sometimes it's ok to be...

Sad.

A few days ago I found out that one of my cousins had died in car crash.  While I have to admit that he wasn't one of my closest cousins, he was one I had hung out with a few times outside of family functions, and he was really a great guy.  Billy was one I would actually admit was a part of my family.

Death is an odd thing.  When it happens to someone you only see every year or so, it doesn't seem as final as it does when it is someone you are close with.  If it is a close friend, a neighbor, a sibling, a parent, etc.  Someone you connect with on a daily or weekly basis, there comes such a range of emotions.  But when it is someone less close, the emotions are different.

I think this is what has me in a funk.

Not the Stay in bed all day kind of funk, or the go weeks without showering kind of funk.

The kind of funk that leaves you feeling a little melancholy, a little retrospective, a little wistful and thoughtful as to what is really going on in your life.  Tonight what sound good to me is to eat a box of chocolate, drink a bottle of wine and listen to something emotional - like maybe a little Adele....

The waiting game

So here I am - 9 days after getting the prize notification - and still no other communication from them.  A lesser person might be worried....awe heck, I AM worried - but the letter did say 7 BUSINESS days, and of course my luck there was a stinking holiday in there, so technically I am just at 6 BUSINESS days....oh and then there is this....

My name (though slightly misspelled) is there - listed as a Winner! 

SHUT THE DOOR!!!!!!

So yesterday the hubster and I are kicking it (aka cleaning the living room) and Fed Ex pulls up.  I often order things I forget about - and while I knew I had some things coming in the mail, I was pretty sure I hadn't received any shipping notifications and what I had ordered was supposed to come via UPS.

So he goes to get it and I remember!  A computer charger - my laptop cord died and I ordered a new one...

So goes the conversation...

He gets the package and I ask - my computer cord?

Him - No...

Me - what is it then - bank paperwork?

Him - no, it's addressed to you.

Me - what?

I get the envelope and read... Ventura Associates ... NY...

OMG


Am I getting sued!


Why am I getting sued!


Am I having to testify for something?


What in the world...

Hubby sees my look of terror (and before you read further I don't have any reason to be sued, and have never been sued, but mistakes are made and people get slapped with lawsuits....

I've never saw it happen IRL

but on the good wife, la law, Fairly legal, drop dead diva, PEOPLE"S COURT

ACCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!

So I tear open the envelope...

Ventura Associates
blah blah blah

my address
yeah I know it already

Dear Melissa
yeah - that's me

Important Notice!
dear God how much is this going to cost me?
will I have to sell my car?
my first born?
my second born?

Ventura Associates International, L.L.C. is the independent judging organization for the One More Disney Day Sweepstakes...We are responsible for determining the winner(s) ...you have been selected as a "potential winner...We say "potential winner" because...blah blah you have to sign and notarize this paper saying you didn't cheat, you are who you are, you live where you live...yada yada yada....

DH is looking at my face like whats wrong

I am thinking NO FREAKING WAY

normal people don't win this
you see them on commercials and they aren't normal
NO FREAKING WAY

so I tell him, he doesn't believe me

I give him the letter

he still doesn't believe me

it took some convincing - but he now believes...

So we rushed off to get the paper work notarized and fed-ex'd back to NY

I then spent every few hours yesterday and today checking to see where it was via my tracking number

it was delivered today - at 11:12am

and now I wait, because of course it said you will hear back in 7 days...

and so I wait...