Tuesday, October 31, 2006--Happy Halloween!

On this day of Halloween I found 9 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel & 4 pennies.

I found my first penny in the parking lot of a convenience store where I stopped to get a drink. The second and third pennies were found on the floor at Kroger, a local grocery store. The nickel and last penny were found at the car wash next to the post office.

For some reason I'm having serious issues posting pictures lately. I was able to get this picture of the old change that I found on October 28th:

But wasn't able to get the picture of the fake diamond pendant. As such I'm officially giving up on the picture of the fake diamond pendant.

Totals for the day: 9 cents
Race Totals: $449.02
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October Monthly Report:

This month I found 324 pennies, 27 nickels, 34 dimes, and 22 quarters. Change was found in two states, Texas and Massachusetts.

Monthly Total: $13.49
Change Cycle Days: 3
Dollar Days: 2
Monthly High: $1.31 (October 6th)
Monthly Low: 4 cents (October 17th)
Daily Average: 43.5ish cents

Monday, October 30, 2006

Today I found 42 cents . . . . .. 1 dimes, 1 nickel, and 7 pennies.

All change was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. I stopped there on the way home from work. I’m frustrated with planning a trip to Europe right now so I’m turning off my computer and going to bed now. Good night now.

Totals for the day: 42 cents
Race Totals: $448.93

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Today I found $1.26 . . . . .. 5 dimes, 2 quarters, and 26 pennies. I also found a fake diamond pendant. Sadly, the fake diamond pendant will not count toward the daily totals.

This evening I went grocery shopping at Food Town, a local grocery store. I found a penny on the sidewalk as I walked in, two pennies near the produce section as I walked around, and a dime by a cash register as I checked out. I decided to go over to HEB, another local grocery store, to pick up a few items that were cheaper, and I’m glad I did. I checked a change counting machine and found 82 cents (four dimes, one quarter, and 17 pennies). The vast majority of the change was in the reject slot, but one dime was on the ground and two pennies were sitting atop the machine.

On the way home I stopped by the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash and found 31 cents (one quarter & six pennies). All the change was on the ground by the massive bank of vacuum cleaners.

It was at Al Gator’s Car Wash that I found the fake diamond pendant. I’m no expert on diamonds but the clarity is certainly too great for it to be real. Additionally, it would be about a six carrot stone if it were real and it is in a very flimsy setting. Nevertheless, the fake diamond pendant has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such non-change finds.

Totals for the day: $1.26
Race Totals: $448.51

Saturday, October 28, 2006

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

For lunch I went to a local taco stand and had a huge burrito. It was delicious and while I waited I walked around the area and found 31 cents (one quarter & six pennies). All of the change was in the dirt by a picnic table and it had been there for a VERY LONG time. I wanted to post a picture of the old change but Blogger is being a pain right now so the picture will have to come later.

I found two cents at the post office and the remaining six pennies at the car wash next to the post office.

Totals for the day: 39 cents
Race Totals: $447.25

Friday, October 27, 2006

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

A local car wash in Houston had a grand opening today (even though it has been open for several months now) and they were offering free car washes and free use of the vacuum cleaners. After work I swung by and took advantage of both. There were a ton of people around so I knew there would be some good change finding opportunities. I walked around after my wash/vacuum and found all my change.

Totals for the day: 46 cents
Race Totals: $446.86

Thursday, October 27, 2006

Today I found 17 cents . . . . .. 1 dime & 7 pennies. I also found a Mexican peso. Sadly the Mexican peso will not count toward the daily totals.

I found a penny on the floor of a store I was in this afternoon. Four cents were found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. In the evening I joined my friend Robert for dinner. Before we went to eat I stopped at Kroger, a local grocery store, and found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies) under a change counting machine.

It was at Kroger where I found the Mexican peso. Although the peso will not count toward the daily totals it has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of pesos and other non-US change finds.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $446.40

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Today I found 25 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 10 pennies.

On my way to work I spotted and retrieved a dime from the side of the road while I was stopped at a red light. The remaining change was found at the Kwick Kar Wash and the Sonic, which was next door to the Kwick Kar Wash.

Totals for the day: 25 cents
Race Totals: $446.23

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Today I found 14 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel and 9 pennies. Finds were recorded in two states, Massachusetts and Texas.

At Logan airport this morning I found five cents (all pennies). Four of the pennies were found under a seat at a Jet Blue departure point and one penny was found on the ground by an airport kiosk.

Back in Texas I took a shuttle back to my car and I found six cents (one nickel & one penny) on the shuttle. Both were located under a seat that was across from where I was actually sitting.

The final three cents were found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. I stopped there on the way home from work.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $445.98

Monday, October 23, 2006

Today I found 44 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel, 2 dimes, and 19 pennies. I also found a 25 Centavos piece from Brazil. Sadly, the Brazilian currency will not count toward the daily totals.

The vast majority of today's change was found at T Stops around Boston. The T Stop that paid out the most was right by Harvard Yard. I was there several times today and found change each time. The nickel was found outside a store near Harvard Yard. One dime was found on the ground by a soda machine (it was in some dirt).

I also found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) at the Museum of Science. I had spotted the dime when I was buying tickets but couldn't retrieve it because of the number of feet around the ticket counter. Two hours later I went back and the dime, along with a penny, were both still there.

At the Museum of Science my friend Becca and I saw Body Works II. It was enjoyable, but probably not for everyone.

My final find of the day was a penny at a library on Harvard's Graduate Campus. I'm not sure the name of the library, and since the university has at least 100 libraries that probably matters. The penny was on the ground by some book shelves.

The Brazilian 25 Centavos piece was found at a T Stop near Harvard Yard. Although it will not count towards the daily totals it will be welcomed into my "Not Change Cup," keeper of such items. It will be placed there upon my return from Boston, which will be tomorrow morning.

Totals for the day: 44 cents
Race Totals: $445.84

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Today I found 22 cents . . . . .. 2 dimes & 2 pennies.

Yesterday afternoon my friend Becca and I went grocery shopping. At Foodmaster, a local grocery store, I found 21 cents (two dimes & one penny). The first dime and penny were by the side of a change counting maching and the second dime was on the ground nearby.

The final penny was found in the parking lot outside of Foodmaster. It was covered with a thin oil film, which made it glimmer in the sunlight. Despite the sun it was still a cold day in Boston.

Totals for the day: 22 cents
Race Totals: $445.40

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Today I found 35 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel, 1 quarter, and 5 pennies.

Cold. That's what Boston is today. I flew into Logan Airport this afternoon and found a penny by a kiosk as I was walking out. My first stop in Boston was the Life is Good Pumpkin Festival. The goal of the festival was to set the World Record for most lit pumpkins while raising money for charity. My friend Becca and I contributed a total of three pumpkins and we set the record, with a grand total of 30,128 pumpkins. While walking around the Boston Commons I found a total of three cents.

Walking through town I found a nickel on a sidewalk and in the late evening I recorded my final find of the day, 26 cents (one quarter & one penny) at the T Stop at Alewife. The quarter and penny were stuck between two ticket machines.

Totals for the day: 35 cents
Race Totals: $445.18

Friday, October 20, 2006

Today I found 10 cents . . . . .. 1 nickel & 5 pennies.

It was an odd day, to say the least. I was supposed to fly to Boston this evening for a weekend trip to visit my friend Becca. However, when I got to the airport the flight was A) delayed because of weather in Boston and B) oversold by quite a bit. I ended up taking the bump, made $300, changed my return date and time so I could actually spend more time in Boston, got upgraded to first class, and was out of the airport and back home several hours before the flight actually ended up taking off. All in all I got a good deal out of it.

At the airport I found nine cents (one nickel & four pennies). The first penny was found as I walked up to the TSA Checkpoint. I found the second penny by the food court, a third penny by an airport kiosk, and a fourth penny as I was walking to the airport exit. The nickel was on the ground by an ATM machine near the airport exit. In the evening I had dinner with my friend Robert at KFC and found a penny by the iced tea machine.

Totals for the day: 10 cents
Race Totals: $444.83

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Today I found 72 cents . . . . .. 2 nickels, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 27 pennies (the beloved Change Cycle). One of the pennies was a 1940 Wheat Penny. I also found a Canadian penny, a Chuck E. Cheese token, and a discontinued British Three Pence piece. Sadly, the foreign change and Chuck E. Cheese token will not count toward the daily totals.

Lots of finds at lots of places defined my day. I had finds at the Italian restaurant where I ate lunch, the post office, two local car washes, a store where I worked in the afternoon, and a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store.

The Chuck E. Cheese token, the Canadian penny, and the British Three Pence piece (not made since the early 1970’s) were found at a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. Although the three not US change finds will not count toward the daily totals they have already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

Totals for the day: 72 cents
Race Totals: $444.73

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

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

This afternoon I got a haircut and then stopped in at Randalls, a local grocery store. At Randalls I found 24 cents by the side of a change counting machine. More rain today. It’s getting old.

Totals for the day: 24 cents
Race Totals: $444.01

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Today I found 4 cents . . . . .. all pennies.

The rain is gone, at least for now. In the past 24 hours my part of Houston got seven inches of rain. Some parts got over 10 inches. There was a ton of flooding (like New Orleans Houston is below sea level, but lucky for us we are not surrounded by water). Some roads are still flooded, but it’s moving back and all is returning to normal.

This afternoon I stopped at a hamburger stand for lunch. It was great, and inexpensive, so I’ll certainly return. While I waited for my burger I scoured the parking lot of a Sonic which was next door and found four cents.

Totals for the day: 4 cents
Race Totals: $443.77

Monday, October 16, 2006

Today I found 12 cents . . . . . . 1 dime & 2 pennies.

A deluge of rain was what greeted me in the morning, kept me occupied in the afternoon, and sent me to bed. Needing change I braved a trip to the post office and found two pennies on the floor and one dime in the coin return slot of a stamp machine. I also mailed out a few items. That was it.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $443.73

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Today I found 29 cents . . . . . . 1 dime & 19 pennies. I also found a Chuck E. Cheese token and two smushed elongated pennies. Sadly the Chuck E. Cheese token and the smushed elongated pennies do not count toward the daily totals.

I found a penny at the post office and another penny on a sidewalk at a local strip center. At the Halmark Car Wash I found 12 cents (all pennies) and at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found 15 cents (one dime & five pennies).

The two smushed elongated pennies and the Chuck E. Cheese token were all found at the Hallmark Car Wash. The first smushed elongated penny reads “Animal Kingdom” but it is scratched and I can’t tell much else about it. The second smushed elongated penny reads “Air Force Academy” and has an eagle on it. Although the smushed elongated pennies and the token will not count toward the daily totals they will all be deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

Totals for the day: 29 cents
Race Totals: $443.61

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Today I found 32 cents . . . . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 17 pennies.

At Augusta Pines Golf Club I found a nickel on the ground by the 10th hole (more on the golf in a minute). At Kroger, a local grocery store, I found three cents. One penny was on the ground by a cash register and the other two were under a self-checkout machine.

In the evening I went to the post office and found a penny on the ground by a trash can. At the car wash next to the post office I found five cents (all pennies). On the way home I stopped at a no name car wash and found 18 cents (one dime & eight pennies). All of that change was scattered about on the ground.

So, I spent the good part of my day at the Administaff Small Business Classic. It’s a golf tournament that a lot of the old time PGA golfers attend. I’m not really a huge fan of golf but I thought it would be nice to go out and get a few autographs. The event did not disappoint as I ended with a ton of good signatures. On the golf side I got Craig Sadler (The Walrus), Lee Trevino, Fuzzy Zoeller, Mark McNulty, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, and Jay Haas. On the baseball player side baseball/basketball side (there were a few of those guys as well) I got Roger Clemens, Gary Carter, Johnny Bench, and Clyde Drexler. Good times and good autographs.

Totals for the day: 32 cents
Race Totals: $443.32

Friday, October 13, 2006

Today I found 83 cents . . . . . . 3 quarters & 8 pennies.

On my way home from work I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 82 cents (three quarters & seven pennies). The quarters were all sitting on a vacuum cleaner and the pennies were scattered about. In the evening I found a penny in a washing machine in the apartment complex laundry room.

Totals for the day: 83 cents
Race Totals: $443.00

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Today I found 17 cents . . . . . . 1 dime & 7 pennies.

It was another rainy day in Houston. In a gas station in Livingston, TX I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). Both were by the cash register and both had fallen into the gum display. At JR’s Car Wash, the car was next to my apartment complex, I found the remaining six cents. Luckily the rain stopped long enough for me to make the find.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $442.17

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Today I found 14 cents . . . . . . 1 dime & 4 pennies.

My co-worker Ricky and I went to Cajun Town for lunch this afternoon. By the counter I found a penny. In the evening I took some items to the post office and stopped at the car wash next door. There I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). The final two pennies were found at an ice cream store, which is also in close proximity to the aforementioned post office.

Very sad what happened to Corey Lidle today. I certainly didn’t know him but he was always nice to me when I asked him to sign my team balls when he came into town. Most recently he signed my Phillies ball when I was in Spring Training in March 2006. Who would have known that it would be the last time I would ever see him in person?

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $442.00

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Today I found 53 cents . . . . . . 4 nickels, 1 quarter, and 8 pennies.

I didn’t have to work today and neither did my neighbor Robert. In the afternoon we headed out to a Mexican Restaurant in Tomball for lunch. It was pouring rain and I figured that it wasn’t going to be a good day for outdoor change finds. After lunch I went to Kroger, a local grocery store (which was right next to the Mexican restaurant). I checked a change counting machine and found nothing. However, when I stuck my hand under the machine, in search of some fallen coins, I found 52 cents (four nickels, one quarter, and seven pennies). A little boy who was shopping with his mother saw the find and remarked, “Look, Mommy, he found change.”

In the evening I went to the local convenience store to pick up a drink and I found a penny on the floor. As I predicted, it was not a good day for outdoor change finds, but luckily indoor finds were in abundance.

Totals for the day: 53 cents
Race Totals: $441.86

Monday, October 9, 2006

Today I found 87 cents . . . . . . 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 2 pennies.

My mini streak of finding nickels ended at five days, but since it was a holiday and I didn’t have to work I have no complaints. I went to the gas station this evening to fill up my car and I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). The penny was on the floor by the front door when I walked in and I spotted the dime on the sidewalk when I walked out. The remaining change, 76 cents (three quarters & one penny) was found at a no-name car wash. The penny was on the ground, two quarters were stacked atop a vacuum cleaner, and the third quarter was on the ground in the bay of a car wash station.

Totals for the day: 87 cents
Race Totals: $441.33

Sunday, October 8, 2006

Today I found 67 cents . . . . . .1 nickel, 1 dime, 2 quarters, and 2 pennies (the beloved Change Cycle).

This evening Bailey called me to talk him through part of a drive to Iowa. I figured that was kind of non-productive on my part so I decided to go on a little change run while talking to him. My first stop was Kroger, a local grocery store, where I found six cents (one nickel & one penny) under a change counting machine. I also purchased some bagels. Next stop was a no-name car wash where I found 51 cents (two quarters & one penny). The penny was on the ground and the two quarters were stacked in a car wash station.

My final stop was KFC were I picked up some dinner. I went through the drive-thru to check for change and kept my car a good distance from the window so I could see if there was any change on the ground. The guy at the window commented that I was kind of far away and I explained that I would come to him, getting out of my car to hand him the money. He was so impressed that he decided to give me a free small drink. As he poured my Mountain Dew I helped myself to a dime that was under the window.

Totals for the day: 67 cents
Race Totals: $440.46

Saturday, October 7, 2006

Today I found 20 cents . . . . . .1 nickel, 1 dime, and 5 pennies.

On my way to a farmer’s market this morning I stopped at a McDonalds, that was attached to a Chevron gas station, for a drink and some quick breakfast. As I was ordering my food at McDonalds I heard the familiar sound of change dropping. The gentleman who dropped his change ended up trying to pay for his entire meal with change and he didn’t have enough. I pointed out the change that he had dropped, to which he replied, “Man, I’m not poor. I’m not picking up change.” He then walked away without his change and without his food. I walked away with the 11 cents (one dime & one penny).

At the Chevron I went to purchase a drink and I found three cents by the base of the cash register. Walking out I found another penny on the ground by the front door. My final find of the day was a nickel that I found on the ground by the soda machine at our apartment complex pool.

Totals for the day: 20 cents
Race Totals: $439.79

Friday, October 6, 2006

Today I found $1.31 . . . . . .1 nickel, 5 quarters, and 1 penny.

On my way home from work I stopped at a no name car wash and found 51 cents (two quarters & one penny). The quarters were atop a vacuum cleaner and the penny was on the ground. At Randalls, a local grocery store, I found a nickel in the coin return slot of a soda machine. My final find was 75 cents (three quarters) which I found in the laundry room of my apartment complex. All the quarters were sitting atop a washing machine.

Totals for the day: $1.31
Race Totals: $439.59

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Today I found 89 cents . . . . . .3 nickels, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 39 pennies.

Today is a special day, my 600th straight day of finding change. Special thanks go out to Harvard University and my friend Becca who graciously did the complex calculations to determine this exact date.

My first find was a nickel, which I picked up off the floor in a store where I was working. The remaining change was found at the always reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash. The vast majority of the change was sitting I a pile atop a vacuum cleaner stand.

Totals for the day: 89 cent
Race Totals: $438.28

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Today I found 73 cents . . . . . .3 nickels, 5 dimes, and 8 pennies.

On my way into work this morning I stopped at a gas station to pick up a drink and I found a nickel at the base of the front counter. When I got home this morning I parked and opened my car door and found 63 cents (one nickel, five dimes, and eight pennies). There was some broken glass on the ground and all the change. It looks like someone had change in a glass cup that dropped and they chose to abandon it all, but one can never be too sure.

So this evening I turned on ESPN and expected to see a baseball game but all I got was a long rain delay and then a postponed Yankee v. Tigers game. I know this is incongruous, but it made me so happy to see the disappointed faces of all the little kids in the stands that were not going to get to see the Yankees play the game. I grew up an Orioles fan and the memory of some punk kid reaching over and catching a ball (which was ruled a homerun) is still very fresh in my memory. Sure, the kids in the stands might not have even been born when that happened, but it was still nice to see some irritable looks in NY.

Totals for the day: 73 cent
Race Totals: $437.39

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

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

At lunch this afternoon I found two cents by the counter of the BBQ stand that I ate at. I also found a single penny in the parking lot of the business where I spent most of my day. On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies) and I found another single penny on the floor of my apartment complex laundry room.

Totals for the day: 16 cent
Race Totals: $436.66

Monday, October 2, 2006

Today I found 25 cents . . . . . .1 nickel, 1 dime, and 19 pennies.

A trifecta of car washes resulted in all of my finds.

Totals for the day: 25 cent
Race Totals: $436.50

Sunday, October 1, 2006

Today I found 72 cents . . . . . .1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 32 pennies. The regal Change Cycle.

Walking to the Texans game I found a penny in the parking lot of a Sam’s Club that I cut through. On the way back from the game I found another three pennies. On the way home I stopped at a no-name car wash and found another two cents.

In the evening I went to Bubbles Car Wash, another car wash next to the post office that recently opened, and I found 37 cents (one quarter & 12 pennies). On the way home I stopped at the always reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash and found 29 cents (one nickel, one dime, and 14 pennies).

Totals for the day: 72 cent
Race Totals: $436.25