I guess NBC could not wait until they released Windfall the new show about friends that get together to play the lotto jackpot. They win and have to split the pot ($20M each). It's kind of a soapy type show, but it has 3 actors I like (including Jack Bauer's previous girlfriend/interest from a previous season of 24).
My summertime shows include Rescue Me (makes me hold my breath and laugh the whole time) and The 4400 (very well done). So now I've added Windfall to the TiVo mix. The summer mix. And why not Windfall it's got it's trashy side (hello, Luke Perry for all you former 90210 fans). It's also got an interesting side because what really would happen if you won the lotto? All of my current (and soon to be former) co-workers would not keep their jobs. For they have told me this.
It's interesting because they all split it. So it's not one person winning the biggest lotto ever. I'm drawn into the character who is in love with someone (who is also married). He went off overseas for a year, fell in love with someone else (and married that person). The winning lotto number was his birthday, picked by this mistress/former lover/current lover. So it's not really that well acted or scripted...but like a romance novel read on the beach you tell yourself it's okay. Why? Well because it's summertime.
You wear less clothes. You care less about your day job. You hang with friends more. You let it all air out. You consider your future. What would you do if you won the jackpot? I would really like to win the free Red Sox tickets for life on the new scratch tickets, but that's just me. They say money does not give you hapiness, but it sure as hell helps.
I know for sure I would pay off my debt, my parents and in-laws, and buy my brother a house in the country. I sure as hell would finish my vacation home in Maine, but I still would not run power to it and ruin the mountain. Solar works a-okay for me.
I know you can't take the $$ with you. I know it's safe to save some. I would keep a part time job. Because I have friends who are rich and still work. You never know what's going to happen. Would I be able to hande the folks that showed up on my doorstep like the characters in Windfall? Yes, I would. I'm a pretty strong person (and a bit of a bitch I might add). I would keep them away. I already have an unlisted number so I'm not worried about that. I would buy the rest of the mountain in Maine though,what the hell. I'm pretty selfish (although I've been told I'd make a great Mom). But I'm also caring. I would help the charities I care about (hello, Mass Audubon).
Money does change things. And winning the lotto may not change life for the better. Greed is evil. But greed powers the world.
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Sometime ago someone from a poor locality in populous Kolkata (Calcutta, India) was reported to have one lottery worth equivalent to US $6 M. Nobody showed up to claim the money for several days. Lottery officials camped at the small-time vendor's shop publicizing it with lights and banners. Finally a hand-to-mouth scrap dealer from a slum area turned up accompanied by several friends and relatives to claim the prize. The processing and other formalities will take a few months to get the prize in hand. The latest news is that the lottery winner has now gone into hiding as he was being harassed by new-found friends and relatives.
That is interesting. I had not heard that strory. I've just posted in my other blog that I would build a nice house for all my friends to escape to if they needed to (secret location and off the grid because no BloodOil would heat my paradise). :)
That sounds like a really good plan. I can see what you're saying about paying off your mom's house. My parent's house is paid for but my in-laws never pay their bills so I'd throw a couple Mil their way to help them fix their credit and stop borrowing from their 401Ks. My parents have pension waitng for them, it's my in-laws I'm concerned with.
I'd also love to buy a printing press and start up a record label so all of my friends could start doing the things that they loved without having to rely on getting "discovered."
And of course I'd buy my dad an old hot rod and start working on it with him because I love my daddy.
I LOVE that idea.
P.S. Just got $4 flip flops at Hot Topic. Black w/ metal studs. $5 off sale. *sigh* Hot Topic is our friend.
It's funny you mention the hot rod because I just met a guy at the mall (he missed his bus) and he said he got too many speeding tix because he builds hot rods.
That's your choice...but if you do want quality check out The 4400 or Rescue Me (if you're not afraid of the language and nudity).
What will you be watching this summer instead of these shows? Keep in mind I read a book/week and I write. So I'm not soaking up the boob tube for nothing. :)