Today has been the hardest Lent day so far.

I had orientation for my (kinda) new job today. I took a local transfer – still the same job but at a different facility. Even though my commute goes from 6 miles to 19 miles, it goes from 50 minutes to 27!! (I’m no longer driving through town AND I don’t have to ride a shuttle from my car to my office! Squee!)

I was running a little late. Typically? Starbucks for breakfast. Lunch on-site. But I’m not spending money! So I made my Via and grabbed a Clif bar. We didn’t have any bread and I didn’t have time to chop up veggies for a sandwich. So I smeared some pb & nutella on a whole wheat pita and grabbed a banana.

I get on the interstate and go to open my Clif bar. I grabbed the wrong one. I don’t like the one I grabbed. Breakfast = fail. I wanted to grab something at work, but I didn’t. So I ate my banana with my via. Lunch was good – ate in the cafeteria with my grand-boss who will become my immediate boss (which I am REALLY excited about too). I was satisfied with my makeshift sandwich because I was busy talking.

But then? We got out of orientation a little early. Getting back on the interstate, I pass a huge shopping center. That I haven’t been to. And I start thinking. My pants are too big. I’d love a pair of new black pants. I need a pair of new black pants. But I can’t buy new black pants. CRAP. As I drive home, I start trying to figure out a scenario that would make buying pants okay. Because when I get off the interstate? I drive through ANOTHER shopping center. I pass Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, Gap. But do I stop? No. I even think about stopping and just trying them on. Stopping just to see how different I look in pants that fit. But I realize that will make me even more frustrated. So I just drive home.

And what’s waiting for me when I get home? a 25% off coupon from Coach. (Have I told you all before that I’m a brand whore? Because I am.) And this coupon? Is only good during Lent. Not that I would have used it, but I would have at least thought seriously about it.

I’m having a hard time. I want things. I want to check for tights on clearance. I want Starbucks. I want a 3/4 length sleeve blue sweater I saw on the internet. I want to go out to lunch with my grand-boss tomorrow. I want. I want. I want.

But the good news? I don’t miss meat. At all.

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Lent pictures? I don’t mind if I do!

Yesterday we went to Woodsongs. I love Woodsongs. I love that it’s mostly older people in the crowd. I love that it’s our almost weekly date night. I love the artists. I love that we have season passes so we didn’t have to give it up for Lent! I just love Woodsongs.

Today:

I don’t drink pop. I used to love Pepsi. I’ll allow myself half a can with Thanksgiving dinner, but that’s it. (And I don’t think I had even that last year, but I can’t promise that.) In orientation today, we were talking about the importance of hand hygiene. And the speaker showed us this picture from a sample she took off a pop machine button. This is bacteria after 24 hours. I don’t know if you can see it or not, but it is totally disgusting.

I’ve felt like I was making a good decision by not drinking pop because I wasn’t putting all the chemicals in it in my body. But also? I’m not touching that nasty button either! So it’s another bonus!