The Stock Market:

Reached a twelve year low on Monday.

The government: “We’re stepping in, or the markets will collapse.”
The stock markets: the government stepped in, and the stock markets are collapsing.
For Mr Obama allegedly doing The Right Thing, with billions and billions of dollars infused into hands other than those of the taxpayer, why is it that nothing is happening?  
Did we not see The Light?  Have we not been cleansed of our sins by electing the Obamessiah?  Change was expected.  Immediate Change.  Where is this Change?
Help us, Obama-wan-Kenobi.  You’re our only hope!
BZ

Sunday Reflections

Here I am, away on “vacation,” at the Holiday Inn Express on Wave Street in Monterey.  It is late Saturday night as I write, and the rain is finally beginning to fall.  It was overcast all day; now the rains are slanting as expected.  We are here to somewhat belatedly “celebrate” our second anniversary.  My father’s death put that on the back burner, as we got married on Valentine’s Day and my wife had to work that day this year.  There is a bit of celebration, yes; but there is also sadness and wistfulness.  

I wish I had my father back.

We came into Monterey yesterday afternoon and hit Bubba Gump’s for dinner.  My wife loves this place.  Lauren treated us quite nicely, hovering almost.  We had the Big Drinks which yield the large 22-oz BG glasses you get to keep.  I must admit, they have a great logo.  Not as great as my blog’s BZ graphic, mind you, but nice enough.  
I also bought my wife a selection of six silver toe rings, as well as two silver thumb rings.  I am going to concentrate on acquiring turquoise and silver jewelry for her, in the future.  She is Mexican and Cherokee, and her beautiful darker skin and eyes would highlight this.  We wrapped up Friday night with a stop at Ghirardelli’s, with a scoop of ice cream covered in chocolate sauce (me) and fudge (her).
On Saturday, we hit the Fish Hopper’s for lunch.  The clam chowder?  Exquisite!
I made an appointment for a couple’s massage at GG’s Salon & Spa.  We got the deep tissue 80-minute package and, for that, had our feet hot-wrapped.  We also had aromatherapy included.  My wife chose “anxiety reduction” aromatherapy, and I chose “meditation.”  This spa is wonderfully designed but, if you desire a more isolated and quiet feel, it may not be for you.  The front of the spa is open to the outside mall music and shouting from passing tourists.  One interesting sidenote: I personally enjoy heavy deep tissue massage.  My massage therapist was a small female, and asked me how deep to apply her techniques.  I said: “as deep as you’re comfortable with.”  I think, due to her diminutive size, she took umbrage to this.  She sensed that I had hurled the gauntlet.  So she proceeded to make my massage, for at least the first five minutes, a very angry massage.
A few minutes later, once she understood my preferences and how I relaxed, her application became much more human.  At the end, our breathing almost became as one, and, that’s a huge goal attained.  For someone who’s acquired professional deep tissue therapeutical massages in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Capitola, Mendocino and Ft. Bragg, I know a good massage from a bad one.  The therapists here are good; the venue is loud and not so good.
Here’s an earth-shaker: my wife wanted to have dinner once again at Bubba Gump’s.  When we appeared at 4:45 PM, there was already a two-hour wait.  We snuck into a patio table and had dinner here.  In truth, it was quieter than having had dinner inside the restaurant and — of course — the food was just as good.  
We hit the antique mall directly next door to our motel.  I purchased a copy of Ronald Clark’s “Einstein: The Life and Times” for $1.50.  My wife purchased some stick pins and cuff links for her starched shirts.  
Sunday is looming.  We are leaving Monterey on Monday.  I am going up to my cabin, if not snow-occluded, on Monday and Tuesday.  But I’ll be making another post Sunday, for Monday.
I can still hear the ocean from the open window, at 10 PM.  And the rain.  There is the very, now, occasional barking of a seal.
BZ

Ted Nugent On Gun Rights

A bit of a break.  I’m on holiday this weekend, having taken my gorgeous wife to Monterey Bay in celebration of our second anniversary.  I’ve arranged for a “couples massage” tomorrow morning, then we’re going to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  

From the open third floor windows on Wave Street, as I post this, though we don’t have an unimpeded view of the ocean, we can nevertheless hear the seals barking in the night.  What a wonderful sound.

Unfortunately, I’m on my MacBook pro and don’t know how to load photos, much less input and store them on the hard disk.  Therefore I pre-loaded some posts for this specific reason and may leave comments on them.  Some day, when I have the time, I may actually determine how to make a Mac work.  Leopard befuddles me.  It’s not as intuitive as I’d hoped.  Or, probably more likely, I’m actually that old and actually that stupid and unworkable.
I’ll be taking lots of photographs.  Like last time, I may have to wait until I return before I can post them for all to see. 

BZ