I"ve decided that I'm tired of all the crankiness, gloom, and doom going around these days. Not pointing any fingers, I've been experiencing it in all areas lately, not just here. So I'm going to start a totally fluffy topic: what do you do for fun?

I play role-playing games with a group of my friends. We get together after work every Monday night. We have 2 different games that we play, so we alternate which game is played each Monday. Some people play in both games, a few only play in one. I think that I like the socializing as much as the actual game.

Our longest-running game is Dungeons and Dragons, we've been playing in this particular world for almost 2 years. The premise of this game is that we all were visiting the Ohio Renaissance Festival and this crazy wizard from another dimension had a spell go wrong and acidentally pulled the ren fair into his dimension. I've actually put a lot of my homesteading knowledge to work in this game because our characters were basically cast into the middle of a giant forest and had to fend for themselves. My character in this game is a herbalist and a healer and a Druid (gee, what a stretch!). She also is one of the best fighters in the group. D&D is played by rolling funny-shaped dice (usually a 20-sided die) and what number comes up determines if what you were trying to do worked or not.

Our second game has just been going on for a couple of months and in that one we're superheros. If you've seen the Saturday morning cartoon X-Men:Evolution then you know the basic premise of the game. We are a bunch of teenagers who have been sent to a private boarding school to learn how to use our mutant powers. My character in this game is a 14-year old tomboy who is completely bored with the fact that the rest of the girls are only interested in clothes and boyfriends. She's rather play hockey or ride motorcycles. She's also a very bad liar, so she's always accidentally "spilling the beans" to the adults about what the kids have been up to. In a way this game is like cheap psychotherapy because this character is outgoing, pretty, popular, and brave; all the things that I was not when I was in high school. :)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Answers

Well, we like to get friends together for a Game Night. Sometimes it includes a potluck dinner. We get anywhere from 5 people to 35 to come over and play. We play games like Scrabble and Quiddler or Jenga, Outburst, Perudo, Mah Jongg, Save the Whales (cooperative game) or whatever anyone brings. Some may sled ride and others (often the teens) hang out in the hottub. All ages and many games going on at once.

In a few weeks we are having an adult "murder" dinner party. We each have a role to play and we'll share a meal that I am planning. It takes about 4 hours and is great fun. This one is from the "How to Host a Murder" series and is called "Roman Ruins". We have done this several times, each time with a different story and are really looking forward to it.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Oh man - define fun! I think I've almost forgotten what it is!!

I have fun when we get together with my family on the holidays. We cook together, argue, play board and card games, tease the teen- agers, aggravate the old folks and catch up on family news.

Otherwise, I go to ball games, and other school functions to watch my daughter. I read trashy novels and surf the net a little. I don't know that those things are "fun" specifically; but they keep me from getting bored silly, anyway!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Hmmm.fun..hmmm. Well, we signed up for jive class and friends of ours go too. I take tai chi and a lot of friends are there too (this is a small community). There was a dance saturday night for Valentines day and it was decided that 6 of us would go to a dance on the 23rd where a live band was playing. That should be fun. Its been awhile since anyone hosted a pot luck in our little circle. Perhaps its time. Usually its the couple that has no kids home anymore that hosts and we all get sitters in order to have a grown ups evening but maybe they'd not mind a dinner in a house with kids.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Wow, you guys are so.........social?? Now I really feel like a hermit. My most fun is walking through the woods, either alone or with a friend. JOY has gotten me hooked (bet you didn't know that did you joy??) on the jigsaw puzzle site. I love to play with my dog, hold hands with my husband and watch my fish (not necessarily in that order or all at the same time) I actually think it is fun to debate (I am sure no one has ever noticed that) provided it doesn't degrade into name calling.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Hi Sherri,

Way back when upon a time I used to play D&D quite a lot. Gygax was just inventing the game when I left high school so I didn't discover it until just before I went into the service at twenty one. Man, the time we used to spend on that game! Eventually gave it up because I couldn't afford the time anymore and it was harder and harder to find anyone but young college age and high school kids to play with. None of them seemed to have sufficient imagination to really *role* play, they just memorized the books and spent too much time arguing over whether the books said you could do this or that. The best role players I think are those who read for pleasure more than they watch TV or movies. I also spent some years in the SCA as well.

What we do for fun took a turn in a different direction with the birth of our first child. We don't watch movies much anymore (seen four in two and a half years) and TV holds no magic for us. Mostly we read, take drives in the country, particularly places we haven't been before, socialize with some friends all of whom are now married and most have kids. My homesteading activities are also a great deal of what I think of as fun. I *like* gardening, raising chickens, learning pasture management, and pretty much anything else related to the concept. Oh, there are times I get my fill of it, particularly when I've been sweating in the summer heat all day, but I can just put down my tools for a while and I'll be ready to go at it again.

I reckon every single person goes through the same process but in writing this post I realize what a long, strange trip it's been in the evolution of what I think of as fun. I'm afraid as a young man I'd have found my present self rather dull...

.........Alan.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

We still read aloud, together as a family, when we can. Now it is usually just our youngest son, myself and my husband but sometimes we are all here for the read. This has always been a lot of fun for us.

I miss walks in the woods as we no longer have any, sigh, but I still like to walk around this property we have now, even though it is small.

Afteroon rides are fun. Since we are still fairly new to this area we go to different areas each time. I like just looking at the landscape, homes, homesteads, farms and small towns but sometimes we stop at flea markets or interesting used book stores. Since there is so much to do here at home, we don't get to do this all that often though.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

I envy any of you that have people to play games with! I never got into D&D -- it came out after I was out of college, and that's where you have people in the right proximity. When growing up, we always played what I call "board games" -- Clue, Monopoly, etc. Always liked those better than most card games. If Mom & Julie & I are all together, we do still play Scrabble, but that doesn't happen too often. I do like the game part, but it's also the socializing.

No, Diane, I didn't know telling you about the jigsaw puzzles (www.jigzone.com) would get you hooked! ;-) I play a lot of the PopCap games from time to time, but haven't been to the jigsaws recently.

My most recent entertainment is discussing and dissecting the Lord of the Rings trilogy -- the books and the first movie -- at one of the online boards. There are many talented folks posting there -- parodies, scrambled pictures, geek stuff (like how fast could Shadowfax run), and whole bunches of unrelated stuff that people find interesting or amusing. I can't possibly read it all, so I just pick and choose what strikes my fancy.

I've always been a reader. Still read books, but also read different stuff online. I can almost always find an interesting website to visit. I often have the TV on, but don't really watch much. I find I am turning it off more and more! I've been listening to more music too -- though I am usually walking the dog at the same time.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Fun? I try to find time to catch up with posts on this forum! YIKES! You folks must be snowbound today! Nothing posted for days, and now I can't even come up for air b/c of so much to read!!!!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

I truly enjoy reading and learning about something new. My interests change frequently. I've always had a penchant for history (especially family history). I'm fascinated with old pictures even if they aren't my own! I think that's one of the reasons that homesteading appeals to me. I'm drawn to the old ways. So I'm always studying about something.

I thoroughly enjoy nature. Nature is my friend like no other. I adore my dog, my birds, and the woods. They understand me! Now I've begun to fall in love with the plants and herbs too. There isn't much that I can't muster up some interest for. It's because of this that I'll never be an expert at any one thing!

I enjoy creating as much freedom in my life as possible. I understand that noone is totally 100% free but I try as best I can to only be tied to the things I choose. I want to think, feel, and dream according to what is natural for me and not what anyone expects of me. I find that fun and most enjoyable. I grew up being totally caught up in meeting others expectations (mostly society's) so now there's no telling from one time to the next what I'll be doing for fun (hiking, camping, crafts, travel, homeschool, etc., etc., etc.). There are just too many interesting things to experience in one lifetime!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Allen, so cool what you said. "I reckon every single person goes through the same process but in writing this post I realize what a long, strange trip it's been in the evolution of what I think of as fun. I'm afraid as a young man I'd have found my present self rather dull...

.........Alan.

Oh! My goodness yes! Fun to me now is peace and quiet and any golden moment that is stolen to be alone!

Great Thread Sherri!

Love

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

I never got into D&D much...I was a T&T person -- Tunnels and Trolls. T&T was set up by Ken St. Andre after his buddy that he cooked up D&D with (initials GG...) shafted him and copyrighted the thing without him. Oh well, altho T&T never had the popularity that D&D did, when I wrestled with the D&D rules, I discovered that you could be up and running a game of T&T in less than half the time and having fun. I haven't played in some time tho.

Occasionally I torture my guinea pigs for fun. Or at least they think it's torture that I should want to PET them instead of just feeding them. Or clip their nails, or give them a bath. What a rotten lot...but I kind of like them. Mr. Ghandi, the starvation case, is almost up to a normal weight, altho he remains somewhat boney in places that make me think he may be of an advanced age. But he makes up for the others who think I am an Ax Murderer. He sits up in his cage to beg for carrots or apples, or just for petting. He loves to have his ears rubbed and his nose stroked. If you will let him onto the bed with you, he will slowly work his way over to your pillow and plunk his little head down on it facing you, where he can look at you, and settles in for a little nap. He honestly seems to like being close to people. The post over on CS about raising guinea pigs for meat recently rather upset me -- he's such a guy, I can't imagine anyone wanting to eat him.

I like reading, I read less than I'd like to since there are so many other things to do all the time. Some of my favourite authors are Tanith Lee, Glen Cook, George RR Martin, Storm Constantine, Sherri Tepper, Mary Stewart, C.S. Freidman, C.J. Cherryh, Darrell Schweitzer, Emma Bull & Will Shetterly (wife/husband couple who write together and seperately. I like their cooperative ventures best.), and lately I have discovered and like Eve Forward.

I like going to Renn Faires, but that is only a couple weekends a year.

I've been off haunting the same Tolkien board that Joy has (I'll bet you're surprised, huh?) and it is quite nice to have another place where the people are civil and intelligent to go and have conversations. I've been having on & off conversations with an Austrian living in the UK, a Russian, someone who keeps bopping back and forth between Sweden and Germany that I don't know where they are native to, someone from Malaysia, several Brits, some Ozzies & Aussies, Canadians, and even folks here in the US. It can be anything from discussing the book or the movie, all the way on to discussing whether peanut butter and jam eaten together are weird or not (apparently lots of people think it is VERY weird, not to mention unappetizing), exchanging recipes, and lots of other things.

When not making grandiose plans for my gardening and re-landscaping endeavors (I want a version of Stonehenge in the back yard, with other appropriate landscaping) I also enjoy doing things with dollhouse miniatures -- which usually involves more grandiose plans and not that much execution, altho sometimes I do get things done. I'm trying to get a work table set up permanently in the studio area where I can work on projects like that.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Thread drift alert.Julie thats how my sheep and rabbits act when I am around!! They flip as if I go in and poke them with sticks all the time or something!! Heaven forbid those damn angoras need a brushing (almost constantly) and I take one out of a hutch. The scratches I get!!!! Only one sheep eats from my hand and I can **almost** pet her. I am beginning to think I suck as a shepherd. I like working with the animals for fun sometimes. I like to lay new shavings for the chickens etc and make them happy and comfy. I like to plan my garden and work in it when I am not incapacitated by fly bites and hay fever (man I love Autumn!!). I am finding my attention span for reading is shortening unless its a good fiction with some smut in it. Hubby reads these books that are full of military stuff and technical crap....my eyes glaze right over!! :o) Never played D&D except on my friends Atari when we were kids. Remember that movie that Tom Hanks was in about the guy that lost his sense of reality from role playing games?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Now that I've fooled you into thinking that I'm a social butterfly, I must confess my favorite hobby....sleeping. I love to sleep! Anyone who tries to get me up on Saturday morning before the clock hits double digits is in big trouble. I could never figure out people who could read or watch TV or even eat in bed. Once I'm in between my flannel sheets don't bug me, I'm going to sleep.

I also love to buy books. I once asked the local Borders bookstore if they would consider installing shopping carts. I have to stay out of bookstores entirely if I want my monthly budget to remain intact. :)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Fun?This really got me thinking!What DO we do for fun?Yard sale I guess!I hate to admit it though.t sounds so materialistic next to these endeavors!I bought a garden way seeder with all the plates for 10 bucks,a incubator for 5,a steamer juicer for 20.Yah I guess thats it.And showing my horses,and delivering any kind of baby!!!

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

Teri, I'd love to go yard saleing with you - with bargins like those, I wouldn't call it materialistic!!

I'll bow out of the baby delivering tho - scares me to death!!

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

This morning I howled back at the coyotes on the hill out back. They answered and we had a hell of a time. The cats seemed a bit uncomfortable but they can't have all the attention. jz

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2002