This is a heartbreaker. I found two pennies this morning in the vicinity of Lafayette and Houston. Later in the morning, as I entered the turnstile at the 14th Street - Union Square subway station, I saw the familiar silver glint. Ah, yes, a dime. It was between the walls of the turnstile and when I bent down to get it I saw a neighboring penny, plucked it, swiped my card, turned the stile, and then spied yet another penny. This one was more difficult to retrieve however because people were following me in. I had to wait for two to go in and one to go out and then I was up to 14 damn cents and it wasn't even noon.
Here's where the heartbreak comes in. On the evening commute I spotted two *more* pennies (they do like the company of their own kind) under the bench across from me. They were pretty far back under the bench, which was loaded with folks. At 28th the folks didn't budge. At 23rd they didn't budge. It was a nail-biter to 14th. I thought that maybe at 14th Street they'd depart and I would be able to put my long foot under the bench and slide the pennies out with my sneaker and still get off the train before the doors closed. The train pulled into the 14th Street station and the guy above the pennies didn't make any motion at all like this was his stop. He was going to ride that train to Brooklyn Bridge, I could see it in his eyes. Do I go over to him, stick my foot between his legs, slide it out, and then bend down and pick up two pennies? Too weird? I've seen crazier things on the subway but still. Nope. I left them and buoyed my thoughts of despair with the idea that perhaps an MTA worker would find them while cleaning and give them a good home.
Total haul for the day = 14 cents
TOTAL to date = $3.53
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
1+1=2
9:21 a.m. 13th Street near Avenue A, one cent.
9:26 a.m. 13th Street between Blimpie and the Palladium, another cent.
Today's haul = 2 cents
TOTAL to date = $3.41
9:26 a.m. 13th Street between Blimpie and the Palladium, another cent.
Today's haul = 2 cents
TOTAL to date = $3.41
Monday, July 28, 2008
Paper Jack-Pot!
12:37 a.m. It's only a single but it's still worth a celebration. Paper finds are rare. I found a sawbuck on E 80th Street in June (before I started the blog) while walking over to the Met. And during a hard spring rain I found a double sawbuck wrapped in a Circuit City receipt on 4th Avenue, so it is possible.
This little single was hanging out under the curb on 4th Avenue near 14th Street. My guess is that it fell out of one of the many SUVs that pulled up to unload from fun weekends in the sun. The types of trips made by people who wouldn't miss a dollar. Or maybe a drunk dropped it. Who knows, who cares, now it's mine!
Update: 11:07 a.m. One penny found in front of 3 Park Avenue South.
Update: 5:41 p.m. Another cent found on the corner of Spring and Broadway.
Total haul today = $1.02
TOTAL to date = $3.38
This little single was hanging out under the curb on 4th Avenue near 14th Street. My guess is that it fell out of one of the many SUVs that pulled up to unload from fun weekends in the sun. The types of trips made by people who wouldn't miss a dollar. Or maybe a drunk dropped it. Who knows, who cares, now it's mine!
Update: 11:07 a.m. One penny found in front of 3 Park Avenue South.
Update: 5:41 p.m. Another cent found on the corner of Spring and Broadway.
Total haul today = $1.02
TOTAL to date = $3.38
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Ker-plunk.
I spent a lot of time out and about walking around town and was starting to think today would be a no money day. And then I got to the front door of my building and what was waiting for me? I'll give you a hint, it's round, it's copper and it sports a likeness of Lincoln. I would prefer a quarter, or five, but I'll take a penny over a goose egg.
Total haul for the day 1 cent.
Total to date = $2.27
Total haul for the day 1 cent.
Total to date = $2.27
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Ka-ching.
9:51 a.m. Grand Central Station Zaro's, a dime on the floor in front of the glass case of pastries.
3:47 p.m. Grand Central Station platform of Track 29, a quarter hiding among all the silver bolts holding down the rubber safety yellow at the edge of the platform.
5:17 Broadway just north of 17th Street on the east side in front of GoodBurger, a penny.
5:18 Union Square North at Broadway, ANOTHER dime near that "Gentleman Grafter" Joe Ades who sells vegetable peelers and who has appeared in Vanity Fair. He saw me bend down and get the dime and I know he wanted it but it was way too far from him to claim. It was practically in 17th Street.
Total bank-breaking haul for the day = 46 cents
TOTAL to date = $2.36
3:47 p.m. Grand Central Station platform of Track 29, a quarter hiding among all the silver bolts holding down the rubber safety yellow at the edge of the platform.
5:17 Broadway just north of 17th Street on the east side in front of GoodBurger, a penny.
5:18 Union Square North at Broadway, ANOTHER dime near that "Gentleman Grafter" Joe Ades who sells vegetable peelers and who has appeared in Vanity Fair. He saw me bend down and get the dime and I know he wanted it but it was way too far from him to claim. It was practically in 17th Street.
Total bank-breaking haul for the day = 46 cents
TOTAL to date = $2.36
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bo Derek
I found a dime coming home from Trader Joe's at rush hour. I had to put down the bags to pick it up but, hell, I'd put my bags down to pick a penny!
Total haul today = .10
TOTAL to date = $1.90
Would anyone like to make bets on when I'll $2 or $5?
Total haul today = .10
TOTAL to date = $1.90
Would anyone like to make bets on when I'll $2 or $5?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Copper Sandwich
I did some hoofing this morning and didn't see as much as a bottle cap. I was worried it would be another zero sum day. The evening commute cured that.
On Madison Avenue, halfway across 30th Street in the north crosswalk, I found a penny. No big deal, right?
Then on the ramp up the curb from the crosswalk over 29th Street, also on Madison, I saw something small and silver. Could it be? Oh, yes it could and it is - a dime.
And then on Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets on the east side of the street, another penny to complete the copper sandwich.
Total haul for the day = a promising 12 cents
TOTAL to date = a whopping $1.80
On Madison Avenue, halfway across 30th Street in the north crosswalk, I found a penny. No big deal, right?
Then on the ramp up the curb from the crosswalk over 29th Street, also on Madison, I saw something small and silver. Could it be? Oh, yes it could and it is - a dime.
And then on Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets on the east side of the street, another penny to complete the copper sandwich.
Total haul for the day = a promising 12 cents
TOTAL to date = a whopping $1.80
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
X cents
First, I found an aluminum coin that appears to be Chinese. I bet it's worth less than a cent considering that it is small, aluminum, and has a denomination of 1. I will identify and update.
Later in the morning I found a penny on 13th Street near Avenue A and then I found a penny on 10th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
Update - Stranded Cent. I found yet another copper wonder in a crack in the sidewalk in front of the Strand at 12th and Broadway. Just under the midnight wire at 11:47 p.m.
Total haul today = +.03
TOTAL to date = $1.68
Later in the morning I found a penny on 13th Street near Avenue A and then I found a penny on 10th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
Update - Stranded Cent. I found yet another copper wonder in a crack in the sidewalk in front of the Strand at 12th and Broadway. Just under the midnight wire at 11:47 p.m.
Total haul today = +.03
TOTAL to date = $1.68
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 21
ONE CENT.
Found it on University in the morning near 12th Street.
Total for the day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.66
Found it on University in the morning near 12th Street.
Total for the day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.66
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Two Copper Wheel Drive
One penny found at 6:30 by the garbage can in front of Circuit City in Union Square. Another penny found in a lonely 51st Street and Lexington Avenue subway station whose ratty old escalator appears below. Note the duct tape under the hand rail and around all the way to the baseboard.
Today's haul = .02
TOTAL to date = $1.65
Today's haul = .02
TOTAL to date = $1.65
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Four Copper Wheel Drive
Actually it was a walk but I found four pennies huddled together at the entrance of Washington Square Park at University and Wash Square Park North/Waverly. Maybe they were trying to stay warm.
I'm headed up to Times Square later so maybe I'll find a c-note or something equally exciting.
FIFTH WHEEL
11:30 After the marathon of DARK KNIGHT (why are the critics so in love with that movie?) I found another penny in the Times Square subway station.
Total haul for the day = .5
TOTAL to date = $1.63
I'm headed up to Times Square later so maybe I'll find a c-note or something equally exciting.
FIFTH WHEEL
11:30 After the marathon of DARK KNIGHT (why are the critics so in love with that movie?) I found another penny in the Times Square subway station.
Total haul for the day = .5
TOTAL to date = $1.63
Friday, July 18, 2008
Zzzzzzzzzzzz...
I'm still recovering from tallying up yesterday's haul. Nothing for today even though I did some walking in the 99F heat.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hot Damn and then some!
Finally, a quarter. 25 whole cents. I've needed this. It's been nothing or solo pennies for too long. I was just saying to myself yesterday while walking home from work, "I really need to find a quarter." Bonzai! This morning I found a quarter on the uptown platform of the 6 train's Spring Street Station.
It's about time.
Then, after the evening commute, I found three pennies near the turnstiles at the 14th Street subway station entrance near Circuit City. And a dime - get this - in the doorway of the train. I mean it was on the plate where the actual doors slide open and closed. When the doors were closed the dime rode on the *outside* of the car, until I plucked that is.
Total haul for the day = .38 (about 1/4 of the total to date!)
TOTAL to date = $1.58
Yow.
It's about time.
Then, after the evening commute, I found three pennies near the turnstiles at the 14th Street subway station entrance near Circuit City. And a dime - get this - in the doorway of the train. I mean it was on the plate where the actual doors slide open and closed. When the doors were closed the dime rode on the *outside* of the car, until I plucked that is.
Total haul for the day = .38 (about 1/4 of the total to date!)
TOTAL to date = $1.58
Yow.
July 16th - Early Morning, Real Early
At some point during the 14th and 15th innings of the marathon MLB All Star Game, I found a penny in front of Forbidden Planet at 13th Street and Broadway.
Total haul for tha day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.20
Total haul for tha day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.20
July 15th
Relief at last. I found a penny in front of Fresh on Spring Street in front of the stairs down to the subway.
Total haul for the day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.19
Total haul for the day = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.19
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Didn't Have To Leave The Building
Sometimes people leave money in the washing machines and dryers. Sometimes in the elevator. Today I found a penny on the roof patio of my building. Plucked it right out of the gravel and put it on the table. A three-year old came up to me later, picked it up and said, "I found a penny." I corrected her, "You found a penny that is MINE. I found it first."
Total haul = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.18
Total haul = .01
TOTAL to date = $1.18
Saturday, July 12, 2008
1+1+1=3
1. Found under a tree on 13th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue at 9:00 a.m.
2. Found on Madison Avenue (east-side of the street) on the sidewalk just north of 33rd Street.
3. Found on Madison Avenue (west-side of the street) on the sidewalk just south of 27th Street.
Total haul for the day = .03
TOTAL to date = $1.17
2. Found on Madison Avenue (east-side of the street) on the sidewalk just north of 33rd Street.
3. Found on Madison Avenue (west-side of the street) on the sidewalk just south of 27th Street.
Total haul for the day = .03
TOTAL to date = $1.17
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Opinionated!
I have two more cents to give thanks to the southern-most staircase headed to the uptown ACE train at the 14th Street Station. In fact, there may have been more cents in the vicinity (since the ones I found were huddled together, frequently pennies are found in packlets) but I didn't have time to look because the train was in the station. You gotta hustle when you see the express pull in.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Just My Two Cents
It was a grim start of the day when, after hoofing it all over town, I saw nothing but a single grimy cent flatlined between subway rails.
But things picked up during the evening commute when I found one penny on the east sidewalk of Broadway just before 17th Street. Phew. Probably dropped by a PetCo shopper while wrestling with his or her beast. It had been a while since finding money and I was starting to worry that I might have to report nothing. And then, walking through the Union Square Green Market that was packing it in, I saw another abandoned penny on the pavement near a vegetable seller.
Total haul for the day = my two cents
TOTAL to date = $1.14
Time to find a oner, a fin, a sawbuck, or a double sawbuck and get these totals jumping.
But things picked up during the evening commute when I found one penny on the east sidewalk of Broadway just before 17th Street. Phew. Probably dropped by a PetCo shopper while wrestling with his or her beast. It had been a while since finding money and I was starting to worry that I might have to report nothing. And then, walking through the Union Square Green Market that was packing it in, I saw another abandoned penny on the pavement near a vegetable seller.
Total haul for the day = my two cents
TOTAL to date = $1.14
Time to find a oner, a fin, a sawbuck, or a double sawbuck and get these totals jumping.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Uh, oh.
Has the gravy train ended? Did heaven go broke? I was in a few parts of town today with eyes peeled for the gratis gelt and there was none to be found.
I'll try again tomorrow. I hope I don't have to empty my own change purse on the sidewalk just to have something to day.
Haul for the day = naught
TOTAL to date = same as the last post
I'll try again tomorrow. I hope I don't have to empty my own change purse on the sidewalk just to have something to day.
Haul for the day = naught
TOTAL to date = same as the last post
Monday, July 7, 2008
July 5, 6, & 7
July 7
Back Bay Station in Boston - nothing but diesel train fumes. Back in NYC and times must be tough because Penn Station was picked clean (or I was tired). There's still one more dog walk before the day is done but it's looking like a wash so far.
Total Haul for the day = naught
July 6
Boston is a clean city. The streets are so clean they don't even have money on them. After a trip to the New England Aquarium, where I expected to find more than one wayward penny, I was surprised to come home empty handed. Didn't find a thing. Not in the long line to buy tickets, not in the parking garage, not even stuck between the brick paving. That town is so clean you could pick your teeth with it.
Total haul for the day = naught
July 5
Found a nickel wedged between the curb and the picturesque sidewalk paving stones while walking to the ferry bound for Boston.
Total haul for the day = .05
TOTAL to date = $1.12
Back Bay Station in Boston - nothing but diesel train fumes. Back in NYC and times must be tough because Penn Station was picked clean (or I was tired). There's still one more dog walk before the day is done but it's looking like a wash so far.
Total Haul for the day = naught
July 6
Boston is a clean city. The streets are so clean they don't even have money on them. After a trip to the New England Aquarium, where I expected to find more than one wayward penny, I was surprised to come home empty handed. Didn't find a thing. Not in the long line to buy tickets, not in the parking garage, not even stuck between the brick paving. That town is so clean you could pick your teeth with it.
Total haul for the day = naught
July 5
Found a nickel wedged between the curb and the picturesque sidewalk paving stones while walking to the ferry bound for Boston.
Total haul for the day = .05
TOTAL to date = $1.12
Friday, July 4, 2008
July 3 and July 4 - Still in Provincetown
JULY 4
When you think you may have finally met the day that offers no found money - head to the liquor store. I found a penny wedged between the sidewalk and the metal plate of the door (I think it's called a 'saddle'). I nearly got trampled when I stopped to pick it up because the July Fourth revellers from all over the Cape were anxious to stock up before the fireworks.
Then I found three crusty old pennies in the back yard.
Day's haul = 4 Independent cents
TOTAL to date = $1.07
JULY 3
I found a penny and a dime under someone's clothesline today. That's a good place to look for spare change - same as looking in the dryer.
Day's haul = 11 cents
TOTAL to date = $1.03
When you think you may have finally met the day that offers no found money - head to the liquor store. I found a penny wedged between the sidewalk and the metal plate of the door (I think it's called a 'saddle'). I nearly got trampled when I stopped to pick it up because the July Fourth revellers from all over the Cape were anxious to stock up before the fireworks.
Then I found three crusty old pennies in the back yard.
Day's haul = 4 Independent cents
TOTAL to date = $1.07
JULY 3
I found a penny and a dime under someone's clothesline today. That's a good place to look for spare change - same as looking in the dryer.
Day's haul = 11 cents
TOTAL to date = $1.03
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Might Have to Hire Movers
I'm in Provincetown for a week and I'm finding so much change I might have to hire movers to get it all back to New York. Yesterday, July 1st, I found a dime, a nickel, and a penny on the Lucky Star/Fung Wah bus from NYC to Boston (I guess the fare is so cheap that people don't care about dropping change). You *know* the bus cleaning crew was bummed out that I found all the change before they did. That's 16 cents right there.
Then, in P-town I found a dime on the sidewalk at Portuguese Sq around supper time and there was a nickel on the bed stand in my room at the Burch House. That's 31 cents for the July 1 total.
Then on the morning of July 2 there was a penny in the garden at Burch House and *another* nickel under the bed. Drunk tooth fairy? Who knows but I hauled in 37 cents in two days on vacation. Not enough to pay for the room but enough to fatten my greedy little piggy bank.
Total Haul for July 1 & 2 = 37 cents
TOTAL to date = 92 cents (almost a dollar!)
Then, in P-town I found a dime on the sidewalk at Portuguese Sq around supper time and there was a nickel on the bed stand in my room at the Burch House. That's 31 cents for the July 1 total.
Then on the morning of July 2 there was a penny in the garden at Burch House and *another* nickel under the bed. Drunk tooth fairy? Who knows but I hauled in 37 cents in two days on vacation. Not enough to pay for the room but enough to fatten my greedy little piggy bank.
Total Haul for July 1 & 2 = 37 cents
TOTAL to date = 92 cents (almost a dollar!)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
You Don't Have to Go Far
I found *another* dime in the cross walk, right near the curb, by Circuit City at 14th Street and 4th Avenue. 10:37 a.m.
The Streak Continues
Just when I thought a day would surely go by without any found money, I found a penny at 11:52 p.m. in Union Square Park. After being laid up for the day (and fried on valium) I figured I had no chance of finding any money - you need to be out there to find it. But I had to take my dog out for a walk - the same dog who stepped on my foot last night and hurt it so bad that I ended up hopping into the ER at 4:00 a.m. With the use of my newly acquired cane we went to the small little park at 14th and 4th Avenue where I saw a penny in the oval gravel walkway. It was nice to have a cane to uncover it before picking it up.
Total haul today = .01
TOTAL to date = .55
Total haul today = .01
TOTAL to date = .55
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
