I entered a contest in August for this local radio station for a "$10,000 bathroom renovation featuring a deluxe walk-in shower and bathtub." Sounds pretty good, right?
So, I get a call last week from a guy saying that I've been selected as a finalist. Cool, I thought! But, they probably have called about 100 people with this same news. When I asked them how many finalists there would be, the guy wouldn't give me an answer. The catch was that I had to show up at the California Home and Garden show at the Fairground this past Sunday before 5 pm, check in, and they would announce the winner at 5 pm. If I wasn't there in person, I wouldn't win.
I debated actually going because it just sounded like a hassle, and I was sure the chances would be low. But then curiosity got the best of me. So, Sunday afternoon I got in the car and made the trek to the fairgrounds with Kayla
I got there just in time, and we checked in at the radio station booth. Turns out there are only 12 finalists! So, now I'm feeling pretty good about coming all the way down here.
They line us up as it gets closer to 5, and make an announcement about the contest, and describe our fabulous prize. Turns out, the prize is this freaking $10,000 handicap tub thingy...
So, now my mind is racing. I mean, what the heck will I do with this thing? Don't get me wrong, it's a very useful thing for someone who needs it, but clearly I have misinterpreted the contest. But, the contest didn't say it was a handicap bathtub! I certainly can't bathe kids in that, and it's not going in the master bathroom, I can tell you that! I start thinking that maybe my mom will want it (unlikely), or maybe I can sell it on eBay, or maybe I can just make a run for it before they announce the winner.
Meanwhile, they are handing out keys, and one of those keys will unlock a padlock next to this fabulous prize. I make Kayla pick out the key for me, because I'm still considering my options. A drum roll sounds somewhere, and the first victim, I mean finalist, approaches the padlock. She inserts her key, and opens the padlock!
HALLELUJAH!!! I think I heard about three other sighs of relief in the line around me. I've never not wanted to win something so badly in my life!
So, the lesson here is...read the fine print people, read every word, or just don't enter radio contests.
