Creating More Sawdust

When time allows and the creative juices are flowing I enjoy making sawdust. You know, buying some wood, cutting it this way and that, and then piecing it together.

Here's some of the projects I've completed in the past:
1. Built-Ins for Living Room, November 2011
2. Cat Tree #1, August 2014
3. TV Stand, April 2015
4. Vogelmonster Baseball Card Box, November 2017
5. Bat Rack, December 2017
6. Cat "Tree" #2, April 2019

The TV stand, card box, and bat rack can all be found in my man room. My work isn't the most ornate, but it's mine and I love it.

I think what I enjoy the most is the planning process. I spent more than a handful of nights last month drawing pictures, running through measurements, and starting over from scratch when a new idea hit.

I started and finished this piece, another one for my man room, during this winter break from teaching.

Here's what I was looking to replace in the man room: my end table.

This piece of furniture was actually something I believe came with me, from my parents' house, when I moved out 20+ years ago. Once upon a time it had a mate, but it was worse for wear and I put it out to pasture some years ago.

Here's what I started with:

You know, just your standard boards of pine cut to specifications. After running the saw and sanding down the edges the workroom was full of saw dust! Making a mess is so much fun!

The next step was to drill the holes for the screws to join the boards together.

I've used this Kreg jig tool before. It's really easy to use and helps hide screws so well.

 Plus, it creates more saw dust!

After cleaning the workroom up it was time to stain, and sand, and stain again. I really dislike this process, but wife kept encouraging me and I'm thankful she did.

A stained board is on the left and the original is on the right. I used a 2-in-1 stain and polyurethane product that worked fairly well. 

I spent this past Sunday afternoon assembling the end table.

It turned out alright if you ask me. Honestly, the sense of accomplishment when a page full of scribbles turns into a finished product is a great self-esteem boost.

Here's the before and after. I found new homes for my softball glove and the other items you see on the old end table.

 The new table is build specifically to hold ten baseball card binders, or nine and my Chromebook. I know neither of the picture shows it, but each shelf within the table holds two binders, with access from the front and the back of the table.

The binders in the front are designated for the ones I reach for the most. In the picture (top to bottom) is my Vogelmonster binder, my Kerry Wood binder, my 2016 World Series binder, and my Sandberg binder.

The five slots on the back are empty right now, and now there's also four vacant slots within my card closet. That means there's room for NINE more binders! For those of you wondering, my HOF binder is taking up one of the two slots in my TV stand, which is quite the prestigious location.

I'm very pleased with this project and I'm looking forward to playing with my binders and eventually filling those holes!

A Feel Good PWE on a Monday

Is there a better feeling than coming home from work on a Monday and finding a PWE in your mailbox?

My favorite John Kruk fan, and author of Baseball Every Night, sent me a couple of cards. Woo-Hoo!

 I needed this Kintzler for my Cubs team set. Very nice.

But here's what really made me smile.

Vogey!  Um, I mean, The Vogelmonster!  (When I say "Vogey" like that I believe I'm stepping too far into the fanboy zone.)

Thanks for thinking of me Peter and have fun in the PNW!

A Ratio Dilemma

Yesterday a PWE landed in my mailbox and the return address read: Luis Torrens Fan Club. Hmmm... I think we all know who the president, VP, secretary, treasurer and media relations guru of the Luis Torrens Fan Club is, but if there's any doubt, then here's a quick link to ZZ's blog.

The PWE yielded some most excellent bounty.

Up first, a Dexter Fowler rookie card.

I miss Dex atop the Cubs lineup. He hasn't had the most productive time in St. Louis. I wonder if he misses Chicago.

A 2019 Topps insert of Ryne Sandberg:

 Perennial All-Stars? I think Ryno fits that description quite well as he was elected to ten straight mid-summer classics.

Ah, this card is the best!  Don Zimmer, as a third base coach, swatting Sandberg on the a$$ while he rounds third.

Undeniably, this is the content you came here to see! What a great card!  For the record, I'm now up to 941 unique Sandberg cards in my collection. If I were in a goal setting mood I would ramble on about how acquiring 59 more cards would put me at an arbitrary round number.  Lucky for you, I'm not into setting goals in 2020.

Thanks for the surprise PWE, Zippy Zappy!

When it comes to baseball cards and the magical PWE I pride myself in reciprocating. Yet, here's a link to Zippy Zappy's recent post about his goals for 2020 wherein he writes:

Well, isn't that something? Now you see where my dilemma comes into play.

Do I send cards or do I not send cards?  

Obviously, ZZ is cutting stock and maybe that's why I received the PWE. He's glad to get the cards out his house.

Is he hoping I don't send anything back?

Or maybe he's counting on me to continue my PWE ways and he's hoping I return the favor so he's forced to jettison more cardboard?

Then, there's the fallout of what happens if I do decide to send cards his way. If I send a half-dozen cards, then someone unsuspecting blogger (like @Lost_Collector) gets dumped on 15-fold because you know ZZ is not messing around when it comes to his annual goals. Can I live with that kind of guilt?

Wow. When I was young I was looking forward to 2020 because I was convinced everyone would have a flying car by then. Instead, I'm dealing with cardboard dilemmas.

Perhaps the two aren't mutually exclusive and I'll have my flying card before the year is out? Or maybe ZZ will chime in within the comments and I can stop trying to read between the lines.

Either way, I'm not quite sure what to think about 2020 so far.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

Not All PWEs Are Created Equal

Okay, let's review:

• I busted one pack of Topps Update and pulled two Twins.
• I had another Twin sent to me in a trade package, which didn't fit any of my collections
• I sealed them up in a PWE and shipped them to my favorite Minneapolis blogger, Brian.
• The three cards, with the stamp included, might have been worth a dollar. 

Not a week later a PWE finds my mailbox from Brian, of Highly Subjective and Completely Arbritary. 

Here is what was inside.

I appreciate a meaningful hand-written note:

Now, let's get the BIG card out of the way first:

Boom! It's the first 2019 Topps Update Vogelmonster that has been sent to me by mail. Take note of the 150 years foil stamp! Parallel mojo! I guess I recently passed the 400-card mark, as this #404 in my Vogelbach PC. So excited!

How about some green chromey goodness?  This one is numbered 73/99 and I absolutely love the way this card photographed.

The green gives the card a Wrigley Field ivy feel. Very cool.

So, here we sit. Either one of these cards, the Vogelmonster or the Schwarber, would have been a more than fair return on what I sent Brian. Instead, he sent both and the scales are already tipping his favor.

But, wait. There's more!

Vintage.

Rounded corners, creases, and stains on the back...

You know. The perfect kind of vintage!

Behold:

 Yes, that's a 1958 Topps card of Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. I needed an upgrade for my HOF Binder, preferably a card with Asburn sporting Phillies garb. This will do wonderfully! Beautiful!

Also, in my HOF Binder was a card of Sandy Koufax from the 2011 Topps Lineage set. Nice card, but no stats on the back, and definitely not vintage.

Here we go!

Just. Wow.   1964 Topps is a huge upgrade for the HOF Binder!

What a power packed PWE. I'm simply in awe.

Luckily, Brian keeps his website up-to-date with the Arbitrary 8 and plenty of other card ideas for me to do some future card show shopping.

Thank you very much for the very thoughtful PWE, Brian.

Happy New Year to everyone!

A Baseball Birthday

I'm another year older today. Woo.

I spent the day coaching a baseball camp for elementary and middle school athletes in our school district. Our high school coaches ran the camp with the help of our varsity players. It's great to get a large chunk of the program's fundraising out of the way and even better to see our high school players interacting with the participants and giving back. Plus, I can't complain about a day that involves baseball . . . and lots of it!

Earlier in the week my wife and I met up with my side of the family to celebrate my birthday and my mom's. We're only four days apart and it only makes sense. I'm not one who likes all of the attention anyway. I'm not sure if my ten year old self would agree, but this middle age "grown up" enjoys sharing the day with Mom. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I used quotation marks in that last paragraph because I'm not sure a person who receives the kinds of gifts I did would do anything but confirm they're still a child. You be the judge!  Here's my favorite five gifts from earlier in the week.

First up, a science fiction novel about baseball and two universes. This should make for a fun read! Thanks, Mom & Dad!

Here's probably the most useful gift from my birthday haul.

My parents gave me envelope of cash and the above flyer so I can buy a new fungo to hit with for the upcoming spring season. I think it's pretty cool the company is from the southern part of Illinois, near a forest that I have hiked in. Now I have decisions to make about the type of wood, the length, weight, and finish. Fun!

The prize for tastiest gift also goes to my parents.

I love peanut butter toast for breakfast. It's a staple of my mornings, but on occasion I'll shock my taste buds and apply jam instead. To say I'm looking forward to tasting this kiwi-strawberry chipotle jam is a gross understatement.

My sister knows me way too well. Check out this 1950 Bowman card of The Heater from Van Meter.

 Bob Feller is on a very short list of my favorite pitchers of all-time with Kerry Wood and Satchel Paige. Yeah, I think I can lock those guys in as my Top 3. Feller's story is just so unique... He was a small town Iowa kid who's high school graduation was broadcast over national radio because he was a dominate pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. Think about that.

Here's the back, because you know, the card is awesome!

Wait, did you see that it was autographed?

No?  No need to scroll back up.  Here it is again!

Alright, here's the present which made me smile the most.

 This is the front of an XL t-shirt that I will wear the heck out of the next few years. Dan Vogelbach hits freaking BOMBS and now I have a shirt to wear around P-town to make sure everyone else knows, too. 

Great stuff! Enjoy the holidays and thanks for stopping by!