Too Focused, and Not Focused At The Same Time

When it comes to doing things at times I seem to get too focused on one thing. During these times I will sometimes ignore other things. That exact thing has been happening with this blog lately.

With four posts in the idea stages, but two having to wait until the end of the year. I have kind of gone into a blank state of affairs in my mind. This blankness would explain why most of the posts lately have been related to either Mariners roster moves or the Kyle Busch update. While I enjoy doing those posts, and will do another once the Mariners make another huge roster move. This blank mind explains why there haven't been anything slightly exciting between these.

The main reason for all this is has been my other focus. That focus being other things going on around the house. Three things make up the work going on, but one has been taking up the majority of time. First is the decorating of the house in Christmas lights last weekend. This should be completed with the decorating of the tree that will be happening once this post is finished. Second is I need to complete the project of getting our pictures from vacation in November completed. Neither of the first two is tough, I just seem to be doing them in small spurts.

Third, and the one that has been getting all the attention is the big schedules organization.

As I've put in a couple posts, and probably starting to get old. I have been going through all my schedules, and getting them organized. Everything has been done except the final row of traders. This row is all my hockey, lacrosse, and soccer traders. The stuff I picked up the most of on the big schedule trade earlier this fall. So getting this done will take up some time as I can't just carry stuff over from the old site. I need to do the explanation of each schedule.

What I can say is please bear with me, and hopefully once all this is done soon. I can get the mind back to writing some baseball card stuff like we all enjoy reading on these blogs.

All The Kyle Busch News

Today Joe Gibbs Racing announced the new crew chief line ups for the 2015 season for its highest level drivers. Leaving Kyle Busch, and moving over to Denny Hamlin is Dave Rogers. Denny's crew chief Darian Grubb moved from Denny over to new team member Carl Edwards. With Edwards joining the team for 2015, and raising the team from three driver to four. JGR had to either promote someone, or sign a new another crew chief.

Going with the choice of promotion, and a chief that Kyle was very familiar with. Gibbs decided that Kyle should team with the promoted crew chief. Adam Stevens who has been crew chief for Kyle when racing in the old Nationwide, and newly renamed Xfinity Series is the man.

Hopefully this new or can it be called current relationship will net some great results. Kyle has won numerous races in the Nationwide Series with Stevens at the helm. If the two can carry those results over it should be an amazing 2015 for Kyle in the M&M's car.

Another much more fun tidbit that was released on Wednesday. Kyle will be getting a new paint scheme for 2015 that promotes M&M Crispy.

The scheme had an early showing in a commercial last month.On Wednesday though it became official as this picture was sent out to the NASCAR world. How many races it will be used for is still unknown at this time. An interesting note is the car continues a trend with Kyle of racing a green colored car at some point during the year.

Every year during those races here at the cat house we are lost on where Kyle is running. The new color throws us off when he's in the pack. Hopefully this year we will finally catch on to the green scheme as it seems to be here to stay.

Doing Some Swap Meeting

Early in November was the fall version of the three times a year event called Portland's Largest Garage Sale. During the summer version I did very poorly while the wife did great. Despite this I was not going to be discouraged that some treasures would be found.

Preparing for the event weeks in advance as is starting to become the tradition. I was ready, and until that morning thought the wife was coming again. When the clock went off she rethought her position, and made this a solo trip. Unfazed I made the trip north for yet unknown treasures.

Arriving at the fairgrounds ten minutes early, which is great since the drive takes over an hour. Entering the building everyone was greeted by a huge banner advertising the spring sale. Sticking out the most to myself was the announcement that the one building show would be all three buildings. Seeing this had two totally different feelings going through my mind. First was excitement as it means more sellers, and things to go through. The second was oh crap! One building has been just perfect for me in these so two more might be too much of a good thing.

Still dealing with the upcoming change I headed in to begin the search. Coming across the Randy Johnson bobblehead for the Mariners hall-of-fame induction. Priced at five dollars I was pumped at the chance to add this beauty into the Mariners bobbleheads. What it would mean though is odds are another bobbler would have to go.Things weren't done there as the seller had this fun item sitting on a shelf.

For a mere two dollars it had to come home. This might possibly be the first hand held game I ever owned. When I first got it we would play our own full baseball games whenever it was too miserable outside to play. For the cost I had to own it, even if it's just for the memories as a kid.

What you will notice is a missing picture for the Johnson bobblehead. Upon finding the seller he pointed out a flaw I would have never noticed without his honesty. The bobblehead wasn't attached properly to the base, and wouldn't stand correctly. If not for this he let me know that he'd be selling it on ebay for much more.

From there I found an Oreo cookie tin that we use for our Christmas ornaments. Not as much fun or baseball related so lets move on. Next up, and taking some time to find was this bad boy.

A Portland Rockies full sized batting helmet. Costing only one dollar, and containing what is one of my all time favorite logos. How could I not bring it home, despite still not knowing what to do with it? The idea has crossed my mind of putting up some hooks eventually. Could hang it, and the Eugene Emeralds one from this season someplace using this method. Who knows if that will be how it gets done as I'm still open to figuring it out.

Last is what I consider my greatest find ever at these type of shows.

To this very day it is still wrapped just like the picture.

Upon seeing this box I thought to myself that at seven dollars or less it would be coming home. As collectors we all know that ten dollars would be a steal. I just wasn't sure if I needed them enough at the cost of ten or more dollars. Being I still have a decent amount of used ones from Goodwill finds.

Picking up the box, and taking it over to the lady who's booth it was. I asked what she wanted for the box of sheets. She responded with the question of "are you a baseball card collector"? To which I countered with the answer of "No, I collect pocket schedules. They are just perfect for those." What followed was the biggest surprise of my life. Her response of "two dollars" blew me away. Needless to say, I couldn't get the money out fast enough. So for two dollars I might be set for a few years in the category of 9 pocket pages.

Not a large selection of treasures came home, but I'm happy with the results. What all this did though is leave me ready for the spring show.

Cruz, and Mariners Agree

While I spent my entire weekend getting things done around the house. The Seattle Mariners were busy getting things done.

For the cat it was doing the Black Friday thing followed by getting the Christmas lights up on the house. To make that happen required some serious work in the garage. Throw in the huge project of working on trying to get all the schedules for trade up on the other blog site. A project that is going well, and is possibly close to 75% done.

The Mariners were even busier as they got them a Cyber Monday deal. A new player that the team was tied to last season.

If he shows the power that has become a trademark the last few years. This will be a move that will gain some serious wins for the team. Gone will be the chance to avoid Cano in close games. With Cruz in the next spot you might be best pitching to Cano. Having this help I believe will lead to a big year for Cano.

Interestingly I believe this won't be the last we hear from the Mariners. Yes, the team has now gotten the bat they have hoped for. Despite the huge addition there are still some gaps still needing fixed. I'm not going to say that the team will make another huge splash like the one today.

They will make another move or two for an outfielder. If that player is a big name then look out for the Mariners this upcoming season. If that player is a lesser known name this team might still be trouble for the AL west. The biggest news of all this is Seattle might finally start becoming a serious threat for years to come.

The years of players taking less money to play elsewhere could be ending. Cano's contract last season could be what has started this new trend. Having a superstar like Cano coming let people know that Seattle was no longer the unwanted kid anymore. Now all that is left will be seeing if the team can do something with all this new found ability to get stars in town.