A Fly on the Wall
Viewing comments for Chapter 10 "On Luck"A journal musings and assessments about situations
42 total reviews
Comment from bob cullen
What an intriguing story. Is it actually true. To me it confirms a long held suspicion. In every large gambling win, or loss you'll always find a devil.
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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What an intriguing story. Is it actually true. To me it confirms a long held suspicion. In every large gambling win, or loss you'll always find a devil.
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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It is one hundred percent true! (And I agree with your assessment of gambling wins and losses, too.)
Thanks for the review, Bob. xo
Comment from A. Willow Bends
If this is true, have your committed yourself yet? Or has he committed you? I would never, not ever have told him. Not in a million years. I would have given him $25. and told him you won it on a scratch off ticket. Sulk?
SULK? My husband would be out and out sobbing and he is the most non-materialistic person I know. This is wonderful and so incredibly, horribly sad. I agree. I have to. If you'd have played the numbers, not one would have come up! Let's go with that. Great job. (I guess! :)
Wendy
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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If this is true, have your committed yourself yet? Or has he committed you? I would never, not ever have told him. Not in a million years. I would have given him $25. and told him you won it on a scratch off ticket. Sulk?
SULK? My husband would be out and out sobbing and he is the most non-materialistic person I know. This is wonderful and so incredibly, horribly sad. I agree. I have to. If you'd have played the numbers, not one would have come up! Let's go with that. Great job. (I guess! :)
Wendy
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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It is a completely true story. But I'm like you're husband -totally unmaterialistic. I've never once felt that money would make my life happier because I don't find my joy in 'things.' For me, it's always about the relationships. That's where the gold lies in this life.
The way we even found out is because someone had tried to turn in a fake winning ticket, so the numbers were on the front page of the newspaper. My husband said, "Hey, did you end up buying me a ticket?" and I responded, "Oh, geez, no! I completely forgot. I wrote down the ones I WOULD have played. Shall we check them?" He was the one who said, "I don't know; maybe we shouldn't go there." I was the (stupid) one who said, "Oh, come on; let's -just for fun!" Yeah, REAL fun, Rachelle!
G-d has quite the sense of humor, doesn't He?!
xo
Comment from juliaSjames
Lololol
My rating shows how much I enjoyed your write. Especially your grandma exercising her lucky birthright from the back of the room.
Now you know you self sabotaged that marriage. Yup, you did! Probably for the best. If he tried to use you for your luck, what would have happened when he became a multimillionaire? You recall the fable of the goose and the golden egg.
I understand your scruples about gambling. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, but easy for me to say because I have a
cautious relationship with money. We nod frostily to each other when introduced, then it turns away to chat with someone else.
Enjoy your Saxman luck however it manifests itself.
Blessings, Julia
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Lololol
My rating shows how much I enjoyed your write. Especially your grandma exercising her lucky birthright from the back of the room.
Now you know you self sabotaged that marriage. Yup, you did! Probably for the best. If he tried to use you for your luck, what would have happened when he became a multimillionaire? You recall the fable of the goose and the golden egg.
I understand your scruples about gambling. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, but easy for me to say because I have a
cautious relationship with money. We nod frostily to each other when introduced, then it turns away to chat with someone else.
Enjoy your Saxman luck however it manifests itself.
Blessings, Julia
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Oh, Julia, this is the most delightful review!!! You always make me smile. xo
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Snap! :))
Comment from Alex Rosel
Ha, ha.
There's just one thing that grates, and it's a real picky point :(
This is headed JANUARY 20, 1990. So I assume it's a verbatim copy of a journal entry. Personally, I'd have preferred the prose to be in italics to emphasize that point.
BTW, I actually know someone who won two and a bit million on the UK lottery. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Ha, ha.
There's just one thing that grates, and it's a real picky point :(
This is headed JANUARY 20, 1990. So I assume it's a verbatim copy of a journal entry. Personally, I'd have preferred the prose to be in italics to emphasize that point.
BTW, I actually know someone who won two and a bit million on the UK lottery. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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You know, I honestly thought of you and that concept when I posted it. But everything from this FOTW book IS copied journal entries, albeit some more recent than others. (This is the most vintage so far.) So in that case, would italicizing it be overkill? (This is a genuine question, btw, not a snarky 'challenge' of your suggestion. You know I trust your edits and take every suggestion you offer me.) Thanks, Alex. xo
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If the entire book is exclusively a series of individual journal entries then, no, italics wouldn't be appropriate. An example of a novel that does this is The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend.
If there is a mix of journal entries and narrative, then italics may be appropriate. An example of a book that does this isThe Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
LOL!!! I'm sorry, Rachelle, but that was really funny! I'm crying and laughing at the same time! I wonder how your relationship would have gone if you had placed those numbers, I've known it to actually rip marriages apart. I hope yours is still as strong as you are. Gambling of any sort is stupid, I hear of so many people losing everything they own due to their addiction. I loved this story, it's one to tell the future children/grandchildren. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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LOL!!! I'm sorry, Rachelle, but that was really funny! I'm crying and laughing at the same time! I wonder how your relationship would have gone if you had placed those numbers, I've known it to actually rip marriages apart. I hope yours is still as strong as you are. Gambling of any sort is stupid, I hear of so many people losing everything they own due to their addiction. I loved this story, it's one to tell the future children/grandchildren. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Thanks, Sandra. It's a lot more amusing to me now than it was when I was having to deal with the sulking birthday boy. (And yes, things with his replacement are solid as ever!!)
I'm with you: gambling is such folly! Call me cheap, but I work WAY too hard to squander my money like that. Once a year, my husband and I go to the track. We take $20 each for betting, and when it's gone, so are we.
Thanks for the delightful review. xo
Comment from JudyE
Oh, that's so sad. Even if the marriage hadn't have lasted, surely you would have benefited from some of the prize-money. I won over $US2,000 through winning the jackpot at bingo on the Queen Mary II. I rarely play bingo but I had a great win that day.
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Oh, that's so sad. Even if the marriage hadn't have lasted, surely you would have benefited from some of the prize-money. I won over $US2,000 through winning the jackpot at bingo on the Queen Mary II. I rarely play bingo but I had a great win that day.
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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WOW!!! I guess you DID!! That's awesome, Judy!
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It paid for my fare. Vince and my friend were more excited than I was but it was still pretty cool.
Comment from LisaMay
That's another thing we have in common then - buying lottery tickets holds no appeal. Still, you could post and promote a lot of poems and stories with a few mill bucks!! Thanks for this story. It shows incredible bad luck/irony/if only etc. but a truer spirit shines through wherein lies the purer gold. I love the detail of your grandma having to yell louder from the leper back row. People love a winner, but not a serial winner.
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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That's another thing we have in common then - buying lottery tickets holds no appeal. Still, you could post and promote a lot of poems and stories with a few mill bucks!! Thanks for this story. It shows incredible bad luck/irony/if only etc. but a truer spirit shines through wherein lies the purer gold. I love the detail of your grandma having to yell louder from the leper back row. People love a winner, but not a serial winner.
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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You got THAT right!!! Then they become The Enemy!
Thanks for the review, my sweet Sis. I am missing you SO MUCH these days!!! xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Whew!! Glad you had a date on there!! Got a bit worried til I scrolled back up - LOL! :) It's okay... we all make youthful mistakes in marriage (at least you can claim your luck didn't work in that department, eh?! :) ;) ;) Sounds like you've got a keeper now so, it all worked out in the wash of time.... The actual luck in that case was the fact that it luckily showed you what an immature, self-centered loser he was before things got too serious!! Thanx for sharing, ma'am! ;) ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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Whew!! Glad you had a date on there!! Got a bit worried til I scrolled back up - LOL! :) It's okay... we all make youthful mistakes in marriage (at least you can claim your luck didn't work in that department, eh?! :) ;) ;) Sounds like you've got a keeper now so, it all worked out in the wash of time.... The actual luck in that case was the fact that it luckily showed you what an immature, self-centered loser he was before things got too serious!! Thanx for sharing, ma'am! ;) ;) Yvette
Comment Written 12-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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Exactly right! It made that poor choice very obvious very soon. Thank goodness my luck improved with his replacement! xo
Comment from Diana L Crawford
I am in awe of how you can put these stories together. This is such an awesome story. So whimsical and beautifully written! Your writing skills are incredible! You leave no room for criticism constructive or otherwise! Can I be a Saxman too! LoL!!! Another brilliant work! It deserves a "6" which I have none at the moment :(
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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I am in awe of how you can put these stories together. This is such an awesome story. So whimsical and beautifully written! Your writing skills are incredible! You leave no room for criticism constructive or otherwise! Can I be a Saxman too! LoL!!! Another brilliant work! It deserves a "6" which I have none at the moment :(
Comment Written 12-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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Your words are way better because they go straight to my heart. Thank you for this really nice review. You are always so encouraging to me, Diana. xo
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So deserved and so appreciated!
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Hi Rachelle: I really like that story. The last line is a great summary for the story but to me your Author's note was very important to the resolution. In our postmodern society warm Human relationships are one of the things we need most and have the least. I had an aquaintence say to me once he was going to buy 2 lottery tickets to "double his chances" of winning. I reminded him his odds went from 320M : 1 to 320M : 2 -Robert-
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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Hi Rachelle: I really like that story. The last line is a great summary for the story but to me your Author's note was very important to the resolution. In our postmodern society warm Human relationships are one of the things we need most and have the least. I had an aquaintence say to me once he was going to buy 2 lottery tickets to "double his chances" of winning. I reminded him his odds went from 320M : 1 to 320M : 2 -Robert-
Comment Written 12-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2019
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That's hilarious. You know what I especially love? The people who don't buy a ticket unless it's an enormous jackpot. Sure, buy in when your slim chances are even less! Oy.
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I took one lottery ticket as change for a soft drink at a gas station once. I should have bought a bag of chips instead. It's like Las Vegas. the losers pay for everything.
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Yep! Exactly!