I feel like I should get one of those stickers that say, “I tried to give blood.” Such was my experience this morning to snag one of six PS3s for sale at the local Fred Meyer this morning.

Sharpie and I hit the store at about 6:35 this morning, and found a line of around 100 people. It was actually quite the party - kids, elderly folk, people smoking, drinking, swearing, scratching - the works! Now, they (Fred Meyer) had decided just a few days before that they would hold a lottery for the “privelige” of buying a PS3, instead of on a first-come, first-serve basis, so the line itself wasn’t relevant to our chances. That said, people continued to line up behind us. At 6:45, managers started down the line, passing out tickets. Then, everybody crowded up to the front doors while someone else shouted out ticket numbers.

I did not win. The guy right in front of me did. And so did my other friend, Doug, a hundred people back.

My ticket # was 085052. Sharpie’s was 085051. Forever shall these be known as our unlucky six-digit numbers starting with a zero. Anyway, I heard a ticket get called for around 085052, so I surmise that there were at least 450 people there. We examined what was left of the games selection afterwards (plenty of EA trash left), and bought some donuts on our way out. Had to put that money to work somehow, you know?

Yes, just so you know, I WAS planning on eBaying the thing immediately. Why would I want to crack it open? So I couldn’t play online with instant and easy matchmaking with ranking? So I couldn’t have voice chats, download demos, games, stream music and video in between and during games? Heck no - it’s 360 time. See you all online - where the PS3 players won’t be.