To paraphrase a man far wiser than I, it is a good day to receive a ruling from the Commitee on Appeals.

There is everything and nothing on my mind. Various images from the day scan through my brain – a reporter asking me, after I made a remark, if humor helps with the situation; another reporter saying, "The media hounds are out this afternoon" and smiling, to which I replied, "Actually, we prefer the term media whore"; jokingly offering to a cameraman the opportunity to videotape me urinating on the altar because "your ratings would go through the roof"; Alta the malamute chasing Huey the labrador chasing me throughout the house as I grab Steve's clerics and prepare to drive into town; making lunch out of a Granny Smith apple and montery jack cheese; a phone call from Steve at 11:23 this morning informing me of the committee's decision; discussing ISU's recent football win at the barber shop; waking up to the radio playing "Onward Christian Soldiers".

I want to second the thanks Steve made above; wthout your support we truly would be nowhere. I want everyone to know that this battle is not over, though the ELCA doubtless wishes otherwise. It's gonna take a helluva lot more than anything the likes of a bunch of gospel-abnegating, viscious, amoral, pharisaical bastards to stop this jarhead.

And to Steve – always faithful.

Karl von Uhl

14 September 1998