To Give and To Get

I recently packed the container we use to collect coins to donate. Today was the day I made it to the store that has a machine that collects the coins. There is an option to get a receipt to use in the store or for cash (bills instead of coins, I assume), but the machine manufacturer also partners with organizations and the cash can be donated, which was my plan.

I put the coins in and received a receipt for $7.98. As I was reaching for the receipt I noticed a lot of coins were sitting below and realized that they must have been rejected. I scooped them up and started the process again. I received a receipt for another $3.51 and then I collected the rejected objects.

Along with two washers were a Canadian nickel from 1980, a 1998 one piso piece from the Philippines, a token from Copenhagen's tram, and three British pennies from the 1970's. 

On the left it says, "D G REG F D."
Today I learned that stands for, "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor,"
which is Latin and means, "By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith." 

I am hoping I will be organized one day and I will sell these for more than what the US coins were worth and donate that, too.

LFL update

LFL is how stewards refer to Little Free Libraries. I am still loving mine!

This is what it looked like at 11:30 this morning,

including a Norwegian version of a classic Enid Blyton book.

When I went out this afternoon to take a clearer picture I could see
that a couple books had been taken and a couple had been added. I added a couple
more, passed down to me from someone who works for Southern California
Independent Booksellers Association (I know people in important places!).

Last week was the beginning of the Great American Coin Hunt.
Some people put old or unusual coins into circulation and
encouraged people to examine their change.

Learn more from this story. 

As Tom Lehrer would say,

"... today's young innocent faces. Will be tomorrow's clientele."

This was supposed to be the end of the post but as I was driving home after running the carpool, I had to stop.

I had never noticed this library.

Jewelry, a bicycle tube, and books.

I think the dog gave me the same look my teenager would have.

Not-so-quick trip

When I said it was a quick trip to Ohio I meant that I was not there a long time. Actually getting there was not so quick.

I got to the Ontario airport, usually an echo chamber, one hour before my flight and the security line was all the way past the baggage claim and starting to wrap back around. I was worried about making my flight but figured if I missed it I could take a flight a couple hours later that went to Cleveland by way of Phoenix, a flight I had intentionally not chosen because I was worried about a heat wave in Arizona, which would not have been unusual for mid-September. What I didn't realize was that if I missed my flight I would have had to buy another ticket since it would have been my fault for not getting to the airport two hours before the flight.

I was so happy to get to the gate as my group was boarding. I was so happy that I got a seat I like (up front, I have no problem with middle seats) and my seat mates were friendly. When we arrived at Chicago Midway I didn't mind that our plane couldn't get to the gate right away because I could see that my next flight was delayed. It was a beautiful day, but it had been foggy earlier.

As we pulled up to the gate I checked to see whether my departing gate was close to the arrival gate. Cancelled. Reload. Cancelled. Aagh. I got off the plane and asked the airline representative what to do and he told me which gate to go to so I could put my name on standby. I was feeling okay about it until he muttered that there would be twenty people ahead of me.

That was optimistic. My next long line of the day was to put my name on standby. At least I had the sense to write to D. ("Help, help!"). He found trains, planes from O'Hare, and rental cars. Meanwhile I started asking around to find out who else was going to Cleveland. One guy closer to the front of the line got on a flight through St. Louis, but it meant missing the baseball game (bummer, since it was win number 22 in their big streak). Two other people were put on the next flight and not standby. That left me and the guy going to Oberlin to plan his 50th college reunion. Off we went to the car rental place.

Wow, third long line of the day! But thank goodness D. had reserved a car because some agencies no longer had any. The ones that still had cars were raising the prices, according to the people behind me, one of whom had a dad who went to the same high school I did. Small world.

Finally, on the road! I appreciated that my travel partner was willing
to drive out of Chicago, which turned out to be easier than expected.

Our first stop was in Indiana to change drivers and get some dinner. We were in such a rush to get out of the airport that I didn't even get any popcorn! I was amazed to see a smushed penny machine, but it took my quarters and not my penny so I have only this picture. The options included an Indy car, the US flag, an Amish horse and buggy, and a four-leaf clover.

Our next stop was to switch drivers in Ohio (don't you just love driving where the states are small so you can be in three in just a few hours?) and it was a much nicer facility. Plus there was another smushed penny machine. This one was more expensive, but it took bills and provided the penny. Success. Options for this one included Ohio State Buckeyes, Blue Heron, a deer with an enormous rack, and The McCoys and Hang On Sloopy. 

My new friend and I were both a bit sad about not having tickets on the turnpike anymore. We also talked about how we spend our days, studying languages, and how good it was not to be sleeping in the airport! I might have arrived at Cleveland Hopkins almost eight hours later than I originally expected, but I got to sleep at my parents' house. All is well that ends well!

Money, Money, Money

The day after Christmas I bought some coin holders at 90% off.
I love collecting and it brings back fond memories of my mom's coin holders.

A. was disappointed that the penny holder goes back to only 1979.

Only two nickels - time to buy a roll.

Time for a trip to the east coast since we have so few quarters minted in Philadelphia.

I like that our National Park quarters folder has a description for each state.

Next up, sorting my postcard collection.