Ahhh, I can't remember if Shining Gyarados or Shining Magikarp was my first shiny card. I do remember my first shiny Pokemon being Tauros though in Silver. I was specifically searching for a Tauros to catch too which made it that much more epic :0 The same thing happened when I was lookin' for a Qwilfish.
I have not been able to get anything new for a year though. Sadle the economy has taken it's toll on my collecting these days. I am only trading on Wi-Fi until things get better then I will get more cards again.
Yeah, they used to make pokedolls out of Velba a much harder fabric, but they started making them out of minky the softer fuzzy fabric (like on your Suicune pokedoll), so usually every pokemon they made out of velba fabric (older ones) they do "re-makes" and make them minky.
Forte: >.> *Shakes head* I'm disappointed in you. XD
Did you atleast get Magnazone?