Yo! Yo! Yo! Let's Give It Up For...LENT!!!

Reread the title, and when you do, read it in your best rapper-announcer voice. Pretend that Lent is the newest hiphop artist who's makin' bank on iTunes, and you are introducing him at his debut concert. Got it?

Now, did you pick up on the play on words!? Yes, you did, you little smarty pants. Today is Ash Wednesday, or better known as, Dirty Forehead Wednesday. Today you will most likely see a lot of people walking around with what appears to be dingy, dirty marks on their foreheads. But as you know, that is not the case.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the season when many Christians give something up in the weeks before Easter. It's a nod to Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert before beginning his ministry. 

Plain and simple, the above statement taken from cnn.com is basically what Ash Wednesday is. In keeping with the rapper-announcer voice, please do a quick gangsta nod to Jesus telling Him you know what's up during Lent. You got His back, and even more importantly...He has yours. :)

I digress. No need to explain to you all what Lent is when I'm really more concerned with what to give up. As of last night and according to Jiminy Cricket (Jimi), I've given up everything. I came up with so many things at once that I couldn't keep track. I talked about giving up alcohol, carbs, sweets, pasta, red meat, fried food, soft drinks, facebook (which was quickly ruled out), and many more of the typical Lent things. So, we discussed. My Spring Break starts this weekend, and I'm going to Florida with one of my best girlfriends that I haven't seen in awhile. We're going to share some cocktails. Period. Carbs? Nah. Sweets, red meat, soft drinks, and fried food? I don't really eat enough of those already to justify my nod to Jesus. Giving up those things doesn't really say, "Yo, J.C., I totally know how you felt when you were fastin' through dat desert, man!" I thought and thought and thought....and then...

It hit me. Every night when my tired ol' head is about to hit the hay, I plug in my phone and go to set my alarm. I think long and hard about what time I need to wake up the next morning. (Side note: I set my alarm at a different time every morning and it's ALWAYS on an odd number, but never a 5- now do you see why I have to spend a while concentrating on the best time!?) But the thing is, no matter how long and hard I think about this oh-so-crazy-hard decision, I ALWAYS hit SNOOOOOOOOZE.

BINGO! What am I giving up for Lent? No more snooze button. Does that really compare to fasting in a hot, sweltering desert? Believe it or not, but I've never done that, so my guess is no. However, it's the best thing I could think of...and remember, this was the night before Lent starts.

--by the way, i'm not Catholic, i did not attend an Ash Wednesday service, nor have i been to church in what feels like aeons, so yeah, i know...---

I think I'll attempt the no alcohol after Spring Break, so yes, I know, a little cheating. Whatev. That's a whole 'nother can of worms. There is also more to Lent, but to be fo real, I don't feel like getting all deep and religious on ya. You know the drill.

Good luck to all and your Lent goals!!! And remember, a nod to sky....Sup Jesus!? :)

What are YOU giving up for Lent?