Things I've Won

[jeanvieve]

Just was sitting here, filling out another entry to try to win a dream house in Sonoma, California. Why bother, I start to say? Well, who knows. I've won weird things before.

I won third place in a beauty contest when I was 3
I won first place at the 4th of July underwater distance swim when I was 9 or 10
I won second place in three other team competitions that same day at the pool, for things like relay races wearing t-shirts, and a greased watermelon contest in the deep end. Apparently one 9 year old was stronger than seven other kids of various sizes?
I won third place at a track meet in shot put. Also first for a relay, but I'd blown the handoff so we were disqualified. Doh!
I was on the winning 5 man melee team for heavy weapons up in Canada
I've placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in a lot of fencing tournaments
I won a speed calligraphy contest
I won a door prize at a party in high school
I won 4th place in a fading suns story contest. That one still makes me laugh.
I won 4th place in two other poetry contests.
I won $50 once in a 'stick your name in a fishbowl' type thing. 2nd? 3rd?
I've won $25 a couple of times buying lottery tickets for fun, and little $3 ones.
I've won burgers, fries, etc at drive thrus.
I've "won" various prizes from entries at trade shows, near unanimously turned down as having other paying things attached.
I won $30 in Australia in a slot machine.
I've won lunch twice for putting my business card in a fishbowl.

What the heck. If the universe wants me to live in Sonoma, it'll send me the clear sign of letting me win a two million dollar house. On the other hand, I don't have said house now, and I'm a generally happy person. I'll live if it doesn't pan out.

Comments

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

Giovanni and I play the lottery, and we're otherwise very happy people. It's fun to daydream about winning oodles of money (or the Dream Home on HGTV, which I also enter the drawing for). Actually playing the game gives me (at least) a tingly, anticipatory sensation in my belly, sort of that fear/delight on if we won, how would we tell our family/friends, what would we do, how would we go about it all... by actually entering/buying tickets, it makes that sensation that much stronger, because it throws in that element of going from absolute impossibility to still-possible-but-don't-hold-your-breath... y'know? We enjoy the daydreaming, and if it can some day be more than a daydream? Cool! But even when we lose, we genuinely wish the winners the best of fortunes with it.

Because it's fun.

[jeanvieve.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much it. It's fun to compete, and losing is no big deal. As long as one doesn't subscribe to the Redneck Retirement Plan method of fiscal spend on lotteries, I like to think my occasional ticket/input can help the parks and rec service like in Colorado.