Peaches

When I was a kid, my mom canned peaches and pears. We'd have boxes of fruit sitting in the basement for a couple of weeks while she canned (we did help her). And the peaches were sooooooooooo good. Honestly, canned fruit from the store is ruined forever. 

As an adult, I've tried and tried to find good peaches at the store, and it's always a disaster. They are always hard, and they don't ripen correctly. A ripe peach has this texture where you push on it and it dents, but there's a feel to it that you know means it is ripe. Peaches shipped to the store get this rubbery texture when you test for ripeness, it's just wrong. And they smell good but the taste and texture while eating the peach is completely wrong.

So, last Saturday I walked into a grocery store and they had locally grown peaches for purchase. I tested some, and they had the right ripeness texture, so I bought a week's worth, and man, was it worth it!!! They are just what peaches should be. I think I've only had one that had a spot that wasn't quite as good. It's amazing and my only lament is that I'm going out of this town this week and I'm worried that they won't still be available by the time I get back. 

I had so little hope for good peaches at all this year, because we've had a bad growing year locally, so this has been a lovely little joy for the week. Go, peaches!!!

World Cup: Argentina vs. Switzerland

I know practically nothing about soccer. I know what it is, I've watched my nephews play (usually under the age of 10, which seem like an important detail), and I have played a lot of chair soccer, but chair soccer is hardly the same thing.

I do know that two teams are trying to get the ball into their goal, which obviously is blocked by a goalie. They also are trying not to kick the ball out of bounds and you can't touch it with your hands, but heads are okay. And there are yellow and red cards, but don't ask me what gets you one. And fouls, and positions (but I don't know what they are other than goalie), and lots of running. LOTS. 

So, with that being said, I went to a friend's to watch the Argentina vs. Switzerland game. It was a grand old time, especially because there were a lot of Latinos there, so an authentic soccer experience. And, I was very proud of myself because even though I know very little about soccer, there were things I did pick up on, just based on my basic understanding of other sports.

First, and most important, the stereotype of soccer players as drama queens when it comes to injuries? True. 100%. Every few minutes, someone would be rolling on the ground like their leg was broken or tendons torn or muscles disintegrating. And as soon as the ref noticed, they hopped up and ran off fit as can be. I'm pretty sure there is at least one half hour session each week to practice their injury acting. And yes, I know this happens in other sports, but it happens so much more in soccer. Probably because the opportunity to get kicked in the shins is second only to the actual sport of shin-kicking.*

Second, as in other sports, they do try to run down the clock. In soccer, this seems like a high-risk strategy given what a low-scoring game soccer is to begin with, but someone did confirm that they were trying to run down the clock. It makes sense if you are ahead, but this was during the tied portion of the game, so, yeah, it seemed counterproductive. But, I am not an expert, so what do I know?

Third, Switzerland had a really good defense. If I remember, for at least a chunk of the first half of the game, Switzerland had the ball more, and had a lot more attempts at goals. Then Argentina managed to dominate and have possession of the ball most of the time, but there was just a solid wall of red jerseys and they couldn't get close to the goal. So, lots of time kicking the ball to each other, but hardly any goal attempts. It made me think of playing games with my nephews. There's one where you win by getting the most points. And there are 2 dragon cards that are worth a lot of points. They spent the whole game preparing to capture the dragon cards and ended up losing, because they forgot that the goal was points, not dragons, so I'd snatch up all the lower point cards and just rack up the points.** They'd do the same thing in other games. 

At times, it really did feel like Argentina had forgotten that the way to win the game is to score, not have the ball the most. But really, it speaks to how strong Switzerland's defense was. 

And, finally, fourth: The referees are definitely not given enough credit. Not only do the run just as much as the players, which is a LOT, they have to keep track of everything and everyone on the field. All while putting up with soccer drama. They are definitely athletes. 

Anyway, Argentina did manage to pull off a few good minutes in one of the overtimes and scored twice, winning 3-1. And good for them. But also, the Swiss were a tough team. At least to this inexperienced (and also unbiased) eye. 

*Yes, this is a thing.

**They've mostly figured it out now, though. 

Bad sequels

2026 is the WORST sequel ever. It's got all the elements of a poorly done sequel while adding even more bad plot twists.

• Last year, all of our tech programs broke at some point, with the exception of the tools we used to do cataloging. 
• This year, all of our tech programs are breaking, AND they got rid of our cataloging tools and gave us new ones. That don't work. 
• Last year, the weather was rotten. 
• This year, the weather is rotten and I'm in a state that is in a drought. It's probably going to burn down at some point, because that's what happens in drought conditions.
• Last year, everything politics was just lousy.
• This year, everything political is lousy and we started a war. And there's the whole dumb mid-terms thing. Blurg.

As with all sequels, people want a compelling story. Recycle, reduce, and reuse shouldn't apply to sequels. (By all means, apply them elsewhere). So, whoever the scriptwriters and producers of 2026 are, just some notes before you before you start working on 2027. 

Possibility

There's something about a good staircase that really draws the attention. I don't know what it is, but a grand staircase feels like an invitation to explore. It's hard to not want to climb this baby, right?

I do love a good staircase anywhere. My sister had a house that had two staircases, which was amazing. It was like a TV house. And they were nice staircases, very well built, wide, inviting. 

The staircase in my house growing up was tucked away in the back of the house. There were 3 steps, then a landing, and then to make the curve, triangle steps but they seemed cramped and begging for caution. And then there was a low overhang at one point. I was rushing down the stairs once as a teenager and smacked my head on it, which drew blood. So that was fun.

I don't think I'd want a big ole staircase like the one in the picture there (hotel Barceló in Guatemala City) in my house, of course. It's a bit much for the day to day. But you gotta admit, if you walked into a hotel and saw that, you'd be impressed and think "This is a ritzy hotel." (Same for a house, I'm sure, and then I'd be wondering what I was doing there!) But a good staircase is definitely a bonus in any building.

Elephant escapes

I was delighted to read in the news that an elephant at the Albuquerque Zoo, name of Alice, managed to get out of her habitat. The employees showed up to open the zoo and Alice was just moseying around the zoo, I guess. 

The city where I currently live used to have an elephant named Princess Alice who also went walkabout sometimes. In her case, she'd go walkabout around town, not just the zoo. She was apparently a pretty sassy elephant, according to some of the newspaper articles I've read about her. 

Honestly, I think the Alice the elephants maybe are onto something. Sometimes, you just need a break, a little change of pace, some new scenery. 

Just out of curiosity, I checked how frequently elephants make an escape. AI says on average, 6 times a year (at least between 1990 and 2017). So that's fun. Also, be careful if you see an escaped elephant. It doesn't say why, but escaped elephants can be a risky situation. Not sure if it's just that they are big, but also not sure it needs to be anything else. 

Anyway, here's to all the elephants shaking things up, and to anyone else who gets to escape for a bit. 

Fire safety

The other day I saw some headline about how we have to fight fire with fire (it was referring to political campaigns, not weapons, which in light of the US bombing Iran, seems an important clarification). 

And my reaction was, "No one would fight fire with fire. You fight it with water." We don't have firemen going in and fighting forest fires with flame throwers. Fighting fire with fire is only a good strategy if you are trying to burn down the world. 

That was my first thought. My second thought was that there is probably some etymological history here that would make it all make sense. And larks, there is!!!

The phrase dates back to Shakespeare. (Most things in English seem to be sourced from him or the Bible. Surely there were other sources?) In his day--and still today--they would create firebreaks. Meaning, they'd burn vegetation so that when the fire arrived, there was nothing left to burn and it would die. Fighting fire with fire.*

I'm not sure fighting fire with fire today has the same outcome. Firebreaks aren't focused on the fire itself, if that makes sense. They aren't attacking the fire, they are preventing it, by looking out towards other areas. It's preventative. Whereas, most of the time when we use the phrase today, it's not preventative. It's aggressive, attacking, and not really concerned with ending a conflict, so much as winning at all costs. 

I vote we return to the original motive of the phrase. If we do, I think we'll be left with more of the world standing. And we'll all learn a bit about fire-fighting!

*You can find multiple sources that confirm this through a quick search on the internet. 

Some observations on food

Do you think that fun shapes make food taste better? I bought some Townhouse crackers in the shape of snowmen and somehow they were so much better than regular Townhouse crackers. And my Cheez-its in the shape of penguins, definitely better. Shape makes a difference, right?

The last couple of times I've taken my niece grocery shopping, I've seen the Doritos with no added dyes or whatever. Here's the thing: yes, it is definitely better for us. But neon colored food is how you know it's not good for you. If your really unhealthy food (or food-like substances, as my brother refers to them) looks the same color as actual healthy food, it's way too easy to convince myself that it's fine to eat the unhealthy stuff.

Finally, I saw today that Butterfinger has released a special French toast edition. WHY??? In the name of all that a taste bud would want to experience, why would a French toast Butterfinger be one of them? I like breakfast foods as much as anyon but they really don't have to be in everything. Breakfast and dessert can be two separate things. 

The end is definitely nigh

I live in a state that is known for mountains and some good skiing spots. We're hosting the Winter Olympics in 2034 (or so we think). And yet, I have seen ZERO snow this year in my city (and you could barely call it highlights if you count what is in the mountains). 

It snowed in Florida last week. And my coworkers sent photos of snow at Teotihuacán today. Snow. In Teotihuacán. 

WHERE IS MY SNOW?!?!?!?!

I'm pretty sure the apocalypse has arrived and I just missed the memo.

New year?

So, I know we are only 4 days into the new year, but is anyone else up for rebooting the whole thing? And not like we reboot TV shows. Reboot, like start the whole thing over but on a different trajectory. Put the "new" in "new year." Let's try something different. 

2026 is feeling a bit too samey for me. Let's cut now, while it's still early.

So long 2025

Year in review:

• Flew approximately 56,288 miles for work trips
• Visited some new countries (Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, plus airports in St. Martin, Colombia, and Tortola) and new cities in previously visited countries (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Hermosillo, Mexico)
• Revisited some countries (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Mexico) and Puerto Rico (yay!!!)
• Did my first solo work trip (although there were co-workers in Mexico when I got there, so I wasn't alone once I got there, just the only US person there)
• Threw up a lot 
• Got COVID again (24 hours, so can't complain) and got pretty sick with the crud going around in February
• Lost my dad
• Sort of played pickleball for the first time (hitting it around with my sister on the side of a court)
• Had basically every single work tool implode at some point or another
• Moved to a new cataloging tool at work (barely!) and somehow survived the drama
• Way too many weird encounters with men making inappropriate moves on me (2. Two encounters. But it was two too many)
• Read the Thursday Murder Club series and reread some old favorites.
• Learned a few new games (Abandon All Artichokes, Point City, Doomlings, Cartographers, Canvas, Ito, Mantis--I think that was this year--and probably some others that I can't recall right now)
• Bought 3 new camera lenses (I was planning on one, but then a different lens broke, and replacing one turned into 2. Things happen)
• Went to the tulip festival and visited some other local places again
• Enjoyed some new movies, but don't ask me what they are
• Lost some weight (barfing your guts out in San Juan will do that for you)
• Got a great-nephew and got to play with both him and his sister, which was a highlight
• Went to graduations (niece's high school, niece's college)
• Made people laugh, probably made people cry (I'm sorry), watched the world fall apart, and tried to keep it together. It's been that kind of a year. 

It hasn't been a bad year--I've traveled the world, been part of a lot of cool things at work, had good friends, seen beautiful places, and been pretty safe. But it has also been...maybe an exhausting year is the best way to put it. But also, just miserable while being exciting. And it hasn't been a long year but it's also been a century since I went to Brazil in February. Maybe it's just been a Dickensian year, you know, from the "best of times, worst of times" quote in A Tale of Two Cities. I'm glad it's over, but also sad it's gone. 

Mostly, though, I'm ready for a nap.

Re-routing

I have certain routes I take when I go places because there is something I like about them. For example, on my way to the grocery store, I drive past the wedding dress shop on my way. For some reason, I like to see what dresses they've put up in the window (sometimes they are really...interesting). I'm not madly in love with fashion or weddings or anything, it's just a small little highlight when I have to go somewhere.

When I pick up my niece, I always drive on the same route, because it has a nice curvy road that makes you feel like you are a racecar driver. It's just a lot of fun to drive. There are three or 4 different routes I could drive, but I always take that one.

I've lived in my neighborhood for 10 years, and I always take the road with the four-way stops. Google Maps has tried for 10 years to get me to take the busier road with stop lights, and for 10 years I have ignored it every single time. I prefer the 4-way stops. It's more scenic and I hate the traffic lights on the busier road.

Sometimes, there's just a road you've traveled that's worth staying on. 

Just stuff

Not much has been going on lately. I mean, I guess I did go to Mexico for a week and a half, which I enjoyed. But otherwise things have been pretty uneventful. It's been nice. Even the weather has been ordinary--nice and autumny! 

I did buy a new camera lens, a big one. And haven't tested it out much yet, but I did test it a bit and got this picture:

I bought a paperback copy of "The Thursday Murder Club." I don't buy a lot of physical books, but I just wanted to buy a book and that one seemed really good. (It was). I think now I will buy the rest of them. 

I made passionfruit mousse, and this might be a very dangerous thing to know how to do. It was a hit though. It's passionfruit, so pretty hard to go wrong.

I know a lot of things are really unsettled right now on a bigger, macro scale and so it feels kind of odd to feel like things are in a lull on such a micro level. But here we are. Existence can be pretty hum drum and simultaneously a whirlwind of panic and doom. What larks!

 

 

And then what?

A while back I was listening to something or reading something about some US president and it gave me a great idea for a book or a podcast. 

I think the thing I was listening to or reading or whatever mentioned something a former president had done after he was no longer president. I think the guy went back to congress. But it did make me wonder, what about all the other presidents? I think we know a little more about what they do now--Netflix shows, I guess? But what else? 

What did Martin Van Buren do when he left the oval office? (For that matter, anyone know what he did when he was in office? He's not one of the big ones when it comes to US presidents. Sorry, Marty. Although, you could do worse). What has George W. Bush been up to? 

And what about other famous people for that matter? Some just stay famous forever, but what about the ones who don't? I mean, Buzzfeed always has its lists of "here's what happened to this once famous Hollywood star that you haven't thought about for ages." 

So, if you want to be an author, and are looking for an idea, there you go. Run with it! All I ask is that you send me a free signed copy when it is published.

The twilight zone that is a newsfeed

I don't have many apps on my phone, so mostly when I'm sitting around waiting with nothing else to do (or procrastinating, or I'm just bored) I'll check the newsfeed. And I gotta tell you, it is a very bizarre experience. Like, if it was a person, it would definitely have some kind of personality disorder. 

It's got updates on wars, on the weird reality that is the US now, Buzzfeed quizzes and lists, celebrity news gossip, and updates about sports, films, and TV shows. It's got the, "Hey, we found this story of someone whose relative or friend did something that made them furious and so instead of just dealing with it, they plastered it all over the internet" stories. It's got advice columns (I don't mind those as much, at least there is a specific person who is consulting, instead of all 8 billion people and their dogs). It's got the, "the planet is burning to the ground" and the "here is the latest science innovation" and "here's some cool thing someone dug up that rewrites history" and "Look at this cute animal interaction". 

A good chunk of that is arguably not even news, it's just the internet. Sorry, but a Buzzfeed quiz that promises me that if I pick my favorite 90s TV shows they can name my birth month (spoiler alert: they never can. Ever) just doesn't count as news. So, right from the get go there is a bit of a misnomer. It's an internet feed, but not a news feed. (Although, I guess even newspapers have puzzles and stuff, and an entertainment section, so maybe Buzzfeed quizzes are legit. And let's be honest, we all love taking a Buzzfeed quiz and feeling smug when their promise that they can do xyz thing if you take the quiz falls flat). 

But it's super, super bizarre that we have, on the one hand, very concerning stories about the Middle East and Ukraine and Sudan, and then two stories later, "Hey, Jeff Bezos got married and all the rich people in the world went, and can you believe what this person wore?" The two things don't seem to equate. Which, is in part my fault, because I browse all the stories, but even so. 

It is also this very real representation of the world. I don't know that we should all of us all the time only focus on the heavy and concerning stories. I don't think that's healthy, so in that sense, the newsfeed is maybe good. And even though it does feel wrong, bad things happen and I still have to go to work. (Also, there are positive things in the newsfeed, and that's good, because not all news sites might give you the things that will make you laugh). SO, it is also this really interesting reflection of reality in that sense. People are dying, but that dog making faces through the space between airline seats is hilarious and I am going to laugh. Heartache and joy can coexist in the same person. 

Really, if the newsfeed has a personality disorder, it's because society at large has a bit of a personality disorder. Which is probably normal, honestly. We just haven't had as easy access to such a visual representation of it before. I don't know that it's good or bad that a newsfeed is built that way. Mostly, it's just interesting.

But I do think maybe the world has lost its mind. 

Tell me a story

As I mentioned, I've been reading. Fun reading, still on my streak. I picked up the Hunger Games series, starting with the 2 most recent ones (which are prequels? That is how books work now) and now I'm almost done with the series. 

I've noticed in the last couple of years that many books seem like they are more political opinions or social stances very loosely wrapped in a plot. (Same is true of movies and tv shows, often). Now, it could just be marketing, because most of the time, that impression comes from the blurb on Amazon, which always, frankly, is incredibly preachy and condescending. Just reading a description of the plot, it becomes super obvious that there is a point the author (or the author of the blurb? I never know, because the blurb is so off-putting I never read the book. If the blurb is preachy, I'm definitely not going for the book) is trying to make: "Your differences are your strength", "Be the change you want to see", "America is [fill in the blank depending on your politics]".  Two sentences into the description, and you can already pick out what they want you to know. So, why read it? 

The beauty of reading is that it's a story. And I think telling a beautiful story (instead of a political position that dominates its characters and plot) moves people to see the world because of the story. All these books that are trying to shove a belief down your throat--they fail to change people because it's hard to connect with them. But a well told story doesn't even have to try hard to get people to change because it resonates so well.

The Hunger Games is a great example of this. You'd think as soon as the reaping is mentioned, Katniss would be screaming, "And it's so wrong, and evil, and we should rebel." And she doesn't. Because Collins isn't writing out the obvious. She's telling a story. She's telling us about a girl named Katniss, and what she thought and felt and makes her real. Collins isn't bludgeoning us (which you think you would feel bludgeoned, given the book's premise) with what is right and what is wrong and what we should all feel we have to do afterwards. She lets the story do that. We feel bludgeoned, but not by her politics or morality or social views. It's the premise of the Hunger Games that bludgeons us. How could someone ever come up with a system like that and think it is okay? We get to know lots of characters all with a variety of motivations, sometimes acting for a common goal but for very different reasons. 

I honestly couldn't tell you what Suzanne Collins thinks is the right approach. Does she think Gale is right? Katniss? Peeta? Haymitch? Does she agree with Snow in his book? And that is a beautiful thing. It's not a story about Suzanne Collins' views on people and power and morality. It's not a lecture. She's told a story and from that story, you walk away thinking about power, thinking about human behavior and societies and governments and whether war justifies doing horrible things and what is the greater good. Or maybe you think about trauma and poverty and inequality. Or maybe you think about how much you appreciate not being in a world like that, and what it means to be brave. But you get to decide what the message, or messages are. 

Those are the best books. The most influential books. Because you get to meet them on your terms, and you get to come back and every time, it will be new because you will be different and you will see something different in the story. Because you do the work, and when you do the work, that's when you grow. 

And that's why I love a good book.  

Not my style

It's not a great fashion moment for me. Shirts all have puffy sleeves, which I don't love because I have broad shoulders and I think puffy sleeves don't work. Shirts also have a shorter length these days, which is incredibly annoying. I don't want to show skin, and no one needs to see my skin. And pants--why can't we have straight-cut pockets? No, instead they are all angled or side pockets and if anyone has hips, they don't lay flat. Guess what I have?

Also, I'm not loving the color palette. There are so many colors, why do we only let people by clothes in 10 of them?

I get that styles change over time (and recycle). But why do ALL the pants have to have weird pockets? Why do ALL the shirts have to be the same cut? Why, why, why can't we have things in all the colors? 

Is that too much to ask? 

The petty things in life

Well, as the world continues to fall apart (or so it seems, at least on a global scale, which is far different than an individual level where I would like to acknowledge that I am incredibly blessed and really have nothing to complain about on an individual level, beyond the minor nuisances. I can't even complain about the price of eggs, because I have a good job and can afford it, but on behalf of others, I am disgruntled. For many reasons), I can either talk about that or go into a mindless and absolutely unimportant analysis of Awards season fashion, which gives me a chance to be snarky without being dismissive. So, here goes.

Ladies, WHAT in the name of sanity are we wearing on the red carpet these days???? And more importantly, WHY???

I think we are hitting the apex of absurdity in red carpet fashion. I mean, first off, how in the world is a body supposed to navigate a room, let alone sit down in some of these dresses? They look like they are wearing gigantic lampshades. Or have what is essentially a fancy cone that a dog would get from the vet. Or some other structural thing going on with clothing that honestly makes someone wearing a hat in a movie theater seem like nothing in comparison. I mean, let's be real. It's ridiculous. And I for one do not have the spacial awareness to get into some of these architecturally designed gowns, let alone take 2 steps in them without knocking down a building. Perhaps I just lack spatial awareness.

There was also the trend of "stained glass" looking dresses, or crystal-encrusted dresses this year. I mean, those ladies had to sit on those things for 4 HOURS!!! That can't be healthy for the gluteus maximus, you know what I mean? I really hope there was some padding somewhere between the tushie and the dress, because otherwise, agony. And possibly numbness, tingling, loss of control of muscles, etc. Which sounds like the side effects of a medication, frankly.

I also noticed, at least with the Oscars red carpet, that a number of these women's chests are being squeezed right out of the gown. Which can't be comfortable, invites a wardrobe malfunction, and just feels like a gigantic whoospie all around.

There is always that part of me that is just super practical and thinks, "The cost of that dress could buy so many houses. Or feed so many people. Or provide Ukraine with a lot of missiles." (Okay, maybe not that last one, because missiles seem to be really pricey. And they don't even have pearls, diamonds, or crystals on them!) I know, awards ceremonies are big deals and it doesn't have to be all about practicality, but surely you can make a beautiful dress at a more reasonable price? I would think?

On another practical note, do these women freeze all night long? I suppose with enough people in there, there's body heat keeping the room warm enough, but I would definitely be freezing at some point in the 4 hour show. Do they have someone holding a jacket for them, out of sight of the cameras? I sure hope so. And what about bathroom breaks? Are those just off the table for the night for some dresses? You can definitely get a feel for what my clothing requirements are! (gotta be able to move in it, and besides, I like nice flowy looks; gotta be able to go to the bathroom while wearing it; gotta be able to be warm enough in it; and please don't make me worry about how much money I'm wearing, in case I spill something or what have you).

On a non-fashion related note, who are these people? I was looking at all the stars and had no idea who most of them are! Does that mean I've officially hit the "When I was young..." or "Get off my lawn!" stage of life? What is the order on those? "When I was young" comes first, right? Add it to the list of "I'm not young anymore": You don't know most of the people on the red carpet. Good times.

Well, there you have it. Snark about nothing of any great importance, because talking about things of importance kind of hurts these days. It's good to have something to poke fun at. 

Travelogue of a sock

My nephew was folding his laundry and trying to pair up socks. There is a bag full of mate-less socks that he was checking, and I asked how it got so full. He suggested the culpability lies with a sock gnome.

It does not, my friends. Over 36 hours, I had the opportunity to track one of his socks, and I believe it will clear up any mystery about how so many socks go missing in their house.

The sock in question had slid from his laundry pile to under the couch. I saw it and gave it to him and told him to take care of it. Which apparently means, "Throw it in the upstairs hallway," because that's what he did.

It stayed there for a while, definitely NOT put away or taken care of, and then somehow ended up in the bathroom behind the toilet. 

From there, it made it downstairs to the entryway by the front door. Then up to his bedroom, on the floor just inside the door. Then back into the hallway, then kicked down a couple of stairs, then kicked all the way down stairs into the entryway again.

Somehow it ended up back in his bedroom, where it was again left on the floor, un-put-away and un-taken-care-of. Until this morning, when finally he deigned to throw it in...the dirty laundry hamper. 

And this, kiddo, is the real reason so many of your socks go missing. Stop blaming the gnomes. 

Meet Jim the sock

Who asked for this?

mustard flavor Skittles

drinkable mayonnaise

Ranch flavored ice cream

bacon scented cologne

chicken-flavored ice cream 

ketchup flavored ice cream

hot dog flavored ice cream (which I have tried so can speak with authority)

basically, many flavors of ice cream do not need to exist

Seriously, people. What are we doing?

Hobbies

Why do so many hobbies result in stuff? Like, knitting, you end up with sweaters or socks or cute stuffed animals or hats and stuff. Crocheting, you end up with blankets and scarves and washcloths and stuff. Painting, you end up with paintings--more stuff, and there's only so many walls in the world. Baking--you make stuff. And then eat it. Unless you know someone who will take it off your hands. So many hobbies generate stuff!

There are things like writing, which can be all digital, but it's still a lot of files that you have to deal with. And, I dabble in photography, which means a LOT of photos on my computer and then I have to keep moving them across hard drives and computers, or I have to print them. And then what do you do--albums? Scrapbooks? More stuff.

There are hobbies like running and other athletic things, but I was not blessed with great ability or joy in most sports. (I do like volleyball, but it is a little hard to do solo or just anywhere). I could take up walking. I don't mind a good walk. And I do have some new winter boots to break in, if it ever decides to snow. And reading! Which, there are libraries, so you don't actually have to buy books, which is delightful. And it's a hobby, right, so it doesn't have to produce a thing. It can just be fulfilling.

I do wish there were a few more options, but how many hobbies does one really need.