Friday, August 31, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found on the ground at a bar whose name is escaping me at the moment. I met up with Becca and some of her friends for some Happy Hour drinks and a free buffet to celebrate the long upcoming weekend. The penny was on the floor close to the free buffet.

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August Monthly Report:

This month I found 216 pennies, 19 nickels, 28 dimes, and 21 quarters. I also found a $1 Sacagawea coin. Change was found in two states; Texas and California.

Monthly Total: $12.16
Change Cycle Days: 6
Dollar Days: 2
Monthly High: $1.53 (August 26th)
Monthly Low: 1 cent (Multiple Times)
Daily Average: 40.645 ish cents

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $598.86

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Today I found 5 cents . . . all pennies.

The first three pennies were found at Hobby Airport, where I had to pick up and meet with some acquaintances who were briefly in town. The remaining two pennies were found at a Shell gas station in the parking lot. I stopped there on the way back from the airport to pick up a drink.

Totals for the day: 5 cents
Race Totals: $598.85

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Today I found 36 cents . . . 3 nickels, 2 dimes, and 1 penny.

The penny was on a sidewalk outside Minute Maid Ballpark. I heard it drop and looked around for a few minutes before I located it. The owner was long gone so it was claimed for the race.

The remaining change, 35 cents (three nickels & two dimes), was found in the coin return slots of the newly installed parking meters. I still don’t like them, but this is the second pay out in two days, so I might learn to love them.

Totals for the day: 36 cents
Race Totals: $598.80

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Today I found 93 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 3 pennies (The Splendid Change Cycle).

I found the first three pennies in the parking lot of a business I was visiting this morning. In the evening I headed out to the Astros game and while walking to the stadium I found 50 cents (two quarters) in the change return slot of a soda machine.

Recently the city of Houston has done away with a lot of the standard parking meters in the downtown area. They have replaced them with meter stations, where you pay and get a receipt that you put on your car. I dislike these meters for many reasons, but the primary ones are as follows: 1) they are more expensive than the standard meters 2) there is less opportunity for dropped change as they are all on the sidewalks and away from grass and 3) they are cropping up in areas where I used to park for free.

However, today I was a fan of these meters because I have discovered what could potentially become a lucrative pay out for me. Although the meters will not return change they will not accept payment for anytime past 6pm, which is when the meters turn off. So, if someone tries to pay a large amount of parking around 5:30pm the change will drop and return.

As I was leaving the ballpark I decided to check a few of these meters and I found the remaining 40 cents of the day (one nickel, one dime, and one quarter).

Totals for the day: 93 cents
Race Totals: $598.44

Monday, August 27, 2007

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

The first penny was found in the parking lot of my apartment complex. The remaining 11 cents (one dime & one penny) were found under a vending machine at my office.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $597.51

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Today I found $1.53 . . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 1 quarter, 3 pennies, and 1 $1 Sacagawea coin (The Paper Clip Change Cycle).

A fantastic change finding day, and I owe a lot of it to my friend Becca. In the evening we met for dinner and she mentioned that she needed to stop along the way for some paperclips. We went to Walgreens and at the base of the cash register I found the Golden Sacagawea Dollar. I have found these before, but they are rare and far between. The rest of the day’s change was found at the post office, and the car wash next to the post office.

Totals for the day: $1.53
Race Totals: $597.39

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Today I found 25 cents . . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, and 5 pennies.

The first penny was found on a sidewalk outside Minute Maid Ballpark. I found the next 23 cents (two nickels, one dime, and three pennies) at the car wash next to the post office. The final penny was found in the parking lot of my apartment complex.

Totals for the day: 25 cent
Race Totals: $595.86

Friday, August 24, 2007

Today I found 86 cents . . . 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 1 penny.

The dime was my first find of the day. I was in a line of cars leaving my office and I spotted and retrieved the dime from the ground as I waited to get onto the main road. From there I headed down to the ballpark where I promptly found a penny on the sidewalk and 50 cents (two quarters) in the coin return slot of an overpriced soda machine.

During the middle of the game I went to move my car from a far parking spot to something closer to the stadium (it's a good thing I did since the game went 15 innings and I was more than ready to go home when it ended just after midnight). While walking to my car I found another quarter in the coin return slot of a parking meter station.

Totals for the day: 86 cent
Race Totals: $595.61

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Today I found 20 cents . . . 1 dime & 10 pennies.

All the change was found at the Kwick Kar Wash, where I stopped on the way home from the Astros game this evening.

Totals for the day: 20 cent
Race Totals: $594.75

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Today I found 11 cents . . . 1 dime & 1 penny.

I found the dime by a parking meter at Minute Maid Ballpark and the penny was found inside the stadium, in the concourse.

Totals for the day: 11 cent
Race Totals: $594.55

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Today I found 93 cents . . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 1 quarter, and 33 pennies (The Fantastic Change Cycle).

I hit gold at the always-reliable Al-Gator’s Car Wash this evening. I continued to feel terrible today but I stopped there on the way to the post office and found all my change.

Totals for the day: 93 cent
Race Totals: $594.44

Monday, August 20, 2007

Today I found 52 cent . . . 2 nickels, 2 dimes, and 22 pennies.

I wasn’t feeling well today, but I did manage to get out for lunch. Along the way I stopped by Kroger, a local grocery store, to recycle some plastic bags. I hit big when I recovered 38 cents (two nickels, one dime, and 18 pennies) from the coin return slot of a change counting machine. The remaining change was found at the car wash next to the post office. I went there in the evening, after picking up some dinner, to mail some packages.

Totals for the day: 52 cent
Race Totals: $593.51

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found in the parking lot of Steve & Barry’s, a clothing store with rock bottom prices. I was there to purchase a pair of shorts and a pair of jeans, both of which I got tax free thanks to the fact that it was a tax free shopping weekend in Texas.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $592.99

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Today I found 3 cent . . . all pennies. I also found a Canadian quarter and a Mexican 20 peso coin. Sadly, the foreign coins will not count toward the daily totals.

The first penny was found in the coin return slot of a change counting machine at Vons, a local grocery store in San Diego. The final two pennies were found on an entrance ramp at Petco Ballpark, home of the San Diego Padres.

The Canadian and Mexican coins were both found in the coin return slot of the aforementioned coin counting machine. Although neither will count toward the daily totals both have already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of all non-US change finds that I make.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $592.98

Friday, August 17, 2007

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

Penny number one was found at a gift shop at the San Diego Zoo. The second penny was found outside Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. The quarter, my last find of the day, was found by a parking meter in close proximity to Petco Park (somewhere around 11th Ave and some street that I can’t remember).

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $592.95

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Today I found 16 cent . . . 1 dime & 6 pennies. Change was found in two states, Texas and California.

This afternoon I headed to the airport and a flight to San Diego, CA. I’m off to San Diego to watch the Astros play the Padres and will be back on Sunday afternoon.

At the airport in Houston I found 13 cents (one dime & three pennies) by the TSA Checkpoint. In San Diego I found another three cents at various locations around the city.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $592.68

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Today I found 2 cent . . . both pennies.

One was found in the parking lot of a business I was visiting for work and the other was found on the floor at a local convenient store.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $592.52

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Today I found 90 cent . . . 3 dimes, 2 quarters, and 10 pennies. I also found a Canadian penny, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

The change was found at several local car washes and the coin return slot of a coin counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store.

The Canadian penny, which sadly won’t count toward the daily totals, was found in the coin return slot of a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. Nevertheless, the Canadian penny will soon be deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 90 cents
Race Totals: $592.50

Monday, August 13, 2007

Today I found 57 cent . . . 3 dimes and 27 pennies.

All change was found at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash.

Totals for the day: 57 cents
Race Totals: $591.60

Sunday, August 12, 2007

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

The penny was my first find of the day and it was picked up on the floor of the Home Plate Bar and Grill, a restaurant/bar across the street from Minute Maid Ballpark. The two quarters were found at different locations under seats at the Astros game, following a come from behind win against the Brew Crew of Milwaukee.

Totals for the day: 51 cents
Race Totals: $591.03

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Today I found 3 cent . . . all pennies.

All change was found under and around a change counting machine at Randalls, a local grocery store. I had gone there to deposit some searched change at my bank and I checked the machine after I was through with my transaction. One penny was in the coin return slot and the two remaining (and very green) pennies were on the floor.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $590.52

Friday, August 10, 2007

Today I found 50 cent . . . 2 quarters.

Both quarters were found together in the stands at Minute Maid Ballpark following the Astros loss to the Brewers of Milwaukee.

Totals for the day: 50 cents
Race Totals: $590.49

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Today I found 80 cent . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 2 quarters, and 15 pennies (The Magical Change Cycle).

All change was found at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash, where I stopped at prior to taking a friends watch to have a band fitted and after dropping some checks off at the bank.

Totals for the day: 80 cents
Race Totals: $589.99

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Today I found 25 cent . . . 1 quarter.

It was found in the stands at Minute Maid Ballpark after the game. I had just enjoyed watching the Astros sweep the Chicago Cubs and was looking for ticket stubs after the conclusion of the game. I found some stubs, as well as a quarter under a chair.

Totals for the day: 25 cents
Race Totals: $589.19

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Today I found 16 cent . . . 1 nickel & 11 pennies. I also found a Canadian quarter, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

The first three cents were found at Kroger, a local grocery store. At Kroger penny number one was found under a change counting machine, penny number two was found under a self-checkout line, and penny number three was found by a customer service desk.

The remaining change, to include the Canadian quarter, was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. Sadly the Canadian quarter will not count toward the daily totals, but it has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 16 cents
Race Totals: $588.94

Monday, August 6, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found at Ci-Ci’s Pizza, where I went for lunch. The penny was on the ground under an unoccupied table.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $588.78

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Today I found 50 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 10 pennies (The Sunday Change Cycle). I also found a smushed elongated penny, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

For the second day in a row I found a penny in the coin return slot of a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. The remaining 49 cents (one nickel, one dime, one quarter, and nine pennies) were found at a no-name car wash. There was no one at the car wash this afternoon, so I took my time and double-checked the area. I’m glad that I did, because if I hadn’t I would have missed the quarter (in the bay of a car wash station), several pennies (scattered about), and the dime (stuck between a vacuum cleaner and a trashcan).

The smushed elongated penny was found at the no-name car wash. It was at the base of a pay station in a car wash bay. The penny has “Houston Zoo” on it and a picture of a Bengal Tiger. I know that it is a Bengal Tiger, as opposed to some other type of tiger, because it says so. The smushed elongated penny has already been placed into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 50 cents
Race Totals: $588.77

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Today I found 11 cents . . . all pennies.

My first two cents were found by a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. One penny was in the coin return slot and one penny was on the ground, by the base of the machine. I found another two cents at HEB, another local grocery store. Both were by a self-checkout line. My final seven cents (all pennies), including a 1945 Wheat Penny, were found on the patio at Sonic.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $588.27

Friday, August 3, 2007

Today I found $1.27 . . . 6 nickels, 3 dimes, 2 quarters, and 17 pennies (The Fabulous Change Cycle).

This morning our entire office had to gather to take a defensive driving class. It was six hours that I could have found better things to do, but I did manage to get six cents (one nickel & one penny) out of it. Both were found outside the classroom area.

On the way home I stopped for a haircut and found a dime in the parking lot of my haircut place. I also found 32 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and two pennies) at Wal-Mart, where I stopped to purchase some replacement goldfish for the ones that I had and recently died. The quarter and nickel were in the coin return slots of soda machines and the pennies were by a cash register.

In the evening I went to Food Town, a local grocery store, and found four pennies scattered about the parking lot and in the store. At the post office I found 21 cents (four nickels & one penny), all in the coin return slot of a stamp machine. My final stop of the evening was the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash, where I found 54 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and nine pennies) scattered about.

Race of the Century extends get-well wishes to loyal blog reader (and friend of co-worker Jennifer) Leslie. Apparently Leslie had some type of surgery and is at home in bed. I’m sure she will take this opportunity to catch up on old blog entries!

Totals for the day: $1.27
Race Totals: $588.16

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Today I found 2 cents . . . both pennies.

Both were found at a Mexican meat market, where I stopped for evening tacos on the way home from the post office.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $586.89

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

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

This evening I found 11 cents (one dime & one penny) in the parking lot of a Sonic. I had stopped there for dinner. On the way home I found a penny on the ground at the post office. The remaining five pennies were found scattered about at Wal-Mart.

Totals for the day: 17 cents
Race Totals: $586.87