SHE'S ALIVE!!!!! ALIVE!!!!!!

 

If anyone out there still cares, I'm alive and well in this world and hope the same for you! Whew, the time away has been quite relaxing. My spring and summer hours were spent enjoying friendships, acoustic guitar, sunshine and reading. It's been a wonderful change from the solitude of 2020. I'm still working but most days, it feels like a part-time job. I'm also enjoying baseball for the first time this year. Yay playoffs! Dish Network doesn't air Tiger games but Comcast will be here soon which also means real internet!!!!!!!!!!

For those interested - as far as what type of music I play, it depends on my mood. I love the Carter Family and older country like Buck Owens and Kris Kristofferson. Then there's John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Eagles, Indigo Girls, Neil Diamond, Beatles...so much to learn! And for the curious, I doubt I'll ever share a video here. My blog pals would be kind I'm sure but the blog is public. Asking for free cards while laying on the zingers...lol. No thanks. Those folks do exist.

No acoustic bitmoji               

Thank you to those of you who reached out to check in on me. Your emails kept me connected to the community here. A few of you even dropped some cards my way not knowing if I'd still be interested: Rod of Padrographs, Ye Old Night Owl, Niner from Nine Pockets, Joe Shlabotnik, Diamond King, Dollar Store Doug and Bo Rozny - thank you for thinking of me!!! 

Collecting has changed for me. Pandemic hoarding and profiteering provided opportunity for reflection; time to appreciate just how many cards I do have. While 3/4 of my main collection has been added to TCDB, I've never taken time to add mini-collections which includes 1000's of catcher cards alone. It's never been important that I have a BIG collection. My little cardboard hoard is slight in comparison to what many of you have. OK by me. It requires storage. I live in a small space. If I can't - or don't - enjoy what I have then how can MORE be better?

I've looked at some of my favorite issues this year. While perusing Heritage, Stadium Club and Panini Prizm offerings on eBay, I felt oddly disconnected with no desire to pursue player faves new or old, nor my Tigers. What is wrong with me? Rhetorical. Please do not leave diagnostic commentary. LOL. See first photo for clues.

With Topps and Panini both losing out to Fanatics, the three card issues I love most are in doubt. Much has been written about the loss already. It's a wake up call for Topps that came a bit too late. Perhaps Fanatics will acquire Topps or Panini...

The one thing that's kept me in the game are new customs. So far, I have every release Gio Balls has produced. This could change should G decide to add other sports. Nine Pockets also printed some of his fun creations. Gregory messaged me so I wouldn't miss out on the opportunity. I chose three cards...which just gave me a contest idea. Gotta find something to giveaway first.

Random. LOL.

I've always appreciated the surprise packages. If you'd like to continue sending cards, I do ask kindly, please - send only cards found on my list. Save your shipping funds for cards that are wanted elsewhere. Space truly is in short supply. This will likely eliminate many trade opportunities. I also don't expect cards with nothing to offer in return. There will be no new cards here outside of a custom dupe and random pick pockets. Oh yes - there will be some offerings for pickin' in the near future! With the recent postal increase, rules will likely change. I haven't had a chance to review my options.

So what's in the future for your old Cracked Bat? An occasional post is likely, and collecting is related to wantlist only.  This does include 2021 Tigers but no Flagship or Stadium Club. I'll keep lists on my tabs and the database. TCDB wants have been cleaned up with more likely to come off soon. As temps drop, I'll have time on weekends to play in the card room. 

Here's the other thing...who doesn't appreciate a blogged thank you from the recipient of your kindnesses? For the foreseeable future, all I can offer in the way of thanks is a mention of appreciation. Not that I won't ever share a trade but I do know time will be limited if I want to continue trading. If you are OK with a mention of thanks without the show and tell, then let's continue to trade. I don't expect you to show off cards from me on your blog either. Just let me know you received them and I'll do the same. 

Juggling life and priorities creates a challenge for most of us. I'd like to remain part of this community. It's a card blog so yes, card will be found here. 

I've missed you! Thanks for reading!

Until next time....

BOOgie!

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