On the Eve of 2021

Hail to thee, 2020. We've heard you loud and clear. I'm kicking your nefarious butt to the curb before this night is through. 

This year has left me relatively unscathed but I know this isn't true for everyone. I have good friends who've lost family members, and I lost an elderly friend myself three days before Christmas - all to covid.  Although I was laid off in April and May, my employer survived the auto shutdown and finished the year strong. My job is secure. I've certainly missed hanging with friends, especially over the holidays but do OK with 'me' time. Being alone is fairly easy for me though I couldn't do it long term. [I'm a hugger - people and  trees.] 

Even with the additional 'free time', I haven't added more posts here. No surprise as it's taken six years to hit #199 with this one. In all fairness to myself, I did manage 44 posts this year.  I also gave more of my hobby time to Pick Pockets. When I began the PP page more than a year ago, the intent was to spread a little hobby joy and perhaps spark a few trades. Who knew 2020 would be the sheet show it's been?  I've kept up with the page, hoping to make a difference in a few lives. In a year with no retail, perhaps pick pockets has allowed a few of you to build your own packs. 

        2020 gems courtesy of Doug, Buckstore Cards:

Your response to picking has been returned with kindness, with many sending cards from my three want-list tabs and mini-collections. The cards seen throughout this post are all from blogger pals, successfully adding to the joy in my own life. Thank you for this!

        From Chris the Collector - OPC and Sunoco Dutch with a fun Klesko:

I don't expect retail to come roaring back to our shelves anytime soon, if ever. Flippers found they could make some quick and easy money on our little blasters and hanger packs. The only Topps Chrome I ever pick up is through retail so I appreciate the Tigers from Doug, shown above. My collecting has moved towards my bat-themed mini-collections: floaters, racks and multiple bats. I'm also pursuing my own Stadium Club collection filled with favorites from 1991 through today. Cards I'm seeking can be found on my TCDB want list - link found at the top of this page right here.

        A cup of black coffee from Matt:

I've never listed goals here, hobby or otherwise. Goals cause me to look back over the full year and beat myself up for not accomplishing them. I prefer to note my achievements as the year moves along saying to myself "hey there, look what you did!"  

I do have an idea for the blog however, and would love some feedback from you. I'm an avid reader, mostly non-fiction: baseball, history and personal growth.  All are in excellent condition from a non-smoking home. With no room to keep all my beloved books, I've considered adding a book tab.  Books would be available to trade for x-# of cards on my wantlist. As a rule, I don't have the latest hot cards and players so perhaps a book would be considered in lieu of cards. Please share your thoughts in a comment.

        From Kerry Cards on Cards - 2020 Stadium Cub set help, Kaline SP and Pink Velocity Posey:

Check out the story behind this photo, featuring our own Nick Vossbrink

As for 2021, it deserves a chance. I tend to have an optimistic view of life but keep reality in my back pocket. I'm grounded. My hope for each of you is a year of kindness. Be kind to yourselves. Love yourselves. You are good people. If I didn't think so, we wouldn't be connected. May you and yours be healthy and blessed.  

Thank you for supporting this little blog!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Death of an Ichiro Card and To 2019

Born 2018.  Deceased 2019. Approximate time of  death unknown.  Cause of death: feline mastication.

This incident is greatly indicative of the past six months. I mean well enough but circumstances don't always align themselves to my intentions. This card for instance:

Tis a blurry snippet from a past post

I showed this off back in April, a couple months before I slipped into early hibernation. It was beautiful then. Jon Pennysleeves claimed it. I put it aside with a few others for him. There it sat, sitting safely, so I thought. {what????}

By the end of May, I'd wandered from the blogs. Months passed. What began as a short summer hiatus turned into several challenging months battling a funk I've never known. I refuse to enter 2020 feeling disconnected and vulnerable to life.

Which brings us to today, wrapping up 2019. Making out the envelope for Jon, filling it with cards - why, sending trades and surprises to other collectors is always a pleasant experience.  ALWAYS!!!!!

Momma's darling Angel.

Jingles saw it differently. Her reading levels are below average for a feline. She did not see the sticky note on the small stack of cards was clearly marked 'Jon'.  Thinking the  J  certainly denoted 'Jingles', she took a neat little nibble.

FIRE!!!!!

This once shiny, vibrantly colored card is still that but now forever marred with cute little kitty teeth prints. I love cats! My apologies to you, Jon.  I rarely have anything cool to send your way. My procrastination came back to bite me. The envelope though, is safe from my precious furry kitty baby, and will be in the mail this week.

I plan to be back but perhaps will blog a little differently. Life is not all cards and collections. Maybe sharing those imperfect moments will help me through the foggy days when life isn't so organized.

I wish a peaceful, kind New Year to each of you. We all need tenderness in our lives.

HAPPY NEW DECADE!!!

I QUIT!

Eighteen posts in 2018.  What a year for poor time management.  It feels that way although I know I'm not completely to blame. I traded actively throughout the year but spent little time organizing my collection or being present on the blogs. It's made me sad on more than one occasion.

What will change this year? What can I do differently that will allow more time for the hobby and other worthwhile activities? Do I end all trading activity? Shut down the blog altogether?  Quit my job?

I'm making a positive change in life for 2019.  The answer is ... I quit!  I've shared on numerous occasions that my job responsibilities have become ridiculous: more work for fewer people with an accelerated completion time. The managing partners should stick to what they do best - bring in the business. When they are so out of touch with the processes that complete their client's work it's not long before a collapse. I do not intend to be around for the inevitable.

2000 USPS postcards Cobb and Cochrane
1975 TCMA Colavito and Kuenn
courtesy of my Canadian friend, Fred Pike

I've been off work since Friday, Dec 21st and return tomorrow. This weekend, I applied for a couple of positions locally, both outside the tax business line, that would shave off more than 20 of the current 30 mile one-way commute. Living in the country means most work out this way pays a LOT less. I'm also over-qualified for these positions. I hope to find new work before March 1st because I will not be there on the 2nd - no matter what.

The improvements a change like this would bring are many. Working only 15 minutes from home adds nearly two hours to my day.  A tank of gas will last three times as long. There will be time for little league games, the hobby and most importantly, relationships - friends and family! Blogging?? I'd like to believe weekly posts [for the first time ever] are a real possibility! Ultimately, a new job will greatly decrease the stress I'm under 40+ hours per week. No more tax deadlines.

The downside is the large salary cut I'll be taking.  There won't be a lot leftover for the hobby. Dime boxes will be my besties for sometime to come. My want/wishlist will grow.  In anticipation of these changes, I'm moving towards PWE trades. I've been doing this with Canadian friends for a couple months now.  12-15 cards per envelope is affordable and working well.

Now with all this time off work, you'd think there'd be time for the blog and hobby. I took the down time to step away from the internet a bit; read a couple books and hang out with friends. I spent three days in Northern Michigan, in the Gaylord area. Only over the past three days have I taken time to begin the long overdue card organization. I finally compiled a list of all binder sets - and labeled the binders! Some are short only 2 to 5 cards and have been added to my current set needs. Crazy how I could need only one or two cards from mid-90s sets!  I will continue to eliminate cards from my collection via 3D posts [Dupe Dump or Dwindle] or possibly as giveaways. My house is not growing, even with all the rain. No new space but more efficient use of the space I have, is the solution.

A few featured here are various Kay-Bees, 89 Ames, 1990 Topps Magazine, 87 Hostess Whitaker, 90 BBC mag Biggio
also from Fred - thanks friend!

2019 is hopeful as most new years' are. I have the power to make this change in life. How about you? Are you also making big changes or looking for new opportunities in 2019?  Many wishes for a positive and blessed new year for all of you. Thank you for sticking around, even when I'm not here.

Goals, Trades and Contests - OH MY!

Happy New Year!  I hope your holidays were peaceful, joyful and filled with good cheer!  I've been under the weather with no desire to even log on to the laptop.  It seems like only a couple months ago I bragged about being caught up with trade posts.  Pride goeth before a fall. By mid-December, I was buried by generosity from so many of you.  Posts will be forth-coming, and coming, and coming...

I've been pondering my hobby goals recently.  One thing that must change is how I send trade packages.  For example, this past month I shipped to three different gentlemen named Adam.   I'm honestly not sure if the contents reached their correct destination.  I know these were delivered...but to which Adam?  Did each Adam get the cards intended for him, or those of another Adam?   Only Adam knows.  I think I'll limit shipping to no more than five packages and one Adam at a time.

I'll also be updating my want list with specifics.  I still enjoy blind trades but also plan to offer a trade bait page to encourage a card for card exchange.  Plans are to have my want list and bait page updated by the end of 2016.  I like hard deadlines.

 Let's begin the trade portion of this post with an envelope filled with some homemade holiday cheer.  Baseball Card Breakdown's defgav spread some joy around and was kind enough to include me:

1993 Action Packed          2015 Pro Debut



2000 Gold Label
2015 Bowman Chrome auto

These are sweet new additions to my collection!  But there was another card, numbered 11/12.  Gavin has too much fun as this card reveals:

 I certainly laughed aloud at the sight.  LaMarr would be flattered to know he is still bringing joy to baseball fans - at least twelve of us anyway.  Gavin, you're too much!  Thank you!

SH from ATBATT spread PWE love around the card-o-sphere this Christmas.  I'm not sure how I was chosen as a recipient of his goodness but am grateful!  I collect Jackie Robinson and he had a few to share:

All nice additions to the JR pc!  I hope to repay your thoughtfulness with some Dodger Blue soon!  Thank you and Happy New Year!

 The Night Owl came calling as well.  Greg sent a nice selection of Tigers and a little JR too.  Here's a sampling:

 



Ron was serving 5-15 years for armed robbery before his baseball redemption.



NO wrote that he hoped these did the trick.  I'd say yes, these were a treat!  Thanks as always!!!

Only 20 trades or so left to share. At the rate I post, I should be caught up by mid-May. Any wagers?  No? How about a contest then?  Comment below and specifically mention you'd like a chance at this lovely sealed 1992 Classic Minor League Baseball Set:

Yes there are a LOT of young faces in this set who were never called up. There are also a few familiar faces: Jeter, Piazza, M  Ramirez, Damon, Delgado, Edmonds and more. High BV according to the omniscient Beckett is $25, with a breakdown value of $100.  You want a chance?  Two things: you must live in the USA and should comment specifically to say you want in on the Randomizer.  I'll end the contest sometime next Saturday afternoon, randomize twice and post the results a bit later in the evening.

 

Thanks for reading and sharing this hobby!  I enjoy collecting so much more now that we are friends!