Cardinals and Conclaves and Smoke, Oh my!

  I think of all these great things to write about and then when it comes time to actually put words down they all run away.  I suppose I could go with the news of the day.  New pope!  As a non-practicing Catholic, I still found myself caught up in all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the selection.    I had just gotten online today when I saw the CNN breaking news that there was white smoke at the Vatican, at that same moment, all the church bells in town began ringing.  It seemed like a very important moment so I turned on the TV and plopped down to see who would be taking the place as the new Holy See.  (I still have no idea exactly what that means.)
 Even though I haven't been to church in an embarrassing amount of time, I was still moved by the sight of all the people gathered in the square to meet their new spiritual leader.  People were so emotional and joyous it reminded me of all the good things that religion could be and should be no matter what your faith. I consider myself to have spirtual faith, but I think there is good to come from every religion and I try to take the good parts and apply them to my life.
 I personally was rooting for the Canadian, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.  Mostly because he is from Quebec which is 22 miles from where I live and I could practically envision the Popemobile driving down the highway.  I know that wouldn't happen but the thought that it maybe could, is just too awesome to ignore.  I don't know much about Pope Frances and I'm sure we will all be flooded with information over the next few days and weeks but the real test will come as he gets settled at the Vatican and begins his tenure (reign, appointment, not sure what to use).  The only thing that I want from our new pope is that he moves towards more inclusion in the church and to get away from all the controversy that it has had to endure in recent times.  Oh and if he could drive the popemobile in my neighborhood, that would be cool too.

Birthday!

  Yikes, I am just a terrible blogger!  I can't believe I haven't gotten my writing on in so long.  I blame it on fantasy hockey and the upcoming fantasy baseball draft.  My bad.  There are no good excuses, unless it was that I was abducted by aliens and became their queen.  That's a good excuse. That didn't happen though, mostly I was lazy and busy.
  Since I have last updated this here blog, I had a birthday!  Yay!!  I love my birthday!  Some people get all freaked out by turning another year older but honestly it just makes me happy.  Happy and grateful.  I celebrate getting another year to spend with family and friends and my furry babies.  There are so many that don't get the chance.  In fact, I was so sickly as a young child that my mom was told that there was a good chance that I wouldn't make it to my 16th birthday.  Yet here I am, 20 years past that estimate and while I still have some health challenges, I can say that the doctor was very wrong and I intend to be around for a whole lot longer.  I should take better care of myself especially with my diet, and if anyone can tell me how to give up my paralyzing cheese addiction, I'm all ears.  Cheese, you evil mistress!  I'll work on it.
  That's all I have for right now, but I promise, no more long unexplained absences, at least not that I can see anyway.