JUDY WOOD MEMORIAL

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A pleasant afternoon yesterday. Lay in the shade by the pool. Read and snoozed.

First stop last night was the Tavern ‘n Town memorial event for Judy Wood. Two groups of people. Locals at the bar. Another group in the back of the dining room were special tables, food, photos, etc. had been set up. Knew none. I assume out of town family.

Bobby Nesbitt and Carmen Rodriquez singing. Bobby telling Judy stories.

I believe Judy was in her mid 60s at the end. Age has a way of adding pounds, sagging facial muscles, etc. My body is a wreck at 81.

Judy’s photos from another time shocked me. A knockout! Such a beautiful woman!

May she rest in peace.

Tavern ‘n Town was too crowded. Drove over to Outback for dinner. A small prime rib.

Then to bocce. Don’s Place was playing the Sons of Italy. Don’s Place won 2 and lost 1. The Sons of Italy played well. Don’s Place nowhere near well. Two of the games were close. Don’s Place won  the last game easily.

Don’s Place still in first place alone. The other two top teams lost 1 or 2 games.

Met Jerry. He plays for the Sons of Italy. Not Italian. One human family extends to bocce teams.

Jerry a former Navy reservist. Thereafter involved with two credit unions. Now, totally retired.

Love the guy! He reads this blog! Has been reading it! He asked if my name was Lou and did I write, etc. That is how we got started.

Syracuse/Boston College tomorrow. Boston College a 4.5 point favorite. My fingers are crossed.

Rick Pitino. Famous basketball coach. Successful at his work. Coaching at Louisville for the past 10 years or so. A winner!

Pitino and Jim Boeheim best of friends. Stood up for each other when married, godfather to each other’s children.

I know Pitino. Not as well as Boeheim. Pitino is a horse lover. He owns, runs and breeds them. I spent some time with him in Saratoga over the years. Watching him buy horses at the Saratoga Horse Sale a memorable experience.

The NCAA has been investigating Pitino. The charges came down yesterday.

The issue involves escorts and strippers who were hired to entertain recruits and players. In the same University dorm where the hopefuls were spending a weekend.

The claim is assistant coach Andre McGee made the arrangements, paid the money, etc. There is no charge that Pitino was aware. However, Pitino is charged similarly as Boeheim was. As head coach, it is his responsibility to know everything going on with the team. The technical terminology “…..for failing to monitor a member of his staff (McGee).”

I thought the charges against Boeheim were bullshit. Different from Pitino’s. He was charged after a 10 year investigation. They had to dig to find something concerning Boeheim. The Pitino investigation only took one year.

Sex procurement a no no. No question about it.

I find it hard to believe Pitino was not aware. A hands on person.

At some point in time, there will be a Pitino suspension. Inevitable.

Tonight, Goombay!

Enjoy your day! And evening!

 

 

 

SURPRISES

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Last night was one of surprises.

One good, one bad.

The good one first. It was first last night, also. My dinner at Outback.

The Key West Outback has a new owner. Jessica Hughes. Changes are obvious already.

My drink arrived swiftly following order. The meal, also. Prime rib. The best I have ever had at Outback. A Commodore cut.

I asked the waitress if the new owner had made some changes. I described and complimented the services. She said there is a new multi colored sign in the kitchen. Its purpose to move things. She said it has. Several people have complimented the improved service as I had.

I never got into the quality of the meat with her. I shall try to talk with Jessica the new owner the next time I dine at Outback.

The bad had to do with Regal Cinema. Went to the movies after dinner.

The movie was Bridget Jones’s Baby. The third in a series. I had seen the previous two. This one lacked the quality of the first two. Not the problem, however.

The seats. It has been a while since I have been to the Regal Cinema. New seats! The worst ever! Not comfortable at all!

The first thing I noticed was the seats were considerably narrow. Like a tourist airline seat. More narrow, in fact. The seats and back poorly designed. Impossible to be comfortable. I tried every possible position. Sat up right, slouched, sat on a hip, etc.

Regal Cinema lost me last night. Henceforth, I shall only attend Tropic Cinema.

Let me play movie critic for a minute.

Renee Zellweger  has aged. It has been a while since her last Bridget Jones movie. Looked like she had some plastic surgery done. Not for the better. The bubbliness gone. She looked too old for the part.

Attention grammar critics. The title of the movie is Bridget Jones’s Baby. Is the Jones’s spelled correctly? I think it should have been Jones’.

The Rose Tattoo was filmed in Key West. The movie based on Tennessee William’s play of the same name. Hal Wallis arrived in Key West this date in 1954 scouting for locations to shoot the movie.

Much of The Rose Tattoo was shot on Duncan Street. 1400 block. The house where the movie was shot at one end. Tennessee William’s home the other.

Lisa lives on Duncan two blocks away.

The Rose Tattoo house was allowed to fall into bad shape. Unoccupied for years. Renovated recently and rented out. Nothing special about its appearance. Nor was there anything special about it in the film.

Tennessee William’s home is magnificent! Still in great shape. Maintained as it was.

This morning’s Key West Citizen front page had a huge photo and story re Burmese pythons. The story reported baby pythons are being discovered in Key Largo. Suggested there are 10,000 to 100,000 in South Florida.

I wrote a KONK Life column re pythons five year ago. Title: Pythons Are Coming. Wrote a follow up a couple of years ago. One of the thrusts was that the Burmese pythons were on the move southward from the Everglades to the Keys. Only one had been discovered in Key West at the time. Along a runway at the airport. Remains the only Key West one reported.

The number of phytons in the paper is grossly understated. Florida authorities suspect the number could be as much as one million. No exaggeration. There are so many that their growth is out of control. The State admits it cannot eliminate them. Hopefully only control their growth and spread.

My KONK Life column this week is An american Revolutionary War Hero Who Lost His Head. Interesting reading. It is on the stands today. The article appears in this morning’s KONK Life E-Blast and was linked also to my Key West Lou website.

Enjoy your day!

MORE DOCTORS SMOKE CAMELS THAN ANY OTHER CIGARETTE

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Dinner at the Outback bar last night. Got into a conversation with a couple near by. Fiftyish.

We got into cigarette smoking. The lady said she occasionally flies on a plane that still has an ash tray in the seat arm. She was concerned with the age of the plane.

I mentioned I could recall a time when doctors purportedly supported Camels. Recommended they be smoked. A Camel advertisement.

I checked out the verbiage this morning: More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette.

My new found friends were both shocked. I told them it gets even better.

Stewardesses (they were called that back then) would walk the aisle handing out packs of free cigarettes. Small packages. Probably four cigarettes.

Those were the days!

Took us a long time to learn.

Flying domestically has been cigarette free now 26 years.

Earlier, I had been at Aqua for the Dueling Bartenders. Two bartenders with great voices. Tom Luna and Rick Dery.

When I arrived, I was one of 2 people. Within an hour, there were 28.

Three couples came in. Mid 30s. Two couples tourists, one local. They were at Aqua for a couple of hours of fun. They livened the place up. Tom and Rick sang their songs. Their generational songs. The couples sang along with them.

Two of the ladies danced. First, at the bar. Then on the dance floor. The only ones. Both beauties.

Another time, they danced around Aqua’s good sized rectangular bar. All three this time. As one danced by, I could feel her finger nails run along my back.

The most sex I’ve had in months!

One of the lovelies claimed she was a Mormon. She was dressed in a top that started at her breasts and ran down. Her breasts held up the top. Rick asked her how could she be a Mormon? Where were her white Mormon underclothes?

A gotcha moment! She admitted she was Catholic. A good laugh moment, also.

Marty was a court stenographer. Worked Key West many years. Now lives in Fort Lauderdale. I have not seen him in years. My fault. He has invited me to his Fort Lauderdale home several times. I never go.

Marty and I became friends. Has to be more than 10 years ago. Marty introduced me to the Chart Room. I became a regular as he. We would start our evenings meeting at the Chart Room. Then off for dinner somewhere. Some nights longer than others because we would end up bar hopping after dinner.

Marty was an opinionated man. We agreed on very little. Argued over everything.

We were having dinner at La Trattoria’s bar one evening. Some how, I got into undergarments Mormons are required to wear. Male and female. He told me I was crazy. I stood my ground.

Marty took out his cell phone and called a lady friend in Los Angeles who was a Mormon. She told him yes they did and yes I was correct.

Miss you Marty!

Spent yesterday afternoon preparing for my podcast show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

A fast moving show.

Interesting topics. Like prison corporations requiring female prisoners to show their vaginas to prove they were menstruating, private prisons contributing big time to Trump (bullies of a feather flock together), Norway building a wall to keep refugees out, California judge upholding law requiring mandatory vaccinations for children, Russia and Indonesia now have toilet restaurants (disgusting), Big Pharma and price gouging, and more.

Wind from the south this morning. Seldom from the south. When from the south, means a storm.

Eighty percent chance of rain.

Must have something to do with the 99L that missed us and the new one coming up. Neither a big deal for Key Westers fortunately.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SOME KEY WEST HISTORY

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Big trees from little acorns grow…..

The Pier House Motel opened this date in 1968. Fifty units. From that modest beginning, the Pier House of today grew. Key West’s premier hotel.

My friend from physiotherapy David Wolkowsky responsible. The 50 unit motel was his brain child. The hotel’s growth guided by his hand.

David is 96. God bless him!

David has been responsible for more than merely the growth of the Pier House. Key West is his baby! He made it what it is today.

Mom’s Tea Room was once a popular place. Always busy. A man’s place. A whore house, house of ill repute, bordello. It is no more.

On this date in 1941, Mom’s Tea Room was raided. Three prostitutes arrested.

Not Mom’s first raid/arrest. The U.S. Navy a thorn in her side. Weighed on local government to close down the place. The Navy believed the place was not healthy for its men.

This is not the first time this blog has reported on Mom’s Tea Room. Twice before. April 9, 2015 and February 8, 2016. More detail in each writing. The blogs are archived on www.keywestlou.com. Right hand side of page, scroll down. Find month and year. Click on. Find date.

The owner of Mom’s Tea Room was Rose Rabin. She ran three places over the years. One off and on Stock Island through 1953. Another on Truman Avenue before World war II. The third a post World War II place known as the Imperial Club. The Navy was on her ass re all her clubs.

Whore houses are a thing of the past. Today are primarily escort services and gentlemen’s clubs (strip clubs). Services the same. Merely obtained via a different method.

Walked Home Depot yesterday. Only 15 minutes and at a slow pace. Exhausted afterwards. Concerns me.

While walking, I heard from Dee. She was calling from somewhere in Michigan.

Dee worked 30 years for AIDS-Help here in Key West. Her boss during those years died this week. She was in Michigan to attend his services. She is scheduled as one of the speakers.

Dee was a wreck. Crying. Understandable.

Stopped at Walgreens. To pick up Nexium generic for my acid reflux.

I am pissed at pharmaceutical houses and insurance companies. I have a drug policy through AARP. Does not pay everything. Always a co-pay. Then there is the donut.

I have been taking two Nexiums a day for years. My co-pay $40 a month. A couple of months ago, the price out of pocket for me became $174. No way! I switched to the generic. The generic costs me $41.50 a month. Slightly more than the for real pill.

Generics are supposed to be cheap.

I talked to Walgreens, the insurance company and the pharmaceutical house at the time. The insurance and pharmacy houses not nice at all. Actually impolite. Basically, the prices can be raised at any time. The judgment that of the pharmaceutical house. Take it or leave it!

F–k ’em!

Excuse my exasperation.

Back Door last night with Mark Watson. David there. Met Tim and Todd. John, who I had met before.

Tim and I talked quite a while. He manages Joe’s Chicken Shack on Duval. Another place for me to try.

Then to Outback’s for dinner. Ran into Doc. I only know him as Doc. Never have known his real name. We played golf weekly 20 years ago. I rarely see him now.

I was thrilled when he told me how much he loved my KONK Life column, reads it every week, etc. Thought I spent all week researching.

Doc made my night. It thrills me whenever someone compliments the column. I take pride in it.

The local hospital problem a real one. Will be ongoing quite a while. There will be some resolution. How much, difficult to determine.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reported the City Commission was having a meeting tonight re the issue. The Citizens’ Committee, hospital representatives and public invited.

Key West’s City Commission is inept. Typical politicians. Want the public to know they are doing something. Generally not the right thing.

Certain Commission members are prepared to sue the company that owns the hospital. I believe it not the time, if ever. A lawsuit is only going to screw things up, delay resolution, etc.

Whatever, the Commission blowhards seem committed to a lawsuit. Then the problem is off their shoulders. Let the City Attorney worry about it. Blame delays and lack of resolution on the lawsuit.

In the mean time, what about patients? Any lawsuit will delay resolution of patient problems for years.

Enjoy your day!

AQUA DUELING BARTENDERS

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I have a new hang out monday evenings. Aqua at cocktail hour. The Dueling Bartenders sing. Great voices!

Adding to the event is that the two bartenders vocalizing are generally dressed in drag.

No, I am not switching. I do recognize good entertainment, however.

Last night’s bartenders were Rich Dery and Mark Watson. Mark always teriffic. First time I saw Rich dressed. A better looking woman than man.

A newly married couple joined the festivities. 50ish. Bride attired in long white shoulderless dress. Groom in white shirt and pants. Tourists.

A happy couple! Danced and joked. They admonished all that though this was the first marriage for both, neither were virgins. They thought we should know.

Tom Luna working the bar. Not dressed. Introduced me to George. Glad he did. We hit it off.

George is a retired Long Island high school principal. He and his wife live in Truman Annex. Ten grandchildren. Graduated from Bowling Green. A history major. I was a history major, also.

The conversation good. We agreed to try to meet again wednesday at the Back Door Bar.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Did better. Pushed everything. Even elevation. A little too much. I was tired before I finished.

Then to the Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch. Lovely Ruby there again. Love her!

Children’s accidents have been commonplace lately. The bear situation and then the Disney alligator happening. I saw one in the making yesterday at the Cuban Coffee Queen.

The place has two large fans to cool things down. Big. A tiny 3-4 year old girl walked up to one. Her face almost touching the wire cage. Blades zooming around inside.

Her father happened to see her. He calmly said watch out, it could grab your hair. Then turned around and never looked at her again. She stayed where she was, never moving. Dad never looked back at her again.

I was five feet away. Impulsively yelled out…..Hey! Dad immediately turned around, saw his daughter still standing there, grabbed her hand and walked away.

My afternoon was spent working on my podcast tonight. My blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick interesting half hour of political and social chatter. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Venezuela’s lack of food, a 4 year old shoot seeking food in Venezuela, Oakland Police Department under investigation for an underage sex scandal involving officers, three Oakland police chiefs discharged one after another within three weeks, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on a kick again, this time to require drug testing of food stamp recipients and the unemployed.

Also, big U.S. banks investing heavy in outlawed cluster bomb stocks to the tune of $28 billion over 4 years, Mein Kampf a bestseller again in Germany, U.S. Senate approves draft registration for women, Napoleon being troubled by mosquitoes and hemorrhoids, and more.

Time of the year for Key West drag contests. The Miss Firecracker Pageant next. July 1. In the Crystal Room at La Te Da. An Aids fundraiser. Hosted by Miss Closet Ball 2011.

The Mosquito Control Board is as devious as the Key West City Commission. The Board is entertaining at a meeting tomorrow night to move the GM mosquito testing issue affecting Key Haven from a late August vote to the general election in November. Consideration being given also to not having a vote at all.

The Board is elected. I guarantee all will be voted out if they pursue this game playing. My neighbors are furious. We are opposed to using our island used as a guinea pig for testing.

Several months ago, the FDA sent out an approval of the GM mosquitoes. Did not make sense to me. The Board was saying see, the FDA says use of the GM mosquitoes not dangerous.

I checked. The FDA did say such. However, it applied solely to the Mosquitoes. Injection of the chemicals was not dangerous to the mosquitoes. Nothing said about human safety.

Few listened. I was a voice in the wilderness.

Yesterday, the Board chairman reported another option was to wait for the FDA to rule on the test. The human end of it.

Last night was Outback. A late dinner of chicken wings.

Dennis there. He is the Tavern ‘n Town manager.

I was eating at the bar. A beautiful woman came in and sat several seats away. A magnificent creature! White man’s shirt opened almost to the waist. boobs slightly exposed. Face make up perfect. Had to be someone in drag.

Rare to see dining out in restaurants.

Ran into a Syracuse grad friend. Where have you been, I asked. Had not seen him in several years. Just returned from Belize. We used to watch Syracuse games together. He may show up wednesday at the Back Door Bar.

Enjoy your day!

DAVID….. A GOOD PERSON

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David Wolkowsky is the best of the best. Made his fortune. Returned to his beloved Key west. Spent his years since returning doing everything to help Key West and its people.

David is 96. In fairly decent shape. The one who fights me for the anti-gravity treadmill at physiotherapy.

His generosity significant.

For many years, David has recognized school teachers. Must be some teacher back when influenced his life. The recognition is in the form of money. David presents the Teacher of the Year with $25,000. Several other teachers, $5,000 each.

I attended the award ceremony yesterday at the Key West High School. The ceremony was in the library. I sat in the back so I could take the whole thing in.

David was beaming. He looked 25 years younger than his 96 years. A smile ear to ear.

It occurred to me that David might consider the teachers his grandchildren. Not children because of the years. They were his family.

The teachers respectful and friendly to David.

David, thank you for inviting me.

I was showered, shaved and out. David’s event was concluded just before 4. Where to go? Earlier than I normally am out.

My first stop was Aqua. Thought I would have a drink with Mark at the Back Bar. Learned the outside bar does not open till 5.

Ordered a drink. Drank it slowly. It was going to be a long night.

My cell phone rang. It was Dee. She was in her way into town. She lives on Cudjoe Key. We decided to meet in an hour at Sq. 1.

My evening was fantastic. Fun filled. We drank at Sq. 1 and ate at Outback.

Dee looked terrific. The best I have seen her in years. She has undergone some heavy cancer surgeries the past three years. All took a toll on her. However, she is back again. And, looking better than ever!

Which I told her several times.

Turtle nesting season upon us. Loggerhead turtle nesting. Mama turtle comes onto the beach and buries her eggs. Called nesting. It takes 50-60 days for the eggs to hatch. They hatch at night. The baby turtles then follow the moon light into the ocean.

Dengue fever has infected one person in Key West. The mosquito bite occurred in Key West. The person a visitor. Now home and on the road to recovery.

First dengue fever case reported in Key West since 2010.

The Associated Press recently released a study. From its NORC Center for Public Affairs. One of the findings was that 9 out of 10 Americans lack confidence in the political system. Another, 70 percent are frustrated with this year’s Presidential election.

Nothing we did not know.

China has done it!Discriminated against men. Created a sexism issue affecting men. Certain areas of China have “Female Only” parking spaces. Larger than those for men. The rationale being women have a harder time parking.

China not the first to do this. German began a few years ago. In some German regions, 30 percent of the parking spaces are mandated to be larger and for women only.

Immigrants a problem? Sweden took in 163,000 persons seeking asylum last year. Only 494 found jobs.

I have written and spoken on my blog talk radio show about Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu. He should not have come to Congress last year to speak uninvited by Obama.

Now it is out that he received $80 million last year from the King of Saudi Arabia for his political campaign to continue as Israel’s leader. Most recently, it has been announced Saudi Arabia will build a large embassy facility in Tel Aviv.

I was under the impression Arabs hated Israel and Jews.

Recently, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote a critical article regarding Netanyahu. Titled: Destroying Israel From Within.

Enjoy your day!

NEW BOCCE SEASON

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A new bocce season is underway. Not actually new. It is already mid-season.

Though I no longer play, I stop by to watch. Technically, Don and David continue to carry me on the roster as a team member. They also make sure a bottle of Beefeaters is available for whenever I show up.

The team is doing well. Last night, they won 2 out of 3 games. They have had many wins similar in number this season. I mentioned it was hard to be fighting for first place if a game a week is being lost. In spite of two victories each time.

I asked what place the team was in. Sixth. Proved my point I told them. No, it did not. In sixth place, two games out of first. Appears everyone is having the same problem this season.

The team looked good. Very good. Amazing the improvement that has occurred over the years.

It was late when bocce finished. I was hungry. No dinner. I stopped at Outback for a small steak.

Spent yesterday afternoon doing nothing. Sat out on the deck by the water reading and snoozing.

April is National Poetry Month. The Florida Keys Community College is sponsoring a poetry recital next thursday April 14 at 2 in  the afternoon. In the College library. Speakers will recite classic, contemporary, and self-crafted poetry. Sounds like an interesting and exciting afternoon.

Some, not all, are turned on by poetry. I am. If you are, join me at the College. The sponsors promise a fun event.

It appears the brakes have been put on the GM mosquito issue. For a time only. The FDA has extended the public comment period because of the furor over the issue.

One thing continues to aggravate me. Those that write re the issue fail to correctly report/explain an important detail. They report the FDA determined there was no significant impact. Sounds like FDA approval for use of the GM mosquitos from a human impact perspective.

Not correct!!!

The FDA study/research re no significant impact had nothing to do with being safe for humans. The chemicals used were safe to be used on male mosquitos. Such was the finding. Nothing more.

No independent/outside source has yet to report re safety to human beings.

Another Hemingway tidbit. On this day in 1928, Hemingway arrived in Key West for the first time on a steam ship from Havana.

The Flint lead problem has goosed federal agencies to be more careful. A good result from a bad situation.

The FDA issued a warning re infant rice cereal. An increase in arsenic levels has been found.

Parents have been warned to avoid infant rice cereals that fail to meet a certain level. The level is 100 parts per billion (ppb). Most cereals are at that level or a bit over. Around 110. I don’t know if the extra 10 points make a difference. Whatever, parents be aware.

June, where are you?

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

EVERYTHING GREEN TODAY

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St. Patrick’s Day again! Everyone Irish!

This is Spring Break time in Key West. Will add to today’s revelry.

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade occurred in New York City. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army in 1762 decided to celebrate their homeland.

I marched twice in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parades. I was in Manhattan College’s Air Force ROTC. Still recall the sharp eyes right each time we passed St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Another recollection is the partying. Big! The best day of the year!

Visited the dentist yesterday. Check-up time. Even implants get checked.

The dental assistant doing the checking irritated me. She kept treating me like an old man. Late twenties lady. When she mentioned how sad it was that I was unable to get out evenings and party, I said…..Lady, I party more than you and have more fun than you!

Started the evening at Don’s Place. Don, Stan and Clare. Great conversation. The conversations should be recorded and placed on You Tube.

Don and I were to eat together. Don decided he was not eating. I had to eat. Skipped lunch. I was famished.

I went to Outback. Thought I might not be able to get a seat. Outback is crowded during season same as Duval restaurants.

The place was empty. Only about 1/3 full. Four persons at the bar, including me.

One of the best evenings I have enjoyed chatting with those round me.

To my right, a couple. We started with the NCAA tournament. Then the Hungarian revolution, Hungary today, Flora, Albania, and cursive writing.

Never got their names. He was 80, she 43. He the best 80 I have ever seen. Still working. At Publix. A butcher. She originally from Hungary. Has been in Key West three years.

They were celebrating their two year anniversary. I congratulated them. Two years married or partnered? No. Two years living together? No, we live separate. We met two years ago.

Typical Key West. Any reason to celebrate.

We got into handwriting. I mentioned my column re the issue. She knew kids are not being taught to write today. He did not.

A waitress overheard the conversation. She came over and joined in. Knew everything about cursive writing. Was unhappy her children were not being taught handwriting.

The fellow several seats to my left joined in. Then came over. He was really into the failure to teach cursive writing in most schools today.

My KONK Life column was Goodbye Handwriting.. Of all the issues I have written about over the years, this garnered the most comment. In writing and on the street. I was amazed! I feared people might be bored with the subject.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board met with County Commissioners last night. The Board is pushing for a new building. $4.2 million. It would require raising taxes 10, 15 and 14 percent respectively over the next three years. The group insisted taxes had to be raised immediately.

The Mosquito Control group is an entity unto themselves. They do an excellent job. Ergo, no one bothers them. They generally ask and receive. High ranking staff are paid excessive salaries. Extremely so.

I say lets hold up a moment. The group has brass testicles asking for an immediate tax increase to pay for a building not yet even approved by the County Commission. Some Commission members heard the $4.2 million figure for the first time.

My immediate concern with the Mosquito Control Board is its intention to test GMO mosquitoes. The Mosquito Control Board wants to test them for the British Company Oxitec. The test would take place on the island where I live. Key Haven. Key Haven  is small. You could put it in your back pocket.

I am opposed to the testing. I do not believe my neighbors, our island and I should be used as guinea pigs.

After six years, the FDA came out last week with its determination re the use of GMO mosquitoes.. The FDA said the process was effective and safe. I questioned it then and now.

There is a lot of preaching going around that the use of GMO mosquitoes should not be held up in view of the safe and effective declaration by the FDA.

Sometimes people do not know. Many not properly informed.

The FDA regulates the genetic material introduced into the mosquito. The genetic material is safe and effective for mosquitoes. No federal determination has ever been made with regard to its safety as regards humans.

My message simple. Do not be mislead when told the FDA ruled safe and effective.

Fantasy Fest is back in the news. Some City Commissioners want the City to stop making its contribution to Fantasy Fest. The group who run the event are unfunded this year. The several year contract with the City ran out. Fantasy Fest is six months away.

There is no rush in arriving at a determination apparently. The vote to extend the contract one year while matters are further looked into has been adjourned one month.

Typical of governmental mentality in the Keys. Determinations are made too fast or too slow.

Enjoy your day!

I’M OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ…..

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A wonderful tune. It has to bring back memories. Judy Garland, the Yellow Brick Road, the Munchkins.

The last of the Munchkins has died. Jerry Maren. Ninety six.

He’s on the Yellow Brick Road…..He’s off to see the Wizard!

My foot controlled activities yesterday. I spent the afternoon laying in bed. Kept my foot up! The swelling receded about 50 percent.

I went out last night. Needed to get out. When I returned home, the swelling had returned.

Started at Don’s Place. Sat with Stan and Clare. Former bocce partners. They were glad to see me. I, them

Someone said put the Syracuse game on. I did not even know Syracuse was playing. I stayed at Don’s and watched the game. Syracuse lost to #8 North Carolina 75-70. The game was not as close as the score suggests. It was North Carolina all the way. Syracuse played poorly.

March Madness is around the corner. I am worried Syracuse may not make the tournament.

Not Syracuse’s year!

The game was over at 9. I was hungry. I had skipped lunch. Headed to Outback for dinner. I have mentioned before, Outback’s lamb chops are outstanding. It was lamb chops for me last night.

Met Scott and Veronica who were sitting next to me at the bar. Nice people. We exchanged phone numbers. We will see each other again.

I cancelled physiotherapy for the week. No way could my left foot handle the treadmill.

Today there is an air that a king will be crowned. Trump. Today being Super Tuesday. Eleven states. Bad for the country. I cannot understand people gravitating to him. He’s a disaster in the making.

I am going to conclude with a political story. Concerns someone who early came out in support of Trump. Sarah Palin. Another crazy.

Last May during March Madness, Palin guested on the Mike and John Talk Show. The tournament was being discussed. Palin commented: “The biggest surprise is how many white guys I see playing in this tournament. I thought the NAACP was supposed to be about black people.”

Another genius! She and Trump running for the highest posts in the country. At different times. Can you imagine the show/entertainment if both ran together. Trump for President and Palin for Vice President.

Almost forgot. My blog talk radio show tonight. Nine my time. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

 

INTERSECTION WATERWAYS

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Happy Sunday!

No relief from the weather. Rain and wind continue. Ocean a blanket of white caps.

Yesterday afternoon it rained extremely heavy. Monsoon type rain.

South wind is rare. About a half dozen times a year. I saw it for the second time this week yesterday. Guaranteed rain!

Key West is at sea level. Flooding a problem. Especially at high tide.

I knew downtown would have flooding all over the place. For certain at some intersections. Like the intersection of Duval and Front. Another, Eaton and White. Sometimes as much as three feet. I recall once seeing some college students swimming in the Eaton/White intersection. Many times a kayak or two on Duval.

Driving difficult. Impossible to enter some streets. Decided not to go downtown last night. For fear my Volkswagen would float away or some salt water get in the engine.

Opted instead for an early movie at the Regal in the Sears Shopping Center. Four o’clock. Saw Revenant with Leonardo DiCaprio. Excellent movie. A bit gruesome. DiCaprio deserves an Academy Award for his performance.

Everyone must have had the same idea. Rainy. Go to a movie. The line to the ticket window ran all the way to the back street. Fortunately, the rain stopped during my 20 minute wait to get a ticket.

Senior citizen time. All contemporaries. No one young.

Got out at 6:30. Choice was to eat at Outback or go home. Tried Outback. Packed. Fortunately, I saw a couple leave a booth in  the bar and grabbed it.

Spent my afternoon reading and snoozing.

In December, there were two school bomb threats the same morning. One at Key West High School. The other at Marathon High School.

The police have made an arrest. A 15 year old female student at the Marathon High School. She did not make the calls. However, she is being charged as an accomplice. She provided telephone information to the male who actually made the calls.

The sadness of it all. She never met the man she provided the information to in person. Only over the internet.

We live in strange times.

Enjoy your Sunday!