Literary Exploration discussion

Now we are all here because we love reading but, shockingly, there can be more to life :P What else do you do that makes you you. The Introduction thread gives us a brief glimpse and this thread will allow to tell you tale more, if you so choose.

As for me I'm an avid amateur photographer. My camera travels with me everywhere I go and it's a bad day when I don't take at least 1 picture. It started out as just taking mementos of my travels but has now blossomed into a real love and appreciation of the art.

I dabble in almost all different types of photography. Wildlife, macro, landscape, portrait, etc. I find each one has it's own nuances and pleasures.

And because I'm not above a little self-plugging here is a link to my favourite personal shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/az84/set...

And to my full gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/az84/

Nice pictures Kim! Personally when I am not reading I might be fishing for Salmon or Halibut. Living in rural Alaska means I get the chance to see some wildlife close up but not too personal! During the winter it tend to be more indoor hobbies like quiting or other needlecraft. I make a point of searching for and testing fish recipes.... you can have too much of a good thing!

Wow Kim! Those are amazing! You must have the patience of a saint to get some of those shots. I spent close to half an hour yesterday trying to photo a hummingbird moth - it let me stand very close - but never held still long enough. I take tons of photos of flowers. So nice to look at during the long, cold winters.

Care to explain "Innocent Whistle"?

Working, sleeping or eating :-P

Thanks Mandy & Melki :) Lol patience? No I'm not good at that :P I will be doing more flower shots as it gets into spring here.

Innocent whistle is just a trope employed in a lot of mediums and I really liked it. Originally it was my Yahoo email address and Flickr is owned by Yahoo so the name came across.

Kim, those are some way cool shots you have there. I like how you have animals in your shots.I have a camera lying around but never do much with it (which shames me to say), so appreciate anyone who can make some magic happen with it.

As far as what I'm doing when I'm not reading, well I like writing a little, am a big film fan, and watch and play a few sports.

I work. I also like to go to the movies and spend time with my husband or friends. I'm not very exciting so there isn't much to tell

Kim, what an amazing photo collection! I loved cities' night shots. You make them appear so much more mysterious and exciting than they really are (I've been to both Adelaide and Cairns and you took such amazing shots of these cities at night).

As far as my non-reading activities go, I like walking (I don't particular like driving, so I prefer walking everywhere as much as I could) and while I walk, I listed to my iPod - mainly, Books Shows and Books Clubs discussions (like, BBC World Book Club or Radio National Book Show) or any fiction audio book that I like. And I LOVE listening to audio books.

I like doing a little bit of gardening and watch my favourite plants and trees grow, although I am not so good at it and many plants don't grow too well. I seem to be constantly trying to grow things that are simply not suitable for our sub-tropical coastal climate... Never mind, i still love my garden.

I also like going to the gym and do some strength training and jog on the beach on Sunday mornings.

I love movies (all dark and quirky and non-comprehensible ones that make you feel rather than just enjoy the visual effects).

Unfortunately, I do work a lot as well, and frequently, my weekends are spent on reading the work-related documents, which is not my preferred way of spending the weekends.

Booksy

Thanks Booksy. Those night ones were shot a while ago with my old camera gear so I'm keen to take some new ones, just need to find the time :P

When I'm not reading I'm usually making artwork or upcycling. I work pretty closely with a few interior designer folk out of Nashville, and so a lot of my stuff is already sold before it's made.

Of course, that doesn't keep me from incorporating reading into my art. Right now I'm working on a large multi-medium wall piece with "Burn, burn, burn" from Jack Kerouac's On the Road.

It's a nice little side business while the economy tries to dig itself out of this hole it's in.

Reading in one form or another does tend to dominate my life, but the majority of the stuff I read is made up of cases and articles for law school, which can be a bit dry and less interesting than my fiction choices.

When uni gives me a break I'm probably doing something musical, either listening, playing or singing. I love music in all forms, new and old, whether it's renaissance, delta blues, acid rock or electropop. You name it and I'll probably listen to it (although I'll admit I'm yet to be convinced by crunk and death metal).

I also do a bit of pilates and yoga and seem to spend a lot of my time running around after my two dogs who are growing into a never-ending source of mischief.

Kim wrote: "Now we are all here because we love reading but, shockingly, there can be more to life :P What else do you do that makes you you. The Introduction thread gives us a brief glimpse and this thread wi..."

I also use Flickr and have added you to my contacts. I am really an amateur, however, I love taking pictures too. Since I hike frequently, I take many nature pictures. I just got back from a trip to Dallas, TX and will be adding some pictures from a sunset sailing cruise I went on with my family. I spend most of my down time trying to get outdoors and spend time with my family.

Knowledge Lost wrote: "Working, sleeping or eating :-P"

Me too! And sometimes I play video games (though not nearly as much as reading, working, or sleeping)

Kevin wrote: "I also use Flickr and have added you to my contacts. I am really an amateur, however, I love taking pictures too."

I added you as well, you have some good pics. I like the sky shots.

I give my time for a community institution almost all weekend and some weeks or watch movies or tv shows. Other then that, I pretty much have nothing to do [or am not really allowed to do until few more months]

I used to do photography too but my camera died a few months ago. [I would like to believe it went into coma and would work someday :P]

I know I need a new hobby.

When not reading ,i like to go for walk or hike.And when i have further time available ,i enjoy the company of my friends .They also join me in walk and in little travelling when an opportunity arise.Needless to say that the company of friends is always accompanied by smoking and music.

Photography..doing some blog writing. Going for a walk or visiting the shoping mall and enjoying all the crowd on their dailly afairs.

And doing some movie colecting and watching.

Wow, Photography seems to be the thing to do, I wish I had an eye for it, there are some very big talents in here.
While not reading I, take care of my 5 yr old, enjoy community volenteer work, ride 4-wheelers, help out at my church, and work on my farm. More often than I would like, reading takes a back seat :)

As of this week I'm also taking up SCUBA diving and looking into underwater photography

I have many hobbies, how much and what I do varies with my mood. Right now work is taking a lot of energy and I try to work out at least half an hour a day.

I've been crocheting a lot during the summer and have made lots of amigurumis, but now I'm more into knitting. I think it's because autumn and winter is coming, I feel more like making scarves and handwarmers.

I also sing in two choirs, play the piano and flute and roleplay with my friends regularly.

I occasionally like changing jobs and countries where I live ... that is when I am not reading. Just recently looked at a new job in PNG (Papua New Guinea) .... and applied for it. Will see how this goes.
Life is boring if you don't add challenge and don't spice it up with new adventures.

Wow Kim, some really nice pics there.

I scuba dive as well, especially when I can escape Oklahoma and run home to Italy/Croatia.

Otherwise, work keeps me busy... so it's all about Finance.

I swim to unwind.

I love to play music, drums and marimba, but I have had so little free time lately.

And, when I can, I travel as much as feasible, possibly on two wheels. Just sold my last bike, but I am looking into buying something new soon - planning my inaugural trip, from Norman, OK to New Orleans, hopefully soon. I have some friends there I want to visit and play some music with...

I have been in school for the past few years, finishing a bachelor's degree, so mostly I study. Unfortunately, I think that counts as more reading. My husband laughs at me when I have spent 8 hours taking notes from textbooks and then say I'm ready to relax and pull out a another book (a novel of course). I also walk with my dogs twice each day for at least 45 minutes. I grow a vegetable garden in the summer and love to cook. I love my work too. I am a self-employed wellness coach and massage therapist, and I get lots of juice from helping people live healthier and happier lives. Right now I am gearing up to start a health and wellness blog and preparing my applications to graduate school.

Well I work as a teacher or hang out with one or both of my kids-my son David who's 18 or my daughter Katie who's 21. Now I'm on vacation so I go to the beach (sometimes I read at the beach. I watch tv-Criminal Minds, Happily Divorced, NCIS, Rizzoli & Isles.

Same here. I´m mostly busy with going to school and learning, reading - and writing.
It´s just too much fun to drop this hobby, even though it takes up a lot of my time.

I'm a Navy Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program Counselor. When not working, or reading, I'm chasing a 4 year old boy (Son) and 6 year old girl (Daughter).

When not reading or on here, I'm gaming.

Typical, i know.

I'm still a student, so when not reading I'm either attending lectures, thinking about my coursework, watching something so thought-provoking it's equivalent to reading, or else just chilling with my friends having eclectic conversations.

Uhmmmm...sleeping!

I like to watch movies, just rented the new Arthur movie and a Marley and Me movie, and I love Tv shows, my first favorite show being Supernatural and my other shows are Criminal Minds, Mike and Molly, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney etc.
I also like to come here on the Web to Goodreads and check my email plus I do searches on google and go on facebook every once in a while.

Enough said?

Hang out on Goodreads, exercise at the gym or on Wii Fit, clean up after my cats, try to stay cool, watch tv or movies, listen to music. I like arts/crafts, but I do it when I'm motivated. Write, bake. Nothing terribly exciting.

It's more exciting than me.

Seek out period dramas from BBC and rant on tumblr about them!

While I treasure my reading time, and enjoy it as much or more than any other activity, it is essential for me to spend a large component of my available time on investing. Ever since I sold my company in 1989, I have lived ex-pension. Rather than relying on "professional" guidance, I elected to invest alone, and have continued to this day. Having spent my entire working career in the Canadian oil business, my natural passion is for western Canadian oil producers. It has been fun, yet expensive to remain in obscurity fo 22 years. If I had known what obscurity was like, I would have gone there sooner, and put a patent on it.

I've been obscure for years! Can't recommend it enough!

These days I grade essays in my spare time...but I like Mike's idea of sleeping.

Franky wrote: "These days I grade essays in my spare time...but I like Mike's idea of sleeping."

Yeah, me too. How do you get that job?

Some talented and interesting folks. I'm learning glass blowing!

Oh, how neat, Jessa. I would be interested in learning how to do that.

Jessa wrote: "Some talented and interesting folks. I'm learning glass blowing!"

I think that's neat too. I used to be stationed in Italy (Naples) and my wife and I would go to Venice (Venetzia) regularly often. Now and then we'd go on a boat (water taxi, more like a water bus) to Morano where we could watch the Italian artisans blowing glass and working with glass in the public market. Even the Italians thought that was pretty cool.

They could make a beautiful glass unicorn in minutes. I can't even draw a unicorn given hours and low expecations.

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "Jessa wrote: "Some talented and interesting folks. I'm learning glass blowing!"

I think that's neat too. I used to be stationed in Italy (Naples) and my wife and I would go to Venice (Venetzia..."

I was in Disney's Epcot and watched glass blowing and saw an elephant. Since then I have been determined to learn. You've lived one of my dreams of going to Italy. I'll make it some day

Melki wrote: "Oh, how neat, Jessa. I would be interested in learning how to do that."

Look around. I just googled it and there are quite a few places in my area. Not sure where you are, but hey, it's worth a try!

Jessa wrote: "Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "Jessa wrote: "Some talented and interesting folks. I'm learning glass blowing!"

I think that's neat too. I used to be stationed in Italy (Naples) and ..."

and to think, I thought the food was the big draw (LOL)

Glass blowing sounds fascinating! I learn calligraphy which I find very interesting because of the historial aspect; I guess many crafts are like that.

Hugh, I am very jealous that you were stationed in Naples for a time! I am dying to go back over to Italy.

This year I've gone back to study at university to finish learning Italian, Latin and German. I've always wanted to do it, and now is my chance! The only downside is that I have to work during the holidays to pay the rent.

So you like languages too? I´d like to learn as many as I can. At the moment this are English, Latin Spanish and German. I´ll be going for Chinese and French next, maybe when I´m going to university I´ll get my chance.

Just visited here for the first time in several days. And as Jessa wrote, there are some very talented and interesting people here.

I chuckled at Franky and Hugh's remarks concerning my activity other than reading being sleeping. Would that it were so.

I was an assistant district attorney for 28 years and retired from that position to become the director of a domestic violence shelter program, which I did for about four years. It drained me physically and psychically.

To slow down, I went into the private practice of law, having wanted to grow up to be Atticus Finch. ;-)

Now, my mother is quite ill. As the only child, I am her primary caregiver, spelled by my wife when she is not working. Everything else is on the back burner for the time being.

Although I have many passions, I became involved in community theatre about two years ago and am a member of The Actors' Charitable Theatre which gives a portion of the proceeds from our productions to a non-profit service organization.

Recently The ACT, as it is called, participated in filming a short in conjunction with students from Oberlin College about unwed teen-aged mothers in 1950s Alabama. I was the preacher in charge of a home for "wayward" girls. The young man who wrote and directed the film is among those I consider honorary children,for whom I have been grateful to help with their projects during the course of their education. He intends to shop the film on the Independent circuit. Who knows? Perhaps he is the next Spielberg.

So, sleep? Well, sometimes. It's a pleasure to have found such a grand group here on goodreads.

To sum it up: You are doing everything but sleeping, huh? ;)

Marlene,

Indeed. Although the joys of a good cat nap are not to be overlooked. *laughing* I find your love of acquisition of languages absolutely admirable. I must confess Americans for the most part expect others to learn English as opposed to having the drive to learn that of others. I had seven years of Latin and one year of German. I have cursorily worked at Italian in anticipation of a trip there one day and picked up a bit of Spanish because of our growing Hispanic population. I always loved my Latin studies to be able to read the wonderful plays and poems in the original. Even Caesar was enjoyable. Plautus was great fun. However, I could simply not abide Cicero. My German was also something I enjoyed tremendously. However, not having returned to it for nearly thirty years, I'd be limited to say much more than, "Wo ist der bahnhof?" That would be closely followed by, "Ich verstahen sie nicht." *grin*

Immerhin. Wenn du mit dem Zug fahren willst, kommst du ans Ziel. xD

German is my mother language, but I absolutely LOVE English.
Italian is another language I liked to learn. The problem is: Where do I get the time from? Well, until I´ve foound the anwser to this, I´ll have to stick to the languages I´m able to learn at school.

I could take a class at a bigger city - only that I´m living in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. Sigh...