A banner day

Perhaps you've noticed.

I've changed my banner. Or header. Or whatever you call the image that leads off one's blog.

Good gosh the thing is big, isn't it? I don't know if I want to keep it that way. I kind of like that it's the FIRST THING that people see when they hop on the blog. But it's a tad alarming. If anyone knows how I get the image to be like it was before -- a little smaller and subdued -- please let me know.

Aside from that, I like the card arrangement. I've been meaning to change it for awhile. I finally got the chance, what with the family out of the house, baseball done for the season, and no cash to blow.

So let's move on to the agonizing breakdown of why I chose the cards that I did:

1. Fernando Valenzuela, 1981 Topps Traded: One of the first cards I ever pined over. It took me decades to land it, too.
2. Mr. Met, 2011 Opening Day: I had to get a night card up in the banner. It was one of the old banner's greatest flaws. This is one of my favorite quirky night cards, so it's perfect.
3. Clayton Kershaw, 2008 A&G: My favorite player on my favorite card set. Perfect.
4. Ron Cey, 1975 Topps: My first favorite card. No-brainer.
5. Jim Fregosi, 1971 Topps: I had to get a '71 card up there as it's one of my all-time favorites. The horizontal cards are a special treat in the '71s.
6. Roy Halladay, 2009 OPC: Probably the best card in the OPC set, which is perhaps one of the last modern sets that I'll ever complete.
7. Jackie Robinson, 2010 National Chicle: A lot of people bagged on Chicle, but when it was good, it was very, very great.

So, here's what I like about the new banner:

1. It's a better representation of the cards I collect and the cards that I like. Many of my favorite players and sets are pictured here.
2. It's presented better. It drove me nuts that the lettering in the old banner blacked out Greg Maddux's eyes. So I made sure that Halladay's Robinson's eyes were peaking through the "D."
3. It's not drastically different from the old one. I like to keep things consistent.

Here's what I don't like about it:

1. The "Night Owl Cards" lettering is shifted too far to the left. I think this banner takes up more room, left to right, and I didn't realize that when I started the lettering at the same point that I started the old banner.
2. The lettering isn't as bold as it was before. But I'm lazy, so I don't want to go back and do it again. So I went back and did it again.

If you have any issue with the new banner -- it's too big, it's got a Mets card on it, there aren't enough ponies -- let me know. I do have the old banner around and you may see it back again. Especially if I don't like the new one anymore. In fact you could see the old one before the day's done.

But for reading through all that banner talk, here's your reward:

It's an Awesome Gloamin' Card from slangon!

It's been a long time since I've received a homemade card. I love me a custom-made night card.

Very nice work.

All right, I'm going to ponder this new banner some more.