I'm Back!

Hello Coffee Card Enthusiasts!

I certainly hoped you all missed your favorite and only Coffee Card Blogger.

I came back from vacation last Wednesday and enjoyed an extra-long visit from family until this past Tuesday. I needed some time to recoup and unpack Wednesday and Thursday and here is a new post for today.

So, I thought it would be fun just to do a short I'm Back post and trip recap.

Here is what I got to see for three days. As I said in my last post, this was the first time I have been on a real family vacation and to a beach near the ocean in nine years. Cards Over Coffee didn't even exist then! We had beautiful weather every day with temps in the high 80's. I am not a swimmer as many of you know, but I spent plenty of time in the sand and did dip my feet in many times. I think as a whole we barely spent any time back at the Bed and Breakfast my sister-in-law rented for all of us.

As for my shoulder, the long three-hour trip up killed it and so didn't the ride back. Luckily in-between wasn't too bad other than having to eat lefty which made a mess. My wife would say no more than usual with my right.

Which I did spill some of this ice cream. This was a Reeces Sundae from a baseball themed ice cream place that was just down the road from where I stayed. Great stuff, reasonably priced too. However, this was bigger than it looked as I ordered the "Major" instead of the "Minor" I should have ordered. Let's just say this hit like a rock.

One of my reasons for going to this beach nine years ago was stopping at the hobby shop that was there. I made good friends with the owners, and they always threw free stuff my way along with some discounts. However, after my last visit, they sold the shop and traveled the countryside on a motorcycle. Sounds like fun to me! So, I knew that the card portion of my trip was not going to happen.

However, I did find this rack of packs in one of the shops. $6 a pack if you were interested! I walked out empty handed but found this interesting still.

I can't say that I went completely cardless on this trip. On our way back, my 40-year-old body needed a bathroom break, anyone over 40 will understand, so I stopped off at a Walmart halfway home. My wife had set aside some funds for me to bust a box of something. 

I wasn't going to miss out on that opportunity.

I ran to the bathroom, both because I had to and I wanted to, then ran up front to see my options.

I was really hoping for some Topps Chrome Disney, but all they had was Topps Chrome Deadpool. It was tempting, but I left it. Instead, I grabbed what I thought was a blaster box of 2025 Phoenix football. I will dive more into that in another post and what I got in it if anything.

For now, will leave you with a happy to be back and hope to get to some more blogging soon! I had a mail day from a fellow blogger to share along with a couple box breaks and a few other mail days to share as well.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

*also a reminder I will be adding to each post going forward. I don't know about you, when it comes to the hobby, I am looking for ways to SAVE all of the time. So, here you go. Just for you a 10% off code to SAVE on card supplies. You're Welcome!

Belated Birthday Gift

*sits down and gets ready for an exciting post on Cards Over Coffee*

 

Before the post, sip and donut time.

*takes a bite, a sip and gets ready for the post*

In life, people come and go. Most of the time when they go, they are gone never to be heard or seen again. However, there are rare instances when they come back.

I know in my hobby life; I have met lots of great people online whether that be through blogging or on my Facebook pages or on Twitter. Some I haven't heard from in years. Some I talk to everyday and one...well...I thought was gone but has returned after six months.

Welcome back Oren. Glad to have you back.

*takes a sip before moving on with today's post*

*takes a bite of donut as well*

*another sip*

Not only was it great to hear from Oren and knowing he was fine, but it will be fun to kick off our trades again and being able to email one another as well.

Oren also had a surprise packed for me and sent me a belated birthday gift and it was amazing.

Check this out,

New card for my Marvel PC, more on that coming up in a future post.

We all have seen that Bowman Mantle before, but have you seen these other promotional Mantles before? I haven't.

Here is the back to them. Interesting oddball addition.

The base version of this 1997 Bowmans Best Best Cuts Jake Plummer will go great with the refractor version I have :)

Cooper Taylore was a 5th round pick of the Giants in the 2013 draft. He didn't quite make a big splash and was cut by the Giants, but always welcome any Giants player as long as they are wearing blue.

Do you know how bad I wanted one of these back in 2000? REALLY BAD! I have always kept an eye on one and have wanted still since. I guess I can cross it off now.

Wayne Gallman showed some bright spots when he started some games for the Giants when Saquon Barkley got injured.

David Stambaugh is an actor for The Bad News Bears movies, and this marks I believe my third autograph from this set. 

Along with sending along those great cards above, Oren hit me up with some wicked cool unopened packs. I haven't decided which ones I am opening or adding to my unopened pack PC.

The Simpsons. First time I have one of these in my collection. I really need to chase down the base set.

Upper Deck Dinosaurs. I remember winning a box of these and how fun that product was to open.

2022 Absolute Memorabilia retail pack. I ripped this bad boy.

Results. Not a bad find with the Pickens, he showed some serious highlights last year and could grow off from it this year.

 

These are beautiful!!! OG Batman movie packs (I want this base set and sticker set), Batman Begins pack (I am wanting this base set and hologram set) and Batman Forever hanger pack (want this base set and hologram set). I haven't decided which of these I will open yet or keep them sealed for my Batman collection.

Then came a huge surprise......

2021 Historic Autographs Written Word POTUS The First 36. This would mark my first hobby box opening of 2023. With no company sponsors left, I figured I would never see a hobby box again then came this surprise.

What's really cool with these, there are chances to pull DNA cards which would be beyond EPIC for me to find.

Each box comes with two cards for that chance at one. Here is what those two cards can be overall, Written Word Card, Limited Edition Die-cut Monument Card, POTUS DNA Hair Card, POTUS DNA Dual Hair Card or an Authentic POTUS Cut Signature Card

I couldn't wait any longer, so I tore in that box like I did when I opened up the donut one,

This is what it looks like on the inside.

Card #1

Andrew Johnson, our 17th president cut up handwritten words from him. Pretty cool and wonder what kind of document they cut up for these. You would think it would be in a history museum. You can view the documents online which I will probably do at some point.

 

And the next card is Grover Cleveland, the 22nd president cut up handwritten words. Once again, I need to look up the documents they cut up.

I didn't get the DNA card or even the cut-up signature I had hoped for, but I am still beyond stoked for these. Really cool history pieces for my non sport PC. I really want to open another now!

Thanks again to Oren for this superb gift. Really appreciate it beyond words.

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

I hope everyone is ready for more of the mail day posts from Oren coming up this year. I am sure there will be more fun cards to show off.

In comments today, comment on the cards or what you do with packs like the ones I have above. Do you collect unopened packs? wrappers?

I hope everyone has a great Monday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Miracles

*brews an afternoon cup of hot joe, coffee not someone actually named Joe, to do a quick post for Cards Over Coffee. Let's get to this!*

Miracles happen every day. 

I haven't ever witnessed a big miracle in person, but have seen and heard stories of them happening. Things such as deaf babies hearing for the first time, Bible miracles where Jesus healed many with a simple touch from impossible situations, unsolved cold cases getting solved after decades, 105 year old's catching Covid-19 twice and surviving it, or missing people getting found are just a few examples of every day miracles.

*takes a sip, begins to tell a story*

I witnessed a very small miracle compared to those examples today myself.

Here is my story:

My wife randomly wanted to take the hour drive to Walmart today before my sister-in-law arrived for the weekend and I wasn't really feeling it. I don't really have the interest I once did in taking the trip to Walmart only to be disappointed checking out the card section and other than cards, I have no reason to even want to go. I have no other hobbies.

However, I said "let's do it anyways" and I went along for the trip. 

It was probably the McDonald's coffee I had just gotten doing the talking and convincing of me to go. Actually, I wasn't doing much talking after the first sip burned my tongue off. How does their coffee get so hot in comparison to others?!!

We arrived to the Walmart and I found myself in the store wanting to leave as soon as I entered, especially seeing the amount of people were shopping. Since Covid began, I don't like being anywhere near big crowds. 

I wanted to so badly rush out of there and started to turn away to leave before my wife insisted that I go and check out the card section while I was there and while she shopped. I figured might as well since the section was near the way out and that's when I witnessed my minor miracle.....

Donruss, Series 1 Tin, Topps Heritage, Leaf and Sage Hit 2021 football, oh my!

For the first time in months, I found cards at my local Walmart (the one box of Optic football I found awhile back was at a further away Walmart). I was in both shock and awe as I stood there staring at the section like I was staring at a supermodel. I could even feel the drool hang from the corner of my mouth.

*takes a sip; dripping some out of the mouth from seeing this picture again. In comparison, this picture was 90's Cindy Crawford good*

I immediately called, literally used my phone since she was in another section, my wife to come over to reassure me it wasn't a mirage. She not only pinched me, but assured me what I was seeing was actual cards. Even put one in my hand and I could feel it.

Wow.

Wow.

Did I say Wow yet?

Wow.

*takes another sip*

Knowing my funds are never great, I knew I couldn't take everything, not that I would ever do that anyways. I was actually hopeful that some kid or someone like myself who collects would land some of it after I left. Odds are though, some flippers came through after I left and bought it all like they usually do. Except it usually happens before I arrive.

At least my timing and payday helped me land a few fun things for myself. I plan to open those for future posts on here. Honestly and surprisingly, I still haven't opened a single pack yet as I am going to soak this in for awhile as I know I may never see this again.

*takes another sip feeling pretty good for once about the Walmart trip*

My miracle today was more comparable to to a bald man finding one strand of extra hair on his head then it is to something bigger such as someone beating Cancer, but it's still a miracle I got to witness and be apart of. It counts for something I think.

*takes another sip and smiles this time knowing some wax is awaiting to be opened, Coffee Card Blogger out!*