And People Wonder...
This morning I read a newspaper article that almost made me sick. I consider myself religious, I believe in God, I go to church when I can, especially for all major holidays. I am a good person, I know the Bible. I eat wheat. So I qualify to be Catholic.

You sense a little sarcasm... yeah just a little. You are thinking... what does wheat have anything to do with it? Well, according to that article, it has a lot to do with it. I never knew! Once again, good thing I can eat wheat.

The article: There is a young girl in Eugene with a rare condition in which she can't eat wheat. It could kill her. She wants to be catholic. She finished her classes to be able to take communion. And guess what? Communion bread is made of wheat. She requested to be able to use a rice bread instead, and was denied.

The church said that the communion bread must have unleavened wheat in it, like the last super. It also explained that wine must be fermented, and that catholics do not allow non-alcoholic substitutions (not even for recovering alcoholics, they just get a reduced alcohol wine). The church suggested a low-wheat content wafer. Wow, how nice of the church! I mean, that won't kill her, just make her really sick and potential cause intestinal cancer.

I find this appalling. The article mentioned a similar case in Massachusetts. That family left the catholic church because a rice cake substitute for their daughter was not allowed. Wow. I here thought the Bible said all you had to do was believe in Jesus and you would be saved (John 3:16 is a good example). I had no clue that in fine print below it read, "And you must be able to eat wheat." For a church with big problems, like over 200 million dollars in law suits over priests raping little boys which has caused all the bishops to have to sell their million dollar estates and priceless art to cover those expenses... I bet those bishops can eat wheat though.

Let me say once again that I believe in God. I am talking about organized religion... how can a faith that for years turned the other way to the crimes of priests, but won't let a girl eat a rice cake... be right? How can that be what God wanted?

I am sure if Jesus knew one of his disciples could not eat wheat, for the last super he would of bought some rice cakes.

Have You Seen Me?
Missing, from Chicago, IL is a little pink bunny, AKA "Nono". He was lost at a Chicagoland Target store and is being missed terribly by a 3 year old little girl. A reward, for the safe capture and return of the infamous Nono is being offered. The reward will more then likely be in the form of Mac and Cheese, a sucker, or possibly a used pair of pink sunglasses. Novali has little to offer, but misses her Nono.

A substitute Nono has been identified, AKA "Nono Nuevo". Although similar in appearance, this "Nono Nuevo" is not the same. See attached:

Photo of Nono: He stands about 1 foot 2 inches tall, weighs about 8 oz. and is sometimes seen wearing a little purple sweater.

This is Novali... missing her Nono very much. A hotline has been set up, please call, 1-800-HELPNONO.

Send all email information to novali@centellas.org

Sam's Believe It or Not
Somethings in life are unexpected, and throw you for a loop. I like the unexpected because it shakes the day up. Here are some weekend events I did not expect or found hard to believe:

1. Got my taxes done... instead of filing for another extension.
2. Puerto Rico's basketball team beat the USA team in Athens. Who'd a thunk it? I can hear "Que Bonita Bandera" playing right now...
3. I highlighted my hair today. The last time I got my hair highlighted was when I was in Santa Barbara last year... I was over due.
4. There is only one broadband internet provider in Albion and they are really expensive... so I might not get it... I know... the world is in awe.
5. I had fast food today, it was the first time in three weeks!
6. Going against all intuition I agreed to let Vic (WMU Fraternity Brother) live with me.
7. I realized I am looking forward to living in Michigan... who does that?

This week I have to get a lot done. I am very excited to be heading back to Michigan, but also sad to be leaving Oregon. I really do like it hear, but I know it is my time to go. I can't wait to see Novali again (who I can't even catch on the phone lately), to drive my little NX, and start arranging furniture and decorating my new house!