Sore Tootsies

It’s been a good couple of weeks and I’ve settled into a comfortable if unexciting routine here in DC. Work goes well, with challenges and fun people and interesting projects. I finally got the bill for making my military time count towards a government retirement and will start repaying that – it’ll take me about eighteen months but it’ll be worth it! I say this because it means that when I retire, if it’s after age 62, I’ll get some sort of monthly check from the government for my time served as a government employee, which will now be extended by eight years because of my military service. Depending on how long I am a government employee, that check will up in worth. And, I’ll get that check for the rest of my life. So, I feel good with that decision made (to pay for my eight years). The cost for me is 3% of whatever I earned in the military (base pay only).

Home life is good, although I have not been as active as I’d like due to my feet; they’re hurting! Stretching and icing does help some, but not enough to make the pain go away. I see the podiatrist on Monday and perhaps he’ll have some additional suggestions. In any case, I stay off my feet as much as possible, which is really tough!

Some fun things have happened over the last few weeks. For one, it was fun to see my friend Diane at her engagement party; I got to meet some of her friends and catch up with her. Also, I went up to the Berkshires and celebrated by grand-uncle’s ninetieth birthday, and so got to see and in some cases meet for the first time quite a lot of family. A week after that, my uncle came to DC and stayed with me for a few nights. We enjoyed Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Thai food, and good laughs and conversation. He is the first person I’ve cooked for in my new apartment!

Also, my couchsurfing hostess from Singapore, Jo, and her traveling companion stayed with me during a whirlwind visit to DC. It was fun to complete that circle of hosting one who had hosted me! Speaking of couchsurfing, I have started accepting couchsurfer requests again via the website! Next week I will host Pamela from London for a few nights, and then the following week I will host Kim from Vancouver (she’s deaf and saw that I once knew sign language) as well as Anaelle Lobry from Montreal and her friend from France. Since changing my status to “Maybe” for accepting surfers, I’ve received over a dozen requests! I’m looking forward to hosting again, returning some of that karma that made my own travels so great.

Otherwise, I’ve been spending time with friends and looking for new ones – by Sunday evening I will have been on two dates this weekend! Go me!

Coming up, camping in Shenandoah National Park with Sarah over Labor Day weekend. I’m looking forward to the onset of fall, especially since I’ll get to watch the trees change in Rock Creek Park from my window!

For now, I’m off to watch “Some Like It Hot” for the first time with some girlfriends for a chill Saturday night in!

--Z

Settling In

It’s been about five full weeks now since I moved into my new DC apartment and started my new DC job. Things are going pretty well!

The apartment is comfortable and well-placed, the residents are friendly and I haven’t encountered any real problems with my living arrangement. I’ve gone through a dozen nails and hung five pictures on the walls. The rest of my framed art is stacked in a corner awaiting storage or attempted hangings in the future. I’m set for furniture and, for the time being, appliances. There may be a new computer in my future, but that’s a purchase I’ll hold off on for awhile, most likely. As for the building’s amenities, the gym is usable if not impressive, the pool is lovely and comfortable and as I said earlier, the residents are very friendly and chatty.

On the job front, things are going along nicely. I have yet to confirm my enrollment in my chosen health care program but as I understand it, that’ll take a few more weeks. I have, however, gotten paid twice, and I can’t say that seeing the deposits in my account doesn’t make me extremely happy. The job itself is starting to solidify into specific projects and routines, which is nice. As it becomes more clear how my time will be spent and the kinds of responsibilities that will fall into my purview, I can foresee being challenged and busy – but not crazed – while at work. I’m still enjoying my hours (7:15am-3:45pm) and the ability to have a very separate work life and home life.

I’m trying to find ways to get involved with various activities and meet a variety of people. To that end I’ll be attending an event with a twist on speed dating: weeding in a community garden while meeting other weeders. It encompasses two of my desires: to get involved with a community garden and to meet some guys! It’s silly and I don’t expect much from it but fun, but that’s a good goal, right?

Also on my list is maybe joining a dance class for ballroom dancing, but timing and location are hard to coordinate. My desire to delve back into learning Spanish hasn’t quite kicked in yet… but hopefully I can start getting into some kind of routine soon. My more physical pursuits – hiking, working out, etc – are hampered by some real heel pain issues which I’ve yet to resolve. And I’ve decided to settle in to my new routine a bit more before hunting out English-teaching opportunities.

This weekend I took the train up to Massachusetts and joined my folks at a family reunion/birthday celebration, which was lots of fun. Not only did I get to visit with cousins and other family, but I got to meet ones I hadn’t previously. Also, a day on Lake Bule is always a day well spent! In any case, I’m now on the train ride back to DC.

Not an exciting update, perhaps, but I have to remind myself that it’s been only a month since I’ve “settled down” into this new phase, and I’ve got plenty of time for excitement and new experiences!