By popular demand...

Okay, so this post isn't really by popular demand. It was demanded by one person, so I don't think that qualifies as popular. On the other hand, I can assure you that it was demanded. And since the person doing the demanding was none other than the Wife, I felt that I had to comply. Problem is, I had nothing to write about.

Then I was checking out my nightly list of websites and came across a wonderful little tidbit. Follow the link here. Watch the video. If you want to know why that man just got slapped by another man, read the post linked in the first sentence. Then laugh. Finally, wonder why you're taking directions from me.

Now, I enjoy the occasional bout of gambling. I enter March Madness brackets, I've even put money on a few Notre Dame games in my time (okay, one - Notre Dame v. Florida State in 2003, at FSU - which ND won to go to 8-0 on the season before things fell horribly apart against Boston College the next week (sound familiar?)), and I've been to an Indian/Native American/Rightful-owners-of-the-land casino. But that's just money. I'm not willing to bet physical harm on a sporting event. Especially a spring scrimmage that is only possible to bet on by creating wonderfully inventive gambling categories.

Some of you may be asking why I've chosen this to be my topic to respond to the Wife's demand. Well, it is because I too have a story of a man who risked physical harm while gambling. Once upon a time, on an enchanted cruise at sea, there was a man. We'll call him "The Mister." There was also a woman. We'll call her "Dragon-headed fun-sucker." "The Mister" decided to engage in a little card playing for money in the on-board casino. The first night, "The Mister" lost ($20 for those of you keeping score). The second night, "The Mister" was again losing until amazingly recovering from the brink of defeat and going up $20. At this point, "Dragon-headed fun-sucker" decided it would be a good time for "The Mister" to quit. "The Mister," not being a rational person, decided to ignore "Dragon-headed fun-sucker" in the mistaken belief that this would prevent the fun-sucking. It did not. After the angry "Dragon-headed fun-sucker" stormed out, "The Mister" lost the $20 that he was ahead, and quit at the point where he was even for the night. Bravely returning to the cabin, "The Mister" was accosted by the "Dragon-headed fun-sucker." Convinced (quickly) of how wrong he had been, "The Mister" managed to avoid physical harm by submitting to draconian restrictions on his personal liberty. To this day, his voice and free will have never again been demonstrated in public. It is only I who keep his memory alive.

Hope you enjoyed my little tale. Hopefully this satisfies the demands of the Wife. If not, I'm in trouble - I think she has the phone number of the "Dragon-headed fun-sucker" tucked away somewhere.