The weather key. Warming up in Key West. High expected to reach 70. May not last long. Supposedly will get cold again in a few days.

I have been in Key West 30 years. This has been the coldest January ever so far. Surprisingly so. Some Januarys remain in the high 70s and 80s. Never a touch of cold. We are entitled to some of those warm Januarys for the next few years.

My medical day began early. Sara at 7. She is my butt nurse. My bed sores are taking forever to recover. She also will become my injury nurse to take care of my fall problems. She spent considerable time on my knee.

I am feeling better. My ribs still hurt when I get up and sit down, cough or burp. Since the fall, I have been burping a lot. Something I did not do before.

Lucky I was, however. No fractures. I feel a bit better each day. Recovery in small steps, nevertheless recovery.

Went out last night. To The Gardens. Saw Steve and Cindy, Joe and Jean. Joe and Jean were to have returned to Birmingham last week. However the planes got screwed up because of the weather. They return today. They were both nice enough to walk me to my car. I needed them.

Melania got what she deserved with her documentary. Not her or the documentary’s fault. Her relationship with Donald the major contributing factor. Most things he touches or is related with, fail.

Still in a government standoff. Trump and Democrats cannot agree on one issue. If and when this bill passes, it will only extend the government till February 13. What a way to run the government!

Trump seems to come up with something new every day. Most of his ideas fail.

His newest one is to install a statue of Christopher Columbus in front of the White House. 

I am of Italian ancestry. Columbus made me and most if not all Italians proud. In recent decades he has acquired a negative appearance. Considered bad for a number of reasons. Many of his statues torn down.

It appears Donald is seeking the Italian-American vote. I know no Italo-American who looks upon Trump favorably.

Save the money Donald! I would rather a different President in the future places the Columbus statue and does it for the right reasons.

Trump has seen fit to punish Mark Kelly. Not because he did anything wrong. In fact, a federal judge announced he is “skeptical” of the charges. Trump is out to destroy Kelly because he was a growing force against Trump. Since the charges were levied, Kelly announced he definitely is a candidate for President.

As you are aware, I have been supporting Kelly openly for a while. He is a good man. A present U.S. Senator, former astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran. A Democrat who spoke out against Trump when most were remaining silent.

People live in fear in Minneapolis. Trump at fault. He could end the city’s harassment quickly if he so desired. Which he does not. Even the children live in fear. Nothing to be proud of.

Donald, get the thugs – your thugs – out of Minneapolis and Minnesota! You have the power to do so. Exercise it!

A New York Times column described described Trump as “neoroyal.” Right on! His attitude and self-importance image have rendered significant pain to the U.S. and rest of the world.

Trump and Harvard were discussing deescalating the tenson between them. Trump has acted in typical Trump style. Prior to any meeting, Trump had levied a $200 million fine. For the meeting, he raised it to $1 billion.

Trump has cut aid to Afghanistan. Hunger and deaths have followed. Especially with children. Child hunger has reached levels unseen in 25 years. 

Congratulation, Donald! The fatter you get, the thinner Afghanistan children get. Does it make you proud? Do you ever think of them?

Enough of Donald for today. 

The Patty Hearst sage began this day in 1974 when she was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Facebook began this day in 2004. Represents what success is!

On this day in 1826, The Last of the Mohicans was published. James Fenimore Cooper the author.

He was raised most of his years in upstate New York in what is now the Cooperstown area. His Dad founded Cooperstown. 

I have reread the book several times. Cooperstown in the Utica area, something like 40 miles distant. The times represented in the book, the people, were similar to those in the Utica area at the time.

On this day in 1938, Walt Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Many times I have reseen the movie. Part of American tradition.

Japan has few trash cans. Pockets and paper bags are used. Shirts, blouses and coats are sold with large pockets for garbage usage. Most Japanese people have never seen a trash can.

Silk diapers now big time in China. A “premium essential” in many households.

McDonald’s adding caviar to its menu. Only for one day. Free. Calling it the “McNuggets Caviar.” The day February 10. The caviar will be available only as long as it lasts.

Enough for today. My ribs killing me. Dr. Blass at 3 for the cancer wound. Bed for me till then.

Enjoy your day!

Beware, Trump says G.O.P. should “take over elections.”

No way, Jose!

Trump is escalating. Calling for Republicans to nationalize elections. Another way of Trump saying he wants to exert more control over American elections. His reason is to prevent noncitizens from voting. An excuse, nothing more. Trump’s problem problem is that there is no evidence that a significant number of noncitizens have voted in any American election.

A 2024 audit by the Georgia Secretary of State found that just 20 of the 8.2 million people registered to vote in Georgia were not citizens. And that only 9 had ever voted.

Even more importantly, the Constitution controls who governs elections. The Constitution clearly states state law. A typical erroneous move on Trump’s part. I doubt he often reads the Constitution and when he does, he interprets even the clearly written his way.

Trump has screwed up the Kennedy Center. First he added his name to the structure, then fired the existing Board and appointed his own Board of Trustees who then elected him President. A quick, smooth takeover which has been rejected by most of the American public. Entertainers in huge numbers have refused to perform.

Trump apparently desperate to come out looking good in a bad action. He has announced he is going to renovate the Center. An estimated two year job.

Query: Does he have the necessary approvals? Who is going to pay for the renovation?

A wise move! The Department of Homeland Security decision to equip federal officers in Minneapolis with body cameras after federal agents in the area shot and killed two people.

It should be done with ICE agents, also. All of them everywhere!

The Trump family crypto firm sold $500 million to a U.A.E. investment firm. A wrong move! Trump doing constant governmental business with U.A.E. The transaction was earlier last year and may have been before Trump took office. Either way bad optics involved as well as the ground work having been laid for a questionable relationship now between the U.S. and U.A.E.

A Catholic bishop in Charlotte has created a major dispute within the Church under his control. He has decreed the removal of altar railings and kneelers when receiving Communion. People must stand. May kneel on the floor if they wish to do so.

I am Catholic. Attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college. Not the best Catholic all my life. However, I know the rules as learned my entire life. I am now 90 years old and back to the Church.

The bishop’s move stupid and arrogant. Through my lifetime other such changes were made. Some succeeded, some failed. All caused disruption among congregation members. I being one of them.

Kneel or no kneel not Church dogma. The bishop wrong big time. He has laid the groundwork for his parishioners to be uncomfortable and in opposition to his dictate. Some will cease going to Communion or Church itself. Most take their religions seriously.

Does the Pope have any say? The bishop has advised the Pope. I am curious what Leo’s reaction will be.

Benjamin Franklin: “A person wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.”

On this day in 2005, Alberto Gonzalez became the first Hispanic U.S. Attorney General. As a lawyer, I considered him the worst in my professional career. Before someone raises the issue, it had nothing to do with his ethnic background. He was just plain inept.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Winter is sticking around. We didn’t need Punxsutawney Phil to tell us this year! The weather is speaking for itself.

It is so cold that frozen iguanas are falling from trees in Florida. Not surprising! Soooo cold!

I still hurt. Saw Dr. Norris yesterday. Recovery will take time. Head, rib and ankle pain continue, though less. Typing this morning difficult. My sight is screwed up. I may have to see an eye doctor.

Tonight hopefully The Grand for Happy Hour. Some salmon and good conversation with Steve.

Follow Senator Mark Kelly in the news. We need him as our next President.

Enjoy your day!

Some things are inexplainable. Eventually the reason therefore develops. Till then a mystery, however.

The most recent inexplainable is a wayward bird. A “waved albatross.” Described by experts as an “avian vagrant.” The term relatively new. Waved albatrosses have suddenly been found to be flying thousands of miles from its typical origin. Now appearing over California waters. Normally inhabit the Galapagos Islands and other parts of South America. Experts estimate the birds are appearing 3,300 miles off their course. Never before seen anywhere north of Costa Rica.

The why will be interesting when discovered.

No beach for anyone today. It is 8 a.m. in Key West. The temperature 53 degrees. Cold!!!!! Will not even reach 60 today. Unusual for Key West. High will be 57. 

Trump increasing his immigration efforts. Means more children will be taken into custody by ICE. Detained. The reason therefore is that ICE in order to increase its numbers is doing family detentions. Some ICE motivated. Others because parents do not want to be separated from their children and request the children be taken with them.

Trump wants to build a 250 foot tall arch. It will dwarf the Lincoln Memorial. Trump wants to make all these additions and renovations in Washington not to personify American history. Rather to establish his name in stone for all years to come. Our worst President wants his name up in more places than any other President. Name presence will not make him the better man. 

Technically, our government is in shutdown today. Has been since Friday night. The House must also pass the funding bill which the Senate passed last week. Trump and Schumer are still working on the wording. This whole thing amounts in a sense to a joke. The bill is only good till February 13. Congress wants to get it passed by that date since their members go home on vacation. Something they refer to as a “short term extension.”

Amazing how government is run!

Republicans continue to worry about the mid-term elections. They have reason to worry. Texas had a special election this past week for a state legislature seat. The Democrat won a seat in the district that Trump carried by 17 points in the last Presidential election.

Trump has amassed a tremendous war chest for the mid-term elections. He will be able to support “his candidates” wherever he wants in the U.S. The Democrats have amassed significantly less funds. Not unusual for a party out of power.

I believe however Trump will need every penny to help and the result will be Republicans losing power in at least one of the Houses of Congress. People do not like the way Trump has run the government in most instances. His actions will cause the piper to have to pay the tune.

If I am wrong and the Republicans continue to control the government, it means our country is truly in a bad way. Yet, I cannot envision Republicans continuing to control. Trump has screwed up our Nation big time!

Republicans are calling the protests in Minnesota an “insurgency.” The term is used to describe “war.” Its use poses dangers when applied to American political unrest.

Trump wants the insurgency label to be applied. If a war, he can dump even more troops into Minnesota. He is Hitler reincarnated.

South Carolina has a measles breakout. Bad! Does Key West have a measles problem?

Syracuse has finally won another basketball game. Beat Notre Dame last night 86-72.NB  Syracuse now 13-9. Not a commendable record.

Tomorrow night at 7 Syracuse plays UNC. UNC ranked #16 nationally. 

February is Black History Month.

There are 26,079 works in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. An interesting fact.

I did not know who Cristiano Ronaldo was. I discovered he has an Instagram following of 670 million. Did a little digging. He is not an ancient historian, etc. Rather a still active Portuguese soccer player. Forty years old. The basis of his popularity is his goal scoring ability.

The first President to be photographed was John Quincy Adams.

Ever wonder why men’s and women’s buttons are on the opposite sides? I finally took the time to find out.

No one sure. Not even the experts.

Some say it goes back to the military and how medieval breastplates were formed. Some say it was the women who made the choice in the 13th and 14th centuries. They were dress conscience. Wanted to attire themselves differently from men. Ergo, buttons on the other side!

I still ache from my fall. Big time aching. Head, ribs and knee. The ribs a killer every time I move. My left eye going black. I’m lucky there were no fractures anywhere. I suspect I am going to hurt for a while.

The fall my fault. I am paying the penalty.

Forget not Mark Kelly. The Senator, former astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran now an announced candidate for the Democratic nomination for President. He should be your man! He has the credentials, etc. Not anywhere close to being  a Donald Trump.

Because of my injuries, it took me much longer to write today’s blog. It was really a step at a time. My fingers and head many times were not working together and I had to rewrite.

Enjoy your day! I’m back to bed!