So now it's time to get back to normal. I had my usual number I play every week for the Powerball drawing. I vowed I wouldn't buy extra tickets because I knew it would be a waste of money. That didn't work. On Wednesday I stopped and picked up five extra numbers. Then I found out my wife had purchased three extra tickets.

So knowing that I had my number and eight extra tickets, surely I'd win something, if not the big prize. The excitement right before check is always a thrill isn't it? Well I started down the list of numbers before me and one by one I started to get that usual sinking feeling that I was going to be shut out again. Sure enough, I did pick the Powerball number on one ticket. That's probably get me a couple of bucks.

Now I haven't checked my wife's three tickets yet. Maybe there's still hope. After all, in some cases if you pick five numbers correctly and miss the Powerball number, you still win a lot of money. I've got my fingers crossed, but I honestly don't expect much.

It's usually that way isn't it? You buy the tickets and the excitement builds till the next morning when you check your tickets against the winning numbers.

I'm letting that be a lesson to me and it should be for all of us. Don't buy those extra tickets just because the jackpot has grown. I do believe in having my one usual number because as they say, if you don't play you can't win. There's always that long shot chance isn't there?

So now I've vowed not to buy extra tickets if the jackpot grows. Will I be able to stick to it? I doubt it. It's fun to dream isn't it?