Dinner In Ocean Beach

Last night we walked down to Ocean Beach to have dinner at the Island Mermaid, a nice bayside restaurant. They have sushi and sake available on Tuesdays, and we had a nice time. I ordered edamame and some maki rolls, while Dan ordered Thai shrimp. I really enjoyed the evening but Dan thought it was too expensive. The prices at Fire Island restaurants are high, but that's because this is a resort and prices are high on everything out here. The water taxi boat ride back to Cherry Grove is also more expensive this year due I'm sure to the price of gasoline. All in all, I thought it was a nice evening albeit expensive.

Here's another photo I took at Sunday's Fire Island Dance Festival performance.

Jim

Computer Issues And Great Beach Days

I had to send my notebbok back to HP yesterday. It's a facory recall. Hopefully, it will be returned to me in about a week. IN the meantime it's been great out here at the beach. The weather is warm and the water is warm, which has been great for spending time at the beach and swimming. Today we're attending a film festival in Ocean Beach, about an hour and a half walk to the West. Tomorrow we'll be seeing the annual Dancers Responding To AIDS benefit performance in The Pines. This is one of the highlights of the season. I'll post some pictures as soon as I can.

Jim

An Expert's Easy Fix For Social Security

This is the "Island Mermaid" restaurant in Ocean Beach, another nice bay front venue. At the "Mermaid" You can watch the boats on the bay and see a sunset while enjoying your meal.

It wasn't that long ago that "The Decider," Mr. Bush, tried to destroy social security. He called it "privatization," but it would have ended the program as it currently exists.

Actually, the fix for social security is simple, according to one expert, Robert M. Ball, who was the Commissioner of the program under three presidents: Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Writing in the American Association Of Retired Persons (AARP) journal in August, Mr. Ball wrote:

The current Social Security deficit of about 2 percent of payroll over the
next 75 years...can be met by three changes that are desirable in themselves and
that would bring the program into close actuarial balance: (1) gradually raise
the maximum earnings base that determines the amount of earnings taxed and
credited for benefits; (2) diversify trust fund
investments by putting part of the funds into indexed stocks; and (3)
prevent the complete elimination of the estate tax and instead freeze the estate
tax as it will be in 2009 (exempts all estates below $3.5 million, $7 million
per couple) and change it into a social security tax.

Sounds easy and relatively painless, doesn't it? That is unless you're a brain dead Republican or conservative that can't stand the idea of insuring that seniors are covered by Social Security even if it means paying for the plan through modest, progressive taxation. Hopefully, a Democratic administration will install this fix if they win the next election.

Jim

Post Labor Day On The Island

This is the entrance to a house in Ocean Bay Park. The entire house is decorated with similar South Seas carvings. It's quite a sight.

We walked down to Ocean Beach with friends earlier this week. The plan was to have dinner at "Flynns" in Ocean Bay Park, however, it was closed. Our second choice, "Matthews" in Ocean Beach was also closed. We were surprised that these popular restaurants have already gone on a weekend only schedule, so soon after Labor Day. We ended up dining at "The Island Mermaid" in Ocean Beach, another nice bay front restaurant.

Jim

September As A Beginning

This photo shows the outdoor dining deck of one of the most famous and popular Fire Island eateries, "Matthews" in Ocean Beach. It's fun to have dinner overlooking the Great South Bay. Late in the season, when the days are shorter, you can watch the sun set over the bay from your table. The food is good with an interesting menu that features seafood.

We heard someone opine yesterday on TV that September is really the true beginning of the new year. Schools reopen, and everyone begins to get out of vacation mode and back into working and planning for the busy Fall-Winter season ahead. September for me has always been a nostalgic time, a warm, comfortable time to reflect on where I've been and where I'm going in life. I have a few albums that I like to listen to at this time of year, such as Sinatra's "September Of My Years." I always enjoy listening to several versions of Kurt Weil's great "September Song" during the month of September. A lot of great songs have September in their title. September is a special month, a month to enjoy the warm "Summer Wind" while it lasts, and to anticipate the enjoyment of the months ahead. September is truly a time of beginning.

Jim