I've never watched "It Could Happen to You" from beginning to end. All I know is that a cop from New York splits a lottery ticket with a broke diner waitress as a tip. Of course, in true fairy tale fashion, they hit the jackpot, fall in love and live happily ever. The movie was based on a true story, which I vaguely recall reading about in the New York Daily News when I was younger.
The odds of winning the lottery are extremely long, but it's not impossible. One person in Nebraska won last night's $365 million dollar Powerball jackpot--so, there's proof that it does happen to someone.
Unfortunately, that someone isn't me.
Does that make me a sore loser? I doubt it, because if it does, then there are millions just like me around the country this morning. Misery loves company. That should help all of us feel a better.
Yeah, not exactly.
I don't consider myself greedy. I've told Jon that I didn't have to win the big one. I would be quite content with winning a few thousand dollars by matching only a couple of numbers. So far, the closest I've come is matching one and the Powerball. Not exactly a play that would make me a wealthy woman, but I did get $15 out of the deal.
$15 dollars compared to a couple of thousand or hundreds of millions. Sort of pales by comparison. At least I can say I've won the lottery, though.
I don't play the lottery often. Usually, common sense and reason tell me that dropping a couple of bucks on a slip of paper isn't a sound investment. Yet, every time the money gets big, I head down to the Irving station and pick up my two tickets (and yes, I know that two tickets make not even the slightest statistical difference when it comes to hitting the big one).
I understand that I am fortunate to have what I do: I'm not broke, I have a nice home, a great family and a job that I enjoy. Winning the lottery wouldn't change most of that. I wouldn't ditch Jon and the kids, I'd still write and as for my home...ok, I might change that. Everyone has a dream home. Mine wouldn't be one of these places that could fit two houses in--I'm not greedy. All I want is my washer and dryer out of the basement.
Is that a lot to ask? I don't think so.
But, for now, my dream home will remain that. Dreams are good. They give us something to strive for, a goal to reach. I'm sure this loss will be me a better, more productive member of society.
And, just to prove that I'm not a sore loser, I offer the following good wishes to the Nebraskan who now has more money than can be spent in a lifetime:
Congratulations! Enjoy your money!
Oh, and if you need someone to write your life story, I'm available...
For a small fee, of course.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Sick....and tired
In his classic performance "Himself", Bill Cosby makes the following statement:
You know, one day mother started into it. She said, "You make me sick." "And tired," I finished. [long pause while the audience laughs] I don't remember anything that happened that dayWord to that...well, all except for the thing about saying that to my mom (I valued my life). Sick and Tired just seem to go together like PB&J, Spaghetti and Meatballs--you get the idea. I'm pretty sure that most people get sick because they are tired (read: exhausted) and that's when the germs get ya, as soon as the body says, "Yeah, I could use a little rest." How about a rest without feeling like my head is in a vice, my breathing whistling an off key tune and my voice sounding like Rocky after he's gone one too many rounds with Apollo, Mr. T or that Russian guy in Rocky IV (right? I stopped caring after Rocky II, really) Today in our lovely home, Mommy and Daddy are sick and tired. We both have colds miserable little things. A cold is great if you want the sensation of being underwater or trapped in some sort of transparent box with minimal air. Not exactly a great combination. The worst thing about them is that there's nothing you can do but wait the damn thing out. And, since I'm tired, it will probably take me a few days to shake this thing. If I wanted a vacation, I'd go to Bermuda or Jamaica or somewhere tropical. I don't need by body shutting down on me to impose a mandatory break time. It sort of takes away from the whole relaxation concept. I don't know about you, but when I try to relax when I'm sick, it just isn't very...well...relaxing. I ache, I cough, my head aches. It doesn't do much for me, but I'm funny that way. Of course, I always get sick when something big happens. Right now, its crunch time for me with work and I stil have't managed to find the the girls' off switch, so I keep plugging on. That's what moms (and most dads) do. So, after a day of hell at work, I'm realy to turn in by 8:30. I know, I know!! My life is so exciing. Hopefully all the juice, extra rest and yes, even yucky medicine, wil help alleviate some of these sucky symptoms. Have a good night. M.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
My Hometown
Recently, I had an assignment for a new client about the construction boom in the Lewiston/Auburn area. For those that don't live around here, I have to say that the LA area (yes, we call it that---oh, aren't we so cheeky?) is growing by leaps and bounds. When we moved here in 1998, Auburn was a nice little community and Lewiston, well...not so much. A local comedian joked once that people in Lewiston used to go to the Longley bridge, which is the "border" between the cities, look across the water and go, "Someday....someday we'll make it there." Heh.
However, over the past few years, Lewiston has picked itself up, dusted itself off and is really starting to get its shit together. Oh, there will always been that two block stretch on Lisbon Street that houses about 1/2 dozen sleazy bars and a number of "adult" shops (Maine's lame attempt at a red light district), but new businesses are popping up all over, new restaurants, stores, etc.
The same goes for Auburn. We're getting a LongHorn SteakHouse and Ruby Tuesdays! Although, personally, I'd much rather have the Olive Garden that was rumored to be coming in. Homes that make my humble dwelling look like a garage have made an appearance just up the road from here. Jon and I both wonder where the hell these people work, since Jon works at one of the more established and well paying companies in the area and there ain't no way we're ever affording a house like the ones being built around us. See, we have this habit of wanting to put food on the table--silly us.
Anyway, I digress...this assignment required some pictures, so I thought I'd post a few.
From the top of Goff Hill, which on a snowy day, people rarely need a car...just a good nudge and one slide could probably make it into Lewiston. This is right up the road from my house. You're looking at part of downtown Auburn and, in the distance, Lewiston. The big church in the background is St. Peter and St. Paul's Basilica--yes, we're moving up in the world--at least according to the Catholic Church!
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The newly renovated Lewiston Public Library is less than two blocks from the aforementioned "redlight district". However, this facility is gorgeous now...it was a decent library to begin with, but now, it's truly high tech and a great place to spend some time.
Great Falls, which flows under the Longley bridge between Lewiston and Auburn. I took a few shots of these early in my photography experience. I shot this one with one of my new lenses. I really like the shot, even though there is some blur around the edges. The new lenses are wonderful, but I need a lot more practice with them. Still, I thought this one was worth posting.
I'll be taking more shots of the area and posting them as I keep working with the camera.
I joke around a lot about the L/A area. Honestly, though, I'm thrilled with where we live--most of the time. ;)
Oh, I just noticed that my one year blogiversary passed without my recognizing it. So, Happy 1st to me!!!! And, thanks Heidi, for getting me started!
And, oh yes...Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Almost forgot....lol
However, over the past few years, Lewiston has picked itself up, dusted itself off and is really starting to get its shit together. Oh, there will always been that two block stretch on Lisbon Street that houses about 1/2 dozen sleazy bars and a number of "adult" shops (Maine's lame attempt at a red light district), but new businesses are popping up all over, new restaurants, stores, etc.
The same goes for Auburn. We're getting a LongHorn SteakHouse and Ruby Tuesdays! Although, personally, I'd much rather have the Olive Garden that was rumored to be coming in. Homes that make my humble dwelling look like a garage have made an appearance just up the road from here. Jon and I both wonder where the hell these people work, since Jon works at one of the more established and well paying companies in the area and there ain't no way we're ever affording a house like the ones being built around us. See, we have this habit of wanting to put food on the table--silly us.
Anyway, I digress...this assignment required some pictures, so I thought I'd post a few.
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I'll be taking more shots of the area and posting them as I keep working with the camera.
I joke around a lot about the L/A area. Honestly, though, I'm thrilled with where we live--most of the time. ;)
Oh, I just noticed that my one year blogiversary passed without my recognizing it. So, Happy 1st to me!!!! And, thanks Heidi, for getting me started!
And, oh yes...Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Almost forgot....lol
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Family planning and the olympics
Now that you've read the touching tributes to my darling daughters, I can now vent a little about the fact that their birthdays are separated by one day.
"Wow! How neat!," I hear often when the girls' birthdays come up and people realize how close they are. "Did you plan it that way?"
Sure, I waited all year long until the appointed day on the calendar that I carefully figured out would produce a baby on February 7th and February 8th, turned to my husband, grabbed him and said, "Come on hot stuff, we have to make a baby NOW, so our kids can have almost the same birthday!!" Not that he would mind me grabbing him at any time for any reason, but there was no plan to have two girls back to back like that (granted, they are separated by 4 years). That matters little when the first full week of February rolls around, though.
The closest thing I had to any kind of plan about child birth was that there was no way I was going to be in the last trimester of pregnancy in the dog days of summer. Being that preggo sucks no matter what time of year it is, but there was no way in hell that I was going to have a bun in the oven while it was 90+ degrees outside. So, when it came to the time where we tossed caution to the wind and said, "Sure, let's have some kids", the caution was only thrown as far as April to August. Naturally, that didn't mean that we couldn't practice during our "down time", but the plan was to hang the "NO WOMB FOR RENT" for 1/2 the year...
Turns out, we didn't need any kind of planning. Apparently, we practiced so much before trying to conceive that we got it right almost the first shot out of the gate (pardon the bad pun, there). All Jon needed to do was look at me, it seemed, and I got pregnant. We did endure the loss of two children, and that's a subject for another post--not because it's too hard to talk about, but I don't like focusing on what I don't have, especially around the girls' birthdays...So, we were incredbily skilled/lucky when it came to getting pregnant. It just seemed that one time of year was better for us than the rest.
I think something my "nephew", Kyle, said when we announced the joyous news of our second pregnancy sums it all up pretty well. When we told his family, who was having dinner with us that evening, that the 2nd baby Rossiter was due at the end of February, Kyle's mom, Sue, was incredulous. "Wow! You guys must really like February! First Cailyn's birthday, and now another one the same month!" As I raised my fork to put the next mouthful of food to my lips, then 14-year-old Kyle says, without missing a beat, "Seems to me that they like May even more..."
Ah, out of the mouths of babes....That was the funniest thing I heard in ages, and although his mom was slightly embarrassed, I think, I could do nothing but agree with the young man. He's always been a smart one.
Must have been something in the May spring air for Jon and me...
Either way, there are times that I think that having the girls' birthdays so close was piss poor planning. The week of their birthdays is hell, and now that both are having parties, well, it isn't going to get any easier as time goes on. But, for now, we lump the girls parties as close together as we can, just so we can get through the insanity a little faster.
This week has been filled with last minute calls from parents (who had two weeks to RSVP, btw), exploding ice cream cone cupcakes and a small fire in my kitchen (the anti-Martha rides again), trips to two classrooms in two days and getting ready for two parties this weekend. Work? Forget it. Sleep? Not much. There's still lots to do before we get through the weekend, but somehow it will happen.
And, in the end, the kids will love it, no matter how it turns out--because, remarkably, it turns out that, for them, it is the thought that counts, even though they can't wait to open presents and stuff their faces with cake. Their excitement is contagious...I just wish I had their energy to maintain that excitement for 7 days, as they have. LOL
Oh, another odd coincidence about Cailyn and Erin's birthdays? They are both winter olympic babies--on the night each of them was born, the winter olympics held their opening ceremonies--Nagano, Japan in 1998 and Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. While all these people stood out in the freezing cold, getting ready to have their greatest moment...twice I held the product of my physical endurance and labors...Skiing?? HA! I just delivered a baby! And, I'll be damned if I didn't get a medal....what a jip! ;)
But, after two babies, I think we've finally got the family planning thing down now. In two days, as the winter olympics in Torino opens, there will be no deja vu this time...We made our family plan long ago: we officially removed ourselves from the gene pool after Erin was born and that's a plan that we can count on (I HOPE!!). After all, keeping up with two girls should qualify as an olympic sport.
Hell, if curling still counts, shouldn't raising two daughters???
"Wow! How neat!," I hear often when the girls' birthdays come up and people realize how close they are. "Did you plan it that way?"
Sure, I waited all year long until the appointed day on the calendar that I carefully figured out would produce a baby on February 7th and February 8th, turned to my husband, grabbed him and said, "Come on hot stuff, we have to make a baby NOW, so our kids can have almost the same birthday!!" Not that he would mind me grabbing him at any time for any reason, but there was no plan to have two girls back to back like that (granted, they are separated by 4 years). That matters little when the first full week of February rolls around, though.
The closest thing I had to any kind of plan about child birth was that there was no way I was going to be in the last trimester of pregnancy in the dog days of summer. Being that preggo sucks no matter what time of year it is, but there was no way in hell that I was going to have a bun in the oven while it was 90+ degrees outside. So, when it came to the time where we tossed caution to the wind and said, "Sure, let's have some kids", the caution was only thrown as far as April to August. Naturally, that didn't mean that we couldn't practice during our "down time", but the plan was to hang the "NO WOMB FOR RENT" for 1/2 the year...
Turns out, we didn't need any kind of planning. Apparently, we practiced so much before trying to conceive that we got it right almost the first shot out of the gate (pardon the bad pun, there). All Jon needed to do was look at me, it seemed, and I got pregnant. We did endure the loss of two children, and that's a subject for another post--not because it's too hard to talk about, but I don't like focusing on what I don't have, especially around the girls' birthdays...So, we were incredbily skilled/lucky when it came to getting pregnant. It just seemed that one time of year was better for us than the rest.
I think something my "nephew", Kyle, said when we announced the joyous news of our second pregnancy sums it all up pretty well. When we told his family, who was having dinner with us that evening, that the 2nd baby Rossiter was due at the end of February, Kyle's mom, Sue, was incredulous. "Wow! You guys must really like February! First Cailyn's birthday, and now another one the same month!" As I raised my fork to put the next mouthful of food to my lips, then 14-year-old Kyle says, without missing a beat, "Seems to me that they like May even more..."
Ah, out of the mouths of babes....That was the funniest thing I heard in ages, and although his mom was slightly embarrassed, I think, I could do nothing but agree with the young man. He's always been a smart one.
Must have been something in the May spring air for Jon and me...
Either way, there are times that I think that having the girls' birthdays so close was piss poor planning. The week of their birthdays is hell, and now that both are having parties, well, it isn't going to get any easier as time goes on. But, for now, we lump the girls parties as close together as we can, just so we can get through the insanity a little faster.
This week has been filled with last minute calls from parents (who had two weeks to RSVP, btw), exploding ice cream cone cupcakes and a small fire in my kitchen (the anti-Martha rides again), trips to two classrooms in two days and getting ready for two parties this weekend. Work? Forget it. Sleep? Not much. There's still lots to do before we get through the weekend, but somehow it will happen.
And, in the end, the kids will love it, no matter how it turns out--because, remarkably, it turns out that, for them, it is the thought that counts, even though they can't wait to open presents and stuff their faces with cake. Their excitement is contagious...I just wish I had their energy to maintain that excitement for 7 days, as they have. LOL
Oh, another odd coincidence about Cailyn and Erin's birthdays? They are both winter olympic babies--on the night each of them was born, the winter olympics held their opening ceremonies--Nagano, Japan in 1998 and Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. While all these people stood out in the freezing cold, getting ready to have their greatest moment...twice I held the product of my physical endurance and labors...Skiing?? HA! I just delivered a baby! And, I'll be damned if I didn't get a medal....what a jip! ;)
But, after two babies, I think we've finally got the family planning thing down now. In two days, as the winter olympics in Torino opens, there will be no deja vu this time...We made our family plan long ago: we officially removed ourselves from the gene pool after Erin was born and that's a plan that we can count on (I HOPE!!). After all, keeping up with two girls should qualify as an olympic sport.
Hell, if curling still counts, shouldn't raising two daughters???
Happy 4th Birthday Erin!
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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Happy 8th Birthday Cailyn!
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