R.O.I.

For the past two weeks, my heart has been “Nudged” to work with / help a couple we know.  I reached out to the wife (D.B.) and she, too, feels as though we are “being led” to work together in this effort.  All last week, emails were flying back and forth.  Both of us are getting “nudgings” and “goosebumps” at the coincidences.  Unfortunately both husbands are resistant to this plan.  They see it as unwise financially.

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The weather today here is greater than 100 degrees and miserably humid.  I did NOT want to bother with the Penny Finding.  However, sometimes a walk is also a good time for “a talk” when there are concerns of the heart and brain.

Today’s Discussions with the Penny Angels

Tina pulling into Gas Station around Noon:

“Hi Angels.  How about a Quick Find today?  It is so hot and miserable.  I do not want to be outside”.

I hopped out of the truck and there was my penny within a few feet.  Yay.  Done!

Angels:

“No so fast.  God usually has a minimum of 2¢ worth to say every day.”

Tina:

“Enough.   Tell God I am really busy today. I have guests coming from Australia in about 3 hours and I have not even made my bed yet! I’m going home”

Angels:

“You are giving up too soon.  See THIS!”

There were 7 pennies in a pile as I walked back to my truck!

Tina:

“Well if you really ARE listening this morning, then talk to me about this project D.B. and I are working on.  Do we proceed?  What about angering our husband’s?”

“I have just found 8 pennies.  If you REALLY think I should go ahead with this other crazy project, then I challenge YOU to get me a quarter today.”

Angels:

“Go inside the convenience store.”

Tina

“NO!  I have guests arriving and I want to go home!  I don’t want to play your silly game!”

Of course I “obeyed and went inside”.  The gal at the register is one who has seen me come in over the past six years, so she smiled as I looked around.  She knew what I was doing…

I spotted a Penny,  OK.  I’m outta here..

Then I spotted something silver.  Got it!  A dime.

Tina:
“Whew!  Thank goodness it wasn’t a quarter so that I don’t have to deal with that crazy, extra work, extra cost project”.

Angels:

“Look deeper under that counter”

Tina:

“POOP!!!!  (Rated G version)  That’s a Quarter!!!!!  COINcidence??  I guess we need to proceed after all!

And just now as I am typing this, D.B. said she received a call with possible financial help on her side of all this!

Return On Investment is easy to calculate in terms of dollars and cents.  How do you determine R.O.I. when you invest your heart?

Day #1,391 - Gathering #2

Set Up

This morning Doc said we need to go out early - to find a coin (and to get him some breakfast and a coffee).  We went for Subway sandwiches and while Doc got the food, I wandered around searching for coins.  Found one penny under the bench in front of the ice cream shop.  (Coin #1)

Doc said one coin was not sufficient, so he drove across the street to the 7-11 gas station where I collected two more pennies.  (Coins #2&3).

Tour #1

Doc went off to school to teach his lab.  I spent an hour logging in the past three weeks of Penny Finds.  After that, it was total focus on getting the house ready.  Neighbor Priska (she was the person who proposed this whole Neighborhood Potluck idea) arrived at 1 p.m. to set up the tables and chairs.  Cleaning Maribel arrived at 2 p.m. to do her part.  Mom Kareen arrived to decorate the tables.

Elf Sighting

At 5 p.m. the guests began arriving.  It was a little slow at first, but then really picked up.  My goal was to have 20 neighborhood families represented.  Two days ago the count was 16.  There were some  RSVPs this morning and some walk-ins which made EXACTLY 20!  Another COINcidence?

Speaking of COINcidences … The weather forecast had warned of potential rain tonight.  This morning the hourly on-line predictions were cloudy at 10, 11, Noon, 1, 2, 3, then turning to Clear Skies at 4 p.m.!!!  PERFECT timing!

The neighbors really seemed to enjoy meeting each other, eating the delicious food (there was lots of it), and laughing at parts of the house such as the Dungeon and Elf Quarters.  One of the elves actually made a late-night appearance.

JOY Shared

Total:  3 Pennies

Day #1,387 - Gathering #1

When that alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. I did not appreciate it.  My body was wanting more than four hours of rest.  By 7:10 a.m. the dogs were fed and Doc and I were out the door.  Doc visited Subway for coffee and sandwiches while I went next door to the grocery store for toilet paper.  We could not go home without today’s coin, so we took an indirect route back to the van.  We collected a nickel, then a dime in the parking lot.  (Coins #1&2) As we were driving away, I noted that we still needed a Penny for PENNY Tales.  Doc said, “Keep your eyes open as we are leaving the parking lot.”  I immediately looked out my window and spotted a very run-over penny!  Sit-N-Find  (Coin #3)

Chairs Finally Arrive

Maribel arrived at 8 a.m. to do last-minute cleaning.  She worked for 3.5 hours until she had to leave for a wedding.

The 17 re-upholstered chairs which were expected earlier this week finally arrived at 9 a.m.  They look great.

My mom arrived at 2 p.m. to help for the evening.  She insisted upon creating centerpieces, so she went though the house looking for things to use.  Major detour from my scheduled set-up times.

House Tour

Dinner Time

At 4 p.m. the first persons (of the expected 40) arrived for the Potluck dinner.  From then until 10 p.m. it was food, chatter, house tours, the construction video, and more food. 

Oven Instructions

I had posted a sign on the Oven saying “Still trying to figure out what this device is used for”.  So Greg and Terry showed me with their delicious tray of Baked Ziti.

ME Department Persons

The buffet table was set up in the Dining Room, coffee and tea at Doc’s Coffee Bar, beverages and appetizers out on the Patio, the punch bowl in the Family Room, and the dining tables outside on the patio and driveway.  

The weather was perfect and the City lights were visible in the valley.

In a nutshell: People liked the Penny Palace”. 

I’m glad we found today’s coins early this morning, because I never thought about Penny Finding the rest of the day.

Total:  3 Coins        P (1), N (1), D (1), Q (0) = $0.16

Day #1,381 - Helping Hands

Door Wreath

This morning Doc and I tried to create a video from the photos we had selected.  After several unproductive hours, we were both frustrated.  Doc went out for food, I cried, sent two emails to friends I thought might help, and then attacked a few boxes.  One friend did call back and gave Doc some pointers.

Doc has a sore throat and has been coughing and sneezing all day.  This afternoon he just wanted to sleep.  But Fil had emailed and offered video advice, so Doc spent a few hours organizing the photos and trying to figure things out.

Wood Polishing

At 2 p.m. our friend Lita arrived to help me prepare the house for the upcoming events.  She oiled all the dining chairs, polished the wood tables and helped hang the front door wreath.   Then we created a poster of the neighborhood layout so guests could put indicators showing their house.  We assembled more Open House invitations and Neighborhood flyers.  It was over 100 degrees today, but we headed out for 45 minutes and delivered the remaining invitations.  Good to get those finished - especially since that event is just 10 days away.   It was really nice to have her loving pre’cents’ and helping hands.

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In order to find today’s coin I needed to get out of the house.  At 7:30 Doc and I headed out.  Doc said we should stop at the 7-11 store and look there.  We found 5 pennies and 2 dimes in the gas pumping and parking areas.  (Coins #1-7)

For dinner we visited an El Pollo Loco drive up window.  Doc had to get out of the van to “get to his wallet”.  (Which he keeps in his back pocket). He also bent over to collect a dime and two pennies. (Coins #8-10)

Doc had a craving for beef jerky, so we stopped at a convenience store.  We collected four pennies there.  (Coins #11-14)

Doc had also collected a nickel when he went to McDonalds for lunch. (Coin #15)

Total:  15 Coins        P (11), N (1), D (3), Q (0) = $0.46

Day #1,373 - Pandora's Box

3 Amigos

A friend from Texas was in town and wanted to see the Penny Palace.  At 7:30 Bob arrived for a house tour.  Then it was off to breakfast.  I think I made a big mistake in putting the three big guys together over biscuits and gravy. Conversation went all over the place.  Topics included: motorcycle riding, construction, motivating students, solar bikes, efficient vehicle components, the Abu Dhabi project, recruiting more females in the technology field, and then settled on tentative plans for an Electrathon race next year.  Pandora’s Box was opened!

Exciting Possibilities Ahead

I found one penny at the restaurant.

We took Guest Dan to the Pomona house for more packing work.  Since he is tall, he could take down our ceiling-hung coffee mug collection without using a ladder!  Saved me a bunch of time.

At noon we locked up the Pomona house and headed back to the Penny Palace.  Dan spent an hour coaching Doc and I on the Open House video we are creating.  That was a blessing.

Doc took Dan to the airport while I dealt with the plants and some of the boxes we had brought home.  Doc was exhausted from all the excitement of solar car talk.  He NEEDED to watch football in order to recover.

Total:  1 Penny

Day #1,372 - Doing Time

9 a.m.  Just conquered a Procrastination Project - the boxes in the Aussie Foyer.  Why am I finally tackling that? Because Doc is on his way to the airport to meet an incoming out-of-state guest who will be here later today.  Doc stopped for coffee at 7-11 before going to the airport.  Two pennies and a token of some sort there.  All three coins were very run over.  I stayed home to prepare the Guest Room and tidy the house just a wee bit.

Tablet Training

I expected the guys to head straight to Orange County for the scheduled meetings. Instead I stepped out of the shower to find them walking up to the front door!  Yikes.  Guest Dan spent and hour showing us his Tablet and telling us about the pilot program at his College.

Dan was here to meet with organizers at the Orange County Great Park where the Solar Decathlon will be held next year.

Shelf Moving

The guys left around 11:30 a.m. and I figured I had a good 6-7 hours to work on various projects - especially the upcoming Open House activities.  The guys called just after 2 p.m. and said they were on their way home! 

  

By the time the guys returned to the house, I had a “To Do List for them”.  They leveled the fridge, hung skeletons, adjusted shelving, etc.  At 5:30 p.m. we headed out to the Pomona house.  I wouldn’t feed Dan until he had “done an hour” of packing.

Delicate Moves

Doc stopped en route for a Starbucks coffee.  I found my penny in the parking lot there.  As we exited the freeway, Doc collected a Sit-n-Find penny.  Dan thought us insane.  We packed boxes at the Pomona house then headed home.  Stopped for a Hawaiian take away dinner on the way home.

Total:  5 Coins        P (4), N (0), D (0), Q (0) + a token = $0.04 + ???

Day #1,363 - Home Cookin'

Lumber Hauler

Last night I was sooo very tired that I fell asleep on MY sofa at 11 p.m.!  Doc woke me at midnight to say he was heading for bed.  After that one-hour nap, I was recharged and cranked on various projects until 4:30 a.m.

This morning my goal was to make significant progress on the Penny Palace Walking Tourbook.  Doc had other plans … he wanted me to work with him in the detached garage.  He was determined to get the pile of long lumber pieces transported and stacked in the dungeon.

Sofas Delivered

By Noon I had to get working on the Walking Tourbook.  My goal was to get a rough outline in place by 2 p.m. to email to a friend for a basic review.  At 1:15 the La Z Boy truck arrived.  Doc’s recliner, sofa and loveseat were carried into place.  Hope he likes them.

George was one of the delivery guys. I thanked him for his delivery to the Penny Palace, gave him a Penny Card and gave him the very short version of ‘the story’.  He left and I went back to work.  A few minutes later he rang the doorbell and asked for a signature he had forgotten to get.  His comment, “And while I am here, you said you were an engineer and I have this idea ….”  I cringed at what he might say, so I asked the Angels for an open mind and answers if needed.  George told me his idea and we had a good brainstorming session for 2-3 minutes.  I think he was inspired as he left saying, “I have a feeling it was no COINcidence that we met today”.

Sofas in Place

Ideas for PP Walking Guidebook

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For the next two hours I worked on the Walking Tour Guidebook.  By 5 p.m. I needed a break!  I was expecting someone at 6 p.m. so I made a very quick trip to hand-deliver 3 invitations, take another batch for mailing, and collect three pennies.  (Coins #1-3)  I was back home within 30 minutes to take a quick shower and prepare my documents.

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My mom had some pork loins which were about to spoil, so she offered to prepare and deliver them to us.  Also to serve as a “Thanks” for making her stay here during those few days after her knee injury.  She prepared a real, home-cooked meal!  (A rarity in this house).  Of course it meant that the stovetop was dirtied.

Recliner Testing

Mom Makin' Dinner

Around 9:45 p.m. Mom and I ‘hit the streets’ to deliver the first of the Neighborhood Potluck Flyers.  That was a very foolish thing to do in the dark.  I forgot to take a flashlight and tripped on an entryway step.  Went down on both hands and knees. Ouch!

We did meet one new couple who said for sure they would be at the potluck.  They had not even opened their envelope yet!  I will consider that the first official RSVP.  Yipee!

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Doc collected one penny with his early morning coffee run, then three pennies during his lunch run.  (Coins #4-7)

Total:  7 Pennies

Day #1,357 - Knock, Knock

Garage Cleaning

Doc agreed to another 1.5 hours in the garage this morning.  Made great progress - he agreed to give away 5 text books (out of dozens).  The rest were reboxed and moved into the garage attic.

Late morning there was a knock on the door. It was Jose - Pond Bryan’s father who owns the pool cleaning business.  We spoke for a few minutes about the pond maintenance, and then the conversation turned to construction.  Jose is currently building his retirement home in Honduras so I invited him inside to see the Penny Palace.  He liked it.  With some people, things just ‘click’ and flow easily.  Several times during the hour tour, Jose invited Doc and I to come visit his house when it is completed.  Hmmm …. had never considered Central America for travel - until now ….

Coffee Infusion

By then it was noon and we needed to get many things done yet today.  Doc headed out to turn in the beverage recyclables, donate a few items to the thrift store, and get the brakes on the van serviced.

With the house quiet, I was able to spend another hour working on the Open House tour Program.  Twelve pages so far at about the half way point.

At 4:15 I headed out to run some errands.  I missed the street for the post office where I was headed, so just kept going.  Then I took the wrong freeway offramp to my next stop.  I arrived at the upholstery shop one minute before they closed.  I was able to return the fabric swatches I checked out yesterday, but unfortunately owner Jose was not in the shop to take my order.    I will need to go there again.

At 5 p.m. Doc had just finished at the auto shop, so we met at the Pomona house.  We watered the plants, filled the ponds, took down the owl collector plates, and brought home the two remaining high stools (to be re-upholstered).

After that, Doc headed out for dinner, while I headed to my 6 p.m. meeting with Renter #1.  I knocked on the door - no answer.  She finally arrived at 6:30.  I spent an hour at that house, then another hour when I got home in writing a necessary letter.  Not fun energy expended on those.  I did find three pennies in the alley behind the house.  (Coins #1-3)

This evening Doc said he was pooped and I was to pretty much leave him alone.  At 9:30 his phone rang and then a knock on the door.  Son Stephen must be able to ‘cents’ Doc’s caffeine need, because he arrived bearing a Starbucks coffee!

I rolled coins and sorted out the shiny pennies.

Total: 3 pennies

Day #1,349 - Visitors

Waking up to find hundreds of visitors (ants) walking along my kitchen walls does not start the day in a good direction.

My goal was to get the Open House Invitations to the printer by the end of the month.  They were submitted today!  They look great and I expect them to arrive September 7.

I did some catching up on writing and posting Penny Tales.  It seems strange that I am having more trouble keeping up with the writing now (being “retired”) than I did when we were under construction.

Welcomed Guests

Since before construction began on this new house, I always felt that it would be much more than merely a residence for Doc and I.  People often ask, “such a large house for just the two of you?”  “Yes” … and “no”.   It’s difficult to explain, but I ‘cents’ that it is a ‘tool’ to be used for good purposes.  For instance today Sister-in-law Marty needed to meet with someone to give her CPR Refresher training.  That’s not something you can do at a coffee shop or restaurant with mannequins for the needed practice sessions.  So with less that an hour’s warning before their arrival, I changed out of pajamas, cleared the dining table, contained the doggies, and wiped away dead ants.  As Marty and Andre ‘Rescue’ were working, my heart was happy.  Yes!  This is what the Penny Palace was built for -- teaching, training, learning, sharing, JOY!

50% Off Sale

Added bonus:  Marty is a great cook and she brought me some pasta she had made.  Free food for using my floor?  You bet!

I was not able to complete my errands yesterday (urgent need to return home to work with the electricians), so Doc and I headed out this afternoon.  We first returned the sample upholstery fabrics we had checked out last Saturday.  The fabrics had been on sale at 40% off at the time, but the sale ended Saturday and I was wrestling because we really liked the three fabrics we chose. But at full price, that would be outrageous.  My Mom called earlier to say she had a flyer indicating all 54” Home Decorating Fabrics this week were 50% off At that store!!!  That’s even better.  So I placed my order with Eddie and expect those within 7-10 days.

There was a penny as I was leaving the fabric store.  Good Omen (Coin #1).  And while I was inside, Doc found a nickel by the newspaper stands outside.  (Coin #2)

Doc next wanted to purchase some new shirts.  He likes to go to WalMart where they usually have a good selection of 2X sizes under $10.  While he was browsing, I looked for coins.  I found two pennies  (Coins #3&4).  I returned to show Doc the coins and then I bent over to put them in my shoe (so they don’t fall out of my pocket).  There was a dime about 1” from my shoe!  I had truly “stopped on a dime!”  (Coin #5).  I found one additional  penny as we were checking out.  (Coin #6).

Total:  6 Coins        P (4), N (1), D (1), Q (0) = $0.19

Day #1,347 - Working at Home

Penny Palace Guest

Today I resolved to get work done at home.  My office has become almost impenetrable as I have shifted things from other areas of the house to my area where no one else dares to go.

There were calls and emails regarding the solar panel energy credit, ME potluck invitations, Open House activities, mom’s knee, and more.

Rockin and Rollin

Chaz requested a photo of Doc and I to put into the Open House invitation, so I asked neighbor Gladys if she would come over around noon to take a few pictures.

The afternoon seemed to fly by.  Neighbor Craig had recommended the floor cleaning system which he uses at his house.  When I asked him more about his equipment, he offered to bring it over to show me.  The lighting on the house was different by that time of day, so we had Craig also take a few photos.

I have eyes for you

Neighbor Gladys called after 5 to say her daughter Natalie was good with a camera; could she come over and take a few photos for fun?  OK.  Natalie was great!  She did not just point and shoot.  She had Doc and I taking photos as if those were our engagement photos or something!

I took a few photos of the front of the house which Chaz had requested for the Open House invitations.

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At 7:30 p.m. I realized I did not have any coin finds for today. (How could I if I had not left the house)?  Doc wanted to get a chicken for his dinner, so I offered to keep him company on the trip.  I grabbed my purse and felt a slight nudging, “Take the camera”.  I argued back, “Nahh.  I will find a penny or two.  Nothing worth photographing”.

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We were a mile from home when Doc said, “Let’s stop at the carwash and get you a coin mine.”  (A coin mine is more than 12 coins at one location).  I did not want to be negative out loud, but I thought to myself, “Yeah, sure.  Your just gonna pull into the parking lot of the closed car wash when it is nearly dark outside and scoop up 12 coins.  Dream on!”

To save time, Doc let me hop out of the van by the wash area while he drove a little further to park the car.  The car door had barely shut when I found a penny.  I tried to signal Doc, but he was parking.  By the time he parked, I had found a second penny.  I signaled to him that we could leave.  His body language told me to keep looking.  At which point the sun shone on a dime!  Then the sun glistened on a penny.  That penny led me close to a planter area near the street.  Quite a way from where any customers would be or where washing activities would take place.  I spotted a penny in the planter; then another and another.  Doc came over to see what I was doing in the dirt.  Then he started finding coins too!  The sun was going down and it was getting too dark to see any more, so we headed back to the van.  I was counting the coins in my hand - 24 coins!  That means a Coin Mine for Each of Us!  That was simply mind boggling!

I said out loud to the Angels,  “OK.  You sure proved me wrong - and you DOUBLED it!”  Awesome.  Then I got sassy.  “But you KNOW my favorite number is 25, not 24.  If you are listening, then how about one more?”  Before I reached the van, there was an additional penny.

(Coins #1-25)

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This morning Doc found a penny when he went for coffee (Coin #26) and this evening we collected a penny at our second stop.  (Coin #27)

Total:   27 Coins        P (23), N (2), D (2), Q (0) = $0.53