Five bucks and a dream

OK, so I didn't win Wednesday night's Powerball lottery. I don't know this from checking my numbers, because I haven't actually done that. I just know it, because in preparing to make a post about the lottery game, I went to the Web site and saw that no one had all the number in Wednesday's drawing.

So, the bad news for you is, you are going to have to put up with me at least a few more days.

The good news is that Saturday's drawing is estimated to be worth $205 million. That will give me a little more spreadin' around money once I hit it big.

And of course, I have to hit it big. It just fits with the whole Sheryl Crow fantasy mentioned in my previous post.

I love these big lottery jackpots. California's lottery used to get up there pretty high once in a while. And when it did, I would try to remember to buy a $5 ticket. Lord knows I always get more than $5 worth of fun imagining what I would do with the money.

Of course there's the practical stuff. Hiring a financial consultant, socking money away for my daughter's education and her future financial wellbeing, tossing some funds to my parents so they can get out from under their business obligations and finally retire, grit my teeth and set up trust fund for my younger brothers and putting some money aside for myself in the event I'm an idiot and piss away all my money in a week and a half so I can ensure I don't starve.

And there is the fun stuff, like quitting the job in some sort of dramatic and flamboyant style, buying houses in Portland and Palm Springs for starters. The summer and winter homes. Buying a new car or two. Flying off to meet some certain someone in the Midwest who's been playing hard to get for the last 7 years, and taking an extremely long vacation somewhere sunny and warm with a pampering resort staff.

Eventually, I'd probably start a business, maybe something web-based, just to keep myself from being bored. And I'd be one of those bosses that isn't around when you want him, and is around all the time when you wish he wasn't. Going in late, leaving early, taking long weekends, and yelling in the middle of the office for no apparent reason, just to freak people out, then flying off to Vegas for the high-roller treatment.

Yea, I know, there's absolutely no way I will ever win a state lottery, let alone a multi-state lottery like Powerball. But I figure I get my $5 worth of fun every time I buy a ticket. And it's much less fattening than a Carl's Jr. double Western bacon cheeseburger.

Remind me to buy a ticket before Saturday.

Powerball Lottery