The phone interview went very well today. I was asked for 15 minutes, and we ended up talking for nearly an hour. They sounded very interested. After they talked to everyone they were going to wean it down to the people they wanted to fly out to meet with in person. So, being optimistic, I expected I might hear from them in a week or so, if I made the cut. I went to email my former research adviser to let her know about the interview, and before I had even finished typing I received an email from the HR department asking me to call them and make travel arrangements for my trip to Baltimore.
I'm not letting myself get too excited, though. I always do really well on interviews, whether over the phone or in person. Except for the one this summer with Fermi. And in between scheduling the interview and actually talking to them a cute blonde had walked back into my life, and I'm sure they caught the fact that I really didn't want to leave. Otherwise I've always done very well- out of hundreds of qualified applicants I'll be one of four or five selected. But I never get the job.
I'm afraid if I stay here I'm going to be come a very cold and bitter person. But I can't predict the future. Maybe I'll move and finally find a way to be happy. But maybe I'll stay and find something I never expected.