Today is Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of the Lenten season. It’s a time of introspection and penitence.

It follows Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, the traditional final blowout before we don sackcloth and atone for our transgressions, reminding ourselves that we are in fact mortal beings.

I didn’t make it to Rio again this year for Carnival. And I regret that I have never set foot in New Orleans, although it is on my bucket list.

Hell, the truth is I spent last night doing what I do most nights, driving home in a fog, swallowing something, then collapsing into bed.
My wife can barely handle the excitement.

But I do have a few Lenten traditions I will once again attempt to uphold this year.

Many people give something up for Lent, or they try to do some act they might not normally do.

Me? I will once again refrain – or at least try to – from two actions.

One is pretty easy; the other is more of a challenge.

I will once again give up beer for the next 40 days. And I will attempt to give up cursing.

Guess which one I fail miserably to achieve most years?

#$%&!&*!!!!

Yeah, you get the idea. It’s not something I’m proud of, but the truth is I can swear with the best of them.

I suppose it also has something to do with what I do for a living.
Swearing is actually something of a fine art in the newsroom. I expect it to be every bit a struggle again this year. Last year I tried to hold my breath when I felt an outburst coming on. Turning blue is not my idea of a good time. Of course, the alternative is another blue streak.

Giving up beer usually is not a big issue, but there’s a new wrinkle this year. I like to toast the end of the week when I get home Friday night with a cold brewski. I don’t actually drink every night; I can’t stay awake that long.

In winter, I actually drink more wine than beer. In years past I have given up alcohol completely. That tended to lead to my failing in the area of no swearing. So I’ll go only without the beer this Lenten season.

I was interested yesterday in a move in Harrisburg to loosen the ridiculous Pennsylvania laws that govern beer sales.

I have long been an advocate of blowing up the LCB and turning the entire system of alcohol sale over to private enterprise.

That’s not likely to happen anytime soon.

But changing beer laws so that grocery store chains and convenience stores can sell six-packs, and offering the same opportunity to beer distributors who now are limited to selling beer by the case only, strikes me as a good, common sense move.

Even if it will make my Lenten challenge just a bit steeper.

Gosh darn it!