Watch For Above Average Pedestrians and other signs

Slow down, you move to fast. I find myself saying this more often as the years days pass.  I was never much for life in the fast lane.  Card collecting is a perfect hobby for someone who's not in a hurry. That's a good thing since most of our collections will never be fully complete and/or organized.  Oh there are a few of you out there, with your fancy shelves and cards all neatly bindered.  I forgive you.

I'm not ashamed to admit there are incomplete sets in my collection from the 90s. For instance, 1997 SP:

23 years later, the first two of only seven needed cards come off the list! And just who gets credit for this modern day miracle??    Chris  ---->  https://thepedestriancollector.blogspot.com/ !!!  In January, he picked my pockets for a few cards and kindly sent a return envelope.  He also took time to check my wantlist. Who knows why he would have any of these cards but it made my day to receive them. To be honest, I'm not certain why I kept them either. They've been in my collection so long now, so close to completion, I'm apparently unable to part with them.  Not ugly, not overly special, but still super premium in their day.

REMAINING 97 SP THORNS

Chris is anything but an average collector. He's also an above average blogger. One of my favorite things on his blog is his hockey frankenset tab:

HIS CARDS, NOT MINE...YET

These cards birthed a monster in me, not ALIEN but my buttons can be pushed.  OPC has become my choice for hockey cards. I choose to let others send them to me. {So why don't you?} I can't help but enjoy the fact Upper Deck owns the rights to an old Topps brand.  I added all Blackhawks to my want list.  Wildly colorful, the Rainbow parallels would be a sweet binder addition.

Chris tucked a little hockey into this PWE:

Blackhawk goalies!!  Fantastic contents, Chris! Thank you. Pick on me anytime! 

Changing directions... I've tried to skirt this topic but it seems nearly impossible.  Now that the oh-so novel virus is on our shores, the novelty has worn thin.  I am healthy and live/work in relatively unexposed conditions.  Working from home is not an option anymore as I'm five minutes from the office, and the emergency 'go-to'. I can avoid contact with all but perhaps four persons there.  My desk is a good distance from everyone but off the main aisle these four travel.  We are in the automobile industry. Incoming work is already slowing.  As a third-tier service provider, this company would be greatly affected by a shut-down. It seems inevitable. As colleges and schools close their doors for the next few weeks, other businesses are sure to follow suit. Several of my pals here are teachers. Billy battles health issues so his trading is on hiatus for now.  How many of you plan to halt trading at this time, or at all? Are you still shopping online - ebay?

I hope you, your friends and family are all unaffected. I'll be here, checking in. Please let us know if you find yourself under-the-weather.  I need to stock up on hot dogs and spicy brown mustard...just in case there's a run on wieners!

If you are still interested in Pick Pockets, I've upped the pick-limit to 15 cards. It seems a shame to send half-empty pockets on a journey.  New cards are going up this weekend. If you want anything still available, make your claims. 

HERE'S YOUR SIGN

Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme That Card

In 1975, the Average White Band boarded the Soul Train to tell the world it was ok to ask for what you wanted.   These white boys were looking for a piece of cake.  For years, I wondered why sing about cake?  A couple of weeks ago, it dawned on me - cake was a metaphor.

We see many great pieces of cardboard around the blogs we'll never own. We sometimes comment that we need or want a card with no expectations of receiving the particular card shown in the post.  I did so recently, making an innocent comment regarding a specific card.

>>>> CHECK OUT THIS BLOG <<<<

Nine Pockets was showing off a second completed set of 84-84 Topps Hockey. This set is quite similar to 83 Topps Baseball.  I like the hockey design much more however. Team colors bordering the photos are wider, giving the card a brighter appearance. He had two sets to my zero!

D is for delightful...or possibly defense. 

ONE OF SIX SUTTERS

The six  brothers were Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich and Ron, whose parents were fond of alliteration. All six played at one time for either the Blues or Blackhawks. Well of course they did! There is a seventh brother, Gary, obviously a misfit. His brothers say he was the most talented hockey player in the family. Not wanting to shame his six siblings, Gary chose to work the family farm.

Hooray Murray!

When I love catchers in gear, it's no surprise masked men on ice warm my heart just a little. This card is simply tremendous! An awesome old school mask hiding perfectly coiffed hair, this card was destined to be mine. January 5th, I commented on Niner's post: '...then there's the Bannerman which I do NOT have but will whine until I do.'  An envelope postmarked on the 8th arrived with three cards and a note: You want a Bannerman? You gots a Bannerman!  Who knew all I needed to do was ask?

Gregory, thank you!

If I could collect a second sport, it would be hockey.  Limited space and time make this unrealistic. I have found room however for a Blackhawks binder - and not just any binder!  It had to be perfect. Santa Claus still finds me every year no matter how undeserving I may be:

I'll soon be tucking these three cards into a nine-pocket page. Speaking of pockets - Pick Pockets was updated nearly two weeks ago. If you are a regular, you know the drill.

Now, about that cake... At times, I truly am that naive.