The Most Badass Sketch Card There Ever Was
My dad finally got around to making use of the pack of blank sketch cards I gave him when I bought my first packs some time ago. And oh did he ever it pwn it on his first try! I’m going to start scanning all his sketch books and make him a deviantART account and post his stuff wherever I can (been meaning to for awhile). He is a great artist, and where my brother and (allegedly) me get our mad artistic skillz. So without further ado, I proudly present to the world, the most badass sketch card that’s ever been drawn:
Chuck!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s right, it’s a sketch card of Chuck-Freakin’-Norris! My dad has been a big fan of Chuck Norris for a long, long time (decades before Chuck Norris Facts, the Walker, Texas Ranger Lever, or even Walker, Texas Ranger itself made it cool), so it’s only appropriate the man hisself be his first try at a sketch card. Pretty awesome huh? I like how he colored it, to give it an old-timey feel. I forget the exact colors, but he did this with gel pens. Not bad, eh?
Y’know, I Hear it Actually Rains Treats in Kitty Heaven
My mom emailed today telling me her cat died sometime today.
There she is... she looks annoyed, lol.
She was around 13 years old, so she was getting up there a bit, but hardly an old fart (especially considering one of the cats we had when I was younger lived to be 22 or so). You’d never have guessed she was well into her second decade, as spry as she was. She was in very good health, which makes her sudden death all the more upsetting. She hadn’t been on the decline at all, and I’m told she was doing quite well even just a couple hours before she was found dead in the closet in my parents room.
My brother drew this awhile back.
RIP Tater. I don’t think you liked me much, but it’s okay. You will be missed.
A New Page Appears!
I now a have page with some cards I have available for trade. There is just stuff I’ve gotten recently over there right now, but I’ll get more stuff up eventually. Check it from time to time.
I’m also working on the wantlist page as well, organizing it a little better, and posting what I have from the sets I’m trying to collect, so you’ll know what else I need.
Oh, I almost forgot. Today is the last day to make a guess in my contest. It’s over at midnight, for real this time. If you haven’t picked a number yet, you’ve only got 15 or 16 hours left. Go here and guess!: 5000 Hit Contest
More Tales from the Bargain Bin
Let’s get the foul taste of my crappy real life off the top of my blog. Here’s some more cards from the wonderful bargain bin at Shopko. First, the two packs of 2007 topps ‘52 Rookies. Despite having never actually pulled a hit (though I did pull two refractors from the ‘06 iteration, Matt Leinart from football and Hanley Ramirez from baseball), topps ‘52 remains one of my favorites from the second half of the decade. I don’t have any idea why, it’s actually a pretty boring looking set. But for some reason I like it and always pick up any I see.
So here’s what I got:
w00t, Aki!
Chrome-ified Delwyn Young. And yes, Brandon Moss was the 4th card in both packs...
There ya go. All up for the tradin’. And if anyone I’m already owing stuff to wants any of these, let me know and I shall put them in your pile.
Now for the notable cards from the pack of 2008 Mayo:
Yes, I beat the 1:48 pack odds for a f@#%ing horse... a weird looking one at that.
The Schmitt card is just hilarious. The mouthguard being kinda out like that makes it look like a pacifier, and the thought of a big guy with a mohawk sucking on a pacifier is teh lulz. And there’s a bonus random bicep in the picture too. That’s not funny really, but it’s a pretty big bicep.
And then there’s the dummy card. It’s always nice when companies can be bothered to do something worthwhile with the decoy, so +1 for that.
That’s all for now. I’ve got some stuff from a small trade with Baseball Dad and a couple clunker-type ones from Stats on the Back and Nachos Grande to put up later.
Oh, and keep those votes coming. There’s only around 36 hours left to get your guesses in, before the 5000 Hit Contest ends for real this time.
I Have Had Enough…
…of this fucking hellhole. Pardon my French, ahem…
So yeah, I’m having issues with my neighbors again. Here is the deal: I have severe sleep issues. For the last three years, people be coming and going all hours of the night, every single night, slamming their fucking doors. This has literally cost me HUNDREDs of hours of sleep that I desperately needed. In the meantime, over the same period, I have had the police called on me for being too loud, by the same damn people that have been keeping me up at night, at least a half-dozen times, the latest being verrry early this morning. They also complain about me to the office a ton as well. I have received at least three letters from them.
As if the total hypocrisy of that isn’t enough (I don’t care if they don’t realize it, it’s gotten *increasingly worse* for three fucking years), for the first year, or close to it, I actively did my best to be fucking quiet at night! And that was when most of the complaining happened. So I finally gave up trying after awhile, and had actually only heard the a smattering of complaints since. However, as I said, the noise they were making got so bad that a year or so ago, I took to punching the arm of my chair whenever they slammed a door or made any other kind of loud noise at night. And by now, I just do it almost instinctively to any noise they make any time of day. I just don’t care anymore.
Yeah, I guess that makes me not completely innocent. I’ve never claimed I was a saint. However, they are the ones that started it, and continue to cost me sleep. And no, filing complaints myself isn’t a very viable option. First of all, I have a mountain of complaints against me for various things over the years, exactly one of which can be considered legit. I have no trust in the people running this place anyways. In every instance I’ve dealt with them, they are a bunch of back-talking weasels. Even though they FINALLY did get the word out to try and keep people from slamming their doors, and it has actually worked to some degree, trying to get my point across was like pulling teeth. I’m pretty sure it was only done at all because I was so righteously pissed off I that I was physically shaking trying to keep my shit together when I was talking to the lady.
But of course, now that people are being *somewhat* better about slamming their doors, someone above me nearby has seen fit to start scooting something heavy-sounding across the floor every night. This sound actually bothers me more than the doors slamming. The slow, obnoxious scooting sound that lasts up to several seconds at a time is quite literally one of the most annoying sounds I have ever heard in my entire life.
Anyway though, last night it happened while I was trying to get to sleep, as in I was halfway to dreamland when it started in. I did what I do, I punched the arm of my chair, except really, really hard. Fucker did it when I was almost asleep. So I’m starting to get back to sleep a little later and I here some talking in the and then a knock at my door. Three cops are out there. Guess with that many, they must’ve been expecting some shit. I told them what was going on and that I just wanted get some fucking sleep, they took down my name, listened to what I had to say, and went on their merry way.
Well, I’m sick of it. If I had somewhere else I could go, I would not still be here, but I don’t so there isn’t much that can be done right now. I decided I needed to say something to the people causing me trouble though. So I wrote a note and put it on the cranky old bat’s door across the hall, since most my tormentors hang out together. It took me four tries to try and get out what I had to say, not holding back how pissed off I was, but still trying to keep it clear and to-the-point. Here is what I wrote in it’s entirety:
“Hi, it’s me. Y’know, you don’t seem to understand something. You guys started this shit with me. Understand this, the last three years, while you guys were complaining about my alleged noise all the time, you were costing me literally 100s and 100s of hours of sleep, slamming doors every. Single. Night. And keep this in mind, I did not start retaliating against y’alls BS in any meaningful way until a year or so ago. I even tried to not be loud for awhile, but I finally gave up when it proved futile.
What I’m trying to say is this, you guys have treated me like shit, even and especially when I was trying to be quiet. This is what happened on my end, this is what you did to me. Period. And I absolutely do NOT appreciate it. I don’t care if you care what you have done or not, but now you know. And know that I don’t like or respect almost any of you, that have caused me so much grief the last few years. That won’t change. You guys made my life even worse than it already was, to be 18-19 years old and end up in a place like this. This is how it is. Good day. I have nothing more to say to any of you, ever.”
Too light? Too heavy? Whatcha think? I’ve let the world walk all over me for too long. I had to say something, and I’m a much better writer than talker, so I wrote my heart out at them.
Alright, rant mode off. I just had to get this off my chest. I’m so sick of this place it’s not even funny. I’ve been treated like shit since I moved here really, but I mostly didn’t care until people started screwing with my already tenuous ability to sleep like a normal human. My next move is to file a complaint against whoever’s scooting stuff in the middle of the night if it continues. I know it’s something I should take up with whoever’s doing it before I complain, but I just have no tolerance for any shit having to do with this place anymore. I don’t think I can be respectful as I need to be, so I just have to file the complaint and be done with it and hope they can be arsed to do something about it.
Truth is, the only thing I wanted when I moved here was to be left alone, ideally so that my mental state could hopefully improve to the point where I’d be able to be completely self-sufficient someday, or if worse came to worse, a place I could slowly fade into oblivion. Morbid, but yeah… I was barely functional at all back then. It could’ve gone either way.
Fortunately, despite the constant string of shit I’ve received, I am getting better, and have no desire to fade into oblivion. And I have all my online peeps to thank for that. So for everyone I’ve been lucky enough to befriend online, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I don’t think I’ll ever think very highly of myself, and who knows if I’ll ever really make good on my alleged potential, but you’ve all given me the will to try and be a better, stronger, more worthwhile person.
Okay, NOW the rant mode is off. Have a great night, everyone. Peace, love, and fighting spirit. 
Contest Update
It looks like I’m going to have to extend the contest a little longer again. And I guess I have to come out and say this. The reason why, is because nobody has guessed the winning number for the big prize yet (though there has been a near miss or two). So I’m extending the contest the rest of the week. Hopefully that will get us a winner. Get to guessin’ some more, blogosphere!
And remember, everyone who makes a guess will also be entered to win the four uncirculated football cards (and maybe a few extras, I’m just sayin’ ). See the contest post for how that will work, and please do make a guess while you’re there.
For those of you whom wish not to scroll down to the contest post, a handy-dandy link: 5000 Hitz Contest!
Here’s a chance to win something shiny that’s encased in ridiculously heavy-duty plastic (or whatever the case is made of).
2008 topps Chrome from the $1.59 Bin
Exactly what it says on the tin. I raided the newest stuff that had found it’s way into the discount bin at Shopko when I was in there on Saturday. Also picked up two 2007 topps ‘52 Rookies packs, a pack of 2008 Mayo football, and the most boring pack of 2008 topps Heritage ever made. More on that stuff another time though; we all about the Chrome right now! I got shorted a card in one pack, so only 27 cards. This is everything:
The Harden Refractor is a keeper until he ends up somewhere else...
J-Roll is a blue refractor parallel #ed /200. And did those X-Fractors scan nice or what? Randor Bierd & Matt Holliday
Grady's a Refractor if you can't quite tell. Manny's going to Wicked Ortega. Someday. Adam Jones is for Beardy. So's Prince Randor of Eternia if he wants him.
Everyone except for Harden (for now), Manny, Pacman Jones, & maybe Randorrrrr are available for trade. Call ya shot.
Over and out!
Belated Night Owl Trade
I sent Night Owl some Dodgers a few weeks ago (or is it months at this point), and here’s what I got in return:
Starting it off with some Cubs and A&G wantlist minis...
I am unsure of what that Leon Durham is. It’s not really a card, it’s on paper that’s about newsprint thick. Whatever it is though, I do like it. 
Straight outta 1960, it's 2009 Topps Hertage... and a couple Target blaster throwbacks
Makes me want to get some more actual 1960 topps Cubbies to go with my lone card from that year, great defensive innovator (and pretty decent hitter to boot) Vic Power. And is Reed Johnson ever the right guy for an old school version or what? The hustle & effort, man. Granted, he’s gritty & hard-working because he’s no better than mediocrely talented, but still, hustle is a motivator for others sometimes… He will make a fine manager someday perhaps.
2009 O-Pee-Chee, approximately 1/8th of the Cubs base set... 
Wasn’t a fan of OPC this year. Not to say that some of the cards aren’t nicely designed (though plenty of photography stinkers there are). Not enough cards for the price of admission, considering the ginormity of the set. If they were eight or more cards per pack with the same insert & hit rate for the $45 or so hobby boxes were going for when it first came out, I *might* have picked up a box.
This brings me to gripe I should mention to Upper Deck sometime if I ever get a live mic with someone with some stroke there. Upper Deck does not seem to even be able to grasp the concept of low end (flagship VERY aside). Even the surprisingly decent Upper Deck X suffers from the low end-itis a bit.
Let’s continue with the pretty pictures of baseball cards then, shall we?
Another OPC, some '09 Goudey, '09 UDX, Attax, and '08 Timeline
Thusfar, my favorite Upper Deck brand of the year is UDX. Is that crazy or what? I didn’t hate ‘08 (one of the few, the proud), and the ‘09 version was a vast improvement. It’s the only baseball product truly geared towards kids too, aside from topps’ surprisingly excellent flagship.
Goudey was sometimes not pretty this year, but the Cubbies I received looked fine for the most part. The Uncanny Valley ookiness is mercifully kept to a minimum.
I still don’t like the Timeline base design, but there is something about the blue on it that give it a certain I don’t know what.
Attax are Attax. Rolling out a new game every year or two and never sticking with one can’t be helping the baseball CCG cause, I’m just sayin’.
Tristar & Bowman & a different Zambrano & topps Chrome
It’s a shame Tristar’s stuff gets no love, because most of their stuff looks very good, better than Boredom Bowman most years.
I think that’s the first ‘94 Fleer Ultra Cubbie I’ve got. I was going to say the mid-’90s (‘94-’98ish), were a good place to start for my Cubs collection needs, but really, I don’t have that many from just about any era. Vintage aside, mid-’90s is certainly a very low point, but I don’t even have that many junk wax era Cubbies, particularly of the non-topps persuasion. I guess this is because while I’ve been collecting cards since 1996, it’s only been the last couple of years that baseball cards became my top priority.
Fonsie, just… try to come back healthy next year, ‘kay?
2009 Upper Deck Cubs
There they are. Amazing that through all the horrible offseason moves, injuries, and just bad years in general, the Cubs finished over .500 in 2009.
Cards from the dark ages...
Well, the late-’80s/early-’90s were colorful, if nothing else.
'09 Icons & more '09 Allen & Ginter needs
Icons are kinda meh and the foil parallels are mostly fugly, but the blue does the halfhearted baseball design some good. And there’s Fukudome, the whole reason for the trade in the first place. Someday, I’m going to update my A&G trade page.
Someday.
Some great great cards from the man with one of the 5 coolest names in the sports card blogosphere (along with Wicked Ortega, Mojo Hand, Collective Troll, and yours truly, Lonestarr, modesty aside ;P). Give it up for Night Owl one more time!
Oh, Mr. Owl, do you still need the Broxton All-Star card from Updates & Highlights? If so, I will send it along with the Kershaw & any other stuff I might have.
That’s all for this post. Just a reminder, only about a dozen guesses have been made in the contest so far, so keep ‘em coming. Remember, even if you’re guess is wrong, you’ll still be in the drawing for a chance at the four football cards.
Play again?
Quick Hitz
Hi everybody. Keep those contest guesses coming. There’s still a lot of numbers between 1 and 57 left to guess. You have till… Monday Night Football ends to get your guesses in.
And now for a random wonderfully excellent pack break. A version with scans will be made for A Pack to be Named Later early next week, because I’ll have scans by then!
2009 topps Updates & Highlights fat pack (36 cards per pack)
Top
UH203 Ben Francisco
UH234 Mike Sweeney
UH162 Chris Perez
UH52 Kyle Blanks Padres RC
UH12 Edwin Maysonet- I always think mayonnaise when I see his last name for some reason…
UH236 Kris Benson- I had no idea he was still playing.
UH123 Ryan Braun All-Star
UH235 Joe Nathan All-Star- Gotta love the random placement of the All-Star Game logo on the front, lol.
UH292 Yuniesky Betancourt
UH321 Hunter Pence All-Star- Picture actually from the All-Star Game. Nice.
UH22 Brett Gardner
TR128 Tommy Hanson Turkey Red Braves RC
TTT72 Jacoby Ellsbury topps Town
UH326 Nate McClouth
UH328 Matt Palmer
UH267 Miguel Cairo
UH77 Jeremy Reed
UH304 Swisher & Damon Classic Combos
UH96 Tony Gwynn (Jr.)- Really need to have the Jr. on the end of his name since he’s playing for the Padres now, especially if there’s a Papa Gwynn SP lurking anywheres.
UH285 Ryan Franklin
Bottom
UH24 Gabe Gross
UH167 Julio Borbon Rangers RC
UH18 John Grabow- A Cub! Keeper.
UH39 Jake Fox- Another Cub! Keeper.
UH273 Mark Lowe
UH240 Jason Marquis All-Star
UH2 Felipe Lopez
UH266 Jonathan Broxton All-Star
UH315 Jerry Hairston Jr.- Wait, Jerry gets a Jr. any Tony Gwynn Jr. doesn’t? Wat?
UH239 George Sherrill Gold Parallel 0096/2009
AST-7 Joe Mauer All-Star Workout Jersey Relic!!!!- Hellz yeah!
UH75 Matt Lindstrom
UH290 Jason Michaels
UH146 Juan Cruz
UH25 Orlando Hudson
I bought the pack in hopes of getting one of those slick Propaganda Poster inserts (1:2 fat packs), but I didn’t get one. I think I did okay though. Can’t hope for much better than Tommy Hanson AND a hit of a great player.
5000 Hitz Contest!
Woo, so I’ve gone over 5000 hits. Even the least-read active card-type blogger has finally gotten there. Now then, I mentioned something about an uncirculated contest somewhere or something. The time of contesting is upon us.
There are 5 cards up for grabs in total, and there are five big ways to win big in this here contest. Or, um wait. There will be five prizes, but only two ways to win them.
The rulez:
To win the big prize, I need a number between 1 and 57. The correct number wins a 2003 topps Chrome uncirculated X-Fractor of Victor Martinez and Brandon Phillips. The right number will get it, and everyone else that makes a guess will be random.org’d for a shot at love four different uncirculated football cards.
The name at the top of the list will get to choose first, from a 2003 Finest T.O. X-Fractor, 2003 Finest Amani Toomer X-Fractor, 2005-ish Chrome DeShaun Foster Red Refractor, and a 2000-something Pristine JJ Arrington. Second place chooses from the three remaining, and so on.
One guess per person, you have until the end of the weekend to enter. Good luck.
Here’s a look at what you’ll be playing for:
You may commence the guessing…
NOW!!
