Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Today I found 77 cents. . . 3 quarters & 2 pennies.

At lunch this afternoon I dined at Greenspoint Mall on delicious Chinese food. While leaving the mall I spotted and retrieved a penny from the base of a table in the food court. It was a tad greasy, but a penny is still a penny.

At the Astros game this evening I took a rare trip to the upper tank, and there I found a penny on a staircase. Luckily, I came to my senses and went down back to the good lower level area. After the game while I searched for ticket stubs and coke caps I found 75 cents (three quarters) all under one seat. The section was almost directly behind the visitors dugout.

On the autograph front I added two Reds to my team ball. None were notable, so they will not be mentioned by name.

_____________________________________________

August Monthly Report:

This month I found 413 pennies, 16 nickels, 66 dimes, and 44 quarters. I also found a $20 bill.

Monthly Total: $42.53
Change Cycle Days: 8
Dollar Days: 9
Monthly High: $20.11 (August 30)
Monthly Low: 7 cents (August 19)
Daily Average: $1.37 ish

Totals for the day: 77 cents
Race Totals: $158.37

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Today I found $20.11. . . 11 pennies and a $20 bill. I also found a blue glass fish, which sadly will not augment the daily totals.

Following an afternoon appointment I headed towards the Astros game and I found one penny in the road by a stoplight. I also spotted a car wash on Telephone Rd., and I stopped there to look for change. It was there that I found one penny and a blue glass fish. The blue glass fish, which is destine for my “Not Change Cup,” resembles a gummy fish, except it is made of glass, not gummy.

Following the Astros game, a rare win, I stopped at a Sonic for some change searching. It was there that I found $20.09 (nine pennies $20). The pennies were scattered about the car parking area as was the $20 bill. I was actually on the phone with Bailey, and we came to the agreement that it is acceptable for me to count this find towards my totals since I have already passed the $100 mark. Incidently, this is the third $20 bill that I have found since the race started, but the first one that is counting towards the totals.

On the autograph front I didn’t need too many signatures (the Cincinnati Reds have already been in town twice before) and I didn’t get many. I added four autographs to a very full ball, none notable.

Totals for the day: $20.11
Race Totals: $157.60

Monday, August 29, 2005

Today I found 54 cents. . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 4 pennies (the titillating change cycle).

On my way to the office this morning I was at a red light and I spotted a beat up dime sitting on the painted white line of the road. As the light was red I was able to retrieve said dime and make it my first find of the day.

On my way to an afternoon appointment I had to take the dreaded toll road. I could list the millions of reasons why I think toll roads are a rip off. The main reason, of course, is that it doesn’t seem fair to have to pay for a road that was build with my tax dollars. Nevertheless, I took the road, and at the toll booth I quickly got out of my car and retrieved 40 cents (one nickel, one dime, & one quarter). I surely could have gotten more, but there was a line of cars behind me and as I could gauge from the honking they must have been upset to be on a toll road as well.

After an appointment in Brenham, TX I stopped at a Chevron for a drink and I found one penny by a pay phone. In the evening I met Tara for dinner at Sonic. As she told me a tale of finding 10 cents (one dime) on the playground I walked the Sonic parking lot and found four cents. Of course the dime found by Tara will not count toward the daily totals, but I figured I would pass along the information as a point of interest.

Totals for the day: 54 cents (all natural)
Race Totals: $137.49

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Today I found 16 cents. . . 1 dime 6 pennies.

It was another lounge around and do nothing Sunday, much like my Saturday was. This afternoon I took a trip to Wal-Mart to buy some socks (it was just that kind of weekend) and along the way I took a side trip to Randalls to use an ATM machine. At Randalls I found one penny in the parking lot while walking to my car, and another penny by the street as I exited the parking lot. Just before arriving at Wal-Mart I took a peak inside a Kroger store and I found another two cents inside the coin return slot of a change counting machine. At a Sonic, which was next door, I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). Finally at Wal-Mart I found a single penny in the parking lot..

Totals for the day: 16 cents
Race Totals: $136.95

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Today I found 23 cents. . . 2 dimes 3 pennies.

Today was one of those wonderful Saturdays where I had absolutely nothing to do and no where to go. I spent most of the day organizing my baseballs. I try to keep a computer list of all the single balls and the team balls that I get, but I had fallen behind. Today I got caught up. I finally did leave my apartment this evening to go to the grocery store to pick up some provisions for another pool BBQ.

While at Kroger, a local grocery store, I found two cents. One penny was by my checkout line (with an actual person, not a machine) and the second was by the exit door. I decided to take a walk across the street to Randalls, another local grocery store, for the purposes of change finding. In the Randalls parking lot I found 10 cents (one dime). Also, at a McDonalds drive-thru I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). The BBQ was excellent, although it was interrupted by a heavy rain storm.

Totals for the day: 23 cents
Race Totals: $136.79

Friday, August 26, 2005

Today I found $1.40. . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 3 quarters, and 30 pennies (the peachy change cycle).

I finally got to get out of the office today, and I made the most of it, at least on the change finding front. This morning I drove to Brenham, TX, which is where my friend Tara’s parents live. I was there to work of course, not to see them. However, I did do some change searching on my way home. I stopped at a car wash in Brenham, and found 29 cents (one quarter & four pennies). One of the pennies was really a half penny, as it looked like someone had taken a bite out of it.

Continuing my drive home I stopped at two Sonics. At the first I found 19 cents (one nickel, one dime, & four pennies). At the second I found seven cents (all pennies). As with all Sonics the change was scattered about the parking lot. I also checked two automated car washes on the way home. At the first I found five cents (all pennies) and at the second I found 10 cents (one dime). My final stop on the way home was a Kroger in Tomball, TX where I found 26 cents (one quarter & one penny). The quarter was under a vending machine inside at the front of the store and the penny was sitting a top a change counting machine.

After I got home I had to go to the bank and to the post office. On my way to the post office I stopped at another car wash, my fourth car wash of the day, and found 17 cents (one dime & seven pennies). This particular car wash, near my post office, has never produced much in the past so this find made me very happy. My final find of my evening excursion was at the post office, where for the second day in a row I found 25 cents (one quarter) in the change return slot of a stamp machine.

The actual final find of the day was at the pool, where I joined my friend Robert for some late evening grilling. After lighting the grill I found two cents on the deck by the pool.

Totals for the day: $1.40
Race Totals: $136.56

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Today I found 36 cents. . . 1 quarter and 11 pennies.

On my way to work this morning I spotted a single penny in the road at a red light. With little fanfare the penny was retrieved and added to my growing collection of change. At lunch today I found no change, but I did get to eat for free. Because I had forgotten my credit card at home my co-worker Jennifer graciously purchased my lunch. She is a nice co-worker.

On the way home I stopped at Sonic and found four cents and I walked over to the Kwick Kar Wash and found another four cents. Closer to home I went to the car wash next to my apartment complex and found two cents. In the evening I went to the bank, and then to the post office. At the post office I found a California quarter in the change return slot of a stamp machine. The California quarter, which I had not seen before, has a picture of Yosemite Valley on it, a bald eagle flying overhead, and an old man named John Muir (a naturalist, writer, and conservationist who founded the Sierra Club) on it.

Totals for the day: 36 cents
Race Totals: $135.16

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Today I found 29 cents. . . 1 nickel, 1 dime and 14 pennies. I also found a plastic action figure, which sadly won’t count toward the daily total.

During lunch I took a trip to Randalls, a local grocery store, to use my bank, which has a branch office in the grocery store. As I walked in I saw a little girl with her hand in the change sorting machine, checking for change. I was a tad miffed, but on the way out I checked anyway and found three pennies. One penny was sitting on the top of the machine (she was too short to see that one) and two were on the ground (she had only checked the coin return slot. Silly girl).

Leaving Randalls I checked a McDonalds drive-thru and found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) and I spotted another penny as I was leaving the parking lot. A quick stop and that penny was added to the collection.

After work I checked a local car wash and found six cents (all pennies). I also found a plastic action figure, which was a boy with a skateboard, with some type of sponge Bob in his pocket. I believe it was a toy from the Sonic kids meal, but I’m not 100 percent sure. Either way, it’s now in the “Not Change Cup.”

In the evening I took a trip to the post office and found five cents (one nickel) in the coin return slot of a stamp machine. On the way home I checked Ale Gator’s car wash and found three cents.

Totals for the day: 29 cents
Race Totals: $134.80

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Today I found 35 cents. . . 2 nickels, 2 dime and 5 pennies.

On my way home from work I stopped at Chevron to get a drink and I found 23 cents (two nickels, one dime, and three pennies) scattered in the parking lot and by the air hose near a pay phone. Once I got home I found one penny in my apartment complex parking lot.

In the evening I made a grocery and post office run. At the post office I found 10 cents (one dime) in the coin return slot of a stamp machine and at HEB, a local grocery store, I found one penny on the ground by a checkout line.

Totals for the day: 35 cents
Race Totals: $134.51

Monday, August 22, 2005

Today I found 42 cents. . . 2 dime and 22 pennies.

I wasn’t feeling well today, but in the evening I went out and decided to wash my car. My first stop was the car wash next to my apartment complex, not to wash my car, but to look for change While searching I found eight cents (all pennies). I actually washed my car in the apartment complex next to mine. They have a vacuum there that costs only 50 cents. I actually made some of my money back, because I found 22 cents by the vacuum (two dimes & two pennies)

I had to go get some supplies at a local Wal-Mart, and prior to paying I checked around the front of the store. There I found six cents (all pennies). On the way home I stopped at Randalls, a local grocery store, and found two cents in the parking lot. Sadly, their coin machine was out of order, so there was no change there. I also stopped at Kroger, another local grocery store, and found four cents. Two of the pennies were by the change counting machine, the penultimate penny was by a cash register, and the final penny of the day was outside the store on the sidewalk.

Totals for the day: 42 cents
Race Totals: $134.16

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Today I found 21 cents. . . 1 dime and 11 pennies.

Today was photo day for the Houston Astros, so I was down at the ballpark at 9am so I could be one of the first 3,000 fans into the ballpark to take pictures with the players. This made for a long day at the yard, so during a pitching change early in the game I exited Minute Maid Park and took a walk. This was the 13th consecutive home game for the Astros (with no off days), so I just couldn’t take a pitching change so early. While walking around I checked some parking meters and found 16 cents (one dime & six pennies). After the game, while looking for winning coke bottle caps and ticket stubs I found a single penny. I also found four winning bottle caps, which obviously have no effect on the daily totals. On the way home I checked in at a Sonic and found four cents in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 21 cents
Race Totals: $133.74

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Today I found $2.33. . . 9 quarters and 8 pennies. This was a rare day where I found more silver coins than copper.

Driving home from the ballpark last night I was still upset about my seven cent find from the previous day. It was just after midnight when I pulled into the car wash next to my apartment complex. There I found $1.31 (five quarters & six pennies). The pennies were scattered about on the ground and the five quarters were located in a car wash booth.

Driving home from the ballpark this evening I stopped at the same car wash. This time I found $1.02 (four quarters & two pennies). Again, the pennies were scattered about and the four quarters were IN THE SAME CAR WASH BOOTH. I’m certainly planning on checking that spot again tomorrow.

On the baseball front the Astros lost to the Milwaukee Brewers again. The Astros are playing pathetic baseball, returning to their early form of the season where they went 15-30. With the lifeless bats and no run support for stellar pitching things look to continue. It’s too early to predict, but my guess is the Astros continue this skid until it is too late and don’t make the post season. The Phillies are my pick for the Wild Card. Congrats, Brian..

Totals for the day: $2.33
Race Totals: $133.53

Friday, August 19, 2005

Today I found 7 cents. . . all pennies.

Today ends my over six month streak of finding over 10 cents each day, and I’m not happy about it. After lunch I found two cents at a Kroger, one penny at a McDonalds drive-thru, three cents by the exit of a Chevron gas station, and one penny at my bank. That was it for the day.

The Astros game that I saw tonight was perhaps the most boring game I have ever seen in my life. It was the 11th consecutive home game the Astros have played, with no days off. The Astros won, but they shouldn’t have. Most of the runs were cheap and unearned, and the game lasted over three hours. I had plenty of time to find change after the game, but I spent over one hour trying to find a post office that was less than a mile from the ballpark. I knew if I would just quit and go home I would find change along the way. I made the decision that I was going to find the post office, or run out of gas trying. I found it, it was after midnight, and I stand on my seven cents. I’m not happy.

On the autograph front I got single balls signed by future Brewers stars Prince Fielder (son of Cecil Fielder) and Ricky Weeks. This is all I have to report for a day that was not that great.

Totals for the day: 7 cents
Race Totals: $131.20

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Today I found 40 cents. . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, and 20 pennies.

On my way to work this morning I stopped at the car wash next to my apartments and found six cents (all pennies). I looked around for some change at lunch, but found nothing. On my way to the ballpark this evening I stopped at a Shell gas station for a drink and found three cents. One penny was by a vacuum cleaner, one was on the sidewalk by the front door, and the third was by the cash register on the ground. Leaving the Shell station I spotted six cents (one nickel & one penny) in the road. There was no light, but cars in front of me were stopped so I quickly retrieved the battered change.

Outside the ballpark after the game I found a dime by the home plate entrance. My friend Bill, an old man who wears an orange hat and yells a lot at games, congratulated me on this find. On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 15 cents (one nickel & 10 pennies).

I tried to catch a baseball during batting practice today, instead of going for autographs. I got one baseball, although it was a toss up from Brewers pitcher Jose Capellan. As there were no kids around, and as I actually recognized Jose, I decided to keep the ball. By the dugout before the game I got a few autographs, none notable. After the game I waited outside to see who would show up and out came Dana Eveland, another pitcher for the Brewers. He turned out to be a nice guy and we ended up talking for about 15 minutes. He even tried to help me figure out an autograph on my baseball that I didn’t know. He couldn’t figure it out, but agreed that whoever signed it had very bad handwriting.

Totals for the day: 40 cents
Race Totals: $131.13

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Today I found 30 cents. . . 1 quarter & 5 pennies.

I was in the office all day today, and didn’t get to leave until it was time to go to the baseball game this evening. On the way down I stopped at the North Freeway Carwash and found four cents. I found another penny by a coke machine outside of Minute Maid Park. After the game I found 25 cents (one quarter) while looking for ticket stubs.

On the autograph front I managed three signatures today. I hate the days when I have almost everyone because it means fewer autographs to get. Anyhow, I got Enos Cabel, a former MLB ballplayer who was at the game. I also got Henry Blanco and Nomar Garciapara (for the second day in a row). Both the Cubs signed my team ball. It is amazing, but all last year I couldn’t even get Nomar to look up to sign a ball. Now I get him two days in a row. Funny how things work like that.

Totals for the day: 30 cents
Race Totals: $130.73

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Today I found 25 cents. . . 2 dimes & 5 pennies. I also found a Mexican five peso piece. Sadly the Mexican coin will not count toward the daily totals.

At lunch today my co-worker Jennifer and I stopped at a car wash. Jennifer was actually just along for the ride and lunch, and she didn’t actually get out of the car, but she was there. Anyway, I found three cents at this particular car wash. I also smelled some good BBQ in the general area, but Jennifer was not in the mood for that so we went to a sandwich shop instead.

After lunch we went to Kroger, a local grocery store, to hunt for some more change. I found the five peso piece by a cash register, but no US currency. The five peso piece will be deposited into my “Not Change Cup.” The peso is of course change, but the “Not Change Cup” is designed for all non-US change as well as various other assorted things that I find while searching for American pennies, nickels, quarters, dimes, fifty cent pieces, and dollar coins.

Leaving Kroger I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) on the sidewalk. After the baseball game I went to the post office to mail some things. There I found another 11 cents (one dime & one penny) under a stamp machine.

Nomar, Derrek, and Todd. Those were my big autographs for the day. The corresponding last names of these Cubs players are Garciapara, Lee, and Walker. All decided to sign down the third base line this evening. I had to run each time to get them, but get them I did. Todd signed my team ball, Derrek signed a single ball for me (I already had him on my team ball) and Nomar signed a baseball that I had gotten his wife, Mia Hamm (Olympic soccer player) to sign the day before. Sadly, Nomar did not sign under his wife’s name, so they are on different parts of the ball, which will make it tough to display. Such is life.

Totals for the day: 25 cents
Race Totals: $130.43

Monday, August 15, 2005

Today I found 90 cents. . . 1 nickel, 4 dimes, 1 quarter and 20 pennies (the impassioned change cycle). I also found a mini-magnetic license plate and a foreign coin of unknown origin. Sadly neither the foreign coin or the magnet will count toward the daily totals.

I didn’t have to work today, but I was very productive. I took a trip to the post office, cleaned out a closet, did some chores downtown, and successfully contested a parking ticket that I had received about a month ago. Prior to going downtown I stopped at a car wash along FM 1960 and found 26 cents (one quarter & one penny). Both were on the ground. I also found a mini magnetic Washington, DC license plate with the word “Worship” in place of the numbers and letters on a real license plate. Also missing from this mini magnetic license plate is the standard “Taxation Without Representation” slogan that appears on real DC license plates. The mini magnet has already been placed in the “Not Chang Cup.”

Heading downtown I stopped at a Sonic for some lunch and while waiting for my order I found six cents (all pennies). Most were located on the patio, but a few were in parking spaces. To contest my ticket I had to go to a courthouse on Lubbock St. I found a parking meter with over an hour on it so I didn’t have to pay the going rate of 25 cents for 12 minutes. After contesting my parking ticket I wandered around and checked some parking meters. I found 49 cents (one nickel, four dimes, & four pennies) at the base of various parking meters. I also found the foreign coin, which I believe is Swiss in origin. It has the word “Helvitia” on the front and 1 Fr. On the back. The foreign coin has also been deposited into the “Not Change Cup.”

My final stop on the way home from the ballpark was the Kwick Kar Wash. There I found nine cents (all pennies). On the autograph front I managed to get two Cubs signatures (I had a lot from the first time they were in so I was happy with that). I also got Mia Hamm, wife of Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciapara, to sign a baseball for me. I saw her in the stands and was very proud of my ability to recognize her.

Totals for the day: 90 cents
Race Totals: $130.18

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Today I found 67 cents. . . 1 nickel, 5 dimes, and 12 pennies.

I woke up at a decent hour this morning and I had a few things to do before the baseball game this evening (the second shut out loss for the Astros in the last two days) and I did some change searching. I found 22 cents (two dimes & two pennies) at a KFC drive-thru, one penny at a Starbucks in the parking lot, two cents at Arby’s in the parking lot, and 19 cents (one nickel, one dime, & one penny) at a local car wash.

Walking from a sports memorabilia show to the baseball game this afternoon I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) by two different parking meters. After the game I found a dime in a gutter as I walked back to my car. My final finds of the day were two pennies in the road, while I was at a red light. This particular intersection has seemed to produce ample amounts of lost change in the past, and I certainly hope this trend continues.

I didn’t do autographs for the Pirates today, but I did find plenty of ticket stubs and winning coke bottle caps. With three coke bottle caps today my total over the last six games is 20. That’s a lot of 1 liter cokes that I will be drinking in the future.

Totals for the day: 67 cents
Race Totals: $129.28

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Today I found $1.77. . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 5 quarters, and 27 pennies (the eminent change cycle). I also found a Canadian quarter and a very small woman’s ring. Sadly, the Canadian coin and the woman’s ring will not count toward the daily total.

I had to go to the post office early this morning (slightly after midnight) to mail some packages and I did some change searching along the way. I found 16 cents (1 dime & six pennies) at Arbys, which is directly across the street from my post office. I also found 35 cents (one quarter, one nickel, and five pennies) at the car wash next to my apartment complex. Small, but important finds were also recorded at Shipley’s Donuts (two cents), the post office (one penny), and a KFC drive-thru (four cents).

My final find of the early morning was at Ale Gator’s Car Wash, where I found 30 cents (one quarter & five pennies). The quarter was on top of a vacuum cleaner and the pennies were on the ground. This is where I found the Canadian quarter and the small woman’s ring. Were I Bailey I would not have picked these up, and were I Brian I would tell you the value of the Canadian quarter in American currency, and then explain that it would not count toward my totals. However, I’m Chris, so I will tell you that they won’t count toward the daily totals and they will be deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of all things not US change.

In the early afternoon I took a trip to my bank, which is located inside Randalls, a local grocery store. I checked out the change counting machine there and found 27 cents (one quarter & two pennies). All the change was stuck between the machine and a leg of the machine. It took several minutes of poking with my car key to dislodge the coins from their snug home.

At the ballpark this evening I found 26 cents (one quarter & one penny) as I looked for ticket stubs and winning coke bottle caps. On the coke bottle cap front I found eight caps that were winners (I can redeem each cap for a one liter coke product). My final stop of the evening was Chic Filet, where Bailey has had past success. There I found 36 cents (one quarter, one dime, and one penny).

On the autograph front my Pittsburgh Pirates team baseball is very full, so I concentrated on getting some single balls signed. I obtained autographs from Jack Wilson, former All-Star, and rookie pitching sensation Zach Duke, who is 5-0 with an ERA around two.

Totals for the day: $1.77
Race Totals: $128.61

Friday, August 12, 2005

Today I found 37 cents. . . 1 nickel, 1 quarter, and 7 pennies.

At work this afternoon I found a single penny in the hallway. I was unsure if this should count, as my co-worker Jennifer has taken to scattering change around my cubical in her quest to amuse herself at my change finding expense. However, this was in the hallway, not by my cubical, so I don’t think it was a plant. I will count it.

At the ballpark in the evening I found 25 cents (one quarter) while looking for ticket stubs and coke bottle caps. On the way home I stopped at the car wash next to my apartment complex and found 10 cents (one nickel & five pennies). My final stop of the evening was Kroger, a local grocery store, where I found one penny by the self checkout line.

I didn’t do autographs again this evening at the ballpark. Instead I went and collected give away pins that the Astros made available to the first set of fans into the ballpark. I’m happy with my decision, and many family members and close friends might end up with some pins. Be advised.

Totals for the day: 37 cents
Race Totals: $126.84

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Today I found 47 cents. . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 12 pennies.

Leaving home this morning I spotted a penny in the road at my apartment complex intersection. The light was green, but there was no traffic so I stopped and picked it up. There wasn’t much change finding during the day, as I was stuck in my office. However, on the way to the Astros game this afternoon I stopped at a Sonic along Interstate 45 and found 26 cents (one quarter & one penny). The penny was in the parking lot and the quarter was under a table on the patio.

After the game I had to go to the post office, and there I found two cents. Both pennies were sitting on top of the automated post office machine, which allows customers to mail packages even though the post office is closed. On my way home I stopped at two car washes, both in the general area. At the first I found seven cents (all pennies) and at the second I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny).

I went for balls instead of autographs at the game this evening, with no success. However, before the game started I did get a few autographs by the dugout. No one notable. I have been sitting directly behind the visitors dugout the last three games, and I always cheer very loudly for each Astros batter. Prior to the game Carlos Baerga told me that I was very loud. During the game, once I started cheering, he turned around and said, “quiet, please.” This started some good natured banter for the next three innings. I guess when you sit on the bench a lot you have nothing else to do. I would probably do the same thing, and I think we both amused eachother.

Totals for the day: 47 cents
Race Totals: $126.47

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Today I found 44 cents. . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 9 pennies.

During lunch this afternoon I went and filled up my car with gas and I found a penny by the gas pump at Chevron. I also went to the post office to mail some items and I found 25 cents (one quarter) under a stamp machine. During the baseball game this evening I went across the street to the Home Plate Bar & Grill to get a burger (the game was a long one this evening so I needed some food) and I found a penny by my table after I paid my tab.

On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and I found five cents (all pennies) and at the Sonic next door where I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). My final find of the day was a single penny in the road on the way home. I spotted it just as the light was about to change from red to green, so it took some quick reflexes to recover it and be ready to go.

On the baseball front I went again to left field to try to catch some baseballs. I got my first ball of the season today, albeit a throw up from Brandon Watson. It was a nice clean ball and there were no kids around, so I decided to keep it. On the autograph front I waited around after the game and got Mike Stanton, pitcher for the Nats. My best autograph story of the day, however, was Nick Johnson. I asked Nick to sign right before the game started. He told me it was too late, but if I came back to the dugout after the game he would sign. You hear this a lot from players, and it never materializes, but I went back anyway. After the game, which was over three hours, Nick came right over, signed my ball, and went in. That’s a good guy!

Totals for the day: 44 cents
Race Totals: $126.00

Tuesday, August 9, 2005

Today I found $1.06. . . 2 dimes, 3 quarters, and 11 pennies (the uncomparable change cycle).

After an early morning appointment I stopped at Sonic for some breakfast before I went into the office. At Sonic I found three cents. I would have probably found more, but a girl from inside came out to smoke a cigarette and she started chatting with me. It’s hard to eat, chat, and look for change at once, so I had to forgo any additional change searching.

To get back to the office I had to take the toll road again, and again there was a big payoff. As I pulled up to the paying point I quickly got out of my car and recovered 96 cents (three quarters, two dimes, & one penny). After the Astros game I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found seven cents (all pennies), to cap off my day.

My team ball for the Washington Nationals is fairly complete because I filled it up fairly well in Spring Training. Instead of getting autographs I went out to try to catch a batting practice home run ball. Sadly, the Nationals have a lot of lefties and I was in left field, so I didn’t get a ball. I did get Brandon Watson to sign a ticket stub for me after the game. Mr. Watson had his first three major league hits tonight, one of which was a home run. His family was with me and I gave them a few extra ticket stubs from the game as souvenirs, which they happily accepted.

Today is day one of a 13 game homestand (with no breaks) for the Houston Astros. I'm calling it right now, after attending 13 consecutive baseball games I'm going to be braid dead.

Totals for the day: $1.06
Race Totals: $125.56

Monday, August 8, 2005

Today I found $1.32. . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, 4 quarters, and 12 pennies (the incomparable change cycle).

The day got off to an embarrassing start on the change front. As my co-worker Jennifer and I walked from my car to lunch it was Jennifer who spotted a shiny penny on the ground. She generously offered it to me, but as she was the one who found it I could not count it toward my daily totals (I did pocket it, however). On our way back from lunch I suggested that we stop at a Burger King drive-thru, and Jennifer seemed keen on the idea. It is quite unusual for her to support my change habit, but I think this race is starting to grow on her. Unfortunately the drive-thru was so crowded that I had to abandoned my plan and return to the office coinless.

After lunch I had to take the toll road (Beltway 8) to an appointment. It was there that I hit the jackpot, finding 90 cents (one dime, three quarters, and five pennies). I had actually positioned myself in a different lane, but I decided to pick a different lane when I saw the car in front of me actually open the door and pick up change on the ground. Come on people, let’s leave the change picking up to professionals! Lucky I was able to shift lanes, and it all panned out in the end.

On my way home from my afternoon appointment I stopped at Sonic and found 41 cents (two nickels, one quarter, and six pennies). I was actually pulling out of the lot when I spied the quarter, but I was in position to stop and retrieve the quarter with ease. My final stop on the way home was Kroger, a local grocery store, where I found a penny on the ground by the self checkout lane.

Totals for the day: $1.32
Race Totals: $124.50

Sunday, August 7, 2005

Today I found $3.39. . . 1 nickel, 17 dimes, 4 quarters, and 64 pennies (the nifty change cycle). I also found a rubber bouncy ball, a token to The Woodlands Mall carousel, and 473 coupons to Chuck E. Cheese's. Sadly, the ball, token, and coupons do not count toward the daily totals.

On my way back home from the airport last night I stopped at the car wash next to my apartment. After gathering some Saturday change I looked at my cell phone clock and saw that it was after midnight. Returning to my car I found 25 cents (one quarter).

I was still on Phoenix time, which is two hours different than Houston. Because of this I couldn't sleep, so early in the morning I did a change run. I ended up finding so much change that I lost track of what I found where, but I can state that I looked in the following places: Starbucks, McDonalds (two locations), KFC, Boston Market, Wendy's, two more car washes, Taco Bell, Arby's, and a Sonic. I remember that my last find of the day was three cents in a washing machine in my apartment complex that I found while doing a few afternoon loads of whites.

I found the rubber bouncy ball, the token to a carousel, and a bag that contained 473 Chuck E. Cheese coupons at a car wash on Louetta Rd. All of them were in close proximity to each other, and all were on the ground. I have found rubber bouncy balls and assorted tokens, but this is the first time I have found a stash of Chuck E. Cheese coupons. The token and ball will be deposited into my "Not Change Cup," while the coupons, too big for the cup, will be kept in a bag next to the "Not Change Cup."

Totals for the day: $3.39
Race Totals: $123.18

Saturday, August 6, 2005

Today I found 23 cents. . . 1 dime & 13 pennies.

I spoke with Bailey on Friday evening/Saturday morning, and he informed me he had had a very good evening of change searching. Since I was in Arizona and there was a two hour difference he had already found Saturday change even though it was still Friday in Phoenix. I decided that at midnight I would try to give him a run for his money, so to speak. I failed.

During my late night change run I hit KFC and found a dime, McDonalds where I found five cents (all pennies), Wendys where I found a single penny, and Popeyes where I found two cents.

I had a 6:15pm flight back to Houston, and when I landed it was almost 11pm, local time. I rushed homeward and a few minutes before midnight I got to the car wash next to my apartment complex. There I found five cents (all pennies). I also had another find, but looking at my cell phone clock it was past midnight, so I will have to tell you about it tomorrow.

Totals for the day: 23 cents
Race Totals: $119.79

Friday, August 5, 2005

Today I found 44 cents. . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 9 pennies.

With no baseball to watch today I decided to drive to the Painted Desert (Petrified Forest) National Park in Arizona. I got some gas for the drive in the morning at the AM/PM, a local gas station, and found a penny inside by the cash register. Still driving in Phoenix I saw a car wash and decided to check it out. I was rewarded with four cents.

About half way to the Painted Desert I stopped in a little town called Payson to stretch my legs. I went into Safeway, a local grocery store, and found 36 cents (one dime, one quarter, and one penny). The quarter was by a Starbucks stand, the dime by a cash register, and the penny on the ground by a change sorting machine.

Driving back from my visit to the rock trees I stopped in Payson again, this time to eat. At a small, no name diner, I found one penny on the ground by my table. Back in Phoenix I stopped at Sonic and found two cents while walking the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 44 cents
Race Totals: $119.56

Thursday, August 4, 2005

Today I found 38 cents. . . 3 dimes & 8 pennies

Driving back from an evening of socializing with a friend who plays for the Astros I stopped a McDonald's drive-thru and found a penny. At a Burger King I found another penny. At a Circle K gas station I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) on the ground by a gas pump.

Later in the day I went into Fry's, a local grocery store, and found 20 cents (two dimes) on the ground. One was by a cash register line and the other in a change sorting machine. The day was rounded out with a walk around the University of Arizona where I stopped at a Jack in the Box drive-thru and found two cents, a trip to Borders book store where I found two cents by a coffee stand, and a trip to the post office to get stamps where I found one penny in the change return slot of the stamp machine.

Totals for the day: 38 cents
Race Totals: $119.12

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Today I found 10 cents. . . 1 dime.

There was very little change searching today, since most of my day was spent out at the hotel pool. At breakfast this morning I found 10 cents (one dime) under a vending machine near the hotel breakfast bar. That was it for the day.

My biggest concern for the entire day was being out at the pool long enough for my shoes to dry out from last night. You will be happy to learn that the shoes are dry and the rest of the day turned out well.

Totals for the day: 10 cents
Race Totals: $118.74

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

Today I found $1.51. . . 1 nickel, 5 dimes, 3 quarters, and 21 pennies.

I decided to stay up on Monday night, so I would not oversleep and miss my flight. It the early hours of Tuesday morning I did some change searching. At Starbucks I found 85 cents (one nickel, five dimes, one quarter, and five pennies). At a McDonald's in the vacinity I found 25 cents (one quarter) in the closed drive-thru.

A few more fast food restaurants rounded out my sleepless night. Burger King gave me two cents, KFC gave me five cents (all pennies), Wendy's a single penny, and Arby's gave two cents.

At the airport in the morning I found one penny by the metal detectors on the ground and one penny at a Wendy's, where I stopped to get an egg & cheese sandwitch. Once in Arizona I found one penny by a counter at Starbucks, which was located in the airport. I also found two pennies, at different locations, on the road as I drove to my hotel. One penny was found at a Circle K gas station, where I stopped for a drink. My final find of the day was 25 cents (one quarter) that I found at Bank One Ballpark, as I searched for ticket stubs after the game.

One final note: It rained so hard after the game that security would not let people exit the stadium. When I finally got out I had to walk though four feet of water at some points to get to my car. My 7.5 mile drive back to my hotel took me over three hours. What fun stuff.

Totals for the day: $1.51
Race Totals: $118.64

Monday, August 1, 2005

Getting the month of August off to a stellar start I found $1.29. . . 1 nickel, 5 dimes, 2 quarters, and 24 pennies (the enjoyable change cycle). I also had to face the reality that one of my favorite players in baseball is a cheat.

The day started off with a trip to the doctor’s office for a follow-up appointment. After I left I went to a car wash across the street and found nine cents (all pennies). They were all sticky from some type of goo, and as of this writing they have yet to be cleaned. Later in the day I had to go to the postoffice, an unenjoyable task. However, following the trip I checked in at another car wash and found 31 cents (two dimes & 11 pennies). Almost all of the change was in a pile on the ground, near a vacuum cleaner.

Also on my way home from the post office I went to Kroger, a local grocery store, to get some paper bags to place some old newspapers in for recycling. Leaving Kroger I found five cents (one nickel) in the coin return slot of a machine that dispenses water into large jugs.

In the evening I went to Bailey’s residence to use his high speed Internet. We ran out to pick up some dinner at KFC, and while Bailey waited in line I walked over to the Taco Bell next door and found 47 cents (one quarter, two dimes, & two pennies) in the drive-thru. On my way home from Bailey’s I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some fish food and I checked the Chic Filet next door. There I found 37 cents (one quarter, one dime, and two pennies).

This afternoon I heard the news that Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles was suspended for steroid use. I’m a huge baseball fan, and a huge fan of Palmeiro. His is one of the few jerseys that I own, and I even have one of his cracked autographed bats. One of the biggest knocks against Palmeiro is that he doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame beacause even though he has great numbers he has never been on a team that has won it all, he has only been to a few All-Star games, and he has never dominated at his position. I'm no PR expert, but I don't think that this is something that is going to help his chances. Just for the record I think he is a Hall of Famer, but not the best of people.

NOTE: I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Arizona to watch the Astros play the Arizona D-Backs. I'll be back on Saturday, so in case I can't find an Internet connection the Blog will be updated then.

Totals for the day: $1.29
Race Totals: $117.13