Not too long ago, before all the political posts and trolling there were civil conversations about current events and hobbies. Most of us who frequent T/OT are no longer constantly working on our Fiero hobby, but like to stay kind of into the niche. Like many of you guys as I've gotten older medical issues have moved me out of the garage and into less physical ventures. I have taken up 3d printing and have to say it is a fine time waster with some benefits. Thus far other than a few sliced fingers and a couple of burns I have been damage free in the last several months I have been into this hobby. What are you guys into these days?

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Tis the season to mountain bike for me. No flat ground, and some amazing views if we step out of the immediate area. Within 10 minutes drive I can be at any one of several mountain biking trails.

I have always owned a bike. Even have a stand to work on them. So serene to just pedal quietly. I do play around a bit and try to act cool, but I am no great air time hero.

I have the kid and Wife into it with me. We do the family thing. He has a fat tire with an 8 speed derailer, and we just picked up a Specialized Aerial with hydraulic disc brakes for her. This is Her first "real" bike. I pretty much have all the bikes decked out for use. Lights for all, a rack for the Wife, and helmets to keep safe. I carry tools and necessities including a First Aid kit. I even pull a trailer from time to time if we do the Centennial Trail. We are planning on doing the Hiawatha Trail in a few weeks and may take the trailer and some camping gear to make a weekend out of it.






Edit: @ IMSA... Nice catch. I will not edit it.

[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 06-10-2018).]

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: ....a rack for the Wife

You bought those?

My primary hobby lately, has been my music. Since I retired I have been learning to play a few new instruments and I do multi-track recording on my desktop computer.

Over the last couple of weeks, I installed two 27” LED monitors and a new video card, and Friday I upgraded my processor to a quad core Phenom, so I could start using a better recording app. I was using Audacity but have now switched to Ardour. I just spent the last few hours working on a new song.

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

Not uch in the way of hobbies ya CAN do living in apartment...I'm doing some gaming, some buy-and-sell flipping of electronics and a LOT of home-theater movie watching.

My TV/ Smart home theater and Roku box are the ONLY brand-new stuff I have allowed myself in 4 years, and even that I got from liquidators type place. I'm into the whole setup for around 500 bucks. (Oh, and finding deal is another "hobby"

I still fly occasionally, do some scuba diving, shooting sports, woodworking, and house maintenance projects. Those are in addition to restoring Meras and I stay quite busy with travel to see friends and family. A mountain bike (S Works Stump Jumper) is my primary exercise mode and I also have a road bike (Specialized Roubaix Comp) for some cross training.

Nelson

[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 06-11-2018).]

I piss away my time fixing/sprucing up/upgrading cars, e-bikes, power equipment or whatever else.

Mostly helping out my son with his hobbies, we are going to redo the basement work area and get back into 3D printing and robotics. Edit: thanks for creating this thread!

[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 06-11-2018).]

I try to get some gaming time in when i can. Which is difficult during the summer season since i put in so many hours at work right now.

Currently working on Dark Souls: Prepare to die Edition. Game is tough as nails, but really fun and rewarding to play. Plus i can just take my time with it.

Although a lot of my free time at the moment is spent helping my girl with her web business.

I find a little time in-between to eat and sleep. lol.

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 06-11-2018).]

I really enjoy driving around the island and going in hikes. Sadly, I had knee surgery last Wednesday so I'm on crutches for awhile. I've started gaming again and I'm enjoying it a lot. I try to limit myself though and I'm going to try to take online courses soon through Tuition Assistance the Marine Corps provides.

Here's one of my other hobbies:









When I'm not playing with the Fiero, I'm usually playing with one of those.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 06-11-2018).]

Working on Fieros, Classic cars, going to cruises, car shows, cruise ins and charity events, I publicize many Fiero events and basically help advertise them, including one this weekend www.backtothe80smn.com . I do the same with a small local car show I run in my town.
With work and commute I haven't had a lot of time for a lot else.
But I enjoy snowmobiling when we have snow, have a 91 Yamaha Phazer, ATV riding, have a 92 Yamaha Timberwolf. I stick with the old paid off stuff, seafoam and gas is all they usually need
I do a pinewood derby car per year. I also help a few kids and parents at my church cut their ideas out of the wood block for the derby we have there. Other volunteer things mosty through church. I design flyers and little online photo ads for a lot of this stuff.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 06-11-2018).]

RC planes, boats and cars, auto racing (Nascar, ARCA, IMSA, Vintage, Pirelli GT), auto shows/cruises, country driving.

Glad to see we are a much more active group than it would appear. I built a monster gaming computer and thought I would enjoy gaming but that was not for me. It is good for working with cad style software even though I'm not there yet. Thanks for the posts guys.. and keep 'em coming.

So Skyrim VR yeah I have a Rift

Seriously, can someone explain gaming to me? When people say they are trying finish a game, or work through it, I don't understand the sense of accomplishment. What exactly have you accomplished? If you read a book, hang out with someone, I can understand the time spent. But, to put so much effort into finishing a game seems like you are deluding yourself into thinking you actually did something, when you have done nothing.

Reminds me when I was a kid, spent a whole day of vacation turning over the score on Atari's Missile Command.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: Seriously, can someone explain gaming to me? When people say they are trying finish a game, or work through it, I don't understand the sense of accomplishment. What exactly have you accomplished? If you read a book, hang out with someone, I can understand the time spent. But, to put so much effort into finishing a game seems like you are deluding yourself into thinking you actually did something, when you have done nothing. Reminds me when I was a kid, spent a whole day of vacation turning over the score on Atari's Missile Command.

Its Escapism, pure and simple.

As a kid I used to escape the world for a few hours in books, but as technology developed reading got boring and the visuals of gaming are SOOO much easier to immerse yourself in.

I'm not REAL heavy into it (a few hours a week) but for those few hours I can put on the headphones and the whole effin world can go away. I'm not there anymore, I'm in some dungeon hacking up a bunch of monsters or blowin sh*t up in a way I could never do in real life.

Think of it as a vacation from reality while sitting on your azz.

quote Originally posted by MidEngineManiac: Its Escapism, pure and simple. As a kid I used to escape the world for a few hours in books, but as technology developed reading got boring and the visuals of gaming are SOOO much easier to immerse yourself in. I'm not REAL heavy into it (a few hours a week) but for those few hours I can put on the headphones and the whole effin world can go away. I'm not there anymore, I'm in some dungeon hacking up a bunch of monsters or blowin sh*t up in a way I could never do in real life. Think of it as a vacation from reality while sitting on your azz.

Interesting. I can see the appeal. Also, I can see a problem if this world becomes more appealing than our living-world.

When I have the time I will sink some in a MMORPG. My favorite was EQ but it was so much of a time sink that I got out of it a little over 10 years ago. As far as free to play I like Lineage II the most. Paid, which I haven't done for awhile because I don't have enough time to play to make the monthly worth it, is WoW. Other than that I like to do some painting. Nothing spectacular but it's just for fun. I also like car audio. I just wish there was some shows or competitions in my area for it. Car shows are fun because many of them have some sort of audio upgrade I can see aside from the restoration's/customization's of the cars.

LOL, it can get...adicting

I'm off tonight so right now I am sitting at my desk with my 17" gaming laptop in front of me, and just for playing I dont use the keyboard or touchpad on it. I've got a nice gaming keyboard and mouse hooked up. The game tonight is Sacred Gold (an older but still good hack-and-slash RPG)

To my left, at a 45 angle is my second laptop (right now that Netbook I worked on last night) and am using its keyboard plus a wireless mouse. Thats what I am posting this on.

To my right is the gaming mouse on a mousepad, and the wireless one for the netbook on the bare desktop (I get those for 3 bucks so don't care if I wreck it with a hard surface)

My desk is actually a converted kitchen table that used to seat 6, so is big enough for all of the "stuff"--plus my coffee.

AND, I've got a BAD B movie going on the TV even further left. My TV stand is on wheels so I can pull out the one side and angle the screen towards me.

So, yeh--I am reading forums, playing a game, and watching a movie all at the same time, jumping between the 3.

NOPE, its not ADD but sure seems like it sometimes

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: When people say they are trying finish a game, or work through it, I don't understand the sense of accomplishment.

I almost finished a game of solitaire, once. I was so enthralled, I almost missed "Dancing with the Stars".

quote Originally posted by williegoat: I almost finished a game of solitaire, once. I was so enthralled, I almost missed "Dancing with the Stars".

Ya running Windows 10 ?

Go to the windows store and search for "Etherium". Its an import from Android, free, and very easy to play. A little on the simplistic side for an RPG, but you will get the idea of how these things can get addicting.

I was a hardcore gamer. Then I became a Father.

Not knocking the game, just telling my story.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tony Kania:

I was a hardcore gamer. Then I became a Father.

I play more games with my son now, use to be fun when he was young, now he just beats the pants of me in any game, sucks getting old.

As for hobbies, all about golf this time of year for me, and I like doing woodwork, yard work, and just making stuff with left over materials.

dan

quote Originally posted by bonaduce: ... dan

I hear you on that. I am susceptible to long strings of playing without care to the world around me. I knew this, and only quit playing due to personal responsibility. I know that there is a long history of gaming threads in the past that I was involved in, and even used to play gaming online with several Pennock members past and present.

Edit: Did we not play Forza online together back in the day Bonaduce?

My Son does play games a lot, but I have no interest in them. He is limited in this household on how much screen time he has unless it is a learning video. Those do not count towards his allotted game time.

Squirrels, quail and gardening. I have built a half dozen shelves that hang on the corner fence out back. I then used 1" wood dowels in various lengths on different diagonals and angles to criss cross the shelves. I feed them sunflower seeds and peanuts every morning. Great for coffee and estimating. A few of them go into the bird house that I made and painted with my boy. I can water the planters and they will stay within feet of me eating peacefully. I do not threaten them at all.

The quail come later in the evening. They like to eat the seeds and the tops of the sunflower sprouts. We have a few sunflowers that made it and can't wait for them to bloom. One of them is the obvious leader out of a dozen or so birds. We call him "The Lead Chicken". He directs when and who can eat on which side of the fences. Funny to watch. Even a few of the quail will eat while we have dinner outside. Just feet from us. You have to see a 7 year old's eyes when that happens.

We have a little garden and a bunch of plants and flowers in and around the home. I like color.

Great thread.

[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 06-12-2018).]

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: I was a hardcore gamer. Then I became a Father. Not knocking the game, just telling my story.

Yeah, that. Also just don't get excited about these Deathmatch games. Too much goin' on... I wish the new "God of War" (where it's him and his son) was a two-player co-op.

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: I hear you on that. I am susceptible to long strings of playing without care to the world around me. I knew this, and only quit playing due to personal responsibility. I know that there is a long history of gaming threads in the past that I was involved in, and even used to play gaming online with several Pennock members past and present. Edit: Did we not play Forza online together back in the day Bonaduce? My Son does play games a lot, but I have no interest in them. He is limited in this household on how much screen time he has unless it is a learning video. Those do not count towards his allotted game time. Squirrels, quail and gardening. I have built a half dozen shelves that hang on the corner fence out back. I then used 1" wood dowels in various lengths on different diagonals and angles to criss cross the shelves. I feed them sunflower seeds and peanuts every morning. Great for coffee and estimating. A few of them go into the bird house that I made and painted with my boy. I can water the planters and they will stay within feet of me eating peacefully. I do not threaten them at all. The quail come later in the evening. They like to eat the seeds and the tops of the sunflower sprouts. We have a few sunflowers that made it and can't wait for them to bloom. One of them is the obvious leader out of a dozen or so birds. We call him "The Lead Chicken". He directs when and who can eat on which side of the fences. Funny to watch. Even a few of the quail will eat while we have dinner outside. Just feet from us. You have to see a 7 year old's eyes when that happens. We have a little garden and a bunch of plants and flowers in and around the home. I like color. Great thread.

Great idea Tony !!

The scope will always be dialed in exactly for the range. SMART, man. Bring 'em to the same point every time HEN nail them....

Edit: Because my phone didn't link right.


This was still mid install on this part of the stereo for our car. Like I said, it's my hobby and the one that has stuck with me the most. I got into car audio when I was 16 and 31 years later I still like doing it. I still have rear door speakers, more sound deadening in cab and trunk, back up camera link ran from trunk to headunit and some interior and exterior LED lighting to do. Well, also general clean up. It's not a super powerful system like you see at DB drag racing, but it's loud enough to make my hair and teeth vibrate so I'm happy.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 06-12-2018).]

quote Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist: Yeah, that. Also just don't get excited about these Deathmatch games. Too much goin' on... I wish the new "God of War" (where it's him and his son) was a two-player co-op.

Hard to find good co-op, on the same console, games.

One of my good friends, and best customer rented Mid Ohio Raceway today for all his buddies with hot cars. I got to run his Caddy CTSV and his Callaway Corvette about 2, 20 lap sessions each. Had a blast. I put a dashcam in the vette and a gopro camera in the caddy. Of course all the video on the gopro screwed up. It wouldnt link to my phone to adjust the view, and what it did record was upside down because of a glitch. I did get the Caddy in the grass once, but didnt have to stop, and I did spin out the vette once in the esses. Hillcrest + sharp turn, and off the race line dont work well. It was a lot of fun though. Fastest was 144mph on the back straight in the Caddy. It also ate the vette for lunch when we went out together...me with the Caddy and him in his vette.

I went back to RC trucks (nitro and Gas). There aren't many places left to fly airplanes anymore

Does growing my hair. Getting tattooed and growing a goatee count?

quote Originally posted by ED's85GT: I went back to RC trucks (nitro and Gas). There aren't many places left to fly airplanes anymore

I was never that big into gas. I did have a weedeater powered gasoline 1/4 scale racecar, and do have a twin turbine Phantom jet. Mostly theyre too messy, noisy and cantankerous to start. The jet requires a propane tank, fire extinguisher and a 2 man ground crew and usually 15-20 minutes just to get started...if it dont catch fire. Im more into electric. If your limited in flying areas, helicopters have come on big that solve that. I have a mid size electric Bell Jetranger I can even fly in the garage.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 06-20-2018).]

I'm a photographer and recreational trespasser...

cool pic...

Hobbies:

1. Amateur Radio. Intermittently since around 1962. My call is WB5GSA.

2. Reading, writing novels and nonfiction that will probably never see the light of day.

3. Sitting on a park bench watching babes walk by. (My now-deceased wife approved)