Val Hits the CENTury Mark!

No, I'm not THAT old. Feel like it sometimes. But we're not talking about 100 years. We're talking about 100 PENNIES! Look out for that confetti cannon! It could put your eye out if you're not wearing bifocals to read this. Here. Have one of those blow-horn paper thingies that unreels. WHOOP-TI! That's the noise they make, right? Maybe we'll have some ice cream and cake later. A cake with "100" on it. And an Abe Lincoln head.

Yes, blogfriends, it has been a very good week for Val's passive penny business.

It actually kicked off LAST WEEK, because once again, after I had set my Saturday post to publish, and headed to the casino...I stepped out of T-Hoe on the casino parking lot, and saw

So kind of that 2017 penny to place itself in that very location, out of all locations available on the parking lot, so Hick could park there and Val could step out and find it.

Face down, though. Maybe that had something to do with our casino luck...
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Sunday, March 18, I was forced to park out of my comfort zone at Orb K. They were busier than a public school teacher at the end of the quarter. I had to park in front of the store, on the end where there's a sidewalk. Near the drive-thru exit. Sometimes it's handy to step from T-Hoe onto the sidewalk, without sliding down over the running board. But that sidewalk makes it hard to cut the tires when backing out.

WooHoo! Saw a shine, and further inspection (this is the store that fooled me with that clear button bauble thingy) revealed a DIME!

That little piece of part-silver, a 2015, was also face down, though you can't tell it from the closeup.

Good thing I had to park in that spot, or somebody else would have gotten my dime. It's as good as 10 pennies, you know!
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MONDAY, March 19, I found myself third-time-lucky when I spied a penny at Waterside Mart.

I was so excited that I tossed my scratcher money on the counter (not many winners lately) while I took a picture. The guy was bent down getting the tickets out, and looked at me askance when he stood up. "Don't worry. I'm not a weirdo, and I'm not a secret shopper. I collect pennies, and I just went over 100 for the past year."

As if he cared, that barely-21 dude not making a career of convenience-store cashiering. At least this 2005 version was face up, though Honest Abe was standing on his head. And don't worry that I missed a silver coin in that first picture. It was a piece of trash.
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I was a little disappointed Tuesday and Wednesday, not finding any coins. But THURSDAY, March 22, pulled double duty. I was actually inside T-Hoe, leaving the Country Mart parking lot, when a glint caught my eye. Yeah. I even spot pennies while I'm driving now! Lookie there!

I was in the right place at the right time, I guess. I turned left and parked on the other side of that school bus. It's always there during the day. No other cars park up at that end, on the way to the exit drive. I walked around to take a picture and nab my rightful penny. But I didn't see it! That's ridiculous! How can a penny disappear? I was starting to feel foolish when I turned and the sun hit it just right again.

This poor thing was so scraped up that I could barely decipher the date, even with my bifocals and a magnifying glass. I'm pretty sure it's a 2014. I saw the 4, and I think this style is too new for a 2004. Face down again, though. Not that I care. I'm an equal-opportunity pennyphile.

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I was pretty pleased with my take for the week, that bus-penny riding in my shirt pocket as I got out to get the mail from EmBee. Well, well, well! Wouldja lookit that!

NOW the pennies are coming to Val, rather than Val going to the pennies! It still counts, right? I found it in my mailbox! Addressed to ME! No question it's MY rightful penny!

A 2017, all shiny and clean. That would be a lot easier, you know. If pennies just mailed themselves to me every day. Or even three days a week. It would cut down some of those "you're a weirdo" looks I get when I hunch over one on the parking lot or convenience store floor.

Now...gather round, and we'll cut the cake. Only four corners, and I'm calling one! It's vanilla cake, with buttercream icing. Nom nom! Sure, it's virtual cake. No guilt. Join me in this pretend pleasure. And while you're at it, may I offer a scoop of French Silk Ice Cream?
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For 2018: Penny #22, 23, 24, 25.
For 2018: Dimes # 7.
For 2018: Nickels still at #2.

Since 2017 (the beginning), this was Penny #100, 101, 102, 103. PASSED THE CENTURY!
Since 2017 (the beginning), this was Dime #13.
Since 2017 (the beginning), this was still Nickel #2.
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