One of America’s great actors Gene Hackman died yesterday at age 95. I considered him one of the best of the best. He could play every type role.

His death occurred under questionable circumstances. The police indicate “no foul play involved,” however. Hackman was found dead in one room. His wife Betsy dead in the bathroom with pills spilled about her. A family dog dead in a closet.

Carbon monoxide suspected. Autopsies being performed. The cause will be determined in due course.

His death and that of his wife and pet sad regardless of the cause.

The weather cool outside this morning. When I started my research at 7 am, it was 68 degrees. Only 69 at the moment. High will be 73.

My standard is that Key West is cold for locals at 74 and lower. So a chilled day it will be. Tourists will suffer not. Seventy degrees is more than sufficient for them to enjoy the warmth and island.

Visited Lori yesterday for a haircut. Always enjoy my few minutes with her. A haircut and cold wash following takes all of 3 minutes at best.

The storm monday affected her. The rain swept into her place of business. One and one half inches of water. No damage. However, a serious cleanup was involved. The water came in under the door and through the windows.

The egg crisis continues. A dozen now $8 and more. Restaurants are raising their prices or adding a surcharge. Can’t blame them. The shortage affects everyone.

Trump is no help.  He did not reduce prices when he took office last month. His mass firings have only made matters worse. A number of people fired were working on a bird flu response.

The Department of Agriculture predicts egg prices will jump 41 percent this year. Wow!

The U.S. is looking to other countries for help. We will try to import 70 to 100 million eggs in the next month alone.

Trump is talking “tough” with NATO and other Allies at the same time he is wooing Putin. It will do Trump no good. Trump has lost all respect with other countries. They take him as a joke. An irresponsible one.

Roberta Flack died this week at 88. She is best recalled for Killing Me Softly With Song, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, and The Last Time I Ever Saw Your Face.

Interesting. College graduates 25 years and up are moving to New York City, Washington, D.C. and Dallas. They are heading to the places where the best pay is available.

On this day in 1983, a record 106 million people watched the series finale of M*A*S*H.

Today is an important one re U.S and Ukraine relations. Trump and Zelensky will meet at the White House. I hope Zelensky does not sign a mineral deal with Trump.

Inflation around the corner. High prices for basic goods continue under Trump. Plus, his terrible tariff ideas which will cripple the U.S. 

If only the rich and powerful are free to speak their minds, it is not free speech.

The Texas measles outbreak could be more serious than it appears. The beginning of a nationwide epidemic. Kennedy may not be worried. Everyone else should be, however.

I close with Syracuse basketball.

Syracuse plays Virginia Tech tomorrow at noon at Virginia Tech. I have no idea what will happen.

I have to move fast. I have an appointment with Tammy for a manicure.

Enjoy your day!

Unusual Citizens’ Voices for today. Four!

“Now, I’ve never seen the island this flooded in all my years – you’d think a hurricane had passed over us!”

“If you are angry in Key West, you just like being angry.”

“All it takes is one person exposed to measles to come from Texas or New Mexico through the overcrowded airport to expose Key West to this highly contagious disease. We will find out who is not vaccinated.”

“To the Snowflake Voicer whining’s about people insulting the current President, I remind us of the acronym for your pals’ favorite chant the past four years: ‘FJB.’ So get used to it. You ain’t seen nothing yet.” (For your information, FJB stands for Fuck Joe Biden.)

MSNBC is on a rampage. Getting rid of shows, firing star performers, cutting back on staffing. Primarily involved are black starred shows.

Rachel Maddow has lost most of her staffing. Joy Reid is gone, together with her staff. Interestingly, Morning Joe has survived…..thus far. Perhaps indefinitely. Joe and Mika visited Trump in Mar-a-Lago and genuflected. Makes me wonder if NBC overall has done so.

What is the truth behind what is occurring? Why has such occurred?

The first child has died as a result of the Texas measles outbreak. Texas’ worst epidemic in 50 years. The child was not vaccinated.

Since late January, Texas has reported 124 cases. Eighty percent are children.

Thank you Donald and RFK Jr. Keep on the side of the unvaccinated. The one dead child in Texas will grow in numbers. Inevitable.

The Texas death and the outbreak itself are the result of the consequences of declining vaccination rates.

Musk attended Trump’s first Cabinet meeting. Why? He’s not a Cabinet member nor is DOGE yet an official agency. 

Members of the Cabinet did the right thing by Trump by applauding Musk.

Sick!

Yesterday was the 3 year anniversary of Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

Trump has a meeting scheduled tomorrow with Zelensky. Trump expects Zelensky to sign some sort of deal giving the U.S. certain of Ukraine’s mineral rights in exchange for security assurances.

Zelensky, trust Trump not.

The Republican budget bill passed contains a major declination of a campaign promise by Trump and Republicans. They promised Medicaid would never be touched.

The bill passed and now on its way to the Senate contains major Medicaid cuts. Some SNAP ones also.

Trump and Republicans lied. 

Note the Medicaid cuts will help make possible generous tax cuts for the wealthy.

I have a concern. Federal employees being laid off in large numbers. Yesterday Trump also announced he would be closing many Washington located federal offices and moving them to State locations.

Query: How will the government run with significantly fewer employees? Where will the dislocated federal employees whose Washington job sites have moved get new jobs?

Does anyone think these things out?

Inaction allows evil to flourish. Edmund Burke in 1795 said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Even the Bible contributes to the thought: “Therefore to him, that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

Democrats, good Republicans and Independents must rise in opposition to that which is going on and which without question will lead to a different U.S. and perhaps a no longer U.S.

Last but not least, Syracuse finally won another basketball game. Defeated North Carolina State last night 74-60.

Enjoy your day!

Did it rain monday! It was a monsoon. A storm of storms. Almost expected a tsunami to follow.

The rain which began in the morning was excessive. Three to six hours. Heavy. Constant.

Flooded streets all over the place. More and deeper than normal. The rain came as high tide was cresting which made the flooding worse.

Some have described monday’s rain and flooding one of the worst ever.

Key West rains can be strange. It can rain on one block and not on the next. I was speaking with a Stock Island resident last night and he said Stock Island had a few light sprinkles early in the morning. Nothing more. Proves my point.

Yesterday, Key West advised residents and visitors to avoid nearshore swimming. Possible pollutants.

Monday’s extensive heavy rain acted like a power wash of the island. Pollutants such as motor oil and animal waste run into canals and ocean waters near the island. Only surface waters, not sewer water.

A Citizens’ Voice comment: Congressman Gimenez visited Key West last week. A good Republican. He visited safe confines for him. City and County offices and meetings. He failed to hold a town hall meeting. Apparently he did not want to be subjected to the wrath of an unhappy public re how two of the world’s wealthiest men are destroying our democracy.

Most Republican officeholders buy the Trump/Musk line. They think the voters, many whom voted for Trump, do not know what they are talking about. Come the next Congressional election, they will find out.

A step back in Key West history. Key West resident Pete Neho fought for the featherweight boxing title against Al Singer in Madison Square Garden in 1929.

In 1928, a sort of distant relative of mine Bushy Graham became the Bantom Boxing Champion of the World when he defeated Corporal Izzy Schwartz for the title at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. He never got to defend the title. He gained too much weight and had to move up to the featherweight division.

Bushy’s brother was my uncle Frank Graham. Also a boxer. Frank married my father’s older sister Mary.  As I got older, my Uncle Frank told me had he known I would physically grow as I did he would have trained me to become a professional boxer.

It was The Grand last night with Steve. The place was jam packed. Not a seat to be had. I arrived early so it was no problem for Steve and I.

Matt was in Puerto Rico celebrating his partner’s birthday. Ed there as usual. A good guy.

A Pat Benson came over and asked if I was Key West Lou. Turned out she is a Key Wester, a good friend of Jean Thornton’s and reads my blog every day. I immediately loved her! We had a nice conversation. I am sure we will run into each other again.

My relatively new neighbors Karen and Chuck were there also. I have not seen them in a few weeks. Nice people. Chuck mentioned his 90 year old mother was coming to visit. I said I look forward to meeting her as I am 89. Good for a laugh! However, I do look forward to meeting a contemporary age wise. Almost so ethnically also. She is of Sicilian extraction and I Italian.

I had been thinking of fried calamari for a few days. Enjoyed an order. Also consumed 4 Diet Pepsi’s. No alcohol.

Next on the agenda Donald Trump. Cannot be avoided. A fan of his I am not. However, he dominates our news and lives so there are thoughts I would like to share.

A new Executive Order or something of that sort. Trump advised yesterday what I consider would be U.S. citizenships being for sale at the rate of $5 million each. 

Yes, he did.

I was under the impression that we have a way to citizenship. Takes time, a test, etc. Not under Trump’s plan. Somewhere around $5 million will buy a gold card visa. The system obviously favors the rich. Makes it possible to acquire a formal relationship with the U.S. quickly. Another way of making our country become the home and power base of oligarchs. His plan favors the rich over skilled professionals.

He estimated his plan would produce trillions of dollars for the U.S.

Donald, everything is not about money.

I don’t like it. We are not for sale. There is a tried and true method that has worked for decades. Stick with it. Some even arrive poor, but become millionaires after arriving by hard work, etc.

The Republicn House squeezed a budget proposal through by an almost basic party line vote of 217-215. Now goes to the Senate for approval.

The very definition of racism invites racist white men ranting about others being racist about them. In reality they are “insecure boys,” not men.

Only Trump would do it. On monday, he had the U.S. vote for Russia and against Ukraine re the war.

Trump is in the process of gutting Medicaid. The game plan. Next will be Medicare. Then, Social Security.

Trump must be stopped.

He fails to realizes many on Medicaid are MAGA persons. Looks like he does not need them anymore and so cares not about them anymore.

Musk upset with the numerous judicial rulings against his and Trump’s plans. He refers to the adverse rulings as the “tyranny of the judiciary.”

Trump and Zelensky will meet friday. Trump expects Zelensky to sign a minerals deal. I think he is wrong. It will not happen.

We shall see.

It is called adding injury to insult. The military hierarchy fired recently generally live in government housing. They were given three hours to leave their residences.

I close with Syracuse basketball. Syracuse plays North Carolina State at 7 tonight. I assume another Syracuse loss in the making. I may watch the game at Brady’s Irish Pub. The experience a form of self-abuse.

Enjoy your day!

Jesus said: “The truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.

We do not hear enough truth. Lies predominate government. Not enough are yet speaking out against the falsehoods. Though I believe in due course they will. Sooner than later, I hope.

When I was a young man, we were made aware of the Red Scare” (fear of the spread of Communism). There was an abounding tsunami of hate and recrimination abroad in the land.

For instance, people were called before a Congressional committee, found in contempt and jailed for refusing to name names of alleged communists or “fellow travelers.”

Most prominent in this witch hunt were Senator Joseph McCarthy and his committee counsel, the notorious Roy Cohn, who held hearings for example, concerning suspected lax security in the U.S. Army. During the hearings, Army counsel Joseph Welch was inspired by a disparaging McCarthy allegation as to a member of his staff, to famously respond, “Have you no sense of decency?”

This was a a turning point, as CBS commentator Edward R. Murrow seized upon the moment to call out McCarthy on national TV in 1954 saying, inter alia: “This is no time to keep silent…..we can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of the republic to abdicate his responsibility…..Cassius was right: ‘The fault dear Brutus is not in the stars, but in ourselves.”‘

Amazingly, 70 years later, Roy Cohn’s dark influence still abounds in the land.

Where have you gone Messrs. Welch and Murrow? A needy nation turns its lonely heart to you.

I had the good fortune many years ago to briefly meet with Edward R. Murrow in a relaxed setting. It was the Stamford Yacht Club. I was on a boat next to Murrow’s. It was evening. We started chatting. He invited me to come on board. He was as honest and frank personally in our talk as he was professionally. It is true. We need more of him.

Most have taken to kneeling to Trump. Others remain quiet. 

At the moment, and sooner than expected, the people have begun speaking out. Republicans and Democrats alike. Recent town meetings reflect the situation. People are becoming increasingly pissed off at Trump’s first five weeks in office and are speaking out. The time, hopefully soon, when political leaders of both parties will do likewise.

Enjoy your day!

I was a lone eagle last night. Decided at the last minute to go out to dinner.

Telephoned TK to save me a seat at the bar at Antonia’s. TK has been a friend for 30 years. About the same number of years he has bartended at Antonia’s.

Just my luck. TK said he had finally retired 3 weeks ago and did not know who the new bartender was.

I have always felt kindly towards TK. He was the first person to invite me to his home for dinner. We were new to Key West having only recently purchased the home in Key Haven. Met TK. He was bartending at another restaurant at the time. He invited me, my wife and daughter Lori to his home for Thanksgiving dinner. A kind and welcoming act. 

I stopped at Antonia’s anyhow hoping to grab an empty seat at the bar. No way. Packed. People waiting for bar seats and tables.

Walked over to La Trattoria. Some empty seats at the bar. I grabbed one.

Did a bad thing. I ordered a drink. My first in more than a year. The doctors said no more drinking following my heart attack. I felt lonely and capitulated to the feeling by imbibing. Only one, however. A Beefeater on the rocks. So good! Enjoyed it slowly.

A couple sat next to me after a while. Sue and Jimmy from North Haven, Connecticut. A charming couple. Mid-60s. Both retired. Sue the manager of a restaurant, Jimmy a project manager for a company that repaired fire and water damage. Two children, seven grandchildren.

I spent most of the evening talking with Sue who was seated next to me. 

They were on vacation. Spent only 2 days in Key West. Were leaving this morning. They had stopped at Key Largo on the way down and today were going to Marathon for a few days. Retired, they now traveled a  lot. Key West was “on their bucket list.”

I admonished Sue that they had to stay 1-2 weeks in Key West to discover its flavor. The only fun spot in the Keys. Key Largo and Marathon boring in comparison. Suggested she and her husband return. Let me know first so I could prepare an itinerary for them that would allow them to enjoy the flavor of the community.

My meal was good. An egg plant appetizer and a half order of penne pasta in a garlic and oil sauce. Just enough.

While Presidnet, Harry S Truman made 11 trips to Key West totaling 175 days. Key West became his run away place to rest while President. He returned several times when an ordinary citizen.

One such visit was on this day in 1957. A sort of business mixed with pleasure trip. He appeared at a dinner held in his honor at the Casa Marina Hotel. The dinner was a fundraiser for the Truman Presidential Library.

On this day in 1945, the Marines raised the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima. The photo has become a U.S. treasure.

Folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote “This Land is Your Land” this day in 1940. It has become one of America’s most famous folk songs.

Came across a photo on the internet this morning of children in a U.S. hospital in an iron lung. The standard treatment for polio before the introduction of the Salk vaccine.

Beware of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempts to rid the U.S. of the vaccine. Our children will return to the iron lung existence if he does.

Abraham Lincoln arrived in Washington, D.C. this day in 1861 to assume the Presidency. He made the trip in disguise exercising all kinds of deception. There was no Secret Service back then. Seven states had already seceded. The threat of his assassination was heavy in the air.

I close with a suggestion for prayers. Two. 

One for Pope Francis. It is questionable whether he will recover from his present illness.

The other for our country. The United States of America. We need it! If Trump is successful in what he is doing, the United States will no longer exist as we have known it.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A great comedy opens in a few days at the Waterfront Playhouse. La Cage Aux Folles. Sure to be popular and well attended. Will run from February 26 to March 22. I will not miss it!  The play/musical is that good!

I had the good fortune to see the show on Broadway the year it opened in 1983. Several years earlier, it had its debut in France. The movie The Birdcage was an adaptation of the Broadway show. I have seen the movie several times and will continue to view it at every opportunity.

La Cage celebrates love, family and acceptance. Surrounded in homosexuality.

This weekend a big one for Key West artists and art fans. The Key West Art & Craft Festival. Today and tomorrow from 10-5. At the Truman Waterfront Park.

An annual event of long standing. Well worth viewing. Don’t miss it. Guaranteed you will enjoy.

When I first arrived in Key West, the event was staged on Whitehead Street. Over the years, it grew. More and more tents with artists and their works being shown and selling. The Festival expanded along Whitehead and eventually into parts of Truman Annex. 

It was roughly 25 years ago that I purchased my first work at the Festival. Jack Baron’s Black Madonna and Child. Baron’s best work in my opinion. I still have it today. Cost me $4,500 at the time.

“Queer Keys” bespeaks a Key West slightly of today and more of yesterday. My opinion. Some will disagree with me.

Thirty years ago when I became a Key West fan, gays and lesbians abounded. Key West was definitely a gay community. Still is, but much less. I suspect high prices drove many of the community to Miami and Fort Lauderdale over the years. Unfortunate.

“Queer Keys” is a nonprofit that supports and empowers the local LGBTO community with resources, events and fellowship.

“Queer Keys” and Kirby’s Closet boutique, 218 Whitehead Street, joined to present an Out of the Closet fashion show fundraiser. The second annual event was held on February 12.

Twenty one local models from all walks of life modeled clothes, shoes and accessories. The event was a success. A grand total of $14,750 was raised.

The Monroe County School District receives $11.4 million in federal funding for 2024-2025. Some DEI. Will the School District lose such funding? If so, what is the School District doing to compensate?

Portion of a Citizens’ Voice comment this morning: “The airport is out of control.”

I agree.

A bit of Trump.

Less than one month into his second Presidency, Gallup Poll shows Trump’s job approval rating at 45 percent.

The greatest part of his following continues to be Republicans.

His numbers are down cross the board. Below 50 percent in every area.

I will be surprised if they rise. I view Trump in a steady decline every month. His wildly unpopular actions will continue to be so with the American people. He also will begin to lose Republican support.

The DOW dropped 748 points yesterday. A significant number the day before also. The two day drop 1,200 points plus. Friday was the biggest drop so far this year.

Maureen Dowd wrote an historically perspective Opinion piece in this morning’s New York Times: “Failed, Caesar!”

Dowd compares Trump to a certain Caesar. Caligula. He ruled Rome from 37 AD to 41 AD. A very bad guy. He once said, “Remember, I can do whatever I want to whomever I want.”

Sound familiar?

Caligula has been described as “self-indulgent, cruel, sadistic, extravagant and sexually perverted…..an insane murderous tyrant who demanded and received worship as a living god, humiliated his Senate and planned to make his horse a counsel.”

Caligula and Julius Caesar were both assassinated.

Dowd wrote: ” Trump is thinking of himself as a king and cogitating on a third term. He banks on the magniloquent rhetoric of acolytes genuflecting to an instrument of divine providence.”

At the Conservative Political Action Conference this week, a group calling itself the “Third Term Project” erected a sign depicting Trump as Caesar.

Love GOP Senators. All except one, have come to kneel to Trump as he asserts dominance over them.

I close with Woolworth’s. Recall the once famous five cents store?

Woolworth’s began its meteoric rise this day in 1879. A simple idea. Open a store where nothing costs more than 5 cents. The idea caught on quickly. Woolworth’s became a retail phenomenon.

Surprise! The first Woolworth’s store opened in my home town Utica, N.Y. It failed.

A second was opened in Lancaster, Pa. The sign from the failed Utica store was used. It succeeded. Further Woolworth’s did also. Including another which opened in Utica. 

Enjoy your day!

During the past week or so I have avoided Trump comments and zeroed in more on Key West. Trump is a big news getter and it is difficult to write without covering his activities to some degree. Some of you have been complaining I no longer was writing as much about Key West which they preferred to Trump talk.

So I gave a week to Key West. Now must return to Trump for a day. He is President and active, whether one agrees with him or not, and demands coverage.

An item you may not be aware of. My blog was basically Key West for more than 15 years till COVID struck. With COVID, I became a recluse. At my age, I was reluctant to go out and expose myself to getting COVID. Such meant I had little or nothing to write about Key West. No exposure on my part to my beloved community.

Ergo, I began writing about politics. Always loved politics. The interesting feature I wish to share is that politics quintupled my reading base. I have significantly more readers now than when I solely addressed Key West.

Hopefully you now understand why what I am writing is more politics than anything else.

Today, back to politics and Trump.

Ukraine the “aggressor.” Zelensky in effect no good. The pot calling the kettle black.

We were on top of Russia’s attack of Ukraine. Russia attacked Ukraine. We observed Putin line up the troops and military machinery for weeks before the invasion. Lies cannot replace truth.

Those who voted for Trump in the last election should reflect. War could be a probability, not a possibility, before Trump’s term ends. Such will be felt on our shores also. An ocean is no protection today. Military equipment and missiles can strike us. The U.S. will look like Gaza and the Ukraine. Our people killed and injured. Our children and grandchildren warriors in the fight.

None has to be.

Wake up America! Democrats and Republicans alike. A time to stand together in opposition to the real enemies.

Trump has nothing better to do than get involved in New York City’s traffic problems? He should keep his nose out of local matters.

The federal government took $800 million from New York City’s bank account at the direction of Trump and Musk. FEMA grant monies appropriated by Congress, approved by Biden, and contractually given to New York City.

Today, New York City’s bank account. Tomorrow, could be yours.

We are out of control!

Trump making noises about running for a third term. Unconstitutional. He wants to be “President/King” forever.

Farmers supported Trump big time in the last election. Tariffs already affecting them negatively. The prospect of a trade war has farmers who voted for him on edge. Certain designated farmer funds have been frozen. The farmers need these monies and are pleading for them.

Trump proclaimed himself “King” and above all laws. Musk fired nuclear workers. We are in trouble. Woe is our country.

A quote I read this morning on the internet. One to keep in mind when it comes to Trump/Musk positions: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true, the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”

This a big one! Would you believe? Trump has backed Musk’s plan to audit the gold reserves at Fort Knox. Trump told reporters, “We’re going to go into Fort Knox to make sure the gold is there.”

The gold strorage facility has not been audited “exhaustively” in more than 50 years. Correct. It is audited via a method described as “vault seal checks.”

My fear is Musk’s youthful and inexperienced staff may audit incorrectly and create fear in the nation afterward with an incorrect tally.

There ae audits and audits apparently. Inconceivable to me that no type audit has been done in 50 years.

I did a bit of research.

Trump’s appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says there is an audit every year and “all the gold is present and accounted for.” Bessent was purported to be the best Cabinet appointment Trump made. Did Trump or Musk check with their man Bessent? Do any homework first? Looked before they leaped?

Dug further. Discovered a group called Sound Money Defense League appears to be behind the audit. The group a relatively new non-profit. In business seven years. One of the primary purposes of the business is to avoid taxation on the sale of “precious metals.”  The group promotes “sound money.” Though a non-profit, there are non-profits that are money makers for their principals. Sounds like this may be one. One of its concerns is with the sale and taxation of sale proceeds on gold and silver. There are non-taxing states and taxing states. They direct customers to non-taxing states. Taxing states are considered bad. They charge a sales tax from 7-10 percent.

Did the group get the ear of Trump or Musk? Have either or both run off to investigate Fort Knox to aid and assist the business of the non-profit? Is Donald Trump Jr. involved in any fashion? I notice recently he is on TV advertising a particular gold company for the purchase and sale of gold.

Enjoy your day!

Things are getting too far out of hand!

Yesterday at 2 pm the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston was closed. Purportedly by an Executive Order allowing the dismissal of certain federal employees by DOLGE.

Thirteen Presidential Libraries are administered by the National Archives Records Administration. The Kennedy Library the sole one closed. The twelve others remained open. Included were the Nixon and Reagan Libraries.

Limited news releases this morning suggest the Kennedy facility will be reopened today. The information provided with no verification as to source.

Syracuse did it again yesterday. Lost another basketball game. This one sadly.

Pitt beat Syracuse 80-61. The sadness is that Syracuse had a 16 point lead and blew it.

The phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison. He was awarded a patent for it in 1878.

One of the ways the federal government worked at getting the U.S. out of the Depression of the 1930s was to produce theatrical events. Provided jobs.

The Work Responses Administration, in cooperation with the Florida Emergency Relief Administration, produced Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” at Battery Dilworth on Fort Zachary Taylor grounds in Key West on February 19, 1935.

Though born in 1935, I was not yet born on that date. Ergo did not get to see Pirates of Penzance on that date. Did get to see the show on Broadway when it was featured again in the 1980s. At the time I saw the show, it starred Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline. Both went on to become famous Hollywood stars.

A major U.S. Pacific attack against Japan began this day in 1945 when U.S. Marines 30,000 strong began their invasion of Iwo Jima.

Songs bring back memories. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” was released and instantly became famous in 1973. Tony Orlando the record’s feature singer.

I remember the tune and record. In 1973, my family and I enjoyed a condominium at Palm Aire in Florida. The song could be heard everywhere.

Mickey Mouse and China. Mickey Mouse was introduced to China in 1985. Mickey’s name in Chinese Mi Iao.

I began preparing to go to The Grand for Happy Hour at 3 yesterday afternoon. Happy Hour begins at 4.

All of a sudden, I was tired. Extremely tired. Laid down for a few minutes. Fell asleep. Did not wake till midnight.

Wow!

A first!

I can only assume my experiences at the Willie Nelson Show the previous evening left me that tired. Worth it!

Enjoy your day!

One of the best evenings of my life last night. I got to watch Willie Nelson perform in person.

The program titled WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY. Held at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West. 

The Willie Nelson portion of the show was all Willie Nelson. The “family” consisted of his son Lukas who played and sung along with his Dad, but only sang one song solo. Let me mention Lukas first. Relatively young. Thirty six years old. His voice his Dad’s. His performance skills his Dad’s also.

Willie’s part of the show was one hour. Outstanding! He never stopped singing.

Nelson is 91 years old. I am 89. We are contemporaries. I knew the words to 80 percent of the songs he sang. I stood and cheered, stood and sang with the man, yelled and screamed with the crowd. What a performer! Nelson, not me.

Willie opened with Whiskey River. Further songs included On the Road Again, Always on My Mind, Good Hearted Woman, To All The Girls I’ve Loved, Riders in the Sky, Seven Spanish Angels, Write Your Own Songs, Georgia on My Mind, Blue Skies, If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time, Forgiving You Easy, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, and Sound of Silence.

There were more. I can’t recall all of them. Each one perfect, however.

Willie’s age occasionally caught in his voice for a second. Did not matter. He was Willie Nelson. The sound his. The words emanating from the pit of his stomach.

The Amphitheater holds 4,000. I would estimate close to that number there.

My first visit to the Amphitheater. Will not be my last. I was overwhelmed not only by the show, but by the Amphitheater itself.

There is a front portion of reserved seats. Mucho expensive. I was in the sixth row. My seat a gift from a friend.

To the rear of the reserved seats was a gradual uphill of grass. The “cheap seats.” Most on the grass portion brought their own chairs. Behind them, the Gulf of Mexico.

What a setting!

When the Amphitheater was suggested for Key West years ago, I was opposed. Locals would not spend the type of money called for to attend nor did I believe people would travel all the way to Key West to see a show. I was wrong. Badly so. As reflected by the crowd last night.

Again, the place was almost filled to capacity. Most were 60 or older. Many as old as Willie and me. My best guess is that most were locals. They spent the expensive dollars in many instances to attend!

Let me run down buying tickets, time to arrive, how to park, how to leave, etc. All important.

Tickets should be purchased in advance. You can do it on your cell phone. Mine was scheduled for pickup. Instructions were to arrive at 5:30 to get the ticket. The show not scheduled to begin till 7.

I found out pick up tickets were available at the site from noon on. I picked mine up at 12:30. This also gave me a chance to figure out parking. Most important!

Arriving easy. Straight up Southard Street through Truman Annex as if you are going to the Fort Zachery Taylor Beach. The Amphitheater is located in the Truman Waterfront Park.

Kate was the young lady waiting to accommodate me with my ticket. She expected my arrival and seemed to recognize my name. A charming young lady.

I asked her about the parking. There is a large parking lot across the street. Not part of her operation. She knew nothing about it. I saw some disabled parking spots in the lot and wanted to know if my disabled parking permit got me a free spot. She was unaware. All she could tell me was the parking lot was not part of the Amphitheater operation and she understood the cost to park was $30 or $40.

The lot did not open till 3 so I had to wait till I arrived at 5:30 to see if free or not. I doubted it was.

The parking was $40. The man was gracious and said they kept none of the money. It all went to charity. I did not believe him nor did I care. If I had to arrange for a cab or Uber, the cost would have been more than normal and getting picked up an horrendous experience. I decided I would pay $40 if I had to. The convenience was worth it. Directly across the street from the Amphitheater.

I arrived at 5:15. I had to wait in line to get in. The doors did not open till 5:30. The line was a good quarter of a mile long. Most in line were holding their chairs. I stood 15 minutes and the line began moving. Within 15 minutes more,  I was inside the Amphitheater and in my seat.

The operation organized to the hilt. People walking up and down the line telling those with chairs to open them so the line could move faster through the gate. There were six gates. Like going through security in the airport. Everything had to be checked. Done swiftly with courtesy and grace.

I had an hour and a quarter to kill before the show began at 7. Tents selling everything everywhere. Food, booze, tee shirts, etc. Portable toilets everywhere. No waiting involved.

My one complaint is the metal chair I was sitting on. Reserved seats are metal chairs. I lost 62 pounds during my three heart surgeries last year. Never gained them back. A good thing. However, I have no ass. I am skin and bones back there. I had a sore rump all night. I was happy the times I had to stand to cheer Willie.

The entire show took 2 hours 15 minutes. The first hour consisted of a young professional group. They were on 45 minutes. Then Nelson’s people had to rearrange the stage etc. for Willie’s show. Took another 30 minutes. Willie’s show was one hour.

I noticed a small number of customers did not arrive in the reserved section till Willie’s show was about to begin. They obviously did not care to watch the opening performance. I do not blame them. I did not enjoy the opening group. The music more today’s. A lot of yelling and screaming. Not my cup of tea. When I see my next show, I may find out what the opening group is doing and  skip the opening portion.  Arrive only in time for the main attraction.

Leaving caused me concern. Just under 4,000 people leaving the area at the same time. 

Fortunately, the Amphitheater backs onto the highway. My reserved seating was only feet from the stage. As soon as the show was over, I moved my feeble derriere back to my car and was one of the first on the highway. 

It was a zoo. Most people walking on the highway. Cars few. Accidents waiting to occur. Took a bit of time to make it to Southard Street. The police should be more involved in moving people and cars at the end of the show.

The Amphitheater is owned by the City of Key West. It is managed by the Rams Head Group who also run a restaurant on Petronia and Whitehead Streets. The Rams Head principal is  Bill Muehlhauser. He has multiple residences in the U.S. and probably elsewhere. He and his wife have a residence in Key West also. He did an excellent job in setting up the Amphitheater and its staff. The staff voluminous and there to assist the customers. Always with a smile. Everyone knows there job and perform it well. I was impressed.

I who was opposed when the Amphitheater was in the conceptual stage glad my judgment was not correct. I can’t wait to see more shows!

Enjoy your day!

Big night tonight for me! Two firsts. The Coffee Butler Amphitheater and Willie Nelson.

Never been to the Amphitheater. Excited to attend.

As many the great performers I have been privileged to see, never one of my all time favorites. Willie Nelson. On the Road Again still sings in my ear on occasion. I will be watching Nelson at the Amphitheater this evening. And with a great seat. Sixth row!

Another first for me yesterday. I’m beginning to think I am trying to pack a lot of things in before I pass on. I attended the Seafood Festival at the Truman Waterfront. Last time I did was many years ago. The event bigger than ever. Its location spectacular.

Stayed a while. Enjoyed the music and watching the people. Took time to eat two dishes. A Florida lobster tail and shrimp.

Spoke with an old friend yesterday by phone. Needed a favor. Knew David could provide.

David told me Don Manaher was in town for the month. Told him to tell Don I would be in touch this week and we would get together. It will be good to see Don and David again. It will take me back to the years I basically lived at Don’s Place and played bocce with these guys.

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the U.S. He took office for the first time this day in 1801.

I have been to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on two occasions. If you have never been, try to go. Take the kids if you have some. A family thing.

Two of the monuments impressed me. To this day, I cannot determine which is the best. Both that good. Dynamic. 

One is the Jefferson Monument. He stands tall. 

The other, the Lincoln Memorial. Moving.

Milan is one of the finest cities I have  visited. Fortunate to have visited several times. Located in northern Italy. The City is smart. Its people smart. Everything seems to be there. Including The Last Supper.

It is no wonder therefore that Puccini’s Madame Butterfly premiered at the La Scala Theatre in Milan this day in 1904. Milan an exceptional community back then as it continues to be today.

I always thought Jack the Ripper was a fictitious English tale. Apparently not so. A researcher claims that an Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber, was the serial killer. He claims he has DNA to prove it.

Whoever Jack the Ripper may have been, his hey day was in 1888. He did his “thing” in that one year. Killed five ladies.

Michael Jordan was born this day in 1963. The ultimate success. 

A quote attributed to him makes his success understandable: “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to conquer it. Go through it or work around it.”

Ancient new world news. Miles Standish was elected the first Commander of Plymouth Colony this day in 1621.

What a day today was in New York City in 1913. Three great artists were introduced to the U.S. at a New York Armory Show: Picasso, Matisse and Duchamp.

Duchamp the least known of the three at the time. A French modernistic painter. He caused an uproar when his “Nude Descending a Staircase” was shown in New York.

On this day in 1968, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened in Springfield, Massachusetts. I was fortunate to have watched several Syracuse University basketball games there over the years. When Syracuse consistently was a college basketball great. No more in recent years. Sad!

A story I first read many years ago. An old man wrote he was 80 years old. Sweet 16 and 64 years of experience.

Means I have 73 years of experience. Hope I have many more years remaining. Life may get slower with each year, but is still fun.

One important thing I have learned is having good friends. They are the jewels of life. Difficult to find and impossible to replace.

Neurophysiotherapy at 11 this morning. Last time was wednesday. Back sore again this morning. Need Theresa’s magic hands.

Enjoy your day!