Make sure you have a thermostat for your UTH as unregulated UTHs can burn your snake. A lamp dimmer will work in the meantime if you don't have a thermostat.
For hides, I like using little plastic bowls and cutting a entrance out of them (making sure the edges are smooth): my younger BPs really like these as they can fit really snug in them. I've used the half log hides before and my BPs never liked them: don't think they felt very secure in them.
For the size of your enclosure I'd make sure you have lots of cover for the snake: this may be while it's acting defensive too - it feels insecure. Fake plants or crumpled up newspaper works well, as does blacking out three sides of the tank with black construction paper (taped to the outside of the tank, no tape inside the enclosure).
If the tank is in a high traffic area putting a towel over the tank or moving it to a quicker area could help make the snake more secure.
For temps, if you're using those stick-on thermometers I would upgrade to a digital thermometer: I find them much more accurate for ambient and hot side temps. I would wait to handle until the snake has eaten three times and is not showing signs of stress. Making sure temps are accurate and don't fluctuate much will make for an over-all 'happier' and healthier snake.
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