> CP wrote3 --
>> > I'll often find mechanical pencils people have dropped.
>> Hey, there for the taking -- else they;klkl be piocked up by grounds crews &
> either kept, or discarded with the cigarette butts they sweep up.
> Same with pens which I take to the office.  If it works just long enough
> for someone to sign some paper work its served its purpose.
> We go through a lot of pens with people signing something and pocketing
> them.

Maybe those found pens were yours to begin with. . . :) 

Seems fair, to replace pens from the same property they were 'disappeared'  from.

>> with money (significant to me amnounts); one was found
>> by the bus driver on the bus I suspected I'd lost it on
> In NYC a few years ago I found a bank card laying on a seat when I got
> off, some teen-aged girl had been there, and turned it into the driver, who
> gave me a "Oh, ok" puzzled look.

Maybe he'd never had an item turned in before; I was saddened the day I called  transit here to make a commendation for a driver who went beyond his job to  help someone & the person answerinig had to get a supervisor, as in 16 years  she'd never had a commendation come in (scads of complaints, though!); they  found the right form, eventually!

Here people generally return wallets/etc to the driver, or to an owner of a  card in the wallet; I brought a walet to the local branch for the bank the  wallet had a debit card for, for them to contact the owner of the wallet.

I declined to give my info (bank asked if they could communicarte it to the  owner--apparently some people want the bank to tell the owner they have the  wallet & to call them (perhaps to trade it for a cash reward?)

> Like the old joke:
> Would you turn in a wallet/purse if it had thousands of dollar in it?
> I would if it belonged to a poor person.

Oh, of course! Like my buddy's dad who found a suitcase containing $20K under a garbage dumpster next to the grease dumpster he was emptying. Some thing told  him  to look in his rearview mirror one last time as he was pulling out  forward, & he saw the handle.  He didn't turn it in (rightfully so, IMO--why  get taxed on it, after the police go a year with no claimants("d'uhhh, officer, I lost $20K I was gonna use to buy crack in resale quantity. Do you have it?")

> The last time I distinctly recall was St Patrick's Day where the city had
> a big street fair and all.  Big crowds of people bumping into each other.
> When I got home my wallet was missing.  Dang, someone picked my pocket
> was my first thought.

I've never been pickpocketed, but I used to wear pants tight enough so I'd feel my wallet even being nudged from the right-back pocket where I kept it (& where I could easily whip around to my right to nab the perp.  Now I'm in a huge  power wheelchair & crowds generally partt for me, even extremely dense/stoned  ones. . . some times someone will start yelling, & physically(but gently enough not to start a fight) opening up a path, when it's slow to move on its own.. .

> I called the bank and they cancelled my cards.
> The next morning putting on my work clothes there was my wallet.  I
> didn't even have it with me.  Duh.  :)

I hate when that happens. I once was able to uncancel my cards for the one  bank, bu the others hasd a no backsies rule, even if I proved who I was through answering questions.

> I don't usually carry much cash on me, less than $10.

I normally don't -- unless it's shopping day, pre-covid, then I'd grab $150 to  payt cash without getting bills back in change in the various places I went to  (lots of $5 & $10 bills); but now my wallet is securely in a small purse that's in front of me, hanging from my neck.

> But its such a bother having to replace bank cards, ID, etc.
> Try and ID yourself at the DMV without a drivers license.  :)

I don't do DMV but once every 5 years to update my provincial government photo  ID & medical card. But my bank assured me I could come in & get a couple  hundred from my account on my word & signature alone (they've all known me for  years; also if anyone else had theatre disguise & tried, they'd ask, "How do  you want that $200?" & if he said anything but 10s & 5s, it'd raise a flag!)

> I carry about $25-30 concealed in my wallet, mixed among various cards
> and all.  That is my emergency stash.  Those bills have been in there for
> years.
> I also have about $100 emergency stash in my desk at home, hidden here
> and there.   Again, been in there for years.

Good to have a stash or three because you just never know.. .

> Once upon a time I didn't have a bank account.  My pay cheque was cashed
> at the bank it was drawn on.  By the time I paid my bills (could pay

I used to do that, but now if it's not your bank, they charge you a non- cuistomer service fee.  That ticks me off, as the cheque writer paid that bank  to give his cheque some value &to back it up.  

Banks no longer make a simple phone call to verify funds in the writer'sd  account, as in the time between verifying & paying me, the other person could  empty their account.

> I was burgled once and my money was safe, the thief never thought of, or
> had time, to go though that stack of mail with a rubber band around it.
> I also would put money in clothes in the closet and for years I would
> pull out something and find money in a shirt/pants pocket.  :)

Hiding it in plain sight is considered the best way, like  how New York diamon  jewelers walk around with $100K in diamonds in a grubby paper lunch bag

My dad worked in a prison camp & he said how they'd do the occasional bunk  check for contraband & he never wasted his time searching, under the mattress,  or emptying boxes, instead he'd go straight to the item on his first check.   Freakerd the cons out big-time! As they saw him grab their bag of home-made  hooch without even searching -- this, of course, led to much suspicion between  the inmates (oh well)

> I used to drink a lot of pop but now its more of a treat.  I had a can
> with my Christmas dinner.

When young, I drank a lot, then I weaned myself to where I had 3oz of root beer once a year or so, usuially at the one pizza place where they gave me a 32oz  paper cup for pop & had 5oz cups for water, I used the big one for my ice water to accompany my za, & filled the other halfwy for dessert.

> I'll buy a 12 pack and it'll last me nearly two years.

I buy them fairly regularly, as my daughter likes it & she & my wife MUST was  down certain meals with a can.

I've had 8 in my mini fridge in my room/office for several years now -- might  be 7 by now, I haven't checked. I mainly only hasd them when working an early  shift & guzzled one for the quickj caffeine boost while I was making a coffee.

>> courtesy cousin
>> someone who is close like family, but not related
> Sort of like a kissin' cousin.

Kissin' Cousins are generally blood related? & certainly not platonic. . .

She's the daughter of my mom's BFF.  I started calling her "Cuz" jocularly a  while back & it's stuck -- I call her mom Auntie, too. . Close enough -- I  interact more with them than my real cousins & their folk. . .

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