Monkeewrench Book

Monkeewrench by PJ Tracy is a book I really enjoyed.  I have plenty of reading to catch up on but I wanted something different and read it over a business trip.  Plot: A killer duplicates the killings from a video game which causes the police and game developers to scramble.  I liked it.  I found it an easy read that had good characters, humor, suspense and a plot that moved well.  I'll read more in the series but I'm bad at prioritizing reading.  Still I recommend this one to anyone who thinks it might be something they might like.

Random Wax: 2022 Stadium Club Blaster

2023 Stadium Club:  Fernando Tatis, back this season after injuries and a suspension took away his 2022 season, he had an ok year but like the Padres as a whole had a disappointing season.

These Master Photos inserts aren't something I care much for.  Odd ball size and just doesn't do it for me.

The fun with this set is all about the photos and this design lets them shine.  

Again, consistently good photography.  And retired greats which are always fun.

Team of the Future cards don't resonate with me.  Seem out of place in this brand.  Love that emotion from Chris Sale.

The die-cut Triumvirates insert isn't a bad looking card if you like due cuts. 

Torkelson had a breakout season with 31 homers and 94 runs batted in even if he did hit .233.

Fun photo of The Kid and his pop.

Retired greats shine in this set as well.

Plenty of horizontal offerings.

The Sepia Parallel on that Ryan card.

Fun cards and a good design are always a good thing.  Nice box of cards.

BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards

11 – RC

7 – Retired Greats

2 – Red Foil Parallel

1 - Triumvirates

1 – Power Zone

1 – Sepia Parallel

1 – Master Photo

1 – Black Foil Parallel

1 – Team of the Future

1 – Blue Foil Parallel #/50

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Hoops Blaster

21-22 Hoops:  Kick off today with some basketball and a set I like.  I also like Giannis though he and the Bucks "stole" Dame from my Blazers.  Ugh.  That said, I'm curious what the Bucks look like.  Khris Middlton needs to be healthy and find his long range shot again but otherwise Milwaukee really is set to make a deep run into the playoffs.

I like this set's design sand I've opened plenty of the set and showed it off here and have plenty more to show off over time.  Some good star power in the box and some personal collection guys like DeMar DeRozan.

None of these three have stamped their mark on the league.

Slam inserts are always a favorite of mine and we get to see retired greats as well as current league greats.  That Payton cover looks really good.  Nice LeBron photo on that Frequent Flyers insert as well.

Never thought of Franz Wagner as a guard unitl I saw this insert.  Probably more of a 3 but no matter where you play him the man has skills. Corey Kispert has had a solid two seasons with the Wizards.  And KAT is maybe the best shooting big man in the league.

Lights Camera Action is always a favorite of mine.  Kyrie is no longer in Brooklyn and Mavericks fans are really hoping he and Luka can figure it out in Dallas after Irving signed a new deal.

Loe that photo of Clint Capela.  Nurkic recently packed his bags for Phoenix as part of the Lillard three-team trade.

What happens with James Harden is the big story left of the preseason.  Philly is in a no-win situation.  Harden, though still a star, is looked at much differently than Lillard is and won't be easy to trade for value.

Everyone loves Boban Marjanovic even if he's not a star on the court.  Embiid probably can't wait for the Harden situation to play out and find out what the 76ers will look like come opening day.

BREAKDOWN:

88 – Total Cards

11 – RC

2 - Slam

2 – Blue Parallel

2 – Purple Parallel

1 - Skyview

1 – Arriving Now

1 – Class of 2021

1 – Frequent Flyers

1 – Lights Camera Action

2023 Donruss Elite Football

2023 Donruss Elite:  Not a big fan of Donruss elite historically but I don't mind picking up a pack when they hit the shelves like they did locally yesterday.  Tua's off to a great start sans the bump in the road that was the Buffalo Bills.  Go Bills!  

These don't scan well.  You won't see the wavy lines in the background when in hand.  Maybe a Donruss Elite design I would like better if there were more color here but all that foil background thing doesn't do much for me.  

The base set is only 100 cards so you'll get a decent pull in these packs.  

The backs are nice and colorful with a truncated version of the front photo.  But no stats which is always a bummer.

For a 30 card pack I expect more variety but the only cards outside of base cards were this Title Wave inserts, one RC card, and three pink parallels.  Where's the fun in that?  There are more inserts in the set but many are hobby box or case hit exclusives. I don't get it.

You can probably tell but I won't be going back to this one unless they are deeply discounted.  Good names for sure but overall a bit of a downer.  We'll end it on a high note with Patrick Mahomes who helps put a shine on any pack.

BACKGROUND:

30 – Total Cards

3 – Pink Parallels

1 – Title Waves

2023 Atlanta Braves Playoff Preview

The 2023 Atlanta Braves were historically good.  They tied the record for home runs in a season by a team which is crazy.  They also have maybe the greatest non-Ohtani player in the league in Ronald Acuna who really is a game changer.  That said their entire lineup can make you suffer.  It's fun to see the talent they can send against pitchers every game.  The issue going into the playoffs will be the starting pitching.  Bryce Elder has struggled of late, Max Fried is dealing with a blister, and Spencer Strider has had some mixed results lately.  Who knows what happens when the playoffs start but even with the pitching questions Atlanta is clearly the favorite.  As a fan that scares me but I'm hoping this team can follow through with the expectations. GO BRAVES!

 

The Rental (2020)

 The Rental: You'll find this one under horror but it doesn't fit the classic mold of a horror flick.  Two couples rent a house for the weekend.  Things then go awry which makes it a movie to watch in October.  Most of the movie is about the characters and the setup to the ending.  This was an easy watch and while you kind of knew some things were coming it didn't play out as I expected.  It still hits some of the tropes with the "what are you thinking" moments.  I will say the ending didn't really pay it off.  For all the setup I thought it was too straightforward.  This isn't a movie I'd watch a second time but I liked it for what it was.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

The Conjuring 3:  I'm a fan of The Conjuring franchise.  The first two are really good with the original movie being one of my all-time favorite horror movies.  This one doesn't quite live up to those but it is good.  This one centers around the Warren's helping a young man in using demonic possession in defense in murder.  This one feels a bit different than the past movies which centered on families who deal with demons terrorizing them in their home.  This one starts with the exorcism of a young boy and then to a young man who kills but was he possessed?  While it is different from what we are used to in the franchise it is a good watch.