Bearshorty's musings

Valentine’s Day. I used to really dislike this ‘holiday’ since it always had silly made-up expectations. In high school, it just made me miserable because, in our school, kids could have roses ordered to be delivered, which really reminded all who were not really dating that this day sucks. It was much better once I was in college since I had Bear by then. But some years I was in England and the whole hoopla just made me miss him too much. But we sort of settled into a routine - no gifts, just exchanging cards and I get one rose and we just spend time together. In the past, Bear cooked for me too, which I liked. This year, it was up to him to pick our date and it was a good choice on his part.

We went to aquarium in the afternoon and stayed there for three hours until the aquarium closed. I haven’t been in the aquarium for a long time but it was definitely my favorite visit. I liked the tropical fish and their color and weird shapes; I also liked the seals and the jellyfish. But my favorite was probably the giant turtle in the shark tank. We watched the sharks being fed (and a giant stink ray too that was mopping up the floor by eating all the fish there) and later we watched the penguins eat in a shivering cold so that people would actually have a chance to see them (the penguins were mainly hiding in their holes since it was cold). Bear liked penguins the most followed by the sea lion who swam around as a little torpedo. Overall, it was a bit cold but a lot of fun.

In the evening we got some Chinese food (and a Wendy’s frosty for desert). I don’t get Chinese food a lot now so I got sweet and sour chicken and enjoyed Bear’s horror reactions to the deep fried goodness. And he never had a frosty before, which I find weird.

Then we watched some ‘Planet Earth’ and some Olympics. The whole day felt low-key, which is the way I like it and it was a very good day.

Planet Earth “Jungles.” Some favorite things: what happens in the rainforest when a giant tree falls, birds of paradise and their weird shapes to court girl-birds, monkeys, ants and the fungi that infects them.

For Olympics program we watch a bit of pairs short program and men moguls. I liked pairs short; one of the lifts where a guy holds the girl up by one hand always impresses me. Men moguls were more enlightening then women’s moguls. Two of the men lost control either because of the speed or after a jump and went off course, and it allowed the viewers to comprehend just how fast they are going and the skill involved. Very impressive.