My name is epicenter and I have a problem…

I was in the Air Force at the time.

Roughly 1996, I tagged along with a couple of friends to Las Vegas. I had no idea what I was doing, but went into Caesar’s Palace with $100. The dealers helped me learn Craps. I left that weekend with $2300. Had a blast!

Approximately a year later, I returned on a temporary duty assignment. I was supposed to be there 6 weeks. I blew through my whole checking and savings account, maxed out every credit card I had and was only there a total of 3 weeks. I happened to be there over the 4th of July weekend. We had a cookout planned. I never saw the light of day that whole weekend. Luckily, my roommate noticed my activity. He anonymously spoke to my first sergeant. I was called into his office, where we spent the better part of two hours breaking down what I spent. That’s when reality hit me right in the nuts. We totaled it up to around $12,000. He sent me back to my home station with strict orders to go home and don’t stop. It was about a 9 hour drive. I made it home, and was greeted by my home-unit first sergeant the next morning. We spoke in-depth and he assured me that I wasn’t in any trouble. At no point did I neglect my duties. I was sent home for my own safety.

It took me approximately 7 years to pay off that debt. It was a glorious achievement.

If you’re out there, SrA (insert name here), thank you for noticing and reporting me. I was pissed at the time, but sincerely appreciate your attention and concern now.

I lost $17.50 at a claw machine in Atlantic City. It was 25c a go. I was 8 years old.
I remember shaking my head and thinking 'Damn. I'd better not ever gamble."
Never did. And never touched a claw machine again.

I saved a patatoe in the freezer that was the perfect shape of a heart. I put it in there in June for February. When I got it out and proudly gave it to my wife it literally turned black and started leaking juices in front of her. In theory it was cute in practice it was like a death threat.