Friday, November 30, 2007

Today I found 31 cents . . . 2 dimes & 11 pennies.

All of my change was found at a Sonic. Becca and I stopped there on the way home from a delicious pizza dinner. The only reason for the stop was to find some change. Lucky for me the Sonic was in a giving mood.

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November Monthly Report:

This month I found 193 pennies, 15 nickels, 16 dimes, and 17 quarters.

Monthly Total: $8.53
Change Cycle Days: 3
Dollar Days: 3
Monthly High: $2.78 (November 12th)
Monthly Low: 1 cent (Multiple Times)
Daily Average: 28.433 ish cents

Totals for the day: 31 cents
Race Totals: $628.52

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found outside a convenience store in Huntsville, TX. Said penny was sitting in the parking lot, in close proximity to a space that I had parked in.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $629.21

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Today I found 5 cents . . . all pennies.

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

Totals for the day: 5 cents
Race Totals: $629.20

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found in the parking lot of my office.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $629.15

Monday, November 26, 2007

Today I found 15 cents . . . 2 nickels & 5 pennies. I also found a bus token and an unknown 10-cent coin. Sadly, the token and unknown coin will not count toward the daily totals.

At the bank this afternoon I found two pennies in the coin return slot of a change counting machine. Later in the day I found my remaining change, 13 cents (two nickels and three pennies) at the car wash next to the post office.

The unknown 10-cent coin was found atop the change counting machine at my bank. The bus token was found at the car wash next to the post office. Sadly, neither coin will count toward the daily totals. However, both have already been placed in my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $628.14

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Today I found 5 cents . . . all pennies.

This afternoon I picked up Becca at the airport and we then headed to Fiesta, a local grocery store, to pick up a few items for dinner. At Fiesta I found a penny on the ground, in close proximity to the front door. On the way home I stopped at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found the remaining four cents.

Totals for the day: 5 cents
Race Totals: $627.99

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Today I found 8 cents . . . all pennies.

The first penny was found atop a change counting machine at one of my local banks. It was badly beaten up and was clearly a reject that someone had abandoned.

The final seven cents (all pennies) were found at a Sonic where I stopped for lunch. Four of the pennies were found on the patio and three of them were found in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 8 cents
Race Totals: $627.94

Friday, November 23, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found outside the local branch of my bank in the parking lot.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $627.86

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Today I found 27 cents . . . 2 nickels & 17 pennies. I also found a Chuck E. Cheese token, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

I woke up at 5am this morning to take a co-worker’s wife to the airport. Since I had to be up that early anyway I decided to check two of my favorite car washes, the Kwick Kar Wash and JR’s Car Wash (the car wash next to my apartment complex). I found a total of 27 cents (two nickels & 17 pennies), all of my change for the day.

The Chuck E. Cheese token, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals, was found at the Kwick Kar Wash. Although the token will not count toward the daily totals it has already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $627.85

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

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

In a 12th hour find I checked in at JR’s Car Wash, the car wash next to my apartment complex, and found all of my daily change.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $627.58

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

For the second day in a row I found all of my change at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $627.47

Monday, November 19, 2007

Today I found 9 cents . . . all pennies.

All change was found at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash. I stopped there before heading to the post office to mail some eBay items.

Totals for the day: 9 cents
Race Totals: $627.44

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Today I found 6 cents . . . 1 nickel & 1 penny.

As Becca was stopped at a stoplight this morning I spotted and retrieved a penny from the side of the road. Later in the day, walking back from the Texans game, I spotted and retrieved a nickel from the parking lot of a McDonalds.

Totals for the day: 6 cents
Race Totals: $627.35

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Today I found 21 cents . . . 2 dimes & 1 penny.

The first dime was found outside a breakfast restaurant in Tomball, TX. It was found by an outside window near a very crowded sidewalk. The sidewalk was crowded due to a town parade.

The remaining 11 cents (one dime & one penny) were found in the evening at Fiesta, a local grocery store. I was there to pick up a few last minute items for a tailgate party that I’ll be throwing tomorrow before the Texans v. Saints game.

Totals for the day: 21 cents
Race Totals: $627.29

Friday, November 16, 2007

Today I found 12 cents . . . 1 dime & 2 pennies. I also found a two-cent Euro, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

All change was at Kroger, a local grocery store. I stopped there in the evening with Becca after we had enjoyed a late dinner.

The two-cent Euro was also found at Kroger. It was under a change counting machine. Although the Euro will not count toward the daily totals it has already been deposited into my "Not Change Cup," keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $627.08

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Today I found 9 cents . . . all pennies.

All change was found at a Sonic in Huntsville, TX. I stopped there for a very late lunch this afternoon after a solid day of work. All pennies were found in the parking lot and patio area.

Although it hasn’t been much of a topic of discussion as of late I continue to search for pennies and nickels to complete my coin books. To recap I get boxes of pennies from my local bank, search for ones that I need, and return the remainder. This evening as I searched I pulled out a coin that I had never seen before. It looks somewhat Arabic, but I really don’t know. This is a picture of one side of the coin:


And this is the picture of the other:


If anyone has any insight as to what kind of coin this is it would be greatly appreciated.

Totals for the day: 9 cents
Race Totals: $626.96

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Today I found 50 cents . . . 2 nickels, 1 dime, and 30 pennies.

The first 40 cents of the day (one dime and 30 pennies) were found at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash. The remaining 10 cents (two nickels) were found in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at the post office.

Totals for the day: 50 cents
Race Totals: $626.87

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

My lone penny was found outside the Hard Rock Café in downtown Houston. Becca and I went there for dinner after hearing Ken Burns speak. Burns was in town to discuss his latest documentary, The War. Following the discussion Mr. Burns signed his book, and graciously signed a baseball for me as well.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $626.37

Monday, November 12, 2007

Today I found $2.78 . . . 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 10 quarters, and 3 pennies (The Royal Change Cycle).

Not having to work today I had the opportunity to get quite a few things done around my apartment. In the afternoon I joined my friend John for lunch and then proceeded to a nearby car wash. For once I was not going to look for change, but to use the vacuums to clean out the inside of my car.

Of course I did do some change searching and found all of the totals for the day. The majority of the change was scattered about on the ground, but the 10 quarters were found in a purple Royal Crown bag that had been discarded and was sitting right next to a trashcan.

Totals for the day: $2.78
Race Totals: $626.36

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Today I found 32 cents . . . 2 nickels, 2 dimes, and 2 pennies.

The first penny was found at a gas station that I stopped at this morning for some gas and a car wash. It was on the ground by the front counter. My next find was at Kroger, where I found 20 cents (two dimes). The first dime was in the coin return slot of a change counting machine and the second dime was on the ground at the base of a soda machine. The final 11 cents (two nickels & one penny) was found by a drive-thru window at Whataburger, a local fast food restaurant.

I was up much earlier this morning than I care to admit. Still, the reason was good. Becca and I headed to the Medical Center area of town to check out the Crown Plaza Hotel:


At exactly 7:10am the building was imploded, to make room for another hospital branch. The implosion was quite impressive, although in this picture you only see the first part of the implosion:


In a matter of seconds there was nothing but smoke:


And once that settled it was apparent that the implosion worked and the building was long gone:


Good times!

Totals for the day: 32 cents
Race Totals: $623.58

Saturday, November 10, 2007

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

The first two pennies were found on the grounds of the George Bush Library in College Station, TX. I was there this morning as there was a grand rededication of the library and I was hoping for some good autographs. I did manage to get RC Slocum (former football coach at Texas A&M), Jeb Bush (former governor of Florida/brother of current president George Bush), and Jim Nance (of CBS Sports).

The third penny was found at a gas station that I stopped at on the way back from College Station, TX. Penny number four was found at a Sonic, where I stopped for lunch.

The dime was found in the evening by a checkout line at Kroger, a local grocery store. Becca and I had stopped there this evening to pick up a few food items.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $623.26

Friday, November 9, 2007

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

It was my 1,000th straight day of finding change, but it was a bit pedestrian. 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: $623.12

Thursday, November 8, 2007 (The 1,000th Post)

Today I found $1.29 . . . 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 3 quarters, and 19 pennies (The Lights Out Change Cycle).

All change, save for 50 cents (two quarters) was found at the car wash next to the post office. For the second day in a row I pulled 50 cents (two quarters) out of the change return slot of a stamp machine at my local post office.

In happy news today marks my 1,000th post, and 999th consecutive day of finding change. When I started this race I had no idea that I would have ever get to such a point. With a bit of luck tomorrow will mark my 1,000th straight day of finding change!

It was a sad day in the baseball world for me as the Astros traded Brad Lidge to the Philadelphia Phillies. Over the past several years I had the opportunity to get to know Brad fairly well, so the trade hurt on a personal level.

On a baseball level the Astros could have gotten much more value had they traded him several years ago. With a change of scenery I predict that Lidge will regain his old form (at least once he gets out of Philly, because that isn’t the change of scenery that he needs). However, pitching is the Astros problem, and they have made things worse, not better. There had better be some additional moves coming, because if not it’s going to be another long season.

Totals for the day: $1.29
Race Totals: $623.09

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Today I found $1.35 . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 4 quarters, and 20 pennies (The Great Change Cycle).

It only took two stops for me to record all of my finds for the day. The first was at the always-reliable Al Gator’s Car Wash where I found 85 cents (one nickel, one dime, two quarters, and 20 pennies). All the change was scattered about, save the two quarters and a small number of the pennies that I found sitting atop a ledge in a car wash station. The remaining 50 cents (two quarters) was found in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at my post office.

Totals for the day: $1.35
Race Totals: $621.80

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

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

The first penny was found by the front store of a bookstore where I heard Carl Bernstein (of Watergate) speak on his new book. Following the event Mr. Bernstein was kind enough to sign a baseball and a few books for me. The remaining nine cents (one nickel & four pennies) were found in the coin return slot of a stamp machine at my local post office.

Totals for the day: 10 cents
Race Totals: $620.45

Monday, November 5, 2007

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

All change was found in a coin counting machine at Kroger, a local grocery store. I walked over after a delicious lunch at Rockeys, an area sub shop that serves authentic East Coast pizza and Phili Cheese Steaks.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $620.35

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Today I found 4 cents . . . all pennies.

I picked up the three pennies by the front banks of the vacuum cleaners at JR’s Car Wash. The back banks and bays were full of cars, so they had to remain unsearched. The stop was made on the way home from attending my first ever musical, Avenue Q.

Totals for the day: 4 cents
Race Totals: $620.32

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Today I found 13 cents . . . 1 nickel and 8 pennies.

The first 12 cents (one nickel & seven pennies) of the day was found at The Woodlands House, a local Chinese restaurant. I went there this afternoon with Becca and Tara for lunch. As we were leaving Tara reminded me that several months ago I had found quite a bit of change in some dirt by the front door. I checked there again and more change was there for the taking.

In the evening Becca and I headed to Sonic for a late dinner and I found one final penny on the ground in a parking space next to my car.

Totals for the day: 13 cents
Race Totals: $620.28

Friday, November 2, 2007

Today I found 2 cents . . . both pennies.

I found the first penny on the ground at a gas station in Spring, TX early this morning. The second penny came on the floor of another penny, much later in the evening.

This evening Becca and I want to Beaumont, TX to watch a charity tennis event. The tennis was long, but I walked away with autographs from Pete Sampres, John Lucas (NBA player and former NCAA Tennis Champ), and Stone Phillips (NBC Dateline Commentator).

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $620.15

Thursday, November 1, 2007

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

The dime was found on the floor of CVS, a local pharmacy. My co-worker Jennifer and I stopped there this morning to purchase half-priced Halloween candy. The next two pennies were found on the ground at a red light. Thanks to the light being red I was able to retrieve said pennies and return to my car before the light changed. The remaining two pennies were also found while stopped at another red light, in similar circumstances. Sufficed to say, my co-worker Jennifer, who was with me both times, was not impressed with my cat like reflexes.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $620.13