Dare to dream big

OK, I'm pretty sure that no one from the family has visited this site for a while, which is OK. I'm trying not to take it personally. Either that, or I may have to amend my Powerball win plans.

Over the years, first when I bought California lottery tickets for big prize drawings and now with Powerball drawings, I have developed some common themes to my lottery dreams. Oh, sure, every once in a while I add or subtract details, but the basic dream stays much the same. I've been dreaming that dream again this week, now that the next Powerball drawing is all the way up to $153 millions. I know I probably won't win, but for 5 bucks I can let my imagination run free. The entertainment lasts longer and is cheaper than a ticket to a movie.

The megamillions dream goes something like this:

Of course, I would establish a trust fund for Suzanna, and structure it in such a way that she will still have some money left to take care of me after I frivolously spend all my winnings on bobbles and bling.

I would also set up some sort of trust funds for the family. I would need a financial manager to help me figure out the best way to do that, but the basic concept is that there would be a "West" fund, for my parents and brothers (and perhaps could benefit other in the extended family on both my mom's and dad's side). Then, there would also be a "Felix" fund (although that fund may now be restricted to active blog participants, sort of like a blogging scholarship).

There would also be some property acquisition. I'd pay off Monica's house and buy my parents' house and property, so that maybe my parents could retire and not have to leave the home they've lived in for the last 35 years.

Selfishly I also see two homes for myself. One, a winter home, would be someplace warm in the winter, like Palm Springs or San Diego or Phoenix or Tucson. It would have to have a pool and a hot tub and a nice back yard and enough bedrooms to host family members wanting a winter vacation. Perhaps it needs a casita, so visitors can have their own space.

The other home would be in Portland. Again, perhaps we are talking some sort of an estate here, so the Portland branches of the family tree could all move in if they wished. But again, there would need to be sufficient space to afford all occupants (and any weekend visitors) enough space for some privacy. For example, when Martha and Michael are in town and go to bed at like 8, the party can continue in the fiesta wing without disturbing their sleep. Equally important, when they wake up at O-dark-30, late sleepers, like me, won't be awakened by noisy coffee brewing.

And of course, I'd have to quit my job and become a professional blogger, which essentially gives me an excuse to do nothing, but to have a tax write off for all the high-tech digital computer toys I would want to play with.

Eventually, I may start my own business, to give me something to do and would necessitate people calling me "boss" and sucking up to me even. It would also give me someplace to go whenever someone tracked me down at either the Portland estate or the winter estate in Palm Springs to ask me for a favor, or money. "Sorry, I can't deal with this right now, I have to go into the office. We'll talk later." Then there would be an emergency business trip to meet with investors or clients or pursue new acquisitions. Oh, and I'd need a personal assistant so I could be conveniently unreachable via cell phone or e-mail.

I also haven't decided yet, but I am even thinking about possibly getting a new car. But I have to say, I'm torn. It would be awfully hard to part with the ol' '95 Dakota. Wait! I don't have to. Getting a new car doesn't mean I have to give up the truck (which I know Suzanna loves so much). I just need to make sure the estate has a place to part the ol' Dodge. Hey, I might even be able to afford to hire someone to wash and wax 'er.

And you want to know what the really cool thing is? Since no one comes to this site anymore, no one in the family will ever read this and they can't hold me to any of it! I'll have money to burn! Maybe I'll buy two cars and make sure the house has a 3-car garage.

Where's Matthew?

Kudos to Matthew for being one of the Citizen Cup honorees from Pendleton High School. Featured in the EO , a Citizen Cup award and he's got a birthday coming up on March 3.

Does the recognition ever end?

Do you see what I see?

So, did everyone watch the lunar eclipse tonight? Pretty cool, eh?

I feel like howling at the blood-red moon!

Thanks for being my Valentines

I remember back in grade school, every Valentine's Day I would spend what seemed like an eternity picking through that big assorted pack of Valentine's Day cards -- the ones you'd have to fold along the crease to fit in their cheap little envelopes. It seemed like the most important thing to pick just the right card for just the right classmate.

It seemed particularly important to pick extra special cards for the girl who was the focus of the crush of the moment. But of course it was harder to pick the right cards to give the boys in my class. They couldn't be too mushy or girlie. And of course some of the cards in the pack just sucked. They were too stupid. Those I would give to the people I didn't really care for in my class.

It's been a while since if given a Valentine card to anyone. Valentine's Day is most associated with romantic love. But the various crushes or love interests that have come -- and gone -- in my life didn't help me discover what love really means. Sure, there has been love there, but a love that is fleeting isn't the love I aspire to find and experience. Maybe that special someone is still out there, but not having a love interest by my side today does not mean there is not love in my life. There is a great deal of it from the people who taught me most what love is.

My parents and the family I was born into were the first to demonstrate that love. I didn't fully understand or appreciate that as a child or even as a young man. I didn't understand how they felt about me until Suzanna came along. Once I realized how much I wanted her to be happy and healthy and how deep the emotions ran, I finally began to understand how my parents felt.

I used to think the objective in life was just to find someone to love and I would be happy. Now, I realize that loving the people in my life, family and friends -- and letting them love me back -- makes me happy every day. I have been fortunate to be back close to family and some old friends again the last couple of years. That makes this a very special Valentine's Day. It's a day filled with lots of love.

So, thank you to my immediate and extended family for sharing so many moments -- large and small -- and for giving so much of yourselves and your love. I've tried to get better, more expressive, about showing or telling you all how important you are to me and expressing the love back that you all make me feel in abundance. Thanks for being my Valentines. And Suzanna, thank you in particular, for showing me the true meaning of that simple little and infinitely complex four-letter word.

Happy Valentine's Day. May all who read this find their hearts filled beyond measure and expression with the love of family, friends and lovers.

Fat Tuesday

I hope you are having a great Fat Tuesday!

So, what, if anything are you giving up for Lent when it's all said and done?

Super Sunday

Monica, Elizabeth and Suzanna hosted a fun Super Bowl party today. There were unconfirmed reports of a certain young lady dancing topless on a table. And the Giants upset the Patriots.

A good time was had by all. OK, Suzanna looked pretty bored. But everyone else seemed to be having fun.