Mega Millions Mania!!

   Wow!  When was the last time everyone jumped on board and was so excited about something... anything, for that matter??  This Mega Millions jackpot has been like the first day of spring after a long, nasty winter: it's putting smiles on faces and causing people, who otherwise had given up on a lot of things, to dream about how their life could be different.  Believe me, I've noticed it everywhere.  People are kinder to each other while standing in lines (they have to be, there are a lot of lines just to buy a lotto ticket), co-workers who usually try to avoid conversation are bubbly and bursting at the seams talking about all the things they'd do with the money, and others are pooling their cash together, hoping for better odds of winning.

   Whatever the reason (the weather could be to blame, as well), it is a delight to see people enjoy each other's company and conversation.  It makes you wonder, though: why does it take the promise of millions of dollars to make people dream about what they really want?  Now, I understand, no one could have 5 island homes or cure world hunger without a big sum of money, but some people I hear talking about "If I won..." are mentioning goals and dreams they could still achieve without winning the Mega Millions.  For instance, today I heard "I'd give to my church", "I'd pay back my parents for what they've spent on me", and "I'd buy a house".  With some budgeting and good financial sense, couldn't these "dreams" be achieved anyway?  I guess it would be the thrill of achieving them almost instanteously that makes people so happy.
   On that note, I'd better head out to get my ticket before they stop sales!  Good luck tonight and remember to share if you hit it big :)

Lunch with the Lion's Club

   Every so often, the WMBF News staff will be invited to an event in the community to represent our station and to meet new people.  Personally, when I get invited back I always feel a little sense of pride... kind of a "They like me! They really like me!" moment.  The Myrtle Beach Lion's Club has invited us out to their Carrabba's fundraising luncheon four years in a row now and I can honestly say I've gone all four years.  The members are always welcoming and they support WMBF News 100%.  They know everyone here by name and they're always eager to talk more about the stories we cover.
   This year Jamie, Heather, Brandon & I had the honor of representing the station.  In case you didn't know, the Lion's Club works hard on many endeavors but their main focus continues to be making sure every child has access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses so they can be successful.  We shared many laughs with the group and a fantastic lunch, too!  Here's a look at Jamie with his favorite luncheon lady (she had great dating advice for Heather & me):

Jamie & his ideal woman

  We also got a kick out of Jack Nixon, another member who had a quirky comeback for everything!  Jack had us laughing so hard during lunch.  He shared a story about forecasting the weather in the old days, but he forewarned us he didn't remember it correctly.  So today, he emailed us the story just in case he left an important part out.  I've copy and pasted it below, along with our picture.  I hope it makes you smile as much as it made us smile :)


Jack & me

from Jack:
It's late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in South Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.
But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.
A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes"... the man at National Weather Service again replied, ... "it's going to be a very cold winter.'
The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.
Two weeks later, the chief called the National Weather Service again... "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we've ever seen."
'How can you be so sure?' the chief asked.

The weatherman replied... "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy."

:) Please support your local Lion's Club!