Hobby Hopeful

I've been a bit bored as of late. It seems like in my thirties, somehow, the same stuff that was fun in my twenties doesn't quite feel the same anymore. In a way, I find myself seeking for activities with more meaning, more substance, be it for health, for community service, for well-being or otherwise improvement.

Over a year ago, I started to go to Sahaja Yoga Meditation with the local adult education program, nothing big, right around the corner, didn't really have high hopes for it --and it completely changed my outlook on life. This is a class I would have never in a million years considered in my twenties, now in my thirties this class jumped off the page and intrigued me. At the time, prompted by my very stressful job, that had me sick to my stomach every morning,  I was looking for a way to find inner peace and do something good for myself and my health. Like I said,  I didn't expect anything from this $20 class at the local high school, but what I found was the energy to make changes. I found that I had enough drive left to quit the horrible job, allowed myself to believe that I can do better and that I can pretty much affect change, if only I kept this positive energy going. Everything fell into place like magic after that. Sometimes, it takes a little believing to make improvements. I have since actively been going to Sahaja and I learn more and feel better every time.

Now I wonder, what else I can do. A thought that has been crossing my mind is to take our dog Jack to agility training. He learns super fast and seems to enjoy learning new stuff, and I think he would have a ball, not to mention the prospect at all those treats for learning. He would do great. I'm a bit worried that I can't keep up with him, but I figure if I make this our workout program, I think we could have a ton of fun, and it would help with the guilt that I feel every day when I leave for work and Jack looks at me with his sad puppy-dog eyes when I leave.  I'm looking up classes in the area and I'm both excited to try something new and also a bit terrified that we may look really stupid, but I think it will be worth it if Jack and I may end up with a fun new hobby.

I want to sign up for a new art class. Maybe something that I haven't done. I've worked with all kinds of paint on all kinds of materials, I've cut, glued, clay-ed, but I can't seem to find my groove with paint lately. I've started one picture more than 3 years ago, and I just can't seem to get going to finish it. I wonder if a change would help get me started again. I thought about Pottery or Sewing.

In the last few months we've gone fishing a few times and I really enjoyed that. I like the idea of activities where the dog can come along. There is something very meditative about fishing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not good at it, if that's even a thing. I don't think its as much a skill as it is luck and showing up at the right place at the right time. Whatever the case, it is quiet and calming with the wind and the waves and the dog at your feet. I've never caught a fish. I've caught some windburn and a farmer's tan, but, still I think this is something I'm going to pursue further. It's cheap entertainment and I can now touch a live shrimp and mess with Jack by throwing it at him and then watching Jack how he's curiously watching it flop around. Very fun. I could actually see myself going camping and fishing, mind you, a few years ago, camping meant to me, renting and RV and driving places.

I've also always enjoyed volunteering. Mostly I've done painting houses, helping with charity events or kids events type stuff.  Lately it seems to me, the right place to volunteer for me might be with animals. Since I've had my first dog, this prospect seems to be more appealing. I have to look at some of the surrounding shelters to see if there is availability and if I might be able to bring Jack along.

I can't wait to find some new hobbies and adventures. It will be fun to explore what new things I can do, that I didn't know I could.

Holidays Away From Home

Holidays away from your family are always harder than average days. Most people who have ever lived somewhere else will probably agree. Christmas is usually the worst for me. Easter is tough, because we always had a number of nice family traditions such as blowing out and painting Easter Eggs hanging them on an easter tree. My grandma always baked.

When I was little, I always sat with my grandfather painting eggs. He painted these wonderfully detailed Easter Bunnies with Backpacks filled with Easter Eggs or carrying Easter baskets. He was so good at that. I was always fascinated how he could fit it all on that small space on an egg. I usually do colorful patterns, and to this day, I still add 3-4 new eggs every year, just to keep the tradition alive.

What usually helps me a on holidays, is to bake German recipes and do some crafty stuff, that reminds me of home and/or start our own new traditions.

Here people like to color eggs with food coloring dissolved in water, with some vinegar. Like we did as kids you can use a candle or wax pen to personalize them and the wax part will stand out in white.

Always a fun project, I've made color eggs with friends' and family's kids and usually its a project that everyone enjoys, the kids and the adults alike. For me this stuff never gets old.

So tonight I made an Easter basket for my husband Terry, me, and, of course, Jack our Jack Russell Terrier, I baked some Easter Bread, a braided Yeast Bread with Rum Raisins, and I even colored three Easter Eggs with Terry's, mine and Jack's name on them. Everything turned out great.

Bringing a piece of home to a holiday when you're away from home always helps me. Although it usually takes me long to find the energy and get motivated, I usually feel better when making something homey.

And I think it helps my husband and everyone here, understand me and my culture better as well. Even though I'm sure some of the foods may be acquired tastes for Terry, he always tries everything and some things he's become a downright fan of.

One funny little cultural quirk is that I still don't get is why they call it an Easter Egg hunt here. In my minds' eye this word always conjures up the image of a child chasing an escaping Easter Egg, like in a cartoon. Makes me giggle every time.