Travel Light But Get Double Prints

Less is more, light in life, clutter free zone.  We all want that.  While getting a personal organizer is an option (yeah spoiled), but really, we can do it ourselves.  Yes.  We can do it.  Toss out what we don't need, remember what is in the mystery boxes of storage shelving, or what somebody else may find handy.  Create more cubic air in our homes and in our lives.  How hard can it be?  Seems this expression has been overused by me lately, according to my husband (just because he:
a) put in a new bathroom sink/ cabinet
b) managed 1200lbs of Arizona fossils stone for a side yard (necessary) patio
c) cut down 50 cubic feet of the most stubborn bouganvillas this side of the 101.

Whilst talking to my cousin, my travel ignitor, pet pusher and confidant...we'll call him SPF for short.
Scudly P. Farkas.  I think I know what the "P" stands for but I digress...I may not.  We grew up together and I've always looked up to him...not just 'cause I'm on the edge of the "average" scale and he the "tall."  He's thinky, funny, left (another blog) and well, I can talk to him about anything...and I mean anything, like googling guavas, etc.  He's a few years older than me.

Tonight we discussed the photo collection.  We grew up artistic and probably both got Mickey Mouse cameras from our various grandmothers.  Me, Grandma Lola...He, Grandma Goldie.  I really did receive one and this must be how it all started, for me anyway.  110 film.  Anybody from latter 70's era, one hour photo and yes, double prints please, would know.  During my Mickey Mouse camera days the film roll lasted for months, then it took months to take it to be developed.  My aunt Jackie had it goin' on as she had a secret place she's send her film to (although probably a Vivitar or Canon, not Mickey Mouse).  I though that was awesome, although I didn't formalize it.

Tab return, backspace.  So SPF and I pleasantly banter and analyse the history of "how the bins have filled with multiples, mucho pix and miscellaneous nostalgia."  I have narrowed (sifted) our collection down to three plastic bins...one clear and two solid (labeled..."pix").  First off and easy for the recyle bin is the double prints.  My goodness!!  What was the forthinking back then as to why one would need two?  Two prints each...double prints.  Double trouble.  It will come back to haunt you some day.  Some day you will be in the garage sifting your photos and tossing half.  Back then, it was 12 or 36 count film, SPF and I conclude that we'll go with the averaage...lets say 24.  24 times two...yikes = 48.  Okay, so I won't throw alot of numbers at ya but you get the "picture." 

We'd go to the One hour photo for developing, a bit more pricey but well worth it.  (well, me anyway)...and I knew the owners on first name basis.  the wife loved the pix of my travels, my selfies (just kidding...we never did that back then), and my family stuff.  It seems that on average (not because of skill I say), that 4 of 24 (48...double prints)...turned out well...decent, great.  So I can do the math, but I refuse.  It was alot of moolah.  That's what I worked and lived for..."travel and double prints."  So glad to be in the digital age now, where 200 pix are not even blinkworthy.  I sit in garage and sort the bins now and then.  Looking and tossing the now and then...mostly "then,"  the double prints and tossing unflattering pix, unknown 10-20's of sunsests, and I won't even mention how I went to "tan" next door a few times.  I am perplexed now with current knowledge that I even did that...and I supposedly have..."olive skin."   I have pix of "Big Boned Gal concert in London, a Turkish Pension and poolside Cabo San Lucas"...thank you,  "Rabo" (royal almond body oil)...and  the double prints, thank you tanning God's and my other cousin Kelley. 

Chillaxing

Life in So Cal.  Central Coast but close enough.  Mild temps mostly.  "Degree window" small...maybe 10 or 15 variance utmost.  However, it's been cold lately.  Cold.  As in "weather" is the second topic of local news.  "Winter blast, arctic front and my favorite..."cold snap."  It's all true.  We've had the heater turned up and on and down at home.  Not used to moderating the modest home temps.  The weather outside isn't frightening, nor simply so delighting...just chilly...very chilly.  Dang Cold!!  I think it should snow at this point.  We kind of deserve that.  It does, however,  sort of "add to the ambiance" of hubby in the recliner watching the Ohio State game (18 degrees is says on smart phone) in Indianapolis.  Why they're playing there when the two teams are from Ohio and Michigan...I haven't a clue.  Football is confusing, but that's a whole 'nother blog. 

Whilst being positive (hands eminating the summer Sahara dryness, being a classic example of Raynauds finger and hands (me), and also sporting your average shivers), we decide to go for a "winter drive."  Growing up in San Diego (real SoCal), we'd "go" to the snow.  Winter at our leisure, sort of.  So Ohio native hubby and I discussed and selected a short hour jaunt toward Californias southern "grapevine."  Maybe five towns up and over near the mountains.

Scarf.   check.
Handwarmers from Camping town: check
Large bottle of Lotion "for extra dry skin": check
Emergency aluminum just in case you get stuck in cold blanket:  check
Water:  check

We are very prepared and "go" look for glimpses of snow.  Not totally committed to the "grapevine" as this is a "cold snap" and it can get treacherous on this fragment of I-5.  Windy, slidy, icy, "trucky" and maybe even snowy.  We'd enjoy short winter getaway and maybe take a few instafacetwitter pictures for fun.  We'd check out the lighting of the snow and walk around in the crunchy white stuff in what I consider, "winter shoes."  Hubby says no and that they aren't. 

Forty minutes into the drive we see some very gorgeous white hues on the side of the mountains.  Eeeee!!  I giggle-say.  Snow!!  I get pretty excited over foreign things.  "Wow...yay!!...how pretty!!"  We're gonna see snow!! (repeats).  Well, it turns out that after the turn, it was a false alarm.  It was the winter sun playing her lighting games against the side of the mountains.  Nonetheless, it was beautiful.  We head further to the southernmost point of the "grapevine."  Nada...just cold air.  So cold we have to check the temperature guage in truck (yes, we are still inside at this point).  Forty Six degress.  Well, we tried.  Wasn't ready to head north this time.  Had lunch with our scarfs on, did a little bargain browsing and went back our comfortable coastal denizen to watch the weather channel.  Nice day:)

Side note:  it's still cold here:)