Lent and the art of sacrificing

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which makes today Fat Tuesday, the last day to get anything bad out of your system if you're a good Catholic and care about that stuff (or if you're a "good" Catholic who pretends to care about that stuff).  Lent starts tomorrow, which means The Rules are back in full effect!  Years ago the Church got rid of a lot of the more strict rules that governed a Catholic's life, but some of them pop back up around Lent.  You will find a good many of the "old school" Catholics who still observe these rules year-round, whether consciously or somewhat subconsciously out of habit (Marek's grandmother and my grandparents being among that group).

From tomorrow until Easter, "adult" Catholics are supposed to fast on Fridays, with one meatless meal (read: FISH FOR DINNER).  We are also supposed to fast tomorrow and on Good Friday.  Maybe Holy Thursday, too - I don't really know.

Traditionally Catholics give something up for Lent.  The idea is to make some kind of sacrifice - give up something or do something that will be a bit of a challenge.  I don't think you're really supposed to pick something that will be super easy.  This year I thought about what to give up, and I narrowed it down to alcohol, soda, chocolate/candy/cookies, and french fries.  Alcohol and soda were a little too easy, and I don't think I'm ready for the challenge chocolate/candy/cookies would pose (looking at you, Snickers bars and Milano cookies and Girl Scouts in my fridge), so I settled on french fries.  I'll also be giving up other similar crunchy fried foods (chicken cutlets, onion rings, potato chips, tortilla chips - but NOT donuts).

It will be tough (for me - I love french fries!!!!), but I think it was a good choice for what to give up for Lent.  Plus it is healthier, so that's a nice bonus.

A certain someone, on the other hand, has other ideas...