The last couple of days have been interesting. Screw ups galore!

It began two days ago. I thought I needed a new driver’s license. Mine had expired on my birthday July 6. I had Steve drive me to the place to renew. Near the original Publix. A one hour wait. Not comfortable. Chairs hard. Between the heart surgeries last year and the abdominal blood leak this year, I lost considerable weight. From around 260 pounds down to 161. Meant no ass flesh. I was now sitting on anal bone.

When my turn came, I walked to my spot, explained my recent 58 day stay in 4 hospitals, how my license had expired, etc. The attendant checked my license. She said…..Still good! Does not expire till 2028. I had improperly read my license. Thought it expired this year on my birthday.

All ok, except I had a very sore ass!

Today another screw up day of sorts. Needed Steve again. Still not driving. Needed a haircut. At least 4 months since the last one. He drove me to Blown Away and Lori. Using a walker to get around.

Lori did a magnificent job! Took 4 months of wild hair and basically shaved it all off. Unfortunately, Lori does not do beards. This I knew. My next stop was Steve driving me to CVS on Stock Island. I needed to buy a beard shaver. Thirty five dollars later, I had one. 

We then drove down the street to Roostica for lunch on me.

I enjoyed a tender piece of mozzarella buried in a green pesce sauce covered with thin slices of prosciutto. I also ordered a side dish of thick slices of toasted bread soaked in butter. Delicious! I wanted Steve to enjoy it also. He ordered spaghetti and meatballs. Since neither of us drink any longer, it was diet Pepsis for the two of us.

The meal was excellent! Our company good!

Called Corey when I got home. Wanted him to stop by to show me how to shave my beard. He came by about an hour later with Lisa. In between, I fell again. This time in my mall abode. My ass and wheeled desk chair did not meet. When I went to sit, I ended up on the floor banging my right temple, right elbow and right hip. It was my hip that concerned me.

Lisa chastised me of course for falling. Like I did it on purpose. Still sore this morning. No serious damage. I called nurse Nancy Brown and ran it by her. I will be in touch with Dr. Norris this morning.

I still have to shave. A four month beard. Going to trim. Want to wear a short beard for a while.

Sad news this morning. Hulk Hogan died at 71. An occasional Key West visitor. Good friend to Bobby Mongelli.

News indicates Trump an unwelcome traveler through Scotland at the moment. He is visiting his golf clubs. Scots do not like him. Soon most Americans will dislike him.

Uber is now going to permit female drivers. Ask and you will receive.

If you get a parking ticket in a foreign country, expect to pay it in the U.S. Italian tickets being honored here now.

Gaza a disgrace. Starvation rampant. Something has to be done. How would the Jews feel if the situation were reversed?

In Belgium, 90 year olds have forgotten bingo. They prefer dancing!

Columbia University has agreed to pay Trump a $200 million fine. Cowards! Universities should stand and fight! 

Egypt not the home of oldest mummies. It is Chile by 2,000 years!

Trump and Murdoch/Wall Street Journal in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit initiated by Trump. Doesn’t this guy ever give up?

Florida sucks when it comes to book censorship. It is the number one state in book censorship.

Will let you know tomorrow how today’s shaving works out.

Enjoy your day!

Trump takes care of his own. FEMA gets special attention in Texas. First served. Other States required to wait. Not fair, not right.

Trump wants to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump: First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.

John F. Kennedy earned the title. What has Melania done to deserve it?

Ulysses S. Grant died this day in 1885.

Paul Corcoran one lucky individual! He won 2 $1 million Powerball Lottery prizes at one time.

Key West on track to becoming quicker to get to. SPIRIT Airlines will begin running one way flights each way Fort Lauderdale / Key West in November. Cheap! $79 one way. Why drive 4-5 hours?

Speaker Mike Johnson plans to send House members home early to avoid giving Democrats the opportunity to raise Jeffrey Epstein issues. Delay and avoidance. However the exposure will come at some point. Then the Trump surprise! Will it even be a surprise by that time?

Scottie Scheffler continues to he the hottest golfer around. Won the British Open over the weekend.

Ellen De Genres says she moved to the U.K. Because of Donald Trump! She id not want to live under him any further.

The military occupied Los Angeles for 40 days. All they did was deal with one person.

Strange! Wrong! ICE lawyers are hiding their names in Immigration Court.

Even stranger! The FBI and Big Ag are treating animal rights activists as bioterrorists.

Enjoy your day!

This morning one of those days. 

I could not sleep. Awake since 2. Opted to do an early blog. Finished it at 6. Published it. Screwed up somehow. Did not publish. Disappeared. No matter what I tried, I could not find it.

Decided to skip today. However here it is 10 am and I have decided to redo the blog. You can tell I have nothing better to do.

We have been warned. Hurricane risks escalating. With the weather so hot, it may very well be the case that at some point hurricane season at its worst may be upon us.

I sense perhaps another Irma. Might give me a chance to do another Irma and Me.

My concern and that of many others is that a worse type of hurricane season confronts us. The problem involves insurance carriers. Too many natural disasters. They are running low on money. As a result homeowners and businesses are getting screwed. Insurance companies have been seeking every possible way to turn down claims. People are not being properly compensated. Lawsuits galore. People are rebuilding with their own bucks. Some settling way short. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I sense I may be writing another novel. Another Irma. However with a much different twist. I hope not. However’ it seems such may be the case.

Trump and the Wall Street Journal have been “friends” forever. Now a breach in the relationship. Trump has declared war on the Journal. Banned the Wall Street Journal from the pool on the Scotland trip.

All has to do with the Epstein story and its publication. Trump has sued the Journal also for defamation re its publication of the story.

It now appears we elected Trump for the second time so he might exercise his power to sue in a retaliatory fashion. What a waste!

Trump continues to reflect he has a common foe: The new media.

Trump may regret having taken on Harvard. A hearing took place before Federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs yesterday in Boston. The atmosphere and questioning of the hearing indicated Trump is going to take a beating. A lawyer for Harvard called Trump’s case against it “cooked up.” The Judge appeared to agree. Judge Burrough’s decision will be interesting. I support a gigantic slap in the face for Trump.

One of Donald’s problems is he get his nose in where it does not belong. Like renaming the Washington NFL team. Trump wants it to be called the “Commanders.” Owners, etc. are happy to remain with “Redskins.”

Has Trump nothing better to do?

Trump officials are being accused of defying one in three court decisions involving the President. Defamation being charged. Three claims being made: Trump’s people defuse, delay and are dishonest. A weakening of the U.S. legal system

Vanity Fair has an excellent article titled “The Godfather Presidency: “How Trump’s Government Style Mirrors the Mob of Yesteryear”.

Mike Johnson lacking in Speaker perfection. A loser at best. Doing well with a very thin margin.

He first said everything Epstein should be public: Put it on the table! Then voted “No” to revealing election information.

Epstein’s girls were young. Generally 16 or less. Airport staff failed to comment. One reason given was that Epstein “tipped well.”

U.S. public bathrooms leave much to be desired. We are ranked in the 30th percentile worldwide. Proud we should be!

Throne Labs is coming up with a new system which in effect will make U.S. johns reflect cleanliness is next to Godliness.

The “heat” is astronomical. I’m surprised more people are not getting sick.

A bit of Keys History.

In 1953, because of pressure from the U.S. Navy, Key West outlawed B-girls from certain local bars. The Navy feared for its young sailors.

In 1907, the Key West Post Office began delivering mail three times a day: Beginning at  7:30 am, 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

In 1943, the U.S. Navy Blimp K-74 was shot down by the German submarine U-134 about 50 miles southeast of Marathon. With the exception of one, the crew was recovered.

Enjoy your day!

Expect higher food prices in August. Thank you, Donald. Keep playing the tariff game and screwing the American public while doing so.

Certain items which will increase price wise include orange juice, virgin olive oil, avocados, imported beer, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes, corn, snap beans, cabbage and imported wine.

RFK Jr. ruining the government. He has his eyes aimed on running for President in 2028. God help us!

A quote that remains with us: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Trump says “left lunatics” won’t be satisfied with Epstein revelations.

Heat reached 110 degrees in Central Florida on Saturday.

Today a significant one in history…..7/20/1969. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Two hundred thousand miles from Earth…..”One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

My Father and I watched the event together.

Everything comes to an end. The U.S. Army is getting rid of its ceremonial horse units within the next year. Senior military leaders at five forts will have one year to transfer, adopt out or donate the horses under their commands.

Trump directing the blame for the Epstein crisis. He wants Pam Bondi to take blame for the crisis.

A 300 foot loggerhead sea turtle was found stuck in beach rocks at the Refuge Beach near Stuart, Florida. Took 4 men to remove the turtle so it faced the ocean and was able to return to it.

Sloppy Joe’s Hemingway Look-Alike Contest returns July 23-July 27.

Fred Klein working on the “Road Trip” from the movie Animal House. Should be interesting!

Key West freshman tennis star Andrei Lekene is in France playing in ten tennis tournaments. He wants to sharpen his game for the upcoming season.

Conservatives are conscience of their own tax cuts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is enabling Presidential Overreach wrongly so!

Trump continues to destroy the EPA from within.

Trump’s next EPA move: Making it harder to avoid getting cancer from Roundup.

I have not written for several days. Under the weather. Trying to kick back. Endurance the problem.

Enjoy your day!

It is taking forever to get better. First 58 days in 4 different hospitals. Now 3 weeks home. Everything has to do with my hemoglobin. I developed an abdominal blood leak which appears not to have corrected yet. Corrects itself, then leaks again.

In the last 5 weeks, my hemoglobin has fluctuated from the 60’s to 12.2. Up and down. Erratic.

I am thrilled with the 11.9. The key for men is 12.5. Two weeks ago I was 12.2. Hooray! The dropped to 10.6. A leak. Now up to 11.9.

Dr. Norris believes I was sick so long that it may take 3-6 months to fully recover. Whatever. I hope so. This up and down is not healthy. It leaves me generally tired. If in bed, I’m fine. Walk 20 feet and exhausted. No endurance.

As predicted yesterday, New Jersey and New York City battered by heavy rains and flash floods. Instant flooding caused by heavy rains swept the northeast yesterday. New Jersey declared a state of emergency. New York City subways flooded.

Planes, subways and vehicles affected. Climate change the cause. From Texas to New York City.

Pennsylvania affected also.

Andrew Cuomo running in New York City Mayor’s race as an independent. He could win!

Trump booed at FHA World Cup Final when U.S. National Anthem played.

Heavy rain South Florida this morning. Pouring now. Expected to do so for about 3 hours. Rain being described as a “drenching downpour.”

Ticks popping up everywhere. Why? Northeast U.S. the worst. Emergency rooms being kept busy.

Many federal workers confused. Fired, rehired, fired again.

Federal courts confusing the government. Supporting Trump when they should not be. Makes for inconsistency in government.

Taiwan is rapidly developing as a “problem child” for the rest of the world. Slowly manifesting itself as the next world problem.

Trump’s next tariff threat is an additional 100 percent tariff on Russia. On top of those already imposed.

The Iraq region is a sexual disgrace. Isis has become a global se market. Every 26 seconds, a child is sold globally.

A “good thing” in life is being celebrated. Krispy Kreme enjoys its 88th birthday July 18th. One dozen donuts only 88 cents!

Enjoy your day!

Monitor down yesterday. Ergo, no blog.

Trump threatening again. War against Russia and China. He’s nuts. Kisses away the lives of a number of your spouses, sons, daughters and grandchildren.

Trumps lies about Epstein causing him trouble among MAGA followers.

Death toll up to 129 in Texas. FEMA screwed up in Texas. Well done, Donald.

A wildfire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and closed the North Rim.

I cannot understand why so many are attacking universities and colleges.

Kennedy Center losing subsidies thereby adversely affecting the National Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. John Norris has returned from vacation. I’m glad!

Macron fears France’s freedom is being threatened. He has boosted France’s military spending.

The Waldorf Astoria is one of the nations grandest hotels. It closed for renovations in 2017. Now, 8 years later it returns.

Drones are keys to waging war today. The U.S. makes few.

Heavy rains head towards East coast. Bringing threat of flooding to New York City.

Trump diminishing U.S. national protections. Gutting weather science and reducing disaster responses.

Trump is permitting the sacrifice of the souls of universities and colleges.

Some believe the politicalized FBI has made America less safe.

Trump threatens to stop Rosie O’Donnell from criticizing him. Especially re Epstein. She now lives in Ireland. Trump wants to take her U.S. citizenship away.

Enjoy your day!

Trump claims he threatened Putin that if Putin went into Ukraine he was going to bomb the “shit” out of Putin. Not a way to handle things. Could get us into a major war.

A disaster! Should not be. Separation of Church and State a no no. Bad!

What happened. The IRS finally supported Trump’s long time promise to “free up the voices of faith.”

The IRS will now allow pastors to recommend candidates to their congregations without risking their tax exempt stats. According to the IRS, churches can be as partisan as they want.

The elderly have become irrelevant to their family of origin. The young no longer respect their elders as my generation did. I am 90 years old. We did everything and were everywhere for our elders.

My research suggests such is a common family dynamic today.

What goes around, comes around. I believe things work that work that way today, will exist tomorrow. Children who ignore their elders can expect to receive the same treatment from their young ones when their time comes.

Coca Cola is shutting down 5 U.S. factories. Mass layoffs confirmed.

ICE deceived men who were told they were being flown to Louisiana. Instead, their flight ended in Africa’s South Sudan.

Trump has sworn to destroy the EPA. He is doing so from within. He is also making it harder to sue for cancer from Roundup. Neither a good thing. The EPA is needed, has worked wonders. Is Trump out to destroy it because it goes after major corporations that kill, cause serious injuries, and destroy property values?

Superman debuted in 1941. First time on the screen in a Fleischer cartoon – faster than a bullet, stronger than a train, leaping tall buildings.

Vince Lombardi inspiring quote: “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it is whether you get up.”

A federal judge directed the Trump administration to halt arrests based on racial profiling and denying access to Congress, saying the tests are unconstitutional.

Trump and the country are opposed to each other when it comes to immigration. In a Gallup survey, 79 percent of Americans called immigration a “good thing” for the country. The finding comes as Trump pledges to carry out the largest deportation program in U.S. history.

Texas’ Kerr County did not use it most efficient flood warning system which would have diminished to a significant extent the deaths which occurred.

Ford recalls 850,000 vehicles over fuel-oil concerns.

Interesting. Massachusetts has been found to have the best health care system in the U.S and Louisiana the worst.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The Head Librarian for the Monroe County Library system is Corey Malcom. He also happens to be my son-in-law. A better one no person could have.

Corey periodically selects historical happenings to list. Significant past events. I have randomly selected a few to share with you. No order time wise. Whatever appeared interesting, I selected. Enjoy

Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell, famed bar operator and close friend to Ernest Hemingway died in Cuba at age 51 while visiting Hemingway.

On June 8, 1962, Square Dancers from all 50 states converged on Key West to begin 2 days of dancing. The event was called the “End of U.S. 1 Jamboree.”

There was a time when sharks were prevalent near Big Pine Key. On June 17, 1938, it was reported 100 sharks, averaging 7 feet each, were being caught daily by boats working for the Hydenoil Company.

“Not a particle of the shark is thrown away.”Hydenoil’s processing system focused on shark leather and liver oil.

In 1914, the Panama Hotel was located at the corner of Eaton and Elizabeth Streets. The hotel had running water in each room. Rates were $1.oo, 1.50 and $2.00.

In 1980, a study ordered by Gov. Bob Graham concluded that the policy of sheltering the population in a major area was “clearly insufficient” if a hurricane were to occur. The Keys were one. He recommended the Keys be completely evacuated. No way, Jose. Impossible!

World War II was partially waged in the Keys. German subs were off the coast. On June 12, 1942, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis sunk the German sub U-57 22 miles south of the Marquesa Keys by dropping 7 depth charges around it. Unfortunately, it was the only U-Boat sunk in South Florida waters during World War II.

In 1927, the new Overseas Highway from Key West to Big Pine was opened to traffic. An estimated 1,000 cars with 4,000 passengers mad the road trip.

In 1989, the Key West Citizen changed from an afternoon to a morning newspaper with its first morning edition.

The U.S. Navy in its early Key West years was always working at keeping the places visited by its men “pure.” Illicit sex was a no no. In May 1955 to “protect the efficiency, health and welfare of military personnel, the U.S. Navy declared 3 Key West businesses “off limits” for all enlisted men and officers. The 116 Club at 116 Fitzpatrick Street, a rooming house at 119 Duval Street, and the Tattoo at 713 1/2 Duval Street.

On May 22, 1956, Senator Estes Kefauver campaigned for the Presidency in Key West.

In 1964, “Escape From Hell Island,” a Key West made and locally backed movie, made its world premier at the San Carlos.

On the day the Seven Mile Bridge was dedicated 1,3000 runners took part in the first bridge run, The new span was later opened to vehicular traffic.

In 1861, Key West Mayor John P. Baldwin was removed rom office when Florida officials were removed because of secession.

In 1993, the Monroe County Library in Key Westheld a grand reopening after a major renovation and addition.

On May 3, 1915, the Key West Woman’s Club was formed.

Moving on to today’s news.

Conservatives are asking Trump for another big tax cut. Pigs!!!

How Trump has changed things. Now China, not the U.S., is Brazil’s leading trade partner. China grows in influence as the U.S. diminishes, especially in the Americas.

Trump is crazy. He has announced a 35 percent tariff on imports from Canada. He unquestionably knows how to turn friends into enemies.

Trump continues to want to downsize government. The State Department is next. Layoffs will shortly begin via emails.

Rubio says “odds are high” for a Trump-Xi meeting this year.

Enjoy your day!

Trump has finally realized he has been manipulated for years by Putin. For a purportedly smart guy, it took him a long time.

It took Trump 10 years to realize Putin has been playing him for an ass.

Guy de Boer telephoned yesterday from a lake in Michigan. Wanted to wish me well health wise. He is in Michigan waiting to race on a Michigan lake Saturday.

Trump’s new tariffs crazy. Merely a recap of those he announced 90 days ago that generally failed. These new ones will also.

Trump keeps pushing tariffs. Continues to make enemies for the U.S. Yesterday’s friends no more. One of these days, Trump is going to tariff the U.S. into a war.

The cost of a gallon of gasoline in 1959 was $.29. Nothing changes, however. $.29 a gallon in 1959 is equivalent to $3.52 a gallon today.

Gaga’s kids. Sad. Without safe access to food, water and medical care, survival has been a daily gamble for the region’s youngest residents.

Fig lovers beware! Dried figs contain wasp mummies. Ergo you are consuming the wasp aspect of the fig also.

Other foods that are not what most people think: The most surprising the banana. The banana is a berry. 

Some foods are unreasonably expensive. Grouper a tasty fish. Expensive, however. Thirty dollars is not considered too much for a local grouper sandwich.

A Donald Trump quote: “People love me. And you know what, I have been very successful. Everyone loves me.”

Who is he kidding? Only himself.

Would you believe? Canadians now say the U.S. is the biggest threat to their country. Before Trump took office again, Canadians viewed China their biggest threat.

A perfect example of how to make one’s “best friend” a worst friend.” Only Trump could do it.

Fewer Canadian are searching for homes in Florida. This past year, those seeking homes in Miami and Orlando dropped 30 percent. Fort Lauderdale a 21 percent drop. Thank you Donald Trump. You showed how to alienate old friends.

Best paying jobs for those 5 years out of college: engineering computer science and health industries.

Still places in the U.S. where people can live on $1,500 per month: Casper, Wyoming, Davenport, Louisiana, Lawton, Oklahoma, Tallahassee, Florida, El Paso, Texas, and Lansing, Michigan.

Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on Brazil. Trump really know how to make friends!

Wrong to play politics when dealing with natural disasters. California wildfires and Texas floods examples, but treated differently. Trump slow to help Democratic California, but in a hurry to deal with Republican Texas floods.

I close with reference to the Monroe County Library System. Outstanding! The County has 5 branches. Each effectively and efficiently run. The County’s Head Librarian is my son in law Corey Malcom. Such not the reason the library system runs so well. Corey inherited a well run system and made it better.

Enjoy your day!

I sometimes find it hard to understand my Key West community. We are basically a tough standing community. Sort of a don’t tread on us. However occasions arise when Key West government acts stupidly.

It has done so recently with the ICE situation.

Key West government first voted not to be compelled to provide police cooperation to ICE investigators. Good for the City Commission. 

Then it opted to reverse its position. Pressure from on high too much?

At a mass City Hall meeting opposing cooperation with ICE, the City Commission reversed itself and voted 4-2 to cooperate with ICE.

Shame on the Commission.

The reversal came after State government threatened to kill much assistance rendered to Key West.

The Commission capitulated. Showing it lacks the balls to do the correct thing. People are unhappy.

All this occurring while the matter is before a State court for decision. The Commission could not wait for the court decision. Cowards!

The U.S. Supreme Court has screwed up again. It has allowed Trump to launch more layoffs and restructuring plans while litigation continues. Evidence the Supreme Court belongs to Trump. Trump continues to add Congress to its bailiwick. Trump’s power increases…..to the detriment of the Nation.

Trump is mad at Putin. Took a long time for Trump to realize Putin was playing him for the fool.

Texas Governor Abbott needs to be replaced. One hundred sixty one Texans remain missing. The flood death toll is expected to exceed 200.

Trump’s 90 day tariff deadline is today. The program has failed. Ergo Trump is coming out with a new program. Basically the same. Hopes he looks like a winner this time.

Florida rewards Trump with an ego booster. Renamed a strip of road near his Mar-a-Lago home after him: President Donald J. Trump Highway.

Wendy’s has quietly returned chicken tenders to its menu. With no word or announcement.

Mercedes Benz announced that in the second quarter its sales for personal cars and vans dropped. Blame has been placed on Trump’s tariff program. Mercedes’ North American deliveries fell 14 percent while China’s deliveries declined 19 percent.

I close with something that has been more of a problem than aid over the years. A travel problem. Travelers will soon no longer be required to take off their shoes during security screenings at U.S. airports. The mandate has been in effect almost 20 years. The non-removable rule begins Sunday.

Enjoy your day!