My pal and I went to Coney Island to take a walk and have breakfast at Tom's restaurant. Inside we met a photographer friend who told us the "Walk a mile in our shoes" group organized in Rockaway that "walks" in effort of congress to vote "yes" on the Sandy bill and convey the impact Sandy had on so many lives in the affected areas was due on the boardwalk around one.
By 2:00 they hadn't arrived yet and we had to leave but decided to go aways down to the aquarium and see what was going on. Of course, the gates were locked and the aquarium closed due to storm damage.
However, we were struck by the irony of the day when we noticed the "HAPPY FEET" penguin exhibet bldg.-a wonderful 4d penguin film experience and entrance empty and dark surrounded still by piles of excess sand and mud. We know most of the animals are safe but aqaurium needs lots of help. Then I remembered last week at Tom's again I ran into an aquaruim worker by the bathrooms who told me the aquarium was a mess and they had some job ahead of them. Back at my table my friend noticed the guy got a big bucket filled with ice and a large bottle of milk from the restaurant counter. We wondered if it was for Mitik the heroic baby Walrus or other animals but didn't ask.
We hope "HAPPY FEET" gets back on it's feet again and the aquarium and others get the help they need.
On a cheerier note the owner of Tom's restaurant offered us earlier while we were waiting free Belgium Waffles (see photo) and ice cream! I had a toothache but my firends devoured in two seconds.