A Few Days In Heaven - Part Three

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Filling a little down today...but I'll get over it. Not sure exactly why, mostly concern for my Wingman starting his treatment today, friends moving away, job irking the hell out of me everyday, but all things concerned, I still have my health, great friends, great family, and a job that I'm extremely good at and allows me to travel around the world. This morning, I did some cleaning up and catching up on errands since I'd been gone over a week...then rented and watched "No Country for Old Men" starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Woody Harrelson. It came highly recommended by Camb and the Mad Scientist...and it did not disappoint. A hunter (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a heroin deal gone wrong...and two million dollars cash. He decides to keep it...and so they come after him...including one of the creepiest guys you'll ever hope never to meet (Javier Bardem). Tommy Lee Jones is the Texas sheriff trying to bring justice...but is also conflicted by the way the world has become during his tenure as a sheriff. There's a lot of monologues, quick wit, slow intense moments, and truly fitting of winning Best Picture. I think that everybody should check it out...especially if you like this kind of cat-and-mouse movie, Coen Brothers movies ("Big Lebowski", "Intolerable Cruelty", "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", etc.), or just like great storytelling and intense delivery. Check it out. Now, let's return to the San Diego trip, shall we?

Day 5 - San Diego / Laguna Niguel

Because the hot tub was lukewarm the night before, the Wingmans had lingering injuries, and we were on vacation, we decided to wake up a little later this day and recover for Sea World tomorrow. We decided to skip breakfast, then head to the Gaslamp Quarter. We checked out a few shops there...but then found a nice restaurant called the Rockin' Baja Lobster for brunch...and ordered an incredible bucket of food, including lobster, crab legs, steak, chicken, shrimp, and others. It's was like a Noah's Bucket of food...and it was delicious and filling for all three of us. Pictures...

View of Marina from hotel

Aircraft Carrier in the Harbor

City view from the hotel

Battleship in the Harbor

PETCO Park - Home of the Padres

Again, I don't get modern art...

Big shout-out to Bubbles starting her new job

A Unique Booty-que indeed...

"Yes...I mean, si senorita."

"Don't get too close!"

Just proves my point, they'd

eat you if they had the chance

After lunch, we decided to do more shopping...at the Salvation Army and Goodwill stores. You may be wondering why we would do such a thing. I would answer because that's where some cool stuff can be found...at great prices. Last year in Vegas, I bought a 60" big screen TV for $50...and gave it to Mrs. Wingman for her birthday / housewarming. No finds like that this year...but we still found a few clothing items and other knick-knacks. Some great furniture was there...but our vehicle was full this time around. After shopping, we headed for our next hotel, the 5-star coastline luxury resort, the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Along the way, we drove past a beautiful LDS temple and took some pictures.

Mural outside the Goodwill Store

LDS Temple

Why does everything remind me of breasts?

I had stayed here one night on the way back from that San Diego / Ensanada cruise last year...and the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is one of my favorite hotels...and I've seen a LOT. Great location, newly renovated, full-service spa, beach access, friendly staff, even a great place for business travelers with internet access & meeting space. However, it is very expensive...but if you're in that tax bracket or are looking for an incredible romantic getaway, this is the place to go...hands down. We arrived there around sunset, so we quickly put our luggage away and headed for the beach during the Magic Hour, where everything is beautiful.

Warm Welcome

Bottle of Red Wine & a Chocolate Conch Shell

Found this wine at a local grocery store

It doesn't even have to taste good...

because it looks delicious

Here's the Wingman sending pictures

to loved ones in Utah to rub it in

The surfers are there all the time...

and they're hypnotic to watch

And He said, "Let there be LIGHT!!!"

I think she has an idea...

So romantic...yet so ronery...(sigh)

Afterwards, we drove around the city, racing Jaguars & Beemers whenever the opportunity arose, and looking for a grocery store to grab some breakfast, fruit, and other essentials (beverages). We did take a scenic route...but luckily if you head west, you'll run into the Pacific Coast Highway...and then you can just take that beautiful drive back to the hotel. Great little town. I could live there when I have seven digits in my bank account. We then headed to the hot tub, had a few Coronas, and relaxed luxury style for the night. I'm still convinced that there's something in the sheets that make you sleep heavenly.

Day 6 - Sea World

We woke up and had bagels with veggie cream cheese for breakfast...and stocked up on water for the trip to Sea World. We were slightly saddened to walk to the front gates to find that two major attractions were closed...those being the Journey to Atlantis (badass rollercoaster) and my reason for going...the Manatee exhibit. We made it work though. You'll see. Enjoy the pictures...

Greeted by a Penguin

That's an average sized penguing,

Mrs. Wingman is just really small

"YOU ATE MY FISH, YOU BASTARD!!!"

"AAAAARP! ARP! ARP! ARP!"

"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID LAST TIME..."

"Oh my God, it's Marlon Brando!!!"

"SHAMU!!! YAAAAAY!!!"

"Holy crap, it's a two-headed orca!!!"

Snowflake?

Just so you know, the dolphin is

shooting up out of the water...

so he literally scared the crap out of this girl

"Are the inhabitants called Forbidden Reefers?"

Eels are just evil lookin' bastards

Sharks are wicked awesome though

Prehistoric sharks used to swallow couples whole

RIP Steve Irwin

Chernobyl Starfish?

"QUICK!!! GET HELP!!!"

"Yes, that's it. Cradle the balls. Work the shaft."

This is how you entertain yourself when the

Manatee Rescue exhibit is closed

The glass is there for your protection

The beautiful Beluga Whale

She literally bumped the glass wall for this picture

I think she liked me...or loves to be photographed

Dolphins after closing

"Show's over, folks!!! Get out of here!!!

Aaagh, I love this ice bath."

We again stuck around a little after closing...but there was no Reptile Hut to hide in...so we eventually got out of there around sunset...and drove back to the hotel. However, as we approached, we grew hungry. There was an interesting restaurant on the road called Wicked Garden. It was apparently a witch-themed restaurant...but was very beautifully decorated with provocative paintings in the bathrooms, great statues, provides a dark steamy atmosphere, and all the waitresses have sexy tight black cocktail dresses. The food was even good too...but the prices were incredible. There were steaks priced over a hundred dollars. So we decided to just get a delicious cheese fondue appetizer to split between us...and then went a few more blocks to Baja Fish Tacos and had a delicous blackened fish burrito with chips and salsa for under ten bucks. I love fish tacos...like more than a friend...and yes, I mean that as a double entendre as well.

LDS Temple on the way back

A witch-themed restaurant

on top of a massage parlor

Me likey!!!

For example, this picture was above the crapper

Ten times better than a newspaper

I can read this for hours

After returning to the hotel, we went to the hot tub once again then watched "30 Days of Night" which we grabbed at a Redbox. The movie was pretty cookie cutter honestly. I ugh...was confused with the whole element of timekeeping. Honestly, that movie seemed like it was just one night rather than thirty...and it was mostly because stuff would happen like, they would be at a place where they decided to stay on Day 4, then the screen would flash to Day 18 or something...and they're exactly where they were. Did nothing happen over the two weeks? I was just kind of caught on the little things like that...but it was still okay...for a vampire movie. Gory as all hell...but a little off. Maybe it was just me...or they edited out key scenes or something because of time constraints. I don't know. See it if you like vampire movies. That's exactly what it is...and at least it's better than "Bloodrayne" but does not have the steamy sex scene with Kristina Lokken. Still convinced that's why Sir Ben Kingsley did that movie.

Anyway, I think I'll wrap it up there for the day. Tomorrow should be the last day to sum up this San Diego trip...which is good because I have stuff to discuss, sort of. Oh...and in case you didn't believe that I was going to include vampires, witches, Sea World, and beautiful architecture from my boast yesterday...now you know that I mean what I say. I hope that you all enjoy it. Please feel free to let me know what you think...and have a great day. Our prayers goes out to the Wingmans who start treatment soon. We all wish you a speedy and full recovery. You know that if you ever need anything, just ask. Love y'all madly. Peace.