I Won!
I can count on one finger the things I won in my life before bringing Vika and Eamon home. For those of you doing the math, that means that in 32 years of life I won a grand total of 1 thing. It was a goldfish that was awarded to me at a carnival after the ping-pong ball I tossed landed in it's bowl. I was 6 years old at the time, and instantly fell in love with my first-ever pet.
I named the goldfish Johnny. I "taught" him how to swim circles around my finger. I cleaned his bowl once a week, ever so carefully. One day, my brother asked if he could help clean Johnny's bowl. I reluctantly agreed, and let him get to work. He gently scrubbed the bowl and refilled it with water. The clean-up job seemed to be going well, but when he put Johnny back into the bowl, the most horrible thing happened! Johnny had no sooner hit the water, when his fins shot out, spread eagle, and he floated to the top! I rushed over to see what was wrong, and when I put my finger in the water, it was scalding hot. My brother had cooked my goldfish!
Needless to say, I was overcome with anger and grief. I drew a picture of Johnny, in orange crayon, and hung it on the wall over my bed. There it stayed for months afterwards, a tribute to my fallen pet. (I realize I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here, but I will jump at any chance to remind my brother of this childhood atrocity)
My one experience with winning didn't turn out too well. However, since we brought the kids home, my luck seems to have changed. In the last year, I've won several times. I even cleaned house at my friends baby shower, taking home numerous prizes (the other guests were not pleased). Then, in the middle of December, I received an e-mail stating that I had won a Shutterfly sweepstakes. Not only had I won, but I was being awarded the Grand Prize of a new digital camera!
At first, I was skeptical. I was not aware that I had even entered a sweepstakes on Shutterfly. Apparently, every customer who purchased over a certain amount in prints was automatically entered (our Christmas card purchase qualified me). Since the winner's response form didn't ask for any personal info that could be used for nefarious purposes, I sent it in, while taking a "let's wait and see" attitude.
Well, guess what was waiting for me when I got home today. A new, Panasonic digital camera from U.S. Sweepstakes & Fulfillment! How cool is that?
Here are some pictures I took while playing around with it this evening.
Vika and Eamon
Our cat, Oona, who's really quite a ham.
Now I just have to make sure I don't let my brother anywhere near this camera. Joe, you're on notice!
I named the goldfish Johnny. I "taught" him how to swim circles around my finger. I cleaned his bowl once a week, ever so carefully. One day, my brother asked if he could help clean Johnny's bowl. I reluctantly agreed, and let him get to work. He gently scrubbed the bowl and refilled it with water. The clean-up job seemed to be going well, but when he put Johnny back into the bowl, the most horrible thing happened! Johnny had no sooner hit the water, when his fins shot out, spread eagle, and he floated to the top! I rushed over to see what was wrong, and when I put my finger in the water, it was scalding hot. My brother had cooked my goldfish!
Needless to say, I was overcome with anger and grief. I drew a picture of Johnny, in orange crayon, and hung it on the wall over my bed. There it stayed for months afterwards, a tribute to my fallen pet. (I realize I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here, but I will jump at any chance to remind my brother of this childhood atrocity)
My one experience with winning didn't turn out too well. However, since we brought the kids home, my luck seems to have changed. In the last year, I've won several times. I even cleaned house at my friends baby shower, taking home numerous prizes (the other guests were not pleased). Then, in the middle of December, I received an e-mail stating that I had won a Shutterfly sweepstakes. Not only had I won, but I was being awarded the Grand Prize of a new digital camera!
At first, I was skeptical. I was not aware that I had even entered a sweepstakes on Shutterfly. Apparently, every customer who purchased over a certain amount in prints was automatically entered (our Christmas card purchase qualified me). Since the winner's response form didn't ask for any personal info that could be used for nefarious purposes, I sent it in, while taking a "let's wait and see" attitude.
Well, guess what was waiting for me when I got home today. A new, Panasonic digital camera from U.S. Sweepstakes & Fulfillment! How cool is that?
Here are some pictures I took while playing around with it this evening.
Vika and Eamon
Our cat, Oona, who's really quite a ham.
Now I just have to make sure I don't let my brother anywhere near this camera. Joe, you're on notice!
Oh the goldfish story brings back memories. BLAINE cooked one of the ones I got from your wedding. Oh no...I just made Blaine and your brother have something in common. Sorry 'bout that.
That Panasonic camera takes some nice shots! If you need any help figuring that thing out, just consult your local recovering technical writer.
Happy shooting!
Congrats!
p.s. Let your poor brother off the hook. Fish guilt is a terrible thing. When I was in kindergarten I overfed and subsequently killed all of the fish in the classroom's aquarium. I still feel badly! (If any readers went to Mrs Yale's 1977/1978 kindergarten class, I sincerely apologize.)
Here I thought it was just going to be soap that killed Johnny. I've never heard of anyone cooking their goldfish. Too Funny!!!
COngratz on the new camera. That's cool. I've never won anything that great before.
OMG. That is the coolest thing EVER!! Congrats!!
Poor Johnny...poor, poor Johnny..
what a cool prize. Lucky dog!
Jenni-
Very Cool!!
I love it when good things happen to nice people!
As for a fish story...
When we lived in Sac we had a beta fish that we hung on the wall in a "wall tank", well in Sac it gets really hot in the summer. You guessed it, we cooked him. One day we came home and he was belly up in his tank. His name you may ask, was...Ice Cream! Yep we melted our ice cream!
Sad day for sure!!
:)
Jeff & Family
I'll be sure to let my brother know that he's in good company when it comes to offing fish!
Although Cath, I'm not sure I'd consider BLAINE good company.
Congratulations!!!
I love love love that picture of Vika, mischevious Vika should that be?! lol
Wow--fab! I'm a never-win, too.
Thanks for the response in my blog... I will seriously consider it!
As for fish. My brother has "raised" fish for years, he's a breeder now and makes great money at it. Regardless, the first instane with fish death I had was when I was "house sitting" for them (my two older brothers) my first year away at University. He had a "decorative" beta in the walk-in room of the house it was the cutest little thing...
Well one night I came to their house to feed the fish in the expensive tanks and let the dog out when I noticed to dog had a "chew toy". I had forgotten to put the lid back on the beta tank and he commited beta-cide... leaping from the tank to the floor and dying in the hours I was away at class. I cried... he still hasn't forgotten it and I've yet to fish sit for them again (even though I've house sat, they get another fish breeder to deal with the fish).
Lovely camera pictures though! Perhaps all luck will change after everyone gets their children... a new goal!