Post-graduation life and the RD Exam

Things have been coming together since returning from my summer travels.  Last month I resumed a job (different position) at the Brandeis "Smart Balance" lab, working for Dr. Hayes again.  After so many years, this is my first full-time job!  Better late than never!  

It was strange at first being back in the cramped little lab after a 4 year separation, but I have been able to jump back in fairly smoothly.  Unfortunately I don't think the job will last more than a year or two, but for now it is fun being involved in nutrition research again.  So far I love the people I work with and I love spending the day on a college campus, especially one that is less than a mile down the road.  I can walk there in 15 minutes, allowing me time in the morning to exercise, and letting the car rest in our driveway all week long.  Also, I feel relieved to not have to spend evenings and weekends picking away at assignments, and the work I do during the day actually provides a paycheck.  People say the working world is not as fun as being a student, but for the moment I am enjoying this lifestyle improvement!!      

Other big news is that yesterday I finally took the RD Exam.  It was a bit harder than I was expecting but I passed!  It feels WONDERFUL to have that behind me and to have the RD credential after 4 years of work.  Now I just have to worry about paying dues and earning the required continuing education credits.  Could be worse ;o)

Puffballs, fresh from the forest

It looks like it is going to be another great year for mushrooms in Prospect Hill!  Seth and I already noticed an early bird Chicken of the Woods a couple weeks ago but unfortunately it dried up before we decided to cut it and enjoy its meaty goodness.  Luckily,  however, Seth spotted other potentially edible mushrooms called puffballs.  Despite the very cute name, young puffballs may be mistaken for two deadly mushrooms, the first called the destroying angel and the other the death cap.  You don't want to make a rookie forager mistake! 

Puffballs!!  They look like someone left white grapefruits in the woods, don't they?

Cutting open the mushroom helps to confirm the identity.

Puffballs indeed are light and puffy, like styrofoam.

 

A little scary but we survived!  Puffballs have a surprisingly pungent, earthy, mushroomy flavor.  Similar to chicken of the woods, they are kinda delicious and kinda gross at the same time.

One last morning in the "Land of Entrapment"

I can see why MG visited NM and decided to move here!  It is unique and beautiful, and has nice (though too sunny) weather, friendly people, awesome geology, and fabulous food.  Before my mid-day flight back to reality (aka Boston), we managed to fit in one last mini trip, this time to the outskirts of ABQ to see the Petroglyphs.

Chiles hanging outside the visitor center

One of the trails to view the petroglyphs.  These are rock carvings made by the indigenous Puebloans beginning around 1300 AD.  When the Spanish arrived in the 1540s they, too, contributed to the carvings.  Although the meanings of these geometric shapes, animals, and faces remain a mystery, I did notice several crosses (Spanish). 

The trails were just outside of town.  This trail in fact was located behind a parking lot!  It would be so much fun to live in one of these houses and go walking every day amongst the petroglyphs.

The carvings were made on this dark, volcanic stone called basalt. 

There were so many carvings!  Can you spot some of them?

High 5?

 

 

Thanks for a fun time, MG!!

Sunday, a day of rest

After a couple exciting day trips, Monica and I recouped by spending a day in Albuquerque.

More early morning hot air balloons!

Another angle off Mark's balcony

In the morning Mark took MG and me to his Presbyterian church (kinda like my Lutheran church, but not really...) then we had lunch together at a New Mexican restaurant.  I really can't get enough of blue corn enchiladas with red AND green chile sauce!  Oh yes, and there are sopapillas, too!  Why can't Waltham have these foods? :o(

Poor Mark had a sore back and couldn't join us at one of his favorite places, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History

 

 

 

Due to indulging in all the heavy New Mexican meals, we decided to have dinner at home.  Monica and I made up a batch of extra light spring rolls with tofudebeast.

Santa Fe

The morning view from Mark's balcony

After a night of veggie burgers, grilled chicken, black snakes, and gourmet root beer floats, MG and I took a ride into Santa Fe.

We cut over to the scenic Turquoise Trail via NM 22.  Note to self: even if a road is depicted in the tourist map, do not assume it will be paved, especially in NM!  

The Turquoise Trail took us through the abandoned mining town-turned artist colony of Madrid, pronounced Maaaadrid.

I was a little confused by the photo park

Welcome to Santa Fe (Bites)!  Here is arguably the best green chile cheeseburger in the state, and one of the best burgers in the country.  I don't usually eat burgers, but I was happy to make an exception!

The State Capitol was... not very impressive...

San Miguel, the oldest church structure in the USA (ca. 1610)

As seen on "Unsolved Mysteries": The Miraculous Staircase of Loretto Chapel.  Built in the 1870s by a mysterious man using only crude tools, the stairs were originally built without any central support or metal nails.   

The markets outside the Loretto Chapel

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Cathedral Park

Indian Market in the historic plaza.  The artwork/jewelry must be registered, authenticated, and contain the maker's mark.  Turquoise is a girl's best friend ;o)

After the Indian Market, MG continued to help support the local jewelers!

How about a wreath of chiles?  Or a cow skull?

Canyon Road, a mile-long stretch of art galleries and "past prime" rich people

At the end of Canyon Road was a Tea House, where we met a friend of Monica's

All three of us ordered sweet ginger matcha lattes! Not sure what this says about us, but it was a nice way to cool off and relax at the end of the day.

Tent Rocks for the 4th

For the 4th of July, Monica and I celebrated by enjoying a national monument, Kasha-Katuwe (Tent Rocks).  This beautiful monument is only about 1 hour from Albuquerque, but the orange rock formations (hoodoos) made it seem like we were on a different planet!

July 4th sunrise!

Albuquerque is famous for its hot air balloons

On the desolate road to Ten Rocks

 

 

Hiking up to see the hoodoos.  It wasn't a long trail, only about 2 miles (4 mi round-trip), but it sure packed a big punch!

 

  

Ahhh, I really love rock formations :o)

The slot canyon was a tight fit!

Cactus

Team America!

From Mark's balcony we could see the entire city.  Each community seemed to have their own fireworks display; the colorful explosions could be seen all across the horizon.

 

 

Happy 4th!