Oh yeah? Proof it!

I got a new toy for one of my cameras yesterday.

[At last count I've now got something like 16 cameras. But we'll talk about my camera habit in a later post.]




My new toy is a Polaroid back for my Mamiya 645 Super. A Polaroid? Yeah. And it's way cool too! It takes the Polaroid peel-apart 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" pack film that you peel away from the paper after its allotted development time. The whole process is pretty freaking neat. Snap the picture. Pull on the white tab to expose the tab for the picture. Pull on that tab, pulling it through the rollers, distributing the developer across the picture. Let it sit for 90 secs [depending on the film type], then peel apart. And waah-laa! You've got yourself a nice little Polaroid proof.

[I'm working towards experimenting with emulsion transfer. But I don't have all the equipment for that quite yet. I need to find me an old Polaroid Land Camera and a lot of other semi-expensive stuff for that. But it is on my list as one of the alternate processes that I want to learn.]

The Polaroid backs were used with medium format cameras like the Mamiya as a proofer. Before the digital age it, helped the photographer to instantly see that the lighting was good during the shoot before, and all that other good stuff, before shooting with film, and is still done today as such.

I've never worked with this particular film before [my Polaroid experiences have been with the instamatic film] and my Polaroid back unfortunately didn't come with a user's instruction. I bought it off of eBay for like a buck fifty plus $10.95 for shipping, so for $12.45 I'm not complaining since I rarely see one of these go for under $50. Loading the film into the backing was a guess and go, and hoping that I loaded it right. And but of course, I didn't! It wasn't too bad though. Thanks to Polaroid have a lot of documents available on their website, prior to all this I had downloaded and printed a document that helped me figure out what I did wrong and how to fix it. If only the instructions on how to load the film were explained a little bit more. But, in the end I only ended up wasting the first two pictures. Trial and error, but all in all, not so bad.

These are two test shots that I took after finally getting the film loaded correctly.

The Accidental Tourist

Saturday TinyTima and I drove into The City for a day of adventure. We really didn’t have a plan, though Tiny did want to go shopping down in Chinatown, however little did we know that the day had a plan of its own for us.

We ended up down at Pier 39 amongst all the tourists. It took us forever to make it down the Embarcadero. We found parking with no problem, but at the time that we were headed towards the Pier was the same time that a demonstration was taking place. I’m not sure if it started at Pier 39, while working their way to where ever they ended up, but that is where they were when we got here. It was some kind of abortion protest. From what I saw, there were a lot more Anti-Abortionist’s than Pro Choice people. Personally, I’m Pro Choice. Since this is not a post on that debate, I will leave it at that.

Of course while one is down at the Pier, the viewing of the sea lions is a must. I didn’t even attempt to try and take any pictures from the Pier 39 observation deck they have. It was full of the daily lull of tourists.

After the sea lions we ended up heading towards the Sea Lion Café that overlooks, what else but the sea lions. We were seated quite close to the door and since I was facing the door I was able to watch all the people coming in. About 10 minutes after we got there I noticed this young guy with dark hair blue eyes. He ended up being seated at the table next to us, behind Tiny. Tiny had over heard him ordering, hearing is accent, she turned around asking where he was from. He told her he was from Poland. Tiny though didn’t hear what he said (she has a little bit of a hearing problem!) thought he said Colon. After I was done laughing my ass off I had to tell her, “No you crack head. He said Poland!” After all the laughing was done she turned back around and asked him if he wanted to join us at our table asking if he was here alone, which he accepted.

We introduced ourselves, though when he said his name I asked him to spell it for me, writing it on the table as he did so. (The Sea Lion Café cover their tables with white paper and have a glass of crayons for the children to keep themselves busy. I was drawing a cemetery scene when we asked him over.) His name was Wojtak, 26, from Poland, living in Vienna. Turns out this guy already has his PhD in like micro-biology, or some shit like that. He was down in Ventura, Ca earlier in the week for some convention. He figured since he was here he’d make a vacation out of it and came up to San Francisco.

I can’t even remember all of what we talked about, we talked about so many things about here and back in Europe. He spoke English very well and understood it pretty good too, specially since we Californian’s speak a slang all our own, he understood it all. We were sitting for so long just talkin that we ended up being the last people in the café to leave; it had closed early for a personal party.

The three of us ventured back to the front of the Pier where he was going to head back towards downtown, where he was staying. Tiny and I really had no other plans, I mentioned going to the beach, to the Cliff House and asked if he’d like to join us. Accepting we headed back to the car. It was while he was getting into the car with us that Tiny remarked about didn’t his mother ever teach him not to get into cars with stranger’s, which he laughed at. I had to admit, Tiny had a point. Then again, we were pretty much guilty of the same thing. After voicing that we though it was a safe bet to assume that we were all safe from each other, we headed towards the Cliff House.

Now it has been at least 2-3 years since I’ve last been to the Cliff House, but I didn’t expect to see what I saw. I was completely disappointed. What I was seeing was not the Cliff House that I had described to Wojtak earlier at the café. They had re-modeled the place! And to top it all off… They also got rid of the penny arcade that was down below on the observation deck! Augh, the nerve! I tried to explain to Wojtak what the place used to look like, but I know there was no way he could imagine what I was trying to describe. It was after he went inside to use the restroom that he said he saw what I had meant. He had seem a pictures that they have displayed showing what the Cliff House used to look like it it’s hey day, then again after the fire.



After getting some pretty good sunset shots we headed down to the beach. Tiny ended up breaking free from us and went off on her own. Wojtak and I just ended up walking down the beach talking and looking to see if we could find at least one sand dollar that was still whole, after explaining to him what a sand dollar was and what it looked like.

Eventually we walked back towards Tiny, then back up to the car. Stopping mid way up, looking down below at the Sutro Bath ruins. Showing him the places down below where there were caves, which ones were still accessible and which ones were closed. Briefly told him the story of how my uncle had to be rescued from one of the caves back when he was 13. Then explained to him why most of the other caves where now off limits and not accessible anymore. After that we made our way up to the car and headed back down into downtown to drop him off near the hostel.

In a nutshell, that is how I spent Saturday being a local tourist in The City. You are probably wondering if I got Wojtak’s e-mail address or something, to maybe keep in contact with. Nope. Saturday was just one of those random days that something awesome happens to you, which you can look back on one day and remember with a smile.

Saturday, was definitely one of those days.

All dressed up, ready for work

Lately I’ve been sleeping through my alarm in the morning. I have it set to go off to a local radio morning show, Sarah and No Name. You wouldn’t believe the strange dreams I have from listening to them subconsciously while I am still slumbering. Those are some fucking odd ass dreams, let me tell you. But anyway, moving a long. I eventually end up waking up, with plenty of time to get my ass out of bed and get to work on time.

Only this is not how any of my mornings have been going for the past few months. I’m now usually anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes late. I lay in bed listening to Sarah and No Name talking about whatever random shit happens to be on their minds that morning, or to which ever guest they have on and falling back asleep. Yeah, I know. I’m a fucking lazy bitch in the morning. I’m a night person, if you couldn’t tell just now. Getting up in the morning is a chore for me that usually involves the hitting of the snooze button, several times, if I actually wake up with the alarm going off.

This morning was no different, only without the odd Sarah & No Name dream. I think I finally got my ass out of bed at 8:30. I’m supposed to be at work by 9. Well, actually by 7, but as long as I get there by 9 I can still put my 8 hours in for the day. Whatever. Keep your comments to yourself. If you could get away with it, you’d do the same thing!

So it’s a sure bet that I’m going to be late this morning, but that doesn’t make me get up any faster. I just remembered that my boss is out of the office and will not be back until after the New Year. I do eventually get my ass in the shower, clothed, and then off to work. After a pit stop at Starbucks for 2 iced vente quad soy carmel macchiato’s. I was going to need all the help I could get today.

I finally pulled into work about 9:30.

But something looks a little off. There’s only one fucking car in the whole parking lot! The CFO’s car.

What the…???

I even drive to the back parking lot where all the production people park.

No cars.

Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me!

Fancy that, eh. Today was a holiday because of Christmas being on Monday. And I had no fucking clue!

Yeah...'Cause I'm special like that!

Well, since I was up and out of the house, I might as well go and run them errands that I was too lazy to do over the weekend. So I headed to Wal-Mart and picked up all the things I needed. Then I came home and finally balanced my checkbook (I had a month of receipts in my wallet) and paid some of my bills that needed immediate attention. I liked it better when my checkbook looked like I had thousands of dollars, but whatever. Such an eventful day!

So that was how my day started today, and since I ran across a survey called The Soundtrack To Your Life, I figured what the hell! I might as well fill it out and see just what my life’s soundtrack would sound like. It works like this: You put your iPod, iTunes, WinAmp, or whatever mp3 player you use on your computer to shuffle, random, or whatever your setting is…filling out the list from top to bottom. Fill out the first one, hit next on your player filling in the next song, and so on, without skipping over any songs! You might get a song that you’re like, “How in the hell did that song get on there?!” Tough, list it!

Opening Credits:
Naked Eye – Luscious Jackson

Waking Up:
Hungry – Dave Navarro
(Usually I wake up having to piss like a racehorse.)

Average Day:
I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock of Seagulls
(And when it turns on you, run!)

First Kiss:
Lips Like Sugar - Echo & the Bunnymen
(You know it, baby! I've got sugar kisses!)

First Date:
No Fear – The Rasmus
(Cause I’m fearless like that!)

Falling In Love:
When I’m With You – Sheriff
(LMAO, see I told ya, I’ve got some random ass shit on my iPod)

Fight Scene:
The Trance Is The Motion – Static-X

Breaking Up:
Down With The Clown – Insane Clown Posse
(Funny, this band is one of my ex’s favorite bands.)

Getting Back Together:
Hand of Death (Burn Baby Burn) – Rob Zombie
(I don't thing getting back together was such a good idea...)

Secret Love:
Sona – Dreamcatcher
(another random ass song, but fitting atually)

Life’s Okay:
Shaky Puddin’ – Soledad Brothers
(LOL, right on!)

Mental Breakdown:
Knives – Fuel
(Hide the cutlery!)

Driving Scene:
Mr. Crowley - Ozzy
(I'm on my way to talk to the dead.)

Lesson Learned:
Psycho – System Of A Down
(interesting…I wonder what they are trying to tell me…lol)

Deep Thought:
The Happiest Days of Our Lives – Pink Floyd
(well, I always had the deepest thoughts when I was stoned.)

Flashback:
King Nothing – Metallica
(Pretty much my life so far…)

Partying With Friends:
Revenge – System Of A Down
(Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.)

Running into an Old Flame:
Numb - Drowning Pool

Happy Dance:
Therapy – Ozzy
(Wow, this a different kind of song for The Ozman. Kinda funky, but it works!)

Regretting:
This Is The Day – The The
(How fitting.)

Long Night Alone:
I Drove All Night [Hex Hector Remix] – Celine Dion
(I drove all night to get to you…)

Death Scene:
Working Class Hero – Ozzy
(No meaning of the word retirement for me.)

Closing Credits:
Come Alive – Criss Angel
(Apparently it was all just an illusion…)

What's your soundtrack?