Dear "R-listers"

I've been trying to figure out how to annotate charts in ggplot (ie add text
to line charts, highlighted boxes etc).  By and large, I can get close to
what i want with base graphics, but would ideally like to use ggplot
whenever possible (additionally, i would like to add text labels
automatically to the chart).  The code is below

I suspect I need to use geom_rect, but what is foxing me is how to set up
the aes() parameters.

I'd be very grateful for any help

thanks

simeon

###################
require(zoo)
require(chron)

vix <-read.csv("
http://www.cboe.com/publish/ScheduledTask/MktData/datahouse/vixcurrent.csv",
               header=T,sep=",", na.strings="")
names(vix) <- tolower(names(vix))
vix$dates <- chron(as.character(vix$date),out.format="d-mon-y")
vix.z <- zoo(vix[,-1],vix$dates)
vix.close1<-aggregate(vix.z[,4],as.yearmon,max)

# 1990 - 2003
vix.ar1 <- read.csv("C:/Data/MindShare/Recession/vixarchive.csv",
           header=T,sep=",", quote="",na.strings="n/a")
names(vix.ar1) <- tolower(names(vix.ar1))
vix.ar1$dates <- chron(as.character(vix.ar1$date),out.format="d-mon-y")
vix.ar1.z <- zoo(vix.ar1[,-1],vix.ar1$dates)
vix.close2<-aggregate(vix.ar1.z[,4],as.yearmon,max)
vix.close<-rbind(vix.close1,vix.close2)

op <- par(mar = c(6, 8, 6, 6) + 0.1)
gulf1 <- as.yearmon("1990-8-2")
gulf2 <- as.yearmon("1991-2-28")
asia1 <- as.yearmon("1997-9-11")
asia2 <- as.yearmon("1998-11-14")
sep1 <- as.yearmon("2001-9-11")
sep2 <- as.yearmon("2002-9-14")
crunch1 <- as.yearmon("2007-8-9")
crunch2 <- as.yearmon("2009-11-14")
plot(vix.close, type = "n",ylab="S&P500 volatility",
     xlab="Date",cex.axis=1.5,cex.lab=1.7,ylim=c(0,90) )
rect(gulf1, par("usr")[3], gulf2,
par("usr")[4],col=rgb(195,188,175,maxColorValue=255),border=0)
rect(asia1, par("usr")[3], asia2,
par("usr")[4],col=rgb(195,188,175,maxColorValue=255),border=0)
rect(sep1, par("usr")[3], sep2, par("usr")[4],
col=rgb(195,188,175,maxColorValue=255),border=0)
rect(crunch1, par("usr")[3], crunch2, par("usr")[4],
col=rgb(195,188,175,maxColorValue=255), border = 0)
lines(vix.close,lwd=3,col=rgb(45,12,75,maxColorValue=255))
title(main="US STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY 1962-2008 ",adj=0,cex.main=2.3)

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