More Mignola Madness!

This post encompasses 7 days of events, but due to work, I'm just now getting around to this post.

On Monday, I wrapped up the day at work and made the roughly 3 hour drive to Baton Rogue, LA. A few months back, one of my best college friends, Val, offered to buy the tickets to the Shinedown/Three Days Grace/P.O.D. concert that was scheduled there. I said "Hell, yes." (after clearing it with the wife), and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Great concert, full of energy, just plain awesome.

My departure the next day was a little delayed (it was a rock concert, afterall), but I eventually made it to my college town of Hattiesburg, MS. where I met up with my buddy Drew. Drew works at one of a chain of stores that sell sports cards and memorabilia. We swung by his place of work where I was very tempted by some 2012 Gypsy Queen, but I was strong-willed e3nough to not sell the rest of my spare Magic cards to buy a box. (That and I have a spot in the Dimwit's break, hehe...).

One of my main hopes while I was in town was to swing by the antique malls and see if they had any vintage or anything else I'd be interested in. I had no such luck, and I was beginning to think about those boxes of Gypsy Queen again...
Then, I went by my pal Justin's comic book store. After spending a few minutes catching up on life, and the store's rearrangement (it's been almost 2.5 years since I've been), it was time to dig through some boxes.
Here are my finds, and additions to my Mignola collection:

*I realize my other post indicated I had all 4 of this set. I only have two. My bad y'all!

 *I love Hellboy cross-overs. This one feature some talking, paranormal-investigating animals. 

Oh, and a necromancer. Can't go wrong with that!

*Mignola often collaborates with Corben, and the results never disappoint. 

This issue features tales of a possessed, man-eating house, and what happens when you try to summon the aid of Horus in a temple of Sobek. Yay, mythology!

On a side note, I probably won't be posting much over the next few weeks. Aside from a spot in the Dimwit's case break, I don't see myself making any note worthy purchases for a bit. I'll be spending the time commenting on what the rest of you have to say and preparing some future posts. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

Milestone: First Fuji Trade!

I recently accomplished (what I consider to be) a milestone in the blogging world, a trade with Fuji from The Chronicles of Fuji! Hopefully he'll have what I sent by Monday!

 First up, an addition to my MSU collection, Jon Knott:

*I love these cards! I don't know why, but they just seem really cool to me. I'd like to see these types of cards make a comeback in MLB products. Yet another UD licensing woe...

(Sorry for the tape, wanted to make this post before it got too late.)

Knott was originally drafted by the Padres, signed a few years later with the Orioles (where he got most of his playing time on the pro level), then spent the last few years of his career with the Twins, Phillies, and Brewers organizations. 

 ** I think that is a really nice auto, I may have to start imitating that "J" when I sign stuff...

Next up was an Albert Pujols from 2011 Topps Attax:

I don't really know how to play Attax, but I pick up the Cardinals singles whenever I come across them. There doesn't seem to be much strategy involved with the game, unlike my next part of the trade:

MLB SHOWDOOOOOOOOOWN!

This is a game I've really been interested in since it came out, and that was in 2000! There's actually some strategy involved in team building, there are stats that come into play, and even "salary caps". I'm planning on doing a post series on the various card games I've experienced, and this one will be my first topic. 

Now, we come to the card that I was really hoping would be in the envelope:

***Does the red ink make it a "Real One" auto #'d/64? I'll never tell!

The first time I saw a Fuji auto, was one in the possession of The Dimwit. It was my first trade with him, and I was curious about it. He said it was from a trade that he made with another blogger, and it wasn't too terribly long after that when I decided to start my own blog.
This will hold a place of honor in my collection, thanks Fuji!

That's all for me tonight folks, got to get some rest for what looks like a busy weekend at work...

Thanks for stopping by!
Staying unabashed and interested,
Ruffin

I'm gonna check the mail, hope I got me some cool stuff...

(Title makes a little more sense sung to the tune of "Thrift Shop". A little though, not a lot. [Language Warning, BTW] )

Today was my second day back from vacation and the transition was smoothed by the what came in the mail!

First, I have an item from a "Claim It!" post courtesy of jaybarkerfan:

Yes, it's crooked. It happens. You know it happens. Why are you still critiquing me about it?

Sheaffer was a Cardinal that, honestly, I was in no way familiar with. Even the back of the card refers to him as "backup", though it mentions he was a potent hitter with runners in scoring position.
He finished out his playing career in AAA-Memphis in 1997, then he was called to coach in 2003. He would coach in the minors for the Cardinals and the Astros. Currently, he manages the Rookie-Level team for the Rays.

Now, for the real reason the scans are crooked...
I've been using the app CamScanner for an easier way to get pictures for the blog, and then emailing them to myself, etc. I wanted to use the scanner for my latest eBay purchase, and what looks like my big single card purchase for the year:

2006 UD Exquisite

When I noticed this card had been listed, I was worried it would become another Missed Connection, but fortunately, this was not to be. 

(For the longest time, I had been considering THIS Carpenter #'d/30)

I don't have any complaints about the one I own.Carpenter (Cardinal) autos are not easy to come by, and I wanted one that would look nice in my collection. 

I think I did alright...

*I don't think a mini-bio for Chris Carpenter is necessary. That's why there isn't one.
**On a side note, I'm sad that Carpenter and Molina are exclusively with Upper Deck, especially since UD probably won't ever have an MLB license ever again. Not to mention Molina autos are getting a little pricey and there's not a lot of options out there.

So here is my question:

Is there a player/team that you collect who has a tough auto to track down?

If so, tell me about it. It'd be nice to know I'm not alone, ha!

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

Something I've never done...

Today I did something that I have never done before.
I bought single comic book issues from Books-A-Million.

My day started early with a doctor's appointment at 7:40 a.m. (actually me, my wife, and son would all end up at the doctor today). After that I got a lead on some tickets for when the (currently) 16-0 MSU Bulldogs come to town, and then I stopped by BAM to do some reading before lunch.
First of all, they moved the comic book section. AGAIN. I have been making trips to this BAM since I was about 5 years-old, and I cannot count the times that one section has been relocated. I feel like they should send me updates on that crap.
But I was surprised to see four long boxes chock full of comic books with the sign "$1 Comics".

Oh. Sweet. Yes. Please.

I love reading comics, but there's not a lot that I buy or collect.
Unless it involves Mike Mignola. In that case, I want it. All.
And I was very happy to find three(!!!) of his covers that I didn't already have:

 (Tried reading this one to see what the cover was about, no help.)

I love finding these early 90s comics with Mignola covers because usually he didn't do the interior art or writing. So I don't really have to bother with cracking the book open to see what's going on. though if I'm interested enough (like with Murder Monkey up there), I'll take a gander to see if it'll enhance my appreciation for the art.

Mignola's most famous cover work (prior to 1994) was Batman's "A Death in the Family" story-arch. Also known as the death of Jason Todd (Robin II):

 (Not sure why Blogger won't let me line these up, oh well.)

However, Mike Mignola's greatest accomplishment is the artist/creator/writer for my favorite comic character of all time:

There is not a lot of creator-controlled stuff out there, and Hellboy is one of the finest examples of such a comic. Seriously awesome stuff chock full of folklore and mythology, I highly recommend it.

Oh, and here's a cover for the Shadow that I particularly enjoy as well:

I could seriously talk about this stuff for hours on end, but I'm going to wrap it up for now. 

What about y'all? Anybody interested in comics out there? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

What to do, what to do...

The way that vacations play out at work is kind of weird.
I get 3 a year (two 7s and a 10), and usually with the 7-day, you are off two days, work one (occasionally a Sunday), and then the vacation begins. With a 10 day, the middle work day is off.
Seem complicated? Join the club!

Anyway, I'm on my second of the two off-days. So the vacation is right around the corner!
Currently, I am developing my vacation resolutions. You know, the usual stuff: learn a song on guitar or bass, pick a book to read, organize the cards I've got laying around, finish up my queue on Netflix, develop a series of posts with a theme, pre-scan cards so that it'll be easier to post...
That's all I have so far, lol.

Oh, and I hope to actually be able to participate in the new contest that Fuji has going on:
Fuji's 3-year Anniversary Contest
On a side note, I'm glad he's breaking down the contests from not being all summer. I tried to participate with my "old" blog last summer, but a move kind of got me turned around and I need a break from cards and blogging.

Also, I want to start having some interactions with my followers on here. I want to be better about pulling aside cards for trades, there are some great collectors on here, and I want to take advantage of that!

I do have an "artifact" of sorts to share, before I wrap this up.
While on my way out of the LCS after trade night, the owner called me to come back for a second. He said that someone dropped this off a few days before in case anyone wanted it:

 

The entire St. Louis Globe-Democrat from October 22, 1982, the day after the Cardinals 9th World Series victory. It's hard to put into words how incredible it is to to get to look through something like this, it's a really cool experience. 

Also, I can't complain about original political cartoons from over 30 years ago:

A big shout-out to the app CamScanner for making these pictures possible!

Thanks for stopping by folks!
Staying unabashed and interested,
-Ruffin