Night Owl Cards

One of the things about blogging that I keep forgetting is that it is a wonderful way to network with other collectors. (I really don't like that I just used "network" as a verb, but I suppose I need to join everyone in the '90s finally). If all I do is post to this blog once a day, it automatically makes other people know that I'm still interested in collecting. And I find that I have that same perception of others. I am much more apt to trade with collectors who blog frequently rather than infrequently. It's simply "out of sight out of mind." Or, rather, the opposite of that. Which I guess would be, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." That is one reason why I continue to blog as often as I do. Yes, there are more urgent reasons for why I write , but a key one is to keep my name out there. All the time. HI THERE! I'M NIGHT OWL. I LIKE CARDS! DODGERS AND STUFF! GOT ANY? It works. I've made lots and lots of connections...

I have been even more absent than usual from group breaks and card drafts in the last couple of months. I've needed to hold onto my cash for real life issues and the uncertainty that goes along with them. Now is not the time to be throwing dollar bills at cards. Unless you come upon a deal that you can't refuse. A few weeks ago, Rob, from Voice of the Collector , announced that he was cutting back his collection and  was offering some sets in a name-your-price proposition. Then he displayed photos of what he had, and the sets of Topps All-Time Fan Favorites jumped right out at me. This is one of my most favorite sets ever. And Rob had all three sets available -- 2003, 2004 and 2005. In no time, we worked out a deal and the cards arrived on my porch Monday. I haven't had time to go through them thoroughly, but can't wait for this weekend to do so. None of the sets that he sent were complete, but all of them were close to completion. I had a good chunk of 200...

As much as we card bloggers each put our own spin on things -- I truly believe every card blog out there has its own distinctive voice -- you can definitely fit the blogs into one of three categories. There are the blogs that exclusively feature vintage cards, vintage topics, and rarely stray into modern day cards or issues. There are more modern blogs that address the up-to-the-second goings on in the hobby, but rarely address anything before 1987. Then there are a number of blogs that travel through both worlds, and some do it effortlessly. My blog fits into this third category -- sort of. I travel through both the vintage and modern worlds, but I certainly don't do it effortlessly. I stumble, fall, learn, screw up, get corrected, learn again, stumble again, and on and on. The modern card world is a confusing place to someone who first began collecting cardboard when it actually was cardboard. Take, for example, this card that I received from Rob of the crusading Voice of the C...