Loopy Lotteries

What's the story with the lottery, huh? I have two friends who share
"Lotto Tuesdays" and share the cost of various lottery games each
week. They've done okay in their winnings, but they haven't hit it
big yet... at least, they haven't told me if they have. So why do I
feel I should play? What makes me think that I'll have the luck to win?

Earlier this week, I bought a lottery ticket -- and lost -- but so
did the rest of the country. No one one last Tuesday's Mega
Millions. So, the next drawing is tonight, and the jackpot went up.
I figured if I didn't buy a ticket, it would have been a waste of my
dollar early in the week, right? Does that even make sense (or
cents! ha!)? I also picked up a scratch off ticket. Each time I buy
these tickets (mind you, my total lottery spending in my whole life
is probably under $25), I feel -- I really feel -- like I am going to
win. I get excited about it. I get myself all geared up... how will
I spend the money? Will I tell everyone I know? Will I give to
charity? Will I be the same person or will I become a crazy fly-by-
night who goes nuts and is found face-down in a gutter in Connecticut
in a rainstorm some random April night next year?

Who knows... here's crossing my fingers though that I have the chance
to get the cash and NOT wind up in that CT gutter.