Some Cards In The Mail

*sits down, coffee in hand to get ready for a long-winded start to this post*

*takes a sip*

It's been a busy month since I joined the world of coaching, so I haven't had much time to catch up on a lot of posts and there are actually some cards sitting in my drafts.

Not that life wasn't already busy before that.

Now I just add extra cups of coffee to my daily regimen.

But it's been a blast coaching this group of girls and we recently added another person. There are now 17 girls, 3 coaches, 2 hours of practice a week and only 5 of those girls have any experience playing basketball. It's probably why they needed another person to join, and I still feel it's hard to jam everything in that needs to be taught. So far, we have only one play in the playbook and our first game is two weeks from today. With the team being so large, we had to split the team in half to create two game day teams (we still practice together as one team) and guess who the game day head coach for one of those teams is, yes, you are reading his writing. 

But don't call me Phil Jackson quite yet. These are just 3rd/4th graders. We are just there to teach the basics and to have fun. Winning isn't the top thing, even though I am a very competitive person.

*takes a competitive sip. yes, I am competing against your sip*

As for regular life, I mentioned I had my yearly doctor appointment in one of my last posts and wanted to leave an update on that. My blood work mostly looked good, and a quick assessment was fine, but my A1C went back up to 6.3 and I can only contribute it to the 12 pounds I have put on since July. 

Everyone knows I have had a rough year, and eating was obviously for stress. It's been extremely tough trying to lose the weight again even with daily exercise, so I asked the doctor for a little help for the first time in my life. I tried to get put onto one of those weekly shots to help with weight loss and wanted just to be on it for six months to get me some momentum again. But, with health insurance companies being health insurance companies, they wouldn't pay for it so that plan went out the door. They refuse to pay for any weight loss help unless I have diabetes. It sounds a little backwards to me, why wouldn't they want to help prevent me from getting diabetes first? With all of my health problems that worsen with weight gain and the fact diabetes runs on both sides of my family, I really could have used the extra help.

I did finally get put on a pill that treats my A1C that has a little underlying weight loss tie in, but not sure how successful it will be overall. Hopefully some help at least.

Now that I have rambled on about the past month, I am sure you are ready to read something about cards. The reason you came here.

Besides giving yourself an excuse to drink coffee.

*takes a sip*

The following cards were all separate mail days I received.

 

For some reason, I felt the need to add this card even though I know Devito will probably never start another game again with his struggles this season.

 

I added the relic because I didn't have one of him yet. I try to add an autograph and relic card of every Giants player I can.

Shiny new Griffeys are always welcomed! Stadium Club has a few Griffeys I would love to add this year.

 

Future Giants QB? Maybe? Will be interesting to see how this upcoming draft goes. I still see them drafting a QB this upcoming draft. But who knows. Everything with the Giants is up in the air.

And that does it for this random mix of cards.

*takes final sip before ending today's post*

I have been posting more recently despite the busy life, but that's only because I am doing it the night before. This won't last forever as I am brushing off the actual art of collecting cards by blogging instead since my time is very limited. I also am skipping out on my occasional relaxing video game doing this.

Hopefully can find a better balance in life to do everything. It's probably why I am still considering retiring in May from blogging.  I will see how things go until then.

Anyways, two days til Christmas! Who's excited?!?!?

I am!

Have a great Monday!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

You Didn't Think I Would Miss It Did You?

It may have taken me all day for this, but I promise you I won't forget to post on National Coffee Day.

What kind of Coffee Card Blogger Would I be? (this is where you say a bad one if I did)

Since it's late, I won't be drinking any beverage while I put this post quickly together, but I will tell you I did have a couple cups earlier today to celebrate. It wasn't quite the Dunkin run I had wanted to make, but was just too busy and didn't quite have the time to celebrate like I had wanted.

It's just the way things are right now.

My original plan for today's post was just to post about the coffee day but figured it wouldn't be Cards Over Coffee without some cards.

So, let's check out my latest Rodney Hampton adds since 2023 products have put out a ton of them. In the last two months, Rodney has had new cards in Select, Topps Composite, Topps Motif and I just found out yesterday he will be in 2023 Panini National Treasures as well. With all of these, there was 60+ new Rodney's out there to chase. Pretty much an impossible one with TONS of 1/1's.

My new method to this is just add what I can because I don't have the finances. I can only add stuff when I get the gift cards to do so from reward apps that I am apart of. I must be stingy and don't overdo it. There are some going for a lot more than they should be for Rodney. I must be patient and wait which isn't the easiest thing.

This method has costed me some low numbered ones from Select such as the /10 and /5 ones. I just hope they will pop up again.

This is the base silver /399.  A nice guy on Twitter sent me this one as a RAK.

This a blue /99.

And finally a Tie Dye Die Cut /25.

This is all I have for now and there is more to go including two 1/1's. Yes, TWO.

*yawns before finishing up tonight's post*

I hope everyone was able to celebrate National Coffee Day the way it needs to be celebrated. Not sure where the parades were today but this is a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade level day.

Oh, before I close, I always welcome Dunkin' gift cards in my email inbox (sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com) to help celebrate or as a thank you :)

Let me know how you celebrated the holiday in comments and/or if you have a player you collect that recently got bombarded with a ton of new cards from recent products.

10 Cups left.

*Coffee Card Blogger is going to bed...I mean out*

The Blogger National 2023

*sits down, takes a sip of coffee. opens keyboard, begins to type today's newest post*

Last year I posted a Blogger National for those of us who can't enjoy the experience of actually being at the The National Sport Collectors Convention. That way we can still connect with one another without spending the big bucks to do so. Though I would love to sit down, have a cup of coffee and talk cards with you.

*takes a sip, tips mug towards computer screen hoping you will return the favor*

I am a few days late on posting this year's Blogger National, but I am still hoping you all will still participate in this blog bat-around.

What is the Blogger National? Well, it's a blog-bat-around where you just take one post (or multiple if you so choose) in the next few days and dedicate it to showing off your coolest cards or your most favorite cards or a recent mail day you hadn't posted yet using the blog post title, The Blogger National 2023.

I want you to try to find the cards that are show worthy to you. You know, the dazzling cards that would attract all of the people over to your table (blog).

I received some show worthy cards in a few of my recent mail days.

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

I am not sure why, but I felt drawn to needing an Indiana Jones rookie. Maybe because of the new movie or maybe because I was a fan. I am looking forward to watching the new movie at some point.

I didn't have a Zebra parallel in my collection before and now to own one of the league's best running back and of a Giant, I am happy. I acquired this one in a trade on Twitter.

This card I have been wanting a very long time. Great moment in Knicks history by my favorite Knicks player.....and it's shiny. This came from a long time Twitter friend.

And finally, along with the Allan Houston above, I was given this 2001 Kerry Collins E-X Essential Credentials /299. Great 90's parallel, not as exciting of a 2000's insert but still a need.

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

I am hopeful many of you will join in on this. Usually my Blog-Bat-Arounds go nowhere but maybe this one will catch your attention. Last year was no to very little turnout but I am trying again!

And for those of you who read this and don't have a blog, feel free to post your cards on social media and use the hashtag, #TheBloggerNational2023. I will be on the lookout for that hashtag on all social media platforms. Well, except TikTok. I haven't joined that at all yet and don't plan to.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Rodney Brew:2020 Select Black Die-Cut 1/1

Hello there fellow coffee fans! And card collectors too! I hope you have a cup of coffee ready to go along with today's post.

It's been close to a year since I posted a new card in this segment. One of the biggest reasons for that is the lack of new Rodney Hamptons on the market. It appears his run of cards is over with Panini as I don't see any coming up and all of 2022 was Rodney-Less.

Pretty much what remains to my Rodney chase are rares and obviously rare cards are hard to come by.

Fortunately, though, a few did pop up since last year and thanks to a very generous Christmas package from my buddy Wes, I hauled in some amazing ones.

*takes a sip*

I had two cards left for my 2020 Select autograph chase, both 1/1's. One was a base 1/1 and then there was a die-cut version 1/1. I wasn't ever sure they would pop up especially since the products are getting older and probably sitting in warehouses somewhere with my Rodney's inside of them.

Luckily one of them finally popped up, the die-cut version.

It's a really sharp card. I really like the appeal. It's like a dark roast coffee.

 

Back of card gives the autograph guarantee along with the 1/1 info.

Thanks again to my buddy Wes for sending this my way.

There are still more Rodney's to show off from my Christmas package from Wes.

Thoughts on this card is welcomed in comments.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday Night.

Coffee Card Blogger Out.

Elephant In The Room

*sits down, takes a sip and gets ready for a new Cards Over Coffee post today*

I think it's time to once again tackle the elephant in the room, and no it wasn't my .7 weight gain this morning on the scale, it's the fact I can't keep focus on one project in the hobby.

One day I will be trying to get my 90's sets filled and the next day I am trading for a gorilla card from Allen Ginter. I am all over the place and can't finish up one project.

It's not really a terrible problem as it gives me plenty of options when I collect, but it can sometimes be a little frustrating when I go back and think that I could have finished another project instead.

Like recently, I was on a roll of collecting Kerry Collins cards again and then I spotted a few cards that @cardboardfan775 posted, and all of a sudden I am back off the trail again. 

But when I see my main core of Knicks players I collect, Quickley, Toppin and Barret, I couldn't pass it up.

Especially when shiny cards are involved.

And some sharp parallels from Select basketball. This final parallel is what I call the Knicks parallel.

*takes a sip, stares at the shiny*

Even this mail day didn't have a complete focus either.

 

I saw this Trey Lance, who is one of the final key pieces I need towards my Donruss 2021 football set and had to add that to our trade as well.

It's like I am the dog from UP.

SQUIRREL!

Thanks again to @cardboardfan775 for yet another fast, easy trade.

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

I am not sure where I will go from here with collecting. Do I get back up on the bike for Kerry Collins or do I get off the bike like Joe Biden and go some other direction.

I guess as long as I am having fun along the way, that's all that really matters....right?

In comments today, let me know if you have a hobby focus problem and if you need to tackle the Elephant In The Room.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*