First…I have to note that on this day in 2011 I began working in customer service at a very large financial services firm. Even though I worked as part of a unit that dealt with the wealthiest clients, I hated that job. I lasted for nine months before I resigned, during which time I suffered nine vertigo attacks. If it hadn’t been for the fact that my wonderful wife also worked there, meaning we commuted and ate lunch together almost every work day, I wouldn’t have lasted nine weeks.
Um, how can I write this? I did not like my supervisor and the feeling was mutual. I did not drink the company Kool-Aid and he was very much a company man.
One time I was able to get some comeuppance had to do with the FINRA Series 7 exam. The supervisor told the new recruits, of which I was one, that if anyone could top his score on that exam, then they would get an extra day off. I easily bested his mark, but didn’t stay at the company long enough to actually use that day off. His score was not that good, but I was the only one of the group–and the oldest of the group, by far–to make a better score. Of course, I also finished the exam, for which 6 hours were allocated, in an hour and 40 minutes, but that’s another story.
I fully understand why only 30% of American workers like their jobs, but like all complex problems, more than one cause exists and the solution, if one exists, is also complex.
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Yes, this is another lottery post, at least in part. Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing has an annuity value of $441 million and a cash value of about $239 million. After taxes, I estimate that a single winning ticket held by an Arizona resident (or residents) would be worth roughly $136 million.
We must really love this house, because even though I believe it borders on impossible to really know what one would do in what I call an out-of-context situation, my wonderful wife and I are adamant in that it would remain our primary residence. Would we buy a second house for use in the summer? The answer to that question could be “yes.”
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Here are links to two articles from Hagerty. The first is a brief assessment of the current state of the collector car market. It is titled, “Top-tier cars are flourishing. Are the rest floundering?” Here is the summary from the beginning of the piece, “Frankly, the results this year [through the first quarter] were mixed, providing data that don’t point clearly in any one direction (at least compared with the past three years of spring season Price Guide updates). There was still plenty of positive movement, but it did not occur across quite as broad of a spectrum as we’ve been seeing lately.”
This Hagerty piece is titled, “These two common assumptions about car collecting and age are dead wrong.” This chart was interesting to me.
A common assumption is that adults who “collect” cars want to buy the cars of their youth. According to this Hagerty data, that is not the case. Of course, those born before World War II, the pre-boomers, almost certainly have a very small supply of cars from their youth from which to choose.
As for me, I am a boomer and might want to buy cars from my youth. Of course, right now I am not buying another car anytime soon, unless we win the Mega Millions. 🙂 However, while I would like to own a Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk, this car is also on my distant future radar.
This is (hopefully) a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, a member of my Ultimate Garage 2.0, but not version 3.0. Thinking at least a little about practicality, getting one of these serviced would be much easier than getting service on any Studebaker.
I think these cars are a styling tour de force and, of course, were an engineering marvel as well as the Eldorado and the Oldsmobile Toronado introduced the year before were the beginning of the front-wheel drive boom that really continues to this day. By the way, I would also consider buying a 1968 model but not later because I just love hidden headlights, like this:
To quote the movie Diner for the nth time, if you don’t have dreams you have nightmares.
#WhatWouldYouDoWith$136Million?
#MegaMillions
#1967-68CadillacEldorado
#somanyCARSjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
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Disaffected Musings 
I am a fan of those early Eldorado models. Though I like the notion of “hidden headlights,” I have never owned a car with that option. Maybe some day, though they seem to be out of favor these days.
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Thanks, JS. My first Corvette, a 2002 model, had hidden headlights. They looked great, but when I had to pay $400+ to replace the right actuator (motor) for that headlight I wasn’t so much of a fan, anymore.
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I can understand why. 🙂
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“What Would You Do With $136 Million?”
First thing would be to claim the prize anonymously. In fact I would likely try to keep it from some family as much as possible, at least the amount. I’m quite certain I would hear from cousins I haven’t even met otherwise.
Second would be some donations to organizations I like and/or currently support.
Third would see me buying a LOT of cars I haven’t yet, maybe all of them. 🙂
The rest I would waste. 🙂 🙂
Why the fourth one? I’m on my 66th trip around the sun and have several medical issues I’m dealing with. I MIGHT have another 10 years in me, I might have 10 weeks, who knows. My retirement funds are more than adequate so I see no problem pissing away any “found” money.
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Thanks, DDM. I think Arizona now allows lottery prizes to be claimed anonymously. If not, we would have to open a trust with a name not traceable to us.
For the nth time, I/we do not actually expect to win a multi-million dollar lottery prize. Still, if you don’t play then you CAN’T win.
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I fully understand the problem of not being on the same page as your “supervisor” which is why I formed my own engineering company and worked for myself. If you can’t work for yourself, you are in the wrong job.
If I won the lottery, I would claim the prize as a joint prize with my son and daughter, claiming a three way split. That way they get their share now rather than later when I kick off which could be 20 years from now if my genes have any say so in the matter since my grandmother lived to 98. My truck project would be finished by Chip Foose to my specifications and then one or two other motorized projects would be built. A 1929 Ford hi-boy roadster, a 1957 Thunderbird and a Ducati Desmo Super Sport 900. My daughter would object strenuously about the motorcycle but I don’t care since I used to ride long before she entered the picture. My wonderful wife would have her own projects on which she would spend the cash. Certain charities would also benefit from the windfall.
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Thanks, Philip. The best “job” I ever had was when I was a baseball operations/player personnel consultant for multiple teams. I guess I should be thankful that I was able to do that for 10+ years, but I did not leave on my own terms and was the victim of hyper credential-ism, political correctness and age discrimination. It is what it is, I guess.
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