Lotsa Little Bits volume 12

ITEM:  If you didn't hear/read it, Pope Francis' Easter message was truly moving.  Here's a chunk of it:

What a joy it is for me to announce this message: Christ is risen! I would like it to go out to every house and every family, especially where the suffering is greatest, in hospitals, in prisons.
Most of all, I would like it to enter every heart, for it is there that God wants to sow this Good News: Jesus is risen, there is hope for you, you are no longer in the power of sin, of evil! Love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious! The mercy of God always triumphs!

We too, like the women who were Jesus' disciples, who went to the tomb and found it empty, may wonder what this event means (cf. Lk 24:4). What does it mean that Jesus is risen? It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom. The love of God can do this!

This same love for which the Son of God became man and followed the way of humility and self-giving to the very end, down to hell - to the abyss of separation from God - this same merciful love has flooded with light the dead body of Jesus, has transfigured it, has made it pass into eternal life. Jesus did not return to his former life, to earthly life, but entered into the glorious life of God and he entered there with our humanity, opening us to a future of hope.

For more, here is a link.  I have been greatly impressed with this new leader so far, not for the greatness of his actions or oratory, but by his focus being where it needs to be.

ITEM:  Not much more hockey to add.  Dynamo took out SKA St. Pete today, and the Muscovites will await the Ak Bars- Traktor winner.  And in Switzerland, Bern topped off a series-tying 4-3 win Sunday with a series winning 4-1 triumph over Zug today to advance to the NLA finals against Fribourg.  The UK Elite league has set the pairings for the semis (which didn't involve the round-robin I remembered). #1 Nottingham plays Cardiff in game one Saturday, followed by #2 Belfast against Coventry.  The winners play for all the marbles Sunday.

ITEM:  Here are the pics you didn't get to see from Saturday's walk, plus some Saturday night visitors:

Scenic views of North Bank.

No, I didn't goose him, we were quite a ways off.  Just caught him in mid-hop.

After two hours of walking, actually willing to sit in one spot for a couple minutes without whining.

Later that night, wanting water and taking the usual crap from us in getting it.

So later that night, Scrappy comes down from bed barking up a storm.  I investigated and found these two.

Yeah, hard to get good "no flash with a tripod" pics when a) no tripod and b) moving targets.  Though they were willing targets- even with Scrappy with me, bellowing as if war had been declared, the only time the pair looked up is when I used the flash.  That fourth picture is the last one going back into the woods as serene as she came out.

ITEM:  Speaking of the doofy dog, he finally got around to eating his "breakfast" at 6:45 this evening.  Guess he's doing a post-Easter fast.


ITEM: Four of my bloggy friends- Miss CB, Juli, DiscConnected, and of course Al Penwasser- are devoting the time and effort to the A to Z Blogging Challenge- where you post a post on a subject with the letter A on the first day, B the next, and so on through the alphabet and/or the month of April.  I thought it was neat that each of them have honed in on a particular subject for this year's challenge.  Miss CB, who works with a vet, is featuring pet health articles; Juli is featuring things she's pinned on Pinterest; DC is doing progressive rock music, starting with a review of Asia's latest lp; and Al claims to be doing a history/geography series, though where it will wander to is anyone's guess.  Will I be doing this?  Of course not!  I like the freedom of posting when I feel like it, and choosing completely random topics.  But those who do earn my everlasting respect for their endurance.

ITEM: Betcha Skippy's loving opening day- 2 Bryce Harper HRs and 7 shutout innings from Strasburg.  Reds are in extra innings and the A's won't start until I'm snoozing so the jury's still out for me.

ITEM:  Luckily you can't get laryngitis in your fingers, because I started sounding like Lauren Bacall sometime Sunday afternoon.  With Laurie starting second shift at that great monolithic corporation with the amusing customers, we're "baching" tonight, so I thinketh that after I hit publish, I shall shower, jammy, Nyquil, and try to hear the ESPN broadcast of whatever game is airing then.  I remember a time in life that opening day meant a radio, a box of HoHos, a couple of pepsis, the latest copy of The Sporting News, and an all-day date.  Of course, I was a schoolboy then, and it was warmer than 35 FRICKING DEGREES outside!!!

ITEM:  With this post, I shall be just 10 away from my 1,000th post!  So, I'll dare you all- leave a comment on what the 1,000th post will be about!  If I get what I deem enough entries, I'll have Scrappy pick the winner and do my level best on it!  How do you beat a deal like that?  So leave comments!  It's all up to you!