The Good Catholic

I am not a good Catholic. However, this year I was inspired to participate in the Lenten season, inspired by mom and surprise! Janelle Domeyer. Janelle, I know it's a bit creepy, but I really dug your blog post, best of luck with your vegetarian endeavor. :)

I can't remember the last Lent I actually "gave up something" or refrained from Friday meat eating or even had ashes smeared on my forehead. Last year I got a real tickle out of proclaiming that I was Jewish while the entire department ordered Hardee's yummy greasy fish fillets and I munched on a roast beef sandwich. Of course, I'm not really Jewish, just a Catholic on the sidelines.

I'll cut to the chase: I'm giving up Facebook. Six weeks, 40 days, countless hours all without the beloved Facebook. Initially I thought it was a great idea. So many times throughout the year I'd find myself thinking, "Facebook is such a waste of my life" as I'd hit my cursor on the log out button.

It's Fat Tuesday, the eve of Lent. Instead of eating a bunch of food, getting drunk and flashing my chest, I'm writing my farewell to Facebook. Carpe diem, right?

I kind of want to take the whole thing back. What if I'm plagued with overwhelming curiosity of a minute detail about someone I haven't spoken to in years? (that happens more than you'd think) What if I NEED to contact someone and Facebook is the only line of communication I have to them? What if... someone offers me the most dreamy fashion job of my life and I miss out because they used Facebook message? What will I do?! Oh God, what was I thinking? Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, but he didn't deprive himself of social networking..ok, yes he did, but I'll be honest- I'm getting cold feet.

There's no going back now. I've already told a variety of people. I've already told the Good Catholics: my mother, the spunky redhead my sister goes to school with, the women at work, the priest.. jk, I didn't tell the priest. :) And now I'm telling you, there really is no going back.

Ok- enough. It will be a sacrifice, but isn't that the point of Lent? It's 40 days and 40 nights and lots of hours earmarked for better uses of my time. It's not like I'm giving up the internet. I'm keeping Twitter, social networking site that only sucks away my life in 5 minute increments, at most. I'll still be connected through email, phone and permanent address. Note to self: you will not be stuck in a desert sans wifi connection.

Please contact me via other portals if you need or want to. If I'm not replying to a wall post/messages/friend request, it is not because of my usual terrible response etiquette, it's because I'm actually fasting. And feel free to email me to say hello, or that you're pregnant, got an awesome job, thoughts on a current event, or that you are just going tanning after work... jk, I don't care about your tanning schedule. ;)

You can also request my mailing address to say "what's up" the old fashion way. :D

email: martaeng [at] gmail [dot] com


Happy Lent, see you on Easter!