Dan Antion

One-Liner Wednesday – Lent #1linerWeds

“I replaced the toilet paper and I wiped the smudges off the faucet.”

Today marks the one week anniversary of Ash Wednesday, a.k.a. the beginning of Lent. When people ask: “what are you giving up for Lent?” I try to explain that I started a practice, several years ago of adding in the little things that others normally do. I wrote about this back then, but I don’t expect you to remember. In fact, I hope you forgot so you won’t go all: “oh geeze, not again…” on me.

Just in case you want to incorporate this technique into your Lenten routine, here are a few guidelines as to what counts, and what doesn’t:

It doesn’t count if you normally do it or should do it – I normally iron any of my work shirts that need to be ironed. Other things of mine that need to be ironed, I usually toss in the hamper, clean, with the goal of putting them away before they get wrinkled the next time. Hmmm, maybe that’s something I can work on.

It doesn’t count if the other person doesn’t want you to do it – I will not be cooking, and I won’t be doing my wife’s laundry. I won’t be doing mine either, because she doesn’t trust me with the washer and she lives in fear that I will burn the house down after using the dryer without cleaning the lint trap.

It doesn’t count if it benefits you – I like to go and get take-out for dinner, so I can sit at the bar and have a beer while it’s being prepared. “Honey, how about we just have pizza tonight?” isn’t a sacrifice.

The one-liner stems from something my wife normally does. She starts new rolls of paper towels and toilet paper before the old one is completely finished. She leaves the little bit that’s left on top of, or near the new role, so no one has to deal with replacing the roll in a moment of need.

Ending here, under 400 words. I know, I know, that’s not the goal, but…

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, I’d encourage you to join in on the fun. You can followt this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.

Criss-crossing contrails.
One contrail fading and one being created – can you find the new one?
Here comes the sun.
We’re on our way out of the park.
No skating today, it’s not cold enough to freeze.
Rules, always with the rules.
We’re walking though the back of the ball field because there are people on the path.
Sunrise over an empty ball field
I like the way the sun reflects off the chain fence.
Beautiful sunrise over Maddie’s park.
The Colt Dome and an earie halo around the lights.
It’s the path at Great River Park, but I’m visualizing a lonely walk in a bad part of town.
Great River Park on a foggy morning
The Colt dome
Hartford and its multi-colored reflections.
Me and my shadow, i.e. Maddie

67 comments

  2. 😂But, seriously, I’m agape over here. It amazes me that meticulousness does not translate into everything you do, Dan. But my hubby is the same. The same man who will insist shoes come off at the door, point out any smudge left on the counter and who will spend an inordinate amount of time doing a simple repair so that it is perfect, will leave glops of toothpaste in his sink and never make his bed. Seriously I think it is our mind glitch that gets to full tilt and says, “That’s it. Can’t handle any more perfection” . Ans speaking of perfect, your photos today are amazing. I am finding it too difficult to pick a favorite! I love the fog shots and the shadow of you and Maddie. 😀

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  5. Paper replacement is good, but what I’d want is someone to change the sheets. Hate that job, but love clean sheets. If someone did that for me, I’d be in sheet heaven. Love you and your shadow. I see you’re in the mid 50’s – wahoo. We’ve climbing to mid 70’s. I even had to kick the ac on yesterday for a few hours because of humidity. Have a great Wednesday, and I’ll hope the Editor wants take out tonight. :-)

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  6. I like your Lenten twist. I grew up in a family that was aware of Lenten traditions, but didn’t do them. Respect others while they were doing their thing, but no need to jump on the bandwagon with them. You’ve found a great different way to do Lent without being ho-hum about Lent. Very clever. May the paper roll the way you want it to. 😉

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    • Thanks Teagan. I grew up split between the casual (give something up, it won’t kill you) and the serious (no meat, no dairy throughout Lent) with the two religions active in our house/family. Still that way in this house, but I’m the one with milk in my coffee.

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  9. I’ve also “added in” in past years for Lent. This year, I’m trying to take out the swearing and whining and it’s been difficult. I seem to slip up at least once every day, but I’ll keep trying. Good luck with your Lenten endeavors, Dan.

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  10. Years ago a friend of mine proudly announced she was giving up sweets for Lent. Found out later she had just been diagnosed with diabetes!! WTH?!

    I’m still laughing about the toilet paper. I do the same thing as the Editor! But I take it one step further. When I use the facilities, I use the toilet paper from the new roll so someone else empties the old roll and has to put the cardboard cylinder in the recyclables. Why? It would take a team of psychiatrists!

    “It’s not cold enough to freeze”. Those words are music to my ears!

    GREAT photos Dan. Fog. Reflections. Halos. Shadows. But the one of you and your shadow is priceless. And the one you say looks like a bad part of town…..it reminds me of scenes from really scary English movies.

    Sure hope you’re feeling much better. Not feeling well stinks.
    •••Ginger•••

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    • Thanks Ginger. Don’t give me bad ideas about manipulating the rolls. I’m supposed to be improving ;-) (but I like your idea).

      I don’t think we’re done with freezing, but I think we’re fast approaching more regular walks. Maddie and I both like it when we can get out early on the weekend, take our walk and then lounge (well, she lounges).

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  11. I do the same thing with paper towels and toilet paper. I don’ like to run out. We changed the restrooms signs at work to man/woman/wheelchair so anyone can go anywhere. If we could just send out an email to remind the men to put the seat down. Admin laughed and said, ‘Ain’t gonna happen.’ Maybe I should give up cussin’ ’em out for Lent….yeah. Ain’t gonna happen….

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    • Based on the tone of your recent facebook posts. I’d say your doing a pretty good job with striking a balance between respect and outrage. I don’t usually get involved in those discussions, but I peek in on them from time to time.

      I find this “addition” for Lent is an opportunity to improve and it usually lasts beyond Easter. I might start slow, but there is some carryover, so I thing it balances out.

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    • If you give something up, you should be able to resist temptation. I’d be tempted to ask: “if I didn’t give up dessert for Jesus, why would I give it up for you?” I guess that would not be in the spirit of the season, but…

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  18. My favorite picture (of course) are your shadows. Yet the “night” shots are gorgeous. I also like your philosophy on Lent. It’s not giving up something that counts, but what I can do better. That is what I think anyway. You have a good Mrs. IMO. Thoughtful means a lot in my book. Happy Spring, Dan! 😉

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  19. I wish I had time to read all the comments, Dan, but too many things are calling, including tonight’s Lenten service and the pre-service dinner, provided this week by the praise team, which means there’s bread in the bread machine and I have to make a very large salad a bit later. I was happy to read your take on “giving something up for Lent.” My thought in the last years has been to add something and although I never really listed what that did or didn’t mean, it would run along the same lines as what you mentioned. In addition, I do the exact same thing as your wife regarding toilet paper and paper towel rolls. :-)

    janet

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    • Thanks Janet. Good luck with the preparations. Adding something seems like a good idea because sometimes it’s lasts longer than Lent. I actually now do the paper towel thing at work. I find it less frustrating than walking into the kitchen and finding the empty cardboard tube hanging there.

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  20. Dan, I must confess I operate similarly to your wife when it comes to paper towels. I have been burned one too many times with needing them immediately only to find none are standing by. As for Lent, I know a lot of folks who do the giving up thing…but they choose things easily not done. I like your suggestion for a different approach.

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  21. Good job, Dan, with the toilet paper. I never iron any more. I’ve found that if I hang a wrinkled item of clothing in the bathroom before a hot shower, a lot of the wrinkles go away.

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  22. Great photos! I’d take that walk along the ‘bad part of town’ in your imagination. I love those lights!

    I do think adding can work just as well. It’s nice to think about adding more small kindnesses in the world. Especially with loved ones, that’s when it’s nicest to be nice :)

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    • Thanks. The lights in the fog always get my attention. That path is actually a fairly safe place to walk, but it’s interesting how the light can make it look a little creepy.

      Adding in nice little things for loved ones is easy. I hope I remember that after Easter.

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  24. So many “it doesn’t count if…” So, what DOES count? lol (don’t have to answer that:)). You can tell, am not used to Lent. Here in California, I don’t know anyone, who pays attention to it. I know, this is a godless, barbaric state.I don’t know how serious you are about Lent, so I’ll stop here.

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    • It’s mainly just avoiding procrastination. If I leave an empty water bottle on the counter, my wife will put it in the bin. So, remembering to just put it in the bin and not set it on the counter until I go outside later.

      I’m not overly serious about Lent, but the notion of sacrifice is a good reminder about why I believe what I believe, so it works. But, I have friends in California ;-)

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