It's Okay To Be Messy

 

I sometimes wonder if I should hire Chip Gaines to come through my collection and sort it, remodel it, touch it up and show me a new direction with it.

I see so many other collections that are a lot more sorted than mine and look like Chip had put his touch on it with beautiful bookcases, brand new binders, and framed pieces on the wall. Their card room looks like it belongs in the Smithsonian.

Then there is mine that looks like a three-year-old created it, sorted it, stored it in re-used binders and old binder pages on cheap plastic Walmart shelving.

But, I have come to realize, that maybe it's okay to be messy. Messy just gives me an identity in the way I collect. Everyone has one and even though mine doesn't look like others, it's okay.

Who cares how I store my stuff or what it's stored in and on? Am I still having fun, heck yeah!

And speaking of fun, a recent mail day added to my messy fun.

 

This mail day came from Too Many Verlanders blog that contained a fun variety of stuff. Because of the way I post on here and the amount of goodness he sent, I can't always post it all, so here is a stack of Giants, Allen&Ginter non-sport base (always welcome them) and a few other cards. 

Then he continued to add to my mess with...

Authentic Game Floor piece of Allan Houuuuuuuuuuuuston!

I love creative relics like this, just wished UD didn't print on the swatches.

  

Kyle Lauletta auto and relic. I don't believe I have either of these. I do have a decent sized collection of his.

I definitely don't have this auto of Jernigan. I have plenty of other autos of his, but this one is definitely new.

Auto relic of rapper Kadarius Toney. So much talent wasted, maybe he will hit it off in his music career.

  

I claimed this relic in one of Dennis's trade bait posts. Yes, I know it's not Giants but I do appreciate a nice patch card.

Any comments about it not being a Giants card and a rival Redskin/Football Team/Commanders card and I will go old man Han Solo on you.

I wasn't collecting Knicks that heavily up until last year. Now I welcome all relics and autos from any players over the years!

This is a dual-purpose card, 90's PC and Giants PC.

I have the regular Shockey, but this is a black parallel.

Ike Hilliard Flair Showcase rookie. Once again, a dual threat for my 90's and Giants PC.

Along with individual cards, Dennis tossed in some packs knowing I love to rip and can't afford to.

Here were the key cards,

(Dennis will be getting this one back)

And a rookie I needed.

Fun rip overall. 

Thanks as always Dennis! I appreciate more cards added to the mess!

These cards will probably sit in a messy box for awhile until I can messy sort them out in messy card trays to put them away into permanent messy boxes and messy binders. Because it doesn't have to be perfect. It's the way I know it. It's okay to be messy.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Don't forget you can start to nominate cards for the 2025 Coffee Card Hall Of Fame!! Cards don't have to be autographs, patch cards, super star cards. It can be whatever you think is Hall Worthy! Find details and current nominations HERE.

Completely Impractical

*takes a sip of hot brewed coffee, gets ready for the new post*

In 2015, Topps included four lifelong friends who do stupid things to compete to embarrass each other.

Those four were Brian Quinn, Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Joe Gatto.

These four make up the Impractical Jokers. A show that has been on television since 2011.

I personally didn't get into the show originally, despite multiple recommendations, until a couple of years ago and I loved it. I spent many days watching it on TV, watching reels as a distraction when I was on the treadmill, then spending time sharing the best moments/reels with others.  Yes, I am one of those guys.

Everyone needs a good laugh and what better way to do it then with the stupidity. As my wife knows with me.

*takes a sip, almost chokes then laughs to himself about some stupid things that had been done*

Like with anything that connects to my life or past, I try to find cardboard related to it. Topps included Impractical Jokers base, relic and autographed cards in its 2015 Allen and Ginter product,

In 2022, I was fortunate to had completed the four base cards (which since then I have misplaced and am frantically searching for them the past month) and now I have completed the four relic cards.

Brian Quinn

James Murray (I like the relic color)

 

Sal Vulcano

And I guess to fit the stupidity theme for the Impractical Jokers, Topps decided to not use the same layout design for Joe Gatto's relic.

I am glad to have it but will admit my hobby OCD is eating me alive with it not looking like the rest.

These took me a few months to hunt down and accomplish with Joe actually being the last one. He is the most valuable of the group and is actually my favorite one of the jokers.

(let's just ignore for now the recent accusations against a couple of the jokers and focus on the show aspect)

They have autographs in the product as well but those go for a ton, so I am not expected to chase those. I am happy with the relics and the base (if I can ever find them or find someone who has them for trade again) anyways.

I hope everyone has a funny day. Make someone laugh today even if it's something stupid you do or at the cost of laughing at yourself.

*final sip for the post*

Don't forget you can start to nominate cards for the 2025 Coffee Card Hall Of Fame!! Cards don't have to be autographs, patch cards, super star cards. It can be whatever you think is Hall Worthy! Find details and current nominations HERE.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Bump In The Road

It feels like my blog has hit a little bump in the road recently with a lot of "show off" kind of posts recently.

I know not everyone is a fan of those kind of posts, which is apparent since I lost a follower on here a couple days ago which is disappointing for a guy who is all about numbers, but I am in a rut so bear with me for now.

It can only go up from here.

Well, maybe not yet because this is another one of those quick "show off" posts but maybe after this.

Maybe.

And it also feels all of my recent posts like this have also one other common trend, a mail day from Blog Reader/Friend Oren.

The simple answer for that is, he is just really easy to trade with and that's what I like.

My recent mail day from him was loaded with non-sports,

  

Menagerie Of The Mind

 

Not sure who these two are, but they are now added.

Famous Rivals. Me vs Donuts. We like each other, but we shouldn't.

Encounters Venus but not Uranus. Yup, I had to toss in a kid joke there.

I have no idea what this is, but it's chromed and I am for it.

We're from the Men In Black...it's the MIB. I didn't know they had cards for this, I may have to further reseach this.

Ancient Armory. I bet I could get some serious coffee beans with this.

Magnificent Moons. Don't ask my wife about the one she has to see when I pick up stuff off the floor.

I didn't have these MLB Tonight cards.

 

What Once Was Believed. As an old person I could go on about newer stuff as well. Such as manners, working, low prices, etc.

 

Cat. I have 6....yup...just don't go calling me a cat man (lady). I love my purr babies.

Well, that does it for another show off post. Hopefully I can get past this bump in the road soon and get back to more creativity.

Have a great sleep everyone and prepare for another Monday morning.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Leprechaun

A Leprechaun is small and green,
He hid my coffee where it can't be seen,
But, if I can somehow catch him before the end of today,
my coffee will double in size they say!

Boy Meets World

The 90's had some of the best television shows and a lot tackled subject matter that most wouldn't dare to tackle today because let's be honest, everyone gets offended easily.

It's just society today.

I am just glad I grew up when I did.

*coffee intake begins*

Boy Meets World was one of those shows and it tackled a variety of issues that faced most kids/teenagers including family, friends, death, school, love, drugs/alcohol and more. It had both a comedic and serious side with lessons learned in every episode on topics you felt were real.

It was one of my favorites that came on the TGIF block, not that I didn't call all of the shows on TGIF my favorite. The show ran for 7 years from 1993-2000.

When I discovered that 2024 Topps Allen And Ginter had included some of the actors autographs from the show in the product, I knew I had to chase them down.

So, I did.

After a few trades and a couple eBay purchases with my gift cards, I was able to complete what I wanted to.

Up first was this Will Friedle autograph, who played the main character, Corey Matthews, "air headed" brother Eric.

Up next was Rider Strong, who was Shawn Hunter Corey Matthews best friend.

And finally...

Most boys who grew up in the 90's had a crush on Topanga, Corey Matthews love interest. She was played by Danielle Fishel.

I had a crush, but she wasn't my top chase. That was Amy Jo Johnson, the Pink Ranger.

I also found out that two of the actors also had relic cards. Sadly not Topanga.

 

I landed both of those as well (currently I misplaced the Rider Strong relic and can't find it grrr)

All three also have base (just landed all three in trades) with minis (have Topanga only) and parallels. This chase could be deeper, but I am happy with what I have for now.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

They sure don't make shows like they used to. I am glad I grew up in an era of great cartoons, movies, shows and afterschool specials. I think all of them shifted me into being the person I am today.

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Updates And Thank Yous!

UPDATES:

 

Well, 2025 has been going smooth so far. Just as smooth as this delicious Green Mountain Coffee I got from the hospital yesterday when I went for my check up on the cyst on my cheek.

Update on that, well, good news and weird news. I went there thinking the cyst was on my left side because that's where I feel the lump, but nope, it was found to be on my right side in the scans. So, the ENT did a full exam of my face, said he doesn't feel the one on the right but does on the left. I asked him what my level of concern should be, he said, "I wouldn't say not to have any, but it's around 2%. There isn't much worry about them." He then said he would check in with the radiologist who took the scans to see what he has to say about the left side and to see if anything at all showed up on the scan. Other than that, I need to go back in a year to get an ultrasound done, possibly on both, and see if there is any growth.

All In all, good news.

THANK YOUS!

Well, to no surprise the man, the legend Night Owl Cards took home the trophy again with the Trading Card Database Favorite Blog. However, for the first time in 13 years and the 8 years they have held this, I made the list in the Top 3. Completely unexpected. So, thank you to the members of TCDB who voted for Cards Over Coffee. I appreciate this so, so much.

THANK YOUS:

I got another great trade mail day from blog reader Oren!

Lots of Allen Ginter love,

 

Then some other non sport goods,

(this reminds me that I need to finish this set, only 10 cards left!!)

And then there was a surprise at the end,

 

even though it's faded, still a cool rookie auto!

Thanks Oren for another great trade, looking forward to the next.

Hoping this year continues to be great like it has started so far. I hope your year goes well too.

Have a great Thursday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*