Saturday, March 31, 2007

Today I found 33 cents . . .. 2 dimes & 13 pennies. I also found a Canadian penny and a 1985 Chuck E. Cheese token. Sadly, neither item will count toward the daily totals.

This morning my friend Becca and I went to watch the Astros play the KC Royals in the final preseason game of the year. On the way there we stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found two cents (both pennies) and at the Kwick Kar Wash and found three cents (all pennies).

As a point of interest I was able to add this autograph to my collection:


It is a baseball that I got signed by Former President George Bush, who was in attendance for today’s game. President Bush generously signed the baseball for me as he left the stadium.

In the evening Becca and I went to dinner and on the way back we stopped at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash. There I found 28 cents (two dimes & eight pennies) scattered about on the ground.

It was at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash that I found the Canadian penny and the 1985 Chuck E. Cheese token. Although neither will count towards the daily totals they have both been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

_______________________________________________

March Monthly Report:

This month I found 221 pennies, 17 nickels, 32 dimes, and 33 quarters. Change was found in Florida and Texas.

Monthly Total: $14.51
Change Cycle Days: 4
Dollar Days: 8
Monthly High: $1.31 (March 20th)
Monthly Low: 1 cent (March 22nd)
Daily Average: 46.806ish cents
Favorite Post: March 19th (when I finished my framed dollar bills)

Totals for the day: 33 cents
Race Totals: $516.11

Friday, March 30, 2007

Today I found 32 cents . . .. 1 quarter & 7 pennies.

The first two cents of the day were found at a no-name car wash. Another two cents were found at the Kwick Kar Wash and the final 27 cents (two pennies & one quarter) was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. The final penny was found at an exhibition game between the Houston Astros and the KC Royals. The penny was on the ground under some stadium seats.

Totals for the day: 32 cents
Race Totals: $515.78

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Today I found $1.04 . . .. 1 dime, 3 quarters, and 19 pennies.

Change was found at a myriad of locations in the greater Houston area this afternoon. Change finds were recorded at Sonic, the Kwick Kar Wash, JR’s Car Wash (the car wash next to my apartment complex), and several other locations that are not coming to mind at the moment.

Totals for the day: $1.04
Race Totals: $515.46

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Today I found $1.02 . . .. 4 quarters & 2 pennies.

All change was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. The four quarters were sitting atop a vacuum cleaner and the two pennies were on the ground nearby.

Totals for the day: $1.02
Race Totals: $514.42

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Today I found $1.08 . . .. 2 dimes, 3 quarters, and 13 pennies.

I had to teach a seminar this morning and wanted to get off to a good start so I stopped by Kroger, a local grocery store, to pick up a bag of candy that was then divided up and offered as rewards for participation. Walking in I spotted a quarter in the coin return slot of a soda machine and inside I found a penny in the coin return slot of a coin counting machine.

Later in the day I stopped at a tollbooth and retrieved 36 cents (one dime, one quarter, and one penny) from beside the basket. As a follow up to a post several months ago when one astute reader thought that this was stealing from the state I did eventually follow up on this. The Toll Road Authority informed me that while they would not advise me exiting my car to retrieve money (for safety reasons) the money dropped on the ground, while routinely collected by the state, is not state property. Thus, at the end of the day it is lost change and is there for the taking.

Closer to home I stopped at two familiar car washes, The Kwick Kar Wash and JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. At the former I found 39 cents (one dime, one quarter, and four pennies) and at the latter I found six cents (all pennies).

Totals for the day: $1.08
Race Totals: $513.40

Monday, March 26, 2007

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

I found the dime this afternoon while I was stopped at a tollbooth to pay a toll. The dime was on the ground and I quickly opened my car door to retrieve it. The six pennies were found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, where I stopped on the way home from work.

I leave you tonight with a change-related comic that was printed in today’s Houston Chronicle:


Totals for the day: 16 cents
Race Totals: $512.32

Sunday, March 25, 2007

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

I found my first penny this morning as I walked to the convenience store across the street to get a drink. It was sitting in the driveway of a gas station. The next find was a dine in the laundry room of the apartment complex. It was sitting under the edge of a dryer. The final penny was found at a red light that I was stopped at. I was on the way to visit with a friend when I spotted and retrieved the penny.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $512.16

Saturday, March 24, 2007

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

I found all the change at lunch, where I joined my friend Tara at The Woodlands House, a local Chinese restaurant. I spotted two pennies sitting in a bed of flowers as I walked in and upon closer inspection I found another three pennies and the dime.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $512.04

Friday, March 23, 2007

Today I found 92 cents . . .. 4 nickels, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 12 pennies (The Awesome Change Cycle). I also found a ring, which sadly will not count towards the daily totals.

My first two pennies came at CVS, a local pharmacy. I was there to pick up a belated birthday card. The first penny was found in an isle and the second was found by the front counter.

In the evening I went to purchase some dirt and potting supplies for a project this weekend. On the way to the store I stopped at a no-name car wash and found 18 cents (two nickels & eight pennies). All of the change was scattered about on the ground.

The final find of the day was at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash. I stopped there on the way to the post office. There I found 72 cents (two nickels, one dime, two quarters, and two pennies). The first quarter and the nickels were each in separate coin return slots at car wash stations. The remaining change was scattered about on the ground.

It was at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash that I found the ring. It is made of sturdy metal and has a total of seven equal sized circles on it. One circle is in the center and the six remaining circles surround the center circle. Although the ring will not count towards the daily totals it has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such finds.

Totals for the day: 92 cents
Race Totals: $511.89

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . .. a penny.

The lone penny was found under a change counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. I walked over to the store after joining my co-worker Jennifer for lunch.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $510.97

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

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

The first penny came to me from the ground of a parking lot near downtown Houston. I was getting out of my car for lunch when I spotted it on the ground. Penny number two came to me at an otherwise empty JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. The remaining 12 cents (one dime & two pennies) were found at a gas station near Katy, TX. The dime was under a shelf and one penny was in close proximity. The second penny was in the parking lot on the ground.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $510.96

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Today I found $1.31 . . .. 5 quarters & 6 pennies.

On the way to a morning appointment I was stopped at a red light and spotted a penny in the road. It was stuck in some tar, but with an assist from my trusty pocketknife I was able to pry it free before the light turned green.

On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found $1.30 (five quarters & five pennies). The pennies were scattered about on the ground and the five quarters were sitting atop a ledge in an otherwise empty car wash station.

Totals for the day: $1.31
Race Totals: $510.82

Monday, March 19, 2007

Today I found 23 cents . . .. 2 dimes & 3 pennies.

At a car wash in Pearland, TX this afternoon I found three cents (all pennies) by some vacuum cleaners. On the way home I took the toll road and at a stop I found 20 cents (two dimes) on the ground. Also, on the way home I stopped to pick up this:


It is the eight dollars (plus one that I purchased) that I sent to the living former Secretaries of the Treasury. Each secretary graciously signed the dollar that bore their facsimile signature and then mailed it back to me. I took the dollars in to get framed on Saturday and by today they were ready. I’m pleased with the way that they turned out but I must admit that I’m a bit sad since this project, which was a lot of fun, is now finished. Surely something new will strike my fancy in the next several days.

Totals for the day: 23 cents
Race Totals: $509.51

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Today I found $1.06 . . .. 4 quarters & 6 pennies. I also found a British Five Pence coin. Sadly, the British change will not count toward the daily totals.

At JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, I found 79 cents (three quarters & four pennies). The pennies were scattered about on the ground and two of the quarters were by the entrance to the car wash on the ground. The third quarter was sitting in the coin return slot of a recently vacated car wash station.

On the way home I stopped at my bank ATM and found a penny in the parking lot. It was very close to the spot where I found a penny yesterday so I’m not sure if I missed it or if it was a new penny. Either way, it has a home now.

The final stop was Kroger, a local grocery store, where I purchased raisins and cheese. I found quarter in the hopper of a change counting machine, the penny in the return slot, and the British Five Pence coin under the machine. Although the British coin will not count toward the daily total’s it has already been deposited into my recently partially emptied "Not Change Cup," keeper of interesting non-US change finds that I occasionally make.

Totals for the day: $1.06
Race Totals: $509.28

Saturday, March 17, 2007

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

The first 11 cents (one dime & one penny) were found at the base of parking meters downtown. I was there this morning to hear Hillary Clinton give a speech and then I had lunch and enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day Parade nearby. The final penny of the day was found on the ground in the parking lot of my bank. It was right there when I opened my car door.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $508.22

Friday, March 16, 2007

Today I found 50 cents . . .. 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 5 pennies.

At a no name car wash on Ella and FM 1960 I found four cents (all pennies) as I drove home from work. I also got to listen to some rap music that someone was playing while vacuuming out the interior of their car. Further down the road I stopped at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car wash, on my way to pick up from repair my not always reliable watch. At Al Gator’s I found 46 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and one penny). All were on the ground by a bank of vacuum cleaners.

Totals for the day: 50 cents
Race Totals: $508.10

Thursday, March 15, 2007

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

On the way home from work, after a quick stop at the bank, I checked in at a no name car wash along FM 1960 and found 13 cents (one dime & three pennies). The dime was in the coin return slot of a vending machine and the pennies were scattered about on the ground. The last penny was found at the post office, under an automated stamp machine.

Today I received this in the mail:


It is a dollar bill autographed and personalized by Former Secretary of the Treasury Robert E. Rubin. There are eight living former Secretaries of the Treasury and this bill is the last one that I needed to complete my collection. At some point in the near future I’ll frame all the bills that I got signed, but to recap the following Secretaries signed for me (in parenthesis the President/s that they served under:

George Shultz (Nixon), W. Michael Blumenthal (Carter), James A. Baker (Reagan), Nicholas F. Brady (Reagan/Bush, Sr.), Robert E. Rubin (Clinton), Lawrence Summers (Clinton), Paul H. O’Neill (Bush, Jr.), and John W. Snow (Bush, Jr).

I’m grateful to all of them for signing, and especially to George Shultz, who had the fastest turnaround time for any signer (a quick eight days).

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $507.60

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Today I found 27 cents . . .. 1 nickel, 2 dimes, and 2 pennies.

I found the first seven cents (one nickel & two pennies) at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to the apartment complex. The remaining 20 cents (two dimes) was found at Randalls, a local grocery store. One dime was in the coin return slot of a change counting machine and the other was on the ground under the change counting machine.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $507.46

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

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

All change was found at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex. Not feeling well, so goodnight.

Totals for the day: 4 cents
Race Totals: $507.19

Monday, March 12, 2007

Today I found 2 cents . . .. both pennies.

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

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $507.15

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Today I found 47 cents . . .. 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 7 pennies (The Chic Change Cycle).

After filling up with gas this afternoon I stopped by a no-name car wash and found 36 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and six pennies). All the change, save the quarter, was on the ground by a back bank of vacuum cleaners. The quarter was on the ground in a car wash station.

After the car wash I went to a local taco stand, which again was closed. I’m beginning to wonder if this stand is going to ever open again. However, the trip was not a total waste as I found 10 cents (a dime) near a table by said taco stand.

On the way home I stopped at Subway for a meatball sub and found a penny in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 47 cents
Race Totals: $507.13

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Today I found $1.15 . . .. 5 nickels, 3 dimes, 1 quarter, and 35 pennies (The Ostentatious Change Cycle).

The first penny of the day was found at the front door of the convenience store located across the street from my apartment and the second penny of the day was found by my mailbox. The remaining change was found at the always reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash and in the coin return slot of a change counting machine at Randalls, a local grocery store. The great thing about the Randalls change find was that the coin counting machine was broken, yet for some reason there was a ton of change sitting in the reject slot. Perhaps someone did not read the sign, which was clearly posted.

Totals for the day: $1.15
Race Totals: $506.66

Friday, March 9, 2007

Today I found 11 cents. . .. all pennies.

My first eight pennies were found at the bases of seven parking meters in the downtown area. I was there this afternoon to meet up with a friend for a very late lunch. On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found the remaining three pennies.

For some reason it seems like signed dollar bills arrive in bunches. Today I received this in the mail:


This is the penultimate signed dollar that I hope to receive. It has been autographed by former Secretary of the Treasury Dr. Lawrence Summers. Perhaps the most impressive part of the process was that Dr. Summers included a personal note, asking me if I would be willing to let him know where I got the crisp dollar bills that I sent him. He stated that he was hoping to obtain some for himself and for his family. The answer, of course, is eBay. That said I’ll be sending Dr. Summers a few additional bills as a thank you in the near future.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $505.51

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Today I found $1.08 . . .. 2 nickels, 3 dimes, 2 quarters, and 18 pennies (The Refreshing Change Cycle).

On my way home this afternoon I stopped at JR’s Car Wash and found 18 cents (one dime & eight pennies) and in the evening I stopped at the car wash next to the post office and found 32 cents (one nickel, one quarter, and three pennies). On the way home I stopped at Randalls, a local grocery store, and found the remaining 57 cents (one nickel, two dimes, one quarter, and seven pennies).

In all the excitement of the last few days I forgot to mention this:


The dollar bill has been signed by former Secretary of the Treasury Mr. W.M. Blumenthal and it arrived while I was in Florida. It is the sixth signed bill that I have received, leaving only two living former Secretaries of the Treasury that I need to complete my collection.

Totals for the day: $1.08
Race Totals: $505.40

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Today I found 6 cents . . .. all pennies.

All change was found at the car wash next to the post office. I stopped there after a doctor’s appointment and on my way to the post office.

Totals for the day: 6 cents
Race Totals: $504.32

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Today I found $1.26 . . .. 2 dimes, 4 quarters, and 6 pennies.

As I was walking to my gate at the airport in Miami, FL I spotted a penny under a vending machine selling ice cream sandwiches. Nearby an elderly guy was playing a ukulele. It was a bit strange, but I did retrieve the penny.

Back in Houston I had some time to kill at the airport as I waited for my friend Tara to pick me up. While I waited and found and returned 15 carts, which netted me a total of $3.75 in quarters. Sadly the cart return change will not count toward the daily totals, as it was not lost change.

However, I did manage to find 77 cents at the airport (three quarters & two pennies). The first quarter was in the coin return slot of a cart return stand (I didn’t have to return the cart to get it), the second quarter and both pennies were found on the ground in the baggage claim area, and the third quarter was found in the parking lot where I was searching for unreturned carts.

On the way home Tara was kind enough to stop at Sonic so I could get some food. While we waited I found 48 cents (two dimes, one quarter, and three pennies) in the parking lot and on the patio.

Totals for the day: $1.26
Race Totals: $504.26

Monday, March 5, 2007

Today I found 27 cents . . .. 2 nickels, 1 dime, and 7 pennies.

The first nickel of the day was found at Wnn Dixie, which upon closer inspection was actually a Winn Dixie with the “I” in the sign burned out. The nickel was under a change counting machine.

The remaining change was found at a Shell gas station. The majority of it was scattered about on the ground by a vacuum cleaner, but some was in the parking lot and some was in the store at the base of the front counter.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $503.00

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Today I found 24 cents . . . . 2 dimes & 4 pennies.

This afternoon I watched the New York Mets lose to the Baltimore Orioles in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Served them right since I was working on a Mets ball and they brought no one what was worth a damn to the game.

After the game I was driving back to my hotel and I stopped at a Shell gas station across from the stadium to pick up a drink. By a vacuum cleaner aside the stadium I found 23 cents (two dime & three pennies).

Later in the evening I walked across the street to eat some dinner and I found a penny by the front door to a Latin American grill. The food was excellent, as was the penny find.

Totals for the day: 24 cents
Race Totals: $502.73

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Today I found 2 cents . . . . both pennies.

Both pennies were found at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourn, FL. I watched the Baltimore Orioles play the Washington Nationals in the Spring Training home opener for the Nationals. The Nats won, but the big winner was me since I added yet another Chris autograph to my "Chris Ball," a baseball currently signed by 17 MLB players who have the honor of sharing my name.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $502.49

Friday, March 2, 2007

Today I found 52 cents . . . . 2 dimes, 1 quarter, and 7 pennies.

After taking in a day of Met's practice in Port St. Luci, FL I stopped at Albertsons, a local grocery store, for a drink. There I found 13 cents (one dime & three pennies) in and around the coin return slot of a coin counting machine.

Driving down the road I stopped at two different Hess gas stations to see if I could find any change. At the first I found one cent at the base of a vacuum cleaner. At the second I found 38 cents (one dime, one quarter, and three pennies), also at the base of a vacuum cleaner.

Totals for the day: 52 cents
Race Totals: $502.47

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Today I found 35 cents . . . . 2 nickels & 1 quarter.

The two nickels were found in the change return slot of a stamp machine at the post office in Kissimmee, FL. the quarter was found under a change counting machine at Shop N' Save, a local grocery store in St. Cloud, FL.

Totals for the day: 35 cents
Race Totals: $501.95