"We've already told them Christmas is going to be just like it's always been…we're not going to change anything," Steve West said

Yeah, Right !!!! 

"Good we matched the powerball, we won at least $5"  For jackpot winners it didn't seem like they knew much about the game.  But congratulations to them.  At least they weren't millionaires already like the last record powerball winner.  haha

Brad

damn, it's so exciting watching winning stories, i don't know why

I like the part where she said she checked several Internet sites so you just got to know she found this site wonder if she will reply to these threads to verify that fact.

I'm glad they got the hard part over with. Now the fun begins and they will have a lifetime to do everything they always dreamed of doing. Congratulations to them.

this don't add up. steve said he didn't want to buy any tickets he just wanted to go to bull feathers and [play blackjack} carolynn whispered in her mom & dads ear that she would go in with them. the next story says they were just ridind around and decided to buy some tickets. something just don't sound right about this. maybe they are confussed like grandpa saying he bought a humbee.

Ahhhh, nice to know that their life isn't going to change. Same $20.00 limit on Christmas gifts, pay for college, and go back to normal.

I can smell it all the way to New Jersey!

It all really sounds suspicious.

I'm glad someone else picked up on that "humbee" comment.    Personally, I was wondering what the heck he wanted to buy it for, when he can't even drive!  I guess anyone who wins the lottery needs to buy a new car, no matter what.  It's like salmon going back to their native streams.

They all seem confused. They can't even keep their stories straight on how they bought the tickets in the first place.

Am I the only one who wouldn't want to be on tv if I won the lottery ? The old guy doesn't look to good, he looks like me might not live to much longer. Atleast the kids should enjoy the money as long as they let people forget what they look like. When I win I'll do as little as the lottery will let me, and no Tv interviews.  

bks2-

You are not alone.  When I win tonight, I'll live the rest of my life proving, you can live without being in front of the press, tv.'s microphones, etc.  It will be a little like $30,000,000 less than the West's money, but $82,000,000 overall is not a bad haul.  lolololololo

hellooooo...I'm planning to win...5 tkts from PTS lucky pix...

Well, they got that over with. Now we can move on with life LOL. BTW has Missouri's winner stepped forward yet?

2 observations I noticed:

1) Does anyone think Mr. Chaney looks like Fred Mertz (that's the name I think) from I Love Lucy?

2) Is plaid still in? Not being rude, I don't see alot of people wear plaid nowadays. When I saw Mrs. West wear it, I wondered if it is still popular. Just wondering LOL

Other than that, seems like a pretty regular family. I didn't see what they had on the family since I was at work but to me, the Wests/Chaneys don't look as creepy as the family we all got to know in love up in the coal mine state of West Virginia!

If they do have a "normal" Christmas I will feel happy for them. Normal like when I was a kid and Father Claus would send me upstairs and put presents under the tree and there were cookies baking in the oven and carolers at the door. We weren't rich or anything but I miss those days. If you can afford to give a gift to everyone you love then it's just as good as for any jackpot winners (or better, in some cases).

If they are going to just let the money sit and collect dust, and have just another "normal Christmas," why the heck would they even bother playing? I can see a certain amount of frugality, but living as you once did is kind of ridiculous, especially if you did not have much money. But I think they had plenty regardless. $340 million is not "normal" by any means. But that is the problem with all these winners, they don't need the money to begin with. 

Problem is that they already have too much as it is, so they need to blow it on something. So they don't have a clue what to do with it when they get it, nor do they seem to even know how much $340 millions is. I guess I should just start playing the powerball from now on and never expect to win, and act like I don't care. Although contradictory to all I have read about positive imaging/thinking, maybe it will help more. Course over-embellishment, and 'fantasy stories' at the last second also make for a better story...

If they are going to just let the money sit and collect dust, and have just another "normal Christmas," why the heck would they even bother playing? I can see a certain amount of frugality, but living as you once did is kind of ridiculous, especially if you did not have much money. But I think they had plenty regardless. $340 million is not "normal" by any means. But that is the problem with all these winners, they don't need the money to begin with. 

That's why I said "Yeah Right" about Christmas being normal.

Nothing in their lives will be "normal" any more.

BTW, This is a good problem to have !

If I win tonight, I would be playing President of the United States at Christamas - spend, spend, spend, spend.  Hitting $100M take-home cash, and telling my grand daughter should cou;dn't have something extra would be cruel punishment.  Besides, can you imagine the New Years eve party I could throw for my friends! W-O-W !

Screw the normal life!!  There would be Dirty Old Man On The Loose signs every where!!!

Nice boring stories, they are following the 'anti-famous press conference playbook' to the letter.

If you win Powerball, you won't have a choice if you want to collect your money. I'm pretty sure one of the rules is that all Powerball jackpot winners must appear at a press conference if requested. The advertising is a big deal for them and showing big winners promotes ticket sales as we live vicariously through the jackpot winners. Since all lottery winners are recorded, anyone who asks can get their name, city of residence and amount won. Of course that doesn't include a street address or telephone number, but if I won millions, I'd disappear into anonymity for a while, maybe to Central America, and slip back when all the hoopla was over. I'd like to live a "normal life" too but I can't see how it's possible if everyone knows you are stinkin rich.

Yes!  I knew he reminded me of someone -- you're right, it's Fred!  And his wife did seem like Ethel! 

That was their lawyer speaking through them I am sure that it would change alot of things.

AMEN Brother.... it was so boring watching em tell that fat lie... I did like when Cheney said he saw the Yellow Hummer and bought it that's what I am talking about enjoy life to the FULLEST while you can......

The spotlight only shines because you refuse to turn off the switch.  Lots of people hold a news conference, keep their mouths shut, other than to say thanks, and move on.  These clowns are spotlight addicted already.

Another case of limited mental capacity now being rich with a limited mental capaciity.

I feel bad for the kids if they still have a "regular" Christmas after winning Powerball.  Bah-humbug... Splurge on those kids big time!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY......11/09/05

CHEWIE:

"Ahhhh, nice to know that their life isn't going to change. Same $20.00 limit on Christmas gifts, pay for college, and go back to normal.

I can smell it all the way to New Jersey!"

LOLOLOLOL.....Nothing in the World better than your facetous, cynical & sarcastic remarks....I never get enough....seriously....I look forward to reading all your posts.....and of course you are not the only one on here who is good at that, but you are one of the BEST.....LOLOLOLOL

Truthfully, personally, I don't think that winning such an enormous sum has really hit them yet. I believe they are all still in shock.......I would be.......

Maybe Steve West had never purchased a Lottery ticket before, but someone in the family has done it before......and liked it....So, this time, they decided to try again, and Carolyn is smart because she went in with her Mom & Dad.....Her parents are not strangers to this game...and I don't think she is either...............

Now, time for ..............& Champaigne....or would that be tooooo muchhhh like splurging????

"That night, I got on the internet and was checking the numbers and at first I checked the Powerball and saw that it was 29 and thought, good at least we got $5 back and then I was checking the others and I just could not believe we had all five," said Frances.

Is there any $5 prize on this list?????????????????????????????????? 

Well Qwho2020, it's just one of many "stories" that this family has told. They can't keep track of them any more. And yeah, I don't see $5.00 on that list. =)

I am sure I will be muttering gibberish when I hit the MM for $154M cash Friday night.  My hands wil be shaking, I'll have trouble dialing the lawyers house Saturday morning.  However, I think, after 18 days, I will have my senses back to normal.  It money she won, not a vision to a burning bush!

I guess since "nothing is going to change" for them, which basically means they didn't really need the money, and it will simply sit in the bank, that is even more of an open invitation for others to ask them for kind donations. It is not like they are going to be really using it anyway according to them.

"Another case of limited mental capacity now being rich with a limited mental capaciity." ... Chewie

I like the way you put that, Chewie and I agree. I was only saying that the winner has to make a public appearance.  I wonder if I could wear a wig and dark glasses?   I don't even remember the name of the last big winners (or where I put my keys!) but it's funny that I do know who Jack Whittaker is, so it takes all kinds I guess.  At least he did a lot of good with his money until he went besserk. As crazy as I am, I can't ever see having a lot of money as being a burden. 

Well the family made sure they brought every tom dick and harry to the TV deal. The thing I don't understand is our local paper when they were checking on who bought the ticket, the paper said the store had a video of the cashier area and the son of the Wests is the one that bought the ticket. He was even e-mailing the newspaper reporter and said his dad had the winning ticket. Now it's Gramma and Grampa that asked the daughter and her husband to go in on the ticket together. Is the correct story ever going to come out?

Doesn't matter now. Who cares ? They got the $$$$$$$$$$$$$

If they want to, they can go to Vegas and rent a suite at Bellagio for a while and get massages, facials, hand jobs, BJ's -- WHATEVER !!!

They got the Jack to do it and we just keep on hoping we can do the same.

Until we do...take my advice and Double Down when the opportunity presents itself !!!!!!!

Good luck !

LoL Todd! I thought I was the only one who throught he looked like Fred Mertz! But seriously, it does make you feel a little good inside when you see an older person win-bless his heart, he is probably doesn't know what to do with his winnings-besides getting the Hummer :)

The Indian newspapers had a " happy family" photo this morning of steve west and family holding their ginormous cheque of 340...all smiling, naturally!!!

Actually it does nothing to see some old dude claim the money.  All I see is massive losses due to death taxes; what is it in the multi-million rage, some where around 50%.   This guy has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.  His enjoyment is going to be limited to an electric wheelchair with side mirrors.  I am not looking for some teeny-bopper to win, that would be the opposite.  Just some mature person, with an IQ above above a slug.  Some one who can have atleast 20 years of F-U-N and who wants to have F-U-N. 

His son-in-law is 40-years younger, but still a wimp, doing whatever the wifey tells him to do.  Yes, dear, I'll buy a ticket. Yes, dear, we'll live normal.  Yes, dear, I'll take the trash out.  No, dear, nothing special with the money.  Whatever you want dear.  No, dear, we'll only spend $20.00 for Christmas.  Then the kids can act like animals for the left-overs when we die.

Sheesh!!!  First they loose thousand, probably hundreds of thousands, in interest, then their goal is to loose millions to death tax.  Sheesh!!  My friends are right, in order to win the lottery, I am going to have to lower my IQ by 50%.  How many times can you say duj in 18 days.

First of all, you printed out the Mega Millions prize table, not the Powerball, which is slightly different.

Second, she could have bought Power Play which would have multiplied the $3 prize by 5 (I think that was it).

Third, if I won I would have issued a disclaimer saying that anything I said in the next three months would automatically be discounted until my brain has a chance to re-engage. 

Mike

Experience - what you learn when you make mistakes, again.

Chewie, you actually sound angry at them for winning! It's just luck and any idiot can play. Regarding age, in FL there have been many winners in their 70s and 80s. I agree that, because of estate taxes, it makes more sense to give the ticket to a younger relative you trust or have the ticket claimed by a group, instead of leaving it in a will. Either way taxes are unavoidable, but a good tax lawyer or financial planner should be able to set up trusts to reduce them.  If you go to the FL site and click on winners, the first picture is of a woman who lived a few years after she won. She died at 69 (which is young to me!) but she was very philanthropic and helped a lot of people.  It's just a game and anyone from 18 to 108 has the right to win and enjoy it.  Many successful, wealthy people win too.  I do see your point about the interest loss. I never could understand why people wait 3 or 4 months, and in some cases the maximum (here it's 6 months) because the interest alone would buy me a nice house. However, if I won hundreds of millions, I probably wouldn't be thinking about that either.  Idiots don't just win the lottery, many of them inherit money too. Look at Paris Hilton who is sexy, but certainly has no apparent talent - so what's the difference? It's all the luck of the draw. Well I hope you win some day - after I do of course!

Chewie, you actually sound angry at them for winning!

No anger, just an enormous dissapointment. 

It is hard to get excited for someone who is ready to die.  The statement was made in regards to about feeling food because the old guy won.  My position has nothing to do with age, there are thousand of elderly out there running past me on the exercise track.  My position is, for this particular person, there is nothing to get excited about.  Look at the video.  He can't hardly move.  Buy a Hummer, and then need two assistants to get in and out of it?  Drive it maybe 100 miles, then leave it parked.  Nothing exciting there.

The response had zero to do with how much a person can give away. It was about the winner having the ability to have fun with the money.  I will concede, it may be fund, sitting around giving away every penny, but nothing in what they said, and they said a lot, refers to anything like that happening.  Just keeping up the same old life.  Old people, who accept being old, are not exciting.  I made the appropriate positive comment about him; a wheel chair with mirrors.

And what about the janitor in Massachusetts who continued to work? Having worked hard all her life, I was happy for her, but couldn't believe the idea of being wealthy wouldn't sink into her brain. She said she had no idea what it was like to have money. I hope she gave it to her grandchildren! You might have read this article, but I like this paragraph..

Ralph and Mary Stebbins won $208 million when they bought a Mega Millions game in Port Huron, Mich., this spring. The first thing they did was buy a cow, the second was to buy a vintage 1963 Corvette, and the third was to change their phone number and disappear from public view

I always wondered about the sequence of events. The vette I can understand, but how do you disappear with a cow? lol

Haha.  I remember that drawing.  We all thought whats-his-name was going to rebuild Detroit with the money.  All Mrs. Stebbins wanted was a show cow.

My point - boring. They could have accomplished all of their dreams with a dollar two ninety eight.  Zero imagination.  The whole universe, and the best they can come up with is a fully paid cow.  The 'vette was a little imagnative.  Not even a trip to "Didney World" on the agenda.  This type of person doesn't see beyond their nose, whether driving a car or planning what to wear that afternoon.  Cute? Sure.  A bubble bath tub full of kittens is also cute.  Not exactly $200 million dollars worth of cute though.

HAPPY THURSDAY CHEWIE:.......LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOLOL

"His son-in-law is 40-years younger, but still a wimp, doing whatever the wifey tells him to do.  Yes, dear, I'll buy a ticket. Yes, dear, we'll live normal.  Yes, dear, I'll take the trash out.  No, dear, nothing special with the money.  Whatever you want dear.  No, dear, we'll only spend $20.00 for Christmas.  Then the kids can act like animals for the left-overs when we die."

"Sheesh!!!  First they loose thousand, probably hundreds of thousands, in interest, then their goal is to loose millions to death tax.  Sheesh!!  My friends are right, in order to win the lottery, I am going to have to lower my IQ by 50%.  How many times can you say duj in 18 days."

May I say, you are toooooo prime.....I can't stop.Tooooo prime.....LOLOLOLOLOL.  I'm just sorry we aren't all sitting in your living room right now, discussing this, the room would roll with great laughter and debate.................I've read all your posts, and tears are rolling down my cheeks......

(btw) in all fairness to Carolyn, the wife, Steve West said voluntarily on GMA, 2 Sundays ago that their lives would not change, despite the money, and he'd invest 99%.....of it...He sounded like the very frugal type to me.......Afterall, she bought the tickets w/her parents, he tried to dissuade her from even doing that.

HAPPY THURSDAY "JUST"....11/10

"I wonder if I could wear a wig and dark glasses?   I don't even remember the name of the last big winners (or where I put my keys!) but it's funny that I do know who Jack Whittaker is, so it takes all kinds I guess.  At least he did a lot of good with his money until he went besserk. As crazy as I am, I can't ever see having a lot of money as being a burden. "

You are another very talented poster.  Now I would know who to look for, if you ever win....(btw) In my State, here in Maryland....we are fortunate in having the option of Hiring representatives to accept the Prize winnings, or hold a Press Conference..I would hold the Press Conference, because I don't care who knows I won. I really don't. I am going to enjoy my $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ from start to finish.  No wigs or dark glasses for me...

Addendeum:  As I have mentioned  previously in other posts we should leave Jack Whittaker in peace. He did indeed, as you write, make a wonderful difference in Hurricane WVA.He helped his community in many wonderful ways. Like the rest of us, he is human and has his "foibles" or weaknessess. Millions of Americans have Alcohol problems, but never make a positive/significant difference in the lives of others. Jack did. He's paid for his good times and certainly his bad times. He truly gave unselfishly, and thru his heart. Many people only give when there is something in it for them.

I hope only the very best for he and his Family..............