No, that spot wasn’t dirt.

Yes, I do wash my face.

12:20 on Ash Wednesday you would have found me standing in the back of Immaculate Conception. With ashes on my forehead, a few co-workers and I made the short walk back to the office, contemplating what we were going to give up. Lent being a time of repentance, many forego something they enjoy, a food or activity. I’m not what you would call a devout follower of some of the traditions of my confirmed religion, but thought that this would be an interesting and appropriate time to reflect of what I wanted to give up. Let’s see if I can do it.

1: I’m going to give up my disdain for talk radio. It used to really irritate me when I was driving to school back in the day (and yes for me that means like eight or nine years ago) with one of my parents and they would listen to talk in the morning. Ever since then I’ve never taken to listening to people talk at me in the car. The catalyst for such a transition? Our incredibly fun Saturday morning live radio broadcast of Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know. It was interactive, it was informative and it was just downright entertaining. I’m sure the sold-out crowd felt the same. So NPR, I’ll give you a shot, unless I hear anyone who remotely sounds like Rush Limbaugh. His voice gives me the heebs.

2: I’m going to give up letting people get away with not seeing at least ONE Classic Albums Live performance. If you haven’t made it out yet, then you have one more chance this season. You seriously don’t know what you’re missing. Audience and staff alike were simply blown away by these performers. I beg you. For the betterment of yourself and your ear drums, come see CAL when they present The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper on March 16.

3: Lastly, I think I’m going to give up eating by myself in my office. Having family breakfasts and lunches in the board room whilst watching that weird new television station are just too enjoyable.

Okay so those weren’t really things I would give up for Lent as much as they were shameless plugs. But hey, one must find creative outlets for marketing. Here’s one more plug: put your dancing shoes on and come see one of our three upcoming dance shows. Tonight we feature Jennifer Muller/The Works (come see the show we’ve been chatting up for weeks!) tonight, Hermitage Ballet on Sunday and Alvin Ailey on Tuesday.

Gotcha!