Day #1,167 - Leap Day

At 9 a.m. Doc and I were at the Fixture Shop returning some unused plumbing parts. Then a stop at the tile store to return the assortment of tile samples I had collected over the past few months. We are trying to clean up things one piece at a time.

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At 9:40 Iron Jimmy arrived at the jobsite. I saw his truck parked out front, yet Doc was walking down the driveway with someone I did not recognize. Thought maybe it was Jimmy’s installer. It was not. It was a City Inspector, Alex, from Public Works. He was asking if we had a permit for the new driveway and for cutting the curb away? In our approvals from the City (1.5 years ago) we were already told we had approvals to install the circular driveway. “Yes, but have you filed the forms, provided the $1 million insurance policy, and paid your fees yet?” No. New Action Item.

While we were discussing things with the inspector, Iron Jimmy was quietly going about his business upstairs. People kept asking how we were going to finish off the edge of the floor upstairs so it would look nice from the Grand Room. Wood molding? Painted edging? That would be Classic. I decided to go Heavy Metal. That will also provide a good, sturdy base for the railing.

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Doc and I spent three hours working on the tile stream and dry fit another 2 sf. By 2 p.m. I was too cold and weary to continue. A bit of a sore throat and fever. We shut down and were driving away. I texted to Project Manager Daryl to say we were leaving. His reply, “I know. I am in the truck behind you”. So we drove a mile, then stopped at the 7-11 store for coffee and a debrief with Daryl. Doc said, “We don’t’ have any coins yet today.” So he collected two dirt coins from a planter bed. Then I grabbed the penny which was in the aisle as we entered the store. (Coins #1-3).

The guys mixed their poisons, then we went outside to chat. Doc pulled out the two coins he had found. He thought they were pennies, but in his pocket they had changed to dimes. Alchemy? Back to the joke about me finding coppers and Doc finding silvers.

We were standing in the walkway when Doc spotted a penny in a planter. I reached for it and then noticed a dime and a quarter which suddenly became apparent. Daryl was amazed. Then I spotted another quarter and dime just a foot or two further away. Daryl’s comment, “You guys just blow me away”. Then as we continued talking there was another penny, then another. There was also something bigger than a nickel, yet smaller than a quarter. Could be just a metal slug. Need to wash it and confirm. We said, “Eleven coins and one Maybe. Need another coin to make it a Coin Mine”. Within moments we found a penny. Then, as I was walking back to the van, there was a penny wedged vertically in a crack. Baker’s dozen. (Coins #4-13)

By 4 p.m. we were home. I ate a few spoonfuls of crushed garlic, then went to bed for a few hours. Much needed rest and warmth.

Leap Year = One extra day in the month. I’d like an extra month in my year!

Total: 14 Coins P (8), N (0), D (4), Q (2) = $0.98 + one slug

Day #1,166 - Smiling Pants

This morning I was in a hurry to get to the medical office to have my injured toe X-Rayed. It has been 10 months now and it is not getting any better. As I hopped into the truck I got a call from a friend who needed a big favor - immediately. That took precedence. It was not a time-specific lab appointment and I eventually did make it for the x-ray.

Doc and I met the realtor and contractor out at Rental #2 (Paint Bucket). We conducted a walk through. He was supposed to be finished around Feb 15^th. Looks like he has about two more weeks to go. Doc found one penny at the threshold from the garage into the house. I found a penny in the street as we were returning to the van. (Coins #1&2)

Evidently at the rental house I backed into some fresh wall paint - there was a white streak up my backside. Those were brand new pants! That was an $8 pair of pants which will now go from my “good clothing” category into “work garb”. Rats!

Stopped for lunch at Panda Express. Doc got a penny and a nickel as he stepped out of the van. (Coins #3&4)

No one else was working at the Penny Palace today. Doc and I put in a few hours on the tile stream and laid 2 more square feet. As I was wiping off some of the tiles, I sat back - right into my tray of tile adhesive! That put a white ‘smile’ on my backside. Working with the seat of my pants. When Doc came in I said, “Honey - I need a favor … could you wipe my butt for me?” It was good for a laugh.

On the way home Doc stopped for a coffee. I got a penny. (Coin #5)

Total: 5 Coins P (4), N (0), D (1), Q (0) = $0.09

Day #1,165 - Warm Soup

This morning I was at the Penny Palace at 8 a.m. to meet and work with Handyman George. At 9 a.m. I called to ask where he was? He said since it was raining, he did not expect that I would want him there. Since when does a little rain stop me from working?

George said he would arrive after lunch to work with me. So I had a few hours to myself. I worked on the decal in the Garden Bathroom. At 10 a.m. Concrete Tony (the “Old Goat”) dropped by and asked me if I wanted to look at some leftover stone to see if it could be used for paving the everyday entrance area. I really liked the look and feel of it, but unfortunately the quantity was not sufficient.

This morning there were light sprinkles off and on which got heavier by late afternoon. When George and Jose arrived at 1 p.m. the first thing we did was to transport tiles. Doc and I had boxed up leftover tiles and put them in the dog yard - last week when the weather was so gorgeous. Today we scrambled to get all those boxes moved under the house.

George and Jose grouted the kitchen sink tiles and the coffee bar tiles. Also repaired the drywall on the mug wall.

It was getting colder and windier and I was thinking that some warm soup sounded nice. A few minutes later my mom called and said she had made some soup and some macaroni salad for a function which she did not attend at the last minute. Would I like some soup this evening? COINcidence? I had not spoken with her for a few weeks.

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Penny Finding:

This morning I was nudged to stop at the closed Kentucky Fried Chicken near our house. Figured it might be raining later in the day and I would not want to go anywhere else after work tonight. I found a dime and three pennies. (Coins #1-4).

There were numerous calls to make this morning regarding our construction loan, insurance on the new rentals, follow through on other items, etc. Doc agreed to stay home and take care of some of those. Then he went out for breakfast. (One penny). After that he mailed some letters, made bank deposits, did some leg work to find oak handrailing, plus the prerequisite stop at Starbucks (One dime there).

Total: 6 Coins P (4), N (0), D (2), Q (0) = $0.24

Day #1,164 - Inaugural Flush

This morning Doc met son Brian for a cup of coffee. He dragged me along saying, “you don’t have to drink coffee - you can go Penny Finding”. I went and spent the time with Brian and his Fiancee. That was nice. Then I collected three pennies in the parking lot as we were leaving. (Coins #1-3)

This afternoon Doc and I went to the Penny Palace where we hoped to meet up with the Phantom plumber. Too late. He had already struck. The faucet was installed in the dining room, the Master tub and shower handles were in place, and the four toilets were installed. Doc and I went around the house and garage giving each toilet an Inaugural Flush.

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This evening Doc and I performed our weekly grocery shopping. At the second store I spotted a penny in check-out aisle 1 when we first entered the store. There were too many people for me to charge in there and get it. By the time Doc and I checked out, that lane was closed and there was no penny to be found. So I looked more intensely - and found a dime and two pennies. (Coins #4-6).

Doc asked if I wanted to check out of aisle #2 or #4? Without hesitation I said, “Aisle 4”.

As Doc put the groceries on the conveyor, I spotted one penny, a nickel, and a quarter! Hit for the Cycle! (Coins #7-9).

Total: 9 Coins P (6), N (1), D (1), Q (1) = $0.46

Day #1,163 - Rock Raising

The area where we are building is known for having a few rocks - also called Cucamonga potatoes. I think after the recent rains, our ‘potatoes’ have been propagating.

Over recent weeks we have been setting the boulders in the front yard. Doc and I both felt the ones along the pathway were set too deeply. I mentioned it to the Landscape Architect a few times. Today when he saw the string line for the finish grade of the walkway, he said all the boulders needed raising! So now we are paying to have them set a second time. We were scrambling up and down those rocks today. The equivalent of a few miles of mountain hiking.

This afternoon Solar Guy Jeff appeared unexpectedly. He activated half our solar panels. Within one hour the panels had generated enough power to keep all our exterior lights burning throughout the night. That was exciting.

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Penny Finding:

On the way to the Penny Palace Doc stopped at Subway for coffee and breakfast. I walked around. One penny under a small table on the sidewalk. Another penny in a planter. Doc found one penny at the threshold of the store. (Coins #1-3)

After work we stopped at a 7-11 store for coffee. Doc found a penny at the coffee area. (Coin #4). Stopped at the grocery store for a chicken, two pennies and a dime. (Coins #5-7). At the pet store we got dog food plus a nickel as Doc stepped out of the van. (Coin #8). As we drove home, Doc just could not resist cruising through the high school parking lot. In a few minutes we had collected four pennies. (Coins #9-12).

Total: 12 Coins P (10), N (1), D (1), Q (0) = $0.25 (25 is my special number for Penny Finding)

Day #1,162 - Rented

This morning Doc stopped at McDonalds for coffee and breakfast. There were 6-7 cars in the drive-through line so I hopped out of the van and walked through the self-serve car wash while waiting for Doc to get his order. I did not find any coins and was heading back to the van. I said (out loud), “So Penny Angels, are you sleeping in this morning or What? Where’s today’s penny. Wake Up!” Within a few steps I found today’s penny! I picked it up and said, “This one is coated with dirt and is pretty dismal looking. Can’t you do any better than that?” A few steps further there was a shiny penny. I was laughing. The angels were putting in their 2¢ worth for today. (Coins #1&2)

Rental #1 needed some final cleaning and touch-ups before we were to meet with the new renters this evening. So at 8 a.m. Doc and I, along with Handyman George and his wife, spent a frantic 2 hours trying to make everything ship-shape for the new occupants.

Then we headed for the Penny Palace. Doc visited Jack’s drive-up window for a mid morning snack. I found a penny in the planter on my side of the van. (Coin #3)

Daryl was at the Penny Palace when we arrived. We gave him a status report.

The painters applied the sealer coat to the back garage floor. That completes the 4-day process. We needed to now open the garage to let the sealer dry. Yesterday when driving home we realized - the garage doors have remote controls! Doc and I have never had a remote garage door opener, so that thought never occurred to us. We just needed to find the device.

Tile Jose came to run caulking around the sinks and counters. Grader Rick brought in a load of topsoil. He returned later in the afternoon and offloaded his backhoe.

The concrete team laid the outline for the front walkway. They laid it much farther out than Doc wanted, and “flowing” much differently than I wanted, thus some adjustments were made.

The tile stream inside the house wasn’t ‘flowing’ well either. Not much progress made today. I was not inspired by the remaining assortment of tile pieces and colors.

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We left the Penny Palace at 4 p.m. and hoped to have a few minutes for Dumpster Diving before our 5 p.m. meeting. I needed more tiles. We cruised the alleys behind the stores along Tile Row, but it appeared today must have been trash day - the dumpsters were empty.

At 5 pm. we met the Realtor and new Tenants at Rental House #1 to do the Move-In Walk Through. All went really well and they will move in tomorrow.

Afterward we and the Realtor met at the local Starbucks to finish signing all the documents. There was a Halal Grille next door, so Doc and I decided to be adventurous and try a new place for dinner. The cashier and manager were so outgoing and friendly. They were definitely proud of their product. Doc and I parked ourselves at at table. Doc haad eyes glued to the basketball game on TV while my eyes were scouring the floor. There was a penny under the table behind me! (Coin #4)

Since the café was empty except for one other occupant, I went back to the counter and pointed to the penny. I gave a quick summary of Penny Finding and provided the cashier and manager each a Penny Card. JOY shared.

Doc and I enjoyed our meal. There were some leftovers, so I went back to the counter for a foam take-home container. There was a dime on the floor there! I showed the cashier. She and I were both in disbelief. How / when did it appear? We had just been standing there a few minutes earlier. (Coin #5 - Mushroom Coin)

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Since we had not found any tiles in the dumpsters, we stopped at Home Depot in search of cheap, but complimentary tiles. We found 3-4 different ones. Then we found a case which had been dropped and half the tiles were already broken. The sales clerk said we could have those! Free is good. Thanks Angels.

Total: 5 Coins P (4), N (0), D (1), Q (0) = $0.14

Day #1,161 - Site Investigation

I met the painters promptly at 8 a.m. to get started on Step #3 of the garage floor coating. The ‘real’ coat of epoxy was applied and then the decorative sprinkles. Doc and I did not like any of the standard chip mixes so we created our own combination. It looks good.

Doc had a leisurely morning running errands and having coffee before he arrived “at work” at 11 a.m. We spent an hour on cleaning house and miscellaneous tasks. We were out front by the dumpster when three very official looking persons walked up. One was in uniform. Their business cards read:

a) Investigator, Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractors State License Board, Investigative Fraud Team

b) Senior District Attorney Investigator, Bureau of Investigation

c) Joint Enforcement Agent, Underground Economy Operations

Wow! We were wondering what brought the agents to our site. Turns out they were inspecting construction jobs in the area. They were checking for safety violations, insurance coverage of workers, State Licenses of subs working on the job, etc. Doc and I were giving each other that look of “What happens next? What are we supposed to do here?” The Agents asked if Doc was the Boss here? He said, “No - she is” as he pointed to me. They then asked if we were the owners? I hoped “Yes” was not going to trigger anything undesirable. They smiled and said, “OK. Then we are done here. There is no need for us to look further.” I said we have been planning and saving for this house for 30 years. They said “Congratulations, it looks beautiful!” Handshakes and business cards given, then they were on their way. Whew!

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By Noon the painters were leaving. We needed to shut the garage door so that tonight’s expected winds would not blow dirt onto the wet floor. Hmmm … how to shut the garage door without going inside? Solution: I gave it the “Extended Finger!”

The garage door controller is mounted behind the pedestrian door when it is open. The guys could not get their big hands in the narrow door crack (by the hinges). I was able to get my fingers in there, but they were about ¾” from the button. Plus the button needed considerable pressure perpendicular to the pad - not a switch which could be flipped on/off. Doc asked if I had a popsicle stick. No, but I had a stick for rubbing on my silly decals. J He taped the stick to my finger and I added a rigid plastic push pin to create the push force needed. It worked beautifully! A MacGyver Moment.

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After that, Doc and I continued our work on the tile stream. I was kicking myself for ever having started such an unreasonable project. At least we have reached the half-way point.

Around 3 p.m. son Stephen appeared with a Starbucks coffee in hand for Doc. Doc was lured away for nearly 45 minutes while I was on my knees waiting for him to shave some of the tiles for me. I was not happy about that. Coffee Addict!

At one point Doc got impatient with how long it was taking me to place the tile pieces. At least he put it nicely, but I knew what he meant. Doc: “Honey, how about if I help you place some of those?” Tina: “Sure! I’d be glad to stretch my back”. He laid 8-9 pieces, then said, “How about if I go load the lumber while YOU continue working on these?” Guess he realized it wasn’t so simple after all!

Doc had a 6:30 meeting at Starbucks for a coffee with one of his former students, so we locked up the Penny Palace at 5:30.

This evening I collected 3 pennies at the grocery store.

Total: 3 Pennies

Day #1,160 - Art or Flooring?

Today’s focus was on flooring and other finishing details, although the tile stream might be considered more Art than ‘Flooring’. The weather was absolutely perfect! Blue skies, temperatures in the low 80s, slight breeze. Just right for wall painting and for concrete floor treatment.

Last week it was very cold and rainy. We have been wanting to coat the floor of the garage with an epoxy system - but that would take FIVE days of consistently good weather. Sunday evening the weather reporter said, “The next five days will be good weather!” However, Friday our painter had said he was staring a new job on Monday and would be busy this week. Rats! But by “COINcidence” the lady at his other job said she wanted to delay until next week! So yesterday was Day #1 of the epoxy flooring process and today the process continued.

My first appointment this morning was with Iron Jimmy. Remember a while back he had made that cardboard mock-up of the upstairs railing? Doc and I had made a few minor adjustments to it and returned it for Jimmy to create. This morning I went to see the progress. He had reduced the size of the middle circle, brought in the outer ring, removed the inner ring, and totally eliminated all the circles (which represented pennies around the sun). He said it looked better that way. Yes, it looked nice, but I really wanted those ‘symbolic’ pennies in there. So we went to Plan B and added in a few circles. The whole railing is 20 ft. long and it is quite impressive.

The second appointment was at the countertop shop. I picked up the sample of laminate which had arrived and I reviewed final details with the fabricator. Those should be ready next week.

I made a quick stop at WalMart for a notebook to use for the Penny Tale printouts. I wanted to match the other ones I have been using. There was ONE left! And I collected a penny there. (Coin #1)

At the jobsite the Painters were working on the garage floors and painting the walls of the attached garage. There were two more boulders across the street just waiting for a new home.

Doc arrived around noon and after eating his lunch announced it was time for me to get working on that tile stream again. Yes Dear. He was breaking and cutting tile for me as I was trying to fit the jigsaw puzzle pieces together. We completed another 2 sq ft of stream.

We locked up the Penny Palace at 4 p.m. Doc stopped for coffee. I

found a penny (Coin #2).

Of course we needed to make our daily stop at the Home Improvement store. Needed more thin set so we can lay more tile tomorrow. Plus we needed a mailbox for Rental #1. While we were in the store Doc said, “Let’s order the clothes washer and dryer now as well!” That was a surprise. Ordered today, delivery next month. Pat, the sales rep who helped us was delightful. I gave her a Penny Card and a quick debrief. It made her smile. Shared JOY.

As I was paying for our items, there was a penny in the self check out lane. Tweezers needed, but I got it! (Coin #3). As we walked out of the store, the alarm sounded. A nice sales assistant ran over to help us and apologized. I noticed a penny behind her and said, “No apology Needed. There was a reason for stopping right here”. So she, along with another cashier received a penny card and a condensed explanation of Penny Finders. More smiles. (Coin #4)

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Doc found a dime at KFC where he stopped for lunch then a penny in the Home Depot parking lot. (Doc Coins 1&2)

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Choices: There is some money budgeted for a new refrigerator. I could buy that new fridge or use our existing one which is 15 years old. It doesn’t have any fancy features, but it works well. Then I could use those funds and get a rack in the garage which could hold sheets of plywood, drywall, lumber, etc. Plus there would be funds remaining for 3 or 4 36” wide metal garage shelving units to organize tools, fasteners, paints and other gear. Which would YOU choose?

Total: 6 Coins P (5), N (0), D (1), Q (0) = $0.15

Day #1,159 - Role Reversal

On nights like tonight I can barely move. I certainly don’t FEEL like composing - a chore which I dread under even the best of circumstances. So I ask myself “WHY the H___ write these Tales?” This week several persons shared the challenges they are having in their lives. They say Penny Tales help lift their spirits. So for you my friends, I will share the escapades of the Penny Angels and the Penny Palace. May they bring you JOY.

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Yesterday tile Bob said he would begin a little later today (7 a.m.) so that I would have time to get my sleepy butt out to the jobsite. I gave him 30 minutes to set up before I arrived at 7:30. He had already placed a good number of tile, but was mixed up on some dimensions, so it was good I didn’t arrive any later.

The painters arrived around 8:30 and began acid washing the detached-garage floor.

At 9:30 the contractor from across the street came over and said they would be digging the pool today and would set aside some boulders as I had requested.

At noon the Slagle brothers arrived to work on the elf door, cabinets, and other finish work.

Spoke with our new neighbor to the South. That was a whirlwind conversation. At 1:30 Landscape Rod arrived with one of his students; yard and house tour time. He and Doc also ran the waterfall and confirmed it is loosing a great deal of water. Must be a broken pipe somewhere in the supply line. Not good.

At 2:30 Grader Rick arrived to take his backhoe to another job. Had him quickly fetch two huge boulders from across the street.

By 3 p.m. everyone had left except Doc and I. It was time to get serious about moving the STUFF out of the attached garage. I planned to clean for an hour until 4 p.m. and then take care of other errands.

For 3.5 hours Doc and I moved cases of tile, bags of mortar, sheet goods, crates, trash, cardboard, paint, etc. etc. By 5 p.m. I was exhausted (see video), but Doc kept pushing. This Role Reversal stuff was not much fun! By 5:30 p.m. I was almost in tears saying I could not take any more lifting.

At 6 p.m. a car pulled up. It was a gentleman who said he would like to buy a house in that neighborhood, would we like to sell ours? I told him the Penny Palace was not for sale. It was not merely concrete and lumber. There were miracles attached and there is no way to accurately price miracles.

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Doc and I finally left the Penny Palace at 6:40. We headed for a home improvement store to find a garage storage unit for Rental #1. We want to get the unit on-site by tomorrow morning.

At 7:30 p.m. we were both famished so went to a local steak house for dinner. That was actually a nice few quiet minutes together.

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I realized I had not found any coins today. So I walked next door to the grocery store and asked the Penny Angels to do their thing. I looked in each of the check out aisles and did not see any coins. Finally, at the last aisle there was one shiny penny. Done!

By 8:30 we were home feeding the dogs, making calls for tomorrow’s work session and responding to emails.

Doc found a dime and two pennies when he stopped for coffee this morning.

Total: 4 Coins P (3), N (0), D (1), Q (0) = $0.13

Day #1,158 - More Dirt

I spent the morning with Tile Bob and Tony. They were placing the Cappuccino colored tile on the secondary kitchen counter. Bob said it has been years since he has done a tile counter. No one uses tile any more - it is so Old Fashioned!

Doc went to the monthly Homeowners Association Meeting for Rental #2. We have submitted an application to re-roof the house and the board must approve it. We also requested permission to touch up the paint on the house.

Doc found 3 pennies in the planter bed and one penny inside the 7-11 store when he stopped for coffee. (Doc #1-4)

Late this morning a truck and tandem trailer load of topsoil was delivered to the Penny Palace. This afternoon Grader Rick came and moved it to various spots around the front yard. A year ago we began moving dirt and rocks and we are STILL moving dirt and rocks!

At 1:00 p.m. I met with Iron Jimmy to go over the details of the upstairs railing. It sounds like he forgot about the circles (to represent pennies) which we had discussed. I will need to get to his shop in the next day or two to check on that project.

This afternoon Doc and I cleaned out the detached garage. Now if we could just keep the STUFF from getting back in there … Tomorrow morning the painter is scheduled to begin the floor epoxy process.

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Doc and I locked up the jobsite at 4:30 and headed to Rental House #2 to meet potential renters. I stopped at a store for a piece of jerky and a penny. (Coin #1).

We met the renters - 3 adults, 3 kids. That would be six persons using one shower/tub. They all seemed to like the house and are planning to start the move in this weekend. Yikes! That means we need to finish all those last minute details.

On the way home I stopped to fuel Pippy. Collected 6 pennies and a nickel at that stop. (Coins #2-8)

We fed the dogs, split a can of soup, then headed out for our weekly grocery shopping. One dime and two pennies at the first grocery store, the same at the third grocery store. (Coins #9-14)

Total: 18 Coins P (15), N (1), D (2), Q (0) = $0.40

Day #1,157 - On the Money

This morning on the way to the Penny Palace Doc stopped for coffee. I took Sparky out for a walk. I did a SingSong to the Penny Angels. Sparky and I walked past the closed drive up window at the nearby fast food place. No coins. I looked and looked. Sparky decided to leave a pile right there in the planter by the window. I was not prepared with anything to clean it up. Poop! Then I found the bag of Penny Cards in my pocket. I emptied out the cards and then used the plastic bag to scoop the pile. Barely showing in the redwood bark mulch, was a penny right net to Sparky’s pile. He was almost “On the Money”. (Coin #1)

As Sparky and I walked back to the van, I was laughing. Found a quarter in the parking lot near the bank. (Coin #2).

Doc and I spent a few hours at the Penny Palace. Mostly working on the tile stream. We left at 3 p.m. and Doc needed a snack. Fish and chips and one penny at the Jack’s drive up window. (Coin #3)

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This evening we had dinner plans with friends who retired from Cal Poly Pomona 11 years ago. They now live in Wisconsin. 4 degrees (F) when they left home. Yikes! On the way to meeting with them I said, “Penny Angels, how about providing a penny while we are with the Rathmanns to let them witness this craziness!” We were shown to a booth, but the gentlemen did not like that spot, so we requested another table. We were asked to go stand in the lobby near the podium. We did. And there was a penny on the floor! I guess the Angels were marking “our spot!” (Coin #4)

Time flew as we enjoyed a delightful meal and conversation. As we stood and walked away from the table, there was a penny in our path. The Angels put in their 2¢ worth for that dinner. (Coin #5) Fun stuff.

Total: 5 Coins P (4), N (0), D (0), Q (1) = $0.29

Day #1,156 - More Visitors

We began our adventures today with a drive thru breakfast at McDonalds. Three pennies and four dimes collected there. (Coins #1-7)

Next we made several quick stops: Rental Property #1, a Tool Shop, a Paint Store, the Fixture Shop and Home Depot. No coins at any of those. Then Doc stopped for coffee. Super Shiny penny found there in the driveway. (Coin #8)

We arrived at the Penny Palace at 1 p.m. Brenda (one of our subcontractors) was there to show the project to a friend of hers. I like to see the expressions of first-time visitors. Somewhat like a kid seeing Christmas decorations and smiling with the JOY of the moment.

It has been said that the Grand Room of the Penny Palace resembles the lobby of a hotel. Hopefully that means it feels welcoming to guests. I really should create a guest book for visitors to sign. That would be fun.

Daughter-in-Law Laura came by for a few minutes to drop off something. She likes the Aussie room. I’m anxious to get the boomerang award and other mementos placed in there.

Doc and I did some clean-up work, concrete stain testing, hauling tiles, and work on the tile stream. By 6:30 I was frustrated by the lack of progress and gave up. I was not in a good mood. Doc took the van “off roading” to make me smile. We drove away from the Penny Palace using the circular dirt, but soon-to-be, concrete driveway for the very first time. That was fun.

On the way home we stopped at Lowe’s to get curtains for Rental #1. Then a quick stop for a Mexican counter meal where I collected a dime and a penny. (Coins #9&10).

This evening we are working on tax stuff and other “fun” things.

Total: 10 Coins P (5), N (0), D (5), Q (0) = $0.55

Day #1,155: Rock-N-Counters

Today’s abundance of activity helped to make up for yesterday’s lack of it.

When I arrived at the jobsite at 8 a.m., Neighbor Craig scolded me for sleeping in and getting to work so late. Grader Rick had already done some clearing and hauled off the first load of rocks and dirt. I wasn’t sleeping, I was making calls and taking care of business!

By 9 a.m. the Slagle brothers were calling me about purchasing some supplies on their way to the jobsite. Today they installed those 3 countertops Doc and I had bought. Those are ‘temporary’ space holders until we can save up enough money for Phase II of the cabinetry.

The landscaping and grading crews were impressive this afternoon. What a difference when the boulders were taken from the mass pile and placed strategically along the future pathway. There are a few rocks which I have grown quite fond of. They have personality. Truly awesome to see the boulders being “nestled” into their new positions.

Doc got concrete stain and coffee on his way to the jobsite. Then he drove out to Riverside (battling traffic) to get more wall capstones. He returned with the stones and two pennies.

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This afternoon Doc and I locked up the jobsite at 4 p.m. He headed to pick up the order of garage floor epoxy which came in today. I headed to the tile stores for the tile order which had arrived.

The contractor for Rental #2 has made tremendous progress this week. Thus I drove to his house to deliver a payment. He invited me to see the back yard and meet his dogs. How could I resist that offer? He had a lovely waterfall, pool, spa, and patio. He also had built a pool room which he was anxious to show me.

The pool room had lots of windows and very few furnishings. A pinball machine was near the entry door. My immediate thought was “Pennies could likely be found by a pinball machine, but not likely here in someone’s house. Besides, you don’t just go into someone’s house and take their coins!” But I couldn’t help at least looking in that direction. No pennies noticed. As Hank talked to me about various topics, I looked around the room - especially around that pinball machine (several times). As we were about to leave I looked one final time. A penny had appeared there! Did wishful thinking make it happen?

I told Hank a little about Penny Finding and how pennies seem to manifest. As we walked across the threshold to leave the room, there were two pennies in the doorway!

“COINcidence?”

Total: 5 Pennies

Day #1,154 - Red Cent

Absolutely picture-perfect weather, yet no one was working on site at the Penny Palace.

Spent the morning making phone calls and contacts regarding Penny Palace, rentals, and other projects. At 11:30 headed out for the bank and coffee. At the Penny Palace around noon to drop off countertops.

By 1 p.m. Doc was demanding lunch. As we were making a left turn into the shopping center Doc said, “There is a red coin outside my window”. Sure Honey! He jumped out to retrieve it and prove his case. (Coin #1). The penny had been painted over when the curb was painted red.

Red Cent according to Wiktionary: (US, colloquial) A very small amount of money. Usually used in the negative.

After lunch I walked over to the grocery store to find MY coin. Found one penny. (Coin #2).

We stopped at the water store to refill bottles for the workers. Three coins at that stop. (Coins #3-5).

The next stop was Rental #1. Doc cleaned the garage and lumber from the patio. I wrote several pages of notes listing things to do before renting it out.

At 4:30 Doc dropped me at home and headed for school. He finally came home around 10 p.m. That gave me a good five hours to deal with numerous incoming calls as well as to tackle some of the paper piles which have been collecting around the house for weeks.

Total: 5 Pennies

Day #1,153 - Delays

It rained most of the day and the yards are now saturated. That means we will not be running the irrigation lines Friday and Saturday. It also means we can’t coat the garage floors yet. More delays.

This morning I met Handyman George and Jose at the Penny Palace promptly at 8 a.m. The rain had ceased for a little while, so for the first 1.5 hours of the day we cleaned and rearranged some things down in the dungeon. Then we hauled boxes of flooring and leftover tile down there. Tonight my brain is happy by that progress, but my body is telling me it did not appreciate that work.

Most of the day it was raining pretty heavily and it was cold. George continued with drywall patching while I painted tile edging behind toilets locations. Then we chiseled away some edge tile where it had been placed accidentally. Unfortunately the tile took chucks of wallboard out too, so more repair work was needed.

At 11 a.m. a cabinet guy arrived to take measurements. These cabinets differ from the kitchen cabinets. (Commercial style vs. residential).

The painters were working today. They completed the walls on the detached garage and more touch-ups inside the house.

This morning Doc went out to breakfast, to Home Depot, to Lowe’s, then went for coffee. He obtained one planter penny. Doc arrived at the Penny Palace early afternoon to take lunch orders and then go procure the food.

George, Jose and I placed the remaining pieces of tile on Doc’s coffee bar. Those now need grouting.

At 4 p.m. Doc and I shut down the Penny Palace and headed for the paint store. One hour there to learn about and order the epoxy resin system for the garage floor coating. Just need 5 days of consecutive good weather in order to apply that. It is now mid-winter, so what are the chances of that?

The next 1.5 hours were spent at Lowe’s in purchasing 3 countertops and other supplies. After that I was ready to head home, but had no coin for the day! I went over to the nearby closed car wash and said, “OK Penny Angels, the car wash has been closed today, plus everyone knows you can’t find pennies in the dark, so Do It Anyway.” There was one penny near a planter area.

Total: 2 Pennies

Day #1,152 - Valentine's

This morning Doc and I awoke in anticipation of finally obtaining the teak bench from Thailand which I had discovered nearly two years ago in a warehouse. We had placed it on hold since we had no place large enough to keep it at our current house.

I checked emails first thing this morning and was amazed to find a chocolate bar and not one, but TWO Valentine’s cards from Doc on my keyboard! (Doc does not usually splurge to BUY cards).

Doc and Sparky went for coffee while I made calls and completed a few tasks. They found a shiny penny. (Doc #1)

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Doc and I had a great time getting the bench. While I was waiting in the side yard for the guys in the warehouse to roll up the door and load our bench, I said to the Penny Angels, "Wouldn't it make for a good story if I found today's penny HERE?" I looked around in the alley. Nothing. We loaded and tied down the bench. I was putting away my camera and there in the alley was today's penny! (Coin #1). That was a very good sign.

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Doc drove Pippy and the bench to the Penny Palace while I made some stops (4 hours) for supplies. I needed some lamp parts at Michaels where I also found a penny waxed into the floor. Used the screwdriver from my purse to pry the coin out. (Coin #2).

At the Penny Palace HVAC Steve installed the thermostats and connected the vents from the microwave and the cooktop. The painters finished the Belly Bands on the outside as well as many of the interior wall touch ups. Doc did some major cleaning in the detached garage in preparation for the painters.

The Penny Pendant was glowing in celebration of the One Year Anniversary.

This afternoon Doc met with the garage door installer at Rental #1. We called him yesterday and by today the job was finished!

Lots of email and minor projects to work on this evening. The Penny Palace demands much attention.

Hope Valentine’s Day was Sweet for You.

with Joy,

Tina

Total: 3 Pennies