winner... gagnant

apparently i just won ten free tickets to absolute comedy, the fledgling comedy club at yonge and eglinton. now at this early stage of the investigation i can't really be sure if the offer is legitimate or simply a marketing ploy designed to reel me in on some overpriced package deal that'll end up costing me hundreds of dollars. i didn't personally receive the telephone call from "mike" this evening informing me of my win. i was out having dinner at the yorkdale pickle barrel with my best bud. but my wife tells me that "mike" sounded sincere and the award seemed genuine. and it is true that i filled out an entry form at the club some six months back when i last visited the establishment, although six months later i have no recollection as to what that entry form actually permitted me to enter.

but tonight's alleged windfall highlights an even greater issue: i have never won anything in my life, certainly not something that i didn't already deserve to win in the first place. by that i mean that i have never won a lottery or a raffle or a sweepstakes or a free grad t-shirt. in fact, i can't even remember winning a prize in a mcdonald's giveaway promotion. you know, those periodic contests where you have to peel away a sticker on the side of a coffee cup to see if you won a million dollars or a trip to france or a free filet-o-fish. quite frankly i have always felt as though i was being teased by the powers that be as far as games of chance are concerned. indeed, i have known others who have won lottery prizes and sweepstakes prizes and raffle prizes and free grad t-shirts. but as for me... nothing. nada. nil. naught. never. maybe it's better that way. maybe it's better to earn everything that comes your way, rather than have it fall into your lap without rhyme or reason. after all, in sports we say: "the stronger the effort, the sweeter the victory."

regardless, could my streak of bad luck finally be coming to an end? could tonight's jackpot signal a sudden turn in my fortunes? could serendipity and fortuitousness stand ready to enter my life once and for all? nah. but still, i can't wait to give this "mike" fellow a ring tomorrow just to hear what he has to say. who knows? maybe i did win ten free tickets to the comedy club - no strings attached. hey, it could happen.

"i'm a great believer in luck, and i find the harder i work, the more i have of it." - thomas jefferson

not quite orchestral manoeuvres in the dark, but it'll have to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfJe8hQ8ha0