MIchael: Yeah, I’d like to see a more conservative view on abortion, but his position is still more conservative than the rhetoric of, say, Kerry. On most of the other issues, I’m relatively impressed. The guy is a Democrat, not a Republican, but he seems very moderate on most issues and, more importantly, willing to buck the “norm.”

On your guest, I think you should serve something with brandy, then offer them cigars. Be sure to offer one to the women as well—legalists just love that, for some reason.

Tomorrow night, I’m having my evening pastor and his family over for dinner. He’s to bring his own cigars. My main concern is whether or not their kids will like what we’re serving. We have hot dogs as a backup plan. Which reminds me: I ended up putting my wife and kids on that HSA insurance plan I described before, but keeping myself on the company-paid copay plan. It’s a decent plan, just expensive, but free for me alone. And besides, now I don’t have to answer questions about whether or not I’ve smoked any tobacco products in the last 12 months. The answer is “Yes, but…,” for which there is no checkbox.