Hobbies
Though I can find something interesting in most any subject, the few areas where I have spent the most of my free time are: woodworking, learning guitar, watching baseball, traveling and some recreational software projects.
Below are some more details of these hobbies and an opportunity for me to show off a bit.
GAME DEVELOPMENT
I had the basic idea for a word game in my head throughout 2017 and 2018, but in April of 2019, I added a virtual travel theme to this game and thought I was onto a good idea. I started developing the game with the aim of trying to make some money. I've had thousands of players and a few paying customers, but still iterating. Is this a hobby or a job? I'll let you make that judgement.
Here are a few screenshots of the game.
WOODWORKING
I began working in a (metal) machine shop when I was about 12 years old. An erector set was one of my favorite toys. I took some wood shop classes in junior high school. Without any real decision or planning for this to be a hobby, I now do a lot of woodworking. Creating something from nothing is an exciting process that is common to both woodworking and software.
Here are a few select images of things I have made.
GUITAR
I didn't begin to learn to play the guitar until I was 38 years old. I bought a guitar for my daughter as a Christmas present, but she never really took to it and I did not want it to go to waste. I am still not that good, but enjoy trying. I have a quantity of guitars that is disproportionate to my abilities.
BASEBALL
I grew up in New York in a house full of New York Yankee fans. I never really had a choice about my baseball alliances. However, I really just like the game and will watch most any team and any level. When I was younger, I had a thing for the Oakland A's and a bit of fondness for them lingers. The dirty secret I avoid telling other Yankee fans is that I do not actively hate the Red Sox.
I ran a fantasy baseball league before it was mainstream, before the Internet and back in the day when it was called "Rotisserie Baseball". That started in 1989 and endured for 14, story-filled years.
TRAVEL
SOFTWARE
I list this one last, but it is the hobby I have spent the most time on. The ability to have an idea and create something useful from nothing is exciting and what initially attracted me to writing software. The feeling has never gotten old. There's many, many projects I have done in the past and about a dozen on my list to do some day. Here's a small sample.