Rocky Mountain wildflowers

Studying, studying and more studying....

Anatomy, dermatology, orthopedics, evidence based medicine, ..... Anatomy, dermatology, orthopedics, evidence based medicine,... repeat...

And I get to go to Ouray ;-)!!!

Exploring Albuquerque...

Old town ABQ, it has to be visited..... but not for too long on a hot July day (especially not when you're from Belgium and anything over 80 degrees F is considered a heat wave)....






At least there's the option of 'getting high', taking the tramway to Sandia Peak where it was cool and breezy...





And enjoying a drink at the bar (even when you're not yet out of grade school!!)....

Happy July 4th!

Coming from a country with very little national pride, it was interesting for family to spent July 4th here. We made it to the pancake breakfast on the Santa Fe plaza and the kids where fascinated with the traditional Mexican dances....






We did get out of the crowd and hiked the Borrego trail (including a significant amount of trail maintenance -the water is flowing again!!! - whilst the girls build camps ;-)!


By the time fireworks rolled around, the crowd was fast asleep on European time..... ZZZZzzzzzzz.........

They are here!!!

My sister Greet, her husband Fritz and their 2 daughters Anne-Lin (11) and Elisabeth (7) are visiting from Belgium. They are planning to spend 3 weeks exploring Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. For now the most exciting fact was that it was 4 am in Belgium and they weren't in bed yet ;-)!




With their visit some changes to the house: notes and drawings all over.....



And look at the top shelf of our fridge!!!! And that's just the chocolate, not the cookies!

It's official!!!

I am a New Mexico resident! I have the driver's license and car registration to prove it! Gone are the 'Show-Me-State' plates; Welcome to 'The land of Enchantment'! I am sprouting official roots!



Although I am still in transition and 'in between' work-wise, life has definitely changed! Doug has gone from having plenty-of-flexible-time to having very limited non-study-time. Walks to the 'San Francisco street bar and grill', the 'Zia diner', 'Guadelupe Cafe' and 'Clafoutis' are being replaced by more at-home-meals, walks to 'Whole foods' and the occasional lunch at the 'Taj Mahal' buffet (VERY VERY delicious!!!). Outdoor time is dictated by the Albuquerque temperatures, typically at least 10 degrees hotter than Santa Fe (I am going to LOVE the winters here!!!). I am missing the SF Plaza but loving Altura Park.....

The transition phase will go on for a few more weeks / months to come; My sister and her family will be visiting from Belgium YIPEEE!!!!!) and I'm just taking a temporary ABQ job after that....

It's still hard to imagine what life will look like more long term........

The real reason for buying THAT house...

is the location!!!

Obviously, it's very close to the university but also only a block away from Altura Park, a shady heaven in the summer heat with beautiful mountain views! We had our first little pick-nick out there last night ;-)!!

Are we done yet?

It feels like we're getting there.

We are living in the ABQ house!!!!! It's painted and cleaned and we have a functional kitchen and bathrooms! The SF house isn't quite empty yet but hopefully will be by the end of the weekend...
Doug started school and apart from a flat bike tire on the first day that made him late for class, he is very enthused about the full school experience.

This is where we'll be living, at least for the coming few years:

Guarding the house at the front door...


A little more color (green, obviously!) than on the before pictures....



This is where you'll stay... the guest bedroom...

I can't believe I did it!!!

The PODS container came and was bigger and fuller than I had let myself remember.... So on Saturday in 100 degree weather outside, I went through the full container, the content of 10 years of Missouri life, in 24 hours.... Decisions about what to keep, what to sell/donate were made in just a few seconds....
I never in my life thought I would have a moving sale, but I did. I advertised in the paper and on Craigslist and people started arriving well before 7.30 am. About 2 hours later most of my "sellable" stuff was gone. I hope the Salvation Army picked up the rest today...
To say I was exhausted would be an understatement, I don't think I've been this tired since I climbed Kilimanjaro.... Not quite the same level of achievement but still, it does feel like a big accomplishment. Doug was awesome (as always ;-)...). The things you can get done as a team are amazing...;-)!!!



Also, a 100 degrees outside probably meant close to 115 inside the POD!!

Another day, another paint bucket...

I did close on the house in Albuquerque!!!! And we are moving!!!! Whilst Doug is finishing up the house in Santa Fe, I'm making the house in ABQ move-in-ready!!! Frequent trips to home depot and Lowes, painting, dealing with contractors for some minor repairs, waiting (not so) patiently for the cable guy, shopping and ordering shades for all the windows,... The list still seems endless....
My pod storage container will be delivered tomorrow am: lots to sell, give away and recycle....

Some pictures from before the painting...