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