Pope, Pups and Parties

Pope Benedict, the "German Shepherd", threw the world a curve ball yesterday by announcing his retirement from the papacy effective February 28, 2013. No pope has retired from their job since the 1500's - a very long time ago, so the tongues are wagging.

Come on, people. Pope Benny is old! And he's sick! And he's probably really tired. Now I fully understand that this is a job where you die wearing the white miter, but apparently he feels that poor health won't serve the world's Roman Catholics, and I have to admire his choice. I don't like Pope Benny, he is no John Paul II. He's too intransigent and old-school for my taste, but he's done a good job and who's to say that the person the College of Cardinals choose to take over will do any better? One thing this will allow is an orderly transfer of power. So, here's to you, Pope Benny. I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy your retirement for a while.

These seven dogs were the group winners of 2012. The

Pekingese was the 2012 winner.

The 137th annual Westminster Dog Show is going on now. I was too exhausted last night to watch the final group judging, and all four of the finalists in the Herding Group were among my favorite dogs, so I was sad that I was too tired to watch. But the final three groups will be judged tonight and then there will be the Best in Show judging to end the show. So if you don't want to watch the State of the Union address or a boring sit-com, you might consider watching the doggies on CNBC instead.  Here are photos of the four group winners so far...

The winner for the Hound group - the American Foxhound

The winner in the Toy group was the Affenpinscher

The Non-sporting group winner was the Bichons Frises

And finally, the winner of the Herding group was

the Old English Sheepdog

Finally, party on New Orleans. Today is Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday. Today it is time to party as if it was 1999 or as if you won't awaken tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

I know that some of you may wonder, given the discussion about the Pope above followed by Lent here why I, a pagan, really give a darn about any of this. I have always been a student of comparative religions throughout my life - one of the major reasons why I walk a pagan pathway. I also am married to a nominal Roman Catholic man who picks and chooses the path he walks on in very odd and unusual ways. But they work for him. I find organized religion fascinating, and I also know the immense impact that Catholicism has left on history for the past 2000 years. As a student of history, I have to also acknowledge this and pay attention to the Church. So...Party On :-)