I was born and raised in Utica, N.Y. Smack in the center of the Erie Canal.

Todays the Canal’s 200th Anniversary.

The Canal runs between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Albany and Buffalo. Connects the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes.

An economic boom to the area. The Canal vastly reduced the cost of transporting people and goods over the Appalachians. Provided jobs to many over the years.

Donald is off and running again. Playing more than a King. Playing God.

Tearing down the East Wing of the White House to rebuild a new, larger and more glassy dining room. All without significant planning physically and financially. Off the top of his head. After all, Trump was a contractor of sorts during his prior lifetime.

No Congressional oversight. Congress should be involved. Congress has to allocate the funds to pay for the work. Work that Trump the past few days said would run $230 million. This morning upped to $300 million. Expect it to go higher. The King/God is running the show. Most if not all of the money he expects to be paid to him. He said he will donate it to charity. Really?

Trump is imposing sanctions/tariffs on 2 Russian oil wells and their subsidiaries. Russian subsidiaries to be sanctioned are new. I believe first time subsidiaries will be sanctioned. 

Trump is imposing these sanctions because of Putin’s failure to settle the war.

Many of our Presidents want to be “war presidents.” Apparently they believe some glory goes with it.

Trump is pushing Venezuela over drugs. A war not required to resolve the problem. We should merely go in and blow their vessels out of the water and vehicles off the land. No MAJOR confrontation. Merely the big guy taking down the small guy quickly and leaving. I am not for a war nor do I believe most Americans are.

Key West is in the middle of Fantasy Fest. Louis is not because of my illness.

My friends Fran and Tom Dixon are in from Buffalo. We had a game plan to do Fantasy Fest together. My best times have been with them.

They planned to to take me out in my wheel chair. Good people! They visited yesterday. Took 2 pictures earlier at Fantasy Fest of men in wheel chairs. Both with as close to a bare ass woman as could be. Apparently the bare assed ladies are attracted to men in wheel chairs.

I am all for it. But not today. Too much to get ready for. I told them tomorrow…..hopefully!

Fran brought me home made brownies from Buffalo. Enjoyed them at 4 this morning. My sleeping still screwed up.

Enjoy your day!

Trump a man of errors and faults. His nature. Unfortunately, we are stuck with him for two plus more years.

The court system is screwed up also. A federal appeals court has ruled Trump can deploy the National Guard in Portland. Trump crazy, judges crazy.

An invitation to civil war at some point. The people will not stand for Trump and certain of the court’s attitudes.

Is this what Trump and the courts want? Trump yes. The courts merely fucked up.

Israel strike on a Gaza hospital kills five journalists. Not the first Israeli strike since “peace” established. Of course, Hamas has retaliated.

I suspected when “peace” was entered into, with Trump exerting a significant interest, that it was Trump trying to influence the Nobel Peace people. I was correct. It did him no good.

Same situation in the Ukraine. Trump now wants “peace” on the line where both Ukraine and Russia stand. No way! Russia the aggressor! It gives Putin what he wanted and has in effect stolen. With the support today of Trump. Two or three weeks ago, Trump was not talking the same way. Putin screws Ukraine with Trump’s support.

Zelensky will not stand for it.

Trump said the “expanded ballroom” would not interfere with the existing White House. Appears Trump was lying. They are tearing a significant part  of the East Wing of the White House down. Trump’s word as reliable in national matters at it is in international.

Japan has its first elected female leader. Sanace Takaichi. The U.S. has yet to elect a female leader. Most of the rest of the world has.

Men have had centuries to screw our Nation up. Lets see what the ladies can do.

The Shutdown normally rolling around. Nothing good happening in its fourth week. Trump has to get on board. Republicans all followers. Will do nothing without Trump.

Trump keeps firing people. An inept President firing hard working Americans  who know what they are doing. The error of their ways is they disagree with Trump. Something easy to do. He is generally wrong.

Amazon fueling automation big time.

Excellent Opinion Piece by Michelle Goldberg in yesterday’s New York Times: “Trump Posted a Video of Himself  Dropping Excrement on Our Cities. It’s a Glimpse of His Deepest Drives.”

“This weekend, I was surprised to hear that Donald Trump seems to see himself in the same way as I do: As a would-be monarch spraying the citizenry with excrement.

On Saturday, perhaps stung by the enormous nationwide “No Kings” protests, Trump posted an A.I. generated video on Truth Social that intentionally captured his approach to governing. In it the President, wearing a crown, flies a “Top Gun” above American cities crowded with demonstrators, dispensing gargantuan loads of feces on them. Amplifying it on social media, the White House communications Director Steven Cheng gleefully wrote that the President was defecating “all over these No King losers.”‘

Woe is we!

Enjoy your day!

America spoke yesterday. Loud and clear. From one end of the Nation to the other: “We don’t like how Trump is operating the Presidency!”

What next, if anything?

I suspect Trump just smiled. Thought let the people have fun for a day. Tomorrow back to normal. Nothing they can do. I AM PRESIDENT!

If he does, he is pushing his luck. I have never seen the people so aroused in my 90 year lifetime. It could be a step at a time to overthrow. disaster.

I recall World War II. I was 5-10 years old. The people were aroused. Most if not all in a supportive fashion. Frequent patriotic parades. In big and small communities alike. I grew up in Utica, N.Y. Huge Sunday parades common. American flags flying in the parade and outside people’s homes. Positive Americanism.

My Dad’s work involved a plant in Utica and another some 30 miles away in Holland Patent. Sunday parades commonplace in both communities. My Mother would take me to Holland Patent some weekends to visit my Dad.

I proudly marched in the Utica and Holland Patent parades. Others joined. Proud to be Americans and support Roosevelt and our armed forces.

Trump has destroyed that way of life, that way of conducting conflicts the U.S. was involved in or perhaps on the verge of becoming a participant.

Simply stated, Trump is destroying the U.S. and the rest of the world at the same time. He appears to want conflict. The type that could end in war. In could be against a small Nation initially. One however supported by a larger one. China and Russia possible opponents.

Trump has to change or go. Vance will be no better. Johnson inept.

I do not know the answer. I can merely express one person’s feelings.

Enjoy your Sunday while you worry and share your concerns with neighbors and friends. Most of you are concerned. Yesterday proved it.

Key West is a party town. Different parties different times of the year. Its biggest and most famous is Fantasy Fest. In the later part of October each year. Ten days of fun and frolic.

Fantasy Fest was born in 1979. Prior thereto, the Fall was Key West’s slowest season. The city fathers decided something had to be done. After much soul searching, the event Fantasy Fest was born. Whether intended to be, it has turned into an adult party. Significant nudity. Church fathers and prominent organizations every few years have to decide the issue of nudity. Basically it boils down to covering a woman’s nipples and both male and female privates. Not with much. That’s it! The event a one of a kind experience.

I am a voyeur at heart. Find even that amount of coverage too much. I look, don’t shed.

People come from all over the world to participate.

I did my first in 1981 as a a vacationer. Purchased a home soon after and have done most since. Missed a few along the way for various reasons.

The partying takes place primarily on Duval Street.

Though technically a ten day event, it has become a twelve. The first two days are known as Bombay. Primarily a Bahama Village event. Warms things up!

This year the Bahama Village portion was Friday and today, October 17 and 18. Fantasy Fest technically begins on a Sunday. This year October 19. All kinds of events. The major one Thursday night. The Parade. A big deal!

Fantasy Fest ends this year on Sunday October 28.

Remember, an adult party. Leave the kids home!

Zombie Bike Ride is a Fantasy Fest event. Tomorrow on Sunday. Key West’s streets will once again belong to 1,000 plus bike riders each dressed in a crazy fashion. People will party from their bicycles. Those too old or too lazy, from their porches along the route.

Some additional Key West folklore.

On this day in 1906, a Category 2 hurricane hit the upper Keys, causing damage to the over sea’s railroad under construction. The storm hit the railroad construction crew without warning, killing 164. Most when houseboats in which they were living were carried to sea and sunk.

On this day in 2010, the dilapidated structure of Key West’s Traal’s Soup Cannery collapsed into the water of the Key West Bight. The city rebuilt the building which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Why I am unhappy with Donald Trump. A few of the reasons.

His attempts to close down the Education Department.

George Santos being released by Trump from his seven year sentence. He has only served a few months. Is Trump trying to set a standard for himself should he have criminal sentences pending when his Presidency is ended?

He continues to get his nose involved improperly in the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Switches from one side to the other. Mostly tries to accommodate his “friend” who by this time he should realize is not his fried. Continues to make an ass out of him.

Presently he wants Zelensky and Putin to begin peace talks from where their respective armies are situated.

It is reported Trump called Putin also to set the talks up. Strange, after Putin has bullshitted Trump several times.

Trump layoffs upsetting even to some Republicans. The “truth’ should be known.

I am not the only one unhappy with Trump. I have received several telephone calls advising the crowd is huge at Bayview Park protesting Trump this morning. The event is appropriately titled No Kings’ Protest.

Other drafting items.

ICE amps up its surveillance powers, targeting immigrants and antifa.

Trump’s tariffs have brought India’s garment industry to its knees. No way to make and keep a friend.

Shame! The U.S. has fallen out of the top ten on the list of the world’s most powerful passports. The U.S. is now in the 12th spot. It was first a decade ago.

Informational items.

On October 18, 1867, the U.S. formally took possession of Alaska purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million. Less than 2 cents an acre.

On this day in 1972, the Clean Water Act became law.

On this day in 1977, baseball great Reggie Jackson hit 3 homers on 3 swings.

Enjoy your day!

Morning friend! Another day, another blog.

I’m writing less frequently. Depends how I feel physically. Still bed ridden. I suspect another week to go. Getting better a bit each day. Down to the right leg. Getting smaller Almost normal. Amazing what 16 pills a day and total bed time will do.

I have arranged for 2-4 smoothies from Date & Thyme to be delivered daily. Hit the spot! Make me feel good!

Corey and Lisa deliver food, as does a third person. Food arrives via mail. Received a huge box of homemade candy from Buffalo’s Fran Dixon yesterday. Love her!

I am sick of reading and writing about Trump. Unfortunately we are stuck with him another 2 plus years. I am sick of reading about the many problems he has precipitated world wide.

I fear a war involving the U.S. Trump caused.

I miss my normal Key West days. Write the blog in the morning. A short time at the beach in the afternoon. Sitting in a beach chair about an hour. Enjoying the ladies in their bikinis, getting a bit of a tan. Followed by an ice cream cone on the way home. A short nap. Dinner at one of my favorite dining spots in the evening. Home in bed by 9.

For a 90 year old guy, a good experience!

Enjoy your day!

I have only been on a Fantasy Fest float one time. Some 20 plus years ago. My good friend Howard Livingston asked me to be on his at the time.

I was thrilled!

Never again, however. One of the most tiring experiences of my life.

A musical float. My job was to throw beads. Howard had me dress as a bum. Beads and all. Our float threw 23,000 beads. Several of us. Work. Extreme work. I was totally exhausted at the end off the evening.

Howard had it organized. A lovely bikini clad lady stood next to me. She was a bead thrower also. We held our left arms bent out. Howard had a bead runner. As the beads were exhausted from my left arm, a good looking young lady was there to relace with another armful. I would throw with my right.

A constant the whole parade time. No rest for the bum.

The float and parade itself moved slowly along Whitehead. It was when it turned on Duval that the action began. Speed picked up. The crowd huge and rowdy. I had to work like hell to keep up with the extended arms and yelling for beads.

No question, work!

At some point I observed that there were many elderly, those in wheel chairs and others disabled that were not receiving their fair share of beads. So I searched them out and threw only to them. Still many such persons. I got more tired as the blocks moved by.

My game plan for the evening was to finish the float/bead throwing and then play like hell. Good luck! By the end of the parade, I was totally exhausted. Found my car and went home. I was so tired I actually believe the car drove itself home. I lived in Key Haven at the time.

How I made it up the stairs to the bedroom, I do not know. I threw my clothes off and fell on the bed. To sleep immediately.

Howard’s float won the award for Best Musical. Would you have expected less!

I enjoyed the experience. Would never do it again, however. Too much work.

The federal shutdown has yet to affect the Keys. It will if the shutdown continues too long.

The College of the Florida Keys continues to grow. Slowly but surely. A $16,000 contribution was made to establish the Nettie Lawson Oglesbee nursing scholarship endowment fund.

My mother was born in Foccia, Italy. Named Fortunata. When she arrived in the U.S., she acquire the nickname “Nettie” by which she was known the rest of her life.

Italy plays in Key West news. The Key West High School Band will be in Italy in late December and early January. To participate in an international competition. The band is the only Florida one participating.

Find a friend at the Florida Keys SPCA. Time to take a friend home? A dog or cat?

Help keep Key West clean. On friday and some saturday mornings, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., the Key West Ploggers help to clean up some portion of the island.

Raise good, clean hell during Fantasy Fest Week. It’s fun big time!

I am not sure I will be able to handle the parade. My legs have been a mess for several weeks. Sixteen pills a day. A week in the hospital. Home in bed longer than I have liked.

Enjoy your day!

Still sick! Getting better. Taking forever. Still bedridden. Left leg healed. Right leg from ankle to knee taking its own good time. A bit each day. I suspect I am 3-4 days from total recovery. Solution is bed and 16 pills a day. One a super-duper antibiotic twice a day. Pain remains horrendous.

A bit of Trump.

Trump was infatuated with ending the Israel/Hamas War. For a selfish reason. He wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He and very few others.

Now he returns home a loser. He must be a better President. Remove the military from our city streets. Stop operating as he is. He is not functioning as a President should. Oh the so many things he does wrong.

He must have the capacity to be a PRESIDENT. Otherwise our Nation will end in ruin before he leaves office.

Citizens must return to work. They want to earn and receive pay checks. Failure to be paid is another reason our Nation could fail.

Only Congress must have the power to spend money. So sayeth the Constitution. Not the President.

I do not believe the President is in excellent health. Nor do many other Americans. He should speak the truth in this regard. The American people will work with him and support his continued Presidency.

Trump should get rid of the 100 percent tariff on China. China will retaliate. We do not need significant conflict with the second most powerful Nation in the world.

Some Key West.

Fewer people visiting Key West. Perhaps fewer visiting all over the U.S. Not healthy. I watched a Key West TV show last night. Of Key West in the early evening hours in the past week or two. I was surprised how few persons were walking the streets and could be seen sitting in restaurants.

Forty years ago, the Chart Room was as a practical matter the Key West City Hall. Deals and important decisions were made there every evening.

The Key West Fire Department is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Though the State prohibits colored cross-walks, they will return. The Tallahassee bloodhounds screwed up again. Used a false reason to take away from persons all over the State cross-walks they enjoyed.

I’m looking forward to Fantasy Fest. Buffalo’s Fran and Tom Dixon will be joining me again. We will do everything! I must be better by then!

Fran Brown not interested in leaving S.U. for Penn State.

Hope I finish recovering rapidly! Ninety has its negatives.

Enjoy your day!

o

The esteemed American Benjamin Franklin had a son. William. The two were on opposite sides during the Revolutionary War.

William at the time was the British appointed Governor of New Jersey. He implored the New Jersey State Legislature to remain loyal to the British Crown during the Revolution. He believed such was the road to achieving “peace, happiness, and a restoration of the public tranquility.” He was opposed to “anarchy, misery, and all the horrors of a civil war.” 

William was born in 1730 to an unknown mother and raised by his father Benjamin Franklin’s common law wife Deborah Read,

Benjamin was a known “playboy” with the ladies and the fact that two ladies were involved with William not surprising.

William was considered a capable Governor and was encouraged to join the Revolution. He refused, was placed under house arrest, and removed from the Governorship by the Continental Army in January 1776. He was later imprisoned in Connecticut. When released, he followed his beliefs and fought for the loyalists.

The two never reconciled.

My right ankle and lower leg are still swollen and painful. I am taking a strong antibiotic and 15 other pills and remain in bed all day with my legs elevated. 

Dr. Norris and Nurse Sarah attended me at home yesterday. Norris thought the ankle looked the same, though still very swollen and warm. He said lets watch it. The antibiotic has to kick in at some point.

Sarah came after Norris had left. She immediately said it was larger/more swollen. She had measured it in the hospital. Measured it again, It was one centimeter larger than when I was discharged. She thought I should return to the hospital. I needed the antibiotic intravenously. She said she would contact Norris and see what he thought.

I’m sure they talked. However, I am still here.

My ankle is smaller this morning for the first time in several days. Not a hell of lot, but enough to be noticeable. If it continues to come down, I doubt I will be returned to the hospital.

Enjoy your day!

Will I ever get better? My new goal in life. Spent all of yesterday in bed. Expect to do the same today.

Gout continues big time in right leg. This morning woke to find it is beginning in left ankle again, as well as extreme left lower back pain.

I am taking 16 pills a day. I am confident they will kick in and remedy me. They have in the past. M last batch of pills is at 9 in the evening. I slept through 9. Woke at 1 am. Panicked. Took them then. An important batch of pills. One is to control the gout. Wish it would move its ass!

Yesterday was strange in two respects. One is I slept constantly. Did not even hear the phone when Lisa called. The other oddity is I could not stop eating. I was famished. I emptied the refrigerator. Lisa will have to replenish me this morning.

This is a Trumpie day.

Trump and the Courts, 

The Constitution provides for three separates divisions of government. All equal, Two are the Executive and Judiciary. Trump either does not understand or does not care. A major confrontation may be imminent. One I doubt Trump can win.

Trump did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. I never expected him to. It was awarded to Maria Corina Machado. A Venezuelan democracy crusader. She is opposed to the Venezuelan government. She is an opposition leader in hiding fighting for democracy in her country.

Trump must be upset. He did everything to convince the powers to be he was the person to be awarded. Everyone except Trump knew he was not.

U.S. money is tight. Why then has Trump’s new foreign aid plan allocated $50 million for Greenland’s polar bears?

Another example of Trump spending that could have been avoided…..Argentina. Trump financially rescued Argentina by having his Administration take the rare step of directly buying Argentine pesos in global currency markets in a bid to relieve pressure on the national embattled President Javier Milei, an enthusiastic supporter of President Trump. Trump also essentially agreed to a U.S. $20 billion loan to Argentina.

Some U,S. economists consider both moves questionable. The buying of pesos frowned upon since they are considered to lose value. Re the exorbitant loan, Argentina has a long history of reneging on its government debt.

One economist said, “Lending money to Argentina is easy, getting repaid is what is hard.”

It appears the shutdown will also close the Smithsonians.

The storm hitting today will first strike Florida’s eastern shores’ Expected to damage shore properties. Key West may experience it.

Syracuse has an off weekend. They need it.

Enjoy your day!

Today Key West!

A soft easy blog. A few incidentals and me added too.

Me first.

Still not well. I wanted to dress and go out a bit today. Nothing big. It was not possible. The gout it my right foot prohibited it. The pain with each step unbelievable. 

I am taking 16 pills a day. Some to bring the swelling down. It will work in due course. Wish it would hurry.

Slept 9-4. Good! I was not sleeping at all.

Took a shower. First since last friday. Did I need it! Corey came over in case I fell.

I am eating big time. From not eating earlier in the week to devouring everything. I miss the hospital food. It was that good and I did not have to prepare it.

I see the Key West revolutionary spirit coming to the forefront. Good! Citizens are coloring certain things. The cross walks were removed. Such asses in Tallahassee. Some locals planted colored metal polls on the sidewalks away from the foot traffic and close to the street. Neither interfere nor involve street traffic.

For school children, this is Fie Prevention Week. Remember…..we all did it. Stood outside in front of a fire truck and one of our classmates made a prevention speech. I did it in the sixth grade. I was unaware I had been selected. Came to school in a white tee shirt and pants. The nun sent me home to dress better. I lived around the corner from the school.

My parents were working. I grabbed a suit coat that fit me well and returned. It was enough to make the nun happy.

I recall the last sentence of my speech to this day. Mine. “A match has a head, but no brain.” I was so proud of it!

On this day in 1934, Maria Gustens, Matron of Mercedes hospital for 22 years was made aware she had been awarded the Cora of the Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, an honor given by the Cuban government for “outstanding service rendered to Cuba, etc.”

The last hospital where she served in now an apartment house on Virginia Street.

Some who resided there claim Gustens appeared to them. Some claim she touched them. I buy that she resides there and is in effect a ghost.

On this day in 1953, Mary Lee Grohas became the first woman to be elected President of the Key West Chamber of Commerce. Back in Utica, I was a Chamber member for many years. Never President. Whatever, I found time on the Chamber provided the opportunity to quietly solve many community problems. I am confident Grohas performed in a similar fashion.

On this day in 1997. former President George H. W. Bush was n the Keys for the annual Governor Bush bonefish tournament which was held further up the Keys.

Forget not Hugh’s View – the roof of Book & Books. Thursday evenings from 6 pm till sunset. Enjoy a drink and be in the middle of sunset!

Of the top 10 cities nationally with high grocery prices, 5 are Americans. San Francisco #2, New York City #4, Boston#5, Chicago #6, Los Angeles #7. 

Aristotle: “For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing.”

Sorry it took so long to do a relatively short blog. My mind and body are working that way.

Enjoy your day!