Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Friends, I Think We're Good Here.

I believe I've come to the end of this Napkin Doon project and it's time to turn out the lights on the blog.    I don't have any sort of big dramatic reason why, other to say I'm comfortable with this decision simply because creating this blog has accomplished what I never knew I wanted it to accomplish.  Plus, I'm getting ready to hit a crazy busy time at work (which come to think of it is most of the year) and we are in the process of building a new house and moving this summer. 

When I started this almost 3 years ago, I did it with no discernable goal in mind.  I had jumped back into the baseball card hobby full steam ahead about a year prior to making up Napkin Doon, and my collecting perspective was about as all over the place as you could get.    I knew I wanted to have cards, to sort cards, to think about cards and to talk about cards.  Cards, cards cards. 

I also remember what I thought my blog would be about: graphs and analysis.  I imagined showing  historical pricing of cards and players and discussing whatever those trends might mean.  I went out and started buying as many old Beckett's as I could find to help provide the data.  This was going to be some serious stuff.  I also imagined my blog focusing largely on eTopps.  During my years of not actively buying cardboard, I still was sort of involved in the hobby with eTopps.  Clearly, neither of those topics wound up carrying the blog, but I'm happy with the topics that did (Cleve's auctions, Sampler Album, silly food tournaments, etc.) 

I've decided to wrap it up on March 4 (this is my two week's notice), which is the 3 year anniversary of when I started The Adventures of Napkin Doon.  For the most part I've said what I wanted to say, but I still have a few favorite cards that I haven't shown, and a few other posts in the queue that I want to put out. 

Plus, I'm not getting out of the hobby at all.  I'll still show some cards on twitter from time to time, and be following and commenting on all of the other wonderful blogs out there, even the ones managed by hooligans like The Lost Collector.

I'll save the sappy thanks and goodbyes for the 4th.

19 comments:

Play at the Plate said...

Ok, I could just say good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

But I won't.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't do it. Be miserable and unhappy, but keep writing the blog. I NEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD my daily dose of the Doon.

Ok, that's out of my system. I hate to hear it, but you have to do what's best for you. I'll miss you man. Now go play me a word!

The Lost Collector said...

Of course you have to take a last parting shot at me. Actually, I doubt it's the last.

Very bummed to hear this, but respect the decision. It's been real, Nap. Thanks for the entertainment you've provided.

The Diamond King said...

It's always sad to see great bloggers shut it down. We'll miss you Doonie!

Thanks for all the fun!

The Junior Junkie said...

I still have that '89 Fleer Griffey RC you sent me with the napkin doodle on the seal sticker. No plans to remove said sticker.

Good luck with the work thing. And that historical pricing project sounds amazing...

Justin McLeod said...

Well dang, I hated to read that. Even when I didn't have nearly the reading time I had had in the past, I made sure I still kept up with yours. I've enjoyed your posts & your comments. I pretty much echo what PATP said - hate to see you go, but you gotta do what's best for you and your family.

night owl said...

YOU'RE BLUFFING!

(Don't do it).

BASEBALL DAD said...

I have to admit, somehow, you were not on my blog roll. I had seen your name mentioned in other blogs and read some of your posts. There are just sooo many blogs out there it's hard to keep up.
Maybe you could just consider yourself in limbo ! Sometimes you just need some time away from, even your family here !

Robert said...

If you do decide to go (which everyone here is trying to talk you out of) know that you will be missed by a lot of people.

I really did enjoy the Cleve's auction series, there were a lot of great cards that you were able to show off.

I hope you stay, but understand if you decide to "let it go".

hiflew said...

It'll really be a shame to see you go. I think if you do hang it up your lasting blog legacy should be the great contest giveaway that you created. Forgive I can't remember its name, but it was the most fun blog contest I was ever a part of.

I took about 10 months off last year to recharge my batteries and live life, so maybe all you need is a small step back or just a part time schedule. In my time off I found myself really missing the outlet that blogging is. If you stay, I'll keep reading and if you leave I'll remember you. Cheers!

The Lost Collector said...

I believe it was called, "Big Fun Game."

Nick said...

I echo the sentiments of all the other people who have commented so far. Your blog was always good for a fun read, and I'm sad to see it go.

Fuji said...

Best wishes on your future endeavors. I'm gonna miss reading about Cleve's auctions, but as long as you don't delete your blog... I can go back and search some of my favorite posts.

Fuji said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brad's Blog said...

Good luck Mr Doon, hope to trade again in the future!

Steve D. said...

As strictly a blog reader, I've looked forward to reading your posts for the past 3 years. And like others have said before me, I really enjoyed participating more than a few times in your Big Fun Game. Thanks for being a fun read, and also for giving us "2 weeks notice" to say goodbye.

carlsonjok said...

*pout*

Josh D. said...

But....but.....where will I get my Doon Discs now?

Is there another supplier?

Can I buy them at Cleve's?

MUST STOCK UP WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

(I agree with the others -- don't hang it up. Take a break, fade-in and fade-out as needed.)

Ryan said...

Two collectors sit quietly by the thermal unit, sorting cards on another frigid evening in 2156. The gentle rumble of a distant transport launch rattles the window.....

"Did you ever hear about the Adventures of Napkin Doon, Ed?" one asks as he squints, hopelessly inspecting one of his cards. He believes it to be a triple green ink spot SXSXP^3.....but Yasiel won't know for sure until power for the spectrometer is available again.

"Napkin what? What the hell are you talking about, dude?" Ed sneers back.

Yasiel set the card down and removed his hobby gloves. His latest pair claimed to prevent quantum particle infiltration but they made his hands itch. "Napkin Doon! Cleve's Auctions?! Big Fun Game?! It was one of the best hobby blogs of all time, idiot. Didn't you look through your Hobby Heritage All-Star Collectors Master Set?"

Ed rolled his eyes and cocked a pierced eyebrow at his friend, "Yas, you know I don't open those sets. Gotta keep 'em factory sealed or they're as worthless as that antique retail color parallel lot you found at the thrift store. Why? What's in the set?

"WELL, ED....there's a Best Bloggers insert set. The Adventures of Napkin Doon was one of them."

Ed wrinkled his nose and took a long swig of protein-infused organic root beer. "What's a blogger, Yasiel?"

"A person who writes a blog, I think. With like..." Yasiel's eyes went wide and his voice lowered into a reverent whisper, "....words."

Ed set his root beer down and looked at his friend for several moments. His thoughts were interrupted by the familiar booster engine roar from outside. So many had left.....

"People WROTE about cards?!"

Yasiel nodded slowly.

Ed stared into space and considered how extraordinary this revelation was. "But what's a Napkin Doon, Yas?"

Yasiel's face softened as he shrugged and picked up a holo-baseball and floated it back and forth between his hands. He looked lovingly at the little red stitches and wondered if they had a smell but quickly set that thought aside.

"I don't know, Ed. I'm not sure if anybody ever knew....but whatever he was, he sounded pretty cool to me." Yas tossed the holo-ball to his friend, who quickly unleashed some hobby fury about the risks of subgrade holo-damage.
_____________

You'll be missed, Nap, but never forgotten! Enjoyed your blog a whole hell of a lot - you did a great job. Thanks for the fun & entertainment and we'll see you down the hobby road!

Ryan
www.ryanspitch.blogspot.com
@ryanspitch



Napkin Doon said...

Wow, I was not expecting this kind of response at all! Thank you all for the nice things you've said about my blog. I hope I didn't give the impression that writing the blog was making me miserable. Far from it.

Ryan, you win the comment award for sure!

Thanks again fellas.