You know those people who put so much joy into their job it can’t help but rub off on you? A post for another day is that I’ve been lucky enough to manage and work with some of them. *The world’s best sensory server ahem.* Well anyway, I met another member of the club today.

The ladies in the lab had mentioned Mike the Mailman. He took lunch at the same time every day. The post office was closed for that hour. There was something about him requesting cookies. He sounded a little quirky.

I made sure to walk to the post office after 1:30, so I it would be open. I started daydreaming and got lost, so I had to ask for directions. I arrived, and there was a fairly nondescript older gentleman working, and I asked are you this Mike the Mailman I’ve heard so much about.

Older Gentleman: ‘Me, oh no.’ Starts to get up.

Alyssa: ‘Oh sorry. A lot of people had just mentioned…’

Older Gentleman: *Mischievous Grin*

And there started the most delightful post office experience I have ever had at the only “Full Service Zone” post office around. I left with my packages mailed, a book of Harry Potter! stamps, and a smile. And Mike, I may just enter your “Cookie of the Month Contest.”

And a couple lucky readers have some fun hand stamped mail courtesy of my new personal postman coming your way. 🙂

The first week on the job was already very busy, which was great! I waited a very long time to start, so I’m glad I got to jump right in. Dr. Hayes (who I will probably mostly call John) has lots of ideas for what I will work on. We talked about many, and I’ve started thinking about which I will want to start with.

After completing all my paperwork on Monday, I spent most of the week pulling together the pieces of a proposal that he had been working on. It was a great opportunity to learn how to use my new Mac. I’m starting to get the hang of it and maybe even like it.

I also spent a lot of time meeting the students in the lab. They are a really amazing group.

There is another Alissa! She is busy at work right now with an NIH grant proposal and also planning her wedding, which is quickly approaching.

Then there is Catherine, who I met yesterday. Her main project is a nutrition project involving parents and children, but I will be helping her publish a paper on milkfat rejection levels.

Toral is working on the totally awesome project of a designing a microbicide that prevents HIV infection in women. She is doing both the formulation and acceptability, as she has a biomedical engineering background.

Erin is working on an astrigency project. Catherine Lee if you’re reading this, I said I could get her in touch with you. She was collecting saliva this week.

And Nadia will soon be Dr. Byrnes and appropriately studied irritation and burning.

Oh and the undergrads Liz, Ryan, Ryan, and Scott.

It’s been a fun week, but now on to more unpacking!

I’m in Pennsylvania and there is already a lot to update you on from here, but I didn’t get a chance to post a few important memories before I left.

It started with manis, pedis, dinner, drinks, and lots of getting to the heart of the matter with my friend and guru Megan. Land O’Lakes will be near and dear to my heart for many reasons and bringing this amazing woman into my life is among the top of the items on that list. She was the marketing manager on the first new product I ever launched- Butter with Olive Oil. The product development team also happened to include 3 of favorites- Ravin, Bonnie, and Katy. Not sure that any project can ever top it.

Then kismet intervened, and I ran into my friend Deena who I hadn’t seen in a very long time. She had successfully defended her Master’s Degree the previous day!!! So it was definitely cause to celebrate. Deena loves children , so she chose to celebrate at the Children’s Museum with Axes and me. It was such a delight to watch them together.

Next I reconnected with my dear friend Lexi and met her daughter. Just as charming and beautiful as her mother. We met at a really cool coffee shop called Sovereign Grounds, which has a huge playroom. It reminded me of a kid cafe that my sister and I enjoyed so much in Germany. Afterward we went for a little walk where Axes told Lexi all about spooky things that hang out in the light of the moon.

Then I had my final appointment with the lady responsible for making me ‘the girl with cool hair’- the seriously talented Rachel at Hair Police.

After my appointment, I stopped at my friend Emily’s apartment to say goodbye and celebrate her upcoming defense and new job. Congrats Emily!

More congratulations were in order the next morning when I had breakfast with my marketing friend Sara who recently returned from her Vegas elopement. She was positively glowing.

I had really squeezed a lot of wonderful memories into that last week, but now it was time for the final goodbye. Goodbye 4145 Monroe St NE. We are headed on our new adventure.

Sometimes you have time to throw the ‘Pinterest Worthy’ party and sometimes you don’t.

I really wanted to throw a goodbye party for Axes and his friends but with the impending move time is not in abundance. Enter ‘Not Pinterest Worthy’.

For his party, I rented a picnic site near a park, provided kid friendly snacks with no prep needed, and planned 2 easy activities- coloring and creating Cheerio and marshmallow kebabs. When the printer ran out of ink, I was done printing coloring pages. Glad I did, since Baby A was the only one who colored. The take home treat was a simple cookie purchased not homemade.

Everyone had so much fun. The adults visited, laughed, and watched the children running around having a blast- or no fun at all as Axes likes to call it lately. The people make the party not the fuss.

We did luck out in one respect. The weather was truly spectacular. And there did end up being one Pinterest worthy element- a surprise from Belinda.

In addition to the gourmet send off from Susan & Peter, I have been truly spoiled by many wonderful send offs.

It started with the family goodbye party hosted by my dear Aunt Bernis and Uncle Tom. They are always so welcoming hosting a family party practically every weekend. The highlight of this party was going to be a bouncy house. Let me explain. Axes and Bernis share a birthday, and for her 60th / Axes’ 2nd, she hosted a big bash where this was the main event. Ever since, the family has decided that no party is really complete without one. But alas on this day thunderstorms were predicted, so no bouncy house for us. In the end, the weather actually mostly cooperated, but there was just enough rain to justify the cancellation and save Aunt Bernis from the wrath of her granddaughter Sydney. 🙂

Next came Introducing Heidi to High Tea. My older sister Heather and I love high tea. Our love was born where else but Bath, England on a day worthy of an Austen novel (early drama only to end happily ever after). The Sunday after the 4th, Heather took Heidi and I to The Queen’s Tea at Mad Hatter in Anoka. We had such a lovely time. Although I don’t think Heidi loves tea quite like we do.

On Tuesday, the sensory group took me out to dinner at Corner Table. Another amazing food experience for this foodie. Our waiter’s recommendations were spot on and celebrating with those amazing ladies was a truly wonderful experience.

Yesterday was my last day at Land O’Lakes, and to say it was an emotional day is an understatement. What a a ride it has been! My team hosted the most amazing brunch for me. I had actually been composed all morning, but it was the marshmallows on the banner that Belinda had made for me that opened the floodgates. Those of you who attended, I actually was worried that I would cry more, so though I apologize, it could have been worse. 🙂 There were so many amazing and special people in the room with me. I received so many special gifts to help me always remember my days at Land O’Lakes, and felt so honored when Liz gave me a ‘honey roast’ and listed the things that I am most proud of accomplishing at Land O’Lakes. I better stop now, before I start crying again. 🙂

My friend Peter vehemently denies he is a foodie, because foodies just enjoy delicious food rather than preparing it themselves. He would rather be called a gourmand. If that is the distinction, he and his wife Susan are true gourmands, while I would place myself in solid foodie status.

Last night they hosted a stunning goodbye party for us. Peter smoked a ham (amazing) and provided his famous homemade English muffins (as delicious as always) for sandwiches. He also prepared a shredded carrot, citrus, and cumin salad that despite or perhaps because of the addition of cinnamon was simply delightful. Susan made an awesome sorrel pesto potato salad and super refreshing mojito slushies. I’d never had sorrel before. So good! There were also grilled and fresh vegetables, goat cheese with Minnesota honey, and moist chocolate cupcakes with do it yourself frosting. What a great idea!

It was a beautiful Minnesota night, and Axes enjoyed looking at Susan’s garden and eating the fruits (literally) of her labors. The company was delightful. And at the end Axes said, “I want to stay forever.” Through misty eyes, I agreed. Thank you so much dear friends. It was a true gourmet send off. John called all the extra ham, and at the time of this posting there is not a morsel left.

Every year the Johnsons have a family reunion in Saude, Iowa on the 4th of July. It is a can’t miss event. Well, unless you are traveling in Europe. Right, Heather?

This year it was especially true. I delayed my move to Pennsylvania for my new job to celebrate one last year as a true Minnesota team member. Even though I didn’t actually play in the big game. Is it bad that I don’t even know if Iowa or Minnesota was victorious this year?

What a wonderful day! We had one of the best turn outs in years. I know someone kept a list, so how many total did we have? Axes wore a Spiderman hat, Batman shirt, penguin pajama pants, purple crocs, and chocolate from the whoopie pies Heidi and I had made the night before. Truly Dirt Bomb John’s Offspring. We celebrated the upcoming nuptials of Brandon and Shannon S, Shannon C’s new baby Jasmine, and Eli and Lisa’s soon-to-be born little girl. And Axes agreed with Sydney that there is something not quite right about the Protivin House.

To add a little sensory to this sensibility, although Heidi was not a fan of her whoopie pies, I would say that they were a perfect balance of rich cocoa, bitterness, sweetness, saltiness, and cream cheese (milk fat, sourness, and cultured dairy). All the basic tastes (well minus umami) with some nice aromatics, but I am a sucker for some dark cocoa notes.