Hobbies? Passtimes? What do you all do when you are not in here?

kickcancer

creampuff91344 said:

For years my life consisted
For years my life consisted of nothing but work, and home, unfortunately in that order. I had a very successful career in banking, and eventually was able to partner with several knowledgeable bankers and opened our own bank. For almost 20 years this was my main focus, and my husband was second in my life. In 2001 I retired from banking, sold the bank and set us up in a very comfortable retirement life, choosing to leave the big city of Houston, and retire to Ruidoso, New Mexico. In 2004 we lost our only daughter, and I spent the next year in such a deep depression that my doctor finally recommended that I find something "entirely out of my normal, and get back to work". Because of my age, being a hooker was out of the question, so I decided to go to dealer school, and became a blackjack/poker dealer at a local casino in the area where we lived. This was probably the most fun I had ever had being employed. It was a job that was like going to play for eight hours. In 2007 we made a move from Ruidoso to Jacksonville, Texas, and one month later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, I enjoy an occasional visit to try out my learned skills in gambling. Also my husband and I have learned to enjoy things like gardening (we are from the tomato capital of the world), and living on Lake Jacksonville has afforded us the opportunity to enjoy all water sports. All in all, life is wonderful, and I am really looking forward to enjoying this summer, hopefully feeling much better than last summer at which time i was right in the middle of treatment. My recommendation to anyone in recovery.....do what you think you would least likely have done all of your life, and enjoy every minute. I certainly am!

Judy

What a small world...
Hello Judy,

I grew up in Ruidoso New Mexico. I still have my dad and brother there. But was just thinking what a small world to see someone here from my home town. Wishing you all the HOPE in the world for your healthy recovery.

Niccole

sure_hope

fauxma said:

I don't have any specific
I don't have any specific hobbies. I try lots of things and have a terrible habit of starting something and not finishing. I used to do embordery long ago. I started a lovely piece when my daughter was born. It has the first three letters of her name done and that's it. Same with quilting, but that must be genetic because I have my great grandmother's quilt that is only the top side. It was never filled or backed. It has been passed down from her to my grandmother to my mom to me and we all had good intentions but no follow through. Now my daughter has it but she it actually in the process of finishing it but if she doesn't she has a baby girl who can inherited it. I have have also started and stopped scrapbooking and sewing and geneology and many other hobbies. But while I did them they were fun. I used to tap dance. That I did for years. Started when my daughter was 4 and began classes. My mom took the classes with me. It is great aerobic exercise. Our studio closed many years ago so I stopped. I really enjoyed that and if I could find a good studio near here I would begin again. For fun, my hubby and I like to go to Yosemite. We never get tired of it. Also the ocean. And my best times are spent with my daughter, her hubby and my two grandchildren, Jazzton (4 year old boy) and Josephine (6 month old girl). My husband and I have been married 32 years and he is the love of my life. I couldn't have done better if I had designed him myself.
I love to read and watch TV and play games on the computer and come to this site, sometimes all at the same time. I used to love to play word Yahtzee with my mom. She lived nearby and I got off work at 3 pm and would stop by nearly every day and we would play. We didn't compete. Sometimes we would point out possible words. When she died, I used the letters from the game and spelled her name JACKIE, glued them together and put them in with her ashes. It is the last time I ever played. I couldn't ever play again with anyone else. She was the best mom and it is the one thing that has been hard during this. She isn't here. She was with me for my other cancers and she was so supportive. But I digress.
I have a very satisfying life and even with this cancer consider myself a very lucky woman. I have a good husband, great kid and grandkids, good family, a decent job and reasonably good health (and a good health insurance plan), good doctors and supportive friends and family. I have faith and hope for the future and I try not to borrow trouble. I always say, I don't care if my glass is half full or half empty, I'm just glad to have a glass. And I have good friends here online and that makes my glass currently spilling over.
Stef

Thank you for sharing, Fauxma
Your words are beautiful. Did you say you dibbled and dabbled with writing? You should. I almost heard music in the background as I read that! (smile) It was beautiful.
I'm sorry to hear that about your mom though.

Thank you for sharing
sheri

fauxma

fauxma said:

I don't have any specific
I don't have any specific hobbies. I try lots of things and have a terrible habit of starting something and not finishing. I used to do embordery long ago. I started a lovely piece when my daughter was born. It has the first three letters of her name done and that's it. Same with quilting, but that must be genetic because I have my great grandmother's quilt that is only the top side. It was never filled or backed. It has been passed down from her to my grandmother to my mom to me and we all had good intentions but no follow through. Now my daughter has it but she it actually in the process of finishing it but if she doesn't she has a baby girl who can inherited it. I have have also started and stopped scrapbooking and sewing and geneology and many other hobbies. But while I did them they were fun. I used to tap dance. That I did for years. Started when my daughter was 4 and began classes. My mom took the classes with me. It is great aerobic exercise. Our studio closed many years ago so I stopped. I really enjoyed that and if I could find a good studio near here I would begin again. For fun, my hubby and I like to go to Yosemite. We never get tired of it. Also the ocean. And my best times are spent with my daughter, her hubby and my two grandchildren, Jazzton (4 year old boy) and Josephine (6 month old girl). My husband and I have been married 32 years and he is the love of my life. I couldn't have done better if I had designed him myself.
I love to read and watch TV and play games on the computer and come to this site, sometimes all at the same time. I used to love to play word Yahtzee with my mom. She lived nearby and I got off work at 3 pm and would stop by nearly every day and we would play. We didn't compete. Sometimes we would point out possible words. When she died, I used the letters from the game and spelled her name JACKIE, glued them together and put them in with her ashes. It is the last time I ever played. I couldn't ever play again with anyone else. She was the best mom and it is the one thing that has been hard during this. She isn't here. She was with me for my other cancers and she was so supportive. But I digress.
I have a very satisfying life and even with this cancer consider myself a very lucky woman. I have a good husband, great kid and grandkids, good family, a decent job and reasonably good health (and a good health insurance plan), good doctors and supportive friends and family. I have faith and hope for the future and I try not to borrow trouble. I always say, I don't care if my glass is half full or half empty, I'm just glad to have a glass. And I have good friends here online and that makes my glass currently spilling over.
Stef

Thank You
Thank you for the compliment. I enjoy writing poetry but I rarely share it. There is a bunch on my computer and in a packet stuffed away and I imagine when I am gone someone will come across it. It is mostly about my friends and family and my life in general. I find it is therapy for me.
And thank you for the sympathy for my mom. Her journey with cancer was very short. In November of 2002 I had bladder cancer and my mom drove me to surgery and my husband met us there. She was 81 and still drove. She was so active. She had been talking about giving up driving that year because she didn't like to drive at night. She so very healthy but had been complaining that her back hurt and had seen her doctor but they couldn't pinpoint anything specific. In mid December my daughter was moving from Arcata to San Diego and stopped by to visit. She and her boyfriend had announced their engagement two months before and Mom had kidded when she better hurry up and get married so she would be there and we all laughed. While they were visiting it seemed that Mom was a little out of it. Not following conversations and staring off into space. Denise walked up to her and mom didn't recognize her. We thought maybe she had a stroke and started asking her questions and we realized she couldn't see. So we called her doctor who hospitalized her to run some tests. We sent Denise on her way and waited while they did all these tests. By now she was unsure of the year and foggy about lots of things and still couldn't see and couldn't walk but she knew who we were. We thought Alzheimers. After several days and many tests the doctor said that she had mets in her brain, liver and bones and they were growing at an alarming rate. They were not sure but they thought the original cancer was small cell lung cancer but without a biopsy they couldn't be sure and it was pointless to operate because there was nothing to be done. It was that far spread. Chemo and radiation would not stop this and was unlikely to even slow it down. We felt the side effects were not worth the results. Mom did understand what was going on and she said "A good Indian knows when it is time to sit by the road". My granddad was 1/4 Indian and it was the same thing he said when he knew that he was terminal. It's because long ago when nomadic Indian tribes were on the move and one was too ill to go on or injured they would just sit as the tribe moved on or so Grandpa said. My mom opted to forego any treatment and come home and have hospice. She was released the day after Christmas and passed quietly at home on the 13th of January. My sister lived with her and I moved in during that time. I slept in her bed next to the hospital bed provided by hospice. Mom was awake for only a few days and then slipped into a semi-conscious state for the last week. All the family got an opportunity to come and say goodbye and she got to say goodbye as well. I played a Josh Grobin cd for her during the evening she died. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring was playing when she took her last breath. It was actually a very beautiful moment. She had more courage than anyone I ever knew. If I can live as good and caring life as she did and if I can face the end with her courage I will be the most lucky person in the whole world. She was more than my mom, she was my best friend. Whenever I feel sad or frightened or just need a friend I talk to her. It's not the same of course, but it works. I hope that writing about this doesn't upset anyone I just wanted to share my mom with you all. She was truly special. And I am truly blessed with friends like all of you and with family and friends here at home. Life really is good because it is life. Take one moment and think about the thing that you are most grateful for and rejoice in it.
Stef

zahalene

Marcia527 said:

Always loved horses from the
Always loved horses from the time I can remember but never owned one and only rode one as a child that went round and round (it was live but I love merry-go-rounds too). I like to read too. We have a dog which was a stray puppy. I trained her. I go next door twice a day to let their dog out. I like gardening. I started doing zigsaw puzzles recently but stopped when my husband took the board I use to do them on. Lately I've been on this computer so much I got a neck cramp. I like to paint also, mostly landscapes and still life. Almost forgot, we like to camp too but haven't had time the last couple years.

I forgot, I sew too. I like interior design.

Oh oh, just love movies. I love Star Trek, The Next Generation. Love science fiction.

I'm sorry, I just keep thinking of stuff. I'll stop now.

jigsaw puzzles online
Marcia, I love puzzles too and used to do them in 'real life', but have found a great online site that produces puzzles from anyone who wants to post one and they can contain from 12 to 400+ pieces. Really fun and you can choose options to block the more 'dicey' ones if you want.
www.jigidi.com

phoenixrising

zahalene said:

jigsaw puzzles online
Marcia, I love puzzles too and used to do them in 'real life', but have found a great online site that produces puzzles from anyone who wants to post one and they can contain from 12 to 400+ pieces. Really fun and you can choose options to block the more 'dicey' ones if you want.
www.jigidi.com

Hey Zahalene
Good to see you back. Missed your great posts!!
love
jan

Marcia527

zahalene said:

jigsaw puzzles online
Marcia, I love puzzles too and used to do them in 'real life', but have found a great online site that produces puzzles from anyone who wants to post one and they can contain from 12 to 400+ pieces. Really fun and you can choose options to block the more 'dicey' ones if you want.
www.jigidi.com

thank you
I tried that site out. Pretty cool. No losing pieces and easier because they already have them laid out the way that they lay. Thanks.