I used to love to row, sail, and canoe--and someday will board a boat once more. I finally play guitar (as opposed to carrying it around and pretending,) and am always looking for new music to which I can listen (and perhaps attempt to fake.)History is my bit, as well. I stay away from the textbooky blah blah let-me-show-you-how-many-big-words-I-can-use-to-show-how-sma rt-I-am. Living history situations is it. Old Sturbridge Village, where I used to work (www.osv.org). Engaging stuff. I guess that's why I became a history teacher.
Peter O'Toole or Vincent Price. And Jim Henson. Perhaps Mr. Rogers and Erma Bombek. Of course since I already know Esther, my life is complete.
http://www.rathergood.com 'Nuff said.
Mysteries like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, the Maltese Falcon, and the Thin Man series (well before they had a kid.) I love big actions films with some historical (hysterical?) bend, like The Mummy/Returns, Sleepy Hollow, and The Brother's Grimm.
Man, those CSI shows have got me hooked! I love the mystery aspect of it, and the nitty-gritty stuff is really cool. Just let me at you with my atomic-absorption spectrophotometer!
Authors: Arthur Connan Doyle, Kurt Vaunegut, P. G. Woodhouse, Samuel Eliot Morison, Jack Larkin (sure--haven't YOU ever wondered what people used for toilet paper in the 19th Century?!?)and Tom Robbins (for those nights when too much makes sense) Books: The Lost Legend of Finn, Wise Woman Herbal, Fondue Cookery. Whatever.
My mom. Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Anne, Chana, Emma, Hadassah, the Daughters of Z, Esther, Deborah, Yael, and the list goes on.Any woman who can raise kids (of any age, alone or in whatever arrangement that keeps everyone happy and safe,) keep her mind and body happy, entertain her passions (whomever or whatever they may be) and go to sleep at night knowing that she's done good for the day, even if it means never getting out fo her pj's, is a hero in my book.