ROSE TATTOO / TENNESSEE WILLIAMS / DUNCAN ST.

The time is this week 1954. The place Duncan Street in Key West. The filming of the movie The Rose Tattoo began.

A great movie. Loved it! Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Mangani. Mangani won the Academy Award for her performance.

The movie was an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan St. He wrote the play while living on Duncan St. The house where the movie was filmed was on Duncan Street. Two doors up from Tennessee Williams’ home. Both Williams and the Rose Tattoo houses still stand on Duncan.

Lisa lives on Duncan. Her home is 1 1/2 blocks from the Williams home.

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

On November 2, 1948, Truman was elected President. He defeated New York Governor Tom Dewey. Truman was not favored to win. A big underdog. No one gave him a chance. Except Truman himself.

Congress at the time was Republican. They blocked him at every move. Some what like today’s Congress and Obama. Only worse. Truman campaigned against the worst Congress ever, as he put it.

Corporate America disliked Truman. Vehemently.

An example is what occurred while Truman was campaigning. Campaigning was done from the back platform of the last car on a train in those days. The train traveled all over the country.

Truman was short on funds. Again, he was not expected to win. Few were contributing to him. The train and crew were leased. The bill was overdue.

The train was stopped by the railroad somewhere in the middle of nowhere between two towns. Truman was told the bill had to be paid in full. If not, Truman and his entourage had to get off.

Truman threw in what he had in his pocket. His supporters did likewise. They had just enough to pay the bill. Truman proceeded on his way.

The distaste the railroad owners had for Truman obvious. Doing this to a President of the United States! Disrespectful!

Politics played the same all the time. Hard ball.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Love dong the show!

One of the topics clearly reflects government waste.

The Department of Defense built a gas station in Afghanistan. Nothing special. A run of the mill gas station. The contracted cost for construction $3 million. A lot for a gas station. Especially since a similar one had been built the previous year in Pakistan for $500,000.

The final cost of construction was $43 million. Wow! $3 million for the construction. $40 million for overhead.

The gas station built was a compressed natural gas automobile station. So built because of the great supply of natural gas in Afghanistan.

The only problem was the people had cars that were petroleum operated. They had no use for the new station. Making the necessary adjustments to change over to a natural gas operated vehicle was not financially feasible. The cost was more than the average Afghanistani made in a year.

The Defense Department had a task force in charge of spending with regard to the closed gas station. When the Department was asked why the increase, they said they did not know/ could not tell because the task force had closed down in March.

And they want to cut Social Security! Cut waste!

I would like to know who made out on this Afghanistan gas station.

Last week, I reported on my radio show that the Muslim immigrants in Germany were overloading the hospitals. One problem was they refused to be treated by female personnel. Doctor, nurse, or otherwise.

Yesterday, it was announced that Muslims presently in camps in Germany would not accept food from women.

Beggars can’t be choosers. They should be grateful they are receiving free medical and food.

European banks are beginning to hurt. Good! May their American counterparts do likewise.

European banks are cutting costs. A large Spanish bank with 2,300 branches     now cleans windows only six times a year instead of twelve. Another Spanish bank with many branches kills the electricity at 7 pm. Another bank requires staff to clean their desks every wednesday. Called Wet Wipe Wednesday. Office space is being reduced.

One hundred thousand banking jobs in the Eurounion have been cut since 2012.

My left chest which I injured in a fall last week started hurting big time again last night. I don’t know why. Kept me up all night. Not one moments sleep. A pain pill did not help. Feels better at the moment.

I am going to skip the treadmill this morning. Will keep a noon manicure appointment with Tammy, however.

Enjoy your day!

 

HOWARD AND CINDY LIVINGSTON

Howard Livingston is an outstanding entertainer! Leaves you smiling and happy. His wife Cindy a great lady. The perfect couple.

I knew Howard before he was Howard Livingston. Back when he wore three piece suits, had short cropped hair and always a clean shaven face. At the time, he was CEO and owner of a Chicago manufacturing plant. The plant made railroad engine diesel parts.

We met at Mangoes some 15 years ago. By accident. Howard and his then wife, me and my then wife. We bonded instantly and became close friends.

It was a cold January day. Sun shining. Winter in the Keys. Long pants, etc. I was down. Sort of depressed. Did not know why. Howard happened to call. He sensed it. He said…..Hey man, come on  up and you and I will go out on the boat. I said we’ll freeze. He said dress for it.

I did. Pajama bottoms covered by long pants. Shirt, sweat shirt and heavy up north type winter jacket. A hat and gloves.

It was cold out on the water. I froze my ass off in spite of the clothing.

Howard grounded the boat on Marvin Key. Howard handed me two plastic chairs. He carried a half gallon of Beefeaters and some glasses. He walked me to a line of trees. Within five minutes, both of us were stripped to the chest. The trees broke the cold wind. The sun reflected on us from the sand.

We sat for hours. Sipping. Chatting. Sitting quietly. Snoozing a bit.

Cell phones were not terrific back then. Reception always questionable. On Marvin Key, I would have expected no one could reach me. I received a call. Surprisingly.

The call was from my office in Utica. The purpose was to inform me that we had just settled a particular case for $2 million. Our fee $600,000 plus.

I felt better. Instantly. It was either a combination of the place and call. Or, the call itself.

Howard said it was time to eat. We walked back to the boat. Howard cooked tuna steaks and vegetables on a grill on the back of his boat. We sat on the plastic chairs in the water as we ate.

Howard knew how to live! He still does today. He loves being a musician, singer, and song writer. His new life. Better than the three button suit.

Why Howard and Cindy today? I ran into the two of them at Roostica last night. We rarely see each other these days. He works constantly. We chatted a while. He and Cindy wonderful people.

I spent most of yesterday completing my research and then writing this week’s KONK Life column. One of the best I have done. Involves Social Security and how we are being screwed by the government. The article is titled The Looting of Social Security. Read it if you can. It publishes wednesday. A guaranteed eye opener.

Enjoy your day!

RUNNING OF THE BULLS

Pamplona, Spain and Key West were one yesterday. The Running of the Bulls!

I was there. Hemingway look alikes. Dressed Pamplona style. White shirts and pants. Red berets and waist bands. White hair and beards, of course.

The bulls machete and wood on wheels.

The race as in Pamplona. Pure chaos. If real bulls, several of yesterday’s Hemingways would be no more. Fun to watch. Exciting.

Paula Deen in Key West again this year for Hemingway Days. Her husband Michael Grover a Hemingway look alike contestant. I did not see her this year.

Lunched at the Pier House Beach Bar afterwards. Duval was too busy and hot with all the people. Chatted with Janine.

I have always had difficulty spelling Janine’s name. What I am writing today is correct. First time I have had it right. I mentioned my problem with spelling her name. I added it was fortunate her sister Mary had a simple name. Janine looked at me and said no she doesn’t. Her name is spelled Mari. With an i and not a y.

Ran into Michael at the Beach Bar. Michael was already a Key Wester when I started coming 26 years ago. I first met him at Atlantic Shores. He was a regular. Bare assed and bronzed. I had not seen him in 15 years. He is still bronzed. As to bare assed, I do not know. He was not yesterday.

Spent some time later in the afternoon researching this week’s KONK Life column. More research to do and then writing it. Will be done today. The topic/title Harry Truman’s Mother In Law.

Dinner at Roostica last night.

Lobster Mini Season a few days away. Wednesday and thursday. Thirty thousand expected for the event.

This is year 50 for Christ of the Deep. A 9 foot bronze statue of Christ was planted under water in the John Pennekamp State Park near Key Largo fifty years ago. Only 25 feet down, many have seen and enjoyed the statue. Even to the point of touching Christ’s hands and face.

Heard from Anna again. She is still on Amorgos. Has a problem. She has to be out of her accommodation 7/31. Her ferry boat reservation is for 8/5. She is having trouble finding a room. No wonder. Things are cheap in certain areas of Greece this season. Even cheaper on a small hidden away island such as Amorgos. A place that has few accommodations to start.

Maybe she will have to sleep on the beach.

Anna tells me there are many French tourists. The reason is that a good portion of the French movie Le Grand Bleu was filmed in the waters off Amorgos. The French and others visit because of the film. It was a winner when first filmed. Won many awards. Today, a cult film.

The car works. The key turns easily.

Enjoy your Sunday!

THANK YOU

I am close to the end of the healing process. I think I have recovered. No more pain. However, I have to continue antibiotics through friday.

Today, I shave. Did not get around to it yesterday. I have decided no beard. Another time, perhaps. I want to see my face clean.

I plan on going out today. A walk. Hopefully out tonight, also. No drinking yet. Just to see people and talk. I am a social person.

I have been deluged with e mails and telephone calls concerning my health, wishing me well, etc. The number overwhelming. Humbling. From as far away as Thailand, Italy and South Africa. All over the U.S. And of course, Key West.

We speak of Key West as being One Family. The world can be One Family.

Thank you.

Recall the gang that could not shot straight. We have two such groups in the Keys. The Monroe County Commission and the Key West City Commission. They know not what they do.

The County Commission gave in by vote the extra money Waste Management was seeking. An amount in excess of the contract price.

I sometimes think our elected officials forget they are not spending their own money. They are taxpayer dollars!

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

I came across a comment yesterday that “…..the greatest disappointment of his Presidency was his failure to pass comprehensive health reform.” He should not have been disappointed. He achieved in so many other areas. Like the decision to drop the atomic bomb, the Marshall Plan, and his decision re Korea.

I consider Truman to have been one of our greatest Presidents. No President gets the whole job done.

A most interesting blog talk radio show last night. Two issues appear to have garnered the most interest.

The first, Saudi Arabia and its want ad advertisement for swordsmen/beheaders. They need to hire eight more. The job was listed under the Religious Jobs section.

The other about prostitution being legal in Germany. It has made Berlin the sex capital of the world. Germany taxes the ladies of the night. Taking in a ton of money. Always on the look out for another tax gimmick, Germany now has made bestiality in brothels legal.

Anything for a dollar! Morality and image meaning nothing.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

ANNUAL BED RACE

The Conch Republic Celebration continues. Yesterday was the bed race. Long name Conch Republic Red Ribbon Bed Race. The race is held on Duval. I watched from the curb.

The race has been described as…..The most fun you can have in bed with your clothes on!

Ten beds in the race yesterday. A slew of prizes for different things. Five or six. Just about everyone wins. Curry Mansion Inn received the Best Bed award. The eternal Edith Amsterdam riding in the bed. Edith a young 90 Key West icon.

Spent my day before and after the race researching this week’s KONK Life column. I have a bit more research and will be writing the column later today. The article will do with an item I mentioned earlier this week here. The issue as to whether chimpanzees are people. A take off from corporations are people. My intent is to show the lunacy of some court decisions.

Dinner at the bar at Hogfish. A quiet evening. I sat at the end of the bar and read newspapers.

Three weeks ago our bocce team was in second place. Today, fifth. How the mighty fall! There is still a ways to go. The top five teams make the playoffs. We are on the bubble now. I believe we will make it.

Harry Truman was and continues to be specially loved by Key West. He chose our island to spend 155 days during his Presidency as his vacation spot. His home away from home.

I have read many Truman biographies over the years. Without question, Truman loved his wife Bess deeply. Bess however was a strange woman. For some reason, she did not like living anywhere except in Independence. Truman spent many days alone in the White House.

On this day in history in 1933, Truman wrote a letter to Bess. Apparently Truman was somewhere up north and Bess and Margaret on vacation in the south.

I came across a copy of the handwritten letter on the internet. Following Dear Bess, Truman wrote…..I got a letter yesterday from you and it made the day livable and much brighter.

Love!

Food for thought. Though we are more than 500 days to the next Presidential election, I offer the following for consideration. The two major problems confronting us are the middle east wars and the economy. Rarely are candidates knowledgeable in both. Some in neither. Many times we place in office a person not equipped for the job.

This time around we should select our President from one who is best versed at either war or the economy. The decision should be made up front. Both areas are fraught with danger. At least our President will be will versed in one area and can learn on the job with the other as recent Presidents have done.

Enjoy your Sunday!

BARE ASS IN THE POOL

Nudity once again in the news. A 47 year old man went swimming in Dante’s Pool bare ass yesterday afternoon. Initially, funny. Not really, however. Half the people in the pool many times are children.

The individual was arrested. Properly so.

Nudity has its place in Key West. Private homes and private guest houses where permitted and out of sight of children. Not in one of the largest public pools in Key West!

Tourists are leaving Key West faster than I thought they would. I noticed half of those here last week gone. Makes walking and driving safer and easier.

My day was simple yesterday. Started with a haircut with Lori. Always pleasurable. Lori is good company. She has been doing my hair some 15 years. We have become friends.

Did some shopping at Publix afterwards.

Then home for what I assumed was to be rest before bocce. For whatever reason, my body became wracked with pain. Bones. The discomfort disappeared around 10. No way could I have played bocce. Did not even go.

Keith reports we lost all three games. We #2 ranked lost to #1 ranked.

I knew it would be close. If we won one game, we would have been happy. The scores were 16-12, 16-13 and 16-15. Not bad. Competitive. Not enough, however.

The #1 team is exceptionally good. Perfection. There is a big difference in this instance between #1 and #2. We were playing a team a step above.

Donna and Terri are in town! We are having dinner together tomorrow night.

The Citizens’ Voice had an interesting comment yesterday….. Old men send young men to war…..let those who vote for war be sure their children and grandchildren get to fight in that war. The best was it is “…..easy to fight a war with other people’s kids.”

I have been talking about ticket quotas and the evil of the system for three years. The Florida Senate last week passed what is known as the Waldo Bill. It would be illegal to have quotas.

The evil of quotas is not the giving of an improper ticket alone. The revenue from the fines generally goes to support the judges’ salaries and costs of operating the court system. Speaks for itself!

Harry Truman again! On this day in 1950, Truman left Key West after having spent a month vacationing here. Presidential vacations are working ones. Still better to work in the informal and relaxing atmosphere of Key West rather than Washington. Truman obviously thought so.

Today would have been my father’s 101st birthday. Happy birthday, Dad!

He did not do bad, however. Made it to 98. We should all be so blessed!

This week’s KONK Life column Money Corrupts is available also on my Key West Lou blog page. keywestlou.com.

Only one way to say what I am going to say. It takes balls! I saw advertised on television yesterday Monsanto’s pesticide Roundup. I could not believe it. Several countries have outlawed the pesticide as carcinogenic. Last week the World Health Organization said beware, possibly carcinogenic. The problem is the U.S. government loves Monsanto and supports Monsanto’s endeavors. A disgrace.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter one and all! To those not Christian, Happy what ever your holiday. Such as Passover. And to those neither Christian nor Jewish, a Happy Day to you!

When my children were young, I started a family tradition. An Easter Sunday egg hunt. It was for the children. Then their children. Now for the two young ones left. Robert and Ally.

There came a time in between when the children were no longer young and the grandchildren not yet on the scene. We kept the tradition going. The older people did the searching. The first participants were my mother and father. One year, my former wife and I did the scurrying around searching.

This morning I have to be at Lisa’s at 9. For the Easter egg hunt!

The tradition is more than 50 years old.

Great basketball last night! Kentucky was not the better team on the floor. Especially in the last 5 minutes. Wisconsin deserved to win. Kentucky has nothing to be ashamed of. They had a hell of a year!

Monday night, Duke/Kentucky. I suspect it will be one of the best games ever.

On this day in 1969, President Truman and his wife Bess left Key West for the last time. The President’s 11th visit. The day he left was the 175th one he had been in Key West.

Where are you Bum Farto? When I first saw the statement many years ago, I thought it was a joke. Bum Farto? Who would have a name like that?

Bum Farto was at one time the Key West Fire Chief. He was convicted on a drug charge in 1976. He failed to show up in court for sentencing. He has neither been seen nor heard from since.

Enjoy this holiday Sunday!

 

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY NO MORE

One of the finest April Fools’ Day pranks was that once done annually  by the Key West Citizen. The front page of the Citizen on April Fools’ Day was a total joke. A phony. Pure fabrication. Seriously represented, however.

Close to 20 years ago, the front page major article concerned itself with smoking in public places. Understand that back then, smoking was merely considered a problem. The dramatic inroads accomplished since re banning smoking had not yet occurred.

The article said the Key West City Commission in a meeting the evening before had prohibited smoking in all public places. Such included restaurants, bars, on the streets, and on the beaches.

I recall exclaiming to my then wife that the City Commission had no right to do what they did! Outrageous! Against the law! My wife pointed out that it was April Fools’ Day.

The Citizen had gotcha’d me!

Unfortunately, the Citizen no longer publishes such a front page.

April Fools’ Day is celebrated in most countries. The day’s origins uncertain. Some claim first mention of the day occurred in 1392 in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Many disagree.

Another favored source goes way back to the ancient cultures of the Romans and Hindus. Partiers. Tricks were played and people were sent off on fools’ errands.

Pope Gregory XIII comes into the picture. New Year’s Day was then celebrated around April 1. The Pope changed the calendar and moved it to January 1. The day may have changed, the partying had not. April 1 continued to be celebrated as a fun and frolic day.

Big night in Key West! Jimmy Buffett returns! He is performing 7:30 at San Carlos. There will also be a free performance on a huge screen on Higgs Beach. Shown live simultaneous with the San Carlos event.

Higgs Beach will be big time crowded! An event!

I plan on attending.

I enjoy sharing Truman stories with you. Key West was Truman’s favorite place. Unquestionably. He made 11 trips here which totaled 175 days.

On this day in 1950, the President’s wife Bess and daughter Margaret arrived to join him at the Little White House.

Surprising Mrs. Truman showed up. She disliked Washington and apparently anything that had to do with politics. She spent most of her time back in Independence, Missouri.

Truman was often left alone at times when he could have used the comfort of his wife. History does not attribute this situation to any improper liason by either. Truman was deeply in love with his wife. Wrote her almost daily letters. Mrs. Truman did not enjoy the Washington scene.

I spent my yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. The show went well. My purpose was to share some things kept from the American public. I assume intentionally.

My tuesday’s are always the same. I work on the show by day. Do the show in the evening. Cook dinner for myself in between. I rarely leave the house on a tuesday. My dinner last night was not spectacular. I had a craving for oatmeal. It was oatmeal and a banana.

Enjoy your day!

Syracuse No, Manhattan Yes

Yesterday was Sunday. I spent the first four hours finishing this week’s KONK Life column. Making of a Star. Re Tom Cotton. The young U.S. Senator who wrote the letter to Iran signed by 46 Republican Senators. The public should be aware of the nature of the man. A protegé of the conservative far right, he is being groomed for the Presidency. I consider him dangerous.

I was surprised at a comment by Mika Brezinski this morning. She referred to the Senators who signed the letter as “toddlers at play.” Not really. I doubt she is aware of Cotton’s background..

A guest on Good Morning Joe referred to the Congressman chairing the subcommittee looking into Hillary’s e-mails as “Gomer Pyle.”

Respect is fading in today’s society. We see it in our elected representatives. We are entitled to better from media news pundits.

After completing the column, I did yesterday’s blog.

A full morning of writing!

I took the afternoon off. I was tired from all the writing. Decided on Salute’s. Took the book I have been reading. Operation Sea Lion by Leo McKinstry. The story of England 1941 anticipating a German invasion. I finished the book while at Salute’s.

I found a table outside by the main door. Sat looking out onto the beach. Between pages, enjoyed the young ladies I felt guilty looking at the other day.

Operation Sea Lion is one of the best books I have read on World War II. I recommend it to you. The summer and fall of 1941 were very dangerous for the English. The bravery and confidence of the English people and Churchill are highly commendable. It made me wonder if we would handle a threatened invasion in the same fashion.

Last night was watching the NCAA seeds. I have no Syracuse to pull for. However, my undergraduate school made it. Manhattan College. A small Catholic college at the north end of New York near the Yonkers border.

Manhattan has a tough roll. They must play their way in. They first must beat Hampton. Their reward for winning is Kentucky. Number 1 and number 16 facing each other.

Manhattan’s coach is Steve Masiello. Played college ball for Louisville as a walk on. Got to two Final Fours, one won. Thereafter, he was an assistant coach to Rick Pitino at Louisville for six years.

Go ‘Cuse now becomes Go Jaspers!

Tonight is the Friends of the Key West Library Lecture Series. The speaker Les Staniford. He recently wrote a book about certain Revolutionary participants. Like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry. I am a history freak. His talk should be interesting.

Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard have spent the past year in the Florida keys filming a new TV show. Bloodline. Thirteen episodes start this friday evening via Netflix. The show’s action takes place primarily in Islamorada and Key Largo.

Harry Truman. Key West loves Harry Truman! Truman loved Key West! On this date in 1950, he arrived for a three week vacation. One of the eleven trips he made to Key West, all of which totaled 175 days.

Enjoy your day!

 

LARRY SMITH TONIGHT

My friend Larry Smith is doing a presentation tonight. For the Friends of the Library. Six this evening at St. Paul’s Church. Besides being an overall good guy, Larry is an accomplished musician. He plays, composes and sings.

Larry’s talk will center on the types of music which influenced him as a musician and composer. The talk should be interesting.

Few are aware that Larry studied music in college. His first job after was teaching music at some school in a little hamlet in upstate New York. From there, he branched out into what he has become. A premier entertainer.

I spent my sunday writing. All day. First the blog. Then several hours composing this week’s KONK Life column. Young Ladies Join ISIS.

The column was motivated by the 3 young girls who are on their way to Syria to join ISIS. Each wishes to marry a jihadist and have babies. The girls are 15, 15 and 16. My article centers on the factors causing them and other young ladies to run off to Syria to experience such a life.

Keith stopped over later in the day. There were a few little things to complete in my bedroom. I must say…..The best bedroom I have slept in!

I have watched the Academy Awards my entire life. Always enjoyable.

This year I had a bit of a problem. I had only seen one of the nominated movies. American Sniper. Some winners were strangers to me. I do not get out to the movies much any more. Though I do watch many on television’s movie channels. Generally old films. Most of the stars dead and gone.

The History portion of this morning’s Key West Citizen has a 1960 picture of then sheriff John Spottswood and Harry Truman. Spottswood later became a state senator.

I never knew the man. However, I have known for more than 20 years his son Robert and Robert’s wife Elena. Two of the warmest people in Key West. Both moving forces over the years in developing Key West. Each getting things done.

Enjoy your day!