New Trainees

In discussions with our neighbors, Doc and I had mentioned how much we enjoy going for Chinese Accupressure massages. A 1-hour treatment is so effective and fairly inexpensive.  Our neighbors, Paul and Jay were a little hesitant to try it out on their own, so this evening Doc and I “showed them the ropes”.  It was fun to introduce them to the process and besides, my body needed the treatment. 

It was around 8:30 p.m. and dark outside when we emerged from the Chinese massage session.  We were all heading back to the car when I realized I had not yet found a coin today and mentioned that to everyone.  They laughed and said they wanted to “see me in action” and see how this Penny Finding stuff really works.  I asked them if they were serious?  They said “Yes”.

Now the pressure was on … Doc and Jay walked around the parking area to look for coins, while Paul and I dashed into the grocery store.  No coins after 5 minutes of searching.  So I sent a quiet plea to the Penny Angels, “PLEASE show these guys that Manifesting really does work”.  I asked the guys if they wanted to look a few more minutes and they agreed.  While Paul looked at the new Halloween store, I quickly ran into the Trader Joe’s.  Sure enough!  There was one shiny penny there!  Thank you Angels.  Of course, when I emerged from the store, the guys were saying “Yeah, sure, you FOUND a penny in there. You probably just took it out of your purse!”

I asked the guys if they were willing to spend 10 more minutes searching and playing?  If so, we would go across the street to the closed car wash area where I was pretty sure each of them would be able to find a coin of their own (even in the dark). 

The guys agreed to go to the car wash.  I was desperately praying, “C’mon Angels, don’t let me down now.  Help them find coins”.  Doc parked the van, we got out flashlights, and began our searching.  At first I saw nothing in the usual main area.  Then on a raised curb, I noticed a pile of debris.  I shined the flashlight on it.  No way!!!  A PILE of pennies!  There were at least 25 pennies and one dime sitting in a pile!  That sure made believers of everyone.  We continued to look around in other areas.  Paul and Jay each found two pennies and Doc collected three.  We joked about what the guys would tell their coworkers.  “This weekend I experienced a Chinese Foot Massage followed by a Penny Finding Training Session”!  Life is Hilarious.

Coin Count:   41 Coins            38 (P), 0 (N),  3 (D), 0 (Q) = $0.68

Angel George

Do any of you know why Friday, the 13^th is supposed to be a bad thing?  In our case, it was a Great Day!

We awoke in our St. George, UT hotel room and then enjoyed the free continental breakfast.  Biscuits and gravy (which Doc enjoys) were even included in the buffet.  Just as we were finishing our meal, the Realtor called to say a second offer had been made on the sale of Doc’s Parents’s house.  This was good news since the first offer was significantly lower than the amount for which we had listed the house.  A good way to start the day.

We packed our bags and headed for home.  A stop for petrol yielded a penny and a dime.  A stop at the Mad Greek Café in Baker provided another penny  (as well as a delicious meal).  A nice way to continue the day.

It was sunset and we were just a mile from home when Doc said, “Let’s stop at the car wash. It has been a week since we have been there.  Surely there will be a few coins.  Besides, I need more steps to make my 10,000 goal for today.  We have been sitting for too many hours”. 

I agreed to make a QUICK stop at the closed car wash.  We began searching.  There was a man servicing the advertising kiosk.  After a few minutes, he asked what I might be doing.  I said “walking to get more steps”.  Then I confessed I was really Penny Finding.  He said that would be good exercise.  I replied there was much more to the story.

George's Gift

The man said he had a few pennies in his truck and that I was welcome to take those.  I of course told him those coins would not be considered “Found” coins, but I would accept them and add them to the collection to donate.  He opened his truck door and said to go ahead and grab the coins. I took the coins and thanked him for the 4 pennies.  He said “Four?  No, I meant the ones in the cup holder”.  The holder was overflowing!  I could not hold all the pennies in one hand.  I ran back to my car, deposited the coins, fetched a Penny Card and ran back.  I gave George my card, he gave me one of his, and then he drove off before I could find Doc to get a picture of the Penny Angel.

Evidently Doc was off doing some serious penny finding of his own - including a Mexican 2 Peso piece.  Doc says perhaps that is an indicator of upcoming travel?  A nice way to end the day.

Coin Count:   26 Coins            22 (P), 1 (N),  2 (D), 0 (Q) + 1 Foreign = $0.47 + 2 Pesos

From Penny Angel George:                        88 Pennies

Traveling Angels

Even though Doc and I are on vacation, the Penny Angels are traveling with us.

Rock Washing

Remember the red clay dirt covered rocks we collected last night and my mud saturated shoes?   Doc had a brilliant idea ... a self-serve car wash!  So this morning we headed out in search of one.  Within 1/2 mile from our hotel Doc turned down a road which lead to a dead end -- at a car wash!  It was a deluxe facility and worked spectacularly for cleaning my shoes and the rocks.  Doc and I were laughing.  For $2 we had such a fun morning!

Next Doc wanted to go to next door to WalMart for bananas.  I was not excited about going there and wasting our vacation time, but realized that coin finds would be much more likely in the store than in Snow Canyon State Park where we were planning to spend the afternoon.   We found 2 pennies and a dime at WalMart. (Coins #1-3).

***********
We were trying to get a little bit of the feel for St. George, so we visited the Chamber of Commerce and embarked upon a walking tour of the Historic Downtown area. We made it one block before I found a wonderful consignment shop with some things I had been seeking for the Penny Palace!  Thanks Angels!    Had to then shuttle those goodies (and a few additional items) back to the van.

As we proceeded on our walking tour we found 3 pennies and a nickel.  Doc spotted one of the pennies under a bench at the old jail.  (Coin #4-7).  We discovered the Painted Pony Restaurant for lunch. Delicious!  Initially we were the only ones there.  Doc spied something glistening about 30 ft. away ... sure enough -- a shiny penny!  (Coin #8)

***********
Doc  insisted upon getting a Starbucks coffee (it had been several days without one by now) before embarking on a hike of any sort.  So we drove to the outskirts of town.  While Doc got his 'fix', I walked the parking lot and found a penny (Coin #9).  I was disappointed to find no quarters.  Doc came out of the shop with his coffee -- and a quarter he had found on the floor inside!  (Coin #10 and Hit for the Cycle!)

***********
Snow Canyon State Park was next on our agenda.  The young lady who checked us into the hotel recommended it.  Doc and I were not expecting much.  Wow. We were astonished.  Spectacular scenery.  Hiking trails of various distances and difficulty.  We were thrilled.

On our hike atop the Petrified Dunes we discovered little pellets all around us.  We wondered how those originated on top of the hills?  Surely the strong winds and rains would wash them off the slopes?  There was no one in sight in any direction.  An "Angel" appeared just then.  He told us about the Moki Marbles. He visits the park each year from Germany (where I was born) because the park calls to him.  Was that merely "COINcidence"  that this man should appear?  After providing our answer he was gone ...

Penny "In the Brush"

We only saw about a dozen other cars in the entire park.  On the brief hike along the Pioneer Names Trail Doc "went behind a bush for a moment".  I heard him laughing. He called to me "Come here.  You gotta see this".  Keep in mind we were 1/4 mile from the road and well into the brush.  I wondered What he could have discovered?  Sure enough, in the mud was a Penny!  (Coin #11)  The Penny Angels definitely have a "cents" of humor!

It was 7 p.m. and getting dark, but too early to go back to the hotel. Doc and I went cruising.  Stopped at a little country store in Ivins, UT for a sandwich and some fruit for dinner.  I spotted a penny even before opening the van door and Doc found a penny inside the store.  (Coins #12&13)

The Penny Angels make such Great Traveling Partners.  Penny Finding makes for inexpensive and hilarious entertainment.

Coin Count:   13 Coins            10 (P), 1 (N),  1 (D), 1 (Q) = $0.50

Raining Pennies?

This morning Doc and I awoke in Zion National Park.  There is no way to adequately describe the beauty of this place and how the terrain and conditions are changing every minute.

Doc at Virgin River

After a delicious breakfast at the Zion Lodge, at 9 a.m. we met up with Ranger Erin for an interpretive tram tour along the scenic drive of the Canyon.  We returned to pack up our suitcases and check out. It was Noon and as I headed to the Check Out desk of the hotel, I was talking to the Angels.  "I can't believe with the thousands of people here from all nations, I haven't found one single coin within the park!  This place is pristine!"  As I stepped forward to turn in my keys, there was a penny by my foot!  Wow Angels, that was nice.  Then a second penny in the gift shop!  (Coins #1&2).

Flash Waterfall on Trail

Doc and I next went for a 2-mile walk along the Virgin River out to the Narrows.  Several trails were closed due to flash flood alerts. The previous three days had made for incredible flash waterfalls.  Even the simple trail we were on was affected.  We came around one corner to find an amazing cascade of water  and 60 mph gusts which other hikers told us had not been in existence just 15 minutes prior to our arrival.  We considered turning around, but chose instead to dive through it.  What an experience!

"Little Spider"

Doc hates spiders.  So he practically jumped out of his shoes when I said, "Be careful not to step on the tarantula in front of you!"

***********
Doc and I were looking forward to driving through the tunnel since so many people recommended  that scenic drive.  The Rangers were just shutting down the highway due to the rains and slides.  :-(  We were very disappointed and headed instead to St. George for our next lodging place.

The next penny (Coin #3) was found at a roadside fruit stand near the Park.  Can you believe the produce was on the "honor system" stand?  We bought 3 pears.

***********
As we approached the outskirts of Hurricane, UT the song playing on the radio was "Pennies from Heaven" - a version I had not heard before. Some of the words include "Every time it rains, it rains Penny from Heaven.  Every cloud contains ... Pennies from Heaven.  Be sure that your umbrella is upside down."  It was drizzling slightly at that point.

As Doc was driving down the street, I had a "nudging" and asked Doc to park the van.  I hopped out and found a penny on the sidewalk, then another, then another, then another... Doc joined me and we kept gobbling coins until we had collected 21 pennies and a dime!!!!  (Coins #4-26).  It truly felt like it had Rained Pennies from Heaven!

As Doc drove around the block to get back onto the highway, something caught his eye.  It was a nickel in the street!  (Coin #27).

Of course we were now saying we just needed a quarter for a "Hit for the Cycle.."

***********
Next we checked into the hotel in St. George, UT.  The sun was setting and it was a beautiful evening, so of course we enjoyed that time.  There was a deserted vacant lot next to the hotel.  It seemed that truckloads of debris had been dumped there.  So I slipped and slid in the mud to collect some pretty rocks.  The rocks and my shoes were totally covered in mud.  Doc just shook his head and tried to find some plastic bags in the car so that the red dirt could be semi-contained.

The next phase of our "romantic evening" was a trip to KMart.  Doc instantly found a penny. (Coin #28)  I was still hoping for that Quarter ...  After paying for our merchandise, as we were leaving I could not resist checking the coin returns on the game machines.  Slots 1-3 yielded nothing, but the 4th return provided the requested quarter.  (Coin #28) Wow!  Thanks Angels for One Awesome Day!

Coin Count:   28 Coins            25 (P), 1 (N),  1 (D), 1 (Q) = $0.65

Triple Play

Wow.  It has been nearly two months since I have written a Penny Tale.  Finding the daily Pennies (or other coins) is so easy; it is the writing which is difficult for me.

There were coin finds EVERY DAY in both July and August.  That’s at least 62 consecutive days.  I maintain a spreadsheet detailing the data of how many found each day and where.  (For any of you data nerds who want validation).  For the normal people here is a summary:

July Count:   397 Coins            329 (P), 18 (N),  37 (D), 7 (Q) + 6 Other = $9.64 + ?

August Count:   321 Coins            248 (P), 9 (N),  42 (D),  17 (Q) + 5 Other = $11.38 + ?

And of course there were numerous mind-boggling stories, escapades and encounters along the way along with some silly coins (like the taco quarter).

*********************

*********************

Today’s Penny Tale is an example of Walks and Talks with the Penny Angels …

Each Sunday morning Doc stops at Starbucks on his way to the Weight Watchers meeting.  He buys coffee, I walk the parking lot.  This morning I was saying Good Morning to the Penny Angels and telling them that I did not really want to walk because the asphalt was unbearably hot.  Within moments I found a dime and two pennies.  Thanks Angels for making that so quick.  (Coins #1-3).  I was satisfied for the day.

Later in the afternoon, Doc wanted to go for a walk in order to achieve his daily 10,000 Step Goal.  It was at sunset, so we decided to make it a scenic walk as well and wandered through the campus of the local community college.  I spotted two nickels under a soda vending machine.  (Coins #4&5) Wow!  Nickels.  That meant we just needed a quarter to score a Hit for the Cycle.  Doc looked in the coin return of another machine and immediately had a quarter!  Nice.  (Coin #6)

We walked around the campus a little longer and found four pennies.  (Coins #7-10). We were headed back to the van when Doc pointed out another soda vending machine and told me to go get a quarter. (Note: that was more of a directive versus a request).  I scampered off to go investigate.  When I returned to Doc he asked, “Did you find a quarter under that machine?  I answered, “No. Nothing UNDER the machine”.  “But I DID find a quarter in the coin return slot!”  (Coin #11).

***********

By then I had caught Penny Fever.  We just needed another dime and we would have a Double Hit for the Cycle (H.F.C.)!  Although we were in a hurry to get our grocery shopping completed and get home, it was sunset and I KNEW there would be coins just glistening in the diminishing light for me at the closed car wash.  That must be how gamblers feel … just one more roll of the dice …

As we drove to the car wash, I was saying, “Dime, dime, dime …”  Doc parked the car. I hopped out and shut my door.  There was the dime gleaming in the sun!  With a penny next to it.  (After all, these are PENNY Angels fulfilling my DIME request.)  (Coins #12&13).  Wow.  What a great example of verbalizing and manifesting.

Since we had already parked at the car wash, I had to at least walk around a little bit.  We found a dime and five more pennies.  (Coins #14-19)

***********

We finally made it to the first grocery store.  As I walked in, there was a penny.  Then in the coin return of a closed check out lane there were several coins.  I scooped them up and didn’t open my hand until reaching the produce section.  There were 4P, 1N, and THREE Dimes!  I had asked the Angels for Dimes tonight.  Wow.  One more penny as we paid for our groceries.  (Coins #20-29).

On the drive to the second grocery store I noted to Doc, “Three Nickels in a day is very rare.  Do you realize one more quarter would make a Triple Hit for the Cycle?  Where can we for sure find another quarter?”   His reply, “The only place I can guarantee you will find a quarter right now is in my pocket!”  We laughed.  I again reminded him that if EVER he planted a coin for me or lied to me about a coin find, it would be grounds for divorce.  He could mess around with another woman, but he’d better NEVER mess around with the integrity of my Penny Finding!   ;-)

When Doc parked the van, I hopped out repeating, “Quarter, quarter, quarter …”  Doc went into the grocery store and I walked around the parking lot.  Finally I headed to the grocery store (and air conditioning).  I was still talking to the Angels:  “I don’t know.  Maybe I’m being greedy asking for more, more, more.  Maybe I should minimize my desires/requests.  Should I give up?”  As I approached the doors to the store:  “Penny Angels, we are at the bottom of the 9^th inning with bases loaded. One Quarter will make this a TRIPLE H.F.C. Day.  It will also make a compeling story for the readers and lesson about Asking and Manifesting.  It is YOUR decision.  I know you are capable of this.”  I walked past a row of newspaper dispensing machines.  In the coin return of very last one was the quarter!!!!  I stood there in awe. 

Guess the Angels wanted their story told today.

Coin Count:   31 Coins            19 (P), 3 (N),  6 (D), 3 (Q) = $1.69