Do you have any niche interests?

Some people are interested in telegraph poles, some in post boxes, others in manhole covers.

Do you have any (clean) niche interests?

 

I'm kind of a politics junkie, though I'm more interested in the process than the us-vs-them aspect. I'm watching the AG Barr 'testimony' now and am amazed by the time wasted on sequential campaign speeches (on both sides) and the complete lack of 'testimony' in the proceedings.

 

I collect and refurbish vintage fountain pens and other writing-related antiques.

Spoiler: Pens & Stuff

I collected and restored vintage cars.

Spoiler: Cars

That's me on the right in my late 30's. That's a 260 c.i. small block V8 out of a 1964 (and a half) Ford Mustang. The other guy (Earl) is the person who taught me.

And I collect vintage paperbacks from the end of WW2 to 1969.

My collection page: https://www.facebook.com/AceDoublesSciFi/

 

So I'm guessing you like vintage things.

 

Part of how I put myself through university was working as a picker and schlep-hand for a large antiques auction house just outside of Gainesville, FL.

 

I have an interest in classical architecture and furniture. Got a collection of old classically designed furniture in my home. Have a very decorated antique lamp of a boy holding the light itself, all with gilded leaves and all that.

Always had a love for intricate patterns and designs that you can stare at, don't know why I love it, I just do.

 

I like clouds. I don't collect them, just like to watch in silent reverie. Current fave = Cirrocumulus

 

The other day, I learned about Mammatus, aka boob clouds. Their name literally means "mammary cloud". For whatever reason, they are a common phenomenon where I live.

 

Yes.

 

Eastern architecture has always fascinated me. There are so many temples and mosques with such elegant decoration and the colors! Man. I might just go look at some photos now.

Gothic architecture is also another one I am endlessly tickled by. Which... I realize isn't the goal of such a thing.

Are those niche interests? Because I also have a huge fascination with Egyptology and all it entails. I know the Brendan Fraser film is inaccurate but it was the first time I found myself enchanted by such a vast realm of story and ritual. I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid until my mom said that was dumb.

I also love purple pens. I lose my mind for them.

Also Wreybies why did I think you were younger than me? It doesn't really matter, but it just struck funky.

 

Good thing she set you straight.

 

I guess so?

 

Niche interests?
Yes.
Clean?
Well that is subjective.

 

Custom radio control car design and building? Dunno if that's "niche" or not, but I do take it to a level that's beyond where most people are interested in going. Not saying I'm great at it, just that it's something I'm into.

 

Do you race them?

 

I do have one bone-stock TT-01 drifter that I used to take to the circuit at the hobby shop in town, but I don't race any of my creations. I'm kind of into the scale thing now and I don't know anyone else locally who is. For me the key point is the physical engineering and problem-solving of creating a new rig out of bits and pieces of other stuff. For example, one of my customs is a 6x6 offroad tow truck. It's got a body and transmission from one company, axles from another, prop shafts from a third, winch and tires from a fourth, suspension from companies five and six (and a bit of #1) and the chassis and boom are all stuff I hand-fabbed up from hardware store aluminum and hobby-shop plastic and balsa. Plus some scraps from the local bicycle shop. And the strobes on top are fashioned from empty cigarette lighters. Took me over a year to build and I haven't had it in the dirt more than half a dozen times, I just like the design and build aspect more.

 

That's pretty cool.

 

As an English teacher whose hobby is writing and who faces the daily struggle exhilaration of living outside my native language, I think it's a good think to give something other than my linguistic centers a little something to work on from time to time.

 

Napoleonic Wars. I read an awkward lot about the era. Think I went through journal-by-journal accounts of each major battle.

HEMA and other martial arts, though I neglected that side during the quarantine... I've a longsword, a shortsword and equipment to spar with them.

Fancy dressing. Not really a hobby per se, but an obsession; I've gathered an unusual amount of formalwear and can pretty much dress formal every day. Got full sets of morning suit and evening suit as well as a KuK era traditional attire. I don't yet have a white tie evening suit - but said I would have one tailored for my wedding when the day comes.

...

I admit it, my friends tend to tease me saying I was "born in the wrong century". Then again, I can just duel them to fall with my swords while wearing a top hat.

 

I like to distress things, but it has to be things that look better that way. A prime example would be a paperback or maybe even a guitar. A leather wallet, although wallets age naturally fairly quickly.

It’s odd, because as a kid I used to obsess over keeping things looking brand new for as long as possible.

 

I have the unfortunate tendency to stop whenever I see dead animals. Doubtless I'm the only one who wants to check underneath the carcass. I did my Honours degree dissertation on carrion beetles (Silphidae).

 

My late 30s was over a decade ago so be sure to factor that in.

 

Maybe you should keep your linguistic centers a little more engaged...

 

... And there you have it! The title for your first story collection!

 

Nah, it vas a rest day for dem. Överstreshed.