8:30am — Yesterday, I went to the Shane Company to pick up Sara’s wedding band that I had resized; the platinum one that goes along with her engagement ring. My plan is to surprise her with it at the alter when we exchange rings. She’s going to be shocked!

I then drove to take a look at the hotel we’ll be staying at that night. I can’t believe I found a jacuzzi suite so cheap! ($129) at a pretty decent hotel, too! [Doubletree in St. Louis Park]. — I think what I’ll do is have someone I trust drive me up there early that day and set up the room and I’ll leave my car there so we’ll have it available for the next day when we have to leave for Thailand.

I also met with Jack Borg, the friend of mine here who is a former JW. We went downtown to Brit’s Pub for dinner. He and his live-in girlfriend just broke up because he found out she’s been cheating and lying to him. We talked some about that, but when I noticed it was getting too difficult for him, I quickly changed the subject. I then asked him a lot about his current state of faith and what he believes now. He told me some things about being an elder and about the organization [talking about the Jehovah’s Witnesses here] as a whole that I didn’t know about. For instance, they were told from the top down on how to pray and what to say during their prayers — like when funds were low, they were told to make sure they mentioned that when they pray (instead of just from the heart).

It was a good time — as we talked, he came to realize that it never really would have worked out with him and Michelle. Their beliefs were just FAR too different. Plus, she didn’t sound too emotionally mature either.