Good time at lunch yesterday. Geiger Key with Laura Bateman and Mark Lazenby. Richmond, Virginia residents.

I met Laura last week when I was having dinner with Jean and Joe Thornton. I bought dinner for our group that evening. Laura insisted on reciprocating at some time. I told her to call me.

Yesterday was the day. She even picked me up and drove.

Laura had written and mentioned a friend Mark Lazenby would be joining us. Mark has a condo in Fort Lauderdale and was driving down to be with Laura for a few days. He would meet us on his drive to Key West.

Geiger Key’s atmosphere was its usual calm beautiful self. The company added to its special flavor.

The conversation covered many things. Family, post COVID effects, Greece, London, Beefeater gin, Richmond, Key West, etc.

I found two items especially interesting. Mark is suffering post COVID as I. Other than work, he remains home as he did when avoiding the COVID bug. He was finding it difficult now to get himself out.

Laura lived in Key West at one time. She finds today’s Key West expensive. Especially groceries. She has rented a house for several weeks. Went to Publix for groceries. The expensive nature of the groceries blew her out! Way more than Richmond.

I had mentioned to Laura when we had dinner last week how it was next to impossible to get Beefeater in Key West. I meant at a bar. She thought overall. So she had Mark pick up a bottle for me in Fort Lauderdale.

I came out a winner! Free lunch, a bottle of Beefeater and some very interesting company.

I heard an interesting comment today on Morning Joe re Olive Garden. I was able to locate it on the internet afterwards.

Home office Olive Garden has fired a manager of one of its Kansas restaurants. The dismissal turned on a message the manager had sent to all her employees. Concerned taking time off. Part of the message read as follows: “If you’re sick, you need to prove it to us. If your dog died, you need to bring him in and prove it to me. If it’s a ‘family emergency’ and you can’t say, too bad. Go work somewhere else.”

I came across an interesting article on the internet. Concerned tampons and the inquiring minds of some men.

Some tampons are labeled R and L. Women know why. Men do not. Aroused the male curiosity. Men were asking the question as to what was the difference between “right” and “left” tampons.

The answer. The correct one. The one all women know: The R stands for “Regular” indicating a normal, middle of the road period flow. While the L stands for “Light” which is used on days when the flow is – you guessed it – lighter than average.

Males of the world now know. Ain’t no right or left involved.

Krysten Sinema’s decision to leave the Democratic Party fell upon the Democrats like a black cloud. A Democratic operative said, “Her party switch is an electoral grenade, and she just pulled the pin.”

One of Key West’s most proud and popular buildings is the Custom House.

The contract for its construction was awarded this day in 1888. The building was completed in the later part of 1891. Total cost of construction $107,955.96.

Imagine the millions it would cost to erect today!

Many the great thought was put into words by Winston Churchill. So many. I came across one this morning which I share: “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Enjoy your day!

Robert Frost requires no special introduction. One of America’s outstanding poets.

As with other literary giants such as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, he discovered Key West. He made it his winter home for 19 years from 1941 to 1960.

His winter home still stands at 410 Caroline Street. It is attached to the rear of the Heritage House Museum which actually fronts at the address. The two structures together are referred to as the Heritage House Museum and Robert Frost Cottage.

From 1995 through 2010, the structures were operated as such. Unfortunately, they failed economically and closed its doors. Today the structures are a private residence.

Pictures of saturday night’s Boat Parade appear in today’s Key West News. They are best described as magnificent and flamboyant. Much better decorated than years ago when I was fortunate to do three of the Boat Parades actually on a boat.

Several years ago, a major move took place to remove Confederate statues and Confederate names from buildings. Blacks were primarily responsible. They felt anything Confederate bespoke of what their ancestors had suffered at the hands of the South.

I disagreed then and now. No question, blacks were terribly wronged. However, I have always felt Confederates and the horrible treatment of blacks were part of our history and should remain as they were whether by statue or name of a building. The treatment was part of American history. It should be represented by statues and names. Also taught in all its gory details in our schools.

The movement to remove succeeded. Many statues came tumbling down and buildings were renamed.

I make mention of the issue again because of an article I came across this morning. It involves Confederate General A.P. Hill and Richmond, Virginia. Richmond’s last Confederate statue was removed yesterday.

Hill’s statue was located in the center of a busy Richmond intersection. All other statues had been removed during the summer of 2020. However, Hill’s statue stood over his grave. The General was buried beneath it. Litigation by Hill’s family extended the time frame for removal.

Litigation is still ongoing. The family wants the General’s body to be buried beneath the statue in a public cemetery.

Which brings me to the issue and Key West.

Mallory Square is one of the most famous spots in Key West. Hundreds gather nightly to watch the setting sun and the carnival aspects that have become part of Mallory Square’s life.

Mallory Square is named after Stephen Mallory. Mallory a resident of Key West. He was a U.S. Senator representing Florida from 1851-1860. When the Civil War began, Florida seceded. Mallory resigned his Senate seat and became the Confederacy’s Secretary of the Navy. He remained such during the entire Civil War.

Near Mallory Squire there stands a gated community of busts. Those whose busts are located there are said to have represented the best of Key West. Mallory’s bust is one of those featured. As well as those of several others who openly supported the Confederacy.

At some point following the Civil War, Mallory’s son became a Congressman and then Senator representing Florida.

There was minimal talk about stripping Mallory’s name from the Square and removing the bust. Nothing ever came of it.

Then there is a lovely white Pavilion in Bayview Park. Its construction and planning paid for by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1924. The pavilion was built in honor of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Confederacy. A large stone in the Pavilion’s base spells out the dedication.

A couple of years ago, a move developed in Key West to rename the Pavilion. It succeeded. It is now known as “One Human Family.”

A hundred years ago, Key West was a power base for those who were anti-black. In 1921, the head of the Klu Klux Klan for Florida resided in Key West and the Klan’s state offices were here.

Key West is selective in how it handles the problem.

We live in anti-Semitic times. The whole U.S. experiencing the problem. Actually, the world.

Italy was partners with Germany during World War II. Mussolini and Hitler were close birds of a feather. Except when it came to Jews. The Italian people were not anti-Semitic and did not support Hitler’s anti-Jewish activities.

The fact that the Italian people were not cooperating in the  German extermination plan exasperated Joseph Goebbels who said: “The Italians are extremely lax in their treatment of Jews. They protect Italian Jews both in Tunisia and occupied France, and won’t permit their being drafted for work or compelled to wear the Star of David.”

Syracuse played Monmouth last night. Syracuse won 86-71.

It looked like Syracuse might not win in the first half. Monmouth is a non-entity. I think Class C. Its record coming into the game 1-9. Not distinguishing. Understand the reason why a small school like Monmouth plays a big school like Syracuse is money. Monmouth received $80,000 for playing Syracuse last night.

The score at half time had Syracuse up by 2 points 42-40. I was nervous. Monmouth was dropping 3s in from all over.

Things turned around in the second half. Monmouth stopped making 3s and Syracuse began playing basketball.

Enjoy your day!

It was 1974. Steve Thompson was relatively new to Key West.

The “beach” at the time was the Sands Beach. No longer exists as such. Today the location of the Reach Hotel. The beach for the Reach. Small. Still the finest beach in Key West.

Steve was swimming at the Sands. Stepped on a sea unrchin. Following is his experience together with treatment received at the DePoo Hospital.

My first hospital visit was the strangest yet. A green stucco building that looked more like a veterinarian’s office.

The DePoo Hospital was in the center of old town. Surrounded by houses on Southard Street. 

I showed up with Sea Urchin quills stuck in my feet. The emergency room doctor was taking a nap. He looked like a cranky old Cuban, short and fat. A cigar in the ashtray and a white coat on a hook. 

Nothing seemed like it was “by the book.” 

I’m not sure he spoke English, he didn’t say a word. He just looked at my foot and went right to work. I though he would take tweezers and pull them out. Instead, he started slapping my foot about.

At first, I thought maybe I should run. I found out later, that’s how it’s done. The quills have to break down internally. The slapping starts the process naturally.

I wasn’t surprised when they closed DePoo down. Now I miss the one hospital in old town.

There is a DePoo Hospital today on Kennedy. Attractive building. Never been there. Apparently they do things the Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island does not. Like drug addiction treatment.

The building that housed the DePoo Hospital that treated Steve still stands. Condominiums.

Syracuse/Georgetown played saturday. What a game! Syracuse won 83-64.

The game started slowly for Syracuse. Georgetown was quickly ahead 17-6. I was in pain! Then Syracuse came back. A basket at a time. Ultimately winning by 19 points.

The team played like Syracuse of old. Everything perfect. The zone effective, Syracuse controlling the backboards and making most of its free throws, etc.

Jesse Edwards is turning into a top center. Six foot eleven inches. Scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked 5 shots and was resonsible for 3 assists. He made 10 of his 14 shots.

Georgetown is coached by Patrick Ewing. Georgetown star center All American  in the 1980’s. When Georgetown was coached by John Thompson, Syracuse by Jim Boeheim. At saturday’s game, Boeheim still coaching and opposed by Ewing now Georgetown’s coach. An indication of how long Boeheim has been coaching.

It is dark every morning when I begin researching the day’s blog. The weather report was to the effect that a dense fog would cover most of south Florida this morning. I did not begin writing till night turned into day. Sat outside waiting for the sun to rise. It rose bright and shiny. No fog.

There are instances where it takes time for justice to triumph. One was announced yesterday. Thirty four years later.

On December 21, 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was on a flight to New York. It exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. All 259 passengers aboard and 11 persons on the ground were killed.

Thirty five of the passengers were Syracuse University students returning home after having participated in a travel abroad program.

The suspected bomb maker was intelligence agent Abu Agila Masud. It was announced yesterday he had been extradited from Libya to the United States and will stand trial in federal court in Washington, D.C.

I was disappointed when the Mueller investigation failed to impeach Trump. It seems that no one is successful at impeaching him. He is the teflon man.

I’m sick of it. Trump commits so many wrongs and is never held responsible. Prosecutors get jerked around and play Trump’s game instead of their own. No one seems to want to make the move for the ultimate kill: Indictment and conviction.

The January 6 Committee has impressed me. Till now. Here they are at the end of their service. They must shit or get off the pot. True, they lack the power to indict. However, they have the power to recommend to the Justice Department the names of those they believe should be indicted.

The Committee was supposed to reveal the names of those they were recommending yesterday. They did not. They moved the “reporting date” to December 21.

Will Trump “slide” again? I hope not.

If I had $150 billion, I could be the nut Elon Musk is revealing himself to be. A shame!

Over the weekend, Musk announced he was after Dr. Fauci. Thinks America’s hero a phony. Musk wrote, “My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci.”

Former CIA Director John Brennan came up with one of the best retorts to Musk’s words: “You have money, but no class.”

Part of a game that has taken several years to develop is coming to light. The very rich emboldened Trump. They hid behind his skirts, but contributed to the success he attained. The rich feel they have won. They can now come out from behind the trees. Reveal themselves. They no longer need Trump. They can do and say crazy things on their own. Musk beating up on Fauci one of those things.

Enjoy your day!

On this day in 1854 Alfred, Lord Tennyson published The Charge of the Light Brigade. One of the greatest historical poetic works of all time.

The Battle of Balaclava occurred during the Crimean War on October 25, 1854. The poem commemorates the courage of 600 British soldiers who charged a heavily defended position during the Battle. The British were outnumbered 11-1. Four hundred sixty nine of the 600 were killed.

Tennyson captures the bravery of the 600: “Half a league, half a league / Half a league onward, / All in the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred. / ‘Forward the Light Brigade! / Charge for the guns!’ he said. / Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred….. / Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die….. / Cannon to the right of them, / Cannon to the left of them / Volleyed and thundered; / Stormed at with shot and shell, / Boldly they rode and well, / Into the jaws of death, / Into the mouth of hell / Rode the six hundred.”

A late lunch yesterday at Harpoon Harry’s. Eggs benedict.

Busy today.

Grocery delivery this morning. Jaqueline. She has been my delivery person forever. Works hard for a 56 year old woman. Generally, 7 days a week.

Syracuse/Georgetown at 1. A meeting of former Big East rivals.

Many a recollection I have of their competition.

The Big East was formed in 1979. The Carrier Dome opened in 1981. I took a box. It marked the beginning of my affinity for Syracuse sports.

Jim Boeheim was Syracuse coach. John Thompson Georgetown’s. The two despised each other. For real. Competitive both on the court and off. Never spoke with each other unless required.

Thompson retired years ago and has since passed on. Boeheim still coaching and in his 47th year at Syracuse.

After Thompson retired, the two ran into each other at a conference. They began chatting, shared a drink and became close everlasting friends. Amazing! Neither really knew why they had disliked each other. They made up for it, however.

After the game, Sloan. We have work to do.

If I was physically in better shape, I would be at the Christmas Boat Parade tonight. Probably watching from somewhere around Schooner’s Wharf or the Pier House. Too many people, too much hustling and bustling and too much walking and standing to handle it unfortunately.

Any of you in Key West this evening, attend. You will love it, whether on a boat or just standing around on shore watching.

Bess Levin is one of my favorite writers. She calls them as she sees them. Interposes her observations with the vernacular.

Levin writes for Vanity Fair.

Her most recent article appeared on December 8: “Report: Trump Has Been Hibernating At Home For Almost A Month.”

No Louis thoughts to follow. I merely share certain of Levin’s own words for you to enjoy.

“After a less-than-rapturous response to his 2024 campaign announcement, the ex-President has ‘barely’ left the grounds at Mar-a-Lago.”

“When Donald Trump was preparing to announce his third run for office, he likely assumed the announcement would spark the beginning of a two-year period in which he would be feted the world over. Everywhere he went, people would spontaneously break into song and dance, thanking their ‘favorite President’ for stepping up to rescue the country. In towns and villages throughout the U.S., parades would be thrown daily in his honor, and not the kind featuring balloons depicting him as a giant, angry baby. No, these would be extremely flattering ones, giving him six pack abs and hair that doesn’t look like it could be blown away in the wind. He’d call into FOX News and they’d tell the audience, “We are in the presence of greatness!” The Republican Party would introduce legislation abolishing the Presidential primary, and just give him the nomination. And maybe they’d throw in an addendum that, after he won the general, they’d get rid of the entire electoral process.”

Levin closes with: “…..he seems to have an inkling of an idea that his candidacy has not been as well received as he’d hoped: The fact that he reportedly has barely left the house in nearly a month.”

Enjoy your day! Forget not the Boat Parade this evening!

Credit rating systems, banks, prospective creditors – are not necessarily the best measure of a person’s ability to pay. What follows is a perfect example of the statement. It represents an “only in America” happening.

Maxwell Frost received national recollection following the November midterm elections. Twenty five years old, he ran for Congress as a Democrat in Republican Florida and won. He will be sworn in January 3. As a Congressman, he will be paid $174,000 a year.

Frost obviously in need of a place to live in Washington. He applied for a rental. He told the rental agent he had “really bad” credit. The agent said no problem. Soon thereafter Frost was advised his application had been rejected because of “really bad” credit.

Frost claims his credit was bad because he could not work full time and run for Congress. He ran for Congress because he could not get a decent job. In the 1 1/2 years prior to the election, things got so bad he slept in his car for a month. He worked as much as he could while campaigning as a Uber driver.

The fact he would begin earning $174,000 immediately after the first of the year was immaterial.

Arrest Donald! Throw him in jail!

The man is a thief!

Forget classified documents, forget his tax cheating. The most recent news re his misappropriations involves one of the United States’ most precious documents: The original Declaration of Independence.

The document was found in a Trump storage rental in Queens, N.Y.

What was it doing there? What motivated Trump to take it? What was his game plan for it?

The Declaration of Independence belongs to the people of the United States. Absolutely no question about it.

The American people will find his theft of the Declaration of Independence more personally offensive than the classified documents.

I repeat, arrest the bastard!

Brittany Riner is breathing American air again. Her plane landed early this morning in San Antonio. She is scheduled for a quick medical examination. Then a return to her wife and friends.

Welcome home, Brittany!

Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema continues her wacky ways. She is no longer a Democrat. She announced she has reregistered as an Independent.

Whether she will caucus with the Democrats is unclear. I am sure by the end of this day she will be asked that question by reporters and we will know.

I did not like her when she and Joe Manchin danced together the past two years. I still do not like her. She is unreliable. Makes governing difficult.

The Senate held a roll call approval vote on a piece of Democratic legislation. An item Democrats and Republicans alike supported.

One Republican did not. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The legislation was called the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It provided basic protections like bathroom breaks, bottled water, and stools for pregnant workers.

Tillis is against the legislation. Claims it amounts to funded “abortion on demand.” Abortion not even mentioned in the bill. No one except Tillis conceived of a connection.

Asinine stupidity continues re the abortion issue. People like Tillis see a problem where none exists.

Christmas means Nutcracker Key West. This week today, tomorrow and Sunday at the Tennessee Williams Theater. If you have never enjoyed the show, see it!

The Nutcracker is world famous. I first watched it in Utica many years ago. I made a habit of taking each of my three daughters separately when they were young. Probably 8-10 years old. On a Sunday afternoon. It was dress up time. Date time. Following the show, we would go out for hot chocolate.

I continued the experience with my granddaughters.  Took Ally years ago to see Nutcracker Key West.

Those were the days.

Nutcracker Key West is unique. The animals, etc. in the original presentation are replaced by fish, chickens and conch shells. The Key West flavor an appropriate substitute.

A holiday classic not to be missed.

Two Big East rivals of yesteryear meet tomorrow. Syracuse and Georgetown. One pm.

Enjoy your day!

President Biden announced this morning Brittney Griner was released. She was exchanged for a notorious arms dealer.

At the moment, Britney is a free woman on a plane heading for San Antonio where she will meet with family and be medically examined.

No further details are available at the moment.

A separate issue involves Putin’s apparent concern for his own safety. A Russian plan is in the works labeled Noah’s Ark. It will kick in in the event Putin’s personal safety becomes at risk.

Allison Quinn wrote a revealing article in yesterday’s Daily Beast titled: Putin Is Preparing To Flee When Russia Implodes, Ex-Aide Says. The plan will activate when Putin’s continued position as head of the Russian government becomes a “sinking ship.”

Quinn wrote: “Putin has not ruled out he will lose the war, be stripped of power, and have to urgently evacuate somewhere.” The place has been selected. Venezuela. Selected because Putin will be protected from extradition if he relocates there.

Kanye West continues to be in the news re tax problems.

Yesterday, it was reported West owed $50 million to the IRS. Four of his bank accounts had been frozen by the IRS. Today’s news reveals California has a separate tax claim against a West entity for $600,000. The claim arising out of unpaid taxes from Yeezy Apparel, a fashion company run by West.

West a man of distinction: Trump’s friend, a Hitler fan, an anti-Semite, and an announced candidate for the Republican nomination to be the Party’s nominee for President in 2024.

A tax cheat, also. As is Trump. Birds of a feather.

No one can say Trump is a truthful person. Far from it. One of the best liars in history.

How many times has Trump assured all documents, classified or otherwise, had been listed/provided. Each time, he was wrong. Lied? More were discovered. And still more!

It was announced yesterday that 2 more “classified documents” had been found. This time in a West Palm Beach storage unit.

Are there more yet to be found?

No one knows for sure. Time will tell.

What concerns me the most is that at some point the Department of Justice investigation reveals some thing worse – like Trump shared or sold classified documents to a foreign power. Perhaps Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia or North Korea.

Political whores plentiful. Florida State Rep. Joe Harding (Rep.) for example.

Harding was a sponsor of Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill. He has been indicted by a federal grand jury. Not for sponsorship of the bill. Rather for money laundering and wire fraud. The charges involve his falsely claiming two inactive businesses of his had employees during the coronavirus pandemic. He made claim for coronavirus related loans in the amount of $150,000 for salaries paid to the employees he did not have.

Harding says he paid the $150,000 back to the federal government. Nevertheless, he was indicted.

The Key West News aka Key West Citizen failure to write an appropriate article re December 7 yesterday still sticks in my craw. Can’t understand it. Misplaced values. A failure by the newspaper in its responsibility to its readers.

Enjoy your day!

The Key West News (formerly Key West Citizen) should hang its head in shame.

Today is December 7. “A day that will live in infamy.”  On this day in 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

I had to search for mention of the occurrence in today’s newspaper. Should have been something about it on page 1. Nothing. The only mention was found on page 2. One line under Today in Keys History, two under Today in History. A total of 3 lines.

I was offended. I spoke by phone with the newspaper. I was told Pearl Harbor could be found under Today in History. I explained only amounted to 2 lines. I was told the paper had insufficient staff to write a major article re the event.

Disgraceful! Pearl Harbor is still with us 81 years later. Will be with us 181 years from now, as will be 9/11 for example.

December 7 is a page 1 story every year. Or, should be. Today’s page 1 articles included 43 Seeking City Manager Post, a Discussion of State Priorities, North Roosevelt Boulevard, and CFK Recruiting Students will be forgotten in 81 days. Even less.

The newspaper’s sense of values is lacking.

Key West has many veterans and active military residing here. They are obvious whenever an event is held at Bayview Park. Stick out. Proudly wearing their caps. Key West itself continues to honor its war dead with the monuments that stand and new ones that are always being erected.

I remember Pearl Harbor. I was 6 years old at the time. We lived in a 3 story 6 apartment tenement. My parents had a radio. We were the only family with a radio. Our apartment filled up rapidly as the news of the attack spread. Everyone wanted to hear what was happening. Women cried. The men discussed joining up.

With Warnock’s election, the U.S. Senate is set. Time to get down to business. Now and following the first of the year when the new House is sworn in.

House Republicans will disrupt. Their game plan. The Senate and Democrats in general must retaliate forcefully.

Democrats for some reason always play a subdued gentlemanly approach to things. Republicans the contrary. They go for the jugular. So too must the Democrats. Make them bleed! It is the only way Republicans will learn to legislate rather than screw things up.

The Trump Organization was found guilty yesterday in New York Supreme Court by a jury for all kinds of tax fraud schemes. Individual Trump family members not named as defendants in the criminal prosecution. Now is the time however to go after them. Donald and the kids. If you or I stole a loaf of bread, we’d do time in jail. The family steals millions, buy multimillion dollar residences in Florida  and spend no time in jail.

Does not make sense.

Donald does not like the Constitution. A few days later and he is trying to walk back his statement.

He has broken a multitude of laws over the years. Gets away with it!

Time to stop the bullshit! Indict him! He is under so many investigations, it will be impossible for him to avoid conviction for some if not all.

Trump is killing our country. Destroying it a step at a time. He must be stopped. Now! We have already waited too many tomorrows.

The January 6 Committee is going to make referrals to the Department of Justice. I assumed so all along. If they failed to do so, their findings would have the same impact as the Mueller decision.

The Committee should have discovered enough information to name elected officials and some of the nation’s very rich. They are the ones to be named. Don’t bother with the small “wrongdoers.” Those who failed to answer a subpoena.

I am especially interested in who attended the “command center” at the Willard Hotel on January 5.

There are those who want to take down the U.S. government. Far right terrorists. Our government sits on its ass and moves too slowly in seeking them out and prosecuting them.

What happened in Germany early this morning should be a lesson to us.

The German government suspected a coup plot. Thousands of German police carried out a series of raids all over Germany this morning arresting the participants. German police said those apprehended were far right extremists who were planning to overthrow the government and substitute another in its place.

Syracuse won a decisive victory last night. Beat Oakland 95-66.

Oakland a non-entity. Syracuse was expected to destroy the team. However Syracuse has already played 2 similar games this season against unworthy opponents and lost to them.

I was anxious to watch the game. Not because it supposedly was to be an easy Syracuse victory. Nothing is this season. I simply enjoy Syracuse sports.

The game was at 6. Turned it on. Watched the tip off. Immediately fell asleep. At 6 o’clock! I woke for the beginning of the second half. Watched about 2 minutes and fell asleep again. Woke sometime after 11 to learn of the Syracuse victory.

Fell asleep at 1 and woke 5 this morning. All in all, a good night’s sleep.

I need not tell you my sleep pattern is erratic in my old age.

Enjoy your day!

Small town America celebrates holidays the best. Key West and Chatham, Massachusetts two examples.

Key West does Christmas big time. Not just the store and house decorations. The parades.

This past week was the annual Christmas Parade. Like you would not believe. Every year the same. Huge and festive. Family oriented. Special for the kids.

I did one Christmas parade after another with Robert and Ally. From when they were pre schoolers through high school. In their early years, Robert and Ally would sit on the curb on Truman with tons of other kids waiting for the parade to begin. Each with a huge bag. Anxious to pick up the candy canes and other candy thrown from the floats.  Their “take” better than from Halloween trick or treating.

Santa Claus came at the end. One huge difference from a big city parade. Several Santa Claus’s, not one. To this day I wonder why Robert and Ally never questioned the more than one Santa Claus.

I did not do the Christmas parade this year nor in recent years. My body can’t handle it. Parking and then walking to Truman too much for me. Standing watching the parade impossible. The legs can’t handle it.

I have to be content with memories. Good enough, however!

Key West has another biggie. The Lighted Boat Parade. Sponsored annually by the Schooner Wharf Bar.

Dozens of boats. Decorated like Christmas trees and the outside of houses.

This year’s boat parade is saturday at 8.

I had the good fortune to actually do three. “Do” meaning on a boat. Many years ago. Each with Donna and Terri. A huge party boat each time. Booze, food, music for dancing, etc.

One negative to the three I did. It was freezing cold! Everyone on the boats dressed winter style. Still froze!

This year will not be that cold. The evenings have turned cool. However not that bad. A sweatshirt or jacket will handle the situation.

The last few years a bike ride has entered the picture. Such was held this past week also. Riders dressed for the occasion. Hundreds of riders.

Lets move to summer time.

I spent two weeks every summer on Cape Cod for years. Generally over the Fourth of July. Chatham was the town and the Chatham Bar Inn was where I stayed.

The absolute best Fourth of July Parade I have ever seen. Never failed to impress me. Unique. What made it so? It was 1776. Can’t explain it any other way.

For a small town, Key West gave birth to many athletes who went on to professional fame.

One was George Mira. Football star.

Mira born and raised in Key West. Graduated from Key West High School in 1960.

Played at the University of Miami where he achieved All American status. Followed by 13 years of professional football.

Following retirement, Mira opened George Mira’s Pizza Huddle. It was located across the street from the junior league football fields. The Huddle became a haven for post game celebrations.

Mira now 80. Still vital. Lives in the Coral Gables area where he owns the Nature Conch, a food concession at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens.

I have lived believing that if you hit me, I must hit you back and strike you harder so you will not think of hitting me again. Translate that into business. I practiced law with such in mind. It was necessary so a person would not consider screwing with me a second time.

It has bothered me that Ukraine has not hit Russia back. I assumed the U.S. and NATO made it a no no for the Ukraine to retaliate into Russian territory.

Apparently the limitation has been lifted. Ukraine attacked Russia on Russian soil twice last week. Both attacks well into Russian soil.

Both attacks via drones. The first two military bases on the same day. The military bases hundreds of miles inside Russia. The second an airfield. One of the attacks took down an energy grid on one of the coldest days in the year.

Civilians not attacked.

Civilians must be attacked as the Ukrainian people have been.

The Russian people must experience pain. Where they live, work. sleep and eat. The Russian people will not put up with it for long. They will be on Putin’s ass quickly to stop the assault against Ukraine.

Trump dined at Mar-a-Lago the tuesday before Thanksgiving with Kanye West and Nick Fuentes.

You are already aware of the backgrounds of the individuals. My concern at the moment is with Kanye West. An anti-Semite. Also an announced candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 2024.

It became public knowledge yesterday that West owes $50 million in back taxes and that the IRS has frozen four of his bank accounts.

Today’s Daily Beast ran an article about West’s Presidential campaign headquarters. Described it as a complete mess, a “shitshow.”

Trump knows how to pick prospective supporters. Just as good as the candidates he forced on the Republican Party for the 2022 midterms.

Syracuse/Oakland basketball tonight at 6.

I have no comment.

Enjoy your day!

Last tuesday was the scene of a bar room brawl in the U.S. Supreme Court. For an oral argument confrontation, bare knuckles best describes it between two Justices and one attorney.

On one side in a double team effort were Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. On the other standing alone against the two was Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar. The assailants were the two justices.

Prelogar asserted a legal oral argument challenging the power of federal courts in a certain regard. Roberts and Kavanaugh did not agree and came down on her hard. I would expect Kavanaugh to beat up on a woman. Roberts surprised me.

The case being argued was United States v. Texas. The altercation involved a minor side issue in the case. Roberts and Kavanaugh went bonkers, however.

The issue had major implications for the executive branch and its ability to function. Imagine a federal district court case in Idaho: Can a plaintiff walk into court, challenge a federal regulation, and win a victory that halts the entire government’s ability to enforce that regulation against anyone, anywhere in the U.S.? In matters and persons not involved in the lawsuit where the decision was being rendered.

The problem a 30 year one. Occasionally used over the years even by the Democrats. However conservative federal judges in recent years are using it everywhere possible which means all the time. It has become an obstacle to governance affecting the Biden administration. The conservative judiciary is using it as a “nationwide injunction.”

Prelogar suggested to the Supreme Court (in my words): Hey guys, not fair, not right, beyond the court’s power.

The roof caved in! The wrath of Roberts and Kavanaugh came down upon her. They sounded shocked and offended.  Furious that Prelogar would accuse them of misreading a statute.

The legal issue is of little concern to me. It is in the way Roberts and Kavanaugh handled it and Prelogar. They went too far – way too far- in how they treated Prrelogar. Respect is a two way street.

One of the arguments by Roberts and Kavanaugh was that issue at hand had been used by the courts for 30 years. The number of years apparently had meaning to them. My initial reaction was what about the right to abortion. The law for 50 years. Yet these very same Justices had no problem overturning it. Such HYPOCRACY!

Supreme Court Justices have it made. They are treated with the ultimate respect. Enjoy lifetime jobs. Everyone kisses their asses both on and off the Bench. Attorneys arguing before them generally receive similar respect, though the Justices on occasion have lost their tempers. However not to the extreme Roberts and Kavanaugh did with Prelogar,

Justices in the past 20 years have begun receiving perks. Perks because of who they are and what they can do for a party in a decision. Examples are the free trips to conferences, benefits derived via the Heritage Foundation, influence, etc. The attitudes of some of the Justices has changed. Alito’s being a prime example. The man has become a detriment to the Court’s reputation. Thomas and his wife Ginni no better.

The American people have always held the Supreme Court to a high level of respect. It is rapidly diminishing. To get respect, you must give respect. The Justices may be omnipotent. However, they should not show that omnipotence in how they handle things on and off the Court. Diminishing respect erodes respect for the Court. In due course, its decisions will not be regarded as they have been.

The Court is becoming Trump like. Think about it.

The position of Supreme Court Justice is a cushy one. If the Court’s attitude and actions continue as they are, the job will lose its prestige. Rules will be passed governing their conduct. Playing God will lose its luster. Many of the Justices will face disciplinary proceedings and some perhaps lose their jobs.

Enjoy your day!

Steve Thompson wrote about Cow Key Marina. I never heard of Cow Key Marina.  I’ve only been in Key West 30 years. Impossible to know everything.

So I did a little homework this week preparatory to writing today’s blog. Not easy. I found only one person other than Steve and Cindy who ever heard of the place.

We begin with Steve’s writing. Note it speaks of the 1970’s.

The Cow Key Marina was like nothing I had seen. It had chickens and a pump leaking gasoline. We always stopped there for fuel when on Phil’s boat.

If you saw the bar, you’d think it was a joke. The plywood floors looked like waves at sea. And low ceilings with no windows concerned me. It was so unusual, it’s where a movie was made.

It brought celebrities to town called, “92 In The Shade.” Peter Fonda, Warren Oats, Burgess Meredith, Guy di la Valdene, and Jim Harrison were on a roll. Partied with Margot Kidder and Elizabeth Ashley like there was no tomorrow.

It was Tom McGuane’s first movie and actually a flop. If they had filmed themselves at night while partying, it would have gone to the top.

So the Cow Key Marina remained the same for years.  Old Roy at the bar sold us one dollar beers.

It’s all fixed up now like every tourist store. We all miss Roy and we don’t go there anymore.

I began my quest this past week on the internet. Sure enough, a Cow Key Marina was to be found. Limited information, information nevertheless. Spoke with Steve how to find the place. Actually located on Stock Island.

Took a while. The Marina is located at the far end of Fifth Avenue. Address 5001.

Steve described a shitbox. What I found was beautiful.

A small clean active marina. Tiki hut sales shack. Showers and dressing rooms. And a restaurant.

Two guys working the quiet marina. The restaurant/bar closed.

It was obvious the restaurant/bar was not of yesteryear. Not the one described by Steve. This one was newly remodeled/rebuilt. Lovely deck. View magnificent.

Reminded me of a dressed up Hogfish or Geiger Key. Smaller, however. The thought occurred Hogfish and Geiger Key were smaller 30 years ago. Bobby Mongelli expanded each over the years. Especially by adding tables in every nook and cranny.

Parking sufficient. More than either Hogfish or Geiger Key. Then there is the road available to be utilized as with those two restaurants.

One of the tiki hut workers was 30ish. Chatted with me. Told me the restaurant would be open in a month. Other persons I talked to as part of my inquiry said they were told the same thing 6 months ago.

The fellow was not too bright. Never heard of Peter Fonda. Or his father Henry for that matter. Just kept repeating the place would be open in a month.

Steve told me his 1970 days found chickens and rabbits galore running around. None visible on my visit. He described the place as a dump. No more.

His experience began with the Chart Room. Everything begins with the Chart Room.

Shooting was over at 4 in the afternoon. Stars and crew ran to the Chart Room. Tom Cochran bartending. Steve and his friends quickly became friends with the likes of Perter Fonda, etc. Partied at the Chart Room and Cow Key Marina with them.

Steve telephoned yesterday morning to advise he had found the movie. 92 In The Shade had been released in 1975. I watched it.

Steve said the crummiest movie he has ever seen. I agree. Without a doubt, the absolute worst. Mentioned it to Jean Thornton last night. Turns out she watched it years ago. Totally agreed.

Watch it, however. An experience.

The bar in the film doesn’t look bad. I refer specifically to the bar and stools themselves. Nothing else.

The movie was a box office failure.

Someone described the movie as a “weird deadpan portrait of outsiders and oddballs living in Key West.” An apt description.

Roy the for real bartender at the Marina is actually in the movie. He plays himself.

A restauranteur I am not. However it appears to my inexperienced eye that the Cow Key Marina restaurant/bar is a gold mine waiting to be discovered. It needs Bobby Mongelli or someone like him to reopen the place.

Enjoyed a lovely meal and company Friday night.

The evening began as planned with Jean and Joe Thornton at the Chart Room. We were joined by Laura. A friend of Jean’s. Laura lived in Key West years ago. Rented a house for the month of December and is revisiting. A most interesting woman. A Virginian. A Washington lobbyist.

We dined at the outside deck at the Pier House. The cold wind beating on us. Stone crabs the main course. Outstanding!

I rarely get out these days. Enjoyed the evening and company tremendously.

Syracuse played Notre Dame in basketball at Notre Dame at noon yesterday. What a game! Syracuse was back! Its record a poor 3-4 going into the game. Notre Dame 6-1.

Syracuse won by a point 62-61.

It was that kind of a game. Close throughout. Could have gone either way. Glad it went Orange!

Joe Girard returned to form. He played very very poorly the past 3 games. Jesse Edwards was a center to be envied.

It’s Christmas time in the City! Key West brightly lite for the holiday. I am a Christmas softie at heart. Love it!

Enjoy your Sunday!