Lisa and family were spending Thanksgiving at Corey’s parent’s home in Cape Coral. An accommodation so that Robert and Ally could join in. Thanksgiving is a short college holiday. The drive from Tallahassee to Key West horrendous. Cape Coral sort of the mid point so Thanksgiving was to be spent there so Robert and Ally would not have to drive a long distance twice in a short period of time.

The best laid plans of mice and men…..It was not to be. Ally got sick several days ago. Not sure what. Seemed like a heavy bout of the flu to her. Doctors not sure what. She “died” for 5 days before her stomach somewhat settled.

So Robert and Ally remained alone in Florida State in Tallahassee while Lisa, Corey and Corey’s parents did the holiday in Cape Coral. Corey’s Dad is in a difficult way so the trip to Tallahassee would not have been in his best interests.

I knew none of this till yesterday when Robert and Ally called to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving!

Robert rents a house in Tallahassee with some buddies. Ally rents an apartment with some other females. Robert and Ally were at Ally’s apartment. I got their story. Robert had been caring for Ally since she got sick. Drove her to the doctor’s, got drugs several times at Publix, commiserated and held her hand throughout.

Yesterday she was feeling better. Robert shopped and was cooking their Thanksgiving dinner at Ally’s apartment. At Ally’s because she had a dishwasher.

My grandson impressed me with his culinary efforts. He had a small butt ham in the oven. He was heating stuffings, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. They also had cranberry sauce.

Greater love hath no brother for a sister!!!

Caring for her, cooking for her.

Both indicated it appeared they were the only students left at Florida State. Lonely! Strange!

We talked of many things. Quite a while till it was interfering with Robert’s cooking.

Great kids! Love my grandchildren!

Some Key West items.

The name Michael Mulvaney ring a bell with you?

Mulvaney was Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term. Then served Trump as acting White House Chief of Staff.

He’s back in Trump’s new administration. I cannot recall in what position. It was announced this past week.

I have mentioned Mulvaney several times over the years. He is a frequent visitor to Key West. His father or father in law owns a condominium here. He is a quiet visitor. Does what everyone else does when visiting. Walks, lays in the sun, naps and eats. Draws no attention to himself.

I am correcting some information about our 96 gallon garbage collection carts. I wrote a few days ago they were to be provided free of charge to unincorporated Monroe County. I noted no cities were included. New information made available today advises the 96 gallon carts will be provided the cities of Marathon, Key Colony Beach and Layton.

What about the rest of us? If I sound a bit pissed off, I am. Garbage collection is expensive and is part of real property taxes. Waste Management does a good job at garbage collection and is paid well for its efforts. It has one problem, however. The garbage carts are abused in the collection process. By Waste Management staff, not those of us who fill the pails. Sometimes someone as I needs a new pail as a result. Good luck! Not free! Sixty five dollars!

Should always be free!

Key West was a booming town in 1884. In one week alone beginning 11/22/1884, 645,000 cigars, 14 bales of sponges, and 112 hides were shipped from Key West to New York.

Soon you will have to be careful what you say while in a car. Your car will be listening.

Ford plans to turn its automobiles into eavesdroppers and ad-spewing smartphones.

Ford recently applied for a patent for what it calls their “In-Vehicle Advertisement Presentation System.” It will bombard us with texts, messages on your center server, and garbage emails. The technology also uses in-car microphones to listen to passenger conversations and display targeted advertisements. And more. Privacy concerns out the window.

The Taliban required women in Afghanistan to wear burkas or other head to toe covering.

Reminded me of a story told me by my friend Anna’s son at a birthday dinner party for me in Novara some years ago. Her son was an engineer with a highway construction company that did work all over Europe, Asia and Africa. His work and position both a big deal!

He was overseeing the construction of a highway in Morocco. Anna came to visit. As soon as she exited her plane on arrival, he went up to her with a burka and said, “Put it on.”

Anna was an opinionated educated individual prone to do what she wanted. No one told her what to do, not even her son. She told her son, “No.” He responded, “Put it on or you will be immediately arrested.” From the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes she understood. She immediately put it on.

Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored. The devastation of the 2019 fire which gutted the Cathedral has been corrected. The Cathedral is scheduled to open to the public December 7.

I have never been to Paris and doubt at my age I ever will. My loss I never visited one of the world’s greatest cities.

I recall having mentioned a portion of what follows a couple of months ago. The matter is in the news again, including some additional information. 

Denny’s announced it will be shutting down 150 of its restaurants in then next year. That I reported before. The new news is Denny’s will also be reducing its menu from 97 items to 46.

Enjoy your day!