KATE MIANO FOR MAYOR

A couple of heavy items to discuss today. Sad topics. I have opted to start with the happy rather than those.

Which means first and foremost, Kate Miano.

Lovable, warm, caring, interested in people and causes. An available helping hand. A successful woman to boot.

The 2018 recipient of the prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award. Former Fantasy Fest Queen. Conch Shell Blower winner. The list endless.

Kate has been around a while. She personifies the Key West of yesterday and today. Perfectly blended.

Instead of sitting back and relaxing, she wants to take on Key West’s present woes. Solve the community’s problems. As only a Mayor can do.

The election is not till August. Already something like 10 persons have filed to run. The total in the end will be 10-12.

A Kate Miano for Mayor Kickoff Party is scheduled for friday March 9 at the Gardens Hotel. Six in the evening. Open bar and food. Come, join, visit, meet. Kate would love for you to stop by.

I would too. Bring your friends.

I have had company for a few days. Delivered the company to the airport yesterday for return to the north country. Flight canceled. The Northeaster. Flights cancelled today, also. At the moment, tomorrow looks good.

Early to the Chart Room last night. Good friend John bartending. Stayed a couple of hours. When I left, standing room only.

It never fails. As soon as the sun has set, tourists come pouring into the Chart Room.

Met some very interesting people.

Cathi and Mark from Atlanta.

We talked of Irma and its impact on Atlanta. Cathi and Mark lost a few trees. I told the story of my being kicked out of an Atlanta hotel after two nights because Irma was coming.

Cathi and Mark married 21 years. She “the best real estate agent in Atlanta.” Mark into finance and insurance.

Both 50ish, considering retirement and buying a home in Key West. Are frequent visitors to Key West. Hope they do opt to live here. They would be welcomed with open arms.

Met a sort of neighbor from upstate New York. George from Rochester. Ninety miles from my home town of Utica.

George unquestionably smart. Spent his career as a Physics Professor at the University of Rochester. Physics was always too heavy for me.

George and I almost contemporaries. He is 87. Sharp.

He used to visit Key West regularly years ago. He was in the Chart Room looking for his old friends Che and British Peter. Che at 83 has become a recluse. British Peter now living in the State  of Washington.

George lived on a boat in days gone by. He still owns the slip on Stock Island.

It was time to eat. I decided to return to Mary Ellen’s on Applerouth. A toasted cheese sandwich and tomato soup. So good the last time. Knew it had to be good again. It was.

Mary Ellen’s nothing fancy. I would describe it as typical Key West.

Entertainment last night. Dildo races. Electric vibrator dildo races.

Only in Key West.

A two foot board, ten feet long. Tipped forward about 25 degrees. Groved so the dildos would fit just right.

Betting beforehand. Bid on which dildo you wanted. The one you hoped would win. Bidding as high as $20-30 for each dildo.

The vibrators were turned on, the gate opened, and the dildos off and running! Spectators yelling just as if at a race track.

I did not bet.

As I was leaving, I heard the next race announced. The “Don’t Drop the Soap Race.”

Again, only in Key West!

I am still with the happy.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman. The President made 11 trips to Key West totaling 175 days. He loved the place!

Truman arrived this day in 1951 for a three week visit. He would be staying at The Little White House.

Now for the unhappy. Two re Trump and one re Secretary of the Treasury Steve Munchin.

Trump announced yesterday steep tariffs beginning next week on steel and aluminum coming into the United States. Twenty five percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

The beginning of trade wars. Most of which historically have resulted in depressions and actual shooting wars.

Trump does not seem to care. He thinks he knows what is best.

The tariff increase would be world wide. No country left out.

Canada is our close friend and neighbor. We buy more steel from Canada than any other country.

China is the U.S.’s banker. The U.S. already owes China in excess of $1.3 trillion. We borrow from China almost daily. We never pay back. China always renews the notes.

Woe us if China decided to stop lending and called in the notes.

Trump does not seem to consider all ramifications before he makes a move. To our nation’s detriment.

The market knows what could occur. It dropped 500 points yesterday.

Another Trump catastrophe in the making. Guns, the NRA.

Wednesday he had a White House meeting involving himself, Congressional people, and parents and victims of some of the shootings. He spoke with bravado how something had to be done and he was going to see it got done. Preferably in one bill. He would sign it right away.

Not everyone bought what he was selling. He had been heard before re other important matters and failed when the time came to keep his word.

That was wednesday afternoon. Thursday evening there was another meeting in the White House. Only Trump. Pence and a representative of the NRA. Just the three of them.

The NRA rep was Chris Cox. Cox is the Executive Director of the NRA’s lobbying arm.

The meeting of the three appeared to have been kumbaya. In a tweet following the meeting, Cox reported Trump “does not want gun control.” Trump tweeted re the meeting: “Good (Great) meting in Oval Office tonight with the NRA.”

Trump playing games. He should have had Cox at the public meeting wednesday afternoon. A face to face confrontation between both sides. A no bullshit meeting.

My guess is the NRA will never budge re AR-15’s and other weapons of war. They will hold firm knowing their bought and paid for Congress will do their bidding.

Finally, Secretary of Treasury Steve Munchin. A former Goldman Sachs banker. An asshole first class from my perspective. Always ready to do Trump’s bidding. Not a free thinker. Happy to be Secretary of the Treasury. Beams with the joy of it.

Munchin married a much younger Scottish actress this summer. Good for him. Nothing wrong in it. However, he took his bride on their honeymoon on an Air Force jet that cost $25,000 an hour to operate. Taxpayer dollars. He justified it by claiming his security required it.

The man a pig impressed with his own self importance.

Munchin spoke at UCLA monday. The students were not nice to him.

One student referred to him as an enemy of the people because of the new tax law. Also referred to him as a plutocratic bullshiter.

Students in the audience yelled “I think you’re full of shit.” They denounced the Republican tax bill as an attack on “people who are in poverty.”

Munchin retaliated with wanting the students to identify themselves and the reason why a question was being asked.

The event was being videoed. Munchin had agreed before hand that it could be and later UCLA could run it on its TV network. Munchin withdrew his permission following his speech.

Cell phones are great. Some students videoed Munchin and excerpts can be found on the internet.

College and high school students are close in age. I sense a marriage and movement in the making. The young will not be silenced.

Enjoy your day!

 

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN

“Go west, young man” is attributed to New York Tribune publisher Horace Greeley. He used the verbiage in an editorial in 1865.

Actually, Greeley lifted the phrase from something a John Babasone Lane Soule wrote in 1851.

Neither actually wrote the phrase as presented here. Each had a slight variation.

History behind us, I want you to know this old man went west. I am in Birmingham, Alabama. At the home of Jean  and Joe Thornton. Jean the famous Key West Golden Girl.

Both were kind enough to invite me. Worked perfectly. The hotel had no room for me. I could not get a room anywhere else. The cone began to run over Atlanta.

Birmingham is 2 1/2 hours directly west of Atlanta.

Traffic normal Atlanta to Birmingham. Gassed up mid way. Some pumps are empty. Not because of everyone wanting to tank up. I suspect the gasoline is being shipped to parts of Florida badly needing it.

Alabama a beautiful State. Reminds me of upstate New York. Heavy green foliage. Trees. Big. Type of tree different. What I saw today were 30-50 foot high ones not with leaves. Looked like huge Xmas trees with the branch needles stretching upward.

The Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta was some hotel. Huge with all kind of niceties.

I have been in Key West too long without getting off the rock. Maybe 8-10 years. People dress differently on the mainland. Long pants and jackets for men. I have no long pants or jackets that fit any longer. My only shoes are a worn out pair of crocs. Big toe peeking out on each side.

I talk with everyone in Key West. I felt awkward in Atlanta. The big city overwhelmed me for a while. Overcame it soon.

No question, I have become a Key Wester through and through.

A receptionist at the Marriott by the name of Ella busted her ass trying to get me a room. She did get me an extra day which I passed on. I feared I would run into the Miami escapees if I waited a day longer to leave for Birmingham.

A big hotel well run. Makes our Marriott in Key West look tiny. And we have the largest dining room in Key West! Atlanta’s could not match Key West in restaurant size.

Marriott’s manager is a Sean John. Left him an e-mail complimenting Ella and sharing my thought of what a well operated facility he ran.

Cheap, too. $137, without tax. I use a Marriott credit card. Got me an upgrade to a semi-suite that was huge. The Concierge Room was outstanding. Breakfast, hors d’oerves, and drinks.

I was on the 39th floor. Could not help thinking what would I do if there were a fire. Reminded me of that movie way back with Paul Newman and William Holden. A high rise on fire and a big party on the roof.

I never left the hotel yesterday. Never got to buy long pants and shoes. Did not visit the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. The driving the day before caught up with me. After lunch, fell into bed and slept 3 hours.

Kind of the Thorntons to take me in. And the many to follow tonight and tomorrow. Jean has been cooking ahead in preparation. Meat loaf tonight because it is comforting. Tomorrow, lasagna for dinner. Alabama football in the afternoon.

Joe drinks socially and smokes. I have a friend! Outside on their back porch. No smoking in Jean’s house!

Received a telephoned call from Marty Leshaw last night. He was sitting on a boat in Santa Clara, California enjoying a drink.

Marty and I were bosom buddies several years ago. Every night out on the town. Would meet first at the Chart Room. Moved on from there.

Marty semi-retired. He has a beautiful home on the intercoastal in Fort Lauderdale. Plus, a fun house on tall stilts which sits in the ocean somewhere. Marty figures Irma will take them both down.

Marty thought it was time to leave. His wife disagreed. Marty left. She stayed. She did not want to leave her son and family. The son’s home several blocks inland and she thought it would be safe.

Marty disagreed. It came down to …..I’m going…..you do what you want. She did. She stayed. Hope she and the family get through this well.

This is blog #2 today. I did a short one as I hurried this morning to get on the road.

Enjoy your day!

 

IRMA AN EXPERIENCE

Hi! I am alive and well!

An interesting trip. I write to you this morning from my room on the 39th floor of a Marriott in downtown Atlanta.

Irma scared me. Strange because I have been in Key West for years. For some I stayed, others left. Learned you can handle with no trouble up to a 2. The only bad experience was a tropical storm which sat over Key West for a week.

My home was boarded up. I was alone. Power went out. Had flashlights and candles, food, etc. Basically lived in the dark for a week. No way I could leave. The street under four feet of water. I was alone in the dark so long I even lost the capacity to fantasize.

Irma.

Left Key West tuesday at 4 in the afternoon. Figured I would get a head start. Drove till 9. Stayed over in Pompano.

Had filled the gas tank the day before. Lines long in Key West and up the Keys.

I went alone. Lisa and family opted to wait till wednesday morning to see how things looked. The tracking lines changed overnight. Enough that only some wind and rain will hit Key West. Miami became the target.

I should have waited till wednesday morning.

I was up and out of the motel in Pompano at 6 in the morning wednesday. Needed gas. Thought I was smart. Get to the station early to gas up. Beat the crowds.

No crowds at the gas stations. Went to five. No gas. Screwed! I needed gas!

Figured I would get on the Florida Turnpike and hopefully be able to get gas at a rest stop. On the way to the Turnpike, I was driving thru what I would describe as an extremely economically depressed area. Cars lined up! Gas!

A mob scene. People actually arguing who was next in line. No order. People filling up cans with gasoline.

Filled up and went for the Turnpike. I think the gas was watered or something. Maybe low grade. Sounds stupid!

Traffic bad off and on. Normal traffic. Nothing to do with Irma. Stayed on the Turnpike all the way up thru Florida. Then a route 75 in Georgia.

Traffic horrendous on occasion because of accidents. Close to Atlanta, big city traffic.

I stopped at a Turnpike rest area to gas up. Still had a half a tank. Wanted to be smart, however. The rest area had gas. The lines waiting to gas up horrendous! State police were directing cars into the pumps. From as close as 20 feet away.

I figured a wait time of an hour at least to get gas. Another screw it situation. Decided to drive further. The problem might ease itself. A 100 miles later, no problem. Drove right up to a pump.

People concerned about Irma for 3/4’s of Florida. Then, nothing.

I was falling asleep in heavy traffic in the afternoon. Stopped to eat. End of Florida. I was in Frankfort, NY. The USA 50 plus years ago. Small town people. Chatted with some. They knew little about Irma. Just that it was a hurricane that was going to hit South Florida. Concerned not.

Stopped for gas again early in Georgia. No rest areas. Had to get off 75 and drive down the road to a gas station.

Big station. Long old building. Called the Plantation. A dozen gas pumps in front.

Sort of old, the pumps. I could not figure out where to put the credit card. Went inside. Just what one would expect in countryside Georgia. A lovely lady. Sixtyish. Short and a bit on the heavy side. Pure white hair tied in a ball in the back. Metal rim round glasses. Rosy cheeks.

I told her I would like $20 worth of gas. She said to go pump it and come in and tell her how much afterwards.

Would you believe! People, gas stations trusting each other! I told her when I gave her my card afterwards how I had never had a similar experience in Florida or New York. She look at me with the expression….. Are you for real!

Plantation was a nice store. Countryish. Specialty food items. Honey and fruit cake two examples.

I am 82. I do what I want. Learn what I want. Ignore things I consider a pain.

Never used my cell phone as a travel map guide. Went to Verizon before I left and got educated.

Miracle of miracles! Fantastic! Did not even have to look at it. Just listen to the prompts. Wild!

I definitely would have gotten lost a couple of times without it. Especially when dark and six lanes of traffic each way.

Learned I need an eye examination. Seeing was difficult day and night, with and without glasses.

I did screw up, however.

Was 4 blocks from the Marriott. Could see building with Marriott sign on top. Cell phone went dead. Streets one way, round, triangular, etc. Took me a half hour to figure out how to get to the hotel. Finally stopped at a W. Doorman said take a right, another right and a third right…..You will be there! I was.

Great concierge service. A great deal for $137 a night. I forgot my room number after breakfast. Old age! Thought I was on the 37th floor. Not. 39th. Went downstairs for a new key. Like the airport. Had to go thru security to get it.

I have been to Atlanta several times in the past. The US Center for Disease is located here. My environmental cases took me here a week at a time to review records.

My game plan is to buy a pair of long pants. I only have shorts. A sweater and sweat shirt also. Cool for me outside. High today 70. Plus, I only have a pair of worn out crocs. Look terrific! No longer a big city man! Definitely from Key West!

Then, I want to go to Carter’s Presidential Museum. Passed by it just before phone went dead last night.

Another interesting experience. Men had to wait in line to pee at Florida rest areas. Just like the ladies. 20-30 people lines. Last time I had the experience was when the Carrier Dome opened in the early 1980s and I had to go at half time of a football game. Difficult to go when you have a guy sanding behind you waiting his turn.

I actually enjoyed the trip experience. However, not looking forward to the return trip.

Got to the bar at the Marriott about 11. Needed a few drinks, not food. Met two interesting people. Jennifer and Jim. No relationship. Thirtyish. In Atlanta on business. Bored them with stories for which I apologize.

Jennifer a financial wizard with Pricewaterhoue. Jim a software guru.

Technology and Louis do not go hand in hand. Age the problem. Not brought up mechanically dependent. Barbara just called and said I should use Uber to get around. My phone not set up yet. She walked me thru it. I’m like a little kid! Can’t wait to use it!

Thank you to those who wrote and invited me to share their homes. Good people all.

Enjoy your day!