When I got there, the manager came out and spoke to me twice to tell me it was OK for me to be there. He said he disagreed with me but respected my right to protest.

I thanked him and said I hoped he'd wake up soon. He said he didn't think that would happen because he was a die-hard repuplican. I said I hoped he didn't die too hard.

Not many people atteneded, but they eventually got the parking lot out front over half full. I saw one of the arriving dignitaries, a large young man in a blue uniform with many ribbons, go through a jaw-dropping double-take when he saw me and the sign out front.

Just as I was leaving some dressed-up middle-aged fogey in a white pickup truck came over on his way in and harassed me about what a liar John Kerry was and how Bush was going to heaven. I accused him of being one of those religious people with an imaginary friend. We went back and forth on that a bit. He went and complained about me to two guys smoking cigarettes and watching me from the convention center doorway, but other than some waving of arms, nothing came of that.