The Wall Street Journal announced tuesday, with other media picking up on it yesterday, that Comcast is planning on selling most of its cable TV network, including MSNBC. Streaming appears to be dramatically affecting cable TV.

It would therefore appear that Joe and Mika’s recent visit to Trump saturday at Mar-a-Lago was in contemplation of a proposed sale. Not to Trump. Will Joe and Mika still have jobs if and when a sale becomes fact? Will they still earn $8 million each per year as they presently are paid?

I can understand their Trump visit under the circumstances.

A bit of politics next.

The last person determining our medical needs should be Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A medical expert he is not. He also is not his father, uncle or grandfather. He tends to be on the whacky side.

Vaccinations are an example. He is opposed to them. I believe in vaccinations. Get all the recommended shots. One of the things that probably have helped me reach 89.

The measles vaccination was not available when I was young. I got the measles. We all did. Some suffered bad reactions. One was a male 3 yar old cousin in Stamford, Connecticut. He got the measles and ended up totally deaf.

Kennedy is opposed to the measles vaccination.

The Matt Gaetz inquiry is getting more dangerous for him with each passing day. It appears he may have had sex with a minor. Seventeen years old is considered a minor. Referred to as statutory rape. Consent by the female no defense.

Now it comes out he may have paid roughly $10,000 to two young ladies, one of them the 17 yar old, to have sex and engage in drugs at parties. Parties where he did whatever was going on.

Attorney General quality he is not.

An interesting observation. Bob Woodward says Trump gave “the finger to the American people” with his Cabinet picks.

A Kareem Abdul-Jabbar observation: “Trump picks a fellow alleged sex predator to bring justice to the U.S.”

Trump has selected Dr. Oz to oversee Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. He will oversee benefits to 160 million Americans. Beware, he will cut benefits. Trump wrote Oz will “get the best results for every dollar we spend.”

A touch of Key West.

The Rose Tattoo was a 1955 movie filmed in Key West. Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani. Magnani was awarded the Academy Award for Best Performance by a Woman for her role.

The film’s final scenes were filmed this day in 1954 at the Mardi Gras Club on Duval Street.

The Rose Tattoo had many “contacts” with Key West. The house where most of the filming was done is located on Duncan Street. Two or three doors from the home of Tennessee Williams. Williams originally write The Rose Tattoo as a three act play which was performed on Broadway. He wrote the movie script also. Burt Lancaster stayed in Williams’ home while making the movie. The Rose Tattoo and Williams home are 2 blocks from Lisa’s Duncan Street home.

The issue of bikinis on Key West beaches appeared in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice. I do not understand it.

The commentor wrote: “Will the new city commission repeal their misogynistic public dress code?” Reference was to bikinis on our beaches.

Forced me to do some research. I was unaware of the prohibition.

All I could come up with was that in 1990 the State of Florida adopted a law prohibiting bikinis. Except for a 30 mile stretch of beach, no one pays attention to it. Key West could care less.

This old man enjoys sitting on a beach chair and watching the thonged and bikinied ladies walk by. I am a bit of a pervert. A voyeur at heart.

I recall many years ago renting chairs for my wife and I to sun ourselves on Smathers Beach. As I was walking to a spot, we passed two bare assed women laying on towels. Total nudity! My eyes were glued on them as we approached, reached and then passed them. I kept my eyes on the ladies and not where I was going.

My head and a bent over palm tree came into contact. I ended up in the hospital. My wife thought it was funny. I did, too.

Syracuse plays Texas in basketball tonight in the Legends Classic at Barclays in Brooklyn. I planned on watching at Brady’s Irish Pub. Will not. Spent most of last night awake again with my back bothering me. Don’t think I could stand the sitting or standing at Brady’s.

I did neurophysiotherapy again yesterday morning. Left the table hurting more than when I first got on. Beginning to wonder.

Enjoy your day!

Two great TV evenings about Leonardo da Vinci provided by PBS. Last night the second. Titled: Leonardo Da Vinci, “Painter-God.”

I had always considered Leonardo merely a great painter. One of the greatest. He was so much more, however. His mind and talents were into everything: “Leonardo da Vinci designs fanciful flying machines, studies light and shadow, investigates gravity, dissects cadavers and paints the most famous portrait on earth.”

Loved throughout Italy. He was the most courted artist, a “hero” wherever he went.

The “new” I learned last night. Leonardo was born a bastard. His father a man of influence, his mother a chamber maid of sorts. Leonardo the result of a meretricious relationship. Basically ignored by his father who married four times and had a slew of children. Leonardo had to fight his half siblings in court for his share of his father’s estate following the man’s death. Leonardo won.

He did not paint as other artists did. Artists in his day painted portrait style. Still figures. Leonardo brought human body, animal and physical movements into his works. The Last Supper for example shows the 12 Apostles as they actually looked in the 3-4 seconds when Jesus told said one of them would deny him that evening. Each portraying separate and distinct emotions!

He was not an artist alone. He became an expert as to the internal portions of the human body and their workings. He cut up one cadaver after another for years. When he started, the world believed the liver controlled blood, its creation and movement. He said no way. It was the heart. He did one drawing/design after another showing vein, artery and muscle. He said the heart controlled blood flow, etc. He noted the congestion that developed in veins and arteries as one aged which caused death.

He understood flying. Conceptualized how man would one day fly. Understood how a bird’s wings and air caused the bird to fly. 

His favorite was mathematics. He was into heavy math big time. For months at a time, disregarding everything else.

Leonardo was more scientist than artist. The scientist him reflected itself in his paintings.

Another great painting was his Battle of Anghiari. A painting I was totally unaware of till last night. The bodies of the men and horses reflecting muscles and movement.

Sometimes a person has to read a book several times to appreciate the work. So it is with the two evenings of da Vinci provided by PBS. The TV presentation has also motivated me to read more of his life. I realize I know so little of him. There is more to da Vinci than The Last Supper.

Some Key West.

Tomorrow night at 6 pm the Monroe County Library will celebrate its 65th birthday. The event will take place in the Palm Garden of the Library Building at 700 Fleming Street. A concert and refreshments will be available. Attendance is free.

One of the hosts will be my son-in-law Corey Malcom who is the Monroe County Librarian.

The way things were in Key West in 1899. A white woman and a black man were convicted in criminal court for having married. The white woman was sentenced to 5 years in prison, the black man 1 year.

In this morning’s Citizens’ Voice: “I know of a drag queen who was verbally assaulted by drunk tourists and told “Trump’s coming for you.”

Another Voice item this morning: “A black resident told to go pick cotton, and a Cuban local born here told to go back where he belongs.”

Both comments made here in Key West. Are things changing?

Seems Key Tides are more frequent. Especially at some Flagler intersections.

Today is Joe Biden’s 82nd birthday. Happy birthday Mr. President!

Actress Bo Derek is 68 today. I remember her in the movie “10” which was made in 1979. She was a knockout! Hot! Everyone was talking about her following the movie’s release.

Remained in last night. Intended to join Steve and Cindy at The Grand. Turns out Don and Chris were there also probably expecting to run into me.

I skipped. My back hurting like hell. My special lumbar brace which was to arrive monday has not yet. This morning at 10 it is neurophysiotherapy again.

Enjoy your day!

An exceptional television experience last night. The PBS showing of Leonardo Da Vinci, “The Disciple of Experience.” Two hours of the best of the best.

It was not what I expected. I thought there would be more about The Last Supper. The questions I raised yesterday about Mary Magdalene, a child, the marriage of Mary and Jesus, etc. were not entertained. The very issues raised during the lectures I received first hand in my two visits to The Last Supper in Milan.

Nevertheless, the presentation was dynamic. Outstanding. I learned so much more about Da Vinci. His genius surprising. The intelligence he applied to his paintings and sculptures.

The show continues this evening with its final two hour presentation. I am anxious to view it. I could have seen the second two hours last night. However, it was 10 o’clock and my eyes were getting heavy.

Do yourself a favor and watch the second half this evening. Such an opportunity is rare.

“Four score and seven years ago…..” On this day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

St. Peter’s Basilica was consecrated this day in 1626 in Rome. 

It became the world’s largest Catholic Church. I can attest to the fact. Have been fortunate enough to have visited several times. So big, tiring to walk around. Tons of alters. Masses going on all day. When beat, I would go to one of the Masses and sit. Did at least a part of three Masses each day.

An interesting piece of information follows. I write about it for a particular reason which I will share at the end of the topic.

The Third Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has never been argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Let’s hope it never does.

It has seldom been used. Never directly. It is the least litigated Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Last involved in the federal appellate case Engblom v. Carey, 677 Fed.2d 737, in 1983 where national guardsmen were determined to be “soldiers” within the meaning of the Third Amendment.

What the Amendment is all about: The Third Amendment forbids the government from forcing citizens to house soldiers in their private homes without their consent during peace time.

I share the Third Amendment with you in view of Trump’s plan to immediately act on removing invalid immigrants from U.S. soil. He is talking 0ne million plus and using the military or national guard to assist. The number to be removed is massive. It will require a massive number of military to do the job. Where will they sleep? Not in the homes of non consenting U.S. citizens!

Syngman Rhee was President of South Korea from 1948-1960. His tenure included the Korean War. His grandson Thomas Rhee was my college roommate. He introduced me to Korean cooking, some of which I vehemently disliked.

Tom was exceptionally thin and generally sick with one thing or another. I told him it was so because of the food he ate.

He did not enjoy my Italian food. It was tit for tat.

It is claimed William Tell shot an apple off his son’s head. The story questionable. If true, it occurred this day in 1307.

Today in 1928 a big one for Mickey Mouse! Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” was released. It was the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon.

Key West has been without cancer services for a couple of years. A tragedy for those in need. I have several friends who have done without or traveled north for the basic attention required to keep them alive.

It has been announced that Baptist Health will open a new facility for cancer treatment in Key West. Terrific! One problem, however. It will not be till the summer of 2025.

Why so long a wait? The need is constant. It is a “now” one. Many will suffer needlessly, travel long distances for monthly care, or die without it.

It is great Baptist Health is opening a Key West facility for cancer treatment. The problem again is timing. Why can’t the Hospital do better?

Enjoy your day!

I started my morning with the neurophysiotherapy. What a session! Grueling, but good! Good in what I hope it will do for me. 

Then to Publix to pick up a few things. I was shocked! The price of something had dropped!

Bananas!

You may think no big deal. I eat one or two a day. So I buy weekly. The price has been a steady $.71 a pound for at least a year. Every week I wait for the price to go up as everything else has. This morning was a shock. The price of one pound of bananas had dropped 10 cents. Now $.61 a pound.

I bought a couple of extra bananas.

My intent this morning was to mention that the price of Campbell soups have shot up dramatically in one year. I drink a lot of soup. What was less then one dollar a can about a year ago, is now $2 plus. Comparing that increase to the banana decrease, the banana decrease should have dropped to $.35 a pound.

A special TV show this evening. Not to be missed. PBS is running a two hour show beginning at 8 pm titled “Leonardo da Vinci.”

God has been good to me in many respects. I have twice viewed da Vinci’s The Last Supper. In Milan at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Actually, the basement of what was originally a Catholic Church. High ceilings.

Da Vinci painted perhaps his greatest work on a stone wall. The painting process referred to as tempera. The painting is massive: 15 feet x 29 feet.

When The Last Supper is viewed, a lecture accompanies it. So interesting! There is a shade near the Apostle John. Is it Mary Magdalene? She appears to be holding what might be described in the shadow a child. Is it the child of Jesus and Mary? Were they married?

I do not know if these items will be covered on the PBS show. They were covered in the lectures. If so, You are in for a ride!

This is artists’ day.

One of the world’s greatest modern sculpturers died November 17, 1917 at the age of 77. Auguste Rodin.

His “great works” include “The Thinker,” “The Kiss,” and “The Gates of Hell.” I was fortunate to view each more than one time while on loan exhibit from a Paris museum to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

“The Thinker” and “The Kiss” moving. Each in its own sense exotic. The best from my perspective was “The Gates of Hell.” Tiny humans fighting to escape Hell. Pain and suffering distinct in every face. Emotional to view!

I remained in yesterday. Concerned about my back. Laid around doing nothing.

Today may be the same. I did my physio, shopping and some banking. A lot for me in a short period of time. Will probably remain in the rest of the day.

The Titanic continues to hold fascination. 

An auction was held this week re the gold pocket watch given to the ship captain who rescued 700 survivors from the Titanic. The watch sold at auction for nearly $2 million. The watch an 18 carat Tiffany one.

It was given by three survivors. One Mrs. John Jacob Astor. Two other wealthy woman joined her in making the gift. All three had been saved by Captain Robert Rostron of the passenger ship Carpathia which hurried to the sinking Titanic scene. It was dark and cold. The Titanic had already sunk. The 700 survivors were huddled in less than adequate clothes in life boats. They would have frozen to death had Captain Rostron not changed course and hurried to them.

Remember “Tom Dooley?” Great music with a great lyric.

In November 1958, the Kingston Trio’s “Tom Dooley” hit #1 on the Billboard pop chart. I recall their singing the song well. I was in my first year of law school at the time.

An example of insanity. Pure and simple.

The 918 people who died in a mass murder suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, this day in 1978. The group was led in their deaths by the cult group Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones. They drank the drink. They drank a poison laced punch. A third who perished were children.

Sick!

This one bothers me. I listen to Morning Joe every morning. I start with the 5 am portion which introduces them at 6. This morning Joe and Mika, with broad smiles, announced they had met friday with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. They kissed the ring!

Mika said it had been 7 years since they had talked. They both indicated it was time to “bury the hatchet” and “restart communications.”

Actually, they began the process of covering their asses. They have been anti-Trump for years. Trump has sworn to get media figures who were against him as part of his retribution program.

I can’t blame Joe and Mika wanting to protect their business interests. However, something rubs me wrong here.

Received an email from Fran Dixon yesterday. They were in St. Thomas. She said it had been raining and thundering all morning.

Steve and Cindy are back! Missed them!

Steve knocked on my door in the dark of the evening last night. We chatted a while. Great trip!

He said everything I had told him about Greece was true. From Athens to Santorini to Mykonos to other islands. People great! Food terrific! Everything cheap! Except for Mykonos. He was not particularly thrilled with Mykonos. Neither had I been on my 3 visits. A late night young peoples’ town. Everything gets going at 11 in the evening. I was always asleep by then as Steve was. The other thing was tourists were gouged. The only place I ever experienced it in Greece also. Everything higher than high.

Enjoy your day!

2024 has not been a good year for me physically.  However, what can a person expect at 89 years of age. First the heart attack which brought with it 5 1/2 weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami and three heart surgeries. Just as I was feeling better, my back started bothering me three months ago. Diagnosis revealed 3 slipped discs at lumbar 2-5 which were impinging on the nerve and massive arthritis in the area. Big time pain with the back problem.

I find it amusing. I experienced no pain with the heart attack. Merely passed out. The back has been the worst pain of my life. I am seeing a neurologist for it and undergoing neurophysiotherapy. Just began the special physio last week.

When I am sick as I have been this year, I care nothing but getting better. The blog falls by the wayside also. It takes me 6 hours a day to research and write the blog. Difficult to do if you are hurting big time.

I am back. Not sure if the blog will be daily. Probably several times a week. When I can comfortably do so.

I began the blog some 20 years ago. For me. For my pleasure. Not to entertain readers.

It amazes me how the blog has taken off over the years. My subscribers are in the thousands and are world wide.

I began the blog by talking strictly about Key West. I was out and about most evenings 20 years ago. Did everything, attended everything. Then came COVID. I need not tell you how everything changed. I decided to totally remain  home. A person my age was an excellent candidate to get the disease and die. The only time I left home for more than 2 years was to visit the doctor or go to the hospital.

No longer could I write about Key West. I was not experiencing the town. Needed to supplement the missing Key West stories. Decided on politics. Those smart asses who read and comment re my blog, be aware that the politics at a minimum quintupled my subscriber base. Amazing! So you who say go back to only writing about Key West, I cannot because I do not go out as I used to. Which leaves me politics to discuss.

My political followers are not always the nicest of people. Many are foul mouthed and vile. Prone to write nasty things about me. Never was of concern to me. As long as people read the blog, I was happy. Differences of opinion are a way of life if you write about politics. Must say it again however, some go too far. Most recently with my absence, some had me taking off to Venezuela because of Trump’s election. One had me escaping to Puerto Rico. One even hoped I died: ” Forget about how Lou’s doing, he brought this all on himself for not supporting Trump. I HOPE HE CROAKS.”

Need I say more?

I have not commented on the election results. The media is doing enough of it. The people. for various reasons, reelected Trump. Time will tell the wisdom of their choice. One to two years is all that is required. Perhaps less.

One thing that bothers me that I will mention is that 52 percent of white women voted for Trump. Blacks and Latino ladies went for Harris.

Why did the white ladies vote more for Trump than Harris? Abortion affects them, their daughters and granddaughters. I find the 52 percent number hard to understand.

Syracuse’s Don and Chris are back for the month of November. I have not seen them yet. My back has basically kept me in. Constant pan is a difficult thing to handle.

Steve and Cindy are to return today from their one month trip to Europe. I have missed them.

Buffalo’s Tom and Fran are on a Mediterranean cruise. They will return to Key West for Thanksgiving. 

Now for my yesterday.

A doubleheader involving Syracuse. Basketball and football.

I cannot get Syracuse games on TV. Brady’s Irish Pub has become my place of choice to watch Syracuse games. It is a sports bar. 

Syracuse was playing its third basketball game of the season at 1. Football at 3. A long afternoon was ahead of me.

The basketball game was against Youngstown. Brady’s could not get the game either. So I left and returned at 3 for the football game.

Syracuse beat Youngstown 104-95 in double overtime. Syracuse’s previous 2 wins were by one or two points. Both against lesser teams. Is the handwriting on the wall that the basketball team will suck this season?

I found watching games at Brady’s while seated at the bar next to impossible. The high stool somehow aggravated my beck.

I spoke with Chrystal about it. Said I wanted to sit at a table on a regular chair to see if it helped. She had the solution! In a back dining room, there is a TV set and tables and chairs. She set me up there. It worked! I enjoyed watching Syracuse beat California 33-25. Don’t let the score lead you to believe it was a close game. It was Syracuse all the way! A 21 point second quarter solidified the win for Syracuse.

Syracuse is now 7-3.

Next Saturday it is Connecticut at noon.

While watching the game, a fellow came over to say hello. He recalled me from Antonia’s where he had been a waiter. He was with his girl fried. A physiotherapist. She and I enjoyed an interesting conversation. She presently is working with disabled children. She has a PhD. in physiotherapy. 

A gentleman close to my age and his wife sat at the table next to me. He was 86. Last name Russo. We had an enjoyable conversation about from whence our people came, etc. I was one up on him. My mother was born in Italy in Foggia.

My friend Theos telephoned from Greece yesterday. He was afraid I had died.

What will I do today? I do not know. Maybe go out for lunch. Not certain yet.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Such is life!

A sweep.

Why?

Today, the moment of truth! Election Day!

As I stated yesterday, I see Kamala Harris winning. I add today that I do not believe the final result will be extremely close. Harris closed in a windstorm the past two weeks while Trump dug his grave deeper.

For months now, my blog has been heavily invested in the election. That time is over. Yes, I will speak of the final result, Harris appointments, etc. However, today I am not going to dwell on politics. The time over. The result is the only thing important. And that will take one or more days to determine.

I am going to share some nonpolitical items with you today. Hope you enjoy the political pause.

Amusingly, I began with a political figure. His story is fraught with humor.

Tucker Carlson.

He claims a “demon” attack while he was in bed left him bleeding. An amusing story if Carlson was not so influential. He’s one of Trump’s crazies.

On this day in 1941, the Combined Japanese Fleet received Top-Secret Order No. 1 that Pearl Harbor was to be bombed one month later on December 7.

Would you believe? New York City’s first motorized taxis were electric vehicles. Called Electrobats. The year 1897.

Longevity/distance a problem. They went out of use in 1907 replaced primarily by gasoline run vehicles. Electric operated taxis did not return to New York City streets till 2022.

A lock of George Washington’s hair will be auctioned at the end of the month. Starting bid is $15,000.

Catholics found it difficult to remain in the Church and pulpit even in 1605. Guy Fawkes was a Catholic. He led 13 Catholic conspirators who planned to blow up King James I and Parliament.

The plot was discovered, Fawkes and his group were arrested. Fawkes was tortured and then executed.

Today is celebrated as Guy Fawkes Day in England. His effigy traditionally burned on a bonfire accompanied by fireworks.

Illegal votes an “issue” under Trump. There was a “for real” illegal vote in 1872. Woman’s advocate Susan B. Anthony voted for Ulysses S. Grant. Two weeks later she was arrested, tried, found guilty of illegally voting and fined $100. She refused to pay the $100 and never did.

Forty eight years later in 1920, women voted for the first time. Eight million women exercised the right for the first time.

On this day in 1917, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisville, Kentucky, ordinance requiring blacks and whites to live in separate areas.

Some local Key West items.

It’s that time again! The Key West World’s Fastest Boat Races. The boats have arrived. Sitting all over town. The actual races will take place wednesday, friday and saturday.

Jean Thornton knows everything about Key West. She has been here for years. She called me yesterday. Told me more boats in Key West for the races than ever before. Significantly more!

Proof. The Boat Parade was sunday night. The line of power boats ran nearly the entire length of Duval Street.

I have a visit scheduled this afternoon with Dr. Norris re the lower lumber MRI I did last week. I am anxious to find out the results.

I close with the weather. Key West weather. Are we in line for a tropical storm or hurricane in a few days?

The hurricane season ended October 31. As has happened in the past, hurricanes never know it. They do not pay attention. There have been one or two post October 31 hurricanes.

Rafael may be forming. If it does, it appears it will hit Cuba as a hurricane. Key West and the Keys will have heavy winds and tons of rain. The Key West weather was expected to begin later today. It is 8:30 in the morning as I am writing this blog. The rain has already begun. Pouring big time!

Enjoy your day!

One day more! Tomorrow Election Day!

Vote! Vote for Kamala Harris!

What more can I say. America’s survival depends on it. 

Harris is about us, the people. Trump is about himself. Need I say more.

I see Harris winning. Her momentum the past two weeks indicates it.

Polls have not been dependable the past 10 years. If my recollection is correct, they have only been accurate one time in recent years.

If Trump wins, evangelicals will have been a major contributing factor. God will have been on the wrong side in this election.

Which means, woe is our nation.

Moving on to other issues.

An important issue on the Key West ballot. One I voted NO to the several times it appeared.

Those items authorizing a total of $226 million in the next 30 years for parks and recreation, transportation, police and fire, and climate change adaption projects.

An open checkbook to the Key West City Commission!

A person has to be crazy to give these politicians that much dollar power. Most cannot even balance their own checkbooks!

Something I was not aware of. My Catholic grammar school, high school and college educations made me aware of the Catholic Church’s Index. The Catholic Church indexed books it deemed contrary to the Church’s beliefs.

I worked in the Manhattan College Library while in college. A Catholic institution. A portion of the library was dedicated to storing certain books which had been indexed. Prohibited to lay reading.

I had access. Over a period of four years, browsed many of the Indexed books. Many interesting. Some I thought were not bad at all and should not have been banned.

The Catholic Church began publishing the Index in 1571. The Church stopped so doing in 1966 due to the sheer number of books involved.

I close with an oddball joke I ran across on the internet yesterday: What’s green, furry, has 4 legs and will kill if it falls out of a tree onto you? A pool table.

Not the best of odd statements. However, the best I came across yesterday.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was an odd one.

I decided to vote. Drove to the new Election Bureau building on Stock Island. Packed. Parking in the lot and on both sides of the highway. Easily 40-50 cars. My handicap sticker proved valuable. There was an open handicap spot in the lot and an attendant directed me to it.

There was a long line waiting outside to gain entrance to the building. Before I even got to it, I ran into Ashley. One of my physiotherapists. She had just finished voting. Still sweating. Not from the voting. Ashley is a runner. She had run from her condo behind the Regal Theater and was going to run back. A beauty. All a woman should be at 27 yeas of age. We enjoyed a pleasant conversation. She told me the whole voting experience would take about an hour.

I got in line. Outside, of course. I counted the people waiting. I was number 35. The line soon became 50.

It was a bit warm. The building and trees blocked the wind.

It took 35 minutes before I entered the building where the line continued inside.

There was a couple in front of me in line. We talked the whole time. Mid-forties. From Summerland Key. The husband began the conversation. He expressed his feelings re the election. Sounded like a Harris supporter. I merely nodded yes to what he said. I have always felt a polling place is not where politics should be discussed. People are there to do their thing. The talking behind them.

We talked about their kids, my Robert and Ally, the weather, cost of groceries, and a ton of other miniscule things. Every now and then the husband tried to direct the conversation to politics. I avoided his move each time. There was something strange about him. Just before we gained entry to the building, I understood why. He was a Trumpie. I had misread him. He was wearing a red cap with Make America Great Again emblazoned on it.

The building inside was terrific. Air conditioned and clean. A huge room well organized. A number of election staff personnel standing about directing people. I was impressed with the organization. And the joviality. Each staff person smiling and courteous.

My Trumpie friend proved what he was. There were different colored lines on the floor. We had to stand behind each as we progressed. The one near the end before receiving your ballot was orange. My Trumpie friend stepped over the line before his time and walked 5 feet ahead. He was kindly reminded to go back behind the orange line. He kept his head and nose up and ignored the woman staff person. She kindly reminded him again. He went back, but only to the line. Neither touched nor crossed it. A Trump asshole was all I could think.

When I entered the building, there was an empty chair inside by the door. I was asked if I wanted to sit. Only me. No one else. I said no. Thought, do I look that old? 

High rise tables were set up for people to stand at and complete their ballots. Also, 4 small tables with chairs for I assumed the aged and infirmed. 

By the time I was ready to receive my ballot, I felt aged. I was tired. I had been standing about 40 minutes. It must have shown in my body and face. I decided I was going to ask if I could sit and complete my ballot. Before I could, another worker asked if I would like to sit and I graciously accepted.

It felt terrific to sit.

It suddenly dawned on me that I must look old. Don’t laugh. Before my heart attack in January, I was 89 years old. People always took me for a person in his 60’s. Since the heart attack and three heart surgeries plus losing 60 pounds, I am still 89 but now must look it!

The thought did not make me happy. Vanity, I guess.

When I left and was in the lot at my car, the MAGA couple were waiting for me. They wanted to say good bye and how they enjoyed our conversation. If they only knew I was a Harris fan. They said I looked disgruntled. I quickly explained how the age problem bothered me. They helped by replying you are old and look old, etc. I disliked them even further.

That’s the new me I guess. Eighty nine and look eighty nine!

I hustled over to Brady’s Irish Pub for the Syracuse/Virginia Tech game. Ruthie took care of me. Set me up with my own TV set. I was the only Syracuse fan.

I had high hopes for Syracuse. We were only 4 point underdogs.

The first half was a disaster. For Syracuse. Took 10 minutes to get our first down. While Virginia Tech had already enjoyed 7. With two mines to go in the first half, Syracuse was down 14-3. Syracuse had the ball however. Looked like a Syracuse touchdown by half time. Not to be. Syracuse fumbled. Just like we had fumbled a few times against Pitt who slaughtered us in our last game.

That did it for me. I never leave a Syracuse game. No matter how bad we are getting beaten. For more than 60 years, I have been a diehard fan and remain till the bitter end.

Not yesterday. I said to myself, Screw it! I’m going home and left at halftime. I did not want to see Syracuse get humbled again.

I cannot get Syracuse sports on my TV. So when I got home, I went to bed and slept till almost 5. When I woke, I checked the final score of the game to see how badly Syracuse had been beaten. Was I wrong! Syracuse had won 38-31 in overtime!

Now I was the asshole.

Syracuse had a terrific second half as it turned out. Syracuse now 6-2 and bowl eligible.

Such was my saturday. Don’t know if it was exciting. Interesting, definitely.

Enjoy your day!

One of America’s greatest cowards and non-existent supporter of American war heroes and those who have fought to defend our country is Donald Trump. He turned on Liz Cheney again. Suggested she was a “war hawk” and should have guns “trained on her face.”

Trump’s words were based on the fact that she had never fought in a war yet could send other Americans to war.

I don’t know where Trump was coming from. When did he ever wear a military uniform? What war did he ever fight in? Remember, he avoided military service during the Vietnam War based on a “a claimed diagnosis of bone spurs.” An unproven one. Where is his medical report? As with his tax reports, never provided.

An example of the quality of the U.S. economy. The stock market is having its best year of any since 1936.

George F. Will is an asshole conservative Republican. The only way I can describe him.

He is 83 years old. Thinks as if he was 103. Makes the Biden of this year appear brilliant.

I have followed Will his entire career. He disappointed me yesterday, he disappoints me today.

His position re tuesday’s Presidential election is “voters face the worst Presidential choice in US. history.” Added, “There have been mediocrities and scoundrels in the 59 previous Presidential elections. But nothing like this.”

Knock Trump, praise Harris. For some reason, he cannot.

My advice to Will, retire now/immediately from the Washington Post. Most Americans do not pay attention to you today. They do not even know who you were or are.

If your stature is what you perceive, you would have stood for Harris in your recent writing instead of suggesting they both suck.

Respectfully, again I have not heard anyone mention your name in a political discussion or any other type in years.

Surprise! I thought that the percentage of people owning guns in the U.S. was huge. Not so. Only 32 percent of the population own guns. The problem creating a higher percentage in most people’s minds is that a large number of gun owners own more than one.

Fast food chain restaurants have been closing sites at a rapid rate. The most recent is Wendy’s plan to to close 140 restaurants by year end.

Management says the 140 sites are “dated.” Wendy’s advised however it would be reopening about the same number of new restaurants that it expects would be twice as profitable.

Ever wonder what the “thing” at the end of a shoelace is called? An “aglet.”

Live and learn. I’m always amazed! The largest ballet school in the world is in Cuba.  Would have thought the U.S., France or Russia.

Remained in again last night. My back again. Amazing. One thing after another. What a year this has been!

Back better this morning. M game plan for today is to vote later this morning. Then be at Brady’s Irish Pub by noon to watch the Syracuse/Virginia Tech game.

I close with joyous news. Chris and Don are back. Syracuse area residents and fans who visit Key West 2-3 times a year. 

I received an email from them yesterday that they have returned. They will be here for the entire month of November. Great! Good friends for years!

In recent years, we have been enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together. First thing they asked in the email, this year again? Of course!

Enjoy your day!