Waiting for your ship to come in? Referring to becoming successful or wealthy as the dictionary says. Not me, because I’m not interested in it either. I do feel successful in my own ways but not in a way society would judge as successful. And I have wealth but not the monetary kind.
Photo by Mike Hartley
I think I’m happier not chasing riches or fame. I’ve chased financial stability, which is also quite illusive, but never riches. Success is not measured by others. You have to be good with yourself. I bet if Michael Jordan had only given 50% effort and was still the best player in the game the success wouldn’t have been as sweet.
That term – waiting for your ship to come in – is one I think of when I see people playing the lottery or gambling. That ambition for much more. The disappointment when it doesn’t come. I’m drawn to that, but I know how dangerous that mindset is for me. So, I don’t gamble.
I refuse to do these betting apps or services. It’s too easy and too addictive. When I think about gambling, I think there is someone who is hungry, that could use a meal or sick and in need of a cure. So, I donate to those causes instead.
I don’t know where the right balance is. My current impression is that we swung too far the other way and have incorporated gambling and sports together and I worry that it could be the death of some sports when coaches, players, refs, owners get caught up in it. It’s just too much money for some people to pass up.
Many don’t even realize their ship has already come in with the gifts already received. That is kind of sad. One of the good things about not having it all is you appreciate what you have more. I look at some having it all in monetary wealth, as a burden.
Random Thoughts of the Early Morning
I get to see children smile later today. I’ll let that good feeling carry me till then.
Care about yourself, there can be many times in life where you will need that.
Work on creating a space in life where you can thrive.
In coming up with a title for this post, I first put Nice Break. While that was very true of the last two days from our normal routine, the title Lucky Break was more applicable.
My better half and I took a trip to the National Harbor in Maryland to see the Polar Express Ice show at the Gaylord Hotel. Along with all the holiday decorations and Xmas show in the atrium.
We stayed across the street at the Residence Inn by Marriottand being we had some points built up we used those to the room was very reasonable. It was a great time. A dinner at McCormick and Schmicks. A long night’s rest and then a good breakfast followed by a walk by the water.
It got a little chilly, so we headed to the MGM hotel and casino on the way out to gamble a few dollars and have lunch in the food court.
We went through the casino, out the lobby where all the Xmas decorations are set up and then walked the aisle with shops and the food court. It was about 11:40 am and noticed that some didn’t open till noon or 2pm so we wandered back to the casino, gambled for about 20 minutes and came out to go eat and saw police running through the lobby and heard people talking about gunfire and they had sealed off access to that area of shops and restaurants.
The shooting occurred just before noon. News reports noted that they locked down local schools. But what really dawned on me is that if this had happened any other building, the place would have been locked down and security would have at least sealed that floor. Especially a public building like that.
But nope, the money-making machine must continue to operate 24/7/365. I bet people in the casino never knew what happened till they got home, for those smart enough to leave a casino. I guess they have discussed those situations with police because it was MGM staff blocking the hallway entrance to the area, not police or tape even. I could have walked right past this slightly built woman if I had intention to.
The “nothing is wrong, nothing to be seen, we don’t have details” is pure planning at work. Police coming through with guns past patrons going in and out of the casino was a bit unreal knowing someone had been killed with a gun a few hundred feet away. That seems wrong to me.
But unlike Kevin Bacon in the movie Animal House where he keeps saying “All is well” before he’s trampled in a stampede of people, we have business as normal at MGM at National Harbor.
From the WTOP article on this incident I see the following from the police chief of PG County – “MGM is safe,” Nader said. “The harbor is safe.” Well maybe the building didn’t get any bullet holes, but something sure did and that isn’t safe.
It’s something that everyone should realize. We aren’t safe anywhere. That must be one of the richest and exclusive areas around. I saw so much law in the Harbor area that if you blinked you saw another one. And I saw a ton of people with SECURITY written on their shirts, vest and jackets at MGM
I’m thinking we might have been back in that area of shooting if I didn’t get lucky and win $60 at a slot machine just before we went to get food. Looking back, it seems a bit surreal that life just went on as normal there, even though someone lost their life. My condolences to the family of another victim of gun violence.
Well, the lobby was pretty. Before the police running through it, with guns out.
Shot this about 40 minutes before the lobby became full of police running through. Photo by Mike Hartley
Gambling and major sports have been bitten. Not the first time and certainly not the last. Players, officials, managers/coaches, trainers and owners are all suspects. They are in bed with some very dangerous people and it’s already out of control. They got greedy and the piper is coming to collect.
Lost sight of the GOAL. Fuzzy photo out the window by Mike Hartley
I bet news of this hasn’t even slowed NBA or other betting much. People will say that’s the mob and a couple guys who got caught up in it. The rest of it must be legit, right?
It’s out of control and many people don’t know they have an addiction to it and will only realize it when everything is gone.
The backboard might still be there, but the goal of it being a game is GONE.
And gamblers, if you don’t think others are working on fixing things for you to lose, you’re deluding yourself. If I were a betting man, I’d lay money that there are already problems in all sports, even college that were just not aware of yet.
Maybe I’m overly cautious, luckily, I realized I couldn’t gamble early, before it became a problem a long time ago.
Best of luck you all who are still willing to play. I hope you win big and retire before it’s all gone again.
I would say enjoy the game but that might not be possible for some of you. I think I heard there are 800 possible bets you can place on the game. And given the explosion of legalized online gambling in this state and many others many people will be cheering for their bets instead of one of the two teams.
They may say they have a favorite but that is probably based on the bet. I love sports but I found when I gambled I didn’t enjoy it as much. Luckily this lesson was learned early in life. I won’t be one of the people signing up for these sports betting apps. But I worry about the masses that will get in trouble with it.
I have a rather addictive personality and I don’t want a gambling problem. I’m guessing this is going to be a major issue in very short order. The huge sums that are spent on advertising and shows by these companies are going to come out of someone’s pockets and that could be yours. Actually, the odds are good it will be yours.
Photo by Mike Hartley
We all fear there is a significant part of the population that will get in deep trouble with this. I don’t disagree it’s fun and that a lot of intelligent people have a lot of fun doing it and not too much detriment. But just like booze and drugs, some people will lose control, some very bad and crash and burn in tragic ways.
After doing some brief searches about the amounts gambled in the US each year it’s staggering. And I’m not going to list numbers because I doubt anyone knows the actual number of legal and illegal gambling. Wouldn’t it be interesting if we put that to better use? I mean whose well-being do you want to contribute to, some fat cat casino executive and his team or filthy rich cronies or maybe people in your own neighborhood who could use a meal?
It’s funny also how the major league sports flipped on their statements to never be involved with organized gambling. Now they are in bed together full tilt. And if you think all these humungous sums of money won’t affect the future of some events you’re living in la la land.
Think about this, who is going to expose someone who is caught cheating? If the league catches someone are they going to make it public? If they do every game and bet is going to become suspect and that means people won’t bet if they think it’s fixed and the leagues and betting organizations can’t allow that because they will both lose HUGE sums of money.
Maybe another angle to look at is you might not be able to touch these guys in the majors making millions who do really enjoy playing the game and would never consider cash for poor play, but the officials who don’t make those millions or not enough not to require a second full-time job. Is someone going to reach out to them? And is there some regulation these officials can’t bet?
Oh, by the way, you might want to call the Baseball Hall of Fame and have them give Pete Rose a call and say “Come on Down”. And what the hell, let the steroid guys in if were making up the rules as we go along.
This is about money and lots of it. Integrity or ethics or principles are all being bent.
I’m wise enough to know that gambling has a long history. It’s always been one of the great vices. So we got to ask ourselves knowing this is going to ruin and probably end some people’s lives and greatly affect others who are in families with these people or at least alter their possible futures do we go full speed ahead? Well, sorry for that, cats out of the bag, and those fine print disclaimers and the gambling 800 number won’t be able to help a lot of people. Now we just have to wait to see how deep the problem gets and think about solutions.
You know I can’t find much difference between the pharmaceutical executives who flooded our society with Oxy and other drugs knowingly killing many for just vast sums of money and the gambling and sports executives now planning to get rich off of another segment of society.
Greed is ugly. I’m sorry if I’ve been on this rant before but it’s worrisome to me.
I’m not looking for a big win. I’m just looking to spend some time on a bike at the beach a few weeks a year. Photo by Mike Hartley
Random Thoughts of the Day
Dogs can look into your heart.
The king of all snack days is upon us. I’m trying to moderate.
Yep, this is definitely the last Super Bowl I work, even if I’m still employed next year. Time to remember how the vast majority lives.
Any week I get to make my grandchildren laugh is a great week for me.
Given the advertising increase I see in Maryland now that sports gambling is legal I’m worried about a couple of things. They have been happening over time already, but it’s just so prevalent now that it’s changing the face of sports and its meaning.
That passion, that pure joy of just watching/participating in a game is being overshadowed by the money and betting. The fun of watching and living and dying with how your favorite team is doing is replaced by watching who you wagered on with both fear and greed.
Do you keep going till your in over your head? Photo by Mike Hartley
I grew up saving ticket stubs to games. I can see people now saving betting slips as the momentous of games. I saw a news segment this past week of the Washington Nationals ballpark that now has an MGM Sportsbook site. Here is the link from MLB itself. Think about this, it seems all major sports have endorsed gambling. Where is the line?
The temptations are so many and the ease with which such activity can be executed is a deadly combination. So many don’t have the discipline needed to do it responsibly. And yes I include myself in those ranks.
I understand the argument and agree with it that life itself is a gamble. We all make thousands of gambling decisions every day. Do you change jobs or not, do you go for the salad and salmon or the rack of ribs, do you take the interstate or the back roads, do you get the proper rest or burn the candle at both ends? And my most recent gambling decision, When do I retire?
Is gambling fun, sure as hell is. I might get a single Mega Millions or Powerball ticket 2-3 times a year when the jackpot gets high and I’m filling the car with gas and see that flashing neon sign of hundreds of millions of dollars, I might go in for the “few minute thrill” of what if? I always get scratch-off tickets for the family at Christmas as stocking stuffers and they always provide excitement and sometimes like this past year some joy in winning.
I get in on the office pool for the March Madness winner which is just $10 I think. And beyond that, I bet $10 a week during pro football season with my son by just picking the winners of each game. We usually have 2-3 different each week and it’s fun joking with each other about it. And yes he is ahead most years. That is the extent I allow myself.
I’m actually scared of ever starting it again because of that feeling and mindset that seems to trigger a switch in my brain that changes my priorities to something I don’t like. When I did gamble I remember not enjoying watching sports as much at all near the end of my run because of the money.
I marvel at people gambling large sums of their wealth. I guess it’s no different than starting a business in some ways. I don’t have the answer but I fear this could quickly get out of control for a good number of people who just can’t afford it.
I’m not going to pretend to be some all high and mighty here. I could be a gambling addict in a second and did have a problem with it in my youth but thankfully snapped out of it while I was even and before it became an issue. I recognize I can’t do that and set myself limits now.
Random Thoughts of the Day
I hate starting the day in pain.
If you look at taking a hot shower each day as something to be thankful for then you are right because a lot of people don’t have that good fortune.
Did the NFL do a flip flop of all times? Denying it had a problem one day and the next saying it is a problem in regard to the issue of black coaches.
Any month without a doctors appointment is a good month.
