New hobbies

[Calm]

26 minutes ago, Tony uk said:

Always get people stopping in passing for a gossip.

That’s lovely

[Tony uk]

As I mentioned in an earlier post. I have taken up chess late in life. Basically, I have a reasonable idea of the pieces, what direction they move. Also basic movement patterns on the board. I decided to throw myself in at the deep end and play a few games online. Well and truly beaten every time, although I have to admit I enjoyed myself in the process. I do not think I will make it as a Grand master. However I have to admit, I am having fun learning.

[Tacenda]

9 hours ago, Tony uk said:

As I mentioned in an earlier post. I have taken up chess late in life. Basically, I have a reasonable idea of the pieces, what direction they move. Also basic movement patterns on the board. I decided to throw myself in at the deep end and play a few games online. Well and truly beaten every time, although I have to admit I enjoyed myself in the process. I do not think I will make it as a Grand master. However I have to admit, I am having fun learning.

I didn't know you could play online, should have though. I'd love to learn how to play chess, didn't think I was smart enough honestly! Thanks for your example of going for something like this!

[longview]

17 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

I didn't know you could play online, should have though. I'd love to learn how to play chess, didn't think I was smart enough honestly! Thanks for your example of going for something like this!

I am a regular on chess.com. It has introductory courses and you can play games with randomly selected players around the world. There are many features that are very helpful and do not cost. It uses the ranking system that will match players to your skill level.

[Stargazer]

On 7/15/2025 at 4:21 PM, Rain said:

I have been taking up various forms of art the last few years. Urban sketching, watercolor, acrylic abstracts, multi media. Not great at any, but I enjoy them.

I just started teaching watercolor to refugees.  I get uncomfortable saying that as I really am not a professional at all. I share it more as "I have access to these things and here are a few things I know."

The "professionalism" of which you speak is generally unnecessary for the purposes of teaching. Robert Heinlein ( the novelist) once gave a basic definition of a university. Paraphrased, it went something like "A university is a log on which two persons sit opposite each other while the knowledgeable person instructs the less knowledgeable person about a topic they are both interested in."

So, that makes you a university professor in the subject of watercolor painting! Professor Rain! I like the sound of that.

On 7/15/2025 at 4:21 PM, Rain said:

Recently, I started the process to teach crochet basics to refugees at a resettlement agency. I did not realize how involved the approval process is though so it's taking longer to get started than I thought. 

Bureaucracy is the mortal enemy of education.

 

[Tacenda]

I ordered a paint by number a couple of weeks ago. And I almost threw the whole thing away because it was so frustrating to stay in the teeny tiny lines. 

Being a newby I didn't know to slightly thin the paint, so starting out it was so thick on my brush and I tried staying in the lines and didn't quite make it and then I watched a YouTube and the person put their paint brush in water a little bit, and it changed everything and plus not staying in the lines isn't critical to how it will turn out. 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2025 by Tacenda

[Tony uk]

14 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I ordered a paint by number a couple of weeks ago. And I almost threw the whole thing away because it was so frustrating to stay in the teeny tiny lines. 

Being a newby I didn't know to slightly thin the paint, so starting out it was so thick on my brush and I tried staying in the lines and didn't quite make it and then I watched a YouTube and the person put their paint brush in water a little bit, and it changed everything and plus not staying in the lines isn't critical to how it will turn out. 

 

 

I admire your artistic side. Although I do not have the patience ( unfortunately), for painting. Well done Tacenda

[Stargazer]

On 7/9/2025 at 3:33 AM, Calm said:

I thought you were going to rent out cats.

That sounds interesting. I wonder how well that would work?

On 7/9/2025 at 3:33 AM, Calm said:

 I would have a cat except for the yowling outside my bedroom door at 7 am, my prime sleep time.

We have two cats.

The bedroom door is almost always open at night. Both of them eventually come in and sleep with us. Next to the window is where the wife keeps a few things piled up, with a cloth covering over it. I call it the "cat platform" because one or both of them will sleep on it. "Caramel," the girl tabby, prefers to sleep between my wife's feet (she sleeps on her back, something I can't do). "Spock," the boy black and white, sometimes snuggles up with Caramel, either on the cat platform or with my wife. But he also sleeps sometimes in the living room.

Neither of the cats are very vocal. Caramel almost never meows. Spock's meow sounds like he's got a very sore throat; and I haven't heard him meow in at least a year. Maybe more.

Spock usually comes to bed last, and likes to walk all over us for awhile, angling for some petting. He's also very insistent upon breakfast, so at around 6 am or even earlier he will come to my wife and smack her on the face to wake her up (she normally wakes up at 6 am anyway, so no big deal, usually). And he purrs like a 427 cu in Corvette engine. He never bothers me, and certainly doesn't smack me on the face. For one thing, and very inexplicably, he is very scared of me. He'll walk on me at night sometimes, but other wise he will run if I enter a room he's in. It's so weird, but I think it's because I almost stepped on him one night when he was parked on dark rug and I had to get up in the middle of the night. 

 

Edited September 25, 2025 by Stargazer

[Stargazer]

Might as well post some drone footage here... drone videoing is my outdoor hobby.

 

Edited September 25, 2025 by Stargazer

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Stargazer said:

The bedroom door is almost always open at night. Both of them eventually come in and sleep with us.

Would wake me up at least in the early morning when they move, so not an option.

Quote

smack her on the face to wake her up

Which is why I had the door shut.  

 

2 hours ago, Stargazer said:

he is very scared of me

Did you get him from birth?  If not, could be transferrence from another man unless it started significantly after you got him…though still could be another man, just the association in his mind took time.

[Tacenda]

14 hours ago, Stargazer said:

Might as well post some drone footage here... drone videoing is my outdoor hobby.

 

Beautiful! I'm so excited to go to England, Scotland and Ireland next April! 

[Tony uk]

3 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Beautiful! I'm so excited to go to England, Scotland and Ireland next April! 

I'm sure you will enjoy yourself, over here in the UK. Bring an umbrella, there's a reputation for rain the further north of the UK you go.