My family never thought of it, but it sounds like something they might do: Buy lottery tickets as Christmas presents for the kids. You know, it keeps them occupied, convenient stocking stuffer, and what kid wouldn’t want a 1-in-5,000,0000 chance to not have to worry about college tuition, or worry about college -- period?

Sometimes the job of an editor is surprisingly clerical and mundane. Sift through mountains of e-mails, press releases and distractions from companies eight states away; other times, it’s ignorning the emails of supposedly wealthy African widows who, in addition to thanking God for me, also need a few of my personal bank account numbers.

Every once in awhile a press release or notice comes across my desk I treasure forever. That happened yesterday. This one comes courtesy of the Minnesota State Lottery and the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance -- seemingly odd bedfellows for a release.

The title: "Holiday Season Reminder: Lottery Tickets Are Not Appropriate Gifts for Minors."

I laughed and shared the emails with some co-workers, imagining the scenarios by which some sleepy-eyed child awakens to a package of half-scratched lottery tickets.

"Wow," some child shrieks in my imagination. "I almost won $100 in the Match Five game."

Who needs Nintendo when you’ve got lotto?

Seriously, who gets their kids lotto tickets for Christmas? And, how many people had never thought of the idea -- until now. Until I started asking around.

One staff member confessed that he always slipped a few bucks to his Dad to pick up a lotto ticket or two as a teenager (Don’t worry Minnesota gaming folks, this staff member’s father is many states away). And then there’s my other favorite: One staff member used to go to the horse races with his parents, only to be asked, "OK (name withheld), what’s your favorite pony?"

Roger Svendsen of the problem gambling alliance said: "We urge parents and adults not to give lottery tickets to minors during the holiday season or any time of the year."

Well, there goes my birthday idea for my two nephews. Guess it’s back to one of those heavily caffienated Elmo dolls.

And to think that the worse thing my parents ever got me was a sweater vest, clip-on tie combination meant for me to wear for third-grade pictures.

Turns out that I owe them an apology: I always thought a clip-on tie was about the worse thing a kid could get.Yet, my friends at the state lottery commission tell me otherwise.