August is Usually a Quiet Month...

Told you that history dictated that I don't post much in August.

But it's not because I have nothing to write about.

Okay, it's because I have nothing to write about. But now that I'm here, I guess it's time to ramble. Forgive me for jumping from topic to topic. What I am about to type is whatever is coming to mind. It'll get confusing, I'm sure. Just bear with me.

For those who wondered why the Random Cards of the Day stopped suddenly in June, it was because after months of being unemployed, I was able to get a temp job. It was fun for a while. I was actually earning a paycheck and able to pay bills while the kids were out of school. And because the job ran from 8 am to 5 pm, other than those times during my lunch hour that I was able to blog, I had no time to prepare the Card of the Day posts. And then days turned into weeks. And weeks turned into months. And soon, I was way behind.

The job ended in August, and even though that meant I could start up again, I am a completist and would have preferred to begin where I left off. I may get to that point eventually. But I don't know how much time I have for that.

I start a new job in September, day after Labor Day to be exact. I hope that the run with this company lasts longer than two months. It just means I have to focus a bit more so I can do the job and hopefully get a full-time position here (nothing is guaranteed though).

It's been almost a year since my job at DPI ended. I hope that somebody is planning a reunion so we can all get together and see how everyone is doing.

Until then...

So far in 2013, I have been fortunate to be able to complete the following master sets:

• 2013 Topps Series 1
• 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen
• 2013 Topps Retail Team Sets...all 32 sets
• 2013 Topps Pro Debut
• 2013 Topps Series 2
• 2013 Topps Archives

Along with completing the 2010 and 2011 Topps Original Back reprint sets, the only sets I have to look forward to getting are the Update Series and Allen & Ginter's. The A&G set will be coming soon as I was able to get a steal of a deal. All 350 cards in the base set plus all the basic inserts (170 cards) for under $90 with shipping. I don't know if it's because the allure of the product is gone (I have read that the set, while chock full of unique insert themes, does not hold the luster as the set from the previous year), but never have I been able to get a full set of A&G under $100, and those include the sets that did not have the inserts, just the basic 350 card sets. Needless to say, I am thrilled.

Even though I haven't been writing on this humble, little blog, I have been discovering many new blogs to add to the Sports Card Blogroll. The SCBR is up to 363 blogs right now, and in September, the purge of inactive (more than 6 months since the last post) will take place.

Speaking of September, it's time to start getting those lists of players together to predict the 2013 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. The annual contest (the only one that I really have run around here) will commence after the season ends. The big prize for those who are able to not only outguess me, but somehow manage to guess all the players on the team correctly could win a 2005 Topps Rookie Cup set. Details to come soon. 

With both the Cubs (and that other team that claims to play in Chicago) just stinking up the joint again in 2013, there really hasn't been much motivation to watch the games. Don't get me wrong, I'm still watching, but it just hasn't been a fun summer baseball wise. Maybe with the NFL starting up next week, plus the NBA and NHL getting ready to go, it will be a good fall/winter/spring in the Windy City.

The rambling continues.

Even when I'm not writing, I am reading the message boards, the twitter (you can still follow me @bdj610) feed, and keeping tabs on all the Hobby news that matters to me (which recently was the release of the 2014 Topps design earlier this month). I have fashioned myself as a student of the Hobby, so reading the articles and opinions that follow have been fun. 

I have to be honest though. I realize that there will be a time that the thrill of collecting will be gone. I have followed the game for four decades now (from 1987 to now) and it's only a matter of time that everyone in the majors will be younger than me (there are just a handful of players left that are older than 37 years old). Eventually, there will be players who were born after I graduated high school (1994) who will play in the majors. It will only be a matter of time before players born in 2000 will begin to infiltrate the professional game.

Even at the lowest point in the Hobby's history (mid 90's), I continued to collect. I know all things will come to an end. There will be a time that I stop collecting. I don't know when that time will be.

But I do know this.

I will continue to enjoy the Hobby of baseball card collecting to the fullest. I love the direction the Hobby is headed, and as long as the game is played, I will always be a fan.

Until then, I'm looking forward to Update Series and 2014 Topps. 

And whatever else comes along.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

P.S. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. If you're looking for me, I'll be camping for the first time in 14 years. The tent is ready, the fishing gear is ready. Now I just have to learn how to use both. jba