Guess whoooooooooo?

I just want you to know that even as I write this, my grandmother's favorite quote -- "fools' names and fools' faces often appear in public places" -- is ringing in my head.

Yes, that is a picture of me. On an Allen & Ginter card.

More on that later.

I received this card in the mail today from opoohwan from 2008 Allen & Ginter Card-scape. For some ungodly reason, he wants me to autograph it and send it back to him. He's creating a set featuring card bloggers, and since he collects autographs, too, I guess he wants our signatures. I'm much more at ease signing timesheets and checks and my life away than signing cards. But it's as close as I'll get to being a ballplayer, so I might as well humor him (and myself).

I only hope that he stays with this project and completes the set. As much as I like Wicked and Troll, there doesn't need to be an aborted set of the 3 card musketeers floating around out there.

All right, now about the picture.

I was suckered into sending that photo. And by "suckered" I mean "I sent it of my own free will."

The problem with photos of myself is that cameras and I don't get along. I have hated to take pictures since I was a kid, as my mother will immediately tell you. I don't know why that is, but I just get uncomfortable and end up making a goofy face.

That explains the face I'm making on the card. It's less goofy than usual, but still goofy. I'm also squinting, because the photo was taken on a sunny day at an amusement park this summer, and ol' blondie with the blue eyes can't take the bright places.

So, I swear, I look better than that ... OK, I look just like that. Except with less squinting.

It's too bad you can't see my shirt. It says "BASEBALL" in large, proud letters. And there's an old-timey picture of a ballplayer who looks similar to Ty Cobb.

The cap I'm wearing -- just about the only cap I enjoy wearing -- is a Buffalo Sabres cap.

Three of these cards of me came in the mail. Along with a whole sheet of directions. Sign this, sign that, find a red pen, write something meaningful, hold the door open for me, send me roses, I hate candy, I said roses, damn it!

Weird.

So, anyway, there you are. Unlike more well-adjusted people, I try to keep my face out of the blog. But someone finally found my weakness -- they said they'd make a card of me. And despite my previous protestations, I think I've come around.

Either that or I've just officially reached foolish.

(Oh, and I apologize for this picture popping up on all your blogrolls.)