Wednesday, February 28, 2007

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

Penny number one of the day was found at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, home of the Atlanta Braves Spring Training games. I found it by the autograph area, right after I had Andru Jones sign my baseball.

The remaining 17 cents (one dime & one penny) were found at Krazy Jay's Car Wash, in Kissimmiee, FL. All were found by a bank of vacuum cleaners.

______________________

February Monthly Report:

This month I found 321 pennies, 16 nickels, 27 dimes, and 27 quarters. Change was found in Texas and Florida.

Monthly Total: $13.46
Change Cycle Days: 5
Dollar Days: 3
Monthly High: $1.73 (February 23rd)
Monthly Low: 2 cents (February 1st)
Daily Average: 48.07ish cents
Favorite Post: February 24th when I broke the $500 mark.

Totals for the day: 18 cents
Race Totals: $501.60

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

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

The first penny was found early this morning at the airport in Houston. I found it at the TSA Checkpoint, before I went through the metal detector. I placed the penny in my shoe to be x-rayed and retrieved it after my shoes had been checked.

When I landed in Miami I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) at their airport. Both were on the ground and I picked them up as I walked to baggage claim. The final five cents (all pennies) came at a Hess gas station. Two cents were in the parking lot and the remaining three were on the ground by a vacuum cleaner.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $501.42

Monday, February 26, 2007

Today I found 61 cents . . . 2 quarters & 11 pennies.

It was a busy day so I stopped at McDonalds for lunch and found a penny sitting atop an otherwise empty table. In the evening I went to dinner with my friend Tara and on the way home we stopped at two car washes. At the first car wash I found 54 cents (two quarters & four pennies) and at the other car wash I found six cents (all pennies).

This evening when I checked my mail this was waiting for me:


It is a dollar bill signed by former Secretary of Treasury John Snow. Enclosed was a note from his secretary apologizing for Mr. Snow taking so long to sign (it wasn’t even that long, just under a month). Even more odd is the fact that these are not the actual bills that I sent him. I figure he must have a signed stack ready for requests and just keep the dollars that people sent him. Still, I checked out the signature and it looks to be authentic so I will happily add it to my growing collection.

___________________________

In Race of the Century news I will be in Florida on vacation next week. I’m not sure what type of Internet access I will have access to, but I’m hoping to post at least once or twice while I’m gone. Everything will be back to normal come Tuesday, March 6th.

Totals for the day: 61 cents
Race Totals: $501.25

Sunday, February 25, 2007

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

This afternoon I found a quarter under the table in the laundry room of my apartment complex. Putting the laundry in the dryer I found another penny on the floor. A bit later in the day I found a penny in the parking lot of my apartment complex.

In a bit of post $500 record keeping I’m adding a total of eight cents to the daily totals. This is to account for a miscalculation where I shorted myself eight cents on December 31, 2005.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $500.64

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Today I found 43 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 28 pennies. The 14th penny of the day, a shiny 2004D, vaulted me to the $500 mark in found change!

After my trip to the post office last night I stopped at the car wash next door and found five cents (all pennies). It was past midnight so the change counted towards today’s totals. This morning I went to get a haircut and stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, on the way back. There I found six cents (all pennies).

This evening I had to go to the post office again. I decided do a rare second trip to JR’s and it paid off. There I found 17 cents (one nickel & 12 pennies). The majority of the pennies, including the one that put me over the $500 mark, were lying in a pile surrounded by discarded Cheetos.

After a quick stop at the local convenience store, where I found 14 cents (one dime & four pennies). I made it to the post office. On the way home I stopped at Walgreens for a pack of envelopes and found one penny by the front door on the way in.

For those that might be wondering, this is what over $500 in change (which weighs 76 pounds) looks like:


________________________________

Congratulations to Race of the Century reader Brian for winning the “Guess When I Hit $500 In Found Change Contest” contest. Brian correctly predicted the exact date that this would happen. For his efforts Brian will be awarded some various trinkets selected from the “Not Change Cup,” keeper of various assorted non-US change finds that I have made during this change journey.

Totals for the day: 43 cents
Race Totals: $500.29

Friday, February 23, 2007

Today I found $1.73 . . . 3 nickels, 5 dimes, 3 quarters, and 33 pennies (The Close to $500 Change Cycle).

The day started out slow, but I did manage to find seven cents (all pennies) in and around a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. I went there after lunch, with my co-worker Jennifer, in hopes of finding some change. While I scooped up pennies Jennifer looked for flowers for her grandmother, who had a birthday today.

On the way home from work I stopped an a no-name car wash along FM 1960 and hit the jackpot, 83 cents (one nickel, four dimes, one quarter, and 13 pennies). The quarter was under a soda vending machine and the majority of the pennies were sitting in an oily pile.

Taking some advice from Brian I did decide to check a Sonic, where I found 14 cents (one dime & four pennies) and the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash, where I found 12 cents (two nickels & two pennies). No bias towards Brian’s prediction, which is for tomorrow, but I was on a roll and wanted to hit some usual spots since I was on a roll.

The final stop, and big hit for the day, was JR’s Car Wash, where I found 57 cents (two quarters & seven pennies). One quarter was on the ground in a car wash station, the second quarter was in the coin return slot of an adjacent car wash station, and the pennies were scattered about on the ground.

In the evening, shortly after midnight, I made a post office run and did manage to find some additional change. I won’t spoil the surprise, and even after the change I’m not at $500, but I predict big things for tomorrow!

Totals for the day: $1.73
Race Totals: $499.86

Thursday, February 22, 2007

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

All change was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, in an 11th hour coup. Sadly, I spent most of the evening working on work work. Never a good way to spend the evening.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $498.13

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Today I found 60 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 20 pennies (the Post President’s Day Change Cycle). I also received yet another signed dollar bill in the mail. I also found a necklace, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

Driving along a road that runs parallel to Beltway 8 I found 25 cents (one quarter) while stopped at a red light. I retrieved it just as the light turned green. Later in the day I found 35 cents (one nickel, one dime, and 20 pennies) at a no-name car wash in Wallaceville, TX.

It was also at the no-name car wash that I found this necklace:


Although it will not count towards the daily totals it has already been deposited into the “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

When I checked my mail this evening I had received yet another signed dollar bill, this one from former Secretary of the Treasury Paul H. O’Neill:


Secretary O’Neill was kind enough to sign it directly above his facsimile signature and I am most grateful.

Finally, special thanks to loyal reader LP in Boston. In real life LP is a top notch accountant who had nothing better to do with her free time (i.e. time at work while the boss was out of town) than to create a fancy Excel spreadsheet and verify the accuracy of my change totals. Change totals are now officially certified as we move ever so closer to the $500 mark.

Totals for the day: 60 cents
Race Totals: $497.96

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Today I found 53 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 18 pennies.

This morning I found a penny in the parking lot of a business where I had an appointment. Later in the day, the first time driving to lunch and the second time driving home, I found and retrieved pennies from the roadside while I was stopped at red lights. Closer to home I found 21 cents (one dime & 11 pennies) at Sonic. The final find of the day was 29 cents (one quarter & four pennies) at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

When I got home this evening I had this waiting for me in my mailbox:


It is a Series 1988A dollar bill autographed by Former Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady. The bill will join autographed bills that I have already received from James Baker and George P. Shultz.

Totals for the day: 53 cents
Race Totals: $497.36

Monday, February 19, 2007

Today I found 33 cents . . . 1 nickel and 28 pennies.

At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found 29 cents (one nickel & 24 pennies). The vast majority of the change was found sitting in a pile atop the ledge of a station that sold soap and car wash products. The remaining four cents (all pennies) was found at the Kwick Kar Wash.

Totals for the day: 33 cents
Race Totals: $496.83

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Today I found 70 cents . . . 1 nickel, 2 quarters, and 15 pennies. One of the quarters was a 1952 silver quarter. I also found a really cool wooden bench, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

This evening I had to go to the ATM to withdraw some money for the bank. After that I went over to JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. At JR’s I found 43 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and 13 pennies). One of the quarters was a 1952 quarter, that is made of pure silver:


Also at JR’s I found a very cool bench that was sitting by a dumpster. The bench is L shaped and made of solid wood. It has already been placed on my balcony, for future sitting enjoyment:


On the way home I tried to find a taco stand that was open. The taco stand was closed but I did find 27 cents (one quarter & two pennies) on the ground near the stand.

Totals for the day: 70 cents
Race Totals: $496.50

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Today I found 54 cents . . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes, and 19 pennies.

This morning I did some grocery shopping at Fiesta, a local grocery store, and I found a penny on the ground by the front door. After the trip to Fiesta my friend Becca and I went to play mini golf. My golf skills were unmatched and I was victorious. Taking my victory lap around the mini golf place I also managed to find 10 cents (one nickel & five pennies).

On the way home we stopped at Brewsters for ice cream and I found one penny on the ground by the drive thru window. The final two stops of the day were both grocery stores, Randalls and HEB. At Randalls I found 31 cents (two dimes & 11 pennies) in and around a change counting machine. At HEB I found 11 cents (one penny & one dime). The penny was on the ground inside the store and the dime was on the ground in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 54 cents
Race Totals: $495.80

Friday, February 16, 2007

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

All change was found at a local car wash. Good night.

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $495.26

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Today I found 51 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 11 pennies (The JR’s Change Cycle).

All of my change came at JR’s Car Wash. However, not all of it came at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment. You see, there are several JR’s in the Houston area. My first find was 30 cents (one nickel & one quarter) at the JR’s next to my apartment complex. The remaining change, 21 cents (one dime & 11 pennies) was found at JR’s Car Wash in The Woodlands, TX. I was up that way in the evening to visit with a friend.

Totals for the day: 51 cents
Race Totals: $494.98

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Today I found 90 cents . . . 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 5 pennies.

All of my change was found at Kroger, a local grocery store. The first penny was in the coin return slot of a change counting machine. The remaining change was found in the coin return slot of an unoccupied cash register. Kroger has a system where change is automatically returned to customers, and said customers frequently forget to pick up their change. I was fortunate enough to be there when one such instance occurred.

Totals for the day: 90 cents
Race Totals: $494.47

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Today I found 28 cents . . . 2 dimes & 8 pennies.

Happy Anniversary to Me! Today is the two-year anniversary of Race of the Century, as well as Bailey’s Change Race blog. In anniversary news of the day I found seven cents at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment, and 21 cents (two dimes & one penny) at the post office. The post office change was found under a stamp machine.

Totals for the day: 28 cents
Race Totals: $493.57

Monday, February 12, 2007

Today I found 17 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, and 2 pennies.

All change was found at a no-name car wash along FM 1960. It was starting to rain so I didn’t search it as well as I might have given more favorable weather conditions.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $493.29

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Today I found 13 cents . . . all pennies.

After another long day at the ballpark I’m ready to sleep for a few days. Driving home I stopped at Sonic for dinner and found all my change for the day. Most of the pennies were found in the patio area and the few remaining ones were found along the sidewalk and in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $493.12

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Today I found 59 cents . . . 1 nickel, 2 quarters, and 4 pennies. I also found a token with “No Cash Value.” Sadly, the token will not count toward the daily totals.

Nothing is more relaxing than your alarm going off at 4:30am on a Saturday morning. Sadly, it was not an accident. This morning the Houston Astros had their annual Fan Fest, an event where idiot fans (such as myself) show up at the ballpark at ridiculously early hours of the morning for a chance at autographs. I rolled in at 6am and stood in the Craig Biggio line. There were already about 290 people in front of me, but I was fortunate enough to get the autograph. I also added four other players to the 2007 Team Ball that I started a few weeks ago.

On the way home from the ballpark I stopped at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash and found 52 cents (two quarters & two pennies). I also stopped at Randalls, a local grocery store, and found two cents on the ground by a change counting machine. My final stop was at the post office, where I found a nickel on the ground by the front door.

It was at Randalls where I found the token with “No Cash Value.” It was on the floor by the aforementioned change counting machine. Although the token will not count toward the daily totals it has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such items.

Totals for the day: 59 cents
Race Totals: $492.99

Friday, February 9, 2007

Today I found 22 cents . . . 1 dime & 12 pennies.

On the way home from work I stopped at the Kwick Kar Wash and found 10 cents (all pennies). At a no-name gas station this evening I found 12 cents (one dime & two pennies). The dime was on the ground by my gas pump and the two pennies were on the sidewalk leading to the door.

Thanks to everyone for entering the “Guess When I Hit $500 In Found Change Contest” contest. Seven entries are recorded and are on the books. Dates range from February 17 – March 6th. Good luck to everyone and start thinking what each of you will do with your fabulous prizes, awarded from the “Not Change Cup.”

Totals for the day: 22 cents
Race Totals: $492.40

Thursday, February 8, 2007 (LAST CHANCE FOR GUESSES)

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

Last chance to get your entries in for the “Guess When I Hit $500 In Found Change Contest” contest. The deadline has been extended to 12 am Friday, February 9th (EST). For a list of guesses already made see February 1st. Remember, the winner will receive fabulous prizes from the “Not Change Cup.”

On my way home from work, after a stop at a bank, I swung into a gas station to get a drink. At the front of the station was a rack of candy and gum and dropped down by some gum was a quarter and a penny. The clerk gave me a strange look as I fumbled around to retrieve the change, but such is life in the world of change finding.

Finally, Special Happy Birthday Wishes are extended to loyal reader Rachel, who turned a few years older than my total for the day (another nickel and two pennies and I would have been right on target).

Totals for the day: 26 cents
Race Totals: $492.18

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

All change was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $491.92

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Today I found $1.61 . . . 2 dimes, 5 quarters, and 16 pennies.

After dining at one of my favorite sub shops I walked across the parking lot to Kroger, a local grocery store, and found 10 cents (one dime) at the base of a change counting machine. Later in the day I was driving by the always reliable Al Gators Car Wash and I swung in and found 19 cents (one dime & nine pennies). I also had to go to the post office but was ready to get home so I almost decided to skip the car wash next to the post office. I’m glad I didn’t. There I found $1.42 (one dime, five quarters, and seven pennies). Four of the quarters were in the change return slot at a car wash station and the remaining change was scattered about on the ground.

Totals for the day: $1.61
Race Totals: $491.89

Monday, February 5, 2007

Today I found $1.43 . . . 3 nickels, 3 dimes, 3 quarters, and 23 pennies (The Groovy Change Cycle).

On my way home from work I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found 11 cents (one dime & one penny). Later in the evening I took a trip to the post office, first stopping at the car wash next to the post office. At the car wash I found 97 cents (one nickel, one dime, three quarters, and seven pennies). The quarters were sitting atop a ledge in a car wash station and the rest of the change was scattered about on the ground. The nickel was a particularly good find, as it was sitting in its side against a vacuum. Now, here is something interesting. When I got home I accidentally dropped the nickel on the ground and guess what? It landed on its edge against my desk. Odd.

At the post office I found five cents (a nickel). It was on the ground (not on its edge) by a coin return slot of a stamp machine. On the way home I stopped at Randalls, a local grocery store, and found 30 cents (one nickel, one dime, and 15 pennies) in the coin return slot of a chance counting machine.

With all the excitement of yesterday I forgot to mention the bucket of Chicken McNuggets. In the Houston area, as with some areas around the US, McDonalds sells a bucket of 50 chicken McNuggets for $7.99. Now, McNuggets are kind of nasty, but the price is right and it’s Super Bowl tradition to buy them. Sadly, Bailey learned the hard way that this offer is not available in the St. Louis area.

Totals for the day: $1.43
Race Totals: $490.28

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Today I found 8 cents . . . 1 nickel & 3 pennies.

All change was found at a no-name car wash that is also home of a great taco stand. No one was at the car wash and the taco stand was closed for the day so I had my run of the place. All the change was found in the dirt behind the vacuum cleaner station.

Totals for the day: 8 cents
Race Totals: $488.85

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Today I found 66 cents . . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 16 pennies (The Weekend Change Cycle). I also received an autographed dollar in the mail today. The dollar will not count toward the daily totals.

At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found 16 cents (one dime & six pennies). At my local bank I found a nickel sitting atop the ledge of an ATM. I’m not sure why someone would leave that there, but they did and I was grateful for it. I found my remaining change, 45 cents (one dime, one quarter, and 10 pennies) at the car wash next to the post office.

This afternoon I received this dollar bill in the mail:


It was returned to me from former Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz, who graciously signed it for me. Even though it doesn’t count toward the daily totals it makes an excellent addition to my autograph collection, joining the dollar bill that James A. Baker previously signed for me.

Totals for the day: 66 cents
Race Totals: $488.77

Friday, February 2, 2007

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

I found the first penny of the day in the parking lot a restaurant in Livingston, TX. For lunch I had a chicken fried steak that was probably bigger than my head. Of what I could eat it was delicious. Pennies two and three came to me at Randalls, a local grocery store. One was at the base of a change counting machine and the other was on the ground by a checkout line.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $488.11

Thursday, February 1, 2006 (CONTEST TIME)

Today I found 2 cents . . . both pennies.

My first penny was found along Interstate 45. I was on a side road at a stoplight when I spotted it. The guy behind me gave me a friendly wave as I picked it up. I was back in the car and ready to go when the light turned green. The second penny was in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at the local post office. I mailed out a few eBay items this evening after joining my friend Tara for dinner.

With a new month it seems likely that I will be breaking the $500 mark in the not too distant future. Taking a page from Brian I’m going to hold a contest for anyone interested in guessing the date. Post your best guess in the comment section and see how close you are. Winner will receive some fabulous prizes from the “Not Change Cup,” which holds unique items of the non-US change variety that I have found over the past few years. Deadline for entry is one week from tonight. First come, first served on the dates.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $488.08