Settled and The City

Nic Barajas


The year since the institute has been a wonderful, amazing one. I took my first cross-country train trip in April, visiting some of my favorite friends and cities, including some other former Institute students — it's true what they say, we are all family.

In August, I finally became a full-time employee here at the Times, and in September moved to a great apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Several close friends have also moved to the city, which I cannot suggest highly enough. Encourage all your best friends to move to your town. (Having a town like New York helps.)

And of course, I got to greet a new group of students to the Institute family earlier this month. They're some pretty fantastic people, and I'm not just saying that because one of them might have video of me at karaoke.

Lessons in labor, loss and love

Matt Lewis


Almost a year later and what do I have to show for it? A degree in journalism, a job as an editor of a weekly community newspaper (theCoolidge Examiner), friends I will never forget and an experience that I will always cherish. I'm talking of course about the New York Times Student Journalism Institute that was held in Tucson, Ariz. from Jan. 2-12. 


I graduated from the UA with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in geography. I promptly began searching for jobs in Arizona in the media industry. The offerings were few and far between, but I landed myself an interview with two companies: Wick Communications and Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. Wick is located in Southern Arizona, Sierra Vista, to be precise. They have32 newspapers and 23 specialty publications in 13 states – including Arizona, California, Oregon and Colorado. It sounded like a great place to apply. I wanted to apply for a job they had in Half Moon Bay, Calif. near San Francisco. After applying and interviewing with them, they asked for more clips. I complied and sent them some. I never heard back from them, though. I then applied at Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. for a job as an editor of a weekly community newspaper. It was mostly on a whim, because I had never envisioned myself being an editor in the past. The same day I interviewed with the company I was offered a job; but not just any job  – one with power and responsibility; one with benefits and a salary; and one with a big office.

Life was pretty good, but as always with the cyclical nature of yin and yang, my left came back down to Earthly levels when my mother passed away after a one year, ten month battle with breast cancer. It was a very sobering event after the intoxication of the spoils I had received. I began giving extra hugs and saying "I love you" more to my friends and family. You never know when someone's time will come, including our own, so I am a true believer in being as happy as we can each and every day, because it could be our last. I elected to live at home to be with my family; there is nothing in my life I value more. 


My dad has been my guardian angel, saving me from the grief disguised as mental strife. Most people want to get out of their house as soon as possible, and I suppose that's why I went down to Tucson for school instead of staying in Phoenix, but I was sure glad that my dad let me move back in after I graduated. I think we needed each other. I have a unique and special relationship with my family, because unlike Failure to Launch, my dad said I could stay as long as I like. 


I know eventually someday (maybe even soon) that it will be the right time to move out on my own, especially since I've been serious with my girlfriend Caitlin, for two years now, and we've talked about getting married after she graduates. That's another thing I've learned since the institute, is managing long-distance relationships; not just with her but with my friends from the institute, college, and people I've known in other times and capacities. I've utilized Facebook, e-mail, and other means of keeping in touch. Our lives are nothing more than the people we know, the places we go and the things we do while we're there. 

From clueless to "sorta clueful"

Hi everyone,

I'll admit something to you right (write) away... Up until about last week I didn't know the first thing about blogs. How to set up a page, how to format pages, uploading posts and photos--all a mystery to me. As you can now see, I've figured out the first thing, and maybe even the second.

Thankfully this blog isn't about creating a fancy page. This blog is a chance for us Institute oldies (now an entire year, after all) to catch up. So let's get caught up. Thanks for your posts!

-Jamie

Africa to Arkansas to Africa, and back to Nebraska

Jamie Klein

The summer after the Institute I traveled to Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso for a science writing class. Along with two classmates and our professor, I had the chance to interview farmers in small villages (with a translator), government officials in big cities and food scientists in laboratories. The trip was amazing!

After returning to Nebraska for a week I was off again… this time for Arkansas. I interned on the state desk of the Democrat-Gazette where I covered the Albert Pike flood and the adventures of several small towns. I still miss Little Rock. 

Last month I was back in Zambia to help with a conference for my internship. I’m now an intern for INTSORMIL (a research organization that focuses on global food security). I had a blast running into people I met in the summer. On the way home I stopped in France and Romania to visit cousins because... Well, why not? 

Now that I’m back stateside, things have slowed down for me. Just one semester of classes separates me from the “real” world. I’m headed to St. Petersburg this summer for an internship and we’ll see what happens from there.

Thanks to everyone for writing! 

"Here Jamie, try Ethiopian coffee." "Oh, OK, sure!" 

Very strong stuff! This is from May.

On a tour of a brewery in Zambia in December.

   

A Curveball

Daniel Woolfolk


I was a photographer at the institute, but that's far from where I now am.
As soon as a graduated, I took a writing position in Northern New York, which meant I had to reject a photo internship for an agriculture magazine in Colombia.


My beat is Fort Drum, an Army post with 10th Mountain Division, among the most deployed units in the country. A major reason I got the job is that I was in the Army for four years and know the culture.


The stories I cover range from family events to deaths and PTSD. But a major part of what I cover is business and economic news, especially related to housing. We are in a bit of a crunch that will only get crunchier, so I really use some of the skills I gained while focusing on business and economic reporting at Columbia.


And I do miss photo, but there are few things I would want to do aside from military reporting.

The "almost" full circle

Dalina Castellanos


Funny how a year can bring you (almost) full circle. At the institute I was unemployed and living on the Navajo Reservation, freelancing in the snow. A year later, I'm doing pretty much the same thing but under the title of "Staff Writer." Not that 2010 didn't take me to some pretty incredible places... Diego and I went to New York to meet up with Don, Troy, Jose and Caitlin and were hosted by Daniel for a couple of days there. The NAHJ conference in Denver was nothing short of incredible with a mini-NYTSJI reunion and plenty of fun with street walkers and World Cup games.


I've been lucky enough to experience some amazing things out on the Navajo Nation — medicine men and sweat lodges are as intriguing as they sound — and have been able to grow as a reporter. Covering a sovereign nation's government during an election year is tough cookies for a young reporter, but I can't complain.


When I'm not working, I check in with Veronica, Stephen and Amanda on gchat to retain my connection with the "other world" as often as I can, or I'm out walking my puppy, Pantunflas.

Traveling the world

Elvia Malagon


This past year has probably been one of the best years of my life. The highlights besides attending the New York Times Student Journalism Institute and meeting all of you would be traveling to Chile and Japan. I went to Chile in May with one of my journalism classes (Media in Latin America: Messages and Moguls: Dictators and Democracy) to learn about the media in Latin America. I loved every single part of that trip! It was roughly only a two-week trip but I am still thinking about that trip today. I did crazy things I normally wouldn't do such as go horse back riding in the Andes and run into the Pacific Ocean. I have always been in love with Latin America but this trip inspired me to try to do more traveling in Latin America - hopefully one day as a journalist. In June I got the opportunity to travel to Japan to learn about the media through the Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition. Like Chile, this trip was incredible in its own way. It felt like if I was in a different world. We did a very touching tour of Hiroshima and got a chance to speak with a woman who survived the atomic bombings. My trip to Japan is something that I will definitely never forget.


In between I had an exciting summer internship at the Courier-Journal in the charming Louisville, Ky. This semester I have been interning at the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire in Washington, D.C. I've written some pretty cool stories. I'm still waiting on my personal invite to the White House from the Obamas. Of course all good things must come to an end. My college days are numbered since next semester will be my last at Indiana University. I will be working as the features/investigative editor at the Indiana Daily Student. I graduate in May - wish me luck!

No, Really, I'm a Journalist

Cecilia Perry


The months /year following NYTSJI were very eventful; my husband, JP, deployed for 6 months, while I completed my thesis and earned my Master’s from the University of Arizona.  Upon JP’s returned we moved to Dayton, OH for his Air Force career. It has been quite the adjustment moving from sunny Tucson to cloudy and snowy Ohio.


The search for a job was nerve racking, but I’m blessed to announce that I am employed. I’m an editor/clerk at the Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters located at Wright–Patterson AFB OH. I enjoy my position and happy to be working, but I do miss the newsroom and sometimes find it difficult to explain to folks what profession I’m a part of.

Back in the Biz after a break

Regina Garcia Cano


I headed back to Ohio immediately after our 10 days in Tucson to finish my junior year at Kent State.


In early May, I wrote a story for the Times about the 40th anniversary of the student shootings at my university. It was super exciting to see my byline printed in the national edition of the paper, but it was even more rewarding to know that my parents in Mexico were able to read my story in print, not just online.


I went on a journalism hiatus over the summer and spent three months in Mexico City with my family and friends. I traveled across the country and reconected with those I hadn't talked to after I moved to the States.


I interned three times per week at The Columbus Dispatch from September to December. At the same time, I attended state-government classes at the Ohio Statehouse.


I am the editor-in-chief for the Daily Kent Stater this semester. I started my tenure Tuesday and am looking forward to working with all the reporters and editors.

Wearing his cardigans, on both coasts

Stephen Ceasar


I can honestly say that the 10 days we all spent working in Tucson was the most fun I’ve ever had in journalism. So after we said our goodbyes, it was a little tough to go back to substitute teaching for bratty, punk high schoolers and answering the crazy people phone calls at the local newspaper.


I did that for a couple months while pulling together some internship applications and I was incredibly lucky to be selected to work at the NYT for 10 weeks, covering city and state politics. It was difficult, challenging and at times scary, but I had some great people, like Diego, helping me through it. Not to mention the frequent karaoke sessions with Troy that often lasted till 4:00 a.m. and with him being asked politely to stop singing from atop the bar. Or when we visited the weirdest place on earth, Coney Island, to meet up with Jen and her husband. We saved a kid who was having a seizure by giving him cotton candy, engorged several Nathan’s hot dogs and then took a 38-stop, two-hour long train ride back to civilization. I had a blast.


These days I’m working at the Los Angeles Times as a Metpro trainee. I’ll find out in March if they’re going to keep me on, so cross your fingers for me. So far I’ve covered a variety of things as they bounce me around, figuring out where they’d like to keep me. Currently I’m covering immigration, which is where I’d really want to end up. I’m enjoying LA and I’m not too far from my family back home, so I like where I'm at.


Miss you all and if you’re ever in LA give me a ring. Also, thanks for Don for making the institute possible and thanks to Jamie for harassing us to send these life recaps in.

Institute Alum for Hire

Amanda Portillo


After the Institute, I finished my last semester at UA, where I did a lot of blogging and multimedia stories for Border Beat. I was also named a Chips Quinn Scholar, and after graduation I went to the Freedom Forum in Nashville to work on more multimedia and to get prepared for my summer internship. I interned for three months at the Orange County Register, at the north county office in Anaheim. I was lost driving one of my first days there (and almost every day after), when I realized I was among Mickey Mouse-shaped bushes. I was at Disneyland, my office was something like two stoplights east.


At the Orange County Register, I mainly covered the city of Placentia. It was a fun and challenging experience to (just about) cover a city myself. While in the OC, I met up with Cindy Von Quednow, who lives in Los Angeles. We spent July 4 together and one weekend, I talked her into going to the San Diego Zoo with me.


Fast forward to the new year... I don't have a job. I don't live in sunny So. Cal anymore, I live in sunny Phoenix. I'm job hunting. Have any good leads?

Watch out Sesame Street...

Veronica Cruz


After finishing the Institute, I completed my Chips Quinn internship in Santa Fe. It drove me a bit crazy at the beginning (icky weather, crazy roads) but in the end, I got to work with some amazing colleagues, made a few good friends, covered some interesting stories and fell in love with the place.


I moved back to Tucson in May and am now working as a marketing/ticketing gal for a local non-profit theatre and recently began a part-time gig at the local daily paper, the Arizona Daily Star, as a news assistant. I work a few shifts a week on the Metro desk, write for the weekly A&E section, answer phones and verify info for our calendar sections.
 
In my little spare time between both jobs I gossip with Dalina, Amanda and Stephen and plot a not-so-hostile takeover of "Sesame Street" with Troy and contemplate my next big adventure.

Novice Hiker Discovers "Outdoorsy" Side

Lauri Valerio


This year, I essentially became outdoorsy by faking it. I spent the spring semester exploring Joshua Tree National Park and hiking to local hot springs. I stumbled across unknown Pomona College property, which I promptly trespassed, while hiking in the San Gabriel mountains. Hiking was doable, even fun. So I thought, why not spend the summer doing it? I applied with a friend for a grant to spend the summer hiking and document it with social media and panicked when we got it. We hiked the John Muir Trail, a 21-day hike from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney. It was both miserable and amazing. When I came back to school in the fall, I became a leader in the outdoors club and led freshmen on an orientation adventure to a cabin in the woods. Voila, outdoorsy.


Other notable moments in my year: my experience watching Cirque du Soleil in LA and deciding I would drop out and join the circus (I have yet to follow through with this); my first encounter with the nation's capital and Georgetown Cupcakes; my failed attempt to mail a banana, though it is possible, I've heard.


Next semester, I'll be studying abroad in Madrid and researching flamenco and oral storytelling. I plan to immerse myself in the city, travel around Spain and Europe, take flamenco and, perhaps in my spare time, study Spanish, literature and art. When I come back, I expect to have an intense debate with Mando about whose semester abroad was better.
(Link to my hiking blog: lauriandjohn.wordpress.com)

One Year Later...

John deDios

I am now a part-time graduate student at the UA School of Journalism, taking one class per semester. What takes up most of my time, however, is my duties as the co-adviser for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists - UA Student Chapter and the adviser for our Journalism Student Advisory Council. 

As adviser for our student clubs, I help students create student programming to enhance their educational experience like workshops for broadcast journalism; help students bridge over into the professional world with guest speakers from all over the country, including Joe Weiss, founder of SoundSlides, Marcio Sanchez, AP sports photographer from San Francisco, Michele Salcedo, AP editor from D.C. bureau and NAHJ Professional Chapter president, Brent McDonald from The New York Times, and many more. 

In the fall, I was an administrator for our Beyond the Border Project, a partnership with New York University, working with students from the UA School of Journalism, specifically with their photography and multimedia. I facilitated a partnership with the local Tucson Weekly to purchase all of the print content and some multimedia, paying the students for their hard work in New York.  

It has been a tremendous year for our students and graduates. I am very fortunate to have been able to continue working with so many talented, young journalists, including Institute alumni Samantha Sais, the president for our NAHJ and advisory council; Roxana Vasquez, 2008 Institute participant; Veronica Cruz, who is now working part time with The Arizona Daily Star. 

In the 525,600 Minutes Since I Last Saw You...

Troy Griggs


- I got older.
- I have performed George Michael's "Father Figure" at least 23 times
in various Karaoke bars around New York.
- I joined Twitter.
- I got to see a Stephen Ceasar dressed as cotton candy.
- I got to see an Erin Ailworth dressed as a princess.
- I met Corky Pigeon (played Freddy Lippincottleman on "Silver Spoons")
- I had my first stint as the weekend Page One designer.
- I had the chance to visit Amsterdam (but not for the reason you're
thinking) and Istanbul.
- I went from being the Jim Halpert of my department to the Dwight
Schrute (meaning: I got a promotion).
- I decorated Rick Berke's birthday cake.
- I'm preparing to leave my home in the East Village for a new life in Brooklyn.
- Lastly, I had the illuminating realization that John deDios has
remained a constant part of my life. Like an angel above me, watching
and judging my every move. And I'm okay with that.

The Year I Went After Life

Salvador Rodriguez


Without a doubt, 2010 has been the most exciting year of my life. I've traveled across the world, across the United States and I've delved so much deeper into my career as a journalist.


Of course, when you start a year off with the crazy tempo we set for ourselves in Tucson, it's no surprise what can follow. Immediately after the institute, I traveled with other ASU students to go check out San Francisco. It was my first time in the bay area, and it was amazing. Then school started again, and for the first time since my junior year of high school I was not going to be writing for my school's paper. Instead I decided to work on my online publication, the Downtown Devil, full time, and it's been so worth it.


The summer started off with one of the most amazing experiences of my life when I traveled, again with ASU students, to China and saw the emerging super power from a business journalism point of view. From the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to the amazing skyscrapers of Shanghai, China was crazy. After that, I got the opportunity to work at a major daily newspaper for the first time when I got to intern for the Houston Chronicle's business desk. Meanwhile, BP was dealing with its mess, so I was fortunate to have been at the right place at the right time. And now in my junior year, I'm about to finish up my internship at the Arizona Republic covering breaking news for them. And I can't forget to mention that this year I've also traveled to San Antonio, Denver, San Diego and Mexico City for quick little trips.


As for where I am now, next semester I'll be finishing up my thesis, which is on the Downtown Devil, and I'll also get to be an intern for the Arizona and New Mexico New York Times Reporter Marc Lacey.


If there's anything the institute taught me is to go at life 100 mph all the time and not let any of the amazing opportunities our country, our family, our friends and our universities present us and help us achieve. I hope all of you guys have had as fun a year as I have, and I cannot wait for us to have a reunion.

Fear on the High Wire

Diego Ribadeneira


With a boy who went from being a baby to a toddler of boundless energy, life got pretty complicated. And on top of that my wife got a full-time job. Two working journalists, a 22-month-old boy who seems to think sleeping is overrated, trying to sell our place and buy a new one. It was a year of trying to keep it all together. We managed to do it and be grateful for all we have.

Chillin' and Writin' in Los Angeles

Cindy Von Quednow


In the year since we all got plastered in Tucson, I graduated from California State University Northridge (not North Ridge as it appeared in our paper!) with two majors and a minor. Sure it took me six years, but it was worth every second of it, if not every dollar. Upon graduation I landed an internship at the Los Angeles Daily News where I worked part time as a GA reporter and rotated on the news, features and sports desks. Since it was part time, I got to enjoy my summer in beautiful Los Angeles. It was the first time I was home for summer break in two years! I went to Florida to visit my sister, Catalina Island to chill, and Vegas to gamble! That summer I also got to see a few Institute people, see if anyone can beat my record: Amanda Portillo (was interning at the OC Register) Stephen (back home in El Centro between gigs) Lauri (after her insane hiking trip in the wilderness) and Don (while he was in LA for a conference). I was def nice to catch up and replay our silly antics (sigh).


After my internship, I freelanced for the Daily News for about a month and was unemployed for two! It was a bit scary and daunting, as I applied to a ton of jobs and heard back from few. Finally in late September I heard back from the Ventura County Star for a 6-month fellowship. I took it after some thought and have been here ever since. Sure the commute from my house in NE LA to Camarillo is brutal in LA traffic, but it's been worth it. I've written quite a few awesome stories and have landed A1 maybe six times? Check out my clips online at http://www.vcstar.com/staff/cindy-von-quednow/ and my blog about my reporting adventures: http://vonqsnotebook.wordpress.com/

After this gig is up, there's no telling where I'll go, but I hope it's all worth it and I have loads of fun!

World Markets Rise and Fall--Lopez maintains balance in finding best pictures available.

Jose Lopez


Many of you may remember that you had the chance to meet my partner Caitlin Kelly at the close of Tucson Institute.  We left Tucson for my home state of New Mexico where we spent a week on vacation visiting friends on their ranch as well as New Mexico State University, the college I attended.  The journalism dept at NMSU seemed happy to have me back for a visit and I was asked to lecture two photo classes.  It was great and I have to say a bit emotional for me returning to the old classrooms that used to provide comfort and shelter while I worked hard to hone my craft.


I returned to New York and picked up my duties as the picture editor of the Times Business Financial section.  The mantra of the 1992 Presidential campaign, "Its the Economy, stupid" played out again but this time it was on a world stage as certain countries in the EU were starting to falter due to their economic health.  Greece, Portugal, Ireland, needing to be saved by Germany and the other EU countries.


This story is one that just won't go away and I continue to find myself challenged in assigning and coming up with high impact images that illustrate this ongoing story.


Today, I am in Miami teaching my seventh Institute. ( I know this cause I have saved my press passes from previous institutes.)  I so enjoy getting to know the next generation of story tellers. Truth be told, I end up learning so much from the students, past and present.

Caitlin and I on the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Bird Refuge in NM last year.

From Milwaukee to "Cabaret"

Sara Martinez


After the Institute, I immediately jumped into the last semester of my senior year and an internship at Milwaukee Magazine. I had a new confidence and reignited passion for journalism after spending those two intense weeks with all of you talented people, so it made my last semester of journalism pretty fun. Nothing that semester was what I really expected, though, and I was very happy to graduate and be done with everything.


I only had a few days off after graduation before starting my road trip to Phoenix to spend the summer as a Pulliam Fellow for The Arizona Republic. I really enjoyed working for The Republic, but I came to realize that Phoenix is not my city. I declined a full-time position as a copy editor to return back to sweet home Chicago and start the graduate program at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. I went on a crazy road trip to get home, and discovered that in three months I traveled to/through 11 states in the U.S.


In the past few months at Medill, I've made even more great contacts and learned a LOT. I even took time out to be part of a musical production of "Cabaret" with a local theatre. This upcoming quarter, I'm very excited to begin focusing on the health and science reporting track, and I'll be the astronomy beat reporter for Medill News Service.

on stage in Cabaret

a different kind of "border battle" than we experienced in Tucson...times aren't tough in Milwaukee

at Hogwarts!

 me & Luciana in Milwaukee

Ups and Downs

Lenore Devore


After the great experience in Tucson I headed home to Florida to great hugs from my husband and really long-tongued kisses from our dog, Ozzie Osborne (some of you had to suffer through my photos of the Aussie). I surprised my Irishman husband with a trip to Ireland in April, but that never occurred thanks to a volcano I cannot pronounce. And yes, that set the tone for the year personally -- everything fell short. But I'm so lucky in love it doesn't really matter -- we had fun anyway. During one long weekend spent in Central Florida we went indoor skydiving -- what an experience!


At work we went through many changes, ending the year saying goodbye to 10 long-time employees. It was difficult but has set the company up for the future in many ways, some of which might open doors for you all (wink, wink and check our website often -- www.theledger.com). Our executive editor, my boss for 15 years and the man responsible for bringing me to The Ledger, announced his retirement in mid-December, opening the door for a possible promotion. Stay tuned on that one -- my name is floating around in the hat.


Happy New Year to you all!

Tea Parties and Argentine Gay Socialists.

Mando Montaño


I returned to my academic life in Grinnell after the institute and for 5 months I read post-colonial Latin American Literature, wrote essays about liberation theology in Brazil, and thought of Tucson to keep me alive during the nights when the temperature dropped below zero. 

At the end of May I interned at the Colorado Independent where I wrote stories and produced multi-media packages on the state Republican primary and  Doug Bruce, a political gad fly who directed three different tax slashing initiatives.  Luckily, I didn’t have to meat up with any sources at the Golden Corral.  When I wrapped up my last multi-media assignment in July for the Independent, I hopped on a plane to spend the next five months in Buenos Aires, Argentina taking classes in Spanish at the University of Buenos Aires with other Argentines.

The experience was incredible. The immense cultural and language differences between Mexico and Argentina shocked me at first.  Argentina’s Italian and French immigrant boom in the late 19^th and early 20^th century  created a Buenos Aires dialect called, Lunfardo which is a mixture of Italian, French, and Spanish. When a Porteño speaks Spanish, their accent resembles stuffing your mouth full of cotton.  

By my third week, I made some good Argentine friends who were part of the one of the many student socialist groups at the University.  Through a series of miscommunication and a slight language barrier, I accidently agreed to go to a huge Socialist Workers Rally, where swarms of delegates from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and other Latin American countries crowded into a small indoor basketball court a hour South of Buenos Aires.

Also, because of an 8-week student protest that canceled my University classes, I convinced the Southern Cone editor at the AP to let me freelance a story about gay rights. It was really awesome.

Right now, I’m taking a break from filling out internship applications for this summer.  I got into the Chips Quinn Program; all I need to do is wait for places to call me back with offers. I’m hoping that the cosmos line up so I’ll end up in DC covering politics or education.

Thank Heavens 2010 Is Over!

Don Hecker


The year 2010 is not going down in my book as one of the best, although there are standout moments - many of them in Tucson, Arizona, I should definitely say. I am where I have been for the last two decades. (Well, OK, I am not precisely where I was two decades ago, given that the entire news operation has moved to a new building.) I'm still having a great time working with the staff and new students at the Institutes, and we've had two great ones, one in New Orleans in May, and the most recent one that just ended.

As most of you know, the year also had some sad milestones for me: My father passed away in the spring, and my sister and I moved our mother out to Seattle, where my sister lives. I drove my mother 2,000 miles across America, from Sioux City, Iowa, to Seattle. Quite a journey. If you ever get a chance to drive across Oregon's eastern desert on the two-lane road, do it just for the opportunity. Maybe some of you have experienced this before, but that's the first time I ever saw a highway sign that said "Next Gas 96 Miles" - and it should have said next building or human being, 96 miles.

I had a chance to catch up with many of you over the year, and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of you. I attach a photo that was taken at the Miami 2011 Institute. It's an audition photo for my new life in case things don't work out here: I'll become an aging lounge lizard. And yes, that is a Ferrari behind me.