December 7, 1941, a “day that will live in infamy” in the words of Franklin Roosevelt. Japan executed a sneak attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor. Just before 8 in the morning. Japan threw 353 aircraft from six carriers into the surprise. Americans killed numbered 2,393, 1,178 wounded.

It took the U.S. four years and thousands of American lives to come back and defeat the Japanese. Every island taken back by the U.S. involved a long and strenuous effort. Japan’s soldiers were known to fight to the bitter end.

Only one issue I wish to briefly explore this morning. The wisdom of the U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Estimated 200,000 Japanese were killed as a result.

Many have been critical over the years of Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs to end the war. I am not one of them. It was deserving. Pearl Harbor alone justified their use. Additionally it was clear that to defeat Japan, the U.S. would have to fight for every inch of Japan’s soil. The Japanese were known to fight hard, long and to the bitter end. It was estimated 200,000 American military would be lost in taking Japan.

All things considered, Truman made the correct decision. In a few days, he ended the war and saved American lives. Too bad so many Japanese lives were lost in so doing. However war being what it is, better enemy lives than American ones.

So over the years and even to today, I believe Truman made the correct decision.

Pete Hegseth still in their swinging. Claims Trump supports him. We shall see. Much going on in the background.

Several names have been suggested to replace Hegseth. One prominently is Florida Governor DeSantis. His choice makes sense to me. Not because he is ultimately qualified. Obviously better than Hegseth. However, his Florida Governor track record leaves much to be desired. He would make a better Secretary of Defense than Segseth, but not by much.

Why do I think DeSantis will end up with Trump’s blessing? It’s all in the family!

Laura Trump is Donald Trump’s eldest son Eric’s wife. She wants to be a U.S. Senator from Florida.

Rubio is a certainty to be approved for Secretary of State. That leaves his Senate seat vacant. DeSantis will have to appoint someone to replace him. He appoints Laura, following which Trump appoints DeSantis Secretary of Defense.

Everyone happy, except for Hegseth of course. I’m not sure it is quite “legal.” Will not make any difference. Trump will be President and can do whatever he wants.

Prohibition was a failure. The result of a bunch of do good no drinkers. A minority. Caused all kinds of problems in the U.S. for years. Crime a biggie.

In December 1933, Prohibition ended. The 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, thereby repealing the 18th Amendment.

Live and learn. Crayola crayons trademarked its “scent.”

Crayola was born in 1902. First sold in 1903. Scent not an issue till the 1990’s.In 1994, Crayola added a scent to its product. Crayola decided to trademark the scent in 2018. Took 6 years to do so. A long time to obtain a trademark. Whatever, the trademark was finally granted this year.

I look forward to playing with one of my great grandchildren and smelling a Crayola. It will be a new experience!

Another live and learn. Key West has a number of allegedly haunted facilities. No economic benefit is derived by living in one.

China has a different approach. China maintains a “Registry of Haunted Apartments.” Those willing to live in one with a sinister history receive a 30 percent discount.

In October, a shipment of 22 tons of cheese were stolen in London. It is thought the cheese ended up in Russia where there is a sanctions-busting black market in luxury food.

It’s coming! Soon to be everywhere! Robot waiters.

Avatar Robot Cafe in Tokyo is staffed by robot waiters remotely controlled by workers with disabilities working from their homes.

Did you ever notice when looking at photos of 1960-70 sporting events that each has a blue haze in the background. A haze that is absent in modern photos. It’s because everyone was smoking in the arena!

I close with Syracuse basketball.

Syracuse plays Notre Dame today at Notre Dame. The game begins at noon.

Neither team has distinguished itself thus far this season. Either could win. This is the first ACC game for both this season,

I plan on watching the game at Brady’s Irish Pub. Basketball is a two hour affair whereas football four. I will sit in the back room in a regular chair where a private TV is located to watch. I cannot yet handle a bar stool.

Enjoy your day!

Pardons are in the air. Two types. Pardons per se and preemptive pardons.

Lets examine each. Many do not understand and are talking off the tops of their heads without knowledge of pertinent facts.

First however who are those who soon will be exercising the Presidential power. Lets begin with Trump. 

He has said many times he will be pardoning many and soon/early following taking office. Beginning with the many who are already jailed or awaiting trial for January 6. One thing Trump definitely is is a predictor of that which he will do. He says he will do something and then does it at the appropriate time. So expect many pardons by Trump. 

Biden has recently pardoned his son Hunter following Hunter’s convictions but pre sentencing.

Trump and Biden have both basically served one term as President thus far. Trump in his first term pardoned 237. Biden thus far only 27.

I found TV news reporting yesterday aggravating. The issue of Biden preemptively pardoning those Trump has threatened to pursue criminally when President kept coming up. Everyone made it sound like a terrible thing to do. Suggesting no authority to preemptively pardon. Without specially saying it. Made me feel like no one, neither themselves or their staffs, had done their homework. Preemptive pardoning is perfectly legal and has been done by prior Presidents many times.

First lets briefly define the difference between pardoning and preemptive pardoning. Pardoning generally comes following conviction and sentencing. Preemptive pardoning as early as a time before even a criminal charge has been levied. A preemptive pardon is generally labeled a blanket pardon as it covers all crimes that may have been committed. 

The issue arises because Trump and/or his cohorts have indicated arresting Anthony Fauci, Jack Smith, Liz Cheney, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Adam Schiff, Letita James, Nancy Pelosi, Mark Milley, and Biden himself. Plus anyone else Biden suspects Trump will try to wreak his unjustifiable vengeance upon.

Respectfully, time for Democrats to play hardball!

A President’s power to pardon is unlimited. No one even mentioned on the news yesterday that there is a U.S. Supreme Court decision on point. Ex Parte Garland, 71 U.S. 333 (1866). The power exists except in cases of impeachment which is not involved here. Per Garland, the power extends to every offense known to the law and is able to be exercised either before legal proceedings are taken or during the pending, or after conviction and judgment. Re preemptive pardoning, the words “is able to be exercised either before legal proceedings are taken” are applicable.

There are Rules Governing Petition for Executive Clemency which indicate application for a pardon may not be made till five years following completion of sentence. Such has no application re preemptive pardons and has not been followed many times in other pardons.

Examples of Presidential preemptive pardoning that were not mentioned in yesterday’s news broadcasts that I heard. Like they did not exist.

Ford pardoning Nixon who had not even been charged with a crime at the time.

Clinton pardoned his brother Roger Clinton.

Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father and Trump’s present nominee to be Ambassador to France.

Lincoln pardoned his sister-in-law Emilie Todd Helm. He also pardoned former Confederates if they took an oath to the United states.

Carter issued preemptive pardons for Vietnam draft evaders.

George H. W. Bush pardoned his Secretary of Defense, along with others, for alleged roles in the Iran-/Contra scandal after his Secretary was indicted but before trial.

I am sure there are a few more.

If Biden opts to use his Presidential power preemptively, it would be the right thing to do. Such would defuse Trump’s threat of retribution – criminal prosecution, implemented by his Attorney General to be Pam Bondi – against people who did their job competently and honorably. However in so doing, incur Trump and his Maga followers displeasure. Such is life. Sometimes doing the correct thing aggravates some people.

Enjoy your day!

I wrote a terrific blog today. On pardons and preemptive pardons. Began researching at 4:30 this morning.

When published, only the first word came up. The blog drafted was 625 words.

Whether my fingers or the computer screwed up, I am not sure. Too tired to redo it this morning. Lets hope I do it tomorrow.

Sorry.

It was announced on TV this morning that Trump may replace Hegseth with Florida’s Governor DeSantis as Secretary of Defense nominee.

Good for Florida. Bad for the U.S. However happy to be rid of him if such is the case. DeSantis’ mentality is such that he would be bad in either position. Better than Hegseth, however. DeSantis is not burdened by the sex and drinking abuses affecting Hegseth.

Florida’s Lt. Governor is 52 year old Jeanette Nunez. An Hispanic. I know nothing about her at the moment. I would hope she is better than DeSantis.

Key West weather continues to be cold. Five thirty this morning and 61 degrees. High today only 71. I hate this cold weather!

It’s that time of the year! The Annual Schooner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade is saturday December 14. One of Key West’s best Christmas events.

I have been on a boat several times. A trip! Food, booze and music generally available on the bigger vessels. Regardless of size, all boats decorated for Christmas. Like a person’s home.

One negative. The weather. If still cold as it is now, the trip is not worth it. No matter how well you bundle up, you will freeze your ass off. Only way to describe it. Cold on shore, colder out on the water.

One of Key West’s most famous residents is Tennessee Williams. His name and memory continue to abound in Key West.

On December 3, 1947, his play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway. It starred 23 year old Marlon Brando who went on to play the lead role when the play became a movie.

Japan has come up with a “drinkable mayo.” Mayonnaise. It is drunk chilled. Reaction is mixed.

We probably have a sense that potatoes have been everywhere forever. Not so. England discovered potatoes for the first time in 1586 when they were imported from Columbia.

The first successful separation of cojoined twins was completed by a Swiss surgeon in Basile in 1869.

On this day in 1931, Alka Seltzer went on sale for the first time.

On this day in 1956, basketball icon Wilt Chamberlain made his much anticipated college debut. He scored 52 points and grabbed 31 rebounds. His Kansas team beat Northwestern 87-69.

Dr. Robert Redfield was head of the U.S. CDC in 2020. He said, “I actually believe they’re going to be the most difficult time in the public history of this nation,” as he warned about the months ahead with COVID-19. He was correct.

I close with Syracuse basketball.

Tennessee and Syracuse met last night. Tennessee ranked #3 nationally. Easily beat Syracuse 86-57.

Based on Syracuse games to date, it does not appear a good basketball season ahead.

Oh well, it was a great football year!

Enjoy your day!

Lou Carnesecca died saturday. He was 99, one month short of 100.

Lou was St. John’s basketball coach for 24 years. Known to his friends as “Looie.” With one exception. Georgetown’s John Thompson who called Carnesecca “Mother fucking Looie.” Understand that between the two, it was a term of endearment. Thompson referred to a few others in similar fashion. People he liked and respected.

One person Thompson did not respect during their playing years was Jim Boeheim. He never used the term when referring to Boeheim. They did not become friends till after Thompson retired and then were blood brothers.

Carnesecca coached Chris Mullen when St. John’s went to the Final Four.

Carnesecca never had a losing season at St. John’s. His worst was 17-12. His overall record, 520-200. Carnesecca is best described to have been charming and self-deprecating.

He was one of the score of Big East coaches who launched the League: Carnesecca, Thompson, Jim Boeheim, and Rollie Massimino. Later, P.J. Carlesimo, Jim Calhoun, and Rick Pitino.

For those who were there then and recall, the words of creation are exciting. These guys put together a great League! The best of basketball!

The League itself was not the only great thing. The coaches themself were. All made it to the Final Four in the ’80s, except Calhoun. His first time was 1990, following which he then went on to win 3 national championships.

Over the years, Jim Boeheim and I became good friends. I had the box at the Carrier Dome which seated 16 and a private bar. Each game a party. I was active at the University in various fashions.

My law firm ran many Utica fund raisers. I was always in need of a main speaker. Boeheim came when asked. He suggested let me get you some of the other Big East coaches. He did. On two occasions, Lou Carnesecca. Basically a freebe. Five hundred dollars to cover a plane ticket and hotel room.

Carnesecca was perfect. Funny!!! A born story teller.

My son John chaired the events. His grandfather, my father, John was always at these events. Generally seated at my table. 

The first time Carnesecca spoke, John had introduced me and my father. Carnesecca picked up on it in his talk. He zeroed in on my father who was about 15 years older than him. One Elderly Italian talking to another. Afterwards the two talked and bonded. It was the same the second time Carnesecca helped us out. I loved the interchange between Carnesecca and my father.

I suspect Carnesecca and my father have met in the hereafter since Carnesecca’s death saturday. Two Italian gents conversing with each other.

A Big East fan is Tony who owns Brady’s Irish Pub. A St. John’s graduate. We have chatted on occasion re St. John’s, Syracuse and the Big East. I have taken to watching Syracuse games this season at Brady’s. A lot of TV, good food, drink and bar companions.

The cold up north continues. Buffalo, Syracuse and Utica buried in snow. The cold extends to Key West.

Yesterday morning I left the house just before 10 in the morning for neurophysiotherapy. It was 63 degrees. An hour later when I was done, a whole 64 degrees. This morning a bit warmer. It is 6 am at the moment. The temperature 63 degrees.

The hurricane season is officially over. It ended November 30. You never know, however.

Earl Holliman has died. The movie actor was 96 years old.

He generally was second banana in the more than 100 films he appeared.

Holliman appeared in many westerns, the wi-fi classic “Forbidden Planet” and the 1970 TV series “Police Woman.” Noteworthy films included “The Bridge at Toko-Ri” and “Gunfight at OK Corral.”

Syracuse ended the football season ranked number 23. Sounds chintzy for a 9-3 record and the big win over Miami. 

I close with a food item I love. I always have a bottle around from which I enjoy a teaspoon or two of at a time. Honey.

I learned something about honey I was unaware of till yesterday. 

Honey is the only food that never spoils. 

Bacteria cannot naturally grow in honey. Even when crystalized, it is not spoiled. Warm it in warm water to restore its original consistency.

Honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs over 3,000 years old has been found still ok to eat.

There is an exception to it always being ok to consume. If you see signs of fermentation (bubbling) or mold growth, it means water has got into the container. If so, it should be disregarded.

Enjoy your day!

Late with today’s blog. Almost 3 in the afternoon. My morning and afternoon filled with doctor visits. Nothing new. Just check-ups which took a long time.

President Biden awarded his son Hunter with a “full and unrestricted pardon.”

I agree with what President Biden did. Legally and factually correct. Let me put it in perspective for you.

The tax evasion issues. Paid in full years ago together with interest and penalties. Although my specialty was environmental law, I had handled a couple of tax evasion in federal court successfully. Thereafter for a number of years, other attorneys and CPAs would have their clients hire me to handle the court cases. So another specialty was added to what I became known for. Though few in comparison to my environmental work.

Where the debt owed was paid in full, jail time was never considered. A fine and a misdemeanor plea. They were going to send Hunter to jail. Unfair. Grossly unfair. The President was correct when he described it as “selective prosecution.”

The other charge involved lying on a gun permit application. Hunter did. He answered one question improperly. He was asked if he was using illegal drugs. He was back then. He said no.

Understand what was involved. The lie. He did get a gun permit. He had the gun a total of 11 days. Never even fired it.

Jail time! No way! No one goes to jail under these circumstances. A misdemeanor plea, if anything, plus a small fine.

The jail time being discussed for Hunter was 3 1/2 years to 5 1/2 years. No way, Jose! They were out to punish the Biden name and the President himself!

The President a father. Could he have done less? No way. I would have done the same thing. The President probably assumed sanity would prevail in the final analysis as all such cases end. He failed to recognize the hatred involved. Get ’em as opposed to Justice.

Family is family. A father takes care of his son. When the system did not work as it did in most if not all other cases, he retracted and did the correct thing by pardoning his son. You would have done it also.

Kash Patel. Another bad choice by Trump. 

Patel is a disgrace and unqualified to be Director of the FBI.

Trump has to get rid of the present Director Chris Wray first. Ray either resigns or is fired. If he resigns, Trump can arrange for Patel to be approved by the Senate, assuming he has the votes to do so. And Pastel goes to work as a bona fide employee. If Trump fires Wray and the Senate refuses to approve Patel, Trump can appoint him for two years. That’s it. However two years is enough time for Patel to do the damage he claims he will. Not of which will be good for the U.S.

Now comes Pete Hegseth. He is turning out to be worse than Matt Gaetz.

Hegseth has two abuses in his history. Sex and alcohol. More than one time. Repetitively.

Hegseth’s mother sent her son Pete a lengthy email several years ago decrying his abuse of women. It was read on TV this morning in full. Bad stuff, heavy stuff! His own mother!

She retracted the email recently saying she was sorry she sent it.

Trump wants him to be his Secretary of Defense. As such, he will be in charge of all U.S. military forces. He’ll have them on the streets fighting Democrats.

Hegseth has written some books. One is “American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free.” In it Hegseth said he believes there are “irreconcilable differences between the Left and the Right in America leading to perpetual conflict that cannot be resolved through the political process.”

 He further called for an “American crusade”, which he described as “a holy war for the righteous cause of human freedom.”

Do you really want Hegseth for Secretary of Defense? In control of American troops?

I have more notes to write about. Getting late, however. I want to get this blog out to you. So I end it here.

Enjoy your day! 

Ho, ho, ho! What could be better! Syracuse beat Miami 42-38!

The game did not begin well for Syracuse. Syracuse was losing 21-0. And……came back to whip Miami’s ass!

In the words of Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

The packed Dome stormed the field! The first time since 2012 when Syracuse defeated #2 Clemson.

Syracuse ends its season 9-3. Miami 10-2.

Syracuse’s win  blows Miami’s opportunity to end up a top 4 team. Miami was  ranked #6 prior to the game. Syracuse unranked. Syracuse will get a great bowl to play in for its final game of the season.

God was good! The team was good! What more can I say!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Got to give Ukraine’s Zelensky credit. He knows how to stand up and fight.

He announced yesterday he was willing to make peace with Russia if Ukraine was admitted to NATO.

What balls!

Great move.

It would provide Ukraine with all kinds of military protections. Though Putin would hate such a move, it provides a means to end the war with a “save face” for Russia.

Trump will play a big part. On Putin’s behalf, he will probably threaten to pull the U.S. out of NATO if such  occurred. Some believe Trump may go for Zelensky’s proposal however on the theory that Trump’s support of it might lead to the Noble Peace Prize for Trump. Trump would agree to anything for such recognition.

Trump has major foreign leaders dancing to his tune already. He is not even President yet. Trump announced he would hit Mexico and Canada with 25 percent tariffs on day one of his Presidency. Mexico’s President telephoned him almost immediately saying she would retaliate.

They continue to fall.

Canada’s Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago for dinner with Trump.

Trump may stand tough and be in charge of getting things done his way. The bully in him. Not the way to do business, however. Trump has created ill wind with Mexico and Canada. At some point down the road, the tables will be turned and they will defecate on Trump. Which means the U.S. will be hurt.

Paris’ Folies Bergère opened for the first time this day in 1886 in Paris.

An outstanding hit for all time! Even to today!

Ralph Nader was a 32 year old lawyer. Young in the profession. On this day in 1965, he published “Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile.”

An immediate best seller. He exposed manufacturing defects in American cars. Especially the Chevy Corvair. His book led to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Safety Vehicle Act of 1966, seat belt laws in 49 states, and a number of other road safety initiatives.

I was a young lawyer at the time.  Nader’s book was law changing when it came to negligence and design defects in the manufacture of automobiles.

Teddy Roosevelt was the first President to fly. He did so on October 11, 1910, in St. Louis. An inadvertent happening. A plane and Roosevelt at the same place at the same time.

Roosevelt decided to take a ride. With admitted trepidation. He flew in a Wright Company aircraft for 3 minutes 20 seconds. The flight’s height was 100 feet and covered 3 miles.

Roosevelt said afterwards, “That was the bulliest experience I ever had.” A reporter wrote in the United Press that Roosevelt had “defied death.”

There was no body to the plane as we know it today. It was “completely open.” The body structured with pipe and wires. Roosevelt sat shoulder to shoulder with the pilot holding on to a pipe and wire which comprised part of the plane.

Winston Churchill was born this day in 1874. Asked later in life about the circumstances of his birthing, Churchill replied with a smile in his usual witty fashion: “Although present at that occasion, I have no clear recollection of the events leading up to it.”

This blog draws some strange comments. Seven have appeared in past days about “screw worms.” I have no recollection of ever having written about them nor did I ever hear of them till the comments. Such is the life of blog writing!

Chilly last night. Turned the heat on. It is always a bit cold in Key West when cold up north. Heavy snow came in yesterday off the Great Lakes burying most of the Buffalo area.

Last night was a bad one at Black Rock! My back and side killed me all night!

Today a major football game for Miami and Syracuse. They play each other. Game time 3:30.

The game means a lot to each team. Miami is 10-1 and ranked #6 nationally. A Miami win would get it a better position in the new already fouled up 12 team playoff. Syracuse is 8-3. Unranked. Already certain to get a bowl bid, although not part of the 12 team playoff. A victory over Miami will get Syracuse a top bowl, however.

Miami is an 11.5 point favorite.

Go Syracuse! It would be one hell of an upset!

I would like to watch the game at Brady’s Irish Pub. I can get a normal seat table in a back room and watch the game. Bar stools wreak havoc on my back.

It depends how I feel as the day progresses.

Enjoy your day!

Lisa and family were spending Thanksgiving at Corey’s parent’s home in Cape Coral. An accommodation so that Robert and Ally could join in. Thanksgiving is a short college holiday. The drive from Tallahassee to Key West horrendous. Cape Coral sort of the mid point so Thanksgiving was to be spent there so Robert and Ally would not have to drive a long distance twice in a short period of time.

The best laid plans of mice and men…..It was not to be. Ally got sick several days ago. Not sure what. Seemed like a heavy bout of the flu to her. Doctors not sure what. She “died” for 5 days before her stomach somewhat settled.

So Robert and Ally remained alone in Florida State in Tallahassee while Lisa, Corey and Corey’s parents did the holiday in Cape Coral. Corey’s Dad is in a difficult way so the trip to Tallahassee would not have been in his best interests.

I knew none of this till yesterday when Robert and Ally called to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving!

Robert rents a house in Tallahassee with some buddies. Ally rents an apartment with some other females. Robert and Ally were at Ally’s apartment. I got their story. Robert had been caring for Ally since she got sick. Drove her to the doctor’s, got drugs several times at Publix, commiserated and held her hand throughout.

Yesterday she was feeling better. Robert shopped and was cooking their Thanksgiving dinner at Ally’s apartment. At Ally’s because she had a dishwasher.

My grandson impressed me with his culinary efforts. He had a small butt ham in the oven. He was heating stuffings, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. They also had cranberry sauce.

Greater love hath no brother for a sister!!!

Caring for her, cooking for her.

Both indicated it appeared they were the only students left at Florida State. Lonely! Strange!

We talked of many things. Quite a while till it was interfering with Robert’s cooking.

Great kids! Love my grandchildren!

Some Key West items.

The name Michael Mulvaney ring a bell with you?

Mulvaney was Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term. Then served Trump as acting White House Chief of Staff.

He’s back in Trump’s new administration. I cannot recall in what position. It was announced this past week.

I have mentioned Mulvaney several times over the years. He is a frequent visitor to Key West. His father or father in law owns a condominium here. He is a quiet visitor. Does what everyone else does when visiting. Walks, lays in the sun, naps and eats. Draws no attention to himself.

I am correcting some information about our 96 gallon garbage collection carts. I wrote a few days ago they were to be provided free of charge to unincorporated Monroe County. I noted no cities were included. New information made available today advises the 96 gallon carts will be provided the cities of Marathon, Key Colony Beach and Layton.

What about the rest of us? If I sound a bit pissed off, I am. Garbage collection is expensive and is part of real property taxes. Waste Management does a good job at garbage collection and is paid well for its efforts. It has one problem, however. The garbage carts are abused in the collection process. By Waste Management staff, not those of us who fill the pails. Sometimes someone as I needs a new pail as a result. Good luck! Not free! Sixty five dollars!

Should always be free!

Key West was a booming town in 1884. In one week alone beginning 11/22/1884, 645,000 cigars, 14 bales of sponges, and 112 hides were shipped from Key West to New York.

Soon you will have to be careful what you say while in a car. Your car will be listening.

Ford plans to turn its automobiles into eavesdroppers and ad-spewing smartphones.

Ford recently applied for a patent for what it calls their “In-Vehicle Advertisement Presentation System.” It will bombard us with texts, messages on your center server, and garbage emails. The technology also uses in-car microphones to listen to passenger conversations and display targeted advertisements. And more. Privacy concerns out the window.

The Taliban required women in Afghanistan to wear burkas or other head to toe covering.

Reminded me of a story told me by my friend Anna’s son at a birthday dinner party for me in Novara some years ago. Her son was an engineer with a highway construction company that did work all over Europe, Asia and Africa. His work and position both a big deal!

He was overseeing the construction of a highway in Morocco. Anna came to visit. As soon as she exited her plane on arrival, he went up to her with a burka and said, “Put it on.”

Anna was an opinionated educated individual prone to do what she wanted. No one told her what to do, not even her son. She told her son, “No.” He responded, “Put it on or you will be immediately arrested.” From the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes she understood. She immediately put it on.

Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored. The devastation of the 2019 fire which gutted the Cathedral has been corrected. The Cathedral is scheduled to open to the public December 7.

I have never been to Paris and doubt at my age I ever will. My loss I never visited one of the world’s greatest cities.

I recall having mentioned a portion of what follows a couple of months ago. The matter is in the news again, including some additional information. 

Denny’s announced it will be shutting down 150 of its restaurants in then next year. That I reported before. The new news is Denny’s will also be reducing its menu from 97 items to 46.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

One of the great holidays!

Began the same each year. Noise waking me at 5 am. Coming from the kitchen. My wife preparing a 20 pound plus turkey for the oven. I did the husband’s thing. Turned over and went back to sleep.

The kids spent the morning watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The smells permeating the house on the rise. Great food cooking.

Always 20-30 for dinner. Dinner generally at 5. Partying began at 3 with cocktails. The house filling. My parents, children, grandchildren and friends who would drop in for a drink and a Happy Thanksgiving greeting.

The dinner always outstanding! Turkey, of course. Stuffing, different kinds of potatoes, stuffed artichokes and other vegetables. Pumpkin and other pies for desert. Bottles of wine devoured during dinner. Chef wife outdid herself each year.

The men leaving the table soon after dinner to watch football games. Actually to sit in a comfortable chair and fall asleep from the heavy turkey meal.

At some  point early in adulthood, Lisa had watched a TV show indicating how to carve a turkey. There is an art involved. Lisa became the turkey cutter for years. The artist.

Our dining room was good sized. The table held 12 comfortably. Yet the number to be seated always exceeded 20. Reaching 30 and plus on occasion. A pecking order had been established early on for seating. It was based on seniority. Seniority determined by age. The elders got the dining room table. The next group the kitchen table which held ten. The remainders card tables which were set up in the center hall.

It took years to graduate to the dining room table itself. Daughter Lori was 24 when she made it. No one minded. It was a tradition.

As the elders got sleepy, etc. and left the main table, the younger family members moved to it. Generally at desert time. So it went.

Excess turkey and drink got to me early. Often I was in bed sound asleep by 9 while most others were still enjoying the holiday downstairs.

The remnants of the turkey made for good turkey sandwiches the next day. I enjoyed the cold stuffings and artichokes. So did our children and grandchildren. They popped in during the next day to glutton on the leftovers.

A nice day.

I especially enjoyed the conversations at the dinner table. Three and four generations involved. Stories about events which occurred while growing up shared. Some denied by the “culprits.” My mother was not one to deny sparing the rod and spoiling the child. However whenever I recalled that phase of my upbringing, my mother would deny it. Always an amusing situation to all seated at the table, even though they had heard it over and over for many years.

My mother and I had a special bond. A painting of her hangs before me as I write this blog. We still speak every day.

Enjoy your holiday!