When the numbers in the current day make an interesting combination, it’s always neat to acknowledge that day. For instance, July 8, 2009 is 07/08/09. It’s fun to get a memoir recording that unique date, because it happens only once! And how do you capture a once-in-a-lifetime date? With a printed register receipt!
If you were getting a register receipt to capture that day’s numbers, where would you try to go? I like to go to the the Dunkin Donuts by the Trump Tower because it fulfills the four-part strategy of getting a receipt with an exact timestamp:
1)The location should be not busy
Since you are trying to get a receipt with an exact timestamp, you can’t be waiting in line while some dunderhead is trying to decide what to get. You need to be able to walk right up to the register at the exact right time.
2) Friendly cashiers
You need to have the cashiers on your side, because you will need their help. Introduce yourself to the cashier a few minutes before the time strikes. If the time on his/her register is off a little bit, you can adjust when you order. Having the cashier on your side will not only help you with this time adjustment, but it will bring some fun to his/her day as well.
I like to imagine that when the cashier goes home, he/she tells their family or friends about this goofball who came in that day to get a receipt with 01/01/01 01:01:01. Then I like to imagine the family and friends respond with, “oh of course! Today makes a fun number!”
3) Receipts with a good timestamp
Every receipt displays the timestamp differently. Examples of variation: Jul 8 09, 2009/07/08, July 8th, 2009. If the day you are going after is 07/08/09, it makes no sense in having the receipt say Jul 8 2009. You want it to say 07/08/09.
Having the seconds marked on the receipt makes an extra challenge to get the exact second. Pretty much anyone can get a receipt with the right minute stamped. But to get the very second? Now that’s a JACKPOT.
4) Shape of the product
Dunkin’s donuts come in two great shapes. The long john donut is like the shape of a 1. The regular donut is in the shape of a 0. Both are very fitting for numbers. For 11/11/11 I got a chocolate Long John that looks like a 1.
Can you think of any other place where their products come in the shapes of numbers? I guess french fries could be considered a bunch of 1s.
5) Cost of the product
A $1 price tag is a great number to go along with a special number day receipt.
Here’s my collection of receipts with timestamps:
07/08/09 (at 12:34:42)
01/11/10 (at 11:11:18)
08/09/10 (at 11:11:11)
11/11/11 (at 11:11:20)
12/12/12 (at 12:12:18)
You totally should frame the 11/11/2011 11:11:20 receipt. i was thinking you missed it by 9 seconds (11/11/11 11:11:11), but really you’re just repeating the 20 in the year, so it’s truer to the date.
Frame it? It would be interesting to see the numbers fade over time. Rather fitting the numbers would fade away since those very numbers are all about time. I usually end up folding them up in my wallet. Then they get put with the other receipts. And then they get recycled at some point. That’s why I take the photo, so I have an archive record.
this is hilarious. you make it a point to go to DD on special days? i kinda want a donut now. also, my favorite is 8/9/10 11:11:11. when i read that date out loud it sounded like a broken record. 11…11…11…11…11… make it stop!!!!!!
Nicelle, yes! DD is my place for special number days! I never realized that the DD makes it also fitting, the repeated letters. Cool! When’s the next cool number day? 10/11/12 and then 12/12/12. Is there one sooner?
11/22/11 is sorta interesting if you’re into palindromes. 12/1/11 is 12-1=11. 1/2/12 has a nice pattern. 1/21/12 is another pattern.
you’ve got a long ways to go and by this date DD may be automated but i like the date: 12/30/1230 12:30:00
On 12/12/12 the cashier was really cool. I let him in on what I was trying to do, and he controlled the checkout pace to try to hit it right on the dot.