Happy New Year friends! May joy, happiness and good health accompany you during 2024.

I missed midnight. Fell asleep at 9:30. Thought I would wake at midnight. Did not. Missed the ball dropping on Times Square. It was 1:30 when I woke. Wished myself a Happy New Year and went back to sleep till 6 am.

It is now 6:30 and I am working on the first blog of the New Year. Hope the weather at the moment is not reflective of the year. It is COLD! Terrible COLD! Fifty seven degrees. Lower than had been projected. The high today will only be 68. I am not yet equipped in my new abode for cold weather. Finally received the new heating system. Need a new electrical outlet to use it. Hopefully in the next few days.

Today is celebrated from a popular perspective as the day Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, thereby freeing the slaves. Not accurate.

On September 22, 1862, Lincoln had signed what historians describe as a “preliminary proclamation.” He freed those enslaved in Confederate states. The wording intentionally vague so that it would include portions/areas of Confederate states occupied by the Union after the signing of the preliminary proclamation.

The preliminary proclamation was “affirmed” by Lincoln on January 1, 1863. As a result, January 1 historically became the day Lincoln freed the slaves.

One year later in 1864 on this “special day,” the “freed men” of Key West marked the Emancipation with a celebration at the Key West Baptist Church.

A successful to be musical group was difficult to identify early on. Not everyone recognizes “talent” when it slaps them in the face.

On this day in 1962, an unknown group called the Beatles traveled to London for a recording contract audition with a major record label. They were rejected.

Today’s podcast is seven years old. I titled it For Shame…..Donald Trump. Nothing special about it. It refers to Trump’s early off base remarks as President.

I have more than 1,000 saved podcasts. I rummage through them and pick some out for particular reasons. Others because I like the color of the shirt I am wearing or how I looked on that particular day.

The actual reason I selected today’s podcast is my appearance. I look terrible! Seven years ago I was 50 pounds heavier than I am today. Thank God I lost the 50 pounds! I was fat as you will easily be able to observe! I still have the tee shirt. A few holes and worn spots. Still wear it on occasion. It’s baggy and loose. Love the feeling!

We have all heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I always thought it was the only one. Recently, I discovered there are at least 10 leaning towers in Italy. Architects back then were not able to build a tall tower that failed to eventually lean. Nevertheless, they continued building them.

Recall about a month ago, I wrote of the leaning tower of Bologna. Bologna – Pisa confused me. I have since done some digging: Two in Pisa, three in Venice. Others in Bologna, Carole, Burano, and Rome.

Amazing how I continue to learn as I age. What is more amazing is that I have never seen one of the leaning towers though I have spent significant time in Italy. One whole month in the Rome area and neither saw nor knew there was a leaning tower in Rome. Even more time spent in Milan and northern Italy without discovering the existence of more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Would love to return and visit all 10 during one trip.

Key West was buried with visitors over the holidays. Long lines obvious the past few days outside restaurants for breakfast and waiting for dinner accommodations in the evening. It ends after today. January will be slow. Business will increase at hair and nail salons, however. I hear it every year from my friends who own the shops. Key West restaurant workers will have made a ton of money and will have the time and where with all to get their hair and nails done.

One thing I wish at the moment. That this cold weather leaves. I hate it! I want a return to warm weather. We never know how cold, if cold at all, it will be in January. Sometimes never cold. Generally when it does occur, it is only for 2-3 weeks. I’m not sure if we are in the cold phase now, whether it will last longer, etc.

Enjoy the new first day of the year!