In one day, I will be on a long-awaited vacation.
It's my first vacation since Thanksgiving -- and, yes, I know that's a cue for someone to say they haven't had a vacation in 20 years -- but it seems like a long time to me. Also, this vacation actually ushers in "The Vacation Season," which lasts until the sad, sad final moments of August.
During work week-after-work week I think about the things I'll do on vacation and plot out strategies. These usually have to do with the hobby, but also mundane things like shopping for clothes and visiting that flea market I keep forgetting about. It's amazing what gets lost in the rubble of having a job.
Because it's just one week off -- and some of that involves family obligations -- I won't get to everything. But here are some of the things I hope to get to:
1. Send out those Dodger packages
I've promised mailings of extra Dodgers for several folks. I sent out two earlier this week and I know at least one person has received his. The others hopefully will go out next week when there is time to traipse to the post office. At least one involves putting together a box to house other boxes. The job laughs at stuff like this.
2. Figure out where the most recent Dodger binder is going
My binder shelves -- two larger, four-to-five tier shelving units -- are officially out of room, so much that a single binder cannot be squeezed in. But vacation time may allow me to rearrange some stuff so I can work that one binder in -- and hopefully a few more, or this will become a problem again in another month.
3. More time to blog
Maybe. Often times I get to vacation and then travel plans or general vacation laziness actually decreases my blogging output. But ideally more time means more time to write about cards. I'm sure you've noticed (you few people who have read blogs the last six months) that my production has dipped, and that's due to job and life demands that A VACATION IS SUPPOSED TO ERASE.
More blogging time will allow me to discuss oddball packages like the one I received from the Tim Wallach blog. Corey lives in spring training territory and nicely sent the Dodgers' spring training program with Series celebration all over it (He also sent the Seager card up top).
He also somehow sent this very large Glendale cup in the mailer. It hasn't quite fully unsquashed, but I will use this to house something -- probably not to drink out of, I'm known for being very particular about my drinking containers.
4. Organize my collection
There are cards arriving -- maybe not every day -- but several days a week. Yet my ability to organize all that stuff is limited to weekends. That clearly is not effective. I need to devote time every day to organizing my hobby. I'm not going to be able to do this seven days a week on vacation but it sure will be more than two days a week.
5. Figure out what to do with stuff that clearly doesn't go in my collection
A couple weeks ago I ordered the 1990 Dodgers Police set. Out of all the L.A. Police sets from this time period, the 1990 was the only one for which I just a smattering of cards. So I needed to get all of them. It's not the greatest time for the team, but it was the big 100th anniversary celebration.
I received my cards and the seller threw in a "free gift" as you see here. I always appreciate the thought. But I believe more thinking should have been involved because why would someone ordering a Dodgers item want a Diamondbacks item? Who wants a Diamondbacks item, period?
I don't know what to do with this. I thought about keeping it, but then I shuffled through the set and all kind of ick emerged, players I don't like in even my nicest moments. So if someone wants this thing -- it's the 2000 Keebler set (rounded corners, etc.) -- I may actually be able to get it out quickly, because vacation!
Here is a look at the full Dodgers Police set. I just need a handful of Police cards here and there -- 1981 and 1991 -- and then I can put this period to bed.
So all of the above is what I hope to do in the next week. Oh, there are other boring things I'll be doing, too, which I am quite excited for -- but you don't care about them.
The next time I post I will be vacationing and much happier. So enjoy that. Because the crankiness will inevitably return.
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