Airport Antics

Today was the final day of our vacation.  EVERY day was magical and superseded our expectations.  The best part was being with our son and daughter-in-law on their honeymoon.  (They married five years ago, but had delayed their honeymoon).  All of us were acting like newlyweds again.

This morning we said goodbye to Brian and Celeste.  Then Doc and I called for an Uber ride to the nearest Fred Myers superstore for coffee, breakfast and Penny Finding!  The coffee, sandwich, fruit, etc. was under $10 for the two of us, but the ride to get there was $13!    LOL   We found 6 pennies and a dime inside the store, with an additional 5 pennies in the nearby gas station and car wash.   Mission accomplished.

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While eating breakfast I realized I had not bought any souvenirs to take home.  I searched the entire superstore for something unique and memorable.  Finally found these Steve Madden socks – Penny Socks! And they were marked down from $14 to $5 for the 5 pairs.  OK. Splurge! 

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One of the objectives of this trip was to test out Doc’s newly implanted knee.  He walked over 10,000 steps each day on this trip (usually 12,000-15,000) and yesterday logged over 18,000 steps!  It appears the new hardware is working quite well.  YAY!  The other knee however is complaining loudly and wanting replacement as well.

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At noon it was time to head to the airport.  Going through security took a really long time for Doc to take off all his accessories, take apart the contents of his medical bag, etc.  We finally cleared that hurdle and Doc headed for Starbucks and lunch.  I went Penny Finding.

I spotted a penny on the floor – under a sleeping older gentleman.  Now just how was I going to get that penny from underneath him without waking him?  I assessed the situation and finally determined to approach from the aisle behind the man.   I was reaching and stretching and trying to coax that penny closer to me.  I emerged with penny in hand.  A man in the next aisle quipped: “That was sure a lot of effort for a penny!”  My reply: “It’s not the Money, It’s the Message.”  By now several other passengers were listening and I had an audience.  That led to a brief explanation of Penny Finding as well as a few short Penny Tales. Within a few minutes the other passengers were all smiling at the stories and at each other.  I skipped away saying “JOY is Contagious – Help spread It!

Canine Coin Finds

This morning we disembarked the American Empress Paddlewheeler in Clarkston and took a motorcoach sightseeing tour to Spokane, WA.

 

It was noon before I found the first penny.  It was at the Looff Carousel.  (Photo 1). That met the minimum daily requirement.

After checking into the historic Davenport hotel, son Brian, his wife Celeste, Doc and I walked the town.  First stop was for coffee, second stop for lunch.  Then it was time for sightseeing and Penny Finding!!!!

We rode the Gondolas across the Spokane River Falls.  While Doc was buying the tickets, I was finding another Penny.  God's 2 cents worth for today. (Photo 2)

 

As we were walking, Celeste spotted two more pennies.  Doc and Brian had now gone three hours without a coffee.  It was time for a fix.  While they went inside the Starbucks, Celeste and I stood on the sidewalk watching people go by.

Down the street came two good looking Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.  That got my attention.  Time for some canine therapy!  (Doc NEEDS coffee, I need canine hugs).  I made eye contact with Radar, the darker dog.  He pulled over toward me and stopped -- on a Penny!  Seriously.  His front paw was inches from a penny!

Radar was a birthday gift to Kenley,  She and I struck up a conversation about pennies and angels and such.  She wants to be a writer.  She spotted another penny, then I spotted one, then she spotted one.  She kept her two coins and I kept my two.

It was a few moments of sheer JOY!!!!

Perhaps I can train MY MUTTS to Penny Find?

Midnight Crazy

Today Doc and I booked a shore excursion to the B Reactor which produced plutonium during WWII.  That tour would return us to the ship just in time to set sail at 5 p.m.

We realized there would be no time in the morning to go Penny Finding.  We wanted to have breakfast, hear the Riverlorian talk at 8 a.m., then take the first Hop on-Hop off bus at 9 a.m. around the loop.  Plus, one never knows how long it will take to find the daily coin.  It could take minutes or hours. It was too risky to wait until the morning to try and find a coin. 

Thus, Doc and I headed out around 11:15 p.m. last night.  We walked down the gangplank feeling like some of the young crew members who were heading out for a late Friday night on the town.  We walked and walked and walked.  It was dark and we traveled along a very busy highway, past closed businesses, a golf course, construction, etc.  Finally arrived at a 24 hr Winco Grocery Store.  The place was HUGE!!!!  And there was a penny as soon as we walked in the door.  YAY!  We found 2 more pennies and a dime.  Four coins a few minutes after midnight.  That qualifies for today! The streak continues!  Plus Doc completed a lap around the store (to make it over 15,000 steps for the day). His new knee hardware is doing really well. 

Had we not found a coin at that first store, we might have called Uber to go to the nearest Walmart for additional searching.  LOL

Are we crazy or What!?!?!?

Expectations Exceeded

I have just walked through four floors of this vessel and did not see any other passengers!  It seems everyone else went to bed by 10 p.m.! LOL

Hi Penny Pals-

I was not, Not, NOT going to spend time on the computer writing emails and such on this trip.  However, sometimes the JOY is so Huge, and the COINcidences such fun, that I have to share them with you or I might just burst if I tried to keep it all inside.

This morning we had a very informative walk along the shoreline with the ship's Riverlorian.  Great way to begin the day.

Then Doc, Brian, Celeste and I had a private tour of the Engine Room and Paddlewheel led by the Chief Engineer. (See Photo) Doc and Brian were relishing every moment of it.  That was even better than the unlimited coffee, cookies, fruit, popcorn, snacks, cheese, etc. on board.  And equivalent to having dinner with the Captain last night.  She was a wonderful host and we very much enjoyed that time with her.  

After a fantastic lunch it was time for Brian and Doc to go to the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum where every vehicle and plane areeither already operational or being restored so that eventually they will also be.  Doc and Brian had fun in a 1914 four-seater.

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Sorry for that slight detour.  It's just been such a great day!  Now on to the Penny Finding...

I went down the gangplank asking the Angels where I should go for today's coin.  They "nudged me" for KMart.  Turns out there is no Uber service in this town.  Alisia (one of the newer crew members whom I met last night) was standing out at the curb.  I asked her where she was headed.  She had just called for a taxi to take her to KMart!!!!  COINcidence?  I asked if I could share the ride and the fare.  She of course agreed.  When we arrived at the Kmart, we found the taxi driver did not have a card reader, so he wanted cash.  Alisia didn't have any cash, but I did.   COINcidence that the Angels put us together for that taxi ride???

After paying the fare to get to KMart, I found ZERO coins there.  Disappointment.  "So Angels, what now?  Why did you bring me here?  YOU are leading this dance.  Guide me!"

So I hit the streets of The Dalles, OR.  First stop -- Kentucky Fried Chicken drive up window.  Score! A Penny. "OK Angels that meets the Minimum Daily Requirement".  THANK YOU.  You know my motto "One coin is a Fluke, two is a sign from Heaven."  The next penny was found at a Chevron gas station.  "OK Angels.  I would be satisfied with that, but it is a 2.7 miles walk back to the ship, so feel free to throw in a few more coins if you want to play".

I kept walking.  While passing a local restaurant, I thought, "This is the kind of place Doc would like.  Looks like old folks would eat here and they would probably sit at those benches outside the entrance."  I detoured.  Sure enough, there was a penny under one of the benches.  The fourth penny was found at a car wash.

Conversation:  "Hey Angels, four coins is awesome.  You wanna shoot for FIVE and make it really impressive today?"  I walked across the street to the Fred Meyers Store.  "Angels, surely there is a penny here.  Please show me".  Within moments I saw a penny!  It was near the heels of a customer checking out.  He was distracted with the loading of his goods onto the belt.  I dove for the penny.  But then I spotted another penny and another!  How many could I grab before the man stepped back and onto my fingers?  I managed 7 pennies plus a quarter!!!!  "WOW Angels, that is Definitely a good haul!"  A few moments later there was a dime.  "Angels this is turning out to be really fun.  All we need is a nickel to complete the Hit for the Cycle (HFC)." (P,N, D, Q).  A few minutes later I spotted a silver shiny thing.  Sure enough - there was the requested nickel!"

That makes  11 Pennies, a nickel, a dime, and a quarter.  (H.F.C.)

I called for a taxi to return to the ship.  It was Jessie, the same driver from earlier.  He asked if I got what I needed in town.  "You Bet!"  That and MORE!

Brinx Delivery

Hi Penny Pals-

Doc and I are currently cruising up the Columbia River on the American Empress Paddlewheeler.  Today we are stopped in Stevenson WA.  I believe this is day #671 of continuous Penny Finding.  After walking through the very small town, we had found zero coins and I was getting nervous.

I put out a request:  "Hi Angels, I really need to find a penny today.  Please HELP!"  A moment later, Doc and I turned a corner and saw this.  I had to laugh!  A BRINX delivery of coins!  There is DEFINITELY a penny or two there!

When we first saw this deliveryman he had two cases of pennies on top of two cases of quarters!  Was he a Penny Angel?  I told the Angels, that their generosity was appreciated, but I really wanted a penny I could take home with me.  LOL  

P.S. Doc and I continued to walk around the town and found 2P, N, 3D, and a Q -- A HIT for the CYCLE!

Goodbye Friend

Today is Consecutive Day #658 of Penny Finding. A month since the last Penny Tale was posted. 

Goodbye Friend

Doc and I are sad today in the passing of our good friend Dundee.  He adopted us, then was a faithful companion for nearly fourteen years.

On the day our dog Norman died in 2015, we found only one coin – a 2015 D penny.    Doc and I generally find several coins each day so that was unusual.  From that point on, we determined that 2015 Pennies would be Norman’s way of communicating with us.  And there have been numerous circumstances when a 2015 Penny was found precisely when needed.

Today after we put Dundee down, Doc said “Dundee strikes me more as a nickel kinda guy.  Perhaps today we will find a nickel for him.”  (Note that nickels are the most difficult to find of the four standard coins).

Doc and I stopped at a grocery store.  Can you guess what we found?  Yup!  A NICKEL.  And not just any nickel, but a beautiful new 2019 one!  Perhaps symbolizing Dundee’s beautiful new body in heaven?  PLUS there was a 2015 penny along with it!  And if THAT wasn’t awesome enough…25 is my favorite number, so there was also a quarter there!  

That’s a pretty special assortment of three coins.

COINCIDENCE?