Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Activities & Hobbies

What type of activities or hobbies have you tried or been involved with since our high school years?

No one should feel ashamed or embarrassed about what ever it might be that is important to you.

Lets talk about the years before our children's activities kicked in. I would like to hear about the things that we did.

I have learned a lot about some of our classmates from the blog.

Sports have played a large role in my life. With that said I have tried many different types of sports. Here are a few of the things I have done:

While in college - rappelling (total adrenaline rush)
martial arts
road biking
golfing

Lets hear about some of the things that you tried.

Please do not base it on sports only.

27 comments:

mj jones said...

After HS I went skiing which now I wouldn't do because I HATE the cold. When I met Forrest we did alot of hiking and some mountain biking, that is also when I found my LOVE for fishing. He taught me how and the rest is history it is now a family affair. (I just booked Canada for July) Aside from volunteering for the kids I also spent a few years as a wish granter for the Make A Wish Foundation and I still volunteer from time to time at Camelot House for children, mainly working at their camp for a week every summer. Working with sick and dying children had made me realize how fortunate my family is and it gives you a certain understanding of whats really "important" in life. Believe me it is not material things. I am a firm believer that every person should volunteer thier time at some point in thier life because it changes you for the better. This year I took the cubscouts to work in a soup kitchen and they all learned alot.
I also took up scrapbooking for awhile and rubber stamping but don't do it much anymore for lack of interest or time. Of course I love to travel and we have been very fortunate to go many differant places over the years. We have a special love for National parks and my goal is to see every one of the 50 states in my lifetime.

Sonya C said...

Let's see what I come up with....

College was when I skied. I have never done this again since I graduated.

After college, I started training to be a body builder. I did get quite large and decided I didn't like the way I looked, so that was done.

This is when I began going to dance clubs all the time. I would go out at least three times a week. At this point, I got my first tattoo.

Started putting on alot of weight, so I decided to try to start running again. I hated running more than a mile in high school, but somehow became a distance runner.

Started dating a guy who was big into mountain climbing, so I tried it. Never actually went outside the gym because I am terrified of heights - the things I used to do for men. Glad I grew out of that.

This same guy was a scuba diver - so I took lessons. I travelled alot through the Carribean with this hobby - Roatan (9), Cayman Islands (2), Bonaire, Caruso, and Cancun. It was my last trip to Roatan when I got "bent" and I haven't done it since. Still own all the equipment - need to get rid of it but hate to admit I am somewhat of a pack rat.

In here is when I ran my one and only marathon.

I tried kayaking for a little, but didn't enjoy it.

I bought a boat and have taken it a few times crabbing. Buying the boat was something I shouldn't have done. Oh well. If I do any fishing, it is catch and release.

I still continue running and lifting weights for toning.

kristen said...

before marriage & kids? ha I can barely remember that time....a couple years after high school, i travelled with some friends (including Mrs. Leww) to the Bahamas and another trip to St. Thomas. I made several weekend trips to Shippensburg during Brads 4 1/2 years there (what a wonderfully scenic drive :(.....)
Spent some time on the exercise kick, coached knee-hi cheerleading and spent 3-4 years coaching at CHS. Cant seem to remember ever picking up a hobby, (unless shopping counts)i was always very much a home body and still am! i created & actually finished one scrapbook and have plans to make one for each child as the time allows

randyg said...

Lets go guys.....I only see the ladies posting? MJ - I forgot to mention that I took up skiing as well. Sonya - body building? good for you. I use to put a lot of time in the gym but never did anything with it. Kristen - maybe you'll coach cheerleading again in the near future.

mathbach said...

Not sure if everybody knew this but for a while i worked for Fed-Ex. sometimes i'd have to jet around the world trouble-shooting problems for the company. One time on Christmas Eve, i dispatched on an assignment. Just before leaving, i proposed to my girlfriend, and promised her, "I'll be right back". The plane i was on hit a severe storm and was blown hundreds of miles off course. my plane crashed into the Pacific ocean, and i was the only survivor. i drifted to a small deserted island. For the next four years i struggled to survive, using salvaged items from washed up FedEx packages as tools. i purposely left this one package unopened. my only companion was Wilson, a volleyball, and as time passed my loneliness lead to suicidal tendencies. i knew i must get off the island, so i built a crude raft and headed out to sea. that was quite the experience.

Mcgon said...

Matt you have been watching too much Survivor!!

randyg said...

So Matt - that included swimming, climbing, tent making, fishing, fire starting, boat building, cooking, tool making, and caving. Did I miss anything?

Wow!

mj jones said...

yeah really WOW.......lame now lets have the real info.

mathbach said...

after that

and i do not watch survivor, the memories are too painful.

lw said...

Good one Matt!....still laughing..

TerriE said...

I'm addicted to Disney and National Parks. I've been to Disney 7 or 8 times (it's become a blur) and I'm already plotting our next visit. My husband, Paul, and I have seen many National Parks and enjoy camping. (We even took our daughter camping in Acadia National Park when she was only 6 mos. old.) It's also our goal to go to all the National Parks, just like MJ. Tried waterskiing(ouch!), done the rubber stamp thing, and a nice amount of travelling. I enjoy hiking and kayaking. Reading is an olympic event for me; I'm lost if I don't have a book.

Kristen, I feel shopping is a hobby. Plus it requires a lot of upper body strength and endurance!!

Matt, thanks for the laugh! I'm so gullible, you had me up to the Pacific Ocean. ;)

pauko27 said...

Randy, I will tell you one activity that I miss. Hunting. I wasn't a major hunter back in PA, but I got out enough with my Dad. I don't really know any hunters down here and it just never really fell into play. I miss not having the opportunity to maybe get out with some of the guys from our class, maybe hang out at someone's cabin, etc.

kristen said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
mj jones said...

Terrie, we've also been to Acadia and then up to Baxter which I have no idea how but I hiked South Turner mountain something like 3800 feet. I guess I was trying to impress my then new husband. Couldn't do it today if I tried. This summer we were able to see Sequioa and it was truly amazing!! Next on the list is Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore. I don't see your bio where do you live? We've done Disney a few times too but I feel for the money there is so many other places to see.

randyg said...

Dave - I also miss hunting. I hunted since I was 12 and use to live for archery season. I haven't even bought a license the last 4 years. I use to belong to a hunting cabin in Fulton County. I basically paid my dues and went for one day. I just got tired of buying my license and additional permits and then never finding time to go. Every year I say I'm going to start going again.

Unknown said...

Dave/Randy Our cabin always has an open door. I don't know how much hunting you will do, but sure is a good time. Just don't hunt near Rock. He shoots deer and doesn't even know it. I will let him explain that one !

randyg said...

Rock says "Did I do that" (erkle voice)

Mcgon said...

AND ROBB DOESN'T TAKE ENOUGH BULLETS!!! EXPLAIN LATER.

Rayban said...

I have received a class A liscense in skydiving. Of course hunting is at the top of my list, Randy/Rob anytime you want to shoot some big Bucks you need to head out here. I will hook you up! 2 time Tae Kwon Do sparing champion, not bragging, well maybe a little. Of course the things that I am not that good at but still consider a hobbie, Golf! No comment from the 20th reunion golfers! Well the no show trio can make comments because, well they didn't show!!!! Love ya girls maybe next time!

randyg said...

Ray - skydiving????? Great job with the Tae Kwon Do. I use to own two Isshinryu karate schools. I started training in college and continued from there. I use to compete a lot in forms and weapon forms. I did compete in a few full contact tournaments. There were quite a few guys from Catty that I trained with. I did Aikido for about a year and half as well. This is another thing I miss doing. My daughter has expressed some interest in trying it so that might get me back into it.

Rayban said...

Yup Skydiving, it's a blast! I am hoping later this year to jump outof a hot air balloon. I still practice Tae Kwon Do but now with any school. I am kind of doing a little independent study on the arts and exploring my own path. I have placed a couple of times in form competition but it really isn't my strong point.

randyg said...

That's Crazy!!!! Yeah, I haven't trained formally in over three years. I did the Isshinryu for almost 15 years and Aikido a year and half. I still mess around with it at home. I really enjoyed the Aikido because it was easier on the body. The years doing it took it's toll on the body.

TerriE said...

MJ
Wow! I'd love to compare notes on the parks! I've been to Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, etc. and it's by far my fave. You will truly love it. There's so much to see so try to spend extra time. We were going to go out again last summer, ironically the same time Ray was in Sturgis, but had to change plans and go to Texas to meet our newborn niece. I'm working on my bio but having trouble posting it. We live in Laurys Station.

mj jones said...

Terrie sounds great do you just have the 1 daughter? My daughter is 6 so she gets a little impatiant after day one of sightseeing, everything starts to look the same to her but it sounds like there is alot of fun stuff to do w/ kids on the Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore tour. Kids have to be 8 for alot of it though, so summer 08 looks good for us kids will be 8 and 12 then. After my husband and I went to the Grand Canyon we always said we would come back when are kids could go whitewater rafting down through. It would be so awesome to do that someday.

Rayban said...

MJ, while you are up there you should try and see Spearfish canyon, The Badlands and Custer national forest. A couple of the places I hit while in Sturgis.

Jeff P said...

Allright - Here are a couple of my hobbies - Traveling with the Family (Annual trips to Michigan every summer), and A Family trip to a new state (for the Kids). We've been to Hilton Head, SC. and Anna Maria Isl. FL. This year is Disney (in about a month!).

My other personal hobbies are Flag Football (I've played QB in a league the past 4 years) and Softball (although I did not play last year). My other "closet hobby" for the winter months is model railroading. I always have a train under the X-mas tree, and this year I also put up a 4'x8' layout "for the kids"....which is now a permanent fixture in my basement. This is a family tradition...and after carting around all this stuff in my many moves over the past 20 years -I figured it was finally time to build it. My son LOVES it...he is into the "choo-choo's" and runs them everyday. My daughter likes painting the buildings and making landscape/scenery. It's actually turned into a family event...who knew??

Jeff

Vicky said...

I like to cook. We like to entertain at home alot, so cooking is big for me.

I started doing yoga about 8 years ago when I had post natal depression following the birth of my daughter. It was a lifesaver for me, and I've been doing it on and off ever since.

As far as vacations, we like what the British call "activity holidays". I can't go somewhere and lay on a beach for a week. That would make me nuts. We like to go places where we can cycle, climb, canoe or raft (Georgia and I did the whitewater rafting down the Lehigh - that was fun!). We also like sightseeing, but with little kids you can't do too much of that. Orlando is the British equivalent of Mecca. All Brits make the pilgrimage at some point during their lifetime. We went five weeks after 9/11/2001, and the ONLY people in the place were British. NOTHING will keep the British from Orlando!