I Tip My Hat

 Well, touché there COVID lot, touché.

I say something about not wanting just Hab keepers, and the lot does me one better - just a whole freaking bunch of Hab cards. Again, a handful of base set helpers from some 2000s sets that slowly get a little closer to being completed, but "best" keeper is definitely...

I would say it has to be one of my top 10 favourite set designs. I know the die cut cards card be a bit of a gimmick, but with the large logo and cutting around it for each team, I don't know, I just really really love all of the base cards from the McDonald's set. I know it isn't a "classic" design and doesn't have the nostalgia factor, but I'd like seeing a similar set released again now and I'd be all over it.

Below - not so all over, though dupes of the above are okay I guess.

Can I beg anyone to take these unwanted things away from me?

Forgive me COVID lot, but may I have something better next pull?

Happy?

 I don't want to make a habit of this, but pulling cards from the COVID lot and having my set builder keepers all be like this....definitely makes it a bit anti-climactic.

They are all cards I needed - that's good. They are all Montreal Canadiens - that's bad. They are all goalies so their cards stand out a bit more.....*blank stare*....that's good.

Yes, Simpsons reference, sorry.

I personally prefer Jose over Huet.

Remember these 25th anniversary cards...which now are over 30 years old....

THe goalies that don't make the cut...

I will say, John's Florida mask is one of my all time favourites. I love the artistry that started going into the masks more and more, with his being one that caught my eye as a kid. As much as I like the mask insert sets over the years, how about an all mask set with the best of all time. You could have mask piece memorabilia cards and everything.

I loved Jim Carrey in the 90s, so always get a chuckle out of the goaltender cards as he isn't even the most famous Jim Carey in the world (I know, spelled a bit different, but still).

A Little Decked

 I don't know why we are trying, in the middle of busy season, to get everything lined up for out deck being re-done. I mean, it isn't in dire need / falling apart, but can do with being replaced. The timing isn't key, but we did feel a need to start all the permit work non-sense sooner than later so it wasn't making delays and we could get it done this year. Still, could do with starting that process after April - not fun!

Decks that I do like...Upper Deck cards that I need...

The SP are a little basic, but a good start on that set, so it continued, but Upper Deck flagship stay solid through the years. No Leafs, so just those keepers today, but for trades...

That centre Hull Pacific Paramount is nice though. Pacific did have some unique and quality designs in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Wait...I take back what I said about Upper Deck flagship always being quality - I never liked 2000-01 with the bronzy zig zag.

Retro Zigmund is probably the best of the rest to me. Too bad I didn't have more luck with the Upper Deck flagship, but can't win them all!

Trade With wvcabo

 A trade to recap today which doesn't complete any Jays sets, but brings some nice cards.

I don't think I have been differentiating between Finest cards that still have the protective cover, and those without, but may need to check those at some point. Prefer them having the cover on, so nice to have those above.

The Collector's Choice and the silver autographs are...fine as a parallel set. I mean, could be worse, and at least there weren't 14 different colours for the signature.

The Manoa was in another recent trade, and TCDB does a great job now flagging when cards are in a proposal, but already in another trade which is nice. Being a Jay card, I still went ahead with getting another copy, but it's nice for set builds and working to avoid getting the same cards at the same time, from different people.

A smooth trade overall, and appreciated as always!

Baseball Smattering

 Some baseball cards from the COVID lot today, and a few that hit repeat-peat-peat-peat...

1994 O Pee Chee isn't too bad of a set, but I don't see much of it. Here we do get a nice error card with Raul. The error is that it somehow missed getting the card number on the back. It went uncorrected, so all the cards here have the error, but a pretty nice one.

2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot is a nice enough set too, but again, I don't see a lot of it, so not going to collect it, and no keepers here for me.

We get some newer baseball cards, and I do like the blue bordered sets from Topps in the early 2000s. I mean, it was after a few years of ugly teal and butt bronze, so it was a step up for sure. I know, Toronto bias in liking the blue border too - so sue me.

We end with some solid stars from Bowman's Best, but not best enough to keep for me.

Very Different

 Cards today from the COVID lot cover two very different things...

Scouring the last remaining COVID lot cards, these appear to be the last of the basketball. I still like the Flair design and find the Metal set overbearing.

THe rest, are great!

Welcome home my new Leaf cards! Do I really NEED 4 Steve Donruss Counterpart cards? NO, but darn right they gonna be staying here in the collection. I was surprised (which shows I am getting more cards than I can remember) that I already had the Pinnacle Inside Sullivan or the Donruss Canadian Ice Sullivan, but I did. Happy to have more though, all good!

Thank You Billy!

All around nice guy, and helpful as well, Billy Kingsley was kind enough to send over a small surprise package of Leaf cards. Billy hasn't been a life long hockey fan, but started a number of years ago and of course then started collecting. Nascar and basketball are more up his long term collecting alley, but he loves hockey just the same now.

A nice bunch of newer Leaf cards, and I always appreciate getting additional Auston cards, let along three. Soshnikov didn't exactly get to the same level as the rest of these guys, but I love a good Partkhurst rookie card regardless!

Thank you Billy for the wonderful surprise, and I will likely send something back your way after busy season - may not be before with the business of March and April.