My roommate is watching Season 3 of Luther.  I’m watching Season 2 of The Fall.

Clearly, one of us is going to murder the other.

Only kidding.

But winter is the time for grim murder mysteries.  And Netflix seems to have an endless supply.

The reason this raises possible concerns is the fact that we might be potential housebound for the immediate future.  Outside has begun what is predicted to be “significant snowfall” and, despite fears of Stephen King-esque violence, I hope that turns out to be accurate.

I’m going to be seriously pissed if I have to go to work tomorrow. Not because I am unprepared for work.  My lesson plans are done and I finished last weeks grading on Friday night.  After what felt like endless internet searching, I found the Lenten activities that I want to do with my class and I’m really excited about getting those started.  My desire to not go to work has nothing to do with work.

In fact, I have had one of the most productive weekends in recent memory.  Since I had a half-day on Friday, I had enough energy to finish up school work on Friday.  I had an appointment on Saturday, so I was already out of my apartment and therefore motivated to knock out the rest of my errands.  I knew it wouldn’t be about 20 degrees yesterday, so I knew I had to go to Mass on Saturday, and I did it, instead of telling myself I had to and then stressing about why I wasn’t.  Despite waking up late on Sunday, and a lengthy afternoon nap, I still managed to compile all my tax information, and as soon as I get one last form from work, the whole file will be ready to be sent to my accountant.  Today I finished a professional development book that I’ve been working on for weeks.

I have that deep sense of satisfaction that comes from accomplishment.  I don’t have this very often.  My “should have” is routinely much longer than “finished.”  I would love to be able to translate this feeling of ease and lightness into a day of coffee, knitting, and binge-watching Agent Carter.  Fifteen hours of steady snowfall should do the trick and get school canceled for tomorrow.  I won’t say I “deserve” an extra day in my already long weekend, but …

You see for the first year in my entire life, I am looking forward to Lent.  I want it to be Lent.  I have a concrete, tangible goal for my spiritual development that I desperately desire to achieve.  I have a plan; sacrifices to make and actions to take that I believe will give my heart the best chance to make a home for Christ at Easter.  And I know it is going to be terrible.  I know that I will hate almost every moment of it.  But that doesn’t make me any less determined.

Even so, or maybe therefore, I would love one last lazy day before Lent starts.  A last day to approach showering as optional and sitting as mandatory.

(3 Years, 4 Months, 26 Days Sober)