JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

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Today is the birthday of James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851). A famous American author. Penned Leatherstocking Tales. His most well known work, The Last of the Mohicans.

Cooper spent most of his life in Cooperstown. The same community in upstate New York that today is the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His father founded Cooperstown. A community which sits on beautiful Otsego Lake.

Cooperstown is a 45 minute drive from my hometown of Utica.

Father and son Cooper were men of wealth. The elder having come by it the old fashioned way. He worked for it. His son inherited substantial monies at age 21. Nevertheless, the younger Cooper worked hard. First as a seaman and then as an author.

Father Cooper built the family home on Otsego Lake. He called it Otsego Hall. His son James lived there after his father’s death. The home at some point burned down.

It was replaced in later years with what today is known as The Fenimore Art Museum. I have  visited the building many times. As an attendee at cocktail parties and as a tourist. The home sits on a small hill overlooking the lake.

A rural village and farm were constructed nearby. It is called Farmers’ Museum. America, 1845. A whole village. Small buildings for a doctor’s office, a lawyer’s office, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, a home, a farm, farm animals and more. Very real.

The buildings and furnishings are the same as they were in 1845. People back then were smaller than today. The beds and furniture reflect the difference in size from today. Even the smallest of us would be too big for the beds.

The Farmers’ Museum is the home of the Cardiff giant. All 10.45 feet of him. The Cardiff giant was a hoax. Someone had this giant constructed from wood and other materials. The body was planted on a farm. “Accidentally” dug up a few years later. Touted as the discovery of a prehistoric man. It was several years before the statue was deemed not for real. It has no place at the Farmers’ Museum, but there it lies. I found the Cardiff giant interesting.

My father took me to visit the Farmers’ Museum. I took my children and most of my grandchildren.

On one of the visits, it was me and twin grandsons Mathew and Michael. They were 4. We passed a horse who at the moment had an 18 foot erection. Their eyes bulged. I said nothing. Just hurried them along.

A little later, we were in the Museum’s drug store. This was the time of the Clinton/Lewinsky matter. A radio news show was discussing the matter. Matthew looked up at me and said…..Poppa, he did something wrong. Didn’t he? I responded…..Yes, he did.

An observation. Cooperstown is small town America. Yesterday preserved. The Baseball Hall of Fame and the Fenimore sites have made the community neither touristy nor tarnished. Much of its condition is due to the care and attention provided by the Singer Sewing Machine family. They have resided in Cooperstown for years. It is their community. They are proud of it. They have controlled building on the lake, kept the area pristine clean and sparkling. Nothing happens with out their blessing. They are to be complimented for what they have preserved and achieved.

Yesterday was a normal Key West sunday. A visit to Walgreens and Office Max. Lunch outside at Salute’s. A mahi mahi sandwich and the sunday papers. A couple of hours at Don’s Place watching professional football. Don was in all his glory as Buffalo won. Spent a bit of time working on tuesday’s blog talk radio show. Dinner in the evening with Lisa and the family.

Enjoy your day!

 

Syracuse 40 Central Michigan 3

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Would you believe! I did not even pick Syracuse in the pool. After Villanova, I expected another bad season. Central Michigan is a decent team. This was a good victory because of the number of points Syracuse scored. Syracuse was also phenomenal on defense. Now to the ACC.

I watched the game at John Lukas’ Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan. There were a bunch of Ohio State fans. I do not know what game the third group were watching.

John let each TV set go full volume. Blasting! I was listening to three games at one time. Not easy.

Met Carrie, a new bartender. Originally from the Boston area. Had a place for skiing in Killington, Vermont. Vivacious. Recently engaged.

Petey works part time for John. I did not know. She is a Don’s Place and bocce friend. A very nice young lady. Always a kiss and hug for me. I am a cheap buy. All it takes is a hug and kiss.

Key West parking has been come more difficult. October 1, it will be the worst! Guaranteed! As of October 1, the rule basically is that only Key West residents can park in Key West. Except for some non residential parking spaces. I have been looking for two days and have only found a half dozen.

Yesterday’s parking problem was of a different nature. I generally park in the empty lot next to John’s place. Yesterday signs had been erected that were not there before. Parking permit needed or you will be towed. I had to park in the City parking garage around the corner. Cost me $10 for 5 hours. Aggravated the hell out of me!

I did not get to watch golf today. I see Furyk is in third place. Two strokes behind the two leaders.

Jim is a senior citizen as far as golf is concerned, He has not won in a couple of years. He is always up there, however. He keeps earning good checks. So much so that he is #5 of active players in earnings. He has won a major and won the Fed Ex several years ago. He is my dark horse pick to win tomorrow.

I had the pleasure of meeting Furyk and his family 15 years ago at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona. They were there for a few days of relaxation and fun. A nice guy. Down to earth.

Since Joan Rivers’ death, I have wondered if she ever visited Key West. Most celebrities have at one time or another. Parade is a local newspaper. Joan’s picture is on the second page of this week’s edition. Shows her doing a book signing at Voltaire Books in Key West in 2009.

I have decided to stay in tonight. For some reason, I am tired. Perhaps the enthusiasm during the game.

Enjoy your Sunday!

THOSE WERE THE DAYS…..

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Today’s Key West Citizen makes mention in its Key West History section that plane fares Key West/Miami 50 years ago were $8 one way and $15 round trip. Those were the days! Today one is looking at something in the low $200 to has high as something in the $600 range.

In the 1970s, I had a condo at the Jockey Club in Miami. My Shangrila at the time. I spent at least one long weekend a month there. The airfare Syracuse/Miami round trip was $80 tourist and $100 first class. First class included a small tablecloth and cloth napkin, steaming prime rib sliced at your seat, all flavors of ice cream, etc. Again, those were the days!

I spent several hours yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. Mob Rule. It publishes wednesday evening. The article took much longer to compose than I had expected. The subject matter has its twists and turns. My view of things definitely controversial. I wrote what I did because I thought it had to be said.

Last night was a fun night. I did nothing but sit and sip with friends at two of my favorite Key West places.

First was Don’s Place.

Jimmy and Joanie have become parents! They adopted a dog. Four years old. His owner wanted to get rid of him. The dog has social/mental problems. He was left alone 20 hours at a time. Jimmy and Joanie had him at the bar and intend to take him to work. They will make great dog parents.

The dog sat quietly the whole time I was there. Neither a peep nor a move.

Lori is a physical therapist. I engaged her in talk re my shoulder. She was helpful. Yanked my shoulder and back around a bit in evaluating me.

Chatted with John.

Frankie was at the bar when I walked in. A king at bocce and Lisa’s neighbor. Their backyards adjoin. I like Frankie and his wife Sandy. Two great people!

Then the Chart Room. A very enjoyable time.

David was holding court at the end of the bar. I had not seen him in a while. We sat together for about two hours and chatted with each other and everyone else.

David is gay. Two lovely young ladies in black cocktail dresses walked by. Tanned, long blond hair. David told me they were ladies of the night. In from Miami for a job. I thought he was kidding at first. They kept walking around. We continued to observe them. David was hooked on the working girl thing. I finally asked how he knew. He had talked with them earlier on the street.

I am the type who could not get laid in a whore house, as the saying goes. David who has no interest in such ladies has no difficulty in engaging them in conversation.

Sheila came in. A kiss and hug. Love her!

Emily bartending and keeping up with our conversation.

Met an interesting couple from the Washington, DC area. Actually, they live in Arlington, Virginia. Shawn and Michele. One L. Shawn is a senior VP for a footwear company. Michele works in the retail field.

We buried them in places to go. Dinner, drinking, and dancing. Shawn was entering the info in his computer as fast as his fingers could move.

It is amazing. I have lived in Key West for years. Think I know everyone. Not the case. Two lovely ladies came into the Chart Room. Both locals. For many years. One is Christy. She is a massage therapist. I am embarrassed to say I cannot recall her friend’s name. I thought the friend unusually attractive. A senior with all white hair. Loved the white hair!

Two days ago, I chastised the Key West Citizen for failing to make mention of 9/11. The day was September 11, 13 years later. The topic is and will always be major in our history.

Yesterday, the Citizen made mention three times. Photos and reporting re memorial services at Mallory Square, the new Fire House on Grinnell, and the 9/11 campus in New York City. Great. However an historical rendition at the very least should have been a major front page article on September 9 itself.

Syracuse football today. Syracuse plays Central Michigan at Central Michigan at noon. I will be watching the game at John Lucas’ Big Ten Sports Pub.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

LISA’S WEDDING GOWN

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I was rummaging through some boxes stored in my closet yesterday. I came up with a wedding dress! Lisa’s! It is now in her hands for cleaning and saving.

The discovery brought back many fond memories for Lisa and me. It was 11 years ago that she wore the dress.

Today is a solemn occasion for the people of the United States. 9/11. As infamous as Pearl Harbor. Almost 3,000 killed. A day for recollection and thought. The enemy still exists.

I have a problem. 9/11 being such an important occasion in our history, why is there no mention of the event in today’s Key West Citizen? The event is worthy of a front page article.

A slight correction. There is mention of 9/11 in the Citizen. On the comic page. Seven lines as part of The World Almanac.

Visited Walgreens yesterday. Another prescription. The pharmaceutical companies are getting extremely rich as a result of senior citizen needs.

It was a new Walgreens yesterday. Each and every employee, whether behind a counter or passing you in an aisle, smiled and greeted you with a …..Welcome to Walgreens! It has to be the competition. CVS has three stores at the present time with two more under construction. The competition will be 5-1. Walgreens has initiated a public relations program to keep its customers.

The joyful greeting, etc. was needed. I found Walgreens’ staff generally cold and uncaring. Even surly on occasion.

Lunch was at Harpoon Harry’s. The wednesday special. A turkey dinner. $9.99. Loved it!

I discussed turtles yesterday or the day before. A study suggested there were too many turtles and the seagrass was suffering world wide as a result thereof.

Yesterday’s USA Today had a brief turtle story. The number of sea turtles in North Carolina waters is apparently dropping off. North Carolina measures by counting turtle nests. Two years ago there were 1,300. Last year only 549. A 58 percent reduction. Must be the sharks predominate yet in North Carolina.

The study I commented on yesterday and mention today must be in error. I felt that way upon reading about it. I spoke with some Key Westers who know and make their living via the ocean. To a person, they agreed the study could not be correct as far as Key West waters were concerned.

I dined at Hot Tin Roof last night. Remained quite a while. Even watched the President’s speech while there. The meal was excellent. Scallops risotto. Joseph and the bartender good company.

The bartender is originally from Old Forge. Fifty miles from my home town of Utica. In the Adirondack Mountains. We did a lot of reminiscing.

I finished the meal off with a snifter of Grand Mariner and a slice of Key Lime pie. The crust was it! Cashew nuts and gram crackers crushed together.

The President’s speech disappointed me. Yes, he is going a strep further. He will be bombing parts of Syria and doing some other things. Not enough

I believe ISIS is a growing threat and will be a major thorn in our side in a short time. We should not futz around. ISIS should be destroyed now! I do not believe the President’s plan is sufficient to accomplish such a result. Do we have to wait for ISIS to blow something up and kill many here in the United States before we react sufficiently?

For years there has been a large bodied man with long white hair and a long white beard reading palms in a booth on Duval Street. No more. He was shot in the head and killed by a thief in Trinidad yesterday where he was visiting relatives. His name Mahadeo Bhan Jerrybankhen. May he rest in peace.

I have to hustle. Physiotherapy for my shoulder starts later this morning.

Before I go, bocce tonight. I am going to try to play. Big game! A money one. A blood match. We play Larry Smith’s team. Serious bocce and a lot of hell raising.

Enjoy your day!

CHICKENS OF KEY WEST…..THE STORY

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Good morning world!

I feel great this morning. Slept well. The best in ten days. Even my back feels good. I suspect that is why I slept better and am vitalized this morning.

I am into my 26th year of Key West. First as a tourist. Then as a regular vacationer. Then as a home owner. And now for eight years as a full time resident. In all that time, I have been under the impression that the chickens roaming the streets were the result of a City Commission folly.

As the story was told to me early on, the City fathers imported a number of chickens to add to the local color. The politicians did not realize that chickens are sensuous beings and propagate. I think the gestation period is 28 days. Soon the chicken population was and continues to be out of control.

A new story has come to my attention as to the source of the chickens. This one has to do with Cuban immigration. In  the 1950s, many Cubans escaped Castro’s revolution. They came to Key West to work in the booming cigar industry.

They brought with them chickens. For meat and eggs. And for cockfighting.

Over time, many of the chickens escaped or were released. The supermarkets became larger. It was cheaper and easier to buy chicken and eggs at the market.

Chickens have no known predators in Key West. Now generations later, they still roam Key West streets. Running freely here and there.

More Beatles lore.

This morning’s Key West Citizen, in its Florida Keys History section, reported that during and following the Beatles visit at the Key Wester Motel, people wanted to buy anything the Beatles had touched or used. Including the pool water they swam in.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Most of the show involved income inequality. Seems to have been well received based on the post show comments.

Some of the facts exposed included net worth. Since 2007, the average net worth of most Americans has dropped 43 percent.

There was another time when Americans were faced with a 1 percent / 99 percent situation. In 1928, one year before the Great Depression.

Another interesting tidbit involved a babysitter’s pay. A babysitter’s average hourly nationally is almost twice the national minimum wage. More than that in Key West from what Lisa tells me. She pays $20 an hour for a babysitter.

KONK Life hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. I have an extended article in this week’s publication titled Income Inequality. Take the time to read it. You will the column interesting and revealing.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

BEATLES AND KEY WEST

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There was a time…..Yes, the Beatles came to Key West…..By accident…..Not planned.

The year 1964. The Beatles were flying to Jacksonville to do a show. Hurricane Dora was on its way to Jacksonville, also. The Beatles plane was diverted to Key West.

The exact day, I am not certain. Today’s Key West Citizen suggests 9/9. I searched the internet a bit. I came up with 9/10 and 9/11 also. Some articles suggest the Beatles were here a couple of days. Others, merely overnight. One of the articles has them arriving around 3 in the morning.

I suspect the Beatles were in Key West more than 24 hours. They broke loose!

They were staying at was then the Key Wester Motel. Gone now, replaced by a Hyatt facility. The Beatles at some point found the Key Wester bar. They took their instruments and played and sang for hours. Word spread they were in town. Other musicians showed up after their work day ended and played with them.

The articles are consistent that the Beatles did a bit of drinking. They became inebriated. One of them is described as having made love to the toilet bowl. Something most of us have experienced on one occasion or another.

Whatever, the Beatles enjoyed Key West. The locals enjoyed the Beatles.

It was fortunate their plane bypassed Jacksonville. Dora hit Jacksonville hard. Five dead and over $2 million in damage.

I have not mentioned JJ in ages. A friend. Formerly a bartender at the Chart Room. JJ now bartends at the Galleon. JJ’s wife’s picture is in the Key West Citizen today. Ann Jonas. She is Citizen of the Day. The brief article mentions that she and JJ will be celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary this week. Congratulations! I only met Ann once. JJ obviously many times. He always spoke of Ann as if he were deeply in love. Obviously he was and is.

Turtles in the news again. Sharks, also. Our friends and foes in the sea.

There was a recent newspaper article concerning the two. A world wide study was completed. Apparently man has been killing off too many sharks. Sharks kill turtles. With fewer sharks, the turtle population has over grown.

Turtles eat seagrass. Sharks do not. Little fish live and eat in and off the seagrass. In some areas such as Bermuda, the seagrass is down to nothing. The turtles responsible. Scientists are trying to figure out a way to diminish the turtle population.

It does not appear there is a similar problem in Key West. Our seagrass is in full bloom. Our ocean conservation people are interested in protecting both sharks and turtles. We even have a Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Since the study was world wide, does it have any validity as regards Key West and the rest of the Keys? I don’t know. Perhaps. I am sure some of our ocean people will be playing close attention to the situation over the next several years. In the meantime, there is no plan to kill a portion of the turtle population. I hope there never is.

Scotland votes soon re independence. The people will vote. They want to disconnect from the United Kingdom/England.

The southern states wanted to and did the same thing in the U.S. back in 1860-1. State legislatures voted to secede. Lincoln stood up to them. The Civil War occurred. You know the rest.

Re Scotland, the people are voting as opposed to their elected representatives. Does it make a difference? Will the Queen and Parliament stand by and permit the secession? It seems like everyone is waiting for the vote to take place before taking a public position on the issue.

My back problem has returned, though not as bad.

Because of my back, I have been late with certain of my writings. I did not do my KONK Life column which publishes tomorrow till Sunday. The article is titled Income Inequality.

My blog talk radio show is this evening. I did not get to preparation till yesterday. Spent all day working on tonight’s show. A significant portion will concern income inequality. The reason is there are so many interesting sidelights to the issue. Some pieces of information most of us might not have known.

Join me this evening. I guarantee you will enjoy the show. Nine my time. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.  www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

GERALDINE E. WEIGAND

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Life is strange. Relationships occur. Then end for no particular reason. A time comes when one would like to renew the relationship and it is too late. Death has interfered.

Geraldine E. Weigand was a high school classmate. Back then, she was known as Geraldine “Gerry” Houlihan. High school was 1949-1953. Utica Catholic Academy in Utica, NY.

Gerry was born with a physical defect. She was hunch backed. Very much so. Only on one side which made her look more strange. Her head was lowered and a bit to the side. She stood less than five feet. Considerably. Not a particularly attractive girl.

Always with a smile and a cheery hello, however.

I had no particular relationship with her. I would say hello and she would respond. We never conversed further.

She was generally ignored by her other classmates, except for two who became her close friends. They were not physically attractive either.

I never saw Gerry again. I did hear from her however some 6-8 years ago. Out of the blue, I received an e mail from her.  How she found me, I do not recall. I was living in Key West as a resident. She was now living near Buffalo. I suspect she came across the blog.

Her e mail was cheerful. I responded. An instantaneous relationship developed. It was as if we had been close friends forever. We continued e mailing for a couple of years. Sometimes once or twice a week. Sometimes not for two months. An occasional telephone call.

Gerry had written a book. She self published it. She mailed me a copy. A Thorn With Every Rose. Published in 1997. It was the story of her life from day one. Honest, bold and frank. She was aware she did not look like others. She was cognizant that people avoided her. Whatever, there was a smile in every word she wrote. The glass was always half full. An amazing individual!

She wanted a family. To be a mother, grandmother, etc. She found Adam. They married. Adam had children from a previous marriage. Gerry had her family! Even grandchildren as time went on.

Gerry’s book to me bore a brief note: Louis, I am happy we have connected again after almost half a century. Hope you enjoy my book – and let’s keep in touch…..Gerry Weigand 2/16/01.

I have a ton of books sitting around the house. I am from the old school. I still enjoy having the hard copy in my hand rather than reading a book on the tablet. Once a book is read however, it is of no use. I am a pack rat, however. I never get rid of anything. That is why there are piles of books everywhere.

Yesterday, I was looking for a book that someone gave me a couple of years ago and which I had never read. It was time. While looking for the book, I came across the book Gerry had sent me in 2001. Holding the book once again brought back memories of our relationship which developed some fifty years after first meeting.

I cannot recall why we stopped e mailing or telephoning. That is the way life is, I guess. We just stopped. Finding her book was a reminder to renew the relationship.

I went to the internet to search for her. Her email address and phone number were long gone. What I found made me sad. Very sad. I found her obituary posted by a West Seneca, NY undertaker. Gerry had died “…..after a long illness” April 24, 2009.

I shed a tear for this lovely brave woman. I felt bad that I had not continued communicating, though I would blame her also.

I plan on rereading Gerry’s book. This time will be different. I am a sentimental at heart. A tear or two will be shed.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

CHICKENS / IGUANAS, NO…..DUCKS, YES

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Chickens and iguanas abound in Key west. Ducks a bit rare. I ran into a family of ducks yesterday.

I was driving on Grinnell. All of a sudden, ducks appeared crossing the street. A mother duck and five ducklings. All in a straight line, mother leading. I beeped the horn. They ignored me. I stopped and beeped the horn again. Still no reaction. The mother led her brood across the street as if she had not a care in the world.

Chickens and iguanas on the other hand run like hell to get out of the way.

I have been cleaning house a bit. Came across a brand new easel. It was a gift some dozen years ago when I decided I would return to painting. Something I had done for two years in the early 1960’s. By the time the easel arrived, I had painted a few canvases and decided whatever talent I thought I had was non existent. The easel never got used.

Granddaughter Ally is 9. She is into painting. One of her recent birthday gifts was a very good set of paints and brushes. She recently did a small painting of the ocean and a boat which she gave me. I was impressed. Yesterday, Ally stopped over. I made her day. I gave her the easel.

Last week, I stopped at Ben Franklin and bought her a pallet. This week I plan to sit with her a bit and show her how to mix colors with white and explain why.

The pool is fixed and filled. Some pea soup. Pool groom came over and shocked it. Should be crystal clear in a day or two.

Spent most of the afternoon yesterday watching golf and college football.

Last night was dinner at Roostica with Keith and Jennifer. Two interesting young people. Hard workers. We had a good time. Roostica also gave me an opportunity to treat my back medicinally with several gins. I do not drink at home.

Daytime was spent with the heating pad as often as possible. Last night the gins. My back was ok when I hit the bed. I slept well. Woke with no back pain.

I have had a bad back for years. I have learned that back ache/spasms come on suddenly and leave just as suddenly. I hope the present episode is behind me.

If the problem returns, I will take the advice of the many who wrote and recommended ice. I am not yet ready to take the advice of those who said see a doctor. I can be hard headed.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A MIXTURE

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There is much I wish to share this morning. Ergo, the title A Mixture.

My back! No better. In fact, worse. It started up again yesterday morning. I am taking pills. Gone to a heating pad. Last night, I said screw it! I had been in for several days. I decided to go out and have a few gins. I figured gin would take care of the pain.

After the first two at Don’s Place, the pain was gone. I had one or two more to make sure. Then to Tavern ‘n  Town for dinner. And a couple more medicinal gins. I know. Too much. Especially when driving.

Whatever, I was painless till two this morning. I woke with big time pain. Lower back around to the front. Down the side of my left leg to the knee. My hip was especially sore.

I was not going to drink in the middle of the night. Popped some Motron and got out the heating pad. The heating pad is almost instantaneous relief. However when the pad is turned off, the pain returns equally as fast.

I continue to hurt this morning. I have the heating pad propped between my lower back and the chair. Great! However, I can only take so much. I am beginning to cook my back end!

Don’s Place was not my first stop. It was Bottle Cap. ML is running for Fantasy Feat Queen. I support her. I had not attended one of her fund raising events yet. I decided to do so last night. At Bottle Cap.

There was a fund raiser. Not for ML, however. The Shriners were having a party. I knew no one. Smiled, said hello, and left without even having a drink.

Then to Don’s Place. Two fast pain relievers as previously indicated. Sat with Joanie, Jimmy and John. Stayed quite a while enjoying their company. Michael was bartending.

Football season has arrived. Much of the bar talk concerned football. With a little bocce thrown in. John had picked 12 out of 14 college winners last week. He asked my thoughts for this week. I told him with a 12 out of 14 record, you need no help from me!

Don fixed the air conditioning in the bar. What a relief! Thank you, Donald!

Tavern ‘n Town was quiet. Very few people. I was glad. Last month it was packed every time I went. I sat a the bar, spread out the newspapers and had some more pain killing medicine.

Mike Emerson was entertaining. Great music! I was humming to myself as he was playing. Manager Judy there. She did double duty last night. Played bartender and then returned to the floor as manager. She changes her clothes in between.

I never went out on the back deck this week. I should have. When I stepped outside yesterday, the pool was only about one third full. A leak! The man who fixes pool leaks came. He has been doing it for thirty years. He wears the black diving suit which also keeps him warm. Uses air tanks. The leak was in the deep end and he had to go underwater.

I am refilling the pool now. I am going to have a hell of a water bill this month!

There is a new U.S. Navy vessel in Key West for the weekend. It is the USS Winston S. Churchill. A guided missile destroyer. Over 200 sailors aboard. All will be on liberty in Key West. Enjoy, guys!

I read a front page article in the Key West Citizen this morning that disturbs me. Apparently birds nest in rooftops of commercial buildings in Key West. Probably all over the United States. Probably all over the world.

The law is that if a roof is under repair and a nest is discovered, construction must stop. Most of the birds are a protected species. A mid keys biologist wants Key West to adopt an ordinance requiring the contractor to check first before construction begins.

An example of over government. I was an environmental attorney. Protect water and air. I had no problem with that. However when it came to protecting some species of small animal, fish or vermin, I drew the line. As protection of this nature generally increases the cost of doing business dramatically, I was opposed. Everything in life should be a balance.

Back to Ferguson, Missouri for a moment. I listened to Attorney General Holder’s report to the nation this week. I was not impressed. His office  is examining the situation and the Ferguson police department in general for civil rights violations. There needs to be a federal investigation of the shooting itself. I do not trust the local authorities. On the other hand, I am not sure the federal government has jurisdiction to investigate the shooting as an isolated incident.

The US Post Office announced it is making price cuts. Significant ones. Hopefully to increase business. Fed Ex and UPS are upset. I use Fed Ex. However the price of doing business with them has risen to the point that it is burdensome. US postal authorities have come up with a good idea. A pleasure to see the price of a service/commodity go down instead of up.

I spent more time yesterday researching income inequality. Sounds boring. Not. I am excited and cannot wait to share with you what I have discovered in next week’s KONK Life column.

I said at the beginning this blog would be a mixture. It is. It is also longer than usual. For which I apologize.

Enjoy your day!

JOAN RIVERS…..AU REVOIR

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My yesterday was nothing. My back continued to control my life. I did get out briefly. One of my heart pill bottles was empty. Drove to Walgreen. Getting in and out of the car a very painful experience. Decided to have lunch in the area. A cheeseburger at 5 Guys.

The rest of the day was spent at home. Even skipped bocce. Later in the evening, my back seemed to be getting better. I think it is. Slept well. The pain now comes and goes. I have been up two hours this morning and no pain till ten minutes ago. Then it hit! I am breathless as I write.

Spoke with Keith this morning. We won the first game, lost the next two.

Joan Rivers is gone. Sad. I enjoyed her comedy. She and Don Rickles were and are two of my favorites. I never met Rivers. However as most people, I saw her live several times across the country.

One of those times was 20 years ago. I was spending a weekend at the Jersey shore home of my cousins John and Lois Ernst. Lois said Rivers was appearing at the New Jersey amphitheater on the Garden State Parkway. Lets go!

We had no tickets. It was 3 in the afternoon.

No problem.

Joan Rivers and my cousin Lois met in the mid 1950’s in New York City. When both were struggling kids just out of college. They were buddies with several other young ladies who were trying to make it also. They met daily at a place either in New York’s East Side or the Village.

Both made it. Cousin Lois became the biggest ad person in New York. For more than 30 years, her advertising agency was it.

Five hours later, I was sitting in the eighth row first seat on the middle aisle. I was impressed!

Rivers initially sought to become a serious actress. In the late 1950s, she appeared in a short run of the play Driftwood. Rivers played a lesbian who had a crush on another unknown. Barbara Streisand.

Key West has its own Joan Rivers. Randy Roberts! The best of the best! Drag Queen and impersonator. Randy has been doing Joan Rivers for more than 20 years. Tastefully. He is Joan! Randy continues to appear several nights a week upstairs at La Te Da. A show worth seeing.

As a final note, I want to talk about apples. The ones you buy in the supermarket. The big beautiful red ones.

A couple of months ago, I shared a little experiment I had performed. Six months earlier I purchased some apples at Publix. I took one and left it in the refrigerator fruit bin for six months. Then took it out, cut it up and ate it. It was as if the apple had been purchased that day. Firm. White inside. Tasty. Juicy. Still bright red. I said at the time it must be those super duper chemicals they shoot into the seeds. GMOs.

The apple struck a chord. Several people told me I was crazy. The apple would have grown soft and discolor, probably not be edible.

I read an article on the internet yesterday relative to apples. It said that in 50 supermarket chains in the U.S., the apples we buy are 14 months or older.

Enjoy your day!