Up the Down Escalator

We’re well into the week and I’m unfortunately focused on things that most would agree are annoying, aggravating or just plain upsetting.  So here’s my list. What’s yours?

1.       The $650M Powerball jackpot.  I didn’t win.

2.       The $3.5M lottery ticket sold to a California woman just past the sales deadline.  She had winning numbers – only too late.  I hope someone bought that poor woman a beer.

3.       New data shows growing rates of suicide in the developing world, speculating that the demise of a sense of “community” has led to “lonelier” people.  Sad.

4.       Unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, resulting in the northern migration of plant, marine and animal life, as well as rising sea levels, floods, and extreme weather patterns, such as droughts, tornedos…and

5.       Moore, Oklahoma.  Tragic and horrible.

Now that I’ve brought you completely down for the day, let me try to lift up your spirits (and mine) again – it’s the least I can do:

1.       There will be another Powerball jackpot -- and that’s one out of 150 million chances that you’ll win it!

2.       The high school drop-out founder of Tumblr is now worth $250 million dollars thanks to Yahoo’s $1.1 billion acquisition of his company.  There’s hope for parents everywhere.

3.       Let’s hear it for the brave and resilient people of Moore, OK – with a big shout out to courageous and caring teachers at Plaza Towers Elementary!!  Moore will rebuild, because you can’t keep a great town down.

4.       Memorial Day makes it official – summer’s coming!

5.       Still 60 and going strong!  (Ok, that one’s strictly for Mrs. Sedd.  Makes her feel better.)

In closing, pay it forward if you can by making a donation to the charity of your choice and help out those folks in Moore.  While you're at it, buy yourself a lottery ticket too -- because you never know.

Until tomorrow….