Day 34 of my self-quarantine. I’m beginning to enjoy it. Worries me.

We are all familiar with the poker phrase…..Money talks and bullshit walks. I have altered it a bit to use as my introductory topic: Numbers talk, bullshit walks.

Very simple.

On March 15 there were 67 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. As of yesterday morning, 22,021. In just short of one month!

Donald, you should be ashamed!

I do not blame Trump for the virus. I do blame him for not taking effective action earlier. He was more concerned with the economy than the lives of “his people.” In this regard, Trump does have blood on his hands.

He now is apparently considering taking a bath in it.

Trump is anxious to get the economy going. Get people back to work. Make the corporations happy. See the stock market go up again.

From his perspective, the key to his victory in November.

He has told us he is establishing a Second Task Force. This one to do with when to restart the economy. He has said May 1 and May with no definitive date.

The new Task Force will primarily consist of corporate representatives. Business America.

Great thinking!

I don’t care how many face masks or testing kits corporate America has donated or will be donating. They will not be interested in the health of the American people. CEO’s are concerned about the bottom line of their company’s profit and loss statement. Period!

CEO’s jobs are to generate profit for their corporations and satisfy shareholders.

They will not be thinking coronavirus and the health of the people of the U.S. first. Not their job. It is Trump’s however. And in the end there is no question he will use their recommendation to rerun to work as license to call at least some sections of the U.S. back to work.

It will be the Last Supper for many called and some not called. Trump will have automatically increased the number of bodies available to the corona virus.

Andrea Bocelli brought happiness to an otherwise sad world yesterday. His performance in Milan was outstanding! What people world wide needed.

His performance was streamed world wide. I missed it. However, caught it earlier this morning. Bocelli yesterday is available all over the internet.

He sang inside and out of the Duomo Cathedral.

Some of the inside shots show the gigantic round pillars. It was behind one of these in the back on the inside of the pillar that I fell asleep. Thought no one could find me.

Wrong, I was. Must be a favorite hiding place for homeless and tourists like me who need a place to nap.

My friend Jim Brown lives on Crete. We have never met. However have corresponded for several years. Met via the internet.

He e-mailed yesterday: We live in troubled times, he wrote. So correct. He thought a good understanding of our present concerns can be found in the song That’s Life, sung by Frank Sinatra.

Jim sang it on video and sent me a copy.

He was correct. The words fit.

It was Greek day yesterday again. Heard from 2 other friends.

Theos wrote. He has been a frequent visitor to Key West over the years. I am not the only friend he has made. He is close to Pasta Pantaleo in Islamorada. Pasta’s real name Roberto. However is called Pasta by everyone.

I have never met Pasta. He is an artist. Operates the Signature Gallery. In the “Heart of Downtown Islamorada” as he describes it.

Theos wrote to tell me that Pasta refers to me as Mango Man. Why? How?

On occasion, I have run off to Islamorada to spend a weekend. Occasionally there is a need to get out of Key West. Off the rock as the locals describe it.

Islamorada is just far enough away. A one hour forty five minute drive. A quiet community. Not Key West. Some great restaurants. The next time, I will make it my business to meet Pasta.

One interesting point. I have met many Islamorada residents in the Chart Room. They come down to Key West to vacation a couple of days. Works both ways.

Another person of Greek origin yesterday. “Greek.” Her last name and the name everyone refers to her as.

I have not seen Greek in years. I first met her when she bartended at Square One. At least 20 years ago. The last time I ran into her was on the street about 5 years ago.

Greek liked me. She was protective. She wanted to be sure no evil spirit would hurt me. She gave me a little brass trinket to wear. I forget what it looked like. It was to ward off bad spirits. She told me to wear it every day. I did for 2 years. Why I stopped, I don’t know.

Greek e-mailed me yesterday. I assume because of the blog. It was good to hear from her. She is now a realtor.

Additional Trump time.

Trump lies. We all know it. Something like 16,000 plus times since becoming President.

He lies about China and the timeliness of their warning. He is seeking a scapegoat for his failure to timely move his ass re the virus.

The true facts indicate more than 400,000 persons from China were admitted into the U.S. after Trump became aware. Even worse, after he imposed the ban against China, 40,000 plus additional persons were admitted from China.

Trump may be getting ready to fire Fauci. I am surprised Fauci lasted this long. Fauci is smarter, does not lie, and has been in conflict re covid-19 with Trump. Trump follows his own advice rather than that of the scientist all America trusts.

A tweet by another started flying around the internet last night. With a hashtag: FireFauci.

Trump is upset because Fauci said, Earlier measures “could have saved lives.” Also, it “would have been nice if we had a better head start.”

Fauci wanted to do social and physical measures as early as February and Trump refused. Fauci also does not believe in hydroxyehl as Trump does.

The worse to come in a few days. Trump dislikes people getting more publicity than he. Fauci will appear on on the cover of The New Yorker. The article is titled: “The Most Troubled Man in America.”

Russia and the Saudis have been fighting over oil. Both are getting killed. The price of crude has dropped dramatically.

In the meantime, the U.S. continues to be in good shape oil wise.

Putin is our enemy. I consider the Saudis our enemy also. Neither has done anything but screw the U.S. for years. Now Trump helps the 2 to make a deal to save their economic asses. Not the U.S.’s.

In order to accomplish the result, Trump agreed to do his “friends” a favor. Drop the U.S. price of oil to make the deal work.

Again Trump gave something away with no benefit coming to the U.S.

“Our friends” will screw us the first opportunity they get and every time thereafter. Trump once again bullshitted!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Easter!

Two interesting Easter quotes. One touching, the other humorous.

Kate McGahan wrote, “The very first Easter taught us this: That life never ends and love never dies.”

An Easter egg tidbit: “A true friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg, even if you’re cracked.”

Some pastors intend to hold Easter Services in their Churches. Some motivated by freedom of religion, others believe caronavirus a hoax, and others compelled to do so by pure idiocy.

Church services in person in a church today religious fanaticism at its most extreme.

Quotes by those who believe they are doing the right thing.

“God will shield us from all harm and sickness.”

“Satan a virus and will not stop us.”

“We are not afraid. We are called by God to stand against the Antichrist creeping into America’s borders.”

Those so believing are throw backs to the Spanish Inquisition and Salem Witch Hunt. Lunacy in its purest form.

Today’s date a sad one in American history.

On this day in 1861, the the South fired on Fort Sumter beginning the Civil War. On this day in 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died.

Enjoy Easter Sunday!

Day 32.

Would you believe!

This week is a Christian festival of sorts. Different days each. Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending tomorrow with Easter.

Today is Holy Saturday. Of all the days involved, the most mundane.

Christ died on the cross yesterday. He was buried in a tomb. Today He lies in the tomb. Tomorrow He rises.

I compare Holy Saturday to walking into a funeral parlor with no bodies in waiting. The place empty.

I had a client who was a funeral director. Occasionally, I would stop into his funeral parlor when I was in his end of town. Always a strange feeling when he had no body lying in wait.

Desolate.

Such is how a Catholic Church feels on Holy Saturday. Desolate.

The altar is stripped of everything. All crosses and other religious artifacts in the building covered with black cloth. Like no one lived there.

Tomorrow a different story. The Church’s world changes in 24 hours. The Church itself packed with worshipers. Everyone in a celebratory mood. High Mass a big deal. Processions, singing, the mass itself, etc. Flowers galore covering the altar.

During high school, I was an altar boy, choir singer, etc. Did it all. The Church was my life.

I can recall marching at the head of a long procession carrying a tall gold cross. I was attired in a fire engine red robe, white blouse of sorts. Starched collar with a big white bow. Singing with everyone in the procession Pange Lingua. I can recall the words even now.

He was risen. He was not dead.

Everyone dressed in those days. Men in suits, ladies in their finest dresses. Hats, too.

It was like the movie Easter Parade with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. Though not as elegant in a small town like Utica.

This has turned into recollection morning. Not planned that way when I began.

Always an Easter egg hunt.

As my children grew, we had the hunt in the house on Easter. My then wife and I would hide the colored eggs all over the house. The kids would then go crazy looking for them.

Our 4 children became too old. No grandchildren yet. So we designated my parents to perform the search. It was as much fun as when the kids did it.

The folks tired with it after a couple of years. It was our turn. The wife and I. Everyone hooted as we searched. There was always a prize to the winner. So everyone who searched moved fast in order to win.

The meal was excellent. Dessert especially.

My mother and then wife made 2 special ones. Cassata and sausage pie.

Sausage pie easy to describe. A thick crust top and bottom with soft tasty sausage inside.

The cassata was the best. Ricotta the base. Filled with all kinds of tiny cut up fruits and chocolate. Three to four inches deep in a large round pan. Baked in the oven in a thick crust all around, under and on top.

It was the best! One problem. Heavy. One healthy portion stayed with you for a week.

The Easters of yesterday! Not the same today. Things change. From dressing, Church, the meal itself. Gone! Even the Easter egg hunt.

Lisa kept the egg hunt tradition up with Robert and Ally. Even Jake got involved. They did it in the back yard. No more, however. Robert and Ally feel they are too big for the egg hunt.

Lisa makes the cassata. Not the big one, though. Not with all the goodies cooked inside. She makes a simple vanilla one the size of an ordinary pie. Still good!

However I hope that once more before my time arrives, I will have the opportunity to indulge myself with the big fruity chocolate one.

I have some Trump bit stories to share. Why spoil the blog and Easter Sunday. There is always another day.

Happy Easter!

Today a most solemn day in Christianity. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ.

Now, another crucifixion. The crucifixion of the people of the United States because of a lack of testing.

Simple. Not difficult to understand.

We have been promised millions of test its, we have received nowhere near the number. In a very recent article, Newsweek spelled it out very clearly. Trump promised 27 million tests by the end of March. Only 1 million tests have been performed.

Trump tells us testing under control. Anyone that wants one, can get it. Good luck! Try!

Inadvertently, Trump is condemning many to death. Reminds me of Pontius Pilate. However Pilate knew what he was doing. Washed his hands of the Christ problem.

Trump does not know what he is doing. I believe he believes the testing numbers he and the Task Force spell out are real.

Sadly, the right hand does not know what the left is doing.

Much to cover this morning. The balance of the blog is a sort of Morning Stew. I am laying things out as they appear in my notes. No special order involved.

Everyone in the world seems to not working. Stay at home world wide. I am assuming such because of the number of e-mails I am getting every day and people who want to be friends on Facebook. Yesterday, somewhere around 100 on Facebook alone.

Most from lonely persons. Like me, like you.

Some weird, however.

I received this morning a scary one. With photo. Odd in nature. Contained a young man in a pit. Surrounded by snakes. At least 50. All kinds. Even cobras. He was picking them up by hand and throwing them around.

Friends like this I do not need.

Someone sent an e-mail yesterday. Publix aisles are now one way. Yes, one way up, the next one way down.

Frankly, a good idea. The  K-Mart store is old and the aisles a bit tight.

I keep waiting for Trump and Dr. Fauci to split. How long can Fauci put up with the misinformation Trump spouts.

Fauci was quoted yesterday re hand washing. His message: Wash your hands frequently. There must be “absolute compulsive hand washing.”

The recent $2 billion plus stimulus. One portion deals with a $350 billion allocation. One third has been committed. Not a penny distributed yet. Reminds me of the wench during the French Revolution who non caringly said: “Let them eat cake (bread).”

Who cares!

The $350 billion had to do with small businesses retaining employees on the payroll for 8 weeks. The government would reimburse any employer who did it.

The U.S. is the smartest and most advanced nation in the world. We keep telling ourselves. Trump keeps saying it. However with this coronavirus thing, our country looks totally inept.

Too many infected and too many have died.

Greece on the other hand has numbers to be envied. Just over 1,900 infected and only 86 dead.

Why the difference?

Attorney General Barr is a disgrace. He is Trump’s pet dog. Dances to the master’s tune.

Yesterday, Barr said the U.S. must stop the “cartels” from taking advantage of the U.S during the pandemic. Are the drug dealers coming over the border again? Is this a cry for more wall funding? A guise?

A few days earlier, Barr said the measures (distance between persons, stay at home, etc.) were “draconian” measures “not fully justified.”

He looked upon these measures as people doing what they want. He commented “he” would permit such actions till the end of April and then decide what to do.

Sounds like he’s Trump’s mouthpiece in pushing people to get back to work.

Another 6.6 million applied for unemployment last week. In a 3 week period, just under 17 million have applied. There will be more this week.

Keep in mind a nation can only “print” so much money before its economy collapses. There is only so much that can be done in trying to keep the economy afloat and people surviving economically. A house built on sand must fall.

Respect is a big thing with me. There are various ways of showing disrespect. Like the President coming out for his Task Force 5 pm meetings late most days. If not all.

He disrespects the people of the U.S. His people. We all wait with baited breath for today’s news from the horse’s mouth, whether we agree with him or not.

The $2.3 trillion stimulus package was supposed to be a “go” immediately. No one has received a check yet nor monies from a small business loan application.

Mnuchin says stimulus checks will go out by 4/17. Kudlow says in 2 weeks.

Again, the right hand does not know what the left is doing.

We were told when the stimulus package was being negotiated and passed the checks would be direct deposited. Turns out not quite the case.

Direct deposit in only one instance. To those who filed 2018 or 2019 tax returns AND sent direct deposit information to the IRS at that time.

After that, only paper checks will be sent. People will have to deposit and wait for them to clear.

Paper checks will not go out immediately. They will be stretched over a period of time to 9/11 based on a person’s adjusted gross income.

No mention of checks that are supposed to go to those who are on Social Security and have not filed a tax return.

Small business loans were to have been processed within 3 days. No way, Jose! The funds are frozen waiting for the government and banks to get on the same wave length. The allocation/grant is one thing. Actual cash flow to the small business owner another.

I have been warning of a food shortage. There are signs. Especially when people are out of work and cannot pay for groceries. Eventually, the supermarkets suffer and then the farmers. In the end, no one can afford anything. It will be Greece all over.

Star of the Sea on Stock Island is a food pantry. Business booming! Food free! Most people have not received a pay check in 3 weeks.

Tom Callahan is a volunteer at the food pantry. He said, for most it’s “the first time they have ever needed a food pantry.”

The volume of food involved requires fork lifts to move around.

There are several food pantrys in Monroe County. The Key West one is expecting at least 1,000 cars on monday.

May Johnson still sick. Getting better, however. Out of bed for a bit.

She reported in her diary for this date 1896: “Got dressed this morning and sat up awhile, went back to bed and there stayed.”

A sad day in world history. On this day in 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton on its ill fated trip.

Today is my Father’s birthday. He died at the age of 98. Had he lived, he would have been 106 today.

Happy birthday Dad!

Enjoy your day!

Holy Thursday is probably the least emotional of the Holy Week holidays for Christians. In the life of Christ, the Last Supper, washing of the feet, Gethsemane, and finally Jesus’ arrest.

It is celebrated today as a veneration of Christ. Christ in the form of the a Blessed Host.

When I was young, as far back as grammar school, Catholics visited different Catholic Churche on Holy Thursday. The interior of each was dark, except for a small altar off to the side. There stood a gold frame within which was the Holy Eucharist. The symbol of God’s body.

The altar upon which it stood was buried in green and white. Green type shrubs and white flowers. My recollection is distinct regarding this.

I was raised that we were to visit an odd number of Churches. Don’t know why odd in number. Some thought the requirement only 7.

Through high school, it was a competition among young friends. See who could visit the most Churches.

We walked from Church to Church. Some 2 miles apart. Saw friends and neighbors along the way. Streets full with people coming and going.

A combined religious and fun time.

Tomorrow a bad day. The Crucifixion of Christ. Another day, another story.

In my trips to Milan, I always stopped into the Duomo Cathedral. Majestically sitting at one end of the Square. A huge edifice. Magnificent.

On one of the trips, it was exceptionally hot. I was tired. Close to exhaustion. One thing I learned in my travels is that Churches are generally cool.

I went in. Like a refrigerator.

I sat down away from the people traffic next to a large concrete post. Fell asleep! An hour later, someone was tapping me on the shoulder to wake me. One of the attendants: “Sir, you cannot sleep here.”

My first thought was that not even God wanted me that afternoon. I forgot to mention at the beginning of this story that I had fallen down the train station steps when I arrived in Milan. I had a cut on my head where the blood had dried. A cut on my arm also. And my right leg hurt like hell!

The attendant probably thought I was a bum looking for a place to hang out.

Why Duomo Cathedral today? The famous opera singer Andrea Bocelli is singing live at the Duomo Cathedral on Easter Sunday. To an empty Church. One pm eastern standard time. His performance should be available on U.S. television.

Two dear friends are Bob Marks and Al Cotoia. From different eras of my life. Though I know both, they do not know each other.

A few days ago, I was playing with my cell phone. I had been having problems with it. I was home self quarantined and Verizon was closed. I thought I had it working. I could not do my short afternoon podcast without it.

I finally was able to see my face for a few seconds. Up close. Made my face look fat. Additionally, my beard had not been trimmed in more than a month. Bushy. My fault. I trim it. I was too lazy. Who was going to see me?

I even had a half inch of hair on my somewhat bald head.

Bob wrote commenting on the beard. Think he said I looked like Santa Claus. Al wrote and said I looked fat. Al’s comment hurt! The truth always does.

My face was on the screen only 10 seconds. I was testing. I thought I deleted it. Obviously not.

Yesterday I dealt with the problem. Trimmed my beard back to normal. Thin and lovely.

The head hair another problem. I have a beautician who trims it for me. She takes a power razor, puts it on “1” and runs it over my head 1, 2, 3. All done!

I never cut my hair with any tool. I gave it a shot with by electric beard razor. I was terrific! Got it all off!

When I was done with everything, I felt like little Jack Horner. Remember, he was sitting in a corner eating his pumpkin pie, stuck in his thumb, and pulled out a plumb. And said, Oh, what a good boy am I!

I felt like Jack Horner.

My thanks to Bob and Al in motivating me. I look beautiful! And thinner!

Key West is located in Monroe County. The coronavirus numbers continue to rise.

Total, 52 cases. Seven hospitalized. Three have died. The most recent a 31 year old woman. Twenty four of the 52 cases located in Key West

Deaths state wide total 24.

Moses said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!”

People today say coronavirus should go.

Read a comment by Hemingway concerning Key West in the 1930’s. The years Hemingway lived in Key West. Key West was extremely poor at the time. The depression in its peak.

Hemingway nevertheless loved the life style of Key West. He referred to it as “the St. Tropez of the poor.”

I have written about Mom’s Tea Room several times. A whore house, a house of ill repute.

First run in Key West. Closed down by the authorities. Reopened on Stock Island.

The bordello did a big business on Stock Island. The Navy base was stationed nearby with horny young sailors.

One problem. The Navy did not approve. Morally and health wise. The Navy was constantly harassing the civil authorities to close Mom’s down.

The situation contained a bit of humor. Local authorities never admitted the existence of Mom’s. Nor did the Navy. Finally however the Navy pressure behind the scenes became too much and the locals closed Mom’s down.

The financial crisis attendant to coronavirus affects government jobs, also. Monroe County announced it would be laying off 100 of its 525 employees.

I was born in 1935. We did not have a telephone till sometime during World War II. A dial phone. Four party line. Then a two party line. Then our line!

Prior to dial phones, calls were made through an operator. You called the operator and gave her the number to connect you to.

The Keys were a little late in getting dial phones. Actually, quite late.

The first dial phone in the Keys was installed in 1960 in a home on Sugarloaf Key.

I lived in my Key Haven home 23 years. It sat on open water. Views spectacular.

Sunrise was a special time. On occasion, I would role out of bed early and sit outside. Watch the sun come up. Very quiet that early. No one around, except for 3 dolphins playing 100-2000 feet away from me. Up and down, up and down.

I assumed they were a family. Father, mother and child. The family continued for several years. Then there were only 2. I assumed the child had taken off on his own. Could never be sure, however.

The remaining 2 continued their playful time at sunrise for years thereafter.

Those few moments in the morning were reminiscent of God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world.

I conclude with some “kind” thoughts re Trump. Actually not mine. Those of the New York Times columnist Frank Bruni. Though I agree with everything he wrote.

Bruni’s words/thoughts from his opinion column yesterday.

“He’s a man whose soul went missing.”

Trump does not tell the truth, is petty, mean, has a martyr complex, and passes the buck.

“He’s ill equipped for this moment.”

“This prophet just demands an even greater magnitude of worship. And he grows all the more furious when he doesn’t get it.”

Day 30 for me of self-quarantine. I’m doing well. If I did’t research and write, I might not.

How a quarantined person lives. One phase. Groceries.

I have them delivered from Publix. Just arrived. I had to leave to clean the groceries and store them. I wash everything (and I mean everything) with a disinfectant. Then store. Most in freezer.

Wearing plastic gloves, of course.

Process takes a while. I am tired at the moment.

Still alive though.

I figure another 30 days to go. I’ll make it.

My friend Theo Markis called from Greece a few minutes ago while I was working on the blog. A good man. We met last year when he was visiting Key West.

Reads the blog every day. Love him! He was to have visited Key West 2 months ago again. Obviously could not. Greece has the coronavirus problem also. Not the big deal as here. Only 50-70 died so far. However, as with the U.S., no one working.

Enjoy your day!

Tammy. One of the sweetest ladies in Key West. Always a smile. Always a hug.

Tammy is extremely lovely. Somewhere in her mid 40’s, looks mid 20’s. She is the premier bartender at the Chart Room.

Tammy had coronavirus. Laid low. Recently recovered.

I only found out 2 days ago that she had been struck. We talked at length yesterday via telephone.

Fortunately thus far, Tammy is the only person I know who has had covid-19. I am sorry it had to be Tammy. Or anyone else for that matter.

I was interested. Tammy took me through the whole thing.

On thursday 3/19, she had a dry cough. Infrequently. about once an hour. By 8 pm, she had a low grade fever.

The next day was friday. The cough more frequent. Fever continued. Started aching all over in the afternoon. Her knees began bothering her.

Saturday she was real achy. Started taking Tylenol. That night, she became aware of her breathing. She could feel every breath.

She woke sunday morning in a deep sweat. The fever had broken. She felt sluggish all day.

Monday she felt fine. No symptoms of anything.

Tuesday her nose began running like crazy.

Wednesday her throat hurt and she was coughing heavy.

Breathing became a problem thursday and continued till the next wednesday. An effort.

She was tested on day 3. The results came back on day 7. She tested positive for coronavirus.

Her breathing finally began getting better on day 13.

On day 14, all symptoms disappeared. Two weeks to the day.

There is neither a cure nor any drugs available to help a person through the experience.

Some of Tammy’s recollections of the 2 weeks.

She took doctor prescribed cough medicine for 2-3 days. Gave her some relief. Minimal, however.

The 2 weeks emotionally drained her.

Her mouth tasted gross. Towards the end of the 2 weeks, she lost her senses of taste and smell. Finally recovered a couple of days ago.

Seeking relief from the virus, she went “hot.” Having had pneumonia twice in the past, she felt some things learned from the experience would help.

She drank lots of hot tea and coffee. She combined salt and lemon with hot water. Put a towel over head and sucked in the heat. Drank a lot of hot soup. Took a lot of hot showers.

She believes the “heat”/”hot” helped.

She became increasingly nervous because of all the “stuff” on TV.

Fear was a factor. She was not ashamed to admit she was scared.

She believes she got it while working in the Chart Room. Though business was slow the week it closed. Few customers.

One in particular might have given it to her. A New York doctor was in her last night. Next to no one at the bar. She and the doctor chatted 3 hours.

He described to her what it was like in New York. The hospitals especially. He had never seen anything like it.

Tammy said the doctor was obviously scared. Scared her.

The doctor kept getting coughing jags. Tammy suspects that is when the virus got into her body.

Dr. Norris her physician. Stopped by her apartment at the beginning. Performed the test on her.

The Health Department was on top of her problem from the beginning. More to help others. They took the names of all persons she had been in contact with to check them out.

She believes she is cured. It’s all over. She has felt good for several days. Began riding her bike, walking the dog. Wears a face mask.

The present true test as to whether the virus is gone and a person is cured, is 2 consecutive days of negative testing. Not possible in Tammy’s case. There is insufficient testing equipment available in Key West.

Tammy believes 50-70 percent of the population will become infected. Not all will be aware.

Antibodies are the key to future protection. The belief is that a cured Tammy has antibodies which will preclude her from coming down with the virus again. Also, those same antibodies can help protect others.

She has notified the appropriate authorities of her willingness to give blood if the need arises. Her blood carries the antibodies.

Tammy was not an admirer of Trump prior to her becoming a coronavirus victim. However because of the stimulus package, she looks more fondly upon him. Her savings are evaporating. The federal dollars will help.

Cuomo on the other hand, she loves. He shares everything. Lets you know what is going on.

Her physician again is Dr. Norris. He is mine also.

Dr. Norris is doing a Facebook video every day keeping people aware of happenings re the virus, what people should do, etc.

I have never seen the video. Norris and I are not “friends.” I will ask to be his today.

Tammy walked her dog 2 nights ago at 7 in the evening. The walk took her to Mallory Square. She said Mallory Square scared her big time. The people hanging around were “weird.” She would not return without a gun.

As I have been writing Tammy’s virus saga, an old song has been running through my head. “Tammy, Tammy, Tammy’s in love…..”

From the 1950’s movie Tammy. Tammy played by a young Debbie Reynolds. Our Tammy and that Tammy are one and the same. Bright, vivacious, happy, loving, warm, outgoing, etc.

Enjoy your day!

Day 28 of my self-quarantine.

The world is sick today. Back in 1896, the world was not sick. However May Johnson of Key West was. Her diary for this date indicates she is in her third day of being sick. As described, sounds like some bug. Probably, the flu.

Whatever, May was suffering. She describes her today of suffering as: “In bed all day. MUCH SICK.”

It was tonight in 1935 that Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell moved his establishment from the present location of Captain Tony’s to where it is now located on Duval.

His customers helped him move as the midnight hour approached. Hemingway included. They carried tables, chairs, boxes of booze and what ever from one location to the other.

Hemingway thought the urinals in the men’s room were particularly attractive. They were ceramic. Russell was not taking them to the new location. Told Hemingway he could have them, if he wanted.

He did. He carried them to his home on Whitehead.

Hemingway put the urinals to good use. He had them piped with water and made them part of the gardens surrounding the house. His purpose in doing so was to provide drinking water for his 6 toed cats. They continue to drink from them to this day.

A lucrative contract for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for 23 years is one with the federal government whereby it housed arrested immigrants for various periods of time. Generally, the overflow. Miami was and is not capable of handling all those arrested.

Up to 95 could be detained.

Today ICE is the federal entity providing the immigrants to the County Jail.

Sheriff Ramsey voided the contract. Told the government no more. In view of coronavirus, it is too dangerous to continue men who come and go, travel to Miami for court where they mingle with others and then return to the Stock Island jail.

The 48 remaining prisoners were delivered to the Krone Detention Center in Miami sunday morning.

I consider Florida’s Governor DeSantis mentally ill equipped. He is Trump’s pet dog. He also occasionally takes off on his own and does something that does not make sense. Like keeping Florida beaches open longer than they should have been.

It took a while, but DeSantis finally came up with a stay at home order. There are several exceptions. One is the order does not bar churches and synagogues from holding holiday services.

This is the week for religious services. All those people shoulder to shoulder. No 6 foot rule enforced.

The virus has to spread. Inevitable. Not a smart move. DeSantis may have made a handful of his “religious” constituents happy. However, many could end up with coronavirus.

I mentioned recently we are in danger of a food shortage. Some have laughed at me. Not uncommon. Yet I believe the problem a developing one.

Shelves in many supermarkets are empty or on low supply. Food banks are being hit hard.

Yesterday a Florida food bank an example.

The cars were lined up on a highway “for miles.” Pictures all over the internet this morning evidence of the same. People waiting in line for hours.

It is reported demand has surged 600 percent.

Except for produce. South Florida grows just about everything. For some reason not getting to stores to be bought. Considered a “glut” on the market. The food banks and other sources are giving the produce away.

Tonight, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me. A quick half hour about anything and everything that moves me at the moment.

Find me at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I am impressed by the job New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is doing. No bullshit at his end. His update show each day covers the good, bad and indifferent. Quite a contrast with Trump’s daily reality show.

One difference at the moment between Cuomo and Trump. Cuomo has looked tired the past 2 days. Trump on the other hand fresh and vibrant. The difference between doing one’s job and not.

Eight states refuse stay at home orders. Till yesterday, Trump was quiet about it. All of a sudden he began talking about the Constitution. Inferring the Constitution makes it improper for him to interfere.

First time I heard anything of this nature.

Hear me. One thing certain in the law is that every Constitutional provision, legislative law or rule has exceptions. Hundreds have been recognized over the years.

Again, I do not believe a Constitutional bar exists. However if one were to be recognized, I believe the same court that recognizes such would draft an exception based on the coronavirus epidemic.

New York City has reached the point of too many dead. Italy did also. When the problem arose in Italy, they started carting the bodies away to other towns and places. In some instances, mass burials and cremations.

Mayor DiBlasio has come up with a better plan. A sensitive one. He is recommending the bodies be buried in parks. Neatly in rows of ten caskets. Proper records kept.

When the crisis has passed, the families can arrange for removal and burial in family plots, etc. and also have a funeral service if so desired.

Di Blasio says everything would be done in a “dignified, orderly and temporary manner.”

Some say the internet as we know it was born this day in 1969. Many are celebrating today as the birth of the internet.

The birth is described as a “symbolic” one. Represented by a First Request for Comment document drafted by an engineer working on the Pentagon’s ARPAnet project. The RFC contained all “symbolic” data: Memoranda contained in the research, proposals and methodologies applicable to internet technology.

There are those who disagree that April 7, 1969 is the internet’s birthday. They believe it occurred 5 months later on September 2. At that time a UCLA computer scientist established the first local connection between 2 computers in his laboratory. Something like Alexander Graham Bell’s first successful telephone call. He was in one room in his laboratory and an associate in another. The call was completed between the 2 rooms.

Enjoy your Day!

People are panicking. Why not. A major health crisis not being resolved. Social unrest developing.

There is an evolution. Hoarding first. Hoarding of 3M N95 masks, then sanitizers, non-perishable foods, guns and ammunition. Cash may be next. I suspect it will be.

On a saturday two weeks ago in a particular Baltimore neighborhood, a run occurred. On a credit union. Depositors wanted their money!

Involved was the MECU Credit Union at 2337 East Northern Parkway. MECU is located in a low/middle class neighborhood. Predominantly an African-American community.

A large line of cars leading up to the facility. People lined on foot in front of the ATM machine. Depositors there definitely not to cash a check. Most had lost their jobs weeks ago.

Concededly a solitary such incident. Though it was reported several weeks ago there was a run on mid Manhattan banks over a 2 day period. I mentioned it at the time.

The National Guard has a presence in the Baltimore/Washington area. Military tents and equipment in certain spots. Humvees common. Humvess have been spotted down the street from MECU.

A national bank run could be around the corner. Especially since the most recent stimulus package so far is a f__k up. The package that was supposed to help working America and small businesses.

People are/will be freaking out. The banks will be stormed if people feel the banks will fail. Crashing 401ks and news of a possible recession does not help.

The situation could be explosive!

Another example of social unrest has reared its ugly head. Looting.

Stores in New York City and other major cities have been boarded up because of the looting fear.

New York City police report that burglaries were up 75 percent between 3/12 and 3/31. Supermarket burglaries alone were up 400 percent during the same period.

Trump recently signed an Executive Order to activate up to 1 million troops. His reasons behind the signing the evolution of the coronavirus crisis and economic collapse.

I wonder if their is more to Trump’s thinking. He wants to be President forever. He may call off the November election using social unrest as the excuse. He could back up his wants/desires with the 1 million troops. Backed by ICE and the specially trained Border Patrol military.

Never say never. Be vigilant.

Absolutely amazing! The activity on the internet.

Everyone home is keeping busy on the internet. My Facebook friend requests are over the top. From 8-10 a day to 40-90. Must be the same for everyone.

New chat groups popping up. Chat where you see each other. Clubs being formed where people meet, greet and visualize each other every day.

An expanded world wide communication system that probably would never have taken off without coronavirus changing everyone’s lives.

I finally got to see a person live on skype. Took a week. Cathy who was visiting in mid Florida last week who I mentioned is now home in Seattle. It took a while. I had the basics. She worked me through it.

We had a pleasant hour. She was sitting outside her home buried in blankets with her dog. Both keeping her warm. The temperature was 48 degrees.

Cathy lived in Key West back in the late 1980’s. A different world then.

She is now a simulation specialist at a nursing school in Seattle. I am not sure what the job entails. She enjoys it tremendously.

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported a dog had the virus. Now, a tiger. A 4 year old Malayan tiger named Nadia. Her residence the Bronx Zoo.

Zoo staff are concerned 6 other tigers may have coronavirus also.

Whatever, Nadia and her friends are expected to recover.

People got sick pretty bad back in 1896 also.

Poor May Johnson is still sick. And today is her 20th birthday! She did not enjoy it.

May spent her day in bed experiencing heavy chills, a raging fever, splitting headache, and a pain in her back.

May wrote, “I never spent such a miserable birthday in all my life.”

Enjoy your day!

Palm Sunday is one of the major holidays of the Catholic faith.

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Matthew 21:1-9. Jesus came riding in on the back of an ass. The people shouted his praises. Threw palm branches in His path as a sign of honor.

Sunday was good. The rest of the week would be bad. Jesus would suffer Gethsemane and crucifixion. However one week later on the following Sunday, He would triumph again. He would rise from the dead.

Palms continue to play a part in the festivities of this day in many Christian churches. Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican, and Moravian.

My experience is limited to the Catholic Church and my comments are limited to that which I recall.

In the days of my youth, late 1930’s and forward, everyone went to Church on Palm Sunday. Had to get palms. Depending on the supply, each person attending got one or more palms.

These were taken home with multiple purposes in mind.

The previous year’s palms were removed from over crosses and holy pictures in the home. There were many crosses and holy pictures! A cross in every room guaranteed.

Everyone came to visit. Relatives and friends. The custom was to exchange palms. Greet, hug and exchange. Soon the house was full. Coffee and cookies.

Uncles were many. I used to think every adult male was an uncle. Some were not. However, each adult male knew how to make tiny crosses from a stalk of palm. Intricate. Lovely. It was an honor to be given one.

I used to sit on the living room floor with them and watch in awe.

The old palms (last year’s) were taken down and returned to the Church during the week. The priests would save them and burn them before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. They became the source of ashes placed on foreheads on Ash Wednesday.

It was a big family meal day. Everyone at Grandma’s. Extra special food. Almost as good as Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve.

Happy Palm Sunday friends. I apologize. I have no palms to share. I have not been to Church on Palm Sunday in years. One of the fallen away.

My day was made yesterday by a phone call. Jean Thornton! She and Joe had been in Hawaii for a month and since returning neither of us had tried to contact the other.

It was good to hear from her. Love the woman!

We spoke of the virus. She is concerned not only for her and Joe, but the children and grandchildren. We spoke of our dear President, quarantine, etc.

She and Joe are self quarantining. However they take a walk every day staying away from everyone and have been working their property trimming trees, arranging new flower beds, etc.

You will recall Tammy is one of the bartenders at the Chart Room. Jean told me poor Tammy came down with coronavirus. She was now home. Her senses of smell and taste began returning yesterday. She was feeling better. Planned on a bike ride today.

I was unaware Tammy had been sick. I called her. No answer. Left a message for her to call me today. Can’t wait to chat with her.

It’s no wonder Tammy acquired the virus. The Chart Room was pack packed the weeks before it shut down. Her getting sick inevitable.

Jean said Captain Peter had called. He is now living in Melbourne. Sounded terrific.

The weather folks are into hurricane projections. The season is June 1 to November 30. I recall when I first started coming to Key West 30 years ago, it was it was September 1 to October 31.

How Mother Nature changes things!

We are warned of 16 hurricanes. Four expected to be major storms. Categories 3-5. At least one is expected to make landfall.

I have learned to place no faith in these early projections. Never work out as predicted. Some worse, some nothing.

One of the commentors to the blog shared an interesting quote. By Jonathan Swift. Fits the Donald situation: “Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it.”

We all need a break. I am severely limiting my Trump comments today. After a while, although important, become too much.

A few however. A very few.

Trump advises there is a rough week ahead. Glad he is finally acknowledging the severity of the problem. Says, “There will be deaths.”

Trump needs a trip. A special trip. He should go to New York City and see first hand what coronavirus has wrought. Then perhaps he would understand the disaster is not mere words. Let him walk through the hospital corridors with people lying on some sort of bed or on the floor. Let him hear the breathing of those who do not have an inhalator. Let him hear the complaints of the medical staff. Let him see the transport vehicles lined up with dead bodies.

And he should remember to leave the paper towels home!

Trump and some of the governors are crazy. No question about it. Social separation is one of the keys to beating the virus. Yet Trump and certain cohorts all of a sudden are bleeding hearts. People should be permitted to go to Church on Easter Sunday.

Non-thinkers all! Trump says anything he believes might get him a vote. Governors like Florida’s De Santis follow his beliefs to the letter. Their cry: Coronavirus should not be permitted to interfere with religious services on Easter.

Asses all. Some who go to Church on Easter Sunday might spend it next year sitting at the right hand of God.

The days become easier. I write more. Watch PGA golf a bit each day. Recorded tournaments from one or more years ago.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Day 24 of my self-quarantine.

Supposedly I am safe. On the other hand, I worry. Will the virus get me? I am sure most others worry also as to their susceptibility.

Everything is coronavirus in the news. My notes pile up. When that happens, I do a Morning Stew. Merely report from my notes in the order they appear. No specific order.

This is one of those days. The only way I can catch up.

The Key West area has 2 senior facilities. Sixteen bed Bayshore Manor on Stock Island and 50 residence Poinciana Gardens in Key West.

God is good! So far neither has had a coronavirus occurrence.

The American Medical Association publishes JAMA Cardiology.

A recent article indicated coronavirus can lead to total heart failure. The publication reported “injury to the heart muscle can happen in any patient with or without heart disease, but the risk is higher in those who already have heart disease.”

The hard truth is that 70 percent of patients that had heart disease and developed new heart damage from the virus died.

One of the outstanding female performers in Key West is Bria Ansara. I have heard her sing many times at the A&B Lobster House and Bourbon Street Pub.

I was fortunate to be able to watch her perform last night from my home. I was searching Facebook and came upon what I would describe as a Bria Ansara podcast.

As most, Bria is not working because of the virus. Never the less, she opted to entertain her fans last night. From the porch of her second floor apartment at the corner of Eaton and Grinnell. Using her cell phone as the camera. Her porch lit with many lights.

Bria was far enough back from the cell phone that her performance took the entire computer screen.

Thank you, Bria! Do more shows! Your fans love you!

Bill Witters died. An American icon. He was 81.

Song writer and singer. Beloved even by Presidents. He performed at the Obama and Clinton inaugurations.

He touched America with Lean On Me, Lovely day, and Ain’t No Sunshine.

Questlove told Rolling Stone in a 2015 interview: “Bill Witters is the closest thing black people have to Bruce Springsteen.”

Tino and I were on a roll with photos of Tino performing as an extra in movies and TV shows being filmed in Chicago. Coronavirus has changed it all. Movie and TV shows not being produced during the virus crisis. Tino not performing for the time being.

What is this “our stockpile…..the federal stockpile.” Jared Kuschner began with the “our”thing. His father in law the President yesterday tried to explain it away. He seemed to agree with Jared however.

There is no federal stockpile of items required to fight the virus. The stockpile belongs to the people of the U.S. Taxpayer dollars payed for whatever is stockpiled.

The issue was 10,000 ventilators. I wonder how many N59 masks, gloves and other PPE items are federally stockpiled. Tell us, Donald. the people want to know.

It is a form of “hoarding.” Is Attorney General Barr aware?

The following is important. Amazing what is being discovered and what we are learning during the war on coronavirus.

The way a toilet is flushed can contribute to spread of the virus.

Coronavirus spreads in aerosolized feces. The lid should be put down before flushing after defecating.

Researchers have discovered the virus can travel in fecal matter that escapes into the air. As a human merely breathing propels a certain amount of breath into the air, an invisible toilet plume propels into the air that is shot upwards after a flush.

The message: Close the lid and then flush! Closing the lid prevents 80 percent of fecal matter from escaping into the air.

Key West has had its first coronavirus death. Keith White. Better known as “Mistah Keith.”

Mistah Keith was 55. Retired as a cook at teh Casa Marina recently after 23 years.

A friend said, “He touched a lot of lives. He was the kind of a person you could look up to.”

As of yesterday, Monroe County had 38 confirmed cases of the virus. Key West 19 of that number. The one death was Mistah Keith.

As many expected, the SBA loan program for small businesses was a total failure in its opening day. The government and banks not on the same page. Neither understands the needs of the small guy. The poor guy needing the money getting buried in paperwork and delay.

While Main street is on the verge of collapse, Wall Street is not. Specifically, Wall Street’s top guns.

Goldman Sachs CEO is David Solomon. Last year was not the best for Goldman Sachs. Not bad. Yet not consistent with normal results.

Two interesting things were “revealed”/”discovered” re Goldman Sachs’ financial dealings.

First, Goldman Sachs purchased 2 top of the line Gulfstream jets for $75 million each. The first time Goldman Sachs ever owned jets. They previously rented on an as needed basis.

Solomon did’t do bad. His compensation package for 2019 was $27.5 million. In not the best of years!

Broken down, he received $2 million in salary, $7.65 million in a cash bonus, and $17.85 million in long term incentives.

Bet he cam make his mortgage payment this month! Assuming he has one.

People are sick today. People were sick in 1918 with the Spanish flu epidemic. Everyone is off and on sick in varying degrees each year.

Poor May Johnson. She reported in her diary that on this day in 1896 she was sick: “…..taken with chills and fever. MUCH SICK.”

Chris Cuomo is Governor Cuomo’s younger brother. Fourteen years younger. The Governor refers to him as his “little brother.”

Chris has come down with coronavirus. Initially hospitalized, he is now in home quarantine. Still recovering.

He is still suffering. The nights are bad. He describes them as fear, shivering, hallucinating, beaten on like a pinata, body sweats, and tremors.

I have said this before and I say it again. There will be food shortages. We are already suffering from them. They will only get bigger.

The coming shortage is being described as a “hunger Crisis.”

Demand at food banks high. Saw a video on the internet. There had to be 150-200 cars lined up on a highway waiting to reach a food bank off the highway.

Last week, Spain suffered 950 deaths in one 24 hour period.

British Airways announced it is suspending 36,000 employees.

Coronavirus is now the #3 cause of death in the U.S. Heart #1, cancer #2.

The good news is if you are reading this, you are alive. May we all stay that way.

Enjoy your day!