March Mega Millions Madness!

Tony and I, like a lot of other people across America, played the lottery for the first time in the (very small) hopes of winning the big $640 million jackpot.  Not to be corny, but hey… you can’t win if you don’t play!  Mega Millions did seem to create a bit of a stir in Buffalo, but there were not the 2+ hour lines like in other areas of the nation.  The longest I saw was a line at Tops’ customer service extending to the Redbox machine. 

We bought our tickets at our local convenience store.  We felt kind of awkward, as we hadn’t even looked at one of those Mega Millions scantron sheets, let alone filled one out before.  Tony and I played a combination of quick picks ($5) and our own “lucky number” combinations ($5) in celebration of our first lottery experience.

Before the big numbers were announced, Tony and I met up for dinner with our friends Matt and Ashley to celebrate Matt’s upcoming birthday.  While enjoying our meals, we talked about what we would do with all that money when one of us was sure to be declared a winner that night.  Our plans started out conservative, including solid investments and paying off student loans.  However, the ideas soon spread to the outlandish.  Tony insisted he would be the first owner of a pet Wooly Mammoth following their upcoming cloning.  Matt and Ashley brought up getting a “jump around” in the backyard as a major perk.  Matt pointed out that there have been articles written about the downsides of winning the lottery… one of which is strain on marriages.  I think a Wooly Mammoth would be a definite problem for Tony and I, compounded by one actually inside of a jump around.

When the numbers were finally drawn, Tony and I waited anxiously.  We refused to look at the flimsy sheets of paper until the last number was drawn.  Scanning through our sheets, we found we were the proud winners… Of $2!!!!! Oh, the exciting prospects of what we can do with all that cash. 

And, here she is: our lucky ticket.  That circled "23" means the big bucks!

Things I have learned from my one time playing the Mega Millions lottery:

(1) Tony and my lucky numbers really aren’t very lucky:  I am pretty sure we share our “lucky numbers” with half of America.  And, at least for the lottery, I think they are more of a distraction than an actual help.  Using “our numbers,” mostly which extend from a combo of meaningful dates and old sports jersey numbers, the spread was pretty poor… not a single number on our “lucky” $5 sheet came up. Also, I realize we don’t have very many meaningful numbers in the 30’s-50’s.  Bad choice.

(2) Quick picks are the way to go, especially if you are playing more than one board.  If it hadn’t been for the quick picks, we would have won nothing! And looking through the history of big winners, most of them were quick pick winners anyways… not that I am planning on regularly burning money on lottery tickets.

(3) Playing is more fun BEFORE the numbers are drawn: it is pretty sad when the excitement following the drawing constitutes looking for just MAYBE one number showing up on your ticket… and just about everyone is set up to lose anyways.

Doggie SOCKS!!

This past week Tony and I visited Elmwood Pet Supply, a cute pet boutique.  This was our first time there.  We were so impressed with the excellent selection of unique items for dogs to enjoy.  Butters especially enjoyed this trip.  He had a chance to meet the shop’s dog and investigate the numerous treat bins throughout the store.  Most of the things we bought were practical, including a moose antler (an odorless, long-lasting chew) and bully sticks (his all-time favorite treat).  However, we could not resist when we saw these…

Yes… doggie SOCKS! 

Of course, Butters thought these were definitely meant to be a chew toy.  

It was much to his displeasure that he learned these are to be worn… not as much fun.  

However, they did kind of grow on him after he had a chance to chew his new moose antler while wearing the socks

I realize somewhere along the line Tony and I turned into those annoying dog owners who love to torture dogs with the prospect of a new outfit… sweaters, hats, and now socks for Butters.  At least these are just for the occasional moment we need a good laugh and not an everyday thing.  However, I am pretty sure a Halloween costume will be in order after his reaction to these ridiculous socks.

March in a few moments Part 2

Here are some continued highlights from our month off:

(1) Tony and I returned to Letchworth State Park, the place where we were married.  It felt surreal at first, as this was our first time back since the wedding.  The park was so pretty even this early in the season, with spring flowers popping up and the waterfalls raging from the spring thaw (although there wasn’t too much to thaw from this winter).  It was unseasonably warm for March, and felt more like summer than early spring.  In our excitement to get to the park early, we of course forgot to pack a lunch.  Being in a pretty secluded area, there were not very many food options.  However, we were very lucky that in the neighboring down, Castile, there is this great little sub shop.  We ordered our huge subs and brought them back to the park, enjoying an unexpected little picnic early in the season.  Of course, Butters had a blast exploring.  He loved looking over the ledges at the gorges and waterfalls, but immediately would get nervous when we would lift him up for a better view.

(2) We visited with my parents and my sister, Kit, in Ithaca, enjoying a couple days of rest while our house was being shown.  Tony and I went back to Aladdins, a cute Mediterranean restaurant we used to go to for special occasions during our time at Cornell.  We got our regulars: I ordered the shishkebab pita and he ordered the sundried tomato pesto tortellini washed down with some of their house merlot.  Their desserts are to die for, so we ordered a caramel chocolate explosion pie and another regular for us, the baklava.  It reminded us of walking down from our collegetown dorms, first Cascadilla and later Sheldon, and enjoying an intimate evening together. As we had almost no money at the time, our times at Aladdins were very special.  We would imagine how someday we would have other opportunities for date nights more than a couple times a year.  Returning to Aladdins also reminded us that it has, in fact, been 4 years since we graduated college.  Surrounding conversations consisted of how many beers one guy held down last weekend to the best way to make a fake ID.  Oh yes, the joys that once were college!

With the early spring also reaching Ithaca, I enjoyed going on some walks with my Mom and taking some more photos around the Cornell/Ithaca area.  

March in a few moments!

I have been meaning to post on here for a while about Tony and my adventures during our month off.  But, as most vacations go, the distraction of enjoying break made it quickly go by.  Here we are, almost at the end of March, without any postings.  With a little under a week left before my FINAL month of medical school, here are some highlights from break in a 2-part series:

(1) Tony’s Mom, Lori, and his Grandma Dot came to visit for an afternoon and for dinner.  It was so nice to relax on the couch and chat.  Lori brought Butters one of his favorite treats… carrots!  He knows when he sees Grandma Lori that he will be sure to get something special.  Also, they introduced us to the AMAZING Boston Cream Pie sold at Tops… definitely recommend it.  It is made with real whipped cream, and is absolutely delicious.

(2) Tony and I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with Paul (Tony's Dad), Lindsey (Tony's sister), Margie (Paul's wonderful girlfriend) and her daughter Jess.  Butters absolutely HATED the St. Patrick's ears we got for him, suffering through a few shots.  We enjoyed truly homemade Reuben sandwiches, compliments of my Mom’s recipe.  Paul made his first cooking video, showing all those new to Reubens how it’s done.   Also, we celebrated his birthday with… yes… another Boston Cream Pie.   Butters was absolutely in heaven with all of the new friends to give him some hugs (and new faces to slap wet kisses on).

 

(3) I went to visit my friends Heather and Bruce, as well as their wonderful boys Cody and Gavin.  Even though it had only been a couple months since I last saw them, I could not believe how fast the boys are growing up.  That is the kind of corny things adults would say to me as a kid.  I would think to myself, “Duh, silly adult, what do you think was happening these last few months?  Of course I am getting bigger and all that stuff!”  The one that really amazed me was Gavin, as he all of a sudden has this exponentially increased vocabulary and is talking up a storm! Heather and I enjoyed the glorious sunny weather, getting a tan IN MARCH!!!  Whenever Heather and I meet up, it is just like old times.  We always find something to talk about, and the time passes so quickly just enjoying each other’s company.  Tony will join us next time when we go back to visit them April 1st!  Although the pictures below were taken last spring, pretty much sums up why we are still such close friends after all of these years