On the eve of a 10 day cleanse, I wrapped up my productive day and needed to get the hell out of my apartment. I had already exercised, done my errands, done my job search, and on and on, and just needed to get out. Recently I had been lamenting the lack of seafood restaurants in this coastal city. You don't see many. But I had spotted one along congested Garnet Ave, the main drag of Pacific Beach, and though I had passed over it without notice countless times, it stuck out to me on a recent return from an auto shop so I took it as a sign to drop in.
The Fish Shop rocks. Walk in and choose any of the fresh fish, which is on display, as it would be at the market. Order right @the counter. Request your catch as either a sandwich, salad or entree. You also have a choice of prepared dishes including the requisite fried fish. Sit inside or outside at beautiful wood picnic style tables. Drink your booze out of plastic cups. And everyone working there cares. I was asked if I wanted the music turned down so I could watch the Sugar Bowl, which was playing on the tv. As I left, I was asked how everything was. I told them I would be back. But there is no table service. You leave your tips at the counter if you choose, and then your food is delivered once it is ready.
Wonder why I never saw this place before. This is the type of place that is a destination restaurant in New England. This one is placed along a busy street right across from a Midas and a CVS. That's Southern California.
After that I went to the movies to see Casino Jack, about that douchebag Jack Abramoff. Excellent and engaging movie. Wonderful story of American avarice, delusion, desire, immorality, and hypocrisy. The film was so well done, especially Kevin Spacey as Abramoff, that you felt a bit of compassion for this slimeball. But that is only because it was a DC story, and all the cocksuckers putting this guy out to dry were the same ones who used him to maintain their own political influence. On the way out, a guy was astounded and asked me, "is that all true? They were using all the real names?"
"That's because it is true, and it's part of the public record."
"I hope the people in Washington see this and start to think twice about what they do," he replied.
Don't hold your breath.
Because I'm a cynical New Englander, what really shocked me was the fact that the film was dedicated to the memory of the talented director George Hickenlooper. I had no idea he had passed away, or that he was the cousin of the governor of Colorado. Hickenlooper made one of my favorite documentaries, The Mayor of the Sunset Strip, an absolutely wonderful LA story. And he also made the very special Man From Elysian Fields. Hickenlooper had a keen insight into disappointment and broken dreams. There is a terrific line in Casino Jack where Abramoff says, "everybody knows that DC is just Hollywood with ugly people." Biting truth.
Hickenlooper was the perfect choice to denigrate Washington DC for being exactly as self serving and shallow as Los Angeles. Before tonight, I had no idea that Abramoff was a failed Hollywood producer, whose two main credits were Red Scorpion, and its sequel, which could not even boast a return appearance by Dolph Lundgren, the fantastic star of the original. After that, he went to DC and used his (undeniable) intellect to sway the powers that be to his own gain, with no thought of how it affected all of us as citizens. But he's no satan, because so many of those elected officials are doing the exact same thing, with every thought directed at themselves. Power, legacy, influence. No concern or awareness of how this affects their constituency, the American people. For me, all that grandiose superciliousness is fine for Hollywood, but completely reprehensible in DC. No wonder I hate politics.
Enough of that.
My horoscope told me that today would be important in yielding fortune. I ended up playing Hot Spot (California version of Keno) in the PB Pub. And, along with Michelle the bartender, I went on a four game roll. Yielded 12 bucks off a dollar start, including the three games. No grand fortune, but I have the money, along with the previous money I won in Hot Spot tucked away in the drawer.
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