Mardi Gras and Me

Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Carnival. Shrove Tuesday.


Whatever you call it, it's the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Historically, among Christians, it's a day to celebrate, eat up and drink up before the 40 austere days of Lent, in preparation for Easter. During this time, it is customary to be reflective and to sacrifice or "give up" something that is meaningful to you or perhaps something you probably shouldn't be doing anyway.

Every year, I try to give up something that I'd like to continue past Lent. In the past, I've given up smoking, eating meat, impulse purchases, hard liquor, and dining out. I haven't smoked in about 8 years and years ago, I gave up eating meat and I've continued to limit my meat intake to no more than a few times a month. The others? Well, consider me a work in progress.

So what DO I give up this time around?



Image from monando.wordpress.com

 Those who know me, know that I have a pretty mean love of coffee. I drink it daily. Now, a 16 oz. cup of coffee, in and of itself, isn't all that bad for you. What's bad is the three sugars and half and half I've been loading it up with these days! So, it is with a heavy heart that I hereby give up COFFEE for Lent. As I type this, I have a 20 oz. cup next to the keyboard...if you're gonna go out, you should go out with a bang!

Pray for Old Dude, Lord knows the withdrawal is going to make for a bumpy ride.

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all.