symbols of velvet jesus love and neon affection

two weeks in san diego (the 3rd through the 18th), combined with an aunt whose capacity for shopping is only surpassed (or at least met) by mine, makes for some very successful treasure hunting. among my found, made and pilfered objects are things like...

velvety pink jesus (deodorant not for sale).

jesus is going to shine his light all over my room after 

i give him 

a lamp shade and a light bulb.

courtesy of the leaping lotus.

made: two industrial chain bracelets 

found: the most ridiculous book by a man with an amazing name, as evidenced 

by this paragraph on page five:

"But so charming was the morning's splendor and serenity that good nature

endured the ordeal until I had cleared the mongrel disturbers

of my peace and only a pleading donkey boy or two, a Bedouin guide,

or a jabbering scarab seller, taking heart of hope, still dogged my steps."

chapter titles include 

1. "Allah Loves a Lover"

2. "What the Sphinx is Watching"

3. "In a Queen's Chamber"

apparently i missed my era, and should have been a British writer in the early 1900s 

when publishing houses were not endowed with any of the discrimination against

poor literature that exists now. 

"1,001 Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Imagery and its Meaning"

includes enlightenment on the symbolism of almonds:

"The almond has ancient associations with the idea of self generation because the juice

from pressed almonds was linked with semen. Hence old European superstitions that virgins

could wake up pregnant if they fell asleep under an almond tree."

"fie, fie daughter. methinks i hath warned thee many times ere now, thou art never to nap nigh the almond tree. 

nowest thou art knockethed up."