Things Found on the Street Recently

I live downtown and I walk a lot. What I mostly see on the street is litter--things thrown down intentionally. Like empty Newport packs, Vienna sausage cans, ripped-up lottery tickets, and cigarette butts. Once in a while, though, I spot a tiny toy, a piece of broken jewelry, or some change. I like to bring these found objects home. Recently I have collected 52 cents, two marbles, a plastic lizard, an aurora borealis crystal dragonfly on a chain, two studs (one jewelled, and one sterling silver and engraved "Please return to Tiffany & Co., New York--probably a knockoff). Also one big red paper clip.

Is there anybody who doesn't know what you can do with one red paper clip??? Kyle McDonald uptraded his several times and ended up with a house! And wrote a book, got on TV, met a bunch of movie stars, and so on and on. (Here's his blog on the subject: http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/.) Kyle set his goal of a house before he began. First he got a fish pen, then he used it to get a doorknob, then a Coleman stove, a generator, an "instant party," a snowmobile, a van, a recording contract, a year in Phoenix, an afternoon with Alice Cooper, a KISS snowglobe, a movie role, and finally: a house.

And he only had one red paper clip. Look at all the stuff I've got!