2017 in review

OK, there's a lot I want to say in this post, so let's get to it.

2017.  Not a bad year collecting wise.  I made a few decisions on how I want to go forward with my collection.  I also made 7 resolutions at the beginning of last year.  It's funny how things change as the year goes on.

A quick review:

1.  Set completion:  64 Topps, done.  88-89 OPC hockey.  Done.  73 Topps, 2 cards away.  I also mentioned the remainder of the 80's OPC hockey sets, getting them started and want lists on the blog.  That got started, somewhat.  Well, overall this is a B- for me.

2. Video posts.  Have to get back to these....F

3. COMC.  No longer want to sell on there, just don't see the upside in all that maintenance.

4. Jays and Leafs collections, sorted and catalogued.   As the year progressed, I figured out that maintaining a spreadsheet for both of these is both a lot of work and very tedious.  The TCDB is the way to go, and I've got the Jays collection started on there (just over 1000 cards entered).  Looking forward to getting the collection together, finally.  Grade:  Incomplete

5.  100 words, 100 cards contest.   Success!!  Grade:  A

6.  2016 Allen & Ginter completion:  Close, last card is in the mail on its way to me.   A-

7.  $2k.  I did pretty good up until September keeping track of what I spent.  At the end, just like a lot of things that you start at the beginning of the year, it became a bit tedious.  I know that I didn't even spend an average of $30/week, but I did get a good idea of what it will take to go to $40 a week like I thought I would last year.

I also wrote 160 posts, which I am happy with.  My days as an everyday blogger on this blog are gone, but double digit post totals each month is a very attainable goal. 

I'll write my goal post tomorrow, still have to think of how I want to get myself more organized and focused in 2018.

One card rule:

Waiting for the Mattingly card from A&G to arrive (hopefully tomorrow) and this set will be done.  That will be the first set of the year (and maybe the only, more to come on that) for me to list my top 10 cards...

Thanks for reading, and have a great 2018 everyone!!

Robert

2017--a wild and crazy ride so far

It's funny what comes into my head for post ideas lately.  I probably overdid the hurricane angle, even though it was relevant to my train of thought for those few days. 

I'm sitting at the computer Monday evening reading Daniel's blog (catching up is more like it) and going over his annual collecting goals.  I sat and thought to myself how am I doing with my 2017 goals?  Well, I had to go back and look and I seem to be at a strong "D" grade.

1.  Set completion.  64 Topps?  check.  88-89 OPC hockey?  check.  73 Topps?  2 to go.  Stalling on that one.  Have 3.5 months to go so if I buckle down, I can get an A.

2.  Video posts.  Once a month.  Nope.  Did 2 of them and stopped.  My wife goes to her friends house once a month for a day and a half.  Need to train myself to complete videos when she goes away.  Grade:  F

3.  COMC.  Have the cards in place, but there's too many unknowns for me right now to submit them.  Grade:  Incomplete

4. Jays and Leafs collections.  Sorted and posted to spreadsheets.  Scratched the surface on the Jays, haven't touched the Leafs.  Probably will not finish by the end of the year.  Grade:   F 

5.  Contest, 100 cards/100 words.  Well now, something I've completed!!  Grade:  A

6.  2016 Allen & Ginter completion.  62 cards to go.  If I don't finish this one, I should absolutely be ashamed.  I'm going to give myself an A on this, because I'm going to finish the damn set.

7.  $2K. Well, I had every intention of spending this kind of money this year, but it's funny how life gets in the way.  Probably 60% of that will be what's spent by year's end.  Not going to grade this one, just because.


Even among the chaos that has been my 2017 so far, I've started a couple of hockey projects, the serial numbered hockey set and the goalie mask frankenset.  In my mind, I've wanted to get back to hockey a bit more this year, and these two sets have me more involved with posting over the past couple of weeks.

I've also kept up with my other blog, the Player PC's blog has averaged better than a post a day again this year.   It has been easy for the most part, only typing 3 lines for each card, but what the blog has done for me is keeping focused on updating and picking up more cards for my PCs.

One card rule:

One day, I'm going to get around to doing my all time Blue Jays 40 man roster.   You can be sure that this guy will be on it.

Posting one card like this also reminds me to check the Trading Card Database to see if the card has been scanned onto the site (this one already was).  I am a big believer in what the site is doing, and will keep trying to help out in any way I can to add cards.

Thanks for reading, Robert