Thursday, March 12, 2009

Weekend Assignment #258: Hobby of Mine

For this week's assignment Karen gets some help from Laura:

Weekend Assignment #257: Are there any hobby activities you've always wanted to try? What is their appeal? Also, what's stopping you from pursuing them?


You know, it took me a while to come up with something for this week. Then, when I did get an idea, our Internet connection went kerplooey. Now I think I can actually answer this.

This first few things I thought of I had already done. Blogging was a hobby that I thought about for a long time before actually doing it. Actually, if it wasn't for Jenn starting hers, I may never have done it. So you can all thank, or blame, her.

I've done some of the basics out there; I have some coins I collected, I play golf, running. The basic things that most people do, or think about doing, I've done. Well, except skydiving. I've never thought I wanted to do it, and I never will!

So, after some hard thinking I came up with flying. An airplane, not being a superhero, or anything. My step-dad had a four-seater airplane that he used to fly when I was growing up. I always thought it was cool and really wanted to learn. When he was learning about flying I would always help him with his tests. Actually, not all that long ago, I found some of his old study materials in the basement. Inside was a score sheet with both his and my scores. I did pretty well!

I never did get to learn though. I know if my mom and step-dad didn't get divorced I would have learned, but I never got the chance. I would have had a plane readily available and could have practiced pretty easily. It's not like I miss it now anyway. I wouldn't be able to afford to fly. Do you know how much it costs to rent a plane? Not to mention owning one? Well, I don't either, but I bet it is a lot.

I did get to take one lesson about 9 years ago. Jenn bought me a one hour lesson at the local airport out here. It was pretty cool, and brought back a lot of memories. I got to fly along the lake and do a low pass over the former Meigs Field. Jenn's mom was not to happy about it though. She was pretty sure I was going to die that day.

Extra Credit: What was the last hobby activity you did?

I just took some picture out in the front and back of the house. We'll see how they turn out. I'll be posting them soon.

So, do you have a hobby you want to do?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does my obsessive collection of Rams and Spiderman stuff count? :)

Karen Funk Blocher said...

Wow! What a great story, and awesome almost-hobby! Hooray for Jenn getting you that lesson, too. Outstanding!

Jenn said...

Yes, I think your mother-in-law's exact comment was, "Thanks a lot Jennifer. I have a perfectly good son-in-law and you have to go do this (the flight lesson gift)and get him killed."

My mother is not dramatic at all.

Mike said...

DC: Sure. It's no different than collecting stamps or coins in my opinion.

Karen: Yeah, she does a good job on finding good ideas for me. :)

Jenn: I should have mentioned how you guys went out for a nice dinner while I was flying and didn't get me anything. :)

Florinda said...

I couldn't come up with anything until the assignment was almost over, so I'm posting a make-up this week :-).

My husband wanted to be a pilot during high school - and then he discovered his motion-sickness problem, and there went that idea. It is an insanely expensive hobby, at any rate - but it would probably be a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

If I had time to add a hobby, it would be rock climbing, no question. I've climbed indoor rock walls on 5-10 occasions and loved it. I hung on to our completely frivolous membership at the Lifetime Fitness in Skokie for far too long because I couldn't bear to give up the wall just as Unfocused Girl was getting old enough to do it with me, but finally had to admit that lack of time and too much distance made it a waste of money.

Mike said...

Florinda: I wonder if his motion sickness could have been over-come by actually doing the flying? Either way, yes, it's way too expensive anyway. I don't get how people have the money for it.

Unfocused: I've never tried rock-climbing. I do have a mild fear of heights (yes, I know it makes no sense with this hobby idea), so I don't know how well I'd do with that. Not to mention the strength required.