Saturday, December 31, 2005

Today I found 63 cents. . . . 2 quarters & 13 pennies. I also found British five pence piece, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

After lunch with Bailey this afternoon I walked over to Kroger, a local grocery store, and found 25 cents (one quarter) in the change return slot of a water machine. I also found a penny in the parking lot.

At a nearby car wash I found six cents (all pennies) scattered about, and at the car wash next to my apartment I found 31 cents (one quarter & six pennies).

The British coin was found under a wooden pallet at HEB, another local grocery store, where I stopped on the way back from the post office to pick up some last minute New Years Eve supplies. It has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” making it my last not-change find of 2005. Happy New Years to all!

Totals for the day: 63 cents
Race Totals: $226.43

_______________________________________________

December Monthly Report:

This month I found 417 pennies, 17 nickels, 46 dimes (for the second month in a row), and 21 quarters. I also found one $1 bill. Change finds were recorded in five states (Texas, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New Your) as well as Washington, DC

Monthly Total: $15.87
Change Cycle Days: 4
Dollar Days: 7
Monthly High: $1.81 (December 22nd)
Monthly Low: 3 cents (December 13th)
Daily Average: 51.9ish cents

Friday, December 30, 2005

Today I found 21 cents. . . . 1 nickel & 16 pennies. I also found a broken silver earing. Sadly, the broken earing does not count toward the daily totals.

On my way to work this morning I noticed a penny in the road. I gambled that the light would work in my favor so I got out to retrieve it. Unfortunately, my gamble was incorrect. Just as I exited the car the light changed. Of course I was to involved at this point to abandon the Lincoln, so I retrieved it and got back into my car and drove off. The couple behind me in a truck not only didn’t honk, but they clearly smiled when I held up the penny to show them what the delay was. Both waved and we both made it through the light without further fanfare.

On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found nine cents (all pennies). I also found four pennies sitting atop a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. In the evening I went to the post office and I stopped at Klein High School (which was empty because of the Christmas Break) and I checked the parking lot. There I found seven cents (one nickel & two pennies) as well as the aforementioned broken earing. The earing shall be deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” while the remaining change will be counted toward the race totals.

Totals for the day: 21 cents
Race Totals: $225.88

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Today I found 26 cents. . . . 1 dime & 16 pennies. I also found a 25 centavos piece from El Salvador. Sadly, the foreign quarter does not count toward the daily totals.

At lunch this afternoon I spotted a penny on the ground between my table at Rocky’s Subs and the soda machine. On the way home I stopped at Chevron for a drink and found another penny by a candy display. The final stop on the way home was the car wash next to my apartment complex where I found five cents (all pennies).

In the evening I took my friend Robert to dinner for his birthday. On the way home we stopped at the post office and a nearby car wash. The post office didn’t have any change for me, but the car wash did: 19 cents (one dime & nine pennies).

The 25 centavos piece from El Salvador was found atop a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. The Kroger was right next to Rocky’s Subs, and I went there while my sub was being prepared. The coin appears to have a picture of Pope John Paul II on it, but after extensive research into the El Salvador centavos I can neither confirm nor deny this finding, as I could not locate any information to tell me who the person actually was. Despite the uncertainty, one thing is certain. The coin has been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of all non-US change finds of note.

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $225.67

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Today I found 28 cents. . . . 1 dime & 18 pennies.

Shortly after midnight this morning I went to check my mail (as I had been out of town for a week I had 15 Christmas cards and other assorted letters waiting for me). On my way back to the apartment I stopped in the laundry room and found one penny in a washing machine.

On my way home from work this evening I stopped at the always reliable Kwick Kar Wash and found 15 cents (all pennies) and the Sonic next door where I found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies). The dime was hidden quite well in a crack in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $225.41

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Today I found 11 cents. . . . 1 nickel & 6 pennies. Change finds were recorded in two states, Maryland and Texas.

I arrived at BWI airport early today, which is always a good thing since security there is very disorganized. Today was no exception. After I passed through the metal detector I spotted a nickel under the ramp where items exit the x-ray machine. It was a bit far back, but I was able to retrieve it by using one of my shoes, which I had already removed, to pull it close to my hand. It was a good find.

The plane that I was taking was over booked, and Continental Airlines asked for volunteers to take the next flight. They offered $150 in travel vouchers. I volunteered, but told them that they would have to give me more if I actually gave up my seat. The lady told me that the amount would not be raised, so I boarded the plane and pulled out my book. About 10 minutes later she came onto the plane and told me that they really needed the seat, so if I would take the next flight she could give me $250. I told her it would have to be $300, which she was not authorized to give me. Thus, I sat back down. A few minutes later she came back and told me that $300 was fine. I got my $300 and an $8 meal voucher (the next flight was in three hours). I took a walk around the airport to kill some time and at Roy Rogers restaurant I found a penny as I used my meal voucher to pay for a hamburger and a drink.

Back in Texas I found two more pennies at one of the airport food stands and three pennies at a plant store that I stopped at on the way home. It’s nice to be back. Current temperature: 80 degrees.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $225.13

Monday, December 26, 2005

Today I found $1. . . 2 nickels, 4 dimes, 1 quarter, and 25 pennies (the Towson State University Change Cycle). I also found a pendant, which sadly will not count toward the daily total.

I met up with a friend in Towson, MD for lunch this afternoon, and I arrived about an hour early. To kill some time I went and checked the second half of the parking garage that I missed yesterday at Towson University (once upon a time Towson State University). I also checked about half of another garage and a black top parking lot. All my finds were at those three locations.

I found exactly the change cycle (one penny, one nickel, one dime, one quarter) on the black top parking lot. The pendant, really a necklace piece of some type, looks like it's silver and has some sort of shiny stone in the center. It has been run over by several cars, so I'm sure it has no value, except for the value of being placed in my "Not Change Cup."

Totals for the day: $1
Race Totals: $225.02

Sunday, December 25, 2005--Merry Christmas!

Today I found 53 cents. . . 4 dimes & 13 pennies. I also found a Canadian penny. Sadly, the Canadian penny does not count toward the daily totals.

I didn't think I would have the opporunity to get out today, but it was raining most of the day and my grandmother did not want to drive. I went and picked her up and then took her home after Christmas dinner. On the way home I decided to do a bit of change searching.

Taking a page from Brian's book I hit my former universities parking garage (Towson State University-now just Towson University) and found 25 cents (two dimes & five pennies). I also found the Canadian penny, which will be deposited into my "Not Change Cup" upon my return to Texas.

At a nearby Starbucks I looked at the closed drive-thru and found 15 cents (one dime & five pennies). I also pulled into a local gas station to pick up a drink and I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). The dime was by the cash register window and the penny was by a vacuum cleaner. My final stop on the way home was a Taco Bell drive-thru (also closed) where I found two cents.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Totals for the day: 53 cents
Race Totals: $224.02

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Today I found 51 cents. . . 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 6 pennies.

At Safeway, a local grocery store, I found 10 cents (one dime) on the ground by a change counting machine. At Home Depot, where I picked up a last minute Christmas present, I found one penny on the ground by a cash register.

In the evening I went to KFC to pick up a "traditional" Christmas Eve dinner of 20 Boneless Honey BBQ Chicken Wings. The drive-thru gave me an early Christmas present, 40 cents (one dime, one quarter, & five pennies).

Totals for the day: 51 cents
Race Totals: $223.49

Friday, December 23, 2005

Today I found $1.01. . . 2 nickels, 2 dimes, 2 quarters, & 21 pennies (the penultimate day before Christmas Change Cycle). I also found change in three states (New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland).

Still in New Jersey this morning I decided that I had to do some Christmas shopping. My friend Becca generously assisted me in this painful task. Our first stop was the Garden State Mall, where I found 12 cents (two nickels & two pennies). The first nickel was on the ground by the valet parking area, the second by a pretzel stand, and the two pennies were both on the ground (one at a Starbucks and the other in a hallway).

Later in the day, still in New Jersey, I found a penny at a Home Depot and another penny at a Target.

As I drove back home I stopped back in the Trenton area to see another friend. After a quick dinner and some catching up I was on the road again, heading back to Maryland. I had just passed through PA when I remembered that I didn't stop to find any change. However, in Delaware I decided to make a quick change stop and I found seven pennies at a vacuum cleaner at a Shell gas station.

Back in Maryland I found 24 cents (two dimes & four pennies) at another car wash vacuum cleaner, four pennies below a counter at the same gas station and 52 cents (two quarters & two pennies) at a Flying J Gas Station. The two pennies were by the counter and the two quarters were in the change return slot of a machine where you use a claw to retrieve a prize. I was very proud of the two quarter find. I used a trick that Brian taught me just the day before. The two quarters were actually stuck on a lip in the change return slot, so without careful inspection a novice could have missed them. Thanks Brian.

Totals for the day: $1.01
Race Totals: $222.98

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Today I found $1.81. . . 4 dimes, 1 quarter, 16 pennies, and $1 bill. I also found a shard of a $5 bill, a restroom token, and a small star. Sadly, the last three do not count toward the daily total. I also found change in three states (Maryland, New Jersey, and New York)

This morning I got in my car and drove from Maryland to New Jersey. In Maryland I had to stop for gas and while the car was filling up I went over to the car wash area of the gas station and found 27 cents (two dimes & seven pennies). Almost all the change was covered in road salt and dirt.

Once in New Jersey I went over to The College of New Jersey to meet up with Brian for a Change Walk. Brian was quite kind to walk me around his territory, teach me a few tricks, and share his wisdom. Despite his kind words he trounced me in the change finding department. I kind of felt like Bailey when he goes on a change walk with me. Anyhow, I did manage to find 31 cents (one quarter & seven pennies) in various parking garages on campus. Off campus I found 10 cents (one dime) and by virtue of my quick call I claimed it. Back on campus at the gym I found a single penny in the soda return slot of a soda machine (an odd place to find a penny).

Brian was kind enough to send me off with a change holder and some excellent directions to the New Jersey Turnpike. Once on the road I went up north to meet up with my friend Becca. In the evening we decided to drive to NY City to check out the Christmas Tree (editor's note: The transit strike was officially over, but nothing was running yet. We ended up walking 35 city blocks from our car to the tree). While wandering NY I found two pennies on the sidewalk, 10 cents (one dime) in the coin return slot of a newspaper box, and $1 bill on the ground at the Rockefeller Center where the large Christmas tree was.

As for the not change finds I found the small star in New Jersey outside a Rita's Ice store, the shard of a $5 bill in parking lot 17 at The College of New Jersey, and the restroom token (made in Indiana) on the sidewalk in NY. All non-change finds will be deposited into my "Not Change Cup" upon my return to Texas.

Totals for the day: $1.81
Race Totals: $221.97

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Today I found 24 cents. . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 9 pennies.

I was in Washington, DC this afternoon and as I wandered the city I found 14 cents (one nickel & nine pennies). They were all scattered about the sidewalk, save three cents that were at the base of a counter at a Starbucks.

In the evening I joined some friends for dinner in Towson, MD and while leaving I found a dime in the parking lot of a Mobile gas station, that was near the exit ramp I needed to take.

Daily Total: 24 cents
Race Totals: $220.16

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Today I found 48 cents. . . 2 nickels, 1 quarter, and 13 pennies. Finds were recorded in two states, Texas & Maryland.

On my way home from work this afternoon (it was rushed because I had to get home, pack for a Christmas trip to Maryland, and get to the airport) I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash. I'm glad I did. There I found 42 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and 12 pennies). The quarter was a West Virginia quarter, the first I had seen of that state. At the airport I found one penny on the ground by a taco stand. There was a second penny, but foot traffic proved to be too much and I wasn't able to retrieve it.

In Maryland at BWI Airport I was walking to the baggage claim and I spotted a nice silver glint of light. The silver was a nickel that had fallen under a newspaper recycling box.

On the e-bay front no one has bid on my cookie tin (see yesterday's post) but I have had 16 people stop by to visit. That's more hits than some of my real items that I am selling. Go figure.

Daily Totals: 48 cents
Race Totals: $219.92

Monday, December 19, 2005

Today I found 13 cents. . . . 2 nickels & 3 pennies. I also found a stack of 63 old Playboy magazines. Sadly, the Playboys will not count toward the daily total.

I wasn’t feeling well today, so I didn’t get out much. In the evening I did go for a walk around the neighborhood and I found 12 cents (two nickels & two pennies) at the apartment complex next door and one penny at the car wash next to my apartment complex.

As I took my trash out to the dumpster this evening I noticed that there was a large stack of magazines that someone had thrown away. Curious, I checked it out and noticed that they were all Playboys. Ok, now would be a good time to explain that porn isn't really my thing. That said, e-bay is. A quick check of e-bay rules confirmed that it is ok to sell Playboys, so I now have a stack sitting in my home that will be listed in the near future.

Speaking of e-bay today I listed a cookie tin that I found at a car wash several days ago. This is the first time I have listed a "Not Change" find. Credit goes to my co-worker, Jennifer, who suggested that I do this. For those curious you may view the cookie tin.

Mention Race of the Century and I’ll take $1 off of shipping! Remember, bid early and bid often.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $219.44

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Today I found $1.78. . . . 7 dimes, 3 quarters, and 33 pennies.

I woke up very early this morning and decided to check a myriad of fast food restaurant drive-thrus in the early AM. Exact amounts at exact locations blurred a bit, but everything was found at two Starbucks, a Burger King, a McDonalds, a KFC, a Chick-Fil-A, and a Taco Bell. On my way home I stopped at a McDonalds drive-thru for a congratulatory Egg Mc Muffin. I didn’t find any change, but my order came to $3.32, and the lady let me slide with paying $3.30 since I didn’t have any pennies with me (save the 33 that I had just found which were not going to be spent).

Totals for the day: $1.78
Race Totals: $219.31

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Today I found $1.06. . . . 4 dimes, 2 quarters, and 16 pennies.

First, I just want to say that the Texans are bad. How bad you ask? So bad that I called up no less than seven friends and left messages that I had extra tickets that I would give them for free if they wanted to go to the game with me on Sunday. The only one that called back was Bailey, and even with the offer of free tickets, me driving, and a free beer he still wasn’t interested. Season tickets have been a bad investment this year. Ah well, things could be worse I suppose. I could live in Philadelphia and be an Eagles fan!

On my way to the grocery store this afternoon to pick up some dinner provisions I stopped at Al Gator’s Car Wash and was fortunate enough to find 47 cents (one dime, one quarter, and 12 pennies). Every single penny was in a pile by a vacuum cleaner. The dirty dime was by a car wash bay, and the quarter was sitting on top of a vacuum cleaner.

At HEB, a local grocery store, I browsed the isles while eating free orange slices that the store had kindly left for patrons to sample. I came upon a coin counting machine and in the coin return slot I found 46 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and one penny). All the coins were in good condition, so I’m not sure why they were rejected. Such is life.

So close to the dollar day I took a walk to the car wash next to my apartment after I had put away my groceries. There I found 13 cents (one dime & three pennies).

Totals for the day: $1.06
Race Totals: $217.53

Friday, December 16, 2005

Today I found 44 cents. . . . 2 nickels, 2 dimes, and 14 pennies.

I joined my former co-worker John for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant that I can’t pronounce (it had a Pho in the title, but that’s all I can remember). The important part of this lunch trip, however, was me finding 10 cents (one dime) in the parking lot near the front door.

On the way home I stopped at the library and found five cents (one nickel) on the way in. Also at a nearby car wash I found 29 cents (one nickel, one dime, & 14 pennies). All the change was scattered about, but most of it was laying in a 10 foot radius near one of the vacuum cleaners.

Totals for the day: 44 cents
Race Totals: $216.47

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Today I found 20 cents. . . . all pennies.

On my way home from work I stopped at Sonic and found three cents. Next door at the Kwick Kar Wash I found 17 more pennies.

Totals for the day: 20 cents
Race Totals: $216.03

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Today I found 15 cents. . . . 1 dime & 5 pennies. I also found a token from Chuck E. Cheese, which sadly does not count toward the daily totals.

In the evening I was sitting on no change, so I took a little drive and stopped at a nearby car wash. On the ground I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). I also found a nice metal cookie tin (there were cookies in it, but it had been raining all day and they were quite wet). My co-worker Jennifer has recently suggested that I sell things in my “Not Change Cup” on e-bay. I think I’m going to list the cookie tin and see what happens.

In the evening I picked up some food from Sonic and went over to Tara’s to eat. While waiting for my food I found two pennies on the patio at Sonic. On the way home I stopped at Kroger, a local grocery store, and found another two pennies. One penny was atop a change counting machine and one was underneath. It was at Kroger that I also found the Chuck E. Cheese token. It was also on the ground by the change counting machine. The token has since been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of these types of things.
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Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $215.83

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Today I found 3 cents. . . . all pennies.

It was one of those days where if I had a dog and a kid my dog would have been hit by a car in front of my kid. Fortunately, I don’t have a dog (or a kid to my knowledge) but it was a bad day. I did manage to interject some sunshine into a miserable day, however. At Shell, where I stopped for a drink on the way home, I found a penny at the base of a display shelf. At Kroger, a local grocery store, I found two cents; one by a self-checkout line and the other in the coin return slot of a change counting machine.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $215.68

Monday, December 12, 2005

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

On the way home from work I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and the Sonic next door. At each place I found five pennies, for a total of 10 cents. In the evening I went to the post office and at the car wash next to it I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). This is the fourth time in the past 12 days that I have found exactly 11 pennies in the same day.

Totals for the day: 21 cents
Race Totals: $215.65

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Today I found 11 cents. . . . all pennies.

This afternoon as I took some trash out I noticed that someone had discarded a green couch next to the trash receptacle. I removed the cushions from the couch and checked for change, finding nine pennies. On the way to the grocery store later in the afternoon I spotted and retrieved a penny from the road. Finally, at the grocery store I found one penny in the basket of a change counting machine.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $215.44

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Today I found 16 cents. . . . 1 dime and 6 pennies. I also found a fake nickel, which sadly does not count toward the daily totals.

I met up with Bailey & Marti to watch some NCAA basketball this afternoon. As we exited BW3's, a wing place, I found the fake nickel. It was stuck in some sand in an ash tray outside the building. This fake nickel is unlike any that I have ever seen before, as it does not have the word “copy” written across the front and the back. However, it still does not count in the totals, but will have a happy home in my “Not Change Cup.”

On the way home from basketball I stopped at Sonic and found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies). Continuing home I stopped at the car wash next to my apartment complex and found an additional four pennies.

Totals for the day: 16 cents
Race Totals: $215.33

Friday, December 9, 2005

Today I found 26 cents. . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 11 pennies.

My goldfish is not dead. As reported last night it was floating on it’s back. The same was true this morning, and this afternoon when I got home from work. I had even poked it several times to make sure. Anyhow, I went out to scoop it from the pond and all three fish were swimming around, happy as can be. Perhaps it was a Christmas miracle.

Otherwise it was a bad day, a very bad day. On the bright side I found 26 cents (1 nickel, one dime, and 11 pennies) at the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 26
Race Totals: $215.17

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Today I found $1.21. . . . 1 dime, 4 quarters, and 11 pennies.

It was at lunch and a trifecta of car washes that netted me my finds today. While dining at Wings & More with my co-worker Jennifer (lunch special: eight wings, drink, and fries for $6.50) I spotted two pennies at the base of our table. Jennifer, who will be in New York tomorrow, was informed that she would receive a mention in tonight’s blog, which I’m sure she was very excited about.

On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found three cents. There might have been more, but it was very windy and cold so I didn’t stick around too long. Near my apartment I checked the car wash and found 88 cents (one dime, three quarters, and three pennies). The three quarters were in a car wash station and the remaining change was on the ground.

The final stop of the evening was at the car wash next to the post office. There I found 28 cents (one quarter & three pennies). Again, the temperature was dropping so I decided to call it a night. Tonight will be the first night that it drops below freezing in Houston. I have moved my plants inside but I think one of my outdoor gold fish is dead. Reports on the fish will be forthcoming.

Totals for the day: $1.21
Race Totals: $214.91

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Today I found 27 cents. . . . 2 dimes and 7 pennies.

This afternoon I gave blood after work and on the way home I stopped at Shell to get a drink. In the parking lot I found a penny and inside by the base of the cash register I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny).

In the evening I went to the Live Sports Café where Lance Berkman (outfielder/first baseman for the Astros) was doing a live radio show. The first 100 fans entering could get an autograph. Sadly, I was not in the first 100, so I turned around and went home. On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found another 11 cents (one dime and one penny) and checked the Sonic next door where I found four more pennies.

I packed my first 10 boxes today in anticipation of my move to a new house later this month. Each of my 300 plus autographed baseballs is now packed. The apartment kind of looks empty without them on display.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $213.70

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Today I found 14 cents (for the second day in a row). . . . all pennies. I also found a small plastic dog, that sadly does not count toward the daily totals.

This morning I went and followed along as an inspector inspected the home I am getting ready to purchase. The good news is that the house will not fall apart under it’s own power anytime in the future. There are a few things that will need to be fixed, but nothing major.

On the way home I stopped at the car wash next to my apartment complex and found four pennies. In the evening I went out again for a few things and I found one penny at the post office at the base of a stamp machine, another penny at another car wash, three pennies at Sonic, and five cents at Kroger. Three of the Kroger pennies were under a change counting machine, one was on the floor by the same machine, and the final penny was on the ground by a self-checkout line.

The plastic dog that I found was at the second car wash that I stopped at. I have taken the liberty of taking a picture of the plastic dog, standing on top of the pennies that I found for the day.



The dog, or course, has been since deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of things not change.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $213.43

Monday, December 5, 2005

Today I found 14 cents. . . . 1 nickel and 9 pennies.

I didn’t have to work today, but I did need to go to the bank to sign some papers for my mortgage. The bank was located in The Woodlands, near Bailey’s residence. On the way back I stopped at HEB, a local grocery store, to get some lunch. In the parking lot I found two pennies, and inside under a change sorting machine I found three more pennies.

Next to HEB was a Shell station, where I went to get a drink. On the way in I checked by the vacuum cleaner and found five cents (one nickel). I also found two pennies in the parking lot and another two pennies inside on the ground.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $213.29

Sunday, December 4, 2005

Today I found $1.15. . . . 1 nickel, 5 dimes, 2 quarters, and 10 pennies (the peachy change cycle).

Last night I couldn’t sleep, so I went on a late night run to Wal-Mart to purchase some additional Christmas cards. On the way I stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru and found 35 cents (one dime & one quarter). At a nearby KFC I found 15 cents (one nickel & one dime). To my knowledge this is the first time that I have ever been a penny away from the change cycle (which is finding a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter in the same day). My final early morning stop was a drive-thru at Burger King, where I found a lone penny.

This afternoon I stopped for lunch at Sonic and as I walked to the patio to place my order a little boy happily exclaimed that he had just found four cents. His dad didn’t seem impressed, but I was. However, it’s clear that the kid didn’t walk the entire parking lot and really keep his eyes on the ground. If he had he would have been 64 cents richer (three dimes, one quarter, and nine pennies). He was young, so he has plenty of time to perfect his change finding skills.

Totals for the day: $1.15
Race Totals: $213.15

Saturday, December 3, 2005

Today I found 32 cents. . . . all pennies. I also found a British pound, two British pennies, one two cent Euro, one five cent Euro, and one 50 cent Euro. Sadly, the foreign coins do not count toward the daily totals.

This morning while walking to my mail box I found a penny in my apartment complex parking lot. In the evening I had to go to the post office near the airport (it’s open 24 hours a day and I had to get something in the mail) and on the way back I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash. I normally don’t check the Kwick Kar Wash on the weekends because I’m not in the area. I’m glad that I checked. On the ground I found 29 pennies. Oddly, none of them were all in the same general area, so by the end I was getting a bit tired of all the ups and downs.

My final stop on the way home was at Kroger, a local grocery store, where I had to get beer and ice cream. Walking in I saw a red cup sitting atop a change counting machine. Upon closer examination the cup had all the foreign coins in it, as well as two American pennies. The foreign coins have been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of various assorted non-United States coin finds that I make during the race. For those wondering, the foreign coins have an approximate value of $2.46 US.

Totals for the day: 32 cents
Race Totals: $212.00

Friday, December 2, 2005

Today I found 39 cents. . . . 1 quarter and 14 pennies.

Sadly, today was a beautiful day in Houston. I say sadly because my boss was out and I was left in charge of our office. This is normally a good thing, but for some reason Friday brought with it lots of work. I didn’t get to leave the office until after 6:30pm, and I was still sitting on zero finds for the day.

On the way home I stopped at Sonic, where I found four cents scattered about the parking lot. At the Kwick Kar Wash, which is strategically located directly next to Sonic, I found 33 cents (one quarter & eight pennies). The quarter was in a car washing bay and the pennies were on the ground, mostly by vacuum cleaners.

Even later in the evening I went to the post office to mail some packages and I retrieved a single penny from the coin return slot of a stamp machine. On my way home I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some Christmas cards. Getting out of my car I spotted a glimmer in the parking lot. Walking closer I saw that the glimmer was indeed a penny, sitting on the ground next to a half eaten pixi stick. The penny came with me, the pixi stick was left behind.

Totals for the day: 39 cents
Race Totals: $211.68

Thursday, December 1, 2005

Today I found 65 cents. . . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 15 pennies (the mystifying change cycle).

I was in southwest Houston this morning for an appointment, and as I entered the building where I had a meeting I spotted a vending machine. I made a mental note to check that machine when I was done. Good thing I did. In the change return slot of the machine was a nickel, and under a soda machine I found a penny.

The Kwick Kar Wash came through as it always does. On my way home from work I stopped in and found 58 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and 13 pennies). Almost all the change was in a pile next to a spot where a guy was cleaning his car. I asked him if the change was his, and when he said no I claimed it for myself.

Closer to home I found a penny at the car wash next to my soon to be former apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 65 cents
Race Totals: $211.29