Dear Tribby, 

This summer I met the most amazing guy at my internship in California. We met on the first day of work and hit it off immediately. While he’s studying finance at UCLA, I’m a management student at McGill. We still communicate through Skype and text messages every day, but I feel like the distance between us is getting farther and farther. We never defined what was going on between us or talked about our plans after the summer. Is this just a summer fling or an actual relationship?

—Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Dear Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder:

Summer flings—they end as fast as they come. They’re fun while they last, but aren’t too serious. Before you get too bogged down by what he’s thinking, ask yourself where you want this relationship to go; you’ve got some stake in this too.

If you’re unsure of what he thinks of you, try looking for hints through your conversations with him. Did he ever refer to you as his partner? How did he introduce you to his friends in California? If he hasn’t made it clear that he wants this relationship between you two to continue, there’s a good chance he viewed this relationship as a summer fling.

Also, what makes you feel like you’re drifting apart? Could it be that you’re preoccupied with the start of classes and a new semester? Does he start replying in one-word texts and constantly have reasons to postpone your Skype sessions? This may also tell you what he thinks about this relationship, and whether he values it as much as you do. If you feel like the desire to stay together isn’t reciprocal, let it end and enjoy the new school year at McGill! Who knows what will happen next?

However, if you feel that both of you want to take this relationship to the next level, keep in mind that although the long distance is difficult, it certainly isn’t impossible. Making it last requires a lot of communication. Discuss with him your plans for your future with him and what you want out of this. You have to make sure that both of you are on the same page for your relationship to work. Whatever ends up happening, just remember that you had a great summer meeting this amazing guy, and make the good memories last.

Yours truly,

Tribby

Dear Tribby,

I came back to my apartment after a summer away only to discover little bugs in my dried oats and pasta that I kept in my kitchen cabinet over the summer. What are they and what should I do about it? Help!

—Bugged Out

Dear Bugged Out: 

Throw it away! It is never a good sign when there are bugs in your food.

Although they contain a ton of protein and nutrients, they contain even more bacteria and induce allergic reactions in some people. Don’t be too hard on yourself though; whether or not you’re completely devoid of hygiene, these insects probably weren’t your fault. Often food from the supermarket contains insect eggs, which only hatch in warm and humid summer conditions.

With bugs in your dried oats and pasta, chances are there are also bugs in other food items that you left behind over the summer. My suggestion for you is to look through your entire kitchen—toss those old Oreo cookies that you left in your cabinet, and throw away that carton of milk you forgot about in your fridge! Turn it into a kind of spring—I mean fall—cleaning!

Yours truly,

Tribby