Sweet (16)

 

I used to get writer's block when I was a young sportswriter. This was maybe 30 years ago, every once in awhile I would struggle with how to start a story, whether it was after coming back from a game or beginning a feature.

It was the worst. I'd stare, get up and walk around the office, type out a few sentences and then delete them. And I was on deadline a lot of those times, too, so the stakes were a little high.

That doesn't happen to me anymore. Hasn't for years. Just yesterday, I had to pound out a feature story the afternoon before I went to work -- I had just done interviews the day before. So within 24 hours, I did the interview, transcribed the notes and wrote the story, this while doing my other job -- and life -- duties, too.

I had zero trouble coming up with a lead, I knew how I was going to start as I was driving away after the interview. The story just flowed the next afternoon. And that night, looking it over, I caught just one typo (although there's probably something stupid taunting me off the newspaper sitting behind me). If only the cub sports reporter knew what I'd be like years later.

That's the way it is with this blog, too. I don't spend days trying to get a post to work or stare vacantly at the screen. These posts write themselves. My main problem these days is finding the time to write something.

But today I'm in a rut. It's the 16th anniversary of this blog and there is no time AND I have no topic -- that I haven't covered before. I guess that's to be expected on post 5,593.

Oh, yeah, actually I do have a topic, which I've hesitated about mentioning today.

I've decided to ditch the darkness theme of this blog. It was a good hook all these years, especially in the earlier years. But I think everyone is over making their blogs cutesy with some "this is me" theme. I haven't had a lot of people complain they couldn't read white-on-black type but there have been maybe 5 or 6 mentions over the years.

I get it. Trying to do what I've been doing for 16 years in newsprint almost never works. You have to bump the type point size up to like 16 point and who wants to read a whole story with that big ol' type if you're not 78 with cataracts?

I'm a blogger in 2024, people have all kinds of reasons for not reading blogs. I shouldn't give them another excuse to stay away. At least it'll be more readable.

So look for that when I HAVE THE TIME to experiment.

So while I was wondering whether thinking of altering my blog look was interesting enough for an anniversary post, the mail arrived. It was a package from Dave, of Dave sends great cards fame. He  sent me a package on my blog anniversary!

Now we're talking!

 

He told me he'd send the 2024 De La Cruz rookie and there it is! Series 1 is finally complete, rookie hoarders!

Of course, that wasn't all. Dave doesn't work that way. I don't have much time to display cards in proper fashion so you're just going to get them all in clumps.

 

Dodgers New Age Performers. I have all these for the team collection, so they'll go to the main insert set pursuit. These might be the most 1970s thing that Heritage has ever created.

More 2024 Heritage insert action. A few Baseball Flashbacks, there's that Brock again. I wish Topps would have found an Eck in color. It's not like it's worried about time-appropriateness with this set.

A bunch of Then and Nows. I was really lacking in these and I want them all, thanks to the 1970s guys on one half of the card.

Heritage Dodgers parallels! You have my attention! Love adding these.

A nice stack of 1983 Donruss. Dave wasn't quite sure what to send because I don't have a want list going for this set yet but maybe this will get it started!

A mess of Hostess. There is no time to go through these and see what I need, what are upgrades and what is possible trade material. But the weekend is coming!

Got some random Dodgers, too. Again, this needs time to evaluate.

But getting back to the De La Cruz ...

It showed up wrapped just like this and I didn't know there was something behind it until removing the team bag and card.

This is what lurked behind!

Both of these are needed, a 1953 Bowman Carl Furillo and a 1939 Play Ball Babe Phelps! Looks super-nifty, too!

That's a very nice anniversary gift.

There will be more to write about in the next year, I'm quite sure. I won't say it's just as easy as it's been all the previous years, but I'll always quest to be as prolific as possible. And maybe you won't have to squint to read it.

Thanks for reading, those who stuck with me -- as I enter year 17 without any writer's block (but maybe with some rambling).