TOUCHES OF KEY WEST

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The Hemingway Look A Like Contest ran well into the evening saturday night. At Sloppy Joe’s. 131 contestants. Wally Collins, a Phoenix restaurateur won.

I do not know how many years Collins has been a contestant. The word on the street is it takes at least 10 years of participating before anyone is seriously considered. My friend Hank from Melbourne has been trying for 21 years. Has not made it yet!

Hemingway and Key West go hand in hand. He lived in Key West from 1931-39. Wrote To Have and Have Not and A Farewell to Arms while here. Worked on parts of other novels.

Tennessee Williams was another outstanding writer who made his home in Key West. From 1949-83, he lived at 1431 Duncan Street. One and a half blocks from where Lisa now lives. While visiting and not yet having settled in Key West, Williams wrote a first draft of A Streetcar Named Desire. He wrote it in 1947 while staying at the La Concha Hotel on Duval. The La Concha stands to this day.

During the Civil War, Florida seceded. Key West however remained in Union hands. The Union had a naval base and military personnel here.

A Conch today is a person who was born in Key West. A much respected designation. Those who came here to live but were not born in Key West, and have resided in Key West for seven years, are known as Freshwater Conchs.

The term Conch has a far deeper history. The first Conchs were persons of European ancestry who immigrated from the Bahamas. They came in increasing numbers beginning in the 1830’s.

By 1889, Key West was the largest and wealthiest city in Florida. The salt and salvage businesses though good were starting to decline. Cigar making was on the rise.

Key West was isolated prior to 1912. No railroad or highway. Water the only access. In 1912, Henry Flagler completed his railroad to Key West.  Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. Much of the railroad was destroyed by the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. It was never rebuilt.

US 1 was completed in 1938. A highway connecting Key West with mainland Florida. Called the Overseas Highway.

The one person close in Key West fame to Hemingway is Harry Truman. Truman spent a total of 175 days over a course of 11 visits while President. He stayed at a part of the Naval Base which is now Truman Annex. The building was known as the Little White House. It is now listed on the National Registry.

The Naval Base was first established in 1820. It remains to this day. Spread around and significantly smaller. At its strength, it had 15,000 military and 3,400 civilian personnel.

Cruise ships first docked in Key West at Mallory Square in 1984.

Key West is reputed to be the southernmost point in the United States. Close, but not actually. Ballast Key which is a privately owned island to the south and west of Key West is the southernmost point.

Cuba is a mere 90 miles from Key West. Closer than Miami which is 155 miles from Key West.

Hurricanes are always a concern. Yearly. Generally in the fall months. Though some on occasion a bit earlier. Wilma in 2005 and Georges in 1998 were the two worst hurricanes in recent years.

Hope you found these bits of information interesting.

Enjoy your day!

 

16 YEAR OLD UMBRELLA DEAD IN THE POOL

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I bought and furnished my Key West home 16 years ago. Deck furniture was among the items purchased. Included was a round table with a blue shade umbrella. The umbrella survived all 16 years till yesterday. Let me say first that the enemy of anything on the ocean is sun and salt. Neither bothered the umbrella. I was impressed. It took strong winds to bring about its demise.

Yesterday was sunny and lovely. In the afternoon, a storm came upon us that quick. In a matter of minutes, it gets dark, the temperature drops 10-20 degrees and it begins raining like hell.

I worked for a while. Kept the glass sliding doors behind me shut. The rain would have gushed in. After a while, I was tired. Took a nap. Two hours later, I woke. Still raining, but not as bad. I went downstairs and opened the glass sliding doors.

The first thing that hit my eyes was the pool. The wind was was still strong. There were ripples on top of the pool which clouded the water. I saw what I thought was a body in the deep end. I hurried out to investigate. It was the umbrella. The metal parts I could see where broke. Lying on top of the umbrella was a large ceramic vase. It was the vase that gave the initial impression of a body.

The vase was purchased 16 years ago, also. I have two sitting at the shallow end of the pool by the steps for decorative purposes. The vases are heavy. Three feet tall, 1.5 feet wide and thick. It takes all I have to lift one one inch.

The metal umbrella post must have snapped.Then it hit one of the chairs at the table. The chair is destroyed. The umbrella must have then hurled sideways of the chair and picked up the ceramic vase on its way into the pool.

There is a 30 foot distance between the table and where the umbrella landed in the pool. Had to be a hell of a wind!

I already called Keith. Told him to come over saturday with Jennifer. Wear their bathing suits. Get the stuff out of the pool!

It is not going to be easy. It is about seven feet down. The vase has to be full of water. The umbrella will hold water in its pocket as it rises. Not a job for Louis. It would be heart attack time.

The loss of the umbrella is my fault. I know better than to leave it open during a storm.

ABC and Good Morning America did themselves proud this morning. Key West was featured on the show. ABC has been doing this show in Key West for several years. I always thought the show sucked. They did not show Key West as it truly is. From what I saw this morning, this year they did.

ABC’s Ginger was broadcasting. The first shot was of her and a crowd of shorts and tee shirted people at Mallory Square. Yes, the rain and wind are gone. It is sunny and warm once more.

The next segment showed two Key West favorites. Key Lime Pie and Stone crabs. A great last meal! The following segment were walkers at Smathers Beach. Then came the Westin Dock with a huge cruise ship in the background.

Ginger kept referring to Key West as Paradise. She was correct.

I could give the show no more time. I have a big morning. I believe my friend Howard Livingston is going to do a guest appearance at some point. The best of the best.

The only negative in the show was that I saw no locals during the time I watched. They were all tourists. I recognized no one.

Bocce obviously rained out last night. I did not have to call in and beg off due to my back.

Two Ukraine observations.

First, what is going on is not unlike our Civil War. The South seceded. They had no right to do so under the Constitution. Crimea is in effect seceding from the Ukraine. This matte can only be handled properly and honorably if there is an Abraham Lincoln in the Ukraine of today.

The other observation involves the pipelines. Russia’s income comes from its oil and gas exports. Seventy five per cent. The pipelines go through Ukraine. One of the reasons Ukraine is important to Putin. I think Ukrainian leaders should slowly start sabotaging some of those pipelines. With the added threat that if Russia interferes in any way, all the pipelines will immediately be blown up. Putin has to back off immediately. The opposition for once would have the upper hand. The problem will then be possible of immediate resolution. Fire must be met with fire. When dealing with a bully, you must hit harder back than he hit you.

So thinks Louis.

Enjoy your day!

NORTH and SOUTH

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I enjoyed an unusual Saturday yesterday. I watched television most of the day. Not planned. That is how it worked out.

I was a history major in college. I had a special interest in the Civil War. I took extra courses involving the Civil War.

At noon yesterday, an old mini series appeared on TV. All six segments at one time. From noon till eight in the evening. Concerning matters which lead up to the Civil War. The series was appropriately called North and South.

I watched it all! I was in all my glory! As a result, I never went out.

The only interruption was when Lisa showed up with Robert and Ally to swim. I said hello, how are you and kissed each one. Then it was back to the television set.

While watching, I enjoyed a sandwich and a couple of drinks.

There are things happening that I would like to make comment regarding.

Toilet paper. Back in May, in this blog and on my TV show, I made mention of the acute toilet paper shortage in Venezuela. People were without! Still are! What could be worse?

Venezuela has a large toilet paper making factory. The government took it over this week. Nationalized it, in effect. Shades of Hugo Chavez. Actually, things were good for the people of Venezuela under Chavez. We may have disliked him. His people did not. He took care of everyone.

Syracuse football. Syracuse beat Tulane yesterday 52-17. Big! Syracuse has a new quarterback the last two games. It is said he is the difference. Plus, the defense has been playing unusually well. My recollection is Syracuse blocked four kicks yesterday. Three punts and a field goal attempt.

The proof of the pudding comes in two weeks. Clemson! A top team.

A tropical storm beat the hell out of Acapulco this week. Tropical storm Manuel. 100,000 tourists in Acapulco at the time. The airport is a mess and not in use. A military one is ok, however. Roads are wiped out. Mud slides everywhere.

I have visited Acapulco several times. Not the place to be when a disaster occurs. I was there when a minor one occurred. 40,000 tourists are still stranded. All waiting to be airlifted out by the military. Things will be tough until they get on a plane.

Germany’s national election is today. Merkel is favored to be returned as Germany’s leader. A shame. Europe teeters while Merkel continues to play her hard assed economic game.

Terri White. My friend, my love.

Robin Williams has a new television show. It starts this week or next. In the third show, Terri White will be guest appearing. A big deal! Watch for the show. I look forward to the day when Terri gets her own TV show.

Enjoy your Sunday!

KEY WEST DURING CIVIL WAR

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Spent three hours with Lisa and the family around lunch time yesterday. Read the Sunday newspapers and visited with Robert and Ally.

There is some sort of Civil War Days celebration at Fort Zach. Robert and Ally had been there the day before. They were excited in telling me about it.

Key West was a strange duck during the Civil War. Florida went with the Confederacy. Key West however remained with the Union. An unusual situation. Understandable when you realize how far Key West was from the rest of the Florida. There was no railroad or roads from the mainland. Water vessels were the only contact.

The Union constructed two forts to ward off invading Confederate vessels. They stand to today. East Martello and West Martello. They were never needed. The war never came to Key West.

Key West’s primary function on behalf of the Union was to take in captured Confederate  vessels and do whatever had to be done with them.

After the Fort Zach Civil War treat, Corey took the grandkids on a trip through the woods. Which, I do not know. Key West has all kind of woods. All kind of mangrove growings.

Corey is an archeologist. Educated and work wise. He was educated at Indiana University. Worked in the Middle East in evacuations. For the last 25 years has served as Mel Fisher’s Chief Archeologist.

I find it strange that Corey grew up never seeing the ocean. Yet in his adult life, makes his living exploring the ocean bottom.

Corey has told me many times that as a child when other boys were playing baseball, he preferred to walk in the woods looking for strange items.

Therein I suspect  lies the reason why Corey takes Robert and Ally on wood expeditions.

The Saturday trip proved fruitful to Robert. He found a dried snake skin. Head and all. He was all excited  as he showed it to me. Ugh! Made sure I touched it.

Ally discovered nothing of interest. Ally is taken with spiders. Would you believe! She picks them up outside her home.

I was coming down with a cold. Went home to bed for the rest of the day.

Watched the Syracuse/St. John’s game from the comfort of my bed. Syracuse won handily. They looked good. Southerland won his appeal and is back playing. He contributed his 13 points.

I have been down on the team. Perhaps I have been too harsh. The nice way of saying I was probably wrong. I was impressed with their play yesterday. Especially on defense. We shall see.

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) is my blog talk radio show. The Key West Lou Talk Show. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Seven in the morning my time. Early! If you are up and around, join me. Exciting stuff. Tomorrow I want to know what you think of drones killing Americans, Senator Lindsey’s rumblings re Benghazi, and whatever else tickles your interest. It is a fun show!

Have to hustle. Dentist again at 10 this morning. Feeling much better. Some minor problems yet to be resolved. I think my dental work is like the Jaguar of the 1960s. A lot of money and a lot of problems.

Enjoy your day!

 

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

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Lazy is becoming my middle name! This is the second day in a row I have stayed in bed late. 10:30. Watched Meet the Press and Chris Wallace. For whatever reason, I am treating this holiday weekend as a holiday.

The older one gets, the more that person believes he/she knows everything. It is the result of the aging process. You have been alive so long, that your experiences make you soooo smart.

And then something happens to prove the error of your thinking. Or maybe that exceptions are common place.

I spoke of my disappointment in not being able to see a blue moon in yesterday’s blog. I actually thought the moon was going to be blue colored for whatever reason.

I was wrong as to the meaning of blue moon. I received more emails, telephone calls and personal comment regarding my error than for anything else I have ever written. As a result, I have learned something new. Which is another way of admitting you are never too old to learn.

One of blue moon’s meanings is two full moons in one month. Not a frequent occurrence. Never in all of my 77 years did I know. Because it is such a rare occurrence, the phrase “…once in a blue moon” developed.

I did a little home work. I wanted to know more about blue moon.

The term has been bandied around some 400 years. It was associated in its earlier times with betrayal.

The significant date for our purposes is January 31, 1980. Relatively recently. There is an observatory at the University of Texas. The McDonald Observatory. Studies the stars, astronomy, space and the like. McDonald Observatory also sponsors a daily radio show. Star Date. The show is very popular. It broadcasts on more than 300 stations. In Star Date’s radio show of January 31, 1980, the term blue moon was used to describe the two full moons in one month phenomenon. Blue moon took off in popularity from that time forward.

For the record, the term had been mentioned off and on in the years immediately preceding 1980 referring to the two full moons in one month, but never achieved notoriety.

College football has returned! Syracuse played Northwestern yesterday. Syracuse lost by one point, 42-41. I caught the second half of the game. Syracuse was down 22 points. But came back! Northwestern was just one play better at the end.

I am not disappointed in the loss. Syracuse’s problem appears to be defense. This is still rebuilding time. I suspect we will have a winning season in spite of this loss.

Shopped yesterday. The cupboard was really bare!

Sloan stopped over in the early afternoon. We are still working on You Tube, amongst other things.

Later in the afternoon, I wrote my weekly column for KONK Life. It will be published next Thursday. The article is entitled Texas Judge Warns of Civil War.

There is a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, who believes that if Obama is reelected there will be a civil war. He claims Obama will turn the government of the United States over to the United Nations. Where this nut theory came from, I do not know. In any event, the judge claims the people will not put up with it. They will take up arms. It will be Concord and Lexington all over again. Obama will send in United Nations troops to put down the revolt. The civil war will then begin in earnest.

The Chart Room first last night. JJ bartending. Many drinkers. I knew none. All tourists. I stayed a while and left.

There is a new restaurant/bar on the waterfront. The Boathouse. It has been there less than a year. It is downstairs from the Commodore. The people who own the Commodore opened the Boathouse.

I tried the boathouse for the first time. Good! Great location. Open aired. Excellent food. Reasonable prices. I recommend it.

Enjoy your Labor Day Sunday!