A KEY WEST SYRACUSE DAY

 

My cold is better. Just a tinge left. I only went out for the basketball game yesterday afternoon. Afterwards, came home and went to bed. Slept from 4 to 8. Up to eat. Back to sleep at 10 till 7 this morning. My body apparently was in a healing mode.

A typical Syracuse game. Tough on the heart! Syracuse was winning by 18 ten minutes into the game. We were going to kill Miami, I thought. With 8 minutes to go in the game, Miami was one up. Syracuse won by 12 points 64-52.

Syracuse knows how to win. This was the seventh close game they have played tight with minutes to go and went on to win. It cannot be done all the time. There will be a first defeat. I wonder where it will come.

Next game is Wednesday at 9 against Wake forest. I will be watching the game at Don’s Place. Saturday is Duke! Could be the  one. I hope not.

Dan and Lisa were at Lukas’ place to watch the game with me. They brought David and Judy from Orlando. Dan and David were born and raised in Auburn, NY. David and Judy moved to Orlando 26 years ago. He is in the import/export of sea food business.

David and Judy were very likeable people. Much like Dan and Lisa. Hope I meet them again.

It is interesting. Both Dan and David grew up in Auburn. They left to make their fortunes elsewhere. Dan in Skaneateles and David in Orlando. I occasionally tried lawsuits in Auburn Supreme Court. My recollection of Auburn is a sad one. I thought the city was depressing. Uniquely so. It hit you in the face as soon as you entered the city limits. I am originally from upstate New York, also. Utica. Some 65 miles from Auburn. Utica was and is old.For whatever reason, the depression factor is not as evident in Utica.

The problem is these cities are all part of the northeast rust belt. The mills left 60-80 years ago and these communities continue to find it difficult to dig out.

Lest I forget. David told me he was reading my book The World Upside Down. Made me feel good! Dan told me that he especially liked the last essay. The one having to do with Greece and the rise of a present day Nazi Party.

Traffic driving into Key West was atrocious. It took me one hour to get to Key West itself once I entered onto US 1. The Bone Island Triathlon was going on. The participants were at the last stage. The bike riding one. Right down US 1 into Key West. My usual 5 minute drive turned into a long one.

Bone Island is the English translation of the original Spanish name for Key West. It was called Bone island because the Indians would bring their captured persons to Bone Island to cook and eat. The Indians were cannibals. They left the bones strewn around when they returned to their homes on a different key.

John Lukas is the owner of the Sports Pub. There was an article in the Key West Citizen a few days ago telling of a tourist who went to six different places to eat and drink  in one day and left all without paying. John was one of the ones hit. The bill was something like $66. The thief must have been entertaining.

This weekend is the Key West Craft show. Always an interesting and exciting event. It is on Whitehead by Truman Annex. Art, wood work, jewelry, clothes, etc. All good stuff. No junk. White tents for several blocks from whence the merchants sell their wares.

Jack Baron is one of the finest persons I have met in my lifetime. Smart, also. He died six years ago. I used to visit his art studio in Square One. There were several of us who would gather mornings to chat. We solved world problems.

Though I admired Jack’s work, I never bought one of his paintings. I did not want to get involved with local art. Jack’s forte was black women. He worked with acrylics. He had painted a black Madonna and Child. I loved he painting! It had been unsold for a year. Jack knew I wanted to buy it. But if I did, it would have been contrary to my decision to avoid local art.

At the Key West Craft Show 15 years ago, I came upon Jack’s white tent. His featured painting and the one having the most prominence was the Madonna and Child. I became excited. It was my painting! What are you doing, I asked. Selling it, he said. I have to eat! I bought the painting on the spot. Jack was laughing. It was a gotcha moment.

I ended up buying  a total of twelve Jack Baron paintings. Most hang in my dining room. The dining room is all Jack Baron. The Madonna and Child hangs in the living room in its own special place.

Enjoy your Sunday!

DOWN FOR THE DAY

 

A minor cold spell is upon us this morning. It is 68 degrees. The high will only be 73. Tomorrow a return to the low 80s, however.

The previous paragraph was written with tongue in cheek. The snow storm up north is horrendous. My home town of Utica is buried in a foot of snow.

I remember the snow and storms. It was never fun. I always hated it. Tthought there had to be a better way. Found it. Key West.

Yesterday was a real quiet one for me. I spent most of the day down.

Since Christmas eve, every time I got up I felt light headed. Like I was going to pass out. My stomach not feeling right, also. Continued through yesterday. So I stayed in bed.

I seem ok this morning. I suspect with my weight change that I may need an adjustment in the blood pressure medicine.

Since I was in bed, I missed Les Miserables again. Perhaps this evening.

Tomorrow, the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Worldwide on the internet at www.tvchannel.19.

Join me. Another good show.

Besides the subjects already reported, I shall be discussing the fiscal cliff, the need for term limits, Bone Island, God’s gender in dispute, the Pledge of Allegiance, Ben Franklin and Poor Richard’s Almanac, the 38th parallel, and Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana.

Quite a mixed bag.

Enjoy your day!

 

SOME KEY WEST HISTORY

 

Key West was not always called Key West.  Back in days of old, the island was known as Cayo Hueso. Translated, Bone Island.

Why Bone Island? There were many bones on the island. Human bones. The interesting story involves the source of the bones.

One theory is that the island was once the scene of a Native American battlefield. An Indian war.

Another is that it was a burial island.

The third is that the southern keys were inhabited with cannibals. When the meal had been captured, he/she was taken to what is now Key West for cooking and dining. The bones were all that was left following the feast. There was no clean up. The bones remained.

The most popular scenario is the cannibal one. Locals tell the story as such. I have never heard the first two, except from history books.

To be a Conch is the biggest of honors in Key West. Today, a Conch is a native born Key Wester. Only native born can claim the title. A person can live in Key West for fifty years and still not qualify for Conch status.

Conchhood is a matter of great pride.

The first Conchs were immigrants from the Bahamas. White in color. They initially were of European ancestry, settled for a period in the Bahamas, and then found their way to Key West. Many many years ago.

Typical Sunday yesterday. Quiet. Especially quiet because of my diet. No drinking or excessive eating. Some exercise. Things I find I do alone.

Walked Smathers. At mid day, there were few walking the beach. I think because of the sun.

Afterwards, I went to Sears. I noted in the newspaper that Sears was having a big sale. I was interested in upgrading my Key West attire for my soon to be new body. New tee shirts and shorts. I was not impressed and purchased nothing.

Then to Publix. Just a few things required. Diet foods.

Last night was the final showing of Boardwalk Empire.  I thought it was going to be the end of the series. It was not. It picks up with a new year in January.

The show failed to impress me. Actually confusing. Too many minor plots apparently had to be concluded with the final show. It was too much in too little time. At least for me. Made for a disappointing show.

Enjoy your day!