operation SD

Today's PR'sA: Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

The Lenten season, I love it. At no other time of the year do I practice any shape or form of self-deprivation. Lent tends to be experimental for me, kind of like an adventure. Sure I bitch and moan about missing whatever it is I've given up, but I choose things that I can and should be doing without anyway. One particularly happy year of college I successfully gave up french fries for 40 days. You laugh, but it was tough. The following year I tried letting go of soda, and that didn't go so well. Next I decided to strike red meat, and the year after that, I learned just how time-consuming and expensive it is to go completely vegetarian. Never tried it again. I decided to go simple this year, which is not to say it's going to be easy. I am a big fat fan of the Sugary Drink, and I've decided that the big SD, in addition to any other sugar I can cut back on, is this year's target.

Soda is my main weakness, but I've gotten used to thrice-weekly chai lattes and the occasional visit to the machine downstairs which dispenses pink lemonade. These calories add up to a tummy that is not as easily concealed as it once was. I used to call it my Joey. The other day Jason said it now had a twin named Doughy.

Good-bye, Sugary Drink.

I always hope the resolution will stick, but none have yet. The year I gave up red meat I felt great, very healthy, but it found its way back in on Easter Sunday. I always feel so virtuous when I skip the soda for even a week, but it always finds its way back in, too.

Yesterday I stole my brother's sonypod and did a brisk uphill walk (30 min on the treadmill). Let's see if I can muster the same enthusiasm after tonight's math "fun!" fair.