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An easy, non-confrontational subject: Hobbies are GFMPH, what is yours?

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Posted 6/2/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Yooper, the one thing in going to see Heart is that they are still great performers!  Did you see their Induction into the RRHOF recently televised on HBO?  Such powerful performances.  I have seen every exhibit displayed since they opened up the Rock Hall.  Elvis and the Beatles ranked tops with me!  I also enjoyed the U2 exhibit.  There are films which go into great detail of their lives.  I have gone to teacher workshops and seminars there.  Honestly, I urge EVERYONE I meet to go there!!  It is not just Rock music.  Every genre of music is featured from Country,  Gospel, the Blues, Folk, R&B and even Jazz.

I'm sorry, I don't have a copy of my Essay available.  It covered the period from the 1950s through 2001.  Some of the most popular acts today did not exist.  I was surprised to hear just yesterday, that the top female act of recent years (including all #1 hits, sales, etc.) is Katy Perry.  I would have guessed Beyoncé.  (Can you believe the word speller corrected her name?) 

Thank you, David!  The one thing Ron misses the most is playing golf.  With his back troubles he cannot play any longer.  I have gotten behind on my reading here.  That Meniere Disease is taking its toll on me.  I won't complain too much as I see what Ron is going through.  We do talk about you; he wishes you the best.

Posted 6/2/2013 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
My hobby for today is building a deck in the back yard.

My hobby for tonight will be deciding how much advil will be need to overcome the earlier hobby...

Andrew
Posted 6/2/2013 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Understand that part, Andrew. With my pain meds, I sometimes have to determine doses based on my planned activities for the day, and have to make sure I have enough left to make it through the night.

I need my entire elevated rear deck, tore down, a new one built right, with screened panels and a roof, looking for some work? Whoever built the old one was clueless, been surprised it hasn't collapsed in the 8 years I have been in this house. Think its sheer gravity holding it up.

david
Posted 6/3/2013 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
David,
If I lived just a couple of miles closer to you, I'd be over with my tools ripping your place a part.

Nothing more therapeutic than swinging a hammer. :)

I'll do, till I can't do it.

All the best,
Andrew
Posted 6/3/2013 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Andrew,

You might be proud. I re-did our hall ceiling with faux tin panels, there was water damage from years before I bought the house. Came out nice, and for the first time, put up crown molding on my own. Kind of cheated, didn't know how to use a miter box/saw, so I used some corner blocks. Ended up nice, no gaps or unevenness in the moldings or ceiling tiles. In my condition, took me 2 weeks on and off. Earned me some brownie points on the home front. For me, it was a big deal, but gave me some confidence.

I can visualize how to do things, and plan them, but just don't have the skills to match what I can think in my head.

David
Posted 6/3/2013 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Anybody that attempts crown molding gets double extra brownie points from me.

Great work!

Andrew
Posted 6/3/2013 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
thanks Andrew, you made me blush.

my oldest son was over yesterday, he was a professional finish carpenter and cabinet maker for a few years before going to college to work on his engineering degree. I was a little afraid to show him the finished job, because he was OCD about the quality of his wood working, and he knew dear old dad didn't.
but he looked it over, and was very impressed, thought I did a good job. I even took the time to use some kind of caulking to even make the most microscopic fitment lines disappear before I painted. I used pre-primed trim that made things easier.

wish I had an easy way to show you a picture.

david
Posted 6/3/2013 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Purg. To install crown molding all you gotta do is think backwards and have lots of material.
Posted 6/3/2013 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
bertb

I have read that before. Same as cutting and putting up the faux tin ceiling tiles I did before the molding. This is where I think being butt-backward stubborn left hander paid off for me. Because doing the mirror image view of doing something makes perfect sense to my logic. As far as waste, I am a pretty good estimator (that's the numbers side of me working). I never broke, cracked, or ruined a single ceiling tile, and only had 3 left over from the job. on the molding, I never ruined a board, and only had a total of about 8 feet (several pieces combined to that total) left over.

the painting is the part I do like to brag about, I have been doing house type painting since I was very young. I never need to use paint tape, and almost never use drop clothes. I have a very steady hand and almost only ever use brushes, not rollers. it did all that crown molding painting with no taping. not a smudge over the edges anywhere nor a drop of paint on the carpets. I find painting to be very therapeutic for me, as it allows my OCD nature something to focus on. I even paint the parts and edges that will never be seen, i.e., the very tops of the door trim (frame). We all have our own weird ways, lol

david
Posted 6/3/2013 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Purgatory, we have houses in hawaii that stand because the termites are holding hands. one of my biggest regrets , is that I never learned to be "handy". Spent a lot of money for that mistake Nope,aint gonna learn now. I don't even mow the lawn, hire it out because as compiler said " I can"
Posted 6/3/2013 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
I'll chime in.
1 Shooting and reloading (you sort of have to reload now a days to shoot)

2 Backpacking / hiking - Maybe a trip in the Absarokas this summer

3 Genealogy - my unfindable great grand father may be the one to blame for all this

4 I've done some fly fishing, some of the best fly fishing in the world is just hours away and plan on a class in July to take advantage of my location.

5 Reading. Reading a collection of Jack London stories right now. These were VERY hard men.

6 Yellowstone NP. Finding the bits I haven't seen yet is a priority. My next planned trip is the petrified forest above the Lamar Valley.
Posted 6/3/2013 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
stw - that's a good list of hobbies you have going on. I miss your #4, some good trout rivers even here in western SC. in all the years I fly fished, I only ran across one other left hander fly fishing.
Posted 6/6/2013 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hobbies? I have had lots of hobbies. My passion at the moment is spoiling my granddaughter, writing rhymes, building golf clubs and of course my stained glass. The stained glass, originally a hobby, turned into a full time business for quite a number of years. Although mostly retired now I still do a good bit and I will paste my latest effort here (just for you David).
Now those of you who know me know that I am a complete agnostic and burr up when someone introduces any sort of religious statements into the forum ---- so please, do as I do when constructing them, and completely ignore the religious theme of the work. I completed and installed these windows just last week for a local catholic church ---- the central window has been in place since the 1950s so my artist and I did the left and right windows to match it (had plain amber glass in them previously). And yep, that handsome devil peering through the window is none other than billymac and this is not an advert smilewinkgrin

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Post Edited (BillyMac) : 6/6/2013 6:15:33 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/6/2013 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
WOW! Very cool stuff BillyMac! We're planning on building our retirement home up on our lake property in Northern Michigan - won't be for another 7-8 years but we're already doing some design work for what we want. That includes stained glass - too bad I'm up here and you're "Down Under" or I'd have to get you to do some quoting for us!
Posted 6/6/2013 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Beautiful work, Billy.  Which leads me to wonder if you could build a set of lefthanded golf clubs that actually WORK! 

Golf is one of my favorite activities, and in recent years I've put together a set of clubs that really are suited to my particular abilities, and I switch things out in my bag depending on which course I'm going to play.  I'm very much into trying to improve my game and keep my scores from climbing as I get older, and so far I've been somewhat successful.

Beth and I garden, though she's much more active than I in that regard.  We have a decent-sized vegetable garden that includes 18 tomato plants, but Beth's hybrid daylilies are what really add some beauty to the yard.

I've been trying to learn to play the Irish tin whistle and find it deceptively difficult.  My six siblings all seem to be more musically gifted than I am, but I'll keep trying.

A couple of my other hobbies/activities include bicycling and doing things with our seven grandchildren, who range in age from 13 to 3. 

I retired from the federal work force 7 years ago, but I keep active doing substitute teaching and as a "service assistant" at the local funeral home.  Purg asked in a separate thread what a public information specialist's function might be for the Navy.  I was the civilian public affairs officer at the Great Lakes Naval Station.  There was always a military Public Affairs Officer heading up our department, but having a civilian there permanently provided continuity.  We were a fully staffed communications department, doing community relations, internal relations, putting together a weekly newspaper, running the base cable television station, providing base tours, military funeral honors, and other related activities. 

 

Posted 6/6/2013 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Billy,

Thanks for sharing those pics here. From knowing you forever, I was already well aware of your great skills in glass. However, I didn't know you made golf clubs. You do great work in all the things you do.

david
-------------------------
clock, thanks for explaining that job title of yours, makes perfect sense now. my wife and I seem to have the black thumb of death when it comes to gardening. I mow the yard, that's my total contribution, weeds and real grass - all the same to me. If my yard is dry, the little grass stems better be praying for rain. Fertilizer? If you count what the neighborhood cats crap. Guess you can tell I am not into yard work, lol.
Posted 6/6/2013 9:49 PM (GMT 0)

A Yooper said...
WOW! Very cool stuff BillyMac! We're planning on building our retirement home up on our lake property in Northern Michigan - won't be for another 7-8 years but we're already doing some design work for what we want. That includes stained glass - too bad I'm up here and you're "Down Under" or I'd have to get you to do some quoting for us!

Yooper,
If your planned stained glass windows are leadlights (i.e. the glass is not painted on) why not do it yourself. If your are reasonably proficient with your hands it is not as difficult as it might first appear and is extremely satisfying. Although it is somewhat out of fashion now I would not doubt you would easily find somebody still running classes.


Clock,
thank you. I joined a golf forum (freegolfinfo) many years ago. They have the best member's area for club builders chock full of great information and tips. But you can easily get drawn into the dark side and spend oodles of money --- I shudder when I think how many sets of clubs and drivers I have. It is very satisfying though when you build a set that perfectly matches somebody's size, swing speed etc and they start hitting the ball noticeably better.

David,
I guess I have been fortunate in that I am fairly good with my hands. I love building and making and repairing things. Many years ago (mid 70s) I built what we call a mobile home (I believe you call them an RV. It was about 28' and mounted on a truck chassis. My wife and I lived in it and traveled around for about 4 years. I have another on the drawing board to start in the next couple of years but it will be somewhat smaller and I want to be able to easily lift it on and off the truck. (i want to use the truck for other things as well)
Bill

Post Edited (BillyMac) : 6/6/2013 5:30:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/6/2013 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
billy,

I remember a few years, you told me all about your RV. Closest I came, back in the early 70's, was taking a VW van and converting it to a camper. It was way cheaper than buying a factory one. My wife and I drove it all around the US. Your new one sounds like a great project for a man of your skills. Keep me posted on it.

david
Posted 6/14/2013 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
STW, "... and reloading (you sort of have to reload now a days to shoot)"

Yup, my son and I started getting reloading supplies together weeks ago. Primers and powder he bought locally (Delaware Valley) as there's a HazMat fee to have them shipped. We loaded about 25 each of .40 S&W and .45 ACP last night, our first attempt. It took us almost 3 hours! Hardest part was seating the bullet properly; we measured with a digital caliper. We'll shoot 'em tonight and then work on 9MM over the weekend. (FYI, polishing the brass in an old jeans pant leg, with ground corn cob and liquid polish, and running it in the clothes dryer, made the brass look factory fresh).
Posted 6/15/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, didn't realize there were so many HW PC guys that owned and did gun stuff as hobbies. Looks like davidg and myself, might be the only Americans on this thread that don't own guns.

Don't worry, I am not anti-gun at all. Just don't feel any personal need, and I have never hunted a day in my life. Even though my father was a 30 year military man, he never owned guns when I was growing up. He never hunted either.

I went through a phase of guns for about 10 years, but when my kids became teenagers, sold them off, didn't want any possibility of them or the household of weird friends that use to frequent my house to get a hold of any.

I use to have a nice .357 (ex-NH State Police gun) I used at an indoor range. Loved the noise and raw power. Some kind of old German Luger (?) pistol. A Tek-9 Folding rifle (not sure if they are legal anymore, think it fired 9 mm rounds. The guard at the outdoor range reamed me out but good one time for firing it off my hip, said he would take it from me if I ever did it again. (no one else was on the range at the time). But the most "fun" gun I had, and this was way back, had a Mac-10. Was amazing how much ammo you could blow off in 10 seconds, learned real fast to use re-loads. That would be the one and only one I wished I might have held onto.

None of my kids have any interests in guns, we are basically a family of pacifists.

david
Posted 6/17/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Long-time hobbies (from 1975 to current)...

Die-cast models of:

1) Antique autos by Franklin Mint - 1/24th scale

2) Classic sportscars by Franklin Mint - in 1/24th scale

3) Classic sportscars by Exoto - in 1/18th scale

4) Classic sportscars by CMC - in 1/18th scale

5) Ferrari 458's by BBR - in 1/18th scale

6) Antique autos by Rio - in 1/43rd scale

7) Fine sportscars by BBR, Looksmart and Tecnomodel - in 1/43rd scale

8) Other sportscars/racecars by various manufacturers -in 1/43rd scale

Latest purchase (from 2012):

Exoto - Alfa Romeo Alfetta - superb die-cast model (over 2000 parts)!

Former hobbies (#1 is still close to my heart)...

1) Week-end racing (SCCA and other groups) with my great old 1969      1750 Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce .... and then driving it to work on week-days over a period of 6-years (from 1970 to 1974)!

2) Dabbling in music - a little guitar, keyboard and writing/arranging music - on and off over many years.

3) Coin collecting - until a few years ago - some for pleasure and some for investing.

Current hobbies (besides die-cast autos)...

1) Some gemstone collecting - recently.

2) Some occassional jewelry-making - for my daughters/grandaughters.

3) Some photography - but not professional.

4) Early stages of an HO gauge model train set-up in progress.

Better than a hobby...

My good friend and companion - Gizmo .... my Samoyed!!!  

Posted 6/17/2013 9:22 PM (GMT 0)

BillyMac said...
Hobbies? I have had lots of hobbies. My passion at the moment is spoiling my granddaughter, writing rhymes, building golf clubs and of course my stained glass. The stained glass, originally a hobby, turned into a full time business for quite a number of years. Although mostly retired now I still do a good bit and I will paste my latest effort here (just for you David).
Now those of you who know me know that I am a complete agnostic and burr up when someone introduces any sort of religious statements into the forum ---- so please, do as I do when constructing them, and completely ignore the religious theme of the work. I completed and installed these windows just last week for a local catholic church ---- the central window has been in place since the 1950s so my artist and I did the left and right windows to match it (had plain amber glass in them previously). And yep, that handsome devil peering through the window is none other than billymac and this is not an advert smilewinkgrin

VIEW IMAGE

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wonderful, sorry I missed this post the first time around.
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