There is something unique about Key West. Everyone who craves to write ends up here at one time or another. Not just the Ernest Hemingways and Tennessee Williams. Even those who aspire though may be of little talent.

Like me. A Hemingway or Williams I am not. However I enjoy the experience of writing. It gives me pleasure. That is what it is all about.

Met a writer and his wife last night at the Chart Room. Charles and Sherry from Tampa. They visit Key West often.

Charles is in the final stages of his first book. Approximately 450 pages. Has had an editor help him. He believes in his work. He aspires to literary greatness. Seeks an agent. Hopes to have a major publisher.

I admire Charles and his enthusiasm. He may have a best seller. I wish him well.

Some write for success. I write for me. Nothing more satisfying than having a book published. Like the birth of a child.

The next step in the process is the book selling. Hopefully. My first The World Upside Down did not sell 100 copies. Irma and me did better. Sold 800 copies. A big difference!

I should break a thousand with the next one.

Charles’ book is venued in Key West. The title Climbing the Divide Line. He will be publishing under a fictitious name: Arthur Meadows. I do not know why.

Charles and Sherry nice people. I enjoyed my time with them, especially Charles. I hope his novel makes the New York Times Top Ten Seller List.

John bartending. Good to see him again.

The Chart Room filled up quickly. It seems to have become more popular than ever.

Captain Tony. Tony Tarracino. His bar lives on even years after his death. Captain Tony’s Saloon.

Captain Tony opened his world famous establishment on Greene Street in 1964. The previous owner had operated the establishment under the name the Oldest Bar.

Before World War II, during World War II, following World War II, the U.S. Navy frowned on certain bars in Key West. Those that allowed B-girls and prostitutes. The Oldest Bart had the problem. The Navy issued an order the bar was “off limits.” Morality and the medical bills for syphilis the motivating reasons.

When Captain Tony took over, the Navy lifted the prohibition and the new orders made Captain Tony’s Saloon an “on limits” establishment.

Syracuse won a double header yesterday. Beat Bucknell in football 40 something to 7. In the evening, Seattle 89-67 in basketball.

About time. I am happy for me and the guys playing. The season so far has not been the greatest in either sport.

One of the frequent commenters to this blog is Kokomo Man. We do not always agree. Nothing wrong with that.

I mentioned Hair yesterday. Pointed out a couple of songs that came out of the musical. One was Aquarius. “The dawning of the age of Aquarius…..”

I know nothing about the moon and the stars and how such things affect our lives. Kokomo apparently does. He wrote that the dawning of Aquarius was 3/22/1968. I could find nothing to say the date was accurate.

Kokomo further wrote that the Age of Aquarius will last 2,160 years. Much written in support of that number of years.

Which means we are still in the Age of Aquarius. Something I did not know.

The U.S. national debt hit $23 trillion this past week. The highest ever. Most economists believe the U.S. is moving towards “financial oblivion.”

The esteemed and highly respected Canadian columnist Michael Snyder published an article on the U.S. debt issue this past week. He believes the U.S. march into debt cannot be viewed as “normal” growth and should be “feared.” The U.S. is committing “financial suicide.”

He fears that if a major economic turndown hits the U.S., government intervention to bail certain companies out would be extremely limited.

Trump is spending money like no tomorrow. He controls the printing press. What he is doing is not healthy.

The one month deficit for October this year was $134.5 billion. Higher by 34 percent from October of last year.

Snyder describes the Trump/Republican spending as “negligence” and “mind blowing.” He further wrote, “The U.S. is in the final stages of the biggest debt bubble in history.” Not only in the U.S. World wide, also.

He sees a meltdown coming. A crash that will be bigger than the 2008 one.

Let me interject my feeling re the stock market. The highest ever. Trump sounding off about it. He should. It is the only thing he has going for himself.

Respected world wide banker Jamie Dimon says based on the stock market, the economy is terrific. No reason not to believe it will continue.

He bullshits us. Corporations and the rich have great balance sheets because of Trump’s tax cut. It is still reflecting to their benefit. The tax cut did nothing for the middle class or poor people.

The non-profit Financial Health Network recently came out with an interesting article re how tough it is for the American people. The article stated 70 percent of Americans are struggling financially.

Yet the market is the highest ever. Makes no difference the article stated. Seven out of 10 people are hurting paying bills or saving money. Financial stability lacking.

The article further went on to reflect 1.5 million middle class workers are spending more than they earn. Finally, 20 percent of women are stressed by money compared to 13 percent of men.

It was announced this past week that Trump had pardoned 3 military persons who had been convicted of war crimes.

Two questions arise in my mind.

Is Trump practicing for the pardons he is going to issue at some point to Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and if need be members of his family?

There are procedures to follow in making a Presidential pardon. Did Trump follow the procedures in each of the cases? I ask because he has issued pardons in the past without following the procedures.

On this day in 1973, Nixon appeared before a group of newspaper editors at a meeting in Disney World. He was questioned re the Watergate investigation which was still ongoing. His involvement.

Nixon responded, “…..people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.”

Sound familiar? Sort of the way Trump speaks today. The words may not be precisely the same. The thought is, however.

Which brings me to the issue of “truth.” Truth as it may apply/reflect re Trump.

Two truth quotes.

The first, “The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attach it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill.

The other, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Buddha.

Enjoy your Sunday!