[James Matthew Najera]

General Discussion Thread 08.18.2025​

Hey GrayViners!

Let’s start the week with a little curiosity. We all have those things we’ve wondered about—not because we have to know, but just because it sounds fun.

For me? I’ve always been fascinated by how old radios work. As a kid, I used to take them apart just to peek inside. I didn’t always manage to put them back together properly (sorry, Dad’s garage radio ), but I loved the mystery of how all those wires and knobs turned into music.

So now I’m asking you: What’s one thing you’d love to know more about, just for the sheer joy of learning?

Image credit: Unsplash/Gary Butterfield

It could be anything—how honeybees build their hives, how bread rises in the oven, or even how magicians pull off their tricks. No wrong answers here—just share whatever sparks your curiosity.

I’ll be reading every reply, and I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. Let’s have a little fun with this one!

Cheers!
Blue

 

[Treesandshrubs]

Wish I knew more about trees and all nature. Should have been with the DNR!

 

[ghandi44]

I would like to be able to learn Japanese and to travel there.

 

[sadieclayladie]

I want to learn more about the Aurora Borealis.......how all those amazing colors come to be out there in infinity.....just blazing away! I expect a trip to Finland and Alaska is in order before I age anymore!

 

[DrWooly]

Am a sketcher, and would really like to turn my drawings into photograph-like reality. Got the basics down, just trying to expand a bit.

 

[NIBOR0]

I wish I would have been a vetenarian. I would have liked to work as one at a zoo.

 

[Gibb]

Anything to do with history. My family's vacation usually has something historical involved. We all love history. My former employer told me our vacations were like long field trips.

 

[TriciaR]

Wish I knew more about trees and all nature. Should have been with the DNR!

Thanks so much for sharing, @Treesandshrubs ! With a username like yours, it sounds like you’ve already got a natural appreciation for the outdoors. Do you find yourself spending a lot of time in gardens or bushland? I’d love to know if there’s a particular tree or plant that fascinates you most.

 

[TriciaR]

I would like to be able to learn Japanese and to travel there.

Thanks for sharing that @ghandi44 ! Learning Japanese sounds like such a fun challenge, and travelling there would be the perfect way to put it into practice. Do you already know a few words or phrases, or would you be starting from scratch? And is there a particular part of Japan you’d love to visit first?

 

[TriciaR]

I want to learn more about the Aurora Borealis.......how all those amazing colors come to be out there in infinity.....just blazing away! I expect a trip to Finland and Alaska is in order before I age anymore!

Thank you for sharing that @sadieclayladie ! The Aurora Borealis really is one of nature’s most breathtaking shows. A trip to Finland or Alaska sounds like the perfect way to see it in person—what an adventure that would be! Do you think you’d enjoy joining a guided tour to hear all the science behind the lights, or would you prefer just to stand back and take in the beauty of it all?

 

[TriciaR]

Am a sketcher, and would really like to turn my drawings into photograph-like reality. Got the basics down, just trying to expand a bit.

Thanks so much for sharing that @DrWooly ! It’s wonderful that you already sketch and want to take your art to the next level. Do you find yourself more drawn to sketching people, landscapes, or everyday objects? And have you ever tried experimenting with colored pencils or digital tools to help bring that “photograph-like” realism to life?

 

[TriciaR]

I wish I would have been a vetenarian. I would have liked to work as one at a zoo.

Thank you for sharing that @NIBOR0 ! Being a veterinarian at a zoo sounds like such a rewarding path—caring for so many different animals up close. Do you have a favorite animal you’d have loved to work with? And do you share your life with any pets now?

 

[TriciaR]

Anything to do with history. My family's vacation usually has something historical involved. We all love history. My former employer told me our vacations were like long field trips.

Thanks so much for sharing that @Gibb ! It’s wonderful that history is something your whole family enjoys together—those “field trip” vacations sound like such fun. Do you find yourselves drawn more to ancient history, like ruins and artefacts, or more to modern history, such as museums and historic towns?

 

[Hazeleyes]

Like to know more about my father’s heritage and his side of the family so I can do the family tree.

 

[sadieclayladie]

Thank you for sharing that @sadieclayladie ! The Aurora Borealis really is one of nature’s most breathtaking shows. A trip to Finland or Alaska sounds like the perfect way to see it in person—what an adventure that would be! Do you think you’d enjoy joining a guided tour to hear all the science behind the lights, or would you prefer just to stand back and take in the beauty of it all?

I would enjoy both actually. I'm a Natural Science Major but unfortunately, we never focused extensively on the various subjects of infinity..........so, however I decide to approach it is alright by me! Occasionally parts of Oregon shows the Northern Lights so I've been able to view bits and pieces but that's not enough for this greedy Space Cadet!

 

[TriciaR]

Like to know more about my father’s heritage and his side of the family so I can do the family tree.

Thanks for sharing that @Hazeleyes ! Tracing your father’s heritage and building a family tree sounds like such a meaningful project. Have you already started gathering stories or documents from relatives, or are you thinking of diving into online genealogy tools to help with the search?

 

[Arkie98]

I would like to learn sign language

 

[Hazeleyes]

Thanks for sharing that @Hazeleyes ! Tracing your father’s heritage and building a family tree sounds like such a meaningful project. Have you already started gathering stories or documents from relatives, or are you thinking of diving into online genealogy tools to help with the search?

I have started this back in 2015 but seem to hit a stone wall on my father’s mother other than when she got married to my grandfather. I have not did any more searching in the last about 4 years as I have been busy taking care of my mom, working and keeping up with house chores and remodeling and repairs. Will get back to it someday again. I do the occasional update with graduation, marriage, birth etc of what has been going on presently.

 

[TriciaR]

I would like to learn sign language

Thank you for sharing that @Arkie98 ! Learning sign language is such a valuable skill—it opens up a whole new way of connecting with people. Have you thought about whether you’d like to take a class, or maybe start with some online videos to learn the basics?

 

[sadieclayladie]

Thanks for sharing that @Hazeleyes ! Tracing your father’s heritage and building a family tree sounds like such a meaningful project. Have you already started gathering stories or documents from relatives, or are you thinking of diving into online genealogy tools to help with the search?

There's a Geneology Library where I live, maybe there's one where you live that you can check for? It does charge for the assistance but I have a couple of friends who have used it and were very pleased with what they came up with as far as their family tree. Good luck to you in your search!