BoldUlysses.com

1. Got my first issue of AOPA Flight Training magazine in the mail today. I signed up for the free six-month subscription. I was excited about this–just glancing at the cover, I don’t think I’ve ever held a magazine where more of the articles were directly relevant to what I’m learning about and involved with.

2. Finally broke down and turned on the heat in the house. I hadn’t had any type of HVAC running for over a month and a half, except for the ceiling fans, and it certainly showed on my power bill for last month: $36 for a 1500 sq. ft. house. I was pleased about that. But the heater is gas, so the energy bills are likely to take quite an upward spike this winter. After the previous owner vacated the house, the gas was turned off, so I had to venture down into the basement yesterday morning and light the furnace’s pilot light. It was an exercise in contortion to get to the furnace’s access panel, since the side with the panel was approximately 6 inches from one of the basement walls. Finding the pilot light was another challenge–it wasn’t obvious and I didn’t want to poke around back there with a lighted fireplace match. But after a few phones calls to helpful folks more experienced than me in the subtle art of pilot light location, I found it and we have heat. The warmth always varies slightly from room to room, but in this house I’m very fortunate that the bathroom in particular is well-heated. It’s a nice incentive to haul myself out of bed when it’s especially cold outside.

3. I’ve had to wear a belt with my jeans lately, even just after having washed them. I think I’ve lost a little weight. My 4 miles, 3 times a week running routine (versus ~3 miles, twice a week back in Chapel Hill) might have had something to do with it. This is the first time losing weight has actually affected my clothes-wearing habits, too. Hmm.

4. Matt’s no.2 grammatical annoyance: The phrase “try and do.” As in, “Let’s go try and do it.” Okay, so I’m no logician, but if you’re trying something, isn’t there the option that it might possibly not work out? Either you try something, and it may or may not happen, or you do it and it does. Can’t have both situations. In other words, the correct phrase should read, “try to do,” as in, “Let’s go try to do it.” Aaaand… I’m done italicizing things.

5. I feel like I’m finally starting to connect with people and make friends here, mainly through the local church group. I went to a local steakhouse with a bunch of them last Friday (spent waaay too much on an admittedly good sandwich), helped with church set up on Sunday and ate out (again, ugh) at Q’doba after church on Sunday. They’re a good group, lots of intelligent, substantial personalities–people I feel like I can have real conversations with. An interesting tidbit is that, with respect to my situation here, many of them are in a similar place; in other words, they have good four-year degrees but are working at dead-end places for $8/hour while pondering their next step, in some cases taking a few classes on the side in furtherance of a future goal. In a weird way it’s refreshing to ask someone what they do as far as work and to hear a sigh and admission that their place of employment isn’t their first choice. It gives me a sense of connection and understanding, if nothing else.

6. Harsha (roommate) made me some food last night after I returned home from work. I got back around 10:15 and he was watching the baseball game but immediately offered to cook me some of what he was eating. I was hungry and it smelled wonderful so I couldn’t refuse. He put some naan on the stove and served it with chicken curry and cashews. It was delicious. Huzzah for good roommates :) I’m offering him some lasagna for sure next time I make it.