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I finally got it all together, planning worked, and everyone got over the jitters of joining for a meal. We are a land of individualists, and at my age, this is more prevalent than ever. No one was sure of anyone else, and as I said, I did not care. The group actually did well. Everyone seemed to get along, and in private conversations it seems that my observations were correct. As well, people liked the chili. I went very basic, made sure I salted the beans enough, and used traditional spices though adding cayenne for a little extra throat-bite. I usually do not even add chili powder. This time I went with it. I usually do not have a problem with gas either. This time I did. I think chili powder is the culprit.
I consider it a major success. So, I would like to begin doing this more regularly. Next time I think roast beef is on the menu, though I would like to figure out how to do gravy. I had worked on it a bit with enchiladas, but have forgotten. A call to my Mom should fix that quickly. Oh, and I finished cleaning up by the next day!
I am not doing much else, spending too much time gaming. And my nights and days are just a few hours off, sleeping into the early afternoons again. Little else is going on, my former neighbor is not hot on winter weather. I would go and do but doing things alone is more of a chore than anything. If the weather is not too retched, the new guys I invited over go into the canyon and camp and cook out. So, that may be something to do in time. Perhaps even hiking a bit with the younger one. We could leave the two older gents in camp while we youngers go seek trouble on foot.
I did some cleaning beyond what was called for, in order to prepare for the guests. It was a trial run for when my lady friend visits. It sounds as if she is fully planning on visiting. To that end, I need to do a bit more cleaning and pack some things over to storage as well. I am seriously considering buying a Christmas tree, though that is a lot of work and expense, then there is the decorating, maintaining, and disposal issues. I am rather limited at this point, but I will see what I will see. It will be nice to see her again and to show off Utah to my first guest from back home. Oh, I best get to calling ski rental shops as well, and pre-arranging rentals if snow remains. That and finding paths to ski. She has asked for that, cross country skiing.
I am maintaining the house to a degree. Better than my usual, less than what some might consider optimal, yet good enough I think. Bit by bit I am creating systems of doing things. One does not simply move into a house and there you go. From trash and recycling (which I will do here as it is both reasonable and worthwhile for several reasons), to figuring out where pots, pans, dishes, and such go and then remembering for use, to simply keeping the physical aspects functional such as replacing bulbs (and having a few on hand) to whatever. But I like the practice.
If I do end up finding a place, my mother will visit in the summer and will help me settle. She is quite good at these things. My lady friend might also pitch in. I would guess my new friends might help with some lifting and moving as they are able. I am becoming more social and active, even if I do not think it is doing much. It is far more than in Iowa. I have only spent a few days/weeks down at a time ever. Even then, I am not sleeping as much. It is sunnier here though, but that is not all of it. I do like this place. Oh, and the snow is simply wonderful! Even if we get three feet, that three feet of snow weighs less than a few inches of Iowa snow. Powder, my friends, powder. Though driving over it does the same thing here as it did in Iowa, compacts it into ice. :p
One last thing, I am seriously considering putting off school until fall semester. With having to move in spring, the plan of buying a house soon, and just getting my feet wet here, it may simply be too much to push school in there as well. I know, I know, but that is how I am seeing it. I would like to be a bit more solidly settled here before I begin taking on such a big bite. Now, true, all of the engineering school I have seen so far is the stuff they use to eliminate students. I am not sure, even so, that any of the rest of it is any easier. People have said yes, but that may just be because they became used to that kind of pace and brutality. Perhaps they are correct. I simply do not trust engineering school, at all, at this point. Even the first few years of work might well be just as bad. That is where you will actually be trained.
Just an update. I will try to do more of these, a little more often. Have a great day!
