Twas the Day Before Christmas...

When all through the malls,
The crowds were hustling and bustling,
Stressing about...

I host my family Christmas Eve dinner. It's quite the event. This year the house sparkled and shone. There are sparkles on my mantle, on the banister, on the tree and little sparkly things that have trudged all through the house.

We were expecting 19 for dinner so the dinner table is quite cosy and tight.  We don't eat meat on Christmas Eve; it's seafood galore. Because it's a fishy meal, it's best to buy some of the fish day of so I had to run to the grocery stores in the morning. I hate crowds so lucky for me there weren't many people out shopping yet. I did find a lone cent in lying on the floor in one of the grocery stores I went to.  The year of the penny was 1972 which also happens to be the only year I went to see a department store Santa and had my photo taken with him.

For anyone interested in what was on the menu this year I made a fabulous mushroom soup, salmon with Hollandaise sauce, pickerel, shrimp, muscles in a white wine sauce, rice, three types of pierogi (I didn't make them), herring (delicacy made by my sister-in-law), vegetable salad made by the same (sister-in-law), yummy fried white fish (made by my mother-in-law), holiday salad (made by a close friend who always joins our Christmas Eve celebration with her family), and grilled peppers with pesto and feta cheese (delicious dish made by my other other sister-in-law). Lots and lots of wine and beer and other alcoholic beverages were consumed.

We had many desserts for Santa to choose from: we had two types of cheese cake, lemon tarts, apple cake, many different types of cookies and white chocolate and cranberry cake (I made the cake - I'm not a baker so although it tasted good, I couldn't get it out of the pan).

Gifts were opened, laughter, warmth and love of family was shared all about.

Hope your Christmas was as enjoyable as mine and your family is as wonderful and loving as I am blessed to have.

"... and heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight..

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

The forgotten find

I totally forgot to write about this find.  This happened last week. I was walking at lunch time with one of my work friends along King Street. We were heading to the book store. She was on a quest and I was joining her. We were heading west, on the south side of King. Just before we hit John Street,  I found a student/senior TTC ticket.  This ticket is worth $1.65. Although it's not a coin, it's still worth something.

The Night Cent

It's days til Christmas and still so many gifts left to buy.  I went to my local mall. I needed a Zellers. I broke one of my Christmas storage containers when I was taking it down from the shelf and needed to replace it. On my way from my car to the store I found a 1985 penny in the parking lot.

 And my luck continued. Zellers, much to my delight, was having a two for one sale on their Rubbermaid containers so I got a couple plus some goodies for my pooch for Christmas. Plus, I found a stocking stuffer for my husband. He needs a new wallet and is quite picky about them so when I left Zellers and went wandering through the mall, I found a leather wallet with all the features he likes, plus it was on sale.

This was a good day.

Monday break cent

The Boomtown Rats sang about not liking Monday's. Ok, the song was about about a girl who shot a bunch of people at her school cause she didn't like Mondays but I think Mondays are not so bad, they just seem to come around very quickly.

Yes, I'm tired on a Monday and have a hard time hauling my butt out of bed and scramble out of the house, rushing to the train station hoping I don't miss it. On the plus side, most Monday's I find a  "copper" or two, like today.

I went on a my morning break with a co-worker - she needed stuff from one store, I needed stuff from the drug store so she did her thing and I did mine. I happen to have needed chips today - it's just that kind of day. Pringles were on sale so I bought the healthy type - multigrain cheddar and also regular Pringles. As I was paying for them I spotted a penny by the check out next to the one I was at. No one claimed it so I gracefully swooped down and nabbed that cent. Now that 1973 penny has joined the rest of my collection.

Saturday Cent

Christmas is fast approaching and I have lots of Christmas shopping to do. Saturday (December 17) I psyched myself and headed to the mall. I usually try to avoid the mall on a Saturday especially a Saturday, one week before Christmas. I hate crowds and let me tell you the parking lot was busy and the mall even busier.

I coerced my daughter to come with me and we went out in the afternoon. We found a parking spot - no problem. As we walked toward the mall from the parking lot we had to cross a road. It was on the road that a spotted a very worn 1986 penny. Nearly got hit by a car picking that sucker up.

We had a mission so the plan was to be in and out as quickly as possible. I bought my daughters silver sequence tops for the holidays. They will sparkle for our Christmas Eve family dinner which is important this year as this year's family dinner party has a theme - sparkle and bling. We got a couple other things and left before the crowds really annoyed us.

Manic Monday

So, today I drove into work with my husband. We were a little late leaving the house which meant that I just missed my train and would have been late.

The drive in was great - not a lot of traffic. We flew downtown and I was even early. No coins were found on my way in but I did find a quarter on my lunch time. I decided to do some Christmas shopping at lunch and had a mission. I headed west on King and north on Peter - destination The Gap on Queen Street.  I was on Peter, just south of Queen by the side of the building that houses the Gap and I found a 2006 quarter.  This made me very happy.

Fabulous Friday

Friday (December 9) I had a fabulous day.

My husband's car  is still getting beautified. He had the day off and drove me to the train station. I got off at my usual stop and took my usual route to the office which means I take the stairs from back road to Front Street and jay walk across Front Street. I avoid crowds that way and the street isn't that busy in the morning. I often cut across this parking lot on the north east corner of Front and Simcoe. I an empty spot facing Simcoe I found a 1940 Canadian penny.

Later, I was meeting a friend for lunch. We were going to this Korean place on Queen Street. We were heading north on Duncan Street when  I spotted a 2010 dime in a crevice between sidewalk. It was found on the east side of Duncan, just north Adelaide.

My grand total for Friday was 11 cents.

Not another manic Monday or Tuesday.

Yesterday (Monday) was a horrible day. It was a grey, rainy day - bleh. That was the yucky part of the day. On the bright side of the day,  I found 20 cents - a 2011 Canadian dime and a 1966 US dime.

My husband's car is in the car plastic surgery shop. Yup, that's what you call it when the car is getting some minor body repair work and a paint job. We're making this old car look new(er). So while it's getting done, we have to commute together which means we drive to the subway - he takes the TTC and I  take the GO - both are available at the same same location. While I was walking from the car to the station, lying beside some black car, in a bit of water (water cause it's raining) were the two dimes.

Today (Tuesday) I had my night course - final exam. Yup, it was difficult but somehow I muddled through. After the ordeal of writing the test, I was walking to the GO bus stop. On the south side of King Street, across from St. James Park (nice to see the Occupy tents gone and the now muddy park), right beside a parking metre was another US dime - 1965 tonight.

30 cents in two days - not bad.

Cash out pennies

I have a weekly lunch date with a friend. We used to work together many years ago. We still work for the same company but in different offices now. Our offices are across the courtyard from each other so we meet weekly to eat, catch up, gossip and sometimes, if there's time, we shop. We usually meet on a Thursday or Friday and have our staple of local restaurants we hit.

On Friday (December 2) we met at our usual Japanese place. Food is good, cheap and fast. There's the odd item on the menu that's so-so like their tempura (I think they cook it ahead of time and let it sit so by the time you get it, it's warm (not hot) and soggy.  The service is fast so often we have shopping time once we're done eating. On this date, we went to a discount book shop (BMV). I did buy a book - a hardcover version of Stephen King's On Writing for $4.99. After I had paid for my book, I looked down and found a 1999 penny by the check out. It was so shiny, it looked new.

Today (December 4), my mother-in-law (MIL) and I went to visit my mom who's currently in the hospital. The visit was pleasant. The mother's were exchanging growing up on a farm in Eastern Europe stories amongst others. After the visit, MIL and I popped into a grocery store. I needed to pick up a couple of things. The grocery store was huge - one I'd never been to before but we pass it en route to the hospital.  I picked up what I needed and went to the self checkout. When I was picking up my items off the check-out thingy, I spotted a shiny 2007 penny - it looked brand new. It wasn't my penny - must have been dropped by a previous shopper. I'm surprised that sensor didn't sense that penny lying there. That thing usually senses everything.

Coin find catch up Part III

I've been so busy this last week and half that I haven't had a chance to write about my great finds. I wish I could be cloned so one of me could do all that I have to do and the other me could do all that I want to do.

Last Wednesday (November 23), I found four pennies. I went for morning break with a co-worker for a walk. She needed to do some banking and the bank (Scotiabank) is about three blocks from where we work. While she was in the bank doing her thing, I waited outside. This bank is on the northeast corner of Queen and McCaul so while I was wandering, checking out local eatery menus I found a 1982 penny in front of the bank.

Later that same day, I was walking with a couple co-workers at lunch time. There's an outdoor parking lot on the corner of Mercer Street and Blue Jays Way. On the Mercer Street sidewalk, in some dirt by the parking lot I found three pennies: a shiny new 2011 penny,  nondescript 2007 and 1986 pennies.

Monday (November 28) started off well enough. I got up in plenty of time, got ready quickly and had time to kill so I decided to do some stuff and next thing you know, I'm rushing out the door cause now I'm late. And guess what - yes I just missed my train. Hate when that happens. Anyway, now I have time to kill before the next train comes so I decided to go to the newspaper boxes and get the free papers when I noticed a 2007 penny by the middle entrance to the train platform.

Then on Tuesday, on my way to work, after leaving the train station and walking along that back road toward my destination, I found a TTC token. That sucker is worth just under $3. That was a good find!

Tonight was the last night of one of my night courses. We had the final exam and it was brutal. It's been a long time since I've had to write an exam and this was a tough one. A bunch of us were going for a post exam drink to a pub that's right across the street from the college. On the street, right by the sidewalk in from of the pub, I found a shiny new 2011 penny. It was a little worn around the edges, I guess from all the cars that would have driven over it.

Four in one

 7:45ish am seems to be a lucky time for me as I find many of the lost coins on my way into work. Today was an especially lucky coin finding day. En route to the office, on the sidewalk in front of 156 Front Street, I found four pennies near a lamp post (I think) by a discard box. They were all of different years: 1950, 1974,1999, and 1952-2002.

One day I'll remember to start carrying a camera with me everywhere I go so I can take a picture of the coins in their "found" location.  Then I'll have to remember to upload and post those pictures. I do a camera on my cell phone but it takes lousy pictures and I still haven't figured out how to upload the pictures saved on my camera. One day. Soon. I hope.

Coin find catch up Part II

Don't know what happens. I always intend to write about my coin finds the day they happen but lately it seems, I don't have the time and then I have to catch up. I do jot notes as to where I find them. That keeps me somewhat organized.

November 17 (Thursday) started as a routine day - got up, did my morning thing, got to the train station (no running for the train which was nice) and got off at my stop. On my walk from the train station to work, at 7:45 am,  I found a 1952-2002 penny on Front Street in front of the Canyon Creek Chop House. Ok. It wasn't on the street but on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Some man walking behind me make a comment about my lucky find - something about it being my lucky day since I found the penny. And I guess it was, cause I'm up one penny.

On this day, I was getting an award as a team member of project that was nominated and won and teamwork IT award. After the ceremony, a couple of my teammates and I went to a local pub for a celebratory drink and snack. We left the pub and went our separate ways. I went to my night class. I took a different route this time (it's good to change things up once in a while). I decided to walk to Church Street and go south. On the sidewalk in front of 65 Church street (the office to St. James Cathedral) I found a 2007 quarter.

And then today - Sunday, I had a few errands to run. My daughter is going to a semi and needed some fancy shoes. She found a pair that she liked at Payless but the one she went to didn't have her size so I promised I would take her shopping today. We went to a different Payless and she tried the shoes on but didn't like the way they looked on, so we went to a Shoe Company (which happened to be in the same shopping area). We were crossing the road to the to the Shoe Company when I spotted a 2009 dime. I nearly got myself killed picking up the stupid coin up as it was in the middle of the road between two parking areas. The things I do to collect these coins. Anyway, my find is a little worn around the edges, I guess from all the cars that have run over it. 

Coin find catch up

It's been weeks since I last wrote anything. Street coins are scarce. And then I get lucky and find 12 cents in four days.

Wednesday morning I parked my car at it's usual location at the Go station. Not always the same spot but the same general area. Nothing exciting about that. Just another routine day. And I didn't have to run for the train which was nice - got there in plenty of time. Went to work, did my thing, took the evening train home. Strolled to my car and that's when it got exciting. There was a 2011 dime right beside my car. It was lying in wait by the driver's door. Why the excitement? Well, the dime wasn't there in the morning yet it magically appeared at home time.

Friday night I had to take my mother to emergency. Nothing serious. The staff at this hospital were great. We were there for many hours which was the drawback but at the end of it all, they sent her home with stuff that would help with what ailed her.  When they discharged her, I left her waiting by the door while I went to get my car and there under the covered emergency entrance was a very battered penny, year unknown as it was hard to make out. It had definitely seen better days; it was no longer round as some of the edges were missing, and it looked like it have been run over many many times (and it probably was by ambulances, cars and stretchers).

Today (Sunday) I went to my favourite deli to get some European bread, deli meats, and other treats. As my stuff was being run through the cash I noticed a penny on the ground - a 1998 penny. Considering it's age, it was still pretty shiny.

The Saturday Cent

It was time to wash that grey right out of my hair. I was way past due getting my hair done and since I was going out with my husband Saturday night (we were going to Roy Thompson Hall to watch the Wizard of Oz and listen to the TSO play the musical score) I wanted that grey gone.

I had a hair appointment Saturday morning. As I got out of my car, right beside it was a 1975 penny.

As a side note, the presentation of the movie with the TSO was great. The live score added to the enjoyment of the movie. When I bought the tickets, the box office girl said that attendees were encouraged to dress up and so I did.  I wanted to go as Glinda but wound up going as the Wicked Witch of the West. Many in the audience were dressed up. The row in front of us had two members of the Lollipop Guild, Poppies, the yellow brick road, the Wicked Witch of the East (yes, the one that had the house fall on her - could tell by her striped socks that curled at the end). Behind me sat the Lion and the Scarecrow. Many of the musicians were also dressed up. It was fun night.

I don't mind Mondays

I've whined plenty about Mondays. Yes, they are rough. The alarm does seem louder on Monday's then any other week day but... enough with the whining.

On my morning walk from Union Station to my office, I pass a parking lot. The parking lot is on the corner of Front Street and Simcoe. On the Front Street sidewalk, near a lamp post I found a dirt covered 2008 penny. That's how my day started - one cent richer.

My daughter, who is away at university, decided at the last minute to come Saturday night. She got off the bus and as it drove away, she realized that her laundry bag was on the bus. On my lunch hour, I walked to Union Station Lost and found to see if her bag was turned in. Unfortunately it wasn't yet. A form was filled out and the Lost and Found Lady told me that sometimes it takes up to three business days for stuff to turn up.

On my way back to the office, I found Canadian Tire money - five cents to be exact on Bay Street (west side), north of Front, south of Wellington. There is no Canadian Tire in the vicinity so not really sure how that folded paper fake money found it's way to Bay Street.

Just before home time, the Lost and Found Lady called me to say the bag showed up. Guess I'll be taking another lunch time walk to Union Station again tomorrow.

Bonus at the grocery store

I try to get most of my grocery shopping done Friday nights. Friday's are usually less busy than any day on the weekend and I don't like grocery shopping during the week unless I have to. Actually, I don't like grocery shopping but it's a necessary evil.

Normally, I go into the store, put my quarter into the cart and off I shop. I guess grocery stores figure that if people have to put a quarter in the cart, they'll return it to the cart-return area to get that quarter back. Even though it's a token amount of money, it's the principal of getting your money back and grocery carts aren't left all over the parking lot.

Well this past Friday, someone has left their grocery cart in the parking lot, not far from where I parked my car. This abandoned cart wasn't far from the cart return area so I figured it was quarterless.  I went to grab it and much to my delight it had a quarter. The former user was either in a hurry or too lazy to walk the cart back to the return area. It wasn't til I was done shopping, returned it to it's spot and retrieved my bonus. The quarter was a 2005, very new looking quarter.

Two days in one

I was sick most of last week - spent two days in bed and didn't venture out very much so my opportunity to find any lost coins was slim. Went to see a doctor who prescribed me some antibiotics. I wasn't 100% on Friday but better and returned to work. When I was leaving my office building on Friday, hustling to the GO station, I found a 1997 penny. It was pretty shiny and new looking, not at all what you'd expect a 14 year old penny to look like. The penny was on the north side of front street, just east of the CBC building but west of the WSIB building. It was near an entrance to a concourse.

I am a the Breakfast Coordinator for the Writers and Editors Network. We have breakfast meetings the third Saturday of every month. We have a guest speaker at every meeting - topics vary, depending on the speaker. This meeting's guest speaker was fiction crime writer DJ McIntoch who was quite enjoyable. After the meetings, we have our board meeting which lasted quite long this week - many agenda items to get through. 


When I was finally free of my duties and was walking to my car, I found a 2001 penny in the parking lot. This 10 year penny was as not shiny as the 14 year old penny I found the day before. 

So close but yet so far

I take a night course Tuesday nights. I walk from my day job to the college. It's a quick 15 minute walk and so far I've been lucky weather wise. It's been a pleasant stroll.  I'm a quick walker but have learned to slow down - gives me less time to kill between end of my job and the beginning of class.

There's a on church on the corner of King and Simcoe that I pass enrounte to my class. My daughter called as I was passing the church so I stopped in front of the church to talk to her. She was quite upset. Seems there was a squirrel in our pool (must have slipped in when my dog was chasing it around). My daughter got the squirrel out and it was still breathing but then it passed away. She was upset at herself, wishing she had come to its rescue earlier.

While I stood and consoled her, I noticed a penny on the other side of the iron gate surrounding the church. It was too far for me to reach and the wrong side was down so I didn't see the date.

As for the poor squirrel, it's got a burial spot in my backyard. Apparently the service was lovely.

Tuesday's Penny

Today was an absolute gorgeous autumn day. Started off cloudy but in the afternoon, the sun came out and the temperature was a balmy 15. Loved it. Couldn't have asked for a nicer day.

Tuesday nights I also have my night class - grammar.  So I left my office and headed east on King Street. I decided I needed to visit the Winners on Front Street before my class so when I hit Yonge Street, I decided to head south.

There were a couple of suits in front of me, walking just that little bit too slow for me so when the light turned green, I bypassed them only to have to stop and pick up the penny on the south side of Yonge and Wellington. It was a 2009 fairly shiny Canadian penny.

Country Road

This past weekend was my annual girls weekend away. Three of my friends and I escape our families for a weekend of fun and frolic. We've been doing this for many years and will hopefully continue this tradition until old age. When I owned a cottage we stayed there. We've also stayed at one of my friend's brother's cottage or we've rented.

This year, we stayed at a cottage on Morrison Lake in Muskoka, near Gravenhurst. This cottage was more like a house then a cottage - it had everything an urbanite would want up north - satellite t.v., Internet, DVD, some kind of playstation, dishwasher, two bathrooms complete with shower, tub and of course toilet and sink, a beachy shoreline and a fire pit. The beds and sofa were quite comfy and the dishwasher a must.

Arrival day was Friday - cold and rainy, Saturday - sunny but cold with a cold wind and Sunday was rainy was warm.

The wind died down Saturday night so we were able to enjoy a nice bon fire complete with roasting sausages (debrizina to be exact). The night was crystal clear. That's what we miss with city dwelling - all those magnificent stars in the sky.

Sunday, Susan and I went for an after breakfast stroll. There was plenty of blue sky and the sun trying to poke through when we left but the clouds moved in fast and it started to drizzle on us. We were walking on Southwood Road where I spotted a penny in front of someone's mailbox. It must have been there for while. It looks like it's weathered many a winter. The year is very hard to make out.

If I ever figure out how to upload the photos stored on my phone, I will post the lovely photo I took of Southwood Road.

Average Wednesday

I didn't know what title to give this entry. Nothing exciting happened when I found it. Nothing exciting happened today. It was just an average Wednesday.

Today was my last day at my current office location. My office is relocating so we have boxes everywhere. Yesterday, my phone (and that of some of my co-workers) got cut off. Bell wasn't supposed to cut the phone til today but in their eagerness, cut some of the lines today. It was kind of nice - no one could reach me. But I needed to make work-related phone calls couldn't. I had to run around and find a phone that worked or I asked one of my teammates to make the calls since her phone was working.

Three of my work friends and I were going to this Korean place for lunch. One of my friends had been there before and said the food was yummy and she was right. The food was yummy. The restaurant, called Korean Grill House, is on Queen, east of Duncan. We were walking north on John towards Duncan, passing many other restaurants. In front of a place called The Ball Room, I found a green-edged 1993 penny. Copper does turn green so not surprising this one had a bit of green on the edges.

By the way, one day I'll get my act together and photograph the actual pennies I find, especially the odd ones and post the photos with the entry.

Monday's Ain't so Bad

Another frantic Monday morning. And why does that alarm always sound so loud on a Monday? I waited til the last possible minute to haul my sorry butt out of bed and go through the usual week day routine - too routine to describe again.

I did drive to the Go station like a mad woman but I got there with time to spare. Parked my car in my new favourite spot to park, got out of my car and looked down to spot a time in the empty parking space beside me. It was a 1975 dime.

Since July 5, 2011 (the date I started this blog), I'm up $1.56.

Beautiful Sunday

Today was an absolutely perfect September Sunday: sunny, lots of blue sky and warm - no sweater required. It was a perfect day to head on down to Queens Park to the Word on the Street (WOTS). I had a good breakfast, threw on a shirt and capris and off I drove to subway. TTC is the better way to get there.

Mr. Crabby Pants was working at the ticket booth at the station. A couple were trying to figure out how to get to the bus platform. From what I overheard, they got off the subway and made a wrong turn somewhere and needed help getting to where they needed to go and Mr. Crabby Pants (CP for short) TTC ticket booth attendant was of no help what so ever. Don't know if he was resentful he had to work on such a lovely day or had a fight with his spouse before he left for work or what was bugging his ass but I do know that his customer service skills suck. If I was a frequent subway user, I would have piped up to help this poor couple out but I rarely use the TTC so couldn't help them. They were getting frustrated with him, he was getting frustrated by them. They left in a huff - hope they found the right bus.

Mr. CP gave me the correct change so I could board the train and off to the subway platform I went. At the top of the escalator, just as you get off was a 1975 US dime just waiting to be picked up by moi. I pocketed it and got onto the waiting subway car.

I was meeting my friend Lis at WOTS. I haven't seen her for a while and since we both love the written word, what better place to meet up with a friend for a few hours.

We wandered, we talked, we bought and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I didn't spend my dime though. In my pocket it stayed til I got home.

Monday Monday

Monday's are rough. I'm not a morning person and that 5:55 a.m. alarm is particularly annoying on Monday. It's annoying Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but it's especially annoying on a Monday. I ignore that alarm for as long as possible and then I jump out of bed and rush around getting lunches and myself ready. I run out the door and drive like a mad woman to the train station hoping to get there quickly so I don't have to run for the train. Some days I get to the train station early enough to take a leisurely stroll from the parking lot to the free papers and then to my spot on the platform. This leisurely pace rarely happens on a Monday. Monday's I rush for the train.

Today was a rush around morning. I had to run from my car to the train. I hate that.  On the plus side - the sun was out and it wasn't cold and I looked quite fashionable in my dress, sport socks and running shoes.

I got off the train, rushed to the stairs to get past all the slow walkers and made it outside in seconds flat. Ok, maybe not seconds but I avoided the slow pokes so I was happy.

I have to cross Front Street to get to my office. Today, as I was crossing Front, by the curb, on the street in front of Joe Badali's restaurant was a penny, just waiting to be rescued from the morning traffic. Nice to start the day with a find.

Two Pennies for a thought

The saying is a penny for your thoughts but a penny doesn't go far these days does it. But two pennies for thoughts doesn't have the same right. In any case, today I have two pennies for my thoughts.

Both the pennies were found during my lunch hour adventure. I met a friend for lunch. I have a standing weekly lunch date with this friend. Today's lunch was a quick burrito from the local burrito place and then a quick jaunt to Winners.

On the way back to the office, I found a 1980 penny on the south side of King, west of Blue Jays Way. 365 King Street to be exact. Right across the street from where this cent was found is a Shoppers Drug Mart. Then, a few blocks east, right in front of my office building, by a big planter was a dirt covered penny. I don't know if a squirrel or human or other creature dug it out or the penny knew about this blog and jumped out itself so I could write about it but there it was, waiting for me. This penny must have been buried in the dirt for a while cause even after I washed all the dirt off of it, I still couldn't make out it's year.

Watch the Step

Not sure if I mentioned in a previous post that I work downtown. Well not right downtown but in the Entertainment District, on King Street,  facing Duncan.

I take the GO train to work and generally I like it. The ride in gives me a chance to catch up on my reading, acknowledge the other regulars and to people watch. We have the Runner - she likes to be the first one off the train and runs for the exit and down the stairs. Now I like to be one of the first people off the train as well. I'm a really quick walker and hate getting stuck behind slow pokes.

There's Bicycle Boy (who I haven't seen in a while). He likes to put his bike by the door and sit elsewhere - this is very annoying as often the bike takes up far too much room on an already crowded train and if the train hits a bump, the bike falls. Once it fell on me. Good thing I sustained no injury but I did give bicycle boy a mild verbal lashing (it was too early in the morning to really yell at him.)

At the end of the day, I climb the stairs to get to the platform - Platform 27 to be exact. Today, I held up all the people behind me. I heard one impatient sigh but tough luck you sigher. There was a 2004 dime half way up the stairs and I had to stop my climb to pick it up.  I guess the Sigher didn't know about my coin collecting.

Mixed Company

You can go for days and days and not find a single coin and then boom, minutes apart, multiple coins are found. Today was such a day for me.

Tuesday nights I take a night course. I just started the Editing Certificate program and the first required course is a grammar course. It turns out I don't know as much about grammar as I thought I did, but I do know a bit more than some of my classmates. The instructor is quite knowledgeable and right into this grammar business.  Tonight's lesson was nouns and subjects - a seemingly easy topic but finding the subject is not always as easy as it seems. So many rules to keep in mind when looking for the subject of a sentence and when the sentence is complex, it's not that easy.

There's about 25 people in the class. Some are taking it in hopes of getting the same certificate as me, others for other programs and a couple just for fun. And yes - grammar can be fun.

I take the train home. On my stroll from the college to the train station I found a 1985 American quarter. I had to scoot in front of some guy to get it before he spotted it. It was found on Bay Street, just north of Wellington.

At the train station, I found a shiny, brand new 2011 penny. The penny, lying on the ground between platforms 43 and 44, was waiting to be rescued from the bus patrons who would have dulled it by walking on it.

I found a total of 26 cents today or did I? Canadian money is worth a bit more than American. Does that mean I found only 25 3/4 cents?

TIFF on a Dime

I work in the entertainment district, near Roy Thompson Hall. It was the hub of activity as they were putting finishing touches on tents, carpets, etc in prep for TIFF.  A bunch of people (media I think) were given a tour of the tents that were set up. I did was across the red carpet. It was still covered in plastic. I'm guessing the plastic will come off before the celebrities show up.

I was walking on King Street, past all this hub of activity when I spotted a dime (2010 dime) on the corner of King and Simcoe. The dime was on the south west sidewalk, near the traffic lights in front of Roy Thompson.  Would have used it to call a friend and tell her about the hub of activity around me but a dime is no longer enough to use a public pay phone so I've tossed it into my piggy bank instead.

At the bottom of the bucket

I cleaned out the shed today. I removed.  I swept. I swept some more. I found things to put in the Goodwill pile. I also found things that should have been tossed long ago, like the empty, squished box that housed a blow up sled and a broken candle holder.

Some animal (possum I think) had been living rent free in the shed so its mess had to be cleaned out. I didn't see the critter - maybe the squatter moved out?

In the shed was a bucket with stuff in it - garden stuff - small pebbles, dried bulbs that I forgot to plant in the spring and some dirt. I dumped the "stuff" out of the bucket and at the bottom was a penny. It was so dirty that I couldn't make out the year but was definitely was a Canadian penny. Hey, do you think a money tree would sprout in the spring if I planted it?

Casino tickets

Yesterday, we went to Casino Niagara with another couple. My daughter babysat their kids while the adults drove to the Falls for an evening of fun and frolic.

My friend likes to gamble and through the casino rewards program got us tickets to see Dennis Quaid and the Sharks. And what a lot of fun we had. He's not the best singer but he sure was entertaining and his band was great.  Gotta love his smile. The guitarist, who was fantastic, was a Toronto boy. We boogied in our seats while many in the crowd hopped and bopped to the music. He did sang some songs I recognized (cover tunes including a Great Balls of Fire, Whole lot of Shakin Going On and a great rendition of Gloria) and some songs I didn't know but quite enjoyed. He danced around the stage; he jumped off the stage and ran up and down the aisles. The sweat just poured off of him. Don't know who was having more fun, Dennis and the band or us.

After the show, we went into the casino in hopes of making a withdrawal as opposed to a deposit. I like to play video black jack. I'm not a big gambler $20 - $30, once a year and I'm happy. And playing the quarter machine keeps me entertained for a few hours. I have yet to learn the valuable lesson - quit while you're ahead.

Well my find at the casino doesn't count as street coins but it was money of a sort. On my way to the bathroom I found a ticket with 52 cents. I'm not sure if this crumpled ticket was discarded or lost. In either case, finders keepers. I took that 52 cents to a 2 cent slot machine and, unfortunately I didn't win anything but it did buy me a few extra minutes of entertainment.

The Campus Penny

Today, my oldest daughter, J,  was moving out of the house and into residence to begin university life. It's a very exciting (and nerve wracking) time for her. We loaded up the car and I mean loaded up the car. The car was so full of her stuff you couldn't see out the rear view mirror. ( I drive a CRV and the last time the cargo area was so jam packed was when the four of us drove to Cape Cod.) I double checked the house before we left and she took just about everything but the kitchen sink.

Her residence room is small - just enough room for two small beds and a couple desks. We met her roommate, who seemed very nice. I'm sure the girls will get along.

J needed to go to the neighbouring building to get some computer network cables, so off we went. When we were leaving that building (Mary Keyes), there was a 1993 penny waiting to be rescued from all the wandering first year students and their families.

Interesting fact about this 1993 penny, lying face up, is that most of the first year students moving in this long weekend were born in 1993.

Let's Go to the Ex

I went to the Ex today - my yearly excursion. In my youth, I spend five summers working at the Ex, two years selling junk jewelry and three years as a games attendant, one of which I managed the fish pond ("prize every time"). I worked long hours but had a blast

Back to the present,  the Ex was quite busy for a Wednesday night  - reminded me of when I was younger - crowds of people everywhere. We got there after 5 so it only cost us $5 to get in.

I had my fill of mini donuts, a corn dog and an ice cream waffle sandwich. Cravings fulfilled and I'm good for another year.

We were wandering around the grounds and I found a 2008 dime behind BMO field. Later, I found 2007 penny (a shiny brand new copper penny no less) in the midway. It was on the ground near one of the games (toss  a ball into the mouth of a wooden painted creature.) Too bad it wasn't a quarter - that would have bought me one more game of Roller Bowler.

The Asphalt Penny

Street coins are sparse these days. I can't blame it on the heat - it's been hot but not that hot. I wonder if this shortage has anything to do with college and university students getting ready to return to school. They need all the pennies they can find - tuition, books and fun money add up fast, especially the fun money

Anyway, I did find a penny today but I couldn't pick it up. I went for a longer stroll at lunch time today. I walked from my office at King and John to the Bay on Queen Street. On the way there, on Queen at University, there was a penny embedded in the asphalt. Don't know what year but it was definitely Canadian. I couldn't pick it up - it was definitely permanently embedded.

Well, maybe if I had a pick I could get it out but not without the risk of getting hit by oncoming traffic. 

Americans Are Here

Lunch time walks seem to be ideal for finding street coins. Today, while walking on Spadina in search of stuff for my daughter who'll be leaving for university shortly, I found a 1977 US nickel. Poor lost coin was rescued from a Toronto Hydro Electric manhole cover. The manhole cover was on the sidewalk on the west side of Spadina, north of Queen in front of a Blue P parking lot.

Later, I had to go to the local drug store to get some first aid stuff. (My younger daughter injured her big toe and needed waterproof bandages to protect it while she completes her NLS lessons). So back to the coin finding... we left the drug store, and went to Baskin Robbins (located in the same plaza) to get some ice cream. Ice cream makes the booboos hurt less no matter how old you are. Next to the BR is a Money Mart and in front of the Money Mart was a 1996 US penny.

Two US coins found in different parts of a Canadian city. Into my piggy bank they went.

Mystery Penny

Today was a good penny finding day.

On my way into work, I risked my life picking up a penny. I was crossing Front Street when I notice a penny on the road, in front of the Loose Moose on Front street. The 1997 Penny was about a foot from the sidewalk, waiting to be rescued from oncoming traffic.

Then, while on my daily lunch time walk, I found a penny on the corner of King and John Street. It was on the sidewalk near the garbage can on the south-east corner. Although I know it's a penny, its year is a mystery. This coin has seen better days - it's covered in city grime and looks like it's been stomped on many  times, maybe even run over by city roller-bladers.

One More Lucky Penny

I went to Sherway Gardens today. Had to get a couple of things and did a bit of window shopping. On my way out, (exit door by PJ Pet Centre) found a 1985 penny. It was right in front of the first door, on the rug. Love finding lucky pennies (and other coins). So far, since I started this blog, I'm up 65 cents.

Lost Penny Found and More

Well I found the lost penny on the morning of August 10 while I was getting ready for work. It was poking out from under a shoe box in my closet. How do I know for sure it was the lost penny? Well, it's well worn - looks like it's been run over and trampled on.  It's a 1999, only looks older.

Later that morning at break time, I went to Starbucks at the corner of John and Wellington with a friend/co-worker. We were meeting a former co-worker (she's now working at another office). Anyway,  under a patio table near the door was a 2005 dime.

At lunch time, I was running over to the Bay on Queen Street to buy my nephew's birthday gift. En route, on the sidewalk, on the south side of King Street, east of John Street but west of Simcoe (across from Il Fornello's), near a tree was a 1952-2002 penny.

Quite the prosperous day -11 cents plus the lost penny was found.

The next day (August 11), on my way to the office, I found a pretty shiny 2005 penny. It was lying in wait on the sidewalk on the north side of Wellington, near the Metro Concourse entrance (facing The Shore Club) to the south.

I went for a walk at lunch time. Stuck in the crack in the sidewalk on the east side of a very busy Spadina Road, just south of Queen Street was a 1983 penny waiting to be rescued. It was more worn than my found lost penny. I had to clean the penny to make out it's year.

I found a third penny on August 11. It's a 2009.  I was continuing on my lunch time trek south on Spadina, popped into Winners to see what they had and was on my back to the office. I was cutting across the gas station on the corner of Spadina and Clarence Square and there was the shiny penny, lying in the gas bar waiting to be pocketed.

I went through many dry days and got lucky on August 16. I went for an evening stroll with my pooch and my neighbour. We had just left our neighbourhood and on the sidewalk on the south east corner of Dixie and Sherway Drive was a 2005 dime.

The Lost Penny

Yesterday my husband dropped his car off at Canadian Tire to get its Drive Clean certification done. The wait was long so he called me to come and pick him up.

I parked my car and got out to look for him but he was waiting for me and started towards my car. On the ground, in the parking lot not far from my car, was a lonely, worn-looking penny. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.

I had a few things to do and when I finally sat down to write about my latest find I couldn't find it. It wasn't in my pocket, on the floor or in my purse. The penny was gone. I don't know anything about this penny - Canadian? American? Some other foreign currency? Year? All unknowns except to the next person who finds and pockets it.

The Parking Lot Penny

My daughter has a part time job at a mall. She is popcorn princess. She had to leave for her job before dinner so I told her I would bring dinner to her which made her very happy.

I packed her meal, drove to the mall and parked my car. Heading for the door, a very warm 1996 penny was waiting for me. It's been added to my collection.

The shopping cart coin

Well, I think this heat is even too hot for street coins. None to be seen anywhere. Don't blame them really. I wouldn't want to be lying on a hot sidewalk either.  But, on Saturday, at my weekly adventure at the local grocery store, some kind hearted soul left a quarter in the grocery cart. It was the 1952-2002 quarter.

I know this doesn't count as a street coin, but it was a found coin and deserved to be written about.

Made in America

I found this coin yesterday (lucky July 13) but was too tired to write about my find, so here's what happened:

I had an interview yesterday morning. It was a long process - one hour written test followed by a 45 minute interview (three on the interview panel). It went ok but the interview experience was great. The interview process with my current employer is intimidating (expressionless faces who ask question making the experience feel more like an oral exam); this one was interactive.

I didn't have to be back at my office till after lunch so after the interview, I had a bit of time to kill. I contemplated walking back to the office. The walk would have taken me about an hour but the sun was hot that about half way there, I hopped on the subway. At my exit subway station was a fabulous violinist playing a lively song that sounded very familiar (I gave him a Toonie).

It was lunch time and I was hungry so I decided to stay in the underground in search of something to eat.
In my quest for just the right delicacy, I found a 1942 US penny. It was lying in wait near one of the food vendors.

Perhaps this lucky penny bodes well for the interview outcome? Maybe but I do know for sure that I'm one cent richer.

A two penny day

I was at a project management course today. I took the GO train to get to the course which was at King and Jarvis. That's about a 15 minute walk from Union Station. I like to get a seat and the 4:30 train home fills quickly which means I need to get to the station asap. I enter the platform off of York Street - quicker route to the platform.

In my brisk walk on this beautiful sunny day, as I'm passing Union Station I notice not one but two pennies on the sidewalk, about 5 feet from one of the hot dog vendors. Neither of these pennies are shiny and new. I fact they're both rather dull. One is a 1976 penny and the other is a 1985 penny. Interesting to see how different these pennies look. The leaves on the 1976 penny are raised more than the 1985 version.

A lucky night

A friend and I went to see the Donny and Marie show at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. We had great seats and enjoyed a fabulous show.

I love Donny. I've been a long time fan and really wanted his autograph so we waited back stage for Donny to emerge. First we waited in the bar of the hotel across the street. We could see the back stage door from where we were sitting and since it appeared it would be a long wait, we had a drink and snack and then returned to the back stage door. The wait was worth - eventually a very tired looking Donny emerge and graciously shook hands, posed for pictures and signed autographs for his adoring fans. With a smile on his face he signed my program. I was a very happy camper.

On the way back to the car, my friend wanted some street meat so we stopped by the hot dog cart. While waiting for her hot dog to cook, we chatted with a couple American tourists who were waiting for their veggie dog. They were enjoying their vacation in TO, talking about the sites they saw and their upcoming adventures. On the Queen Street, near the vendor was a 1989 dime just waiting for me.

What a great night - Donny and Marie, seeing Donny up close and getting his autograph, street meat and a dime. Pretty good night if you ask me.

Pennies from Heaven

There are movies called Pennies from Heaven and many artists have recorded the song Pennies from Heaven. Some believe that the pennies, nickels, dimes, etc. you find on the street are from "pennies from heaven" - angel or departed loved ones letting you know they're still around. Personally, I think the change on sidewalks comes from holes in pockets, or slip out of wallets or purses when rummaged through - lost change looking for a new home.

Unlike most pedestrians, I collect these coins. "Spot a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck." And of course it's luck; I'm a penny (or nickel or dime or quarter or whatever) richer than I was before I found that coin. For a year (2009 to 2010) I kept a diary of any coins that I found and found a total of $4.10. Some days I found multiple coins and some days no coins.

One March day in 2009, I found a shiny 2007 penny and nearly smacked into someone who looked an awful lot like Morgan Freeman. There was a limo parked on the street, close to where I nearly ran him over,  so maybe...

I'm still finding coins and so this blog is dedicated to all the coins I find, lying in wait.  So I may not blog every day, unless I find a coin every day.