Tag Archives: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium, My Life as a Monterey Bay Aquarium Guide

The Day the Music Died ~ My Beautiful Giant Pacific Octopus ~ RIP

August 8, 2019

RIP My Beautiful Giant Pacific Octopus

As a Monterey Bay Aquarium guide and as an educator perhaps I am not supposed to get overly attached to the marine animals at the Aquarium – but I do.

Susan Clark, Monterey Bay Aquarium guide with 300+ volunteer hours

I truly grow to love them.  I love the hermit crabs, the sea otters, and even the Rock Fish, but mostly I have loved our male Giant Pacific Octopus.

Does that sound crazy?  Dog and cat lovers might think so, but I can’t help it, I love all marine animals ~ they touch my soul.

Why do I feel today like I felt on February 3, 1959 “The Day the Music Died” ?  Our beautiful male Giant Pacific Octopus passed away today and my heart is very sad.

Why I thought of that day in 1959 and that  song – I really don’t know.  All I know is that the beauty of the dance he would do when he came out to play and the music of his being is gone.

The thrill of his presence when he came out of hiding and spread his giant tentacles to say hello to our visitors is now a memory.

But wonderful memories they are and we will always remember  this extraordinary creature.

I love you my beautiful Octopus!  May you rest in peace.

We now have two lovely female Giant Pacific Octopuses at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Please come and see and experience these extraordinary animals.

Homes for Sale

Do you feel like living in Paradise? Pacific Grove, CA

Pacific Grove residence offered for sale $799,000

Imagine living 7 blocks away from this view – every day!  I do and I love it, do you think it would fit your lifestyle?  I’ve just listed a very special property 3 blocks from the historic downtown Pacific Grove and close to the Pacific Grove coast and Recreation Trail.

311 Congress Avenue, Pacfic Grove 2BR/2BA 1400 SF

 

Views of Monterey Bay!

 

Seven blocks from Lover’s Point

Open House Saturday 3/18/17   1:00 – 4:00PM 

Sunday 3/19 11:00am – 1:00pm

If you would like to know more . . .

Contact Susan  if you would like more information.  

Susan Clark ~ 831-320-6801 ~ sclark@apr.com

 

Carmel Lifestyle, Community Events

Chris Botti at the Sunset Center ~ Carmel-By-The-Sea 1/29/17

Chris Botti will play to a SOLD OUT crowd at the Sunset Center Sunday evening.  Every year I have missed seeing him, but last time I swore that the next time he came back – I would be there!  So this time I bought tickets as soon as the announcement was made that he was coming.

So I will be there this weekend, head cold and all, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything.  Chris has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist and puts on a fabulous show.  He has four #1 jazz albums along with multiple Gold, Platinum, and Grammy awards.   My husband said, “You mean he’s just going to play the trumpet all night? ” I told him – “just you wait!”

We are so lucky to have such a fabulous venue like the Sunset Center here in Carmel.  Wonderful entertainment is brought here practically at our door step without having to travel to San Jose or San Francisco – although I love our trips into the City to see shows.

Hope to see many of you there Sunday night – but if not – next time rush to buy tickets as soon as he is announced – he’s a sell out every time he comes.

For a list of upcoming events at the Sunset Center this year go to their web site but be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible – the great acts sell out fast!

P.S. Post show.  The show was fantastic!! Not only was Chris Botti amazing, but the array of musicians and singers he assembled for the show was awesome!  Thanks for the video, Kim!

https://www.facebook.com/kim.dibenedetto.3/videos/10209484311002322/

Susan Clark is  a realtor in Carmel-by-the-Sea and loves to share community information as well as real estate news. Call her for more information about Carmel Real Estate 831-320-6801.

 

Community Events, Local Attractions, Monterey Bay Aquarium

#Monterey Bay Aquarium ~ New exhibit to entice us!

viva-baja-desert-coral (1)

“The slithery.  The scaly.  The spectacularly showy.  Discover incredible animals from land and sea in this special exhibition featuring creatures from the coastal habitats of Baja California.  Life here thrives on the edge of sand and surf, where rugged desert coastline meets the sapphire waters of the Pacific.”

Cortez Rainbow Wrasse
Cortez Rainbow Wrasse

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has opened an amazing new exhibit.  You will not want to miss it!  I first was introduced to Baja in the 1970’s when I flew down there in a small 4-seater aircraft.  The airports were so rough that we had to fly over the runway first to scare the cows off so we could land and the gas had to be strained through netting before filling up the tank.  Baja was dotted with many tiny fishing villages along the coast at that time and we snorkeled and saw many of the amazing fish and critters in this exhibit.  Those were the days . . .

Panamic green moray eel
Panamic green moray eel

Luckily, I never ran into “these guys”!  Although I have seen morays up close and personal scuba diving in other areas in the tropics, I never try to pet them!

Golden trevally
Golden trevally
Desert tortoise
Desert tortoise

“This 800-mile-long narrow peninsula in northwestern Mexico is separated from the mainland by the Gulf of California.

aquarium-baja-map

With almost 2,000 miles of coastline, sun-scorched desert, lush mangrove forests and colorful coral reefs, Baja is a land of contrasts, where unique plants and animals survive and thrive.”

Pacific Seahorse
Pacific Seahorse
Lookdown
Lookdown
Bluespotted Jawfish
Bluespotted Jawfish

I hope I have peaked your interest with these incredible photos from the Monterey Bay Aquarium web site.  Go take a gander at these amazing creatures in person.  You’ll be glad you did!