Death of the Pentax K2....or not

Miss B and I went hiking at Big Basin a few weekends ago on our monthly camping trip. After doing 3 miles straight up into the mountains, we came upon a wonderful clearing with a view of the ocean. I have not yet made it into the digital age, therefore was carrying my old 35mm Pentax K2, which I purchased 6 or 7 years ago when my very first camera (a Richo 35mm) bit the dust. I love film. I love the developing process. I love framing it up in the manual view finder, it's what I know. Went to do all this with my Pentax and shazam, the shutter would not engage. Nothing. Nada. I tried all kinds of different things to get it to work. All the old tricks. No shutter action. No pictures of the beautiful clearing. Well, we did take some with B's digital, I guess I am simply being dramatic. So I said goodbye to my 35mm and was ready to make the transition into the digital age as processing film is expensive and simply not practical anymore. I had embraced this change and was ready.

Until, yesterday, looking at the camera again, it was discovered it wasn't dead at all. The manual shutter lock was on and apparently I couldn't figure that out with the ocean view in front of me, missing out on this photo opportunity. Disengaged the lock. Loaded a new roll of B/W film, and off I was to go shoot more pictures with my trusty old school 35mm Pentax K2.

What does this tell me? 1) Sometimes I am just not very smart. 2) I can still embrace the digital age AND use the old school 35mm. 3) Taking a step back letting some time pass before completely giving up is a good thing. 4) I still love my 35mm camera and can use it whenever I want. 5) Miss B is seriously one of the most patient people on the earth, watching me freak out over my broken love, telling me it's all going to be ok, and to relax. I would have wanted to kill me if I was her!

With this, I will pursue the new digital SLR and hopefully have wonderful film and digital pictures to share on this blog. An old dog can learn new tricks. Yep. Watch me go!

Happy Birthday Miss B!

Her special day was actually yesterday but "The Man" prevented me from posting. Miss B deserves the best birthday EVER!

What's going on here?

I do believe this is an impression of Billy Idol, although at this point into the birthday celebration for A, it's hard to say. There were serveral factors which could have led us to be talking about a variety of subjects. Billy Idol may have just been one of them. Happy birthday A! It was a wonderful day!

Every Day is Like Sunday

I am at work, listening to my favorite online radio station, KCRW. The Smiths are playing and it's a wonderful day to hear the song listed in the title of the post again. Being a child of the 80's/90's, of course I will always have a special tie to this music. Our last trip to Big Basin I filled up my CD holder with all kinds of stuff that I hadn't listened to in a long time. This included Pat Benatar, The Smiths, The B-52's, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., to name a few. Belting out Heartbreaker and Fire and Ice completely rocked! It's amazing where this can take you back to as well. All sorts of college and high school memories. Just thinking of the fashion that went along with this music was silly as well. Nothing like a walk down memory lane. Reading Sir JEthan's post the other day, he was making a plug for the new B-52's album Funplex. After they sold out to the Flintstone's movie with Rosie O, I pretty much gave up on them. But will seek it out. And what's with the big push of R.E.M. lately? Last weekend B and I were shopping downtown and they played it everywhere! Lululemon, BR, the Levi's store, you name it, R.E.M. was happening. They do have a new album out which is supposed to be good but again, gave up on them after UP. I can't believe I hung in there that long!

One thing I forgot to mention was the first karaoke experience a few weekends ago. I have never felt comfortable singing in front of people. Ever. It's completely a confidence thing. I can carry a tune and enjoy singing along while cleaning, in the car, where ever. Some people we met through our Saturday morning yoga class had a karaoke party and invited us. Neither B nor I were all that excited about going, but opted to anyway. We really didn't know these people that well but thought it could be fun. By the time we showed up they were lit and in action. We glanced through the song selection book and found something that would work: Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar, see above. We rocked it! Other selections of the evening were Close to You by the Carpenters and finally You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC. Got a standing ovation for the last one! So, yes, I will do karaoke again and have figured out I just need to know the song really well and hey, it's no problem. Perhaps I will throw in a little Buffalo Soldier next time. Right?

Camping Season is Here!

It's true! That time of year again when Miss B and I attempt to go camping at least once per month here in the bay area. Our stand by has been Salt Point. We went south this time around to Big Basin, just past San Jose yet before Santa Cruz. It's the first time we have not gone north. What was shocking is that it didn't take very long to get there. It was a twisty turny road on the 9 and then the 236 and B survived it. That means she has to drive. Big Basin was absolutely beautiful, as you can see from the pictures. Went on an 11 mile hike to a series of waterfalls which were mind blowing. Mile 9 we were done but had to do what we had to do to get back. It was a loop which meant no out and back, new scenery the entire time. Also, wonderful were the camping sites. They were walk ins which meant more privacy and seclusion. I do believe we found our new potential quick camping spot. We are headed back this weekend for our April trip! Hooray! I camping season!