What Will I Do If I Win The $1.5 Billion Powerball?

As you may or may not know by now about USA’s $1.5 Billion Powerball lottery jackpot that is up for grabs and one or couple of lucky winners will get to have a serious amount of cash in their bank accounts, and live off only just the interest and be set for life. Even hopeful Canadians are crossing the border to get their hands on the winning ticket numbers.  Of course as well as all that cash

Now, some people dream of buying a huge yacht, a private aircraft and other super luxurious things, go to the biggest and most expensive hotel suites, spending ridiculously and buy the most expensive watches, clothing,  handbags, shoes, jewelry, and live in a super huge mansion with so many rooms, bathrooms, and spend it like no tomorrow and some will not even know what to do with all that chunk of cash. Just because someone has a huge load of cash, doesn’t mean the money should be spent on foolish things and not on materialism.

Money of this amount should be spent on the betterment of this world, to make life better, to spend it wisely on things that matter. Not of what some people’s wild fantasies could be of just being luxurious and way too materialistic.

Now that If I get a ticket and IF I win, I will donate to villages in my home country Armenia, help my family and friends, personally go to third world countries that live in poverty and donate money, food, clothing and everything to people who need it.

I will open up a community centre for people who have been victims to social abuse and those who have been bullied emotionally, mentally, physically, also people who are alone and haven’t got too many friends. I want them to have that chance to come together with others and make life better for them and to make a difference in this world, where they can come and have fun with group activities, getting to know one another. Putting a smile on these people’s faces from young to the elderly is all the payment I need. They will be the true winners at life and to give them that extra boost that everything works out for them.

Now, that is the true lottery and jackpot that is won. Making a difference in lives, making someone’s day, life, seeing them smile, being happy, healthy and so much more.

From experience in my life, I have been there. I have been a victim of bullies, social abuse and the difficulty of people accepting me because I am and look different than everybody else. I will be happy knowing I have been able to help people in need with that amount of cash.

The rest, I will use for traveling to places I have not been to, buy a nice decent size house and not as huge as a villa or mansion. Just something reasonable, then live comfortably.

At the end above all that dough, health is wealth.

What will you do with that much money? If You do win it?

Overpriced Concession’s At Movie Theater’s

In our life, some of us enjoy movies, entertainment, seeing the new films that are out, venturing out to the movie theater either alone, with someone, some people and groups. Now, as we go to the movies, we tend to make a stop at the concession stands where the workers serve popcorn, drinks, candy, nachos, hot dogs, poutine, and among other foods. I understand that they need to generate money to cover costs of the grounds, facilities and the theatres, however it is outrageous and so overpriced.

I am an avid movie goer and most of the time, I satisfy my cravings with going into my pocket to purchase concession’s, and it gets so expensive. For a popcorn combo with drink, and candy comes to over $16.00, $20.00, $28.00 or more if you do not have the points card or some discount card. It is outrageous to pay 5-6 dollars for drinks, 5-7 dollars for Popcorn, and about 5 bucks for candy, 10 dollars for nachos and drink. It is absolutely ridiculous to be spending that much money for those things where it should not be more than 5-6 bucks at the most for drink and popcorn together. Never mind the candy.

Yesterday, I had gone to the movies and satisfied my cravings yet again. I had bought popcorn, drink and candy combo, and as I was eating it in the movie theatre while watching the trailers, the movie, I kept thinking to myself, why I need to pay so much money for Popcorn? It is not expensive when you buy it from the grocery store. So, I got home everything was ok, in the early morning hours around 5:30am, I had woken up and I got so sick. I ended up vomiting.

The problem was that I think the Popcorn they gave me was sitting around for a while maybe and nobody was buying it. I saw a whole bunch of already prepared popcorn bags and I thought they had made it fresh as they were putting them in the popcorn stand, and so I made sure that my popcorn was fresh and they said that it was, so I believed them. I went ahead and bought it and went on my way into the theater. Anyway, this morning I was so sick and I also got Diarrhea from it and I was so awful. I decided that I will no longer be purchasing anything from the concession stand.

I also filed a complaint to the movie theatre, and I feel like there will be nothing done about it and I will not be getting compensated as they didn’t seem to care at all. All day I have been feeling weird since my morning incident, but I am a lot better than I was. I felt like I was almost going to go to the hospital, so as the hour went by, I felt better, so I did not need any medical attention and I drank water and took breath mints and I was good.

So as a movie goer, I will just be purchasing my movie ticket and then I will not go near the concession stand. I will not risk my health and get sick again. A word of advice, please make sure your popcorn is freshly popped right before your eyes and you witness it coming out freshly and right into your bag and make sure all other foods are freshly made and prepared. It is in your right to ask that as you will be consuming it.

I don’t have a problem with paying for the movie, but I have a problem paying a lot just to eat popcorn and all that. Well, no more. They lost me as a customer at the concessions.

Have you had a terrible experience in the aftermath of eating movie theater food?
Do you agree that concession movie theater food is so expensive?

Would love to hear from you.

Armenian Heritage Night – Air Canada Centre – An Unforgettable Evening

On Sunday February 23rd, 2014, Almost 1000 Armenians embarked to The Air Canada Centre in Downtown Toronto for an unforgettable and memorable evening to celebrate Armenian Heritage. This was the 2nd Annual event. The doors opened to Air Canada Centre at 5pm, and everyone started going in. At 5:30Pm The Holy Trinity Armenian Church’s, Sassoun Dance Ensemble performed at Centre court of a traditional Armenian Dance for thousands of people who were non-Armenian and for Armenians. A few minutes before the Game started between Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, A lady came and sang the National Anthems for both USA and Canada. The tip off and game started at 6pm and went well into almost 9pm.

The Armenian Students Association, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto, Sassoun Dance Ensemble, ARS, and other Armenian Organizations came together to plan this incredible night.  Thank you to everyone who assisted in the planning, and organizing with The Air Canada Centre so that we too Can have a Heritage Night. I was counting the days and hours until I went to the game and to the Armenian Night. It was something I had wanted to go to Last year, but was unable to. I was lucky enough to attend this year.

It was an incredible, memorable night that brought Armenians closer together to a huge Venue to enjoy the Basketball Game, to enjoy seeing Armenian Heritage on the bulletins and the Jumbo Tron at the ACC. The energy of the arena and people were felt, the crowd cheered on, everyone was having a great time, and really enjoyed the whole game from beginning to the end. The Raptors were not doing too well in the beginning, but then stepped up to the game after half time. The 4th Quarter got really exciting. It felt great to see Armenian everywhere, Armenian Flags waving in the audience, Hearing Armenians talking in our Language everywhere. It was pretty cool.

The Toronto Raptors won that night 105-90. If the Raptors Score more than 100 points in a game and win, the crowd at the ACC Gets a Free Pizza slice at Pizza Pizza across Toronto and the GTA locations. For those who printed tickets, had to get their tickets stamped by the officials at ACC, but original tickets did not need to. At the end of the night not only did we celebrate the Raptors win, we got a free pizza, and we Armenians had a blast. I cannot wait until I go to next years Armenian Heritage Night. Thank you Air Canada Centre.