Monday, September 30, 2013

Psst! hey you, Pssst!

Over here. Yeah, you, my faithful customers, er, uhh, I mean readers.. I feel like some demented dealer, peddling CRACK. Yep, that's right, it's that time of year again, which can only mean three things...

1. You're OUT... yesh, my beloved Phillies are done, posting the first losing season in 11 years going as far as falling to fourth over the last week's play.

2. You're IN... Post-Season 2013 and I think this could be Boston's year as they did not finish the year with the best record...

3. The Cynical One over at Collector's Crack is having his season ending

3rd Annual Almost the Easiest World Series Contest on the Web



so go on over there and get yourself some crack. And tellem yer favorite dealer is Dawgbones!!

have a GReat day!
Thanks for reading,
Dawgbones

Friday, September 20, 2013

Dimwit...

If you read the Daily Dimwit, you know he busted a bunch of Ginter's this year. Luckily for me, he decided to sell a bunch of it off to recoup some of the outlay for his fun. A few quick emails, and we had a deal for one of my missing full sized Phils, a few other base cards for my PCs, a Wiggy silk card, and the entire One Little Corner insert.


The Wigginton is my first silk card and it is definitely a very cool addition to my Phillies collection. The main reason for this little deal is that top dead center card of Mr. Schmidt, and the last of the full sized Ginter cards I need for the Ginter's Phillies team set for 2013. The Wynn card is just cause... just cause I have an 8x10 autographed photo of him hanging in my cubicle at work from a contest I won early on in my blogging history.


The second reason for striking this awesome little deal with Sam is the "One Little Corner" insert set. I really love this insert from Ginter's and was able to get the entire set from Sam at what I think is an awesome price (kinda think I stole it actually!!)


I don't know about you, but I'm excited at the possible prospect of mankind stepping foot on mars, perhaps in my lifetime.

I have the proper telescope filters for daytime viewing of our closest star. Every now and then, I have to remind folks that what we commonly refer to as the sun is actually the closest star to the earth!!



The main reason I purchase my 4.5" telescope is to get up close and personal with the earth's closest celestial neighbor. I've also viewed Saturn and it's rings, total size across the rings comes in less than the diameter of a no. 2 pencil eraser, but still pretty impressive for viewing at between 746 million to  just over a billion miles!


The furthest gas giant from the sun. When I eat a few too many veggies or beans, I begin to feel like a gas giant myself!!

From Wikipedia: "Because of its unstable nature, astronomers now consider the scattered disc to be the place of origin for most periodic comets observed in the Solar System"

Thanks for the cards Sam.

thanks for reading,
Have a GReat day!
Dawgbones


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A Promise fulfilled...

Have you ever joined a break, hoping for a good card? and not received it... but got something else you totally weren't expecting?

Early this month, Dave over at Tribe Cards, held a small group break for a box of 2013 Allen & Ginter's.
Though I'd already secured most of my A&G Phillies, I decided to join, hoping for something good. Ok, well actually, I was hoping for 1 card, the Mike Schmidt Across the Years insert that I was missing.
I didn't get it, ok, honestly, I knew ahead of time that this card was not in there, but I took a chance anyways.

It paid off, namely with my first Allen & Ginter's no-numbered, red-backed mini #10/25:


I had promised a better scan once this lil puppy was in my grubby little paws, so here we are. Is it just me or does it seem very odd to number a no-numbered card??

Yep, thought ever so briefly about selling this one, but decided against it. Sometimes, just sometimes, personal greed does trump outright profit.
What say you?

thanks for reading,
Have a GReat night
Dawgbones

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

An In-Person auto...

(editor's note: I've been planning this post for some time now, and today seems like a perfect date for it.)

You got your average everyday sports heroes, but every now and then, life throws you a curve ball.

Through happenstance, twist of fate, or whatever you want to call it. My life and family have led me to this point in time.

A few years back, a dear family friend passed (my sister's best friend), but prior to her death, I had the good fortune to meet her mother-in-law. This dear, sweet lady is also a widower, which brings us to her current beau, Howard. I met him at my sister's house during one of our family gatherings for one occasion or another and we struck up a conversation.

Learning that Mr. Lee was a retired Marine, there are no such things as "former" Marines, I thanked him for his service as I do with every service member I meet. But, I also knew another interesting little tidbit of information that really made me want to meet this man and offer my sincerest thanks.

You see, my wife's uncle, an Army veteran himself, had previously met this lady and Howard through their social circles. He informed me of Howard's service to his country. You see, my dear readers, Mr. Howard V. Lee, or more properly, Major Howard V. Lee, is one of history's few living Medal of Honor recipients.
There are currently 79 living recipients. (Since 1941, more than half of the Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously as the actions that garner this award normally prove fatal.)

For the record, and one of my biggest pet peeves, this medal has NEVER been won!! This medal is awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. I am only too sure that each recipient has felt his or her actions did not merit this distinction, and they would most definitely have chosen NOT to have been placed in the precarious position that prompted their actions.

I managed to find a very good looking picture of my friend on this MOH page and printed it out, asking him last night if he would be kind enough to sign it for me. He told me that he'd be honored and that he gets requests through the mail all the time. (he also told me that he'll sign every one that he gets as long as the return envelope/postage is included)

without further adieu, I present my latest (and favorite) in-person autograph of a tried and true Hero:



The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

MAJOR HOWARD V. LEE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS


for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, Company E, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division near Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam, on 8 and 9 August 1966. A platoon of Major (then Captain) Lee's company, while on an operation deep in enemy territory, was attacked and surrounded by a large Vietnamese force. Realizing that the unit had suffered numerous casualties, depriving it of effective leadership, and fully aware that the platoon was even then under heavy attack by the enemy, Major Lee took seven men and proceeded by helicopter to reinforce the beleaguered platoon. Major Lee disembarked from the helicopter with two of his men and, braving withering enemy fire, led them into the perimeter, where he fearlessly moved from position to position, directing and encouraging the overtaxed troops. The enemy then launched a massive attack with the full might of their forces. Although painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy grenade in several areas of his body, including his eye, Major Lee continued undauntedly throughout the night to direct the valiant defense, coordinate supporting fires, and apprise higher headquarters of the plight of the platoon. The next morning he collapsed from his wounds and was forced to relinquish command. However, the small band of Marines had held their position and repeatedly fought off many vicious enemy attacks for a grueling six hours until their evacuation was effected the following morning. Major Lee's actions saved his men from capture, minimized the loss of lives, and dealt the enemy a severe defeat. His indomitable fighting spirit, superb leadership, and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds, reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

Kinda makes dealing with rush-hour traffic or any of my worst daily offenses seem super-insignificant, doesn't it??

I can hardly wait to find a nice frame so I can hang this on my desk at work. It will be a constant reminder of all that I have and hold dear, the freedoms I enjoy each and every day, and the men and women that face and have faced tremendous odds defending those freedoms.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Howie, I'm proud to know you and call you my friend. And to all my service connected readers, thank you for your service as well.

thanks for reading,
Have a GReat day!!
Richard H. Nebe Jr.
proud son of a 30 year U.S. Navy Veteran!!

P.S. since you've hung in there this long, I do have a second signed picture if anyone is interested...