And the winner isn't . . .

Me!

Today was the Jingle Bells drawing in Sapulpa -- they gave away two $500 prizes, three $1000 and the biggie, $10,000. To enter, you had to shop in town, the stores gave out tickets, and you had to be present to win.

Since we had to go downtown anyway to check on something I'd ordered for the grandkiddo -- and since sister Leah had done some shopping in town and given me her tickets to add to my own -- Robert and I decided we'd check out the drawing. I'd never been before, since this was the first year it didn't take place at the same time as our writers' meeting.

It was snowing. Windy. The wind chill was somewhere under twenty degrees. Being an intelligent sort, I'd worn my long down coat and heavy gloves. Being a vain sort, I'd put my hair up (do you know how hard it is to get your hair to look charmingly touseled?), leaving my ears and neck bare. And being some sort of idiot, I'd worn long jeans -- the kind that drag the ground if you're not wearing heels -- and a gorgeous scarf that's so thin you can see through it and faux Crocs. Yup, the clogs with no back and little holes all over the top.

I freakin' froze. Normally I never let anyone but a select few invade my personal space, but I found myself edging closer and closer to strangers wearing insulated coveralls and caps with fold-down ear flaps for just a tad of warmth. (Yes, those coveralls are damn ugly, but everyone wearing them seemed way more comfortable than I was.)

Lor Fullbright, from the Channel 6 news team, read out the numbers, and the winner got five minutes to put in an appearance at the stage. Fortunately, there was music playing during the waits, so I didn't look like a total fool bouncing up, down and all around, trying to get a drop or two of blood to start circulating through my frozen toes.

My jeans were wet halfway to my knees. My socks were soaked. I lost feeling in my ears and feet at about the same time. My nose was running, and my great hair got windblown all to hell. IF I had been lucky enough to win, I would have given the ticket to Robert to claim because I was definitely not "ready for my close-up."

And then I didn't win. {Major pout here.} To add insult to injury, when it was over, we had to walk a half dozen blocks to the truck, then fight traffic all the way to the edge of town. (Okay, everyone who knows how small Sapulpa is, stop snickering. We can get traffic-jammed with the best of 'em.)

Oh, well. I got a great burger and fries for lunch at Scott's, found out the grandkiddo's giftie will be ready Tuesday (and will be as adorable as he is), had a cherries-and-pecan ice cream cone from Braum's, and picked up a new pair of shoes. And it only took . . . oh, three hours or so to thaw out once I got home and changed into dry clothes.

And the snow blew itself right on out of here -- thank you, God! So it turned out to be a pretty good day.

Even if I'm not $10,000 richer. Rachel10:58 PM