By Amy Langdon

As a long time fan of Masterpiece Theatre, I'm excited that PBS has produced a miniseries that is getting even non-period-piece-lovers interested in it's soapy drama.  That miniseries is Downton Abbey.  And since its Emmy win, Downton has been the talk of the town...or at least Facebook.  I've even had a couple friends over for tea and scones and a viewing of the newest episode.

You can imagine my delight then when I got an email announcing a Masterpiece Sweepstakes, with the chance to win a free trip to England complete with tours of the castles and other cool places where Downton was filmed.

Now I'm hesitant to post this, because I don't want to encourage people to enter the sweepstakes and thereby reduce my odds of winning.  I've never been much for entering contests, but when I saw this one, I knew it had to be mine.

So I decided to stack the deck a little bit.  I send an email to my closest friends and family - more specifically, the ones that I knew would take me if they were to win.  I asked that they enter everyday (since you can enter everyday from now til April) and I've gotten emails all week confirming they are equal to the task.

The only problem will be if I win and I have ten people thinking I'm taking them.  But I guess there are worse problems to have.  I'll still be in England!

May the odds be ever in my favor.