I'd like to thank everyone who chimed in on that last entry. For someone who hasn't showered since Monday and spent the last two days watching Arrested Development reruns, this was a thrilling, pressure-filled, action-packed afternoon.

So here's an update:

One of the big draws to Paper Z is its leadership credentials and experience. They just called me out of the blue last week - I had a preliminary phone interview with the paper's business editor, which turned into a friendly and personable conversation. BE and I had a bond from the start. Without knowing anything about BE, he was the reason my gut told me to seriously look at this paper in the desert.

Well, it turns out BE is the former executive editor of the Chicago Sun Times. He's also the former executive editor of the Denver Post. 'Turns out he's one of those guys who just never wanted to retire - after he and his wife settled out in the desert she suggested he look at the local paper.

Anyways, back on the phone he had asked my career aspirations. I told him, "In a perfect world, I'd wind up in the DC bureau for the LA Times."

"Interesting," he said, without adding anything else.

On Monday...I find out he also used to head the DC bureau for the LA Times.

So this afternoon, when Paper X forced my back against the wall, I left a message on BE's voice mail. BE's just one of those instant mentor figures - you knew you could trust him, so when he called back several hours later I explained the sitch and solicited his advice before I call Paper Z's managing editor about this very delicate situation. BE told me the managing editor is planning on making me an offer.

I repeat: The managing editor is planning to make an offer.

BE got off the phone to inform the ME of the situation, and told me he'd call back in fifteen. I went to go eat dinner, and did my best to not pull a Lindsey Lohan and throw up my crawfish etoufe.

15 minutes later, BE told me all hires have to be formally signed off by Paper Z's publisher, who's currently in Phoenix. So neither he nor the managing editor could officially tell me "We are offering you a job" right now. What he could tell me is, "The managing editor fully intends on offering a job."

"Thanks Dennis," I told him. "That's all I need to know."

I called the editor at Paper X at quarter to 7. He called me back around 7pm. I explained that I was "still very interested in [Paper X], but I'm just not in a position to make a decision tonight. I'm sorry if that means the offer has to come off the table."

I then blacked out and woke up on the floor several minutes later. So it's official: The Los Angeles- er, The God's Country Business Journal, aka Paper X, is now off the table. I repeat: Off the table.

Once again, I'm flying blind without an offer. It was a tough decision - I felt worse than Jack Bauer when the terrorists forced him to kill CTU bureau chief Ryan Shapiro out by the train tracks or they would release the virus. "May God forgive me."

So I'm obviously feeling much more optimistic about my chances at Paper Z - It sounds pretty much in the bag. But as The Wolf said, "Let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet." And the drama continues...