Holy Lent, batman!

Being Protestant, I have never done Lent. Fat Tuesday, yes, but not Lent.
One of my problems with the reformed church, as a whole, is that it lacks the pomp and circumstance that ceremony and liturgy can bring. Protestants go to church in jeans and a baseball cap. They worship in gymnasiums. They take communion with white grape juice.
I want some incense in my life. A few stained-glass windows. Some beauty in my worship.
Once, long ago, I got to go to a midnight service on Christmas Eve. The pastor was a very flamboyant gay man, who did not speak from Scripture. He told some metaphorical story about a vase broken on the driveway. However, there was an organ and a choir, there was incense and a processional. There were candles and stained glass. I had no trouble meeting God amid such beauty, despite the questionable sermon.
I don't believe that Christianity has all that much to do with Jesus and Salvation. But, I do believe that Salvation, and Jesus, have everything to do with beauty.
Which is kind of a tangent, given that I was going to discuss Lent.
Lent:
It's this 40 day fast in preparation for the celebration of Easter. It's a way of setting aside something that is a normal part of one's day in observance of the need for redemption. Love that. It actually ends up being about 46 days, because Sundays are off-days. For instance, I am giving up all alcohol. But, on Sundays I can have wine with dinner. The reason is that Sundays are to be a reminder of the celebration for which we are preparing. Isn't that the coolest thing? I learned about it on wikipedia.
Or however you spell it.
So, I'm going to give this a whirl.
There are numerous things I hope to accomplish, besides the preparation for Easter. I rather suspect I'll lose weight, if wine is not a part of my evening routine. Also, I really just think that the 40 days of no alcohol will be a good way to clear my head. In truth, I don't drink to get drunk, but I do drink regularly. I think it's maybe a good thing to distance myself from it. It's going to be good.
No fat Tuesday, though. That would not be good.
What are you giving up for Lent?