Badmovies.org Forum

I've noticed in my less than a month here that we seem to be a pretty eclectic bunch.  That got me wondering - what do you guys and gals do for fun that's NOT watching these dreadful pieces of cinematic excess that we enjoy so much?

I collect fossils and Indian artifacts - mainly artifacts - which are fairly abundant in my area.  I also practice Uechi-Ryu Okinawan karate when I have time to go to workouts.

How about you all?

Nothing really set in stone.
I've really been into mongrel computers for the last few years. Of course, on my income, it's not a convenient hobby, & none of my friends are as interested into it as I am, and whoever is really doesn't wanna be my friend for some reason.

When I was younger, back before I discovered computers, I was really into motorbikes. I still collect toy bikes on occasion, & the last couple of months, I've been trying off & on to get this rusty ol' riceburner of mine up & running again.

More recently, I got a digital camera, & I've been trying to find action figures of bugs & babes so that I can build shadowboxes of my own GOT style fan art. So far, I've been experimenting with different lighting techniques & backgrounds around this Jean Grey action figure I bought back when the first X-Men movie came out. Last week I found this Lotus Angel Warrior 2 from the Spawn series, but I haven't been inspired yet.

Something I'd really like to learn how to do, is learn how to build my own action figures, maybe out of wax figurines from diecast molds, or something, I just don't know where to start.

Finally, for the past year, I've been volunteering at an lpfm radio station a couple of times a week, & been attending acting classes & clubs in hopes of making some inroads into the local arts & theatre scene.

1) Going to the Gym
2) Reading Classic & Obscure Religious Text
3) Yoga
4) Travel - Been to California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, New England, Philippines, Mexico, Canada, and the East Coast.) Born in Germany and grew up in Western New York and now live in New Jersey.

What I like most about travel are Historic Sites, Museums, and National Parks. Been to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Capital Reef, Monument Valley, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain N.P., Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Dinosaur N.P., Niagra Falls, Red Rock Canyon, Sedona, Pheonix, Tombstone, Tuscon, Meteor Crater, California Coast, Montezuma's Castle, Wapakti, Sunset Volcano, Snow Canyon, Mt. Whitney portal, Lone Pine, Este Park, Scott's Bluff, Mt. Rushmore, Wall S.D., Badlands, Black Hills, Deadwood, Devils Tower, Flaming Gorge, Big Horn Mts., Moab, St. George, Lone Pine, Lake Tahoe, Mt. Washington, Acadia, Tagaytay, Manila, Las Vegas, Denver, San Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco,  Monterrey, San Luis Obispo, La Jolla, Cody, Jackson WY, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Batimore, Orlando, and a lot of other places.

In the next ten years we hope to visit Tibet, Machu Pichu, Europe, Holy Land, Japan, China, Hawaii, New Mexico, Western Texas, Oregon, Washinton State, Montana, Idaho, Salt Lake City, and the Canadian Rockies. 

5) Martial Arts - Spent 12 whole years around this activity with my daughter who has done 12 years of training and is still practicing. I only practiced about 4 years of the 12 years myself , but know the styles inside and out from watching. Done alot at home during that time. Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Escrima, Judo, Japanese Jui Jitsu, Brazilian Jui Juitsu, Japanese Karate Goju, and even Tai Chi. Currently my daughter is in Kung Fu which is really different and I get a chance to sample everything.

6) Drum & Bugle Corps Shows. DCI and DCA
 
7) New Things - Considering getting into the stock market more heavily, skydiving solo, marketing my new patent, finishing my book.

8.) Things I'd Like to do - Learn to dance and to swim better.

Next to Scott, we all seem kind of lazy, huh?   :teddyr:

1)  From mid-2000 until January of this year, I made sassy pin-back buttons, stickers, and t-shirts, with the help of my best friend.  We sold our own designs as well as custom products for people, groups, companies.  The profits were invested into gay/civil rights campaigns, cancer research, AIDS research.  We also sponsored various school clubs around the country that had trouble getting funding from the parents.  We finally disbanded early this year because the operation was simply too time-consuming (we designed, printed, cut and crunched each button, silk-screened each sticker/shirt) and aside from holding business meetings at the zoo, we weren't taking any kickbacks.  Plus, Kate still lives in Chicago, whereas I am in Las Vegas, so it was getting harder to coordinate.

2)  I am an avid reader.  I try to read a book a week.  I've always enjoyed independent study so I try to keep updated on everything from geology to genies.  Fossils and evolution in particular have always intrigued me and if I fared better in the sun I may well have become a paleontologist.  At some point in the next ten years I want to complete my teaching certification with a double major in English and Physics.

3)  I dabble in everything creative.  I paint, I sew, I write, I play music, I shoot movies.  If I need something and it is economically feasible, I make it.  This goes for clothing, furniture, software, etc.

4)  Like Scott, I love to travel, only I go about it much more slowly.  :teddyr:  Rather than taking a vacation, every few years I quit my job (frugal like a fox!), pack up and move to somewhere I've never been before.  Sometimes this works out, other times not so much.  Haha.  I was born and raised in Chicago, moved to New Jersey and worked in NYC for a spell, moved to northern California and worked in Oakland's Chinatown for two years, and now I'm in Las Vegas.  I may stay here for a while though and finish my aforementioned teaching certification.

I'm 32 and have played music hardcore since I was 6. I can play classical piano, bass, saxophone and drums.  but right now I'm taking an indefinite hiatus from all things music as I got really really burned out on it. It seemed like the harder I tried the harder it always got to get something going band wise.

I also love to read, horror novels especially. 

I play a lot of video games mostly of the PS2 and old school (Genesis, SNES) variety.

I'm also starting to get back into some serious fishing as well.  I've also got a couple of nephews (ages 9 and 2 1/2) that I'm always messing around with.     

I've been spending a lot of time working on my fish-themed B-movie blog...Now I understand why people get so into it, it's like hiding in plain sight!  Right now I'm backtracking and adding photos to each entry so it looks jazzier.

I do yoga, read anything that isn't nailed down (lots of classic sci-fi and horror, when I can still find a horror writer who interests me), study and research Discordian philosophy, write letters to people, write in my diary, walk, garden, and stare at the ceiling a lot.  I mean a LOT.

I had a bit of a coup this week when I managed to combine two of my passions: I bought and planted a "Cardinal Hume" rose this week.  It smells like fish!

Wish I could do that DodgingGrunge. I'm a little tied up here in New Jersey for the next 11 years or till I can figure a way out.  :smile:

http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/STK/STK004/RDP1051.jpg



I like working on a blog when I get in the mood. Also I like Yoga. Later tonight I'll be mastering Shavasana.  :wink:

(http://www.burrenyoga.com/userimgs/1134081677.10983901.php85McUT.jpg)

I read alot. About movies,ufo's,cryptozoology,true crime,some sci-fi and horror fiction,WWII history,lotsa stuff,really...
I also collect movie monster mags from the 60's and early 70's. I have 39 Famous Monsters of Filmland (the oldest being from 1961-#13), 7 Monster World ( FM's alter-ego mag from the mid 60's), 2 Mad Monsters,2 Horror Monsters,9 Castle of Frankenstein,1 Modern Monsters,1 Journal of Frankenstein from 1959,and 1 Monster Times. Also assorted Creepy,Eerie,Vampirella,and Spirit mags,some Sgt.Fury comic books,and some odd and ends mags (old Life,Time and oddball stuff.)
 Otherwise,I spend the rest of my time with Tara Sue and the kids -Jed15, Eddie13, and Angel,20. Jim ,23 is in Iraq.
 Oh...I also like to draw.

 I actually appear on a number of them old mags...LOOK!
   (http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/fm035.jpg)
Looks just like me,huh?

This is my son Jed.....
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/fm018-1.jpg)
 He's a little high strung....
 

Always love the subjects mentioned above.

SCARY MONSTERS magazine and the film ED WOOD helped me get back into watching horror in the late 90's after not watching them much since the mid-70's.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xh2vmxAQsHw

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=kesPyGX9o5c&mode=related&search=

Indeed we all truly are Renaissance people in our own right...aside B-Movies...top 10 in no particular order...

1.) Fishing
2.) Gardening (particularly vegetables)
3.) Cooking/Grilling
4.) Video Games (I own PS2, PS1, Sega Genesis, NES, SNES, Game Boy, etc...)
5.) I read occasionally, most books/magazines on film and Mad Magazine but of course
6.) I collect a lot of things.  Such as movie memorabilia, action figures, collector cards, etc.
7.) Playing basketball, whenever I find a hoop and time.
8.) Probably not a hobby per SE but I enjoy spending time with my son. 
9.) Mountain biking but not as much as I used to.
10.) Walking/Hiking.  Especially on the beach just looking at the shoreline for shells, sea creatures, etc.  It makes me feel like a kid.

 Wow! That's Barbra Breese with FJA in the 1st clip Scott posted! She starred in the ultra cheezy '80's movie EVIL SPAWN! Forry had a bit part in it as a pool man! Cool! Karma,Scott!  :thumbup:

Thanks, Me like Karma. Me like good Karma.  :smile:

Cliffie, is that you?

I'll keep it short and sweet:

Women...

...and abusing every one of you. (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Tongue/mockery-022.gif)

I also love to annoy my redneck neighbors that live across the street from me whenever possible.

I love to abuse bigots. My neighbor across the street flies a confederate flag (I do mean on a flagpole in his yard). He keeps his distance and is polite to me in person, but he is one backstabbing son-of-a-b***h.

My appearance throws bigots, and I just like to keep them guessing.

I am part Cherokee, but some people will dig to find out my heritage*. I have been called Saddam, Chico, and a few other nicknames, which is fine by me as it gives me plenty of opportunity to abuse them.

*What comes off bigotted about inquiring as to my heritage is that bigots will inquire about it to find out if I am...uh...'okay' and not one of those people. It doesn't bother me what they think my heritage is.

I bought my 1st house  a little over 2 and 1/2 years ago.  It's in a pretty good neighborhood but the people who live across the street from me define white trash.  For the most part they leave me along and I leave them alone. But late last year, one of the girls that lives there (it's like a clown car in their double wide, I'm still to this date not sure how many actually live there) backed into my car as I was leaving for work.

Since then, they have been really rude to me at times as they feel that I went overboard by calling a cop to have him document the accident, put her at fault as she was and give her a ticket because she didn't watch where she was going.

She has an older brother who has this Mohawk thing on his head that he's let grow out so now I call him "Flock of Redneck" who has made some comments to me since then about why I called the police.  I told him "Well, because your sister backed into my car and caused 1000 dollars worth of damage on a public street".

so now, anytime they can, they'll have music blaring at various points during the day (usually Skynyrd) as I like to keep my doors open and my storm door screens up.  They also will rev their engines to no end since then and spin their tires in the road as they're taking off (which is stupid because they only have a few feet before they turn left or right onto one of the main roads anyway).

they also got mad at me feeding their cat as they don't take care of it and I'm a big cat person.  Their cat is really sweet and has taken to just living on my side deck area and they had the nerve to tell me they didn't appreciate me feeding their cat.     

I am thinking of a segment in the original Tales from the Crypt movie involving a flaming a$$hole and his dog. But, I digress, the cat probably couldn't devour that much and it is probably spoiled meat with which to begin.

Growing up in trailer parks has provided an assortment of trailer trash for neighbors. The bigger the family, the worse they are.

Torgo, I can relate, in bizarrely different, yet relevant ways like my neighbor's cat having its kittens behind my shed and me finding homes for all of them, but anyway, you must release yourself from any feeling of "untowards" because it will perpetuate the situation.  Try to enjoy the summer, and your home, and if necessary, their Skynyrd.  Play your own music, no matter how corny, loud enough that you can hear it.  Remember, there are ordinances against noise, so, be considerate, but be direct, as you have been.  Karma and POWER to the people!   :smile: 

Naw...that's called suckass.

I much prefer the method called...kickass. :teddyr:

How many of your neighbors have you corrected, Menard?  One must choose to live amongst people or not.  I don't think it's "suckass."  "Kickass" my ass.   :teddyr:

Or rule them.

You are such a badass!  You are so cool!    :lookingup: :bouncegiggle:

 :teddyr:

Sarcasm will get you nowhere.

Unabashed flattery and grovelling will get you nowhere either, but feel free to do that all you want; it comes with the territory.

(http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Tongue/mockery-022.gif)

You don't believe me???  :question: No, dear, that's not sarcasm.   :teddyr:

Woodworking
Gardening
Reading
Running

LEGOs:
(http://www.badmovies.org/lego/starblazers/lightning/lightning08.jpg)


Paintball:
(http://www.badmovies.org/common/forum/minitac2.jpg)


Converting Warhammer 40K figures:
(http://www.badmovies.org/wh40k/tyranids/shoggoth3.jpg)
(http://www.badmovies.org/wh40k/tyranids/shoggoth6.jpg)
(the green parts were made from scratch using two-part epoxy and wire)

Painting those same figures:
(http://www.badmovies.org/wh40k/tyranids/grendel_guard_painted_1.jpg)

Playing the game:
(http://www.badmovies.org/wh40k/batreps/20060909/20060909_p_1.jpg)

Andrew-Your figures look very Gigeresque (Gigeresque?)....wellyou know what I mean....bio-mechanical. Cool!

There are many people out there Menard who are like that (minus the flag). They are secret racist many times.  They are just plain "bad" people.

People generally hate my personality and my constitution.  These are worthless people. Just stay away from them till our numbers grow.  :smile:

Menard, as a friend I wouldn't desire or advise you to abuse them in return even in joking, but don't give in to them either.  :thumbup:

I'm usually quite when people abuse me personally until they start abusing someone else. Then I get involved.

Boy, it didn't take long for this post to go "South".  I've been to lots of places and they all have their version of the "Redneck".   Rednecks are usually quite obvious, it's the subtle ones you gotta look out for.

I had to quit having any contact with one of my best friends from childhood, because he was so bigoted towards African Americans and I didn't want that crap around my kids when they were growing up.  I actually like meeting and socializing with people from other cultures and backgrounds. It tends to give you a different perspective on the world.

Back to point of the thread, I collect a lot of Star Trek stuff (and no Menard, I don't wear a uniform to work).  I've never been to a convention (some of those people scare me). I also have a large collection of Science Fiction Magazines (Starlog, Twilight Zone, Science Fiction Age, and Asimov's).

I like to build plastic models. I'm doing mostly Star Trek and Star Wars right now, but I hope to start building some real space stuff in the future. I like painting them and designing lighting systems for them.

I had quite a miniatures collection years ago.

I was into science fiction and particularly where gaming was involved. I had a lot of Laserburn and Martian Metals miniatures (both 15mm scale), largely used for Traveller but I was using them for armies for Galacta (http://www.mudpuppygames.com/) (full disclosure: my name is in the credits of the game).

Alas, during a move the entire collection was lost.

Painting miniatures was not one of my favorite things, as I have never had the manual dexterity to do it justice. As the Laserburn and MM miniatures I was using for the game were largely powersuited characters, painting was relatively simple: I had a metallic base I had mixed; a dab here and there for eyegear and weapons; a light coating of india ink (it would spread out, due to being so thin, and highlight shadows, creases, etc.; and a matte finish.

Of course, the most helpful item was a strip of balsa wood to which many of them were glued, allowing me to paint lots of them at the same time and having the bases already attached when I was done.

A very good friend of mine, who largely got me into gaming, has a huge collection, with the largest part dedicated to John Carter of Mars (of which the majority are customized miniatures, and some even special castings made for him by miniatures companies). He even built a city out of Castillos which he would set up at conventions. But I never quite got into any subject as much as he did (wish I could figure out how he found the time to collect, customize, catalog, read so heavily, work for a living, raise a family, etc.)

I only have three miniatures collections at present, and very small at that. The largest is primarily plastic miniatures which I have collected from every source I could find for the Advanced Heroquest game. The others are lead and new-metal miniatures for Conan (my own collection, not from any specific line) and a post-apocalyptic theme (Dark Future has been so hard to come by).

The Conan miniatures are for the Conan RPG which TSR published in the early 80s. The post-apocalyptic miniatures are for FGU's Aftermath RPG.

All of the Advanced Heroquest stuff takes up its own trunk, and then some (I have bunches of floorplans from many games which work for a fantasy theme).

Have I bored you enough? :tongueout:

" Y'all don' lak me? Wull, fug yew!"

 (http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/cover388.jpg)

     ( Sorry...found it on the net...couldn't resist.... :twirl:)

When my almost son-in-law's parents first met my daughter they asked her, much to his embarrassment, what race she was. She told them the truth, Scots, Irish, Seneca, Mohawk. They asked what the last 2 were and she explained that they were Iroquois nations, got a blank look, then said Native American. We don't have a lot of this in our blood, but we're quite proud of the little we have.
Shortly after this we were invited to meet the family for the first time, Ryan, the almost son-in-law explained to them that there would be bloodshed if any one asked what race I was. The invitation was withdrawn. 
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/DENNISDURWARDHAMMOND/Iroquois_Warrior_sm.jpg)

To be honest with bad movies and movies in general, I really didn't pick up on stuff like this until I had my first surgery about 7 months ago.  Before that I was heavily into exercise and studying the martial arts.  I'm still not back to doing that since I had my second surgery about 3 months ago. 

Overall here some of my hobbies where they are currently on going on are hiatus.

1. Looking up and studying information on various types of liquors that exists.  I'm not an alcoholic I just like to learn about different things. 
2. Collection various weapons of my choosing.  I mainly collect martial arts weapons but I do have a few knives in my collection.
3. Huge video game fan (Xbox (Sadly my XBOX failed on my the other week), PS2 (That failed too, just don't have the money to replace), Gamecube, N64, PS1.
4 . Semi computer programming just making simple math programs and guessing games.
5. Model builder.  Been on hiatus for a while now, want to get back into it, just have not found the time.
6. Anime and magna, been enjoying this stuff since high school.
7. Reading.  Since I've been off work for 3 months I started reading again, so far I've read 3 books in 2 months and going to be finishing up another book here by the end of the month.
8. More or less into music.  Used to play the guitar but that was about 13 or 14 years since I've played it.
9 Animals, I love dogs and other various animals. 
10 collecting old magazines.  My karate instructor wrote a bunch of articles in the 1980's and I was looking for the magazines that he wrote them in. 

That's about it for me.
   

My hobbies are nothing like any else here, except maybe for Scott's fondness for religious texts.  My degree is in anthropology, and although I decided not to go to grad school I still do a lot of reading on ancient history and paleontology.  I also have done some writing on history subjects, and I have a couple of non-fiction children's books on history that I'm trying to get published.  I also have written some articles on paranormal and cryptozoology topics, and I did a paranormal-themed podcast for a short time, but I had a falling-out with the people who owned the host site and have since stopped.  A friend of mine is starting his own site and asked me if I'd like to revive the podcasts, but I haven't decided yet.

I used to do astrology charts for people, but I haven't been as into that for the past few years.  I still occasionally get talked into it, but it's a lot of work and lately I just haven't had time.

And since I hate to sit still, I also sew, crochet, knit, and can do some embroidery.  I love Halloween because it gives me an excuse to make costumes. :smile:

Hobbies ... hmmm well mainly I collected mint stamps, coins and paper money, generally a sound investment along with it's interesting. I do that more for the investment then anything.
I also in the winter months build 1/35 scale military models when the work slows down, and at the speed in which I build them I have enough models to last about 600 years as I like to detail them out and give them battle damage. I also do N scale trains and models, but haven't done much of it in years. Need to get back to it or sale it all. To much stuff!
But the one thing I do without fail is collect weird stuff, strange art, unusual items, unique pieces of furniture or things. I tend to be eclectic in taste design and style. I originally was going to be a artist, until I found out that starving part was true so I had to find a real job, I still have a art studio behind the house so I can engage in joy, some times I sell something, most of the time it's just the man space, but having spent many years working on and designing CNC's and robotic assembly lines I tinker a lot, and one of my next projects in a Tesla coil, likely to be a fall or winter thing to do.

1 playing wow
2 converting, painting and playing warhammer 40k
3 watching the Tv
4 reading books
5 looking for cool stuff on the internet
6 reading webcomics

Oh my.  Me too.   :buggedout:  Although I am not sure why that should surprise me.

I collect books -  and read them (a bit slower than they accumulate). History, anthropology, biographies, cryptozoology, SF, fantasy, horror, mysteries, and anything to do with horses.
Have always been very interested in wildlife and plants - which helps a great deal now that my family is involved in Scouting. I can paddle a mean solo canoe and sail a small boat.
I draw and do calligraphy and have been known to embroider (crewel). Also messed about with macrame - which my 9 y.o. is asking me to teach her.
I bake and can garden produce (we have fruit trees and bushes) and make jellies and jams.  I cook because one has to - but baking is fun.  Breads, cakes, cookies, pies.  We do gingerbread houses every Christmas - the neighbourhood kids come and we go nuts with the bonbons.
Gardening and house plants, landscaping the property (which is a fancy way of saying moving trees about).
Most of my 'hobbies' revolve around horses, which is also my profession.  I ride, train and teach/coach equitation and jumping.  It is a life-long obsession.  So my 'spare time' is largely occupied with related activities: I read equestrian books,  try to help people on equestrian subjects on Internet bb's, design and build jumps (for my own use), and do odd bits of leather work.
One of these days we will be starting on renovating our century-old farmhouse.  That may pre-empt most other things for some time.
I also have a hubby and  three kids: they and their interests account for a lot of my 'extracurricular' activity too.

By all means teach her as within the next 3 to 4 years she'll reach the "phase" in which they barely speak to you for the next 6 years or so.

I used to ride also, although at this time I couldn't afford to have horses of my own.  I had a wonderful quarter horse whom I showed on the 4-H circuit, mostly in Western classes, and I really miss those days. 

As much as I love cats, horses and dogs are infinitely more rewarding to work with, and teaching others how to interact with them earns you karma from me.   :smile:

Thanks Snivelly! You'll ride again; once you're 'bit' it's an incurable disease, I swear.

I am a 4H alumnus too and my 12 y.o. joined for the first time this year.  Those were the days - it was more fun when I was doing it myself!

And I hear you CheezeFlixz: we're making the most of present days - I for one am not looking forward to the bumpy ride ahead.  :lookingup:

Mine are in no particular order.
Playing videogames
Fishing
Collecting military stuff. Which ranges from uniforms and weapons to helmets and gasmasks almost anything goes.

My wife would probably say that I am a man of 1000 hobbies.  Right now, I am mostly into sailing, which involves its share of woodworking, ropework, canvaswork and the like.  i've build one boat and counting that one, currently own three.  Scott, and others who want to travel, get a sailboat and see the world!!  (Check out SailFar - Small Boats, Long Distances (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php))

Other things I really enjoy include:

camping
fishing
hiking/backpacking
rock climbing/alpine style mountain climbing
hunting
reloading/shooting
model building (currently in progress a very detailed model of the USS Constitution), mostly war planes, old cars and war ships; big into rockets when I was a kid
wood working

I do occasionally enjoy yardwork - especially if it's something that makes the place look a little nicer.

A read voraciously; in the past, it was almost all fiction (spy thrillers, horror, crime thrillers), but now mostly non-fiction with an emphasis on war history and adventure tales

Sometimes, I do write computer programs for fun; I have a few projects that I tinker with from time to time more out of enjoyment than "for work."

I also have found I enjoy writing books.  I've published one and now have a couple in the works in various stages of completion.

I have a 2 yo son and a 4 yo daughter, so they get much of my time these days.  So, I guess I should say I also enjoy singing "ABC" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" as well as coloring, wrastlin on the floor and saying "get OUT of that cabinet NOW."   :teddyr:

For adventure tales check out Bill Bryson if you haven't already they are a riot.

Bill Bryson on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d/002-9570341-2083213?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Bill+Bryson&Go.x=14&Go.y=9&Go=Go)

Oh and enjoy the kids while they are young, they'll be grown before you know it.

This is one that has recently captured my imagination:  Into the Light (http://www.amazon.com/Into-Light-Familys-Epic-Journey/dp/1930086040).

A couple and their three small children sail a 35 ft boat to Iceland, winter there, then sail to Norway and winter there.  The following summer, they venture north to Spitzbergen and head as far north as they can go.

My A-30 is tugging at her mooring lines, screaming for a trip like that.   :wink:



Absolutely.  My daughter turns 5 next week and I cannot believe it.  Seems like only yesterday I was holding her for the first time.

Looks interesting might have to give it a look. I've been reading books on Nelson's Navy here lately. The next up is a book called Jack Nastyface (William Robinson's pseudonym) which are the memoirs of the life as a midshipmen in Nelson's Navy and from what I know about it, it sucked. It was written to bring change to the treatment and life of sailors.   

The guy (Bill Bryson) I listed, writes travel adventure books and puts a humorous tone to it. One of my favorites is "A Walk in the Wood" where decides to hike the 2100 mile Appalachian Trail as a 40+ out of shape slightly pudgy guy, I died laughing because I've done it, damn near killed me and for some stupid reason want to do it again.
"The Lost Continent" he re-created the road trips of his childhood; which if you've ever got stuck in a car on a cross country trip you can relate to it.
He has a number of books out and they are a quick read and so far I haven't found a bad one.   

I read a lot of sailing history, too.  I think I've read exerpts from this book, but not the whole thing.

If true sea stories is what you are after, Nathaniel Philbrick's extremely well researched books are hard to beat.  Sea of Glory was excellent, and In the Heart of the Sea gets mentioned on just about every sailing forum I've seen that has a book topic.  Alfred Lansing's Endurance is considered to be the best account of Shackleton's voyage.


I'll have to check his books out.  They sound interesting.

So, you've through-hiked the AT?  One of the pastors at my church has done the whole AT in two segments.  I've done sections in GA and NC (I grew up not too far from Standing Indian; in fact, we were just standing on top of Albert Mtn about two weeks ago  :)  ).

I'll look those up, I also have in the 'to be read' pile is "Steering to Glory: A Day in the Life of a Ship of the Line" I take my sperts as to what history I'm reading, from Roman history to Sea Stories to the WWII and anything else.


I don't know if you could call it hiking or practice for a heart attack, a buddy and myself did a south-bound a few years ago. He and I both took  a little over 4 months hiking it and I had the nerve to call myself in shape. Section hike would be much easier, but it takes to long and I don't exactly live next to it. And while I've even more out of shape now I'd like to do it again. Perhaps start in early March in Ga and do a North Bound, being old and fatter now I should make it to Maine by Oct.  But with a business, kids, family and all that stuff not sure I can't do it anytime soon, so I hike the trails at the LBL on occasion they're are a few 100 miles of trails there. I keep claiming it's training to do the AT again. My wife says I'll have a heart attack before I get out of the parking lot if I was to try it now, and she might be right.  :buggedout: It's a long shot that I'll do it again, but I read stories of folks in there 70' and 80's doing it, so there is the slight glimmer of hope I'll do it again as that gives me about 35 more years to do it.

When my grandfather was still alive he hiked the AT along with My one aunt's ex husband (at the he was her husband).  My grandfather at the time was I would say in his 60's.

Hobbies? I've got 'em.

1. When I'm not writing about movies, I'm writing stories. Just finished my second book -- a collection of short stories -- to follow-up the novel I published a few years back.

2. The wife and I spend way too much time playing RPGs. It's kind of sad, actually. Ultima Online is one of our favorites.

3. I'm a huge fan of unusual roadside attractions. Road trips happen quite frequently.

4. Books consume a large portion of my free time, as well. I'm a voracious reader.

Between work and B-movies, that's really all I have time for.

  :thumbup:  Always glad to hear of efforts to improve the human lot. 

Don't read books much anymore, I'm ashamed to admit.  Hmmm...got burned today walking on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey...I am 100% American of Irish extraction.   :teddyr:

I couldn't sew a button on to save my life. 

Fantastic!  I miss playing the piano; I was good, but my Dad wasn't so very...when I read novels I favored horror; now I love short stories, and collect ghost story volumes.  One of my favorite books is a science fiction collection THE SCIENCE FICTION HALL OF FAME VOL. 1 (the other volumes are good too) but this first volume includes at least most of the classic stories you may remember having ever made an impression...there isn't a dud!!! 


Born and bred, myself, and live here yet, in the garden state.   :teddyr:


I have most of the first 50 issues (but not all) of CREEPY and EERIE, and at least a few cool FAMOUS MONSTERS...I have many back issues of magazines too...hmm do I collect monsters? 
(http://a28.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/72/l_d8f0932745add37d47a048588e9b886b.jpg)

That sounds like ashame; people sure can be stupid.  I think you're cool, Dennis, and a lot of fun!  (I will definitely eat blueberries, yogurt on cornbread now!) 

I have two dogs and a cat who is 14 years old, Francine, who requires treatment everyday for her kidney failure.  My sister-in-law is a big animal rights advocate, has two dogs, 18? cats and two horses (rejected by former owners and desperately in need of adoption that she leapt at the chance to take, there were three, but one passed away) I am fortunate to come from a family of animal lovers! 

   (http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/halfsize-sgt01.jpg)
Would love to get this one!


(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/IG3257-1.jpg)
 Got this one a few weeks back! At a flea market!

Latley I've been on a Sgt.Fury and his Howling Commandos kick.  I must be reverting back to childhood early. Also have been hunting up some of the Monsters on the Prowl-type comics.....I'm bidding on a 2001 Jack Kirby comic right now...it looks groovy!

   (http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/spaod1b.jpg)

Well here ...
Sgt Fury#1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/SGT-FURY-and-his-Howling-Commandos-1-1st-Nick-Fury_W0QQitemZ160140325588QQihZ006QQcategoryZ75QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

3 days left and it's about $12 on ebay.

[/quote]

Well here ...
Sgt Fury#1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/SGT-FURY-and-his-Howling-Commandos-1-1st-Nick-Fury_W0QQitemZ160140325588QQihZ006QQcategoryZ75QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

3 days left and it's about $12 on ebay.
[/quote]

Ah! If only I could! My pocketbook is a little light...and I'm sure it will jump high....someday.....! Thanks anyway!  :thumbup:

Used to be huge into collecting comic books, magazines like Science Fiction Age, Sci-Fi, Wizard and Hero not to mention Pro Wrestling magazines like Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Wrestling's Main Event and Wrestling Eye. Actually I recently subscribed online to Cult Movies Magazine and Rue Morgue Magazine so I guess that bug is still not completely out of my system. That said, I'd like to trade or sell most of my current collection of comics and magazines (with some exceptions) if only the shipping rates here in Newfoundland weren't so dang pricey.

I also seem to find myself picking up more CDs nowadays although it's usually "Best Of"s. They seem to be getting cheaper all the time.

I'm also still very much into pro wrestling as an hobby although I prefer the wrestling of yesteryear as since they've done away with kayfabe, wrestling often feels like a joke nowadays...like something silly to be laughed at. I always preferred the old time more serious approach when they acted as though it were all real.  Still watch the new stuff but greatly prefer it from the 1980s and before. I often do trade for VHS tapes from those eras.

I also tend to like anything that involves Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, any other of the real big mysteries of life.

I also have a bit of a video game collection although truthfully I rarely play video games at all. And I have quite a few books although I rarely find the time to read either. The vast majority of my time is taken up with cult and classic movies which are certainly nothing strange to those who frequent this site .  Movies one might refer to as "Drive-In Classics" tend to be my main faves...whether it be about Horror, Sci-Fi, Juvenile Deliquencey, Girls in Prison, Kung Fu, Blaxploitation, Hot Rods, whathaveyou.  Have an enormous DVD collection of this stuff, Mystery movies, British Comedy TV and more.

How exactly does one get started in working with sculpted/molded resins & epoxies?
I've been to several craft & hobby stores around town, & they have no idea what I'm talking about.

Check out this site and I think you'll find what you seek. As far as modeling and model making goes this is the place to get that info ... scratch building is what you want to look into, lots of info in resins.


http://modelgeek.kitmaker.net/ (http://modelgeek.kitmaker.net/)

also ...

http://scratch.kitmaker.net/ (http://scratch.kitmaker.net/)

and here ...

Mold Making and Resin Casting (http://scratch.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=469)

Tanx
Y'know, this looks kinda like what my stepdad (a dentist) used to do for making crowns & dentures & whatnot.
maybe I should ask him.

That would be dental alginates, great stuff and I get the expired stuff from my dentist, still works great just not suppose to use it on people once it's expired. (However I know a lot of dentist that still use past the expiration date.)

The stuff I use for scupting is Kneaditite, which is often called "Green Stuff."  There are at least 2 different kinds of it, but the stuff many mini sculpture's use is the green stuff.  It comes in a tube with two colors, blue and yellow.  You mix them together and it becomes a green putty that hardens after a while (couple of hours).

There are a couple of website's with examples.  I would Google "Kneaditite sculpting" or "Green Stuff sculpting" and see what pops up.  One hint if you play with it, keep your hands and tools wet.  It will not stick to something wet.  I have a huge bunch of steel tools and clay shapers (soft rubber tipped tools) too.

With green stuff you always work in layers.  That arm I made for my one "Carnifex" (the living tank monster for my army) is wire with green stuff on it.  Let harden.  Add some detail layers that show through.  Let harden.  Add final carapace layer.  Let harden.

The only thing I don't like about epoxy putties like Kneaditite is the limit work time if you are going for something with detail. Coming from the old school I start with Plastaline clay, which is an oil based clay that's been around for 100's of years. Then make a negative mold and pour in beeswax to sculpt the detail work, you can either use the "lost wax method' or make a latex negative to pour in hydrocal which is a really hard plaster. This to can be worked for additional detail and takes paint well with a good primer.  It's a lot more work than Kneadititle style epoxies or Sculpey style polymer clay, granted the latter give you more work time as it has to be over cured. Either way and any way you do it, it's fun (most of the time).