I'm Outing Myself

I like zombies.  It all started with a mercilessly violent video game that my brothers used to play called Resident Evil.  I would watch them murder the living dead (and zombified canines) in the cold and dark basement and either cover my head, close my eyes or scream as the situation on the screen warranted.  At the end of the zombie slaying session I came to find that I had enjoyed myself.  Fast forward a decade or so later and I have seen all the Resident Evil movies, of which there are three.  The last one, Resident Evil:  Extinction, I saw by myself.  I don't want to go into what a bad idea that was right now, but my point is that I went out of my way to see a zombie movie with no encouragement.  

Enter stage left my brother the zombie lover.  He is seriously "Zombie or Bust" and is well prepared should the zombocalypse occur tomorrow. He knows the best weapons to use in any zombie vs. human battlefield scenario and is intimately acquainted with the cinematic history of zombies starting with black and white movies.  If you could obtain a degree in zombie studies, he'd have a doctorate.  It is really he that influenced my decision to choose zombies over vampires as my death dealing monsters of choice.  In addition, my sister gave me a book about the zombocalypse called World War Z that I surprised myself by liking.  Believe it or not, the book was boring at times, but it had frightening highlights which I thought were quite redeeming (i.e. the computer nerd in Japan that was forced to fight off zombies with an ancient samurai sword).

There were two distinct events which made me realize I have an in-the-closet, voyeuristic fascination with zombies.  First, as I was mindlessly channel surfing one afternoon I happened upon a B movie on some no-name channel about a zombie outbreak in a prison which I could not stop watching.  Needless to say, it was ghastly.  Second, a few days ago I saw the mecca of all zombie movies, Dawn of the Dead.  I really enjoyed it although I'm not sure the chainsaw accident was necessary.  Even so, I am still pondering adding it to my top ten favorite movies of all time.  I'll put it between Pride and Prejudice and The Little Princess.  So there.  I am officially out of the closet.  I just couldn't handle the secrecy.  I hope that I will not be discriminated against in any manner because of my preferences.

Powerball

I'm not the biggest proponent of gambling but I was sorely tempted to enter the Powerball lottery recently. Don't get me wrong, I've pulled a slot machine handle on the rare occasion but in general I try to avoid gambling as much for religious reasons as for logistical. I like to hold on to what little money I have. Anyway, this Powerball lottery was calling to me in silky beckoning tones and I had to ask myself, "Is playing the lottery really gambling?" A part of me says "yes," but a part of me says "tsk tsk tsk!" Let's get this straight, I spend one buck, choose 6 numbers and could potentially win 87 million dollars? Sounds great, where do I sign?

Alas, I was too late in getting off the fence. The latest drawing was Saturday, February 28th and I am still shedding bitter bitter tears over my lost millions. At least I have the profound meaning in my last fortune cookie saying, "There is in the worst of fortunes the best chance of a happy ending." I take that to mean the next Powerball lottery is all mine!