If it was only me ...

POST FALLS - Lucy Mitchell is dreaming these days.

The Post Falls woman said the reason is Saturday's $320 million Powerball jackpot - the sixth-largest since the game began in 1992.

"You never lose hope, but you don't get your hope up too much," she said moments after buying a ticket at a Post Falls gas station on Thursday.

"I could think of 1,000 things to spend the money on ... a new vehicle, dusting off debt and a nice family vacation just for appetizers."

Mitchell's son, Tyler, who was waiting for his mother to return to the older Ford truck with her ticket, said he's a realist when it comes to the lottery.

"I don't want to say that it will never happen, but I just don't get too excited about it," he said. "If and when we win it, then let's talk."

Tyler may have a point. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 175 million.

But, either way you look at it, the numbers don't lie.

If someone wins Saturday's jackpot, after income tax withholding, the take-home prize in Idaho would be $134 million.

That's what Lucy Mitchell is keeping her eyes on, not going crazy with tickets.

"All it takes is one ticket - and that's what I'm sticking with," she said.

The Powerball jackpot record is $587.5 million, which was last November and split by ticket holders in Missouri and Arizona. That was the last time the pot reached as high as the current amount.

When jackpots reach this high, Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said players do not necessarily buy more opportunities to win, but rather more players - often in groups - jump into the game for their chance at the jackpot.

"While this is business as usual, we do expect our retail locations to see an increase in foot traffic over the weekend as sales have already been brisk," Anderson said.

The last time an Idaho resident won the Powerball jackpot was in 2005 when Boise-area resident Brad Duke hit the $220.3 million prize.