Slow down, you move to fast. I find myself saying this more often as the
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.
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| 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:
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| 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.
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| HERE'S YOUR SIGN |
I see dire straits ahead. Shamefully I have to admit that a total shutdown (of everything) for the entire country is what is needed if only for a month. But that won't happen at least not willingly. Recession is but a moment away. Here in America we will be fine, not perfect but we will overcome as we always do, and sacrificing some liberties is not going to hurt for long, (may make a few us stir crazy). Ooops off track, back to cards. I made a HUGE sportslot buy in anticipation of skipping out on traveling to card shows, the one next month is still tempting, we'll see. I plan on grabbing my Braves and sets as they release. But even getting mail.......has me wondering.....What if someone..... Yeah, I get you, be safe and wash your dang hands :)
ReplyDeleteThe next month will be telling. I encourage everyone to be mindful of hand washing and sanitizing. If you don't feel well, keep yourself away from others. Do not go to work sick. Hope the show next month goes on as planned. There may be a pause in your travels but at least you have some cards to keep you busy and out of trouble.
DeleteWell, now that you're officially doing hockey now, this delay in life is going to give me time to sort through my boxes of stuff and find some OPC cards to send your way! Only Blackhawks or are you going for the whole set?
ReplyDeleteAs far as Retro cards go, I'd probably take any. They are too groovy! As for hockey in general, only Blackhawks. I don't have room for other teams, or sets. Thank you Billy! Take care of yourself and be well!!!
DeleteThanks! I will need your address at some point. I forgot to save it when you mailed to me before. Look for a message on the Database when I am ready to mail :)
DeleteOPC Blackhawks? I'm on it too!
DeleteFellas, thank you :)
DeleteI don't know if you ever watched the TV show "Lost", but I read part of your opening paragraph as if it were from the hit song by the show's fictional band 'Driveshaft':
ReplyDelete"You all everybody with your fancy shelves and cards all neatly bindered..."
If you *didn't* watch Lost, then... well... nevermind.
I enjoy the recent OPC "retro" cards as well, but they're a little too SP'ed for my budget down here in a hockey wasteland... plus I've got plenty of other things to chase after.
You all everybody... You all everybody...
Y'all everybody. Never did see LOST. ;) Of course the Retros are short-printed. No wonder I was drawn to them. 'Hockey Wasteland' does sound like a tune.
DeleteI often make the comment "I am too old to be in a hurry". Usually when someone is going to wait on me. Groceries. Bank. Coffee. They seem flustered when they have a lineup and think people are in a hurry. They say sorry for the wait. I reply with my comment and that usually lessens the stress level. At least for a moment. No doubt someone else waiting in line IS in a hurry and the stress level will increase. At the age of 69 most of my life is behind me. So what's the rush. It goes by far too fast.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post.
I'm with you Fred. I used to pray for patience when I was younger and quickly learned this was not a good idea. Now I'm that person holding up some 20 year old in a hurry to be nowhere in particular. I try to live moment-to-moment. 'NOW' is all I've been given anyway. Thanks for dropping by Fred!! :)
DeleteAs far as bloggers, and people, go, Chris is top notch! I haven't exactly been rolling in the dough as of late, so I haven't been making a lot of purchases in general, but if I have the money and see something online that I want, I won't be hesitating because I'm afraid of getting mail. Like all viruses, this one is highly unlikely to survive a multiple day journey on a piece a of non-living material. The only real danger, as Johnny already mentioned, would be if your mail carrier was sick and coughed or sneezed on your parcels as they were delivering them.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That comment above me from Fred is pretty damn insightful!
So now we must worry about the ill and cranky postal carrier who can't have the time off because they're already covering a second route while trying to finish their own. Ha. I'm not too concerned either but respect anyone who might not wish to trade right now. Hopefully, it opens EBAY up to some great deals ;) Oh, is that selfish? Fred is a wise guy, or more politely put: an insightful gentlemen. :) You are too.
DeleteI like that SP set, the borders are really cool-looking, don't remember a set like it. I'll look out for the new pickpockets. I've got a little pile for you ready to go but things are shutting down fast here in the NYC area (I'm working from home indefinitely now). Will get it out to you when I can. Stay safe!
ReplyDeletethanks Bo! You be safe too! How DOES one live in NYC w/o the subway?? I recall spending a LOT on SP. Probably opened several boxes. I kept these cards boxed for 20 years. How they never succumbed to bricking, I don't know. They look good paged. I checked some of my extra vintage against your list but struck out. These were cards you already owned. I'll keep looking.
DeleteI stopped trading years ago... and most of the care packages I owe people have already shipped. As an educator... I've been thinking a lot about this situation the past two days. My best friend is also a teacher and she takes care of her 80-something year old mom... so it's kinda hit home for me. Keeping people safe should be of the utmost priority. But cards will come in handy over the next couple of months... as a way of helping take our minds off of things.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concerns are for the elderly as well. Hopefully this thing will have moved on in the next 3-4 weeks. I also hope your friends' mom avoids illness. It must be quite frightening for the older population! Be safe, Fuj!
DeleteI completely understand the trading embargo I've seen from some bloggers but I don't think I could do it. I don't trade nearly as much as I once did but it's still so much of a thrill to check my mailbox every day, the possibility there might be cards in there!
ReplyDeleteMy real worry about the virus stems from the fact that I work with the general public, and I've already seen quite a few customers display, well...questionable hygienic behaviors even with all the panic. Probably doesn't help things that we have a huge sale going on this weekend. Guess we'll see what happens...
Oh I thought about you Nick! Do your best to keep some distance from coworkers and customers. Did you really have to mention a sale? I miss my HPB coupons. I still get the emails for 50% off. They used to give away calendars with coupons to use each month. I REALLY miss those. Your hobby joy is contagious. Now that's something worth catching!!!
DeleteI don't plan on changing a thing. Trade, buy what I can usually afford and blog. Probably avoiding retail outlets like Walmart though.
ReplyDeletemore retail opps for the brave and/or foolish!! Seriously tho, I don't expect to change hobby habits at all.
DeleteI'm always happy to help fill some set needs (and sent out some hockey cards) Didn't think anyone noticed my OPC Platinum frankenset, thank you for browsing that tab!
ReplyDeleteMy trading habits aren't officially on hiatus yet. I'd like to order cards or hit the local Target again soon, but that doesn't appear likely.
As for my URL, I used to write stories and things as the Pedestrian Writer (because I'm not great at it and also I don't drive) When I scrapped that for a sports card blog I couldn't use "The Collector" so I had to keep the "Pedestrian" part :)
well, you are certainly an above average fellow, whatever the reason. Thank you again. Keep on pickin'!
DeleteI've put my TTM requests on hiatus. Just doesn't feel right. Haven't made a decision about Sportlots or Ebay. Trading though is something that should help all of us pass the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Unless the post office closes, I'll keep PWE-ing American and our Canadian friends!
DeleteAfter reading a few articles stating how unlikely it is to get sick from opening mail (even arriving from certain foreign countries), I'm going to keep trading as normal. As for your Blackhawks binder, it's filling up quickly, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteA second binder could be in the future. Hard to say. There is another just like mine, with the Blackhawk against a red background. I remain open to possibilities - whereas possibilities = cards.
DeleteHope your continuing to be well safe and hopefully unaffected by this thing. I've got cards on the way. A nice distraction from the news I'd prefer to avoid watching. Most of the cards are coming from Sportlots, but some from eBay, too. Thanks for sharing these cards. They are great. Rock on!
ReplyDeleteThanks PK! I check the news once a day then move on. Enjoy the hobby time. It is a nice distraction, and takes the edge off life!
DeleteI have the Van Landingham SPx. Only problem is that it’s autographed by him. If that isn’t a problem, it’s yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeremy!That's quite kind and appreciated. It's taken so long to finish this set that I'm holding out for the regular base. BTW, I checked out your profile. I enjoy Out of the Grey too. I have a couple of their early cds.
DeleteGlad to find another OOTG fan. I've seen them 3 times in concert, and I am trying to pass my love of them on to my 3-year old, who loves to hear their song 'All we Need'.
DeleteWould you be up for a trade in the future? I might have some stuff from your want lists. I mainly collect Tampa Bay Rays & Devil Rays, and I'm sure I could help take some Tigers doubles off of your hands.
a Rays fan? I literally cleaned out my team boxes a week ago and put all the Rays - which I've had set aside for years now - with thousands of other cards for donation. Is this an early April Fool's prank? LOL!!! I'm sure I can find them however, and pull some nice cards for you. My email address is at the top of the pickpockets page. Let me know what Tigers you'd be interested in as well. My full list can be found here: https://www.tcdb.com/Collection.cfm/member/acrackedbat/collection/1?MODE=VIEW&Type=Baseball&Status=W
DeleteGlad to read you're doing alright. We are too; I'm still going to work because I'm essential and there's no means to work from home. My group's pretty much isolated as well so not much interaction. My wife's company says they're essential too (a mortgage company claiming they're in the banking business) so she's still going in. Problem is they already had a bunch call off to self-quarantine and only now did they decide to split whomever's left to 2 shifts to reduce the number of people in the office. They're also finally looking into letting some work from home. My kids don't see to mind the vacation though, but if we do all wind up self-quarantining we'll have plenty to do, as we purchased a home a few weeks ago and moved in before everything shut down. All my cards are scattered about in several places, but at least they're all in my house now! Stay positive and busy...this isn't going away anytime soon.
ReplyDelete