, supported her, and made her incredibly happy. Welcome to the family.

Sis, I love you, and I'm so excited for everything ahead of you both.

Please raise a glass — to my sister and Elliot, and to a lifetime of adventure together. Cheers!

Here’s the full menu from Trattoria del Gufo (Florence, since 1962):

Cover charge: €3.00 per person

ANTIPASTI - Starters

• Crostini di fegatini - Toasted bread with chicken liver pâté - 8,00
• Fiori di zucca fritti* - Fried zucchini/courgette flowers* - 9,00
• Tagliere di salumi e pecorino - Board of cured meats and pecorino cheese - 14,00

PRIMI - First courses

• Pappa al pomodoro - Tuscan tomato and bread soup - 10,00
• Pici all'aglione - Pici (thick hand-rolled pasta) with tomato and mild giant garlic - 12,00
• Ribollita - Tuscan bean, vegetable and bread soup - 10,00

SECONDI - Main courses

• Bistecca alla fiorentina (min. 1,2 kg) - Florentine T-bone steak - 5,50 per etto
• Trippa alla fiorentina - Florentine-style tripe - 14,00
• Peposo dell'Impruneta - Slow-cooked black pepper beef stew - 16,00

CONTORNI - Sides

• Peperoni arrosto - Roasted peppers - 6,00
• Fagioli all'uccelletto - White beans in tomato sauce - 6,00
• Patate fritte* - French fries* - 5,00

DOLCI - Desserts

• Cantucci e Vin Santo - Almond biscuits with Vin Santo dessert wine - 8,00
• Tiramisù - 7,00

*prodotto surgelato = frozen product Service 12% not included

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What will the steak cost for 2 to share?

It's priced by weight, which is the tricky part:

5,50 all'etto = €5.50 per 100g (an etto)

The minimum steak is 1.2 kg = 12 etti

12 × €5.50 = €66.00 for the steak itself

For 2 people, add:

• Steak: €66.00
• Cover charge: €3.00 × 2 = €6.00
• Subtotal: €72.00
• Service 12% (not included): + €8.64

Total: €80.64 - about €40.32 each

That's just for the steak, with no drinks, sides, or other courses. If they bring you a slightly bigger steak — 1.4 kg is common — it would be €77.00 before cover and service.

Here’s a ready-to-print chart for your fridge. Just print this page (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) and fill in the week.

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🌟 WEEKLY CHORE CHART 🌟

Week of: ____________________

👧 AVA (Age 7)

Day	Chore 1	Done?	Chore 2	Done?
Monday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	🧸 Tidy toys & books	☐
Tuesday	🎒 Empty backpack & put shoes away	☐	🍽️ Help set the dinner table	☐
Wednesday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	🧦 Help fold & put away your laundry	☐
Thursday	🧽 Wipe the kitchen table after dinner	☐	📚 Tidy your bedroom floor	☐
Friday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	💧 Water the house plants	☐

Ava's Total Stars This Week: ______ / 10 ⭐

👦 LEO (Age 10)

Day	Chore 1	Done?	Chore 2	Done?
Monday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	🗑️ Take out the kitchen trash	☐
Tuesday	🍽️ Load / empty the dishwasher	☐	🧹 Sweep the kitchen floor	☐
Wednesday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	🪞 Clean the bathroom sink & mirror	☐
Thursday	♻️ Take out the recycling	☐	🧺 Vacuum your bedroom	☐
Friday	🛏️ Make your bed	☐	👕 Bring laundry down & tidy bedroom	☐

Leo's Total Stars This Week: ______ / 10 ⭐

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🏆 WEEKEND REWARD

If we get all our chores done, our weekend reward is:

________________________________________________________

Way to go, Ava & Leo!

Parent Signature: ____________________

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Tip for the fridge: Print one copy each Sunday, and let them use stickers or a fun marker to check off the boxes — kids love that part.

It's not because we're closer to the Sun. It's because the Earth is leaning.

Imagine the Earth has a stick going right through it, from the North Pole to the South Pole. That stick is always leaning a little bit, and it always leans the same way.

The Big Picture

             The stick always points the same way
                        ↗              ↗

     JUNE                                  DECEMBER
 Northern SUMMER                       Northern WINTER


          ↗ North Pole                       ↗ North Pole
            🌍                  ☀️             🌍
                               SUN

    North is leaning                    North is leaning
    TOWARD the Sun                      AWAY from the Sun

    Hot + long days                     Cold + short days

See how the Earth doesn't tip back and forth? It stays leaning the same way. But as it travels around the Sun, sometimes the top half is leaning toward the Sun, and 6 months later it's leaning away.

The top half is the Northern Hemisphere — that's where the US, Canada, and Europe are. The bottom half is the Southern Hemisphere — that's where Australia is.

So when it's summer for us, it's winter in Australia!

Why does leaning make it hot?

It's the same reason a flashlight looks brighter when you point it straight down.

SUMMER - Sun hits us straight

   ☀️  ------>
   ☀️  ------>  🌍   Rays land in a small spot
   ☀️  ------>        = strong and hot


WINTER - Sun hits us slanted

   ☀️  ------>
   ☀️  ------>   🌍  Rays spread over a big spot
   ☀️  ------>       = weaker and cold

Straight-on sunshine = more heat in one place + longer days = SUMMER Slanted sunshine = less heat + shorter days = WINTER

Try it at home

1. Push a toothpick into an orange — that's your Earth and its stick.
2. Tilt the toothpick a little and point it at one wall. Never change where it points.
3. Put a lamp in the middle of the room — that's your Sun.
4. Slowly walk the orange around the lamp, keeping the toothpick tilted toward that same wall.

You'll see one side of your walk where the top of the orange gets lots of lamp light, and the opposite side where the top gets very little. That's summer and winter!