But what it don't get I can't use...
One of the cool things that some members of Katie's family do for holidays is to buy the little scratch-off lottery tickets as a gift. If we receive a gift from a select group of relatives during the Christmas gift exchange, you know you're going to receive about a half dozen tickets in addition to whatever other gift you get. If one of us gets a birthday card in the mail, you know that the tickets will fall out of the card when you open the envelope.
We'll win a few bucks here and there; maybe a free card. No big payout. And none is expected. It's just fun.
Yesterday, I finally cashed in the winning tickets that we had been collecting since my birthday. In all, we won $4 and 6 free cards. I just took the whole thing in new cards for kicks. Not that we'd be out a whole lot even if we lost it all, right? And it's fun, so why not.
I came home with two $1 cards and four $2 cards. Katie and I split them up. She was grumbling because her first two paid out nothing while my three cards granted me one free card and $7.
Then I hear, "I think I won everything on this card."
Huh? So she shows me her card.
When you play these matching games, you're lucky to get one number that matches the so-called "Lucky Numbers." Every single one of the numbers on her card matched her lucky numbers. And she's going to net $100 as a result.
Not like this is multi-millions in the Little Lotto or Powerball or even the $20,000 payout the card professes is a possibility, but, considering we're leaving for Florida on Saturday, it's a nice little boost.
I think Katie's scratching all tickets from here on out.
And, no Karl, this does not mean we're paying for our little get together. We might buy a drink for Miss Britt, but she's cuter than you.
I love those kinds of gifts. There is a certain amount of extra love felt for the "what if I win millions" moment we all have. And FYI, some of my parents friends used to do the same thing around the holidays ... and about 10 years ago, they won $50 million. It does happen.
Posted by: Nilsa S. | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 08:07 AM
We do this with a friend of ours. We have yet to win anything exciting, but the little bit here and there makes it so much fun!
Posted by: tori | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 08:11 AM
Why haven't you emailed me about Florida?
Posted by: Avitable | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 08:14 AM
Neat!! I didn't think anybody won more than $25 on the Illinois scratch-offs. Katie must be good luck!
Posted by: diane | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 09:39 AM
I have never won anything on those scratchy cards! When an American friend was visiting last Summer he bought one just to see and won £10 ($20) on his first attempt!!
Posted by: Penelope | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 10:28 AM
That's fantastic! Just in time for your trip too. ;)
Posted by: sizzle | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 10:38 AM
oh how cool! I would be excited! I know it is only 100.00 but the most I have ever won 9and I don't play hardly at all) is 4.00.
go Katie!!
Posted by: Debbie | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 10:38 AM
Wait. Didn't I just post a comment? Hmmm.
Anyhow, I said something like- just in time for your trip, how lucky!
Posted by: sizzle | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 10:39 AM
Nilsa, you can win $50 million on scratch offs??? Yowza!!!
tori, it's just fun to scratch them off once in a while. Ummm... scratching the tickets, not your friends.
Avitable, I announced it on the blog earlier this week or late last week and Britt contacted me about it. I figured you didn't say anything because she was coordinating for both of you. Was I wrong?
diane, I didn't think so either. But no single winning spot on this ticket was more than $25. There were two at $25, one at $20, two at $10, and four with either $2 or $3. All told, it equaled $100.
Penelope, that can't feel good.
sizzle, yeah, you did. It probably just didn't show right away. Miss Britt had the same problem yesterday.
Debbie, we never really play either. Never seems worth the money.
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 11:32 AM
Um, back up the truck. You are all meeting in Florida and Karl did not at least pretend to invite me. Sigh...we are so breaking up.
Posted by: Hilly | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 11:56 AM
Hilly, so c'mon down! Hop a flight!
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 12:01 PM
Plus, I'm cheap.
Posted by: Miss Britt | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 03:04 PM
Woo hoo!
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 05:08 PM
So you're not quitting your jobs and running off with the winnings? ;)
Posted by: nicole | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 06:09 PM
I used to buy these quite a bit... I may have to start again!
Posted by: Bec | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 06:24 PM
I love scratching them off when people give them to me, but I'm too much of a skeptic to drop money on them!
Still, it'd be nice to hit it big just by scratching off some foil!
Posted by: Bre | Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 09:37 PM
nicole, well the thought had crossed our minds and then we realized how long it would last us. *sad*
Bec, don't go getting addicted! ;-)
Bre, I agree. The only time we drop money on them is when we win money from ones that are given to us or if we're buying them as a gift for someone else. I think we've bought actual lotto tickets once or twice during our time together, but that's it. So we're right there with you.
Posted by: kapgar | Thursday, 28 February 2008 at 05:44 AM
OK, I'll give you that point. Miss Britt is definitely cuter. Still, Katie has the hots for me so she's going to buy me a drink.
Posted by: Karl | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 02:45 PM
Katie's laughing hysterically right now.
Posted by: kapgar | Sunday, 02 March 2008 at 11:17 PM