Mardi Gras, Non Merci

Lent in Western Europe starts on Ash Wednesday, in the Orthodox tradition it starts on Clean Monday, two days earlier.  I've never much cared for Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, certainly not in the United States where few holidays or the equivalent are safe from getting disgustingly out of hand. So, for a change, I'm starting Lent on Monday.   I'm giving up several things.  One of them will make a big difference here.  You'll see.