The Evolution of the Resolutions (Redux)

Back in January of this year, I made a bunch of blog related New Year's Resolutions.  At the start of my summer break, I took a look at my progress to date.  Now, with the end of summer break officially here (today's the first day of classes), it's time to check and see if I managed to accomplish anything over the summer!

1.  Barry Larkin Collection

The goal in January was to get to at least 550 different Barry Larkin cards posted by the end of the year.  By the beginning of summer, I was at 494.  Now?  I posted the 549th Barry Larkin card yesterday!  I think it is safe to say that I will hit my goal of 550 different Larkins posted...perhaps even this week.  It's all but certain that I'll be able to cross off this resolution without any trouble.

2.  The Great Reorganization

My original goal was to clear off the 27 different stacks of cards on my card sorting table.  In May, I hadn't made much progress (I was at 26 stacks).  Now that summer is over, I can report that I eliminated another eight piles...but in that time I added in four other piles so the net gain was only 4 stacks of cards.  That said, I managed to get rid of some of the biggest stacks of cards which will make future sorting much easier.  I can't call the resolution a resounding success, but I'm in a better place now than I was back in May.

The card table as it stands now...still a long ways to go, but it's better than it used to be!

3.  The Want List (link)

I posted a big list of sets that I wanted to try and complete before the end of 2017.  I did happen to make one order with Check Out My Cards which helped (as did a relatively small number of trades made this year).

Cards acquired between May 2017 and August 2017 from the list:
2016 Topps:  Perspectives Insert:  P-11
2015 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Keys to the City insert:  KTC- 8
2014 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Little Lions:  LL-09
2013 Topps Archives: All-Star:  CR
2012 Topps Archives: Archive reprints: 164 Roberto Clemente
2011 Topps Heritage:  Base:  460
2007 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Roman Emperers:  7
2006 Fleer Greats of the Game:  Decade Greats:  BJ, CR
2006 Fleer Greats of the Game:  Tigers Greats: KG
2001 Topps Stadium Club:  170
1999 Fleer Ultra:  Base:  74, 223, 224, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 241, 248, 249, 250

Cards acquired between January 2017 and May 2017 from the list:
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Mascots in the Wild Insert:  1, 5
2015 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Keys to the City insert:  KTC- 3
2013 Topps Chrome:  Base:  1, 10, 16, 32, 119, 220
2013 Topps Archives: Base:  237, 240
2013 Topps Archives: All-Star:  GB, GC
2008 Upper Deck Timeline:  Base: #308, 345
2008 Topps Heritage (low and high series): Base: #464
2007 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Roman Emperers: 2, 10

Cards still needed from the list (as of August 2017):
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Ferocious Felines mini insert:  FF-1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Laureates of Peace mini insert:  LP-1, 2, 4
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Subways & Streetcards mini insert:  SS- 9, 11
2016 Topps Allen & Ginter:  US Mayors mini insert:  4, 8, 12, 15, 27, 34
2016 Topps:  Perspectives Insert:  P- 2, 7, 17, 20, 21, 24
2015 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Box Loaders:  Pride of the People:  PCB- 2, 3, 4, 6
2015 Topps Archives:  Will Ferrell Insert:  7 (as a White Sox)
2014 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Into the Unknown mini insert:  ITU-16* Hernan Cortes
2014 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Little Lions:  LL-16
2014 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Where Nature Ends: WNE-17
2014 Topps Allen & Ginters:  World’s Deadliest Predators: WDP-16, WDP-22
2013 Topps Archives: 1972 Basketball Design:  JB (Johnny Bench)
2012 Topps Archives: Classic Combos:  58- KK, LM, SF
2012 Topps Archives: In Action:  82IA- CR, I, JE, JH, KG
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter:  Creatures of Legend, Myth, &Terror (minis): 5, 7, 14, 15
2009 Topps Base Series 1 & 2:  Legends of the Game (Series 2) insert: Mariano Rivera
2009 Topps Base Series 1 & 2:  Topps Town (Gold Version): TTT29
2008 Upper Deck Timeline:  Base: #336, 341, 356, 361, 363, 366, 373, 374, 375
2008 Topps Heritage (low and high series): Base: # 465, 480, 488, 495, 500
2007 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Roman Emperers:  1, 4, 6, 9
2007 Topps Allen & Ginters:  Snakes:  1, 3, 4, 5
2006 Fleer Greats of the Game:  Yankee Greats: WB
2001 Topps Stadium Club:  117, 166, 167, 168, 186, 188, 191, 196, 197
1995 UD Collector's Choice:  Base:  186, 188, 189, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 198, 200, 494, 500

I think I can say that I've done exceedingly well on this resolution.  However, I should note that the vast majority of my progress was made by my recent COMC purchase (and not via trades as I had hoped).  Still, cards acquired are cards acquired and I won't be looking the gift horse in the mouth.  I'm happy with where I'm at on this resolution even if I don't make much more progress for the remainder of 2017.

4.  My Frankensets

"This was noted as my least important resolution - which is a good thing since I haven't done anything with it yet (besides earmark a couple more cards as possible entrants to the various sets).  I can't call this a failure, but it isn't a success either.  I'll give it a neutral rating."

That was my comment from May...and here we are in August and I still haven't made any progress (besides earmarking a few more cards for the sets over the summer).  This resolution is probably my lowest priority one in the entire list...but since I've yet to touch it, I think I have to say it's a failure so far.

5.  My LEGO Blog

I have 28 posts on my LEGO blog so far this year.  If you compare that to last year where I only had 29 posts for the entire year, I'd say I've succeeded so far.  In 2015, I had 36 posts which seems like a total I might get close to this year (I doubt I'll hit 77 posts I had in 2014 or the 48 posts in 2013 however).  Still, plenty of time remains so I have an outside chance of getting close to 40 posts.

6.  New Content at Nachos Grande

I didn't do a lot of new stuff over the summer, but I have had new posts up every day so that's something.  I think my blog is established enough that I don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel over and over.  Still, a little creativity is appreciated by all and I haven't had a ton of that lately (though I did get to interview a member of this year's Allen & Ginter set which was kind of cool, and definitely different from my normal posting)!  I'll call this one a success.

7.  Teaching

My Italy and Greece trip was a TON of work on my end, but the trip was a resounding success so I have to give this review a giant thumbs up.

8.  Woodworking

I made a new cage for my vegetable garden (to keep the wild critters out).  The cage worked really well so that's a success.  I also learned how to do some basic electrical work (I replaced a bunch of outlets, hung two new ceiling fans, and changed out a light switch).  Those things aren't really "woodworking" in any way, but I'll throw them in this category.  No complaints here!

9.  Blog Trading

By my count, I completed 9 trades over the summer (with at least two more in the works).  11 trades used to be what I might do in a week or two, but for whatever reason blog trading has drastically slowed down this year (and last year to a certain extent).  I attribute a lot of that to the fact that I have been buying less new stuff which makes trading a bit more difficult for everyone to match up with my haves/wants.  Still, I'd like to do some more trading over the next few months if possible (so hit me up if you are interested).

So that does it for my second look of the year at my 2017 Resolutions.  As a teacher, the beginning of summer and then the beginning of the next school year definitely mark the two biggest "events" of the year - so it seems appropriate to check in during both times.  I have to say, I think I may have done better with my 2017 Resolutions already than I have for pretty much any other year that I've done these for the blog (I say that going from memory, not researching previous accomplishments however).

And with that, it's off to work I go to teach the first class of the new academic year.  My teaching schedule for this semester is two sections of Calculus I and two sections of Calculus III (Multivariable Calculus).  That ought to keep me busy enough - but hopefully I'll have enough time to continue to work on my baseball card collection as well!