Mega Millions

500 million dollars. Wow. I wonder what past winners of the Mega Millions Lottery were thinking the morning of the drawing. Did they wake up that morning and say, “I’m going to be a multi-millionaire in less than 24 hrs.”? Was that day an ordinary day for them, taking kids to school, cooking dinner? Did they even think once about the ticket they kept in their wallet or purse or did they sit in anticipation, waiting for the big moment when the numbers were called? Did they split the cost of tickets and plan how they would split the money with others? Did they make a list in their minds of what they would do if they won? It seems so surreal that in the morning one could wake up like on any other day, dreading sitting in traffic with a mound of bills stacking up, carefully calculating your checkbook so that every penny is balanced, and then in the evening go to bed with millions of dollars waiting for you to spend.

I asked my mother last night if she had bought her lottery ticket yet. She said that, no, she had no use for that much money. If it had been 4 million she would have reconsidered. The only member of my family I have ever known who bought lottery tickets is my grandmother, and even she has decided to pass.

I never ever thought J and I had a shot at the money until this past year when a winning ticket was sold to someone at an H.E.B. store in Houston, about three miles from our old apartment. We had shopped there once when it first opened.
What would you do with that much money? Would you ever work again? I think I would choose to travel, but I would definitely work, too. I cannot imagine myself never working again. I would become too bored. And I would definitely donate a major portion to many different causes, not just one. I would give a reasonable amount to both of my daughters for a rainy day fund and pay for their college and for my future grandchildren. But I would not give them enough so that they would not try to support themselves.

So have you bought your ticket?

Sorry

Sorry for the long delay, but I am immersing myself in Pinterest and The Lovely Bones book.

It's finally happened

My ex is now trying to distance himself from my family. It has been three years since we split. He has always come with the girls to family dinners and holidays. We are always civil with one another. One of my girls once told me that he wants to be friends with me but is waiting for me to make the first move, whatever that is. I am not all that uncomfortable with him being there, I just don't know what to talk about. I usually ask him how his family is, how's work, blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, he finally told my parents that he is going to skip family functions from now on because it makes "B" uncomfortable. My mom says it's people at his church who are encouraging this. I imagine he's just trying to make a new life for himself, totally understandable. I know this is a step in the right direction, that, hopefully, one day J will be invited to attend functions. But I am also worried that it will put our daughters in the middle of having to choose to attend holiday functions and leave their dad at home alone (his family is out of state) or stay home with him instead. By leaving them, this is the position that I have put them in, not him. So now I am feeling guilty about that.

Now on to other matters. This is my spring break and, as usual, I don't have much to show for it. I was able to spend the day yesterday with K21. Now I fear I am coming down with a sinus infection. My plans with a friend today have cancelled. Must take this time off to work on the book. Friday I am going to spend the night at my parents' house and spend time with both gmas. Then Monday it's back to the grind.

Trip to ABC 13

Above left to right: Ilona Carson, K21, and Melanie Lawson

Above left to right: Ilona Carson and me

That Was A Long Break From Blogging

and I've taken an even longer break from my other two blogs. Life has not been grand around here. J has been sick, I am struggling at work, and life in general is just blah.

However:
Saturday night I had dinner with K20. I am happy to say that she made The President's List at school. This is a great accomplishment for her considering her learning issues. I am so proud of her for persevering.

Tonight I had dinner with K18. She was given the role of Madame De La Grande Bouche, the fabulous, enchanted wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast. At the end of the play, she is supposed to wear a hot, smoking, red dress. Tonight we talked about her first boyfriend. They have known each other since 2nd grade. I am very happy and scared for her all at the same time. She is leaving for Michigan for spring break. Nervous momma here since two weeks ago one of her friends she has known since 3rd grade was killed along with her best friend in a car wreck in Magnolia.

Tomorrow night J and I are going out to dinner with friends. We have tickets to see Reba at the rodeo on Friday night. Of course, the forecast is 60 percent chance of thunderstorms. It ALWAYS storms when we have tickets to the rodeo, so why should this year be any different? Saturday night we have tickets to the horse/camel/ostrich races. Great way to start my spring break!!!

I have been working more on my novel, changing it, then changing it back. I really need to finish it!!!

Hopefully, at the end of March I will have some exciting news to share with all of you. I caught up with your blogs tonight. Sorry I was unable to comment.