FMJ - Day 94

A 1986 quarter was found on Day 94 while having lunch at Topper's Pizza on Erringer Rd. in Simi Valley. (I put the mintage year in this post as it reminded of my High School graduation and having my last slice of Pizza ever at Romano's Pizza which was located across the road from my high school in Gaithersburg, MD. Romano's closed a little while after graduation. Why? I will never know. They sold a large slice of pizza for $1.00 and fountain sodas for 55 cents... Must have been my lunch 3 days a week in high school.) "The times of Life never come back. Enjoy em' while you can."

Turned in $2.68 worth of recycling on Day 94.

FMJ - Total Found: $481.25
Since Blog Inception: $21.65
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $431.24

FMJ - Day 93

Another day, another penny... Day 93 brought us just a single cent. It was found in the parking lot of the Mountain Gate Plaza where Maya and I went to the Panda Buffet for lunch.

FMJ - Total Found: $481.00
Since Blog Inception: $21.40
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $428.56

FMJ - Day 92

We found a single penny on Day 92. It was retrieved from the floor of our Ralph's Market at the Wood Ranch Shopping Center.

We also return $6.20 worth of CRV Bottles and Cans to recycling.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.99
Since Blog Inception: $21.39
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $428.56

FMJ - Day 91

Not a find was made on Day 91.

FMJ - Days 89 & 90

Saturday our trip to the Westfield Fashion Square Mall yielded a total of 23 cents -- 1 dime, 1 nickel, and 8 pennies.

Sunday was a day for house hunting... hence, no shopping really except for a stop at Island's Restaurant for lunch... they have the best french fries and give a special take-home box for them that's designed for reheating... neat. I had a bowl of their bottomless chicken tortilla soup... quite filling as I only partaked in a single bowl. My daughter had a Birds of Paradise chicken sandwich, my wife -- a veggie burger and my son ate his standard -- chicken fingers... I swear that boy is really half chicken nuggets and half cheese quesadilla. BTW, this past week seemed like price reduction week for houses in Simi Valley -- many houses had 10K-20K reductions -- There are now over 900 houses offered for sale here... one house we're considering dropped its price by $50,000 this week alone. The house originally was offered at $814,950... now, it's $699,950. Still, the house does need some repairs and remodeling to update it for our taste... it does have a large 14,000 sq. ft. lot... I've been thinking about buying it and adding a pool & 1 bedroom cabana house on the sloped backyard hill... maybe terrace it with a patio and retaining wall. The house backs to a golf course in Indian Hills Ranch. My wife thinks it's a dog... I see its potential. The sellers of the house are going to loose their deposit on their new house if they don't find a buyer by July 18th. They need to put this into escrow. Oh, well...

We also return $5.92 worth of CRV bottles and cans to the recycling center.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.98
Since Blog Inception: $21.38
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $422.36

Westfield Fashion Square Mall

Yesterday, we stopped at the Westfield Fashion Square Mall in Sherman Oaks, CA on our way to Cerritos to pick up my daughter who spent the last few days with her grand-aunts. She had a great time helping her aunty in her Jewel Art bead Shop... she's a real sales girl now. Anyway, the Fashion Square Mall was an excelent place for change hunting... We found at least 8 pennies, a nickel and a dime... but, I left the change in the car... and haven't gotten up yet to retrieve it... I'll update later. The best thing about the mall is that there is a 4 level Macy's and a Bloomingdale's there. The floors are a brown stone inset inside a bordering white marble tile... good for hiding dropped coins. Lots of overhangs and bump-outs on the interior store windows which is also good for hiding the coins as they roll away from the dropper. Good food court... if your hungry.

I think I'll suggest shopping there more often... My son was kept very busy playing our change hunting spy game.

FMJ - Day 88

27 cents found on Day 88 - 2 dimes, a nickel, 2 pennies. Ajay takes credit for the first find - one dime - found at Jack in the Box at Cochran & Madera in the morning. Ah, J-Box... Bon Apetite! Next find was a penny and a nickel which were found while walking Biscuit in the afternoon. Later, we found another dime at the Regal Theaters on Tapo Canyon Rd. --- I went to see DaVinci Code. Only got to see the first hour of the film as I got a call from Ajay's school saying he needed to be picked up... seems he's had forgotten about making it to the bathroom before going out to play (oops... I mean... poops!) I took a rain-check on the film and skadattled! Poor kid! Five year olds are so much fun... So, far... I've got say... Davinci Code's a winner! Our last find was a penny at Topper's Pizza -- Excellent pizza and salad bar!

FMJ - Total Found: $480.75
Since Blog Inception: $21.15
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 87

A single penny was found on Day 87. We found it while shopping at the 99 Cent Only store on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.48
Since Blog Inception: $20.88
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 86

We found three cents on Day 86. First penny find was made while walking Biscuit in the morning. The next penny find was made at Jack in the Box at about 6:30pm where I stopped for a much needed large diet coke.... I was parched! In the evening, we played tennis at the Wood Ranch Park courts... Some of the guys there hadn't yet seeen how well my wife plays... she really impressed them... now, they say she's the best ladies player among the ladies here in Simi Valley... WOW. After tennis, we had a late dinner at Taco Bell on L.A. Ave. where I found our last penny.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.47
Since Blog Inception: $20.87
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 85

We found 11 cents on Day 84 in the form of a dime and a penny. First find was the penny. It laid near the tennis court bench on the first court at Rancho Simi Park. Maya had an early tennis lesson with Dad... she's starting to come along... maybe by summer's end, she'll be really crackin' the balls. The dime was found leaving Don Cuco's Mexican restaurant on Tapo Canyon St. in Simi Valley. Maya, my lady and I had a very filling lunch there... Good Chips and Salsa!

FMJ - Total Found: $480.44
Since Blog Inception: $20.84
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 84

Maya and I took the day off and went to Universal Studios for the afternoon. We had a great Daddy-Daughter day. Total found at the theme park - 14 cents - a dime and four pennies.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.33
Since Blog Inception: $20.73
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Days 82 and 83 (Corrected)

No finds were made on Day 82 which was Saturday.

Twelve cents found on Day 82 in the form of a dime and two pennies. All coins were found at the Third Street Promendade shops in Santa Monica, CA. My wife on the hunt for the "perfect" skirt...

FMJ - Total Found: $480.19
Since Blog Inception: $20.59
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 81

We found a total of 9 cents on Day 81 - 1 nickel, 4 pennies. All coins were found while shopping at the Sycamore Village Center on Cochran St. in Simi Valley.

Recycling Update: we turned in our water bottles for $5.36 in return deposits.

FMJ - Total Found: $480.07
Since Blog Inception: $20.47
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $416.44

FMJ - Day 80

Total of 13 cents found on Day 80 - 1 dime & 3 pennies. All coins were found at the Alliance Gas Station on L.A. Ave. by the vacuums. $1.99 for a car wash with 8 gallon fill-up. Car looks better... and our net worth improved.

FMJ - Total Found: $479.98
Since Blog Inception: $20.38
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $411.08

BIG BUCK DAY! FMJ - Day 79

On the morning of Day 79, your's truly found a neatly folded One dollar Bill in the Rancho Simi Park tennis court parking lot. Its resting spot was right next to my car when I returned from back-board practice. That's all to report.

BTW, you wouldn't believe how radiant my wife looked upon returning from her most recent business trip... she's lost several pounds and now fits into her svelt, swanky clothes... You Go Girl! I wish I had a camera for the moment she appeared from deplaning the flight from Dallas-Ft. Worth last night. Absolutely Exquisite! Welcome home... my love.

FMJ - Total Found: $479.85
Since Blog Inception: $20.25
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $411.08

FMJ - Day 78

Just two pennies found on Day 78. On the bottle and can return front, we turned-in $12.44 worth.

FMJ - Total Found: $478.85
Since Blog Inception: $19.25
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $411.08

FMJ - Day 77

Total found on Day 77 - 12 cents - 1 dime & 2 pennies. I also retrieved an interesting 1966 Cuarto Balboa coin from Panama... it was found while walking along First Street in the morning. The dime and a single penny were found upon exiting the McDonald's on Yosemite Ave. -- a brief stop along our trip to Cerritos in the afternoon. The other penny was found in the Burger King on L.A. where I had breakfast while waiting for the passenger rear tire to be repaired on our Ford Explorer. Turns out the tire is not repairable as it was punctured in the sidewall. Strange. Cost for a new Michelin to match the others $198.64... OUCH!

FMJ - Total Found: $478.83
Since Blog Inception: $19.23
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 76

No Finds to report for Day 76. We were visiting Santa Barbara for the day. Beautiful beaches and cliffs. The pier is quite a treat. I highly recommend Longboard's Restaurant on the pier for it's views, great food and atmosphere. If I had had the million dollar entrance fee... I'd lived in Santa Barbara... absolutely, the prettiest city in Southern California!

FMJ - Day 75

Twenty cents found on day 75 - 2 dimes. Found by Ajay at the Taqueria in Moorpark, CA.

FMJ - Total Found: $478.71
Since Blog Inception: $19.11
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 74

Total Found on Day 74 - $2.01 - in the form of 2 one dollar bills and a penny. The dollar bills were found resting near the entrance door at the Alliance Gas Station on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley. I must thank "the dropper" for the nice find. The penny was found in the pick-up lane at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank where my wife arrived home this evening from her "business trip" (HAHA) to Las Vegas... She's a black-jack player now... She's hooked on it... Won a grand-total of $16.00 at the tables this afternoon playing with one of her "old buds" from her old job in the Commonwealth of Virginia. BTW, The U.S.A. is made up of 4 Commonwealths and 46 States! Virginians of very proud of their "commonwealth" status. They'll let you know anytime you call Old Virginny the "State of Virginia." Don't do that -- it really peeves the native Virginian.

FMJ - Total Found: $478.51
Since Blog Inception: $18.91
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 73

Two cents found on Day 73. Found while pumping gas at the ARCO station on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley.

FMJ - Total Found: $476.50
Since Blog Inception: $16.90
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 72

No Finds were made on Day 72. We spent the day at home... watching DVDs, playing videogames, catching up on the laundry and cleaning... made a yummy spaghetti dinner. Nothing wrong with a little home time once in a while.

FMJ - Day 71

We found 7 cents on Day 71 - All Pennies. Our first find was a the Qdoba Mex Grill at Simi Valley Town Center where my wife and I had a quick lunch. She's on the plane as of this morning to Las Vegas... she's not one to gamble though, however, I did pack her some extra cash to blow on the slots. I'm betting she wins. Our Qdoba find was 5 pennies which were left on a table by a kindly gentleman donator to the found money jar. Of course, he just didn't know his altruism. (Many lunchtime diners passed right by them, some glancing at them... when we finished our meal, I made way to their resting place and gave them a new home.) Our second find was at McDonald's - 2 pennies - in the evening... my son craved some McNuggets.

FMJ - Total Found: $476.48
Since Blog Inception: $16.88
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 70

Total found on Day 70 - 13 cents (1 nickel, 8 pennies.) Yesterday's lunch at Carl's Jr. provided these coins to the found money jar. Some laid near the entrance, some near the counter, and a few were left on a table.

A trip to the recycling center yielded $8.44 for our bottles & cans fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $476.41
Since Blog Inception: $16.81
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $398.64

FMJ - Day 69

Total found on Day 69 - 12 cents (1 dime, 2 pennies.) All the coins were found while shopping at the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Still hunting for the perfect Las Vegas outfit... I think she returned four items yesterday and bought 6 more. Last night, I was treated to a fashion show as I was watching War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise version)... no bad dreams, but I was a little freaked out. The fashion show was quite a treat... my daughter narrated it with music... my lovely wife, the show's only model, of course. She was escorted by my by son who wore his ski-style red sunglasses. Magnificent! Absolutely Fabulous! Only, thing better could have been a lingerie show. Next time, please?

FMJ - Total Found: $476.28
Since Blog Inception: $16.68
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $390.20

FMJ Blog - Day 68 (Extreme Heat Warning for L.A.)

Total found on Day 68 -- 62 cents in the form of 1 quarter, 3 dimes and 7 pennies. All coins were found during a "beat the extreme heat" shopping trip to the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. Going to be around 100F degrees on Sunday. That's HOT! My wife is attending a conference in Las Vegas next week and still needs the "perfect" outfit for an evening cocktail party. It does seem like we've done this before, doesn't it? Oh, well... Wimmen! What would we do without 'em? Probably, not go shopping. Ajay gets credit for most of the finds yesterday... he found the quarter, 2 dimes, & 3 pennies.

FMJ - Total Found: $476.16
Since Blog Inception: $16.56
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $390.20

FMJ Blog - Day 67

We found 33 cents early today in the form of 1 quarter, 1 nickel & 3 pennies. Our first find was made by me while taking in our bottles & Cans for recycling -- 31 cents near the newspaper boxes at the Ralph's on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley. The next find (a penny) was made while checking out a house for sale on Racine St. in Simi Valley. The coin laid in the crosswalk as I strode over to inspect the house. The last find this afternoon (a penny) was found laying near the #8 cash register in the Wal-mart at Porter Ranch Towncenter. I drove my wife over there for a lunch meeting with a potential new hire at her company... she's stealing a competitor's best employee! Can't name names... HAHA! BTW, right now it's a good price on the 10 pair packs of white sports sock at the Wal-mart.

In the evening, we took a trip to the Glendale Galleria as my wife will be attending a conference in Las Vegas and needed the proper attire for the Strip... "sexy, yet sophiticated" she says... I say, "Ho outfit!" What goes to Vegas... comes home to me. Daddy likes! Total evening finds to add to this morning's earlier take -- 28 cents. (2 dime, 8 pennies.)

Recycling turn-in amount today: $6.32

FMJ - Total Found: $475.54
Since Blog Inception: $15.94
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $390.20

FMJ Blog - Day 66

We found four cents on Day 66. The first penny was found along Biscuit's Morning walk. The second penny find was made at the 99 Cents Only store on Tapo St. in Simi Valley. Our third find of 2 pennies was made at the Ralph's Grocery store in Wood Ranch.

FMJ - Total Found: $474.93
Since Blog Inception: $15.33
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $383.88

FMJ Blog - Day 65

Total finds on Day 65 -- $2.22 -- 2 dollar bills, 1 dime, 1 nickel, 7 pennies.

First find was 2 pennies along Biscuit's morning walk. In the afternoon, we found a dime at the 7-Eleven while paying for some much needed water before playing tennis at Estella Park -- (It was very HOT!) In the evening, we went to Simi Valley TownCenter Mall where we found 5 pennies and a nickel as we putzed around. As the mall's shops were closing, we found 2 crumpled $1 bills folded together near the fountain in front of Macy's. Finding paper money is always a thrill... especially when it's folded. You wonder how much there is as you approach, as if it were a wrapped gift, then surprise... not just one note -- TWO! FUN TIMES!

FMJ - Total Found: $474.89
Since Blog Inception: $15.29
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $383.88