The remodeled interior of the Wheelwatch. The new wall separates the bar from Pel-Mart, our new grocery store which has been given the green light to go. We're legal now. This picture and caption have nothing to do with today's post.
Last night I filled out a couple of Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes entries. According to their records, I have been a good friend since 1997. It seems longer and actually, it has been. I used to enter under my maiden name, but apparently we're not good enough friends for them to realize that.
A person's chances of winning the big prize used to be about 1 in 150,000,000. Now, it is 1 in more than 1,000,000,000. Not very promising. So, why bother? Most of the time I don't. At other times, I just figure there's no reason not to enter (can't win unless you do), and I can mess around with all the hoopla while watching something not particularly riveting on television.
Besides, it can be quite entertaining. I am NOT making this up. Here isjust a portion of what last night's PCH entry had to offer:
* Pecan Nougat Logs (do people actually eat these?) . Can't remember the price.
* Ozzie and Harriet DVD for four payments of 4.99 ( haven't people heard of TV Land or Nick at Nite?)
* Microwave Potato Baker, four payments of 3.99. ( I stab my potato and wrap it in a paper towel)
* Lint Catching Brush, four payments of 2.99 ( who mail orders a lint brush? Try Walmart)
* Sterling Silver Kitty Pendant, four payments of 3.99 ( no comment)
* 10 in 1 Precision Sprayer, four payments of 4.99 ( I confess--I would buy this)
* Frog Plant Ties (set of 4), four payments of 2.99 ( NO WAY. Sorry, but no. Use bread ties).
My glass of wine may have had something to do with how entertaining I found my PCH sweepstakes last night, but certainly not all of my mirth was alcohol-induced. I am guilty of sometimes buying from PCH. Can't help it. It's like the 10 in 1 precision sprayer. Wow! Ten tools in one! Cool.
On the other hand, I want the job of the person who gets to pick out all this crap. To be kind, it's an eclectic mix. If I was feeling less generous, I'd have to say that it's a bunch of crap. I did buy some glucosamine cream one time that makes extra strength tiger balm look like baby lotion. I love it, but use it sparingly because I have no idea if I'll ever be able to get more.
Last year I made a mistake and ordered the Nearly Black Rose from PCH. In what Mick and I refer to as the immediate back yard ( as opposed to the far back), we have Nearly Black Roses alternating with John Paul II (white) roses. I got all of our roses from Jackson and Perkins because they have very high quality plants. However, sometimes something will die. Like one of my Nearly Black Roses and it messed up the symmetry of the planting. So, then I decided to be cheap and when I saw that PCH had a Nearly Black Rose, I ordered it. And my symmetry continues to be messed up. The replacement rose can be named whatever they want to name it, but that thing is bright magenta. It's also puny. It looks like the unloved step-child, but I can't just yank it out. For one thing, Mick wouldn't let me. I may one of these days. I can give it a home in my ridiculously large flower/ weed garden. But I digress...
With the price of postage (speaking of ridiculous), entering sweepstakes may be more than just an investment in time. But for the most part, that's what it is. You may not have to purchase anything, but you do have to go on a treasure hunt, looking for the appropriate stickers to lick and stick on the entry form ( and WHAT is with the glue they use? Toxic AND nasty). Because, of course they want you to look at all the crap they have for sale and buy something. Most of the time PCH doesn't even send magazine offers, only once in awhile.
The current drawing for a big prize is on August 13. Someone may potentially win $100,000. a week for a year. Wouldn't that be fun? The chances of winning are something like 1 in 1.7 billion, but hey! You've got to enter to win.
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