Y’all didn’t hear from me for my usual Monday giggle-fest because some hideous beast sous chef slipped me gluten over the weekend. For me that equals several days of vicious migraines and spinal misalignment, so it’s been a little quiet here at the blog.
Never fear, the posse here includes the Queens and Kings of “entertaining themselves.” (I’ll even leave the “if you know what I mean” off that.)
Today, we want to hear about what y’all do with your down time. Don’t tell me you don’t have any hobbies. The peeps here are way too interesting for that. There is something you love to do, even when you only have 10-15 minutes of free time. (Oh my God, it’s tough to leave the naughty jokes out of the post!)
When you’re not working, writing, carting kids here or there, taking care of parentals, scrubbing your bathtub or paying bills…
What is your favorite thing to do?
I’ll even give you some examples to get you started. Is it:
- Reading trashy novels like 50 Shades of Hay above?
- Knitting or some other sort of crafting?
- Gardening?
- Watching TV or movies?
- None of the above. (I can’t wait to hear these answers.)
What is your favorite “down time hobby” and why? Feel free to get specific, such as your favorite show, book, movie, garden vegetable, etc. Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
~ Jenny
(who is still a bit under the weather, and ready to be entertained)
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Popping bubble wrap, and I got the proof to back that s#@t up: http://on.fb.me/1epk1oL
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Kelly, I’m a huge fan of bubble wrap. It’s completely addicting and OCD-making. What could be more delicious (besides coffee and chocolate)?
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Gave some to my sister for Christmas for school stress!
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That is an awesome gift, Sherry! I’m gonna have to start buying rolls of that for presents. 🙂
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Just popped some today!
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Jenny, I grab my knitting whenever I can–it’s very calming for me. I’ve been knitting since I was about seven, because I was making up outrageous stories at school, and my mother was hoping to avoid more uncomfortable phone calls from teachers. (“Here, this will keep you and that brain occupied!”) I haven’t tried my hand at some of the umm, more unusual undies you’ve pictured, enticing as that may be! I tend to make practical things–tons of socks and shawls since moving to the Great White North.
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Elizabeth, I can only knit scarves and blankets so far. I’ve tried hats, with very poor results. Laura Drake wants me to try socks and sweaters, and I told her she was on crack.
True story. I learned how to knit on a Memorial Day Monday back in 2008 when I was so stressed out at my sales job I could hardly see. I didn’t have anything in me to write with and I needed a creative outlet so I walked into a crafty store and told the lady in the yarn section I needed to learn how to knit. When she started to tell me about classes, I interrupted her and said, “I need to learn right now. Today.” The stress must have shown in my face because she sat me on a chair and taught me the basics in about 10 minutes and I’ve been knitting ever since. 🙂
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Jenny, that’s a great story! It is a great stress-relieving outlet for me,too. In fact, there’s a group of us at the day job who get together for an hour every week, and knit/quilt/cross stitch together while we solve the problems of the University and the Universe.
As for the socks and sweaters, they’ll come–I stopped donating things to pet shelters after a half-dozen or so!
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God, I was stressed out of my mind back in those days and the knitting was a huge help. I knit on long car rides and on conference calls to this day. It helps focus my brain. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to do those preemie hats, but again…the hats still boggle me. 🙂
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OMG! What a story about learning to knit! I tried when I was a kid, but no patience 😦
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Some people meditate, I cross stitch. And I still maintain that it’s the best form of therapy out there. With a needle in my hand, I’m as Zen as I will ever be (and nobody wants to try my patience too much either. Them needles are pointy).
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Elena, I used to cross-stitch all the time. Bookmarks, ornaments, jar lids…you name it, I stitched it. I still have kits and tons of floss, so I might get back to it. What’s your favorite thing to make?
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Oh I love big and difficult pictures with lots of colors. Like the Golden collection by Dimensions or Heaven and Earth Designs. Something that would take me a loooong time to finish and would look stunning framed on the wall. I have lots of walls in my house 🙂 And I have an even bigger stash of charts and kits.
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I’m completely impressed, Elena! I didn’t have the gumption for the big projects, but I think they’re beautiful. Go you!!
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If you want, you can look at my finished works here http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/Elorenalory/library/Finished%20cross%20stitch
I’ve been cross stitching since I was 16, but slowed down a lot lately. Between, work, family, and writing, don’t have that much time for it anymore.
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Elena, those are breathtaking! I’m so impressed. Y’all really need to go take a peek at that link. Our girl, Elena, has TALENT. 🙂
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In my downtime I peruse pics of hot long-haired men on Tumblr. But then again, that could be classified as research since I usually find my next book hero there. Yes! It’s research! And I do a lot of research, y’all. When I can tear myself away from those guys I read, read, read. And watch my TV shows. And then log right back onto Tumblr for more research.
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LOL, Juli. That’s a fine hobby. I read, read, read every chance I get too. In fact, I am reading Athena’s Daughter (by YOU) right now. 🙂
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Dang! It wouldn’t be weird if I kissed you or anything, right? 🙂 Thanks, Jenny!
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LOL. I promise you can kiss me next time you see me, Juli. Just maybe on the cheek or something. *giggling*
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Currently on a knitting binge, but I have lots of different things I enjoy doing, depending on how much time and how much brain power I have. Reading and movies are always on the list, as are lots of different forms of needlework, including quilting, spinning, cross-stitch, and sewing. For one period when I was feeling horrible, I made DIY coloring books. I doodled designs and then colored them in. I’m struggling to come up with something that would qualify as other but even Doctor Who is a TV show. 🙂 Hope you feel better soon!
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Oh, you’ll be in grand Dr. Who company here. There’s lots of fans in the MC posse. 🙂
I’m impressed with the breadth of your crafting, Kit! That’s amazing. I’ve always wanted to know how to quilt, and spinning? I can’t even conceive of that kind of talent. Wowzers.
p.s. I’m sorry you had a period of feeling horrible. I’ve had those and they’re huge downers.
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Spinning is actually a lot easier than you would imagine. When you think everyone used to spin, you realize that it can’t be that hard. It does seem like magic to turn a pile of fluff into yarn, but it doesn’t take magic to do it! 🙂
The universe needs more Doctor Who fans. 🙂
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I read a lot of different stuff, classicals to trash. I like TV a little too much. I used to needlepoint and play MMORPGs, but when I started blogging and writing more seriously I had to give them up. Now I’m kind of boring. All work and no play makes Mellie a tired girl.
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That DOES make Mellie a tired girl. Everyone needs some play time. I love every kind of book too. I’m as likely to read a Louis Lamour as an Eloisa James, a James Rollins or a Nora Roberts. I like ’em all. 🙂
You’ll probably giggle to know I had to look up MMORPGs. In case anyone else is as confused as I was:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game
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Oh no! You got sick from your date Saturday night? That really sucks! I am so sorry. Listen girl, I don’t have what you have, but I went to the doctor last Thursday and of course it’s parked right next to the runway at the OC Airport. So guess what air I was breathing while I talked to the doctor for an hour and a half? (new patient) I was so sick for three days. I’m just now coming out of it. I’m telling ya, you start to get paranoid because you can’t control your environment when your out. That’s why I cannot thank you enough for having everyone over. Big hugs coming your way for that one. Anyway, I can see that I have no talents here. lol. Maybe I should take up knitting? 🙂
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Your new doc’s office makes you sick? Damn. Will a mask help you get through it the next time you see him? That’s a bummer.
Honestly, I’d rather just get gluten sick. If I don’t go out, I don’t get poisoned. 🙂 I’m just about to the other side of it. The crap part is it makes the hip dysplasia (aka “Dog Hip”) flare up. That’s a whole different level of pain.
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Hi Jen, If I was running the kitchen the idiot who sickened you worked in He’d be looking for a job ASAP. My favorite thing on a sick day is to behave like a baby and whine a lot.
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My Hubs lets me whine. But I’ll tell you, it sucks to feel this bad over something that should have been easy (like eating). I don’t know if it was the waiter not communicating, or the kitchen people being lazy, but I won’t be going back there.
Thanks for wanting to virtually defend my head, Tom!! You’re the best. 🙂
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Planning trips and taking them!
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Where is your next trip to, Jane? I need some dreaming time, and YOU shall provide it. 🙂
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This week I’m headed on a short road trip that will let me look at bluebonnets. Then in June I’m headed to my old stomping grounds, California. We’ll visit family and friends from LAX to San Fran and play tourist in places like Napa/Sonoma, Wincheter Mystery House, Moonstone Beach, Montana de Oro, Lotusland, Getty Malibu Villa and the Huntington Library and Gardens. I think we’re going to have a blast.
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You will have to let me know if you get down the Orange County way, Jane. I’ll take you to Crystal Cove. 🙂
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Well, I do plan to meet an Orange County friend at Orange Hill Restaurant one night. Do they have anything you can eat?
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I was there the night the last big earthquake shook. Yep, they have some stuff for me. 🙂
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Then when I get it arranged l’ll let you know!
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Cool. Just tag me on FB or something. In fact, I’ll send you my number over there.
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Jenny, with a driving passion, I read, watch only what I can DVR or commercial free movies, and since the second grade … craft, craft and craft more. When my hands are busy, my mind is at rest. Love to crochet and would gladly decoupage the world … it would look so much prettier when I finished with it 🙂 Feel better !!
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I do love a great decoupage. I don’t know how y’all work it so it’s not sticky…that’s the issue I have when I’ve tried it. EVERYTHING gets sticky. LOL.
And I totally want to learn to crochet. It looks like it’s a bit more free-form than knitting.
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When you finish with several layers of ModPodge or whatever paste you use, let it “cure” for at least 72 hours and then seal with a water based lacquer. That is how to prevent sticking 🙂
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Besides the obvious answer of reading, I tend to spend my “down time” watching TV shows on Hulu or Netflix and singing along with music. Sometimes dancing too. In fact, there are moments when I’m practically putting on a concert in my living room, to the disturbed expressions of my confused cats who just want me to shut up so they can nap. But hey, it’s relaxing!
And that cartoon is hilarious.
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So cool to see all the knitters and crocheters here! These days, besides tending to my seedlings (post coming out on Friday about that), I’ve been into crocheting flower coasters. Wish I knew how to put a pic in here! They are bi-colored and made of a really nice cotton yarn – some of you folks may be familiar with the “sugar and cream” brand – and whip up in no time. I can sit in front of the tv in an evening and complete two of them. Now I have plenty for the house and have moved on to making them as gifts. Anyone want some coasters? 😉
Jenny, hope you’re better soon, hon!
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Hope you’re feeling better. Down time, I knit, but only in cold weather, which is rare here. I only knit dish cloths because of the lack of cold. LOL Of course, reading. Also Angry Birds, or other games on my iThing. For some reason smashing stuff it very cathartic.
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Smashing things is VERY cathartic! One of the funnest things my mom did for my roomate and I when we were freshmen (way back when) was send me boxes of crap Christmas ornaments that we could smash into the dumpsters behind the dorm. It totally helped with finals stress. 🙂
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Your mom is awesome!! What a great idea!!!
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Well reading’s always at the top of my list, but I don’t consider that a hobby; I consider that advancing my writing career.
I like to do cross-stitch and make holiday crafts. Watching tv and doing nothing is my absolute favorite.
Then there’s dancing (I do zumba and tap regularly), playing the piano, shopping (that’s a fun one). Pretty much girl stuff.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Jen! I am so sorry you were sick! And MAD that you were MADE sick -grrrr! When I have downtime I watch Bristish mysteries. I am a total addict. Wallender (the show is British), Inspector Lewis, Poirot, Inspector Morse, Murder in Suburbia, Sherlock, Zen, Case Histories…..TOTAL addict.
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I listen to my favorite Pandora stations or look at Key West photos on Twitter or watch the Food Network. Sorry you were down for the count, Jen. I had a similar experience this week but it was my fault. I ordered a dish that I’ve had at that restaurant before and assumed it would still be gluten and dairy free. I was wrecked for three days. Glad you’re feeling better. 🙂
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Yeah, I second and third or eleventh the “sorry you were sick” sentiment. That SUCKS. I have leaky gut and other various issues of the intestinal arena and it’s a whole lotta not fun when things get mixed in that shouldn’t be there. I’m glad you’re on the mend now. Inflammation from the wrong foods can wreak so much havoc on the body. It’s amazing how everything is inter-connected and intertwined. Sometimes this is a good thing, and sometimes a very bad one. Anywho – feel better!
I’d like to say on my down time I read a lot of very good books, I’d really like to say that. But my go-to feel-good brain shut down happy place is usually an episode of Parks & Rec – the early years when Ben & Leslie were crushing on each other. I love the humor and the sweet tension between them. It just makes me happy. I do read a lot of very good books too, just not when I want that non-thinking space to chill and go brain dead for a bit. 🙂
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Well, obviously, hitting the gym. Dining out and checking out new bars. Wandering around the city and getting lost in different neighborhoods. Kicking back on the couch and flipping through all 2,036 channels until I fins something to watch. Big Bang Theory is always good. Sex, Sex is also good when there is free time to spare!
Hope you have recovered by now!
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I love reading the results of all your wandering. 🙂 And WHAT is not to like about sex? You’ve got a grand life, Phil.
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