Post by: kimmer on February 02, 2011, 10:07:03 PM
Sneakers and I enjoy passing a few hours in the evening watching TV -- either one of the few network shows that we enjoy, or we watch a movie (either via a physical dvd disc or via streaming). Our TV shows tend to be CBS shows, but we like a couple of others that run in the summer. Movie wise we watch a wide variety of flicks. We also like to take walks.
I enjoy reading (both fiction and non-fictio), gardening (although I'm not good at it), and baking/cooking (but I hate cleaning up). I hope to get back to quilting, but doubt I'll ever be able to crochet again. I'm learning to see the world through my camera lens and playing in PSE. I also serve on the planning commission in my town and like being able to help shape the future of where I live. There are other little things that I enjoy, but these are the main ones.
What are your hobbies? I'd love to know.
Post by: krissel on February 02, 2011, 11:18:48 PM
Post by: jchuzi on February 03, 2011, 06:34:34 AM
Seriously, playing the violin is my greatest source of pleasure (outside of spending time with my wife, of course). I play in a professional orchestra and have a string quartet that meets for fun, not profit.
Post by: Jack W on February 03, 2011, 07:18:22 AM
Going hiking with her.
Watching a movie with her.
Listening to classical and rock music.
Hiking with the Summit Metro Parks Hiking Club.
surfing the 'interweb' as ABD calls it, especially TS where I get a lot of invaluable advice from the experts.
etc. etc. etc.
Edited to add "I have more than a one-track" mind !
Post by: Xairbusdriver on February 03, 2011, 10:04:18 AM
Went to the church yesterday to put the flags back up (forecast winds caused me to take them down—winds are the worst weather on flags...). One of the soloists saw me and asked if I would convert a cassette tape to a CD and lower the key while I was at it. Then, another staff member saw me and asked if I had my battery-powered drill with me. We needed a couple of cork board strips added above some whiteboards... I actually enjoy doing these little tasks but sometimes I just stay away for a few days!
One day, we'll have a custodian or janitor and I won't get to do these little fix-it things.We have a home owners association for our single-street, quarter mile long "cove!" No one wants to bother with it until something controversial happens, of course. Being retired helps me make face-to-face contacts with the City. Fortunately, we have a great group of Councilmen/women. They have even refused to accept the City Attorney's recommendation to "pay off" a disgruntled developer rather than take the matter to the courts! The City won the case, BTW.
Being the "executor" for my late aunt's "estate" takes a lot more time (and paperwork!) than I expected. But it is also interesting and educational. I'm still waiting to be advised exactly who I can "execute," however I have an ever growing list...
Then, there are the two teenage girls and their mother, who are now "occupying" our upstairs! Now I remember why we had two boys! I already knew girls are more expensive (a couple of rehearsal dinners is orders of magnitudes cheaper than a wedding!
). And boys are so much simpler! Both of these seem to have actual emotions! Never had that kind of problem with our boys!!! But, I had no idea how much joy these ladies would bring to our home. They are a real pleasure and a whole new learning experience for me. Of course, there is the Mac... Took a couple of tutorials last Fall on CSS3 and HTML5. Reinstalled PHP but haven't restarted learning it (yeah, I dabbled in it a few years ago and ran into a low brick wall...). Still all kinds of interesting things to do with the software I have, and new stuff keeps coming out. Probably the most enjoyable thing I do on the computer, however, is visiting/chatting/arguing here at TS! Have met only a very few of you in person, but feel many are as close as some friends on our street!
My TV viewing is pretty well limited to PBS, but that includes Masterpiece, Frontline, Nature, Nova, etc. But I also watch bits and pieces of commercial stations, especially those that we get only on the digital TV. Usually Judy and I will retire to our bedroom in the evening to watch a few hours of something she wants to watch, leaving the rest of the house for our other family!
I also enjoy helping get Judy packed for her trips to DAR meetings in Washington and a DAR school where she is on the board of directors/supervisors. As a matter of fact, I gotta run and take her to the airport!
Post by: dboh on February 03, 2011, 11:41:03 AM
Post by: kimmer on February 03, 2011, 07:09:31 PM
I'm just kidding you Jack, I'm happy you have a lady to share your life.QUOTE(dboh @ Feb 3 2011, 09:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Looking at your signature, have you read Julia Child's memoir, My Life in France?
I haven't, but I'll watch for it at the library.
Hoping more folks will join in and share.
Post by: RNKIII on February 03, 2011, 08:07:46 PM
I do have a "part-time" job driving the courtesy van for a local auto dealer, 2 - 4 half days a week. So I keep busy gathering and disseminating the local "news" that way. They also have me pick up or deliver cars bought and sold through out the Midwest. From Cody, WY to Fargo, ND to Sioux Falls, SD to Sioux City, IA to Kansas City to Des Moines, to St. Louis, to Chicago, to Milwaukee, to Green Bay, to Duluth and many many many of the smaller cities in between. Get to see a great deal of the countryside over all seasons. Gives me a great opportunity to use my iPod touch or iPad to listen to music or audio books.
My wife and I are the family 'historians', having put together 10 or more volumes of family history / genealogy. We have also contributed family stories to a historical write up titled "The Township of Warwick: A Story through TIme". Warwick is located in extreme southern Ontario west of Toronto and London. This is where my family settled after leaving England.
I volunteer at the local historical society, scanning their collections of paper items so they can be made available digitally.
Getting ready for our younger son's wedding in Chicago the first part of July also occupies a lot of "our" time.
And, of course, checking in to TS a number of times a day.
Whew, think I need to re-retire.
Bob K. rnkiii
Post by: krissel on February 04, 2011, 03:00:05 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Rvd5ngS6Q...=QL&index=1
Post by: Highmac on February 04, 2011, 05:39:12 AM
In the meantime, you are still unearthing more wonderful sites for us to check out
Edit to add: I really do spend far too much time on the Mac - got loads of stuff recorded on the PVR that I intend to watch, as well as books and magazines - and just going for walks with the camera.
Just bought a Blu-ray set A History of Scotland - saw some of it on TV and decided to watch the whole series in glorious HD.
Post by: kcourt on February 27, 2011, 11:31:10 PM
I'm also retired so I don't have any spare time. During the week, I go to exercise class with the seniors four days a week, and afterwards we have coffee together. Then I meet a bunch of ladies every Thursday and we go to lunch. Also, I sing in our Church choir each Saturday. I am active in my church and see several of my neighbors regularly.
When I am alone, I like to play on my Mac - do DVD's, play scrabble, read a few blogs and of course visit TS. I also enjoy working jigsaw puzzles.
On the week-ends, my daughter and her little dog often visit, so we keep busy, and we also go to see my handicapped daughter in another city.
I enjoy being busy, and it keeps me going.
Kathy
Post by: gunug on February 28, 2011, 08:11:03 AM
Post by: kimmer on February 28, 2011, 01:53:42 PM
QUOTE(sneakers @ Feb 27 2011, 06:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And I do a neat "Key Fob" and "Zipper Pull" when my Thumbs are feeling good...
This getting old thing is hard on the body!
This getting old thing is hard on the body!
Sneakers
make spiffy key fobs and zipper pulls. Loads of friends have custom made key fobs and zipper pulls. I have several, and sometimes the zipper pulls on my jackets change themselves over night. Surprise!Oh, and Sneakers
... you do play with Photoshop. 
Post by: Xairbusdriver on February 28, 2011, 02:03:07 PM
Hard to tell exactly what the dimensions are...look almost like they could be weapons...is there a six-ounce lead ball in that rounded end?! 
Post by: Frances144 on March 01, 2011, 09:26:22 AM
Recuperating - so sleeping alot!
Post by: Shades of Gray on March 01, 2011, 10:11:20 AM
Hobbies: guitar playing, reading (fiction: legal, political, medical mysteries; non-fiction: biographies, selected eras of history), computer technology, walking (running until early 50’s).
Post by: Paddy on March 02, 2011, 10:19:33 PM
But, when I do have time, I love to read - I almost always have a book on the go, and belong to both a book club and a neighborhood book trade where we get 12 books a year - trade each month and get to keep the last one. I do have a few favorite TV shows which I always record and watch later without ads. (What did we ever do without DVRs?) I have two great Canon DSLRs and wish I had more time to spend with them and in Photoshop. My garden is always a work in progress - both here and at my parents' cottage, with veggies in the summer there, plus perennials both places. Love to travel - we're off to Eleuthera for the 6th time next week, where I intend to read lots of books, go snorkeling and look a pretty fish, take long walks on the beach and go on photo safaris with my friend Sky, while the The Providers (aka our husbands and son #2 - son #1 is at school and can't come for the first time ever) hunt for dinner in the ocean. One of these days I want to do a walking tour of Ireland - and visit relatives on both sides of my family in England, some of whom I've not seen in 25 years, and go to New Zealand, where a friend has just moved. (No, he's not in Christchurch, thank goodness!)
I also have a collection of hundreds of old family photos and letters now, from both sides of my family. They were all in the basement at my parents' house, deposited there when my grandmother and great aunt died 30 and 33 years ago and nothing was ever done with them. When my parents moved into a retirement apartment this fall, I became the family archivist. There is utterly fascinating stuff in there as I seem to be descended from two clans of pack rats, some of whom liked to write letters and kept everything. I really want to create some photo books, with some of the letters as well, to share with my cousins and sister. I may also transcribe my Dad's sister's writing. She was 19 when she died, but a fascinating person and a wonderful writer. She started keeping a journal at the age of 15 and spent the last 18 months of her life living in England, so wrote her parents regularly. It's an amazing portrait of life as a young girl in the 1930s.
I started scanning the photos at Christmas and framed a bunch of them for my Dad and my sister as presents. They're gorgeous old photos - I have some that are from as far back as the 1860s/1870s and there is one daguerreotype that is probably a bit older than that. Everyone is all dressed up and very stern of course.
So...never time to get bored around here! (and of course, there is TS and I also participate quite a bit at EhMac, the Canadian Mac forum)
Post by: RNKIII on March 02, 2011, 10:57:41 PM
Bob K. rnkiii
Post by: kimmer on March 03, 2011, 12:05:33 PM
QUOTE(Shades of Gray @ Mar 1 2011, 08:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hobbies: guitar playing, reading (fiction: legal, political, medical mysteries; non-fiction: biographies, selected eras of history) ...
Have you ever read anything by Donald Harstad? I recently read The Big Thaw and enjoyed it. Also, for non-fiction I *HIGHLY* recommend "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand -- wonderful book. One that has renewed the joy within my heart.
QUOTE(Paddy @ Mar 2 2011, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I do have a few favorite TV shows which I always record and watch later without ads. (What did we ever do without DVRs?)
I think we all watched less TV.
Your travel plans sound grand. Enjoy your vacation!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 03, 2011, 08:05:49 PM
I trimmed the two huge crepe myrtles this afternoon and put the trash in the little utility trailer my loving wife bought me a few years ago (after 40 years together, 'gifts' become much more practical!
). I usually take the limbs/leaves and such to our church property (some 38 acres, much of it 'natural' and not a few gullies to fill). Got the Highlander stuck trying to push the trailer up an embankment. Of course, I didn't bother bringing my cell phone...walked back the quarter mile to the church and happily found one staff member still there so I could call for help. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of that ant home but I figured I could save a walk back if I didn't get the vehicle out of the mud by the time 'help' arrived. Just as my daughter-in-law pulled up, I got out of the mud hole!The worst part is that my best friend, who I would have called, is in hospital recuperating from three bypass installations! He had two arteries 100% blocked on the left ventricle and another one on the right 50% blocked! I'm not sure he'll make the two practices this Saturday for the Drama being presented Sunday night at our church.
If the practices don't go well, I be "sick" also! There will be nine microphones, five lighting sets and thirteen sound tracks to keep coordinated. We'll have one adult 'directing' the tech guys. One adult will be seeing how well he can prevent feedback with that many mics! I may be operating the CD player (we couldn't find an adult for that job). At least I won't be worrying about trying to record the event (my normal job).
Tomorrow (Friday) I get to make another 180 mile round-trip to my late aunts house to open it up for the new garage door installation. I'm dragging the little trailer with me to work on some shrubs that are too close to a wall. Probably drag them back home since I have to meet the guys from whom we rent those microphones! I'll stop by the church then and program them not to interfere with the two or three other wireless mics that will also be in use Sunday night. But I'm pretty sure I will not be dumping the limbs until next week!
Post by: jcarter on March 04, 2011, 07:54:01 AM
Grandkids, Lilly(our Yellow Lab) are the most fun.
Summer,,,, kayaking, swimming, biking, boating, fishing, photography, traveling to our camp in Maine, sailing when the wind isn't too high.
Working on our house and flower gardens.
We used to travel a lot, but not so much now, though my husband and our geologist daughter raft the Colorado every summer. I stay home with grandkids and pets.
Winter,,,, walking, (Cape Cod is where we live), reading a lot, taking classes, hanging out with friends and family, listening to music. Used to ski but not much any more.
We dont watch a lot of TV, but do love the Discovery channel and things like that. My husband studies a lot, math, science, I love on-line classes in Photoshop, web design. I love cooking too, trying new recipes, our kids are great cooks, always giving me new things to try. (Thank you for the Julia Child book recommendation, and the History of Scotland disc.)
We both love to learn things that we haven't tried before, find a challenge like that is a lot of fun. Find new interests that we never thought we would care about.
I like Economics, and my husband has just finished a lot of research on the history of Religion, that is one I wont attempt. I learned to trap shoot, thats a lot of fun.
And he and one of our kids made a 6 inch reflecting telescope from scratch, even ground the mirror, a two year project.
This is a fun topic, gives us ideas to see what everybody else does. There just never seem to be enough hours in a day to get to do and learn all the things we want to! Time goes by too darn fast.
Jane
Post by: tacit on March 05, 2011, 08:38:19 PM
QUOTE(kimmer @ Feb 3 2011, 04:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm really curious ... how do you pass a few hours for FUN and RELAXATION? I'm not talking about things you do because you have to, or feel you must; I'm thinking of things you do when you want to unwind, things that make you happy, things that give you a break from the daily grind. Do you read? Exercise? Raise pygmy goats? Color with crayons? Hatch practical jokes to play on pals? Serve on committees? Play games on your computer?
I do quite a few things for entertainment, sometimes all at the same time.
I play computer games, particularly World of Warcraft. I used to be a dedicated raider in a raiding guild, but when that started feeling like a job, I quit doing it; nowadays I only game for a few hours a week.
I write a great deal, both fiction and non-fiction (sometimes both at once). I'm turning the large, sprawling travelogue of my time in Eastern Europe into a relentlessly inaccurate and highly irreverent ebook which is looking like it'll be about 200 pages long when it's done, and having a lot of fun doing it. I also write erotica, and recently met a lovely young woman who works as an editor who thinks some of it may be publishable, even. (Would that turn it from 'fun' to 'work'?)
I am a dedicated amateur photographer. I have been a photographer for a number of years, but kind of got out of doing it for a while. Recently, a good friend of mine (who is also an outstanding photographer) has been inviting me on photo trips with him, so I've gotten back into it again.
My photographer friend has two girlfriends, one of whom is a real hardcore outdoor adventurer (mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, camping, hiking, and so on). I've never been much for that sort of outdoor activity, but she's started inviting me on a lot of the trips she goes on--I snowshoed for the first time in my life a couple months back with her, and I now own a mountain bike. It's been a lot of fun, and I think I may have been bitten by the bug.
His other girlfriend is the director of the local museum of science and industry. She hosts two "Science Pub" events a month, where she invites researchers and scientists to a local bar and they give talks and presentations while the audience sits around drinking beer. She also hosts an after-dark event each month at the museum, a late-night, adults-only themed presentation (last month, it was Egyptian-themed) that hilights the museum's newest exhibits. She's someone I really respect and admire (and have, to be honest, a bit of a crush on), and I've been spending a good deal of time at those events. Afterward we often go out to dinner together with my photographer buddy and his other partner.
And I have unexpectedly had my heart stolen by a very, very tiny white Tonkinese kitten who has adopted me, so a fair bit of my recreational time these days is spent cuddling with her.
Post by: dboh on March 06, 2011, 07:11:05 PM