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aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com CBD: cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me MisHum: petmorons at gee mail.com J.J. Sefton: sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com | Hobby Thread - June 13, 2026 [TRex]![]() Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. This is the second anniversary of TRex assuming the Hobby Thread helm. Hooray! That makes this my 105th Hobby Thread (not counting a few previous oddball contributions through MisHum). Thank you all for being here and participating. None of this works without you (even the lurkers). In honor of the occasion, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) took the night off and left a note that said "all of the above." What does that mean? Read on hobbyists...
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Words of wisdom: "Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD). If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things. Comments(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Candle making?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 13, 2026 05:30 PM (1Ff7Z) 2
Welcome Hobbiests
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:31 PM (Ia/+0) Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 13, 2026 05:32 PM (1Ff7Z) 4
Of all the water-related sports that I took on, water skiing was the easiest to master.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 13, 2026 05:34 PM (XjKiU) 5
My wife makes candles every once in awhile
Bought her supplies for her birthday last year but she still hasn't used them. Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:35 PM (Ia/+0) 6
Of all the water-related sports that I took on, water skiing was the easiest to master.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 13, 2026 05:34 PM (XjKiU) Every time I tried watersports, some big white balloon chased me. Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 13, 2026 05:35 PM (1Ff7Z) 7
5 My wife makes candles every once in awhile
Bought her supplies for her birthday last year but she still hasn't used them. ------ Might I suggest an Amazon gift card for next year? Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 13, 2026 05:36 PM (XjKiU) 8
Thanks for another mighty Hobby Thread, T Rex!
And congratulations on achieving your second anniversary of hosting this thread! *carefully hands a large piece of cake to T Rex* Posted by: Legally Sufficient at June 13, 2026 05:36 PM (D/6p1) 9
8 Thanks for another mighty Hobby Thread, T Rex!
And congratulations on achieving your second anniversary of hosting this thread! *carefully hands a large piece of cake to T Rex* ---------- Soon. Posted by: The Chicxulub Meteor at June 13, 2026 05:38 PM (XjKiU) 10
Had a very successful morning taking in some metal scrap, aluminum cans and copper clean and with joints.
Still working on my truck tailgate I crushed weeks ago And the Russian medallion for a cartridge box is basically carved out, its air dry clay so want to let it dry as much as possible when calling it done before pouring hot metal into it. Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:39 PM (Ia/+0) 11
*carefully hands a large piece of cake to T Rex*
Posted by: Legally Sufficient at June 13, 2026 05:36 PM *** YUM! Thanks! Maybe we should do a cake decorating or baking hobby thread theme at some point... Posted by: TRex - terrible two dino at June 13, 2026 05:39 PM (IQ6Gq) 12
Afternoon, hobby folken,
My major hobbies as a kid were reading, and building plastic assembly kit models from Aurora and AMT, later Revell, and at last the big guys, Tamiya. I began with the snap-together Animals/Birds of the World from Bachmann (who I think are still around making model train layout accessories). Those came with a palette of paints, a brush, and a bottle of thinner, all for .98 to 1.49 (the big kits like the Parrot). Later came the Aurora monster models; AMT's model cars (I never could get spray painting to work well for me); Revell's sailing ships; and at the last, Tamiya's German tanks in 1/35 scale. There was story writing, true, and it morphed into an adult hobby that has yet to pay much money, but has been enormous fun. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:40 PM (wzUl9) 13
Ihave a mountain of aluminum, some brass snd a few hundred pounds of lead I want to get rid of in next few months
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:41 PM (Ia/+0) 14
We were so poor our hobby was collecting dirt. But at least we had arms to do it.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 13, 2026 05:42 PM (SRceu) 15
Ihave a mountain of aluminum, some brass snd a few hundred pounds of lead I want to get rid of in next few months
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:41 PM (Ia/+0) Repost this tomorrow on the Gun Thread. Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 13, 2026 05:43 PM (1Ff7Z) 16
"What adult hobbies were ignited in your childhood? "
As a child I collected rocks and coins. Now I collect a lot more other things too. Posted by: fd at June 13, 2026 05:44 PM (vFG9F) 17
TRex,
Congrats on your anniversary. The hobby thread is one of my favorites and anchors my Saturday evenings. Posted by: JTB at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM (yTvNw) 18
Happy 2nd TRex! Well done!!
Posted by: HappyFun at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM (CoQfd) 19
Congrats, T Rex, and thanks for picking up the mantle of the beloved and belated Oregon Muse. His chess threads coaxed me out of my years-long lurker state, and your presence here has been a godsend...
Posted by: Joe Kidd at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM (nbLIj) 20
I don't really have any hobbies anymore. I guess you could say writing is a hobby because I've never gotten paid for it.
Too much money to get back into painting, and no time to do photography - taking people back and forth to work and school takes up most of my time. Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 13, 2026 05:46 PM (1Ff7Z) 21
Now that I think of it, I did try those paint-by-number paintings; Dracula and the Wolf Man were two I completed. I didn't think they looked all that impressive, and the oil paints were very slow-drying compared to the enamels I used on plastic kits. Though I didn't waste the oil paints and tried them on some of the plastic kits. They still took forever to dry and I moved on.
Speaking of paint, if you recall, AMT offered its own line of spray lacquers for their model cars. Those dried very swiftly, and if I managed an even coat on the car bodies, looked darn good. Testor's and Pactra ("Pactra 'Namel") had spray paints too. The Testor's were basic colors you'd use on a stock auto kit like a '32 Ford, while Pactra offered a range of metalflake and candy colors for use on custom jobs. It was good training for me to judge what color suited the lines of a particular car -- dark blue for a Lincoln Continental, say, or emerald green for a '56 Chevy -- and what interior color would go with that. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:49 PM (wzUl9) 22
Maybe we should do a cake decorating or baking hobby thread theme at some point...
Posted by: TRex - terrible two dino at June 13, 2026 05:39 PM (IQ6Gq) ---- And cross the streams with the Food Thread? Are you TRYING to tear a hole in the universe? Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 13, 2026 05:49 PM (gnNyN) 23
17 TRex, Congrats on your anniversary.
Posted by: JTB at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM 18 Happy 2nd TRex! Well done!! Posted by: HappyFun at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM 19 Congrats, T Rex, and thanks for picking up the mantle of the beloved and belated Oregon Muse. Posted by: Joe Kidd at June 13, 2026 05:45 PM *** Thank you all! Much appreciated. Posted by: TRex - meteor resistant dino at June 13, 2026 05:49 PM (IQ6Gq) 24
Pretty much the only hobby I actually do any more is gaming and commenting on aoshq. Work takes up a heck of a lot of time and both things can fit in either the late night hours or the wee hours of the morning.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 13, 2026 05:50 PM (G3T/K) 25
One of my big hobbies is/was Lego. Haven't bought any big sets for a while though, since I'm running out of room. (And I'm a bit concerned about future finances.) However, I just got notified that I have a lot of 'points' at the Lego store, that are set to expire soon. The points can translate directly into cash-discount on purchases, so there's no way I'm letting them expire without using them.
So, I have a dilemma of what to buy. The new Minas Tirith set? No, actually that's out of stock. The Rivendell set? the Barad-dur set? Both are tempting. But...Over on Bricklink, you can pre-order (for the next few days) a set called Dustmark Keep. It's a fan-designed set, and it's basically a huge, expert-level version of the Castles we got back in the 90's! Like a scaled-up King's Castle or Black Falcon's Fortress. It's wall on all sides, fully-playable, with 20 minifigs of new factions. ...Yeah, as much as I love LotR, I think I know how I'm spending my points... Posted by: Castle Guy at June 13, 2026 05:50 PM (3v7ra) 26
22 Are you TRYING to tear a hole in the universe?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 13, 2026 05:49 PM *** The ways of the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) are strange and mysterious. Posted by: TRex - decorated dino at June 13, 2026 05:53 PM (IQ6Gq) 27
Currently, of course, I have my briar pipe hobby. On my trip to Kansas in April I picked up a new one at a real tobacconist, a "basket pipe" -- i.e., less expensive, but if you pick a good brand you can often get a good smoker -- a Rigoletto straight apple in dark sandblast texture.
And running has been a hobby. I started with the original Aerobics book in '73, running in place at home, and lost twenty stubborn pounds and gained enormous energy over the spring that year. Later I worked myself into real shape running outdoors. My knees began to give me a little trouble about two decades back, and I shifted for a while to the elliptical machine at a nearby gym. That place closed. Now I do 1-2 miles 3-4 x a week, half trotting and half walking, 12-25 minutes depending on the distance. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9) 28
I started up a new game of Satisfactory recently.
I've finally unlocked the technology tier that allows for oil power instead of coal. It's a game changer, but takes a lot of work to set it up. Nuclear power is technically better, but it takes ENORMOUS effort to get all the components running at the right speed in the right order to make it all work. Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM (gnNyN) 29
My most frequent hobby is biting sarcasm, so I probably should skip this thread....
BTW, here's another piece of cake. https://youtu.be/G9hWy_wSMRc?t=55 Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM (qx7Zg) 30
Casting bullets is what started my lead to collecting
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM (Ia/+0) 31
An unsponsored car show happens at the Avon Indiana Lowes on Saturday afternoon. Very nice cars there
Posted by: The Ballots at June 13, 2026 05:56 PM (LOZbR) 32
I don’t know if it counts as a hobby, but…
I remember being 5 and watching Olga Korbut in the 1972 Olympics. My love for gymnastics started then and ended with me being a D 1 scholarship gymnast at a top 5 school. It was my life, my love, my heartbreak and saving grace. I learned tenacity and honesty and that sometimes, no matter how hard you try and practice and prepare, sometimes you fail anyway. But never give up. Posted by: nurse ratched. at June 13, 2026 05:57 PM (A5RD0) 33
Lego is the modern successor to the model kits that were everywhere in the '60s and '70s. Though much more expensive, they don't have to be painted and just snap together instead of requiring glue. (True? Or do you have to screw some parts together?) They have come a *long* way since I first saw them in Woolworth's, not much more than red, black, white, and clear cubes and rectangles.
In the local mall store I spotted some bonsai tree models that Lego offered a while back. Those looked darn good. Do they still sell those? Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:58 PM (wzUl9) 34
27 And running has been a hobby.
Now I do 1-2 miles 3-4 x a week, half trotting and half walking, 12-25 minutes depending on the distance. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM *** Outstanding! Wonder how many among the horde are or have been joggers. The pounding on my knees is too much, so I stick the the elliptical. Posted by: TRex - running in circles dino at June 13, 2026 05:59 PM (IQ6Gq) 35
Ha, ha! The scouting vid was a reminder of just how old I've become. Take your compass and get off my lawn.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 13, 2026 05:59 PM (SRceu) 36
Model trains. If I had the space I'd be all over that shit. Building the landscape, buildings, doing a layout. Maybe not even something based on reality, but just, something cool and interesting.
I was in the model train club in jr. high. But I didn't get to see the final results. Graduated to HS. Posted by: CA High Speed Rail at June 13, 2026 05:59 PM (jehhT) 37
Hubley offered a series of metal model kits in the Sixties also. The car bodies were metal, so I guess you could have used real auto paint on them. (The scale might have been off, though.) The chassis, I think, was metal, but the engine, windshield, and interior pieces were plastic, and the tires rubber or plastic. You had to screw the metal pieces together. Since I never built one, I don't know how the plastic parts attached, unless it was with plastic cement.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:00 PM (wzUl9) 38
Might I suggest an Amazon gift card for next year?
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 13, 2026 05:36 PM (XjKiU) I laughed. Mr Dmlw! and I have a closet full of hobby stuff we've bought for or with each other, that have been unused. We've just gotten so busy! He got me some flint knapping tools, and shortly after that we got the puppies, and I don't have a good place to do that where their curious selves won't be nosing in there and getting cut on shards. I should take this to Mom's where I spend most of my week and re-visit the hobby there. Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at June 13, 2026 06:01 PM (h7ZuX) 39
Now I do 1-2 miles 3-4 x a week, half trotting and half walking, 12-25 minutes depending on the distance.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 05:55 PM *** Outstanding! Wonder how many among the horde are or have been joggers. The pounding on my knees is too much, so I stick the the elliptical. Posted by: TRex - running in circles dino at June 13, 2026 *** Once I move and get settled, I plan to find a gym for elliptical and weight work, especially during the winter. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:01 PM (wzUl9) 40
All my life my favorite hobbies have been oriented around the ocean. It fascinates me the way space does for others. I don't even like being away from it for more than a couple days.
Today was day 2 of the annual New York Yacht Club Regatta. It culminates next Friday with the start of the Newport - Bermuda Race. Elvis and I watched some of the "action" today which was pretty lame because not much breeze. Any day you can tip your toe in the ocean is a very good day. Posted by: JackStraw at June 13, 2026 06:02 PM (viF8m) 41
Happy anniversary TRex - thanks for all the great subjects these past two years! Just perusing those have almost turned into a hobby. In the meantime, train layout construction competes with the model building - my life has so many tough choices to make these days . . .
Posted by: Patches at June 13, 2026 06:02 PM (338iJ) 42
An unsponsored car show happens at the Avon Indiana Lowes on Saturday afternoon. Very nice cars there
Posted by: The Ballots at June 13, 2026 *** Where is Avon within the state? Close to Indianapolis, I'd guess? Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:03 PM (wzUl9) 43
The spark for three of my adult hobbies happened in childhood.
Target shooting, specifically with black powder guns. My hometown was established twenty years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and had a rich history for the colonial (the frontier was central New England and New York) and Revolutionary War periods. Don't know if it's still done but in the 50s we were taught that history in grade school. Combine those stories, a youngster's imagination, and a Daisy BB gun and a spark ignited that persists. I didn't get my first BP gun until about thirty but the desire began a lot earlier. Posted by: JTB at June 13, 2026 06:05 PM (yTvNw) 44
41 In the meantime, train layout construction competes with the model building - my life has so many tough choices to make these days . . .
Posted by: Patches at June 13, 2026 06:02 PM *** Thanks! Any room for a race track in your train layout? Posted by: TRex - rennsport dino at June 13, 2026 06:05 PM (IQ6Gq) 45
Never really got into model trains. Never had the space, I guess. Trains were the big fascination with the generation or two before mine -- a way to travel and see new places. With me it was cars.
Odd that I never learned to drive until I was almost 23. (My father refused to teach me, let alone help me buy a car, and my mother never learned to drive.) Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:06 PM (wzUl9) 46
I did a lot of troubleshooting on my tractor lately. Some mechanical issues earlier, then a drained battery yesterday. I think the grandkids might have been messing around with it. The key's always in the ignition, but they lack the weight to start it with the safety switch built into the seat.
More like a FWP honestly. Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 13, 2026 06:09 PM (jehhT) 47
An unsponsored car show happens at the Avon Indiana Lowes on Saturday afternoon. Very nice cars there Posted by: The Ballots Every Saturday? Haven't seen it mentioned on Nextdoor. Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 13, 2026 06:10 PM (Cqx++) 48
What adult hobbies were ignited in your childhood? What hobbies did you try and HATE? What hobbies do you wish you would have tinkered with more as a child?
1. drinking 2. jigsaw puzzles 3. automotive shop Posted by: Eromero at June 13, 2026 06:10 PM (LHPAg) 49
I started collecting dolls when I was a girl because my mother had dolls before me. The oldest dolls are from the 1800's from my grandmother. One of my favorites is Queen Elizabeth I from an actual portrait , I think, and she has little fake pearls sewn all over her outfits I also treasure one of a little Jewish boy in a yarmulke lighting candles and a Red Riding Hood Doll which you flip over to get a doll of grandma, and then when you move her head kerchief you get the wolf. It's a very clever idea.
I would like someone else to take some of them now because I have no little girls to give them to. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 06:10 PM (ZeH0U) 50
Any day you can tip your toe in the ocean is a very good day.
Posted by: JackStraw Agreed. I do it several times a week. Well, Puget Sound. Not quite the ocean, but it’s salty and cold. And there’s whales swimming around. Posted by: nurse ratched. at June 13, 2026 06:10 PM (A5RD0) 51
My mother was a poor cook--my daughter claims the only thing she was comfortable making was jello. When I was in 7th grate, I told her if she did the shopping I would cook. And I would try anything! I made my own pasta.
There was one wonderful moment when my grandparents and my older sister and her 3-year-old son were visiting, and I made lasagna with spinach noodles I had made myself. Everyone sat and stared. Finally someone said, see if Steve will eat it. Well, one bite, and he was shoveling with both hands! So everyone decided they liked it and it went into the rotation. Certainly something that's given me pleasure all my life. I even worked in a cooking school for a couple of years. Posted by: Wenda at June 13, 2026 06:11 PM (UIfeN) 52
Was just thinking about a drum kit I got as a Christmas present when I was maybe 4. Pretty much a toy, but it had a kick, snare, a tom and a cymbal. Maybe tried it out a handful of times, but the folks were not exactly nurturing in that arena...
Posted by: Joe Kidd at June 13, 2026 06:11 PM (nbLIj) 53
I was a Girl Scout back in the day, and still have my sash with patches on the front and half of the back. The work for those instilled some interests, increased my enthusiasm for others, and definitely ruled out others. I can't remember a time I wasn't making something: art, music, textiles, ornaments, etc. and that eventually led into cooking and baking. But I definitely recall that big box of crayola crayons and just being so excited about all the different colors.
Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at June 13, 2026 06:11 PM (IQ6Gq) 54
For a brief time in the '80s I had a couple of guns; a Ruger Single-Six convertible Peacemaker clone, .22LR/.22 short/.22 Magnum, and a Remington Nylon 66 .22LR rifle. We would drive out to a wilderness area in southern MS and fire away down into a big sandy pit at bottles and (if we could afford them and ammo too) clay targets. Once we brought a half-dozen honeydew melons. Those exploded nicely, but attracted wasps!
In '86 I sold them both, not sure why, and have been thinking about getting back into target and self-defense shooting in recent years. Now and then I drop in on the Gun Thread. But so many of you are so much more knowledgeable about weapons that I feel outclassed! Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:11 PM (wzUl9) 55
Maybe tried it out a handful of times, but the folks were not exactly nurturing in that arena...
Posted by: Joe Kidd at June 13, 2026 06:11 PM (nbLIj) Oh! I wanted to play drums, when we were all being sorted for band in 5th grade. I had the best rhythm score of all my classmates. Mom said no way. I guess with five kids, the house was noisy enough. Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at June 13, 2026 06:14 PM (h7ZuX) 56
>>Agreed. I do it several times a week. Well, Puget Sound. Not quite the ocean, but it’s salty and cold. And there’s whales swimming around.
Any body of water that has whales qualifies. Posted by: JackStraw at June 13, 2026 06:14 PM (viF8m) 57
I would like someone else to take some of them now because I have no little girls to give them to.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke Please don’t give them away. Your son is young and may get married someday. And perhaps You have a granddaughter. I have a collection of original Madame Alexander dolls. They are in a box. I am hoping someday to give them to a granddaughter. Or they will get donated when I go. Posted by: nurse ratched. at June 13, 2026 06:15 PM (/+SQR) 58
I started collecting dolls when I was a girl because my mother had dolls before me. The oldest dolls are from the 1800's from my grandmother. One of my favorites is Queen Elizabeth I from an actual portrait , I think, and she has little fake pearls sewn all over her outfits I also treasure one of a little Jewish boy in a yarmulke lighting candles and a Red Riding Hood Doll which you flip over to get a doll of grandma, and then when you move her head kerchief you get the wolf. It's a very clever idea.
I would like someone else to take some of them now because I have no little girls to give them to. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 *** My mother owned a big doll she'd been given as a girl, in the early 1920s. It spoke when it was new -- it once had a little disk inside, like a record player, that would play a couple of recorded lines. The doll's face was not plastic, but a kind of china that had cracked a little over the decades. I saw it more than once as a kid and young man, but I didn't find it when I cleared her place out after she passed. Perhaps she had given it away earlier. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:15 PM (wzUl9) 59
The best advice I learned about water skiing was from a high school boyfriend's dad. He said to "follow the boat".
Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at June 13, 2026 06:17 PM (dyL4B) 60
My main hobby/obsession is reading and that interest began early. The desire to understand those squiggly marks next to the pictures in my story books combined a child's curiosity, encouragement from the adults in my life, and a desire to seem older. Reading was seen as an adult activity and, like most little boys, I wanted to do grown up things.
Posted by: JTB at June 13, 2026 06:18 PM (yTvNw) 61
>>>Odd that I never learned to drive until I was almost 23. (My father refused to teach me, let alone help me buy a car, and my mother never learned to drive.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere >I learned to drive when I was 6 years old on my great uncle's farm. He had me driving the tractor while he followed behind. He was a little off because he had been struck by lightning twice, but the big rule was to stay away from the PTO. Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 13, 2026 06:18 PM (SRceu) 62
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:15 PM (wzUl9
That's really interesting. I have not heard of a doll with a disc inside from that long ago. I also have a hand made dollhouse with lots of furniture but I don't think girls even play with dollhouses anymore . They're mostly on their cell phones, I suspect. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 06:19 PM (ix8EF) 63
Fen my aunt had a big doll collection, Ithink she unloaded many but still has a few. Some were very old.
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 06:19 PM (Ia/+0) 64
Outstanding! Wonder how many among the horde are or have been joggers. The pounding on my knees is too much, so I stick the the elliptical.
Posted by: TRex - running in circles dino at June 13, 2026 05:59 PM (IQ6Gq) I was a very good runner as a kid and in the Army. I've always liked it, but I haven't jogged for quite some time. On the plus side, I have no chronic joint pain, weird since I am 60. I can jog a bit, like when I am trying to catch the traffic light before it changes. i need to pepper my walks with a bit of light jogging. Posted by: Pug Mahon, Born in Butte, America at June 13, 2026 06:20 PM (0aYVJ) 65
Oh! Another thing I collected as a boy was the series of Hartland TV Western figurines. They'd be called "action figures" today, though the mounted ones like Cheyenne, the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Roy Rogers were rigid figures. Their "Gunfighters" series were the standing figures with swiveling arms -- the chest was hollow, and a rubber band fitted around hooks at the arms and allowed them to move. Those included Bret Maverick, Bat Masterson (complete with cane and derby hat), Paladin, and more.
They were all about eight inches tall, beautifully painted, and sometimes even resembled the actors in the face. I had a great number of them. My mother kept them in storage in our apartment, and it's one of the great regrets of my life that I didn't take at least some of them with me when I cleaned her place out. Not only are they nostalgic, they are worth some dough on eBay now! Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:20 PM (wzUl9) 66
Odd that I never learned to drive until I was almost 23. (My father refused to teach me, let alone help me buy a car, and my mother never learned to drive.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere ---- Eh...I didn't learn to drive until I was 23 either. I didn't own a car until I was 26. Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 13, 2026 06:22 PM (gnNyN) 67
That's really interesting. I have not heard of a doll with a disc inside from that long ago.
I also have a hand made dollhouse with lots of furniture but I don't think girls even play with dollhouses anymore . They're mostly on their cell phones, I suspect. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 *** I'm pretty sure it was that old, Fen. Mom was born in 1916, and this was the kind of doll you'd give a girl age 12 or younger, I suppose. Her family was not wealthy, so I guess it was a major outlay of cash, or someone gave it to her as a birthday or Christmas present. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:23 PM (wzUl9) 68
Slot cars are making a bit of a comeback. Mostly with older dudes who haven't the room at home to setup a track... and have a wife who's not into a bunch of drunks living vicariously through a toy car.
But... some of the tracks that are setup in VFW's or the like are pretty impressive. Then, there's the people who build scale model racetracks like Road America down to the smallest detail. The hobby has passed me by. Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 13, 2026 06:24 PM (jehhT) 69
Every time I tried water-skiing I was pulled up, over, and dragged behind the boat. I was never able to get my feet under me to stand up and after nearly being drowned three times, gave it up and never looked back. Did macrame while in middle school when that was the coming thing, also making belts and vests out of discarded soda/beer pull-tabs. The folks paid for piano lessons while I was young but found it too expensive and dropped it, which was a shame. And I've always drawn and painted and been into reading since I can remember...
Posted by: tankascribe at June 13, 2026 06:25 PM (NtoJk) 70
My sister had a Mrs. Beasley doll, as seen in Family Affair. I was always vaguely creeped out by it.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Born in Butte, America at June 13, 2026 06:25 PM (0aYVJ) 71
Posted by: nurse ratched. at June 13, 2026
I have some Madame Alexander dolls as well. One of my happiest memories was going to a big doll museum at an Old Victorian House in a town nearby which had several floors of dolls. The woman who owned it became a friend of my mother and me. She liked Madame Alexander dolls. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 06:25 PM (ix8EF) 72
Odd that I never learned to drive until I was almost 23. (My father refused to teach me, let alone help me buy a car, and my mother never learned to drive.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere ---- Eh...I didn't learn to drive until I was 23 either. I didn't own a car until I was 26. Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 13, 2026 *** When I think of all the dating opportunities I missed, esp. in college, I could throw a rock at something. Cute girls were everywhere on campus, and they *wanted* to meet boys (unlike today) -- but they didn't want to ride on buses. My parents grew up in the era when you met and married somebody in your neighborhood and didn't need a car. But, as I told them in exasperation, it wasn't like that any more. Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:26 PM (wzUl9) 73
>I learned to drive when I was 6 years old on my great uncle's farm. He had me driving the tractor while he followed behind. He was a little off because he had been struck by lightning twice, but the big rule was to stay away from the PTO.
Ha! I was a bit older than 6 when dad told me to get the tractor, no explanation or instruction, just go get it. The only rule was stay away from the PTO. Posted by: JackStraw at June 13, 2026 06:26 PM (viF8m) 74
Thank you TRex for two years of wonderful topics to explore.
I would have to say my youthful hobby of horses turned into a lifelong profession. Learning to use the forge for horseshoeing turned into creative metalwork. The woodworking and sculpting are my hobbies now. I saw a beautiful piece of wood from a cut down tree in town that I am lusting after to be a base for a cat tree. Posted by: Ben Had at June 13, 2026 06:27 PM (5P5DO) 75
Happy Anniversary, TRex! Grateful for all that you do!
Posted by: tankascribe at June 13, 2026 06:27 PM (NtoJk) 76
I was a very good runner as a kid and in the Army. I've always liked it, but I haven't jogged for quite some time. On the plus side, I have no chronic joint pain, weird since I am 60. I can jog a bit, like when I am trying to catch the traffic light before it changes. i need to pepper my walks with a bit of light jogging.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Born in Butte, America at June 13, 2026 *** In the savage heat here, I call my early early morning workout the "Bataan Death March." Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 13, 2026 06:28 PM (wzUl9) 77
My sister had a Mrs. Beasley doll, as seen in Family Affair. I was always vaguely creeped out by it. Posted by: Pug Mahon Must have been the glasses. Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 13, 2026 06:29 PM (Cqx++) 78
Thanks, TRex for all your work over the past two years. The picture was cute as well.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 13, 2026 06:29 PM (ix8EF) 79
I learned to drive while helping my father peddle milk (yes, he was a milkman). The truck was a standard shift and once, while parked on an uphill incline, I started rolling backwards - slammed on the brakes and broke about 20 glass quart bottles of milk (the good old days when milk was in glass bottles) For some strange reason, Dad didn't kill me.
Posted by: Admirale's Mate at June 13, 2026 06:33 PM (/enuJ) 80
Fenelon, my childhood doll house furniture was how I discovered eBay. I bought it as a child with nickels and dimes, and one day I typed in the brand, Renwal, and that led me to eBay, and pages and pages of my furniture. Still for only a few dollars.
So we set up my dollhouse plus furniture in a niche off the living room, and my grandkids played with it from babyhood on. When something breaks, I replace it. They're mostly college now, but when they visit, they arrange and rearrange the furniture. Posted by: Wenda at June 13, 2026 06:34 PM (UIfeN) 81
Rex you do put up great threads every week, can't be easy
Posted by: Skip at June 13, 2026 06:34 PM (Ia/+0) 82
44 Any room for a race track in your train layout?
Hmm, interesting idea. The layout is 1968 Germany, so at a minimum I could have a rally scene - I have the proper 1/87 scale cars . . . . Did jog for decades, but have switched to daily walking as the main activity, unfortunately - do miss the running. Being 29 isn't what it used to be. Posted by: Patches at June 13, 2026 06:35 PM (338iJ) Ace of Spades Pet Thread, June 13![]() ![]() ![]() Hi KT: FYI I sometimes comment on Ace of Spades as Geoff Shotts. Anyway, here is Dini, enjoying the shade. She just turned 11 and is a Lab/Basset mix. Super sweet, loves kids. She's not as spry as she used to be, but still loves walks and trips to the local creek. Thank youAwww, love Dini. She looks like a wonderful dog. Saijo is loved. Encountered by Members of The Horde ![]() ![]() Hey Katy, Just thought the horde would appreciate my garden friend this morning. It is a screech owl, we get a pair that nests here every year. I have a lot of water about, bird baths and a fountain and a fish pond. I think they appreciate the water. I got pretty close to him before I even noticed him. He was right where I turn on the water. Made my day. WeekreekfarmgirlThat's a bold owl - out so near to you during daylight hours! Such a great surprise to find him looking at you! Greetings lovers of all things pets and pet adjacent, Just a few pics from over the last few weeks or so showcasing why I absolutely love living in the country. Featured are the deer who have slowly started trusting us enough to come within 25 yards of the house. Of course it probably helps putting out some snacks for them now and again. Our two Peacocks, the male is the one with the bright turquoise neck, a few wild turkey's and a little frog who has decided to make his home under our evening coffee table. Love seeing all the contributions to The Pet Thread and look forward to it every week. v/r ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Wonderful! Love the frog. Thank you for sharing your pets and animal photos and stories with us today. If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is: |
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