The opening of Lotusphere registration is upon us. Many of my blogging brethren are already blogging about it (including the discount for certified folks and the ‘buy some, get one free’ option), so I won’t go into it. I’m just happy that the Turtle is back! All hail the Turtle!!!

Thanks to the swift kick in the backside by Duffbert and Rob ‘Domino Unplugged’ Wunderlich, I’m back! I can’t believe that I haven’t had anything to really say in almost two months! I’m going to try to be better about this in the future. A big “Lion’s Roar” goes out to Duffbert and Rob for giving me a little motivation.
Where have I been? Nowhere really. Starting July 1st, I took a new position in the Knights of Columbus here in Michigan. I’m a District Deputy, which means I’m the liason between five local councils (well, it’s actually four, but that’s for another blog entry) and the State Deputy/Supreme Office. It’s been keeping me extremely busy, so I haven’t been a good blogger. I’m probably going to introduce more of my K of C brothers to this blog, but not until they get to know me better.
I’m also looking to change how this site looks soon. To me, it’s starting to look ‘old’. I’ve been waiting until the new version of BlogSphere to come out to make some changes, but Dec has been so busy that he hasn’t had the time to update the template, so I may ‘remodel’ sooner than later.

Kevin MacFarland, Sr. was elected as State Deputy of Michigan. Tom Wegener was elected as State Secretary. John R. “Bob” Moody was elected as State Treasurer. Tom Marcetti was elected as State Advocate. Michael Malinowski was elected as State Warden.

The only disappointing thing that occurred was that Jim Vote, Past State Chief Squire and Grand Knight of Aquinas College Council #13501 (the first college council in many, many years in Michigan) was not recognized as a delegate due to a clerical snafu.

Tomorrow I leave for Mackinac Island, Michigan, to attend the annual Michigan Knights of Columbus State Convention. I am representing my council as 2nd Delegate. At the convention, we vote on any state by-law changes and resolutions. We also vote for new State Officers. We have what is called a waterfall election, which means we vote for State Deputy before voting for State Secretary, followed by State Treasurer, State Advocate and finally State Warden. A good friend of mine, Kevin MacFarland, Sr. is running for State Deputy. Another good friend of mine, Michael Malinowski, is running for State Warden. I am helping with Mike’s campaign. It’s going to be a tough election for State Warden, so wish us luck! GO M & M !

Yesterday, the world lost a great man, and Bilyk’s Pride lost a friend. Bishop Kevin M. Britt, former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away suddenly. This is a picture of him from one of his last major public events, a meeting in Rome:

He came to our council to do a Family Corporate Communion Mass and liked us so much that he asked to come back the following year to say Mass for us again. When Jennifer was pregnant with Kiara, he blessed both of them for a safe delivery, then he blessed Kiara again the following year. I presented him with a very limited edition Holy Cross Council polo/bowling shirt at the second Mass he said for us. He actually delayed moving to Grand Rapids just so he could say Mass for us. I always enjoyed talking to him and he had a great sense of humor. His homilies were incredible. I really looked forward to talking to him at the State K of C Convention next week. I will miss him greatly!

According to the Archdiocese of Detroit website, Bishop Britt will be waked at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 267 Sheldon Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 19, from 7 until 9 p.m.; and Thursday, May 20, from 12 noon until 9 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. led by Bishop Robert Rose. Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, will celebrate the funeral Mass for Bishop Britt at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 21, at the Cathedral of St. Andrew (267 Sheldon Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids).

As Cardinal Maida said about Bishop Britt, “He was the embodiment of his episcopal motto: ‘kindness, mercy, love’, A good shepherd has been called home to God.” Via con Dios, Bishop Britt!

For a while now, I’ve been working with a web browser called Firefox, which is based off of the Mozilla project. It works great in both Windows and in Linux. If you haven’t had an opportunity to work with a browser that is fast and customizable, try it here. You won’t be sorry!!!

I admit that I’m hooked on Survivor, ever since the first episode of the first season. I’ve had my share of favorites, including Richard Hatch, Rudy Boesch, and Michigan’s own Michael Skupin and Keith Famie. The one guy I have really come to like is Rupert Boneham (who was actually born in Detroit, Michigan, so I guess he’s sort of ‘Michigan’s Own’). There’s a real guy quality to him. I actually was worried this past Sunday when I realized that I may never see him again. I want to meet Rupert in the worst possible way! It’s almost amazing how much emotion I have over this guy. He’s like a good friend of mine, even though he’s never met me.

Why am I going on and on about him? Well, he has an opportunity to win one million dollars in what’s being called the ‘People’s Tribal Council’. We get to pick who win’s the money. How can you help? GO VOTE FOR RUPERT NOW!!! You can also vote ‘Pirate’ Rupert stealing the shoes of the Morgan Tribe as the Best Moment. Vote now and vote often! GO RUPERT!!!

Here is a cool article on Rupert.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it. —Mother Theresa

One of my best friends in the entire universe is in the hospital getting his gallbladder taken out today. He said that it’s suppose to be an easy procedure, but please do me a favor and say a little prayer for him and his family anyway…just in case. GET WELL SOON, BRO!