Running With Quills: Stella (cringing) JUST FOR FUN AND TOTALLY OFF TOPIC

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Stella (cringing) JUST FOR FUN AND TOTALLY OFF TOPIC

If you won $15,000,000 after taxes, what would you do with the money?

My blogging privileges are about to be revoked . . .

Stella

47 Comments:

DFender said...: Nah, your blogging privileges can't be revoked! Your posts are much too much fun :)

1) Quit my job
2) Set up trust funds for both kids
3) Buy a house in Ireland
4) Buy a house on the West Coast
5) Buy a house on the East Coast
6) Donate to charities that benefit children
7) Open a book store/cafe
8) Buy a new Mercedes
9) Buy an original 1969 Camaro SS
10)Travel, travel, travel.

Oh the joys of dreaming!; 9:41 AM
Cynthia E. Bagley said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 10:27 AM
Cynthia E. Bagley said...: After buying a house, I would start a fund for research for vasculitis diseases. It is not because I am a philanthropist, but because I have a vasculitis disease and have learned that the research is woefully under-funded.

Do you know how expensive it is to live when you have a chronic disease?; 10:29 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. Trust Funds for Grandkids and Great-Grandkids.

2. New House for my deceased youngest son's wife, one for myself.

3. Would go on a shopping spree, but I HATE to shop.

4. Would travel, but who with? I would need a nice strong young man to carry my bags, get tickets, etc.

But really, am too lazy to leave the house much as enjoy reading my books from my fav authors, so will just let it rot in bank for my heirs.

Am awaiting for AQ, EL, and Stella's books to come out.; 10:47 AM
Cbell said...: Hmm... that's quite a bit.

1. Purchase an office building and supplement the income of a friend's ministry that works with a mission group in Haiti.

2. Pay off the mortgages of both my brothers and my parents homes.

3. Since I don't have kids, I'll have to set up trust funds/college funds for my nieces and nephews.

4. Purchase my dream home... and a few vacation villas (Hawaii, Swiss Alps, French Riveria)

5. Contribute to my local library for purchases of new books (we don't get them as quickly as I'd like)

6. Build my very own well-stocked library.

7. Etc.; 11:05 AM
erin k. said...: ooo. that'd be nice. haha. I especially like the "after taxes" part!
1. I would pay off my student loans! =(
2. I would buy myself a house. As well as one for my mom. (She keeps saying she's going to live in my guesthouse when I get a house... lol)
3. A car... (typical, I know.. but I need transportation in CA!)
4. I like cbell's 5 and 6. Build my very own well-stocked library...heaven.
5. donate lots and lots of books to the public library because it was my favorite place growing up (and they really do get books too slowly)
6. do something i love without worrying about a job.
7. invest some of it.
8. save most of it.
9. open a book and read. =D; 11:54 AM
ButterflyLane said...: 1. Pay off student loans.
2. Set up trust funds for my kids, nieces and nephews.
3. Buy a nice house (and hire a housekeeper).
4. Buy my husband a Murano cause he thinks they're totally awesome.
5. Endow scholarships for moms with kids to help pay daycare.
6. Open a reasonably priced daycare and hire my sisters to run it. (I don't like kids that well myself.)
7. Hire a kick-ass lawyer and prove my ex sister-in-law an unfit mother (believe me, she is) so that my niece doesn't wind up poisoned my her mother's venom. (I'd just hire a hitman, but... it is a bit illegal and all.)
8. Get my pilot's license, buy a small plane, and fly to my favorite authors' book signings so that I can thank them for saving my sanity by giving me an escape hatch when I need one.
9. Invest the rest (there should still be 12 or 13 million even after all of that) and live off the interest. That way there will be plenty for my kids.; 12:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Marva Says:

I would buy every book and craft supply I ever wanted.

Then I'd set up trust funds.; 1:03 PM
cate said...: Ooh Stella!

These aren't in order:
Donate some of it.

Do the spa thing.

Put my fam & friends back to square one. Out of debt, with possibilities!

Move my modest home somewhere a little less populated.

Travel a little with my honey and have some possibilities of my own!; 1:22 PM
Brandy said...: Oh, fun, the what if game!!
1. pay of Dh's student loans.
2. go to college.
3. send my kids to private school, set up trust funds for them for college and after.
4.pay off my mortgage, sell this house, build my dream home.(a craftsman)
5. visit Ireland/ Scotland.
Donate funds to the ASPCA and local Humane Societies.
Donate to my Library system.
6. PUT IT IN THE BANK and feel secure.
7. Breathe and read!; 2:57 PM
talpianna said...: 1. Hire somebody to clean the litterbox.

2. Buy Hugh Jackman.

3. Buy the old McCune Mansion and move my friends in with me. The indoor bowling alley should convert nicely to a library.

4. Fly to London, take the train to Oxford, walk into Blackwell's Books there, and say "One of each, please."; 3:02 PM
Katrina said...: 1. Pay off student loans
2. Pay for the remainder of college
3. Pay for law school
4. Buy a car (i need one to get around...bus money is sucking me dry)
5. Move to Ireland and live in seclusion for a while
6. Invest some
7. Give some to AIDS and Cancer (all kinds) research
8. Donate some to my church in Riverside and the one in Hawaii
9. Give some to my mom to say Thank You for being awesome.
10. Give $20 to each homeless person I see on the side of the road
11. Hire my friend and her family a kick ASS lawyer and make her father PAY all that he owes....

I think that is it...; 5:51 PM
DFender said...: Well hell, if Tal's gonna add people to the mix I'll jump on that train... lol (good plan!)

Please add the following to my list:

11. Adrian Paul; 6:11 PM
Anonymous said...: LOL,, I mentioned that to my mom the other day before the drawing.

The list went like this:

1. Pay off mortgages
2. Buy some of neighbors' land so I cna increase mine
3. Buy a motorhome (this makes sense in a just read on)
4. Tear down exisitng house, and rebuild one tha'ts handicap acesible for mom to get around in
5. Buy new computers
6. Buy LOTS and LOTS of books
7. Tell my sister she can quit her job (since I'm self-employed and work from home - I'll probably still play off and on with the business - would go nuts otherwise)
8. Did I mention buy LOTS and LOTS of books

:-); 7:53 PM
Jay said...: Hmmm....

1. Give my parents a big chunk of it. We have an understanding that any lotto any of us wins is for all of us.

2. Build a bloody huge house, with an indoor pool, a massive library and plenty of space. No neighbours. I'd set up a big first class stable complex out the back, and I'd turn it into a rehab centre slash retirement home for abused and abandoned horses.

3. Send my grandmother and great aunt on an all expenses paid trip around the world, including spending money, for as long and as far as they want to go.

4. Go travelling.

5. Give a sum to Greenpeace, being the only ones on the planet with the balls to fight whaling.

Put the rest in an account and live off the interest once I finish travelling.

Now, if the Powers That Be would make it so, I can get started on my house plans....*g*; 8:17 PM
talpianna said...: Oh, and I'll hire two full-time household staffs--one for me, and one for the cats.; 9:50 PM
Louis said...: Dream on...
pay off the mortgage.
pay crdit cards
donate to Cancer research.
Trust funds for the kids.
buy books and bookcases.
put in a really good barn for the horses.
Above not in any order.; 10:15 PM
Heather said...: After they revive me:
1. make sure myparents and siblings haves homes of their own(martgage and rent suck disposable income)
2.donate to diabetes association and give money for depression research
3.Trust funds for my kids
4. Buy every romance novel I can get my hands
5.Invest the rest to turn it into generational money so that my great great grandchildren will have more freedom to do what they enjoy without having to worry about cost all the time. I grew up counting pennies , it was most unenjoyable I assure you; 3:44 AM
Anonymous said...: Tal, is that with or without the "towel"?; 6:34 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, I definetly would NOT give anything to Greenpeace. Sorry guys but I´m Icelandic and we have a bit more negative view of then than some other nations.

Basically I would use the money to ensure my family´s security. Get a car and spend some on travels and other enjoyments.

As for charities. I have definite ideas which ones I would like to support, but that is something I´ll keep to myself.; 6:44 AM
Cbell said...: WAIT! We get to purchase men?!

Gerard Butler for me, please!; 7:41 AM
Kat said...: Well...If everyone else is buying a man...

I choose Johnny Depp....I guess he can bring his kids too, they are kinda cute; 8:47 AM
Ranurgis said...: Good question. On another blog they asked about $1,000,000.

1. Pay off all debts incl. monies given to me.

2. Make sure that all my relatives have what they need to live on. Ditto for some of my ailing friends.

3. Give a big chunk to Compassion Canada for children overseas.

4. Donate to research centres.

5. I have tons of books but I'd like a nice place to put them, rather than in storage.

6. Buy a fair-sized house with some land around it that will accommodate me, my books and rooms for guests.

7. Have a housekeeper/cook since both jobs are hard for me.

8. Get a comfortable car and a sports model, e.g., a Porsche.

9. Put the rest in trust funds for nephews, nieces, etc. since I don't have my own children.

10. Travel the world, especially certain places but anywhere will do.

Will I have any money to live on? Hmm.

11.I'd better invest some of it in blue chip stocks.; 10:31 AM
kris said...: I think i'll stick to the man I've got. but besides that I would
pay off credit cards and student loans
buy house and 2 cars
buy a parents house in same city somewhere
set up account to buy books now and in future
set up funds for my kids for college
start non-profit organization to distribute money; 10:38 AM
Stella said...: There are some common threads here! Books, loans, houses, trusts, travel. There are some reasons why we're hanging out together . . .

The library talk excites me. I do have one but like the first greenhouse you build, it should be fifty times as big. Then it has to have a gallery, and be circular, with rolling ladders, all dark paneling and clubby looking furniture that sucks you into it. The books are perfectly organized. There's a big fireplace and pets always on hand to cuddle.

Anyone know what a Teasmaid is? When I was little I assumed it meant: The Tea Is Made! Well I need one of those for my library so I can set the timer (looks like a big electric kettle) and have my tea every couple of hours.

Jerry can come in sometimes, too:)

Cheers, Stella; 11:09 AM
bookkeeper said...: I can see I'm not the only one who has drooled and dreamed over the perfect library!

Beyond the usual (loans, gifts, cars), I would also have a home big enough to have my dream library (which Stella already described); another room dedicated to crafts (one corner would be cross stitch, another quilting, another sewing); a kitchen with one wall of windows and another with a fireplace big enough to cook in. There would be potted herbs and flowers everywhere and a big window seat where my children and I could curl up and watch the snow fall.... ahh such sweet dreams....; 1:27 PM
talpianna said...: The yellow towel is optional--at MY option!

I want the library in George Macdonald's PHANTASTES, Stella--not only was it wonderful in and of itself, but it had a tendency to morph into Faerie.; 2:30 PM
AgTigress said...: Well, I know what a Teasmaid is (of course)!
:-)
If I had enough left over after doing up the house, I'd want to start up an additional purchase fund for helping museums acquire material that might otherwise be sold to overseas buyers. Long story here - won't go into it.
;-); 3:14 PM
DFender said...: The Perfect Library...
*sigh*

Countless Books... Countless Topics...Fireplace... Club Chairs... Leather Sofa... Antique Desk... "Floating" Ladders... Hardwood Floors...Warm Rugs... Surround Sound Stereo... (hidden)Laptop Computer... etc.

...and again
*sigh*; 3:14 PM
Pia said...: 1. Build our high tech Bellevue home with a view.
2. Have a 2-3 story library in our home.
3. Buy and SL-500 for my hubby and a Bentley for me.
4. Create a foundation that would advocate literacy.
Wow, I hope the money comes soon.
:); 4:49 PM
Anonymous said...: So Stella, when can we expect to see the money? Hmmmmmmmm? :-)

Thanks for the great topic!; 9:25 PM
Stella said...: Anon: I'm tickled with all the wonderful wishes people have. As for seeing the money--have you bought a ticket for the lottery?

Cheers, Stella; 9:29 PM
ButterflyLane said...: Oh, I thought of something else I'd want to do...
I'd try to get myself onto an episode of Stargate: SG1 as an extra or something just so I could be close to all that lovely eye candy for a day.; 10:02 PM
AgTigress said...: One interesting point that strikes me from the answers is that many people have listed more projects than one could realistically achieve with that amount of money. Fifteen million dollars is about £9 million: the reason I didn't put down 'buy a splendid house with huge library and engage housekeeping staff, secretary and research assistant' was that I couldn't do that AND start up a purchase fund, because where I live, the kind of house I have in mind would cost well in excess of £5 mill. in itself.
But I could afford a Teasmade, Stella. ;-); 3:13 AM
Stella said...: AGTiger--You're right on the home prices. We have some pockets of outrageous real estate prices here, but England takes the high ticket prize.

Is it Teasmade and not Teasmaid? Ooh, after all this time I've still got the thing wrong. I wonder if they have anything like that here.

Your purchase fund idea is interesting. Do you ever search online to see if antiquities, or supposed antiquities are offered for resale? I would think that would be a fast track to getting ripped off . . .

Stella--who saw an "Egyptian" bead for sale.; 6:19 AM
Stella said...: Butterfly: Good one!; 6:20 AM
Lady Skye Fyre said...: I'd buy a big house to put all our books in....and, I'd quit my day job.; 10:14 AM
ButterflyLane said...: Well, I wouldn't want a really big house- it's just me, hubby and two rugrats, so we really don't need that much space. Four or five bedrooms, a library/office for me, a game room for all of hubby's toys, and a playroom that could be converted to a den once they stop jumping on the furniture. I figure I could find the kind of house I want for around half a mil here.
Oooh, I thought of something else- I'd buy or build said house in the same section of town that Tony Stewart lives in just so I could torment my mil by frequently mentioning that I saw him doing *insert mundane action here*. On second thought- strike that last bit, because she'd want to come live with us in hopes of seeing him. Never mind. :); 1:26 PM
AgTigress said...: I wasn't absolutely sure about the spelling, Stella, so I checked - it is Teasmade, but I'm sure the made/maid pun is implied anyway. That's a trademark, of course, and they are still available. There are also one of two other brands, but I bet one can only get timed coffee-makers in the USA, not tea-makers. Teasmades were first produced in 1936, apparently.
There are vast numbers of antiquities for sale on the internet. In general, those that are legal are fake, and those that are genuine are illicit, i.e. stolen.
:-); 2:38 PM
Stella said...: AGTigress: This is what I thought. Take a look on E-by when you have time. You might pick up a little roman, ancient briton or egyptian treasure! Are there any scams left unused?

I'm sure you're right about the Teasmade. I shall investigate.
Stella:); 4:01 AM
Stella said...: This is irresistible. Take a look. Some would say, "Only the brits." http://www.teasmade.com/

Stella; 4:05 AM
AgTigress said...: Looking at e-bay is something I seldom do, Stella. I have to think about my blood-pressure, and there is so much fencing of illegal goods on that site that it really upsets me - not just antiquities.
:-); 6:32 AM
Jay said...: Stella - you just described my library!

AGTigress mentioned the dream versus the available funding - I already factored it. $15 million US is $20 million and change in Oz dollars.

I can build the house/stable complex, including the purchase of the land, for less than a million. Equals nineteen.

My parents would have at least a million. Equals eighteen.

My great auna and my nanna go travelling - less than fifty thousand. Equals seventeen million, nine hundred, fifty thousand.

Greenpeace, probably a hundred thou. Equals seventeen million, eight hundred, fifty thousand.

I can't even imagine spending the eight hundred fifty thousand on travel.

Seventeen million left for an interest account? At just 5% per annum, I'd be earning $850k a year without ever touching the capital. I could burn it in small notes for kindling. :-p; 8:29 PM
Anonymous said...: I would make sure my family (especially my mom) was taken care of. Then I'd buy me a a small house out in the country and a laptop so I could try and write my own book. I already have the details I just need the stuff to do it with, I know pen and paper is just as easy but not when your hands hurt alot from writng, And then I'd doanate alot to helping sexually abused children and woman. I know thats not much but thats what I''d do.; 9:59 PM
Irishpixie said...: My list is pretty simple.

The first item on the list would be to buy a house for my brother, SIL, and 3 nieces. A house for my folks and a car for my mom.

Then I'd buy a house and build a library and fill it with thousands of books with a standing delivery order for new releases.

The rest I'd invest for my children's future.; 4:02 AM
KMF said...: I would build a house in the Southwest, complete with my huge library. Somewhere probably in CA. Invest a bunch. Pay off my honda, buy my hubby his truck. Finish my degree and sit down to write professionally. And I'd pay off the mortgage on my mom and dad's house.; 9:27 PM
Marilyn said...: There is a little boy from Ferndale Washington who is in critical condition here in Seattle at Children's Hospital, all of it would go to that family.; 8:39 AM

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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Stella (cringing) JUST FOR FUN AND TOTALLY OFF TOPIC

47 Comments: