I WAS WRONG…..

I was wrong.

I have been in Key West during Fantasy Fest some 30 years. Initially, I did them all. One year after another. After a while it became you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. So I stopped attending.

Toga Party was my favorite event. Thursday night at Sloppy Joe’s and in the street in front of Sloppy’s. I wrote in detail yesterday what it was like. My last Toga Party (always as an observer) was at least a dozen years ago.

A voyeur’s dream!

I decided to go last night.

I stopped at the Chart Room first. Friend Ted from Cazenovia, NY was there, with friend Terri. Ted is a former attorney. A terrific guy. Visits Key West two times a year. He came specifically for Fantasy Fest. His first. Terri’s, also. Terri a 20 year veteran of corporate finance.

Being a helpful soul, I advised Ted and Terri a good event to see last night. My admonition: Don’t miss Toga Party. Explained what and where it was.

My good deed for the evening.

Around 8 o’clock, I walked over to Sloppy Joe’s. Excited!

In the past, Duval in front of Sloppy Joe’s was cordoned off. A block on either side also. No cars. Pedestrian walk. Totally crowded with party revelers. Last night, cars as usual.

Strange, I thought. It came to mind there was little traffic when I drove down US 1 and along Truman Avenue. Normally took extra long to get into town. It also dawned on me I had no problem finding a parking spot. Open places all over.

Something amiss.

I got in front of Sloppy’s. About 3/4’s filled inside. Less people than when a cruise ship comes in. The sidewalks crowded, but walkable.

Few bare assed women wearing togas! I saw a total of 4. Walking down the sidewalk with their husbands or boy friends who were similarly attired.

Things had changed in the last 12 years. Wow! Big time! The “adult party” appeared no more. Subdued considerably.

The same local company had run Fantasy Fest for years. Three years ago, some felt the event had become too risqué. A new company was hired. One that promised a more subdued event. Subdued? Killed!

I wonder how long the merchants will put up with a quieter, cleaner Fantasy Fest. The sole purpose for Fantasy Fest was to give merchants an opportunity to make money during Key West’s slow time.

I apologize to my readers for yesterday’s total erroneous representation of Toga Party. I also apologize to Ted and Terri. My only interest was to make their evening more enjoyable.

While in the Chart Room, met another attorney. Scott from Poughkeepsie. He has been visiting Key West since 1992. A Simon Court regular.

Scott has had a distinguished career. Cases litigated from Puerto Rico to Key West to New York.

We exchanged lawyer war stories.

Disappointed with a Toga Party that sucked, I drove over to Blue Macaw. Ran into Mary. We enjoyed dinner and a couple of drinks together. Mary works at The Little White House. A Harry Truman expert.

The parking meters have changed. Cost to park in Key West has increased. From $3 an hour to $4. Disgraceful! A gouging!

These attempted bombings scary. The 11th discovered this morning. Directed to New Jersey Democratic Senator Corey Booker.

What is occurring is domestic terrorism. Can you imagine how we would feel if the attempted bombings had been successful? Two former Presidents, a Vice-President, a former Presidential candidate, Congressional members, and a movie star not afraid to speak out on political issues, dead or injured. The country would be in mourning. Republicans, included.

We are in a cold war. A Democrat/Republican one. Tempers are boiling. The cold war could easily tun into a hot one. Bullets and molotov cocktails flying. Citizens killed and injured.

The last time the U.S. was confronted with such anger and ill will between political parties was in the 1850 years leading up to the Civil War. It took a Civil War to settle the issues.

Trump proudly said on TV the other night he was a nationalist. “There I said it,” he said.

Does the man know that of which he speaks? Nationalists is a  fancy cover up word for neo-Nazis and members of the Klu Klux Klan.

Bravery in war not uncommon. For God and country commonplace. We do not hear of the many acts or events of bravery. One became immortalized by the famous poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

The Charge of the Light Brigade.

The battle fought on yesterday’s date in 1854. Known as the Battle of Balaclava. Part of the Crimean War. British Light Forces and  Russians on opposite sides.

The British task an impossible one. They had to take a Russian position at the top of a hill. Russian guns on three sides as they rode up the hill. To the left, right and in front of them. The Brits suffered a high number of casualties.

Tennyson’s poem portrayed the battle and bravery of the men: “Into the Valley of Death / Rode the six hundred. / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die…..Cannon to the right of them, / Cannon to the left off them, / Cannon in front of them…..Into the jaws of Death, / Into the mouth of Hell / Rode the six hundred…..When can their glory fade? / O the wild charge they made! / All the world wondered. / Honor the charge they made! / Honor the Light Brigade, / Noble six hundred!”

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

I experienced a hospital day yesterday. At the Lower Keys Medical Center. Because of recent furor, I paid attention to everything.

Staff polite. Courteous. Apologetic when required. Exhibited concern.

The problem was service.

It took 25 minutes for me to get through Admissions. I was taken on time. To process me, took too much time. The computer would not print. Improper numbered form used by doctor.

The admissions person had a cold. Sneezing and spreading germs. I did not use the pen she handed me. Used my own. I was germ conscious.

I was supposed to have a CAT scan. Never happened. I have an intravenous dye allergy. Hospital and doctor’s records reflect same. No one was aware of it till the last minute. I needed a special pill to be taken over a 13 hour period prior to the scan. Which meant, no Cat scan yesterday.

Almost two hours my time AND the hospital’s wasted.

Scan rescheduled for tomorrow morning.

The three pills turned out to be a problem. Neither doctor nor hospital responsible. Walgreens the culprit.

I received a Walgreens recorded telephone message. Insurance company says no insurance…..check with my new company. Crazy. I have no new insurance company. The same one for ten years. I pay for the drug coverage a year at a time. Not due till January.

Called my doctor’s office to work the problem out.

A Walgreen screw up. They processed the prescription twice. The second apparently cancelled the first. The second however befuddled the insurance company’s computer causing the no insurance response.

There is humor to this. The pills cost $ .94. The screw up resulting in wasted time for the insurance company, my doctor’s office and Walgreens. For me, aggravation.

I am scheduled later this morning for a leg blood clot test and something else at the doctor’s office.

Terri in the hospital with all kinds of problems. Kidneys the worse. Stopped in to see her. Donna was there. As expected. Spent the night sleeping on a chair next to Terri’s bed.

Terri looked better than Donna. Terri is on the mend. A couple more days.

Aqua last night for Dueling Bartenders. I was looking forward to a couple of drinks.

Beatrix Dixie only performer dressed. Looked good, sang better. Tom and Rick not dressed. Sang well also.

Met Buzz at the bar. Another senior citizen. Originally from Oregon. Been a Key Wester for years. Lives in Truman Annex.

A new friend.

Dan and Betty, where were you? I thought you would be stopping in.

Since saturday, three different locals have mentioned a concern. A serious one from their perspective. A fear of something bad occurring during Fantasy Fest. They have a feeling.

Jenna has a model’s body. Not even a size 1. A zero.

She runs 5-7 miles most days. Works out at a gym 3 days a week.

She recently became a marathon runner. Short ones. Three-five miles. She has run two in the past three weeks. Came in first in each in the women’s division. Third overall in the first.

One of today’s Fantasy Fest events is this afternoon. The Beach Bash. At South Beach. A band. Persons attending have been asked to dress for the beach as people did when the Twist was popular. Except for bikinis, attire would be the same as today. No thong bottoms back then.

I remember when the Twist came out. An immediate hit. I recall the first time I danced it. At a Xmas office party. It was easy to do. The instructions simple. Do as you would do if you were drying your butt with a towel.

I could be wrong. I believe the Twist was the first modern day dance where people did not dance close to each other, touch.

My podcast tonight. Nine this evening. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Have about three hours more prep to do. Show will be interesting and in some instances revealing. Join me for a fast paced half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Several years ago, I wrote a KONK Life column titled The Charge of the Light Brigade. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s exciting poem re the fight between the Brits and Russians during the Crimean War at the Battle of Balaclava.

It comes to mind today. On this day in 1854, the battle giving rise to the poem was fought.

Certain lines memorable. Excite me whenever I hear or read them.

“Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.”

Enjoy your day!