[Libertarian]

Other than PCs and the Internet I really like to get out and shoot guns. I am an avid paper puncher. I would like to get back involved in hunting. We have some really well fed feral pigs around here that need thinning out and my freezer needs filling up!

I also enjoy scuba diving. I have everything x3 or 4 except the tanks. Living 300 miles inland has cramped my scuba pursuit a lot. (so has being broke! laff!)

Tropical fish are another hobby of mine. I used to have two large saltwater tanks with various reef fish. Now all I have is a little ten gallon with a single Pleco.

Last but not least, and he will hurt me if he learns to read and discovers that he is listed as a "hobby", there's my cat. I'm not sure if cats are hobbies or lifestyles. He believes that cats are a human's reason to live.

[Pink Flamingo]

Photography and working with graphics - I'm getting pretty good with Paint Shop Pro and have designed logos, etc., for some web sites.

[AngieM2]

Sewing, crocheting,a little flute playing and trying to learn a hammered dulcimer
being owned by a cat.

AngieM2

[fruit loop]

skydiver, figure skater, war between the states reenactor, romance writer, tropical fish enthusiast, cat lover, activist, genealogist.

[AngieM2]

fruit loop
my daughter is a figure skating coach, and has two national medals.
We were there in ?Detroit during the Nancy/Tonya happening. P has competed in that rink the day before.

What do you skate? individual, pairs, dance?

And some of the sewing I do is ice skating costumes.

AngieM2

[Who Me?]

Gardening, growing culinary and medicinal herbs, and flowers. :flowerfac Budding herbalist wanna-be. Former nurse, interested in medical news and alternative treatments and medicines. Domestic travel, RV'ing. Gourmet cooking. :chef: Pretty rounded, for a tomboy at heart :yes: Who Me?

[Seldom Seen]

Collecting old WW2 rifles,shooting and camping are my 3 biggest. Getting outside and living life is another.

[Aleph Null]

My main hobby is photography.. been really getting into it the last year or two. One of the major reason I am glad to be "out of the anonymous closet" is so I can start sharing some of it with y'all. ;)

c

[Yammy]

Partying, cooking, reading, karaoke or just singing in general, gardening and house plants, I also am learning about herbs.

Oh and crochet! I just did an insane pattern with triple treble crochets, so now I'm able to become a proper gramma :) Not that I plan on that any day soon!

[Aleph Null]

Karaoke? I'm scared. :freakout:

Nice owl btw Yammy! ;)

c

[Jimmy Splinters]

I love scuba diving as well, Lib. When I was in my early 20s, I spent a couple of years working as a cook on a 2-masted gaff-rigged schooner in the Virgin Islands. The 1st mate and I used to get our tanks filled every Monday morning before leaving our home port dock (Charlotte Amalie), and we'd dive whenever we anchored somewhere to let the paying cattle (passengers) go ashore to waste their money. The best, especially in nice clear water, is night diving. Lots of great wreck diving there as well, like the Rhone off Virgin Gorda.

Obviously, I also love sailing but haven't yet been able to justify the expense, both initial and ongoing, of owning a boat.

Since I'm primarily a land-lubber today, I've really taken a shine to landscape design. I've been removing trees and shrubs, cutting and bordering beds, replanting, regrading, building small stone walls...you name it! I'm 3 years into what is probably a 5 or 6 year 'vision' plan I have for my property. I'm hoping I never finish. :lol: The place already looks like a professionally manicured golf course.

Finally, the 'net! I fell in love with net forums back in '99 when I first saw one. The best entertainment available for the money! :beer:

Dan V.

[Brihard]

I'm a bit fo an avid paintballer. Set myself up with some pretty decent gear after my summer training, and have been out several times since then. That's pretty much my single expensive hobby.

[Beach]

A little art, a little golf and an ex-scuba diver here to. My most incredible experience was diving a wreck off of Key West. We went down to feed the 6 foot long moray eel (I think it's name was Elvis) when it looked me in the face, swam around me, weaved between my legs, then wrapped around me. It was awesome...so glad it had been domesticated! They are smooth like silk and love to be pet.

[Midnight_Wolf]

Gardening, fresh water aquariums, ATV'ing and rug making. I used to like to snowmobile but now I find it too darn cold.

[member31]

some of you guys have a lot of stuff stored in this room. how about moving it to storage so we can set up a nice pool table in here?

[Midnight_Wolf]

Okay, I'll take the snowmobile out. But that's it. And only if we can have a game of poker pool. :D

[DarkRose]

I'm really into art, currently. I'm taking classes at a local Commmunity College and am doing Ceramics and 3-D Sculpture & Design this semester. Next semester it will be Ceramics again, the advanced oil painting class and a class in Illustrator.

I'm also into sewing, Costuming, theatre design and performance, cooking (really good with sweets!) and obeying my cats. :lol: If it's artsy craftsy, I usually enjoy it.

[member31]

Okay, I'll take the snowmobile out. But that's it. And only if we can have a game of poker pool. :D

whoa, just looked at the rules. my brain is only this big . . . (fingers almost squeezed together)
:lol:

[Midnight_Wolf]

Rulz, we have Rulz. Now you tell me. I'm not very good at Rulz.

[Yammy]

CK:

I host karaoke shows for a living.... so yeah, karaoke!

[Pepper]

I'm a avid Bird Watcher, and have been since around 1992. I've seen over 181 species of birds during my years of watching. My back yard is a bird haven.

Another hobby of my is hunting for Indian Arrowheads. I have a pretty large collection. Behind my house is woodland and I've been told by the old timers that an Indian village was once back there. I've done some looking around but all I have ever found is small pieces of broken flint. I'm friends with several area farmers and have free range of their fields.

I love ATV'ing. DH and I each have our own. Living in a rural area we have abundant places to ride and climb.

Community wise, I am active in a local nursing home where my sister is Asist.
Adminstrator. I've adopted a few "grandmothers and grandfathers" who either have no family or have family who never visit. It is very rewarding. I love to hear them tell stories of the "good ole days".

Then there is the Internet. I just have "news hound" in my genes I guess. The first forum I found was GLP of all places...lol..at the time I found it there where actually people who posted the news. They all left one by one. That is how I found TB2K. I was hooked the first time I view the forum. Now I also have this place and I am very excited about it. I think we are going to go big time here and if nothing happens I will be an old timer one of these years.

Pepper

[cat-sass]

I also enjoy snowmobiling and hanging out with my 2 kids. I can fix anything (If you give me enough time). I also fancy myself a beer expert (cannot spell connesieur :D ) I enjoy playing video games if it involves shooting stuff or racing. :lol: TV has ruined my imagination so books are out of the question. :beer:

[CTCStrela]

Shooting, Collecting of Cold War/ Civil Defense memorabilia, goth-clubs, camping, IDPA, IPSIC, Spending as much time as possible in St. Augustine :)

[yellowsprings]

One of my hobbies is fixing "broken" computers. You know - the ones who don't have any spyware blockers, firewalls, anti virus - then people wonder what is wrong with the "stupid computer"! I also repair them after they leave them plugged in during a thunder storm! :rolleyes:

I also dabble in herbs; I can, freeze and dehydrate everything I can get my hands on; I have honey bees and chickens; I also make brochures and flyers for local groups free of charge.

['plain o joe']

Cooking and Model Railroads... "N" scale, CSX flags

[Potemkin]

One of my hobbies is fixing "broken" computers. You know - the ones who don't have any spyware blockers, firewalls, anti virus - then people wonder what is wrong with the "stupid computer"! I also repair them after they leave them plugged in during a thunder storm! :rolleyes:

As a hobby? Forget that!

What fun is it to get a call at 9:30 pm because the PC won't print little Johnny's final report for tomorrow 8am class? Of course little Johnny has been loading Grockster to scarf mp3s and suring pr0n! sites so the machine is totally visused/trojaned and spywared.

"I know it is snowing and it is late but could you come over and rescue us? PLEEEAAAASE."

"Sure I want to help", I say, "Why don't you unplug everything and bring it over to my house where I have all of the tools and everything? Just the CPU, I have everything else."

The usual response. "HMM, how about you coming over this weekend?"

I guess little Johnny's report wasn't that important for THEM to get out in the snow. :confused:

[fruit loop]

Who won the national medals?

I've got my Bronze dance medal, Adult silver freeskating test medal and Preliminary freeskate test. I did pairs for awhile but injured my knee and while I was recovering my partner fell in love with my best friend and now they skate together. :) I want to be a coach someday.

Anybody else in Gettysburg last weekend?

[Herbmountain]

My hobbies are what ever I feel like doing this year. Crochet, stained glass art, gardening, herbs of all kinds, making medicinal preparations of all kinds, beaded earrings, making candles and more.

Im a Certified Master Herbalist as well as a Ayruvedic Practitioner, Animal Health Tech, old checker from the days of NCR's and ringing up by hand. I love so many things. Diverse hobbys would be my theme. What ever floats my way.

Pepper. Nice to see someone else who loves Indian Artifacts. When I was growing up, my parents and I spent many years in the Mono County area doing just that. My mom had a huge obsidian bed of chips and tools. We found hundreds of arrowheads in the days when it was not illegal. We always found them on the top of the ground. Never dug. That was a no-no. We found many old bottles at dumps in the desert too. I loved those days. The sound of standing in the middle of the desert and hearing nothing. The sound was huge and staggering. When you lived in the city and went to the desert, you will now what I mean.

[Midnight_Wolf]

Hey Pepper, you like ATV'ing also. What do you guys have? We have a Honda 4trax and a Yamaha Kodiak. We are thinking about getting rid of the 4trax and getting a Grizzly.

[Pepper]

MW, I love ATV'ing. I have a honda rancher 350 and dh has a honda rancher 4x4.

Herb, I do love Indian Artifacts. I never dug for them either your right that is a big no no! All I found where above ground.

[SageTheRage]

Political activism suits me just fine as does writing (political/editorial & poetry). I also enjoy reading hard-hitting, factual books (centered around history, politics, and espionage -preferably gov't spies). Computer addict, of course, elsewise I'd not be here, right?

Camping, hiking & shooting as well as survivalist training beckons me to explore the great outdoors. I'd love to take up canoing & rowing & learn to shoot the rapids. I enjoy animals & nature in general. Have cats, dogs & goats; hope to add chickens next year. As well as get back into herbal & food gardening.

Ok, now for the girlie stuff, I greatly enjoy cooking & making crafts - (I get teased about being the MacGyver of crafts...oh gawd, she's found a piece of tinfoil, lookout, she'll craft it into something & you'll get it as a cheesy gift) but I absolutely abhor shopping, talking on the phone, and trying on clothes...drives me nutty!

Gee, can ya tell c a m m o is my signature color?

[shyLurker]

Favorite old hobby... riding my horse in fresh fallen snow. Had to put him down in '86.

Current hobby... collecting "mercury dimes". Too busy to do other old hobbies ie: fresh water aquariums, going to concerts, etc.

Loretta V.

[Deb Mc]

Uhm, well: reading, gardening, spinning fiber into yarn, and am learning how to knit.

I really like to read about other cultures, Native Americans, and history.

[FrmlyZ]

Hobbies:

My job hasn't left me much free time since Sep 11, 2001.

When I was younger, I worked as a photograher on the side to make money. I have a 12 X12 darkroom with two enlargers. I have 2 Leica M's, 3 Nikons with 16 lenses, 3 Mamiya MF's, 2 Rolleis, a Linhof and an 8 x 10 Deardorff. I also have a calibrated computer with an Epson 2200 printer and scanners. When I get the time I will start doing photography again. Now-a-days, I just do stuff to help nonprofits. Calendars and that sort of thing. I have a P&S digital [Nikon 5000] but don't think I will invest any further until they solve the latitude problem with the chips.

I have 50 fruit trees and I build ponds. I also do all of the cooking. That is enough. :)

edited to add: I forgot about the Blad system in my cabinet.

Best Wishes,,,,,,

Z

[goatlady]

Goats (of course), cheese making, gardening (have 2 large greenhouses) Herb stuff, learning some new skill each year, reading SF as my escapism. No TV reception here and only radio in the car so this site is my window to the news. Also have chickens, cats, and dogs.

[Arubi]

Just about anything. Have tried all types of crafts/handwork, pretty much narrowed it down to copper/tin punch. Painting, mainly Old World Santa's. But if it doesn't move, I'll paint it :D have done alot of rocks. Got interested in them when metal detecting and panning for gold, so many rocks actually look like something...just needs a little paint to bring it out. I quilt, do alot of
crochet and candlewicking, stained glass (but there just so much of that, that you can do if you don't market it...it doesn't wear out :D ) My craft room looks like a small craft store. Just about anything I need is in there and organized to do a project, but I like to make something out of nothing, too ;). I have never made a basket or got into spinning, but will probably try it someday, if there's enough time. :D

Grow my own herbs, for cooking and the special herb blend I make. I love making and collecting "Twig" furniture. I hunt and fish, but not as much as I used to, I got a herniated disk and that pretty much put a stop to it and I decided that I hate being cold. Love ATVing, we have a Polaris 550, gets us back into the woods where the old settlements were. We have an 1800's Welsh village practically in our backyard with remains of 30+ buildings and cellar holes (and dumps :D ) that's where the metal detecting comes in. Needless to say, I love antiques, inherited alot, but attend alot of onsite auctions. Here in Vt. an onsite auction can involve 5-7 generations and up to 10+ buildings (house + outbuildings) Vters. never threw away anything ;) I've got a big collection of books on the old ways and how to do things.

I love the internet, a world of knowledge at my fingertips. :yes:

And....I love my furkids.

[Jodi]

I am an avid crocheter and cross stitcher. Also love to target shoot with hubby when I have time.

Things I'd like to learn. Sewing. Bought a sewing machine...it's still sitting waiting for me to learn it.

And love my yellow lab Rudy....



Jodi

[Brihard]

I enjoy shooting just about any firearm I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, that selection is pretty limited in Canada. As compensation, though, the military lets me play with some really neat stuff. :D I shot a recoilless rifle a bit over a week ago- what a rush!

Aside from that, I'm an avid skiier- downhill, slalom, etc. That's more or less it, though I'm also pretty good at fixing screwed up computers...

[Ginger Quill]

Everyone has some really interesting hobbies!

Fishing & camping for me are tops. Followed by adventures in the freezer department to find the best dinner-in-a-box.

The typical girlie things, like crocheting & sewing. I sounded like I was getting too boring, so I signed up for belly dancing classes. Tonight is my first class - I've got the coin scarf. :beer:

[Betty]

My hobbies include, but are not limited to:

Sewing and quilting, making (and drinking) wine, beading, crochet, gardening both flowers and veggies, watching wildlife, landscape taming, hunting, fishing, and camping, computers, reading, cooking, learning life skills, and drafting patterns. I aspire to be a clothing designer, but that day may never come.

[SAR01]

I love caring, training and working with my animals, but sometimes there just isn't enough hours in the day, (or I have too many animals!)

I do crafts as a way to relax, I love to march to a different drummer, not follow the crowds...I like to watch and learn about other cultures, I love to read, only for about 3 yrs my eyes got to the point it was too hard to focus... so I am getting not bi focals..but TRI focals.. I am OLD

I am hooked on the OC and North Shores.

I love Pink Flloyd and at the other end, I love Clay Aiken.... :yes:

I try to teach myself something new once a yr.
Oh yeah I grow herbs and have been teaching myself bits and pieces so I can count on ME instead of a dr. if need be.

I guess I must lead a boring life...but I'm happy! :)

[Herbmountain]

Why would you call that a boring life? It is an honerable life and it is your joy. You are talking about my life sans the culture books. :yes:

We have a whole house of critters...our furry people. And yes, my house is very clean. They are my family. I remember going over pictures of me as a kid and my mom was laughing and telling me "everywhere you went, five or six animals went with you". I was the last child. We were all 5 years apart so I played with the animals. To this day I still have 5-6 animals surrounding me all the time. And it is great!

[SAR01]

Well, It is not boring to me, but to others.... most in my family would much rather go to Cancun, or British Columbia, or ..well name a place. I am CONTENT to be home and a caregiver to furkids...

Sometimes I feel guilty, Dan would love to travel the US in an RV, doing contracting as we go.. I need a home base...we are so different in some things, but I guess that is why we get along so well!

I love my family and real kids, but I get a deep spiritual satifaction communing with nature...actually, sometimes more there then with people. I am not anti social.... I just get upset with "people" as in general.

So I figured out a long time ago.. if I just quistly trudge forward, learn from past mistakes, always try to be a better person....help when I can, and stand back when I should and know the difference...

I come in contact with alot of people, some I may never meet in person. I just hope I touch their lives in a good way.

anyway, just stopped for a cup of coffee, now going back to making angels...I have to get them done and in the mail. this yr, I am putting some aromatic herbs in their hands instead of flowers.! :)

[SageTheRage]

Perhaps, SAR01, you could find a way to commune w/nature along the RV trail while your DH is working on his self-contracting jobs? Maybe you guys could arrange for just so many months out of the year to travel? Summertime perhaps? I'll bet you could add many unusual things to your craft kits that you'd collect in your travels cross country.

You sound like such a gentle soul and full of love & warmth...hearth and family and not boring at all!

BTW: I understand what you mean about getting upset with people! Ok, well thx for taking a coffee break with us...now get back to your angel making (they sound so pretty and prolly smell even prettier!)

Peace,
Sage

[SAR01]

thanks, Sage... I would be willing to go, as between family and internet friends, we could pretty much travel and never stay too long to where out a welcome. I told him, once the horses are gone and we are down to 2 pets, I'd do it.. but that the animals have to find the right home.. of pass away .

I just don;t have someone that would come for extended time for all the animals we have.

but I do think and actually plan for it down the road.

:)



ok, I'll post a pic of the angels when done!

[Unique]

Here is my hobby; Address Tiles :D

[Unique]

Here is another one :D

[Unique]

Last picture. Really Fun Huh? Once I started I was hooked! So far I've made about 10 different designs.

[SAR01]

those Tiles are lovely, plus you can be very creative in making them.

here is 2 of the Angels I got done last night

Hmmm file is too large it is 60 kb. will post them and link to them later.

let me try the lighted basket:

[booger]

Reading, learning, etc.

Gardening.

Daydreaming.

Crocheting.

Music.

Sewing and everything that leads up to that.

Laughing at everything and everyone (nothing is sacred :D ).

Being cheap.

Thinking.

Crafting of just about anything found into something else.

People watching.

Writing and doing it badly. :yes:

[blue gecko]

I love trying new things and don't consider unfinished hobby projects a waste...just something for me to pick up again later. I try my hand at small farming, stained glass, tile work (my first business was making custom tile murals which led to wall murals and sign writing), gardening, cooking/canning/preserving/brewing (my degree is in nutrition and food science...just can't help my self if it has to do with food and independence I'm probably in the middle of it. I've been cooking since I was 4 and 'restaurant' is in my blood.) I'm in love with the practical things in life. I grow medicinal, practical and edible plants. Collect hand powered tools and antiques. I've designed and am the contractor for my bermed, ICF, partially solar home (lots of cool salvage went into the 'project'). My second business was a Day Spa/salon, the third a Taekwando school and I just moved my current business (private practice in massage therapy)to my home. Now I get to play with all my toys any time I want! BG

[Unique]

Blue Gecko you are so cool.

Three very different businesses! I would of course be interested in the tile wall murals. Sounds very creative and FUN.

[blue gecko]

Unique, I think your work is pretty darn sweet! Are you painting the numbers or making them out of tile? I'd be glad to share my 'secrets'. There are several techniques I used that you might like to try. BG

[SAR01]

wow Blue Gecko, that is really neat!
I'd love to have a bermed home ...and solar!
I do massage therapy,too... but did not take classes...I am a Reiki Channel, and do theraputic touch, I am thinking of working with trigger therapy.. massage the trigger points for those with Fybromyalgia. I also (very sporatically anymore) work with Police on missing people cases, and "talk with animals" hehehe

since I can't seem to get the angels to post, here is a link to where they are.

http://p080.ezboard.com/finnerconnectionsfrm146.showMessage?topicID=51.topic

[A.T.Hagan]

These days I'm not sure if I have hobbies or various manifestations of obsessive/compulsive disorder.

I'm a bibliophile from way back - except that I seldom have time to read fiction anymore. Mostly I seem to end up reading how-to stuff. Beekeeping, studying for a Ham license, gardening, botany, whatever is on the agenda of the time. Sure wish I could have those hours back I wasted watching television as a child!

There's all the usual homesteading activities as well - gardening in various flavors, livestock, food preservation and storage, and so on. That's most of my discretionary free time now.

Shooting. I like shooting but somehow once I got married, we started having kids, bought our first home, there just doesn't ever seem to be any time for it. I used to live on our local range, but it's been years since I last unpacked my reloading gear. Probably couldn't hit my hat at ten yards with a pistol or rifle anymore.

Once in while I indulge in a certain low taste for 1950's era monster movies and nuclear war flicks.

.....Alan.

[Unique]

Saro1
The Angels are so tender. Will I break a rule if I asked the question...do you sell these? maybe you could p.m. me?

Blue Gecko
I'm using metal numbers on these three but have used the pre-made number tiles. Both look good. I seem to be stuck in the wood frames for these signs. Would love to start doing the drywall for decorations. I know it is done but seems like it would be too heavy. Do you screw in plywood first?

Off to learn about Bermed homes?

[goatlady]

I've been to BGs home and it is awsome!! She has 2 kitchens and a 2-story solarium with full size trees and a waterfall!! She made ceramic tiles for her 12' deep window sills that you would swear were cut from rock/mineral specimens - absolutely stunning. Sorry, BG, just had to tout your talents lady! :tup:

[SAR01]

Hi AT Hagan! I'd like to do the Beekeeper, just not ready at this point. too many irons in the fire, and 3 neighbors already are doing it for a business.

I'd love to see pictures of BG home.

Unique... yes I sell them (the angels) for the holidays, or I have done them for wedding favors...or birthdays and I add the birthday colors and gem stone.

you can go to IC, on the bottom of each page has the B and W email kitty brings me mail :)

if you are interested , and want one for Christmas gifts, I need to get on it right away!.

Here is a link to our Flea Market forum and price list

http://p080.ezboard.com/finnerconnectionsfrm136.showMessage?topicID=49.topic

[Herbmountain]

Unique Those are beautiful. Im impressed. I love stained glass and would love to learn tile making. I save the glass chips and make stepping stones for the garden and finding the right cement? I have not figured that one out yet. And your art lasts forever. How lovely.

[Unique]

Thank You Hermountain!

ANYONE can tile!! Especially mosiacs. I have used an expensive special glass tile before but you might ask blue gecko about regular glass because the mortar is acidic and can eat through the wrong materials like mirrors?

Honestly do not really know what I'm doing I learned at home depot, then I just played. There are tons of different tiles out there. I practiced on a tile saw to cut out little fish and ivy ect.. Also lots of fun grout colors but the really rich bright reds and yellow grouts require special order I get those from a flooring store.

BTW I want to see Blue Gecko's home!!!!! SAR01 I want them for my little 's birthday!! :yes:

[goatlady]

How can I describe the fine 10 or 12' wide covered front veranda with built in benches overlooking her marsh/bog garden with the runoff water meandering through the adjoining herb garden and strolling down the hill and coming upon her Japanese pond area complete with pagoda on an island, granted small but VERY effective. The woman is talanted and full of energy.

[Flint]

I collect baseball cards. The focus of my collection is quantity at the expense of quality (or, since those terms are hard to apply, let's say I focus on common cards rather than rare cards.) There are a zillion common cards, and I can purchase them for less than a penny a card, whereas packs of cards even for the cheap ones at WalMart cost around 25 cents a card.

I can buy card boxes for $3 that hold 5000 cards each, so the boxes holding the cards cost only slightly less than the cards in the boxes. They are also probably worth more on the open market, but it's a close call...

I don't know how many here have seen any baseball cards lately. They are really kewl, shiny and bright and durable and totally useless. I love them. I have more than a quarter of a million of them. And no two are alike! I have an agreement with some dealers, who allow me to lug home thousands of cards at a crack, sift through them to remove any I don't already have, return the rest and buy those I wanted kind of by the pound. They'd have been thrown out anyway, so everyone wins.

Recently (last year), I decided to reorganize my collection. Most of my cards were alphabetical by player (some cards have multiple players, or are checklists, or have other depictions that aren't single players, so that's another grouping). The individual players were organized by set, and the sets were organized by year (the collection has up to 350 cards of a single player!). These were all in albums containing 9-pocket plastic pages. So the task was to remove every card, re-sort them all, and re-insert them into the pages. For a quarter million cards, this took a few hours every day for 8 months. Gotta love it.

But they've been sorted by set (the new organization) for over a year now, and maybe it's time for a new method. Should I do it by team? Man, decisions, decisions.

Meanwhile, of course, new cards continue to pile up, which are now also sorted by set. I have about 6500 cards sitting here in boxes, awaiting albums and pages. It costs about $150/dozen albums with pages, and each album holds about 800 cards. Let's see (calculating now), that's about 8 dozen, or about $1200. No, I think I'll postpone THAT expense.

So I guess I'll go ride the Harley. The Harley is NOT a hobby, it's an essential. I can understand those of you who settle for mere football or basketball cards (that's all the rest of you, right?), but I can't understand those who settle for Hondas or Yamahas. Time to upgrade, people. No need to live a life of bare subsistence. Surely you crave meaning in your lives!

[Libertarian]

Motorcycles are an essential, Harleys are an affectation. I prefer Yamahas but I won't hold your love of heavy, expensive steel against you. ;) Two wheels are far better than four any day of the week. Us two wheelers have to stick together.

( :( Unfortunately I sold my bike when I went overseas and haven't replaced it yet.)

[goatlady]

Hey Flint - ever make it out to the Sturgis Rally? Most impressive gathering, to say the least!

[Flint]

Libertarian:

Your post bespeaks a rather pathetic lack of experience. Take it from someone who has tried them all (and still owns a Ninja 250 I wouldn't part with for anything). Last February, I got the urge for a new bike (mine was 12 years old and had over 100,000 miles on it, and was consuming a lot of maintenance dollars). I wanted a touring bike, price no object, the best. I test-rode the BMW, the Goldwing, and the Harley. I detested the BMW, simply not my style. Passenger accommodations were awful as well. Avoid the BMW. The Goldwing and the Harley Ultra Classic were actually a close call. Same price basically, similar features, and I really liked the bright yellow Honda paint job. I honestly don't think I could have gone wrong there, but my wife and I just felt at home on the Harley. The ergonomics were just right, the mileage was better, and of course the style is incomparable. After 8 months and 10,000 miles, we can tell you that we have never given our decision a second thought. We got the 2-tone blue version, and we're excited by it every time we go into the garage, much less when we put our helmets on and head for the horizon.

I work closely with a hardware engineer who bought a Goldwing. We rode each other's bikes and liked them a lot, so the Goldwing isn't a bad choice. He had a different reaction: he promptly sold his Godwing and bought a Harley Electra Glide Classic. He's now delighted, and he says his wife in the back seat is also much happier. Yes Virginia, there is a difference. An affectation it's not. An expense it surely is. At 20K, you have to really WANT one of these bikes, either one. So this might be one of those cases where ignorance is bliss.

[Flint]

Goatlady:

I was there this last summer. You are correct, it was wild. There were an estimated 750,000 motorcyles attending. Those who haven't been there simply can't grasp what this means. It means people camping on the prairie for miles around. It means Sturgis has the largest population in the Mountain time zone outside of Denver. It means every road in the black hills is crammed with bikes. It means people camping on the medians of I90, and in every city park in Rapid City. It means long lines just to get in the door of the Rapid City Harley dealer (a cavernous store with a vast inventory). It means (unfortunately) half a dozen road deaths, a couple of childbirths, and 24-hour partying for many miles around. It means the difference between going broke and staying in business for hundreds of small businesses in the area (dwarfing Christmas). A wonderful opportunity to meet great people, have great experiences, do things you ordinarily wouldn't dream of doing, and engrave permanent memories into your brain.

[Libertarian]

No Flint, I have tried the Harleys. I agree that they are great bikes but my Yamaha 750 Special was... well, special. It was a great ride. In all seriousnes, I do not denigrate your choice of rides. It is a very good bike. I just prefer my haha.

[SAR01]

I collected and traded baseball cards as a little girl, then the other girls made fun of me, so I quit! I still love Baseball and hate that I let ridicule stop me.. I could have had a goldmine in cards!.

I have a very dear friend that she and her hubby go to Sturgis every yr. they USE to ride from Ohio to Sturgis on their Harley..but the last 4 yrs, (He has been sickly) so the pull a trailer with the bike and ride in the last 100 miles. this last summer may well be his last trip to Sturgis. :(

Dan had a Water Buffalo.. the original everything.. it was "his baby".. I drew the line when he was going to bring it in the FR for a wax job! :D

I'd like to get a Gold Wing and go on a country "cruising" tour once before I hurt to bad to straddle the seat. But he wants a Harley. well, maybe those leather chaps I wore in the show ring may still come in handy! :yes:

[Flint]

SARO1:

As far as I'm concerned, you could flip a coin. The Harley and the Gold Wing, despite the cultural gulf, are interchangeable in most ways - comfort, accommodations, electronics, etc. My wife says the passenger seat is pretty much the same, except the Honda is a little bit plusher, and the Harley allows the passenger a little bit more control of the stereo and the radio. Either one works great for an all-day trip, day after day.

Libertarian:

I also recommend the Kawasaki ninja 250. It's a blast. Redline at 14,000, no power below 10,000, six forward gears and lots of active tapdancing to stay in that narrow powerband (peak at 12,000). Also lots of top-end replacements.

[goatlady]

Flint and you other bikers, I live west of Custer off Highway 16 and though I don't ride I do love the Rally, traffic and all. I truly prefer those yummy GoldWings, I can hardly tell when they pull up beside me at the stoplight but I've seen so brautiful Harleys through the years living here. If I haven't moved by next August give me a heads up - got extra bedrooms and guarenteed no lines for the 2nd bathroom and the coffee pot!!

[big kumara]

Hey Flint, if you drove up hwy 81 through SD, you drove right past my house.

[sparkky]

mag fed rifles and pistols are probably as close to I come to a hobby. To aggrivate myself I am consumed by playing fantasy football. I did the baseball card thing too. Sold most of everything except a few sets and George Brett cards.

[A.T.Hagan]

That collectibles business will run you nuts after a while if you don't get a grip on it.

Started to go that way with antique military bolt action rifles before a seizure of intelligence took hold of me and I got rid of them all except for my O3A3. Collectible books? No room! Got my fictional old friends that I'll always keep, my orginal Playboy Press 1st edition of Lucifer's Hammer and the rest had to go.

If it hasn't got a practical use I try not to keep it around, but then that's me. House is still stuffed to the rafters anyway. It's an occupational hazard of a survivalist.

.....Alan.

[blue gecko]

Goatlady, You're determined to make me learn how to post pics aren't you! I guess you'll just have to come for a visit and show me the ropes. Right now everything is so muddy and washed out I'd be embarassed to show anyone 'the grounds'. This house has been so fun to build and the most awesome part is the interest that folks have taken in the 'artsie' things. Everyone has wanted to contribute something special...how cool is that? The day before Thanksgiving the cabinet maker brought me the top for the work island. It's so pretty! 3 x 6 hard rock maple with inlayed black walnut lamoiux(sp?) stars surrounded by paduc (a red toned wood) in each corner. He asked me if I minded if he added inlayed designs to the projects he's working on...minded! what could I say...I didn't want to hurt his feelings LOL. I've been seasoning it with olive oil and it really brings out the wood grain. My life is one big string of projects and I never know just what is next. My only regret is that life is just not long enough to try my hand at everything available...I'll be giving it the old college try though!
Herbmountain you might try using thin set for placing your stained glass in stepping stones. A friend makes hers using cardboard boxes lined with a trash bag for molds. She puts all kinds of interesting things in the stones including old jewelry, small toys, old plates and the like. I plan on trying my hand at it as soon as the little greenhouse outside the basement entrance is completed. I was thinking about making a 'mural' type walkway out of several stones using pieces of left over stained glass, tiles and/or river rock.
Unique, 'drywall for decorations'? Please elaborate. Do you know about low fire paint? It's very neat stuff. Acrylic paint is applied to tile or glass (I've even done a bathroom sink) then fired in a regular oven. It's fairly durable and would give you the ability to incorporate different fonts and styles of numbers. Something like those elaborate art decco styles might be appealing. I believe its made by Artex.
Goatlady, I had a feeling you were a biker chick! There is a big rally in Fayetteville, Arkansas each year during the blues fest and then there is another in Eureka Springs that you would probably enjoy as well. Both towns are very interesting to visit. Bikes have become so popular around the Ozarks. It has some of the most scenic byways in the country.
Saro1, it's always nice to meet a fellow bodyworker! I got a call last night from a friend wanting urge my business into the teaching direction along with a couple of other outstanding therapists...I had a dream about it a night or two before he called...I guess there is something in the air or at least a think tank in my future! BG

[riddler]

OK, I'll play....

Golf and Karaoke (didn't want Yammy to be the only one to get a hard time for this karaoke thing....) If one day I get really brave, I'll put the karaoke pic in my profile - it's the only pic in the last 10 years I have of me.

Too much time away from Austin to play much golf (once a week if I'm real lucky). These days I seem to spend more time in Seattle than Austin.

Even less time for karaoke - if my stepson's with his dad (supposed to be once every two weeks), we'll go sing. That realistically ends up being once a month or so.

Not sure which one is the most enjoyable - both are a great departure from reality.

[rb.]

I'll play too. I'm always late for everything. :mad:

Genealogy, reading (history, anthropology, earth sciences, east coast Canadian fiction), quilting, cross stitch and gardening.

I haven't had much time for hobbies this past year, except for digging up the front lawn to start my English cottage garden.

Unique, I just LOVE your mosaic tile house numbers. That's something I'd like to try. Arubi, I like yours, too, the copper/tin punching. That's something I've wanted to try for quite a while. I'd also like to try stained glass. So many things, so little time. ;)

[Unique]

rb
Thank you! Try it you will like it! I want to learn stain glass as well. Do they teach that at home depot too?(LOL) Your garden sounds pretty do you have a white picket fence?

[rb.]

No picket fence, Unique. I'm thinking of using the same stone as my paths to make a wall about a foot high. I thought it would take about 4 years to complete, but I will probably be done by the end of summer 2005.

[MzJag]

I have a sign in my yard that says "I fought the lawn and the lawn won!" Actually, I absolutely love gardening, both flowers, vegetables and herbs but this acre seems to beat me down every year. Like Arubi, if it stands still long enough I will paint it as that has always been a love of mine. I do alot of sewing, floral designs, interior design, and crocheting when time permits. I'm teaching myself knitting. I am currently doing my best to stay vertical instead of horizontal on my 100th Anniversary Harley that DH and I each got last year so in the interim I enjoy riding with him anywhere we can sneak away to.

Plain O Joe; I just spotted a rubbermaid box of railroad cars in my attic. Is the scale written on them. My MIL spent a fortune on these for my boys and they would much rather be outdoors so they weren't played with often. I'd be glad to share them with someone who enjoys them rather than send them to the local salvation army.

Midnight Wolf; I would absolutely love to learn rug making but haven't found a whole lot of this on the net.

Most of our extra time is spent deeply involved in hosting the following festivals.
(Contraband Days-Pirate Festival, Mardi Gras, Blazin Bikes-Biker Rally) When we aren't decorating parade floats, designing costumes, creating stage decorations or cooking we get the hell out of town to the other festivals. Cajuns are surely a strange bunch to others because we don't have to have a reason to have a party. If the sun comes up........that's reason enough; If it rains.............that's a gumbo and a dance; Birthdays, Holidays and such are just added bonuses. We work hard and we play even harder! :)

[Libertarian]

Plain old Joe says that if they are "N" guage he wants me to have them! :D

[LizardQueen]

My list -
reading - anything I can get my hands on, mostly history
gardening -more square footage planted in vegetables than we have house, plus I've been trying to shoehorn grapes, berries, and a small orchard into various corners of our lot.
canoeing - we have an ancient 17' Grumman beater
drawing - I've made childrens books for my nephews, and am considering trying to publish them
learning to ride my "new" (to me) 1993 Suzuki GS500 (good beginner bike for tall people like me). I got my license in July, bought the bike in August.
writing - just starting collecting background material for the great american novel I have in my head,

I also collect Russian Cold War doodads - medals, badges, militaria, Lenin pins, etc. I also have some silverware that came from the gov't stockpiles that Yeltsin sold off when things went to hell there in the early 1990s. I've also got one of those Vostok rocket commemorative clocks - it still works.

I also have a bow but haven't shot in awhile. DH is teaching me how to shoot a rifle.

I know how to knit and sew but don't have the attention span to finish anything of that I start. Sewing I can get through, knitting bores me stiff. I admire anyone who can make it through a whole mitten :lol:.

DH has 2 motorcycles (both Hondas), bikes a lot, is a cross-country skier, and makes really good beer.

LQ/Tweak