Through a bit of an emotional wringer

I should put "bit" in scare quotes. Already anxiety-festooned over my current newspaper job here in Odessa, Texas, I got offered a job, then had it pulled back away, all in just six hours.

I had a phone interview to be named the editor, and general manager in training, at a weekly paper near Dallas. Ideal!

Was tentatively offered the job over the phone, then the publisher said he'd like to meet in person just to give himself final assurance.

No problem, I said. I'll drive to Dallas this weekend.

Well, less than five hours later, I get this message in an e-mail:

The powers that be with the chain have decided to move things in a different direction.

Sheiss!

That said, it's the second time in 10 months I've had an "interesting" interview situation with this newspaper chain.

I'll be very gun-shy in the future.

Right now, I'm pretty drained.

But sober.