Your Best Hobbies (other than Audio)

Trelja, I take it that you have Deng Ming-Dao's "365 Tao". For Christmas my wife gave me a great book entitled "ZEN Images, Texts, and Teachings" (published by Artisan). If you haven't already seen it, you may want to check it out. John, what a great post. Gives us some "quality time". Thank you and Happy New Year.

I too was an amateur "ham" as a kid in the 60s, and a wunder-kid baroque organist. Now I'm in a more romantic period with my lovingly-restored (and FINALLY broken in--takes TWO YEARS to burn in the new Swedish steel strings...that's why most rebuilders don't use 'em!) Steinway B. Am enjoying my new-found improvisational abilities, meager as they are. Wish I was better steeped in our great jazz history. Voicing this piano, as well a few crossover designs has taught me what's important in this hobby. (e.g., it's interesting to note that a 5-10% change in relative humidity affects the sound way more than most cable-swaps!) I've had a one-person used Subaru business long enough to not get too excited about cars anymore, but I do enjoy my MR2 Turbo in nice weather. (2000's dot.compost phenomena has pretty much destroyed any chances of getting that Boxster S, esp. with daughters' tuitions, etc.) Linkster: cute idea--perhaps I should name my road-bike "Parsifal Encore"? My wife's the prof cook, but I've had fun tweaking a seventeen-spice "berbere" rub that makes my chicken to die for! I'm adding a rowing machine regimen to my Tai Chi, and just shaved my beard for the first time in 30 years, so something's abrew...hmmm. My ref system is hopefully nearing completion, so I hope to spend major time reading and listening to music as well as polishing those Schubert Sonatas. I have quite a few prof musician friends, and am toying with the idea of piano-trio work, as well. Visiting these threads is a Catch 22 for me...taking away time from the above...but I'm glad the Audiogon community is there (except the flamers) for me to make the connection. Thanks. Ernie

Living in the foothills of the rocky mountains lends itself to outdoor pursuits. Summer is hiking up mountain summits ,mountain biking and horseback riding. Winter its crosscountry skiing and downhill skiing and indoor riding. My children are 6 and 8 and I work full time and help my wife with her growing buisness so my free time is limited. Although there are many things I'd like to try Im happier doing a few things well than many things poorly. In my younger days I was totaly car crazy and was involved in a few amature racing teams . I bought a piano for my girls a few years ago and think next I will learn to play as well. Cheers Steve

Albert Porter. Nice site. Do you mind if I ask where that that organ is situated? I'm an organ fan and can just imagine the sound with the pipes nestled in behind you. Thanks in advance. steve

I envey you Alberta Steve living near the Rockies. I am on the east coast and there is a lot. White Mountains in NH, Berkshires in Ma, and the Andarondacks in NY. There is a lot of veriety but nothing very high. The highest is Mt Washington which is only 6200 feet high with a relativley low vertical rise. To make up for it MT Washington has some of the worst weather in the world and we dont have switchbacks. Our trails go straight up the mountain. I would trade it all to climb a mountain over ten thousand feet.