Hobbies are an important part of living a well-balanced life. Sometimes hobbies are not healthy. Un-healthy hobbies include: binge drinking, cat or doll collecting, on-line dating. Over the years, I've participated in un-healthy hobbies. I've also participated in healthy hobbies. Today, you will enter the secret life of Allison.
Knitting:
Didn't we all go through this phase? I know that I first began my foray into knitting in high school. I made a scarf. I also knit another scarf while I was in college. And then I began another scarf. That was probably three years ago. I'm still working on it.
Cross-stitching:
My favorite magazine "Bust" once had a review of a book that rocked my socks off. It was called "Subversive Cross-Stitch." It had fun patterns in it like:
and:
Here's how far I got:
Improv:
I had an intellectual crush on Stephen Colbert. Stephen Colbert was in a really great show called "Strangers with Candy." I rented "Strangers with Candy" because I had Netflix. I was suddenly enthralled with Amy Sedaris. Amy Sedaris rocks my socks. I wanted to be Amy Sedaris. And Stephen Colbert. I decided that taking classes at Chicago's Second City Training Center would be the way to go.
I improvised in class, I was in a couple of groups, I did a couple of shows. I auditioned for and was accepted into the Conservatory program. I did it, I graduated. Since then, though, my interest has sort of waned. I still like Amy Sedaris. I'm kind of over Stephen Colbert... mainly because I don't have cable. But still, I loved my time at Second City.
The thing about improv is that its awesome. I had a ton of fun. I met some super cool and really smart people. I loved it. And now, I can do better object work than most people. And the robot. I'm really good at the robot.
Sewing:
Again, I was swayed by "Bust." I feel like at this juncture I should explain. "Bust" is a feminist publication, focused on diy-ers, indie rockers, pseudo-intellectuals. My god. It sounds like I just described hipsters who wear skinny jeans and a lot of black eye-liner and live in wicker park. Okay. Well, I'm sure it appeals to them, too. But I like it, anyway. Back to the hobby. I saw a review of a new sewing machine. It was pink. I had thought about sewing before. It seemed cool. I had ended up jamming my mom's when I was little, on accident. My mom, having forgiving the incident, bought me this beautiful sewing machine. I've actually made quite a few pieces... dresses, shirts, pants, skirts. I like it. Its always the best when people compliment what you're wearing and you can tell them that you've made it. Speaking of making clothes... I just finished a dress for a wedding I went to this weekend... I looked hot.
Baking:
My baking really started with my love affair with Amy Sedaris. She's a big cupcake baker. My foray into cupcakes started just before the big cupcake insurgence of 2008. Cupcakes are a pretty good time. You bake them, you cool them, you frost them. I always make the same kind: vanilla with vanilla buttercream. Buttercream frosting is the best. Chocolate buttercream is a close second.
Cupcakes get old. Cake, on the other hand, does not. I think we all know how I feel about cake. Cake is magnificent. Layers are essential. Because that layer is where the magic happens. I've actually found that boxed cakes are great when you want to get creative. I've made my Moxton Creme Pie (vanilla pudding, yellow cake, and milk chocolate frosting) and Black Forest Fake-Out (devils food cake, cherry pie filling, and whipped cream) more times than I can count. They rock. And decorating is rad.
Guitar:
I started playing the guitar last year. I was motivated by a drive to become a singer-songwriter. Dreams don't die.
I really like playing the guitar, and I'm not particularly good at it. I've never taken lessons, but I can play a few chords and a few songs.
Maybe some day, I'll realize my dreams of being a singer-songwriter are ill-advised. Maybe not. Until then, I'm just going to look really cool.
So, what's the point of having hobbies? I guess its that you get to express yourself in a way that will probably only make yourself happy. I'm sure that both people I knitted scarves for really appreciated them, especially when I asked them why they weren't wearing them. People love my impromptu guitar concerts, even though I ask people not to look at me when I'm "performing." And I just need to flat-out apologize to everyone who came to my improv shows. And thank you, that was the mark of a true friend... especially when you laughed. Especially then.
Hobbies are a way of filling the time between the things that you have to do, like work or do laundry. They are the ways that you express your confidence in yourself and in your abilities. They keep you out of trouble... unless your hobby is making crystal meth in your bathroom... that one will get you into trouble. And probably kill you.
In a way, I guess that blogging has become a new hobby. I just need to make sure it doesn't go the way of knitting and cross-stitching.
