my fortunes

last thursday, i had dinner with a photography instructor whom i've assisted for a few times. chinese food, mediocre at best. it was up in the village so we got the obligatory fortune cookie. my stance has been an individually wrapped cookie is worth much more to the restaurant than me. firstly, i don't enjoy the taste of the cookie. secondly, i don't believe in my fate decided on a piece of paper (in a bit of flat cake). i believe we create our own destiny.

but my fortunes were opened up

what an appropriate fortune for me.

i thought about playing those numbers in the saturday's lottery, but i held fast to my beliefs and saved my dollar. only 1 number matched, the 8.

10 years ago, a few friends and i were in a lottery pool. five of us buying the same numbers every week for a year, rotating who would buy tickets for the week. we didn't win a dime. i haven't played since

a friend of mine still plays every week. quick pick. he understands the losing odds and is pretty logical about it. he is a computer consultant and realizes that there isn't much he can do in his life to really change it into that direction. so twice a week, he throws two bucks towards the new york state education system (what the n.y. lotto is set up to support).

today, i struggle to not put the money into the megamillions jackpot -- even though it is 43 million dollars.

actual odds 175,711,536:1 for the jackpot; chance of winning something 39.89:1.