New Pope

custom.pope.benedict
Originally uploaded by jlyn1267.

I have been following the happenings at Vatican City with interest over the past month. It's an interesting process, a pope dying and being laid to rest and another being chosen. The secrecy, the old customs, the pomp and circumstance. I think of the Sistene Chapel and of red cardinals locking themselves into it. I think of Latin echoing in the walls. The result? Pope Benedict XVI.

I suppose I have mixed feelings about this choice, on some level I don't care. I go about Catholicism in my own way and it doesn't really matter who leads the Catholic Church. But on another, I feel as if good changes can be made with a new man in the high seat - but given Ratzinger's traditionalist ways, it seems as if that's not going to happen. While I don't expect the church to hand out condoms on Sundays, it would be nice if they acknowledged some of the archaicness of the Church in the 21st Century.

On another note, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge how grateful I am for my friend Kelly Anne. Whom else could you call at noon on a Tuesday and have a deep theological discussion? Love ya Kel!

Lucky Girls

Lucky Girls
Originally uploaded by jlyn1267.

This is my next reading recommendation. I just finished reading this book by Nell Freudenberger, "Lucky Girls". Shari and I saw her read at Lolita, part of the Cupcake series...and I really enjoyed hearing her story "Letter to the Last Bastion". To hear the end of it I bought the book, and was treated to five short stories, all about Americans living abroad in places like Thailand, India, etc. All of these people are a little lost, a little displaced, and that combined with the backdrop of Bangkok and the Taj Mahal makes for good reading.

Asia!

Asia!
Originally uploaded by jlyn1267.

Here she is! Abbey's baby, all cute and cuddly. I cannot wait to see her in person, 25 days and counting!

Baby!

Today at 8:47 a.m. my dear friend Abbey gave birth to her baby, Asia Milagros Rios, 6lbs and 12 oz. Congratulations to Abbey and Max and welcome to the world baby Asia!

Ten Reasons to Love Lepanto

Okay all. My friend Matt wanted to know why I didn't have any juicy stories about him up on the blog. To appease him, I'm going to do a Letterman top ten list of all the reasons to love him. Here goes:

10. No matter where you want to go on vacation, he's up for it.

9. He knows everything there is and ever was to know about music.

8. He could audit the hell out of you.

7. He can play Dave Matthews on the guitar.

6. He's got a bunch of nicknames that all orginate in Europe - Lepanto, Pacey, Pastry and Spacey.

5. He can cut the enemy to shreds with his wit.

4. When we go to Florence, he lives it up big time.

3. He gets philosophical (for philosophical read silly) on Friday afternoons. Sounds!

2. When we take road trips and he says he wants to hear Sinatra, it comes on the radio. Seriously.

And the number one reason to love Lepanto:

1. He's the only person I know that can pull off Beaker hair. Meep!

Love ya Matt!