Thursday, July 31, 2008

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

The first was found this morning as I was getting off the T in North Station. The second, and final penny of the day, was also found at North Station. This one was at the base of a ticket machine.

Several days ago I made a massive change find in Maine. One of the non-change finds was a Maine Lottery token. A picture was requested and I gladly deliver:


The picture was actually tough to take and the detail isn't that great, but I hope it provides a flavor for the found token.

Totals for the day: 2 cents
Race Totals: $680.01

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Today I found 25 cents . . .. a quarter.

Heading back from Maine this afternoon I had to stop to pay one of the numerous tolls on I-95 and I happened to look out the window and see a quarter on the ground. I was a good 30 feet from the toll window and I’m not sure how said quarter made it onto the ground, but it was there and I got it. It counts as a New Hampshire find, as I was there at the time.

Race of the Century wishes to extend Happy Birthday wishes to Becca, a loyal reader and fantastic travel companion. Happy Birthday!

Totals for the day: 25 cents
Race Totals: $679.99

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Today I found $9.94 . . .. 7 nickels, 18 dimes, 23 quarters, 1 $1 coin, and 104 pennies (The Super Duper Change Cycle). Change was found in two states, Massachusetts and Maine. I also found a Canadian penny and a Maine Lottery scratch coin, neither of which will count towards the daily totals.

Today I had to head up to Maine for a few days of meetings. In the morning before I left took a few packages to the post office and on the way back I found six cents (all pennies) in a gutter along Tremont St.

After my meetings in Maine (I was spending the night as I had meetings the next day) I decided to go and get an oil change for my car and hit a local car wash to get my car cleaned. At the car wash I first found eight cents (all pennies) scattered about on the ground.

However, the massive find of the day, $9.66 (six nickels, 18 dimes, 23 quarters, one $1 coin, and 81 pennies) was also made at the aforementioned car wash. All the change was sitting in a plastic bag that was on the ledge in a car wash station. I actually waited around about 15 minutes as I dried and vacuumed my car to see if someone would come back looking for the change, but no one ever did, so I happily added it to my collection.

In the evening I headed out for some dinner and found nine cents along the way. Two of the pennies were on a sidewalk, one at the door of Friendly’s (a local restaurant), three at a grocery store, and three more cents were found on the way back. The evening was concluded when I found a nickel in the parking lot of my hotel.

The Canadian penny and the State of Maine lottery scratch coin were both found at the car wash where I recorded my big finds. Sadly neither will count toward the daily totals, but both have already been deposited into my “Not Change Cup,” keeper of such found items.

Totals for the day: $9.94
Race Totals: $679.74

Monday, July 28, 2008

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

Last night was a long night as I boarded the red eye to Boston from San Francisco at 11:30pm and landed in Houston at 7:30am. I had to go to work and am pleased to report that I had a very productive day thanks in part to large quantities of soda.

At the airport in Boston I found a dime on the sidewalk by the bus stop. In the evening I found a penny on the ground at Harry O’s, a local sub shop.

Totals for the day: 11 cent
Race Totals: $669.80

Sunday, Jully 27, 2008

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

It was a full day in San Francisco, California. Today Becca and I caught a Giants game at the park formerly known as Pac Bell (where I was fortunate enough to get a few Matt Cain Bobbleheads that will be making their way to eBay in the near future).

Heading to the game we took the Cal Train into the city and I found a penny on the platform. As you can bring food into the game we stopped at a Safeway, a local grocery store, next to the ballpark, to pick up a few items. In Safeway I found a dime by a change counting machine. The final find of the day, another dime, was found on a sidewalk in the Stanford campus.

Totals for the day: 21 cent
Race Totals: $669.69

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Today I found 4 cent . . . all pennies. I also found a 20 cent Euro, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

Landing in California I was getting off the plane when I spotted the 20-cent Euro sitting beside a previously vacated seat. 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.

After some sleep I woke up and had all of Saturday to enjoy in San Francisco. Driving one of Becca’s friends to a pharmacy to drop off a prescription I spotted and retrieved a penny from the side of the road at a red light. At the aforementioned pharmacy, a Walgreens to be specific, I found an additional three cents on the ground by the front counter.

Totals for the day: 4 cent
Race Totals: $669.48

Friday, July 25, 2008

Today I found 4 cent . . . all pennies.

This morning I found two cents at North Station. One penny was by a McDonalds stand and the other was by a Dunkin Donuts stand. This evening I headed to Logan Airport to catch a flight to California, to visit Becca, who is working there this summer. At the airport I found another two cents, one in the TSA Checkpoint line and the other on the happy side of the metal detectors.

Totals for the day: 4 cent
Race Totals: $669.44

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Today I found 3 cent . . . all pennies.

First penny was found in a gutter along Washington St, second penny at North Station on the T platform, and third penny by a Dunkin Donuts stand.

Totals for the day: 3 cent
Race Totals: $669.40

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found at the base of a trashcan at North Station this morning. Lots of rain today so there were not a lot of other change finding opportunities if I wanted to remain relatively dry.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $669.37

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Today I found 41 cents . . . 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 1 penny (the rarified Change Cycle).

This morning I found a nickel at the base of a tree, stuck in a metal grate that was directly beneath said tree. It is an area where people place trash for pickup, so I’m guessing that the nickel had made it into the trash pile but had not been picked up during collection earlier in the morning.

This afternoon I did a few loads of laundry and after putting my clothes in the machine I found a dime on the ground at the laundromat. While waiting for the clothes to walk I took a package to the post office and outside the post office (in some potted plants) I found and retrieved a very soiled penny. The final find of the day, the quarter, was also found at the laundromat, behind a dollar bill changer.

Totals for the day: 41 cents
Race Totals: $669.36

Monday, July 21, 2008

Today I found 20 cents . . . 2 dimes.

The first dime was found in a gutter along Shawmut Avenue this afternoon. The second dime was found about 100 feet down the road, sitting beside a parking meter that was unoccupied at the time.

Totals for the day: 20 cents
Race Totals: $668.95

Sunday, July 20, 2008

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

After a few quick stops this morning I decided to head to a local diner for some breakfast. Walking over I found a penny on the sidewalk. At the diner I found six cents (one nickel & one penny) at the base of the counter where I was sitting. The final find of the day was a single penny, which I found by a trashcan outside of CVS.

Totals for the day: 8 cents
Race Totals: $668.75

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Today I found 11 cents . . . 1 dime & 1 penny. I also found a one-cent Euro, which sadly will not count toward the daily totals.

After heading to the post office this morning I was walking over to my bank to deposit a few checks and I found a dime by the base of a car tire. Later in the afternoon I was taking the bus from the New England Medical Center stop to Union Park and I found a penny on the floor of the bus.

It was in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston that I found the once-cent Euro. It was on the ground by a group of newspaper boxes. Although the one-cent 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: 11 cents
Race Totals: $668.67

Friday, July 18, 2008

Today I found 39 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter & 4 pennies.

On the way to work this morning I found a penny by a Dunkin Donuts stand at North Station. In the afternoon I hopped on the T to go to lunch in Chinatown and found a dime on the Orange Line T by one of the doors. Later in the afternoon I found a quarter under a change counting machine at my local credit union. Heading home I found a penny on the sidewalk and then another two pennies (in close proximity to each other) on a crosswalk in The South End.

Totals for the day: 39 cents
Race Totals: $668.56

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Today I found 40 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter & 5 pennies. Change was found in two states, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

I had a meeting in Maine this morning (although I'm happy to report that I was not in this part of Maine) so I left home in the early AM and hit the road. At a tollbooth in New Hampshire I spotted and retrieved a penny from the side of the road as I waited to pay the toll.

Back in Massachusetts I stopped at a car wash along Route 1 and found 13 cents (one dime & three pennies) by various banks of vacuum cleaners.

Much closer to home I found a quarter on the sidewalk outside my apartment and then a penny on the ground at Harry O’s, a local sub shop.

Totals for the day: 40 cents
Race Totals: $668.17

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

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

The quarter was found this afternoon on the floor of the credit union at my office building. Walking home I found the first penny, on the sidewalk outside Foodies, a local urban market. The final penny of the day was on the ground, perpendicular to the counter at Harry O’s, a local sub shop.

Totals for the day: 27 cents
Race Totals: $667.77

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Today I found 40 cents . . . 1 dime, 1 quarter, and 5 pennies.

On the way to work I found two pennies in North Station. In the evening I met up with Bailey, who was in town for a conference, and we headed out for some dinner. Along the way I found a dime (train station) and a quarter (restaurant where we ate). On the way home I found the remaining three cents. Two of the three cents were at the Back Bay T stop and one of the pennies was in the gutter along Washington St.

Totals for the day: 40 cents
Race Totals: $667.50

Monday, July 14, 2008

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

The penny was found by a Dunkin Donuts stand and the dime was found by the entrance to the T at North Station. I was running for my train when I spotted the dime, so I gave it a kick to get it out from between the gates and it started to roll. I ran along for my train and picked up the dime when I caught up to it. I ended up with the dime and making my train. Good day.

Totals for the day: 11 cents
Race Totals: $667.10

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found on the sidewalk in Chinatown.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $666.99

Saturday, July 12, 2008

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

This morning I headed up to Somerville to check out a farmer’s market up there. I was not that impressed, but I did find a penny on the sidewalk that was in close proximity to a box of carrots. Heading back into Boston I found a dime near Park Street and then a penny near Downtown Crossing. The final finds of the day, two pennies, were recorded in Chinatown. The first penny was spotted in a gutter and the next penny was in the same gutter, just about 10 feet from the first.

For the past couple of weeks I've been checking out local farmer's markets. So far my favorite is the one at Haymarket right by Faniel Hall. The fruit is sub quality and the people are kind of rude, but the prices are great. Below is a picture of my purchases for the day:


Total cost? $5. Broken down that was $3 for the box of strawberries, $1 for two pineapples, and $1 for two melons.

Totals for the day: 14 cents
Race Totals: $666.98

Friday, July 11, 2008

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

The lone penny of the day, a very dirty one, was found in some dirt on the edge of a sidewalk along Massachusetts Avenue.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $666.84

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Today I found 15 cents . . . 1 nickel & 1 dime.

The dime was found by a T ticket machine at North Station and the nickel was found on the sidewalk by a parking meter.

Totals for the day: 15 cents
Race Totals: $666.83

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

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

Walking to work this morning I found a penny on the sidewalk in the South End. At lunch I hit my local credit union and after making a transaction I found a nickel in the reject slot of a change counting machine. On the way home I found three pennies; one on the sidewalk, one by a parking meter, and one as I crossed the street. In what was my last find of the day I picked up a penny on the floor at Harry O's, a local sub shop.

Several weeks ago NPR interviewed Bailey and me for a change race/finance story. Alas, I must have been fairly dull as I was cut from the story. Not making the cut I could live with, but adding insult to injury was this e-mail that I received from the producer, Sally Herships:

I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to speak with me recently. Sadly you got cut out of the piece, although your friend Bailey, is included. You won the change race though so of course you're still the champion.

Of course I’m still the champion!? Are you kidding me? Cut me if you must, but is it necessary to kick me when I'm down? However, life goes on . . . 1,242 straight days of finding change is at least something that I can hang my hat on.

Totals for the day: 10 cents
Race Totals: $666.69

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

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

This afternoon I found a penny at the base of a beverage refrigerator at my office cafeteria. Later in the day I found the quarter on the floor by a change counting machine at my local credit union. Heading home I recorded my final find of the day, 11 cents (one dime & one penny) by a pay station window at North Station.

Totals for the day: 37 cents
Race Totals: $666.59

Monday, July 7, 2008

Today I found 31 cents . . . 3 dimes & 1 penny.

This morning I found a dime by a ticket machine at North Station. Nearby I also found a penny. In the afternoon I picked up another dime by the base of a cash register in the cafeteria at work and on the way home I found my third dime of the day by a parking meter.

Totals for the day: 31 cents
Race Totals: $666.22

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Today I found 10 cents . . . a dime.

This afternoon I headed up to Cambridge to browse some used bookstores. Walking on Mt. Auburn Street I found a very dirty dime in a puddle of water.

Totals for the day: 10 cents
Race Totals: $665.91

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Today I found 1 cent . . . a penny.

It was found as I walked around Chinatown this afternoon purchasing some spices that I needed for a Thai dish that I am planning on making. The prices in Chinatown are fantastic and in the future I plan on doing a lot more shopping there.

Totals for the day: 1 cent
Race Totals: $665.81

Friday, July 4, 2008

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

My first 4th of July in Boston and it was a blast. I had the opportunity to watch the fireworks show from atop the Prudential Center, which gave me a fantastic view of the festivities. Nothing as American as watching Chinese fireworks explode over your city.

My pennies were all found on the way to the Prudential Center. Two were by a newspaper box and one was on the sidewalk.

For those not fortunate enough to catch live fireworks I leave you tonight with three pictures. . .

A bit of red, white, and blue:


Some simple white fireworks:


And what was part of the grand finale:


Enjoy, and happy 4th.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $665.80

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Today I found 29 cents . . . 1 quarter & 4 pennies.

It was penny bonanza this morning at the Back Bay T stop as I found one penny by a ticket machine and another three pennies sitting on an otherwise empty bench. In the afternoon I ate lunch over by the Prudential Center and found a quarter under a soda machine as I was getting off the T.

Totals for the day: 29 cents
Race Totals: $665.77

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Today I found 3 cents . . . all pennies.

It rained on and off most of the day so I wasn’t able to find anything on the way to work and in the evening a co-worker gave me a ride home. However, things brightened up, literally and figuratively, in the evening as I found three pennies on an evening walk to pick up some dinner. The first penny was found in the dirt at a park outside my apartment building, the second penny was found by a parking meter on Washington St, and the final penny of the day was picked up by the counter at a CVS.

Totals for the day: 3 cents
Race Totals: $665.48

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

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

It was a penny in the morning, a penny in the afternoon, and a dime in the evening. The first aforementioned penny was found on the sidewalk outside the Back Bay T station. The second penny was found on the way home by a Dunkin Donuts stand at North Station and the dime was found under some chairs outside a local laundromat.

Totals for the day: 12 cents
Race Totals: $665.45