What other hobbies do you have

[Ed Svoboda]

Just to kick off a bit of off topic stuff. . . I thought I would ask what other hobbies or interests people have.

I'm into reading, riding my road bike, hanging out with the family, and writing. I've been known to dabble in photography but haven't picked up my camera in months. I also collect fountain pens.

[Merlin]

Cycling, photography, canoeing, reading, sudoku puzzles, renaissance faires...etc.

[Helen]

Collecting vintage ceramic flamingos, art glass pieces from the 50s and 60s, and vintage borzoi collectables. When not wandering around the antique stores, I usually spend my time reading, drinking margaritas on the deck :shock: (summer hobby), or spending time with my friends.

[SteveSklar]

cycling, astronomy, coins. used to also love riding my motorcycle early sat/sunday morning when it's peaceful and quiet. But no more motorcycle, so I use my car ... close but not the same.

should also mention watching Formula 1 and MotoGP racing :)

[Ed Svoboda]

Should I mention that the motorcycle and peace and quiet might not go well together? :D

I used to photography about a half dozen CART races a year (it was a series that used to be called IndyCar and then there was this split which just finally ended . . . ) I follow F1 and to a lesser extent ALMS these days. I also like to cook. At the moment I am trying to perfect a roasted fingerling potatoes with truffles recipe. A couple of weeks ago I made some crazy difficult French chicken recipe that involved chicken breasts and forcemeat (basically ground up dark chicken meat).

[Merlin]

Should I mention that the motorcycle and peace and quiet might not go well together? :D

I used to photography about a half dozen CART races a year (it was a series that used to be called IndyCar and then there was this split which just finally ended . . . ) I follow F1 and to a lesser extent ALMS these days. I also like to cook. At the moment I am trying to perfect a roasted fingerling potatoes with truffles recipe. A couple of weeks ago I made some crazy difficult French chicken recipe that involved chicken breasts and forcemeat (basically ground up dark chicken meat).

Mmm....French chicken recipes!

I make one from Alton Brown's first book. It sounds like it'd be horribly heavy...but MMMMMMM!

[Gandalfe]

So many things to try so little time:

1. Music
2. Computers
3. Reading
4. Photography
5. Bicycling and mopeds
6. Travel
7. Food experiences
8. ... okay too much to list.

:mrgreen:

[SteveSklar]

Should I mention that the motorcycle and peace and quiet might not go well together? :D

I used to photography about a half dozen CART races a year (it was a series that used to be called IndyCar and then there was this split which just finally ended . . . ) I follow F1 and to a lesser extent ALMS these days. I also like to cook. At the moment I am trying to perfect a roasted fingerling potatoes with truffles recipe. A couple of weeks ago I made some crazy difficult French chicken recipe that involved chicken breasts and forcemeat (basically ground up dark chicken meat).

I don't (didn't) ride harleys .....

I recall ChampCar .. when they split (when George @ Indy got greedy) so did my viewership

[pete]

I don't have TIME for hobbies.

Oh. I'm posting here, aren't I? :oops:.

* Computers.
* Reading.
* Watching movies, particularly Anime (R.O.D. the TV Series is what I'm currently watching. Excellent. The English subtitles are a little lacking -- I know just enough Japanese to know this).
* I like watching pro basketball and baseball, when I have the chance.
* Eating out.

I don't mind cooking and would actually enjoy it if the results were equal to the effort: I can spend 3+ hours making my spaghetti sauce and it's eaten in less than 1/2 hour. Hmmm. If I was getting my private consulting fee for people I like, that'd still be over $150.

Although, Merlin, if you come on down here, I'll see if I can't find a recipe for chicken coq au vin. I've made it two or three times and I've liked the result.

[tictactux]

I don't mind cooking and would actually enjoy it if the results were equal to the effort: I can spend 3+ hours making my spaghetti sauce and it's eaten in less than 1/2 hour.
Now there's a dinner guest candidate. One of my secret idols is Signor Rossini. :-)

Anyhow, same situation here - too many interesting things, not enough time. Which (beyond work and family) is filled with practicing, concerts, bit of photo, bit of 'puting, cooking, hiking. Not much of a TV person, but currently I like Carl Hiaasen's books very much. Oh yes, of course, there's always a clarinet or a sax in need of repair nearby. Did I mention I have a motorbike?

No, I don't do the Five Tibetans when bored. 'cause I'm rarely bored, and basically a flaccid character. Unless there's something to fix in the household, that is.

[Ed Svoboda]

I don't mind cooking and would actually enjoy it if the results were equal to the effort: I can spend 3+ hours making my spaghetti sauce and it's eaten in less than 1/2 hour.
Now there's a dinner guest candidate. One of my secret idols is Signor Rossini. :-)

Anyhow, same situation here - too many interesting things, not enough time. Which (beyond work and family) is filled with practicing, concerts, bit of photo, bit of 'puting, cooking, hiking. Not much of a TV person, but currently I like Carl Hiaasen's books very much. Oh yes, of course, there's always a clarinet or a sax in need of repair nearby. Did I mention I have a motorbike?

No, I don't do the Five Tibetans when bored. 'cause I'm rarely bored, and basically a flaccid character. Unless there's something to fix in the household, that is.

I've been waiting to drop this obscure fact for a couple of months. . .

Did you know that Carl Hiaasen and Warren Zevon were buddies and wrote a song together? (Basket Case off of My Ride's Here)

[Merlin]

I forgot cooking on my list.

Especially chili making.

[Elsie]

Hmmm ... well ... I read books - all sorts - and I write them as well, in addition to editing other people's memoirs etc. I also design websites and I'm just starting off in photography as well.

[pete]

I'm just starting off in photography as well.
Remember the calendar projects ....

[Bassoonist]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.

I also enjoy writing, but I don't do it much.

[Gandalfe]

Welcome Bassoonist. A picture is worth a thousand words. These are very nice examples of your work.

[pete]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.
Again, I point out the calendar projects ....

[tictactux]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.
Again, I point out the calendar projects ....

As in "Pirelli", but with reeds? :mrgreen:

[pete]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.
Again, I point out the calendar projects ....

As in "Pirelli", but with reeds? :mrgreen:
http://woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238 (http://www.woodwindforum.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=150&t=585)

It's in my sig line.

[Bassoonist]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.
Again, I point out the calendar projects ....

But the only "good" (or at least, I think so.) picture I've ever taken is that one in my avatar... and I don't know if it's even good enough. I'm no professional.

[pete]

Drawing, making things on PhotoShop (like my signature), and photography (like my avatar), primarily.
Again, I point out the calendar projects ....

But the only "good" (or at least, I think so.) picture I've ever taken is that one in my avatar... and I don't know if it's even good enough. I'm no professional.
I've only had two actual; pro graphics arts folks that have their pictures published in my calendars. Hey, if you made a bigger one of your avatar or sig-line pic, that'd be just fine.

[HaRon]

Cycling mostly, both my road and mtb. I'm only 5 minutes away from the woods with enough hills to work up a good sweat. Easy to have a 50+ miles ride without seeing anyone else out there (remember this is a small country and very crowded).
I live in the south, close to the German border and within half an hour I can cross the Begian border also with my bike to enjoy a nice beer on my break.

[Ed Svoboda]

Are the borders open between countries. Here in the United States they're not for the most part. You can cross between Canada and the U.S. in various parts of the border easily (such as the boundary waters up in Minnesota).

Cycling mostly, both my road and mtb. I'm only 5 minutes away from the woods with enough hills to work up a good sweat. Easy to have a 50+ miles ride without seeing anyone else out there (remember this is a small country and very crowded).
I live in the south, close to the German border and within half an hour I can cross the Begian border also with my bike to enjoy a nice beer on my break.

[HaRon]

Yes they are. Within the EU for most countries the borders are open, so I can go from Netherlands to Spain, crossing Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, without problems, all open borders. Ofcourse customs and borderpolice sometimes are around to do some checks, but mostly you can just cross the border like you guys do from one state to the other.

The woods I mtb in are also on both sides of the border and you can just peddle around, no problem.

[Ed Svoboda]

That sounds very cool.

It's not quite as cool to say that I drove through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (I'm about six hours to Cleveland from Chicago).

[HaRon]

In six hours you can drive from the south here up to the north and back, crossing the whole country and still have time for a decent lunch.

[Ed Svoboda]

I can make it to Canada in about six hours if I cross at Windsor (near Detroit). It's probably a six hour drive from the far north to the far south of the state of Illinois. Generally speaking it can be done on one road.

The advantage of being in Chicago is that I can choose to fly a lot of places which beats driving.

[saxmanglen]

Sax playing/recording

Family rearing. 2 young daughters and a wonderful wife.

competitive golf

cycling. Mostly road bike lately but some MTB

computer activities

That keeps me more than busy....

[Ed Svoboda]

Welcome Glen!

[Bassoonist]

I've only had two actual; pro graphics arts folks that have their pictures published in my calendars. Hey, if you made a bigger one of your avatar or sig-line pic, that'd be just fine.

That would work, but I read the rules, and the picture that I took has copyrighted music in it, so that won't work.

[pete]

That would work, but I read the rules, and the picture that I took has copyrighted music in it, so that won't work.
Well, you can take another.

And you can put your signature back. I don't mind.

[Bassoonist]

Take another? :shock: I suppose I could attempt to.

By the way, I can't have my old signature because [IMG] tags are disabled.

[pete]

Well, you could have posted that earlier :P.

There ya be. Is fixed.

[sideC]

I'm into cars. So my actual hobby is owning a restored 1969 Buick Skylark Custom convertible. We use this car mainly to show. We bought it in 1978 and it was restored between 1992 and 2003. We're driving it from New Jersey to Flint, Michigan in July to participate in the Buick Club of America national meet. There will probably be about 1000 old Buicks there, ranging in age from the very first ones, 1903 or '04, to models from the early '90s.

[Ed Svoboda]

I'm into cars. So my actual hobby is owning a restored 1969 Buick Skylark Custom convertible. We use this car mainly to show. We bought it in 1978 and it was restored between 1992 and 2003. We're driving it from New Jersey to Flint, Michigan in July to participate in the Buick Club of America national meet. There will probably be about 1000 old Buicks there, ranging in age from the very first ones, 1903 or '04, to models from the early '90s.

That sounds like fun. Great old cars. I have a brother who is into cars and has a couple of 1964 Chevelle and Malibu SS's. I think he might also have a camero. I can't keep track other than the Chevelle. He's been restoring it for years and I've made a habit of giving him a hard time about how long it has taken him.

I've dreamed about restoring some classic car but I have managed to avoid pulling the trigger on that. I'm also not the most mechanically inclined person when it comes to working on cars.

Julian, you will have to post some photos for us from the show.

[Ed Svoboda]

Sax playing/recording

Family rearing. 2 young daughters and a wonderful wife.

competitive golf

cycling. Mostly road bike lately but some MTB

computer activities

That keeps me more than busy....

Competitive golf? I'm impressed with that. I started to play a bit again last year after a few years off due to a foot injury. I'm as bad as when I stopped playing. :grin:

[saxmanglen]

Competitive golf? I'm impressed with that. I started to play a bit again last year after a few years off due to a foot injury. I'm as bad as when I stopped playing. :grin:




I'd like to say I compete as a scratch player. I'm a long way from that! :roll: I play in a few individual flighted events a year. My handicap right now is 11.2 but I've been as low as 9.1. It's a fun game at most any level.

[Ed Svoboda]

If I could take my score and transpose it to the modified stableford system I would be the greatest golfer ever! :-D

Golf is a deceptively difficult game. I mean how hard can it be to hit a stationary ball?

I need to just stick to playing billiards (which is easier now with all of Illinois being non-smoking).

[saxmanglen]

Actually, I just got back from a round this morning. I shoot 8 over on the front and then turned around and shot 3 over on the back. The only consistency I have is inconsistency. :cry:

[pete]

Because I kinda asked to repost over here, books are a favorite hobby.

Just like movies and anime -- which I may mention later -- I'm fond of a couple genres and if I just said something like, "I like $author the best", that'd be too limiting.

My favorite genres are "fantasy" and "science fiction". People tend to combine both, but the generes don't always combine -- although it can be a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup moment when they do ("You got your fantasy in my science fiction!" "You got your science fiction in my fantasy!" "Mmmm!").

I like books possibly because I went to school to become a creative writing teacher. I eventually realized it'd take waaaaay too long to realize that dream and life's too short.

Anyhow, some of my favorite writers:
* Charles De Lint (fantasy)
* Arthur C. Clarke (hard science fiction)
* Rudy Rucker (von Bitter) (even harder science fiction, non-fiction)
* Piers Anthony (F&SF -- but generally not the Xanth books and his co-author works generally suck)
* Douglas Adams (humorous writings, non-fiction -- although I didn't like The Meaning of Liff)
* Michael Shermer (non-fiction)
* Terry Goodkind (well, his first three books)
* Terry Jones (humorous SF)
* Terry Pratchett (humorous F)
* Spider Robinson (humorous SF, non-fiction)
* Robert Heinlein (hard sf)
* Douglas R. Hofstadter (non-fiction)
* Scott Adams (cartoonist, non-fiction)
* Darby Conley (cartoonist)
* Stephan Pastis (cartoonist)

... and many more.

[pete]

Anime is simply "Japanese animation". This has developed into a "style" (Korean anime, etc.), but "anime" = "Japanese". "Anime" does not mean "giant robots".

The best anime, IMO, is in series format. This is primarily because a lot of the anime movies -- with some big exceptions, like The Iron Giant and similar -- are reductions of anime series or try to explain some plot-point that was not quite developed in the series.

Some of my favorites:

* Full Metal Alchemist. Fantasy. Definitely start here if you've never been into anime before.
* Read or Die: The TV. Sorta science-fictiony. This shows the flexibility of the medium. It's about people that took the statement in Computer Boy about "I know oragami!" to the obvious extreme. However, why I list this as one of the top two to start with is because it's very light and fluffy and you will like the characters. It's consistently on most people's top 10 anime lists.
* Evangelion. Science fiction. This is regarded as a) one of the best and most important anime, evar and b) the defining anime for the "giant robot" genre, even though these are used sparingly. 99% of all anime since Eva make some reference (sometimes incredibly blatant) to Eva.
* Cowboy Bebop. Science fiction. First, this crosses over into music and that's all good (see http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=854 -- I have lotsa links to the music). It's regarded as one of the best animated anime and one with the best plots. And it's really, really kewl. The makers of this anime went on to make Samurai Champloo. If you liked the animation style in Bebop, you'll like Champloo.
* Elfen Lied. Science fiction. WARNING: incredibly graphic (about 60 decapitations in the first 5 minutes of episode 1; nudity, etc.). This one will just blow your mind, tho. I'm not into "graphic", but it fits for this series.

Once you get into anime more, there's an entire sub-class of parody anime, with Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Excel Saga and Pani Poni Dash being some of the major highlights.

Note that YouTube has a lot of the episodes from the above, online.

[pete]

... and I like movies.

Star Wars: Episode IV. A New Hope. Science fiction. Watch it. The sequels are OK. The prequels aren't.
The Matrix. Science fiction. Watch it. Don't even bother with the sequels.
Groundhog Day. Comedy. Watch it. Bill Murray.
Evangelion: Death & Rebirth and Evangelion: The End of Evangelion. Anime. Science fiction.

The Eva picks require an explanation.

Death is a fairly good retelling of the entire Evangelion TV series. Rebirth is a retelling of the last three or so episodes of the TV series from a different viewpoint. However, it was unfinished by the release date, so The End of Evangelion was released to "finish" it.

So, you need to watch both films to get the whole story.

Eventually, all THREE were combined into Revival of Evangelion, but that movie is impossible to get in the US.

[Ed Svoboda]

I love reading. I find it relaxing but tend to go in spurts.

I used to read a lot of Science Fiction when I was in my college years through about the age of 25 or so. Then I moved into some pure fiction for about five years. All along I've been a dedicated non-fiction reader. These days I pretty much just read non-fiction. Mostly history and politics along with my ever growing collection of jazz books.

[acglass]

Funny enough, I don't know any musician who isn't a jack of many trades. I think this follows along the same vein as how grade school musicians tend to excell in their other courses too, not only are musicians the type of people who like to be involved, but the exposure to music tends to expand the mind.

[pete]

Hey, it's Gandalfe, Jr! Which anime is your avatar from?

[Merlin]

I'm making chainmail again. Need to see if I can make a lig out of it.

[Ed Svoboda]

I saw a cool youtube (I think it was) video on making chainmail. It was rather interesting.

[acglass]

Hey, it's Gandalfe, Jr! Which anime is your avatar from?


It's a Japanese Nintendo DS game called Ace Attourney. Perhaps someday it will come out for the Wii, until then, I'll just have to make due with "Rock Band" (once June 22nd rolls around).

[Merlin]

I saw a cool youtube (I think it was) video on making chainmail. It was rather interesting.

Yup, it sure is.

I'm making a bra right now on a commission.

[WoodwindDoubler]

Other than the many music-related things....

Computers, techno gadgets, dusting off my gamer cap for a while, cards, going to the movie theatre, going to see live theatre (especially musicals!), digging my way out of the woodshed and away from the computer to hang out with friends, reading, road trips!!!

[WoodwindDoubler]

It's a Japanese Nintendo DS game called Ace Attourney. Perhaps someday it will come out for the Wii, until then, I'll just have to make due with "Rock Band" (once June 22nd rolls around).

Don't forget Wii music! ... isn't that coming out - later rather than sooner I assume.

[MexicanDragon]

Cell phones, computers, gadgets, internet...

but the biggest one is probably audio. I have a nice little headphone rig, with some limited edition (#39 of 480) Grado headphones (model HF-1). I have a dedicated source (a Toshiba SD-3950 DVD player... reviewed along side a 1995$ cd player in Stereophile a few years ago, it held up but the reviewer thought the 1995$ one was good enough to justify the extra $$$. I picked mine up for 19.95$. It was DEFINATELY worth 1/100th of the price). I also have custom made cables that go to a dedicated headphone amp.

Actually... i have two sources, two amps, and two high(ish) end sets of headphones here on the desk... I need more ears.

**BRENT**

BTW @Pete... no Orson Scott Card? Harmless omission, or act of defiance? ;)

ADDENDUM: Also... I forgot that I'm REALLY into cars. I'm a bimmer fan who hasn't owned one (yet), and I'm thinking of moving to Germany to be able to run on the Autobahn (at least the good section... with no speed limit). I was an avid autocross enthusiast until my beloved AX/DD was destroyed by an uninsured motorist! (My horn was in the car... I was on my way to a performance. 3 miles away, and 10 minutes til call. I only had one phone # and he didn't answer... they wondered what happened until practice the next week). I don't follow much racing, but I did follow the BimmerWorld sponsored BMW 135i that did pretty well. I think it was a GREAT car. If I had 40 grand for a car, that would be it. Yes, I know for 5 grand more I could have the 330i sedan, which I'd love, but the 1 is just great. I don't have 40k anyways... you know I'd get the 135i and struggle with the kids in the back, and strap the Ref 54 alto in the front with the 4-5k saved... ;)

[pete]

BTW @Pete... no Orson Scott Card? Harmless omission, or act of defiance? ;)
Someone I haven't really read too much of.

I liked the "Ender" series -- I haven't bothered with the recent re-writes. I liked the "Alvin Maker" series, too. "Homecoming" was ... OK. After these, I read Lovelock (which he wrote with someone else) and it was monkey hurlage.

Literally.

So, I can suggest him to folks and do, on occasion, but he's not in my top 10.

I think he lives near me, so I have to say good things about him.

[acglass]

Don't forget Wii music! ... isn't that coming out - later rather than sooner I assume.

You know, I havn't heard of it yet but I'll need to do a little research now.

[jazzsax]

1. Music of course
2. Dual line stunt kites
3. Computers
4. Golf
5. Swimming
6. Whatever is on the "honey-do" list