What would you do?

Even people who never spend a cent on the lottery have had that winner's fantasy. So the AJC, in a startling piece of journalism, decided to ask readers to post online what they would do if the won. My favorite answer was from a very prudent reader, who said she would "Disappear." Sounds so much better than my heartfelt noodling on the subject:

I would obviously pay off all my debts and then set up my mother with enough money so that she never again have to even look at her checkbook before buying the tacky china patterns, or pretty dresses that she loves so much. I’d set up unbreakable trusts for my cousin’s kids so that they will never have to worry about their loser fathers coming after their cash and there would be enough when they hit adulthood to go to any school they wanted. Hire a contractor to repair and remodel my grandmother’s house for her, even though she will complain she doesn’t want it. I’d send my other cousin who is in grad school in CA enough money to finish her education without assistance and to let her treat her pals to all the sushi and expensive coffee drinks it will take to get her through her masters degree. Treat 6 lifelong friends to any trinkets their hearts desired. I’d finish paying for my classes, buy myself a new car, and then I would add up all the money I have collected on unemployment, go down to the agency and pick out a nice single mom who is struggling off the bus with her kid and hand her a check and the keys and title to my former car (after I have had it completely repaired and painted of course). Then I would spend the rest of my time just traveling and taking classes in anything that interested me. That would be the life! Just be a student for the rest of my life. Cooking classes in Italy, stunt driving school in California, film classes at UCLA, language immersion classes in Mexico or Spain! Just drift and fill up my head.

I am such a wonk. But it's a nice dream. :)

The Vick is back!

Well, Michael Vick found a team who decided that abusing a few animals wasn't really such a big deal.

Apparently, I am the only woman in Atlanta who thinks that Vick should be mucking out stables for 6 bucks an hour, not getting ready to suit up and earn millions on a gridiron. That's okay, though. I don't mind being a member of the sane minority.

Really, I have to wonder, what kind of criminal charge would be enough to get people to stop hero-worshiping violent pricks? To get the almighty NFL to say "Okay, yes, you can throw and run, but frankly, you are just not a sufficiently decent human being for us to put you on TV and let kids look up to you." I am afraid we are going to find out eventually, and it makes me shudder.

Sunday! Yes, I said Sunday, dammit!

I have been reading news headlines for the last hour. There is no good news. So I think today is a good day to break out the waffle iron. Who's with me?!!!