Too Lazy to Scratch

For those who've followed The Dialogue Den for awhile, you know that I pick up California Lottery Scratchers that folks throw away. I pick them up off the sidewalk, parking lots, and yes...I've even pulled them out of trash cans (disgusting...I know.)

I do this so that I can enter them into the 2nd Chance Drawing. One day I'm gonna win, and all my trash digging will pay off.

Recently, during a walk in my neighborhood, I came across the one pictured. I had to do a "double take" because it looked like this one was BRAND NEW...and that just didn't make sense.

Upon closer examination, I realized that it wasn't as "new" as it appeared. It was indeed "used." Whoever discarded it however, didn't even take the time to "scratch" down the row, nor any of the "power spots" to see if they were a winner. Instead, they cut right to the chase...scratched to reveal the bar code, and checked to see the winning status that way.

Wow!

Have folks become so lazy that scratching boxes on a card are now "too much work?" In all my time of picking up discarded scratchers, this was the first time I'd found one that hadn't even "officially" been scratched.

Turns out, it was indeed a "loser," although it hadn't been entered into the 2nd Chance Drawing...so I went ahead and took care of that.

Anyhoo...I hope that this card was just a fluke, and that I don't find more where folks just go right to the barcode. I mean really...doesn't the majority of excitement come from actually scratching the boxes in anticipation of uncovering winners? For me it is.

Well...with that, Let the DIALOGUE begin: What unusual acts of laziness have you witnessed lately?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Thanks for Dinner!

A few months ago I wrote about 2nd Chance Scratchers and how I pick up the discarded ones whenever I'm out walking. Since I haven't had a car for over a month, I've been doing a LOT of walking. On any given day I pick up at least ONE. Today I found FIVE.

I bring them home and enter them into the 2nd Chance drawing. I figure there's nothing to lose, and plenty to gain.

The other day I picked one up, brought it home, entered the code and received message telling me that I had either entered the code incorrectly, or...the card was a WINNER. I entered the code two more times and received the same message. At that point I realized that I truly had a WINNER on my hands. How exciting!

I looked closely at the card and could see that all of the boxes had been scratched. In the scratcher's haste, they failed to notice that one of the boxes was an automatic WINNER...a TWENTY FIVE DOLLAR automatic WINNER. WHEW!!!

I say a prayer of thanks every time I find a discarded scratcher, and said an even greater prayer of thanks when I saw that I had won TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS. Something similar happened once before, but that card was only an EIGHT DOLLAR WINNER.

I know what's going on.

Folks scratch so quickly, hoping to win, that they don't always pay attention and end up throwing away winning cards.

On this evening's walk, I found the card that's pictured. As you can see, it was ripped in half BEFORE it even got scratched. Folks need to slow down...although I'm thankful that they don't.

Was the card a winner?

No. But it could've been...and without me having had to spend a cent.

With the twenty five dollar winnings, I treated myself to a footlong combo at Subway. So technically, not only was tonight's DINNER free...but tomorrow's LUNCH will be also since there's half a sandwich left. That's "win-win" if ever there was one.

Now it's YOUR turn: Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever found "free" money?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

So a couple days ago I wrote about how I pick up discarded Lotto Scratchers when I go on my neighborhood walks. I pick them up to be entered into the "2nd chance" drawing. One of them will win one day...I just know it!

So the other day I found the one that's pictured here. It was torn into three pieces. I still picked it up!

Brought it home and went to enter the code. On my first attempt I received an error message that advised me to check the numbers or...the card may be a winner.

I checked the numbers.

Entered the code again.

Got the same error message.

How odd. I'd never had that happen before.

So I took a closer look at the card and realized that whoever its original owner was didn't completely scratch off all the numbers before they decided that the card was a "loser" and decided to toss it.

Well I took a closer look and discovered that it was in fact a WINNER.

Just like that, I was five dollars richer than I had been 10 seconds before. Cool!

Now I wasn't sure if the store would redeem my winning ticket since it wasn't in tact, but figured I didn't have anything to lose by trying.

So I get to the store, hand in my ticket, and the clerk said, "It won't go through." I asked him to try. He gave me the "side-eye" and took it to the machine. Two seconds later he says, "You won ten dollars." WHAT?!?

Ten dollars?!? I thought the ticket was only a five dollar winner. SWEEET!!!

At that moment, I was reassured that I haven't been crazy by picking up these icky tickets from sidewalks, curbs and parking lots. And once again I was reminded that "one man's trash is another man's treasure." The same can be said for relationships. A man may leave a woman because she doesn't meet his standards, and another man will come along and see that she's everything he's ever wanted. Funny how life works.

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: For the Lotto players out there...do you prefer Scratchers, or the daily games?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

It Pays to Walk

I just returned home

from a long leisurely walk through my neighborhood. Got 3.1 miles in. Yay me!!!

Of the many different forms of exercise, walking is my favorite, and there a many neighborhoods that I enjoy walking in, for various reasons.

The streets of View Park are challenging because of the hills, yet I love looking at the homes that are filled with well-off Black folks. I'm always inspired, wondering what they've done and do to live lifestyles such as theirs, so far removed from my own.

I also enjoy strolling through the beach cities for obvious reasons. The greatest being the fact that the ocean is just feet away. The sound soothes me and if I so choose, the water rushing over me feet does as well.

Then there's my own neighborhood. Not many well-off folks to be seen here, nor do I have the soundtrack of the ocean to accompany my steps, but I've got something that I've NEVER seen in View Park or the beach cities.

I've got discarded California Lottery Scratchers! I find at least ONE every time I go walking. Today, I found all the ones that are in the pic -- TWELVE to be exact.

Most folks would say, "Who cares about a LOSING Scratcher?"

And I would answer that with, "I do!"

Each 2nd Chance Scratcher has a code. Once that code is entered that Scratcher is now in the running for a weekly draw.

Depending on how much the card was worth, "There are two weekly winners of $25,000, five weekly winners of $5,000 and twenty-five weekly winners of $1,000 for each Scratchers 2nd Chance drawing."

That's reason enough for ME to care. And the best part is that I'm getting a chance to win without spending a penny. Apparently, the folks who tossed their "losing" cards onto the street or sidewalk either aren't aware of the 2nd Chance drawing, or they just don't want to take the time to enter them.

That's perfectly fine with me. Their loss is my gain, or as I've often heard it said, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." That makes me think of relationships...at least the ones I've been in.

I know without a doubt that I am a TREASURE, yet the men I've been with haven't seen my worth and have discarded me as trash. That's alright though, because just as someone thought these Scratchers were "losers," yet I believe that there is a WINNER among them -- one day the right man will come along and see that I too am a WINNER.

Bet you've never known anyone to compare themselves to a Scratcher before, have you? Now you can say that you have. So "scratch" that off your bucket list. ;-)

Some folks my be creeped out by the fact that I actually pick these things up. After all, there's no telling WHO touched them or how long they've been out in streets. You'd think that would be an issue for me considering what I huge GERMAPHOBE I am. But no...doesn't stop me one bit, and...it's what soap and water are for, so I'm good. For a chance at winning $25,000, $5,000 or $100...having to wash my hands a couple more times a day is a small price to pay.

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever won anything from a Scratcher?

Talk to me!

Til next time...