Saying yes...

Mystery...

For the past couple of months, while the Youngest Lamblet and I are walking to the bus stop, I've noticed pennies hanging from a neighbor's lamppost. Yes, pennies... at least 6, but probably more. They are encased in between two long strips of Scotch Tape which hangs vertically from the crossbar of the lamp. I have no idea why someone would do this and I don't know the couple well enough (if at all) to ask them why they have a line of pennies dangling from their lamppost.

The lamppost is right at the front corner of the yard where the end of the driveway meets the sidewalk. It is surrounded by a lovely rambling rose. There's nothing else by it. At first I thought it might be some form of squirrel repellent, but there's nothing there that a squirrel would want. so no need to repell.

Other ideas that have popped into my mind?

Something about the elemental properties of the pennies works with the rain to prevent corrosion of the lamppost...

It's a pagan spell used to bring about wealth, although I believe you're supposed to bury pennies around a tree for that one... why I know that, I have no idea, but I seem to recall someone relating it to me at some point and I haven't forgotten, nor have I tried it...

It's some cutesy church slogan thing... I've seen enough of these to suspect any weird outdoor thing as being related to a cutesy church slogan thing... you know, like pennies from heaven or something like that. 

They're inside, recording our reactions. Is Candid Camera still around?

Last but not least, they want to know what we're thinking and have put payment out front for easy access. Yes, the classic penny for your thought... although I'm guessing everyone who walks past has the same thought, "What's with the dangling pennies?!?"

So, any other ideas?? Any one familiar with this ritual? This lamppost decoration? Are they merely testing our honesty? Waiting to see who will steal the pennies? Well, apparently not many, since they're still there. Now had they taped $100 dollar bills to it... that might have been a little more tempting... plus, shredded money makes excellent squirrel nest bedding.

I'll be insane, but by God, our electricity bill will be lower!!!

We recently signed up for "real time electricity". Instead of paying a flat rate all the time, you are actually charged for the amount of electricity you use and at what time you use it. It pays to do your laundry or run a load of dishes during off hours if you can plan accordingly. Since I'm the one who is around more often than not, this is going to fall to me to chart and plan.

I can tell already, I'll be insane soon.

I do not suggest it for anyone who likes to gamble or who might be slightly obsessive-compulsive. You have to look at a graph and see if you can schedule your peak appliance usage for the lowest predicted price per day. Our average price per kilowatt hour was 7.5 cents before switching so I’m supposed to be watching this graph and doing laundry, etc, at a time that is ideally below 7.5. They give predicted hourly rates, but today the low rates were off by 4 cents! Yes, I’m going to be insane before this is all over. Our bill will be lower, but I’ll be like the rat in the Skinner Box pushing the lever for one more inexpensive pellet only to get zapped again and again!!!! AHHHHHH!

I have a feeling the reason you save money is because you never run anything because you're too busy hanging out at the WattSpot waiting for that ideal price. We're currently at 8.1 so I guess the laundry can wait for another hour...

FYI

I am purchasing rights to Brando. Yep, to heck with IRA's and 401K's. I am going to purchase rights to Brando and will own whatever comes out of his mouth. I'm not a money-grubbing fool, but I'm also not stupid. Investing in Brando is the wave of the future. Of course, I'll own him, so those who want to invest will have to speak to me. :)

Update: TLB, Inc. apparently already owns rights to Brando. I'm thinking though that she has bigger worries than me... It seems Disney may have purchased rights to Brando at some point in his youth. Little did he know that when he first saw Tron, he was signing away rights to any future thoughts, words or deeds. It's also clear that Disney holds the rights to the contents of our dreams.