Today the first prompt is “If I Won The Lottery…”
This is an easy one for me. Given my Nebraska roots and love for Doritos and beef jerky, I’m sure it won’t surprise anyone that I’m a fan of the lottery. Hell, one summer in college I even worked for the Nebraska Lottery and would travel around Nebraska to all of the best fairs in the smallest towns, right alongside my one-toothed carny friends. But that’s a post for another time. That Summer I Was A Carny…
On almost every nine hour car trip from Nebraska to Chicago, Chris and I spend at least two hours of it talking about what we’d do if we won the lottery. I know people say money can’t buy happiness, but I’m pretty sure it could for us. Because we would be really fun rich people.
Sure, in the beginning we’d do some of that superficial stuff, like buy a few homes (a house in the mountains and a house on the coast) and maybe a car or two. Nothing too crazy though, just places a little more comfortable than our current situation.
Then I would immediately go to work on the Harlow Foundation. I haven’t figured out the logistics quite yet, but my dream for the Harlow Foundation is a just a huge dog (and cat) ranch somewhere in the boonies where I can rescue as many animals as possible. I’ll have vets on site- Chris has actually said that if I ever “make it” someday he’ll go back to vet school so he can work on the animals too (that’s how serious we are lol…) and it will just be a huge plot of land where the animals can run their hearts out and have a warm place to sleep at night.
My thought is that the Harlow Foundation will provide jobs for more people, because we’ll obviously need people to drive to shelters all over the country to pick up the animals. And then we’ll need good people to just play and cuddle the pups too. A part of the Harlow Foundation is also a special task force that is paid specifically to find dog fighting rings and then TORTURE EVERYONE INVOLVED. I’m kidding, kind of. But I have zero sympathy for anyone involved with dog fighting. I know that eye an eye doesn’t solve anything blah blah blah, but dog fighting? Really? Who are these sick people?
And yes, I’m aware that it might sound like a child just wrote those paragraphs above about saving all the animals. But I’m a dreamer, you guys. I’ll find a way to get this going. The dogs need me!!!
And most of all, after I win the lottery I’ll be a writer. I’ll finish the hundreds of novels and screenplays I’ve started and rest comfortable in the fact I’m back to writing for the pure fun of it like I did when I was a kid (and wrote some of my best stuff I might add, The Ghost of Mary was a huge hit in my house) and not because I’m trying to get rich from it. I’m writing simply for the joy of writing. I can almost feel the weight being lifted off my shoulders just thinking about that moment…
This was fun. What would you do? Below are the rest of the prompts for the month. Join up, you might be surprised how easily the writing starts to flow when you have some direction. I know I was.
And to kick it off, Helene and I have a giveaway for you!
‘);
This is a fun list 🙂
I LOVE the Harlow Foundation! that's pretty much my retirement plan..
Your dream for your dog/cat ranch is EXACTLY what my friend and I talk about whenever we get together. It's hilarious! We've actually evolved it into a dog/cat ranch, winery, bed and breakfast. So there. 😉
Your lottery winnings plan is such a brilliant one! Makes mine look a little selfish now! I have a new blog and love blogtober so am attempting it! You can find it here…
http://alovetriangle.weebly.com
Love the dog and cat ranch…totally on board with that! Also, completely agree with your new Task Force. There is no excuse for dog fighting rings. No excuse.
I would totally come work on that ranch. I'll even help torture the jerks running the dog fights. I can come up with some very creative torture techniques.
I had almost the same idea! Buy a house/farm in the middle of nowhere to house all of my dream animals. Dogs, cats, goats, chickens, anything cute and sweet I can love on and raise. Add a garden, a pond or some water where my husband can fish and we'd be all set. Love it!
Great blog event!!! I've always loved the idea of starting an animal shelter of my own. I'm a huge fan of Miranda Lambert's since she randomly picks up animals off the side of the road and takes care of them.
That is so fantastic! Now I feel like a total bum for my selfish lottery dreams (I didn't do the prompt today, but you know, everyone has them). 😛
P.S. I can work for you, right? I'd love to be a professional puppy cuddler!
I love your plan for if you win!! I constantly have to stop myself from picking up the many strays in my neighborhood and bringing them home, (I already have 3 dogs at my place and we are only technically ALLOWED to have 2 max) I would be constantly taking babies in and making them know they are loved. So if you win, I'd love to help you out with your dream! I'll be one of your drivers!!
What a fantastic idea! I can just see Harlow as the greeter!
Ahh the harlow foundation. so awesome. i'd donate in a heartbeat- lotto winner or not.
When you get the Harlow Foundation going – or decide to start it – I'm in!
The Harlow foundation sounds like such an incredible idea, love it!
I think that's a great idea. I'm all about saving all the dogs!
this is so great. 🙂 love your list
Thanks for a great link-up. Love the Harlow Foundation idea….and thanks for including cats on the ranch too!
Apparently in addition to all bloggers like pumpkins, we all want to live on farms and rescue dogs.
Well hello fellow Nebraskan! Gonna try this challenge, thanks for hosting it 🙂
I love your plans – the Harlow Foundation sounds wonderful (especially getting rid of dog fighters!)! Writing for the pure fun of it, yes!
PS – def share the carny story at some point!!!
Oh I would love to open a horse rescue! I would definitely have to win the lottery to do something like that though ha ha.