Downsizing-Some Outdoor Stuff

The Story of Stuff...My Stuff says Hello Good-bye

So by hook or by crook, we are hitting the road. But first we've got to get rid of a lot of stuff. These things will go via a variety or routes, to friends, bartered, Freecycle, Craig's List, Ebay, yard-sale, and on an on


Here is some of the stuff that needs to go. For some it's trash to others, treasures.....




Rabbit cages, yes rabbit cages







That's a long big cage, actually 4 of 'em put together



Wire fencing anyone?



More fencing



The funny face on the end is a bottle cap opener, that has in fact opened a goodly number of bottles, ice down drinks or plant a small garden, up to you



Bricks, cheaper by the dozen or by the ton....



A prototype composter, full of aging poultry-poo infused straw....


This spinning composter has made tons of really, really good compost out of all sorts of bio-mass
and quick too...


One galvanized trough full of good dirt, former home to an amazing tomato plant and lots of basil




Lovely rubbermaid horse trough, former home to our poultry raising experiment and tilapia breeding program.....


More to follow....

Every Shot Glass Tells a Story--The Origin

Packing Up and Moving On

For a variety of reasons we have decided to hit the road.

We're going to sell the house, get rid of most of our "stuff", put the rest in storage and see where life takes us. I'm sure there'll be much more on this in future posts but for now, suffice to say we've got a lot of work ahead of us.

As you sift through all the stuff you've managed to collect over the years, memories and stories come flooding in. And I love stories and storytelling. My shot glass collection is a perfect example of this and a perfect excuse for a series of get-togethers.

Every Shot Glass Tells a Story
The Series

Over the years I've amassed quite a collection of shot glasses. Mostly tacky touristy ones from places I've been or events I've participated, very much in the souvenir mode. But how, when and why this started is a little hazy and not just because of the nature of the collection.

Every Shot Glass Tells a Story--The Origin

I asked Cindy if she recalled when I started collecting shot glasses. She said I already had a collection before we started seeing one another.

So I contacted my ex-fiance via facebook (we've kept in touch, are on good terms, and yes Cindy knows about it, in fact they're facebook friends as well)

The dialouge via facebook went something like this:

Me:

Hey kiddo
Got a quick question for you. Had I started collecting shot glasses when we were together? I know I had the ferris wheel of shots and some deco stuff, but had I started collecting the souvenir types, you know the real tacky touristy ones. We are getting ready to sell the house and go nomadic so the bizarre and extensive collection of shot glasses I've amassed will be going into storage, but not before the series, "Every Shot Glass Tells a Story." Only problem is I can't keep the stories straight, particularly after all these years and all those shots. Trying to sort out the origins. Hoping you could add some insight.

Her:

Hmmm the memory archieves... i recall the ferris wheel in our venice place. i do not recall the tacky tourisy ones-you had not been many places then at 23... maybe one from our trip to prescott... so completely nomadic huh-how's that gonna work? what the plan?


Me:

Prescott was where I got some cocktail sets that I still have, including ferris wheel. Yeah the tourist shot glasses started later. I can't recall whether people saw the shot glasses I had and were "kind" enough to add to the collection or..... I have a strange one with pigs all over it from Iowa and kind of think that it was the origin shot. When the f--k I was in Iowa is beyond me. I've made some wild dashes back and forth this country, once getting from LA to Montreal in less than 3 days. I think it was on one of those mad capped adventures that I spied the tackiest shot glass I'd ever laid eyes on and bought it on a lark the rest, is history. And much like real "history" muddled, confused and hugely inaccurate. As to the plan and how it's gonna work. Wow the million dollar question, .......


So in theory, the collection started on a road trip where on a random stop in Prescott, Arizona at some little antique mall, I spied some vintage cocktail sets and shot glass collections and thought I could turn a profit because I had seen the same things at antique shops in LA and at the Rose Bowl Antique Fair and they were much more pricey there. This was before the internet when finding a deal in the middle of the country meant you had to actually be in the middle of the country.

The Collection
The Original Gang

This was the first set that I purchased. Interestingly enough it turns out that the glasses were used in one of my favorite movies Blade Runner. After a little research on the internet, it also turns out that this particular item is somewhat common, meaning not worth that much. None the less it was what some how got the ball rolling and the collection started, but will be going on E-bay shortly.

This guy is too cool for words, but will be leaving us for better pastures hopefully.

"I'm not so sure I'm OK with this decision, although if it gets me out of this box and newspaper wrappings, count me in"



The Wheel of Shots

Another of the originals, but this one's a keeper.

We used to play a game akin to Russian roulette though much less fatal. We would load up the glasses, 2 with water, 2 with vodka, and 2 with grain alcohol. Then we'd circle up and start the game. One would take a shot, not knowing what was in it, the person next to them would have to guess by the expression on the shooter's face. If the guess was correct, the shooter would have to take another shot, otherwise it was the next person's turn. Generally if someone got a shot of grain, they were done for. It's hard to mask and hard to bluff. A fun game that didn't ever last too long.

Not shot glasses but one of the collections from the trip. Also due to go the E-bay/ yard sale route.

Oldies but Goodies
But not OG

After seeing my collection when we were first going out Cindy gave me this set. A keeper both for it's beauty and sentimental value.

It's hard to tell from this horrible photo, but this is a beautiful martini set. It's from the mini-series, "Sinatra", the show where Cindy and I met. It's been boxed up to far too long and goes so well with the series of paintings in our dining room. I will be making a round of Martinis before this lovely goes back into the box and into storage.

What About the Party?

Well, I sent out invites via facebook at the last minute and I think people thought I was joking or something, or maybe it was because it was a Wednesday or who knows but the party was supposed to be at 7pm and prior to it, I had 2 No RSVPs, and 1 maybe to which I replied a rather obscure response as is my manner. So by 7:20 when no one had arrived I continued cleaning up (I had just started ripping up the tile in the kitchen. It looked like a disaster had hit) and set Skye on the task of cleaning mussels and making dinner for the two of us. At 7:30 our "maybe" guests showed up, giving me an excuse to stop working and start entertaining and telling stories.

I love when "maybes" become "yeses"

to be continued.......

Remembering the Rain

Cindy returned from Chicago on Saturday, I am on a job Monday. At the end of the day, this is great and the timing couldn't have been better, but while it was happening, it felt ironic and unfortunate; that after Cindy had been out of town working for so long and we haven't had much family/couple/relationship time, I end up working(how rare is that these days?) But realistically, I do need those union hours and we are in no position to pass up any kind of casholoa. So all in all it was a really good thing.

Plus I got to get out and remember what being a set dresser was like.

It was a commercial so I was on relatively unfamiliar territory. It felt a lot like my early non-union days were set dressers were "art department" or "art dogs", supposed to be capable of doing pretty much of everything. It makes my "Jon-of-All-Trades" moniker seem quaint. I must say I had a great time in spite of the rain, or maybe because of it.

Getting to ride along as we do returns in the 5-ton provides many photo-ops.

On that note:.....



I felt really bad for this guy, pretty awkward taking the picture actually.



Until I saw how much help he had, then I was like, "Step it up, what are you complaing about? You're young and your family needs you help...."



Seriously though the rain was having a significant effect on people and their livelihood.





water was flooding into this business. I'm sure the sand bags helped....A little.



Even the cops were having a tough go at it....not really actually.






But it did provide the opportunities for rainbows to flourish and they did. You can sort of see the double rainbow so many people posted on fb. I heard it was better on the westside.





It was a beautiful rainbow, although I couldn't quite capture it.



There was a lot of silver in those cloud's linings.

Christmas in Mammoth

I can't believe I somehow skipped over our Mammoth Christmas retreat.

While I'm tempted to say best Christmas ever, I've been lucky in my life and have had some amazing Christmases. But it was up in tops.

I'm slammed for time, so want to get a post up and out. I'll be putting a bunch of photos up with little captions. People like pictures.

But will delve further into Mammoth on future posts, because we are planning on relocating there.



We have several Mammoth photo-op traditions. With "Wooly" is one of them.



As is this, took a photo of Skye years ago when the Village was under construction, and every time we've been up since.



Ice Warrior Skye with her icicle sword



Love her spirit



Roaring fire at Tamarak after our first family cross-country ski adventure

View from the Top

We took the Gondola all the way to the highest summit.



The view is pretty amazing from 11,000 ft



no words




Photo-ops a plenty



Nature is literally awesome.

Christmas Santa's POV




Skye getting ready for Downhill

Going local
More on the wonderful Mammoth Brewing Co. later

Merry Mammoth Christmas

Goodbye Yosemite-The Journey Home

The Plan, The Prius, The Grapevine and Mother Nature

We had a tight schedule this Monday. Cindy had a plane to catch back in Los Angeles at 4:45pm.
So the plan was one last free breakfast, load up the Prius, drive out of the park to the point where we don't need chains, unchain the car and speed back to LA and home. Quick repack for Atlanta and then off to LAX.

We figured if we got out by 10 at the latest we'd be fine, but we would aim to leave by 8.

The plan started to unravel from the breakfast which was served at 7:30 instead of 7, which is when we thought it was.

Load the car before breakfast instead of after, no problem. But for some reason, I can't get the interior lights of the Prius to turn off by simply turning off the car. That's weird, but I can turn them off manually. Moving on.

There were a lot of people like us waiting for breakfast to open and to check-out. The hotel was closing for the season that day so there was much hustling about. It's snowing and beautiful.

7:30-We're in and chowing down, before it turns 8 we're finished and checking out.

8:00-Prius does not start....again.

The guy at the gas station next to hotel is having a hard time getting his computer system up and running and one of his guys called in sick. He'll send his tow-truck driver up to the hotel when he gets in at 9.

9:00-An accident up the road shuts down access to the park. And the tow-truck driver is sent to help sort it out. Road won't open for another 45 min to an hour. Badger Pass is closed due to weather, not that we are going to Badger Pass but its closure is an indication of the severity of the storm.

10:45-Prius jumped and we're out, but the 10 am worst case leave time has passed by 45 min. I figure I can make up the lost time.

Snow is coming down hard. In spite of the road conditions and accidents along the way, I am gradually making up for lost time.

I unchain in record time and hit the road hard.

We get stuck behind a snowplow. This could seal the deal and close the door. But he pulls over and we speed by. We are making better time than expected and could still make it.

By the time we hit the hook-up with the highway going south we have made up enough time to think we are going to make it.

Unless of course, the Grapevine is closed.

The Grapevine is closed due to weather. GAME OVER.

We were rerouted through Mojave. A road we know well from many a trip to and from Mammoth.



Have never seen snow in Mojave until now.



A familiar sight, minus the snow and the traffic.



The snow and traffic didn't let up as we eased into Palmdale.



All the way into Valencia the snow continued as did the accidents and bad driving.



Unlike up north, no one had snow tires or chains or knew how to drive in snow or slush.



Needless to say Cindy didn't make her flight. Our 5 hour trip up turned into an 8 1/2 epic journey. But we did finally make it home.

And then it was time to get Cindy to LAX for a red-eye to Atlanta.

Yosemite Roads-A Pictorial Journey

On The Road

When I first booked our stay in Yosemite, I assumed we were staying in the valley. I thought the rest of the park was closed for the winter season. It is not and we were not staying in the valley. I say this because it was my intent to get to the hotel, park, use the park's shuttle service and not drive until we were ready to leave.

What to they say about the road and good intentions?



The Prius the morning of our adventure. Will it start? It didn't in Mammoth a week earlier. Fortunately I had the foresight to put the chains on the day before when it was sunny and relatively dry.



There's the road the morning of our adventure.



There's something nice about following a snowplow during a blizzard, until he pulls of to plow the other side of the road going back to where you started.



Then you're left with this.

Beautiful, but a little daunting when you're in a tin can of a car not particularly good at handling the weather.



As we gained elevation visibility decreased and the clouds became more ominous.



Having been down this road somewhat recently I know what is over the side of the road. Let's just say it's a long way down and makes for amazing views when the clouds aren't there. Hey but at least there's a snow plow leading the way.



The icicles were gorgeous.



There were icicles hanging from inside the tunnel as well.



I love this tunnel.



A few seconds after I shot this a huge icicle, were talking a three-footer at least fell in the middle of the road around fifty feet directly ahead of us.

A little scary.



The raven was just hanging out laughing at the tourists.

And the journey continued and well more pics







We made it home of course, but I did end up driving this road in the dark which had fewer photo-ops and was a little nerve-racking.

As a little footnote, the Prius while handling this day quite well did not start the following morning.