I do this thread every year and it seems to be a popular thing...delves a little more than "introductions" as we list the things we LOOOOVE...things you go nuts for, or major interests...from normal to querky to geeky!

That way...you get to know someone on a deeper level...and perhaps find someone who fan girls/fan boys over the same thing you do and "YAAASSS! Now i have someone i can get deep into discussion with!"...you know...like how my husband can chat for hours about GoT with a fellow fan...from theories to who he loves or hates...I'm the same way about other things like Sailor moon, Once Upon A Time, or Doctor Who...

So, share with us a few things you like (bullet form or not) and maybe someone will share that interest....and then maybe come the kick off party...you won't need a HUGE ice breaker!

So, come on! We all have hobbies, interests, shows we love to bits, books we can't read enough of...so go on and share!

Yo hi it's me, your friendly neighborhood Squid! Here are a list of things because I'm lazy.

• Knitting
• Coffee
• Beer
• Mostly just alcohol in general I am a fan and secretly want to be a bartender
• Working
• The Adventure Zone (and DnD in general)
• Mythology (mostly Greek but also just in generally give me every countries mythologies)
• MOVIES? Can that just be a broad category? I'm the annoying person that likes to analyze films and shiz.

I don't even know I lost focus halfway through, I like a lot of things probably just talk to me because I'm lonely and need friends. xD

Thanks, Tanya! This is a great thread!

Things I like:

• writing short stories for anthologies(and being part of the Journey)
• sketching and drawing; and photography (mostly with my Canon G7X mark II)
• books like Eon and Eternity by Greg Bear, almost all of the Uplift novels by David Brin (the last one could have used some more editing), the Black Company by Glen Cook, the Chronicles of Amber and Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny, Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw, all of the various Arthurian Legend books, Lyonesse, the Green Pearl and Madouc by Jack Vance, and the Gift by Patrick O'Leary. Growing up, I read a lot of mythology (Greek, Norse, Persian, Irish/Celtic) and loved Frank L. Baum's Oz books, Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and, of course, Tolkien's great works (the Children of Hurin is so sad!).
• musicals like Les Miserables (before they changed it to match the movie :-( ),Hamilton, Next To Normal, In The Heights, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, My Fair Lady, Dear Evan Hansen(haven't seen it yet, but I've listened to the youtube clips many times)
• movies like Arrival, Interstellar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Wonder Woman, Serenity, Stairway to Heaven, Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Romance of Rosy Ridge, North by Northwest, Meet Me In St. Louis
• television shows like Firefly,The Americans, Orphan Black, How I Met Your Mother, Doctor Who, Outlander, The Flash,Arrested Development, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Lark Rise to Candleford, Veronica Mars
• my Risa ukulele
• web app design (perl, ruby, python, ...)
• volleyball and tennis

Ok...here are my things...ALL THE GEEKY THINGS

• Sailor moon is my number one...i think...no wait. it still is...and always will be until I DIE. you can pry my collectibles OUT OF MY COLD DEAD HANDS
• Doctor Who. DOOOOWEEEEOOOOOO! My halloween decoration is a weeping angel on my front door...and i want to paint a pumpkin that says "don't blink"...and my Daughter's name is Amelia...(as in pond)...and her room is doctor who themed...with one wall colored in Tardis blue (you wouldn't BELIEVE how hard it is to find tardis blue paint at menards...or to search online for a similar color...BUT WE DID IT)
• Once Upon A Time is my favorite too...like...i've watched it from DAY ONE and i could go on and on about each character...but i dunno. This new season reboot thingy they have going LEAVES ME WITH MIXED FEELINGS! I dunno...I just dunno man...\

I love to read...huge book nerd...even though I don't do it nearly as much as I should. I own SO many books AND books on my kindle SO WHY AM I NOT READING MORE! I used to read SO much manga...SO much books...even comics but shoot. I have several dead pool comics i haven't even opened...even though i LOVE me some dead pool...

My favorite book series right now current is...is....is...lunar chronicles by marissa meyer? I dunno. I haven't read books in a long time but I like her because she is a sailor moon fan and it shows in her works (and she is a nano writer too!)

I LOOOVE the marvel universe...even though i am mostly a movie fan...I just get too intimidated with the comics and where to start...because with manga...you start at volume 1 and read until the end...with Marvel or DC...you have different universes, books, series, arcs....but i love my marvel none the less...

My hobbies include: cross stitching...i currently cross stitch nerdy book marks (check outhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/SturdyNerdyStitchery?ref=seller-platform-mcnavon etsy to see my work or request something!)...i dunno...cross stitching is so calming...

crafting. I love being creative even though i get super into an idea...and get all the supplies...and then "eh...not so much"...like when i bought all my yarn and knitting needles while i was pregnant

Gaming. Sims...(I have a sim "Lord Dampnut" that i am trying to get to move in so i can slowly take away all his basic needs the way he TAKES AWAY ALL OF OURS!...see how long it takes him to wither away)...Legend of zelda (i've been playing breath of the wild for 8 months now BECAUSE I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO FINISH IT....Fall out 4....mario...

I have so many more other interests that I could list...but...i can't think of them right now

Things I obsess over:
Outlander. - Anything and everything Outlander. All. The. Time.
The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
My kids (I can't help it, they are super cute.)
KEEP Collective jewelry. So obsessed I decided to start selling it a year and a half ago.
Reading. I love reading. I mostly read romance, I also listen to a million audio books too. I average about 220 books a year between reading and listening.
My signed book collection. I think I'm close to 250 books.

I feel like life has been so chaotic lately my only hobby is reading.

PBJ63010 wrote:

I feel like life has been so chaotic lately my only hobby is reading.

At least you read! I only have ONE kid at 9 months and even then...my brain is just to mentally exhausted to read! All it ever wants to do when I have free time is mindlessly browse facebook or vegetate in front of my video game...I have AAALLLLL these books that just sit collecting dust...and my mom goes "if you aren't going to read them then donate them!" SHUSH WOMAN! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!

I am 100% obsessed with pens, especially fountain pens. It's a problem, but I really love them. (I post pics on Instagram @annabethgabe if you want proof of this obsession.) I love trying different ink, too. I like figuring out which pens and inks to use at one time (because I have too many of both to use them all at once). Maintaining my fountain pensis actually kind of relaxing, too, so it's a good way to de-stress. Sometimes I'll listen to an audiobook while I clean them / change ink.I also have a collection of machined pen bodies that take Pilot G2-sized refills. (They are soooo much nicer than the normal plastic bodies!)

I also love crafting (crocheting / knitting), especially while listening to audiobooks. I have quite a large stash of yarn, and a lot of patterns I'm interested in making. I find it really relaxing, but I haven't made time for it lately (plus, it's too hot to hold yarn in the summer, and the weather refuses to get cool enough).

My favorite movie of all time is About Time(I never fail to bawl, which I mean in the best way possible), and The Princess Bride, Mean Girls, and Easy A are also really high on my list. I enjoy the Marvel movies, and I'm really looking forward to Thor 3!! I still need to see the new Spiderman.

I don't watch a lot of TV, but I just started rewatching Hart of Dixie for the 3rd time. I have it on in the background while I'm cooking so that cooking becomes less detestable. :D And Miranda (on Hulu) is HILARIOUS. I also love Gilmore Girls and have watched that multiple times.

As for shows that are currently airing, I watchPoldark (it's like a train wreck I can't look away from, and Aidan Turner!!!), This Is Us, Outlander (this season has been AMAZING so far, which makes sense because book 3 is my fave of the series), and Survivor (the only reality show I watch).

I spend most of my time either learning writing craft or reading. I've been trying to be more productive this year, and while it is work, it's at least work that I like! Plus I have a collection of craft books I haven't read, and I'm trying to get through them.

I've read some great non-fiction books this year. I especially like biographies of people living in the 1700s and 1800s, as well as general histories, like Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel, which discusses the factors that contributed to the spread of Western culture.Historyis a really great source of ideas and inspiration for me!

As for fiction, I read a lot of YA fantasy, some YA contemporary, some Regency romance (I really like Mary Balogh, though I don't love all of her books), and I'm trying to read more adult fantasy, but I keep putting it off because the books are so long, lol. Finally read the first 3 Mistborn books, and LOVED them! But my TBR is sooooo longggggg!!! I've been favoring reading shorter books to get through more of them. But I've REALLY enjoyed the vast majority of the books I've read this year! I wanted to make it to 100 books, but I don't think that's going to happen. I'm at like 60-something so far, which is still a lot more than I used to be able to do, so I will count that as a win. My favorite book so far this year is Night of Cake & Puppets, by Laini Taylor (actually a novella that was previously only available as ebook). And I've also really loved Everything All At Once by Katrina Leno, and Six of Crows / Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, which I finally read this year!

If I fangirl over anything, it's over Sarah J. Maas books (though I've been a bit disappointed with the last few). A Court of Mist and Fury is my all-time favorite book, and I love the Throne of Glass series too.

Outlander yessssssss!!!! I have been LOVING this season! And I can't wait for the next book!

OddSoul wrote:I am 100% obsessed with pens, especially fountain pens. It's a problem, but I really love them. (I post pics on Instagram @annabethgabe if you want proof of this obsession.) I love trying different ink, too. I like figuring out which pens and inks to use at one time (because I have too many of both to use them all at once).

That's like me with glass ink pens...even though i only own three...BUT DFSKDFSKDS every time i go to the Ren Faire, I WANT MORE but my husband or friends have to be the voices of reason and tell me "you never even use them, yes, i get they are pretty, but you don't need to spend money on these...you still have to buy baby diapers"

OddSoul wrote:I also love crafting (crocheting / knitting), especially while listening to audiobooks. I have quite a large stash of yarn, and a lot of patterns I'm interested in making. I find it really relaxing, but I haven't made time for it lately (plus, it's too hot to hold yarn in the summer, and the weather refuses to get cool enough).

Ever thought about making a yarn bucket with a hole in it?...i have an old trick or treat pumpkin and if i slice down the side and then cut a hole, i can just put my yarn ball in the pumpkin. I've also seen the hack where you put your yarn in a large bowl and clip a binder clip to the edge...

I got into knitting...for like...3 months. then...i quit because..i got bored...i might try to pick it up again and do more learning...i mean...fall is coming! scarves!

OddSoul wrote:If I fangirl over anything, it's over Sarah J. Maas books (though I've been a bit disappointed with the last few). A Court of Mist and Fury is my all-time favorite book, and I love the Throne of Glass series too.

I remember you telling me last year about Sarah J Maas...and how i bought book 1...guess what... A NEW NANO YEAR...AND I STILL HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK! I really want to though, because all my friends read it too...but...can i use my infant baby as an excuse as to why i don't read much anymore? Hard to read when the baby won't stop babbling LOL!

NewMexicoKid wrote:T

• television shows like Firefly,The Americans, Orphan Black, How I Met Your Mother, Doctor Who, Outlander, The Flash,Arrested Development, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Lark Rise to Candleford, Veronica Mars

Squiddish wrote:

just talk to me because I'm lonely and need friends. xD

Goddess_Astra wrote:
What's your 2 cents on Jodie Whitaker as the new doctor? Frankly...i can't wait! I SOOO want to see the doctor struggle with things that us women think aren't a big deal....or wondering why her clothes have no pockets! I want to see the doctor just kick ass and looking fabulous while doing it "Heels? yeah...I save the world in heels, so what?"

I'm looking forward to the new season,but I hope they don't overdo the whole "I-was-a-male-and-OMG-I'm-now-a-female-and-surprise-there-are-so-many-things-that-are-different"; I would hope that the Doctor would be more savvy and laid back than that. I want to see Jodie Whitaker Doctor stories. Spend one episode to establish continuity and then get on with the storytelling--I think that would be my wish.

--Tim

Donate books?! Get rid of books?! No. Just no.

When my first was about that age it was hard for me to read too. Now with 2 I let them entertain each other. hahaha.

This season is so good. This week long break is going to be torture after the end of the last episode.

I am eagerly waiting for book 9. Soooooooo long between releases.

I just finished my 2nd round of Hart of Dixie. I love that show, I'm so sad it wasn't on longer.

Me too!!! *cries forever* But at least it ended before the quality went downhill, which seems to happen with so many shows on TV. I'll just have to console myself bywatching it over and over. :D

Same!! The waiting is such torture! But it's soooo worth it.

Glass pens are soooo prettyyyy though! I don't blame you for wanting to collect them! I am in no position to judge, in any case, lol. There is no excuse for me to buy more pens, and yet it keeps happening regardless. XD

I have a project bag thing that the yarn ball can live in, and it has a hole in the topand basically functions as a yarn bowl, but the problem is that my hands sweat when I'm holding the needles / hook and the yarn coming from the ball! And it just doesn't feel nice. :( So I can only do yarn stuff in the winter. I definitely understand how you can get bored knitting, though! It can get so repetitive if you're doing a basic pattern. I like knitting lacey patterns, because they're more interesting and require more concentration (which can also be frustrating if you mess up, lol), and I've wanted to learn how to knit socks, too! I bought a bunch of knitting classes on Craftsy and they really helped!But it's been a while and I'm going to have to rewatch them if I want to get back into knitting, lol.

Hahaha, you should read it!!! I don't blame you though. If it helps and you like audiobooks, the ToG audiobooks are really good! The first two ACOTAR ones are really good too. (The third one has a different narrator and I haven't listened to it so I can't vouch for its quality.) I can't just listen to audiobooks, though. I have to be doing something (like driving or dishes) or I will fall asleep, lol. But I love being able to multitask with them. It's only through audiobooks that I've been able to read as much as I have this year!

I mean, sounds good to me? Nothing better than a compliment and someone playing with your hair at the SAME TIME. I also accept treats.

This sounds like good friendship.

If you ever need a knitting buddy (when it's colder, because I thoroughly agree and it's the #1 reason I haven't finished the sweater I'm knitting.... not because I procrastinate, definitely the weather... ;)

Anyway, I love knitting with other people! Just recently got into crocheting and I'm no where near as good at it, but I can hold my own. I used to knit hats during write-ins on the years I wasn't writing and it was fun to do that in sprint mode, haha.

PBJ63010 wrote:Donate books?! Get rid of books?! No. Just no.

When my first was about that age it was hard for me to read too. Now with 2 I let them entertain each other. hahaha.

yeah, well..it's all fun and games until one kid comes to you crying...with a black eye...because while trying to entertain one another, they decided to imitate WWE LOL

OddSoul wrote: I definitely understand how you can get bored knitting, though! It can get so repetitive if you're doing a basic pattern.

that's the weird thing though, i LOVE cross stitching...and that too is repetitive needle work...yet, i find this calming...

NewMexicoKid wrote:

Goddess_Astra wrote:
What's your 2 cents on Jodie Whitaker as the new doctor? Frankly...i can't wait! I SOOO want to see the doctor struggle with things that us women think aren't a big deal....or wondering why her clothes have no pockets! I want to see the doctor just kick ass and looking fabulous while doing it "Heels? yeah...I save the world in heels, so what?"

I'm looking forward to the new season,but I hope they don't overdo the whole "I-was-a-male-and-OMG-I'm-now-a-female-and-surprise-there-are-so-many-things-that-are-different"; I would hope that the Doctor would be more savvy and laid back than that. I want to see Jodie Whitaker Doctor stories. Spend one episode to establish continuity and then get on with the storytelling--I think that would be my wish. --Tim

and speaking OF Doctor who...if my...or someone else's schedule allows...a write in at the blue box cafe in elgin should happen. Nothing inspires more than the doctor, am I right? I mean...we're all just stories in the end...why not write a good one ;) lol!

Ooo, knitting sprints! That would be great motivation!!

I still have a mini shawl I finished last spring but haven't blocked, lol. I can't even use the weather as an excuse for that!

Blocking is the w o r s t because I can never find a good place to do it without ruining whatever I pin it to. But I need to get some of my projects done so maybe after the novel is finished we can do some knitting get togethers!

Squiddish wrote:Blocking is the w o r s t because I can never find a good place to do it without ruining whatever I pin it to. But I need to get some of my projects done so maybe after the novel is finished we can do some knitting get togethers!

I could use some in person knitting tutors! My bff knits and crochets like it's nobody's business but...she lives in canada...

I think i "gave up" on knitting because while i understood how to cast on (i THINK i still remember) and do perls and garters...that was the extent of my knowledge and casting off, blocking, all the other fancy stitch work...keeping track of rows and stitches...looked to be too much to learn on my own...don't even get me started on trying to comprehend knitting 3d things like baby booties or hats or mittens or drink warmers...or using circular knitting needles.

And I always seem to miss the wolly bully knitting group at the library since they only meet once a month...Maybe i'll bring some of my yarn and needles to the all day write in, so when i need a typing break, i can finally finsih my mom's scarf that has too many holes and missed stitches to count! LOL!

Absolutely!!

Yeah, I wouldn't have gotten very far without the Craftsy classes, and watching some YouTube videos on how to do the fancier stitches.

I use circular needles (interchangeables) for everything because I like to make shawls and the straight needles aren't long enough. Also I like the length of the circulars. When I use straight needles, I feel like they're just going everywhere and I have a harder time controlling them, lol. But I've actually never knitted anything circular. I'm much more confident doing circular stuff with crochet. But someday I will learn how to dosocks! For my great aunt's birthday last year, I put togetheran amazing book of sock patterns, and I really want to try some!

Also, I would probably die without stitch markers and arow counter!!

Knitting at the all-day write-in is a good idea! I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to make it, but if I do go, I might bring my project too! All this talk about knitting really makes me want to get back to it!!!

I'm always down for knitting together! And I've been doing it a fair amount of time so I can always share some tips and tricks and stitches and I do everything from double-pointed and cable knitting to plain ole washcloth patterns.

c: Look forward to seeing you guys!

OddSoul wrote: Knitting at the all-day write-in is a good idea! I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to make it, but if I do go, I might bring my project too! All this talk about knitting really makes me want to get back to it!!!

Squiddish wrote:I'm always down for knitting together! And I've been doing it a fair amount of time so I can always share some tips and tricks and stitches and I do everything from double-pointed and cable knitting to plain ole washcloth patterns. c: Look forward to seeing you guys!

I will gladly bring my knitting to the all day! I would LOVE having hands on instruction while taking a writing break! Youtube videos often work..to a point...but then when you get stuck on something...you can't just stop the video and talk to the knitter to get a question answered...and i can't always get my bff on skype (specially on D&D nights and wow raid nights XD )...

I haven't picked up knitting in several months (no joke) so it wouldn't surprise me if i pick up my scarf and go ???????????????? when i try to do a stitch...or try to remember what type of stitch i last left off at HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Aside from flat items...are 3d items like socks/hats/ect as intimidating as i think?

Unrelated, but D&D nights yaaaas. (Knitting + D&D is a winning combo.)

3D items aren't that bad once you know the basics. It's a big jump getting there, but when you look back you realize it wasn't all that difficult as much as it just looks scary. Fine tuning it can be a little more challenging (there are patterns I still shy away from just because I don't find them worth the hassle and I'm lazy) but all in all it's not too bad. ;)

Things that I love to do are:

• read
• knit
• photography
• watch movies

I have multiple pairs of circular knitting needles, but I never use them because I feel like they don't give me enough support as I work. So I usually use straightneedles for everything that I make, which is usually hats and blankets, and sometimes scarfs (which I haven't made in a long time). But one of the blankets that I am planning on starting soon requires using circular needles because of the number of stitches that are needed to make it. (600 stitches because the pattern is a large scale miteredsquare.)

KitKat-Kathleen wrote:I have multiple pairs of circular knitting needles, but I never use them because I feel like they don't give me enough support as I work. So I usually use straightneedles for everything that I make, which is usually hats and blankets, and sometimes scarfs (which I haven't made in a long time). But one of the blankets that I am planning on starting soon requires using circular needles because of the number of stitches that are needed to make it. (600 stitches because the pattern is a large scale miteredsquare.)

Hello, new Journey path. ;) I'm all for this.

There was a general knitting/needle/crochet thread forum but I don't think it was re-created, but I am all up for a forum for the Naperville region :)

That's a good point. But still ::::sobs in corner::::

So...via FB, I just found out that Free! Iwatobi Swim club is going to have season 3 in summer 2018...so...There's another thing i love and fan girl over! I JUST DON;T WANT TO WAIT FOR MY CUTE SWIMMING BOIZ!

New season of America's funniest home videos started a few weeks ago...And that has been a sunday tradition for hubby and I since we first started dating. Every sunday. With out fail...we sit down to laugh while people fall down or get hit in the nuts!

omg how could i forget to mention PARKS AND REC! SOOO much <3 for Ron Swanson! Maybe Andy Dwyer too because he is such a loveable idiot...

KitKat-Kathleen wrote:Things that I love to do are:

• read
• knit
• photography
• watch movies

Ah, i forgot to ask...what kinds of books do you read? Not that i need anymore reccomendations...oh wait, yes i do. Just don't tell the husband or he'll wonder where all these 10-100 extra books came from!