UNEMPLOYMENT: a temporary incovenience

Last Friday,  the first lovely day of February, I walked out the door for the last time. I can't begin to share just how good that felt! Any accounting firm rolls into tax season around February 1. My absence will be an inconvenience for awhile but certainly, I can be replaced.  What makes this such a unique situation is my coworker and good friend said 'sayonora' too, with the 5th as her last day. She left for the same reasons. While she can also be replaced in time, that office is in some serious trouble from an administrative support standpoint, not to mention the lack of their only onsite tech support, which I provided. There are so many good people in this office. Unfortunately they are not among the Leadership group.

We were short-staffed already. A new 20-something gal [our savior] joined the firm in December. It only took a couple weeks before we realized she would be no help to us. In one of our first meetings, we discussed work sharing. Her response 'that isn't convenient for me.'  I knew then it was time to get the heck out of there.  In the few days since I've been gone, she's been blaming me for her ignorance. 'Julie didn't tell me that.'  Twenty minutes late everyday and wanting to change her hours already - not my problem!  Within two days of leaving there, my blood pressure dropped to 128/75.  It was averaging 135/88. I've also lost a few pounds since turning in my notice.

I'm applying for positions much closer to home, knowing the salary will be half what it was. I'm covered financially for a few months so the urgency for work isn't there yet. What I do have is time for the hobby!!! My catchers are all in two binders now! More so - I have time to catch up on some wonderful trade packages!

Let's take a quick trip to 1975 Baseball Cards to look over a fat pwe from Steve:

Yes, the postmark is from June. Put your judgements back in your pocket. Focus instead, on these phenomenal Legends of Baseball stamps issued in 2000 by the good old postal service!  I was excited to find the cancellation missing old Ty so added this stamp to his pc. Back in the day, I purchased a full sheet of MLB's All Century Team:

Inside the envelope was a nice grouping of Tigers, including my first Fielder 'glow backs' from 1991 Topps!  Check out the link for details. Lacking a blacklight for testing, I take Steve's word for this.  He included the A&G Gaea mini for a feminine spin on my envelope! A nice touch, bringing all that testosterone down a notch! A thoughtful grouping of cards, Steve! Thanks again - and I'm so sorry it's taken so long to properly thank you!

In July, I participated in a Cards on Cards 10th Anniversary group break. Kerry was busting 1998 and 1999 Team Best, 2000 Team Best Extended, 1999 Stadium Club and extras, which had me pouncing on the Tigers slot!  It was a generous thank you to his readers and trade partners! Here's a sampling of the cards I received:

Not long ago, he dropped a few more cards on me. We helped one another with our 2018 Heritage set build. Kerry included other cards from my wantlist too along with a surprise auto!

AUTHENTICALLY REALMUTO

THANK YOU AGAIN!  Check out Kerry's blog and follow him on Twitter: Voodoo DeGlide.

One more late acknowledgement and thank you to GCRL at the  Cards As I Seem Them.  This Dodger collector send a couple of nice packages in 2018. He may think I've forgotten  - and who could blame him? There were some beautiful cards included:

2012 Fister, 2015 Farmer and Price; 2018 Fulmer

2012 

2014

Among the new, there are some handsome vintage catchers - 76 Fosse, 79 Oates and a 78 Biff!  Jim, please forgive the time it's taken to share these cards!

It's taken two hours to upload pics to this post. One of the nice perks I had with the firm was a new laptop every two years. I'm back to my 2010 Dell with Windows 7. Oh the agony!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm already looking for a new machine. At least this old Dell still works - as long as it's plugged directly into power.

Posting Issues

Yeah, I've had them.  Catching up isn't easy when you're months behind sharing the goodness of others.  And today, we are doing a little bit of that!  This post features first time trades with a few of our blogger friends.  Months have passed since receiving most of these cards. What better way to say thanks to these Firsters than allowing the scans to yellow with age!

Let me preface this trade with I don't collect hockey.   I was drawn to the Blackhawks Indian logo by chance, just a few months ago and couldn't put it out of my head.  It is quite simply - beautiful art! My Native American heritage at one time called me to collect the old Goudeys.  My stupidity allowed me to sell my collection of these beauties 15 years ago.  So how now, to have a bit of cardboard history in the way of the original Americans?   Baseball Cards Come To Life - Bo Rosny took care of the problem with these:

The color did not come through with my phone as I was between  scanners at the time.  These cards show off the logo!  At some point, I'll likely own a long sleeved-shirt or jersey for the winter months, which in MI is Sept-June.   Thanks Bo!!!

D'back Daniel dropped a mailer on me that included some set needs and a couple of parallels.  Who says no to this??

Highlights of Card Shop Goodness

Oooo, pretty cards include a 2015 Chrome Sepia McCann and 2016 Heritage Chrome Fulmer RC.  He's one of the few Tigers having a good year.  I say we lose this guy!  He's much too good for us. Sell Sell Sell while we Tank Tank Tank.   Daniel, you'll have a return package soon!

GCRL may have forgotten about the fat little envelope he sent me.  If not, he may think that I did. But here's proof of my appreciation:

Jim sent a great batch of Gibbys and attractive parallels! Oh the woes of F-Rod!  He and Miggy look much better on these cards than in their recent performances!  The F'er is gone but Miggy remains, along with  his salary.   Mig has shown signs of coming around only to commit another error, hit into a DP or strike out.  His frustration shows.  Many Tiger fans wonder if his struggles are injury related or perhaps stress caused by fear and uncertainty for the safety of his family in Venezuela.  Jim, there's a return in the works!  Thanks for your patience!

Along with March came a friendly pwe from Oscar - not the grouch - the other Oscar, All Trade Bait All the Time!  He sent an Aloha  with a nice grouping of Tigers:

My first JaCoby Jones RC!   He's a young fellow with some potential, traded from the Pirates for Joakim Soria, and from my home state of Oklahoma, in a little town just outside OKC,  Chickasha - Chik-ah-shay  that's how we Okies pronounce it.  In his first MLB plate appearance, JaCoby hit a three-run homer against the White Sox becoming the first Tiger rookie to hit an Opening Day homer since Kirk Gibson in 1980.   With that began the JaCoby fever of which many Tiger fans and card collectors still suffer .  I tend to steer away from prospecting therefore appreciate having this card sent to me!  Oscar,  Aloha!   You'll be hearing from me!

A more recent package was received as a thank you from Now and Zen's Doe.  I sent her a box of Cubs and White Sox as a welcome to the blogs.  {Fortunately, she collects these teams!}  There were no expectations for a return package but she filled that little box up and sent it back to me.  I found mostly Tigers along with a few hits on my PCs:

CAM and BIGGS

1994 Score with a Gold Rush parallel

2017 Opening Day

Doe had a few fun cards available which I'd mentioned liking.  She put all of them in the box - Posey and Altuve among the mascots! Thanks so much for the trade.  We'll do it again!

It feels good to share - or more specifically- to be organized enough to share these great trades.  This post had its own issues:

I must be held.  No Exceptions!