Did you see where the Vatican is suggesting that its gazillions of followers give up high technology gadgets for Lent?
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/news/stories/2009/03/05/lent_ipods_internet.html
I’m thankful I’m not Catholic because I don’t know how I could make it through the abstinence period while not receiving any text messages or iTunes suggestions from the Pope.
Thankfully, all I’m trying to give up for the five weeks leading up to Easter is cheese. It wasn’t even my idea. On the strong suggestion (i.e., order) of her personal trainer, Sue has decided to give up cheese for the entire month of March (hey wait a minute; isn’t that 31 days?). I knew for my own good on many levels I should make this sacrifice too.
As is her custom, she certainly aimed high. Cheese (especially extra sharp cheddar and Cotswold) could be my No. 1 vice, in front of chocolate chip cookies (especially my sister’s), pizza (cheese there too) and M&Ms or Mounds bars (double-threat of chocolate). It’s not uncommon for us to have six different types of cheese in our refrigerator.
Now I should mention she is also determined to give up chardonnay for the same time period. That’s easy for me, but very tough for her. We do have ulterior motives beyond Lent, I must admit, as we are not outwardly religious. We’re doing it for weight loss.
I have a pair of jeans that must be 30 years old. My mom has faithfully kept them in service all these years. They serve as my “scale” for when I need to step up my gym visits and cut down on the aforementioned tasty pleasures. I haven’t fit into them since after Thanksgiving. Currently, I need to drop at least five “el-bees,” pounds that is, to even get into them uncomfortably once again. Seven or more would be really nice.
Part of the problem with having been skinny until I went away to college was that there is no place to go but up. The fabled “Freshman 10” became the foundation for another 10 when I started being able to afford to eat at better restaurants. Beer has never been a problem, never really liked it, and haven’t had one since 1988.
If I want a treat, keep the Bud or booze, aim me at Mrs. Fields instead. But I know I can lay off the chips for 30 (or 31) days, no problem, I can do it. The cheese, however, is going to be a challenge. I must admit our favorite guilty pleasure when watching a movie at home is when I whip up a tray of nachos for our viewing pleasure. Slathered layers of extra sharp cheddar and Pepper Jack over chips with mushrooms, green onions and jalapenos baked to a perfect melt. Hold on while I whip the saliva from my lips.
But not this month. It’s only Day Six, but who’s counting? I am. Especially as I made a ham-and-cheese sandwich this morning for my son’s lunch. Or when I made him mac-and-cheese a couple of nights ago for dinner. But I can do this. We all need to eat healthier, drop a few pounds and show ourselves we have some self-discipline. I also want to support Sue in her cause. After all, if she can give up wine and cheese for March, I must march with her to her tune.
I was, just three or so years ago, a Mountain Dew addict. Could down two liters a day easy. No, the massive amount of caffeine didn’t affect my sleep, but the calories and sugar didn’t help. (Unfortunately, the diet variety tastes completely different and I have no interest.) Now I just socially do the Dew, whenever I’m lucky enough to be in a restaurant that serves it (and there are not a whole lot, unfortunately or luckily, depending on how I feel that day).
But back to the Roman Catholic bishops in Italy and their absurd request to ditch all your high-tech gizmos and gadgets for Lent. Did they forget that the Vatican launched its own YouTube channel in January? Quite frankly, while laying off the cheese is doable for us, we could not give up our new iPhones even for a day. I’ll wax on about that at a later time.
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/news/stories/2009/03/05/lent_ipods_internet.html
I’m thankful I’m not Catholic because I don’t know how I could make it through the abstinence period while not receiving any text messages or iTunes suggestions from the Pope.
Thankfully, all I’m trying to give up for the five weeks leading up to Easter is cheese. It wasn’t even my idea. On the strong suggestion (i.e., order) of her personal trainer, Sue has decided to give up cheese for the entire month of March (hey wait a minute; isn’t that 31 days?). I knew for my own good on many levels I should make this sacrifice too.
As is her custom, she certainly aimed high. Cheese (especially extra sharp cheddar and Cotswold) could be my No. 1 vice, in front of chocolate chip cookies (especially my sister’s), pizza (cheese there too) and M&Ms or Mounds bars (double-threat of chocolate). It’s not uncommon for us to have six different types of cheese in our refrigerator.
Now I should mention she is also determined to give up chardonnay for the same time period. That’s easy for me, but very tough for her. We do have ulterior motives beyond Lent, I must admit, as we are not outwardly religious. We’re doing it for weight loss.
I have a pair of jeans that must be 30 years old. My mom has faithfully kept them in service all these years. They serve as my “scale” for when I need to step up my gym visits and cut down on the aforementioned tasty pleasures. I haven’t fit into them since after Thanksgiving. Currently, I need to drop at least five “el-bees,” pounds that is, to even get into them uncomfortably once again. Seven or more would be really nice.
Part of the problem with having been skinny until I went away to college was that there is no place to go but up. The fabled “Freshman 10” became the foundation for another 10 when I started being able to afford to eat at better restaurants. Beer has never been a problem, never really liked it, and haven’t had one since 1988.
If I want a treat, keep the Bud or booze, aim me at Mrs. Fields instead. But I know I can lay off the chips for 30 (or 31) days, no problem, I can do it. The cheese, however, is going to be a challenge. I must admit our favorite guilty pleasure when watching a movie at home is when I whip up a tray of nachos for our viewing pleasure. Slathered layers of extra sharp cheddar and Pepper Jack over chips with mushrooms, green onions and jalapenos baked to a perfect melt. Hold on while I whip the saliva from my lips.
But not this month. It’s only Day Six, but who’s counting? I am. Especially as I made a ham-and-cheese sandwich this morning for my son’s lunch. Or when I made him mac-and-cheese a couple of nights ago for dinner. But I can do this. We all need to eat healthier, drop a few pounds and show ourselves we have some self-discipline. I also want to support Sue in her cause. After all, if she can give up wine and cheese for March, I must march with her to her tune.
I was, just three or so years ago, a Mountain Dew addict. Could down two liters a day easy. No, the massive amount of caffeine didn’t affect my sleep, but the calories and sugar didn’t help. (Unfortunately, the diet variety tastes completely different and I have no interest.) Now I just socially do the Dew, whenever I’m lucky enough to be in a restaurant that serves it (and there are not a whole lot, unfortunately or luckily, depending on how I feel that day).
But back to the Roman Catholic bishops in Italy and their absurd request to ditch all your high-tech gizmos and gadgets for Lent. Did they forget that the Vatican launched its own YouTube channel in January? Quite frankly, while laying off the cheese is doable for us, we could not give up our new iPhones even for a day. I’ll wax on about that at a later time.
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