But there's not too much to report in Yail's world.
Another hiccup of grief in September, as it was the month of our wedding and by the following fall she had left. Then last year I moved in my crazy schedule time and was between the house and my brother's house and a temporary apartment and then my real apartment. It has been another year of healing - I've been in my apartment a year now - and each step is gentle but always has a touch of melancholy. A year in my own space has done me good. I own this space. It is mine. Only Yail.
I'm maybe-kind-of-sort-of-not-really-but-am-I? flirting with someone. It feels nice. Honestly, I don't know what, if anything, I want to happen. I'm not thinking ahead like that. It's not a crazy crush like the one I had before where I was feeling giddy every two seconds. This is calmer, more confident. I don't know if I want to date or not which is the real crux of my hesitancy. I'm liking being single and having all this time to myself with no responsibilities to another person. But if I did want to date, this woman is someone who would be a good match for me. She's quiet, confident, has her life together. An insanely cute smile. Which sounds so boring when I write it, but honestly it's because I just do not know her! It's only now a bit of very slow getting to know process, and perhaps a little flirting within that. So we will see if it continues. It very well be nothing. Perhaps a new friendship? Perhaps a bit of flirting is all? Or perhaps this is the time when I make a first move and see what happens. But hey - she laughs at my jokes. That's the clearest path to my heart :-D
I'm nearly done with my third Grad class. I love it. I'm so glad I'm doing this. Sure, it's a lot of work sometimes but this is what balances my life. If I didn't have my classes I'd be bored with all of this time after work every day, and perhaps feeling lonely or depressed. Instead I have this great purpose of getting my MBA. My other hobbies fit in around it. I've cut back (again) on drinking alcohol so I'm just so focused in my life.
Ah yes, and food. Let's see. It feels like fall, so I made turkey meatloaf this week which tasted like home. I had some rendered duck fat from a friend (we all need friends who give us liquid gold like that!) that I made into a bit of gravy, and it's now season for my favorite: roasted brussels sprouts. I went apple picking last weekend so it's time to make some tarts and dried apples and a pie or two. Apple crisp. Maybe some crepes - I haven't had crepes months. My other recent meals this week have included sausage-apple-cheddar stuffed acorn squash, and some mulligatawny soup with homemade naan. Brainstorming is needed - all the recipes I've thought of have been boring, and I need some food inspiration.
Finally - some more hikes have been happening. I'm still so slow. I love it. Hoping for a 7-8 hour hike one day this weekend, and maybe a 2 hour hike on the opposite day. Winter is coming fast, and I'm not prepared to do any treks in the snow, so I've got to get it in while I can.
