Sunday, April 30, 2006

Today I found $1.96 cents . . . 6 nickels, 4 dimes, 4 quarters, and 26 pennies (the 300 Club Cycle). With my finds I topped $300 in found change.

Like Babe Ruth I pointed and called my shot yesterday. I delivered on the promise of topping $300 in a big way. The first find of the day, three pennies, came at a no name car wash. I also found a dime at another no name car wash that was nearby. I joined Bailey for lunch today and found a penny by the cash register. To be fair this was at best a jump penny, as we both spotted it at almost the exact same time. However, today I was just a bit faster on the draw (I wanted it more) so the penny was mine.

On the way home from lunch I stopped at Kroger, a local grocery store, and found 22 cents (one nickel & 17 pennies) in the coin return slot of a change counting machine. The big score of the day was at Ale Gator’s Car Wash where I found $1.54 (four nickels, three dimes, four quarters, and four pennies). The quarters were stacked neatly in a car wash station and the rest of the change was scattered about. At the post office this evening I found an nickel in the coin return slot of a stamp machine and a penny on the floor by the same machine.

Totals for the day: $1.96
Race Totals: $301.48

___________________________________

April Monthly Report:

This month I found 307 pennies, 21 nickels, 31 dimes, and 22 quarters.

Monthly Total: $12.72
Change Cycle Days: 4
Dollar Days: 3
Monthly High: $2.52 (April 16th)
Monthly Low: 1 cent (April 10th)
Daily Average: 42.4 cents
George Bush Autographed Baseballs Obtained: 2

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Today I found 2 cents . . . all pennies.

The first penny was found in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at the post office. The second and final penny was found near the track at Klein High School, where I went to check out the work out facilities.

With the $300 mark so near I feel that I owe it to myself to buckle down and do some serious change searching tomorrow. It was a slow month change wise, but with any luck I’ll end on a hign note and leave the $200’s behind.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $299.52

Friday, April 28, 2006

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

On my way home from work I spotted and retrieved a scratched dime from the center of the road (I was at a stoplight and had just pulled up when I spotted the dime). A bit further down the road I spotted and retrieved two pennies from the road (again, I was at a stoplight). The final penny of the day was found in a change return slot of a stamp machine at the post office.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $299.50

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Today I found 26 cents . . . 2 dimes & 6 pennies.

All change was found at area car washes.

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $299.37

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Today I found 46 cents . . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes, and 11 pennies. I also got former president George Bush to sign another baseball for me. Sadly, the second baseball, much like the first, does not count toward the daily totals.

On my way home from yesterday’s marathon of a baseball game I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 28 cents (two dimes & eight pennies). On my way to work this morning I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found three pennies.

This afternoon I took a wrong turn and ended up on a toll road. As I stopped to pay the toll I found 25 cents on the ground (two dimes & one nickel). It was of little comfort since the toll was $1.25.

At the Astros game this evening I saw former president George Bush and asked him for an autograph as he was leaving. He did not sign the ball in the center (one the sweet spot) but autographed it on the side. However, instead of getting a short autograph I got the full name, so I was happy with that.

On the Dodgers front I got several, including JD Drew. This was the first time in three years that JD Drew signed for me. Three years prior I had asked him for an autograph as he was leaving the park. It was bad timing I guess, as his wife (who was walking behind him and who I did not initially see) went off on me. She called me a few four letter words (the first time that had ever happened) and told me to leave him alone. From that point on he never signed for me, at least until this evening.

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $299.11

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Today I found 26 cents . . . 1 quarter & 1 penny.

On my way into the Astros game this evening I found a penny by a Pepsi machine. Little did I know I was going to be in the stadium for a 4 hour and 48 minute 14 inning marathon. In an 11th hour coup (actually a 12th inning coup) I went to go get a drink of water and I found a quarter under a seat. I’m tired now. Good night.

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $298.65

Monday, April 24, 2006

Today I found 39 cents . . . 2 dimes & 19 pennies.

At the Astros game this evening I found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies) under some seats after the game. The rest of the change was picked up at the Kwick Kar Wash.

Jeff Kent and the LA Dodgers returned to Houston this evening. Many people have many opinions about Kent, but I love the guy. Apparently he is OK with me as well, because I asked him to sign my team ball and he came over right away. It was a good day for Astros autographs as well. I added Lance “Twinkie” Berkman, Morgan “Casper” Ensberg, and Brad “AI” Lidge to my team picture.

Sorry for the delays in posting the past few days. The Blog website and I seem to be having issues with posting. Hopefully it’s fixed now.

Totals for the day: 39 cents
Race Totals: $298.39

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Today I found 14 cents . . . 1 dime & 4 pennies. I also got Olympic Gold Medalist Chad Hendricks to sign a baseball for me. Sadly, the baseball does not count toward the daily totals.

All the change was found at the base of parking meters in the downtown area by the ballpark.

The ceremonial first pitch of today’s game was thrown out by Chad Hendricks, who won a gold, silver, and bronze metals in the Winter Olympics this year. As he came off the field (after bouncing the pitch) he graciously signed a ball for me. Luckily his signature was better than his throwing!

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $298.00

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Today I found 22 cents . . . 1 dime & 12 pennies. One of the pennies was a 1939 Wheat Back Model.

The first penny, the 1939 Wheat Penny, was found under a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. The remaining change (one dime & 11 pennies) was found at the Kwick Kar Wash, on my way back from the Astros game.

Totals for the day: 22 cents
Race Totals: $297.86

Friday, April 21, 2006

Today I found 9 cents . . . 1 nickel & 4 pennies. I also got Hall of Fame member Lou Brock to sign a baseball for me.

After the Astros game this evening I found a nickel in the stands under a chair. It was minted in 1941, making it one of the older nickels I have ever found.

On the way home I stopped at Shell to get a drink and I found one penny by the cash register. At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found three cents despite an unusually large number of people washing their cars at 11pm.

Apparently there is some baseball exhibit in town for the next two days that the MLB Hall of Fame has interest in. Hall of Fame members Lou Brock and Juan Marashal (The Dominican Dandy) were at the game to throw out the first pitch. Several years ago I got Mr. Marashal to sign a baseball for me, so I set my sites on Mr. Brock. As he came off the field I asked him for an autograph, which he gave me. Sadly, the 10-year old kid behind me was rejected. As many autographs as I lose to kids I certainly didn’t feel bad about it, since the kid probably didn’t even know what position Mr. Brock played back in the day.

Totals for the day: 9 cents
Race Totals: $297.64

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Today I found $1.03 . . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 8 pennies (the Thursday cycle). I also found a 70-cent stamp, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

This evening at Kroger, a local grocery store, I found a dime by a checkout line. Before stopping at the post office I checked a nearby car wash and found three cents. At Brusters Ice Cream I found another nine cents (one nickel & four pennies). It was my first ice cream find of the race.

The final stop on the way home was at Ale Gators Car Wash, where I found 81 cents (one nickel, three quarters, and one penny). Two of the quarters were on the ground and the other quarter and a penny were on a ledge in a car wash station.

It was at the post office that I found the 70-cent stamp. It was on the ground near a counter and I just thought it was piece of trash. Often when I mail things in the evening I try to pick up little pieces of trash and dispose of them properly. As I reached down I realized that my trash was actually a valid 70-cent stamp. This is a rare not change find that will not be deposited into my “Not Change Cup.” Instead said stamp shall be used in a future mailing.

Totals for the day: $1.03
Race Totals: $297.55

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

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

All finds were at the Kwick Kar Wash, where I stopped prior to the Astros game this evening. They lost, 7-1 despite a very nice pitching performance by Andy Pettitte.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $296.52

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Today I found 28 cents . . . 2 dimes & 8 pennies. I also got a former President of the United States to autograph a baseball for me. Sadly, the autograph does not count toward the daily totals.

I started to grip a bit today since I didn’t have any change when I went to the Astros game. I figured I would be safe since Roy Oswalt, the Astros ace and a super fast pitcher, was no the mound. Sadly, Roy did not have his A game and was out in the 7th with an 11-2 lead. The bullpen yacked away run after run, and the Astros won a “close one” 13-12.

On the way home from the game I stopped at Shell for a drink and found a penny by the counter. I also stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 27 cents (two dimes & seven pennies).

Yesterday at the Astros game I saw former President George Bush in attendance. I positioned myself for an autograph, but he left a different way and I missed him. Tonight he was back again, so this time I repositioned myself and was successful. Mr. Bush was in a rush, but he did take time to sign one autograph, for me. I got him on a baseball and he graciously signed on the sweet spot. Autographs have been slow this year, so I was pleased to add him to the daily autograph totals!

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $296.38

Monday, April 17, 2006

Today I found 46 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 quarter, and 16 pennies.

On my way to work this morning I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 15 cents (one nickel & 10 pennies). Much later in the day I found 25 cents (a quarter) under some chairs after the Astros game. On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found six cents (all pennies).

Totals for the day: 46 cents
Race Totals: $296.10

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Today I found $2.52 . . . 2 nickels, 4 dimes, 7 quarters, and 27 pennies (the Easter Change Cycle). I also found a British penny, which sadly does not count toward the daily totals.

This morning my friend Robert came over and told me that I should have been awake earlier. Not a good way to start my morning when being woken up at 11am. Sadly, Robert was correct. Walking over to my apartment he found a plastic Easter egg with $1.41 in change. Not to be outdone I went over to the area where he found the egg and promptly found one of my own, albeit with less change: 43 cents (two nickels, two dimes, and 13 pennies).

In the evening I went to recycle some newspapers and return some library books. I also went to JR’s Car Wash and found $1.51 (six quarters & one penny). The six quarters were atop a vacuum cleaner. I also found the British penny at this location. Although not counting towards the daily totals it has been deposited with great care into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

At another local car wash I found 24 cents (one dime & 14 pennies). I also found another dime in the change return slot of a Pepsi machine that was located nearby. All in all it was a good Easter!

Totals for the day: $2.52
Race Totals: $295.64

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Today I found 40 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 quarter, and 10 pennies.

At the post office I found a penny by the front doors on my way in. I also stopped at a nearby car wash and found 27 cents (one quarter & two pennies) by a bank of vacuum cleaners. I stopped at Sonic for lunch and found nine cents (one nickel & four pennies). Three of the pennies were in the parking area and the last penny and nickel were in the patio area. The final find of the day, three pennies, was at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 40 cents
Race Totals: $293.12

Friday, April 14, 2006

Today I found 12 cents . . . all pennies.

I found 11 cents at a no name car wash that I drove by and decided to stop at. I had never seen this car wash before, so it was a nice surprise. The final penny was in the parking lot of my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $292.72

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Today I found 81 cents . . . 1 nickel, 4 dimes, 1 quarter, and 11 pennies (the great change cycle).

On the way home from work this afternoon I checked in at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 15 cents (one dime & five pennies) and at nearby JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found 39 cents (one nickel, three dimes, and four pennies). I almost missed two of the dimes, which I didn’t see till I was about to leave.

I joined Bailey for dinner this evening and on the way home I decided to make it a trifecta of car washes. At a car wash off Ella Rd. I found 27 cents (one quarter & two pennies).

Totals for the day: 81 cents
Race Totals: $292.60

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Today I found 50 cents . . . 2 nickels, 2 dimes, and 20 pennies.

Getting back into the swing of change finding was not as hard as I though it would be. Keeping track of all the finds was a bit difficult, but that is to be expected.

I remember that I found 30 cents (two dimes & 10 pennies) at a Sonic where I had lunch. I found a nickel in a Chick-Fil-A parking lot (the guy behind me didn’t seem at all annoyed when I stopped my car to retrieve it) and the other nickel and some pennies were found at an area car wash. Change was also found in the gas station parking lot (Citgo) where I stopped for gas and JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

What’s the deal with the weather in San Francisco? Two rained out baseball games in two days. I needed a break from GOING to baseball games, not watching them on TV.

Totals for the day: 50 cents
Race Totals: $291.79

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

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

All change was found inside a change-sorting machine at Randalls, a local grocery store. The machine was broken and I had to use my fingers to try to pry loose the change that had not fallen into the slot. I spent a lot more time than I should have trying to accomplish this.

Sorry about the late and short posts lately. I was not prepared for the amazing amount of work that has come up as a result of the baseball season starting. The Astros had some amazing give aways to start the season, and as such I have been having to devote a lot of time to baseball and eBay, where I sell the amazing give aways. When not at actual work it seems that almost all my free time this past week has been spent at games and doing eBay related things. I think I’m back in the groove now, and the Astros are out of town till next Monday, so things should get back to normal, I hope.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $291.29

Monday, April 10, 2006

Today I found 1 cents . . . a penny.

It was my lowest find since the race started. The lone Lincoln was found in the parking lot of my apartment complex. Life is busy right now.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $291.11

Sunday, April 9, 2006

Today I found 31 cents . . . 1 quarter, and 6 pennies.

All change was found at the ballpark and at the Kwick Kar Wash, where I stopped on the way home from the game.

Totals for the day: 31 cents
Race Totals: $291.10

Saturday, April 8, 2006

Today I found 37 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 2 pennies.

I went to Kroger, a local grocery store, this morning to purchase some ground beef. While paying for my food I found a penny under a self-checkout line.

This evening at the Astros game I found a quarter on the stairway by the Astros dugout. It was before the game had started and I was in the area to get some autographs (mission accomplished—I added four Astros to my team ball). After the game I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) under various seats as I looked for ticket stubs from the game (Craig Biggio recorded his 2,800 career hit, so said ticket stubs will be listed soon on eBay).

Totals for the day: 37 cents
Race Totals: $290.79

Friday, April 7, 2006

Today I found 18 cents . . . all pennies.

All the pennies were found at the Kwick Kar Wash, where I stopped to look for some change on the way home after the Astros game.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $290.42

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Today I found 9 cents . . . all pennies. I also found a 10 cent Euro and 5 tokens. Sadly, the foreign coinage and the tokens do not count toward the daily totals.

At the bank this morning I found two pennies in the parking lot. I found another two pennies in the parking lot of my office building and four additional cents at Greenspoint Mall where I had lunch. On the way home I stopped at Kroger, a local grocery store, to pick up some copper polish. There I found one penny under a change counting machine.

It was at Kroger where I found the five tokens and the 10-cent Euro. The tokens were on top of the change counting machine and the Euro was under it (along with the aforementioned penny). Although the tokens and Euro do not count toward the daily totals they will most certainly be deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” receptacle for such noteworthy items.

Totals for the day: 9 cents
Race Totals: $290.24

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Today I found 18 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 3 pennies.

The nickel, dime, and a penny were found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. I found the last two pennies under a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $290.15

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Today I found 11 cents . . . 1 nickel and 6 pennies.

I found the first three pennies at the post office this morning. I had to mail some packages before I went to work. The next two pennies were found by the counter at Chevron, where I went to purchase a drink this afternoon.

At the Home Plate Bar and Grill I found the nickel, a 2006 model. I was there with Bailey to get something to eat (which seemed like a good idea since the Astros were down big and we both decided that we could miss a few innings to get some cheep food). On the way home I stopped at the Kwick Kar wash and found a single penny.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $289.97

Monday, April 3, 2006

Today I found 58 cents . . . 1 nickel, 2 quarters, and 3 pennies.

It was a day of all natural finds. At Sonic this afternoon, where I joined Bailey for lunch, I found 32 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and two pennies). All the change was in the parking lot, except for one lone penny that was in some mud by the patio.

Walking to my car from the Astros game this evening I spotted a quarter at the base of a parking meter. This was a good find, it was after 10pm and I only spotted it because of the gleam on the quarter from a nearby street lamp. I also found a penny at the post office under a stamp machine. The post office was my final stop for the evening, and the penny was my final find.

The Astros won this evening, 1-0. That really good guy from Florida no-hit us for five innings but we unloaded on him later. Er, not exactly. He got pulled and the replacement uncorked a wild pitch that scored the games only run. At least we were not the Phillies. I saw the score on that game!

Totals for the day: 58 cents
Race Totals: $289.86

Sunday, April 2, 2006

Today I found 24 cents . . . 1 dime and 14 pennies.

Taking trash to the dumpster this afternoon I spotted and retrieved two pennies. At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found six cents. I also found 16 cents (one dime & six pennies) in and around a change counting machine at Randalls, a local grocery store.

An avid blog reader / change searcher asked me a question this evening and I’m not sure how to answer it. I’ll throw it to the audience for opinions. Said reader found a penny on the way to a wedding. Once at the wedding she discovered that the bride did not have a penny in her shoes (apparently the custom in the area for luck). Said reader gave the penny to the bride. The question is, does the penny count toward the daily totals since it was given away. Normally I would say no, however, perhaps there is a Wedding Clause that could apply. Thoughts?

Totals for the day: 24 cents
Race Totals: $289.28

Saturday, April 1, 2006

Today I found 28 cents . . . all pennies. I also found a token from Chuck E. Cheese, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

Lots of pennies, all over the place. That was my day. The token was found at an area car wash. Although it has no place in the totals it has happily been added to the "Not Change Cup," keeper of such items.

The Astros also won their exhibition game this evening. Monday it counts.

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $289.04