Their ultimate destination: a summer home in New Jersey, thanks to a generous relative on the East Coast. The plan had been in the works for a year, with the four earning money last summer and throughout the year to finance the trip. Each had raised about $1,500.

The foursome drove through 10 different states, breaking down only once—in Utah—and received an incredible amount of help. New experiences included tractor driving in Ohio at an uncle's farm and taking in the salt deserts.

In their own words, "We wanted the trip to be our first real trip as adults, so we did our best to steer away from our parents' monetary support. We counted on relatives throughout the country for places to stay and sometimes ended up in cheap motels in the middle of nowhere, which often turned into an adventure itself."

After reaching New Jersey, "we spent most of our time taking the train to Manhattan and doing every touristy thing that four girls on a low budget could pull off in New York City." Some highlights of the 9,000-mile trek: the Amish country in Indiana, appearances on MTV, East Coast lightning storms, Ellis Island and Ground Zero—all of which made for the best summer ever, they say.

"Seeing the rest of the country put everything into perspective: We realized that there really is no place as great as Saratoga and we really are true 'California girls.' " They elicited plenty of stares on the New York subway when dressed in disco fashion for the MTV appearance, which they had auditioned for.

There were fights early on, but now "we're closer than ever." And now it's time for reality to set in, which in their case means Cal Poly, San Francisco State and Sonoma State.

NEW DIRECTOR: Saratogan Bryan Plug has another plum to add to his succession of titles. He's just been hired as a director at Antarctica Systems, Inc, a Vancouver-based company that develops information visualization software.

Plug is currently president and CEO of Kintana, Inc., a provider of technology chain management. Plug's other titles: former president and CEO of SMART Technologies, Pandesic and SAP Canada.

About Antarctica's product, its new president, Barry Yates, says, "Given the massive growth of information on the Net, finding relevant information is getting harder and taking longer, yet existing tools have not kept pace. The natural evolution will be toward products that use visualization to help users intuitively find information."

Intuitively? Doesn't that mean instant awareness, no need for tools?

IN SCOTLAND: Saratogan Robbie Pfeifer is spending his summer in the U.K. as an intern for the State Department, assigned to the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh. The consulate is just off the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare that runs from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood Palace.

During a recent week, the consulate hosted Sen. Henry J. Hyde, chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, plus a delegation of congressmen on the committee, all of whom were touring Europe.

Robbie's parents, Ray and Elaine Pfeifer, realizing I was to be in Edinburgh, too, invited me to stop by the consulate. "He'd love to introduce someone from his hometown to the folks there," they said. Didn't get this message 'til my return, so missed Robbie and the consulate. Would have been quite a treat. Maybe I can catch him at his next consulate assignment.

The intern, a Saratoga High grad, will be a junior at Stanford this fall. He probably had some good suggestions for plays to see at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, too, though his choices were probably of the wee-hours-of-the-morning variety. Jamie is the fourth member of the Pfeifer household.

OPEN HOUSE: The Saratoga Foothill Club will hold an open house Sept. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. to explore the architecture and history of its clubhouse, the 1915 California Craftsman designed by Julia Morgan. Gary Espinosa of Butterfield and Butterfield will speak. The coordinator is Mary Grant; Ann Peterson is in charge of decorations.

The hostesses are Joan Bose, Dorothy Bowlin, Meg Caldwell, Holly Davies, Jean Eschenfelder, Ann Floyd, Carolyn King, Rita McCarty and Maxine McGinnis. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call President Marlene Duffin at 408.867.1410.

OPERA GUILD: The San Jose Opera Guild kicks off its lecture series Sept. 5 with Conrad Susa, composer, on Ariadne auf Naxos by Strauss. It's 10 a.m. at the Los Gatos History Club and includes lunch. The contact is Corinn Carter at 408.378.4823.

Got a story? My email address is maryanncook@earthlink.net.