pennies from heaven

I am one of those people that always picks up change from the ground. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, whatever. Any free money is good money to me, and it all spends the same.

One of my regular statements is, "Hey, free (coin)... mine!"

The other day, when I got the mail, I just threw it all in my bag.

Today, before work, I noticed all the envelopes in my bag and decided to read the mail.

A bill, an advertisement, and something that looked like a check.

Upon opening the envelope, I found a letter inside from Stoll Stoll Berne Lokting & Shlachter, informing me that the Class action lawsuit "Ruslan Razilov, et al. v. Nationwide, et al." had gone to settlement, and that my pro rata share of the settlement, less attorney fees, expenses, and the costs of claims administration, was attached to the letter in the form of a check made out to me.

A check for $207.24, mind you.

I get crap in the mail every once in a while, informing me that if I don't want to be part of some class action suit or another, I need to let them know, otherwise just do nothing and reap potential benefits later.

Until now, I've only gotten a coupon for free contact lens solution, a $15 voucher for Sears, and a Jabra earpiece for my cell phone.

Finally, my inaction really pays for itself.

Or at least pays for my NCA membership renewal, and a doctor's bill for blood work to definitively determine that I do not have a blood disorder or a disease, but instead am not only clumsy, but bruise very easily and very often. (It's not diabetes, anemia, or anything like that -- it's just that I'm just a delicate flower. Featuring easily-crushed petals and stems and leaves and other floral-y bits.)

And then after work today, I got a letter in the mail from America's Expo for Skin Care & Spa Chicago, asking me to fill out a brief survey and then return it to them in the provided, postage-paid enveloped.

A letter with a dollar bill tacked to the bottom of the letter, and a post-script stating, "The attached, while not intended as compensation for your time, is a small token of our appreciation for your prompt participation."

(Dude, that totally kicks the free nickel that came in the Unicef fundraising missive a couple of weeks ago's ass. Because, you know, maybe if Unicef didn't send out thousands of nickels to strangers, and instead used said nickels to pay for medicine and supplies for the displaced, disenfranchised, and the damned, they wouldn't need to ask me for my money.)