A Fun, Free Evening Out!

One of my hobbies (when I can find the time) is sweepstaking. I've been doing it for over ten years now and have won some nice things over that time, such as a Mazda Miata car, $20,000 in Home Depot certificates, several trips, and other nice prizes. Some of my best wins are not expensive things, but special things that a normal person could not buy -- such as the time I won a 50-pound custom made chocolate/almond candy bar with my name inscribed on the label! That was a ton of fun that lasted a long time -- the family got hammers and screwdrivers and used them to chisel the candy bar into chunks, which we stored in ziplocks and kept in the freezer for more than a year, eating it slowly over time. The label is still in my "memory" box, with some other nice mementos from wins.

Things have slowed WAY down in the wins department in the last several years, but occasionally something fun will come along. Tonight the family went to the local ballpark as I was drawn as one of 20 finalists in a key turn to win a Harley Davidson motorcycle. As part of that win, I was given four tickets to the baseball game and $40 in vouchers for food. It was the last night before my youngest daughter, Kristina, went off to college, so it was nice to be able to spend it doing something fun.

It turned out that all 20 finalists showed up and we drew slips of paper out of a bucket to determine our order of drawing keys and trying to start the motorcycle. We then all went inside the stadium and lined up -- and they brought the motorcycle in. I was # 3 in line. They had told us that some keys would not even fit into the ignition, while others would fit, but would not turn -- and only one would turn all the way and be able to turn on the headlight of the motorcycle, which would determine the winner.

I was between a middle-age guy who seemed very excited and a very old woman who was on oxygen, who did not seem to care at all that she was there. The guy next to me asked her if she planned to keep the motorcycle if she won and she said she did not want it, but that she had kids who probably would like it. I'm not sure why she even entered -- as she was so unenthusiastic.

We lined up and the first woman went. Her key went in, but did not turn. Then the guy in front of me went and he could not fit his key into the ignition. Then it was my turn. I tried to see if there was a key more scratched than the others (that is one pointer you often hear in key turns -- to make sure to take the scratched key). However, they all looked the same to me and I didn't want to stand there all day deciding, so I grabbed one and gave it a try. It went in smoothly -- but did not turn :(

The crowd gave a sympathetic groan when I shook my head and then they gave me a big hand (I later found out that I was on the jumbotron and the family said I looked good and "normal" -- so I guess that was a good thing.

I walked to the back of the line and then turned to watch the other contestants. The old woman was helped up the ramp (the motorcycle was on a trailer), put her key in the ignition, and the light on the motorcycle came on!! I couldn't believe it! She did not even smile when she was told she won! My daughter said that her son and daughter were sitting behind them in the stands and the son said, "I already have a Harley!" I just don't understand why they would even enter this contest if 1) she was not interested in winning and 2) her son already owned a bike. I'm sure it was rather disappointing to the Miller Beer and Harley Davidson people (the sponsors) who were also present, as this woman was obviously not in their target audience and did not even seem happy to have won.

I did feel lucky that I at least had a chance to try my key -- as the other 16 people never even got to give it a shot, and that had to be frustrating. I went back up into the stands and we ate lots of ballpark food and heckled the other team for a bit until it started to rain. Then we headed home. All in all, it was a fun night -- but I really would have liked to have won!

Maybe the next drawing I'm in (for the $2000 Visa card) will be luckier. That one also has great odds, with only 21 finalists and, on that one, I don't have to be present to win, so it will be less stressful for sure.

So TIRED!

I just finished my first week at my new job. I can't believe how tired I am and how behind I'm feeling. The job itself is not physically demanding, but I think the combination of "new job stress" and the fact that I'm still trying to keep the house clean and also keep up on the freelance writing and editing I do is all adding up.

I informed the company I edit for that I would be going back to work and that they should probably find someone else to handle things. The owner was sad to hear that, as we've worked together for nearly 7 years. She said she would start looking and I told her I would help out as much as I could until she found someone. I'm just hoping that she really starts looking, as I don't think I can do both a full time job, my writing (which I don't want to give up) AND the editing (plus all the household things that a mom needs to do).

I keep telling myself this is all for the greater good. Each paycheck will go directly to the credit card company to pay off that granite countertop :) Since this is a long-term temp assignment, I plan to keep working until the first of the year, and then take some time off to manage the remodel of the bathroom. That way, I can be on hand as the sub-contractors come in to do the work (as well as being there to do my own work when I can).

On other fronts, my oldest daughter is getting married in October and my youngest daughter is going off to college in two weeks! Excitement, stress, and of course, expense on every level!