MY COLLECTION - Where Things Are Sitting These Days

Wow.  I won't lie......this feels a little foreign.

For the past 2-3 years, my focus on hockey card blogging has drifted.  It's not that I don't have a lot to say...I just am trying to wrap my head around what it is I'd like to do with my time in this hobby, what I'd like to do with my writing, and (in a bigger sense) what I'd like to do career-wise.

It's a rare Saturday afternoon where I don't have something staring at me on the plate.  I don't have to go into work, I've not set up any plans with people today and I don't have any huge tasks that need immediate attention.

Now don't get me wrong - I've got dozens of things that I need to do.  But this afternoon I am taking some time to recharge the batteries.  It's been a long, challenging year.

So what did I do for an hour or so today?  Opened hockey and baseball packs - digitally.

Yup......I've been converted.

A few years ago I was flip-flopping at the thought of digital trading cards and I can honestly say that these days it has become a daily ritual.  I enjoy the few moments where I go, open a couple of digital packs and enjoy collecting.

The baseball front has really appealed to me due to the way they present their sets and products.  It's so well put together for those wanting to build base sets.  I'm having a lot of fun opening packs and even trading to complete my sets.  I am hoping they do something similar on the hockey front.

So do I normally spend an hour at a time on the apps?  No.

Today, I discovered that Trevor Linden has yet another digital card - three new ones actually.  The chase, was once again on.

But let's step back for a second.  I had hunted and traded for the six Linden offerings that were available when I joined Topps Skate!  It took a while, but it was a lot of fun.  And it was that stretch of time that I really became enamoured with digital trading cards.

2017/18 Topps Skate!

#18 Alumni Chase Signature

The final card of the six was a Linden "autograph".  Landing that card really gave me the same type of feeling that could come from a big ebay win or a sweet find at the local show.  And I was very aware of that feeling.  

As I mentioned, Topps Bunt really has impressed me with it's depth, organization and just simply gorgeous looking cards. 

Of course, it helps when you open packs that have these inside them...

Amazing.  And hopefully good tradebait.  Back to Linden now.

Today, I learned of new Linden cards to add to the wantlist (and they are full-blown, legit additions to the list).  I've already landed the regular version in a trade...

2019/20 Topps Skate!

#4 Five Star Dual Signatures (with Bo Horvat)

What can I say.  It's a nice card.  If only with it existed in real life.  It would arguably be one of the top pieces of cardboard for me to chase in the 2019/20 product release season.

There's a gold version /25 and a Superfractor 1/1 (Linden's first digital 1/1).

I'm kind of snickering right now at the thought of what I've written.  I never would have imagined that digital trading cards would have made me come out of the shell for a few minutes on a fall afternoon...but it did.

And it feels good.

Happy Halloween everyone.

MY COLLECTION - Profile Time

For those of you who are interested, Aaron over at Beyond The Crease reached out to me to ask me a few questions about the hobby and my collections.

You can read the full article here.

Thanks Aaron for reaching out and letting me share my story.

Cheers!

AN ANNIVERSARY OF SORTS

Hello everyone.

I hope all is well with you out there.  Not much more I can say there.

It's an anniversary of sorts for me this week - it's been an entire year since my last blog post.  On one hand, it's incredible to think, on the other, it's been a bit by design.

I'm still knee deep in the collecting world - and Linden cards, but things have just been a lot different for me over the past 12 months.  I love going to card shows, trade nights and scouring eBay for the new and needed...I just don't pick up as many new pieces of cardboard as I have previously.  My pocketbook thanks me.

So what has changed?

My work has been pretty intensive lately - and now more than ever as we laid off about 80% of our staff...leaving me to tend to a lot on the table with little assistance.  But I am extremely grateful to be working and doing something that I love for a living.  I do not take that for granted for a second.

Second, I find I don't have as much to say.  Or maybe....I feel the need to say it a little differently.

Over the holiday break last December, I started looking at outlets for showcasing my creative work in a bit more of a grander scale - call it a "living resume".  It's been a goal I've been working towards (website, blog, social media, etc) and have spent a great deal of time planning....to a fault.

I'm an obsessive planner - but it has cost me over the years as I tend not to act as quickly.  I've seen it in previous projects I've worked on, even with simple blog posts.  I have seen a lot of people post first and think later.  It's an attitude I'm trying to execute on a little more.

I'm hoping that I will have things to share over the summer months that can kickstart some things for the year.  I've started with LinkedIn and have posted a few blog articles there.  Next will be a website of my own.

Lastly, I've taken a lot more time for myself - reading, taking classes, enjoying time with family and friends.  Time is such a precious commodity...and when work ends, I want to spend time unwinding, relaxing and recharging.  One thing I've learned over the past few months is that I love work...I'm passionate about the creative outlet I'm fortunate enough to pursue for a living.  And I love to invest in it.  But on the flip side, when work is done....I want that time to be for me.

This blog will always be here for me - and I love that.  I love that there are no rules, no expectations and no timelines.  I might come back to it in a more dedicated form at a later time....but for now, it's a nice (call it) pause.

Make no mistake, I still think this is the greatest hobby in the world - and I am a lifer when it comes to sports cards, but I get to call the pace.  Right now....it's a gentle stroll.

Enjoy the weekend...enjoy the summer....talk to you all soon.

Be well.

Cheers!