A GOOD SUNDAY NIGHT

The good book says Sunday is a day of rest. I agree. I do as little as possible.

Last night was a stay at home one. Planned. The Tonys and the Cleveland/Golden State game. Both at 8. I kept flipping back and forth. Both outstanding! The Tonys a bit better.

The finest Tony show I have ever seen. Pure pleasure to watch. The basketball game a war. Last night, not a sport. Went to overtime with Cleveland winning by 2.

I went out for a couple of hour in the afternoon. No Name Pub. Put the top down, my cap on backwards, and away I went!

No Name Pub is always packed. Even off season. I sat at the bar and did some people watching.

The building the restaurant is in is a story unto itself. It was a house of ill repute in the late 1930s and through World War II. The ladies worked upstairs.

The promiscuous nature of the building is reported on the back cover of the No Name Pub menu.

This morning unique. Looks like a perfect day in the making. Blue sky, sun bright. Mangroves and buildings all lit up, birds chirping. An added feature this morning is the water. When I went outside, I could immediately smell it. That by the ocean taste which one gets on rare occasions.

I continue to live and learn. Somehow Keith and I got in to sponge fishing Saturday night. I have always been under the impression that they were dived for. Men with air tanks on their backs. Not so! Keith said the sponge fisherman stands on a small boat with a long pointed pole in hand. When he sees a sponge, he shoves the pole down and snares the sponge.

I did a little homework.

There are two methods to collect/fish sponges. Hooking and diving.

Hooking involves a long wood handled pole with three steel curved teeth on the end. Two or 3 men in a small boat. The fisherman standing. Looking into the water. When a fisherman sees a sponge, he shoots the pole down, stabs the sponge and brings it onto the boat.

The diving method involved a hard hat and suit filled with air. Like you see professional divers wearing in the movies.

Sponge diving  is prohibited by Florida law. Only the hooking method may be utilized.

There is much more to the Key West sponge industry. Much too much for a blog. Perhaps someday, a column.

Greece. My beloved Greece. At war with the Eurounion over payments. The Eurounion pressing like a hard assed banker. The Greeks not giving an inch. They are sick and tired of being pushed around by Germany and other members of the Eurounion.

There is a next payment deadline in the very near future. Unless the Eurounion suggests a much more lenient pay back, Greece is going to say…..Up yours! What is the Eurounion going to do? Sue them? To get what? Greece has no money.

I suspect that if Greece defaults, it will immediately create its own money or make the U.S. dollar its currency. The U.S. dollar approach provides a better chance for economic survival.

I cannot understand why the Eurounion is standing so tough. If Greece defaults, the Eurobank takes a big hit. A Europe wide recession could occur. One which would affect the United States.

Enjoy your day!

 

TOURISTS PACK KEY WEST

I will be shocked if at the end of the season, Key West merchants complain. The season appears to be a gigantic success. People, bicycles and cars. Everywhere! Everyone smiling.

As it should be.

Last night was simple. First, Don’s Place. Conversation with Don, Jimmy, John and Keith. Bocce and golf the subject matter. Then Don and I to Tavern ‘n Town for dinner.

I love talking about Harry Truman. He is as important to Key West’s history as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

The Key West Citizen’s History portion this morning had a picture of Truman and Speaker Sam Rayburn taking a walk in Key West. Sometime in November 1948. Truman was dressed Key West style. A colorful sport shirt.

The walk took place on one of Truman’s 11 visits to Key West. He spent a total of 175 days here.

Angus. Angus. Angus. One of the nicest guys in town. No one would dispute me. Angus spends time at Don’s Place, plays bocce and works as bar manager at Schooner Wharf. This morning’s E-Blast carries a couple of pictures of Angus on St. Patrick’s Day taken at Schooner Wharf.

This is amazing! I have been talking for three years about Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. He’ the guy who ran out of toilet paper, milk and condoms. Plus, all kinds of foodstuffs. The Venezuela people suffered and continue to suffer.

I am surprised the people have not yet revolted. Things are that bad.

Maduro needed a scapegoat so as Venezuelans would not think he was responsible. He found one. The United States. He blames us for everything. His present complaint/warning is the United States is assisting in a coup and planning to invade Venezuela. The guy is a nut!

Over the three years, I have compared Maduro to Castro. Castro blamed all of Cuba’s evils for 50 years on the United States. Cuba and Venezuela are close. Best friends.

Raul Castro spoke out yesterday in defense of  Maduro and Venezuela. Regarding the United States, he said it was “…..impossible to seduce Cuba or intimidate Venezuela.” Said by Castro while Cuba and the U.S. are negotiating a reunion.

Everyone crazy!

On this day in 2003, Bush 2 announced the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The map of the Middle East changed as a result. Wars became commonplace. No weapons of mass destruction were found.

Thank you, Mr. President. Iraq is your legacy. Sad because you did do good in many other areas. Mark Anthony’s words at the time of Caesar’s death come into play. As I recall…..The good men do is interred with his bones, the evil lives on forever.

I have to hustle. Have a haircut appointment this morning. Parking has become a big time problem under the new parking rules. I need extra time to find a proper parking place.

Enjoy your day!