Got Hobbies? **LONG POST**

Joe and I were talking in the car the other day about hobbies. One thing I've always admired about him (other than his extremely awesome work ethic) is that he knows what he loves and he finds a way to DO all of it. I can tell you exactly what he loves to do and how he incorporates it into his life. He's a very active, outgoing, outdoorsy guy. He loves to kayak, camp, be outside doing something, mountain biking/trail riding, used to skateboard and rollerblade when he was younger, he loves poetry, music, and power tools. He also loves movies and vampire/werewolf especially. He can name most any plant and animal and tell you something about it. He's my own poor (haha) version of Jeff Corwin. He's very interested in conservation and cleaning up the planet. All of his hobbies coincide with each other, really. It's pretty amazing to sit back and think about his interests and how he incorporates them all into his life. He works full time as a landscape supervisor, goes to school full time in the evenings for Biology with an emphasis in Wildlife Managment and Conservation. He wants to work for the state Game & Fish Commission working with large animals like bears.

The man can sing songs without music because he remembers all the lyrics and when he doesn't, he adds something randomly funny instead like he meant to do it that way. He can quote movies after watching it ONCE. Drives me insane. When he hangs out with his paddler buddies (aka "kayakers") they sing around a campfire and he can lead because he knows all the words... but he doesn't play guitar. He wants to learn, though.

He spent most of his 20s being wild and crazy and working and dating and he got a girl pregnant. They had a son. That tamed him quite a bit. But he still does all of the things he enjoys and the neighborhood kids LOVE him. "Miss Jennifer, is Joe home?" They want to play air hockey, foosball, table hockey, catch, go ride bikes, etc with him.

When the kids get out a ramp for skateboards or bikes, Joe is out there with them. The moms all stand around with their cell phones waiting for Joe to bust something and call 911. But they think he's hilarious and get a kick out of him.

So. All that said. (Which was a lot, sorry for that.)
What are MY hobbies?

After high school, my 20s were spent in college and working. I went to a college 300 miles away and made new friends, but most of us were older students. I helped pay my way and never actually finished. (That's another post.) I spent 10 years in college, people. Granted, many of the semesters were me taking just 2 courses or withdrawing all together. But I am considered a senior. I have written a senior paper in mathematics. Eew, I know. :)

I look back at what did I do during my 20s. I worked and went to school. Hobbies? None. I used to jog and workout for a stress relief, but my time was spent with my sheltie Baleigh and studying or sleeping. I did go to some of the local bars but that just wasn't me. I worked and went to school. That's it. I was poor so I couldn't afford to buy or do anything fun.

Then I started dating Joe and moved back to my hometown and we ended up getting married, buying a house, putting Baleigh to sleep, and having a baby in the span of 5 years. I love being a wife and mom. I realized I didn't have hobbies when Joe would go on his camping trips or go kayaking. I went with him a few times but I hate snakes and I prefer to sleep in a soft, warm bed instead of a sleeping bag on the bumpy ground. I love the water, but am not interested in being strapped into a kayak and smack my knuckles on rocks when trying to get through a whitewater rapid. I'd rather be in a swimming pool where the water is chemically treated.

I don't have the balance for skateboarding but I used to love to iceskate and rollerblade. A few years ago Joe and I decided to go iceskating and I had a lot of trouble, despite being pretty decent for a long time before. Instead of playing catch with the kids, I am a spectator. Usually the smaller kids come to me to tell about what happened on a cartoon or something they did that day.

Since being with Joe, I realized I'm pretty boring and it made me wonder what do I like to do? Then I had a baby and WOW. I realized who cares if I have interests, I don't have time for them. But now that Bayley is a year old, I have a little more time on my hands while she contentedly plays in the floor with her toys.

I like to cook. I don't know a lot about food, but I love creating something that tastes good and looks appetizing. Joe and I have both gained weight since we've been together so we're well fed. :) I like to look up recipes and try out new things, but Joe is a meat and potatoes man and doesn't like "sweet" foods unless it's a dessert, onions, mushrooms, or vegetables. So its harder to find things to make. I do like to bake, too.

Photography is really something I'd like to get more into. I love my camera but I don't know much about it. I like capturing a moment, taking endless photos of Bayley, and surrounding myself with photos of Joe and Bayley. It's hard to know where to start but I guess I can start with my instruction manual. I just get tired of reading.

I used to make fun of "crafts" but now I find myself wanting to do them. I am recently into learning how to make bows for Bayley. I make cute bow holders but I'm still working on bows. It's actually pretty fun to me. I like dressing her up and making her look all girly. Scrapbooking is something I'd like to learn, but haven't done that yet. I'm thinking about doing a scrapbook of Bayley for my mom for her birthday in July. My neighbor does it so she said she'd help me. Sewing is something I'd like to get better at. Right now I can make a pillow. lol. I can't read a pattern, but I'd like to learn. Another neighbor does this, but we both have 1 year olds and it gets hard to find time to get together sometimes. But our husbands get along super well too so we get together when we can.

I am so absorbed with Bayley that she's all I talk about on here. Part of that is being a new mom, I know, but I really need to feel like I can excel in a hobby. Joe is really good at a lot of things, and me ... not so much. I need to work on that. I do make a mean fruit dip, though. :) Just ask any of the kiddos in my neighborhood.

So I guess I've rambled on long enough about this... even though I have a lot more to say.
Do you find yourself being absorbed in work, parenting, etc? Or do you have a hobby you excel at?