The Post About How I Stink At Lent

It's the end of Day Two of Lent.

For those who might not know, Lent is the period of time between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The general purpose of this block of days is to prepare your heart for the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. This is done in different ways by different folks, but most choose to deny themselves a vice. You then take the time or energy or money used for that vice and give it to a noble cause.

If you were pushy, I might tell you some of my vices are my iPhone, Tivo, and sleeping. But the one getting kicked to the curb is eating out.

I eat out a lot.

With friends and without. For breakfast, for lunch and for second lunch. Fast food and slow-as-molasses food. For special occasions and because the light turned red.

And my wallet and muffin top are worse for wear.

So no eating out.

But as a recovering legalist who always pointed fingers and told people not to watch PG-13 movies or read books with curse words because God would love you less - I've had to be okay with a few exceptions. Those include situations requiring me to eat out for work or prior commitments. However, in those circumstances I'll eat healthier and drink water in order save the $7 price tag of a sweet tea.

Otherwise, I'm taking the mucho moolah that would have lined the pockets of Ronald McDonald and giving it to my local Salvation Army. SA does many great things, including providing food for those who don't get the chance to choose between Moe's or Jason's Deli.

I might sound pretty righteous right about now, but please know this - within 48 hours of beginning this "fast" I had a lengthy conversation with myself trying to justify a drive-thru pickup at Chick-Fil-A. I even tried to convince myself that since Lent doesn't actually includes Sundays, that I could pretend today is Sunday and then when Sunday actually rolled around, I wouldn't eat out.

GET THEE BEHIND ME, YOU LEGALIST.

I ate peanut butter crackers for dinner and calmed down.

P.S. For the record, God doesn't love you less if you read Stephen King.

{image: Jamie - part of my Project 365. All previous photos can be found at Flickr.}

The Post About Where oh Where are the Rabbits?

My real job has me snowed under.

Thankfully, I like my work so much I would hold its hand and call it "sugar."

I'm an event planner and marketing wench for Children's Aid Society.

What do you do?

Seriously, let's share and bond over labor.

(you don't have to give any specifics that might tempt me to stalk you...)

{image: Jamie - part of my Project 365. All previous photos can be found at Flickr.}

The Post About Don't Look Directly at the Camera

Summer 1978.

It was the best of times.

I could rock bangs and an apron dress.

It was the worst of times.

My head was larger than that of my 8-year-old brother.

{image: Olan Mills, but of course.}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.57

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

An extra-special Valentine's edition with more sap than necessary for any MADE UP HOLIDAY.

Read

This book is romance. It oozes it right out of the binding and gets all over your pajama bottoms. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a retelling of the biblical story of Hosea which in and of itself is a heartbreaker. However, it's also a reminder that the love of God is unconditional and He is faithful even when we are not. He really is.

Watch

This is one of those movies I can watch ad nauseum and still start crying. Return to Me is a quaint movie about how destiny can be a beautiful thing even if it includes tragedy. You also can't beat a movie that makes heart transplants hilarious.

Listen

Oh, Eastmountainsouth, where have you gone? This debut album perfectly blends country and folk in a way that doesn't prompt you to make out with a first cousin. This song, So Are You To Me, always make me want to get married. This is why I don't listen to it prior to grocery shopping. I'm surely bound to leave with the ingredients for salsa and a bad relationship.