A Picture of Faith

To me this symbolizes faith: the dirty, worn hands, holding on lovingly to the rosary. Anyone who lives a life of faith experiences the trials this life has, but still chooses to love.

Changzhi, China

Photograph: /Reuters

Feast Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe

A pilgrim in Mexico City.

Photo: Miguel Tovar/AP

Vegetarianism Helps Climate

I've been a vegetarian for 26 years. It was a decision grounded in compassion for other living beings. Now with our earth's fragile condition, there are even more reasons to reduce meat and dairy consumption. If you eat meat and dairy, try this suggestion of reducing meat consumption to four days a week and milk consumption to just a liter of milk a week. And then, breathe in fresher, cleaner air.

Surfer Dog

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

So, as long as no dogs are harmed, I think this is way cool: a pretty cool pup is participating in the small dog category of a surfer dog competition in Del Mar, California.

Blessing of the Taxis

Today, the annual blessing of the Taxi Cabs took place in San Francisco. Given the traffic in the City, I wish the friars would also hold an annual blessing of pedestrians!

Gracie's Most Recent Hunting Trip

So from at least one comment I've received, it sounds like there is interest in seeing more Gracie-videos. I guess my opining about world events doesn't hold the same attraction as my Gracie. Don't worry; I'm not offended....I agree. So to satisfy you, my readers, here is another video of Gracie...this time, on a hunt, probably for a rabbit (or maybe the pest of a cat who lives across the street):

Gracie's Birthday Hamburger

Once a year I give Gracie, my beagle, a hamburger for her birthday, which I celebrate around the day she walked into my life, August 9. This year she's probably about 15 years old. We've spent 12 years together, and I can say that every day of those 12 years she has made me laugh!

Each year, I've enjoyed watching her wolf down the celebratory meal. In the past, she would eat the patty and then eat one side of the bun, while she then buried the other half either in the yard or the couch. This year there were a couple of surprises! The celebration took a whole 2'45" (not counting the post-consumption search for more). Here's the video.