I'm a very post-vatican II Catholic (in my Catholic school we had purple mimeograph paper with the words to "tin soldiers and nixon coming, we're finally on our own... this summer I hear the drumming... four dead in Ohio" ).

Here's a link I put on my blog : Bicycling as a Lenten Practice (it's gotten neat comments from people who assume(d) Christian meant Christian Right).

I'm going to try to get to work early enough to be changed into professional attire more often, and give up Pop Tarts.

Jesus spent forty days in the desert praying adn fasting and basically focusing on God. Catholics emulate that in Lent. Of course, we impose our personalities and psychologies upon the tradition.. It's sorta like training for the "big wazoobidoo" of Easter. We don't say the A word (alleluia) in the liturgy until Holy Thursday, or sing the Gloria. Feels so good when we get it back!