Happy Halloween!

The kids trick-or-treated for about 2 hours this evening... Maya filled half a pillow case! Ajay has enough candy to last until next halloween. Oakridge Estates in Simi was a blast this halloween... two haunted houses. One guy did his house in "Scream" theme and chased the kids with a chain saw as they were leaving the front door. I laughed my ass off! My friend, Glen, handed out 29 bags worth of candy. We only had a few "treaters" at out house... too many transcient single people in corporate short term housing... we've got to settle down now and buy a house.

On day 219, we found fourteen cents -- a dime and four pennies. A run to Wal-mart in the morning produced 2 pennies. Lunch stop at Tommy's Hamburgers on Madera Rd. and another 2 pennies. After trick-or-treating, we took the kids to Taco Bell and found the dime.

FMJ - Total Found: $624.51
Since Blog Inception: $163.89
Number of Bottles and Cans Collected Today: 14
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 218

On Day 218, we found ten cents -- a nickel and five pennies. This morning while leaving my car I found a penny on the ground in the space next to me. After tennis, I took the Jag for tyre balancing... made another penny find while walking up L.A. Ave. from Lenny Dykstra's place. Team Dykstra did an excellent job getting rid of the slight shimmy in the steering... Now, the Jag is really smooth... got it up 95 m.p.h. on the 118 this afternoon... she rode straight as an arrow! What a creampuff car I got!

After school, the kids and I drove to the Moorpark Mcdonald's for their playland -- found a nickel and a penny. After that, we shopped at Best Dollar for much needed "school junk" -- big crayons and markers (I swear I just bought this stuff.) We found a penny in the parking lot and in the store.

FMJ - Total Found: $624.37
Since Blog Inception: $163.75
Stock Held: 15 shares/PEI Worth: $646.50 10/31/06
Excess Value of Stock Over Cost: $449.85
FMJ Savings Account: $520.46
Interest Received 2006: $.94
Total Dividends Received: $91.80

Value of FMJ Fund: $1,166.96


Number of Bottles and Cans Collected Today: 8
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 217

Fourty-three cents found on this day in the form of a quarter, a dime, a nickel and three pennies. A trip to Lenny Dykstra's Car Wash on First St. in Simi Valley to have the Ford Explorer given the "Grand Slam" wash... found 3 pennies while walking around for 20 minutes waiting for the car to be finished... Lenny's is quite the place for keeping your cars sparkling. Dinner at KFC in Cerritos, CA produce a quarter, dime and nickel. Mayma is back from her trip to Dubai, U.A.E. She was there visiting my wife's uncle who works for Boeing Aircraft -- Emirates Airlines bought the MD-11 and he is the main safety engineer for the planes. He wrote the manuals for their take-offs, landings and maintenance for Dubai International Airport. Uncle Sudeep is a cool cat! He can fly anywhere in the world for free... What a job.

FMJ - Total Found: $624.27
Since Blog Inception: $163.65
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

Saturday Night at the Movies --- $20 bill!

Yesterday was a big day for the found money jar as the fund increased by 3.5% in a single day. While standing in a very crowded line at the concession counter at the Century City AMC theaters in Westwood, yours truly found a very stepped-on and creased twenty dollar bill, probably been there for a while as it had multiple shoe prints on it. Pays to look down! Also, found 4 pennies and a nickel in the Century City food court. In the afternoon, my wife, Maya and the cousins rode in my Jag to the nail salon at Cerritos Plaza on South St. in Cerritos, CA. I spent some time roaming the plaza and found 2 pennies, a nickel and dime in a soda machine change shoot. Also, found a quarter in a under a newspaper box and a dime in the parking lot. Killing time by finding change. Yes, I made sure their toes were dry before letting them back into my prinstine, cherry, mint condition white1997 Jaguar XJ6... I'm lovin' the looks I get driving this car... Yesterday, my brother-in-law even gave me props!

FMJ - Total Found: $623.84
Since Blog Inception: $163.22
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 215

Found 88 cents on Day 215 -- 3 quarters, a dime and 3 pennies. The first find was made at Dan's Tennis Shop on Erringer Rd. -- a single penny. The next find occured at Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd. There, Ajay found 2 quarters in each coin return shoot of the two newspaper vending machine standing outside the front door. I found a penny below the machines. After lunch, we made our way across the parking to the Albertson's on the opposite side of the shopping center. Along the way, I found a quarter. I also found a penny along Biscuit's afternoon walk. Maya has drama club on Friday's at ther school until 4:30 p.m. While walking from the shopping center to her school, I found a dime along the sidewalk on Royal Ave.

FMJ - Total Found: $603.23
Since Blog Inception: $142.61
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 214

Very windy here. Santa Ana Winds -- gusting at 45 MPH! No tennis, unfortunately. On this day 214, we find 14 cents -- a dime and four pennies. In the morning, a drive in the jag to Porter Ranch for shopping -- found a penny in front of Best Buy and a penny in the Wal-mart. In the evening, my wife had to work late. The kids and I had dinner at Del Taco on L.A. Ave. I found a dime laying at the foot of the payphone. After our meal, the young lady behind us left two pennies on the table prior to leaving the restaurant. I heard her lamenting the "uselessness" of the penny to her friend and how the penny had no "real" value as she parted with them. Her opinion, not mine. As you would guess, I scooped them for the FMJ.

FMJ - Total Found: $602.35
Since Blog Inception: $141.73
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 213

We found 38 cents in the form of a quarter, dime and three pennies. The dime was found at lunch in the McDonald's on Tapo St. Ajay found the quarter in the coin return shoot of an Daily News paper box along Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. In the evening, we went to Simi Valley Towncenter Mall where we came across the 3 pennies.

FMJ - Day 212

The Found Money Jar staff is now cruising in absolute luxury! I went out tonight to Kemp Ford and bought a 1997 Jaguar XJ6 -- White with a tan interior. Car is pristine... gallops like a Jaguar should move. Ajay found a penny at the dealership. I can't wait to show up at the courts in the Jag tomorrow morning. One of my tennis buddies said his wife saw the car last week and was interested in buying it. Earlybird gets the car...

At Wells Fargo Bank on L.A. Ave., I found a dime and penny in the parking lot while transferring cash for the car. Someone paid almost $70,000 for my car new... I paid less than 10K. It truly pays to buy used when it comes to cars. Total found on Day 212: 12 cents.

FMJ - Total Found: $601.83
Since Blog Inception: $141.21
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 211

On day 211, we made 2 finds for 3 cents. Over the weekend, a lot of neighbors must have been partying as they left for us nearly 120 beer cans and bottles. We dutifully turned them in. $10.32 received for our weekend bottles and cans.

Find #1 -- 2 pennies at the Subway in the Wood Ranch shopping center.
Find #2 -- a penny in the parking lot in front of Pick Up Stix on Madera Rd.

FMJ - Total Found: $601.71
Since Blog Inception: $141.09
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $569.44

FMJ - Day 210

Found 26 cents and a restroom token on Day 210. The first find occured while cleaning out my tennis bag -- a penny on the sidewalk near the trash can at Rancho Simi courts. The next several finds happened while strolling the Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade -- 2 dimes & 5 pennies.

The token was found on the sidewalk in the Broadway Blvd. parking garage.

FMJ - Total Found: $601.68
Since Blog Inception: $141.06
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $559.12

FMJ - Day 209

Early this morning, I drove 65 miles north to play in the Santa Barbara City Championships. My first round opponent was Marc Daniel Arendt from Frankfurt, Germany. 17 years old and ranked number 44 in Boy's 18 and under junior tennis in the German National Tennis Rankings. He came to California for English School and to be scouted for a scholarship in tennis at one of our universities. How did I do? Very well. I lost 7-5 , 6-0... in the first set, I was up by 4 games.. then, he figured out that an overweight 38 year old can't really run very well.. and proceeded to make me run... which I did better than I have run in the last 14 years. I ran down and traded shots cross-court and down line with him for the better part of 2 hours... We were pounding the ball on every shot. A crowd gather to watch. Unfortunately, he doesn't miss much... and when he did it was by inches. But, I held tight every point and showed the kid that I once played like him, too! I've lost 24 pounds now... I'm at 269 lbs. Give me another 20 pounds and I'll be giving all these young punks a whipping. Although, I lost the match I feel like I pushed myself today to the next level... I truly showed that my old game is coming back. My two-handed backhand held fast wherever I wanted to place the ball... I serve and volleyed as I used to with authority and success. I'm really on the path back.

Finds:
1. 4 pennies while doing a pre-match walk around the neighborhood near the Santa Barbara Municipal Tennis Courts.
2. Maya found a penny near our parking space at Glendale Galleria in the afternoon.
3. 8 pennies walking with Ajay through the mall.
4. I found a dime in The Body Shop and a penny in Haagen Daz.
5. 2 dimes, a nickel and a penny left on a railing in the mall while walking with Maya and Ajay.
6. A nickel left in the change return shoot of a Pepsi machine in the mall.
7. A penny on the floor of Brookstone.

Total found on Day 209: 56 cents.

FMJ - Total Found: $601.42
Since Blog Inception: $140.80
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $559.12

FMJ - Day 208

3 cents found. The first find in the morning at tennis practice... a penny in the parking lot at Rancho Simi Park. The second find was made at Carl's Jr. - 2 pennies.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.86
Since Blog Inception: $140.24
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $559.12

FMJ - Day 207

Day 207: Found 21 cents in the form of 2 dimes and a penny. Our first find was made at the Rancho Simi Tennis Courts -- a single penny in the parking lot. A stop for gas at the ARCO on Madera Rd. brought in a dime. Late night after tennis team practice dinner by myself at KFC on L.A. Ave. -- the second dime was found. Losing more weight... now, I'm down 23 pounds officially. Been keeping the carbs low, playing 2 or more hours of tennis each day and eating salads, soups and lots of chicken and fish. Weight loss is so easy once you put your mind to it.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.83
Since Blog Inception: $140.21
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $559.12

FMJ - Day 206

Eight pennies were found on day 206. The first find of 2 cents occurred in the morning while making a stop at the 99 Cents Only store for bottled water (near cash registers.) The second find was made crossing the parking lot at Topper's Pizza on Erringer Rd. -- 3 cents. I had a huge salad for lunch... still on the diet.

Find #3: A penny was found resting in the dirt next to a curb during Biscuit's afternoon walk (credit to Ajay on this one.) Find #4: A penny was found in the parking lot of Popeye's on Woodman Ave. in Arleta while traveling to THE RACKET DOCTOR in Glendale, CA. The Doctor was having a 50% clearance sale... bought Maya 2 tennis outfits... CUTIE PIE! Ajay got a U.S. Open Visor and T-shirt and Nike Tennis Shirt. Find #5: A penny resting in the seam of the parking lot pavers at mommy's work.

Another run to the recycler produced $2.68 for the B&C Fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.62
Since Blog Inception: $140.00
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $559.12

FMJ - Day 205

Two pennies found on day 205. One was found at Wal-mart in Porter Ranch and the other at the Arco gas station on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley.

Cashed in our Bottles and Cans at the Wood Ranch Recycling center. $1.60 received.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.54
Since Blog Inception: $139.92
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $556.44

FMJ - Day 204

We found 3 pennies. The first 2 pennies were found at Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd. I had their new Chicken Bowl.... it was yummy. penny #3 was found along Biscuit's walk in the afternoon.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.52
Since Blog Inception: $139.90
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $554.84

FMJ - Day 203 $600!

On this day, the Found Money Jar crosses the $600 mark!

More Shopping. I'm exhausted from shopping! At the Westfield Fashion Square mall, we found 2 pennies. Then, my wife wanted to hop back over to the Westfield Topanga Mall -- Ajay and I found 23 cents -- a dime, nickel and 8 pennies. In the morning, Ajay and his friend, Justin, rode their bikes in the neighborhood. Along their ride, Ajay found a quarter and a penny. Total for Day 203 - 51 cents.

FMJ - Total Found: $600.49
Since Blog Inception: $139.87
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $554.84

FMJ - Day 202

We christened the new wing of the Westfield Promenade Mall on Topanga Blvd. by finding a one dollar bill, a dime, and a nickel as we shopped in the evening. At lunch, we found a dime and 2 pennies near the soda fountain in The Habit in Camarillo, CA. Another 4 pennies were found at a convenience store in Port Hueneme prior to our quick 5 minutes spent on the very windy and cool beach. It was a movie and mall day for us... went to see Open Season... Great kids movie! Found a penny in the theater. Total found on Day 202 -- $1.32 No Tennis today -- RAIN! YUK!

Also, Day 202 was for recycling -- our take: $3.48

FMJ - Total Found: $599.98
Since Blog Inception: $139.36
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $554.84

FMJ - Day 201

On Day 201, we found 2 pennies in the parking lot of the Albertson's grocery store on Madera Rd.

FMJ - Total Found: $598.66
Since Blog Inception: $138.04
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $551.36

FMJ - Day 200

DAY 200! Yippee! I don't usually keep up with internet things this well. So, this blog must be worth it! First find is a find that my friend, Dan, would be proud of... a penny while exiting his favorite chinese food establishment, the Golden Tiger Restaurant on Madera Rd., after the lunch date I had with my wife. The next find is credited to Ajay as he swooped up a penny and nickel during our grocery stop at Ralph's in Wood Ranch. Biscuit gets to savour the next find of a dime and 2 pennies during his afternoon walk. That's a total of 19 cents for day 200.

Day 200 included a trip to the recycling center which yielded $6.20 for our B&C Fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $598.64
Since Blog Inception: $138.02
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $551.36

FMJ - Day 199

We found three pennies. First find occurred in the morning while having breakfast at Del Taco on L.A. Ave. Two pennies near the counter. The second happened after picking up the kids from school -- a penny in the parking lot in front of Subway on Stearns St. in Simi Valley.

FMJ - Total Found: $598.45
Since Blog Inception: $137.83
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $545.16

FMJ - Day 198

Found a single penny on Day 198 while pumping gas at ARCO on L.A. Ave.

Our trip to the recycling center netted $11.84 for the fund.

FMJ - Total Found: $598.42
Since Blog Inception: $137.80
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $545.16

FMJ - Day 197

No U.S. Coin finds made on this day. We did, however, come across 1 French Franc coin and a New Penny from Great Britain. Found them on a coin counting machine at the Ralph's in Wood Ranch.

FMJ - Day 196

Our tennis team had a match against the Moorpark #1 team... I was to bring Chips and Dip to the match and made a quick stop at Von's on Tierra Rejada Rd. in Moorpark. Upon entering the store, I noticed the coin counting machine's reject hopper was completely full of coins... Apparently, whoever was using the machine didn't check or notice that the machine will reject coins it finds unworthy and left the money. The FMJ staff gave it a good home. Total find: 161 pennies.

After the match, my wife and I had lunch at The Habit in Thousand Oaks. I had the Santa Barbara Cobb salad -- I have that again and again as I was delicious! Found a penny whilst paying the bill. We lost our doubles match in three sets (6-7, 6-1, 6-3). Our team captain keeps switching the teams up for each week's match... I wish he'd let us choose our partners... I can't get grooved in doubles like this. There's just no way to find any rythym. In fact, the guy I play best with he only teamed us up during a practice session. Weird. Man, if we played a match together -- we'd clean up! Total for the day: $1.62

FMJ - Day 195

After the tennis match, we dropped the kids to Grandma's loving care and went to the Glendale Galleria for some R&R or shopping. Strolling the mall, I found 50 cents - a quarter, 2 dimes and 5 pennies. After that, we went to the AMC theater in Burbank to see the film School for Scoundrels... I laugh my ass off... my wife said, "Boring Movie!" Chicks need drama.... Next movie -- her choice. Anyway, found 33 cents ( 3 dimes & 3 pennies) upon leaving the movie on the sidewalk at Burbank Town Center.

FMJ - Total Found: $596.79
Since Blog Inception: $136.17
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

Long Beach Open. Sat. Oct. 7, 2006

Well, not a bad showing for my first tournament of my comeback. I played Joseph Deguzman, an 18 year old kid, who has previously ranked in the top 25 in junior tennis in southern california. According to his birthdate, he's been bumped up to the men's division. He was seeded ninth in the tournament. How did the old man of 38 do in the match? I turned in a respectable score, he won 7-5, 6-2 . At 5-4 in the first set, I had a chance to break his serve but he held. He had very heavy topspin strokes -- even on his serve which I would deem his best stroke. I haven't seen much topspin down at the park as the guys I play against are mostly older fellas who are seasoned good players with usually flat strokes or low topspin and slice. If I could have returned his serve better, I think I could have beaten the kid... my score reflects that I'm now able to hang with the big hitters. In the second set, he got a handle on returning my serve and broke serve twice early on... he was up 4-0 when I then held serve. At 4-1, he held his serve but I pushed him and brought the game to several dueces. Then, at 5-1 my serve... I said to myself... Let's show this kid a big man's serve and proceeded to serve out the game with... 4 STRAIGHT ACES! That service game made the match for me... haven't done that since I played the circuit when I was 20. Anyway... he held his next service game and won the match. I'll get him next time... when I'm 25 pounds lighter. BTW... Lost 18 pounds now.... since August 30th.

$20 Bill found on Day 194!

Ajay for the fourth time has made a large bill find. During a lunch stop at the McDonald's playland in Moorpark, CA, Ajay cames across at crumpled $20 note in the playland tubes. There were no other kids there at the time... so, finders -- Keepers. We also found a penny near the counter. Total found on Day 194 -- $20.01. GOOD GOING AJAY!

FMJ - Total Found: $595.96
Since Blog Inception: $135.34
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

FMJ - Day 193

I played 3 hours of tennis in the morning. In the evening, I practiced with our men's doubles team for 2 1/2 hours. Unfortunately, I hadn't anytime or energy to do anything else. So, there were no finds for day 193. This weekend, I'm playing in the Long Beach Open. I drew the 9th seed in the first round on the men's open draw. This should be an interesting match... I'm playing extremely good tennis right now. Our Simi Valley Tennis Club has started a new thing called "challenge cup." You may follow the ongoings at: simivalleytennisclub.blogspot.com

FMJ - Day 192

Just a single penny found on day 192 during lunch at Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd.

FMJ - Total Found: $575.95
Since Blog Inception: $115.33
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

FMJ - Day 191

One penny found... I forgot where. Shame on me.

FMJ - Total Found: $575.94
Since Blog Inception: $115.32
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

Yom Kippur or Hookey Day.

My wife and I played hookey with our kids and spent Yom Kippur at Redondo Beach. While strolling the pier, a single dollar bill blew by me in the sea breeze. I ran after it and was able to apprehend it just steps from going overboard to be lost forever in the Pacific Ocean. How could I ever atone...?

FMJ - Total Found: $575.93
Since Blog Inception: $115.31
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

FMJ - Day 189

Ajay found a penny laying in the flowerbed in front of our house. We've most likely passed it everytime we've turned right along the sidewalk out front as it was very corroded and dirty. Ajay made our only find for Day 189.

FMJ - Total Found: $574.93
Since Blog Inception: $114.31
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32

FMJ - Day 188

$9.15 found on Day 188. In the evening, a five spot and 4 one's were found on the sidewalk in front of the China Express Take-out on Carmenita Rd. in Cerritos, CA. That's where I had an order of Orange Chicken, Almond Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken and noodles... Uncle Joe and I split the meal as all others last night demanded vegetarian south indian cuisine... Sorry, peoples... I need the meat.
An afternoon lunch at Falafel King in Westwood Village yielded 5 pennies along from the restaurant. I stopped in at Westwood Tennis Shop to see if they had my racquet, Prince Graphite Triple Threat Oversize, in their stock... I've looked all over for a fresh one for the last two months... Prince discontinued the production of it about three years ago. The guy at the shop said he doubted he could ever order one anymore and then stated he didn't think he had anymore in the shop... but, I was persistent and looked through every rack -- front to back. Yep, I found one in my grip size... I think it's the last new one on earth! No discount! Paid full price! Micro supply and demand? Luckily, I didn't have to pay the 8% sales tax... there's a back-to-school tax holiday in L.A. right now. Tennis racquets apparently fall under the requirement. I really needed another racquet as I'm breaking a new set of strings every week. Hey, I found a dime exiting the tennis shop.

FMJ - Total Found: $574.92
Since Blog Inception: $114.30
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $533.32