You ain't going to believe this.

 Well, I went to meet my cardiologist this afternoon (got back an hour ago). I will show you guys some cards in a minute, but I have to tell this story first.

Probably not going to have my heart shocked, as she said I would still be on the meds even it it worked. That's #1. #2 She doesn't care what I eat including fast food, lol. (my labs really are that good). #3 If I drink alcohol, don't drink the brown liquor, switch to the clear. The only goal she has is to get the right meds to "slowly" get my heart rate down and stay that way. We'll be doing pretty much all future appointments over the telephone. In her opinion the A-Fib is because in her opinion I have sleep apnea (because I only sleep 4-6 hours a night for the last 40 plus years and those aren't continuous hours either) which can not be treated as physically I can't sleep with anything attached to me. I sleep very little and toss and turn non-stop all night wrapping up in whatever covers I have, it just wouldn't work. She really does want me to do the home test for it, but again guaranteed the mask thing would never stay on my face, not to mention the wrapping it up inside my covers. LOL. I flip from side to side every 15 minutes even when I am asleep, and rarely have I ever had REM sleep. She would prefer I not drink caffeinated beverages, but is figuring that too is a lost cause, lol. I will certainly give it a good reduction especially with the Mountain Dew. So there you have my first and more than likely only in person visit with my brand new cardiologist.

Okay, let get to purchase second and third purchases from the Tampa card show.

There was a dealer that had a stack on these original 1973 Wacky Packages in one of his cases. I paid less than a buck a piece. I actually needed two of the variations (* vs **), and two more were upgrades. The oldest in the batch two stickers from the series 4, there were also a pair of series 3, but the majority were from series 1. 

Purchase 3: A Braves autograph! Blue framed numbered to 50.

I probably paid the top value on this one, but still happy to have added it!

Have a great night!

I'm still here

 That's a good thing. I see a cardiologist tomorrow to see if the next step is the cardio-version (shocking) my heart to see if that gets it back to normal. Now before I went to my annual VA check-up appointment where I wound up in the hospital I had went to 2 card shows. One in Tampa on the Friday before, and the other was in The Villages on Saturday. I also visited the LCS here last Friday. So I have scan or two to show off. I plan on keeping them all short. 

Now Phil says 6 more weeks,  humbug!

This first post contains the goodies from my first purchase at the Tampa show below.

Pulled these oversized Marathon gas station cards out of a binder.

In fact everything I got I pulled out of that binder, made my deal and moved on to the next guy. Tonight, is just the binder pulls like that NEEDED Braves promo sheet above.

Love that Coke Ripken card.

That's it for tonight. 

Saturday Shadow Shots: The last one

 Here we are the final shadow shots post.

1) I see a genie coming out of his bottle.

2) I see a moose head.

3) I see Pumba blowing a horn.

Wacky Wednesday

 As predicted, I am home. I now have 2 meds to take twice a day for the time being. They were going to "shock" my heart to attempt to knock it back in rythym however I chose to wait until I see what the VA says (which I know they are going to find a different (one of my choosing) cardiologist who will probably recommend the same thing, but this time no doubt with pre-approval (it's kind of expensive, lol). Now I am positive the VA would have paid had I chosen to stay another day and got it done to see if it worked, but I am a zero risk kind of guy. I will let my VA Dr, order it that way it's not an issue. With that said even though my heart rate is CRAZY wild it is still considered "controlled" albeit it jumps from 74 (my base line) to as high as 240 non stop but usually maxes out around in the 140's. 

Thank you for all of the well wishes, I appreciate it very much.

Now let's knock out another wacky Wednesday very APPROPRIATELY I might add.

One more to go (maybe).

Stay warm folks.

Say What?

 Sorry this is so late, but I just got into my room. My room you ask? Did I take a trip? NO I did not. However, I went to my annual VA Dr's appointment with my primary care doc. She handed me the lab report, and everything was the best it had ever been. My heart rate was slightly elevated upon arriving with the nurse as it usually is (I have white coat syndrome), but the DR checked it again during our visit and it went up, and immediately did an EKG and sent me packing to the ER. I spent many hours "downstairs" before getting into this I'd say extremely nice private observation room where I will be for the next 24 hours. Better than most hotel rooms I've been in for sure, okay maybe equal too. Apparently I have developed a thing called Atrial flutter, which is different than A-Fib. One step down I guess. Their big issue is that I have zero symptoms, so I am stuck here, and in about two weeks when I follow up with my VA doc will be put on a blood thinner. So that is how I spent the day.

Two more incoming.

 What's up for tonight? A couple more of incoming Braves from the blogosphere.

Gavin sent these and went 8 for 8 hitting my needs.

Next up is a six pack of needs from one of our Canadian buds Derek.

Thanks guys, I keep inching forward.

Shadow Shots getting dim

 Only a couple left to do counting today. That leaves just one more. 

I hit up the Tampa show yesterday, and today I hit The Villages show. That is two so far for the year and they were both good shows.

1) I'm reaching deep here: I see a lighthouse on a narrow strip of island.

2) A blue crab.....anyone hungry?

3) I'll go with a turkey.

Enjoy the weekend, stay warm as this storm is nasty.

CORRECTION post

 A week or two ago I posted the cards below, and miscredited them.

These came from Coffee Matt. I apologize for the mix up. I feel better now. :)

Have a great weekend folks!

Wacky Wednesday: nearing the end

 Getting close to the end for the foreseeable future. That is regarding Wacky Wednesday.

That leaves us with two more to go.

Later.

A few Ebay purchases rolled into one post.

 What is on the agenda for tonight, let's see. I won several Ebay auctions/BIN last month. I've shown several already here is what is left.

One was a master set of 2025 A&G with the 2 insert sets. Got a great price on those.

I didn't scan them, they were boxed and in the order the way  I liked so after checking to make sure they were all there I just put them on the shelf waiting to be put into a binder.

I also won an auction for a near complete set of 2025 Archives (it was missing 47 cards) which I have put most of them into my Sport Lots cart. Not all but most.

I also won a separate auction for a Braves lot. Those are below.

Basically, counting a couple I already had I only need #84 Acuna to complete the base Braves for my team set. It's probably in my SLOTS cart too.  This lot had the pink parallel of Andruw (I was very happy he finally gets into the HOF--congrats to Beltran too). Also got the Boardwalk & Baseball insert of Riley. 

Thursday I'll have a "CORRECTION" post.

Have a great night!

Happy MLK day

 Just a short post honoring MLK. 

Now, I do have one or two cards of MLK as well, but they weren't in this scan file.

My Uncle Fred had this memento among his "stuff". Now I have it.

Enjoy the day.

Shadow Shots and a Postal update

 First let's get the latest postal service update. I hadn't heard a thing in several weeks. Until Friday morning. This it what was in the e-mail:

Hello John Miller,

The U.S. Postal Service has completed the review of your claim for (Tracking Number: 9500110374915276288624) and has approved your claim for payment. Payment for this claim will be sent to you in a mailing within 7 - 10 business days for this amount:

(Check Number: 324800735)
($100.00)

If the paid amount is less than the amount requested, the difference may be due to; the assessed value being lower than the amount claimed, depreciation, insurance coverage limits, etc.

Now to wait on the check I guess. I had reached out to one of my US Senators a couple of months ago regarding my issues with the P.O. I never heard anything (not even a form letter response) and that pisses me off a little too, especially as he was also my Governor for 8 years. Oh well, it appears to be all handled now after nearly 4 months. NUTS! 

Now for some shadows.

1) I really don't see anything particular in the shadow. However what I find interesting is it looks like a SQUARE that is tipping a ball cap.

2) I see the A Okay hand sign.

3) Either a Cheetah or a Puma can't really be sure.....I don't want to get too close

Enjoy the weekend everybody!

Mount Fuji erupts!

 I got a package as did many of us recently from Mark. I will have to split the goodies up into two posts. One for tonight and one will have to wait a few weeks at which time you will understand why.

TCDB: They finally updated the Braves input for me. Now I am 574 cards behind him. I'm telling you that I need to go to Atlanta (or nearby) visit some family and tear up every card shop I can taking all of the ATL Braves inserts and parallels, especially the parallels (pretty much could use any of those "seasonal" parallels Topps uses in series 1, 2, and update.

Back to Mount Fuji (maybe I should say Saint Fuji :)

These were the needed Braves. My first green plaid Braves from the 2025 Holiday set.

Mark sent along some John Miller cards too. No idea if I need them because I haven't updated that collection in a decade. Good news is, I might need them in the set builds too.

A few years back I remember sending a partial box of ALF cards to Mark. Either he finally opened the packs or these are from a different set. He sent about a hundred from the 87' series 1 set which according to TCDB I didn't have any of the 44 card set, and I now have 21 almost half of the set. 

Mark also sent an unopened pack of 2021 Opening Day. I haven't completed that set, I needed 30 cards yet, so I ripped the pack.

Over the years I have usually sent Mark all of the Mascot cards I'd get as he collects them. My TCDB data showed I didn't have any of the Mascots so there is a need right there, as well as the Correa which was also a need. Opening the Opening Day pack was the right call.

Now for some proud papa news: 

My brother and I switched weeks for playing trivia, and at the last minute last night Hunter (my daughter) texted me saying that all 4 of "The Gang" (the kids-youngsters) would ne joining us. I called here immediately to let her know that Jack and I weren't playing last night. They still went, they wanted to play and they finished in third winning $10.00, and was only 10 point from the number one spot. They did well.

Thanks Mark, and you already know why I must wait 4 week (minus 3 days) to show the rest of what you sent :)

Wacky Wednesday: almost done

 Almost done this go around, I didn't come close to getting through binder one and I have two binders of interesting or odd cards. In case you missed the previous post (GOALS) where I mentioned the readership on Wed. and Saturdays just isn't happening. I will be posting Monday through Friday once I have finished the few as in 3 weeks worth left of the Shadows and Wacky cards already scanned.

Here are this weeks winners or losers depending your liking.

Three more to go.

More incoming: The last cards of 2025.

 I've had to do a good bit of scanning today. Braves cards from other bloggers, Oct'ers, Ebay, and yes my ComC order. I'll scatter them over several posts. 

Last night I mentioned the TCDB thang.....Well....

I added 96 Atlanta Braves cards last night.

At 2pm today: HIS cards went up 58 and mine didn't change at all. Zippo, nada, zero.

Tonight is SUPER short. It came from Bob D'Angelo from OCT (and he trades in all of the card groups too). Bob is "local" as in he is about 2 hours away from me. We have met up swapped cards and share a meal or two. Bob and I have been trading for a baker's dozen of years, and he graced me with these cards as the last cards I received in the year 2025. They arrived on New year's eve just to qualify it.

There were a few other cards, but those were dupes. These (at the time) were all needs.

I especially appreciate the Black parallel of the reigning NL ROY!

Umpires set: 1990 TM

 Now I know you folks didn't think that I forgot about this set. It has been awhile since I asked whether or not you wanted to see the set, and the answer was yes. 

Here it is.

Not the prettiest set for sure, but back in the day I remember many of these umpires. As for umps today, I couldn't name a single one.

There you go. There is still one card that was available via mail in only, which I still need. The last card for the set too, Al Barlick #71.

I hope you found yourself cruising down memory lane....I did.

RED ALERT: I got my ComC order today. (mailed in a $12 and change flat rate "bag"). Now the cards themselves were in a box inside. In fact a 100 count box that was inside no idea why another box. Anyways, my order was 85 cards and all arrived. Three were not Braves and of the 82 Braves one was a dupe within the order itself, my bad. Of the remaining 81 cards 6 others I obtained since I bought them from comc. So, tonight I am updating those 75 Braves cards into TCDB. AS of last night and did not change as I publish this that "other guy" was 612 cards ahead of me. Let's see how many days it takes him to make up the 75 cards I am going to gain tonight.

Shadow Shots

 Peeking into the shadows on baseball cards. Hoping to find something interesting.....will we?

1) I pulled this one because I like the shadow of the ball.

2) Godzilla

3) One of those Mahjong characters.

Your turn.

WARNING: WARNING WILL ROBINSON.....WARNING

 Not sure if that catchy post title got your attention or not. But if you are reading this it probably did. Sorry to disappoint, but this post has NOTHING to do with "Lost in Space". Well..... that is unless you are talking about the gap between my two ears. 

Did you SMILE? I know it should have been DANGER :)

I don't know, maybe a dozen posts ago I made mention about 2025 baseball cards being released in 2026. Ahhhh. One week in and this is what has dropped (at least the checklists). 

Topps T205

Topps Chrome Sapphire UPDATE

Topps Now

Topps Now Road to Opening Day

Panini Flawless

Bowman Draft & Bowman Chrome Draft

Topps Heritage HIGH #s

I believe the following have checklists have now dropped, just have to locate the pesky things checklists.

Ginter X

Leaf Electrum

What else is coming you ask?

Panini Select

Topps Museum

Bowman Draft Super (whatever that is)

Leaf Pulse

Leaf Opti-Chrome

This doesn't is cover the (2025) ones being released or supposed to be released in March. 

Now go out and enjoy the weekend otherwise I will send Dr. Smith after you.

Some incoming cards

 Real quick, ComC last night bumped my order expected shipment back to 3/10/26 (LOL), and then today moved it back to 3/13/26. Also, after a delay I finally got my refund to my paypal account today for cashing out. 

1/8/26 8:23 pm EST, UPDATE: They say they have shipped my order.

Okay, for "real" hobby stuff here are a few items that came in last year in December.

The needs above plus 2 others I didn't scan came from fellow blogger Mr. Jester. Thanks Matt!

I scooped up these needs from a trip to my LCS.

The goodies above here came from Mr. Bubbles himself. Bob also sent along some bubble cards too plus another 3 cards that didn't get scanned. Thanks Bob!

1/13/26 I have an updated post as some of the cards above did not come from Bob.

These last two cards came from fellow OldCardTraders, 2 different people each sending one of the above. That Johnston cookie was first and came inside my first Christmas card of last year. The other card also came inside a Christmas card and knocked out one of the high priority Braves needs in the upper right panel. Been a long time since someone took one of those out.

Rounding out the night are some minor leaguers from the Z-man.

Thanks Mark. 

I have more incoming packages that I haven't scanned yet (been kind of busy). I'll get to them eventually and might post some of them, lol.

Have a great night!

Wacky Wednesday (plus a NEGATIVE ComC comment)

 I didn't mention in yesterday's post that ComC changed my expected ship date again, this time moved back to 3/9/26. Then last night it was changed again......to 3/13/26. I really think they believe that if they keep bumping it back (even put additional 50K people ahead of me) that I will quit saying bad things about them. Yeah....they ain't happening.....EVER. I will be saying bad stuff (for as long as I blog).

Here are some interesting cards to peek at tonight.

 Enjoy the rest of the night.