Pre-celebration

    I have to chuckle at the official pronouncements of the Roman Catholic church about that all-important issue, namely, should St. Patrick's Day be celebrated during Holy Week? Official answer: No.
    It's a question they won't have to answer again for about 150 years, but this year the proper day to carouse in honor of the Irish bishop is March 15, not Holy Monday.
    I've often given myself a day or two "off" of Lent in the midst of the season. My baptismal day, March 10, almost always falls in the midst of Lent, so that's a little Easter.  This year's Lent was so early that I've had to give myself any number of dispensations: no, Valentine's Day didn't count for Lent (chocolate-consumption must be observed). No, my birthday did not count as part of Lent (and wouldn't have even if it hadn't fallen on a Sunday). And since it was a big birthday, the dispensation lasted, oh, a week or so.
    But now, I'm running out of time. Time to buckle down before the whole season is over. Daylight savings this weekend already! That will be corporal discipline indeed.