Nerddom during Lent

Every year I struggle with what to give up.  Sometimes I give up things that don't have any real significance and end up doing them or using them or consuming them again within days of my resolve. I'm not proud to admit it, but sometimes I've picked the easiest thing for me to give up instead of something that would take true sacrifice and commitment to the true meaning of the Easter season.

So what did I give up this year? Neopets. 

I swear this has been one of the most difficult things I have given up to date, including chocolate.

To let you know what kind of a nerd I am, since about 1999 I have been playing Neopets online. (I started this game in my early 20s--I have a longevity badge on my profile that says "8 years" and this is my second account.) If you've ever seen it, it's a website where you can have your own virtual pets (up to four) that you can feed, play with, dress, have adventures with, etc.  Yes, I said "have adventures with" (nerd quotient increase +2). There are lots of flashgames to play and you earn points for playing each of them.  There are competitions, free items to win, even a stock market and different worlds to visit on and off the planet. Since different things happen at different times of the day, it's an incentive to visit not only every day, but multiple times a day.

Because I'm a points hoarder, I currently have 1.4 million neopoints in my account, which has been the accumulation of my entire 8 years of playing with this set of neopets. Needless to say, it's great fun, addictive, and a huuuuuge time-waster. Also why I chose this particular obsession of mine as the one thing I'd give up for Lent.  And holy smokes, has it been hard.

For one thing, my fiance recently started a new account. He's like me, a points hoarder.  He likes to pick up valuable items for free and sell them in his shop.  He plays many of the games and has slowly been building his Neopoints balance.  He's already at 100,000.  He says he's going to catch up with me in no time, which I take as a challenge.  That I currently cannot take part in. Do you see, people?  Do you see how frustrating this is?  (And what a giant nerd I am...?)

Now, my pets won't starve... at least, not for four weeks... I've enrolled them in a Neolodge for the duration.  Kind of sucks that Lent is 40 days instead of 28, but maybe I can get Rich to log into my account and just feed them once a dayyyohhhmyGOD I'M OBSESSED. *heaving breaths*

Ok.  I can do this. I can do this.

I am a grown woman playing a game that is very popular for tweens. I can give it up anytime I want to.  Lent is a good reason to give it up, and it's only 40 days. And Rich will feed them when they come out of the Neolodge. And I will find more productive things to do with my time. 

Like watching Fraggle Rock on Netflix streaming.