Reading a good book, I feel, is a great enhancement to life....just like music, gardening, kayaking or anything else any of us loves or craves.

Music(guitar, synthesizers, songwriting), listening to podcasts, exercise, I guess.

Although there are days that I do nothing else but curl up with a book, this is not the norm. I love hiking. I crochet. I also enjoy photography and birdwatching (often while I am hiking). I go to the movies, join friends for dinner out. And of course I DU.

I have a long commute, and I have tried audio books, but I just cannot seem to get into books unless I am reading them. It sucks to have to stop in the middle of a paragraph because I am now at work. I guess that I like the way I prepare my mind for work on the way to work, and the winding down on the way home. And I prefer to listen to talk radio or music where I don't have to concentrate on it while I am driving.

I was listening to my book while tooling down the highway to work. About 5 exits after the one I was suppose to take I nearly had a heart attack. I used my cell and called work telling them I'd be late because I had been daydreaming and went right by the work exit.

Well it was sorta like daydreaming right?

Guess I never had a problem with getting into a audiobook! LOL

I guess you DO enjoy audio books! I bet your coworkers had a good laugh at your expense.....I know I would have.

Now I spend a lot of time murdering dwarves for their beer money. I enjoy photograpy too, but I took my dslr for a swim, so that's on hold for now.

I sometimes play POGO online.

My 18 year old grandson is the XBox king in the family. He even camps out with his friends at Game Stop when ever there is a new release so he can get his instant gratification fix, lol. He came by his love of video games honestly though because both his Mum & Dad love them too.

Enjoy your World of Warcraft pscot!

Exercise, especially walking and water aerobics
Music, especially choral singing
Movies and videos: I'm a film buff
Studying languages, although I haven't done much of that lately

I prefer foreign and occasionally independent films. I look at the lists of top ten grossing films in the U.S., and they hold no interest for me.

I attend the film festivals that come to Minneapolis, and I subscribe to a series called Talk Cinema, which gives sneak previews of foreign and independent films about twice a month. This week's film was called The Forgiveness of Blood, and it's about a blood feud that arises in Albania over a land dispute.

by Loren D. Estleman....It's about a Hollywood detective who's a movie buff and it seems to mention old movies and stars on practically every page...the book is fairly current...

I haven't read it, but looked through it wishing I were a movie buff, but am not..

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/E_Authors/Estleman_Loren-D.html

This was twice as long, and it still needs editing...

I cook and bake quite abit, read or read about reading (DU); in summer pull weeds, spray plants, plant or prune; feed birds, melt fat to make suet for woodpeckers..I get compulsions to have the family for dinner followed by compulsions to chase them home when I can no longer stand them all together or be kept from my addictions.

MSNBC is always on and Letterman. Cataracts, carpal tunnel in both arms, knee replacement, arthritis - used to sew a lot. Buy a lot of stuff for grown kids and grandkids, babysit grandkids and a beagle whom I love dearly.

No hobbies, just keeping busy so as not to think about why this was or wasn't or whose fault it was, just waiting for the grim reaper so I could throw him a party.

Now aren't you sorry you asked?

(Wonder if World of Warcraft is something I could use, whatever that is, pscot seems so happy compared to me....)

Especially about the compulsions to have the family for dinner!

I had one of those type compulsions when we went to SC for the month of Nov. I invited one of my daughters and her family down for Thanksgiving week. When the time came I thought to myself, am I nuts???? It actually worked out great for me once they were there because her and her husband cooked and cleaned up the whole dinner.

But none the less I did have the thought about being nuts as the time came near, bad mother that I am!!

And I'm darned right jealous about your naps!! Since my stroke I can no longer nap and that ticks me off to no end!

after getting exhausted from all my addictions throughout the day. Was just cooking up a bunch of suet along with starting a roast...

I don't understand the no-naps-stroke association. I thought rest was best for recuperating (had to look that one up in the dictionary), along with a 20 minute walk at the mall...

And those family compulsions occur twice a week. That's too much for even a loving parent, much less me....

and noticed what you said about strokes. In my case it effected something in my brain I guess. I use to be the nap queen! After the stroke, I just can't nap. Beats me.

First heard of it from my vet long time ago when a dog friend who passed away, my dog, was always stricken with anxiety during a thunder storm. The poor thing...

Now when it thunders I still think of her.

Oh, and the pediatrician said to give it to my grandson...it's very safe, just a food suplement...

I work overseas, and haven't had television or much other entertainment for the last seven years or so, so reading it is. I used to order tons of used paperbacks from Amazon for 1 cent each (plus $3.99 shipping), but that advent of the kindle has spoiled me... I can read all the time now!

I'm glad you have a Kindle! They are nice for instant downloads. Have you tried any of their free offerings?

I set a self-imposed limit of $7.99 for anything I buy in kindle... I figure I was only paying $4.00 per book when I had them shipped over in paperback, so I'm not going to spend a lot more than that just for the convenience of instant delivery. Even with my price limit, though, I usually buy $0.99 - $2.99 books; I've found several authors I may not have discovered if not for the cheaper books, so it's expanded my horizons a bit.

My work location sometimes varies, as we support embassy facilities.

to cheaper books you've discovered some new authors.

I don't do e-books, but I have recently resumed getting almost all of my books from the library, and what's been nice about that is that I'm discovering lots of books I hadn't noticed when I could afford to buy everything.

The thing about going out and around with my husband while he does his photography is that I get to enjoy the nature in real time. We love to go on scenic drives, maybe find a town garden, etc. Sometimes I pack a picnic, it's fun!

I knit, sew (clothes for grandchildren, dolls, doll clothes, housegoods such as curtains etc.), Quilt, weave, have a hugh garden in the summer and can and dehydrate much of our food. Raise blueberries, three kinds of raspberries, three kinds of plums, peaches, cherries, two types of grapes, rubbarb, strawberries and blackberries. Make jelly and Jam and can the rest. I also do counted cross stitch and smocking occasionally. I frequent garage and rummage sales. I am a collector of old Christmas items, pewder, and antiques of many kinds. But reading is my one true all consuming hobby. I read all the time, other hobbies are not as time consuming except for gardening, but that is seasonal.

but my 71 yr old back and knees get mad when I try it! My daughter in law gardens so I have plenty to freeze and can . I REALLY want to revive my herb garden in the spring

I have gardened every year for so long I am sure I would miss it. Luckily I describe myself as a Tough Love type gardener. I plant them, fiddle with them but they have to do their part! I am not big into watering, but I do spend almost every spring, summer and fall evening after supper in the garden on my bottom or knees pulling weeds, planting or such. I have never been able to use a hoe, have to get down and dirty. So hopefully that prolongs my gardening days (61 now). I have never had a herb garden, do have horseradish and chives and lavendar in one part of the regular garden. I should look into a real herb garden, that would be a new interest. Was yours a seperate area just dedicated to herbs? What kinds did you grow?

a good friend suggest recently that we take up quilting when she retires next year. We also go antiquing and junking( mostly junk) LOL. We had some pretty cool travel plans before "life" interfered .Recently we have been going to lots of museums

Last summer we made plans to go to a rock concert but instead we sat on her enclosed porch and listend to CDs pretending LOL

My friend Jo is a HOOT!

You know, like bad breath is better than none.

A lot of us are heavy into "life" and that stuff nowadays...

I have lost way to much that I love this past year to not value life above all. Have a heart!

my husband also likes tv/movies/music.

It's sometimes hard to find enough time to read.

Welcome to DU.

Is this the movie The Game your talking about?

It takes less energy than everything else. In the last several years, besides the aches and pains of an aging body, I've worked more hours, for less pay, every year. I'm always exhausted and broke, so I don't go anywhere or do the physical things I used to.

since I tend to think of a "hobby" as something formal and organized.

I read a fair amount, crochet, make jewelry, bake and cook for pleasure. I have friends I spend time with. Sometimes I go for walks (note to self: walk more).

I have never been able to understand people who say they can't retire, because they don't know what they'd do with their time if they didn't have a job. What I've always disliked about working is how it interferes with everything else I'd rather do.

Refining gold and silver in the basement, building an led emergency light, fixing my ancient radio collection, playing my dulcimer, occasionally writing a few poems. Taking care of the roses.

That and trying to solve a math problem. That's about it.

Just getting into applique. I listen on audio to many books. Best way to spend an afternoon. I read print in the evenings because there is nothing good on TV anymore, ( with the exception of Swamp People, the Biggest Loser and Revenge)