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Duke By Day, Hobbies By Night

Faculty and staff strike an ideal balance with work and life

Whether it's creating music, baking or exercising, hobbies offer an escape from the everyday stresses of life.

But hobbies aren't just a means to pass  time and relax. They can be beneficial in developing good work-life balance.

"People talk about good stress and bad stress, and it's bad stress that typically offers a sense that somehow we're overwhelmed with what we have to do," said Jeff Brantley , director of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program at Duke Integrative Medicine. "Good stress usually means we're doing something that we enjoy, like a hobby."

Across Duke, faculty and staff have ways to find that "good stress" balance by doing what they love.  

Music manWhen he was 10-years old, Bob Walker  picked up his first guitar - a $12 instrument his dad bought for him in Mexico while his family was visiting relatives in Corpus Christi, Texas. That was 39 years ago.

Now, Walker uses the talent he's honed over the years to serenade crowds as one half of the Carolina Island Boys, a guitar-playing duo that mostly performs regularly in the Triangle and eastern half of North Carolina. Walker, general manager for retail and book operations for Duke Stores, plays a variety of classic and soft rock from the 1970s through today with Terry Dean, a Fuquay-Varina resident.

Bob Walker

Bob Walker, left, sings along with Carolina Island Boys partner Terry Dean. Photo courtesy of Bob Walker.

"I was no longer coaching or going to sports to see my daughters play, so I had time on my hands," Walker said. "We got our first gig this April and actually booked a corporate retreat in Las Vegas a month later."

Over the past year, Walker and Dean have performed about 50 shows playing songs like John Denver's "Country Roads" and the Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried." Between performances and practices, Walker spends three to five hours a week on his music, usually finding time to rehearse by himself after he gets home from work and spends time with his family.

"Good music has always been important in my life and seeing crowds smile and sing along makes it worthwhile," Walker said. "I know we're never going to make it big in music, but we're just out there to have a good time." 

For a list of upcoming shows and video of performances, visit the Carolina Island Boys Facebook page. 

The icing on the cake

While Becky Pendergraft  hasn't been working on her hobby for almost 40 years like Walker and his guitar playing, she still takes the cake when it comes to her pastry pursuit.

For about two years, Pendergraft has been honing her abilities to create and decorate unique cakes after taking a class on the topic at a Michaels craft store. Among some of her recent creations have been a vanilla buttermilk birthday cake designed with the Batman logo and a Dr. Seuss -inspired design she entered into the North Carolina State Fair. Out off dozens of cakes, she won an honorable mention in the "non-professional `other'" category.

Becky Pendergraft

Becky Pendergraft submitted this Dr. Seuss inspired creation to the NC State Fair. Photo courtesy of Becky Pendergraft.

"I really enjoy the creativity of it all and getting to explore an artistic side by challenging myself," said Pendergraft, staff assistant in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. "I always enjoy it when someone contacts me with a request to match a cake to decorations or invitations or anything like that."

Pendergraft started out making and decorating cakes for fun but receives special requests from friends and family. She'll usually reserve Friday nights as "cake night" so she can get home from work and begin baking layers of cake and preparing fondant, a type of icing used for specialty decorating. Depending on the size and quantity of what she's making, Pendergraft said she might be up until midnight or 1 a.m. with finishing touches. Harder projects like the Dr. Seuss decoration - which was Styrofoam pieces covered with fondant - may take multiple nights, but son Austin, 10, and daughter Taylor, 8, like to help.

"I've always been into baking and trying things in the kitchen," Pendergraft said. "It's a fun way to spend time at home with my family." 

Follow Pendergraft's cake craft on Twitter or her blog, "Cakes by Becky."

Off and Running, and Swimming, and Biking

Becky Pendergraft

Noah Pickus competes during the White Lake Triathlon at White Lake, NC. Photo courtesy of Noah Pickus.

Over his 47 years, Noah Pickus  has participated in hundreds of races, from 5Ks to his latest endeavor: the triathlon.

For the past two years, Pickus, director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics and associate research professor of public policy studies, has acted as a faculty advisor and participant with the Duke Triathlon Club . During his time with the student and employee group, Pickus has raced in 10 triathlons and recently at a race in Virginia set a personal best time of two hours and 45 minutes to complete a mile swim in open water, 40 kilometer bike ride and 10 kilometer run.

When he can find the time during the week, Pickus said he likes to train by swimming at one of Duke's campus pools, running at the Al Buehler Cross Country Trail or along East Campus and bicycle throughout Durham or Orange counties. While he's been a runner since he was a teenager, Pickus said part of the fun of his hobby is the interaction he has with students to learn more about biking and swimming.

"Everybody needs an opportunity to be with new people in different communities," Pickus said. "Being a part of the club allows me to interact in a different way with students - and I get to learn from them."

In addition to running races with Duke community members, Pickus' love of running has spread to his 9-year old daughter, Mira. She's recently taken up running and both she and Pickus plan to run a 5K race in December.

"It's a lot of fun to have a family member share in my passion," Pickus said. "I'm delighted my daughter is running with me."

Learn more about the Duke Triathlon Club at its website.