What Am I Doing?!

What am I doing?!

Well, I am drinking midafternoon coffee while blogging on here. But shouldn't this be the last post with all of the recent ones and the countdown to the finale?

What am I doing?! Expanding a dying blog?!

You may have noticed this, but I have been able to post a lot more now and have gotten rid of the final cup countdown. Does this mean I have a change of plans on the end of this blog, potentially. But I will also admit I have the final post already scheduled and ready to go.

Does this mean I will follow through? Time will tell as we know, my mind changes often and situations do as well.

So I never know....

What am I doing?!

Also, in the last few days I re-opened up Big Blue Cardboard and Sport Card Collectors for possible new posts, most likely on Sport Card Collectors but both are open. So go follow, subscribe if you haven't yet on those blogs. Once again, WHAT AM I DOING?! Those are supposed to gone!!

On top of this, for some reason I started up two YouTube channels this summer/fall.

I can barely handle having time for one blog anymore, but for some reason I decided to jump onto YouTube. Maybe it's because its much faster to do a video than a blog post. Eight minutes compared to one hour is a huge time saver. y But, my videos on YouTube are also raw and doesn't include all of the graphics, edits and stuff the pros have. They are as real as they get.

I haven't had time to post many videos recently, but if you want to check out what I already have posted and maybe subscribe, they are here.

Cards Over Coffee YouTube Channel is for cards:

(111) Cards Over Coffee - YouTube

Matt's World Of Fun YouTube Channel is for everything else:

(111) Matt's World Of Fun! - YouTube

Once again, WHAT AM I DOING?!! Eating up all of my free time?!

On top of this, I have already run two Facebook accounts for over 10 years, Cards Over Coffee and Sport Card Collectors, along with a Coffee Card Guy Twitter/X account , an Instagram account Coffee Card Guy and for some reason felt I needed to get involved on Bluesky as well a few days ago with Cards Over Coffee. I don't know, had to be one of the cool kids, I guess.

WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?! This is a lot of social media!

I am also on TCDB as SCC and on Blowout Forums as Giantsphan and on Beckett forums. I don't remember my name on Beckett; think it was similar to Giantsphan. It won't let me sign in, at least I can't find a way to do so. It's been years since I posted there, same probably with these other places too.

By now you are even probably wondering, WHAT IS HE DOING?!

I don't really have a full answer on that. I guess you can say having fun when time allows me to. That's what life is supposed to be about right.

And coffee of course.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Wow

*sits down, takes a look at today's cards and jaw drops again. pushes jaw back up, inserts coffee, keeps jaw closed with hand*

*takes another sip*

I had no idea what direction to go with today's post. Do I talk about Twitter and how helpful that has been towards my collection? Do I talk about the friendships I have made in the hobby? Discussion on trades and their impact in my collecting process this year with my financial situation? Do I turn this to a Finished Cup post? Or do I simply just say Wow and go from there.

I went with the latter.

Wow was the only reaction I could have when I got a PWE in the mail from Twitter pal, @mcfarm21.

*risks taking a gulp trying not to choke when looking at the cards again*

Rick saw my Cards Over Coffee Unfinished Cup post of 1995 Topps Air Raid and looked in his collection to see if he had my missing piece.   

Which he did. I wasn't surprised though as he has a lot of great 90's inserts.

The back of the card. What are the odds the last card I needed was the last card in the set? I didn't even think about that until this post.

This is why I said this post could have become a Finished Cup post. But, I couldn't do that. He had snuck another surprise in there with this card.

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Rick has known for a while I have wanted this card from him for my Hall Of Famer/90's autograph collection and he just snuck that in there.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Can't believe he did that!

Thanks again Rick for this mail day. Finishing off a set and a huge autograph need on my Hall Of Fame list is HUGE and I am overly happy and appreciative for it.

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

I am glad that I decided to start posting my set needs on my blog as it has been very helpful for me. I have finished off a couple sets because of it. (thank you to those who have helped!!!)

If you are also curious what remains on my want list for autographs, here is my updated list and some I know I will never land, but they are on there anyways,

• Sammy Sosa Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Barry Bonds Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tino Martinez Auto Card (Yanks uni only and no TTM or IP)
• Mariano Rivera Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tim Duncan Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Patrick Ewing Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Paul Pierce Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Kevin Garnett Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tom Brady Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Randy Moss Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Steve McNair Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Jamal Lewis Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Donovan McNabb Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Corey Dillion Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Tony Gonzalez Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Ike Hilliard Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Marvin Harrison Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Patrick Mahomes Autograph Card (no TTM or IP)
• Wayne Gretzky Auto Card (no TTM or IP)
• Mario Lemieux Auto Card (no TTM or IP)

There you have it. My remaining autograph needs.

Thanks agin to Rick for helping knock another one down.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Musical Memories (an Incredible Random Acts Of Kindness)

Today's post starts out with a message I received on Twitter from @MrKDub

This hobby community is built on the amazing backs of awesome people, like yourself, doing amazing things, not for themselves, but for others! We are so appreciative of the effort and work that you put into making this community what it is. The group below wanted to say thank you for your efforts and hard work, we hope this item finds a special place in your collection. Never any pressure, but it is always fun when we can join in and be a part, so if you would be willing to open it live, always fun, but no pressure to do so, bottom line, know that we appreciate who you are and what you do for this hobby community. Let this small token of appreciation be a constant reminder for that. Your friends in #TheHobby ,
@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

In this message was also tracking for a package. I had no idea what was coming and had no idea why still I was chosen for it. All I knew was that I was probably about to be blown away.

The package, after taking a long trip here, arrived yesterday and I am just getting prepared to see what this weeklong surprise is.

*sits down for today's Cards Over Coffee post. has coffee by his side, a surprise package and excitement like it is Christmas in the air. we all know how much I love Christmas*

*takes a sip...looks over at the package and realizes scissors will be needed. gets up, grabs scissors carrying them appropriately and comes back to the table to open the package*

*does so*

 

*looks through the package while trying to video the opening on the phone, gets to the item, realizes it will actually take a new post to do this justice as my video was poorly shot and my hands shaking didn't help*

*feels blown away...pictures the Will Ferrell meme of his mind being blown as myself*

*takes another sip, wipes away a tear, gets ready for a new post on Cards Over Coffee*

*hopeful you are ready and tips mug your way while wiping another happy tear away*

Picture it. It was 1991 or so and I was riding in the car with my father running errands and having our one of our bonding moments which was to turn on the radio and listen to music together while we were out. 

When we listened to the radio, we always made sure to turn it up when Elton John came on. My father since his youth was a big Elton fan and always jammed out when he came on the radio. It was something we did every time we got in the car, unless my mom was in it. She was not so much a fan.

A few years later when we started collecting sport cards, my father acquired Elton's Too Low For Zero Cassette tape and we listened to that a lot. So much, that I remembered all of the song lyrics even still to this day. Most of the time we listened to that tape, we were heading out to the card shop or on our way to the monthly card show knowing my mother wouldn't tag along with us for those trips. We wouldn't have wanted her to anyways if she had seen the amount of money "wasted" as she called it. We called it fun and making everlasting memories.

Because of those days and the fond memories, I have attached to them, I became an Elton fan myself. I picked up many of his CD's over the years including the CD version of Too Low For Zero (though I still own the original cassette tape we had) and listen to him a lot.

The power of music and memories attached to them is incredible. Especially as you age and life changes. I don't see a lot of my father since I moved out after high school many years ago, other than a couple phone calls a week as both of our schedules are packed. Listening to music, especially Elton, brings back a lot of powerful times.

*takes a sip, turns on the Too Low For Zero CD in the CD player. yes, I am one of the very few people who still listens to CDs*

*enjoys a minute of memories before continuing on with today's post*

For the past few years, roughly five, I have been getting deep into non-sport collecting and adding pieces from my youth that bring back memories. I have autographs from Betty White, Kevin James, Leah Remini, Bob Newhart, Angela Lansbury, and Bob Saget to name a few that bring back those sweet times.

One autograph I didn't have and couldn't ever afford was my biggest need to my childhood memories collection and collecting overall. Yes, it was Elton.

*takes another sip, jams out to I'm Still Standing for a few seconds before continuing on*

I heard three years ago that Elton did a few TTM autographs from a group on Facebook I was a part of and tried it myself only to get an unsigned photo in return since he didn't have any more signed. So, I waited a few weeks later and tried again only to have my envelope in general returned back to me.

Ugh.

I didn't give up there as I am not one to give up very easily.

I began to use that group to see if anyone had scored an extra one for trade which they did not.

Double Ugh.

That led me to trying another group on Twitter that did TTM autographs and trying to locate an address for me. That came up empty as well.

Triple Ugh.

Then I attempted the last few years on Twitter trying to trade for one with having no luck. The last few months I actually gave up tweeting about trying to get one. I had reached my point realizing that I wasn't probably ever going to land one. EVER.

Instead, I added a few small cards that Elton was featured on hoping that would work. It did, but still didn't turn me away from wanting his autograph someday.

What I didn't know was that someday was going to be today.

 

Inside of the USPS flat rate shipping package above was a bubble envelope (also shown above), that had a rubber banded cardboard piece (once again shown above) which had this CD inside of it first.

That alone was cool.

When I first heard this remix song, I had mixed feelings. I am not one for remixes but after a few listens, it grew on me. It wasn't much longer after I became obsessed with the song, which by the way became a topic of discussion for my father and I during our weekly phone chats.

Under the CD was this PSA COA.

Then under that....

Well....

Wow....

Skipping across the room....

Tears of happiness....

Jumping for joy.....

Amazing....

Incredible.....

Hand shaking....

Wow...

Oh wow....

Signed Elton Art Card with PSA approval.

If you're mind isn't as blown as mine is right now, please re-read this post.

I couldn't do it on the video and not sure I can even here say the right words of thankfulness I am feeling. It's too hard and I am not even sure those words even exist.

But, all of you guys, I am talking about this list of incredible, thoughtful, amazing, friendly, good-natured individuals that did this for me, THANK YOU. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever times infinity forget what you did for me today.

@KurtSchwanda
@MrKdub
@thepointsports1
@nearmintzki
@bmw3679
@benfuqua
@eshecker
@KellysKards1768
@DReynolds5294
@papayontrading
@BettsKetts
@QuadosCorner2
@WillieJ3nkins
@Rowdy421
@Brent3323
@dandreaeady
@K37troyer
@s10blazer99
@GarrettAdair19
@MK_breaks
@millerjs241
@jeremynyr
@steelcitygoon84
@allset24
@KellysKards1768
@BentleyTock
@90sNicheFBCards
@keckscards
@IraKates
@jfortner88
@mcfarm21
@CollectorJoe15
@KimJFlanders
@Andyscards85
@HiveCards
@LastSecondSnags
@Peajay021
@HookemMike
@_AlleyAwesome
@HokiePorter
@M_J_Erickson
@ToddSass1
@MikeyBCards
@Tcorvino792
@EgresitsJohn
@ToneyDavid11
@RapidCards
@noah_sattison
@KyleLewisforGov
@good2bgold

I hope you guys can feel the raw emotion through the screen. I tip my mug to you all.

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post. listens to another song*

As I sit here typing, memories of riding in the car with my father and our trips for collecting are coming back. Great times.

I now also realize a new memory was made with Elton today because of the people above. I cannot say this enough, thank you everyone on that list.

I hope everyone reading this today has a great Friday and weekend. Drink some coffee, not alcohol.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Covid, Playing Cards and Yada Yada Yada

*grabs kleenex box and places on table*

*goes and gets coffee prepared and sits back down for another cards over coffee*

*takes a sip*

*blows nose, coughs some*

*takes another sip*

It's been a long couple of weeks as I am still dealing with some parts of Covid but things are finally starting to turn the corner as I am feeling a little better today.

*wipes nose*

Now that things are hopefully now turning in the right direction, I need to do some catching up on mail days I have received in this time frame and yada yada yada.

*coughs, gets up and washes hands, sits back down, takes a sip, continues to type*

One of the coolest additions that came in the mail was the latest introduction to my Seinfeld collection.

Seinfeld Playing Cards. I know these don't count as trading cards, but they still have the word cards in them.....right?

I can still play cards over coffee so it counts on here. Speaking of playing cards, my biggest memory with playing cards is playing War against my mom at 4 am before school while sipping on some coffee. Those were the days. It was a different time then, not sure any parents would give their under 10-year-old coffee now. 

*takes a sip*

I got these cool cards as a Random Acts of Kindness from @ArcadeCouple on Twitter.

The cards with numbers in the set run the same way as a regular deck of cards, which was a bit disappointing, however, the special cards each feature a Seinfeld character.

Kramer is the Ace of the deck

King Jerry

 

Queen Elaine

Jack is no other than George

And finally, they are all Jokers and a bunch of yada yada yadas.

I wished the rest of the deck would had included episode scenes. How cool would that have been? I may have binder paged them all if they were like that.

Thanks again to @ArcadeCouple for sending me this. My collection and myself thanks you.

*wipes nose again*

*coughs slightly*

*gets up, washes hands and sits back down to take a sip before finishing up today's post*

I am hoping I can get some more new posts going on here now that I am hopefully feeling better. I am actually glad to had gotten my Vaccines as I can imagine this would have been a lot worse than it was. My nephew got hit really hard with it being unvaccinated.

Before I finish up, get vaccinated and wear your masks. I am not saying this for political reasons, but for health and medical reasons. Also, PLEASE make sure you stay home if you have any symptoms, so you don't infect others......like me. Curse you spreader who got me!!

Thoughts on my mail day welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

I Wanna Be Like....Chad

*takes a sip, coffee is very hot this morning. I guess it will pair well with today's card then. takes a seat with laptop raring to go, coffee and card off to the left. time for some Cards Over Coffee*

Growing up we all had a role model we wanted to be. When I was growing up, you always saw Michael Jordan plastered everywhere you went including cereal boxes, posters, shoes, magazines, commercials, movies, etc. The song/phrase "I Wanna Be Like Mike" was a thing as everyone wanted to be the GOAT of the NBA. I must also note, there was plenty of Ken Griffey Jr plastered around as well who I had taken to and not Jordan.

As an adult, I think we have people to look up to as well. "Adult Role Models" are a different kind from the ones we grow up seeing. They are the ones who you look at and say, "What an incredible person to do what they did for another."

Now, these people don't have their own Gatorade line or are seen on commercials as they do what they do quietly. But, I think it's important that we occasionally give those who give back some recognition.

*takes a sip*

Recently, a card was posted for sale on Twitter that interested both @ChadBec82312937 and myself. I wasn't going to be able to afford the card and was trying to trade for it. Since Chad was tagged first, I gave him first dibs on the card and what happened afterwards left me speechless.

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

Chad ended up claiming the card, but, he chose to send it to me after doing so. It was a really kind gesture that caught me by surprise since we hadn't really ever had any interactions before.

Then a problem arose, the person who had listed it on Twitter, had sold it on eBay before Chad made his claim. As disappointing as that was, I was okay with that.... but Chad was not. He not only let the seller know how he felt, but then messaged me and promised he wasn't going to leave me empty handed. I told him I wasn't worried, but he still insisted and bought me not only the card, but an upgraded version to the one from Twitter.

*takes a sip before showing off the card*

The card on Twitter being sold was a Leaf Pop Century autograph of John Cusack, but a base version that was being sold.

 

Chad really upgraded that version with this green /7!

I wanted the Cusack for my non sport collection as I enjoy some of his films including, 2012 (funny-was the year I started to blog), Sixteen Candles, Serendipity and Identity to name a few.

It just amazes me that someone who you have had barely any interactions with would just go and do that for you. It just boggles my mind and makes me really wish I could do the same for someone else. I guess you can say "I wanna be like Chad."

Which by the way, thanks again @ChadBec82312937. I love the card.

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

I wanted to take a minute out and say that @ChadBec82312937 isn't the only one out there who gives back. I see it almost every day, people claiming cards for others or getting together and buying someone a card and it just amazes me. With my funding, I don't get the oppurtunity to do fun things like that however I do send people cards without asking for anything in return. It's not quite the same, but for now is my best effort.

*finishes up cup of coffee, starts to look for some breakfast and to brew the next cup*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*