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

Dear Hearts:

I have loved hearing about the steins, Tarzan and the boys in Las Vegas. (I thought for sure you boys knew that you would both be there at the same time; otherwise I would have mentioned it.) Girls, I am so happy that conference is tomorrow evening and we get to spend some real quality time together. Let's get together at my house at 5 and then we can go to Barbacoa for dinner.

I had my hour of power with Counting Crows today so 'paved paradise to put up a parking lot' is running through my head. I'm headed down to the RS building in SL hoping to get a clue about what I should be doing. Tonight we are taking Bob and Audree out for Bob's big 60th birthday celebration. Audree called to say he is pooped, but she plans to talk him into it. I have a reservation on the patio of Frescos at 6:30.

Danny you painted such a neat picture of your orientation...I loved hearing about the seating chart stuff. Oh, I hate to be the one to say the dumb stuff!:) I love you all and feel honored to know and love such fine people.

love, mom

Danny, I'm happy for you that you got both the Steins. Do they both wear ill fitting, non matching, hopelessly out of style clothes or is that too much stereotyping?

I'm in Sin City (Las Vegas) tonight. Imagine my surprise as I was standing waiting to board my flight in SLC this morning to see Ed walking up to me. He was on my same flight, and is also down here on business for the auto auction. We sat together on the flight, and hooked up tonight for a nice steak dinner here in town. It's been fun for me to spend some time with my son when I'm usually so bereft of family on my business trips.

95 degrees today here. I enjoyed my work, gaining strength of attitude and energy as the day progressed (my usual pattern). I wish I could bound out of bed ready to go in the morning like Cristie does!

Watched a bit of the USA women's soccer team beat Nigeria with Ed early this evening. Go USA!

hey katie...hows harry?! you two girls are surely hysterical! (you and melissa). im not sure what id do in the case of the charging child...good luck katie.

The heart of Autumn must have broken here, and poured its treasure out upon the leaves.--Charlotte Fiske Bates

Well Katie, it sounds like a regular adventure at the Nydegger household. Like Isaac, Eddie went through a name-phase-thing. He would only answer to "Zelda", and always introduced himself as such when we were out. This raised a lot of eyebrows. Evidently, not many grownups play Nintendo and so they never suspected that "Zelda" might not be his real name. Surprisingly though, most men, even grown men, knew exactly what he was talking about. They always made sure to point out that "Zelda" is the Princess, and that, surely he must be thinking that he's "Link" the boy hero in the game. Eddie loved the attention. I love having little boys!

As for Eli, it's hard for me to imagine that darling little bald head charging after his mommy with all that fury! Does it crack you up or are you reaching near-insanity?

Katie, you are such a good mommy. I can tell you are doing an amazing job adjusting to a brand new situation. I have a tremendous amount of admiration for you!

It's so good to hear from everyone. It sounds like you are doing well Miss Anne-Marie! Glad to hear it. Nothing motivates a girl to get to work on time like a hunky boss!

I better get going or I may have to tell another bloody story! Have a great day everyone, love you all.

Hey Everybody!!!
It's my first REAL Blog! Thank you, Uncle Bubby, for my invitation to blog, as I will be frequently keeping in touch with my cute family I love so much!

I think this is the hottest I remember it being in a long time for being so late into September...I pity those kids that have to try to learn in those hot classrooms. Hmmm...maybe that's what's wrong with me! Haha...

I have started a new part-time job working as a medical assistant to a weight loss surgeon in Oxnard a few days a week and I'm loving it! I don't know what's better - walking into an even better-looking version of E.R.'s George Clooney every morning, or seeing these patients go from 400 pounds to half that size in just a year. It's really quite amazing to see the growth of technology these days...makes me wonder what they'll figure out next!

Tommy is doing great in school so far. He comes home with a report card at the end of every week, and he's had A's for 3 weeks straight. I'm so proud of him! I think he's very proud of himself too. Hopefully he'll use that as motivation and keep it up!

Kelly is zipping right along like summer never happened. She gets her week's worth of homework done by Tuesday night, and I hardly ever see the little chickadee anymore! She certainly has discovered the power of her bike, and how you can go just about anywhere if you're up for the peddle! She must get that from her mother!

I hope all is well with everybody! I miss you all and love ya too!