[Weston]

Time to revive this thread!

Thank you, Falstaft. I wasn't aware it existed.

I want to do it all! I want to write, paint, make music, design environments, explore the inner recesses of the mind, learn history, imagine the future.

That is why I am so interested in virtual worlds. Someday soon we will be able to create entire imaginary worlds for people to explore. This has already begun in a rudimentary way with the so called MMRPG's (massive multiplayer role playing games) such as World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and most especially Second Life (R) which is not really a game at all, but a 3d creativity platform (among other more lurid things). Wouldn't it be nice to have total control of a virtual environment, to make 3D works of art for your viewers / consumers /experiencers to explore? I think it will be a new art form, or already is. It will only get better with time and technology.

Out of all these hobbies I have really only had success at painting. I was a free lance illustrator for about 10 years in the 80's and 90's. Ah, well. You can't really do it all. But I still live . . .

 

[Weston]

Bird watching can be hazardous. I once stayed in a vacation condominium that had several ponds with swarms of Canada geese and one swan. One morning the geese were out on the grounds hunting for whatever they peck around for, and I was on the patio eating toast. The swan rose up out of the pond and waddled ponderously through the flock of geese who parted like the Red Sea for him/her. He headed straight for our patio and did not seem afraid of me. Intrigued I thought I would offer him a bite of toast. He rose up to his full height which suddenly seemed on a Jurassic scale, took the toast and nearly part of my hand with it. Startled I jumped back inside and the swan got the rest of my toast as well off the patio table.

My friends had a big laugh about this, but even more so when the monster came back the next morning and started pecking on the patio glass doors, head turning from side to side looking in. "Come out sucker and gimme some toast! I know you're in there."

Saint-Saens got it wrong. He should have made heavy threatening dinosaur music for Le Cygne.

 

[Weston]

Hiking and riding. I love those too, but I'm not much good at the latter. It takes time and lots of effort and heartbreak. Still it's gratifying to try.