Share some Hobbies

Hookedtrout · Post by **Hookedtrout** » March 23, 2011, 4:17 pm

Obsa wrote:"Although, there is one thing I have always done and continue to do with the bulk of my time and that is read. "

From the age of 5 untill last Oct. or so reading was a passion. It became harder to do in 2008 when, as the eye drs. said I had a mini stroke and, my left eye went dark. Reading became more of a struggle with frequent headaches from eye strain. In the words of the old indian in The Outlaw Josey Wales I endevored to persevere. In Oct. my right eye became blurred and overly sensitive to light. Reading is impossible at least the printed word. I can struggle through reading and writing on the confuser using Windows High constrast black a minimun font size of 20 and magnifier. Try this sometime when you are bored, frustration cubed!

I am not posting this to be a downer or in search of compassion. Just to remind everyone of what a blessing vision is!

Having been forced into the modern technological world (my job requires it) I made a decision awhile back, (I loose track of time so who knows how long) to embrace it and become proficient at it. One of those things I tried was an MP3 player and albeit there is a difference in listening to books from MP3 format vs reading books, there are some tremendous advantages. My point being if it's the book you love and not the actual reading you could find a way to learn MP3's and download books and have the the little box read the book to you. Kids are a great resource for teaching you or you can use my favorite method, just tell them what you want and let them find it, download it and get you all set up.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » March 23, 2011, 5:17 pm

The hobbies that take up most of my time (and money, lol) are snowboarding and photography. I also used to draw a lot as a kid but haven't pursued it for several years. Recently bought a sketch pad in hopes I'd get some time to do some work in that area.

I'm currently working on shifting my interest in photography into a full-time gig. Like you Hookedtrout (love the spark plug print, btw), I also use Photoshop and love using it to create custom prints and photo collages for gifts, and have also done some custom matting. Way better than buying something generic and commercial and hoping they like it!

Unfortunately with trying to build a business and take care of my other responsibilities around the house, it doesn't leave much time for my poor truck! I'm hoping to combine the two though. Whenever my truck gets mobile I want to get my logo hand-lettered on the side and use it as a promotional tool. One of these days I'll have to set up a build thread to share my ideas for it.

Obsa, sorry to hear about your condition. Kudos for having the courage to deal with it.

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » March 23, 2011, 5:56 pm

I Have not tryed to download any books yet that is a good idea. Thanks You do hit on a point actual reading vs listening to the story. I always preffered to listen to the voice in my head tell the story than to have an outside voice relaying the information. Plus the rewind system to reread the printed has a much interface, move eyes to left, reread continue story.

Big M,

Just another path or challenge on my journey through life. I can't complain I have a great wife, two wonderful children, a small farm that's payed off. We have gardened the same spot for thirty two years. I can follow the trail from the house down to the chicken pens, throw them some scracth and collect the eggs. Sit on the barn porch and listen to the great outdoors. Life is still good just a whole lot slower.

Hookedtrout · Post by **Hookedtrout** » March 23, 2011, 9:57 pm

Obsa wrote:I have a great wife, two wonderful children, a small farm that's payed off. We have gardened the same spot for thirty two years. I can follow the trail from the house down to the chicken pens, throw them some scracth and collect the eggs. Sit on the barn porch and listen to the great outdoors. Life is still good just a whole lot slower.

Sounds like (pun intended) a wonderful life to me. I love the great outdoors and all the sounds it presents, sitting on my front deck listening to the river wander by, along with all the birds and frogs and crickets has got to be one of my favorite past times.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » March 24, 2011, 7:31 am

Here's a few of my shots that I think our membership will enjoy.

azjake · Post by **azjake** » March 24, 2011, 12:33 pm

The Big M,

Great shots!

Your photos remind me of a calendar that I once received from a Matco tool man at a front end shop where I used to work. All of the photos were of a small part of classic autos. I started flipping through the calendar, naming all of the cars... and getting them right. At about June, the saleman said, "You really know your cars. But wait until you get to December. Nobody has gotten December! ?

Well I got all of them correct then turned to December. The salesman was watching my eyes, to make sure that I did not look at the auto's name at the bottom of the page. I calmly stated, "I don't know the year, but that is a Bentley."

The saleman went nuts stating that no one knew that was a Bently and that I was evidently a very knowledgeable person when it came to cars!

After he left, another employee made the comment that I really must know my cars. He was surprised that I knew the car on December was a Bentley. I then told him, "Well, it was kinda obvious when the name is printed on the hubcap in the photo!" He then asked if I was going to tell the saleman that was how I knew what car was in the photo. I asked, "Would you?" No...

Jake

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 24, 2011, 1:12 pm

ezernut9mm wrote:
jacobd wrote:I have, I'll guess maybe a 25 gallon plastic bin filled with ho model railroad stuff, which never came to fruition.

I have a bunch of power tools that don't fit my hands.

I have an incomplete; I'd guess you'd call it, Steam Punk, manuscript of 70 or so pages.

I used to really enjoy backpacking and caving and thought I'd be a geomorphologist, until that got boring and I got lazy.

Then there was the canoe phase and the Colorado River.

I collect broken Ford trucks, which I don't have any clue how to repair.

Between age 16 and 20 I had a prolific tattoo collection, which covered my arms completely. BTW hurts more and costs more to take off than put on.

I have a collection of dog shit in the front yard.

I have two rifles: A 1960 Winchester 30-30 and an early '80s Ruger .22. I don't really know how to use either of them.

My uncle had one of those British Enfield’s someone mentioned above, but I don't think it had any rifling in the barrel; hurted really bad on my shoulder too.

I think I want to collect a Henry .357 magnum lever action and a Smith and Wesson .357, but I’m too ignant to know if the ammo is the same. And one of my great uncles had a Winchester Model 12. Maybe I want to collect that too. And I could collect a really nice shotgun for hunting ducks and doves. Don’t know where to start there though. Maybe I should learn how to hunt and fish first. A Boston Whaler would be good for that.

I guess my hobby is starting things, getting obsessively involved in them, then losing interest.

Although, there is one thing I have always done and continue to do with the bulk of my time and that is read. Reading would not only being my job, but my hobby. Funny thing, I feel so unread.

I used to love the History Channel, but the trend to Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars, and Logger stuff has eschewed my interest.

Lately I've been a bit obsessed with the Knights Templar.

So I am mostly just a knucklehead. Who can't stick with it!

Ignant Jak
if you drink we can be bestest friends. i actually feel bad because i haven't read a single non-fiction book so far this year (unless you count the hazmat testing requirements. it's only 33 pages,but reads like 133).

I do have something of a drinking problem:

Hookedtrout · Post by **Hookedtrout** » March 24, 2011, 1:17 pm

Aweseome photography, isn't it a great time to live from a photographic standpoint! Instant gratification, modification and share...ification!

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 24, 2011, 1:17 pm

Obsa wrote:"Although, there is one thing I have always done and continue to do with the bulk of my time and that is read. "

From the age of 5 untill last Oct. or so reading was a passion. It became harder to do in 2008 when, as the eye drs. said I had a mini stroke and, my left eye went dark. Reading became more of a struggle with frequent headaches from eye strain. In the words of the old indian in The Outlaw Josey Wales I endevored to persevere. In Oct. my right eye became blurred and overly sensitive to light. Reading is impossible at least the printed word. I can struggle through reading and writing on the confuser using Windows High constrast black a minimun font size of 20 and magnifier. Try this sometime when you are bored, frustration cubed!

I am not posting this to be a downer or in search of compassion. Just to remind everyone of what a blessing vision is!

Everyday I get closer and closer to destroying the idiot box TV that sucks away at my soul. I have been buying and listening to old time radio programs after lights out and falling asleep to them. I am enjoying this. But, I digress, there are a ton of books on CD and MP3 out there. Maybe you could enjoy the imagination of listening to a book instead of reading one.
Just an idea.

Jake

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » March 24, 2011, 1:41 pm

azjake,

Great story, and thanks for the comment!

I take detail shots of cars for two reasons: First, I've always been detail-oriented and find they're often what sets certain cars apart. Second, it allows me to get interesting images in places where the surroundings aren't particularly attractive. That batch of photos was taken at a cruise night that took place in a mall parking lot.

Hookedtrout wrote:Aweseome photography, isn't it a great time to live from a photographic standpoint! Instant gratification, modification and share...ification!

Thanks, and yes it is an exciting time! Digital allows so much control over the finished product. Although I did a fair chunk of learning on my fully manual, $2 garage sale film SLR. Shooting fully manual and only having 24 exposures to work with really forces one to slow down and think about what's going on. But once I switched to digital I was shooting like a madman!

Lately I've been trying to strike a balance between the two. Now that I shoot more portraits I find I need to be quick to capture people's expressions, but I don't want to be so fast that I start getting sloppy.

If anyone's interested in seeing more, here's the link tomy photography blog...

azratrod · Post by **azratrod** » March 24, 2011, 2:10 pm

these arent all hobbys. but they all certainly do take up alot of my time.

working on my '27

working on my '32

just sold this monster. a kz1100 shaft drive punched out to 1300cc with a rigid mounted datson rear end. scarey!

my '81 yamaha xs650 brat

my girl

collecting and carving tikis

my sulcata "willys"

"nugget" and "tender"

"chewy"

the '29 tudor

Hookedtrout · Post by **Hookedtrout** » March 24, 2011, 4:47 pm

The Big M wrote:azjake,

Great story, and thanks for the comment!

I take detail shots of cars for two reasons: First, I've always been detail-oriented and find they're often what sets certain cars apart. Second, it allows me to get interesting images in places where the surroundings aren't particularly attractive. That batch of photos was taken at a cruise night that took place in a mall parking lot.

Hookedtrout wrote:Aweseome photography, isn't it a great time to live from a photographic standpoint! Instant gratification, modification and share...ification!
Thanks, and yes it is an exciting time! Digital allows so much control over the finished product. Although I did a fair chunk of learning on my fully manual, $2 garage sale film SLR. Shooting fully manual and only having 24 exposures to work with really forces one to slow down and think about what's going on. But once I switched to digital I was shooting like a madman!

Lately I've been trying to strike a balance between the two. Now that I shoot more portraits I find I need to be quick to capture people's expressions, but I don't want to be so fast that I start getting sloppy.

If anyone's interested in seeing more, here's the link tomy photography blog...

Thanks for the link, loved the photo of the line up of shoes with the orange laces, that was a neat photo.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » March 24, 2011, 5:24 pm

Thanks, glad you liked it! I thought it was a neat idea for the groom and groomsmen to have matching shoes and I knew it needed to be a focal point.

I like your shot of the fly fishing rod with the fisherman in the background.

Hookedtrout · Post by **Hookedtrout** » March 24, 2011, 9:23 pm

I'd say you definitely have your hands full Azratrod!! Nice rides!