I'll Take Any Excuse

I'm knocking off early today because it's Good Friday. Most people I know are either off today or get out early, even if they're not religious. That's a pretty good scam if you ask me. I think when it comes to taking off for a religious holiday, you should have to pass some sort of test to prove your devotion. For example, if you want to leave work a couple hours early today, you might have to answer questions like, "What exactly is Good Friday?" If you give some half baked answer, sorry pal, back to your cubicle until five. If you want the whole day off, you would need to produce a note from your priest, or explain The DiVinci Code. Since my schedule is liquid and I spent twelve years in Catholic school, I'm calling it a wash and laying down.

For the first time in a long time, I went to Mass for Holy Thursday last night. We needed to fulfill a couple requirements for "Daughter's" religious education and we are running out of time. If you don't know, Holy Thursday is the night of the Last Supper and when Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. It is also the first night of the "Big Three" as they called it last night. I don't think that's a biblical term. It sounds like the church got a hand from ESPN's marketing department. Good Friday and Easter round out the "Big Three". I keep waiting for someone to start a bracket so we see which day comes out the winner. I've got to go with Easter. It carries more weight and nobody buys a bonnet for Holy Thursday.

Tonight we're headed back to church for Good Friday services. I say services because as I was reminded last night, there are no masses celebrated on Good Friday. Look at me, getting all liturgical on you. I'm hoping tonight goes a bit faster than last night. I enjoy God and all, but last night we were at church for two hours. I know to some of the devout that's a drop in the bucket, but I have really bad knees and a sore back and the kneelers and pews were not built for comfort. I tired to "offer it up" as the nuns used to say, but I walked out of church like a candidate for double knee replacement and a diaper. Tonight we will hear the Passion. I tried to tell "Wife" that we could rent the DVD and be even, but she'd have none of it. I guess she's right. Hearing the reading of the Passion at church has got to be better than watching the gore fest of a movie from the wildly insane Mel Gibson.

I hope everyone has a nice Easter, or had a blessed Passover which ended yesterday. If you're up hiding eggs early Sunday, don't forget the big show on WGN from 1-5 am. I hope the bunny stops by the show. Lent will be over and I have a hankering for a Butterfinger. Later...Brian