So this is really embarrassing, but a few weeks ago my editor at the Los Angeles Blade tried to book me on MSNBC to talk about Bob Dole. I reluctantly went along with his plan, hemming and hawing the whole way, giving him little excuses for why it would probably not be a good idea.

I was horrified when a producer called me and interviewed me. I was thrilled when they decided they wouldn't be discussing Dole that Sunday after all.

None of it of course had anything to do with Dole or the issues at hand. My reluctance completely stemmed from vanity, from not liking the appearance of my aging face, which does indeed startle me these days when I look into a mirror.

Ugh. Pass the cheesecake?