2013 Wishes – March Update

March is over, so it’s that time to recap my 2013 collecting wishes. Here is the original 2013 wishes write-up if you need help understanding this post. 

1. Break the 365 post mark for the calendar year – In March I matched February’s total of 49 posts. However, I did put up a lot of want lists, but that’s mainly because work is killing me and I’ve had little time to do card research. Anyways, at this pace, I’m eying 641 posts for the calendar year, which vastly exceeds my goal of 365 posts. I dare say I expect this number to rise as the 2013 MLB Tournament proceeds and as I get my Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck want lists up.  


2. COMPLETED – Reach 100 followers – I started 2013 with 74 followers, and finally broke the 100 follower barrier in March. I even made a public push to break the century mark, and hinted at a contest… 


3. Recognize and Replace Series that Just Aren't Working – Serial work is few and far between at the moment. With added stress from work and the ever-present lack of time, serial work is on the back burner. Hopefully I will be able to get back to it soon, even if it is not that popular.


4. Follow Through! – Not sure why this is a 2013 Wish, but I think I’m doing a fair job of keeping the blog active. However, I need to think of more ways to make it interactive.


5. COMPLETED - Follow Through! - Part II – Finally completed a trade that’s been gnawing at me since late 2011. I can sleep again at night.


6. Trade, Trade, Trade – Made several trades in March with MrHaverKamp, Captain Canuck and Mr. Nelson. Have a few trades in motion as I type with Mr. Smith and 2 x 3 Heroes. As for the “net losing” cards promise I made to my wife, I thought I had safely obliterated that goal, but Mr. Nelson might tip me over the scales again. While I haven’t updated the counter recently, the cards sent is accurate, but the cards received is off by about 800.


7. Complete 20 Sets – Knocked out two sets in March: 1988 and 1989 Donruss. I bet y’all are so jealous… That puts me at five completed sets for the year and 15 shy of my goal.


8. Finish Uncle Doc's Card Closet – Phase I is completed, as is Phase II. As for Phase III, I have about 18% of my cards sequentially ordered, and in super-shoes with dividers. Slow and steady, and then I can start the electronic database!


9. COMPLETED - Get my Hands on a 1952 Topps – Carl Crawford Cards sent me a beautiful 1952 Virgil Trucks card that has catapulted itself to the most felt, smelt and never-to-be-dealt card in my collection. I love it. 

2013 Wishes – February Update

Another month down and another month with at least one post every day. I wonder how much longer this prolific streak will last? I’m hopeful it will keep on going as the regular season is ONE MONTH away, and that should keep me interested even if (gasp) the cards don’t always. 

Anyways, it’s March 1st and I gather I should follow up to last month’s update on my 2013 wishes…

1. Break the 365 post mark for the calendar year – The short month of February still saw me post 49 times, which was a good showing after January’s 54 posts. At this pace, I’m eying 637 posts for the calendar year, which vastly exceeds my goal of 365 posts. At this rate, I might even be able to afford a vacation from the blog…Nah.


2. Reach 100 followers – I started with 76 followers, added 12 more in January, and am now up to 94 at the end of February. That 100 follower goal is looking good with 10 months to go! 


3. Recognize and Replace Series that Just Aren't Working – I’ve pretty much fallen off the “serial” bandwagon the past week or so. I’m enjoying the freedom of posting about whatever random thought is cruising through my neurons, but since I know me, I’ll be back to serial work as soon as I get stymied. 


4. Follow Through! – The Joy of Sets has been officially canceled and relegated to the Out of Style section. Too much work on a severely limited time schedule. 


5. Follow Through! - Part II – Still haven’t finished the trade that gnaws at me. Bad Uncle Doc. 


6. Trade, Trade, Trade – Made half of two trades in February. Sent some Fleer Excel cards to Angels in Order, and 14 lbs 10 oz. of minor league cards to Carl Crawford Cards. These trades should wrap up soon. As for the “net losing” cards promise I made to my wife, I think I’ve safely obliterated that goal, as the package I sent CCC contained over 3,400 cards in his favor. Ain’t no way I’m going to receive that many cards in the mail this year. 


7. Complete 20 Sets – Knocked off zero sets in February, even though I picked up over 50,000 cards for the month.  Either way, I’m still stuck at three for the year, which is 17 short of my goal. Check out my Almost There! section at the top left if you want to help knock off some low hanging fruit. 


8. Finish Uncle Doc's Card Closet – Phase I is completed.  As for Phase II, I have a lowly 8% of my cards sequentially ordered, and in super-shoes with dividers. I've got a long way to go before I can start the electronic database.


9. Get my Hands on a 1952 Topps – I didn’t venture to a card show, nor cruise eBay, so this goal is still spinning its wheels. Although, I am still holding my breath for this card...   

Here is the original 2013 wishes write-up if you need help understanding this post.

2013 Wishes – January Update

I cannot believe I made it a whole month.  I posted every day for a month.  This is unheard of for me, and you better believe it was a challenge.  I must always remember this is my blog and is intended for my amusement, but sometimes I get stuck wondering if the blog is broken, why is no one commenting?, etc.  I just need to keep telling myself this blog is like an open diary for me to write, and for you and me to enjoy.

Anyways, since it is February 1st, I thought I’d recap my progress on my nine wishes for 2013…

1. Break the 365 post mark for the calendar year – I posted an unbelievable (for me) 54 times in the month of January.  If I stay on this pace, I’ll wind up with 636 posts for the year, vastly exceeding my goal of 365 posts.  I won’t hold my breath…  


2. Reach 100 followers – At the beginning of the calendar year I had 76 followers.  I’ve managed to scrape together 12 new followers in the month of January and have topped out at 88.  I still think cracking 100 will be difficult, but I am up for the challenge.


3. Recognize and Replace Series that Just Aren't Working - I'm still stubborn.  I’ve added a new series, Pwn3d, but I’m still holding out faith in the proverbial dud known as Oh, Wow!.  It makes me chuckle and gives me a break from writing and researching.  


4. Follow Through! – I’m in danger of screwing this one up.  The Joy of Sets and Redefine the Design serials are teetering on obscurity for me.  It takes SO much work to pull those posts together, and time is precious.  Instead of axing one of them, I’ve combined them so they will alternate week to week.


5. Follow Through! - Part II – I’m partially making amends on the trade I never reciprocated.  I’ve got something for them, but I need to (1) fish it out of the attic and (2) actually mail it!  This will get done soon so I can ease my conscience.


6. Trade, Trade, Trade – Made two trades during January, and I’ve already forgotten the name of one of the guys (damn!).  As for the “net losing” cards promise I made to my wife, I’ve received 37 in the mail and sent 35 for a net gain of 2 cards (double damn!).  Sweet, I remember who the lost trader was, it was Chip N Dale.  He sent me some 2012s off my want list and I sent him some 2003 Topps.  I also made a squirrely 3-way trade with Johngy and Angels in Order.  Johngy sent me some cards, but they turned out to be for Angels in Order, while he got my cards in the mail.  Through the magic of the internet, we figured it all out and both AIO and I tossed some extra cards into the packages and completed the trades.  I still need to make more trades, so check out my wants!


7. Complete 20 Sets – Knocked off 1987 Topps, 1990 Donruss and 1990 Topps Traded during January.  Man, I bet y’all are jealous!  I'm dangerously close to finishing several other sets, so check out my Almost There! section at the top left.


8. Finish Uncle Doc's Card Closet – Phase I of the closet has been completed.  I have one half of a closet dedicated to sets and wax, and the other half of the closet is for singles.  I’m currently working on Phase II, which is the sorting, box labeling, labeled dividers, and box inventory.  Phase III will be putting each and every last card into a searchable database for me and YOU to enjoy! 


9. Get my Hands on a 1952 Topps – I went to a card show a few weeks back, and I actually saw some 1952 Topps, but their price was still too high for my blood.  While I didn’t land a 1952 Pete Runnels, I did pick up these four Runnels’ cards for $8 total.  

Oh, and I'm still having fun, but y'all need to comment more :-)

Let's Play Nine! - 2013 Wishes

After perusing the Top Shelf to the right of this post, I noticed that many a blogger is presenting their goals for 2013.  Some are down right ambitious and admirable, while others appear to be on the fast track to defeat like most New Year's Resolutions.

Traditionally, I'm not one to set myself up for failure.  That seems to just come natural to me.  Yet, after what was a turbulent 2012 for me, I think I should just lay something out there.  I won't call them goals or expectations...how about personal wishes?

1. Break the 365 post mark for the calendar year - Since this blog's inception, posts have been in a shotgun pattern at best.  Whether it was personal/family matters or just plain malaise, my consistency with the site has been sub-par.  For instance, I missed an entire YEAR from November 2011 until December 2012 (that story will come later when it's ready to be spun).  However, I've already been working hard at developing a scheme for consistently posting and posting well (at least well enough in my head).  For instance, I haven't missed a day since early December.


2. Reach 100 followers - My readership has definitely suffered due to my lack of consistency and that 1 year sabbatical I took.  Of those current 76 followers, I imagine only a fraction pay any attention at all to these muses.  So, I'm setting the modest wish of 100 followers by the end of the calendar year.


3. Recognize and Replace Series that Just Aren't Working - I'm stubborn.  Some things I write about I think are damn funny, but no one this side of the Andromeda Galaxy is getting a chuckle.  I need to stop some ideas before I can no longer see the person in front of me.


4. Follow Through! - Too many times over the years I've either let ideas slip away (See the Out of Style section to the left).  If I'm having fun and readers seem to enjoy it, then don't be afraid to keep producing.


5. Follow Through! - Part II - Make amends to those I most likely left hanging on a trade.  I can only think of one, but that is one too many.  Time to set that right.


6. Trade, Trade, Trade - I won't put a number on the amount of trades I want to complete this year.  However, I can say that I want the net number of cards to favor the other collector and not me.  Guess I'll have to keep track of that one.  Gadget, anyone?


7. Complete > 10 20 Sets - This one ought to be easy as pie, since I'm dreadfully close on so many (see Almost There!).  Oh, wait.  Did I cross out 10 and put 20?  Really?  Ok, this "wish" just got real.


8. Finish Uncle Doc's Card Closet - Literally.  I have a closet in my house that is supposedly dedicated to my collection.  My wish is to have all the shelves installed; all the cards organized; all the set boxes labeled; and all the 3,200 and 5,000 count boxes labeled.  I won't go as far as saying that I want my entire collection digitized.  I'll save that one for 2014.


9. Get my Hands on a 1952 Topps - I've never had one.  Probably only seen a dozen or so in person.  And while I'm not greedy, if I'm going to get one, I want this one.

So, it looks like I might need to find a magic lamp to finish off this wish list, but really, the only one I know I have to do is not on that list above.  And that's TO HAVE FUN!