No really, we're professionals...

When TD and I were describing to his Mom what we were going to be doing at the reserve, she asked several questions about how we would find animals, what we would do with them, etc. After we finished describing to her what we would be doing, she said, "Wow you are really professional!"

Yes, this is actually what we do for a living. Professionally.

So here are some of the creepy crawlies that we found. All of the reptiles and amphibians were collected, identified, photographed, preserved, and deposited at the Museo Zoologia at the University of Costa Rica.

TD photographing. Finding enough time when it wasn't raining to photograph was a challenge.

Trying to tire out the lizard before photographing, so that he won't attempt to escape.

SR and TD photographed while I played photo-stylist and animal-wrangler.

The reserve had a very nice wet lab set up, including scopes and a dehumidifier. 

This big guy was a roadkill. He is a jumping viper (Mano de piedra) - Atropoides nummifer

The guys wanted to show us a large Mano de piedra on the trail, before coffee or breakfast. I could have waited.

Walking stick - amazing crypsis to look just like a mossy branch!

Amazing GIANT caterpillar with orange and lavender spines.

Most adorable creature ever - juvenile Mexican Mouse Opossum - Marmosa mexicana

Congrats to Dr. D!!

Well, TD finally did it--he filed his dissertation on Wednesday! I am so proud. I am off this evening to CA to celebrate and attend his graduation. TD's mom, Sis and her family are coming out. It's MIL's first time to visit. Plus, tomorrow a grad school friend is getting married in Napa. Happy Times!

This doesn't really describe the awesome TD, but I thought this comic was pretty funny. Thankfully no more dissertations for us, now we just have to get tenure!

Changing my blog blurb

In the last few weeks I have gotten married, sold the condo, and accepted a permanent job! Yowza! I think I may need to get some new goals...

The job is a Tenure-Track assistant professor position at a BIG university in the South. TD is very excited to be headed back to warmer climes, real estate is cheap, I like my new colleagues. Unfortunately they couldn't offer TD anything, which is a bummer, but he will be able to apply for jobs and look for funding once we arrive.I officially start in September but probably won't be settled there full time until January. In the mean time we will spend time with family in Austin, travel to Costa Rica and Brazil, do field work in Mexico and enjoy our last bits of freedom.

A special dinner

So I got a call on Friday asking me to interview at Big State U in the South. TD and I have our fingers crossed for this one, as its a place where we'd really like to live. But now? I have to prepare a research seminar, and rehearse my 3 minute "this is why I am so awesome so you have to hire me" speech. And figure out an outfit that conveys seriousness and authority without looking like a costume. So instead I procrastinated today by looking at real estate at Big State U, which has apparently been hit by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and thus is very cheap!

At least the evening wasn't a total wash--dinner was grilled tenderloin from the Dall sheep, soy glazed carrots, mixed greens with blue cheese dressing, and a thick slice of garlic bread. This all cooks up in 30 minutes, but having a meat and 2 veg feels much more accomplished.

And TD humored me by watching a RomCom with me. We lean towards dramas in this household (our top netflix category is "violent, foreign thrillers"), but I love a good sappy, predictable love story now and then. We watched the Holiday, a Christmas gift from my sister, and we (both) enjoyed it.