You've gotta watch what you say, or how you say it

Over the past few weeks, I've been very careful.  Careful about what I say when I comments on other bloggers' posts, and careful about what I say on my blog as well.  There's a reason for this...

I'm a real smart ass, and my mouth can get me into trouble more often than I need to be.

The one thing I've learned over the past few years is to be careful what I say, in the workplace, at family gatherings, on vacations, etc.  A lot of what I think would not translate well into the real world, because of my smart ass mentality.

Case in point:  An article a couple of weeks back on Yahoo about this particular Heritage card surfaced.

Daniel was upset because Topps managed to catch him for a photo at the time he hurt his arm in a game last season.  Now the smart ass in me a few years ago would have piped up and made a comment about how he felt, and not have given two thoughts to putting it on the internet.  But I've learned, you've gotta watch what you say, or how you say it.  Because not only are people quick to point out your flaws, they are also quick to judge you as well.  That's just how it is in the world we live in.

After a day of thought about the Hudson card, I decided that a smart ass comment wasn't worth it, because I thought "how would I feel if I had a devastating injury like that?".  I would feel pretty shitty for sure.  People get emotional, and I can understand Hudson's thoughts on how he felt when seeing this. 

I'm glad I stayed silent.

I'm sure that wasn't the case when I first started on the blogosphere though.  I had no problem spouting off what I felt in comments, and I'm sure it probably upset one or two people along the way.  I even know of one long time blogger who stopped following me, no doubt after something I said (which was probably stupid).  I've left comments on his blog offering trades, and have never even received a response.  I've kind of resigned myself to the fact now that my stupidity back then has affected me now. 

Praise in public, criticize in private.  That was a credo that one of my former bosses taught me, and it's something that has stuck to this day.  Not only does it hold true in the workplace, but in the blogosphere as well. 

If I've pissed you off in the past, directly or indirectly, I apologize.  I may be 45, but life's lessons will be something I keep on learning until death do I part.

thanks for reading, Robert

Common card of the day: Jarome Iginla

Love the old style Flames jerseys, wish that they would just keep them.  Here's hoping that Jarome has success now that he is a member of the Boston Bruins Pittsburgh Penguins.

Thanks for looking, Robert

I think I know what my problem is now

Lately, I've been in a real funk.  I can feel it in my bones, the lack of desire to get anything meaningful accomplished on the blog.  March has long been a month I look forward to.  Not because of March Madness, but for the simple fact that the 3 previous months are in the rear view mirror. 

You will not find many people much happier than I am when the month of March arrives, because the cold weather starts to dissipate, the snow starts to leave the ground, and the green of the grass and trees begins to take center stage.

Except for 2013 it seems.  I actually awoke to snow again on my truck this morning.  Not a major amount, but enough for me to look skyward and say "really??"  It is April 2nd after all, and the high still didn't get out of the 30's today. 

I really have become a warm weather person.  My annual trips to Florida during the winter months stopped this year, because my wife has decided to take a stand and make our friends come and visit us before we head back there again.  My wife insists that I am more than welcome to go down by myself, but I am convinced that if I were to do that, I probably wouldn't hear the end of it for not supporting her. 

You see my quandary.

There is hope on the horizon here, with the forecast for later in the week calling for temperatures to climb into the upper 50's.  Between that and the monthly card show this weekend, I'm hoping that things will start to clear up for me, and I'll get back to a little more normalcy here in the blog. 

I began this evening with a quick addition to the baseball want list, the 2008 Upper Deck X Die Cut set.

I was sorry to hear that Santana was lost for the season, it seems as if he just can't get on a good run of health over the past few years.

I really like this set, despite the small card count (100).  I've been fortunate to pull together 19 of them so far, and I'm hoping to find a couple of auctions on eBay to knock off some of the want list.

First things first though, the monthly card show this weekend, which I'll be attending on Saturday (as is my custom).  I hope to be finishing this set when I go....

1977 Topps #650

Just 9 to go.  Some big names still to pick up though.  Carew.  Schmidt.  Guidry.  Fidrych RC.  Brooks Robinson.  Nolan Ryan Record Breaker card.  I hope to finish off that set, and find a few more cards toward the serial insanity set.  Not sure if I'll try and attack the '70 or '73 sets, we'll have to see how I feel when I get there. 

Maybe now that baseball is back for real, my mind will get straight and I can get my focus where it should be.

Enjoying this great hobby of ours...

Thanks for reading, Robert

Check Marcus

Got an email not too long ago from Marcus at the All the way to the backstop blog asking for one of the Purple Card Eaters that I had posted.  That and a couple of Padres were sent to the heart of Texas, and in return i was PWE'd with a handful of goodness that I was able to check off of my lists.

Hence, Check Marcus....(it gets harder and harder to come up with this stuff folks...)

Blue Jays that I need?  Check

The Wardo on the left is actually a 1987 Topps Tiffany, the first that I have for that year.  The Cory Snyder is a '91 Score Traded, again a first for that particular year.  I like the reddish border, I actually thought when I first opened the envelope that it was going to be a Target parallel.  Still, good enough!!


70's vintage?  Check

To wrest a 1970 Topps card of a Padres player from a Padres collector, I must be living right.  Or it must be a dupe.  No matter, it's one more towards the '70 set, which of course is more than welcome here.

Serial Numbered Insanity?  Check.

Another Padre!  I had to check, and yes the Will Venable is the first member of the 2013 Topps flagship set to become part of the insanity.  For those who are counting, these two cards bring the total up to 818 cards towards the 1500 card goal.

Three check marks.  100% on that test!  Thank you Marcus for the trade, much appreciated!!

Thanks for reading, Robert

The 1K/2K club: Ivan Rodriguez

2006 Fleer Ultra Fine Fabrics

Why Ivan Rodriguez as the first baseball player featured in the 1K/2K club?  2427 games behind the plate.  That stat in itself is amazing.  I don't think that anybody will ever come close to catching that many games in their career, at least not in my lifetime.  None of the players ahead of him on the all time games played list (2543 games played total, tied for 45th all time with Jim Thome) was a career catcher.   

While catching all those games, Ivan was a helluva hitter, compiling some great career numbers.  .296 career average, 2844 career hits.  Won a world series with Florida in 2003.  AL MVP in 1999. 

14 time all star.  13 time gold glove winner.  8 times he threw out more than 50% of runners trying to steal for a season.  In 2001 he threw out more than 60%. 

First ballot hall of famer?  I think of Johnny Bench when I think of great catchers, and he was voted in first ballot with 96.4% of the vote.  My opinion is that "Pudge" should at least get that amount of the vote, if not more. 

Love the intense look of Ivan on the 2006 Fleer Ultra Fine Fabrics card above.  This card was picked up at a show for a paltry $2.  A nice addition for the club.

Thanks for reading, Robert

Common card of the day: Tim Salmon

A little less emerald on the card than this years Topps cards, but Tim's card still looks good to me.

Thanks for looking, Robert