ROOFTOP BIRTHDAY DINNER

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A wonderful evening! Birthday dinner at the Rooftop as the guest of Joseph Lyles.

Joseph, the host extraordinaire. My John the Baptist friend still walking with his seven foot pole.

Joseph has had an extensive career in the food industry. Managed fine dining at places like the Hot Tin Roof and Little Palm Island.

A man held in high esteem by his restaurant cohorts. Clearly evident last night. The owner and chef stopped by the table. The table itself special. Special appetizers selected by Joseph before I arrived.

The chef recommended the snapper special. Joseph and I followed his advice. Did not go wrong.

Courtesy even to a double locals discount. I was impressed.

Joseph is a person of deep intelligence. A thinker. I enjoy his company. We have decided to do it again. Next time at Martin’s for Happy Hour.

A passing comment. I had not been to the Rooftop in at least 10 years. You hear me say this often. Ten years. Key West has many fine restaurants. Plus, I am a creature of habit. Enjoy going to the same places.

I am adding Rooftop to my list of places to frequent. I forgot how good it was.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! So many Happy Birthday greetings. I am a lucky man.

Barbara enjoyed dinner with Joseph and I last night. She left early this morning to return to New York. She was a tremendous help in getting me unpacked, etc.

We lunched together at Harpoon Harry’s yesterday. One of those sudden heavy summer rains occurred. Kept us at Harry’s an extra half hour.

Spent most of the day unpacking. More to go, though not much.

I have been in Key West many years. I feel like I am a part of Key West. The feeling is accompanied with an attitude that I know everything about my island.

I do not. As I frequently learn.

The wall behind the bar at the Chart Room is loaded with photos. Some covering each other.

The other evening, I discovered one of Mel Fisher and Johnny Carson.

Fisher found the Atocha and gold in July 1985. Like $400 million worth. Within days, he was on the Johnny Carson show. July 30, 1985 to be exact.

Soon thereafter, Carson traveled to Key West. He wanted to dive the Atocha. Fisher took him.

Fisher also took him to the Chart Room where the photograph was taken.

In depth knowledge of William Hackley is a bit at a time. On this date in 1856, Hackley wrote in his diary that he received a letter from his mother. Enclosed in the letter was his “quarterly salary.”

Leads me to believe Hackley might have been a trust fund baby.

Hoover Dam…..One of the wonders of the world! Definitely so at the time of its completion in 1935.

Time and other construction has diminished its number one position as the largest of dams. Today, Hoover Dam is the 2nd highest in the United States and 18th largest in the world.

I write about Hoover Dam for several reasons today.

One is that construction began this day in 1930.

Others include the dam being finished two years ahead of schedule and millions of dollars under budget. A feat impossible in today’s world.

Interesting to note is 21,000 men worked on the dam during its 5 year construction period. Jobs for many during the great depression.

Enjoy your day!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

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This day in history…..I was born! July 6, 1935.

I am 82 years old today. Wow! My father made it to 98. His father 94. My father’s sister Mary 102.

I of course have no recollection of the day of my birth. All I know is what my mother told me. It was hot and humid. No air conditioning in 1935. She was in labor 23 hours.

She was not a happy camper about the 23 hours. Her comments always concluded with…..You were worth it!

A mother’s love.

Stopped by my former home yesterday. Wanted to get the garbage containers off the street. Found a note on the front door: Pipe broke. Boil water from 6/29-7/2.

I left 6/29. Apparently before the pipe broke. A tragedy avoided.

Still unpacking boxes. Hope to finish today. My back is killing me.

Jimmy and Johnny stopped over in the afternoon. Not to welcome me to the neighborhood. I am having the inside of the house painted. They will start in about three weeks.

Chart Room last night.

A touchy evening.

Political chatter.

Met a 60ish gentleman from Indiana. Lives in Mike Pence’s district. Knows Mike Pence. Unhappy with the way the Dems are treating Trump. Thought the Republicans gave Obama a free ride and Trump was entitled to the same.

He was getting excited. I was calm. John said, no politics.

I was at the other end of the bar. He came over about 10 minutes later and we talked about non-political things for about 15 minutes. Nice of him.

Another fellow was seated next to me. His first time in Key West. Been here a few days. Staying till sunday. His goal is to have a beer in as many bars as possible. The Chart Room was #23.

Old movie houses. Key West has one. To this day. Though not a movie theater today. A Walgreens. The movie theater outside facade remains.

The movie house was called the Strand Theater. Opened in mid Duval in the early 1920’s. Seated over 800. Initially showed silent films. Then talkies.

The Strand was destroyed by fire on this date in 1934. Rebuilt and reopened as the Strand. Closed in the 1980’s. Theater attendance was falling.

Various businesses operated out of the Strand. For several years, it was a big time gay bar. Went only once. When I was relatively new to Key West and unaccustomed to certain of its nuances. A midnight show: A  Black Mass. My deviate mind compelled my attendance.

I was sitting on a ledge waiting for the show to begin. The place packed. All genders, all sexual preferences. Two men dressed as nuns came by. One said he/she would like to hold my nuts. His palm opened. He held two peanuts.

I was out the door.

Ripley’s is now in the 100 block of Duval. From 1993-2002, it operated in the Strand. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium.

Today, the majestic theater of old a small crowded Walgreens.

I consider Forrest Gump an outstanding movie. Forrest Gump opened this day in 1994. Starred Tom Hanks.

My day will consist of  more box openings and then dinner tonight at Rooftop. Friend Joseph is taking me out to dinner for my birthday.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE BIKINI IS BORN

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A special day. Not just in American history. World wide.

The bikini made its debut this day in 1946. Seventy one years old and still going strong! If anything, skimpier.

The bikini was introduced in Paris. The United States had tested an atomic bomb the week before on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The bikini was named after the blast.

Must be something right about the bathing suit to have survived so long. Men without question derive pleasure from the voyeur perspective. Women because of comfort? Do they enjoy showing off a bit? I have never been able to figure it out. Whatever, stay with it ladies!

Spent the Fourth emptying moving boxes. About 50 percent done.

Took a few hours off in the afternoon. My podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. Show not developed. I needed to prepare.

Did the show at 9. Excellent material. Easy to come by. Trump a writer’s dream.

The topic however that interested me the most had to do with plastic bottles.

In the United States alone, 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. A number! Works out to 480 billion a day.

A disposal problem. Some recycled. Too many to recycle all. Others end up in waterways and landfills.

England may have found the solution. Plastic bags their problem. England taxed plastic bag usage 5 pounds per bag. Close to $5 a bag American money.

Plastic bag usage dropped 85 percent the first year.

Never got to see the fireworks. I was doing my show at the time. could hear the boom booms, however. One after another.

Enjoy you day!

JULY 4…..MOMENTOUS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY

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The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, Yankee Doodle Dandy, This Land Is My Land, etc. Bands will be playing such music through out the United States today. The birthday of the United States!

Most awesome will be the Boston Pops on the Charles River and A Capitol Fourth on Washington’s Capitol Lawn. Both available on TV tonight.

Fireworks included!

Key West fireworks will be off the White House Pier. Shot out over the ocean.

July 4 celebrate’s America’s birth date. Two hundred forty one years ago. July 4, 1776. The day recognized as the one where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

The new nation’s population a mere 2.5 million.Native Americans excluded in the count. Today in the area of 350 million.

We have always celebrated.

On this day in 1778, George Washington and his troops were at Ross Hall, New Jersey. Washington recognized the day and its importance. He ordered a double ration of rum for his men and an artillery salute.

Big last night! Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. Terri White guest performer.

Two great renditions. Terri singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Rick Night and Day.

Joseph aka John the Baptist arrived assisted by his long pole.Randy Roberts at the bar joining in the singing. Tom and Rick the Dueling Bartenders.

Everyone joined in for God Bless America. Kate Smith’s voice missing.

Sally from Hot Dog Church showed up. A lovely woman.

Comcast in my new home in the early afternoon. I now have TV, wi fi and a land line.

Comcast never gets it right. I am missing the movie channels on my bedroom TV. Will call in today and probably will have to wait five days for a technician to come over.

Not complaining. At least, I have everything else. I will survive.

Still unpacking boxes. It’s like one step forward, two steps backward. Barbara keeps running to Home Depot to buy something else. The living room is as full this morning as it was yesterday morning.

Barbara cleaned the strawberries. Delicious!

She felt biscuits and whipped cream were needed. Off to Publix.

In the middle of this mess, Barbara baked the biscuits. We stood and enjoyed. No place to sit. No room. Not even on the floor.

Today committed to more unpacking. Hope Barbara does not decide we should have a standing prime rib dinner.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

Hot Dog Church

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There is a first time for everything. Yesterday, it was Hot Dog Church.

Lesbians gather at 3:30 sunday afternoons at Aqua’s Back Bar. Social time.

Donna and Terri regularly attend. Men are welcome. They have invited me. I passed each time. Probably because I hate seeing a woman I covet and can’t have.

Barbara is visiting. The girls invited the both of us. We went.

Called Hot Dog Church. Strange name. So called because many times hot dogs are grilled. Sometimes, the ladies do pot luck. Everyone brings a dish.

It was fun. Not too many people. I learned most of the lesbians who attend are snowbirds. Long gone this time of year.

I stood out. I was male. Everyone talked to me. Enjoyed myself.

Afterwards, the four of us headed over to Antonia’s for dinner. One of my favorite restaurants 15 years ago. No more for a number of reasons. Rarely attend.

TK bartending. Good to see him! One of Key West’s most loved persons.

TK did me a good turn when I first bought my home here 19 years ago. He invited me to a party at his home. My first invitation. I knew few people. Following the party, I knew everyone. The invitations came pouring in.

Enjoyed a great meal! Antonia’s has a standard $10 cost for a dish of pasta. Made for a cheap night. The drinks were the killer!

Terri sings tonight. At Aqua. Dueling Bartenders. I have to pick her up at 5. Donna will be working.

Terri is an exciting vocalist! Her voice stretches the walls. Powerful. A joy to hear.

I mentioned last week William Hackley was a slave owner. He purchased slave Daniel. Paper work was completed on yesterday’s date in 1856.

The bill of sale carried Matilda’s name as the new owner. For whatever reason, William did not want Daniel in his name and instead placed ownership in his wife’s name.

Greyhound racing remains popular in Florida. Fraud and chicanery discovered again. Twelve racing greyhounds recently reported positive for cocaine.

I am waiting for Comcast to stop by and hook up my wi-fi, TV and land phone. Operating at the moment off an app on my cell phone. Convenient. However expensive if used too long. I have been using it for several days.

Enjoy your day! Hope you have it off and it is part of a long holiday weekend for you!

I PANICKED

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Strange experience yesterday.

It is difficult for me to become discombobulated. I did yesterday. Panicked!

Barbara was driving from Utica to visit. I last heard from her 7:30 in the morning. She had just passed through Jacksonville. Expected to arrive in Key West around 2.

Two came and went. As did 3, 4 and 5.

I tried telephoning. She did not answer her cell. Finally at 5:30, I telephoned the police. Assumed the worst. She had been in an accident.

Florida does not have a one call line system for accident information. An area by area system. Each has to be called individually. I started with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Then to the State Highway Patrol in Miami-Dade, Jacksonville, Orlando, and finally the Florida Turnpike itself.

All courteous. No help, however. No record of an accident. The Turnpike operator the best. I expressed concern. If she had not been in an accident, something worse must have occurred.

I was in the process of filing a missing persons with the Turnpike operator when my cell rang.

It was Barbara. She had been held up by traffic in Islamorada for 3 1/2 hours.

Respectfully, I ripped her a new a..hole. Why wasn’t your phone on? It was. No, I called six times and left messages. Must have been while I stopped to go to the bathroom. No, you don’t go to the bathroom that often.

Whatever.

I was glad she was alive and well. I had visions of her in a roadway ditch with her throat slit. Don’t laugh. We live in strange times.

She finally arrived a little after 9. She was mad. Felt Florida should have a better system of dealing with heavy traffic through the Keys. I was upset she had the phone turned off.

We were not on the same wave length.

Again, the police officers were helpful and sensitive to my concerns. One complaint. The State should have one number to call for accident victims. Not a sort of county by county system. In the age of computers, such cannot he difficult to set up.

A quick shower and we were off to get a bite to eat. Ended up at Tavern ‘n Town at 10:15.

As is said, all’s well that ends well!

Barbara brought several baskets of fresh strawberries and a big bag of peas from upstate New York. The season for them there. The strawberries not GMOs. Not big and shiny. Different sizes. Most small. Sweet and juicy. Enjoyed them for breakfast this morning.

The peas will likewise be delicious when we get to them.

I am in Starbucks again this morning. Comcast comes late tomorrow morning.

Starbucks packed again this morning. Most European tourists. Like a United Nations. I hear no one speaking English.

Some studies are just plain unreliable.

I love Key West. It has many pluses. Many negatives, also.

A company called WilliamHub (no space between first and last name) recently released a study. Key West was determined to be the second best Beach Community in the U.S. Two hundred twenty seven beach areas studied.

The criteria primarily involved housing costs, share of waterfront homes for sale, and the quality of beach water.

WilliamHub obviously used bad data.

A sadness yesterday. A 15 year old boy died while snorkeling at Fort Zach Beach. Cause not yet known. His family pulled him from the water and tried to resuscitate him.

Hemingway ended his life on this date in 1961 at his Sun Valley, Idaho home. Another sadness.

I close with a Trump reference. Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus in a  6/29 column wrote: “Authoritarianism does not announce itself. It creeps up on you.”

Enjoy your Sunday!

DISNEY STILL GETS ME

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A child at heart. I am glad I still am on occasion.

Last night was one of those times. I enjoyed the children’s favorite Aladdin Jr at the Waterfront Playhouse.

I never would have attended were it not for Larry Blackburn’s daughter Sydney playing the female lead Princess Jasmine and Donna and Terri’s granddaughter Lev performing as the Matron.

Both outstanding. The entire cast outstanding! The show professionally performed.

I stopped at the Chart Room first for a drink. Then Aladdin. Then back to the Chart Room again.

John bartending.

Glad I returned to the Chart Room. Met Tim and Stephanie. Locals, also. Though our paths never crossed before.

Tim works for David Wolkowsky. One of his responsibilities is taking care of Ballast Key.

When Tim mentioned he worked for David, I brought to his attention the KONK Life article I did several years ago about David. Tim surprised me. He had read the article. David had read it. David referred Tim to it.

At the time, David laughingly referred to the article as his obituary. A pang of guilt hit me for a moment. Then I realized such is David’s nature to comment in a joking fashion about some things.

It will be many more years before David has need of an obituary. He is only 98.

To those who may be unfamiliar with David, he is Mr. Key West. The Key West of today would not have been were it not for him. Even to Jimmy Buffett.

Buffett tells how David gave him his first paying job. At the Chart Room, no less. The same chart Room we were in last night. The same Chart Room David constructed as part of the Pier House which he built.

It was after 10 when I left the Chart Room. Had not eaten since breakfast. Stopped at Tavern ‘n Town on the way home. Tavern ‘n Town has added a Happy Hour from 9-11. Perfect for me last night!

Today an historical one in Key West. Uber and Lyft are finally allowed to provide service in Key West.

I read an article yesterday that Key West is the last major market for Uber and Lyft service. Disgraceful. We should have had it two years ago. However, the Key West Commission continues to operate via the Bubba system.

An even better example of the Bubba system in operation is that no new cab licenses have been issued in Key West for 75 years. Called taking care of your own, generation after generation.

Got a manicure thursday at Lee Nails.

No Tammy. I forgot she was taking her two children home to visit the family. Tammy is originally from Vietnam. I recall her telling me the trip would take something like 34 hours. Three or four stopovers included.

Husband Rickie stayed home. Someone had to run the business.

When I telephoned and discovered Tammy had left, I panicked. Who was going to do my nails? You, Rickie? No Mr. Lou, he said. You get a beautiful girl. The prettiest. Nina.

I could not place Nina. When I showed up friday, we met. Loverly! Came to the U.S. two years ago from one of the eastern bloc countries. Loves Key West people and weather.

Nina is 23 years old. A bashful 23.

Tammy had obviously left Nina with marching orders as to how I liked my nails done. Nina did a magnificent job. Especially the buffing.

Yesterday, I wrote about cursive writing. Most do not seem to appreciate handwriting as much as I do. It has to be my age. I learned to hand write when 6. The computer did not enter my life till many many years later. I am less adept with the computer than with handwriting.

My friend Tom in Des Moines believes there is no need for cursive today. Initially intended to speed things up from hand printing, today not needed. The computer is everything.

I mention cursive again this morning because typing on a screen came to be on June 29, 1975 around 10 in the evening. In a small California town.

Prior thereto, man had never hit a key and a letter appeared on a screen.

The mere fact that it happened gave birth to multiple changes in the way we live. The future of business changed, how we communicate with each other changed, etc. The world changed.

The responsible individual was Steve Wozniak.

Ten months later Wozniak and two others formed Apple. The other two, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne.

Last year, Apples revenue was in excess of $215 billion. Its employees, 116,00 world wide.

Enjoy your day!

YESTERDAYS FEW KNOW

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I have gotten old. Eighty two in less than a week. Some recent experiences brought the fact clearly to mind.

I stopped into Verizon to learn how to wi-fi through my cell phone. The young lady working was also babysitting her two children. Six and eight. Summertime.  The Verizon store their day camp that day.

The kids were playing with their cell phones. I mentioned how smart kids are today. Laptops, cell phones, etc.

Mom agreed. She said she remembered when all she had was a flip phone. I would say she was in her late 20’s.

I immediately thought…..If she only knew!

I was born in 1935.

In the late 1930’s into the first part of the 1940’s, our phone was the corner grocer. No one had telephones, except business people. the grocer took calls for the block.

If a call came for my father, the grocer (his name was Frank) would go out on the street and yell…..Tell John he has a call! Someone would transfer the message to my Dad or to another neighbor to relate.

Then we got a telephone. A four party line. Meant four homes had the same line. If you picked up and heard talking, you hung up till the line was free.

We graduated to a two party line. Then the time came when the only line was ours. We had a private line.

A big deal!

Cell phones did not make an appearance till my mid law practice years. Big and bulky.

The phones got smaller. I recall the flip top.

I am absolutely amazed that my cell phone today is in effect a computer. I can do everything with it.

Only took eighty two years!

When I am gone, will anyone remember?

I was surprised to read recently that typewriters are making a come back. People join together with their vintage machines and have Type-Ins.

I took a typewriting course in high school. My parents bought me a new portable for college. A Smith-Corona. Part of the Super 5 Series. Portable.

Used it all the time in college. Term papers!

Ribbons to change. Always ended up with dirty fingers. Carbon paper for copies. Dirty fingers again. A mistake had to be corrected. A bit of erasing and whiting over.

Now, vintage typing parties!

Even writing came into play this week. Cursive writing. Handwriting.

I write. I can write my name and everything else.

No big deal for me. I learned in the first grade. It was called Palmer Method.

I mentioned earlier this week that at Dueling Bartenders monday night two young ladies sat next to me. At best in their late 20s.

They saw me making notes about our conversation. They said/asked…..You can cursive write?

They could not. They could not even write their names. Both had college degrees. Into well paying jobs. However, Bush 2’s no child left behind made them computer genius. But, not hand writers.

They were impressed I could write!

I have a lot more for today. However, I shall save it for another time.

Enjoy your day!

 

STARBUCKS

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Here I sit again this morning in Starbucks. I am beginning to like this place.

There are several Starbucks in Key West. The one I am frequenting is located in the relatively new North 54 Hotel on the Boulevard.

Note the last time I was in a Starbucks was 10 years ago in Boston.

I am impressed. Cross-currents of society in and out. From all over the world. I rarely hear English spoken. From young families to seniors. Mostly millennials.

The help and I are becoming friends. Most from distant lands.

I sense stories abound. I hope I pick up on one or two in the next few days.

I am a Starbucks regular mornings till July 4. Can’t get Comcast to get me hooked up at the new house till July 3.

After a couple of hours, my ass gets sore. The seats are not that comfortable. Probably not selected for someone like me who is sitting 3 hours.

No TV at the new house. No wi-fi, either. I am lost!

Back in the distant recesses of my mind, I recalled Verizon providing me with a wi-fi app two cell phones back. Went to Verizon yesterday. I was correct.

I can get wi-fi via my cell phone. Terrific! Could be expensive. Only good for six mega bytes. Then $15 an hour.

Whatever, it will fill in some empty/lonely hours at my new home.

Spent the rest of my day time yesterday doing nothing. I continue to be shot!

Last night, Tavern ‘n Town. Very few at the bar. Enjoyed a piece of salmon and read the newspapers.

A new bartender. Simon. Met him for the first time. Told me he used to read my KONK Life columns. Excites me when someone recalls them. Five years of good work.

Some of the early articles formed the basis of the book I published five years ago. The World Upside Down. The world is more upside down today than five years ago.

Names change, but not the illness.

The bubonic plague of yesterday is referred to as the human plague today. Perhaps not to scare those who might be or could be affected?

Santa Fe Country, New Mexico, has three cases of the plague. The first case was a 63 year old man. Then two women: 52 and 62. All three hospitalized and treated. All now out of the hospital.

The plague can be successfully treated if caught early.

Health authorities are still investigating the cause. The plague generally comes from infected fleas, rodents and dead animals.

If my memory is correct, the plague of centuries ago was primarily caused by infected rats. Fleas inhabited the rats. An event preceded the rats becoming infected. The Catholic Church responsible.

For a reason I cannot recall, the Catholic Church decreed rats were no good. Something unholy. Killing cats became the thing.

No cats, more rats. Within a hundred years, the plague overcame the world.

I read an article yesterday concerning world wide global feelings re Trump. He is considered arrogant, intolerant, and dangerous. There is also a feeling that he does not care about ordinary people.

Perceptive people.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATM

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Everyone, everything has a birthday. Two days ago, ATM. Fifty years old. the first ATM having been opened on June 27, 1967. Barclay’s Bank in London.

Prior to ATMs, you could only get money out of a bank during bank working hours: 8-3. On weekends, not at all.

We have been spoiled!

Move completed yesterday. I am surrounded by boxes. Every room. Taking today off. Tired. Will get at arranging things hopefully tomorrow.

I am at Starbucks at the moment. Still do not have wi-fi or anything else Comcast provides.

I am going to head over to Verizon when I am done. I have a vague recollection I have wi-fi on my cell phone.

Chart Room first last night. Sat and slowly drank. Not crowded. Three couples sitting at the round table. From New York City. Boisterous. Loud. Laughing. Having fun.

Their bar bill over $300 for six people. When leaving, they apologized for the noise, etc. No problem. They said they were from the City and that is how NYC people are.

They tripped onto the Chart Room. First time. Loved it!

I got to show off a bit. Two of the ladies wanted to know about the names and ashes of those in the bar.

Dinner after the Chart Room at the Hot Tin Roof. One of my favorite dining places. Not last night.

I was not that hungry. Ordered bread and fried calamari. Asked for the bread first and quickly. Told the bartender I had been drinking.

Note the Chart Room charges for bread. $3. Stupid, but that’s the way it is. My bread did not arrive till I was almost done with the calamari.

Some nights you just can’t win!

May such be one of my biggest problems in life

A lawsuit has been filed in California federal court. Some group wants fluoridation of water stopped. Claim neurotoxicity and not consistent with the Toxic Substances Control Act.

I recall when fluoridation came to New York State. I was in high school. A bitter war. Many opposed.

Ten years later, dentistry as known then was not the best of careers. Fluoridation had cut back dramatically tooth decay. For many years, dental school was avoided by many.

Dentistry is back big time these days. Implants, etc. Fluoridation still around. Pseudo experts claiming it unhealthy.

I am 81 and still here.

Florida’s Senator Rubio is sometimes his own worst enemy. I happen to like him. However, he sometime says stupid things. He needs more maturity. Like another ten years. Then he might be Presidential timber.

His latest statement giving me concern is the Republican healthcare bill. He is not concerned that 22 million will be without coverage by 2016. He considers by that number “…..only a small percentage will be hurt.”

One of Key West’s favorite people was married on June 28, 1919. Harry Truman married Bess.

Enjoy your day!