Lottery jackpot swells to $300-million (U.S.)

[elSicomoro]

I was over in NJ last night buying a few tix. In fact, I apparently missed being on TV by an hour or so, as our NBC affiliate in Philadelphia was over at the place where I bought my tix (a liquor store in Pennsauken, NJ).

I did the same thing with the Powerball jackpot late last year, when I drove down to Claymont, DE to buy tix. Fortunately, PA joins Powerball next month...and NJ is only 10-15 minutes from me.

The first thing I would do if I won that money is talk to an accountant or investment representative. I would go with the lump sum, which should be around $100 million. If invested properly, I'd probably make that $100 million turn back into $300 million and then some in the end.

Once the finances are set, I would pay off all my debts, then Rho's debts, then my parents' house. That wouldn't take much. Then, I'd buy myself a new car...a nice car. No Ferraris or Lamborghinis. Probably the most expensive car I would buy is a Cadillac STS. Then, a new car for Rho.

As far as a million dollar mansion...hmmm. Not sure what I would want to do as far as a house. Maybe a nice 3-story house in Chicago's Wicker Park. Or, my dream home near the Maryland shore. Nothing overly ludicrious.

I would then hop in the car and drive. All over the US and Canada...for several months. That's my current dream sequence.

I WOULD quit my job...primarily to go back to school for my masters degree...probably in Social Work, then my doctorate. And then go to work doing something truly rewarding to me personally...and hopefully helping others in the process.

Sure, the odds are 76 million to one. It's not like I'm really hurting myself, other than wasting a dollar and some gas driving over to New Jersey. Plus, it's fun to dream. Meanwhile, I'll try to make my dreams possible through hard work.