Since this is a fantasy, I'll assume, for the sake of argument, that I actually bought a lotto ticket in the first place. First, I'd claim my prize anonymously. You all would never know about it. Though there'd be an anonymous benefactor that'd subsidize a big-a$$ get together for GP regulars. ;o) Steve and I talk about this sometimes. I don't think we'd change the direction of our lives so much as we'd alter the scale of our participation in certain areas. Our (manageable) mortgage would be paid off, and I'd hire a personal organizer to help me purge/prioritize/organize what few quality belongings that'd remain. My siblings' mortgages and student loans would be paid off. I'd offer my brother college tuition (though I doubt he'd accept). There'd be trust funds for my nieces'/nephews' educations, and matching funds for down payments on their homes... it could be as big as they want it to be, provided they can match it with their savings: One-time offer, no expiration date. I'd buy my parents the lot they've been negotiating on, and bankroll the single-story house they've been dreaming of. (There'd be a finished basement complete with a nice guest suite for when Steve, the dogs and I visit.) My dad would get another "Garage Mahal." This one would be equipped with plumbing. ((boys + beer) - indoor plumbing = not cool!) Steve would get his hunting land, and we'd get the "Up North" lake cabin in an area adjacent to wilderness and good X-country ski trails. We'd invest in farm land and lease it out to tenants involved in sustainable practices. In the aftermath of the financial devastation we're undergoing in the markets, I think well-kept farm land is always going to be a good investment. Our "once-every-other-week" cleaning lady would see her work with us increase four-fold. We'd hire the lawn service, and we'd replace the flooring in our house. Our charitable endeavors would be education-focused, with a concentration on youth enrichment programs in the areas of music, science and involving kids with sustainable agriculture techniques. (Programs that expose "city" kids to soil, bugs, and home-grown foods especially tickle me.) We'd also invest in the renewable energy infrastructure... probably in the form of ND wind farms. We'd continue to see the world, but we'd travel more frequently and always first class. Our travel wouldn't be married to Steve's work travel because he'd quit his 9-5 and become a consultant so he only had to work on projects that ignited his scientific passions. I might also splurge and get the Mini Cooper Clubman I've been thinking of getting when my Honda Accord hits 150K miles. I've seen money from many different angles in my (short, so far) life. In many respects, I've already won the lottery. Along the way I've learned that being poor doesn't mean you deserve to be... having money doesn't mean you deserve it (nor does it make you special, nor will it make you happy), fortunes can and will be reversed. The trick is to be happy within the confines of your own heart... the exterior stuff is not the important/lasting stuff...

Don't buy it - so that I can get my hands on it! Seriously, if it's something you love there's ways to make almost anything work but you do need to keep your head on your shoulders and know when or if to walk away. I would suggest interviewing by phone a bunch of home inspectors and get one whose passion and speciality is old houses and is someone you can trust and talk to easily and answers your questions to your satisfaction. You'll know him/or her when you find him/her. That's the person who will talk to you at length on the phone because they're excited and passionate. If everyone you ask keeps referring you to the same guy, that's another clue that they're good. Make offer contingent on the inspection, or if you want to spend the money you can even have it inspected prior to making an offer - a knowledgeable and skilled inspector should be able to give you good ball park #s you can use to either write an offer or come up with a budget. I would not mess around with the contractors just yet...unless they know and love old houses and can give you the BIG PICTURE and know all the houses systems incl plumbing, heat, electrical, structural, etc. The problem with calling in contractors at this point is that a lot of them might push their way of doing things and not tell you about other options, or even know about them - maybe theyd push new windows for example whereas a good inspector would give you the whole range of options including just repairing the old ones. At this point I would want just a good overview and ball park nuymbers and not detailed quotes for every little job. Hope that helps! Have fun!

I've grown tired of hearing it's how we say it in the sath (or insert your chosen location). I remember how badly my Texas cousin wanted to move to Minnesota. I knew she'd have a lot of trouble though. In Houston, she was a high school honor roll student. In Minnesota, she wouldn't have passed third grade English, grammar or math. We took the Iowa basic skills tests but either they couldn't have or they never scored them. There's no way she could have passed them. Even reading letters/emails from her to this day, there's been no improvement. If you don't learn it in grade school, you're penalized for the rest of your life unless you really make a huge effort. Broadcasting and media have to take their share of the blame for this condition. Not so long ago grammar was important in broadcasting where today it means nothing although I attribute part to the management being so poorly educated they don't know any better. I can only quote Barry Zevan: "Broadcasters these days are absolutely massacring the English language."

Oh good heavens... I come back from vacation to find this topic - such a hot button for me. Long ago, I learned to ignore the NYT bestseller list, likewise the NYT and LT book reviews. In my never-humble opinion, any time a reviewer uses adjectives, the review becomes swayed. I want to know what the book is about and decide for myself if it appeals to me, my interests, or piques my curiosity. Also, I used to write a book review column. I was told what to read, and what my opinion should be before I opened the front cover. This, of course, bothered me more than you can imagine and after trying to talk sense to the editor, I simply walked away. I could not have my name attached to someone else's opinion, or have the agenda forced upon me. Added to that, USA Today, a popular mainstream newspaper, is written on a third grade level. I figure (and may be wrong in this assumption) that if something hits the bestseller list, by virtue of sheer numbers, chances are the book will be dumbed down, sappy, a commercial rush job to rake in a movie deal, or a complete waste of time. I find that as I read more and more, and as I age, my reading choices are less and less mainstream. I read not only to entertain myself, but to educate myself. Most bestsellers, to me, resemble a 30-minute sit-com which does nothing to improve either my mood or my intellect. Ah, this sounds so negative - but I detest and distrust anything somebody tells me is a bestseller whether it be a book, a car, or a brand of yogurt... you get the idea. There are not enough free thinkers in the world. And the bestseller list steers people toward books instead of letting them discover new authors by perusing the shelves in a store or library. I am beginning to rant... therefore, I shall back away slowly from the keyboard and get some tea. PAM