Is Burning Coal A Hobby?

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 10:12 am

This is the "wood and coal" guys wife ,where I'm sitting I am sweating and all I can hear in my mind is "look at the dancing blue ladies" and "hon come here ya gotta read this" so I will not be using my sweatshirt much this year nor my slippers for that matter, and I myself do not enjoy throwing the coal into the coal bin. But I must admit it is nice on a cold night, just don't tell him that.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 10:48 am

A hobby? I'm beginning to think it is an addiction!

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 11:18 am

A hobby-horse was a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like the real hobby. From this came the expression "to ride one's hobby-horse", meaning "to follow a favourite pastime", and in turn, hobby in the modern sense of recreation.[1]

Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward. Examples include collecting, creative and artistic pursuits, making, tinkering, sports and adult education. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, knowledge, and experience. However, personal fulfillment is the aim.

What are hobbies for some people are professions for others: a chef may enjoy cooking as a hobby, while a professional game tester might enjoy playing (and helping to debug) computer games. Generally speaking, the person who does something for fun, not remuneration, is called an amateur (or hobbyist), as distinct from a professional.

An important determinant of what is considered a hobby, as distinct from a profession (beyond the lack of remuneration), is probably how easy it is to make a living at the activity. Almost no one can make a living at cigarette card or stamp collecting, but many people find it enjoyable; so it is commonly regarded as a hobby.

From Wikipedia

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 11:21 am

Noun

Singular
obsession

Plural
countable and uncountable; obsessions

obsession (countable and uncountable; plural obsessions)

1. a compulsive or irrational preoccupation
2. an unhealthy fixation

From Wikitionary

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 12:50 pm

My hobby is saving cash. Every bag I dump into the bin is the equivalent of $5 in my pocket. "hmm what if I lower the fan limit switch by 3 degrees and add just a tad more combustion air, lets try lowering the aquastat 5 degrees and increasing the feed rate one tooth, I wonder if we could decrease the draft a little more and still maintain acceptable co readings..." This is what I talk to my family about at dinner, they just smile and back away slowly. It's definitely a hobby.

Devil505 · Post by **Devil505** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 1:57 pm

Other things I'll bet we (coal burners) have in common....How many do you have?:
1. Clothes dryer diverter boxes. ( to capture the wasted heat from the clothes dryer when we begrudgingly alllow their use)
2. Energy saving light bulbs
3. Whole house fans (why run ac when it's cool at night?)
4. Central vacuum systems ......undoubtedly self-installed! (to keep the coal dust down & just because we like technology)
5. Water Saver shower heads
6. Humidifier & De-humidifier
7. GPS in the car
8. UPS attached to computer (& probably a few lights & cordless phones)
9. Motion Sensing automatic light switches
10. Hurricance Lanterns & extra lamp oil
11. Well stocked workshop....... that gets neatened up maybe once or twice a year. (with at least 3 cordless drill/drivers)
12. Electric generator (or at least an inverter)
13. Power Failure Lights (probably plug-in but maybe hard-wired...... Can't remember last time power failed for more than 5 seconds but....I'm prepared!)

I'm sure more will come to mind

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 5:06 pm

I have 9 of the 13.

Dutchman · Post by **Dutchman** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 5:34 pm

I got 8 of 13. Don't need the GPS, I never need to ask directions (no matter what the wife says

)

Matthaus · Post by **Matthaus** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 10:06 pm

I initially started burning coal to save money. Well that is out the window now!

First I started buying any stove or boiler I could get my hands on at a reasonable price, just to be able to try them out, fix em up and sell em, hopefully without losing my original cost plus parts! Never mind the labor.

Now I find myself spending money to build a little shop to use for fixing up the stoves plus to burn in the units I am playing with. Sheesh, I can see that this hobby has gotten way out of hand and is now wandered into the obsession category!

Ed.A · Post by **Ed.A** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 10:15 pm

I'm assuming the 1st pic is the slab, correct?

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 10:48 pm

What must the neighbors think? I know some of mine may think I'm a little "eccentric".

P.S. My wife is upset because no one responded to her post earlier today. Maybe we need to start a thread for wives/girlfriends/significant others/whatever.

Ed.A · Post by **Ed.A** » Sat. Nov. 03, 2007 11:29 pm

Wood'nCoal wrote:What must the neighbors think? I know some of mine may think I'm a little "eccentric".

P.S. My wife is upset because no one responded to her post earlier today. Maybe we need to start I thread for wives/girlfriends/significant others/whatever.

Kid, never meant to leave the little woman out of the group , I'm a total new-be, and never have I been unwelcome here.

Devil505 · Post by **Devil505** » Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 8:36 am

My home office: (very cramped area)

1. Computer built into wall (above printer)
2. Garmin Ique3600 GPS (on desk just to right of printer)
3. Inddor/Outdoor wireless thermometer (with rel. humidity & atomic clock)-On wall just to right of computer
4. Blueline electric meter reader. (sending unit attached to elec meter outside)-Tells you how much electricity your house is using at the moment, what you are spending per hour, monthly cumulative money totals & even has an oiutdoor thermometer!-On wall above wireless thermometer (item #3 above)
5. Tide guage (above item # 4)

I will soon be adding a wireless coalstove thermometer/temp alarm (receiving unit) to the wall.

Devil505 · Post by **Devil505** » Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 8:43 am

Hmmmm....My wife posted a reply to this thread just b4 the board upgrade. Will it show up again or should I have her retype it?

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 9:16 am

Ed.A wrote:
Wood'nCoal wrote:What must the neighbors think? I know some of mine may think I'm a little "eccentric".

P.S. My wife is upset because no one responded to her post earlier today. Maybe we need to start I thread for wives/girlfriends/significant others/whatever.
Kid, never meant to leave the little woman out of the group , I'm a total new-be, and never have I been unwelcome here.

It's OK, I'm only kidding. She has asked if anyone responded to he post, though. I have never felt unwelcome here either.

Is Burning Coal A Hobby?

Attachments

Attachments