Recently a couple from the Keys stood at the top of Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro. A top of the world location. Height 19,341 feet.

The couple Doug Mader and Gerry Dietelm. Live on Big Pine. Own and operate the Marathon Veterinary Hospital.

Adventurers. They opted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The African mountain made famous by Ernest Hemingway.

Not an easy trip. Six days to reach the top, 2 to come down. The last day of the climb the worst. Air extremely thin at 19,000 plus feet. Their guides would only permit them to spend 20 minutes on top.

As Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did their thing by leaving an American flag on the moon, the Marathon veterinarians left a Conch Republic flag on top of Kilimanjaro.

An adventure. The ascent the trip of a lifetime.

Ernest Hemingway is of Kilimanjaro fame also. However, he never climbed Kilimanjaro.

Hemingway knew Africa from his 2 trips there. The first in 1933. A safari and big game hunting. Also provided him with numerous African experiences which later became part of his writings.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro one of those writings. A short story. He received many awards for it. The short story also became a Hollywood movie starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.

Hemingway’s second trip was somewhat of a disaster. He escaped lucky to be alive.

He and his wife were on a local flight. The plane crashed. Both survived with burns and cracked ribs.

The next day, they opted to leave immediately and took another plane. The plane exploded on takeoff.. Hemingway’s wife got out through a window. Hemingway had a more difficult time. He butted his head against the plane’s door to get it open. He suffered a fractured skull, severe burns, a dislocated shoulder, 2 cracked discs, a ruptured liver and ruptured kidneys.

Never having climbed to the top, what then was Hemingway’s motivation to write The Snows of Kilimanjaro? A photo of a frozen leopard near Kilimanjaro’s summit. The leopard’s dried carcass formed the introduction to his short story.

Mini lobster season has come and gone. Only 2 days. As usual, thousands of tourists participated. Authorities reported this year’s event to have been one of the safest and with few violations occurring.

Only 1 injury. Of consequence. A diver’s leg and propeller came into contact. The diver was air lifted to a Miami hospital.

Each year’s event should be as injury and violations free.

History does repeat itself in one fashion or another.

Recall the ocean liner St. Louis. In 1939, 937 Jews attempted to escape Hitler’s influence in Germany. Atrocities were already occurring. The writing was on the wall. They would only get worse. The holocaust had already begun.

Their anticipated port Cuba. Cuba would not accept them, however.

The voyage became known as the “Voyage of the Damned.” The St. Louis went to several other ports. The same thing. Rejected!

The ship was forced to return to Germany. Eventually one third would die in Nazi concentration camps.

A similar earlier event occurred. This one involving prostitutes. The Civil War  ongoing. Prostitution became a major problem. Recall in the early 1860’s, there was no cure for gonorrhea or syphilis. Most died.

The problem was in Nashville.

Nashville was a Union Army base. It had its red light district Smokey Row. Early in the War, 200 prostitutes worked Smokey Row. Union Army officials needed to confront the growing sexual disease problem.

They assembled 100 of the ladies and put them on a boat. The Idaho. The intent was to transport them to another city. No city was foolish, however. None wanted them. The Idaho was refused permission to drop the women off.

During the trip, the Idaho acquired a second name. Floating Whore House.

The Idaho was forced to return to Nashville where the ladies disembarked and returned to their former lives on Smokey Row.

The Union Army significantly increased the number of men stationed in Nashville. Business goes where business is. The original 200 ladies turned into 1,500.

Everyone happy. That is, the soldiers and prostitutes. Disease also.

Sexually transmitted disease became rampant. A crisis developed. Not much could be done. No shot of penicillin back then. Many died. So many, that it was rumored more Union soldiers died on Smokey Row than in all the rest of the Civil War. Not true, of course. But such reflects how bad it was.

Nashville and the Union Army came up with a plan. Hopefully, a solution. They would legalize prostitution. That way prostitution could be controlled. Ladies getting periodic health inspections one of the approaches.

It worked! Sexual disease numbers dropped dramatically.

Man does not learn, however. At the end of the War, the legalization was removed. Rampant sexual disease returned. Not as great a during the War. Many soldiers had been moved elsewhere. Many ladies voluntarily left because there was not enough business.

Enjoy your day!

I got the word last night. Smoking will be prohibited in the Chart Room as of August 1.

A disgrace. A sad decision.

The determination does not affect me. I had to give up smoking 8 weeks ago. My last cigarette has been smoked. But to those who enjoy a cigarette with a drink, my heart goes out.

I am not sure why. I suspect someone might have complained about the smoking. Makes me laugh. A tourist comes in one or two times. The local regulars there almost every night. A tourist is offended by the smoking. He or she probably complained to management.

Management assumes it made a wise decision. I do not.

Business will suffer. An inevitable result.

I had a similar experience. Many months ago at Berlin’s. I went for dinner once a week. Pricey, but good. Also permitted smoking. They had been grandfathered in before the law prohibiting smoking where food was served had passed.

Berlin’s had the best filtration system. Even cigar smoking permitted. Berlin’s had been a cigar smoking bar for years. Affected no one. Impossible to smell smoke from any source. Clothes smelled clean at the end of the evening.

A group bought the place. Immediately outlawed smoking. I told the bartenders I would not be returning. My choice as the customer, the one spending the money.

I stayed away a month. Missed the ambiance of the place, the good food, and Bria Ansara singing on the weekend.

Parking was always free. The night I returned, the attendant asked for $20. I asked if he was crazy. I had been doing business there for years. He knew me. Nothing he could do. It was the new rule.

That did it! I left. First no smoking, now $20 to park. Berlin’s was not the only good restaurant in Key West.

I later was speaking to some one who worked at Berlin’s. He told me in the first 2 months of the no smoking rule, bartender tips were down 30 percent.

Which brings me back to the Chart Room. I shall continue going. Even if I were still smoking and offended. The history of the room calls me to it. The place unique.

The Chart Room however will lose business. No question about it.

My good friend David Wolkowsky has been dead less than a year. David conceived of and constructed the Pier House. It opened in 1967. The Chart Room 1968.

Locals at the time told David the hotel needed a place to drink. David agreed. A quick fix. Took out a first floor bedroom, added a mahogany bar, began serving alcohol.

In 1967, no one was famous and drinking was a sport. Soon  certain locals were nightly customers or working there. Besides David, Mel Fisher, Jim Croce, Che Kohn,       , Bob Marley, Mr. Bojangles, Panamah Pete, Tennessee Williams and Geoff Chapman. In later years, add Louis Petrone.

My too late admonition to the Pier House: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The ghosts of the Chart Room will gather and share tears the evening of August 1. An important part of Key West, steeped in history, diminished. No smoking! Wow!

Enjoy your day!

The explosion that was to be Mueller’s testimony did not occur. More of a firecracker, less than a bomb.

My random thoughts.

Trump will not be impeached. Yesterday failed to change public opinion sufficiently.

The failure lies with Mueller. I respect the man and his patriotic history. However, he was not the person for this job. One reason his age. He may have been sharp 2 years ago. However yesterday his 74 years were obvious. He is old and tired. His time has passed.

I believe such is the reason he did not want to testify beyond his Report. He was aware of his diminished capabilities.

True, the  necessary information to impeach is in the Report. In limited fashion only. Mueller failed to take the final step and emphatically state without reservation and without the shackles of Department of Justice policy what he thought.

His testimony failed to mobilize the Nation to impeach.

Democratic questioning as good as possible. I was impressed. Not the usual ranting and raving. The questioning by both Committees was well planned. The Democrats were prepared.

Contrasted with the Republicans who failed to deviate from form. Accusatory. Blamed Mueller for everything short of abolishing Christmas. Trump wannabes.

Bottom line. Mueller’s Report and testimony helps the Democrats a bit. In a close election might be the deciding factor.

The Justice Department’s policy of not indicting a sitting President for a federal crime should be removed from Justice’s role of non-permissible actions. It is as helpful to democratic governing as the Electoral College.

The war goes on. Democrats if wise will immediately go to everyday issues and stress them. Medicare for all, college debt, inhumanity at the border, etc. Those are the issues that will decide the winner in the next Presidential election.

The sun rose this morning. It will rise every morning. Life goes on. Enjoy your day!

Today a most important one in U.S. history. History will record it as such.

Upon the testimony of Robert Mueller the fate of our Nation rests. He dropped the ball in his Report. He left out the final step: Spelling out clearly and simply his conclusion as to whether Trump had committed crimes and should be criminally prosecuted.

Justice Department policy appears to have controlled his decisions. The report as written has no force and effect in law. It is as represented. Merely an opinion grounded in policy.

It is for the Supreme Court to determine if the policy applied. If it did, it gives Trump and subsequent Presidents the power to do what they want. Without control. Unbridled. They would not be responsible even for the most heinous wrongdoing.

In the cases of Clinton v. Jones and U.S. v. Nixon, an issue was whether a President could be arrested. The Justice Department policy was not involved. In each case, the Court ruled no person is above the law.

Permit a scenario to help state my position.

The President and his wife are in their bedroom in the White House. The White House is a federal building. Crimes are not permitted in a federal building.

A shot is heard. The Secret Service and other guards rush into the bedroom. Melania is on the floor dead with a bullet hole in her head. Trump is standing over her with a smoking gun in hand.

Should Trump be permitted to avoid prosecution at the time because of the Justice Department’s policy. Of course not. “No one is above the law.”

Respectfully, Mueller has short changed the American public. A war hero, civil servant most of his career, an FBI Director, one respected for his by the book approach to law, a rules following person, all will be pushed into the rear should Mueller fail to speak forth today. History will remember him as the one who permitted Trump to avoid prosecution for various wrongdoings.

I would hope Mueller does the correct thing today. I doubt he will. The Nation will suffer.

There is a comparison to be made. Both Mueller and Trump are arrogant. They believe they are right and cannot be told otherwise. Some what a my way or the highway approach. This mental superiority is not commendable in either.

I normally end with “Enjoy your day!” Don’t know if it is possible today. For many it will depend how forthcoming Mueller is in his testimony.

A criminal may very well escape the clutches of the law in the final analysis.

Reaction to my 7/20/19 blog overwhelming. Truman starting his day with a shot of Old-Grand Dad in his orange juice.

Not wanting one of our greatest Presidents perceived as an alcoholic, I did a little research as to why he began his day with a shot of bourbon.

Truman had heart problems. His physician was concerned about blood clotting in already clogged arteries.

Truman was President 1945-1953. Pharmaceutical blood thinners not yet available.

Alcohol is a blood thinner. Limited consumption, of course. One to two drinks a day.

His physician recommended a shot in the morning and a drink or two in the evening if Truman was so inclined. He was. However historians note Truman was not a heavy drinker. The evening bourbon was mixed with water. A high ball. One drink generally lasted him a whole evening.

Truman loved Kentucky bourbon. Kentucky produces 95 percent of the bourbon consumed world wide today.

The first U.S. approved blood thinner came out 2 years after Truman left office. Warfarin. It was sold under the brand name Coumadin. In 1948, warfarin was commercially sold as rat poison. Interesting how a product can go from bad to good. In short time, also.

Due to the shot of bourbon in the morning, historians refer to Truman’s time in the White House as “bourbon soaked.” I assume written with tongue in cheek.

Truman’s physician had recommended he start the day with a shot of bourbon long before he became President. David McCullough was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his writing of the biography Truman He said the morning shot of bourbon was good for him and a determining factor in Truman’s good health lasting into his 60’s.

In researching the Truman drinking story, I came across several articles re the drinking habits of former Presidents. Many drank! To excess! I sense I will be writing stories about some in the future.

Last night, another good one! I emphasize the quality of the evening as the time I was sick sucked. Day and night.

Aqua first for Dueling Bartenders. Rick Dery hosting. The great Bobby Nesbitt guesting. What a combination! Solo or duo, they did themselves proud! An outstanding evening. The crowd joined in the singing with most of the tunes. Old favorites. My kind of music.

Nesbitt’s rendition of Oh, What A Beautiful Day outstanding!

Liz has a companion Mary. Not my Mary. Mary was at Aqua last night. Chatted with her.

I have not seen Liz in a while. Thought she might have gone north for the summer. She is still here. Mary thought she would be coming in. I was excited. Always liked Liz.

Liz never showed. Mary left.

Jean Thornton stopped in. Leaves today for her Birmingham home. In 2 weeks, she and Joe are off to Europe for a month.

Jean was wearing a lovely dress. Wrapped around her neck was a large bright green boa.

Vino’s has been having monday night parties this summer. Each different. All require a costume of sorts. Last night’s title was something like Masquerade Features. The boa did it for Jean!

I admire Jean for many things. One is she misses nothing in Key West. Attends just about every function.

Old time jitterbugging music part of the program. Jean leaned over and said, “Louis, we can dance.” She was referring to 2 years ago when I was one of several Irma refugees staying at her Birmingham home. Our day began at 5 for cocktails. Went to 3-4 in the morning. Hard to take!

One evening around 2, the music was yesterday’s jitterbugging. Jean and I danced. I had not jitterbugged since college. We had a ball!

Someone videoed us. The next day our performance was on social media sites all over the world. My friend Anna e-mailed me from Italy…..Here I was worried about you and you are having a good time!

Mary and I had dinner at the bar at Antonia’s. I have been a customer at Antonia’s off and on for 25 years. The food and ambiance have never changed.

Donna and Terri came in. Sat next to us. Both beaming. Happy. Terri is in remission. Donna and one of her granddaughters are going on a week long Caribbean cruise soon. Terri passed. She says she is not ready for a big boat.

This will be the third time that Donna has gone away and Terri not. She is fearful of trips. The separation is good, however. Terri is learning how to live a full life without her wife.

Two interesting developments that have occurred in the U.S. the past few days. Both dangerous events. Each however shows American resiliency.

Somewhere in Tennessee last week, ICE officers came to take an immigrant without papers and deport him. His 12 year old son was with him.

As their van pulled into the driveway of their home, ICE fell upon the van. Eventually the man they sought got out.

No one was arrested or taken away. Why? Because the neighbors came out and surrounded the van and ICE. They in effect formed a human chain.

I worry. Today, no violence. However such confrontations a tinderbox. One spark and fighting. Which could over a few days grow into serious confrontations nation wide.

The other event involved the new young New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortex. Outspoken. One of the “squad” Trump keeps attacking. One of the ones his people say should go back from where they came.

Two Louisiana police officers were involved in posting on Facebook the suggestion that Alexandria should be shot. The police officer who did the posting referred to Alexandria as “vile” and one who “needs a round.”

Another officer was with him. He agreed with the post.

Both have been fired.

Alexandria commented re the situation: “The President is sowing violence. He’s creating an environment where people can get hurt…..”

A Washington D.C Capitol Police officer said that threats against Congressional persons are on the rise. The officer said such complaints are rising dramatically and must be of concern.

Tonight Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me at 9 my time. Listen to me rant and rave about events impacting our lives today. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Another terrific night out! Doing good. Two out of the last 3.

It takes time to adjust after you have not been out and about because of illness. I have to be frank however, no drinking and smoking no fun. Eight weeks now. Difficult! But when it comes to my health, I do what I am told. Even though I hate it!

The game plan last night was for Jean and I to meet and then go to dinner. She returns home to Birmingham tuesday. I will not see her again till February, unless there is a hurricane and I have to leave town.

Jean talking with Sheila when I arrived. We chatted a while. Then 2 seats opened at the bar. I told Jean and Sheila to sit. I would get a bar stool from across the room. As I started to  lift it, Paco showed up to help. Never met him before. Kind of him.

Paco and his wife Michelle are from Avon, Ohio. Fifteen miles outside Cleveland. Paco a high school teacher. Michelle a physician. Her specialty psychiatry. She is on the staff of Case Western University.

John asked them why did they select Key West for their vacation. No particular reason. Whatever, they were having a wonderful time!

I look forward to chatting with them again before they leave Key West.

Neil came in and sat next to me. From Georgia. We had met last year. I was disappointed I did not have more time spend with him.

Jean decided on La Trattoria for dinner. I should buy a piece of the place. In recent months, I have been there 2-3 times a week.

The ever charming Tiffany bartending.

As Jean and I sat at the bar, Tiffany exclaimed…..Louis, you are with a different woman every time you come in! Not really. However it was nice of her to say it. At 84, an ego booster.

The season is long over. Key West not a ghost town. However significantly less crowded than in season.

I mention this because La Trattoria was packed last night. Every table. People standing in the bar waiting for their table. A lot of families.

As far as La Trattoria was concerned last night, it was season.

Good news, bad news.

Joe Mazey this year’s Hemingway Look-a-Like. Runner up last year.

Joe has been trying for 8 years to win. He hung in there and finally came up the winner. The winner last night out of 141 contestants.

No one wins the first, second, or third years. It generally takes 8-10. I have a Chart Room friend I run into every year. He has been trying for 26 years.

A new Farmers Market will open August 1. At the Truman Waterfront. Thursdays from 10-2.

I was a frequent visitor to the Farmers Market at Bayview Park which recently closed.

The new owner is Daily-Plan It.

I sense one negative. Won’t kill the business. Will stop me from being a customer, however.

Too far to walk. Need to drive.

Free parking available to just about everyone. Except people like me.

I live in Key West. My car is owned by an out of state person. Key West has residential parking permits. When I went to get one, I was denied. Permits only go to Key West residents. My fact pattern did not qualify me. Ergo, I do not have a parking permit.

I called one of the owners. Asked why? He was very nice. Not his company’s rule. The City’s.

The happening typical of Key West. I am about to complain. Parking is a pain in the ass in Key West. Ask tourists who are paying $4 an hour to park in public lots. With a 4 hour limit. I obviously will not be going. My loss as well as the City’s.

My initial reaction was to call someone at the City and complain. I have done so in the past. To a new member of the City Commission. With an issue each time I thought important. I spelled out my concern out. Was ignored. A lame excuse given. No follow up by the City.

In each instance, I was correct in the final analysis.

The sad news. Michael’s has closed. A tragedy. Michael’s has been one of Key West’s finest dining spots for many years. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Melanie and Michael.

Goldie Hawn is rarely seen in a movie these days. Always a bright light, I miss her.

Goldie spent some time in Key West in 1990. Making the film CrissCross. It came out in 1992.

The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 was saturday. Apollo 11 was mentioned frequently in the film.

I have been running around Key West going on 30 years. When I first arrived, no one even talked about alligators and crocodiles. In the last 10 years, they have become a subject of discussion. Popping up here and there. A large one on the golf course a few years ago. He was difficult to capture.

Two articles of interest re alligators and crocodiles in this morning’s Key West Citizen.

The first a warning. Beware! When the weather is exceptionally warm, there are more hatchings. Means more danger to humans.

Interestingly, the weather also determines the sex. This year will result in more males being born. June was the hottest month ever on record globally. The weather affects gender. Males will be more plentiful.

Another article on a different page. There is a nuclear plant in southwest Florida. It is surrounded by 168 miles of canals. American crocodiles thrive in these canals. Whether the nuclear plant the reason was not discussed.

Several hundred crocodiles call the canals home.

This year an unusually large number being hatched. Hot weather not commented upon. The inference is the nuclear plant might be.

Like the chickens in Key West. alligators and crocodiles are protected species. Cannot be killed. Must be captured and sent to a habitat conducive to their health and well being to live out their lives.

Does not make sense to me in either instance. Kill/eradicate the chickens, alligators and crocodiles.

I mentioned Elgin’s marbles in yesterday’s blog. Did not set forth why called marbles. I did not know.

John Galt has been a blog reader for some time. He commented this morning as to the reason why Elgin’s marbles are so referred to. I share his comment with you: “The pieces taken were carved by the famous architect and sculptor, Phidias. He was a master at the art of carving marble, and all of the pilfered works of art were sculpted from marble. Hence the name, Elgin’s marbles.”

The Fortune Global 500 evaluates corporations world wide based on revenue. It is a status symbol to be listed in Fortune Global.

Since World War II, the U.S. has been #1. Till the most recent listing. China has surpassed the U.S. and is now #1. China had 129 corporations on the recent list whereas the U.S. 121.

Dueling Bartenders tonight.

Enjoy your day!

Earthquakes in the news frequently these days. Some big on the rector scale.

I have experienced earthquakes in New York, California and Italy. Italy the worst. The quake itself hit hard. The aftershocks just as hard. I was concerned.

Greece came to mind recently while recalling the earthquakes I experienced. Athens the perfect place for an earthquake. How would Acropolis and the Parthenon fare? Acropolis the huge hill in the middle of Athens. The Parthenon the top where Greek temples for centuries have stood. Some massive.

I visited Acropolis and the Parthenon on my first trip to Greece 12 years ago. Acropolis is one big hill! I had to rest 3 times on the way up. Heart attack time!

The top of Acropolis is large and flat. Three temples. The largest dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos. Athena the Virgin. The temples are 2,460 years old. The tall columns marble, the base limestone.

I could not find any earthquake which might have affected Acropolis and Parthenon. I did come across a story concerning Parthenon’s “marbles.”

Apparently the Turks were in control of Greece in the early 1800’s. An English nobleman Lord Elgin convinced the Turks to let him take some carvings and statues from Parthenon. He wanted to take them to England for viewing in English museums. Three boats were required to carry the carvings and statues.

One boat sunk. It was recovered from the ocean floor 2 years later.

Somehow the statues and carvings recovered became known as Elgin’s Marbles. How and why marbles I do not know.

The recovered statues and carvings ended up in places not agreed to between Elgin and Greece when Elgin was allowed to take them to England. They are scattered throughout Europe. Many can be found in the British Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris, and the National Museum in Denmark.

They continue to be known as Elgin’s Marbles.

Greece wants them back. The countries now having them say no. They represent the fortunes of recovery and have now become ours.

For well over 200 years, Greece has been trying to recover “its Marbles.”

I planned to be on the road again last night. Ending up staying home in a comfortable chair reading. I have yet to finish In the Closet of the Vatican. Concerns present day homosexuality. Shocking! And I am not timid!

The book is 500 plus pages. Most sentences compound and/or complex. Facts galore. Print a bit on the small side.

Like climbing Acropolis. Tiring! If the topic were not so current, I would have given up long ago. The Catholic Church began imposing more stringent rules than normal beginning in the 1950’s while the Cardinals were playing around in the Vatican. Even to today.

I had intended to stop at the finals of the Hemingway Look-a-Like contest last night at Sloppy Joe’s. Obviously I did not make it and do not know who won.

The number of hopefuls are down this year. Last year exceeded 150. This year 135 participating.

Ernest Hemingway’s birthday today. He was born in Oak Ridge, Illinois this day in 1899. He died July 2, 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho.

Hemingway lived in Key West for 11 years. From 1928 to 1939. During that time he wrote the whole or parts of novels and short stories. Interestingly, only one of his writings had a Florida setting. To Have and Have Not.

Many think the Old Man and the Sea had a Florida setting also. Not so. The setting actually in waters off Cuba’s coast.

Keys residents have an affinity for anything having to do with ocean waters. Turtles being one example.

St. Thomas (what a name for a turtle) is a rehabilitated green sea turtle. He was released into the ocean friday.

In October, he was brought to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. No question, he was sick. His entire body was covered in cauliflower like tumor growths. Such generally caused by a herpes like virus which affects turtles world wide.

The tumors were surgically removed. Recovered, St. Thomas has returned to his natural habitat.

I consider New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof a skillful observer of world events. He is generally correct. Right on!

In yesterday’s column, he wrote that the GOP has turned into a “personality cult.” He mentions “how far the Republican Party has fallen.” He views the GOP as a personality cult of “a hothead who incites a crowd to repeat an ugly chant…..”

He views Republican leaders as splitting hairs where such does not make sense at all. The Party denounces the new Trump chant as “racist,” but not “racism.”

Kristof takes the position the GOP stands now for “nothing.”

A person by the name of Schicklgruber might have been the most evil tyrant in all history. Adolph Hitler’s family name was Schicklgruber. His father Alois changed his name to Alois Hitler January 7, 1877.

There is growing concern that violence awaits.

I have been writing and saying for more than a year that violence could very well result. From Trump’s side, not the Democrat’s.

A recent study indicated violence against the 4 Congresswomen was a possibility. The study indicated 91 percent of Democrats believed so. On the Republican side, 61 percent.

An indication that all concerned should “cool it.” Especially Trump supporters.

The numbers that really concern me are those concerning whether Trump’s change of politics is for the better or worse. Forty nine percent of Republicans say the change is for the better. This really concerns me! How blind can they be? Why cannot they see?

Twenty three percent of Republicans thought it was for the worse. Twenty seven percent saw no change.

Enough for a Sunday morning.

Enjoy your day!

A President who enjoyed a morning shot of Old Grand-Dad? Harry Truman!

Key West. Truman rose at 5:30. His first breakfast consisted of orange juice and a shot of bourbon. Old Grand-Dad. Less frequently, Wild Turkey.

Then his walk along Key West streets.

When he returned to the Little White House, he completed his breakfast. An egg, slice of toast, slice of bacon, and glass of skim milk.

The same sequence in Washington. The orange juice with a shot of Old Grand-Dad upon rising. His walk. Followed by the one egg, a slice of toast, etc.

Sometimes the time of the walk was interrupted. On the occasions he had a full staff early morning breakfast meeting, he would walk in the evening.

Truman unapologetic about his morning drink. And the one or two he had in the evening while playing cards.

One of our greatest Presidents. A man who made major decisions affecting the whole world. Started his day with a shot of Old-Grand.

“Today’s the day!” It was! Finally after 15 years of searching. It was on this day in 1985 that Mel Fisher found the mother lode of the Spanish galleon Atocha.

God bless him, his family, and Key West!

I was out and about everywhere thursday evening.

First the Chart room. Lovely Tammy bartending.

Ran into Jean Thornton and Cori Convertino. First time Jean and I have been together during her present trip. Cori I had not seen in a while. Two interesting people. Intelligent.

After they left, I sat at the bar next to Rich. First time meeting. He is a fourth generation Conch. I was impressed.

He was in the Chart Room to visit Tammy. He knew her from the Bull and Whistle when she bartended there. We agreed she was an unusually nice person. Special.

Then I was off to Aqua to meet Mary.

Mary was late. About 45 minutes.

While I was waiting, one of Aqua’s drag shows began. I have not seen a drag show in 20 years.

While watching, Mary arrived. She had a drink while I watched the first 2 performers. Beauties. Looked liked women. Voices feminine. I was certain both females. Asked Mary each time. Each was a man.

We moved on to the Side Bar. Glad we did. Laurie Thibaud having a drink. Till I got sick, I guested on Laurie’s radio show thursday afternoons. I have yet to return.

Time to eat. La Trattoria.

Tiffany bartending. We have known each other 25 years. Amazing!

Last night it was me and the lesbian wives. I had dinner with Donna and Terri at Hogfish.

Jake the third member of their household. A big dog. Has to be walked every day. Donna has been doing it. Up early. Rush home from work. Whatever.

No more. Terri can now walk Jake. I asked her how she could see to pick up Jake’s poop. She had worked it out. She placed her walking stick tight to the side of his butt. He would not move. When finished, she merely bent down and it was there.

I keep learning from Terri…..The blind can see…..Necessity is the mother of invention.

A few political observations.

The Democratic Presidential candidates are almost as quiet as the Republicans re Trump’s beating up the 4 young Congresswomen of color. People of color make up the largest voting block in the U.S. The Democrats silence is deafening. If they do not speak up now, that voting block will not be there for the Democratic candidate in 2020.

Trump’s campaign war chest overfloweth. His spending for Facebook advertising exceeds the combined spending of the 24 Democratic candidates. Note it is not Trump’s money. He never spends his own. Probably comes from the major corporations and rich persons he has helped with the tax cut and deregulation.

William Crystal is a noted conservative. A black hearted Republican. This time he does not stand with his party’s Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Crystal said on a talk show the other evening that Trump can lose the popular election by 5 million votes and still win the Presidency because of the electoral college.

He further indicated that it was the way Trump has aimed his campaign. Retain his roughly 40 percent die hards. Add a few more votes in certain states. And he would be reelected even having lost the popular vote by 5 million votes.

Today the biggest of Hemingway Days. The Running of the Bulls, finals of the Hemingway Look-a-Like contest, street band, and street feast. People, people, people.

The Running of the Bulls is at 1. The race begins at Sloppy Joe’s.

Everywhere I have gone in recent months, some persons have their lap tops out. My inquiring mind. What are you doing? Everyone is shopping. At Walmarts! I am then told how easy and much cheaper it is.

I tried Walmarts week. Signed up. Shopped. Order delivered in 2 days. No shipping cost because I spent over $35. Everything I ordered there.

I like the system. Not only because of the dollar savings, but also I do not have to carry heavy items home from Publix. A burden at my age. Several trips back and forth from the car to unload. Up front porch steps. Some bags heavy.

I am beat by the time I have everything in the house. I have to sit for a while before unpacking.

One complaint. I do not know where everything is on the Walmart site. They should have aisles so people eventually know where things are.

The U.S. Corps of Engineers is going to perform an investigation for unexploded artillery shells. Four wars involving the Fort. Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. Over the years an unexploded shell has been found here and there.

The government moves as slowly as molasses. The request for the funding was made it 2008. Only approved now. If anything is found, it will remain a while. Funding applied for all over again with a long wait involved. At least 5 plus years more.

Just like hurricane relief. Funding has to be approved. Then allocated. Two separate steps. Each taking forever. There are Irma and Michael victims still waiting.

I feel better. I can tell by how I am writing. It was work for a while.

Enjoy your day!

Does Trump ever stop? His every move leads to another despotic act. We learn more and more the nature of the man. Evil without ending.

Color forever an issue in the U.S. More intense under Trump.

I always thought black was not a color. Rather the absence of color. Researching a bit this morning to see if I was correct, I learned black is a color. Just as much as other colors.

With tongue in cheek, it could be we are all persons of color. If black is color and white also, each of us qualifies as being a person of color.

So maybe we all will be sent back. Except for the American Indian, we are all either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants.

Humor aside, Trump always goes a step too far. No matter what he does. During the 2016 Clinton campaign it was Lock Her Up. Today with Congresswoman Omar it is Send Her Back.

I fear tomorrow will return to send her to jail again.

Trump’s bigotry is obvious. A person has to be deaf and dumb not to be aware of it. One of the reasons forming the basis for hating/disliking persons of color is that soon persons of color will be the majority of people in the U.S. Whites will take a back seat forever more.

The 2020 Presidential election may be the white man’s “last hurrah.”

More persons of color than whites is soon to be. The Brookings Institute in a recent report stated that next year more than half of the under 18 population would reflect coloreds exceeding whites in the U.S. The report further indicated that within a decade, the under 30 colored population will be the majority.

Many whites fear. Properly so. What goes around, comes around.

The first time it was Lock Her Up. This time Send Her Back. Where does it stop?Will jail actually become the third step in cycle?

I have written and said in the past 2 years that Trump’s ICE is Hitler’s Gestapo of the 1930’s. Trump continues to increase the powers of ICE.

In the next 2 years, will we have reached the point of fearing a knock on the door in the middle of the night?

A scary thought. Not inconceivable.

How much time before such a confrontation? I don’t know, but I fear. A country that can detain immigrants, separate children from parents, allow immigrants to live under inhumane conditions, have drinking water provided to children from toilets, leave children with no change of clothes, no bathing, no tooth brushes, permit them to sleep on a cold concrete floor, etc., has already begun stepping over the line.

What is Trump’s ethnicity?

German and Scotch. I researched it this morning.

There was a time however when the Trumps feared being identified as Germans. They said they were of Scotch ancestry. Trump’s mother Mary Anne MacLeod was born in Scotland. His father Fred in Germany.

Trump even wrote in the Art of the Deal which was published in 1987 that he was of Scottish ancestry. Later he spoke at some big dinner and told everyone he was proud to be a German.

I’m not surprised. I recall his first wife mentioning he kept a book by Hitler on his nightstand. Not Mein Kampf. Another whose title I cannot recall.

Irma is still with us. The hurricane hit September 10, 2017. Just short of 2 years ago.

It was announced yesterday the Marine Removal Debris has approved 76 additional canals to be cleaned. Hurricane debris and sediment removed. Federal dollars involved. The Feds pay and the County oversees the spending of the money.

The U.S. is excited about the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. Man walking on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Key West is having a big party. At the same time Hemingway Days is downtown.

A Lunar Landing Lawn Party will be held saturday night at the complex of the relatively new motels on Northern Boulevard. All kinds of activities followed by an 8 pm showing of First Men starring Ryan Gosling.

Nero keeps getting blamed for having burned Rome. Not so.

Most of Rome was destroyed by fire in 64 A.D. Fallacy tells us Nero had the fire started, watched Rome burn from the palace, and played the fiddle while so doing.

Could not have been. The fire accidentally began. The fiddle had not yet been invented. Nero was not at the palace. Rather 35 miles away in Antiam when the fire broke out.

Good hearted a man however. Nero let the people of Rome use the palace for shelter following the fire.

Nero was a true politician. The Christians were giving him a hard time. He blamed the fire on them. They were arrested, tortured, and executed. Hundreds of them.

Enjoy your day!