Greetings all:

Danny, I am excited (and a tad bit jealous) for your experiences. Katie, if you can manage to find a movie that shows a Harry Potter character getting eaten by a monster, you may get your Isaac back again. I’ve yet to meet a kid that wants to be called Lord Farquaad.

Just a few words to keep everyone on the same page regarding my travels of the past week. As most of you know, I had an interview with Pfizer on Wednesday. If you haven’t heard yet, you now know firsthand that it could have gone better. I would feel much worse if Des Moines had impressed me with its endless beauty. I flew into St. Paul/Minneapolis airport just as the sun edged over the horizon. From the air, I observed countless lakes, trees, and farmland as far as the eye could see. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought Iowa and Minnesota could not be much different, but as I flew south, I watched as the landscape grew uglier and uglier. From thirty thousand feet, it really looked like they had to try to keep the lakes in Iowa from creeping (or leaking, or whatever lakes to do relocate) north to Minnesota. When the lakes are trying to get out, one questions the wisdom of moving in.

As I landed at the Des Moines airstrip and walked across the tarmac, I remembered my single instruction: “Look for the silver Intrepid.” In any other major airport, this could be a challenge. In Des Moines, there were about six cars waiting in the loading area, and a dozen or so people milling about. If it hadn’t been for the occasional roar of a jet engine, I would have thought I was at a train station in Sleepyville. I know, I was only there for seven hours. How can one justly judge a town with so little time? I soon spotted the silver Intrepid, and off we went to lunch.

The interview was OK. Sure, I like college basketball fine when there’s absolutely nothing else to do. Mark seemed to live for it. Throughout the interview, he spoke of players, teams and coaches I should have known. He has a son that plays college ball in Montana. I had a difficult time connecting, and there was little “synergy” throughout our discussions. After all, if he only had one trophy in his cabinet, at least he has one! I guess I have one too, but I failed to mention that my experience with the Padres (and organized sports in general) taught me that one can thoroughly stink at a sport and still take first place. As I said, the interview was no better than fine. Dad said I could have read it wrong, and that would be entirely possible. If I get called to go back, you will all know.

Mark dropped me off, and told me that he would let me know about the position after he reviews some other candidates. I will continue to put my best foot forward. I must be doing something right if I managed to make an unusually favorable impression with his boss. Either way, I am fine with how things have turned out. To tell you the truth, those lakes made me nervous.

I arranged a climbing outing in Big Cottonwood Canyon this morning. This year’s outing was far better than last year’s. It was cool and beautiful. On some days, it seems that the sun just shines a little brighter on me than anyone else. Today was one of those days. We climbed three routes, and I did not have the feeling of impending doom that I had last year. Believe me, feeling like you’re going to fall to your death at any moment will ruin any chance of fun. Today was different. I climbed well, and felt light. So light, I realized at the end of the day that I had left my climbing shoes somewhere along the trail. Just when I concluded that it was time for new shoes anyway, the old ones turned up, and the three of us rode home together like old friends.

Will I really be able to leave these mountains?

Sam