Vacation Week With Wallet Card

If you are here to see some new card pickups in today's post, I must apologize, those won't be in today's post.

Today's post will be a vacation recap from 4th Of July week and it features an old friend from many, many years ago.

So, if you like food, coffee, lakes and old friends, keep reading.

My vacation kicked off with Strawberry Shortcake made with fresh strawberries I picked the day before. My wife is a pro at making these photo worthy.

The following day, it was the beginning of camp week. Every year for the past four years, my sister-in-law rents a camp out on a lake for the entire family to come together from afar. These camps are usually only about twenty or thirty minutes from my house. So, it's not a real kind of trip, but it's still a getaway for me!

This is the second year in a row at this camp, but it could also be the last one. The camps owner just sold her actual house, so now she stays here most of the year but decided to rent it out for six weeks this year. She may not do this again going forward so we may be looking at a new spot next year.

I decided since this may be it, I might as well dig out an old friend to say goodbye to it as well. So, I dug out my wallet card. It's the card that is supposed to be in the Coffee Card Hall Of Fame but still hasn't been pulled out yet.

It will be after this trip. Two farewells.

Wallet card is beaten but not broken. Well, until he found out the camp owner may be a UConn fan then was very broken. That's my least favorite college team especially for basketball.

Up next, I got to experience my very first and probably last "ritzy" high end restaurant.

My sister-in-law chose a fancy place out in the boonies where a restaurant took a Victorian style house and transformed it into an extravagant place of eating. Each part of the house has a "room". The one we were in had a fireplace and in ground garden around the outside of the room, pretty cool. Others had huge fireplaces, original wallpaper, elegant statues, etc.

I didn't take a sneak peek online to see what they offered for food so I didn't know what to expect when the menus were handed out. My wife and I almost fell out of our seats when we saw the prices on the menu for this place for basic food.

I chose the cheapest meal there was, despite my sister-in-law covering the cost.

For $26, I got three very small tasteless waffles, 2 strips of bacon, a very small fruit cup, a cube size slice of cinnamon bread and

a Berry crumble dessert.

For $26 I expected my waffle to have at least a few shavings of gold on top. $26 for waffles! CRAZY! I can make better waffles at home with coffee, they only offered water-juice-alcohol, for less than $5.

I was not impressed for a first timer. My wife wasn't either with the meal she had chosen. Maybe we aren't fine dining type of people.

All done with the food talk, now back to camp.

We made plenty of fire nights with S'mores (which tasted better and costed less than $26..sorry I said I was done with that talk) and just family game time.

The weeks weather was beautiful.....and hot.

So beautiful and hot that one day it required a tour of Ben & Jerry's to cool us down.

I had to visit the flavor cemetery and get very emotional over my favorite flavor that is no longer. RIP Oatmeal Cookie Chunk. Til we see each other again someday when I am in heaven. I hope Jesus sits right next to me and we share a pint (well separate pints because it's really hard to share this flavor)

We then went to a local mom and pop shop to grab some supper. It was much cooler than I expected.

The owner's son had built all of these Lego sets and a lot more including a full size Millenium Falcon. That must have taken forever and cost a pretty penny to purchase.

and they also had plenty of food offerings including breakfast like this amazing cinnamon roll.

 

Overall, it was a fun relaxing-jammed pack-week. I always love family time, and we had a great time together.

The hobby is fun and all, but give me this any day instead.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A PC Post Again

On September 30th 2023, I last posted what my PC was......I figured it was time for an update especially since there have been some shifts and changes since.

Let's check out the comparison,

September 30th 2023:

Baseball:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)
Ken Griffey Jr

Basketball:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)
Allan Houston

Football:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)
Eli Manning
Rodney Hampton (if you can find anything I don't have which is tough)
NY Giants I don't have and including the other player PC's I do of Amani Toomer, Andre Williams, Charles Way, Rueben Randle, Victor Cruz, David Tyree.

Hockey:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)

Non-Sport
Marvel (only from the newer movies, not so much the cartoon ones)
Batman
Pop Century Autographs
Any Actor, Actress, Relic or autograph from any TV Show or Movie
Allen Ginter Non Sport base cards
Allen Ginter Non Sport Inserts
Nostalgic Actor/Actress autographs
Darius Rucker
RL Stine

Other Cards:
Cards that feature coffee
Christmas Cards
Horror Cards
My Set Chases
Unopened Packs/Boxes
Michaela Shiffrin

Other Stuff Not Cards I Collect
80's and 90's toys
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger 30th Anniversary VHS Figures
Christmas Vacation (anything that features the movie from food items to ornaments to figures)

Even though my list still seems long, definitely not as long as it used to be, there are still levels of preference among my lists.

Here is what I prefer most,
1. NY Giants (this includes all of my side PC players)
2. Non-Sport Autographs
3. Marvel/Non Sports in general
4. 90's Inserts
5. Christmas Cards

July 3rd 2025:

Baseball:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)
Ken Griffey Jr

Derek Jeter

Aaron Judge

Hall Of Fame Or will be Hall Of Fame Rookies and autographs

Basketball:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)

Hall Of Fame Or will be Hall Of Fame Rookies and autographs

Football:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)
Eli Manning
Rodney Hampton (if you can find anything I don't have which is tough)
NY Giants

Hall Of Fame Or will be Hall Of Fame Rookies and autographs

Hockey:
90's Inserts (1995-1999)

Hall Of Fame Or will be Hall Of Fame Rookies and autographs

Non-Sport
Marvel (only from the newer movies, not so much the cartoon ones)
Batman
Pop Century Autographs
Any Actor, Actress, Relic or autograph from any TV Show or Movie
Allen Ginter Non Sport base cards
Allen Ginter Non Sport Inserts
Nostalgic Actor/Actress autographs
Chevy Chase

Mighty Morphin Power Ranger cards

TMNT Cards

Other Cards:
Cards that feature coffee
Christmas Santa Hat relic cards ONLY
Horror Cards
My Set Chases
Unopened Packs/Boxes
Michaela Shiffrin

Other Stuff Not Cards I Collect
80's and 90's toys
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger 30th Anniversary VHS Figures
Christmas Vacation (anything that features the movie from food items to ornaments to figures to random junk or custom cards)

Even though my list still seems long, definitely not as long as it used to be, there are still levels of preference among my lists.

Here is what I prefer most,
1. NY Giants (this includes all of my PC players)
2. Non-Sport Autographs
3. 90's Inserts
4. Ken Griffey Jr
5. 90's Toys

There you have it. Some adds, some takeaways but overall, it's staying pretty steady.

I will say that NY Giants football and non-sports are very heavily favored to me. Way, Way above anything else.

I am hoping with this new update it may bring in new or old traders again.

Hope everyone has a great day and hope you at least had a few sips along with me on this post.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

2025 New Years Goals Check In #2

At the beginning of the year, I promised I would do some check-ins on my New Years hobby goals to keep myself accountable.

Well, here we are. Check Point #2.

So, let's see what they were and in red is where I am at currently

General Goals:

• I need to sort out all of the cards I acquired or had taken out of binders in the last few months This project was done, until the latest Grady M mail day came.
• Put those cards away once they are sorted same as above need to do this all over again because of the Grady M mail day
• Start to finish some of the sets I started especially the 90's ones. Haven't finished any. I did add three cards to my 1997 Spx basketball, but that's it. Need some serious help from readers on some of these!
• The binder numbering project needs to be finished.DONE. BAM! ONE THING ACTUALLY COMPLETED.
• Penny sleeve everything I haven't yet. Still not completed or even touched yet. I don't have enough time in a day to do everything in life and hobby.
• Binder my Eli Mannings that haven't been put away yet, fix the rest in the box Haven't begun this at all
• Clean up my card room. It's just a mess. I need it better organized to get to what I really need to get to. Somewhat began this. things are mostly put away, however, it's still not as organized as much as I hoped
• Do some giveaways as I haven't ever really done any on here. Haven't gotten to this yet either, maybe once I get to 100 followers on here
• Up my PWE trades especially among bloggers. So far have done only three trades with bloggers this year. ugh. This needs to improve.


For PC Goals:
• Reach 1,300 Eli Mannings. This is a very lofty goal. I haven't even reached 1,200 yet. Still not to 1,200 yet!
• Add some of my most wanted non-sport autos such as Ed O'Neil, Tony Danza, and Jon Heder. Not yet :(
• Try to fill in Rodney Hampton gaps of 2023 products. Many still on eBay overpriced sitting there that need to find a way to my collection Some have been added, a long way to go still! Now I have a list of 2024 as well to do!
• Add more to my "other" PC's to move me up the TCDB board. Allan Houston, Micheala Shiffrin, etc. Haven't done but not motivated right now to.


For Blogging Goals:
• Decide if I can fit blogging into my schedule and continue blogging. Pretty much just trying to blog here when I can. I expect by years end to tie up the other two blogs and be done with them. Sport Card Collectors will have some on and off short posts just to fill in some things til the year ends because I can't just end it out of nowhere., but nothing as serious as this blog.
• Come up with new creative content tried a couple new things, they didn't hit it off
• Take away the sipping breaks and behind the scenes content? this has been on and off this year like today's post
• New blog layout? still thinking on this one
• Come up with new segments still thinking on this one
• Reach 500,000 views over 400,000 a ways to go by year's end
• Reach 80 followers lost a follower..grrrrr. so at 71
• Blog my Giants cards on Big Blue Cardboard since they don't fare well here? Reader's thoughts? I don't think I will be posting on there anymore. Not enough time in my life and trying to condense to this blog only. I have thought of a few ways to integrate Giants cards here.

There you have it, my 2025 New Years Goals second check-in.

Some good, some bad and most need a lot of work. Just like my health and eating habits.

Have a great day and let me know below how your goals are going so far.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

400,000

*gets a cup of coffee ready, sits down, begins to post*

Cards Over Coffee has been around for over five years now.

There aren't a lot of followers, the views aren't great, and comments..well...not always strong either.

But for some reason, this tiny little blog has held its own in a variety of areas. It's does okay when it comes to being voted on in blog of the year voting (though someday I would love to take home one of those wins). It has good and bad days for views. It's made it past 700 posts. But, sometimes it's not always the big wins that count. I will first celebrate the little victories this blog gets during its journey.

Today, I am happy to say this blog has surpassed 400,000 views (did so a few days ago).

Up to this point, I haven't really done any posts on milestone views such as this. Maybe it's something I will do going forward to show progression of the blog, and it gives me an extra post as well so you guys can celebrate along with me.

Sadly though, no cards in today's post. Just a celebratory cup of joe.

Thanks again for reading this blog, even if you just stop by just to read with a cup and don't leave a comment. I appreciate every one of you.

Onto 500,000.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Yankin' Em Out

 

My collecting continues to change on a daily basis.

Especially with what and how I collect.

I recently started going through my NY Yankees collection and started to change things up. 

Since I don't really collect Yankees anymore, I decided to strip apart my collection and treat it like other cards I have in my collection. I pulled aside star players or players I enjoyed growing up and kept those by player. 

This is the separation stacks

where I put the base now just like other teams

Others I stripped down to base, inserts and rookies and put those each into a separate section like I do with other teams.

So, basically, most of my Yankees are up for trade besides a few players like Jeter and Mantle. And even then, I am flexible on Mantle. But, not Jeter, those are to stay. The other Yankees that are no-go's are my 90's inserts. I don't EVER trade off 90's inserts. 

If you are interested in any Yankees players, let me know. I would mainly just trade away the inserts or rookies I have since base are base and it would be a pain to dig through.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday. I have family up for Tennessee so I won't have time for the hobby again for a week and not sure if I will have any more new posts unless I pre-do them. 

We will see. I mean if I have cards and I have coffee, you just never know.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

A Card Show 30 Years In The Making

Hope you have your coffee ready today, because I do.

If you read this blog title and no you didn't read it wrong, I was able to go to a card show. And yes, it was the first time in 30 years of doing so.

*sips cheerfully*

Locally, there are no LCS'. There are no card shows. And that's the way it has been for 30 years.

But, this past week, I kept getting a Facebook ad for a Card Show that was about 45 minutes from my house. I spent the week debating on whether I was going to go or not because I knew my sister-in-law was coming up from Mass and didn't want to lose out on family time.

However, when I mentioned said card show to her, she actually jumped in on going with my nephew since they both partially collect Pokemon and we went in the pouring rain.

The building wasn't too hard to find as it was right off the exit north of where I live, it was held at the usual Elks Club where I think most small shows are held everywhere.

I had no idea what to expect and how card shows even were ran in today's times. I also knew I had a very tight, small budget to work with so was hoping to find some dollar bins or dime bins and load up like I see other bloggers accomplish.

I did know that admission was $10 per adult. Far cry from the $3 it used to be in the 90's where your admission also counted as a raffle ticket, and you could win hourly prizes. This one was just paying the $10 and you are in.

Not sure if all card shows charge or not but I felt that was a little steep. 

I felt like a rookie right off the bat.

I walked past the check-in table and was greeted by the room and took a quick walk around to take pictures before going back to the beginning to start "my business".

There were roughly 25 tables set up with a variety of sports cards, Pokemon cards, memorabilia, products, coins, and even a gaming table.

Now it was time for me to go attack the room.

I didn't have anything specific I was chasing but was taking a look at everything I could at the tables that attracted me.

The first table had stuff I jumped on immediately. One-dollar 90's packs, but the guy threw in a ton of free ones since his son opened the tops of them.

 

He also had this Terrell Davis in a box I couldn't say no to. Rest of the box was boring, overpriced stuff.

The card I really hated no to at his table was one he whipped out of his safe. A Leaf trio autograph that had Phil Simms, Eli Manning and YA Tittle numbered to 2. But, I don't have that kind of money.

I hit up a few more tables and looked through their stuff but hitting a dry spell. I saw Eli Mannings I already had, a hockey table, a Wrestling table, a vintage table, a Pokemon/TCG table but no other 90's related inserts or anything that I really needed.

Then I came upon a table in my last row of tables to search where a guy had a stack of Donruss Rookie Sweater cards. I was able to wheel and deal and fill in some set needs.

Of course, he didn't have any values on these, so he had to whip out his phone for "comps". Last time I went to a card show guys were whipping out their Becketts.

He also had an Eli Manning relic card I wasn't sure if I had. But it was Super Bowl related, so I added it to the stack anyways.

It's still a nice-looking card.

The next table was where the real magic happened.

They had a box with 90's inserts sorted by player, and I went to town.

(pretty cool error card)

And fortunately, the guy cut me a pretty good deal on them all. Like less than $1 each. I haven't done my research to see how "rare" any of these are yet, but I will. I think I fared well with his table and that one alone was worth me taking the trip.

Finally, I hit up one last table which had a Malik Nabers I didn't have.

Come to find out, the seller was the guy running the show and he also is starting a card shop up in his Cigar Shop. He is moving away from tobacco and moving onto cards. That's kind of cool. An LCS! But, it's still 45 minutes away and I don't head north too often, a few times a year, so maybe when I do, I will swing in. He also mentioned having more of these card shows so maybe I will get to go to another. Just hopefully with more funds.

Overall, I spent two hours there searching through everything, talking to people and not spending too much. It was a little overwhelming at first getting into a groove of digging through others card collections, just felt odd picking them up and looking at them, but I had a great time and some fun conversations. 

Before I close up today's post, here are some other things of note.

1. Kids were buying, selling and trading.
2. There was no wax. No packs, boxes, mega boxes of any kind other than those 90's packs above. I was shocked by this. I expected the flippers.
3. Lots of overpriced cards and I avoided the three tables that had them. I am not paying $10 for a base Mosaic Malik Nabers card or a 90's insert of Brett Favre for $40 that goes on eBay for $3.
4. Lots of good mix of new and old cards and sports and gaming.
5. There were no nickel, dime and dollar boxes
6. No non-sport cards at all
7. It didn't appear a lot of sellers were actually selling
8. There weren't a lot of people, but a decent small crowd
9. Everything was done by comps
10. Lots of friendly sellers giving cards away to kids which was great to see.
11. There were no Ken Griffey Jr cards. One guy bought out the show (I should have gotten there earlier!)
12. When I interviewed most sellers, most got into the hobby in the last five years. Interesting to think especially since most were about my age.

Let me know about how your card shows go in comparison. I would love to hear in comments to see if there is anything similar.

Thanks for reading my recap with your cup of coffee (or beverage of your choice).

Have a great first day of May.

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*