THE MASTERS AT DON’S PLACE

I was in a thoughtful mood yesterday. My thoughts had to do with my life and Key West.

I discovered and started visiting Key West 26 years ago. Bought my home here 16 years ago. Retired to live full time in Key West 8 years ago.

My life has changed. There has been a total transformation over the years. I no longer dress. It is hard to remember the last time I wore a suit and tie. I do wear long pants (khakis or jeans) about six times a year when it is cold. I rarely know the date or what day of the week it is. I always wear shorts. Crocs, sandals or sneaks depending on the occasion.

Everyone else who has spent a number of years in Key West is as I am. A wonderful world!

I referred to Don’s Place yesterday as the adult playpen of the world. It is typical of Key West. Key Westers enjoy playing games. Just as when they were kids.

Yesterday was the 1st Annual Don’s Place Masters. Seventeen of us played before a huge crowd. The bar was packed! We putted on the bar floor into plastic cups. Not easy. Don’s floor is three different stages of concrete. The undulations were amazing. You could not see them. However, they were there. It was like putting on the closest cut greens ever. A light touch of the ball took you ten feet passed the cup!

The plastic cup holes had miniature flags on them. Hershel served as warden. He had signs saying Quiet Please. The whole scene was like for real.

We played 14 holes. The course was laid out with 7 holes. That is all there was room for. We played the layout twice. I had the highest score. Consistent with my life long lack of physical dexterity. I also attribute it to my age. I was the oldest person playing. Keith won. The spread between his score and mine was a city block!

I have been a Mad Men fan since the show’s inception some ten years ago. Last night was the first show of the new season. I was disappointed. As I was with last season’s shows. The story line has become boring.

However, credit must be given to the accuracy time wise of the presentation. It was around 1970. The accountants were taking over businesses, penny pinchers who knew nothing about a particular business running them. The sex. Wow! Women’s  clothes and hair perfect for the time.

The show brought me back.

Do we understand? What has been going on in Europe can easily cross the Atlantic and happen here. I refer specifically to protests and demonstrations and neo-Nazism. A body of water is no protection from what has been and is occurring in Greece, Italy, France and England.

We have experienced a touch of it in recent days.

There is Charles Bundy in Nevada. Apparently a man of principle. He opposed federal intervention re his cattle raising. Of itself, nothing to get excited about. What did concern  me was the 1,000 armed people who came from all over the United States to defend Bundy against the government. Militia men. Dressed in military camouflage uniforms. All carrying a weapon. All prepared to shot if the government took steps they deemed improper.

You wonder why gun rights have become so important in the United States. There are a sizable number in our society who do not trust government. They are anti-government as government exists today. They arm themselves in preparation for the day the government turns, from their perception, on them.

It almost happened in Nevada this past week. It did not because the government backed off. Whether correct, I have no judgment.

Then there is the neo-Nazi movement. Thus far primarily visible in Europe. Yesterday, in the United States. A group of neo-Nazis killed three Jews at two different Jewish Centers in Kansas City.

Does Kansas City represent the beginning of overt anti-Semetism in this country? Perhaps.

None of this is healthy. I sometimes feel as a nation we are teetering on the edge of a cliff. We must pull back. I am not certain it is possible.

Enjoy your day!

MTV HOUSE A BEAUTY

 

A glorious Key West morning!

I decided to walk early this morning.  I walked the neighborhood. My neighborhood. Key Haven.

I can see any time of the day the MTV house across the water from me. Beautiful! My neighbor Andrew recently had it painted. A bright yellow with purple and green pastel trim. A beauty! Especially in the morning when the rising sun shines upon it.

Andrew is rarely in Key West to enjoy it. He has a live on the property caretaker who watches things. Andrew spends most of his time in Sweden, with occasional side trips to Thailand and Key West.

Andrew’s youngest son is 2 year old Kai. He refers to me as Kai’s grandfather. Sometimes godfather. Andrew is Italian.

It has suddenly become summer in Key West. Low 80s by day. Humidity now during the day. In a couple of weeks, the evening also. Air conditioning will be required.

I noticed the last two days that the heat has become so heavy you can see it sitting on the roadways in the distance.

Sequestration is being felt in Key West. Surprisingly, early.

Recall the Key West revolution against the U.S. back in 1982. As a result, the Conch Republic was born. Passports and all. Each year the Great Sea Battle is replayed to remind all of that memorable day. The Coast Guard has a cutter participate. The Navy a couple of jet planes. The Conch Republic 2-3 pirate ships and a World War I bi-plane. Interaction occurs.

The Coast Guard cutter sprays sea water on the pirate ships with hoses. The pirate ships return fire in the same fashion and also throw cabbages, tomatoes and eggs at the Coast Guard.  The bi-plane skirmishes with the jets. The bi-plane also bombs the Coast Guard cutter with rolls of toilet paper.

Not this year.

It was announced that due to sequestration, the Coast Guard cutter Sawfish would not be participating. The event is scheduled for April 26. The reason given was budget cuts because of sequestration.

The Conch Republic has not heard from the Navy yet. I hope they do not withhold the jets.

Dion’s is a famous small chain of gas stations and attached grocery marts in Florida. I believe 12. Two are located here. One on Truman Ave. in Key West and the other on Stock Island.

Dion’s is best known for its fried chicken. A weekly staple in many diets. Absolutely delicious! Deep fried in oil, tender, and smells good! Great for the cholesterol.

Dion’s founder died recently. He was 91. He started Dion’s back in 1948. Called it Dion’s Oil Company. Dion will be forever known as the creator of Dion’s fried chicken! The popularity of his chicken will never diminish.

The morning news advises England’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died. The first woman Prime Minister of Great Britain. Hers was a distinguished career in the 1980s. She and President Reagan were best pals. Thatcher is being compared this morning to Winston Churchill. I am not sure. Good, but perhaps not that good.

May she rest in peace.

Spent a lot of time at Lisa’s yesterday. It was Jake time. Before I arrived, the family had taken Jake to the beach for the first time. Fort Zach beach.

He was good. I am surprised. Did not get excited or chase after any one. No barking.

Jake went in the water. Corey said Jake was able to swim. Jake however did not appear to enjoy the water and beach that much. He will have to. Lisa’s family is a beach family. Every week. One of the benefits of living in Key West.

Jake and I were playing. I suddenly lunged at him. Never again. He was up and barking at me big time. It took a while to calm him down.

Mad Men returned last night. Two hours. I really enjoy the show. Probably because the show is set in the 1960s. I was a young lawyer back then. The clothes, both male and female, the hair of both, words used, the smoking and drinking, were all very familiar. That’s the way it was!

Tomorrow is tuesday. Tuesday is Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. My blog talk radio show. Nine in the evening. Join me for a quick half hour chat concerning current world problems. Topics tomorrow night will include banks again and how they have title to our money once it is deposited, how brand name and generic drug companies work together to screw the American public, and a bit about the Egyptian Muslims attacking Christians. A little Final Four talk, also. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!