Job advice

COLUMBIA FALLS, MT -- Yeah, I have no idea where Columbia Falls is either, but it's home tonight.

My dad flew in today, and I arrived at the airport just in time to pick him up. Tomorrow we venture into Glacier National Park.

I'm in a good mood tonight, and for two reasons.

1. Raffy Palmeiro doubled in the top of the 5th tonight, his 3,000th hit. I amazingly got to see it because we're staying someplace with a television. This will not be the case for the next week.

2. I got shut out for my first job in San Diego (writing for UCSD), then decided to pester the woman who said I was a "strong candidate." (Duh.) After being bummed out for 24 hours, I somehow finagled a phone interview Monday. More info on that later. Tonight, I'm drinking cheap Montana beer and researching UCSD. Did you know it has 23,500 students? Its athletes are Division II champs, and they're called the Tritons. Had to check my notes on that last one. Hmm, more work to do!

If I somehow eked out this job, I'd have to make a beeline for San Diego. I've been gone nearly a month, driven 5,300 miles, (I thought I'd only drive 4,900 miles on this trip.... huh?) and hit the point where both motels and campgrounds seem a bit off-putting and the comfort of an actual home might not be so bad. So I'll deal with that when I have to. If I get the job, I get Cesar Chavez Day off.

Does it get any better than that?