Thirty-fourth Day of Lent

Today, I attended my sister and brother-in-law's baby shower. This will be their second child. The party was fun, and I'm looking forward to having another niece. I believe that their son will enjoy having a little sister. Since this was a special occasion, I allowed myself a piece of cake and some soda. Only a few minutes of tv at a relatives house. Internet for less than an hour. I'm going to bed after I finish a load of laundry because I have to get up early tomorrow morning.

Thirty-third Day of Lent

Today, I took my husband to two medical appointments. I wrote both poetry and prose while waiting. After the two appointments, we went to Flames Coffee Shop. I avoided eating their delicious and tempting desserts. I only watched a few minutes of tv with my husband. It is a frequent struggle for me to limit my at home Internet use to one hour or less; however, I manage it most days.

I've been writing a lot the past few weeks. My husband told me that it's great that I'm writing a lot because it will help me become a better writer. I need that! I try my best to get eight hours of sleep each night. The last few weeks, I sometimes stay up too late writing and I don't get enough sleep. Often, I wake up at three, four or five in the morning, write for an hour, then fall asleep again. Consequently, I often have been getting only six and a half or seven hours of sleep. Today, my body told the that I need more rest by catching a mild yet annoying cold. I took a very long nap, and I'll try to get ten hours of sleep tonight. I'm confident that if I get enough sleep, I'll feel much better tomorrow. I have to, because I have a busy weekend planned.

Thirty-second Day of Lent

I avoided sugary foods again, and I used the Internet for slightly more than an hour. I only watched a few minutes of tv at a relative's house. I was writing before I went to bed last night, and I woke up around 5:00 a.m. to write some more. Friday is the beginning of my four day weekend. Yay!

Thirty-first Day of Lent

I avoided sugary foods again, and I used the Internet for slightly more than an hour. I read while my husband watched tv.

Thirtieth Day of Lent

Bible study was very interesting today. I avoided sugary foods again, I used the Internet for less than an hour (I think), and watched only a little tv with my husband, and did another load of laundry.

Twenty-Ninth Day of Lent

Oops! I didn't post yesterday. Yesterday and today were very busy and very intense. Yesterday, I went to church, followed by lunch with my husband, a quick trip to Fry's Electronics, a meeting in the afternoon and a cast party. Today, I dropped off our three cats to the veterinarian, bought some groceries, attended two meetings at church, started to organize the church library, picked up the cats from the veterinarian, bought dinner, spent time with my husband and the cats, typed up some notes from Sunday's meeting, took a long, much-needed nap, woke up again, and started some laundry. Why is it that sometimes I'm busier on my Sunday-Monday weekend than on my Tuesday-Saturday work week?

Anyway, today I avoided sugary foods, used the Internet for less than an hour (I think), and watched only a little tv with my husband. I didn't eat very much today. I'm not quite sure why.

Twenty-Eighth Day of Lent

I couldn't post yesterday because I couldn't connect to the Internet.
No sweets today or yesterday, no tv today or yesterday, Internet in moderation each day.
I had a dance rehearsal yesterday, and a rehearsal and two performances today. I'm tired. Tomorrow is Sunday. Yay!

Twenty-Sixth Day of Lent

No sweets except for a cough drop, no tv, Internet for less than an hour (I think). Tomorrow is the first dress rehearsal. I'm only working four hours tomorrow, and I'm taking four hours of vacation time. I'm taking a vacation day on Saturday in order to attend the second dress rehearsal and appear in the two evening recitals. Since I always have Sunday and Monday off, I'll have a 3 ½ day weekend. Saturday, Sunday and Monday will quite busy, so I'm not sure how much “free” time I'll actually have.

Okay – back to some more chores before I have to go to sleep.

Twenty-Fifth Day of Lent

I feel better today than I felt yesterday and the day before. No sweets, no tv, Internet for less than an hour. I'm a bit nervous about my upcoming recital; however, I also feel at peace.

Spring

Pansies
Originally uploaded by Tobyotter.

Spring is a time
for growth
and reflection

Twenty-Fourth Day of Lent

February 19, 2007: New Moon with Venus / Neumond mit Venus
Originally uploaded by Doblonaut.

I forgot to post yesterday! My energy level was quite low. After an iron pill and a long nap, I did manage to make it to my two dance classes.

No sweets today or yesterday. I used the Internet at home for around an hour each day. I watched only a little bit of tv with my husband yesterday and I fell asleep before the show was over.

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Church was very nice, as usual. Sermons are my favorite part of church. Here is an interesting Bible passage that made me think about what I've been doing:

16‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18, NRSV)

Is it wrong of me to describe my progress in this “Lent journal?” Am I “showing off?” I don't think I'm showing off; rather, I'm trying to simply record my progress in the hopes that this odd little journal might help other people, or might help myself in future years.

For many years, processed sugar was like a drug for me. Sometimes processed sugar numbed my emotions, while other times processed sugar made me too emotional, even irrational. Limiting my consumption of processed sugar to special occasions has been very helpful for both my physical health and my emotional health.

Limiting my television viewing and my internet use has freed up more time for me to read and write.

Twenty-Second Day of Lent

No sweets. I used the Internet at home for around an hour. No tv. Tomorrow is Sunday. Yay!

Twenty-First Day of Lent

No sweets. I used the Internet at home for around an hour. Two hours of tv at my relatives' house

Twentieth Day of Lent

I made it to the "halfway point." I'm not quite sure why I'm writing this in this odd little blog. Perhaps I can read it again fifty years from now in order to help me remember pieces of my life.

Today, several library employees received 20-year pins/charms and 10-year pins/charms. My supervisor gave a nice speech before presenting me with my 10-year charm. After all the supervisors gave their speeches about their employees, everyone ate burnt almond cake. Yum!

I used the Internet at home for approximately one hour. No tv.

Ninteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for less than an hour. No sweets. No tv.

Eighteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for a bit more than an hour. No sweets. No tv.

Seventeenth Day of Lent

Errand day again. Internet at home for way less than an hour. No sweets. Only a few minutes of tv at a family member's house.

Third Sunday in Lent

Flower in the Pool
Originally uploaded by John Martinez.

Water is the source
of life
and transformation.

Sixteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for less than an hour. No sweets. No tv. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Fifteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for less than an hour. I watched a bit of tv with my husband. I attended a retirement party for one of my colleagues in a different department yet in the same building. I ate cake and a cookie and I drank a cup of punch. My dad and step-mom gave me a small box of hard candies. I'll save them for a few weeks. Sunday is coming soon. Yay!

Fourteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for less than an hour. No tv. Today, my co-workers and I had a birthday party for our supervisor, so I had some cake. I've been losing weight. Today I had to buy some new clothes in smaller sizes. Two of my friends helped me with their fashion advice.

Thirteenth Day of Lent

Internet at home for less than an hour (I think). No sweets, except for cough drops. No tv.

Sometimes I miss tv and sweets; however, I've been writing a lot, listening to a lot of music and singing.

Twelfth Day of Lent

Internet at home – slightly more than one hour (I think). No sweets, except for cough drops. No tv.

Bible study was very interesting today.

Eleventh Day of Lent – Evening

Internet at home – approximately one hour (I think). No sweets, except for cough drops. My asthma cough was acting up today. A few minutes of tv at my Grandma's house.

Eleventh Day of Lent

One of my friends emailed me "What does Peace on Earth mean to you?"

My first response is: "the absence of war."

My second response is: "Peace on Earth is when everyone has everything they need and there is no more need for senseless conflict."

Second Sunday in Lent

Church was nice today, as it always is. After church, one of my friends and I went to a music concert. After the concert, we met my husband, my dad and my step-mom for a late lunch/early dinner in order to celebrate our friend's birthday. Because our friend's birthday is a special occasion, I allowed myself a mango lassi, a piece of birthday cake and some ice cream.

Tenth Day of Lent

I worked my normal eight hours today. Internet at home for slightly more an hour, no sugary foods, no tv. I'm going to church tomorrow. Yay!

Ninth Day of Lent

I worked my normal eight hours today. Internet at home for less than an hour, no sugary foods, two hours of television at my relatives' house.

Eighth Day of Lent

"Eighth" is a really funny looking word, isn't it?

I only worked three hours today because I took my husband to the doctor in the afternoon. No tv, no sugary foods, Internet for less than an hour. (I think!)

I estimated that I am saving approximately $240.00 by abstaining from chai and sugary foods. Now, I need to decide which charities to donate to.

Seventh Day of Lent

I used the Internet for less than an hour today. I avoided sweet foods. I watched a little tv with my husband. This is allowed under my “rules.”

Since I have limited my tv and Internet use, I have been listening to a lot more music.

I plan on figuring out how much I've saved by avoiding sugary foods and chai and donate that money to one or more charities. More about this later.