Other Intrestes, Hobbies?

Oh, I play a little golf too...

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RIFT_LAKES_RULE

Member of the Darkside Tang's Rule!
I really love playing golf but rarely find the time to get out there much anymore. I lived on a small golf course in Arkansas and played atleast 5 days a week, got pretty darned good at it for a redneck, nuthin like goin out and showin up a bunch of wealthy "collars" at their own game. Now that I'm a family man, most of my hobbies are done around the house, can't get out as much. Most of my hobbies are basically good ole redneck hillbilly hobby's such as Huntin, Fishin, Shootin, Archery, Reloading, and Winemaking. My favorite type of hunting is Turkey hunting in the spring time, there's nuthin I'd rather be doin in the spring than listenin to an old Tom gobblin his head off. I'm also the President of the Eastern Panhandle Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. For those of you not in the know, the NWTF is one of the largest non profit conservation orginizations in the world. The West Virginia State Chapter donated $192,000 year before last to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, we went in halfs with them to buy a large property that is now a Wildlife Management Area open to public hunting and it will stay that way FOREVER!!!! My little local chapter has a banquet every year, the past 3 yrs we've raised $28k, $32k, and $34k at the banquet which goes to the National Superfund and is used all over the country, parts of Mexico and Canada. The $192k was all from the State Chapter tho, none of that came from the National Superfund, it came from good ole hillbilly redneck turkey hunters like myself here in WV!!!! I know I'm doin a lot of braggin here, but I'm mighty proud to be a part of an orginization that is doing so much for the wildlife and the hunting heritage. If there weren't people like us out here, my great grandchildren might not have any land available to go out and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. For those that might be thinking, helping wildlife, but killing them too.... The Wild Turkey was nearly extinct not all that long ago, then a bunch of dissatisfied turkey hunters joined together in 73 forming the NWTF, at that time there were a mere 1.3 million turkeys left.... there are now over 7 million and there are nearly 3 million turkey hunters these days (almost triple). I'd say it's working!!!! Sorry for rambling on so long about it, but to most people that don't know who we are it almost sounds like a joke..... but it ain't.
 

chris_todd

Members
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pat Kelly @ Dec 24 2008, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Since we have so many new people I figured I would bring this one up again.

What other hobbies do you have besides the fish?
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Amateur astronomy is my other major hobby; I've been doing that for about 4 years now, and love to get out in the middle of no where all by myself and soak up the wonders the Universe has to offer. I was until recently the vice president of the Howard Astronomical League (www.howardastro.org), and I still get out to observe on a fairly regular basis. My eight year old daughter has caught the bug as well, so that's cool that we can share. She digs the fish and aquatic plants we keep, too.

Now that I have kids and a family and a mortgage and all, there are a number of other things I used to do for hobbies that I can no longer afford (either because of the expense or because I don't have time):
1) golf (I was never very good, but I enjoyed it)
2) bowling (I had a 175 average, and have played in numerous leagues since I was about 10 years old)
3) auto racing (I spent a very brief period attempting to race NASCAR-sanctioned street stocks in Pittsburgh); still a big fan of NASCAR and F1, though not as much time to spend watching as I used to.
4) woodworking and other handyman type projects (not enough room in my current basement for a proper shop)
5) amateur telescope making - basically, building my own telescopes (except for grinding the glass myself - down that road lies madness!)

Basically, I am a science geek, and I don't have hobbies, I have obsessions. For example, since my wife and I got back into this hobby in early September, we've gone from one tank to fifteen, LOL! Though I think that may be our limit, as we have discovered that maintaining that many tanks is becoming annoying, given that they are scattered through the house. We probably won't build a fish room, since most of what we enjoy about fish keeping involves watching the fish. We have, however, setup a half dozen 5.5 gallon tanks on a utility shelf in our laundry room for growing aquatic plants. We'll be equipping that with CO2 sometime in the next month or so.

Chris Todd
 

mscichlid

Founder
Photography

Gardening
Bass Guitar (just got back into after a...'em long, long break-'cos of Mike really. My brother gave me one for my b-day 2 years ago and I didn't touch it until Mike started taking lessons.)
Genealogy (had to take a break, but I've gone as far as I can on the maternal side. Not necessarily interested in the paternal side but I guess I have to do it.)

Reading, (Science fiction and fantasy mostly, i.e. Tad Williams, Stephen King, etc., software manuals)
Television (What can I say? I F*'n love it!)
Music (Ipod loading and listening)
Graphic design
Computers
 

RIFT_LAKES_RULE

Member of the Darkside Tang's Rule!
I like to play these occasionally....

1985 Les Paul Standard (added EMG pickups)
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ESP EX-400BD LTD and Coffin Case
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marge618

CCA member
What fun. Thanks for bringing this thread back around.

1. Laxison: You said you 'have other hobbies and interests like seeing live bands play (concerts, street corner musicians, some guy with an acoustic playing in front of a bar audience, etc.)'

Music:I didn't think of this as a hobby. I have friends who play and sing in small bars and restaurants in Fells Point in Baltimore. We get together once or twice a month to enjoy the music. (They sing and play, I drink and say 'nice crowd'.) Another friend plays in an oldies band on first Fridays in the Canton area of Baltimore. (Great fun, lots of people, and I really enjoy the songs from the 60's and 70's. I drink and say 'nice crowd'.)

2. I read allot. Always have a book or magazine with me, and one or two on the shelf waiting to be read. Last year I joined a book club. We read one book a month, get together at a moderator's house, and discuss all aspects of the book. (It's gets even better when we disagree!) Often the conversation gets heated about some topic related to the book, the author, a movie on the same subject or set in the same locale. We always have a good time, no food or drink..And I always leave saying 'nice crowd'.

3. Dining out is big too. The Baltimore Foodies sets up dining events twice a month. Three or four times a year I join them for something yummy. Though I would like to go more often, calories, time and money are restrictions.) Good friends, good food and red wine are always involved. Most of the time 2 or 3 of us sign up together, and there are 'regulars' who often attend so there are always close friends in the crowd, and new friends to meet.

4. Family. Back when we first started this thread this should have been my number 1!
I love planning things to do with my adult son and daughter. We always do something fun once a week. It could be coffee on Sat morning, going to the Farmers Market on Sunday, a wine tasting on Tuesday, lunch out, cooking a new Thai or Indian dish at home. Recently we have added anything vegetarian to the list. (First it was to accommodate my son's girlfriend. Now we all enjoy a much wider variety of delicious vegetarian food as side dishes.)

At least once a year I go to see family and friends in Minnesota. We always have a blast. The Minnesota State Fair in August is a biggy. This December I went for my Dad's 84th birthday. (2 below zero with a wind chill to 10 below, 6 inches of snow on the ground and snow still falling hard..and my airline still flew out on time. The folks said ' good that you are flying out today, we expect a 'real winter storm' tomorrow'.) No matter how long I stay I always wish it were longer.

I have a sister who lives in McPherson Square in DC. We get together at least once a month. I will be at her place during inauguration week. We don't have tickets to any of the events. Just want to be there to experience the excitement and crowds.

5. Gadgets. I don't have a better word for this. The computer I am using to write this is an example. My son has it hooked up through my TV screen. High speed Internet and a wireless mouse. My V cell phone fits this bill too. Takes pictures, messages, calendar events, alarm...and a bunch of features I have yet to master. A thermal electric wine cellar (holds 12 bottles) will soon be installed where the Xmas tree now stands.

6. Time with friends. I have close friends who love to go out: Plays, concerts, shows, movies, coffee shops, a lot of trying out new places. Some of my favorite time with friends is spent here at home: We get together to chat, cook, eat and drink wine.
Capital Cichlid Association meetings are one of those good times with good friends. I look forward to the speaker, the auction, the raffle, and the celery. I especially like the field trips and special occasion get togethers. The best part is the camaraderie. Oh yeah, and I get to learn more about tropical fish.

Happy Holidays!
 

Charlutz

Members
Resurrection of this thread. Guess I should update to say I got the front projector I wanted last year. 127" of HD glory. Also got a Blu ray player for Christmas.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Charlutz @ Sep 19 2007, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
I have a million hobbies. Jack of all hobbies, master of none.

Home theater. I love movies and am constantly tweaking my setup. Hope to exchange my 57" rear projection for a 110" front projector in the next few months.[/b]

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Charlutz

Members
Would you believe I am a Giants fan and didn't even watch last year's super bowl at home? I have a good friend who throws a party every year and we went there. I was going to walk home once the game started but then I got superstitious and didn't move from my seat. Saw the whole game at his house. I did record it and have rewatched it many times since. It is a lot of fun to watch sports and movies on it.

I think once the flat screen craze settles down, projectors will become commonplace. You can get a value projector for much less than $1000 these days and have a screen as big as you have space for. All you need to do is be able to control the light in the room.
 
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