DALE AND KENDRA

 

Blog late this morning. 11:30 and just starting. Slept late, laid around in bed.

I had an exceptionally good time last night. My activities limited to the Chart Room and Antonia’s.

Old and new faces at the Chart Room.

Met Dale and Kendra. Great people! From  near Allentown, Pennsylvania. They have been visiting Key West every year for 10 years.

Both school teachers. Dale, a high school history teacher. Kendra teaches elementary school.

Parents of twins! A boy and girl. Now 5 1/2 years old.

This was a special meeting. For them and me. Dale has been reading my blog since 2010. Seven years!

He and Kendra have visited the Chart Room each trip during that time looking to meet up with me. Finally, last night.

We chatted a while. I enjoyed my time with them tremendously. Good people.

Jean Thornton! Last night, finally! She has been back several days and we have been missing each other. Jean’s sister was with her. Two exciting women.

These are Mel Fisher Days. Jean is back in Key West for the annual celebration.

Some 15 years ago, Jean went diving with Mel Fisher. Pushed herself on him. Took her a year for him to finally agree to take her diving. Fisher had already found $400 million in Atocha gold and emeralds.

Jean discovered some gold coins and emeralds herself that day. Would you believe! Quit her school teaching job and bought a condo in Truman Annex. Since that time, she spends at least six months a year in Key West.

Love her dearly!

Enjoyed a lengthy political discussion. With two Trump supporters. Interesting. We rarely agreed. Friends at the start and we were still friends at the end of the conversation.

One was Kevin. Kevin is a regular at the Chart Room. Owns a home on White Street. I knew he leaned conservative from prior discussions. Learned he leaned farther than I thought last night.

The other was Gordon Anderson. Gordon owns the Larian Motel in Tombstone, Arizona. Proud of it. Number one for two consecutive years on Trip Advisor.

Gordon visits Key West twice a year. A huge Mel Fisher aficionado. Took the tour yesterday of the Fisher lab. Learned how stones, jewels, coins and other artifacts are preserved. Excited him.

Today, the Mel Fisher Schooner Wharf Party. He and Kevin were making plans to attend.

The politics were good. Kevin and Gordon’s views generally diametrically opposed to mine. They enjoyed, also. We chatted back and forth.

Covered a multitude of sins. The Second Amendment. Both extremely knowledgeable about gun rights. Both conceal carry. Legal in Florida and Arizona. Kevin had me feel his gun which he carried in the back of his pants covered by his shirt. First time I was aware he carried.

They viewed Trump as the new Messiah (my description). Echoed the Republican speaking points. To the letter. Media responsible for the negatives heaped on Trump, everything is Obama’s fault. Both felt that if Trump were impeached, the people would rise up. Not tolerate it.

We have a problem. Our country is split 50/50. Both sides dug in. I do not ever recall politics this hard fixed.

The Chart Room crowded. John working hard.

Tom Cochran was a bartender back in the days when the Chart Room began and Jimmy Buffett was starting. The Chart Room’s bartender.

I have never met him. He was standing at the end of the bar. Tall. Cowboy hat. Tourists listening to him in awe as he described Jimmy Buffett’s beginnings, etc.

Never got to talk with him. The crowd surrounding him too tight. Hopefully, another time.

Time to eat. Opted for Antonia’s. Place packed. Fortunate to get a seat at the bar. TK bartending. I have known TK better than 20 years. Still looks as young as when I met him. He attributes it to botox.

Met Mike Grasso who was seated next to me. In advertising. Philadelphia. MCG Media LLC. His shop.

Knowledgeable. If I recall correctly, he owns or has a piece of Back Page.

We spoke of Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square and David Wolkowsky. Exchanged growing up Italian stories.

Mike left. Replaced by Roddy and Clarisse. They had been seated a few seats away. Could tell I was a lawyer. Sat next to me for desert.

Both attorneys. Young compared to me. But then, everyone is. Married four years. Roddy a civil litigator in Orlando. Clarisse an immigration specialist in Miami. They have homes in Orlando and Miami.

We did lawyer talk.

Enjoyed them! The world their oyster. I wish them well.

As I was paying my bill preparatory to leaving, in walked John Marston. A Key West attorney and friend. He introduced me to his lady. A beauty! Great smile! I had never met her before. I am ashamed to admit I cannot recall her name.

Finally, home to bed.

Tonight, party time. I joined the Sons and Daughters of Italy last year. Love the members! Fun people!

A bocce party. Pizza, beer and wine. Good company and simple food and drink. Nothing better.

Enjoy your day!

 

OCTOPUS FOR DINNER

I enjoyed a rare meal last night. Octopus. Not squid/calamari.

The last time and only time I ate squid was on my Greek trip where I failed in attempting to climb the Santorini volcano. My poor body could not make it up the hill. I thought I was going to die.

The boat did not return to Oia immediately. It took us to a very small island. One tiny white stone house.Extremely small.  A larger white stoned bathroom building.

A husband and wife living on the island.

We had stopped for lunch. The couple’s place was the only game in town. The menu limited. Octopus and wine.

The octopus was a baby one. About three feet in diameter. Cooked on a large outdoor grill. The charcoal type we use in the U.S. The husband  kept basting the octopus with oil.

I was served a chunk of one of the tentacles. I would judge it was cut from the middle of a tentacle or closer to the body. About ten inches. One and a half to two inches in diameter. The skin a quarter of an inch thick. The center hollow and empty.

Absolutely delicious! Tender! Tasty!

I heard Bruschetta had octopus. Decided to stop and have some last night. Ordered it without looking at the menu.

Not quite the same as the Greek one. Size only. What I was served last night was the end of the tentacle. Slender. Totally filled with meat. The tiny suction cups part of the meal. A bit gross. Did not recall them on the island.

About 15 inches in length. Every inch a delight! I enjoyed each morsel. The taste the same as on the island.

For dessert, I enjoyed Sicilian cassata.

An outstanding meal!

Previous to Bruschetta’s, I was at the Chart Room.

A bunch from Philadelphia. Ate the hot dogs. John had to replenish the supply.

Chatted with one of the guys. He was very interested in the Chart Room. I explained David Wolkowsky’s  involvement. Threw in the Jimmy Buffett story.

Then asked since he was from Philadelphia, did he know Rittenhouse Square. Of course, a big Philadelphia deal. I then shared with him that Wolkowsky was responsible for its rejuvenation and what it is today. He was amazed. He did not know.

A couple at the end of the bar from London. Sixtyish. John and Marie. We chatted a while. Nice people. Interesting people.

John a retired London cab driver. The stories he had to tell! Drove a lot of movie stars. The nicest was Lauren Bacall.

Marie still working. An accountant with Zippo. The lighter company. They have a London facility.

I got into my Beefeater problem. Could find it at only one bar when in London several years ago. He was not surprised. Depends what the liquor distributors are pushing.

We talked about London food. Excellent! The London theater, also. Equally excellent!

About plane travel in Europe. Not like the U.S. Cheap. Meals on most flights. All the booze you want. Polite staff.

Trump watch out! Mueller will follow you to the ends of the earth! If you are guilty of any wrongdoing, he will discover it.

Tonight, a Custom House lecture. The Jewish Underground Key West 1918-1939. A large crowd expected. It is being held at the Tropic Cinema.

Have to move my ass. I have a haircut appointment with Lori this morning. Following which a visit to Farmers Market to pick up a few things.

I do pretty good for a bachelor.

Enjoy your day!