I started the day yesterday with a bicycle ride. First time in a long time.

I rode around my island. Key Haven.

We are into summer time here. Have been for a long time. It has impacted the foliage. Every thing is massively overgrown. Everything needs not just a hair cut, but a crew cut!

Lunch at the Yacht Club. Read for a while afterwards at Borders. Then home to do some paper work.

I stayed in last night. Unusual. I was in the mood to do nothing.

This morning golf! I am anxious! May I play well! Hope springs eternal!

Matteo Petrera died.

I have not seen nor heard from Matteo in over 50 years.

We were in college together. Manhattan College. I was a resident student and Matteo a day hop.That means I had the money to live on campus. Only because of a scholarship. Matteo lived in New york City proper and took the subway or bus, or both, to school each day from his home.

We went through 4 years together. He was my partner in biology lab.

We were not close. I never recall our going out together on the weekend. But we talked every day.

He perceived me as a farm kid from somewhere in upstateNew York. I saw him as this street smart kid from New York City.

Matteo was physically large. Not fat. Tight. Like a full back.

He knew about everything. He was the expert. Girls, studies, the world. Nothing was beyond his knowledge and comprehension.

He taught me much. I used to hang on his every word. He was sort of a hero to me.

I have not seen Matteo since our college graduation in 1957.

Yesterday, I received the Manhattan College Alumni News. It noted the death of Matteo Petrera.

I felt sad. I went to the computer and googled Matteo. His obituary came up. Turns out Matteo touched many in his lifetime.

He became a high school teacher for 30 years on Long Island where he eventually lived. Taught history and was a guidance counselor. Was married for 46 years. Had several children who gave him several grandchildren.

He apparently was well liked by his students, who affectionately referred to him as Mr. P.

I love his Italian background!

His family came from Bari in Italy. They settled in Harlem, where he was raised. Harlem is where he got the street smarts of which I was so much in awe.

Matteo, God bless you! Keep an eye out for me when I arrive where you are! Perhaps you can give me the lay of the land, oops Heaven, so I can better find my way around!

Michael Eptien is back in town! Ran into him at La Trattoria last night.

Michael has been gone for 8 months. In South Carolina with family. He has decided Key West is home and where he belongs. And so, he has returned!

I first met Mike when he was a waiter at Square One. A nice guy! The best!

Mike had a good life here in Key West. He was a leader in the gay community, active in his church and was even elected Queen once.

He became a good friend of Lisa’s. Attended her wedding and knew the grandkids. He asked about them at length last night.

I am glad he has returned and wish him well.

Have a good day!

A quiet Sunday! A good Sunday!

Lisa and family came over in late morning to swim. My grandlids are fish. Why not! Their father Corey dives for a living! They will dive at some point, also!

Later, I did my usual thing at the Pier House. Brunch and read the papers.

Then home to watch golf. Brian Gay played well for 4 days!

Lisa’s for dinner! Big last night! She baked a key lime pie! Terrific!

Home again for the basketball game. Congrats to LA. Well deserved.

Orlando will be back again. It seems to take time in professional sports to win the big one! You have to be there and get beaten. Then return and win. A team has to learn how to win!

Big day today. My plate is full!

Have fun!

I feel better. I think!

I ate yesterday. Poached eggs. No problem.

Last night I decided to get out. Opted for the movies. Have not been in a long time.

Decided on Tom Hanks’ new film Angels and Demons. Good! Action packed! Fast moving!

A bit insulting to the Catholic Church. But then, what isn’t these days! I thought it brought forth the human nature of the Church. The Church seeks to do God’s will, God’s way. However, it is humans who seek to carry out God’s perceived directions. Men are fallible, not infallible as God might be. So they err. And as a result the Catholic Church has occasionally screwed up big time over the years!

I know and understand that of which I speak. I am a product of a Catholic education. Grammar school, high school and college. I also had the unpleasant responsibility of counseling someone who claimed to have been improperly approached by a priest.

Putting all that aside, again I recommend the movie! Good viewing! Exciting!

Angels and Demons has already had its run at the local big multi theater. Key West has a second movie house. The Tropic Cinema.

The Tropic is a relatively small facility. Has 3 tiny movie rooms. It is located on the side of the La Concha Hotel. Steps off Duval in the heart of the party area.

The Tropic Cinmea was conceived by several local Key Westers. They wanted a small theater that would show the better movies. Not always necessarily the popular ones. There are many films that are not big money makers, but classics nevertheless.

A fund drive of major proportions ensued. It was successful!! Considerable money was raised!

One of the major contributors, if not the major one, was Jean Carper. She donated $200,000 in her mother Nancy’s name. The largest of the 3 movie rooms is named after Nancy Carper.

Jean and I are friends. I have known her since buying my home in Key West.

Jean makes a living by writing books. Books having to do with foods and which ones to eat for better health. She has had several best sellers and made a fortune! She also writes a weekly column which is in the Parade insert of many newspapers.

She has a brother who lives in Saquoit, NY, a suburb of Utica. A small world!

I bought one of Nancy’s books once. It was a home remedy thing. Certain foods to cure certain illnesses, aches and pains.

One day I had a hell of a head cold. Nose running all the time. Could not stop sneezing. So I looked up head cold in Jean’s book. It said eat a clove of garlic every 2 hours.

My wife kept garlic bulbs in the house for cooking. I took one, seperated a clove from it and placed the clove in my mouth. Ughhh!

Try chewing a large chunk of garlic!

Chew I did however and got the garlic clove down. Within minutes, my nose was dry and I stopped sneezing! For real!

I kept eating a clove of garlic every 2 hours through out the day and into the evening. When my wife returned, she immediately told me the place stunk of garlic! Yes, I admitted. It was me. I chopped down the cherry tree! I explained the Jean inspired remedy, how it had worked, etc. She was not impressed. The odor/smell was apparently overwhelming.

We slept in separate bedrooms that night!

After the movie finished, I had to relieve myself. So I sought out the men’s room of the Tropic Cinema.

As I was standing over the urinal doing my thing, I noticed a small plaque on the wall at eye level before me. It read: This station for your relief provided by Roger Westerlund.

There was another urinal next to me. It had a similar plaque. I was curious whose donation paid for that one. So my head and eyes turned right. There was a guy using the urinal. Our eyes met. He was not taking nicely to my looking over as he was pissing. I could see pervert in his eyes! My head snapped back immediately!

Roger is a transplanted doctor from I don’t know where living in Key West. He is married to the lovely and charming Mary Ann. They have lived here for years. Were already here when I bought my home in Key West some 10 years ago. They are very generous and giving to the community. As evidenced by Roger’s contribution paid for plaque over the urinal!

I have been having a problem with my printer for several months. Could not figure it out. Son in law Corey was over during the day and I mentioned it to him. He took a look at it.

The printer was not hooked into the computer! What an idiot I am!

The days here in Key West have been magnificent! Sun all day! Increasing humidity each day! We are into the hurricane season as of June 1. Hope the year is an easy one hurricane wise! We have through November 30 to worry. And worry we do!

Today is Sunday! Enjoy your Sunday! Lay back! Read the Sunday papers! Whatever! As long as you do what you want and it makes you feel good!

I was siting on the dock having a cup of coffee yesterday morning. All of a sudden, a shark slid by. About 7-8 feet long.

I appreciate that water magnifies things. However, this denzien of the deep in reality would have had to be at least 5 feet long.

I rarely swim in the ocean off my home. Have always had an uncomfortable feeling. There are those who do not, however. Like son in law Corey and my grandkids.

Corey is an archeologist. He dives for a living. All over the world!

He is always jumping off the dock and having 5 year old Robert and 4 year old Ally follow him. He loves the ocean! And because of him, my grandchildren do also!

Corey visited with me in the afternoon. I told him about the shark. He was very noncholant. His comment was to the effect that fish live in the ocean. Made me feel like an asshole!

We talked about sharks and his experiences. He says sharks are as much afraid of humans as humans are of them. He has been in their company many times. They went about their business as he went about his. His only concern would be something like a tiger shark.

I know Corey. He and the grandkids will continue going in the ocean off my dock!

Ally’s birthday was a couple of weeks ago. Ally has some unusual interests for a 4 year old.

She is big into bugs. Picks up ants and spiders. Then runs into the house to show them to you!

She is also into things that grow naturally. Gardens and the like. She recently took a field trip with Montessori class mates to some botanical gardens. Thought it was terrific!

So one of the gifts I got her for her birthday was a pot and some tomato seeds. With her father’s assistance, she put dirt in the pot and seeds in the dirt. She diligently waters the pot every day.

Yesterday morning she was all excited when I visited. She took me by the hand and hurried me outside. Tomato leaves were breaking through the dirt! A wow! Even I was impressed!

She explained how she waters it every day. But she said, not if it rains. She told me too much water was not good. Smart!

I am feeling lousy again! Stomach! The diverticulitis problem. I got that bloated feeling yesterday afternoon with probably a low grade temperature. I was sweating a bit and had chills.

So off to bed! With me, any excuse to go to bed is a good one!

I stayed in bed the rest of the day and evening. Feel better this morning. Wish this problem would go away! I continue to take antibiotics which is supposed to kill it! Before it kills me!

My one happy moment last night was a telephone call from my court reporter friend Marty.

Marty is visiting in upstate New York. Someplace outside of Auburn. About 60 miles from Utica, my original home town.

He and his wife are on an errand of love. His wife’s 85 year old aunt needs some care and attention. So they are up there getting her and her belongings to return to live with them here in Florida.

Last night was Marty’s last night in the area. They return to Florida today.

He was having dinner in a General something hotel on Owasco Lake.

He wanted to know if I ever heard of Owasco Lake. Of course! I did my 8th grade class trip there! That blew Marty back a bit. He thought he had me!

Then he went on to rant how he now knew why I always wanted to eat in good reataurants in Key West. He apparently was not happy with the General something hotel. He thought he was back in Revolutionary days somehow.

I told Marty that is the way it is in upstate New York. And yes, you are in an area that looks and feels like 1776 times. The American Revolution was fought there!

Lets hope that today is a better one for me than yesterday! I am getting sick of being sick!

My day to watch the grandkids yesterday! A good day!

I drove Robert and Ally up to Boondock’s for miniature golf and lunch.

I have not played miniature golf in over 50 years. It probably cost $.25 a round back then. Yesterday, it was $8 a head! Wow!

Well worth it, however! The course is beautiful. And Robert and Ally had a good time!

Robert and Ally had never played before. Robert at 5 was better coordinated. Ally at 4 had a bit of difficulty.

I would like to say I beat them at the game. However, after the first hole I realized I could not play, watch them, coordinate them, guide them and teach them at the same time! So my ball went in my pocket.

A good idea, any how! That way I would not have to come up with an excuse for losing to them!

Boondock’s even has water holes! On one of them, Ally’s ball went in the water. Or, so we thought! There was a way the ball could escape the water. The ball found that path. And Ally’s ball ended up near the hole rather than in the drink.

We first looked for the ball in the water. Then suddenly we discovered it was on the green and still in play. Ally jumped with joy and shouted, “Magic!” The innocence and spontaniety of youth!

It was hot! A boiling sun with no breeze.

After the game, we went upstairs for lunch. Boondock’s has a children’s menu. And thereon was the universal kids’ dish. Macaroni and cheese! And that is what Robert and Ally had.

Also, diet cokes. Two each! Little did I know that Lisa does not permit them to drink sodas. No wonder they enjoyed them so much!

Ice cream for desert!

Tired with full belleys, they both slept in their car seats on the ride home.

Last night I went to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. A piece of fish. Mahi mahi. And 2 gins! Finally!

I sat outside on the deck of the Hot Tin Roof for a while. Overlooks the water, boats, deck and people. Pleasant and interesting!

Then home to catch the second half of the Los Angeles/Orlando basketball game.

I did it again! The game went into overtime! I slept through the overtime! Some day I will stay awake to catch the last few exciting minutes of a game!

The world is a crazy place. Try not to let the walls of insanity that surround us touch you. My comments are motivated by the recent shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington.

I think I am going to read a bit today. I deserted the Harry Truman book for some others recently. Time to get back to Truman!

Enjoy your day!

I survived yesterday!

Golf was a pleasure. But pure devistation!

Because I was under the weather for a few days, I had not eaten. Ergo, I was naturally weak. Top it with an imposing sun! I was dead! I could not wait for the round to end!

Of course, I played lousy. At least this week, I had an excuse.

Played with Don, Larry and Yankee Jack. Lost $11.

I crawled home after the 18 holes were completed. Tired I was!

I had a light lunch and climbed into bed for a long nap. It was not to be. Lisa showed up with the grandkids to swim. Robert and Ally were in and out of my bedroom.

After they left, I decided to go out to dinner. I needed a good meal.

First, I had to shave. When a man’s sick, he shaves not. I looked like a bum!

Since it was Wednesday, I stopped first at Aqua to see Bobby Nesbitt. He was not there. He’s up in Rochester, NY visiting his mother.

Randy Thompson was filling in for Bobby. Thompson is a drag artist. Note that I said artist, rather than queen. He is a spectacular impersonator. Top of the line.

Thompson is absolutely beautiful! Looks like a woman, sings like a woman! He is a woman!

And his voice! Soft like a woman’s!

What a performer!

Then to La Trattoria for my long awaited meal.

The bar was empty. I was the only customer. There were few in the restaurant portion, also.

Kathy bartending.

Beecha showed up. She was not working. She came over and we had dinner together at the bar, with Kathy joining in our conversations.

Beecha raced last Sunday in the 12.5 mile swimming race around Key West. She came in 7th out of 74 overall and 4th in the women’s division. Pretty good! It took her 5 hours 45 minutes. The race ran about an hour slower this year because of the tides.

She never practices. Just does it.

After the race, she consumed a bottle of what she described as high protein beer and rushed home. Where she collapsed on the bed and slept for 5 hours!

There is another race around the island this Sunday. A different sponsor. She is racing again! I am impressed! She is crazy!

Beecha insisted I try the mussels. La Trattoria has a new mussel appetizer. So we shared one. Absolutely delicious! I am not crazy about mussels. However, they were my mother’s favorite food. In memory of Mom topped with Beecha’s cajoling, I dug in. Terrific!

I followed the mussels with a bowel of creamed something soup. That was it for dinner! As much as I wanted to eat, I was afraid to do so.

Also, I did not drink!

Golf by day and Randy Thompson and Beecha at night were enough for me! I hurried home to an early bed.

Today is a big one! I am baby sitting Robert and Ally again. However, this time Lisa is going to let me drive them around.

I have had to take minimal steps to acquire Lisa’s trust.

This is a big deal! I had told her that just hanging around the house all day sucked!

The game plan is to take a drive up to Boondock’s in Big Pine with them for minature golf and then lunch. The grandkids are excited! With the golf! This will be a first for them! And so will the day for me!

Have a happy day!

A quiet day in Paradise yesterday.

I was sick. The good life got to me.

As with all aging homo sapiens, the body breaks down. One of my problems is diverticulitis. The last time I had a problem was two years ago. I watch what I eat and avoid any reoccurences.

But last Friday I screwed up. I had a soup dish full of risotto. Oh, so good! Oh, so bad for the stomach!

I payed over the weekend and through yesterday. Had to see the doctor, do blood work, have a CAT scan. Problem diagnosed. Put on a couple of antibiotics and already feeling good.

Probably too good. I plan on playing golf this morning.

Hope I am around to visit with you tomorrow!

I was driving around yesterday listening to the radio. A talk show. It was reported that today is an anniversary date for Milton Berle’s first TV show. Sixty years, I think.

Milton Berle brings me way back. There may be some too young to have heard of him.

Berle hit the TV screen in 1948. I was 13 years old!

His show was on NBC. It was called the Texaco Star Theater.

Berle was an instantaneous TV success! The show ran 7 years. Nielsen ratings were as much as 80 per cent. Can you imagine if a show had such a Nielsen rating today!

Berle was the utimate comedian. He became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr. Television. A very big hit!

I read somewhere that the sale of TV sets doubled the first year Berle was on television. Over 2,000,000 sets were sold. That’s how big he was! That’s the impact he had on the American public!

I like to recall TV sets back in those days. TV was relatively new. My Father had one of the first TV sets. The screen was all of 3″ x 4″. Eye strain!

Recalling Milton Berle caused me to recall two other TV shows which also impacted the viewing public. Especially my generation!

The Mickey Mouse Club and Howdy Doody.

Mickey Mouse started in 1955. Howdy Doody earlier in 1947. Mickey Mouse I started watching in college. Howdy Doody as a grammar school student in 1947.

Both were cult shows. Followers galore!

I was in college in the mid 1950s. Mickey Mouse went on at 5 and Howdy Doody at 6. Each floor of the dorm had a wreck room. With a TV set. We all crowded into the wreck room at 5 for the 2 shows. Monday through Friday. And we sang along with the theme songs for both shows.

Mickey Mouse had the Mickey Mouse March. The music slowed at the end of the song with the verse “…it’s time to say goodbye.”

Howdy Doody had its own song also. “It’s Howdy Doody Time!”

Howdy Doody was a marionette or puppet. What ever way you might want to describe him. His counterpart was Buffalo Bob Smith. And who could forget Clarabedll the Clown!

Howdy Doody had 48 freckles. One for each of the States. There were only 48 States back then!

Picture again 30 or more young male college students in that wreck room every evening. Tomorrow’s leaders. Watching the Mickey Mouse Club and Howdy Doody! And joining along in the singing of the theme songs!

Only in America!

It gets a little warmer every day. That means a bit more humid each day. I am finding it difficult to handle. Strange.

Anyhow…..another great day in the making! Sun up, no breeze, water calm.

Lisa and the grandkids showed up at around 10 yesterday morning. The grandkids wanted to swim. I was still in bed. I stayed in bed.

All of a sudden, Ally came running into my bedroom. “There’s a frog in the pool!”

I think they expected me to be the big game hunter. No way! The bed was too comfortable. However, I did take the time to explain to her and Robert, who fiinally showed up, that the frog found his way in from the ocean and would find his way out. They could swim in the pool. Share the pool with the frog, I told them! We share the ocean with the frogs and fish.

It worked! They went back to the pool to swim. And I got to stay in bed!

Later on I lunched at the Pier House. I enjoy Sunday brunch there. I can sit by the beach and read the Sunday papers at leisure.

Then home to watch the golf tournament. Tiger came through! Great driving! His putting needs some work. He is still missing putts he rarely did before his surgery. However, yesterday he played well enough to win! And it was not easy! These young guys and some of the older pros are all hitting the ball so much better. The overall level of play has risen this past year.

Golf over, I headed for the Gardens. Sunday night is becoming a must at the Gardens!

Good music and good people! Good conversations! I enjoyed especially chatting with the charming Gail Miller and later with Gardens’ owner Kate Miano.

Kate just returned from a 2 week trip to Thailand. Had all kinds of interesting things to share. I continue to be amazed at her recovery from the back surgery she had several months ago. A big deal surgery! Much pain for quite a while following the surgery. However, Kate now is all mended and well. And able to do things like traveling. Good for her!

I was hungry. Opted for the Hot Tin Roof.

I was surprised how busy it was for a Sunday evening.

However, the bar was empty. I sat at the bar, dined alone and watched TV. A big TV night! The Tony awards and the basketball game! I had the remote control. Why not! I was the only one at the bar. I was going back and forth. Loved it!

I am beginning to think that the Hot Tin Roof is the friendliest restaurant in Key West!

All the town’s restaurants, big or small, are good. But there seems to be something special about Hot Tin Roof. The help goes out of their way to make sure you are enjoying yourself. This, on top of the great food and excellent pricing, makes the Hot Tin Roof a place for all to try.

Enjoy your day!