40 days and 40 nights

i was on the phone with a friend of mine discussing lent. he told me that he was giving up swearing, eating donut sticks (don't ask.), drinking soda, and drinking those flavored water concoctions that manufacturers try to say is healthy for you. our conversation inspired me to give up something as well, provided it was "something i enjoyed regularly and would definitely miss not indulging in" as he put it. literally as i was picking through the london broil and mashed potatoes my parents had just prepared it dawned on me: i should give up eating after i've had my dinner. i seriously will end up eating two full dinners because i prepare my own and then snack on everything around me. i'm allowing myself liquids and/or a piece of fruit but besides that it's lights out as far as my stomach is concerned.

after making this promise of self-control i was inspired to recruit my parents...i told them what i was giving up and that they should join me in this religious practice.

dad: "i know...i'll give up my weekly visits with a prostitute."

silence.

little death stare from mom; appalled yet not surprised in the slightest by his comment.

dad: "why don't we give up the animals?"

mom: "that's not a bad idea...i'm getting tired of them both!"

laughter...half joking yet half actually considering "giving up" our cat and dog...

me: "seriously! let's all give up something...it will be way easier to stick to our promises if we are all in it together."

now this is how it's going down, lent 2010 style:

dad is giving up coffee (gasp) and his "rot gut" treats. "rot gut" is what we call those packaged desserts that are sold as food but really probably no better nutritionally than actual rot gut. two sara lee apple orchard danishes are currently kicking it in our pantry. but don't worry, they are made with real apples! and also come with 25% of your daily fat intake, 5 grams of trans fat, and 23 grams of sugar. yummmmm. as for my mom, she is giving up eating popcorn. my family pops our own popcorn in large batches at least every other day. it's getting a little out of hand, and i know this is going to be a tough thing for her to sacrifice.

oh, and i've also decided to give up the bus-pan ritual at work. i'm a little ashamed to tell you exactly what that means.

happy ash wednesday!