I haven't been posting much lately. Not because the warm glow of low-stakes gambling has lost its luster. I doubt it ever will. No, I've just been slammed with work.
But I just cleared a deadline that kept me shackled to Microsoft Word nearly 24/7, so I can finally take a moment today to bust through a couple of scratch tickets.
And I guess it's a fitting way to celebrate. Because the fact that I have to spend most of my waking hours working (for pay or domestically) is really why I gravitated to the lottery in the first place.
Not just because it offers the alluring promise of winning enough money that I could tone down my work hours for a while. But because it's so damn quick.
Since my leisure time has been shaved down to the width of a toothpick, there's little room to enjoy slow, languid pleasures like reading a book, baking bread, or going on a casual bike ride. Whatever fun I can muster has to be squeezed into very tiny pockets of time, wherever I can find them.
So I've reading books two or three pages at a time. I watch movies while cooking. And I waste a bit of money on scratch-offs because it gives me a concentrated thrill - all the pleasure I'd get over the course of an hour-long activity, condensed into a three- to five-minute micro-slice of my day.
It's the busy man's hobby. And I'm a busy man.
So busy that I didn't want to muster the energy to pick the tickets I'd play.
Normally, I have no problem in that department. I waltz into the pharmacy or the grocery store with a clear idea of what I'll get from the display case next to the register.
But not this week. This week, my brain is fried. My neurons have spent too much time contorting themselves into weird configurations so I could get in the mindset of the business coach, the entrepreneur, and every other degenerate type who hires me to edit their books. And now there's no juice left in the cerebellum.
Luckily, I can always go to Bluesky and find mutuals willing to make these difficult decisions for me.
And this time, they guided me to two tickets: the highly enjoyable Bingo Extra and the close-to-my-heart Flaming 7s.
Alright, I've wasted enough time rambling. It's time for gambling.
First Up: Bingo Extra
First pick by brittney: Bingo Extra.
And what's really nice about Bingo Extra is that it's a sit-down ticket.
For just five bucks, you get to zone in and really take your time hunting for all the numbers, and it's very satisfying the whole way through (even if you don't win a darn thing).
This one gives me a 1 in 3.6 chance of winning anywhere from $5 to $50,000 so let's just see how lucky I get.
After a good session of hunting for numbers, I was only a few spots away from pocketing at least twenty bucks.
And what's this? The game isn't over yet?
Not even close. Because there are five bonus numbers to keep the good times rolling!
Didn't matter though.
Even with five more numbers, still zip.
No lines. No four corners. Definitely no X.
But no problem, because I brought backup.
Flaming 7s
The second pick comes courtesy of Mooch, who really gets the allure of the Flaming 7s.
If Bingo Extra feels like a pleasant stroll, Flaming 7s runs at the blazing pace of a slot machine.
Uncover ten rows. Match three symbols to win. A jolt of adrenaline that's over almost as soon as it begins.
But more importantly: an opportunity to redeem myself.
Because sure, losing on a $5 ticket kind of stings. But winning on a low boy can soothe the pain, even if you end up with lighter pockets in the end.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Ten goes. Ten losses. A perfect simulation of a real round of slots.
Back to the Grindstone
And so I have returned, not with a triumphant shout of victory but with the pathetic whimper of a total loss.
But hey, I had a good time, which was sorely needed.
Now, I've got to get some rest so I can wake up bright and early for another day of wall-to-wall work.
And with any luck, I'll find time again soon to scratch a few more tickets. And (dare I dream?) maybe even win something.
Tally
Wagered This Session: $7
Profit This Session: $0
Total Profit Overall: $141.96
