IN FLANDERS FIELDS…..

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In Flanders fields poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row….. / We are the dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,  / Loved and were loved, and now we lie / In Flanders fields….. / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields.

Veterans Day is tomorrow. However Key West is celebrating it today. A big parade at 5 running from Catherine down Duval to Front Street.

Ergo, I write of Veterans Day today.

The day was first known as Armistice Day. Transitioned over the years to Veterans Day. Whereas initially to honor World War I dead, today to honor veterans of all wars, living and dead.

The poem was written in 1915 on a battlefield in France. By Lt. Col. John Mc Crae, a Canadian physician. He was inspired to write it after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier.

World War I was the war to end all wars. Man fooled himself. History has proven the goal wrong. Man enjoys maiming and killing too much.

I have been home bound since last weekend. Car problem. Required a new starter. Everything must come from Miami. First one, not correct. Finally got the car last night. Everything in order.

Need to get out and communicate with people, enjoy a couple of drinks, etc.

Last night was not to be. Nor will tonight. Syracuse played football last night and plays basketball tonight. For some reason, I prefer watching the games quietly and alone from home.

Syracuse beat Louisville 54-23. Syracuse now 8-2. I suspect the victory will move us into the top 10.

The victory was not consequential in itself. Louisville played like Syracuse had the past 20 years. Even worse most of the game.

Next saturday, a big one! Syracuse plays undefeated and nationally ranked #3 Notre Dame. Syracuse can win. Not wishful thinking. The team is good.

Syracuse basketball tonight at 7. Syracuse v. Morehead State. Syracuse’s second game of the season. Syracuse is expected to dominate the game.

The California fires are horrible! Horrendous! TV showings reveal nothing less than pure unadulterated disaster. Hurricanes bring the same. However, a hurricane comes and goes. A fire hangs around for days.

What has FEMA been doing to help? Not much. A pattern has developed where natural disasters are involved. Government does not seem to care, have enough money, etc.

One FEMA responsibility is to refund 75 percent of firefighting costs. Trump yesterday threatened to pull all federal funding if California does not shape up. He claims the fires being out of control are due to “gross mismanagement.”

The two reasons Trump claims California is not doing the job properly has to do with water and forest thinning. He claims California is dumping water in the Pacific it could use to fight the fires. He further claims the forests are dry and subject to easy fires because of California’s failure to thin them.

Experts galore say Trump is incorrect in both instances and does not know what he is talking about. They claim climate change is the cause. The climate change argument falls on deaf ears since Trump does not believe there is climate change.

Which brings me to Michael. Post Michael, a disaster. FEMA failing. The third biggest hurricane since record keeping instituted in the U.S. and we hear nothing about what is happening in northern Florida and elsewhere that Michael touched.

The reason obvious. FEMA and other governmental agencies failing. Another Puerto Rico.

The reason money and not having learned yet how to handle large disasters.

Money, money, money. At the heart of Trump’s concern, though not openly acknowledged. Recent years have brought one disaster after another. The government failed to have sufficiently funded natural disasters.

My admonition, Trump should stop worrying about $26 billion for a wall and concern himself with mega dollars for disaster relief.

Election day clearly showed people are primarily concerned with health care. Way more than immigration problems. Does not seem to have made a dent in Trump’s thinking.

Yesterday, he signed a proclamation suspending the entry of migrants seeking asylum through our southern border points for 90 days. Normally, migrants are permitted by law to seek asylum at any border point any time. Children traveling alone are excepted from the bar.

Typical of Trump’s mean side. Civil rights groups describe his conduct as immoral and inhumane.

What happens when those seeking asylum cannot even get in to make application? Will confrontation result? Will Trump get his “invasion” and the military be permitted to shoot at the migrants?

Will Rogers was a famous humorist and social commentator. He made fun of the government. Commented on their screw ups. He once said, “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.

Another way of intimating government would only do worse.

Rogers one smart man.

Enjoy your day!

SATURDAY NIGHT WITH MY LESBIAN WIVES

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Donna and Terri are married. Lesbian wives. My friends for years.  Love them both. Refer to them as my lesbian wives.

Spent last night with the ladies. Dinner at their home. Donna cooked. Her cooking spectacular! As always.

Afterwards, we walked across the street to Blue Macaw for a drink. Larry Baeder performing. Per his usual custom, he asked Terri to join him. Made her night.

The last several years have been tough on Terri. First, a heart attack. Then 2 terrible cancers from which she was lucky to survive.

Terri was going blind before the cancers. Still had many years of sight however, though diminishing. The cancer medications accelerated her blindness. She is now 80 percent blind. Can see shadows. Next year, not even shadows.

Terri’s disposition not affected. An “up” person. God love her!

It has been reported that last month was the hottest July ever. Ever being 1871 when records began being kept. Twenty nine days were 90 degrees or better.

Normally September is the worst month heat wise. Yet to come. Humidity extremely heavy in September.

I have learned how to beat the heat. Remain indoors. Generally at home. Air conditioning!

The evenings were not bad in July. For some reason, most of the evenings were comfortable. Even though temperatures were in the high 80’s.

Several days ago, I wrote concerning the California Bedsloe family. A heavy to read about and then report. A 70 year old great grandfather on the cell phone listening to his wife and  2 great grandchildren in the seconds before they died. A California fire killed the three.

This morning a video is running on the internet. Ed Bledsoe being interviewed. He repeated his 5 year old grandson James’ last words…..Grandpa, the fire is coming in the door!

It was hard reading the words last week. Far worse this morning listening to Ed Bledsoe repeat them.

The fire is named the Carr Fire. The sixth most destructive in California history. Strange how it began.

A flat tire the cause. A tire failed. The rim scrapped the asphalt. Sparks shot out. Ignited the dry brush on the side of the road.

In today’s society, common sense and good judgment are diminishing qualities.

Several times when I was young, I had a lemonade stand alone or with a friend. Five cents a cup. People were kind. Even police officers. Always sold out.

Today, another story. I have read several times the past few years about governmental authorities shutting down lemonade stands run by some young person.

The most recent occurred in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Located in Saratoga County.

Seven year old Brendan Mulvaney was operating a lemonade stand outside the entrance to the County Fair. Lemonade seventy five cents.

Four vendors inside the fair complained to the New York State Department of Health. The vendors were required to be permitted ($30) and charge $7 for the same cup of lemonade Brendan was selling for $ .75.

The State inspectors shut Brendan down because he did not have a permit.

Stupid.

I have observed this scenario many times. Even if Brendan became permitted, he would then have imposed on him the need to keep the lemonade at a certain temperature, proof of insurance, a stand constructed to legal specifications, working papers, etc.

A kid can’t win these days!

Syracuse and Utica are neighbors in upstate New York. Fifty miles separating them.

My Father took me to Syracuse football games when I was young. I went to Syracuse Law School.  Later opened an office in Syracuse. Tried many cases in Syracuse courts. Enjoyed a private box at the Carrier Dome for football and basketball. Remained active at the University.

Many have a connection to the area. Two are Tom Cruise and Dick Clark.

I discovered this morning that Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse. Lived there his first 9 years. His Syracuse life described as poor and Catholic. We were all poor and Catholic in our early days.

Dick Clark of American Bandstand Fame got his television start in Utica in the mid 1950’s. TV station WKTV. Prior to TV, he was a weather man on Danny Fusco’s WRUN morning radio show.

Dick Clark was known as Dick Clay in those days. His Dad was a disc jockey on a Utica radio station. In order to avoid confusion, Clark changed his last name. When he moved on to a Philadelphia TV station, he went back to Clark.

Sloan will be here at noon. We have a lot of work to do.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

GREAT BLIZZARD of 1888

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Happy Sunday!

Three mighty northeasters have hit the country in the past two weeks. So many so close together highly unusual. Snowfalls extremely heavy. Temperatures below zero. Travel next to impossible.

One of the most famous and treacherous winter storms was the Great Blizzard of 1888. Four hundred died. Snowfall 55 inches. Wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour.

New York City was exceptionally hard hit. Snow drifts reaching to the second floor of some buildings. Walking next to impossible. Many who did attempt to walk from one place to another died on the way.

One of those who collapsed in a snow drift and died was Roscoe Conkling. Fifty eight years old at the time. A recognized public figure.

I write of Conkling because he got his political start in my hometown Utica. Mayor 1858-1859. A Lincoln Republican, he ultimately was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served 14 years.

Twice he was asked to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Grant wanted to nominate him Chief Justice. He refused the nomination. A few years later, he accepted a nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed him. Following confirmation, he changed his mind and refused to be sworn in.

We are in the middle of the flu season. The Keys have not been hit too bad. There are two strains out there. The one running rampant in California the bad one. Hundreds have died.

The worst flu epidemic in history began in 1918. Lasted two years.

The first cases of the 1918 flu epidemic were reported at Fort Riley, Kansas. One hundred one the first day. By the end of the summer, the flu had spread world wide. Twenty to forty million died. Six hundred seventy five thousand in the United States alone.

Researchers at Japan’s Yokohama National University believe they are on the path to a cure for baldness. The source of the cure was discovered in oil used to cook McDonald french fries.

The chemical dimethypolysiloxane. Big word! It has been found to grow hair follicles on mice.

Diana Millikan and I finally got together last night.

Diana is an excellent researcher. We have been collaborating on a book for two years. The History of Prostitution in Key West. Goes back as far as 1650. We are stuck. I say we need more research. Diana says there is no more to be found. She says write. I keep pushing her. Whether the book will evolve, I do not know.

Diana recently finished reading The History of Jews in Key West. The book excited her. She wanted me to see it. Brought it with her last night. I was aware of much contained in the book based on other researches I have completed re Key West. Jews played a significant role in the development of Key West. The book Diana brought to me was the first work I have seen incorporating the history in one 200 plus page volume.

We enjoyed drinks at the Chart Room first. Then to Mary Ellen’s for dinner. Diana had never been.

I forgot this was Spring Break week. The young people were all over Mary Ellen’s. No problem. We chatted with some while enjoying toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

The excitement of youth is overwhelming. To be that young again!

Got home in time to watch most of the Virginia/North Carolina game. The final one of the ACC Tournament. Virginia won 73-61. Though North Carolina is an excellent team, Virginia a couple of steps better this year. Virginia is ranked #1 nationally, has won 31 games and lost only 2.

Judgment time tonight. The NCAA Tournament listings will be announced. I have no anticipation that Syracuse will be one of them. It was not our season.

Enjoy your Sunday!

WE’VE MET THE ENEMY, AND IT’S US

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KONK Life is a local once a week publication. It has an ancillary publication. E-Blast. E-Blast publishes daily on the internet. Solely on the internet.

This morning’s E-Blast had an interesting Letter to the Editor. By Key West local Roger C. Kostmayer. A man seasoned by years, knowledgeable and frank.

The letter titled Listen to Pogo. Pogo being the famous comic strip philosopher.

Kostmayer began with two factual happenings. One that the U.S. is under attack from without by Russia and from within by Congressional Republicans. The other is that the attack has resulted in a self imposed crisis.

He concludes with a famous Pogo observation…..We’ve met the enemy, and it’s us.

Spent most of yesterday afternoon working on Growing Up Italian. My grandparents were met with a difficult world in their early years here. The anti-Italian sentiment significant.

I enjoyed a 30 minute happy interruption while working on the book. Jean Thornton called. She was taking a walk in Birmingham and decided she would like to talk with me. Just pass the time of day.

That’s Jean!

It was cold in Birmingham. High 40’s or low 50’s as we were talking. She told me the evenings were in the 20’s. And I complain when it is in the 60’s!

Jean is on a diet also. Weight Watchers. Walking part of the routine.

We covered a multitude of items. Every Key West tidbit I tried to share, Jean already knew. She has her finger on the pulse of Key West constantly.

Jean and Joe will soon be off for a three week stay in Hawaii. Return home for a few weeks. Then the big one as she describes it. A month somewhere in Europe.

I could have been out with a lovely woman last night. Instead, I declined. Wanted to watch the Syracuse/Georgia Tech game at home.

I should have gone out. Could not get the game on TV. Later in the evening, the sports news reported Syracuse lost 46-41. Not a good year!

I spent the evening reading How to Win a Fight with a Conservative by Daniel Kurtzman.

Page 179 contains a brief passage titled: The Koch Brothers, GOP Corporate Overlords. The passage concludes: “…..Republicans from every state will line up at their door to grovel at their feet and ask for campaign contributions, a practice known throughout political circles as “sucking Koch.”

I initially considered leaving the quotation out as it appeared tasteless.

Turtles are taking a beating in this cold weather. Florida waters unusually cold this year. The Marathon Turtle Hospital and similar Florida facilities bursting at the seams. An overflow. Turtles everywhere.

Marathon recently took in several more turtles. From North Florida waters. The turtles described as cold stunned. Last year, Marathon flew up to Cape Cod and returned with a large number of Cape Cod turtles that were suffering from the cold waters there.

Cold water slows a turtle’s metabolism. Making the turtles vulnerable to infections and illnesses. One of the problems associated with exposure to cold waters are tumors. Some bug/virus creates the tumors in the turtles.

The hospital stay for cold stunned turtles is generally one year. Tumor resolution the primary reason for the long stay

One of the best loved men in Key West is Joseph Lyles. Affiliated for many years with the Hot Tin Roof. His most recent position as Manager.

Joseph had back problems. Underwent an operation to correct the problems. The result not good. Still has back problems, needs a cane to get about, and cannot move swiftly.

So much for continuing as a restaurant manager.

Joseph has been reemployed. At the Casa Marina. As a concierge.

Go, Joseph! All of Key West is happy for you.

Guy de Boer just telephoned. Did you see it? What? This week’s KONK Life is out. You and Irma and Me are on the front page!

As soon as I finish the blog, I will go out and get a copy.

This morning’s Key West Citizen in its Keys History section had a piece of information regarding Ernest Hemingway. On this day in 1935, Hemingway and two friends went fishing on Hemingway’s boat. All three caught a sailfish.

An unusual occurrence.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

BIG LIPS, BIG BOOBS AND SENSITIVE NIPPLES

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The Chart Room is an interesting place. All type conversations. A multitude of topics covered over the years. Never like last night, however.

A woman’s lips, breasts and nipples.

I did not participate. Sat at the end of the bar with my head down. Afraid someone would ask what I thought.

Four people plus me at the bar. John bartending.

Evan and Liz locals. Young. Late 20’s, early 30’s. Chris and husband. I did not get the husband’s name. Vacationing from southern Pennsylvania. Mid 60’s.

The female body exploration began with lip augmentation. Referred to as big lips in the conversation. All four going at it. The consensus was it was stupid and looked awful. They could not understand why anyone would do it.

Then came nipples. Breast nipples. Chris from a little town in Pennsylvania said size did not matter. Sensitivity did. The four got into inverted nipples, also.

Next, big breasts. Interesting talk. Do whatever makes you feel good. Not too big, however. Too heavy if enlarged. And so on.

That part of the conversation took an hour.

Then we got to a point where I thought I could safely participate. Snow. Huge snowfalls.

Upstate New York thought the place for the worst. Buffalo and Rochester. Then Syracuse. Liz piped up she was from Syracuse. At that point, I got involved. From Utica and went to law school at SU.

Glad I stopped at the Chart Room. An unusual conversation. I had not intended to stop. As you will see from the next few paragraphs, it was the venue of last choice.

My day began at Verizon. Got the video problem figured out. The wi-fi was off. I must have hit a wrong button. Don’t see how. To screw it up, I would have had to hit the app key and then four more. I have never gotten that deep into my cell phone.

An early dinner at Roostica. Lemoncello wings. Spoke a while with owner Bobby. A wedding outside. Tablecloths. Everyone dressed. Laughter from every direction.

Then to bocce. Everyone playing but my team and another. For some reason, the game had been cancelled.

I sat with Sharon a while. Sons and Daughters of Italy playing.

Then to Don’s Place. When no game, the team is there. Not last night. Three guys at the bar and Michael bartending.

I was beginning to wonder why I showered and shaved.

Left for the Chart Room.

William Hackley won some money in 1856 in the Havana Lottery. He and three others purchased a ticket together. Won $400. $100 a piece. A lot of money back then.

The top prize was $60,000. At least $6 million today. Maybe, $60 million.

Hackley mentioned that he and his wife attended the funeral of the child Fanny Porter. Whooping cough killed her.

No vaccinations back then. Vaccinations today. Not perfect. Better safe than sorry, however.

Every one wants a piece of the Ukraine. Good growing fields and excellent mineral deposits.

Putin got as piece two years ago. Near the end of World War I, Germany’s Kaiser and Austria signed a pact to exploit Ukraine’s economic benefits. What a joke! The pact was signed this date 1918. World War I ended six months later on November 11, 1918. Germany and her friends defeated.

The Kaiser did get to exploit Ukraine within those six months. He demanded and received 100 million tons of food rations from Ukraine.

I came across the name Dante in my readings. Not the Dante I am familiar with. However it did recall Durante degli Alighieri, better known as Dante. A distinguished poet in the Middle Ages. Thought to be one of the best writers of his time.

His most famous work the Divine Comedy.

I took two years of Spanish in college. My teacher was Professor Cantatore. Italian. A small elderly man. His enthusiasm for Dante greater than his body size. A cultured man.

Every class, the good Professor drummed into us to read one page of Dante’s Comedy a day.

I never bought the Comedy. I did read a few pages when the opportunity arose. One of my college jobs was working the main desk in the library. A quiet uneventful position. I would take the Comedy off the shelf and absorb some of Dante’s wisdom.

Last but not least. Betsy Dietz died. Seventy five. Finally succumbed to uterine cancer after ten years.

Betsy lived in Key West so many years. She gave to the community. Involved heavily. Helped get AIDS Help started. Active at the beginning and over the years with the King and Queen Festival. A member of numerous boards.

Betsy and Lisa good friends. Every Christmas Eve and Christmas day, Betsy shared the holiday with Lisa, the grandkids, Santa Claus and me.

A rare woman. May she rest in peace.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

OUT AND ABOUT

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Great day yesterday! I finally got out of the house. Reborn.

My first stop was Tammy for a manicure. Always a pleasant experience. We talk about everything.

Yesterday, the Key West Hospital. Tammy told me the first bill received for her son’s emergency appendectomy a month ago was $40,000. They received a new one this week. $69,000. With indication it might not be the end.

Tammy and her husband have no insurance. Their mistake, their problem. Does not mean the hospital bill should be an ever spiraling thing. The son was only in the hospital one night. Nothing unusual about the surgery.

Then Walgreens. I hate pharmaceutical companies. They are rip offs.

I have needed Nexium for several years. Two pills a day. Stomach acid. A couple of weeks ago, the bill went from $36 for a one month 60 pill supply to $174. I switched to the generic. Same supply cost me $40. More than Nexium itself.

I went to pick up my second month supply of the generic. The one I paid $40 for last month. $83 this month.

No one to complain to. The insurance company said it is the manufacturer that sets the price. I have talked with manufacturers in the past. Was told it is their right to price as they see fit

F–k ’em all! They have to be brought down.

Don’s Place lat night for David’s retirement party. David is 66. A highway construction expert. Packing it in.

Lots of good company. David, Don, Boomer, Angus, Michael, Nancy, several of David’s personal friends, Keith, Jennifer, and me. July 4th food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and salads.

It was a hot summer day in Don’s Place. Hotter than outside. The air conditioning was down. Monday. Still not fixed as of last night.

Don has a contract with the air conditioner company. Includes 3 month visits to clean and check the units. Been a customer five years.

Owner on vacation. Don says some kid running the business. Don was calling since Monday. Air conditioning people came over yesterday for first time. Claim to have found and corrected the problem.

Don went on the roof to check the fixed unit at 6 last night. Parts of the unit was covered in ice. He called the kid. No satisfaction. Should be working. Holiday vacation had started. Could not return till Tuesday.

Don is more patient than me. I would have gotten a new company last Monday night.

Anyhow, it was hot!!!

I only had two drinks. A good boy was I.

The Old Seven Mile Bridge closes down July 5 for four years. Repairs. The bridge about 45 miles up US 1. It is part of the old Flagler Railroad. The hurricane of 1935 wiped out the railroad. Portions the Seven Mile Bridge remain standing. About half.

Has turned into a place to walk. An enjoyable exciting experience. The wood bridge always crowded. I visit every two years. Generally with the grandkids. We walk and walk and walk. They then walk some more while I wait for them.

Then to Boondocks or No Name Pub.

A great day!

Many of Florida’s beaches and rivers clogged with ugly smelly green algae. Not Key West. Hopefully it will miss us.

The cause has to do with fresh lake waters getting into the rivers and ocean. Something bad in the fresh water.

People aroused. Can’t blame them. Thousands showed at one beach to protest the algae.

The Army corps has become involved.

William Hackley’s life in 1855 has become a source of knowledge.

We are into breast feeding. His wife had a baby. Her breast milk was drying up. Hackley borrowed someone’s goat. The goat was dry. Hackley wrote today that he might have to go to Havana for a goat.

On the corner of Duval and Front Streets in Key West stands a majestic brick building. Today, it harbors a clothing store.

Constructtion of the bank building occurred in 1897. $14,380.35.

The movie Top Gun made Tom Cruise an international star. The female lead was Key West’s own Kelley McGillis. Owner at the time or soon thereafter of Kelley’s Restaurant on Whitehead.

I mention Cruise this morning because I discovered he was born in Syracuse. Fifty miles from my home town Utica, the home of Syracuse University where I went to law school, and a city where I tried many cases.

He was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. Sounds like he was born to money. He was not. His family was very poor.

A success story.

Enjoy your Sunday!

SYRACUSE KIM

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Last night was exciting and fun filled. All at Tavern ‘n Town.

Sitting next to me at the bar were Kim and Cecil.

Kim is originally from Syracuse. Made us instantaneous friends. Utica is 50 miles from Syracuse. I went to law school in Syracuse. Tried many cases in Syracuse.

Kim of Italian extraction, also. We talked of Utica’s restaurants. Purported to have the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy.

Cecil, her husband. Not from Syracuse. It blocked him out of the conversation on occasion.

Kim is a waitress at Michael’s. Cecil a sales representative for BREAKTHRU Beverage, a liquor distributor.

Nice people.

I was reading the newspaper when I heard behind me…..You’re sitting at a reserved seat. A seat at the bar? It was Tom. I did not recognize his voice at first.

Tom was with his lovely wife Nancy. Nancy always charming. Tom a former bocce team mate.

With them were Dan, Betty and their daughter.

Dan and Betty only visit Key West. They are here so often one forgets they are visitors. Their home is in Tampa or Fort Myers. They keep running down to Key West for fun times with the many friends they have made here over the years.

I joined the group at their table after I finished dinner. Enjoyed a couple of drinks with them. A lot of political talk. No one seemed to like Trump. Amazing! Very few like him. Nevertheless, he constantly wins.

Another part of the discussion involved Dan’s heart. He recently had three stents placed. God bless him! Should be good for another 15-20 years.

I was up at 5 this morning working.

My KONK Life column this week very interesting. Involves Afghanistan and heroin. The title Afghanistan and America’s Heroin Addiction. An eye opener.

I researched about five hours yesterday. Not enough. That is why the five o’clock starting time this morning. Took another three hours to complete the research. I will begin writing the column at one this afternoon.

My day is an all writing one. I hope to get out tonight. Absolutely out of food! Have to eat and shop for groceries.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

EDITH AMSTERDAM KEY WEST’S GRANDE DAME

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Some lead exceptionally noteworthy lives. One is Edith Amsterdam. Referred to as the Grande Dame of Key West.

Edith died yesterday at 91. May she rest in peace.

The Lady spent more than 50 years in Key West. Doing for everyone and everything. Known and loved by all. She and her husband restored Curry Mansion. Today, one of Key West’s premier guest houses.

We live and learn. Edith is originally from Syracuse. She also maintains a summer home at Alexandria Bay.

Edith was a contemporary of David Wolkowsky. David still up and at ’em at 96. David is the subject of next week’s KONK Life column.

My yesterday started with a manicure at Lee Nails. Tammy takes care of me. She and her husband the owners.

Tammy is lovely. Typical Vietnamese. Short, thin, long black hair. A beauty inside and out.

Tammy is 32. She came to the U.S. at age 16. Made the trip alone. Initially lived with relatives in New York. Then spent a year in Atlantic City. Not working at the casinos. Going to school to learn how to do nails.

Last night began with Don’s Place. Chatted with David and Keith. I frequently mention both. I do not recall ever telling you they are father and son.

Then to the Chart Room. A long night. The place was jam packed with tourists. That time of year.

I knew no one, except Emily and David. David and I sat at the round table. David always good company.

The table was empty when first we confiscated it. During the evening, three women joined us. Probably tired of standing.

The women made my night. Especially two of them. We talked forever about everything. Charming and intelligent. I had to finally break away. Too long and too many drinks. Sometimes, I have to remind myself I am not on vacation.

My note taking system failed me. It was noisy and the drinks were flowing. So ladies, forgive me if I have some of the facts mixed up.

All three were from Ohio. Each with successful husbands. Kristen’s was Geragd. French.

One of them, and I suspect it was Kristen, lived with her husband in Thailand for 13 years. He ran some company. She taught at the International School in Bangkok. World travelers.

They have a son Alex, 23.

Kay a teacher, also. Her husband an insurance agent. They have a son 30 years old. An attorney.

The third woman’s name escapes me.

Two of the ladies and I sat for a long time chatting. The attorney’s mother had concerns about her son’s career. Both ladies were anti-Trump. The politics discussed interesting. Neither liked any of the candidates of either party.

The ladies are here a few more days. Hopefully, I will run into them again.

My corrected KONK Life column appears today in KONK’s E-News Blast. The article is titled Goodbye Handwriting.

I write of many things. Comments galore follow. However, the Handwriting column brought the most. I am surprised such a topic would garner such interest.

One women’s comment was long. Long long. Longer even than the column. She criticized everything from my writing structure to historical correctness. Authoritized most of what she wrote.

One item in the article was that Thomas Jefferson had poor penmanship. That a master penman had to be hired to rewrite the Declaration of Independence. His name Tim or Tom Matlick.

She challenged my representation re Jefferson’s handwriting. Yet noted that I had incorrectly set forth the wrong first name from Matlick. She was aware because she had seen Matlick’s bill which is preserved for the rewriting.

An inconsistency there.

Anyhow, I am glad to have heard from her. I learned much from her writing. It was a fine term paper. Worthy of an A plus. Said with all sincerity.

I wrote of Comet earlier in the week. Comet returns to his home in the sea at noon today. Cured of all maladies by the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Noon at Higgs Beach. Two hundred plus will be in attendance.

Comet is a big boy. A one hundred pound loggerhead sea turtle.

My last cell phone was six years old. It was not working properly. I lost many calls. Did not really bother me. People got to me in due course.

Bought a new cell phone two days ago. A Samsung Galaxy. It does not stop ringing. I didn’t realize how many calls I was missing.

Two political notes.

Vice-President Joe Biden was with Mexican representatives yesterday. He apologized for Trump’s remarks re Mexico claiming that most of the people in the U.S. were not of his thinking.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson titled a recent column….. Trump, The Product of a Failed System. His description of Trump a “wrecking ball.”

Enjoy your day!

 

JUDY BLUME

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Key west has had Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and other famous writers. The run continues. One of today’s is Judy Blume.

Judy Blume is a young vibrant 77 year old. Two days ago, she published her most recent book In The Unlikely Event. Her 29 published novels have sold 86 million copies world wide.

Judy is also known as the Fairy Godmother of Puberty. Early in her career, she wrote books for young girls . Regarding topics young ladies confront. Menstrual periods, sex, religion, etc.

Her early books on sex related subjects were banned in some quarters. The thought was too much knowledge for young girls/ladies.

Respected and loved. Another Key West luminary.

My yesterday started with the anti-gravity treadmill. Still not up to speed. Going cautiously. Tomorrow, I will blow it out.

Then to the Cuban Coffee Queen. Cuban cheese toast and coffee. Spent about two hours. Reading the newspapers and watching people come and go.

Bocce party tonight! At Don’s Place.

Fourteen teams comprise the thursday bocce league. Five of those teams have combined to have an additional competition. Sort of side bet. Those are the money games.

We won this season! Don’s Place. It has been four years since we last won.

The party is fun. There are trophies for everything. Even one for the most obnoxious (for want of a better term). It is known as the Larry Smith Award. I won it once. Though I do not consider myself obnoxious. Not even close. I think they wanted to give me something and the award was the only one left.

Don’s Bean Bag Throwing Tournament was last saturday. I keep referring to Key West as the place where adults come and become children again. Two sixty year olds won the contest. Don and David.

Life can be difficult. It has its moments. An event happened in Syracuse this week evidencing it.

A couple, 41 and 36, were having sex. They mistakenly used industrial glue instead of lubricant. Stuck together! Emergency people called. The couple were delivered to the hospital joined and bare ass.

An embarrassing moment!

I keep waiting for a story about the man who took Viagra and had a problem after four hours. Does it really happen?

Enjoy your day!