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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 17, 2016 15:06:54 GMT -5
I think part of the problem when we have COPD is that we tend to focus more on our problems with this disease than trying to stay centered and focus on trying to lead the best quality of life that we are capable of leading. I also think having a hobby or two directs our attention away from our aches, pains and breathing difficulties and fills our minds with pleasant and positive thoughts.
I know we are all at different stages and have different limitations but maybe some of you's could tell the rest us what your hobbies and interests are?
My interest in metal detecting can keep me somewhat active in the summer months when I'm not outside working in our vegetable garden but the winter months that we are now entering I seem to become sedentary. I keep my self busy enough not to dwell on my illness with things like watching old movies (I love the classics from the 40's and 50's) and playing poker online but I am trying to find something different to keep my lungs more active during the winter months.
I have a guitar that I bought a couple years ago but for the life of me I couldn't learn how to play it, I know its not worth very much but I have been thinking about trying to trade it for a wind instrument like a clarinet or saxophone with the thought they might help me "exercise" my lungs. but at the same time they might be too much work for them!
Anyways as I mentioned above.... be them past or present I would like to hear about your hobbies and/or interests?
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Post by joany on Nov 17, 2016 19:54:58 GMT -5
Good idea. I don't do anything "exciting" currently, but I'm looking forward to hearing what others are doing. Remodeling is out for me as I get exercise just reading about it - thanks guys/gals. Wonder about the earlier suggestion re: harmonica. Looking forward to hear from others.
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 17, 2016 21:21:51 GMT -5
Wonder about the earlier suggestion re: harmonica. I never even thought about the harmonica, that would be a great thing to try!
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Post by David on Nov 17, 2016 21:57:36 GMT -5
I try to play the harmonica but I am not good at it but at least it moves my air in and out. I can see where a harmonica could help.
I like to collect pennies.
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Post by jim on Nov 17, 2016 23:54:29 GMT -5
I like to do woodworking and target shooting, but I haven't had much time for either lately.
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 18, 2016 11:17:04 GMT -5
I like to collect pennies.
I collect coins too... Not the Numismatic coins just common coins AKA "junk silver" -Which is pre 1965 (US) and pre 1967 (Cdn) - for their silver content, this is one of the reasons I purchased my metal detector.
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 18, 2016 11:21:56 GMT -5
I like to do woodworking and target shooting, but I haven't had much time for either lately. Target shooting sounds like it would be fun .. that and archery! As for the wood working I would be concerned with the dust as I don't like wearing the respirators/masks .. which is probably a major reason why I am here dealing with this disease today.
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Post by gerald on Nov 18, 2016 18:06:48 GMT -5
I do woodworking, gardening and photography. I have had to pretty much give up the landscaping.
I agree about the dust/sawdust, for that I run two 670cfm cyclone dust/sawdust collectors. It keeps the air quite clean. Btu still it is an issue.
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Post by lavishgail on Nov 18, 2016 22:40:52 GMT -5
I play the harmonaica, I love it. My dad also played. So I learned by ear. You can learn how to play on you tube as well very easy instructions. I play C for blues. C is a great one for just starting out as well. Make sure you keep it dry at all times. I carry mine with me in my jeans back pocket if I'm out and about. Sometimes in my cowboy boots. If I'm dressed in a dress, then I carry it in my purse. When I'm a passenger in a car I play away. I'm not good, but I love it. My husband says I'm great! , he loves the blue's. I also can play the spoons, something else I love. I sing, I love singing. I paint but have not in a long time. I should start again. I had a lot of hobbies, a nothing one is fishing. I have a pond in my back yard and I fish . Hiking was one of my hobbies and snow shoeing. I snow shoes while I was pregnant all the way up till I about had the baby! I walk now, not far but I do try to walk. If not outside up and down the mall. And I antique. Oh my gosh I did a lot. Now I'm lucky if I get my harmonica out half the time. Sad too sad I don't do much. Yesterday I took a nice walk in the woods with my nephew and my cousin. My nephew inherited 41 acres of land. We also dug on my land for native American relics..There is a lot of that around here. So we will be doing a lot of that come next Spring. Can't wait. Thanks this was fun, I do other stuff as well I was always a very adventures person. That's why I'm depressed lately. But I'll be ok.
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 19, 2016 9:05:34 GMT -5
I play the harmonaica, I love it. My dad also played. So I learned by ear. You can learn how to play on you tube as well very easy instructions. I play C for blues. C is a great one for just starting out as well. Make sure you keep it dry at all times. I carry mine with me in my jeans back pocket if I'm out and about. Sometimes in my cowboy boots. If I'm dressed in a dress, then I carry it in my purse. When I'm a passenger in a car I play away. I'm not good, but I love it. My husband says I'm great! , he loves the blue's. Another one that plays the harmonica... Good stuff! I'm now thinking I will have to purchase one as before I was afraid that the huffing and puffing might be difficult. Did you find anything in the way of Native artifacts? I live along the shores of The Northhumberland Straight and as I mentioned above I do metal detecting and it is along shoreline that I have come across some interesting stuff over the years, not native artifacts but material that appears to come from old ships. (I had some pictures stored on our older computer but it died - I will see if my wife ever retrieved them and post them if she did).
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Post by jim on Nov 19, 2016 19:55:58 GMT -5
I've got a good respirator (dust mask) and I have also rigged up a wet and dry vac as a dust collector, that I can hook into my machines.
When the kids were young, I had a metal detector and we often went to the beaches and nearly always found enough coins to buy some treats.
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Post by higgs on Nov 20, 2016 12:10:08 GMT -5
Had not thought about it much before but one of the hardest part of this disease for me has been accepting the things that I can no longer do because of the SOB or the fatigue that comes with it. One of the things that has made it a lot easier mentally is finding new hobbies or interests or new ways to approach the old. Over the past 10 years our lifestyle has changed drastically compared to what it was but I think we enjoy it as much if not more in some ways. We had to give up camping and our spot on the river. (Campfires and the physical upkeep.) In the process we now take day trips and do some bank & pond fishing which I find just as rewarding as the lake and a lot less expensive. (Sold the boat.) Another adaption was gardening which I've always enjoyed. We used to grow and can a lot of our veggies. Had a 20' x 50' garden for 20+ years. This year we are down to 2 tomato plants in 5 gallon crocks which produced amazing BLTS from August till the last one tonight. When some veggies were in season we bought bulk locally an still canned some sauces we like. The time that was freed up enabled a lot of reading and working puzzles day trips. When I was forced to retire I was afraid of losing touch with the technology I worked with for years. A couple of years back I took up Amateur Radio which on bad weather days and days the SOB is to great to do much I can string the 02 onto the workbench and spend the day talking on the radio to other hams or playing with electronics expending very little energy. I guess with this disease you need to adapt to what is possible to do, and finding new ways to do them that can be rewarding. Now you got me thinking about a metal-detector certainly would beat the treadmill for the walking on a nice day, come spring.
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Post by lavishgail on Nov 20, 2016 15:05:45 GMT -5
Tell me about it Higgs.
I was very adventures, and now I find myself sleeping in till 11 in the morning sometimes. So sad.
Most of the things I once did, I not longer can.
But you will adjust, and find what is you're Nitch. Ask Jarca, she still does all her gardens with her Atv. She had huge ones..if there's a way she Does it.
Good luck everyone.
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Post by jarca on Nov 25, 2016 20:19:45 GMT -5
oh no you're mistaken gail. i have a feild I planted & trying to just grow pasture grass & that is what i do with my atv. the 15 acre feild I planted in hopes that It will be established in a couple of years & I won't have to do so much. Then maybe I can lease it to someone with goats or sheep that will come graze it. So I guess my "hobby" with my outdoors is trying to get it more self sufficient for when i am able to do less than i can now I do enjoy summer & doing things outdoors, but my gardening has become limited to a couple of cherry tomato plants, a cucumber plant, a zuchini ---just one plant of a few things that I can cut up & have fresh vegis & dip type of thing. I have a hedge of lilac plants on one side of my front yard that i put a soaker hose to water it; and there is room at the end that i plant my "little garden" so it is watered by that drip line on days i don't feel good. I enjoy just going out & spraying weeds & trying to keep my place up when the weather is nice. My hobby is trying to keep my home & outdoors weed free looking good. My hobby used to be to raise, train & show dogs (collies), now I enjoy going online & watching videos of friends that still show dogs & compete. Winter I have to be indoors more so i'm trying to find things to keep my mind active. Many things I used to do i gave up because of smells, breathing etc. so I would say my biggest hobby now is the computer; Living rurally & becoming more house bound I am trying to learn to work the computer better. I enjoy my "chat" groups, but also I have been going thru many family pictures & just trying to organize them into folders for each person, family etc. This is a good subject & maybe I can get ideas of winter things to do from this. It will be fun reading what others do.
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Post by lavishgail on Nov 27, 2016 14:16:12 GMT -5
Oh I see Jarca, I guess I was confused, I had wondered what you were growing? I guess I should have asked to get a better picture of what you meant? Sorry about that. I watch movies, keep busy like you, one room at a time, what I bring in I try to take out. The church just over the way here ages my clothes and most are like brand new. So I donate to them, bc I'm always on and off steroids,so my weight goes up and down. Size 7 then sixes 11.. by the time I'm back to 7 it's out of style, so I end up with new and give back to the church. I bought a grown-up coloring book this past summer and haven't used it yet, so I'll be using that this winter. I bought that at Wal-Mart for like 10.00 Mary told me about it. My favorite thing to do is clean, don't ask why? I just have always liked it. So laundry is my favorite. But dishes are not! Hate dishes, Speaking of which I need to go fold some and put away. If I think of other stuff I do inside I'll let you know..of course I have a bird and 2 dogs so they keep me very busy as well. Ttyl love you. Gail
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Post by jarca on Nov 27, 2016 20:50:50 GMT -5
I do enjoy just keeping my house up also (especially as it seems to be harder to keep up lately ). I am hoping this winter I can keep busy with house & other "little projects" I can find to do. I like Physical things (at my speed) & this summer was so much fun getting out & working in my feild. The weird thing is this summer was the 1st time in a couple of years that I felt good enough to do it. My eyes have gotten so bad that the adult coloring books are out. I used to do embroidery, but as my eyes got worse that was given up. Living on such a tight budget keeps me from doing many things, but I swore I was going to get to a dentist this year AND get my eyes checked & see if they can do any better at getting me glasses to see with. (Last time I went to eye Dr, he tried 3 different prescriptions for me, but my eyes seem to change at will; so I just buy the reading glasses at walmart) I am so glad I learned to use a computer (as little as I know) because at least I can "adjust" it to be able to see and it does keep me entertained. In fact I can start searching for information & lose a whole day sometimes!!! Collecting pennies sounds fun (and affordable). Harmonica with my musical talent may make the dog move out Any other input; I am enjoying this. (target shooting & outdoor things sound fun but are "summer" type hobbies to me---I need ideas for indoor winter things)
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Post by higgs on Nov 28, 2016 22:49:09 GMT -5
Jarca it might sound a little boring but one winter activity we enjoy is puzzles. Along about January I pull out a 4x8 board I've set up with molding for corners and go to the library and check out a couple of audio books and 1000 piece puzzles. Set it up until the dining room table and work on it between chores. Helps pass time during the dull grey months till Pringle starts to show. If we need the table it transports to the bedroom for the time needed.
Fran
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Post by John on Nov 29, 2016 8:09:08 GMT -5
Great topic Lighthousekeeper . I play the guitar .Not greatly just for my own and my wife's entertainment . I ride my electric bike
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Nov 29, 2016 17:45:29 GMT -5
Great topic Lighthousekeeper . I play the guitar .Not greatly just for my own and my wife's entertainment . I ride my electric bike Thank you. I know that I have enjoyed reading about everyone's hobbies and interests, my thought when originally posting the topic was that it would help to better understand a little more about each and every person. Hopefully more people will come along and share their stories too.
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Post by ozboy on Dec 1, 2016 18:37:07 GMT -5
Must have missed this topic.. .......I always have taken my hat off to Jarca for what she has achieved living a rural lifestyle and also dealing with the fickle and extreme weather conditions.....I now live in a suburb where everything is just around the corner and still find it hard to keep motivated, with this disease...Loved art but the big mural type stuff but no space in garage to do anymore.... I did a lot when i was ok...travelled around and in fact I was on a Surfing Holiday to Cloud 9 in the Philippines for 6 months after my divorce, in 2006, when all the wrong conditions hit me at the same time and that was when i realised that something was wrong...I had plenty of money then from selling my business which of course soon dwindled with hospital bills and the wrong choice to live there till i was ''cured'' Today i can no longer engage in physical activity mainly due to pain issues, so i spend my time on the internet, sitting around the different quiet parks with Snowy.......Also I got interested in tracing my Father's Family Tree which is reasonably easy IF I was in the UK with access to the National Archives, as they were all in the Royal Navy and with a Spanish/Portuguese surname...helps.....It is time consuming and frustrating but can keep you intrigued for hours.......Here are 2 Ship Log Transcripts, the top one was funny..... QUOTE: 10 Oct 1859 Portsmouth, A Court Martial was held on Friday on board the Britannia for the trial of Mr. T. Barry, boatswain of the Laurel, for being in bed drunk with his wife, and incapable of moving, between the hours of 10 and 11, with a light burning in his cabin, near a curtain on the night of the 1st instant. The charges were proved, but in consideration of the high character formerly borne, and the testimonials produced, the court sentenced him to be dismissed from his office of boatswain in the Royal navy, and adjudged him to serve three years as a patty officer. ............................................................................ QUOTE: Surname: Lima, First Names : Frederick Awarded Medal (m) or Foreign Order (FO): m Date promoted to : Paymaster: 01/11/1859 ............................................................................. The Harmonica or Mouth Organ is great for breathing exercises as long as you don't drive everyone insane if you cannot play a note like me.....So besides driving the freeways, there is not much I do now....
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Post by joany on Dec 1, 2016 20:10:38 GMT -5
I find ancestry tracing intriguing. The Ship Log is funny. There is a TV show - Who do You think you are? - which traces ancesters of celebrities including their drunken brawls leading to the pokey! I searched my family for a couple of years, but I ran into some dead-ends (of course.)
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Post by jarca on Dec 1, 2016 23:38:14 GMT -5
puzzles! good one! i just have to figure out where i could set my card table up that "toddler" visitors can't get to oh, i like puzzles (and i think i could do that with my eyes!) oh keep up the suggestions! maybe i'll come up with winter hobby yet
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Dec 2, 2016 14:19:06 GMT -5
puzzles! good one! i just have to figure out where i could set my card table up that "toddler" visitors can't get to oh, i like puzzles (and i think i could do that with my eyes!) oh keep up the suggestions! maybe i'll come up with winter hobby yet I realize it's not quite the same .... but you can do puzzles online and that way the little ones can't "get at it"... thejigsawpuzzles.com/
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Post by lavishgail on Dec 2, 2016 14:46:45 GMT -5
I dont know if you have fb? But I've downloaded a game called " words with friends" same as scrabble, only you can play with you're friends, if you don't have Fb then you can just download the game and play anyone around the world!
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Post by ozboy on Dec 2, 2016 18:10:29 GMT -5
Because most of my friends on FB have COPD and I have a separate one for family....we often chat openly and play a few different games together....There are so many online games that you can play competitively with others around the world, but i found some tend to take it too seriously and take the fun bit out...just my experience...
Last night as i could not sleep as my mind was like a freight train....I decided to write my life story....A sort of autobiography i could leave my kids....I thought of adding old photos etc....I saw one professionally done and it looked terrific....You do the work and then some online biz puts together a pretty neat package.....Prob cost a bit but just writing your memoirs will be a fun way to spend time....
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Post by Lighthousekeeper on Dec 2, 2016 19:14:05 GMT -5
I did a little researching of my fathers side of the family because I never knew any of them as my dad and his father were not close... I did track down some family members and I ended up attending a family reunion/gathering a few years back and I have stayed in periodic contact with a couple of them but like in most cases people are too busy living their own lives.
I also started an autobiography ... I got to when I was about 10 -12 years old and then I put it down ...I need to finish it!
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Post by jarca on Dec 2, 2016 21:04:18 GMT -5
That does remind me that a couple of years ago when going thru boxes of my moms that have been packed in my shed since 2006 i found REALLY OLD pictures of my grandma's maternal side of family. I swore I would go thru those & get what I could in order for future generations as after i'm gone no one in my immediate family is going to know who many of the people are (or some of "the stories" that will die when i do) last winter i forgot all about them. maybe getting family stories & pictures in order would be a good "hobby" for me this year. I realize with the computer that scanning many of those old photographs I can actually get better quality, preserve the pic, but also 1 pic in a computer means everyone can get a copy! hmmmm; I kind of forgot about those; so this post really came in handy. Lighthousekeeper; ty for the "lightbulb" moment!!!! My kids also want me to get my many photo albums in order also as to who is who.....not to mention after i started getting "lazy" & a lot of snapshots since coming to utah got thrown in a box cuz i was too busy to put them in albums; there may be some "fun" farm pics in those love this topic!!!
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Post by susan on Dec 18, 2016 19:52:15 GMT -5
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Post by jade on Dec 21, 2016 3:39:04 GMT -5
Calligraphy is something I started since I got COPD.I go to weekly classes. It is meditation as well. I find it interesting, peaceful and my skills are improving (I hope). It is extremely affordable. There are other interest or hobbies ,Reading my true love,for the first time I started gardening, lots of joy.I don't think I will ever start something expensive because I have history to start new hobby, invest money, then give up.Still my hope something new I will get interested with great passion. Thanks for reading. Take care Jade
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