Ditto

Have you ever read a post from someone and think that it's exactly what you're going through? 

Well, ditto.

http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-post-office-hiatus-continues.html

Of course, those of  you that are expecting packages from me know what I'm talking about. 

Well, I'm on my way to mail a couple of packages later this morning and will be mailing a couple a week until I get caught up. 

Unlike Night Owl, I don't have a complete list of names in front of me, but rest assured, getting packages out is something I'm getting back too. 

Thanks for your extreme patience. 

This IS not helping

I thought I'd try to snap out of my "real life sucks right now" funk by making a small purchase from the card aisle.  I don't hate this year's Gypsy Queen set like a lot of people do so I picked up one of the value packs.  Even though I know better, I also picked up a couple packs of Panini's Prizm offering. 

Let me say right now that just because I think something is awful and you don't, doesn't mean I don't like you.  I do like you.  You're reading my blog and we've probably traded so I think you're swell.

I don't think that about Panini and more specifically, Prizm.  Prizm is by far the worst thing I've seen in a baseball card since...well, I think since ever.  I don't think you could make and uglier baseball card on purpose.  I really don't.  If I had never bought a pack of cards before and I didn't know how awesome vintage cards are or how great Ginter is and my only experience with baseball cards was Prizm, I would NEVER buy or look at another card.  It's that bad. 

I'll show you my two packs to prove it. 

There is such a thing as too much foilboard.  This is the proof.  I know logos aren't important to some people, but these guys look they're playing in a bad prison league. 

Youkilis and Upton look they are playing in pajamas.   Awful.  I can't find one redeeming quality in these cards.  Maybe it's because I didn't get any Rangers, but I can imagine how awful those cards look too. 

I know some people might feel the same way about GQ that I feel about Prizm, but that's what makes the blogosphere so great.  Everyone can collect what they want.

Here is one of the things I like about GQ.

Not all the white bordered cards look as good as this Duke Snider, but this one is really nice.  I love the contrast of the green grass with the white uniform and border.

Naturally my favorite part of this years GQ offering are the Collisions at the Plate cards.  It's as if they were listening when I said I wanted these. 

I'm a mini-lover too so it's always nice to get one of the parallel minis. This is a sepia Robin Roberts mini, #27/50. 

I'm ready for some Ginter action now.  After I get all these packages mailed out...

Oh hey, it's nice to "see" ya'll again. 

Stru-ggl-ing

Man, it's been a tough ride around here lately.

You may have seen the news about the D.A. and his wife that were killed in their home by a former Justice of the Peace down here in Texas.  Well, that happened about a 1/2 mile from my house on a street I drive down EVERY day.  It's a small community where crime is virtually non-existent so it came as a great shock.  Initially, when the people who committed the crime were unknown, it was quite stressfull to be working nights while my wife was home with the kids.  I was worried about them every night. 

Stack on that the death of two family members AND the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas and I've had my fill of tragedy.  I don't know anyone in West, but we stop there every time we go to Austin which is pretty frequently.  It's a great midpoint stop for restroom breaks and they have the regionally famous Czech Bakery which has loads of great food. 

I'm not slighting the Boston Marathon tragedy, but I didn't know anyone involved in that and it didn't happen in my backyard.  Still, it was a sad day for all of us. 

I've got a backlog of trade packages that need posting and a major stack of packages that need to go out.  I haven't forgotten you guys/gals and I promise to be working on these slowly, but surely.  Thanks for your patience!

I've been reading along even though I'm not commenting much.  Baseball cards and baseball in general hasn't been front of mind lately, but they still make a great distraction from real life and that has been a blessing.  Thanks to all of you who have sent me cards recently or in the past.  It's a moment of joy to open those packages. 

Back soon.

Still Here

Sorry for the absence.  We've had a couple of deaths in the family and I'll be back to normal posting soon I hope. 

I know I owe a number of you a package or prize and I'll get those out as soon as I can.

Thanks.

These packs are supposed to have 6 cards Topps!!!!

It says so right on the pack. 

6 cards*.

Packs of Gypsy Queen are supposed to have 6 cards*.

Mine only had two.

The first one was this Aroldis Chapman mini.  Not an SP or anything!

The only other card in the pack was this one.

 (Someone needs to clean his scanner)

Holy patches Batman.  That is one thick card.  It's an Austin Jackson mini patch relic.  I guess that's the black version, even though the mini isn't black.  These are inserted 1:3697 packs. 

It's hard to see, but in the upper right corner, under the word Queen, it's #6/10.  Now that's a nice retail hit. 

Even if it is Austin Jackson. 

That must be what the * means.  Packs can contain between 1 and 5 fewer cards than stated on the pack.  I wish all my packs only had two cards. 

This came in what is my final GQ purchase of the year, which was the third value pack from the ones I posted last night.  I'm saving my pennies for Ginter now. 

A GQ Live Blogging Event: Rangers vs Angels Round 2 bonus pack

No Rangers yet again. Cards, Reds and Royals, oh my.

I'm going to get a 1 hour nap in before work. I'll save the other value pack for later.

A GQ Live Blogging Event: Rangers vs Angels Round 2 pack 3

Another nice black bordered mini. I'll reveal it this time. It's Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies. Two black bordered minis in two value packs is beating the odds in a big way.