I'm Going to Win the Lottery!

I bought a lottery ticket today. I have only done that on a few occasions in my life, and I'm not exactly sure what prompted me to do it again now. Probably fate, or divine intervention.

The chances of winning the lottery aren't very high, but they increase tremendously upon purchasing a ticket. :)

During my 7 hour roadtrip to see family this past weekend, I spent a solid hour pondering what I would do if I won the lottery. This isn't something I frequently wonder about, but I was bored out of my mind and probably saw a billboard that sparked it. Anyway, I wasn't dreaming of what I would do with the money - I never really got to that - but literally what I would do after finding out.

To whom would I make my first phone call?
(A tax attorney, or to several key people to get a referral to a good tax attorney, preferably one who has dealt with lottery issues.)

Would I tell my friends, family, blog readers?
(No, parents only at least at first, and I'd have to start a new blog to ensure total anonymity.)

Where would I put the money right at first?
(I'd consult my tax attorney about how and where, but in general it would go into cash while I research my options for the better part of the next year).

This last question is where I got stuck, and without resolving it I couldn't move forward to the fun money fantasy part. I kept debating - with all the intensity of actually having to decide - with which institution to start a new financial relationship, whether to go in person or do it all electronically, whether I would go with TIPs or a CD ladder or a high yield money market fund, and how to get the proper advice without getting roped into expensive relationships with very many brokers and advisers and attorneys.

I have a vague awareness of how nerdy/crazy this makes me seem.

Why I'm Going To Win
Anyway, I finally made it home, but the thought of it has still been nagging me. My horoscope one day this week (which I occassionally read online at work) had a lottery reference, and then I think I had a dream about it...

Today when I found myself standing in line at the gas station, the inspiration struck me and I was reminded: I should buy a lottery ticket!

I knew the jackpot was probably small, and I should plan out when and where to buy the ticket, and I wasn't in the mood to pick numbers - and I always pick my own numbers. Plus when I looked at the lottery section there were like 6 different games to choose from.

But I felt like I had to - I couldn't be struck with a great idea like that and then just walk out! After staring at all the options for a few minutes, I went to the cashier and said carefully that "I'd like to buy a lottery ticket." He mumbled a question in what could have partially been English, and I nodded with no idea what game I was buying. Then he said "cash only" when he saw me reach for my debit card, and my face fell - I never carry cash.

Then I looked, and I actually had $1 in my wallet. I have no idea where it came from, but was sure it wouldn't be enough. I asked him how much the ticket was, and he said "one doller." I brightened instantly and handed it over. Then the cashier said "good luck" and foreshadowed my success with as much certainty as if you'd seen the exchange in a movie.

As I walked back to my car I looked at the ticket and saw the cash value jackpot is over $11 million! After taxes that's around $5 million, which is the same amount I was working with when doing my analysis in the car that day.

So anyway, I'm pretty much going to win for sure.