SANTA ANA : Easy Come, Easy Go for Lotto Winner

Claudia Lange usually works on her birthday, and then tries to find time to treat herself to a new dress, or perhaps a meal at a nice restaurant.

But this year, on her 35th birthday, Lange celebrated by trying to spend almost $100,000.

It was all part of the California Lottery’s “Dream Birthday” drawing last October, in which Lange chose six out of six winning numbers. The catch: she received $100,000--less after taxes were taken out--but had to spend it within 24 hours on her birthday. If she didn’t, she had to return the leftover money to Lotto officials.

“I really didn’t think I’d won,” Lange said Wednesday at the check presentation held at a Bank of America branch in Fountain Valley. “My boyfriend and I were sitting down on the couch one night and I really thought he was playing when he’d said my numbers matched.”

The odds against her six numbers matching were 14 million to 1.

Originally hoping to buy a home, Lange said she was unable to find one she liked so she opted to pay off $5,000 she owes on five acres of land in San Bernardino County. She spent another $9,000 to drill a well on the property.

Lange, a respiratory therapist, bought more than $63,000 in certificates of deposit and paid the remaining $1,000 owed on her 1987 Isuzu.

“Just basic things I wanted and needed,” said Lange. “Nothing fancy.”

For the big day, Lange also flew her mother in from New Orleans, and with her came loads of fresh shrimp for a party Lange is throwing for herself and friends Saturday.

Another $1,000 worth of barbecue items were bought, along with a $500 butcher block table.

“I just wanted a piece of furniture since we don’t have much and that’s the piece I wanted.”

To round out her winnings, she gave her boyfriend $2,000 and paid off the $3,000 balance on her Visa card. By the time everything was paid for, and the taxes were deducted, Lange had no problem spending her winnings.

Lange said she hopes to begin building her dream home soon.