Monday, March 22, 2010

"You need to get a hobby!"

If you're a fan of The Housewives of New York like I am, you know that's what Bethenny told Jill in a bitchy voicemail, which pretty much solidified the end of their friendship. The former BFFs are dunzo. I know I've praised Bethenny in the past (take this post for example), but I'm Team Jill on this one. Telling someone they "need to get a hobby?" Ouuuch.

Speaking of hobbies, when I went to get my taxes done at H&R Block this weekend, the girl helping me called my blog a *gasp* HOBBY. A hobby? "Well, do you make a profit from it?" No. "Then it's a hobby!" (Silent cry.) Since when did hobbies take so much WORK? Collecting stamps is a hobby. Don't get me wrong, I love the bloggy-blog. It's fun and it gives me daily structure and a sense of purpose, AND I get to interact with super-cool readers like YOU. But...but...a hobby? I'm still having a hard time embracing that term.

Tax time for freelancers can be quite a nightmare (it was for me, but I can't even go there right now), and this unintentional slap in the face did not help matters anyway. The blog is a labor of love I suppose, but you better believe I reassured tax girl that next year I'd come back with a lot more than just a HOBBY to discuss!

And actually, I realized that I don't think I have any hobbies. Working out doesn't count, does it? Tell me: What are your hobbies? Is it weird that I don't have any? I'll just tack that onto my neverending To-Do list: GET.A.HOBBY. Right.

11 comments:

  1. Why can't exercise be a hobby? I don't understand:)

    Hobbies for me include reading, painting and dancing in my undies! Good times!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Exercise is a hobby! I would include it as one of mine. But I also like reading and cooking...all hobbies!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1) Your blog is a business venture. A means of marketing yourself as a writer. It is far from a hobby - it is an investment in your personal enterprise. So poo on Ms. H and R Block.

    2) My hobbies include WORKING OUT!, cooking, reading, golf (playing it poorly), reading blogs such as yours.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I totally hear you on this - sometimes I feel hobby-less too. but then, i started writing... and marketing my writing... and yoga-ing and writing about that... and running and writing about that. so basically, i write about my ever-evolving hobbies. and it seems that you do, too! so uhh yeah, those are hobbies!

    def. happy hour sometime soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i don't have a formal hobby, but then again, i'm a dog owner--it costs me money to be a dog owner, it requires lots of energy from me--its almost a job, expect i pay for it rather than it pays for me, and and i have my blog, but i calling it a social experiment on behalf of my sanity. btw, even though bethany's email was totally bitchy and hurtful, jill does need to get a hobby and to stop being so damn petty! she's good for trying to be mama bear to everyone and then expecting undying gratituted in return. let's just see how this whole countess situation plays out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Basketball, poker, & listening to podcast and hopefully doing one before long.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hmmm. I don't think I have any hobbies, either... is drinking wine a hobby??

    ReplyDelete
  9. Um, I hope Little Miss Power Trip at H&R Block didn't prevent you from writing off expenses associated with your blog (like hosting on fnf.com). At the very least, it's an advertising expense for your freelance writing, because it's one of your biggest tools of self-promotion. And if you're investing money in your blog with the hope/intention of making money off of ad space in the coming year or two, then it's no different from any business that incurs startup costs before ever making a cent. Grrr.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Agreed, Miss H&R Block has her panties in a bunch... your blog is not a hobby - it's a business venture/networking tool.

    That said, my hobbies including reading your blog... books, movies, working out (fitness it totally a hobby), playing soccer... and sleeping :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for siding with me, guys! I was worried you might agree with Miz H&R Block. I did get to deduct some things for "self promotion," but for some reason the blog was just considered a, yep, HOBBY! Honestly, I'm now wishing I had just gone to my normal cheap place in Chinatown. Ohh well I guess, live and learn!

    And based on the comments, it looks like I do have so hobbies after all: SLEEPING, DRINKING, EATING, EXERCISING...sweet ;)

    ReplyDelete