Fat Tuesday, International Pancake Day, and Lent

Apparently "Fat Tuesday" has always been a thing, but I just never knew about it? Tell me I'm not alone in this? Apparently the Tuesday before Lent begins everyone indulges in whatever the heck they want before giving it all up for Lent. I'm not familiar with the traditions or doctrines behind Lent or Ash  Wednesday, but Fat Tuesday was something I could definitely get into!

It's a FAT TUESDAY FEAST!

It was so convenient that it landed on International Pancake Day (or maybe that was on purpose)! That my friends is also a thing. I know the Institute in Powell celebrated it with my mom making millions of pancakes and serving it to the kids there, but for the rest of the world not living in Isolation you can just head on down to IHOP for a free round of short-stack pancakes! The idea is that you donate what you would've spent on pancakes to the Shriner's Children Hospital.

The best hot chocolate I've ever had!

I knew that this year was my year! I was no longer living in extreme poverty - lived a measly 2 miles from the IHOP and I had a roommate I was fairly certain could be coerced into going with me. I got home and said "You know what we're doing for dinner tonight? FREE PANCAKES!" I think I had her at FREE or maybe before with my ENTHUSIASTIC FACE. Needless to say - WE WENT!   

The pancakes were so-so, but for a mere $2.29 I had the best hot chocolate I have ever had! It was amazing. I know that's a rather unsophisticated thing to say about a chain restaurant's drink - but seriously don't knock it till you try it!

 I didn't have cash on me and there was a rush at the cash-register, so I skipped the donating part, but I'm so glad I went! It's fun to get into the spirit of things, and I did leave a nice tip so maybe that's like donating in it's own way? Right?

I also spur of the moment decided to honor the Lent season by giving up television - I have a co-worker friend that's Catholic, so maybe it was solidarity? (Although she's giving up wine and added sugars, and I'm just sticking to TV). I think ideally I would have given up television and added something more holy in it's place - like scripture reading or exercise, but I was a little overwhelmed by giving up something so big that I just stuck with that! I'm going to start to write a list of blessing that have come from giving up TV for 40 days, which I'm already seeing, BUT at the same time I'm looking for some better ways to spend my time! Your ideas are welcome and appreciated!