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What do you do outside this hobby?

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What do you do outside this hobby?
Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 9:54 PM
Just curious when were not modeling are dreams what are we doing? Where to you work and what other hobbies do you have? Or maybe Model Railroading is your life. :) Just a question I thought asking.
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by csmith9474 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 9:59 PM
Model railroading is one of the smaller aspects of my life. I enjoy spending time with the family, doing things like camping, fishing, hiking and off roading. During the winter, model railroading becomes a more signifigant part of my life. It gets kinda cold around here to do a lot of outdoor type stuff in the winter.
Smitty
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Posted by zgardner18 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:06 PM

conrail92,

I am in construction.  For the last 5 years I have been in construction management but my love is finish carpentry.  My problem is that I live in the Los Angeles area but work on the big island of Hawaii.  My wife and son are still in L. A.  My dream is to move back to Montana (where I went to college) and start my own finish Carpentry company, doing real craftman style work not production like in California.  good thing is I'm only 30 years old and have a lot of experience but have never owned my own business and these days aren't the best of times for constuction.

Other than that I am a big lover of Off-road racing.  I love SCORE and CORR.  One day I plan on building a truck like this:

I took this photo at the 2005 Baja 1000 in Mexico.

This is a picture of myself with THE Ivan "The Iron man" Stewart 

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

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Posted by ezielinski on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:07 PM
I'm an ICU nurse by trade, working only weekend nights (Fri/Sat/Sun).  Outside of work and model railroading, I spend time with my wife and 3 kids, play my XBox, participate in what is called High-Power rocketry (way cooler than model rocketry), read books, build/rebuild/work on computers, play MechWarrior and Battletech, and love anything Halo.
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:08 PM
My job, when they have work that I can do, is building wood furniture for civilian contracts and making training aids for the army. My hobbies are model railroading and building/repairing and programming computers. I used to build hot rods but had to give that up due to my health. I still drive my last one.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:08 PM
Zgardner: Ha cool, I bet people there wouldn't guess you other hobby :P
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:12 PM

THERE IS LIFE OUTSIDE THIS HOBBY???

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by Don Z on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:14 PM

I spend my days in jail......no, really, I do. I maintain the computerized telephone switch that processes all of the inmate phone calls from the county jail. I have to repair the phones when the inmates decide to go on a rampage because they found out their wife is going to divorce them or other such nonsense. I also get to go to court to testify for the DA's office regarding the phone calls....it's amazing how dumb the inmates are when talking on the phones....admitting to their people on the outside what they did, even though they are warned they're being recorded.

I also enjoy woodworking, traveling around the country with the family in our 5th wheel RV and of course, railfanning!

Don Z.

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Posted by on30francisco on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:20 PM
Besides model railroading I read alot, occasionally watch TV and movies, listen to music ( big bands, classic jazz, oldies from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s) and take advantage of the pleasant climate and landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area by walking and doing outdoor activities.
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Posted by zgardner18 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:23 PM
Yeah, I would put Model Railroading my first love.  Growing up in San Diego I am a big lover of Surfing as well.  I enjoys all types of sports but ice hockey is my favorite to play.  I almost made pro baseball but a problem with a shoulder called a torn rotatercuff cut me off.  Snowboarding is up there as one of my favorites but my new favorite is being a daddy and teaching Jared about sports and trains.  Next month Jared will have a brother and one day the three of us will build a great layout.  Jared loves trains too.  I enjoy taking him up to the Cajon Pass for some railfanning.

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW

 

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:27 PM
Hockey! Best sport ever, love to watch it wanted to play but never had any teams near me to join :( So I'm stuck watching hockey Favorite team is the Penguins. Being from Pennsylvania...
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by dragenrider on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:36 PM

My job as a fire chief requires tremendous commitment and flexibility.  Fortunately, I love my job!  The odd ball hours and emergency calls go well with a hobby like this.  I can drop my tools and respond on calls, then come back to where I left off. 

It helps to have a loving and understanding wife!  Smile [:)]  We have no children, only a spoiled dog, so we both have plenty of time together and apart.  She has her hummingbirds and I have my trains.  Cody Dog has his toy box and a pillow by the sliding glass door.  In all, our household is peaceful and full of happiness.  I am truly blessed! 

The Cedar Branch & Western--The Hillbilly Line!

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:38 PM
I love the dog very cute :) I have a basset hound myself but always loved dachshunds.
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by dragenrider on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:44 PM

 conrail92 wrote:
I love the dog very cute :) I have a basset hound myself but always loved dachshunds.

Dachshunds are incredibly smart little dogs.  Cody Dog is pretty sharp at figuring out how to get his way.  Whether it's treats or games, he's got our weak spots figured out! 

The Cedar Branch & Western--The Hillbilly Line!

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Posted by larak on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:50 PM

 conrail92 wrote:
Just curious when we're not modeling our dreams what are we doing? Where do you work and what other hobbies do you have? Or maybe Model Railroading is your life. :) Just a question I thought about asking.

Well Conrail, I am a professor of computer science and networking. I am also a part time (licensed master) electrician and computer tech. (it was the other way around until the college made me a good offer including health benefits).

Education is electrical engineering with a minor in criminal justice

Hobbies: Volunteer Firefighter (Chief officer for 11 years, just a grunt now - less paperwork), hiking, rapelling, spelunking, off roading, local history (was commissioned for a book by a major publisher), woodworking, audio, computer gaming. I gave up street racing when I bought the house 16 years ago. I miss that hobby.  

A little of each, a good amount of railroading.

I don't watch much TV  Big Smile [:D]

You should get a very interesting cross section of responses here.

Karl

 

 

The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open.  www.stremy.net

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Posted by csmith9474 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:51 PM
 dragenrider wrote:

 conrail92 wrote:
I love the dog very cute :) I have a basset hound myself but always loved dachshunds.

Dachshunds are incredibly smart little dogs.  Cody Dog is pretty sharp at figuring out how to get his way.  Whether it's treats or games, he's got our weak spots figured out! 

We have two doxies ourselves. They are a lot of fun. Talk about free entertainment. It is hard not to spoil them (don't get me started on the treats). The black and tan is Franklin Wilhelm and the red dapple is Polly.

 

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:56 PM
Ha wish I could say the same about my Basset, She's lazy and sleeps 75% of her life, and other 25% eats :P But we love her.
And shes funny in her odd way. Amazing she did this by herself :P
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by selector on Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:56 PM

 R. T. POTEET wrote:

THERE IS LIFE OUTSIDE THIS HOBBY???

Oooooh, I am sooo there!

My personality is one where I am essentially obsessive/compulsive about anything that appeals to me.  At first it was Astronomy, then Karate, then my wife, then long distance and competitive running (I know....yawn!), then Astonomy as an adult, then grad school, then my work as a military psychologist, and now it is model trains and steam engine history.  It has always been full bore all the way.

So, I do have a life, but it comes in stages.  Very intense stages. Cool [8D]

-Crandell

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Posted by loathar on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:00 PM

Mow grass! And enjoy drag racing.

That's just the front yard.

There's a drag strip just the other side of those trees in the distance.

 

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:04 PM
That's alot of yard.
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by WCfan on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:13 PM

Well what my friend and I do Down Hill Bike Riding. Now you guys are probably thinking, what the heck is that? Well what we do it we bike up hills, and go down them with our bikes. We usually try to break the speed limit. We had come close to it. Sometime I will have to take a picture of one of the steepest hills in Wausau. Nicknames Steppe, I'm guessing she had about a 5-7 percent grade. Other wise I like to play Basket Ball. 

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Posted by cudaken on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:16 PM

 For a living and working for a company that sales Mattress, till you have a good one you don't know what you are missing. Much like a Pan Cake motor Life Like and a BLI.  I will added I do enjoy it because I know I am helping people.

 For now trains are my hobby and pretty much all I care about. But first ture love is old cars and mainly Mopars. Was in auto repair for 25 years, mainly auto body and paint but one day I just got sick of cars and got on the crazy train.

 I all so collect coins and I am a Audiophle. But all have taken a back seat to the train hobby.

 Few PIC of my Cars and Cars I have done.

 

 68 Charger for a friend, that is not me in the PIC.

Reason I am call my Self Cuda Ken

 

 The money pit, 69 Charger R/T.

 

 My amps, feel the power Mono Blocked Adcom's at 600 watts a side at 8 ohms.

 This gear has been cut back some when I added silver jumper cables and Carver 4000 T preamp.

 

 I love dogs, I am the one with the hat.

 

 Money Pit again.

 

 My baby, 1968 Road Runner. Got it from Mon and Dad that bought it new in 1968. Got it when I was 17. Has a 1963 426 Maxie wedge in her now. Orginal 383 is under the train bench.

 Yep that is me with the Runner when I started dating my wife. Boy I am old.

                                  Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:17 PM

I notice alot of model railroaders are into extreme sports and High speed things. I'm figuring most wouldn't expect that. Maybe it's just a stereotype that we don't get out much and the most extreme thing we do is see how fast we can get a locomotive to go. :P

 

BTW: Awesome car ;) 

"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:25 PM

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" border="0" />

Two state championships, one of them I was MVP. Last one, I wasn't so lucky.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" border="0" />

I got checked into the boards by a HUGE kid with 2 minutes remaining in the quarter final game. Broke my ulna and radius. As you can see, I was kinda pale by it lol.

 

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Posted by UP2CSX on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:26 PM

Dang, Loathar, that's a heck of a big yard. Maybe the drought this year isn't so bad after all. Smile [:)] I'm surprised to see what seems to be a pretty even split between technical and "helping" professions, like fire fighting and nursing. I started out life as a respiratory therapist for 3 years, signed on with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and did that for 6 years while I got my college degree. I found I could be a full-time cop or married but not both and I loved my wife more than I loved being a cop. Got my masters in hospital admnistration and was a hospital administrator for about 15 years. Moved up to northern California during that time and became a reserve deputy and search and rescue coordinator for my county. I was asked to help supervise construction of some our firm's new hospitals and ended up in project management, eventually opening my own firm, which I ran for about 12 years until I retired 3 years ago. Unfortunately, my wife died of leukemia within a year after we both retired. Sad [:(] Sold the house in California, bought an RV to travel the country, and was lucky enough to find the second love of my life in Alabama. So, here I am, living in Dixie with a nice big basement and building my first layout in about 25 years. Life takes some strange twists and turns but it all works out somehow.    

BTW, I have a lot of admiration for you firefighters. I was always running out of burning structures while you were running in. Way braver than me!

Regards, Jim
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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:30 PM
That is also true, Those in this Hobby are a helpful bunch of people. And very diverse.
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by steemtrayn on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:39 PM

I tried customizing cars, but could never get the hang of it...

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Posted by conrail92 on Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:45 PM
Ha that is very cool... does it run? You have a creative talent.
"If you can dream it you can do it" Enzo Ferrari :)
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Posted by Cederstrand on Monday, August 27, 2007 12:05 AM

What an interesting and diverse lot of folks we have in this hobby. 

I became a full time wildlife artist in 1992 and never looked back. Highlight has been a safari in Africa. Met my wife in England over ten years ago but only got married last year. Hey, had to be sure, you know! Wink [;)] She started as a fire fighter, but is a long time RN now (CCU & ER mostly). We have a farm with Paint horses, miniature horses, pygmy goats, miniature Zebu cows and two rescued pot-bellied pigs. Down to 6 dogs (3 Pyrenees, 2 rescued Italian Greyhounds, one Porch Dog) and assorted barn cats. Free roaming wild turkeys, guineas, peacocks, chickens, geese and ducks round out the farm. I love working with horses, when I have time.

In a former life, was a serious endurance athlete and martial artist. Older now, paying for my youth and injuries over those years. Have Sarcoidosis, so I tire easily these days. No big deal.

That's not everything, but perhaps more than you wanted to hear. Cowboy [C):-)] Rob

 

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Posted by Cederstrand on Monday, August 27, 2007 12:17 AM

***cudaken, are you sure you aren't a long lost brother of mine I never heard about until now? Both my brothers are audiofiles and my oldest brother is into the same cars as you. And, ALL my syblings are into trains, except the oldest sister.

Cowboy [C):-)] Rob

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