Larry, you mad lad! Driving to Primm to drop 2 large on a team you hated is a proper degenerate tale that makes me a much bigger fan of yours than I was already.
It can be tempting to try and win “something” when you hate the favorite but at 7… ugh, those win but don’t cover results are a double kick in the nuts.
Great story. Thanks for sharing and sorry for you for that memory.
Matt, this is one of the funniest replies I've received, on or off-line. (You hooked me with "proper degenerate tale" and had me giggling with "double kick in the nuts." (Come to think of it, perhaps that would've made for a better title (??)
Thank you for your ongoing support, and I appreciate your help with the whole point-spread issue. I should've thought of how all THAT works before I pulverized $2K.
As someone who legit contemplated betting on the World Sauna Championship, only to be mildly disappointed when I found out it had been canceled after one contestant died and another had to be hospitalized, I’ll openly admit I have gone well past the first stage of admitting I have a problem. 😆🤣
Matt, the key here is that you *contemplated* betting on this event. (What the hell is a "World Sauna Championship," anyway? Does the person who lasts longest win? That's my guess.) Anyway, you never lost a *dime* on that, is my guess. And to that I say: "I – and my bank account – are jealous..."
You’re correct in how WSC works. They have general odds on each contestant, over/unders.
To your point of never losing a dime, some of my best bets were the ones I never placed. RIP to those dudes who really went for it on this one. Dehydration is a real thing.
I’m laughing hard at your “neurotic tale of woe.” Somehow, inexplicably, the drive of 200+ miles (!) is just now registering. You drove all the way through desert to NV to make that sure-fire bet.
Consolation might be that nobody on planet earth would’ve seen that final score coming, right? Lots of folks must’ve lost their socks on that game.
Aw, the coulda, woulda, shoulda game goes both ways, doesn't it? Whether it's Apple, IBM (from decades upon decades ago), Microsoft, or the Patriots by 3, we've all had out share of things we did bet on that we shouldn't have; or that we didn't bet on that we should have. For me it was a shack on Main Street in Park City, Utah that was on the market for $20,000 in 1983. Today that same "shack" -- that's been fixed up mightily -- is worth $4,000,000 (that's 4 million for those who don't like to count 0s).
Great cautionary tale, Larry... especially at a time when sports betting has reached absurd proportions. Some have called it the new opioid epidemic because it is destroying lives a rates never before seen.
Love the adventure... and I'm a big fan of Roman numerals to boot! Remind me to tell you the story, which is almost, but not quite as good as yours, about losing 1000's on a mathematical concept in Vegas that let me dumbstruck (emphasis on the dumb) at the Roulette table. Never will make that amazingly generous mistake to Ceasers again.
THAT, Skip, sounds like a story to share on Substack! I'm already dialed in, and I have no idea what happened. Please consider adding that to your "writing-to-do" list. It's a keeper.
Larry, I don’t really give a care much about football, yet you had me out loud laughing about Roman numerals and evil Tom Brady! So sorry about your loss, but you sure turned it into tasty lemonade! As always, you’re a laugh riot!
Larry, your wit is razor-sharp and wildly entertaining as always. I laughed out loud more than once, but what stuck with me most was the subtle wisdom beneath the humor. You manage to skewer your own bravado without ever losing the reader’s empathy, which is no small feat. A cautionary tale wrapped in Doritos dust and Roman numerals. Loved it ◡̈
Thank you, Rachel. Glad ya got a cheap giggle out of it.
Your comment, like your essays, is filled with insight, details that never entered *my* cortex when I cranked this out. (BTW, "a cautionary tale wrapped in Doritos dust and Roman numerals" would've made for a GREAT subhead.)
And thank you for subscribing! My *approval-seeking ego* and I both appreciate it. :)
A great story, Larry, told with your usual, breathtaking energy and raucous wit!
One thing (among many) I love about your writing is your word choice. For example, here, your verbs: You don’t “get”, “leave” or “eat”; you “nab”, “snag”, “scarf down”, and slither your way out”.
Thank you, Simon. I appreciate your consistent, ongoing support, plus the detail about word choice, something I didn't realize.
About "slithering my way out of the office": In retrospect, bailing from work was kind of a snake-like move. And snake-like moves rarely pay off!! (Live & learn...)
Larry, you mad lad! Driving to Primm to drop 2 large on a team you hated is a proper degenerate tale that makes me a much bigger fan of yours than I was already.
It can be tempting to try and win “something” when you hate the favorite but at 7… ugh, those win but don’t cover results are a double kick in the nuts.
Great story. Thanks for sharing and sorry for you for that memory.
Matt, this is one of the funniest replies I've received, on or off-line. (You hooked me with "proper degenerate tale" and had me giggling with "double kick in the nuts." (Come to think of it, perhaps that would've made for a better title (??)
Thank you for your ongoing support, and I appreciate your help with the whole point-spread issue. I should've thought of how all THAT works before I pulverized $2K.
As someone who legit contemplated betting on the World Sauna Championship, only to be mildly disappointed when I found out it had been canceled after one contestant died and another had to be hospitalized, I’ll openly admit I have gone well past the first stage of admitting I have a problem. 😆🤣
Matt, the key here is that you *contemplated* betting on this event. (What the hell is a "World Sauna Championship," anyway? Does the person who lasts longest win? That's my guess.) Anyway, you never lost a *dime* on that, is my guess. And to that I say: "I – and my bank account – are jealous..."
You’re correct in how WSC works. They have general odds on each contestant, over/unders.
To your point of never losing a dime, some of my best bets were the ones I never placed. RIP to those dudes who really went for it on this one. Dehydration is a real thing.
“A proper degenerate tale…”🥳
I’m laughing hard at your “neurotic tale of woe.” Somehow, inexplicably, the drive of 200+ miles (!) is just now registering. You drove all the way through desert to NV to make that sure-fire bet.
Consolation might be that nobody on planet earth would’ve seen that final score coming, right? Lots of folks must’ve lost their socks on that game.
You are so flipping funny.
The image is priceless.
This is a certified hoot.
Thank you, Kathy.
You've probably heard of that saying, "Comedy is tragedy plus time." It's true!
Looking back, most (all?) of the funny stuff, or at least incidents that can be told in a humorous manner, come from BAD things.
Anyway, thanks again for your support, now and always.
And keep plugging away on your memoir! You're off to a GREAT start!!!
Oh boy howdy. Yes. Thanks for reminder. So important.
Comedy = tragedy + time. Needed this.
“A certified hoot”!!! 💚🤣
Aw, the coulda, woulda, shoulda game goes both ways, doesn't it? Whether it's Apple, IBM (from decades upon decades ago), Microsoft, or the Patriots by 3, we've all had out share of things we did bet on that we shouldn't have; or that we didn't bet on that we should have. For me it was a shack on Main Street in Park City, Utah that was on the market for $20,000 in 1983. Today that same "shack" -- that's been fixed up mightily -- is worth $4,000,000 (that's 4 million for those who don't like to count 0s).
Jesus, Chris. $20K then is worth $20M now?
Woulda, coulda, shoulda indeed!
This was so fun Larry. Did you actually ask for the pay-out in nickels, right there in the midst of your rush?
Great cautionary tale, Larry... especially at a time when sports betting has reached absurd proportions. Some have called it the new opioid epidemic because it is destroying lives a rates never before seen.
Yeah, in this day and age it's so easy to get caught up in gambling addiction. Thank God I learned my lesson, and it took only ONE screwup!
Love the adventure... and I'm a big fan of Roman numerals to boot! Remind me to tell you the story, which is almost, but not quite as good as yours, about losing 1000's on a mathematical concept in Vegas that let me dumbstruck (emphasis on the dumb) at the Roulette table. Never will make that amazingly generous mistake to Ceasers again.
THAT, Skip, sounds like a story to share on Substack! I'm already dialed in, and I have no idea what happened. Please consider adding that to your "writing-to-do" list. It's a keeper.
Larry, I don’t really give a care much about football, yet you had me out loud laughing about Roman numerals and evil Tom Brady! So sorry about your loss, but you sure turned it into tasty lemonade! As always, you’re a laugh riot!
Thanks, Flori.
It certainly was NOT my finest moment, but as they say: "Live 'n learn..." :)
Larry, your wit is razor-sharp and wildly entertaining as always. I laughed out loud more than once, but what stuck with me most was the subtle wisdom beneath the humor. You manage to skewer your own bravado without ever losing the reader’s empathy, which is no small feat. A cautionary tale wrapped in Doritos dust and Roman numerals. Loved it ◡̈
Thank you, Rachel. Glad ya got a cheap giggle out of it.
Your comment, like your essays, is filled with insight, details that never entered *my* cortex when I cranked this out. (BTW, "a cautionary tale wrapped in Doritos dust and Roman numerals" would've made for a GREAT subhead.)
And thank you for subscribing! My *approval-seeking ego* and I both appreciate it. :)
“Tom Brady, the handsome face of evil”!! 🤣
A great story, Larry, told with your usual, breathtaking energy and raucous wit!
One thing (among many) I love about your writing is your word choice. For example, here, your verbs: You don’t “get”, “leave” or “eat”; you “nab”, “snag”, “scarf down”, and slither your way out”.
Thank you, Simon. I appreciate your consistent, ongoing support, plus the detail about word choice, something I didn't realize.
About "slithering my way out of the office": In retrospect, bailing from work was kind of a snake-like move. And snake-like moves rarely pay off!! (Live & learn...)
You tale of woe gives me such inspiration to share my own tales of woe, WTF, and more. Thank you!
Thanks, Chris.
As I noted in another reply: "Comedy is tragedy plus time..."