Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Today I found 51 cents . . . 2 quarters & 1 penny.

At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found all the change. The two quarters were sitting in a car wash station on a ledge and the very worn down penny was in the parking lot.

There have been a lot of thunderstorms in this area lately. It makes it harder and harder to get up in the morning when you hear all that thunder. Something about them makes me want to go back to bed and wake up in a week or so.

Totals for the day: 51 cents
Race Totals: $313.56

___________________________________

May monthly Report:

This month I found 318 pennies, 14 nickels, 22 dimes, and 24 quarters.

Monthly Total: $12.08
Change Cycle Days: 3
Dollar Days: 2
Monthly High: $2.39 (May 8th)
Monthly Low: 2 cents (May 19th)
Daily Average: 48.9 cents
Birthdays by Me: 1

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Today I found 7 cents . . . all pennies.

On my way into work this morning I stopped at a still dark Kwick Kar Wash and found six cents (all pennies). I also stopped for a bite to eat at McDonalds and found a penny by the cashier’s stand.

Totals for the day: 7 cents
Race Totals: $313.05

Sunday, May 29, 2006

Today I found 42 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 7 pennies.

On my way back from lunch with Bailey I stopped at the post office and found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) under a stamp machine. I found the remaining change, 31 cents (one quarter & six pennies) at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 42 cents
Race Totals: $312.98

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

After getting a late start on the day I never really did wake up, delivering perhaps one of my most somnambulant performances of the entire change race. Nevertheless, in between a Memorial Day BBQ and some clothes shopping with Tara I did manage to find three lone pennies. The first was in the parking lot of a local convenience store, the second was at a no-name car wash, and the third was in the parking lot at Willowbrook Mall.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $312.56

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Today I found 57 cents . . . 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 12 pennies.

On my way to the CVS to pick up some rubber bands and tape I stopped at a no name car wash and found 50 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and five pennies). At CVS I found a penny in the parking lot.

At the car wash next to the post office I found five cents (all pennies). Later in the day I found a penny walking back from the dumpster at my apartment complex. The penny was in the center of the parking lot.

As I write this the Astros just scored a run in the top of the 17th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the first time they got the lead since the 8th inning, but Brad Lidge is out and Mike Gallo is in to close out the game. I don't have a good feeling about this.

UPDATE: 30 seconds after typing about my bad feeling Gallo gave up a homerun and the game is now tied again.

FINAL UPDATE: In the 18th inning Gallo has two wild pitches (one on an intentional walk) and Jason Bay scores from third on a sac fly. Catcher Eric Munson had the ball early but dropped it. Where is Michael Barrett when we need him. No punches were thrown!

Totals for the day: 57 cents
Race Totals: $312.53

Friday, May 26, 2006

Today I found 76 cents . . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes & 41 pennies. I also found a token with no cash value and a penny from the Bahamas. Sadly, the Bahamas penny and the token will not count towards the daily totals.

I did not have to work today but it was a busy day nevertheless. First, I had to go downtown to contest a parking ticket (I had photos of where I parked, which was a legal spot, and I won). Leaving the courthouse I saw that I had 15 minutes left on my overpriced parking meter. I took that time to walk around and check some other parking meters and found 17 cents (one dime & seven pennies) scattered about on the ground.

My next stop was Memorial City Mall where I had to pick up some framed prints. Walking in I spotted a dime at the base of a soda vending machine.

On the way home I checked in at the Kwick Kar Wash and found eight cents (all pennies) and at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found 39 cents (one nickel, one dime, and 24 pennies). The majority of the change was sitting in an otherwise empty trashcan.

In the evening I found two final pennies near the dumpster in the apartment complex parking lot. It was my second consecutive dumpster penny find.

The token with no cash value was found at the base of a parking meter outside the courthouse downtown. The penny from the Bahamas was found at JR’s Car Wash. Even though neither will have a bearing on the daily totals they are welcome additions to my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

Totals for the day: 76 cents
Race Totals: $311.96

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Today I found 15 cents . . . 1 dime & 5 pennies.

Stopping in downtown Houston for some lunch this afternoon I found 14 cents (one dime & four pennies) at the base of various parking meters. In the evening I found a penny by the dumpster as I took out some trash.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $311.20

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Today I found 13 cents . . . 1 dime & 3 pennies.

This morning I found a penny as I was walking through a parking lot near Santa Fe, TX. In the evening I found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies) in the apartment complex laundry room. The pennies were on the floor and the dime was sitting in an otherwise empty washing machine.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $311.05

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Today I found 47 cents . . . 1 nickel & 42 pennies.

On my way home from work this afternoon I stopped at the always reliable Kwick Kar Wash and found 10 cents (one nickel & five pennies). Closer to home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash and found an amazing 36 pennies. 35 of the 36 pennies were sitting in a pile on top of a vacuum cleaner stand. Closing out the day I stopped for half priced burgers at Sonic and found a penny in the parking lot while walking back to my car.

Totals for the day: 47 cents
Race Totals: $310.92

Monday, May 22, 2006

Today I found 59 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 19 pennies (the trifecta Change Cycle).

For the third day in a row I hit for the change cycle (at least one penny, nickel, dime ,and quarter) and it was accomplished with three stops. The first was at the Kwick Kar Wash where I found 18 pennies. The second was at the car wash next to the post office where I found 16 cents (one nickel, one dime, and one penny) and the third was at the post office where I found a quarter in the coin return slot of a stamp machine.

As I walked into the post office I thought to myself, “if only I could find a quarter I would have the change cycle for the day.” And there it was. Now I wish I had thought to myself, “if only I could find $100 bill and a hot redhead.” Such is life.

Totals for the day: 59 cents
Race Totals: $310.45

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Today I found $1.16 . . . 1 nickel, 4 dime, 2 quarters, and 21 pennies (the first-rate Change Cycle).

This evening I had some things that needed to be done (post office trip, ATM for cash, recycle newspaper) and along the way I checked some local car washes for change. At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found one penny. At the car wash next to the post office I found another 12 cents (one dime & two pennies). It was at Ale Gator’s Car Wash, a car wash that always seems to have a lot of change on Sunday evenings, that I found my big find. All told at Al Gator’s I found $1.03 (one nickel, three dimes, two quarters, and 21 pennies).

Totals for the day: $1.16
Race Totals: $309.86

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Today I found 89 cents . . . 3 nickels, 1 dime, 2 quarters, and 14 pennies (the stupendous Change Cycle).

Not wanting a repeat of yesterday’s close call I made a quick stop at Sonic this afternoon for some lunch. In addition to a hamburger and tater tots I picked up a penny on the patio. On the way home I stopped at Krogar, a local grocery store, and found 15 cents (one nickel & one dime) near a change counting machine. The nickel, a 1943 model, was on the ground next to the machine and the dime was underneath.

After parking for the Astros game this afternoon I spotted and retrieved a penny from the sidewalk. After the game I found two quarters in the change return slot of a payphone located directly outside the homeplate entrance of the ballpark. On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found 22 cents (three nickels & 12 pennies).

The last nickel that I found at JR’s Car Wash was minted in 2006. This means that I found nickels today with a difference in age of 63 years.

Totals for the day: 89 cents
Race Totals: $308.70

Friday, May 19, 2006

Today I found 2 cents . . . both pennies.

In an 11th hour and 58 minute coupe I found two cents at the Kwick Kar Wash. It was on the way home from the Astros game, but I was late in leaving after meeting some friends at a local bar. I lost track of time and nearly ended up with no change for the day.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $307.81

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Today I found 15 cents . . . all pennies.

Down in Alvin, TX this afternoon, home of Nolan Ryan, I stopped at a local car wash and found three cents. Perhaps Nolan had hit the spot earlier in the day. I may never know.

On my way home from work I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash but only found a penny. It was at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, where I found my big find of the day, 12 cents.

The Astros did not lose tonight. They did not play, but at this point a non-loss is a non-loss. Well done, boys.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $307.79

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Today I found 7 cents . . . all pennies.

The Astros finished up their three game getting swept by the Giants act tonight, losing 10-1 (the same score as Monday). All told they gave up 35 runs and scored five during the series. Ouch. They are not playing well, and to add insult to injury the entire Giants team seems to have adapted the B*rry Bonds philosophy for dealing with fans. I only got 12 of 25 autographs, not good at all. The three notable exceptions were Noah Lowry, Omar Vizquel, and Steve Kline. Obviously others signed, but it was like pulling teeth.

Outside the ballpark this afternoon I found a penny by a parking meter. On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found the remaining six pennies. Little change, few autographs, and an Astros loss add up to a bad day.

I leave you tonight with a picture of my best autograph of the night, General Tommy Franks, who threw out the first pitch and who graciously signed for me after leaving the field:


Totals for the day: 7 cents
Race Totals: $307.64

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Today I found 46 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 11 pennies.

At lunch this afternoon, a rare trip to McDonalds, I found a penny by the front register. Down at the ballpark I walked around before the game and found 28 cents (one quarter & three pennies) on various spots on the ground. After the game on the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 17 cents (one dime & seven pennies).

The Giants smacked the Astros around for the second night in a row. Prior to the game I had the rare opportunity to actually speak with B*rry Bonds. As he exited the dugout I yelled, “Hey, B*rry,” to which he responded, “What?” I asked him to sign my team ball and he just walked away. Still, one word out of B*rry is a rarity, so I count myself lucky.

Totals for the day: 46 cents
Race Totals: $307.57

Monday, May 15, 2006

Today I found 28 cents . . . 1 quarter & 3 pennies.

The circus came to town tonight; Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. Barry did not have a homerun but the Giants did not need it as they demolished the Astros in front of a sorry crowd.

At lunch today I found two cents in a change counting machine at Kroger (which was right next to the sandwich shop where I dined). At the ballpark I found 25 cents (a quarter) as I looked for tickets after the game and I found a single penny in the coin return slot of a Pepsi machine outside the ballpark.

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $307.11

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Today I found 59 cents . . . 3 nickels, 1 quarter, and 19 pennies.

It was a lazy Sunday and the only real item on my list of things to do was go to the Astros game. It’s a good thing, because that’s basically all I did. On the way back from the game (2,600th career game for Craig Biggio—bid now on the lot of tickets I have already listed on eBay) I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 53 cents (two nickels, one quarter, and 18 pennies). One of the nickels was minted in 1940 and has a hole in the head of Jefferson.

Closer to home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash and found six cents (one nickel & one penny). There might have been more but it was raining really hard and although the rain did not bother me the nearby lightning strikes did.

The Colorado Rockies provided my best three days of autographs this season. I got 19 of the players on the 25-man roster to sign my ball. The final autograph was Ramon Ramirez. I mention this only because I called to two other players today who I though were Ramon and they were not. Sufficed to say, I got the real Ramon as he came from the bullpen to the dugout after the game.

Totals for the day: 59 cents
Race Totals: $306.83

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Today I found 24 cents . . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, and 4 pennies.

On my way to the ballpark this afternoon I stopped at the post office to mail some packages. Under a stamp machine I found 13 cents (two nickels & three pennies). On my way home from the game I checked in at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found 11 cents (one dime & one penny).

Baseball autographs have not been great this year, but the Rockies are the exception. It seems that there is not much interest in them so with fewer fans the players are responding to autograph requests. In two games I have gotten 16 of the 25 members of the team. One player that will never sign is Jose Mesa, who is by far one of the biggest autograph avoiders in the league. Gotta love Joe Table.

Totals for the day: 24 cents
Race Totals: $306.24

Friday, May 12, 2006

Today I found 21 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 11 pennies. I also found a Mexican peso, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

Leaving the Astros game this evening I found a penny in the stands and a penny walking to my car. I also stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash on the way home and found 14 cents (one nickel & nine pennies). The final dime was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

The Mexican peso, minted 1997, was found at the Kwick Kar Wash. Although it has no race value it is certainly a welcome addition to my “Not Change Cup,” and will thusly be placed there for safekeeping.

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $306.00

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Today I found 27 cents . . . 1 quarter and 2 pennies.

The first penny was at the post office and the second penny was on the floor at a bookstore. The quarter was by a vacuum cleaner station at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $305.74

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Today I found 18 cents (for the second day in a row). . . 1 dime and 8 pennies (also for the second day in a row).

This time all my change came at the car wash next to the post office. I hobbled in there after attempting to pole vault for only the second time in eight years (the first time being Monday). I am far from out of shape, but pole vault is a tough event and is not something that can be picked up easy. Watching high school kids that would not have been good enough to carry my pole in college crush me is enough to make me humble. Still, it was fun and if I can walk again (seriously) by Friday I’m going to give it another shot.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $305.47

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Today I found 18 cents . . . 1 dime and 8 pennies. I also found a smushed elongated penny, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

I was in Bailey’s neck of the woods today and I found five cents (all pennies) in the parking lot of Kroger, a local grocery store. On the way home I stopped at the Brite Car Wash and found three cents on the ground. My final find of the day was a dime, which was in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at the post office.

The smushed elongated penny was found in the parking lot of my apartment complex. It reads “Saturn” and “Houston Museum of Natural Science.” There is a picture of Saturn in the center. Although the smushed elongated penny does not count toward the daily totals it will certainly count as a find worthy of my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $305.29

Monday, May 8, 2006

Today I found $2.39 . . . 1 dime, 9 quarters, and 4 pennies.

All my change was found at Ale Gator’s Car Wash. The dime and four pennies were on the ground and the stack of nine quarters was in a car wash station. Seven of the nine quarters were state models and all were different. Were I keeping track like I want to I would have added Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Delaware, Louisiana, and Kansas to my collection.

Today I took the rare step in adding a company to my Never Shop There Again List. To make this list I must have a very low opinion of said company. The only companies currently on my list are Radio Shack, Exxon, and Jack-in-the-Box. Today I add Half Price Books. I had a bad experience there last year when I took almost 40 low quality books there to sell. They offered me $2.25, which I declined. Today I took them some very good books (one of which I had purchased there for $20 several months ago). Total offer for my books (after a 45 minute wait): $3.25. Half Price Books will never have me as a buyer or seller again!

Totals for the day: $2.39
Race Totals: $305.11

Sunday, May 7, 2006

Today I found 15 cents . . . 1 dime & 5 pennies. I also found a French Franc, which sadly does not count toward the daily totals.

All my change (both American and foreign) was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. All the pennies and the dime were on the ground by vacuum cleaners. The French Franc was sitting on the ledge of a car wash station. Although it does not count toward the daily totals it will make an excellent edition to my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such finds.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $302.72

Saturday, May 6, 2006

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

I found the first two pennies in my apartment complex parking lot and the third penny was by the mailboxes, which are located near the main office in the front of the complex.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $302.57

Friday, May 5, 2006

Today I found 27 cents . . . 1 quarter & 2 pennies.

The first penny was in the parking lot at the bank. I picked up the second penny at a car dealership in Kingwood, TX, where I took my car for a check up this morning. I found the quarter at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $302.54

Thursday, May 4, 2006

Today I found 17 cents . . . all pennies. I also found a car wash token, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

Driving down FM 1960 this afternoon I stopped at a no name car wash and found 13 dirty pennies. This is also where I found the car wash token, that has since been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items. A bit further down the road I retrieved a single penny from a crack in the road at a stoplight.

Before going to the game I braved torrential rain and nickel sized hail to take some packages to the post office. There I found a single penny in the coin return slot of a stamp machine (it was also a rare time where because of the weather there was no line). On the way home from the Astros game I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found two cents.

It’s getting a little stupid, but the Astros are now 19-9 despite having the same team as last year that started 15-30. Some how many of our hitters seem to have forgotten that they are not that good. Hope they can keep it up.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $302.27

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Today I found 18 cents . . . 1 dime and 8 pennies.

Today I was king. I sat in the Diamond Club for an Astros game. These are the best seats in the ballpark. Face value of each ticket is $325 a ticket per game. That’s on top of the PSL that costs $20,000. How nice is the Diamond Club you ask? Sitting in my seat I was actually closer to the batter than the pitcher was! Below is a picture of my actual ticket:


On the way home from the game I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found six cents (all pennies) and JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, where I found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies).

Oh yeah, the food is also really good . . . and free. I ate a lot.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $302.10

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Today I found 27 cents. . . 1 quarter and 2 pennies.

All my finds were natural today, which was an added bonus since it was my birthday. I found a penny at the front door of a Wal-Mart and another penny and a quarter in the parking lot of my apartment complex (they were in different places).

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $301.92

Monday, May 1, 2006

Today I found 17 cents. . . 1 nickel and 12 pennies.

Again, my updates have been lacking but I think I’m back on track. All finds were at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $301.65