The Devil and Daniel's Cardshop

I'm backed up. More than a personal problem, it's a trade post problem!  Here I am,  still celebrating summer with a package that dates back to August!

So what's the devil to do with my problem? Who doesn't want an netherworldly entity to blame for their problems? I'm certainly having a devil of a time finding the time to post anything at all.   It's too easy to credit Mr. Fallen for my poor time-management skills but I will when possible. It is certainly unfair to those awaiting some share time.

Daniel sent a nice lot of cards in August then followed it up with yet another in December, making my head spin.  [Insert Linda Blair joke here.]  The first package contained a crazy big batch of 92 Topps Micros.  These are fun little cards!  Not sure how I'm going to store them so for now they're team-bagged.  Who knew there were so many tiny Tigers?

Mr. Mischievous [not to be confused with said devil] sent another thoughtful package in December too, just because.  What can I say but thank you?

Who ordered the Piazza?

36 Piazzas in all.  I needed every single one of them.  How the devil did Daniel know this? Here are a few faves:

Daniel sent the base 03 Leaf along with the parallel 'Passing Through Time."   The front photos are the same but the parallel back features the front of his 1994 Leaf base card.

Looking a bit lot like 71 Topps, 2002 UD Vintage is easily one of my favorite Upper Deck designs. Topps didn't share these feelings.  I miss the competition.

The 2004 Leather and Lumber Rivals above is #d/2499.  Wow, what a rivalry too - most of us know about the incident from the 2000 World Series. If not, you can find it here.  I'm curious to know your thoughts - did Clemens throw the bat barrel at Piazza, or sincerely believe he was throwing the ball?

There were shiny blue foil parallels:

And yet another gem in this package.  From 2012 Tribute Retired Remnants #/99, Mr. Al Kaline:

This card has the WOW factor, gorgeous in-hand!   Daniel, it really is like having a card shop, shipped right to my door.  Thank you for the great trade!  You know we'll do it again!

In the meantime,  the devil continues to give me grief regarding the lack of space available to store cards I want to keep.  I made a nice little box for a giveaway but can't seem to drum up much interest.  This makes the cloven-hoofed heel wail at me with laughter.  I'm not advertising within post titles this year, shouting CONTEST HERE.  Not that it won't happen but readers should be rewarded.  Those who commented on my last post are duly noted and time runs nigh. I plan to stick it to the red guy.  He'll soon be looking for another gig.

Summer Lingers On

Hey Everybody!  Where you been???  Me?  Oh, just clinging to summer.  Until I share trade packages received in August and September, summer lingers on.  Yes. I have the power to stop winter, should I choose!   Packages are scanned, ready for public viewing but what's more important - to share your generosity? or  to enjoy eighty degree days during a Michigan January?   I can show off these cards this Spring!  [Note, I did NOT say it was 80 degrees IN Michigan.]

Some fun things happened over the summer.  For instance, I now have a personalized car tag:

Isn't that a sweet plate?  Unfortunately, it's not mine.  No, someone beat me to it.  Perhaps the owner's a crazy cat lady? Hard to guess by the riff-raff that unloaded from this van.  With my first tag choice taken, I had to go with the second:

I'm a gal who loves her cars!  The Baja is the only foreign model I've ever owned.  As a rule, I'm a Mopar woman with an affection for Mustangs.  Go figure.

Goodbye Tall Man

This summer, I said goodbye to the Gibraltar Trade Center.  No sooner had I discovered the monthly card show, the doors were locked one last time.  During this final visit, I picked up  a few hundred cards, mostly for trading.  $14 for these fun items:

A friend and I made the hour trip over to the Taylor Town Center in September to see Tiger great Willie Horton.   He is slowing down these days but Willie's smile is vibrant and voice strong.  He still has a nice handshake too:

Willie's sweet signature!

I also put together another contest box for an October giveaway but never found the time to tease you with it.  Thanksgiving came and went.  Before I knew it, Christmas was here.  Now it's 2018.  Is this box still relevant?  These cards are all dupes from my collection or cards previously traded; sad and neglected.   Wanna peek?

Who feels sorry for these cards? The old deckles have some wear and tear.  (So do I at nearly the same age!)   

I have another 4000 count box ready for the Salvation Army.  I donate cards regularly, packing the boxes with rookies, stars and minimal dupes, with this odd fantasy that someone is just waiting for my cards to show up on the shelves.  At the Army's $6 - $10 pricing, these boxes are a steal.   Yes, I do have card fantasies.  

You'll be seeing a few posts on the changing direction of my collection.  I have begun player elimination rounds: dupes, deletes or scaling back of certain player collections.  Most cards will be base or low-end inserts.  Perhaps you'll want some of these??  

In Michigan, summers will always be too short.  I've lived in OK and TX, where summer stretched on for weeks.  I'm learning to embrace every moment here, each time that glorious ball of orange rises into the sky.  

A recent morning commute