Wallet Card, I haven't forgotten you!

I've been pretty busy. That doesn't mean I haven't been collecting - actually, I've been really active chasing after Buck Farmer cards. But that's another post. And I've taken a few trips, too! I went to Osaka and western Japan at the beginning of May, and early June was spent back in the US - the first time I've been home in three and a half years!

I've taken several wallet card shots over the past few months, but my priorities have been away from the blog. Here are the good Tokyo-area ones:

Tully's Coffee is a chain found around Japan, also serving food and booze. They are from Seattle originally, and this new location in a train station had a nice map of Seattle on its wall, including a giant Safeco Field drawing.

I just posted this picture on Chaos and Kanji, but why not bring it here too? Tony is sitting on the belt of some bug-like Japanese superhero.

And I shot Tony resting on Mickey's ears at work last month, just before departing for the US. (Yes, I'm back in Japan again.) The paper Mickey's head is holding up is my schedule for last week. Note Wednesday's schedule: 12:00-21:00 Lunch.

Tony went to the US with me, but remained in my Japan wallet, so I sadly didn't get any photos there. But I believe there are a few to uncover from my Golden Week trip, and more to come as I take more trips this summer!

One down, ten to go.

I put a "Tricky 10" list on my blog a month or two ago. This lists mostly the single cards I need to finish off some sets. One of my goals this year has been to reduce the number of sets on my want list to 175 (yes, 175!). This morning, I was at 206. Tonight, I'm at 205.

This Harry Caray card completes my National Treasures set from the 2004 Fleer issue titled National Pastime. The card you see above is the one I got off eBay, and is actually the parallel numbered out of 500.

My set want list is visible through the link at the top or the right side of my blog, and I've updated my Tricky 10 list. As of today, I'm most interested in the following cards:

1. 2009 Upper Deck Historic Firsts #9
2. 2004 Leaf Rookies & Stars FB Fans of the Game #FG2 (Michael Phelps)
3. 2011 Playoff National Treasures HK Fans of the Game #1 (Alyssa Milano)
4. Duke Snider Donruss Diamond Kings puzzle piece (card with bottom-left pieces)
5. 2013 Triple Play Eye Black #1 (Derek Jeter)
6. 2001 Fleer WWF #68 (from Divas subset)
7. 1999 Topps Stars 'n' Steel #34 (Derek Jeter)
8. 1997 Pinnacle Spellbound Mike Piazza #5 and 6
9. 1999 UD PowerDeck Yankees A Season to Remember (Stadium Giveaway Item)
10. 2010 Bowman Draft Prospects #108 (Corey Seager)

Some should be easy (#1, 4, 10) but surprisingly aren't, at least with the resources available to me.

I'd be glad to work out a trade, of course, but keep in mind (as always) that I really only have access to Japanese cards, which I'd be glad to send over. And I seem to be working pretty slowly on trades with those willing to work with me. Or for the right price I'd be glad to send over a little PayPal.

Anyway, I'm pretty happy to finish this set! Now to work on the rest.

San Francisco Area Readers - A Question

I'll be going back to the US for a couple weeks at the end of the month to visit family and get fat again on all that delicious American food I've been missing for the past three and a half years. So I have a question... more than one, really. Any help is appreciated!

Are there any card shows happening the last weekend of May or the first weekend of June in the SF Bay Area? It seems that I'm going to miss the San Leandro show, but perhaps there are a couple minor shows at the malls in San Jose or Tanforan or something.

What does the card shop situation look like now? I know about Stevens Creek Sports Cards and the two other stores as part of that group (Sunnydale and El Camino). Are there any stores with nickel or dime boxes, or decent quarter boxes? Or really good deals that I should check out? I'll definitely be heading to the San Jose area so anything on the peninsula is fine, and even East Bay, Marin, etc are possible.

I've specifically asked Fuji about this, but does anyone else have any suggestions for flea markets while I'm there? I'm guessing the Capitol Flea Market might be worth visiting.

Thank you all for your help! If I can just get to one decent card show I'll be pretty happy.

Since I'm going to San Francisco... and there has been talk of a reunion show:

Creepy. I really should watch the full run of that show!