FMJ - Day 157

First Day of school for the kiddos! Yippee! Daddy needs some morning tennis time. Now, I can have some time to work off the summer weight gain from all the summer fun trips with Maya and Ajay in tow. We spent alot of time at theme parks, hitting tennis balls on the practice courts -- Maya learned a good serving technique & Ajay is starting to hit one-handed forehands. We ate just about every meal out... Trips to San Diego, New York City and Washington, D.C.... Shopping! Yeah, I'd say they had a great summer... I think they'll remember this summer for a long time to come.

As for coin finds on Day 157... None were to be had.

Recycling update: Thanks to some of our beer drinking neighbors who donated their empties to the kids, we are able to add $7.56 to the B&C Fund. The fund is now over $500!

FMJ - Total Found: $558.07
Since Blog Inception: $97.47
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $503.80

FMJ - Day 156

On Day 156, my 320i arrived at the shipping terminal in Carson, CA... about 55 miles from Simi Valley. So, the afternoon was spent retrieving the car so I wouldn't incur any storage fees -- $25.00 per day. I drove my 733i to Carson and parked it on a residential street. Ajay and I walked to the terminal. Upon arriving, Ajay immediately noticed the 10 or more trucks with car trailers. Needless to say, he was impressed! We found 4 pennies while walking to the terminal. After paying for the car shipment, we drove my 320i to our cousin's house in Cerritos, CA... my little bimmer will spend a few nights there until I can drive it back to Simi Valley on the weekend. Last night, my wife's cousin, Kunal, drove us back to Carson to pick up my other car. While in Cerritos, we stopped at Cartridge World (the shop owned by "Uncle Kunal.") There, Ajay spent an hour learning how to clean and refill ink-jet cartridges. While he was doing that, I was busy at the sheriff's office getting an street parking permit for the 320i. Found 25 cents - 1 quarter - newspaper box change shoot! In the evening, I found 3 game tokens, I vietnamese coin and a 20 cent Hong kong coin. NEAT! Found them in the coin counting machine at the Ralph's grocery in Cerritos. Total found on Day 156 - 29 cents!

FMJ - Total Found: $558.07
Since Blog Inception: $97.47
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $496.24

FMJ - Day 155

Twenty-six cents acquired on Day 155 - a quarter & penny. An early morning run for a breakfast and newspaper at Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd. produced the penny. Later, while walking with the kids along L.A. Ave., we found a quarter resting in the change shoot on a newspaper vending box which was placed near the Denny's Restaurant.

FMJ - Total Found: $557.78
Since Blog Inception: $97.18
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $496.24

FMJ - Day 154

We took a trip to the Antelope Valley... the towns of Lancaster and Palmdale are there. It's a drive of about 65 miles to the east of Simi Valley out in the desert. Very hot there most times. We had lunch at the Black Angus Steakhouse and shop at the Antelope Valley Mall. There's not much more to say about the trip... although, there building lots of new houses there starting about $300,000 less than comparable in size home here. Still, it's just too hot and boring there for us. We found $1.46 while browsing the shops in the mall -- 5 quarters, 3 nickels and 6 pennies.

FMJ - Total Found: $557.52
Since Blog Inception: $96.92
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $496.24

FMJ - Day 153

Three cents was found on Day 153. All finds were made while strolling the shop on State St. in Santa Barbara, CA. In the morning, I took our recycling to the recycling center... and thanks to a large donation of water bottles and beer cans from our Uncle Joe, Aunt Pratu and Aunt Anju, we are able to add $11.00 to the B & C fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $556.06
Since Blog Inception: $95.46
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $496.24

FMJ - Day 152

No finds were made on Day 152. It happens... some days are just no good.

FMJ - Day 151

A single penny found on Day 151. It was found by Ajay while shopping in the evening at Simi Valley Town Center.

FMJ - Total Found: $556.03
Since Blog Inception: $95.43
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $485.24

DisneyLand! FMJ - Day 150

I took the kids to Disneyland yesterday. Mickey Mouse! Yep. The House of Mouse was a whole bunch of fun.... Ajay loved the roller coaster in Tune Town! At Innoventions, he was asked by the hostess what his favorite part of the day had been... his response was getting a pirate sword. Easily pleased, a 5 year old be. Maya, whose almost 10 and loves It's a Small World, is now leading Daddy around... always a few yards ahead... soon, she'll be too big to have Daddy tag along. Total expense -- $360.00, or there abouts. Total finds -- 3 pennies. Once again, Disney proved that theme parks are bad places to find money. The 50th anniversary fireworks were the best fireworks show I've ever had a chance to view. The mouse, although expensive, is still worth a trip or two.

FMJ - Total Found: $556.02
Since Blog Inception: $95.42
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $485.24

FMJ - Day 149

$1.28 found on Day 149 while having lunch at Weinerschnitzel Hotdog restaurant on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley. 3 pennies were found near the counter. A single dollar bill and a quarter were found resting on the table next to us.

We're going to Disneyland this morning -- Day 150 finds from there... Maybe?

FMJ - Total Found: $555.99
Since Blog Inception: $95.39
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $485.24

FMJ - Day 148

Hey, that new Pioneer sound system I installed in my old bimmer... is awesome! It had a very past repair AM/FM Cassette before... so, nice to be able to play CDs. In the morning, I walked 6 miles to the tennis courts and Best Buy to pick up the car. We had the kids stay with their Aunties in Cerritos last night. Along the wayto fetch the car, I scooped a nickel and three pennies in coin finds. Also, picked up a few bottles and cans for the fund... neatly tucked them in my tennis bag. I stopped for lunch at this chicken chain called El Pollo Loco... They chargrill their chicken... Very tasty. Spent the afternoon crusing L.A. with the sunroof open and all the windows down blasting the stereo! Nothing more relaxing than crusing the town!

Last night, I turned in our recycling... add $2.96 to the fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.71
Since Blog Inception: $94.11
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $485.24

FMJ - Days 146 & 147

Day 146 - Saturday... We found twenty-three cents while shopping and dining in Santa Monica. one dime, a nickel and 8 pennies. Third Street Promenade is the place for fun. If you ever have the chance -- Barney's Beanery for a bowl of their most famous chili! TOO YUMMY FOR WORDS!

Day 147 - Sunday... We found five pennies this day. I dropped off my old 1983 BMW 733i for a new Pioneer radio and speakers at the Simi Valley Best Buy... found 3 pennies on the walk home. In the afternoon, we shopped at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, CA... found 2 pennies along our shop walk -- school starts in one week -- back to school shopping we did. (Yoda.)

Ajay is a new fan of Star Wars -- this weekend, he viewed Episode I - The Phantom Menace three times. So far, his favorite movies are Pirates of the Carribean, Star Wars I, and The Karate Kid. I've been in several sword and light saber fights with a few karate chops since his new found movie loves.. can you say, Ouch?

FMJ - Total Found: $554.63
Since Blog Inception: $94.03
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $482.28

FMJ - Day 145

Day 145 - One dime found at the In-N-Out burger in Camarillo, CA where we had dinner before shopping at Camarillo Outlets. I used my AAA card to save $50 at Nautica... spent $188.00 on new polo shirts... what a deal!

FMJ - Total Found: $554.35
Since Blog Inception: $93.75
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $482.28

FMJ - Day 144

Sixteen cents found on Day 144 - a dime, nickel and penny. The penny was found along Biscuit's morning walk. In the afternoon, we found a nickel while enjoying our tennis practice at Tierra Rejada Park over the hills in Moopark, CA. An evening walk with Biscuit produced the dime.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.25
Since Blog Inception: $93.65
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $482.28

FMJ - Day 143

Just a single lonely penny was found on Day 143. It was another dog walking find. In the evening, we needed to venture into the grocery store and returned bottles and cans for another $2.40 to the B&C fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.09
Since Blog Inception: $93.49
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $482.28

FMJ - Day 142

Two pennies were found on Day 142. First find was along Biscuit's morning walk. The next one at the Arroyo Vista Park tennis courts in Moorpark, CA.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.08
Since Blog Inception: $93.48
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $479.88

FMJ - Day 141

No coins or bills were to be found on Day 141. We did, however, take our recycling to the recycling center and added $10.44 to the B&C fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.06
Since Blog Inception: $93.46
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $479.88

San Diego Trip. FMJ - Days 139 & 140

We found just a single penny the entire weekend. Seems that San Diego is not a good change finding town. Or, maybe we just had to much fun swimming in the Hyatt Aventine La Jolla pool and playing tennis at their courts. La Jolla was a lot of fun... There is definitely something good when you have a lot on money -- the shops in La Jolla! WOW! I wish my parents had taken me to places like this when I was wee little... I would have started a lot earlier with my business success plans. I WANT A BEACH HOUSE! Oh, well... I've got an extra penny towards the cause.

BTW, San Diego Zoo is the best zoo in the country!

FMJ - Total Found: $554.06
Since Blog Inception: $93.46
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 138

11 Cents found on Day 138 - a dime and a penny. The dime was found at the Rancho Simi Tennis Courts. Maya started get in the zone yesterday... she was thumping her forehand from the baseline harder and more directly than I've seen a 9 year old do it in quite a while. The penny was found in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot in Camarillo, CA.

Of Note: We're going to San Diego and will stay there Saturday night. I'll post the weekend finds on Monday.

FMJ - Total Found: $554.05
Since Blog Inception: $93.45
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 137

Eighty-eight cents found on Day 137 - 3 quarters, a dime & 3 pennies. For lunch, we stopped in at Daphne's in Moorpark, CA. Very good eats there -- Gyros and Kabobs. A dime was found in the parking lot near the restaurant. After lunch, tennis practice at Arroyo Vista Park in Moorpark and we find 3 quarters and a penny on top of the payment machine for the tennis lights. Mcdonald's sundaes for an after practice treat and we find two more pennies.

FMJ - Total Found: $553.94
Since Blog Inception: $93.34
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 136

Thirty-one cents found today. During Biscuit's early morning walk, I found a nickel. In the afternoon, the kids and I went to the Edwards Cinema 10 on L.A. Ave. where we found a quarter. We saw Monster House... Good story. The movie relives your childhood fears really well. After the movie, we stopped at Albertson's to pick up the ingredients for our dinner which was prepared by Maya. Last night, Maya bought herself a Food Network chefs cookbook. Our dinner -- Pepperjack and provolone with cucumber, tomato, and mayo on grilled sliced french bread and an "arugula" salad with glazed walnuts, dried cranberries, and tomato with balsamic vinegrette or northern italian dressing with basil and romano. Pretty good dinner prepared by our soon to be 10 year old. Hooray for Maya!

FMJ - Total Found: $553.06
Since Blog Inception: $93.46
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 135

Eleven cents found on Day 135 - a nickel and 6 pennies. At the pool, we found a penny. Then, a dinner outing at Taqueria in Moorpark, CA and someone left a nickel and 2 pennies on our table. After dinner, we stopped at the Target (2nd time today) and found a penny in the parking lot and 2 pennies near the bench in front of the store.

FMJ - Total Found: $552.75
Since Blog Inception: $93.15
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

Special Report! $5.00 -- A Lincoln Found!

Earlier today, the kids and I went to the Target in Moorpark to pick-up a new soccer ball for Ajay... Maya got a volley ball. Upon returning to our car, I noticed a little green laying near our front left tire -- 5 bucks! It's now safely rendered to our Found Money Jar.

FMJ - Total Found: $552.64
Since Blog Inception: $93.04
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 134

A single penny was found on Day 134 very late in the evening when we made a trip to Denny's in Moorpark, CA for dinner.

FMJ - Total Found: $547.64
Since Blog Inception: $88.04
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

TACO MESA in Costa Mesa! DAY 133

For FMJ Day 133, we found just 5 pennies. The first find was made during a stop in the morning at Ralph's in Wood Ranch -- 1 penny. The next find was made on the way to Luguna Beach, CA during a lunch stop in Westwood Village at Falafel King -- another penny. We enjoyed our afternoon at the beach in Laguna. While returning on the Pacific Coast Hwy. (PCH), we decided to have dinner at Taco Mesa, a restaurant my wife and I haven't eaten at in 10 years or more. Wondering whether it still existed, we called 411. Yep. That two-bit joint is still in business on 19th street in Costa Mesa. Food was good but not how I remember it. They used to serve the largest and most tasty burrito in all of L.A. Oh, well... found a penny there for old times sake.
Our last find was two pennies at a non-descript gas station off the 405.

Returned our collected bottles and cans on Day 133. We received $4.56.

FMJ - Total Found: $547.63
Since Blog Inception: $88.03
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $469.44

FMJ - Day 132

Nineteen cents found on Day 132 consisting of a dime and 9 pennies. All coins were found while browsing at Westfield Promenade on Topanga Blvd. in the SF Valley.

FMJ - Total Found: $547.58
Since Blog Inception: $87.98
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $464.88

FMJ - Day 131

Twenty-four cents found on Day 131 consisting of a dime, a nickel and 9 pennies. A morning stop for gas at the ARCO on L.A. Ave. produced 5 pennies. During an after lunch trip to Walmart in Porter Ranch... we found a dime and a nickel. In the evening, making a quick stop for some sodas at a non-descript convenience mart in Port Hueneme Beach brought us 4 pennies.

Of note: I found the penny which was lost from my desk where I keep all unrecorded finds -- seems Ajay made a game out of it. 5 years olds... Geesh! We will add it to the totals for Day 131.

FMJ - Total Found: $547.39
Since Blog Inception: $87.79
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $464.88

FMJ - Day 130

No finds to report for Day 130 which was Thursday, August 03, 2006.

FMJ - Day 129

A single penny found on Day 129 while walking Biscuit. Somehow, I've misplaced it. I add it to the totals later when it has been found again.

FMJ - Day 128

Five cents found on Day 128 - all pennies. The first find was made while passing the coin counting machine at Ralph's in Wood Ranch - 3 pennies. The next finds were made during Biscuit's walks -- a single penny during two walks.

$1.96 in recycling turned in for Day 128.

FMJ - Total Found: $547.14
Since Blog Inception: $87.54
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $464.88

FMJ - Day 127

No finds to report for this day 127.