Thursday, September 19, 2024

It's Been Awhile

Hello everyone.  Sorry about the sporadic posts.  I've been keeping myself busy with work and recreation... that even includes hobby related stuff.  There are even three posts sitting in my drafts waiting to be edited, revised, and published.  I just need to sit down and hammer them out one at a time.

Plus there are still the handful of care packages I received earlier in the summer as well as a handful I have received since the start of the school year... that need to be shared on the blog.

However... I'm trying to view my blog as a source of recreation rather than obligation in an effort to lower levels of guilt and stress.  So the posts will be published... but I'm not going to force the issue.

Today I just wanted to catch everyone up on what's going on over here since it's been awhile since I've hammered out something for you all to read.

Let's start things off with my 2024-25 school identification card:


The Oakland A's have been my favorite baseball team for over four decades.  I wanted this year's yearbook photo to be a tribute to their final season in the Bay Area.

If you look closely... I utilized one of those 2012 Triple Play Eye Black inserts.

Here's a better look:


This is he first time since 2021 that I've shown off my school ID.  Damn.  Three yearsIt's been awhile.

It's also been awhile since I opened up a blaster box of 2024 Topps Chrome U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Hopefuls.  Overall... the box was underwhelming, but I did manage to pull a pair of keepers:

2024 Topps Chrome U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Refractor #119

2024 Topps Chrome U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Black Refractor #164 (#'d 07/10)

Both of these guys represent the final group of NBA stars I followed and collected.  I didn't buy this box with the intention of collecting either of these guys, but they honestly saved the box for me.

Getting back to stories from the classroom... this semester I have a student who happens to be the younger brother of a student I had seventeen years ago.  Last week, he brought in this Jordan Love jersey:


His older brother gave it to me for my birthday and included one of the nicest notes I have ever received.  

It's been awhile (probably close to ten years) since I last saw him, but he's coming back to the Bay Area during the holidays so hopefully we'll get together and catch up.

Let's wrap things up with a few cards I originally set aside for World Afro Day, which took place this past Sunday:

1975-76 Topps #236

1976 Topps Traded #74T

2014 Topps Gold #8

I'm four days late... but that's better than a couple of weeks, a couple of months, or a couple of years.

Happy Thursday and sayonara!

20 comments:

Dennis said...

That's an amazing ID picture!

The Snorting Bull said...

I wish my school let me make a cool ID picture. I've had the same one for a decade plus and it's boring. Well done!

Johnnys Trading Spot said...

Using a catch phrase "blast from the past" That's the ticket! BTW my coming Monday post is on that 2024 Olympic set.

POISON75 said...

Fuji I think Coco wore it better than you lol but seriously gotta like Mike Jackson Pic he's got that Slo-Glo Fro going on

SumoMenkoMan said...

Epic school photo!

Uncle Charlie's Shoebox said...

Awesome photo! It will be odd no longer seeing the OAKLAND A's. Wondering if they hold the record for most moves in MLB?

Laurens said...

You look like have your game face going on in that ID picture.

Steve at 1975BaseballCards.com said...

Definitely scoring points with the ID. Also if you're going to say sorry for sporadic posting, I'll say sorry for sporadic commenting :-) Have a great school year.

Jon said...

It's nice that your school let's its teachers have some fun with their photos.

Bo said...

I haven't seen many 70's basketball cards, but on the football cards there are a lot of afros that are at or near Oscar Gamble level.

Nick Vossbrink said...

Love the ID photo. Does it show up like that in the yearbook too?

Matt said...

Very cool gift from a student. That shows you made an impact in their life which is even cooler than the gift.

Also, love the ID.

Matt said...

That's great on the jersey. It shows you made an impact in their life which is super cool.

bamlinden said...

Recreation over obligation. That is the only way to do it. I love that approach and is one I adhere to with my own blog. Love it.

An absolute gem of a school ID. 10/10 👍

Lastly…..Oscar Gamble. ‘Nuff said. 😎

Have a fantastic day!

Matt said...

Love the school pic - just awesome!

Xavier Higgins said...

Your Photo ID card is Legendary. Also Can't get enough of that Golden Crisp...

John Sharp said...

Love the school ID...Teachers RULE!

Chris said...

Very nice Jordan Love jersey, and great use of the Triple Play eye black stickers!

I was looking for a box of the Topps olympic cards while my daughter had Olympic fever, but they were sold out :/

Fuji said...

dennis - thank you sir! btw... received your package this week

the snorting bull - i'm lucky that i have a cool principal who lets me do this kind of thing. actually she's always curious about what i'll do

johnnys trading spot - saw you're building that set. hit me with your needs, maybe i can help

poison75 - it's a shame i can't grow a fro... otherwise i'd try to compete with coco

sumomenkoman - thanks buddy!

uncle charlie's shoebox - hmmm. that's definitely a good question. i'll look into it.

laurens - i either tend to be goofy or serious in my school photos. this year i used my game face

steve at 1975baseballcards.com - lol. sporadic or not, i always appreciate you stopping by.

jon - yeah... can't speak for other schools or districts, but i'm glad my principal supports me and gives me this opportunity.

bo - i will have to try and find some for this tiny collection i'm building :D

nick vossbrink - yup! that'll be my yearbook photo this year. i'm stoked to see how it turns out

matt - it truly was a cool gift... but the letter he included in the card was even cooler. as a teacher, one of the most rewarding things is receiving a thank you.

bamlinden - i'll probably hang up the keyboard if i ever feel like this blog becomes an obligation. for me... the hobby is meant to be fun... not extra work

matt - thank you sir!

xavier higgins - i've got another sports themed one planned for next year. i actually was going to do it this year in honor of my dad, but figured it could wait. since the a's only leave oakland once

john sharp - thank you john!

chris - i actually wasn't even looking for that box. it popped up while i was shopping on fanatics for some a's stuff. i'm sure these boxes will pop up on everyone's black friday sales

gregory said...

That might be the best employee ID card since Jerry Gergich of the Pawnee Parks Department ;-)