Hi All:

I loved this article. It was a real eye opener. I have been spending too much on my coffee. At $4 per day, 6 days a week, and 52 weeks per year, it is really adding up to a lot of money, more than $1000 for my coffee addiction. Here's what I can do - some good "quality" stuff here.

P. S. Good a busy week ahead. Will catch up with my favorite forum next Sunday for sure. Have an awesome week in the meanwhile. :D

Charmed,

Be careful where ya buy yer beans! hahaha!

Remember a few years back, a Kona coffee supplier was buying some sort of Chock-full-of-nuts variety from Costa Rica and relabeling them "Pure Kona"?

Thousands of people across the country were plunking down 5 bucks a pop at Starbucks and saying "Man! isn't this stuff great? It is well worth the price!"

Consumers were none the wiser. Coffeee afficianados had no idea. A wary customs agent finally blew the lid off.

My brother lives in Hawaii and sends pure Kona and Kona blend every Christmas. Not sure it is better, but it is STRONG.

Carl-

Hi Carl:

I am driving too much lately and need the "strong" coffee to keep me awake. I do at least two each day, one in the morning and one in the evening. So, this article caught my attention. Yesterday, I even joined a coffee club. Buy 6 cups and the 7th is free. It seems certainly worth it now.

Have a great cup of coffee this morning.

Charmed

The article drove me to check out prices on E-bay for Kona and Blue Mountain coffee.....if I was SURE that I was getting the real thing, it wouldn't be too bad a deal....$150 for 10 2lb bags of Kona would be a fair price.

I prefer the old-fashioned percolator coffee...just have to watch it REALLY carefully, to make sure it doesn't 'burn'.

The drip percolators are not worth the plastic they're made from, IMNSHO.

I vividly remember camping in the Smoky Mountains, NC when I was a kid. My Mom had a blue enamel coffee pot that she would put on the coals from the previous nights fire. She would fill the pot with water, put a fistfull of coffee in it, boil for a while, then let the grounds settle to the bottom before pouring cups of coffee from it.

That was coffee.

Carl-

Dear All:

Here's what happened to me last night when I was at the Speedway gas station where I stopped to pick up my Cappuccino for the ride back home (about 1 hour away).

I was ready to pay for my coffee and was chit chatting with the girl at the counter who had signed me for the Cappuccino Coffee Club a couple of days ago. It had just started snowing and I was telling her that I would probably take much more than 1 hour today. I got myself the big 20 oz cup instead of the usual 16 oz cup.

As I was ready to pay, another customer started talking to me and asked me where I was going. I told her I was heading south to Auburn Hills and Troy. She told me that she had just come up north from there and that the traffic was moving only at about 35 to 40 mph and the snow was getting worse going south. Then she left the store.

I paid for the coffee. When I tried to get back to the car I realized I didn't have my key bunch. I thought I must have locked myself out of the car. Luckily, I had not. So, I went back into the gas station and figured that I must have left my keys either at the cash counter or near the coffee machine. The girl (Dawn) at the counter told me she saw the lady who had been talking to me twirling a key bunch and she must have walked away with my keys. My key has a large remote control (Chrysler Town and Country van) and may be she had a similar set. But she had already driven away.

Dawn told me she had never seen that lady before. I was north near a small town called Otisville where pretty much everyone knows each other. They all come to the same gas station. We waited for a while hoping she would realize her mistake and come back with the keys.

In the meanwhile, I recalled that I might have a spare key in one of my (spare) winter coats which was in the van. Since I had left the van door open, I looked for it and was lucky to find it. I left my name and telephone number and the folks at the gas station told me that they would call me and hold it for me, if the lady came back with my keys.

So much for my Cappuccino addiction. If I hadn't developed this addiction, I might never have been there. If I had not placed my keys on the counter while reaching for my wallet, this might never have happened. I was also momentarily distracted by another customer who had just dropped a bottle of juice and the store manager (her name is Jamie) was trying to take care of that. She too was talking to me just before the other lady came into the gas station. Jamie was telling her not to worry and I tried to pitch in at the same time. (I can be a really friendly guy - most of the time!)

The moral of the story: When at a gas station take care and hold on to your keys. By all means talk and have a friendly conversation but with the keys in your pocket and Cappuccino in hand. You never know who will walk away with your keys. Don't they all look alike?

Who knows what might have happened if I did not have the spare key handy. :biglaugh:

Dear All:

Here's what happened to me last night when I was at the Speedway gas station where I stopped to pick up my Cappuccino for the ride back home (about 1 hour away).

I was ready to pay for my coffee and was chit chatting with the girl at the counter who had signed me for the Cappuccino Coffee Club a couple of days ago. It had just started snowing and I was telling her that I would probably take much more than 1 hour today. I got myself the big 20 oz cup instead of the usual 16 oz cup.

As I was ready to pay, another customer started talking to me and asked me where I was going. I told her I was heading south to Auburn Hills and Troy. She told me that she had just come up north from there and that the traffic was moving only at about 35 to 40 mph and the snow was getting worse going south. Then she left the store.

I paid for the coffee. When I tried to get back to the car I realized I didn't have my key bunch. I thought I must have locked myself out of the car. Luckily, I had not. So, I went back into the gas station and figured that I must have left my keys either at the cash counter or near the coffee machine. The girl (Dawn) at the counter told me she saw the lady who had been talking to me twirling a key bunch and she must have walked away with my keys. My key has a large remote control (Chrysler Town and Country van) and may be she had a similar set. But she had already driven away.

Dawn told me she had never seen that lady before. I was north near a small town called Otisville where pretty much everyone knows each other. They all come to the same gas station. We waited for a while hoping she would realize her mistake and come back with the keys.

In the meanwhile, I recalled that I might have a spare key in one of my (spare) winter coats which was in the van. Since I had left the van door open, I looked for it and was lucky to find it. I left my name and telephone number and the folks at the gas station told me that they would call me and hold it for me, if the lady came back with my keys.

So much for my Cappuccino addiction. If I hadn't developed this addiction, I might never have been there. If I had not placed my keys on the counter while reaching for my wallet, this might never have happened. I was also momentarily distracted by another customer who had just dropped a bottle of juice and the store manager (her name is Jamie) was trying to take care of that. She too was talking to me just before the other lady came into the gas station. Jamie was telling her not to worry and I tried to pitch in at the same time. (I can be a really friendly guy - most of the time!)

The moral of the story: When at a gas station take care and hold on to your keys. By all means talk and have a friendly conversation but with the keys in your pocket and Cappuccino in hand. You never know who will walk away with your keys. Don't they all look alike?

Who knows what might have happened if I did not have the spare key handy. :biglaugh:
Maybe you were setup?

Perhaps too many years in Chicago, but I always lock my car when I dash into a store - it takes less than 30 seconds to break into a car with a "rake," why make it any faster? In the summer, my keys go in my pocket; in the winter, I have them on a mountain climbing Carabiner that I clip to a D-ring on my parka so I can have them readily available.

I also keep a single spare key in my wallet.

Always keep house and business keys separate from car keys when you turn them over to parking attendant. I attach a medalion that says "Grandpa" in several languages for easy ID in retrieving them.

"Setup"? How many keys were on the ring?

Always keep house and business keys separate from car keys when you turn them over to parking attendant. I attach a medalion that says "Grandpa" in several languages for easy ID in retrieving them.

"Setup"? How many keys were on the ring?

I, too, keep a spare in my wallet, and the few times I use valet parking that key is the only one the valet gets. This also works for leaving the car at a shop, and it sure beats trying to wrestle the daily use key off and back on the ring.

It works for me anyway.

This also works for leaving the car at a shop, and it sure beats trying to wrestle the daily use key off and back on the ring.May I suggest using a clip on the key ring? I'm too absent minded by far to have keys in more than one place :o

/Claes

The Setup:I was also momentarily distracted by another customer who had just dropped a bottle of juice and the store manager (her name is Jamie) was trying to take care of that. She too was talking to me just before the other lady came into the gas station. Jamie was telling her not to worry and I tried to pitch in at the same time. (I can be a really friendly guy - most of the time!) Maybe I'm cynical due to my childhood in the Bronx.

The Setup: Maybe I'm cynical due to my childhood in the Bronx.
Or my adulthood in Chicago.

The other things to ABSOLUTELY be mindful of when using valet park:

no "tollroad coins" or coffee change in the ashtray or special coin holder on the dashboard
no expensive sunglasses behind the visor
no "enticing" laptops or other gizmos in plain view
consider getting lock on trunk changed so it needs separate key
(I knew two separate guys who had spare tires stolen and didn't realize it for days)
with the price of cigarettes, smokers should guard them zealously
make a mental note of the odometer reading
(one guy in Chicago had his car used in a robbery)
have a spare key - the valets sometimes "lose" them and then you should consider having the lock changed ASAP (Valets often leave keys on a hook on [temporarily] unattended board - anyone could take it, but you should make them pay for rekeying your lock.)
Cynicism? Just plain common sense, in my way of thinking (FMEA)

Hi All:

Thanks for all the comments. I was back again for business in the same area and stopped by at the Speedway gas station to check if the lady had returned my keys. I also checked again during the drive back home. No news so far.

Interestingly however Dawn (the counter clerk) told me that the woman who took my keys had a strange 'smirk' on her face as she was twirling my keys around her finger. "She might actually have wanted to take your keys", she said. I don't understand what anyone could accomplish from stealing someone's keys at a gas station?

I had many keys in that ring, not just the car keys. The house keys were in that ring and there were other keys to office doors. I just wanted to wait a couple of days before I start replacing each one. There is also a "drop it in the mailbox, postage guaranteed" tag on the key ring.

If she is not a "key thief", she might just drop it in the mailbox. I also had a Troy Public Library card hanging in there. If she called the library, they would even be able to tell me where I live. At the very least that should jog her memory about where she might have picked my the key - at the gas station when she was talking about the weather with the guy driving south to Auburn Hills. But, no luck so far.

May be I should change the locks to the doors on my house!

I'd be very upset if a librarian gave out my home address to a casual inquirer.

If you were my employee, I'd be upset that my building security and security of my employees was compromised by keys in the hands of unknown persons. I hope your office also has a coded burglar alarm.

So, if you lost your wallet with all your credit cards, you'd casually wait for a "good citizen" to drop them in a mailbox, trusting that no Christmas temp at the post office would consider helping himself/herself to one or two?

Gramps always said, "Trust everyone, but ALWAYS count the cards when you play poker! Especially make sure a flush is the same suit, not just the same color."


:topic: There are evil people (just like vandals) who would steal keys from folks and not have any other intent than to relish the fact they had made life "inconvenient" for someone else. I hope that's the WORST case scenario for you. The BEST case being the keys are in your mailbox Monday.

Hi All:

Thanks for all the comments. I was back again for business in the same area and stopped by at the Speedway gas station to check if the lady had returned my keys. I also checked again during the drive back home. No news so far.

Interestingly however Dawn (the counter clerk) told me that the woman who took my keys had a strange 'smirk' on her face as she was twirling my keys around her finger. "She might actually have wanted to take your keys", she said. I don't understand what anyone could accomplish from stealing someone's keys at a gas station?

I had many keys in that ring, not just the car keys. The house keys were in that ring and there were other keys to office doors. I just wanted to wait a couple of days before I start replacing each one. There is also a "drop it in the mailbox, postage guaranteed" tag on the key ring.

If she is not a "key thief", she might just drop it in the mailbox. I also had a Troy Public Library card hanging in there. If she called the library, they would even be able to tell me where I live. At the very least that should jog her memory about where she might have picked my the key - at the gas station when she was talking about the weather with the guy driving south to Auburn Hills. But, no luck so far.

May be I should change the locks to the doors on my house!
She has your house keys, car keys and your license plate number, no doubt. With your plate number, she can get your address off the internet. Connect the dots.

Hi All:

I am slowly coming to the conclusion that I have to agree with Wes and Al. She just might be one of those who derives great pleasure by making life inconvenient for others by stealing keys. Can she find me? Or, better yet, will she try to find me? I don't know that for sure.

As far as trusting people or total strangers, I will continue to do that inspite of this incident. Salespeople knock on doors each day and talk to total strangers. Some have come and knocked on my door and I have talked to them, even if I turned them down. There are people who trust me and talk to me every single day. So, I am not about to let this incidence change my belief in the "goodness" that is all around us.

Let hope for the BEST case scenario, or even the WORST case scenario described by Wes. This the first time I have ever that I have lost my keys and that too in the strangest of circumstances. As far as the office is concerned, there is no problem since no one can even enter the building without a code.

However, I also want to add that if I had taken taken someone keys by mistake (let's assume it was a mistake), I would have:

a) tried to remember very hard where I might have picked them up and
b) made sure that the keys were returned with a note of apology for the inconvenience.

And maybe on the "not so cynical side", your keys could be somewhere in or on your van, or somewhere in the store.
Since "Dawn" noticed a strange "smirk" and they were also twirling the keys in front of you, they could have just dropped them off somewhere nearby.

Charmed,

if you were at a convenience store with gas fill-up, then she AND her vehicle (with license plate) may be on camera, and the store might be able to ID her for you. Might be worth checking into. Lots of convenience stores have cameras out front and at the pumps, to catch any pump drive-offs and turn them in to the police.

If not, I'd be changing my locks, today!

Something I have heard is this, and I don't know if it applies to this case:

Never have any identifying features on your key ring that can be used to locate you.

Of course, as was mentioned below, if she got your license plate number it would not matter. This might be a good time to consider an alarm system, if you do not have one.

Seems like cynics outnumber Pollyannas here in the Cove.:tg:

Hi All:

I still have not found the keys. I still have not changed the locks to my house. Nor have I installed any new security system. Should I say anymore about the fine penetrating minds here. This discussion has been fun.

Regadless, did anyone consider the total cost if I actually followed up on all these ideas - a few thousand dollars at the very least is what I think it might amount to. And all because I lost my keys at a gas station!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays - keys or no keys.

Charmed,

if I were in your shoes, whether I had lost the keys on my own or the lady took them from me (intentionally or not), I would STILL redo my locks in my house. The fact remains that if you do not have your keys, it is of high probability that another person now does. Hopefully, they will be returned if someone does. But changing locks in your house will hardly add up to thousands of $$ in cost, unless you have gold or platinum locks. Heck, take them off and go to Lowe's, and they'll change them out for a very small charge.

But changing locks in your house will hardly add up to thousands of $$ in cost, unless you have gold or platinum locks. Heck, take them off and go to Lowe's, and they'll change them out for a very small charge.Besides, What would the insurance company have to say if you do get raided, and they realize that someone used your keys to do it?

/Claes

You may also want to put in a call to the local place that collects the trash in that area - its possible that they might spot keys near a bin and put it in a "lost and found" sort of place.

My friend's father was a garbageman (before they switched to a fancier title) and you wouldn't believe the stuff he used to find!!!

...I was at the Speedway gas station where I stopped to pick up my Cappuccino for the ride back home...
We call the fake stuff "Crappuccino" :D , I get mine at 7-Eleven most mornings on my way to work. I like the French Vanilla Crappuccino half and half with their regular brew. The stuff from the machine is too sweet so I cut it with black coffee and it's perfect.

If I have time, I prefer to go through the drive thru at Tim Horton's for my daily morning cup, but it's a little out of my way so I don't everyday.

I am currently addicted to Dunkin' Donut's Caramel Iced Lattes - I stop for one at least twice a week on the way home!

Then, of course, I treat myself to a nice Latte once a week or so from the little coffee house close by.

Charmed,

As an option, a Colt .45 auto is only about $600.

(of course if you need to use it, legal fees will add up to quite a bit even though you are in the right)

I sleep pretty well.

Carl-

Charmed,

As an option, a Colt .45 auto is only about $600.

(of course if you need to use it, legal fees will add up to quite a bit even though you are in the right)

I sleep pretty well.

Carl-Of course, you have to understand that Carl belongs to the school of
"If they get outside, urge them back into the house at gunpoint, then shoot them." school of mitigating legal ramifications.:lmao:

Wes,

Ya gotta bury 'em deep so the critters don't dig 'em up!

We just had an incident here in South Jersey where someone shot and killed a guy trying to steal an ATV out of his shed. He had some SERIOUS legal hurtles. The theifs family was on TV crying that "he was a good man" and "it wasn't right him being shot like that!" blah, blah, blah.

Ends up he had been arrested several times before for similar incidents and he was out on bail, awaiting sentencing when he committed his last crime.

Carl-

You may also want to put in a call to the local place that collects the trash in that area - its possible that they might spot keys near a bin and put it in a "lost and found" sort of place.

My friend's father was a garbageman (before they switched to a fancier title) and you wouldn't believe the stuff he used to find!!!

That's sounds like a good one Little_cee! Now, I have to contact Dawn, at the gas station, again and find out if the local garbage man can find anything.

As far changing locks I will check out both Lowe's and Home Depots. We have more HDs here than Lowe's.

We call the fake stuff "Crappuccino" :D , I get mine at 7-Eleven most mornings on my way to work. I like the French Vanilla Crappuccino half and half with their regular brew. The stuff from the machine is too sweet so I cut it with black coffee and it's perfect.

If I have time, I prefer to go through the drive thru at Tim Horton's for my daily morning cup, but it's a little out of my way so I don't everyday.

I am currently addicted to Dunkin' Donut's Caramel Iced Lattes - I stop for one at least twice a week on the way home!

Then, of course, I treat myself to a nice Latte once a week or so from the little coffee house close by.

Hi Cari:

Since prevention is better than cure, I decided I have to attack the ROOT CAUSE of the problem. So, yesterday I decided to forgo my C(r)appuccino. I survived a day without any coffee for that matter - the point being stopping at gas stations to pick up a cup of coffee. Did it affect my driving? Let's see. ...

...I survived a day without any coffee...
Wow! I can't remember the last time I went a whole day without coffee. :eek:

A whole day without coffee??? Perish that thought.

Go through the drive-thru! You'll know where your keys are (in your ignition!) - lock your doors and you'll be fine.

I have several to choose from and I live in a real hick area so you should have no trouble finding a place to cruise through, order, and pay for coffee from the comfort (?) of your vehicle.

I must be hopelessly old-fashioned. I have a coffee maker at home and a variety of thermos bottles. When I need "coffee to go" - I make it and go. When I am out and desire coffee (or any other beverage), I stop. lock up the car, put keys in pocket, go in, sit down, and order the beverage, which I drink on the premises. Of course, at my age, I may need the pit stop more than the beverage.:)

One advantage to using thermos - save $$$$
39 ounce can of coffee can make 400 cups of coffee (one ounce coffee for ten to 12 cup pot (same amount as in premeasured envelope used at fast food places.) So, if you buy Kona or Melita or some other super premium brand at $10/pound, 39 ounces (usual size of supermarket Folgers) would be about $25, divided by 400, equals 6 or 7 cents a cup (if you include cost of filter in coffee maker) My last package of Folgers cost $3.99 for 39 ounces of Dark Roast or about 1 cent/cup. (Also, fewer opportunities to lose keys.):rolleyes:

If you need super size (quart or more), just calculate from 5 ounce cup standard for coffeemakers. Add pennies for milk, sugar, artificial sweetener, vanilla drops, cinnamon, cocoa powder, etc.

"Sportsmen" - our additives may run more than pennies:lmao: My dad's favorite additive was made by monks. Dad was crushed to find the IRS did NOT consider the cost a religious contribution.

Hi All:

Good news folks. The Pollyannas win this time. :cool:

Last night, when I came home, I had a message from the lady who walked away with my keys. She tracked me down, looks like through the Troy Public Library Card, and left her name and telephone number for me to contact her to get my keys back. She could also have gotten my telephone number from the gas station since I did leave it with them.

Now I have to "twirl" my schedule around today :magic: and meet her to get my keys.

Charmed

Moral for Quality Professionals: Do not jump to conclusions hastily and suggest fixes, especially costly fixes. Sometimes, like who it is said, it is good not to "tinker" with a process and just let things happen and watch them get back to normal. So it is, it seems, in life as well.

A whole day without coffee??? Perish that thought.

Go through the drive-thru! You'll know where your keys are (in your ignition!) - lock your doors and you'll be fine.

I have several to choose from and I live in a real hick area so you should have no trouble finding a place to cruise through, order, and pay for coffee from the comfort (?) of your vehicle.

Hi little_cee:

May be drive-thru today after I get my keys back (see my new post). Anyway, I couldn't help it. I did pick up my coffee last night for the drive back home. Yes, I did a full day without coffee on Tuesday.

Charmed,

Glad you found them!

I still think you should buy a Colt .45 or maybe a Glock .40. You know, just in case!

Carl-

Hi All:

Good news folks. The Pollyannas win this time. :cool:

Last night, when I came home, I had a message from the lady who walked away with my keys. She tracked me down, looks like through the Troy Public Library Card, and left her name and telephone number for me to contact her to get my keys back. She could also have gotten my telephone number from the gas station since I did leave it with them.

Now I have to "twirl" my schedule around today :magic: and meet her to get my keys.

Charmed

Moral for Quality Professionals: Do not jump to conclusions hastily and suggest fixes, especially costly fixes. Sometimes, like who it is said, it is good not to "tinker" with a process and just let things happen and watch them get back to normal. So it is, it seems, in life as well.With this kind of luck, you are short-changing yourself if you do NOT go out and buy a lottery ticket (only one ticket - with that kind of luck, you won't need more!)

The cynic that I am, I find this whole megillah quite implausible!

Hi All (and Al):

I called Anna, the lady who had left me the message on Wednesday, first thing in the morning yesterday and talked to her. She works at an apartment complex and it was her sister Mary who had walked away with my keys. Indeed, I remember telling Mary that she was the second Mary I met within the week and the last Mary I met told me that aren't that many Marys around.

Anyway, Mary did not know where she got the keys from. She gave them to her sister thinking she might have picked them from her apartment complex. Anna kept asking many of the young boys who work for her if it was their key bunch. Finally, she called the Troy Public Library. Their telephone number is on the library card that was hanging from the key bunch. That's how she tracked me down and left me the message.

She gave me instructions about how to get to her apartment complex (in Lapeer, Michigan) and met her and got the keys right away. When I talked to her, she told had to go to a meeting and would be back by 12:30 PM. She was back as promised and it was a delight to talk to her as well. She told me her sister Mary is just as talkative as she is.

That, folks, is the end of an interesting story. This is the first time I have actually lost my keys - and was still operating with my spare car key. Now it is time to sing the 12 days of Christmas song. Here it is and let's see how many get it all right.

As for the lotto, I have actually won more money than I have lost having picked a $100 winning and a $50 winning. I buy the lottery ticket only iwhen the jackpot is obscenely high. I once had ALL SIX NUMBERS. Alas, they were in two separate bets - one had four of the six winning numbers and the other had the remaining two winning numbers.

I will post the winning numbers next time. :)

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/Quiz/Quiz.aspx?QuizID=29&GT1=5936


Can You Recite the "Twelve Days of Christmas"?
The official Christmas season, popularly known as either Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas, extends from Christmas Day, December 25, to the feast of Epiphany on January 6. Most of us know the tune of the song that starts "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me" and many of us know what the gifts were. However, keeping straight which gifts were given on which days is a different story. See how well you know this classic ditty (and when you're done, learn a thing or two about the gifts in the song).

1 On the first day of Christmas, what did my true love give to me?
a) A partridge in a pear tree
b) A pheasant in a peach tree
c) A porcupine in a pine tree


2 On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave me two things. What were they?
a) Two turkey legs
b) Two tea bags
c) Two turtledoves


3 On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave me three new presents. What did my true love pick for today?
a) Three calling birds
b) Three French hens
c) Three French fries


4 On the fourth day of Christmas, what did my true love give to me?
a) Four calling birds
b) Four fresh figs
c) Four feathered friends


5 On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave me five new things. What were they?
a) Five bee stings
b) Five olden things
c) Five golden rings


6 On the sixth day of Christmas, what did my true love give to me?
a) Six geese a-laying
b) Six swans a-swimming
c) Six owls a-hooting


7 On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love continued to bestow me with gifts. What gifts did I receive on this day?
a) Seven lords a-leaping
b) Seven swans a-swimming
c) Seven skiers a-schussing


8 On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave me eight gifts. What were they?
a) Eight ladies dancing
b) Eight maids a-milking
c) Eight eggs a-hatching


9 On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave me what?
a) Nine pipers piping
b) Nine computers crashing
c) Nine ladies dancing


10 On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave me ten presents. What were they?
a) Ten lords a-leaping
b) Ten maids a-milking
c) Ten lords a-laughing


11 On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love’s generosity continued. What did I receive on the eleventh day?
a) Eleven pickled peppers
b) Eleven preachers preaching
c) Eleven pipers piping


12 On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave me a final gift. What was it?
a) Twelve months for the New Year
b) Twelve drummers drumming
c) A dozen eggs


13 Bonus question: On the twelfth day of Christmas, how many gifts total did my true love give me?
a) 12
b) 64
c) 78

Charmed,

I'm glad it turned out well. I still would have changed the locks, though I'd also have been actively searching like you did. Look at it this way: if your credit card had been lost in a similar manner, would you have notified the credit company, or just let it go and searched while hoping for the best? Is the security of your home less important than your credit card security?

To me, if I'm not sure what happened, it's just not worth the risk. But I'm very glad it turned out well for you. Best wishes.

Hi Joe:

Thanks. You are right about the situation with the credit cards and also about changing the locks. Let me get down to business.

As to what actually happened, it was I think just as described in the earlier posts. Here it goes again.

I tried to pay for the coffee and reached for my wallet. I placed the keys on the counter. Remember, this happened in a gas station in a small town north of Detroit. Folks are friendly and talkative. Mary took the keys (accidentally, or by mistake) while I was trying to pay for the coffee. And, it seems she was talking to me even after picking up my keys.

Then when she found the keys with her, she thought she had picked them up from her sister Anna's apartment complex. Strange turn of events but Anna was eventually track them to me because of the Troy Public Library card which was also hanging from the keys. Luckily, as you say, and as others have said, it all turned out well.

Now, let me also do what Wes said. I should go buy the lottery ticket! May be I don't have to change the locks and then can move into my your villa if I win the lotto. Or, may be I should for the safety of the new owner of my home. I surely can with all those winnings in my pocket!

Charmed