What are some of my other interests ? Who cares ? Then don't read on, if you don't...
Gardening - I inherited our parents' house, and that included my mother's flower gardens. Although I did some gardening in my twenties / thirties, my mother preferred to plan, and work in, her gardens herself. Now I have to keep them up, since the flowerbeds are there. There is mainly perennials, with some spaces for annuals. We also have room for herbs and vegetables, and if I could get my act in gear, we do have a spot in the basement for starting seeds under grow lights.
Simplicity / Frugality - After reading my sister in law's copy of the Mennonite book, Making Do with Less, I became interested in the whole concept of simplicity. My soul yearns for simplicity, and less clutter, as our house is SO cluttered ! I am a packrat, my son is a packrat, and we come by it honestly, as my parents were packrats. But, we would always have something here that someone would need. And you know, we're good recyclers - waste not, want not ! Even 2 or 3 years ago, our local library did not have many books available on voluntary simplicity, but you should see all the internet sites now !
Arts and crafts - I have watched craft shows on TV with the best of them. As a matter of fact, while helping out for three years at my son's public school on the Tea Room Committee, I was in charge of the Craft Room, and getting all the kids in the school, from Junior kindergarten to Grade 8, involved in making a craft to sell. Over the years, I've been interested in a lot of things - oil painting (I'm not very good at it), batik (I'm better at that), embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, rug hooking, wreath making...
Astrology - I don't practise myself, like learning to read tarot cards o numerology, but I do read my horoscope faithfully, every day, and do believe there are a lot of coincidences, like people having the characteristics of their sun sign.
Belly dancing - In my early twenties, I studied belly dancing at the local college with an Egyptian teacher. I was young, and in good shape, and found it very easy and enjoyable and so sensual. Over the years, I thought of it fondly, and regretted not being able to pursue it further. However, I never saw it offered again. Last fall, I saw someone in the region was giving lessons, and I ended up signing up, even though I was so overweight ( and out of work, so I couldn't really afford the expenditure). It was hard work, and sweaty, but fun, and I was enjoying it. Then after the 5th week, I had an accident, and was sore and bruised all over my body, and would have missed a couple of lessons, and figured I won't be able to catch up, so I dropped out. However, I do intend to go back again, perhaps this year, perhaps next year. (I even bought a whole bagful of fake coins, bells, sparkles, sequins and ribbons, from a craft store that was going out of business, so that I could decorate a bra and belt for a new costume. (Obviously, the one I have from 20 years ago won't fit !)
Cooking / baking - I did use to bake a lot more than I do now. And I haven't bought a cookbook in years, although I have 3 shelves of them, so I really don't need any more ! But now we have a television network called The Food Network, so even if my cooking consists of plain home cooking for the family, I can spend several hours watching cooking shows on TV.
Reading - I still have shelves of fiction that I haven't read from 20 years ago when I was a member of a book club. But when I need to relax, I like to take a book to bed with me, and have some quiet time to unwind. But I still don't tend to get around to the fiction - I have this thing for self-help books. What can I say - I guess I need a lot of help !
Television - What can I see - we're a family of couch potatoes ! Soap operas, sitcoms, Britcoms, chick flicks, old movies, decorating shows, craft shows, cooking shows, interview shows,,,,,
So you see, except for belly dancing and gardening, none of my interests will really help me peel the pounds off ! But life is for fun, right ?