MOONING

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Is it mooning or the finger that best expresses one’s feelings on occasion? I must confess I have extended my finger a few times. Never mooned, however.

Twenty three year old Peter Kehoe mooned last thursday in Dublin, Ireland. A strange set of circumstances led to the mooning.

Peter and his girl friend hurried to the Dublin Airport to catch a 7 am flight to Amsterdam. They were late. The plane was already moving.

Peter broke down the airport door and ran toward the Ryanair plane.

He shouted “Wait!”

Ryanair personnel caught Peter and held him for the police. He was arrested.

The charge was damage to a door lock. He was released pending trial.

As he left court, reporters and a crowd awaited him. Peter turned, dropped his pants and mooned them. Then departed.

Mooning Constitutionally protected free speech had the matter occurred in the U.S.? I don’t know. The finger is.

Mooning probably indecent exposure.

I avoided politics yesterday. Today a bit also. So much on the airways it loses its bang. I have decided to take a rest from that which has been consuming our minds for 2-3 days.

Last night, we celebrated Lisa’s birthday. Dinner at Chico’s, a Mexican restaurant on Stock Island. It was fun.

I shared a story about Lisa’s birth with the family. One they did not know.

We had a boy and then 2 girls before Lisa was born. We were sure the fourth would be a boy. We would name him Louis. The wife and I never considered it would be a girl.

Took 3 days for us to come up with a name. Our baby lay in the hospital unnamed. Finally, Lisa Marie.

After dinner, we returned to Lisa’s. Birthday cake! Robert and Ally had baked the cake. Great tasting! Even Jake enjoyed a piece. A small one.

A political comment. I question the value of the FBI report in the Kavanaugh matter. If the White House limited the questions and persons to be interviewed, the investigation is a sham. This additional FBI review is a strange one. Not aware of any done in a similar fashion in the past.

Trump says the investigation is unencumbered. I do not believe him. The American people are entitled to one free from Presidential control.

The tariff war with Mexico and China appears to have been resolved. Not completely, however. Aluminum and steel not a part of the Canadian portion of the agreement.

The big tariff war is with China. In the billions. The British Foreign Office issued a report this past week that the U.S. is currently winning the war. I wrote/spoke to that effect last week. China’s economy in rough condition prior to the tariffs. However, I believe things will balance out and within 6 months both the U.S. and China will be mutually hurting.

My concern goes beyond the economic war. I fear a military one. Something I have been alluding to frequently. China’s military is new and strong. The U.S. not yet capable of stopping new Chinese missiles heading to our shores. There is more.

Asians are a proud people. Some countries will take Trump defecating on them. China will not. At some point they will say enough is enough. Then the economic war will turn into a military one.

Recall the time before World War II. Japan had invaded Manchuria. President Roosevelt told Japan to get out. They refused. Roosevelt blocked passage of oil vessels from various Asian islands to Japan. Japan could not survive without the oil. Pearl Harbor the result.

Ah, the credit card! Now usable for Sunday collections at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia. Called “tap and go.” Don’t even have to swipe. Merely tap the card on a small metal box at the Church entrance. It records donations $10 at a time.

One tap, $10. Expensive Church going for most.

Tonight Terri sings at Aqua. Dueling Bartenders. Hope she is well enough. They refused her chemo thursday because she had a fever, cold and congestion.

I will be at Dueling Bartenders.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

DOLLEY MADISON ALMOST CAPTURED BY BRITISH SAVING WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A COPY OF WASHINGTON’S PORTRAIT

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Dolley Madison became one of America’s most famous First Wives this day in 1814. The War of 1812 already 2 years old. The British close to taking Washington. President Madison had left to fight the approaching British Army.

He told Dolley to get out soon. She was getting some things together. The last object she decided to take was the portrait of George Washington. No way was she going to leave it to be defaced by the British.

Dolley lost time taking the portrait down. The frame was screwed to the wall. Finally, she cut the canvas out and rolled it up to be taken.

The British at the time a breath away. Dolley was able to escape, however.

The next night, the British dined in the White House using the White House’s silver and china. Then, they burned the White House down.

Dolley forever remembered for her bravery in saving Washington’s portrait.

It was only later that discovered that the portrait was not the original by Gilbert Stuart. It was merely a copy.

Made no difference. Dolley had made her mark in history.

A unique experience last night. Dinner at La Trattoria with Mary. A new friend.

Mary had invited me to dinner. Told me at the time she would be paying. I said, no. She said, yes. A generational thing. Mary is younger than me generation wise. My generation, the man always pays. Hers, it makes no difference.

She wanted to make the point. I let her. Enjoyed her company and a good meal.

Cheated. Not with Mary. With the meal. I celebrated my hitting 200 pounds. Ordered lasagna. Gained a pound. Worth it.

Mary and I then headed to Blue Macaw for a drink. I was tired. It was past 9. Mary still alive and raring to go. I begged off and left her. No problem. She understood. A generational thing.

The bartender at La Trattoria an old acquaintance. She was the one who came around the bar and gave me the Heimlich the night I was choking. Bonded forever.

Today, a haircut at noon with Lori. Then a walk of about 50 feet to Sandy’s Cafe for lunch.

Tonight, the Chart Room. Several nights since I have been there.

The weatherman at it again. Predicts thunder storms tonight. Describes it as “light up the night.” Correct. Dogs and humans will be startled. Lightening at the ocean comes right through the blinds. Lights up the room!

My man in Europe. Paul Harding. On a three week vacation with his partner Ron. Harding has been advising me on European public urinals.

He was in Amsterdam yesterday. Outdoor public urinals commonplace. Normally constructed because men pee in the streets. I still cannot understand such activity.

In any event, Amsterdam built the public urinals to save lives, not to kill bad odor. Turns out in the 3 years prior to the public urinals being constructed, 51 men died in Amsterdam canals. They fell in the water while peeing and drowned.

One of the jurors in the Manafort trial has spoken out. Paula Duncan. She said re the 10 charges that resulted in a hung jury, there was only one hold out. Eleven were for guilty.

Manafort should swiftly move his ass to Mueller and cooperate. He has yet another trial. He will never get out of jail otherwise.

Juror Duncan an interesting person. A Trump supporter. Did not affect her judgment. Plans on voting for him again in 2020. Wears a red MAGA hat. It was in the back seat of her car while she was playing juror.

Duncan advised the deliberations were heated and emotional on occasion. Tears shed by some.

Saudi Arabia is seeking the death penalty for a woman activist. Her name Israa al-Ghomgham. Everything secretive. She may already be on trial before a terrorist court.

One of the charges involves violent behavior. She demonstrated for the right of women to drive, the cessation by the Sunnis of preventing the free practice of religion, and more opportunity for work and education for women.

Israa a Shiite Muslim activist. Religion plays into this also.

Trump a good friend of the Saudis. He should intervene on Israa’s behalf. He won’t. He was quick to say the U.S. would invade Venezuela. In the past 24 hours, he has denounced the black government of South Africa. A female life not as important as oil and racism.

Pete Rose. One of baseball’s greats. He was banned from baseball this day in 1989 for life for betting on baseball. Never bet on his team to lose, only to win.

It has now been 29 years. We are a forgiving people. Time for the ban to be lifted. Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame! Lets do it before he dies.

Enjoy your day!