It has been awhile....

Greetings and salutations everyone!

It has been a little while since I have been able to post here due to my school and work obligations, but that does not mean I have been totally away as I have been checking in to read the latest news and journals, as well as to look at my collection status to determine which coins I will be acquiring next.

But, I don't want to start my discussion about those things just yet at this point of my journal entry, instead I would like to state that I will be having a 5 day in a row vacation for the first time in about 10-12 years, and I am totally excited about it. My vacation will start on Aug 24. I am planning on staying home this year where I will be making some time to improve and add some pics of my Silver Eagles. Other than that I am planning on taking public transportation to see a couple of movies (District 9 and Inglorious Basterds) The reason I like to take public transportation is that I also like to take a flask along with me, and I won't have to worry about driving.

I am off from my classes right now until Aug 26. I'll still be on vacation when classes start, but it's been a good break. I averaged an A- for summer semester, the best semester showing I have had yet ( I usually averaged a B) I am glad I decided to go back to school. I thought maybe I was a little too old, but actually my age has worked to my advantage as my children are also older and now more responsible, too. When I was going to college before, I had 3 very very young children and a rocky marriage I was contending with.

Now, about my collection goals!!

It is getting close to the time of year when I started my collection, and when I start to feel the chill of autumn I start to get re-born with excitement about the hobby all over again.

I am still planning on the "reverse of" acquisition in a couple of months. Also, I plan on completing the SAE set in early 2011...a year later than I anticipated. I am also considering the silver Proof set currently available from the Mint.

I have not abandoned hope on "The Numis Collector" my web site (thenumiscollector.blogspot.com) I have not contributed there for quite some time as school took priority over my hobby pursuits. I am still planning on covering coin shows, conducting interviews, and offering advice on that site in mid 2010. I think by then the economy will have turned around and the Mint might even be offering W's again as well as Proofs. I think the climate to conduct interviews will be better due to an upbeat outlook.

I am about 3 semesters away from my AS degree, can't wait to achieve that goal as well!!

I hope everyone has been well...stay excited about the hobby!! Great things are on the way!!

PS:

I almost forgot!! I also wanted to state how excited I am about the "details grading" NGC will be offering soon. I am glad for this because now instead of being afraid that my coins will just end up in a body bag with no encapsulation and feeling like maybe I wasted money on the coin, at least now the coin can come back with a number and in protection. I almost inquired to NGC last year if they could solely just encapsulate a coin or 2, now this service makes me more apt to submit coins I may have been skeptical about submitting in the past.

Another reason I am proud to be a member of NGC and the Collectors Society!!