Hobby Hideaway

My little corner of the world

FLAKEY.  It’s that time of year - when the snow falls at will, and the sun makes limited appearances. With my lengthy disappearance from all things bloggy and twitty, it may seem that I too, am flakey. I won’t go into detail right now, except to say that part of this time away was personal. My life is simple, uncomplicated.  It’s unusual for me to have a case of the blues. Coming back, I’ve found a few fellow bloggers who've struggled with losses far greater than any I’ve experienced in sometime. Parents and children passing, jobs lost. These major life events are more than any situation I’ve dealt with these past few months.  While this doesn't invalidate anything I’ve been working through, it certainly puts some perspective on life.

Billy, Ernie and a vintage 60s cake topper.

I've shied away from Twitter. Initially I found it to be a great way for keeping in touch with the hobby during the busier summer days of 2018. No matter how clean I kept my feed - arguments, politics and half-naked women seemed to find their way in.  I gave up trying to hide it all.  This world is in turmoil: on fire, at war, far left, far right, no room for the gray. It's either/or, right/wrong.  My heart just can't take it all in. Twitter hasn't seen me since June. 

Babe, Mickey and the Long Ball!

During this outage of sorts, the hobby was still close at hand. I holed-up in the hobby room. Music, lava lamps, toys, cards - all serve to take me back to a childhood that's been missing most of my life. It's never to late to have one! The time available was spent quietly entering my collection into THE database which was quite therapeutic. All PCs were entered, leaving me quite surprised to find Mike Piazza is the number one player in my collection! I expected Altuve or Mr. Ty Cobb to hold this position! At this moment, I rank as the number one Altuve collector on TCDB. That's fun! Naturally as soon as all PCs were entered, another crop found its way into the house and waits to be entered and filed.

Jose and Buster

Trading Card Database may not be for everyone but I suggest checking it out if you're looking for a way to catalog. There are countless methods to track our collections. Using this system has given me 'control' over mine.  I still need to add team sets, mini-collections and small insert sets. And oh, do I have them! I also spend a little each month to support TCDB. This also keeps the half-naked women off my screen. Ad free! {What is it with these bimbos and their insatiable need for attention???} My up-to-date wantlists can be found there too.  A user profile is not required to view it and the list is searchable via player name, set or team. So no matter how you sort trade bait, finding a little something to send a pal is easy as cake - or pie or ice cream.  

https://www.tcdb.com/Collection.cfm/member/acrackedbat/collection/1?MODE=VIEW&Type=Baseball&Status=W

I'm still interested in trading with pals but it's PWE style for now. I've found it easier to send 18-24 pocketed cards inside a heavy-duty envelope. So far there have been no issues with damage - and mailing costs less than $1.40!  The downside for trading is the lack of new product in my house. The new stuff just isn't doing much for me. I completed a GQ set this year and picked up a few stray packs of Prizm, Gallery, Archives and Stadium Club.  My last card show was in March or April. Having less to spend keeps me focused on inexpensive vintage, Tigers, Cobb and Altuve.

Patrick Kane and Tony Esposito

If you've made it this far, then it's time for a small reward. Pick Pockets has been updated with 153 new cards to choose from. Read the PP introduction for instructions and pick your nine cards!  I hope to add additional pages in the near future with a few stray football cards.

Thank you for the warm welcome back. There's always something to learn from you , a new discovery - and always, always - one more card out there I never knew I needed. NEEDED. Until next time, I've got my eyes on you.