What are some of your other passions and interests beyond swimming? [Archive]

Fishgrrl

February 25th, 2005, 07:18 PM

Great question Ande!

What feeds my soul...hmmm....

Outside of the water...

Film studies, books, art, music, people of all kinds, my husband, my friends, school, my job (I have a great boss), karaoke bars, poetry readings, hanging out at Borders, In and Out burgers, a good cup of coffee (especially after a morning workout!), an even better bottle of beer after a horrendously long day, watching the Oscars once a year (it's all about the red carpet), exchanging funny emails with my sister; truth, peace, simplicity, color, clouds and rainy days. And sometimes 70's tunes and really awful cult horror films do it for me.

and hotdogs at a Giants game. Especially if the Giants are winning.

Karen Duggan

February 25th, 2005, 07:18 PM

My family, teaching, animals, scrapbooking, camping, snowshoeing, anything with fresh air :)

Karen Duggan

February 25th, 2005, 07:19 PM

Kari,
I saw you're going to the WCM ITC next weekend. :)
I too am a Giants fan. Lem'me know if you need someone to go with :)

Fishgrrl

February 25th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Hi Karen! Yep - I'll be there next weekend. I'm really looking forward to it!!

Should I bring the beer for afterward?!;) (kidding)

Anyway - I am looking forward to meeting you too.

Fellow Giants fan!
K

Seagurl51

February 25th, 2005, 07:35 PM

soccer (I coach a team it's fun :))hanging out with my dog, snowboarding, friends, painting and writing. And I'm so glad to see that someone else is looking forward to the Oscars!! I'm an award show junkie...I love awards season!! Golden Globes, Emmy's...gotta love 'em!!

~Kyra

dorothyrde

February 25th, 2005, 07:57 PM

Oh yes, and Illinois basketball!!!!

Scansy

February 25th, 2005, 08:09 PM

Outdoors - especially fishing, hunting, skiing and gardening (vegetables and flowers)

In the fall - coaching youth football - (this usually has a big impact on my "recreational" and swimming time)

Reading - my favorite author is James Michener (It's a new addiction - I have read Chesapeake (twice) and Alaska and currently I'm working on Centennial) - I just wish I could read more than 20 pages at a time at night. It takes forever to finish his books at that pace!

And when I have a bad day at work and need to vent some frustration on the way home I like loud, obnoxious, head banging music (currently have CD's by the following in my truck: Metal Church, Hanzel und Gretyl, Seraphim Shock, Metallica, Megadeth)

blairbecky

February 25th, 2005, 08:54 PM

Originally posted by dorothyrde
Oh yes, and Illinois basketball!!!!

Yay for Illinois! I moved a couple of years ago but I will always be from Ill. in my heart. I've been so excited this season. :)

Karen Duggan

February 25th, 2005, 09:04 PM

Scansy,
I remember reading "Hawaii" in high school. The only thing I remember is it was a really thick book!!!!!!!

ande

February 26th, 2005, 06:09 AM

great stuff

do you like joan and melissa on the red carpet?

ande

Originally posted by Fishgrrl
Great question Ande!

What feeds my soul...hmmm....

Outside of the water...

Film studies, books, art, music, people of all kinds, my husband, my friends, school, my job (I have a great boss), karaoke bars, poetry readings, hanging out at Borders, In and Out burgers, a good cup of coffee (especially after a morning workout!), an even better bottle of beer after a horrendously long day, watching the Oscars once a year (it's all about the red carpet), exchanging funny emails with my sister; truth, peace, simplicity, color, clouds and rainy days. And sometimes 70's tunes and really awful cult horror films do it for me.

and hotdogs at a Giants game. Especially if the Giants are winning.

James

February 26th, 2005, 06:36 AM

Well, is there anything else than swimming?

Well, yes there is, with my wife and kids standing behind me. I coach my kids t-ball team from April to June. Then comes golf rounds between swimming workouts. Also Yankees games on the radio in the summer, and Cleveland Brown Games in the fall, yea Scansy, Stealers goin' down this year!!! Go dawgpound
:D Also I love watching Spongbob with my kids!! Most enjoyable part of my day.

eliana2003

February 26th, 2005, 06:53 AM

Writing,
driving my husband crazy,
thunderstorms,
animals,
walking on the beach,
reading,
boxing,
ladybugs,
baking bread,
camels,
meditating,
sunrises,
growing vegetables,
knitting/crocheting,
kosher hotdogs,
egg noodles,
goulash (preferably with egg noodles),
bagels,
drinking tea out of Turkish glasses,
environmental issues, and
birthday cakes.

dorothyrde

February 26th, 2005, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by Scansy
Outdoors - especially fishing, hunting, skiing and gardening (vegetables and flowers)

In the fall - coaching youth football - (this usually has a big impact on my "recreational" and swimming time)

Reading - my favorite author is James Michener (It's a new addiction - I have read Chesapeake (twice) and Alaska and currently I'm working on Centennial) - I just wish I could read more than 20 pages at a time at night. It takes forever to finish his books at that pace!

And when I have a bad day at work and need to vent some frustration on the way home I like loud, obnoxious, head banging music (currently have CD's by the following in my truck: Metal Church, Hanzel und Gretyl, Seraphim Shock, Metallica, Megadeth)

I used to have time to read....still have about three books sitting on my desk waiting. I have read all of Michener's stuff a long time ago. I liked them. I like science fiction a lot too.

Music- Aerosmith, good for a bad day at work!

thisgirl13

February 26th, 2005, 09:34 AM

What feeds my soul? Obviously, besides swimming........

Cooking (I'm a culinary arts student)
Sketching
My family
Saturday
Knitting (odd, perhaps, but still worthy of this list)
My pets
Music (any kind, really)
Good books
Friday nights out with my swim team
Singing in the bathroom (I live alone, so no one gets offended)
Going barefoot any time I possibly can
Silly e-mails from my sister
Silly phone calls from my mother
Silly IM's from my brothers (we're all very silly, can you tell?)
Being alive

Those are my soul food (foods?)....also, would you mind if I "borrowed" your "what feeds your soul" quote? It's inspiring......

Cheers,
Steph

swimmieAvsFan

February 26th, 2005, 10:12 AM

swimming for sure.

but other than swimming???

these are just the top 5:
photography
the outdoors
knitting ("too young" for it supposedly but i love it!)
my kitten
friends and family

Scansy

February 26th, 2005, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by James
Well, is there anything else than swimming?

Well, yes there is, with my wife and kids standing behind me. I coach my kids t-ball team from April to June. Then comes golf rounds between swimming workouts. Also Yankees games on the radio in the summer, and Cleveland Brown Games in the fall, yea Scansy, Stealers goin' down this year!!! Go dawgpound
:D Also I love watching Spongbob with my kids!! Most enjoyable part of my day.

You know what they say about the Browns right? The best years of their history were 1996, 1997, 1998!:D

(For those who don't know, those were the years Cleveland didn't have a team!:cool: )

Scansy

February 26th, 2005, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by Karen Duggan
Scansy,
I remember reading "Hawaii" in high school. The only thing I remember is it was a really thick book!!!!!!!

Yeah, Chesapeake and Alaska are both about 800 pages and Centennial is just over 1000. Great stuff though. I think Hawaii will be the one I go with after this.

Heidi

February 26th, 2005, 02:53 PM

I can always be found mountain biking and road cycling in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter I xc ski and snowboard. Year round, I drink beer and read. :)

Swimmy

February 26th, 2005, 04:48 PM

There is more to life than swimming?
hmmmmmm....

Reading(love James Patterson stuff)
Cake Decorating
Crocheting(teased a lot about the old lady hobby!)
Crossword puzzles
Scary rollercoasters

Swimmy :)

Scansy

February 26th, 2005, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by Swimmy
There is more to life than swimming?
hmmmmmm....

Reading(love James Patterson stuff)
Cake Decorating
Crocheting(teased a lot about the old lady hobby!)
Crossword puzzles
Scary rollercoasters

Swimmy :)

Rollercoasters are awesome. My whole family loves them - (except the four year old!). We go to Hershey Park a couple of times each summer - they have a new one (Stormrunner) that starts you on flat ground and somehow accelerates you to 70 miles an hour in under two seconds. Then shoots you up a hill that comes back down "nearly vertical" (their words). I can say that when you are on the ground looking at it and especially when you are riding it feels like vertical. Then it does the standard loops, corkscrew stuff. It's a relatively small amusement park, but Hersheypark has rollercoasters that rank with any park I've been to. They have two "new" wooden ones that really toss you around too.

Swimmy

February 26th, 2005, 06:32 PM

Scansy,

I haven't made it up to Hershey yet. I have heard there are some good coasters up there. I prefer the high tech new coasters to the old wooden rough ones(too tame). The best one I did last year was Batwing at Six Flags in MD. You pretty much ride looking straight down at the ground for most of the ride. Amazing adrenaline rush! The coasters at Busch Gardens in Va are also great.Alpengeist is my favorite there.

Swimmy :)

bckstrker

February 26th, 2005, 06:50 PM

Besides swimming?....I love to workout with weights, ride my horses in the spring, summer and fall, hang out with them: brush them sit in the grass and watch them graze, hang out with my dog, hike in the mountains, sit out on my deck in the cooler times of the day and relax, read listen to music.:p

Kari

February 26th, 2005, 07:16 PM

Ande and Kyra - I will be perched in front of the tv tomorrow, watching Joan and Melissa dish on the red carpet. I'll be the one wearing a very cheesy silver dress circa 1982, drink in hand, shouting stuff at the television like ....."....Johnny Depp got ROBBED again!!!!"......bbboooooo....

Anyway - thanks for starting this thread, Ande. I love hearing about what my swimming cohorts do out of the water.

Seagurl51

February 26th, 2005, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by Kari
Ande and Kyra - I will be perched in front of the tv tomorrow, watching Joan and Melissa dish on the red carpet. I'll be the one wearing a very cheesy silver dress circa 1982, drink in hand, shouting stuff at the television like ....."....Johnny Depp got ROBBED again!!!!"......bbboooooo....

Me too!! Me and some friends are having a party and we're gonna get dressed up and make cheap expensive, sounding food cause we can't afford the real stuff (college is a killer :mad: ) Personally my favorite for the scoop on the red carpet is Steven Cojocaro (sp), he's so fun! And hopefully Johnny Depp won't get robbed this time....but there seems to be a lot of buzz around Jamie Foxx.

~Kyra

Leonard Jansen

February 28th, 2005, 07:46 AM

Other than swimming...

Run a small horse stabling business and have done some horse rescue work.

Remodeling the house (going slower than desired).

Turning our property into pasturing areas. (going really slow)

Cooking.

Fiction writing.

Making soap.

-LBJ

dorothyrde

February 28th, 2005, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by Scansy
Rollercoasters are awesome. My whole family loves them - (except the four year old!). We go to Hershey Park a couple of times each summer - they have a new one (Stormrunner) that starts you on flat ground and somehow accelerates you to 70 miles an hour in under two seconds. Then shoots you up a hill that comes back down "nearly vertical" (their words). I can say that when you are on the ground looking at it and especially when you are riding it feels like vertical. Then it does the standard loops, corkscrew stuff. It's a relatively small amusement park, but Hersheypark has rollercoasters that rank with any park I've been to. They have two "new" wooden ones that really toss you around too.

We debated going to Hersey this summer and decided on Cedar Point because it is closer and DS has been wanting to go there a long time. He and I like coaster, DH and DD do not!

Kae1

February 28th, 2005, 08:49 AM

Medieval/ Renaissance living history

mystery novels

cooking (often in conjunction with medieval things)

studying for my bat mitzvah (a little late, I know, but only 10 more weeks to go)

my babies (2 extremely chubby cats - a tabby and lavender point applehead siamese)

reading just about anything

archaeology (OK, it's my job, but I still enjoy it. Well, the archaeology part of it. The paperwork I could take or leave)

Naps.

Kae

eliana2003

February 28th, 2005, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by Kae1
studying for my bat mitzvah (a little late, I know, but only 10 more weeks to go)

Mazel tov, Kae! Good for you!

e.

James

February 28th, 2005, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by Scansy
You know what they say about the Browns right? The best years of their history were 1996, 1997, 1998!:D

(For those who don't know, those were the years Cleveland didn't have a team!:cool: )

Low blow Scansy, but thats how the history runs between the Browns and Pukesburgh, oh my mistake Pittsburgh. :D

Scansy

February 28th, 2005, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by dorothyrde
We debated going to Hersey this summer and decided on Cedar Point because it is closer and DS has been wanting to go there a long time. He and I like coaster, DH and DD do not!

I haven't been to CP in years. When I was a kid, we went there as a family. Now, I'm only an hour from Hershey and an hour and half from Great Adventure in NJ. We prefer Hershey - it seems more family oriented, is less expensive, closer and the rides are on par I think.

Scansy

February 28th, 2005, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by James
Low blow Scansy, but thats how the history runs between the Browns and Pukesburgh, oh my mistake Pittsburgh. :D

Funny part is, my Dad has two sisters that ended up in the Cleveland area. They're all Browns fans now. :mad: Lots of cousins, etc. I've been to many weddings there and used to spend weeks at a time there hanging out with cousins when I was a kid. I like Cleveland a lot as a city. It gets a bum rap sometimes.

Then again, I've been to Buffalo many times and like it too. So what do I know???:) :confused: :rolleyes: :)

Swimmer Bill

February 28th, 2005, 05:10 PM

...writing, cooking, travel, antiques, gardening, shopping, my two cats, housecleaning (believe it or not), music, and art.

One of my most unusual passions is art-related. I collect 19th and 20th century American textiles (quilts). Most of the time, the works adorn my walls at home. However, several examples from my collection have been exhibited around the United States, and I give lectures on the topic every once in a while.

I have attached a photo of a rare example from the mid 19th century. The pattern is called New York Beauty, and the pattern was made primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee. The New York Beauty is very difficult to create and is highly prized by collectors. I currently have seven New York Beauties in my collection, but I love this particular one because it's very bold and patriotic.

Enjoy!!
Swimmer Bill

Karen Duggan

March 1st, 2005, 01:14 AM

Bill,
How'd you get into THAT? Interesting. Very cool. You're full of surprises. No wonder you swim the mile. You're very patient ;)
Antiques Road Show?

PS If you ever forget your towel... just kidding:p

dorothyrde

March 1st, 2005, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by Scansy
I haven't been to CP in years. When I was a kid, we went there as a family. Now, I'm only an hour from Hershey and an hour and half from Great Adventure in NJ. We prefer Hershey - it seems more family oriented, is less expensive, closer and the rides are on par I think.

So CP this year, and maybe we will try Hersey next year. My daughter was eyeing the chocolate bath! ewwww.

Scansy

March 1st, 2005, 10:33 AM

I don't know about the chocolate bath.... But I will tell you, if you go to Hershey, you will be surprised at some of the candy they make and sell there that is hard to find anywhere else. Also, they make the best kettle corn I have found. You can usually get it right out of the kettle.:)

dorothyrde

March 1st, 2005, 11:36 AM

We were very tempted, but the drive was more than we wanted to do. I signed up for brochures, so now I am getting e-mails, brochures, so am unlikely to forget this place. Plus the area around it looks interesting and I have never been that far East before.

Leonard Jansen

March 1st, 2005, 11:47 AM

I used to live in Hershey and now live about 12 miles away. My wife says that they have a new 3D exhibit at Chocolate World that is truly amazing and well worth the time if you decide to go there. Also, the town of Hershey has a municipal indoor/outdoor pool if you want to swim while there.

-LBJ

craiglll@yahoo.com

March 1st, 2005, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by Swimmer Bill
...writing, cooking, travel, antiques, gardening, shopping, my two cats, housecleaning (believe it or not), music, and art.

One of my most unusual passions is art-related. I collect 19th and 20th century American textiles (quilts). Most of the time, the works adorn my walls at home. However, several examples from my collection have been exhibited around the United States, and I give lectures on the topic every once in a while.

I have attached a photo of a rare example from the mid 19th century. The pattern is called New York Beauty, and the pattern was made primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee. The New York Beauty is very difficult to create and is highly prized by collectors. I currently have seven New York Beauties in my collection, but I love this particular one because it's very bold and patriotic.

Enjoy!!
Swimmer Bill

Swimmer Bill,

Have you ever been to any of the Meninite(sp) relief sales? They are held in ht espringtiem. Once in Penn., a woman was selling quilts mde by her great grandmother. They were awesome.

Swimmer Bill

March 1st, 2005, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by Karen Duggan
Bill,
How'd you get into THAT? Interesting. Very cool. You're full of surprises. No wonder you swim the mile. You're very patient ;)
Antiques Road Show?

PS If you ever forget your towel... just kidding:p

Hi Karen,

When I lived in Manhattan, I was dating a woman from Germany who was studying at F.I.T. with a Fulbright Grant. She liked all types of different cultural foods and events, and had a particular interest in textiles. At the time, there was a well known quilt dealer named Shelly Zegart visiting New York from Kentucky, and she brought about 100 of her best quilts to a private showing in a brownstone apartment. My friend wanted to return to Germany with an authentic antique American quilt, and she dragged me along. When we were there, I was really drawn to the objects. One quilt in particular, a stunning New York Beauty from 1860, caught my eye because the pattern reminded me of a large Navajo storm pattern rug given to me by my Grandfather many years earlier. After much correspondance with Shelly, I purchased it. Now, more than 15 years later, I have a couple dozen very fine examples. I display them in my home because I have large wall spaces and tall vaulted ceilings. Not only are they very unique works of art, but they really help with the acoustics in large spaces.

By the way, I think the people who actually make these pieces are the ones who are patient....I've never made one myself.

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
Swimmer Bill,

Have you ever been to any of the Meninite(sp) relief sales? They are held in ht espringtiem. Once in Penn., a woman was selling quilts mde by her great grandmother. They were awesome.

Hi Craig, I have never been to the Mennonite relief sales. If they are in Pennsylvania, it's a bit of a trip from my home in the northwest. I do have several Pennsylvania Dutch examples in my collection, most notably an 1820's crib quilt featuring 54 gothic paper-cut applique snowflake blocks made of glazed cotton from the lining of men's clothing. It is thought to have been made by children. (pic attached).

Scansy

March 1st, 2005, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by Leonard Jansen
I used to live in Hershey and now live about 12 miles away. My wife says that they have a new 3D exhibit at Chocolate World that is truly amazing and well worth the time if you decide to go there. Also, the town of Hershey has a municipal indoor/outdoor pool if you want to swim while there.

-LBJ

Yeah, the 3D exhibit is fun.

craiglll@yahoo.com

March 2nd, 2005, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by Swimmer Bill
Hi Karen,

When I lived in Manhattan, I was dating a woman from Germany who was studying at F.I.T. with a Fulbright Grant. She liked all types of different cultural foods and events, and had a particular interest in textiles. At the time, there was a well known quilt dealer named Shelly Zegart visiting New York from Kentucky, and she brought about 100 of her best quilts to a private showing in a brownstone apartment. My friend wanted to return to Germany with an authentic antique American quilt, and she dragged me along. When we were there, I was really drawn to the objects. One quilt in particular, a stunning New York Beauty from 1860, caught my eye because the pattern reminded me of a large Navajo storm pattern rug given to me by my Grandfather many years earlier. After much correspondance with Shelly, I purchased it. Now, more than 15 years later, I have a couple dozen very fine examples. I display them in my home because I have large wall spaces and tall vaulted ceilings. Not only are they very unique works of art, but they really help with the acoustics in large spaces.

By the way, I think the people who actually make these pieces are the ones who are patient....I've never made one myself.

Hi Craig, I have never been to the Mennonite relief sales. If they are in Pennsylvania, it's a bit of a trip from my home in the northwest. I do have several Pennsylvania Dutch examples in my collection, most notably an 1820's crib quilt featuring 54 gothic paper-cut applique snowflake blocks made of glazed cotton from the lining of men's clothing. It is thought to have been made by children. (pic attached).

Where there are Mennonites (thanks for the good spelling. I wish this site had a spellcheck!) there are relief sales. there is one in Bloomington, IL but not as good as Penn. also, I think there is one in northern California. Call your local Mennonite church to check. They are really great. there is nothing as intense as an Amish quilt hand sown.

I grew up with Norwegian great grandparents who were immigrants. They use to make crazy quilts. My mom hated them. She threw many of them away. Now I wonder what they would be worth. My mother also had a quilt made by one of her friends that was the history of this woman's family's move into Oklahoma. When my mom died, no one knew where the quilt was. I think one of her friends stole it.

Swimmer Bill

March 2nd, 2005, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
I grew up with Norwegian great grandparents who were immigrants. They use to make crazy quilts. My mom hated them. She threw many of them away. Now I wonder what they would be worth. My mother also had a quilt made by one of her friends that was the history of this woman's family's move into Oklahoma. When my mom died, no one knew where the quilt was. I think one of her friends stole it.

A lot depends on the condition and the quality of the hand work. Many crazy quilts were made from silks, satins, and velvets -- and many of those examples suffer from significant fabric deterioration, which decreases the value.

I have a couple crazy quilts. The most interesting one is made of wool (men's clothing), which is uncommon, and it is heavily embellished with crewel yarn. When you see it in person, it almost glitters. Pic attached.

upswim

March 2nd, 2005, 03:25 PM

My other interests:

Triathlon (which takes up a ton of time, but I love it)
Cycling
spending time with family
music
live theater
Travel

Swimmer Bill

March 3rd, 2005, 01:53 PM

I'd like to segue from the side discussion about quilts to let everyone know we've got a great feature about Masters swimmer Andrea Funk of Michigan Masters in the premier issue of SWIMMER magazine. Funk is an excellent distance swimmer with a very interesting story, and she makes T-shirt quilts out of people's old swimming T-shirts. She made one for me a few years back, and it's a great way to preserve those memories. If you've gone to a local meet in Michigan or a National meet recently, you may have seen the Michigan Masters banner Funk made. Too cool!!

The magazine should be arriving in people's mailboxes within the next week, so I hope everyone will look forward to it.

~Swimmer Bill

Karen Duggan

March 3rd, 2005, 10:56 PM

Bill,
I could look at that wool quilt all day. It reminds me of swimming on a cloudy day. While doing backstroke kick sets I try to make "things" out of the clouds: monsters, trees, animals, etc. I could easily find many "things" looking at that quilt. Thanks for sharing it.
I can't wait for the new magazine. And thanks for being a part of it. All of your hard work will pay off :)

In a little kid voice, "So, grandpa, whatever happened to the lady from Germany?"

SWinkleblech

March 3rd, 2005, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by James
Also Yankees games on the radio in the summer, and Cleveland Brown Games in the fall, yea Scansy, Stealers goin' down this year!!! Go dawgpound
:D

Only in your dreams.

SWinkleblech

March 3rd, 2005, 11:22 PM

Fall/Winter- Do a little running, direct a bell choir. spend as much time with my two little girls, run my oldest daughter to swim team practice, dance lessons, swimming lessons, baton lessons. Am I missing something?

This spring I am going to coach the Little Lions soccor team at my school. I am excited because I love to coach little kids. They are always so willing to learn and have a lot of energy.

Summer is the greatest when I am off from school. During the summer I like to run, do triathlons, take walks or bike rides on the trail with my kids, go to Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild with the kids. Take the kids to the park, camping. (although this summer will be a little bummer because I have to take courses to work on my Instructional II certificate for teaching and my masters degree.) I guess a little less time to do the fun things.