Back to Katy Mills Mall tonight to scour coin returns and floors for change. Only .89 short of Step 10 when we walked in. While getting some great exercise in too, we proceeded to find change throughout the entire mall's walkways and our first nickel to date in a coin return. Not only did we find money, but we also found two kids' sweatshirts and a high schooler's wallet, which prompted us to take an extra detour to security. 

It was getting close to Nehemiah's bedtime, and we were still 31 CENTS short of our goal but we decided it was time to leave the mall. 

Upon leaving, the mall door slid open to the chilly outdoors, and we were greeted by a lovely cloud of cigarette smoke. Six young men were hanging out puffing their cigarettes and unbeknownst to Karina, Ian had decided to give a go at asking someone unknown for change. We think it is awkward asking strangers for money. We don't need the money and we are working off a self imposed timeline so asking strangers for change felt kind of ridiculous. However, Ian's rational was simple; if we cannot ask strangers for $0.50 now then what makes us think we can ask them to buy something that costs more later on? This was one of those times where the steps and principles of the project worked together to make us grow. 

"Do any of you happen to have like 50 CENTS?" Ian asked boldly. He was met with awkward pauses and blank looks all around.

"I have a dollar," replied one guy. 

"Cool, that would really help us out." Ian answered. 

He pulled out his wallet and handed us the dollar. We thanked him, and as we were grasping for the dollar bill, one of the other guys proceeds to comment, not so under his breath, "That's weird; white people asking for money..."

We could barely walk away without laughing. Little did they know the one who gave us a dollar also gave us an opportunity to give to others. After all, he gave us more than we asked for. Even though it's only 69 CENTS, we are still sticking to our Giving Principle (3) and will give away any extra money we make beyond the step goal. So, on only the third day in to this project, step 9 is complete! 

Our theme song is about freedom and how everyone must do their part, and that part costs something: a buck o' five. That happens to be the same amount we needed to complete step 9 ($1.28 - $2.50). Here is the official music video. 

It's a little disappointing but we will get over it. Finding 16 CENTS on the ground is still good considering the mall we went to was quite a bit smaller than the one last night and cleaner too. Right now we're sitting at $1.61 and tomorrow is another day.  

This project started at 12:01am New Year's Day as we clinked glasses with friends. It was hard for us not to start sooner because we really were excited to get going. Sleeping was a tossing and turning event that was a mere formality in order to get to morning. Yes, we are that excited. 

The morning starts like any other; Nehemiah (our 1.5 year old son) wakes up and hangs out in our room while we get ready for the day. Then, downstairs for breakfast. Ian is busy getting our website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter feed up and running while Karina takes care of the family food situation. After we're all ready for the day it's time to hit the road for some penny searching.  The first place we go is Fry's Electronics because Ian has some things he's looking to get. 

On the way over, we ask each other what year our first penny will be, Ian says 1994 and Karina says 2011. We arrive at Fry's and immediately start scouring the parking lot on our way into the store for anything round and shiny. Nothing is out there, so inside we go. Once in the store we look at a few items Ian is interested in, moving from aisle to aisle with our eyes focused on the ground.  No penny found. We do however see a mouse trap behind a line of refrigerators: pretty gross. Unsuccessful, we leave the store and take a very roundabout way to the car. Ian is kicking over piles of leaves and trash that collected in the corners of the parking lot. Still, nothing. 

That is the question we ask each other as we leave the parking lot. We figure anywhere physical money is routinely used, pennies would be dropped. The problem is that the list of places is getting smaller as we move to a more cashless society. We come up with gas stations, malls, and drug cartels (they only deal with cash, right?). Because drug cartels are not a safe place to bring a small child, and we need gas if we are to make it to the mall, to the gas station it is. 

We pull up, Ian gets out and starts to pump the gas, then takes a stroll throughout the premises. Nothing by the pumps and nada is by the door, so he heads to the coin-operated air pump. While looking around, he finds a deep crack in the cement with two quarters lodged in! 

Ian runs back to the car, drives it back to the air pump, jumps out, and starts to work at the quarters in the crack. Using two pens, Karina's coffee straw, and a very small multi-tool he moves one quarter around and starts to lift it out. Karina tries to catch it, but it slips down. If we get these two, we would be propelled to Step 7. Ian tries a second time and it falls a second time, then a third, and fourth time. Eventually, the quarter gets lost further in the crack, and then it's lost forever. We're frustrated, but sitting on top of the air pump we are hunched next to is redemption! There lies a dull, dark, and unremarkable penny! 

We did it! It's from 1990 proving that neither of us have clairvoyance in predicting the dates of coins we find randomly. We pick it up, snap a few pictures of our success and head home. 

On the way home, we decide to grab a quick bite to eat while Nehemiah sleeps in the car. Neither of us have had Burger King in years, so we hit up the drive-thru. It didn't occur to us at first, but drive-thrus are the perfect place to find coins. People pay with cash and change is given so the dollars are handed to the customer first and the coins second. That leads to coins falling to the ground, never being picked up as the customer is in their car. 

We order our food and drive up to the window to pay when Ian starts looking at the ground. He finds one in another crack! Burger King is slow so we get our food and park in the parking lot. As soon as the BMW in line behind us pulls away, Ian runs back to get that penny on foot. Along the way he finds 5 more! We gain a total of 6 pennies in just a few seconds of looking! Our total is now at $0.07. Time to drive home until we go out later that night. 

After dinner we go to Katy Mills Mall. First stop is another tire pump at a gas station where we find a penny. We pull into the mall right as the stores close, but the mall itself is still open for another hour. It's time to scour the mall. Here is how we did:

We know that the night will not be over until step 8 ($0.64 - $1.28) is complete. We decide to go to our local mega entertainment complex where they have movies, bowling, food, drinks, and arcade games. Karina stays in the car while Ian goes to find at least eight cents. 

Entering the Palladium is always a mad house. People are leaving as you enter just to be greeted with long lines of people choosing movies. Ian pushes through everyone and heads directly to the arcade. The third place he looks, he sees a quarter between two shooter style games. People were playing on each one. He just hangs around, looking awkward, and waits for one of them to leave so he can squeeze between the two games and get his reward. The problem is no one playing is leaving; instead they decide to add more dollars to the game. Not caring at this point, Ian just asks the two people to kindly move so he could get the quarter. Who cares about the weird look at this point? Step 8 is complete and the day is over! 

We're now officially on step 9 with $1.45. Only $1.05 left until it's completed. It was a good first day. We had a lot of fun on our hunt.