CHICKENS DYING?

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Someone commented in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice that the chickens are dying all over the island. The person asked why?

I have not noticed fewer chickens. Perhaps I have not paid attention. If someone agrees with the comment that the chickens are dying, please write and share what you know.

The Tropic Cinema is one of Key West’s gems. In front of the theater standing on the sidewalk is a life size statue of Marilyn Monroe with her skirt blowing upwards. A scene from a movie Marilyn made where she was standing over a subway grid.

The significance of the comment is that scene was filmed this day in 1954.

The Mosquito Control Board met last night. Voted not to proceed with the $4.5 million new building. Instead, voted to construct certain portions so the total cost would be less.

A garage and storage facility would be built. Together with the purchase of three work trailers. Total cost, $2, 995,000.

Sounds like a sales number.

Still don’t know if the number flies. Tax dollars pay for it all. Can the bucks be cut even further? As many people, I no longer have faith in the Board’s judgment.

I learn as I go along. Sometimes late.

There is a new diving experience in Key West. SNUBA. Not snorkeling, not scuba diving. Something between the two.

For those 8-80. Started 20 years ago in Hawaii. Described as an underwater guided tour. Dive certification not required. Ability to swim is. Instruction given before the dive.

My column in KONK Life is on the stands today. A Peek At The Truth.

Don’s Place first last night. No one, but Keith. Don, David, Larry, Boomer and others are in Miami on a golf trip. They will be back today. Eighteen holes the first day, 36 each of the next two days.

Tiring golf! Glad I set the game aside several years ago. We used to play hard, drink hard and stay up most of the night. I got too old for the trips. Could not handle all the fun.

Dinner at the outside bar at La Te Da with Keith. Tonto bartending.

Wednesday is prime rib night at La Te Da. George and Dillon had recommended it to me last week. I went specifically for the prime rib. We were there at 7. No prime rib. A popular wednesday special. Gone by 5.

Enjoyed wings instead.

The Battle of Britain effectively ended this date in 1940. The RAF shot down 56 German planes that day in two separate dogfights.

The next day, Hitler ended daytime air attacks on Britain. The move also postponed indefinitely Hitler’s invasion.

Winston Churchill said re Britain’s RAF pilots:  “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Bocce tonight. The last two weeks have been rained out. I hope to stop by and watch for a while.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

HERMINE FICKLE

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I learned from sailing that wind is fickle. It blows every which way. Even at different levels at the same time.

Hermine is fickle. It has been blowing every which way for the past two weeks. Started out in the Atlantic as a 99L tropical wave. Then turned into a tropical storm. Followed by a class 1 hurricane. Back to a tropical storm. Today, perhaps back to a hurricane.

Initially, Hermine was to hit Key West as a tropical storm. Maybe even a hurricane. That was 9-10 days ago. I stocked up on hurricane food and water.

Missed Key West completely. Went out into the Gulf.

Turned around in the Gulf and headed back to Florida. Hit north Florida as a tropical storm. Did a number on the area. Turned into a hurricane as it moved up the Atlantic coast.

Veered out into the ocean around New Jersey. Supposedly to continue going east into the Atlantic. Diminishing in speed.

All of a sudden yesterday, it reversed course and headed back to shore. It is now a tropical storm. May become a hurricane again.

It is anticipated Hermine will sit in the Atlantic off the U.S. northeastern coast. New Jersey, New York and points north will suffer. Wind and rain. Rip tides. While Hermine rests for a few days.

If that ain’t fickle, I do not know what is!

Spent more time than I normally do yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. A lot of facts.

The title is Star Spangled Banner…..Birth To Today. I was motivated to write the article as a result of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s actions.

An interesting tale.

The column hits the stands wednesday.

I was tired afterwards. Unusual. Decided not to go out for a few drinks and dinner. However, I did have to leave the house for a short while. A prescription pickup at Walgreens and a few items of groceries at Publix.

The Key West City Commission continues to screw up. The group a disgrace.

The carport solar panels at the new City Hall. Bite the bullet and correct the situation. The City is in violation of its own carport law. If the City in this instance were a private property owner, the owner would be required to tear down and relocate the solar panels. Regardless of cost!

The sadness here will be the taxpayers dollars required to pay for the corrective work. Justice would be to have the Commissioners and City officials involved pay out of their own pockets.

Another City Commission screw up on the horizon. The GM mosquito problem. The Commission will discuss the issue at its wednesday meeting.

My suggestion is they keep their noses out or back the Key West residents who are opposed. Better, they stay out of it completely!

Citizens’ Voice in this morning’s Key West Citizen had an interesting comment/observation. The City had closed off a block of Duval for drinking and partying as part of Brewfest saturday night. At the same time, a drunk driving check point was located on Northern Boulevard at the intersection with Bertha and Palm.

Does not make sense to have had both events the same evening.

The great English actress and Academy award winner Helen Mirren will be in Key West, Big Pine and Marathon September 13-16. She is filming a new movie The Leisure Seeker. Production people are already in the area seeking locals to perform as extras.

Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago was published this date in 1958 in the United States. An immediate best seller. Soon made into a movie.

Pasternak was awarded that same year the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Soviet government would not permit him to leave Russia to accept.

The movie continues to be well received to this date. I cannot recall how many times I have watched the film. It is frequently shown on television.

Tolstoy’s War and Peace is another great historical Russian novel. Written in 1869. Movie starring Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer released in 1956. One of my all time favorite movies!

The problem is I have only seen the movie two times. When originally released in 1956 and several years ago on television. For some reason, War and Peace is not rerun as frequently as Dr. Zhivago. Why, I cannot understand. Both outstanding films based on outstanding novels by outstanding writers.

War and Peace, where are you?

Enjoy your Labor Day!

 

OUTSTANDING GOLF…..PERHAPS THE BEST EVER

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My eyes have never seen a better round of competitive golf. The final day of the British Open. Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson battling. Hole by hole. The match one stroke either way. The final three holes decided the event. Stenson won by three strokes.

Both made spectacular shots. Their putting outstanding. I have never seen better putting. Twenty to thirty feet like a one footer. Stenson sunk a 51 footer from off the green.

Viewing the round made for a very pleasant afternoon.

Last night, I started with Schooners. Bar only half full. Enjoyed a drink while watching the natives.

Then to Mark’s. The new hotel across the street. The Mark only has an out door bar. Poolside. A nice area. Packed with couples in the pool and on lounges.

I did not stay. There was no one over 30 years of age.

Walked across the street from Marks to the Waterfront Brewery. A good crowd. No room at the bar. I left.

It was across the street to Pepe’s. Been a year or two since I have eaten there. Sat at the bar. Chatted with the bartender. He used to work at the Chart Room one night a week. Chatted with two guys from Marathon who drove down for the day.

Enjoyed the barbecued chicken. Half a chicken. The meal to order when at Pepe’s.

The back of Pepe’s menu has an historical page. Pepe’s got its start in 1909. Then at 202 Duval. Pepe’s now on Caroline.

The page commented Truman used to stop at the Duval Pepe’s to have coffee and talk with the locals.

The page further made mention that the two popular songs in 1909 were By the Light of the Silvery Moon and Who’s Kissing Her Now. I could not understand how the songs were that old. I hum them on occasion to this day. Danced to both tunes in high school and college.

It was the movies! Both made during my school days. With big time stars. Doris Day in 1953 starred in By the Light of the Silvery Moon. Who’s Kissing Her Now starred June Haver in the 1947 movie. Many vocal artists in the 1950s and 1960s recorded the song. Ray Charles, Ernie Ford, Bobby Darin, Perry Como and Dean Martin.

Fantasy Fest came early this year. Last friday night. This morning’s Citizens’ Voice carries a comment by an individual who claims he saw topless body painted women at 5 in the afternoon on Duval.

William Hackley makes mention in his diary entry of this date in 1855 that Baby is well. God bless!

The Republican Convention begins today. A success or fiasco? Time will tell. Trump’s people indicate its nature will be showbiz.

Trump and Pence were interviewed last night on 60 Minutes. I saw excerpts this morning on TV. Trump looked like an ass and made Pence look equally erratic in the portions I saw.

More police officers killed by a black in Baton Rouge.

These black killings of police had to happen. They were inevitable. I warned two years ago they would come if the killings of blacks continued.

Never forget, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Violence begets violence. Blacks are saying…..Stop treading on us!

Security will be heavy at the Republican Convention. Likewise at the Democrat Convention. Police officers are coming from as far as California to assist. Who pays for all the security? You. The taxpayer. The federal government gives $50 million to each Convention for security purposes.

Rome burned this day in 64 AD. We are told Nero fiddled while Rome burned. He could not have fiddled. The fiddle did not exist at the time.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

GREAT BASKETBALL!

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Could not have been a better game! Neck and neck. Cavaliers finally winning 93-89.

Typical of me, I fell asleep with six minutes left in the game. Woke after trophies were given out.

My congratulations to Lynda and Bob Frechette. Home in Cleveland in time for the game.

LeBron James impressed me. Not only for his playing. For his apparent kindness and humility. A great!

Late morning, I visited Donna and Terri at their new abode. Lovely. A mini plantation.

Their new home packed with unopened boxes. Still unpacking. Could take another month. That much stuff.

Cupboards empty again. No time to waste. Could not stop at Publix. Picked up a Submarine and headed home. Where I quickly devoured the sandwich.

I had to get out this week’s KONK Life column. It took six hours. Titled Napoleon 2 Xs. Sort of a lead up to what makes heroes. Not mosquitoes and hemorrhoids.

Caught the last hour of the U.S. Open.

Dinner time. Still no food in the house. Did Chinese delivery. Egg rolls and shrimp egg foo yong.

An accurate observation in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice. Pertaining to the Key West City Commission. “The inmates are running the asylum – we need new leadership.”

Front page this morning’s Key West Citizen. Re the proposed constructions on Rockland Key. Includes a Walmart and 312 units of affordable housing.

A $14.6 million deal. Developers already paid $700,000 in deposits.

The deal was entered into in 2021. Developers want out. They also want to keep the $700,000.

Word on the street is that property values have risen considerably and the developers want a new deal reflecting the property’s increase in value.

Trump wants to profile Muslims. Shades of Hitler. Trump crazy and dangerous.

Enjoy your day!

 

FAT ALBERT

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Fat Albert was a mainstay over Cudjoe Key for more than 30 years. Fat Albert was a white Air Force blimp. Tethered to Cudjoe. Part of the military radar system.

Once there had been two blimps. One was taken down several years ago. I do not recall the name of the one that went first. My recollection is that Fat Albert had become obsolete and was taken down by the Air Force in 2013.

A reader in this morning’s Key West Citizen Citizens’ Voice asked…..Where is Fat Albert? The person who wrote in said he was driving on US 1 and he discovered Fat Albert was gone. Where is it, he asked.

Sometimes that which we see every day, we stop seeing. It is there, but we see it so often that we fail to see it.

Did the writer fail to note that Fat Albert has been gone some three years? Or, is Louis wrong and Fat Albert did not come down in 2013?

If you know, let me know.

My yesterday started with a visit to my heart doctor. One scheduled in haste. I experienced chest pains during the night. Doctor ran some tests. Found nothing. There is going to be more tests. A stress test among them.

I felt fine yesterday. Feel fine this morning. Pains did cause me concern.  The nitroglycerin made it go away the two times it was experienced.

Such is life at 80.

Nothing was going to stop me from the excitement of the Syracuse/Dayton game. I opted to watch it at Don’s Place. Toni joined me to watch the game. Toni is a die hard Kentucky fan. Toni is into basketball. I enjoyed being with her during the game. Good company.

Met Cecil. The name does not fit him. A tough appearing guy. Cecil a Syracuse fan, also. He graduated from LeMoyne College.

The ‘Cuse distinguished itself yesterday. The second half was not expected. Could not have been imagined. Syracuse blew Dayton out in the second half. Syracuse won 70-51.

If I was going to get a heart attack, it was during the excitement of the second half.

Syracuse plays Mid Tennessee tomorrow at 6:10 pm. Mid Tennessee a #15 seed beat Michigan State a #2 yesterday. Mid Tennessee is not to be taken lightly.

I decided not to push my luck. I was home mid afternoon. Did not go out in the evening.

I did do some research however for this week’s KONK Life column. The title of the article alone will blow you away. I am not sharing it at the moment.

I was under the impression that the US Air Force did not have its combat beginnings till World War I. I was wrong. The first US Air Combat Mission began with the invasion of Mexico in 1916. The US was trying to capture Pancho Villa.

Today is a significant day in history. In 2003, the war with Iraq began. Bush 2’s war. “…..to defend the world from grave danger.” Bush’s words. He told us Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

I am one who believes that had Bush not opted to invade Iraq, the Middle East would not be as it is today.

A final observation. Those who comment to this blog do not always agree with each other. Generally, diametrically opposed. Sometimes the exchanges get heated.

Not yesterday when it came to the Syracuse victory. They stood as one in their excitement!

Enjoy your day!

DAVID TAYLOR / DOUBLEHEADER BLOG

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I had computer problems yesterday. Of my making. Did not know how to correct. Sloan not available. Took me till last night to figure it out.

Ergo, no blog yesterday. Sorry. Today, a doubleheader.

I was out early New Year’s day. Around 4. Did some late partying. Grabbed a bite at Hot Tin Roof. My intent was then to return home to watch a game.

I was walking by the Chart Room. Looked inside and saw David sitting alone at the side bar. Went in to say hello and Happy New Year! Had no desire to drink. Wanted to get home.

A gentleman stood up at the table nearby. It was David Taylor. David is from Kentucky. He has been a loyal blog reader for years. Comments occasionally. I was happy to see him. Met his wife Marilyn and friends Martin and Randy.

Martin and Randy are from North Dakota. North Dakotans are smart people. They went for the pipe line. Everyone earning top dollar. MacDonald paying $20 an hour.

I shared a few words and left. I did not want to be late for the game. I hope David and friends will be here the rest of the week and we run into each other again. If not, next year! I would like to have a drink with you, David.

The Citizens’ Voice has been having an ongoing discussion re the cost of bicycles in Key West. Someone reported two bikes were stolen at the Bight. One $2,600 and the other $1,500. The numbers on the high side. However, bicycles are expensive in Key West.

Someone wrote no bike is worth more than $75. In Key West, one is. As with everything else, a bike costs mucho dollars. Probably half the Key West population are without cars and use a bike for everyday transportation. Cars are not required. Especially if you live in Old Town. Key West is a small island.

Go out and try to buy a used bicycle. $300, if you are lucky. More like $700-800. New ones can be off the wall.

Yesterday, I did a blog which I never sent out. Wiped it. The reason being I was a bit nasty in my comments re an incident. Better to say nothing. I did not write another blog. I was still upset. I wrote a brief note saying no blog because my pen was poisoned.

I received a ton of comments. Why is your pen poisoned? Some via e-mail, some by phone and a couple in person. That which was bothering me, is over now. I am back to me.

Syracuse lost to Miami yesterday 64-51. It is going to be that kind of season. Never would have expected it with the basketball team. Even the mighty shall fall!

Manicure with Tammy yesterday afternoon. Wow! Business was terrific. Women standing waiting for manicures and pedicures. I make an appointment so had no problem.

Tammy was surprised by the crowd. All appeared to be locals.

I think the four day holiday weekend had something to do with it.

Anna from Novara e-mailed yesterday to wish a Happy New Year! She also complained of Italy’s immigration problem as it is personally impacting her.

The immigrants are mostly Muslims from North Africa. Their goal Sweden and Denmark. Novara part of the route to those countries..

Anna was upset. Anna lives in a high rent district. Extremely expensive and beautiful 1,500 year old buildings. She has owned her apartment thirty years.

She advises the immigrants are using the magnificent court yard to defecate and urinate.

Immigration continues and will continue to be a problem in most European nations for several years.

I spent a lot of time yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. At the moment, the title will be the United States Invades Russia. We did. Back at the end of World War I. The Russians have never forgotten.

Enjoy your Sunday!

WHERE IS CITIZEN’S VOICE?

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The  Key West Citizen has its pluses and minuses. As with everything. The outstanding feature of the newspaper is the Citizens’ Voice. A column on the left side of page 2. Readers write in and express their thinking re various issues. Pro and con. Simple and hard hitting.

The Citizens’ Voice is missing from this morning’s paper. Why? What happened? In its place is an Associated Press article on how to make a particular cocktail.

I cannot believe the Citizen is considering discontinuing Citizens’ Voice. It works. Needs no fixing. Not broke.

My friend Sheila Cullen is a staff member at the Citizen. Her job is to prepare Citizens’ Voice each day. She selects what should be printed from the many comments received. She takes her job seriously. As Sheila tells it, she tries to send both sides to print. Her aim is to be fair and balanced.

I tried to reach Sheila this morning to get the poop. I could not reach her. Ergo, I write this column  in the dark as to the reason why it is absent from today’s Citizen.

I researched this week’s KONK Life column yesterday afternoon. Research complete. I will be writing the column today between Meet The Press and the Syracuse basketball game and after the game.

The title: Political Sexcapades. The research off the wall. Politicians have difficulty keeping their pants and panties on.

The column zeroes in on Clinton’s impeachment. Not the impeachment itself. We all know about it. Rather the column concerns certain of those who tried to bring the President down and their secret sex lives. Sort of a people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. They all got their come uppings in due course. Proving that what goes around, comes around.

A great article! You will enjoy it.

Life returned to normal last night after the holiday. I took myself to Tavern ‘n Town. A good crowd. Locals and visitors.

Bobby Nesbitt entertaining.

Ran into Lynda and Bob Frechette. A popular and well liked Key West couple.

It is said that a successful man has a good woman behind him. The reverse true here. Bob is the man behind Lynda who helps her goals and dreams reality. We always hear about Lynda. Rarely, Bob. They are a team.

I am anti-Trump. Write accordingly. Mentioned yesterday that over the holiday I did not meet one person supporting him. Also that those supporting him are whiter, older, less educated, and more blue collar.

I received two strong comments. One from a Key West MBA who is voting for Trump. The other a strong / almost defiant comment that the writer supported Trump.

Good! I love it! This is what it is all about. Free expression, a two party system, etc. We are each other’s indispensable opposition. Think about it.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon. Playing Texas Southern. Syracuse a 17 point favorite. We shall see.

Sal Salerno is recognized as one of Key West’s artistic greats! Perhaps the greatest. A man of international acclaim. A several generation Key Wester. A true Conch.

Salerno died recently.

A Celebration of Life in his honor will take place tomorrow evening from 7-9. At the Gingerbread Square Gallery which Salerno and his husband Joe Birn owned.

I guarantee there will not be enough room in the Gallery and its Courtyard to hold the many who will be attending to pay tribute.

Enjoy your Sunday!

INTERESTING SUNDAY

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I live in Key West time. Words made famous by Howard Livingston. I go with the flow. Never quite sure what I will be doing each day. Never disappointed by how the day works out.

Yesterday was a Key West day. Knew I had to get the daily blog out. Then write this week’s KONK Life column. The column took me six hours. Controversial. I titled the column Muslim Refugees…..No. Not so much because of the terrorist thing. More because they want to take over once they arrive. Everything must be their way.

Guaranteed interesting!

It was close to 5. What now, I thought. Showered, shaved and headed out to Kate Miano’s Gardens. The best Key West venue early sunday evenings.

I only stayed a half hour. Enjoyed the music. Said some hellos. Suddenly, I was bored. I like to meet new people. Generally do at the Gardens. Last night, not.

Stopped at the Chart Room for a drink. Turned out to be a good idea.

Victor bartending. They say bartenders know everything. Victor does. He is an intellectual. For real. He gave me a political philosophy book to read several months ago. I could only get 50 pages into it. Too heavy for me. Not for Victor though.

Victor sent a comment/observation into the Key West Citizen’s Citizens’ Voice. It ran sunday. The first one listed.

Rents and rental property availability crucial issues in Key West today. Victor brought up military housing. Most military opt to live off base. When they do, they qualify for a housing allowance. Around $2,000 a month.

Victor believes the housing allowance amount is a contributing factor to high rents. The government setting the amount. He also believes that the military use of housing takes rentable properties off the market, thereby contributing to higher rents. Not enough rental properties available.

While chatting away with Victor and some tourists, a relatively young couple came in. Thirtyish. All over each other. The male said they were merely friends and were waiting for their spouses who were still upstairs. They then went to the bar along the window. I glanced over. The male was sitting on a stool with his legs open. The female with her posterior backed into his you know what. Laughing. Obviously enjoying themselves.

The spouses came in a little later. Beaming. Explained to all they were not married to each other. Their spouses the ones at the window bar.

What a country America! What a place Key West! I am 80 years old. This is the first time I have seen public swinging inference/activity.

Time to eat. Hot Tin Roof across the street. A couple of weeks since I had been there. Ate lightly. Mac lobster and cheese and asparagus. A healthy combination!

A new bartender. Matt. He reads my KONK Life column. I was thrilled! He especially enjoyed last week’s Sexual Tales of Old. The Julius Caesar part the best. He said he also enjoyed Hemingway’s First Love written several weeks ago.

Keep reading me, Matt! Love people who take the time to read what I write.

Weather looks good today. A bit cool this morning. Around 72 degrees. Wind strong. Twenty plus miles an hour. Palm trees bending a bit. Ocean water very bumpy and moving fast. I would not want to be out on a boat today.

The Studios of Key West is opening a bookstore. First floor on the corner of Eaton and Simonton. To be called Book & Book. Apparently a chain. My understanding is that Studios will own it, however.

I love book stores. Especially those with comfortable chairs. I hope Studios puts a few in. I loved going to Borders and reading a couple of hours some afternoons. Borders probably went out of business because people like me were free loading. I read much, bought little.

Enjoy your day!

 

CITIZENS’ VOICE

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The Key West Citizen at page 2 prints the Citizens’ Voice each day. A place where readers can complain about anything and everything.

A comment this morning: “On Big Pine, the Key deer are endangered, but in Key West the locals are far more endangered. Enough!”

My good friend Sheila Cullen is responsible for the column. It is her responsibility to sift through the many comments received and select those she deems worthy of publication. She takes her job seriously.

As Sheila constantly tells me, she tries to select both sides of an issue for print. I smile each time. She sounds fair and balanced like FOX. Fair and balanced she is. FOX she is not.

I did some background digging re the place where the Paris shootings took place. Bataclan. General consensus is ISIS attacked because of France’s participation in Syria. The Times of Israel suggests another reason in addition. Israel/Judaism.

Bataclan was owned for 40 years by a Jewish family. In 2011, a high member of ISIS is reported to have said, “We plan an attack against the Bataclan because its owners are Jews.”

The group playing at the time of the attack were the Eagles of Death Metal. The group played in Tel Aviv’s Barby Club in July.

The family sold Bataclan in September. They now live in Israel.

Merely sharing.

Fine tuned my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou for broadcast last night. I threw in the Bataclan story just shared. I also shared some portions of this week’s KONK Life column Sex Tales of Old. Post show comments indicate the Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin stories the most popular.

KONK Life hits the news stands today. Read my column Sex Tales of Old. A change of pace article. I had to get away from the heavy stuff.

The Comment section of WordPress was buried yesterday with multiple Chinese I don’t know what. Could not translate, so do not know what was said. Turned out to be spam. Sloan cleaned the section up and hopefully we will not be bothered by the problem again.

My evening was busy. Syracuse/St.Bonaventure basketball 7-9. Tuesday Talk at 9. I caught all but the last minute of the game.

Syracuse won 79-66.

I was not impressed with Syracuse the first three quarters. I had bad vibes. A poor basketball season? Syracuse then turned it around with 15 minutes to go. Went on a 34-14 run.

Recognition must be given St. Bonaventure. An excellent team. Especially good for a small school. I was impressed.

Love that Syracuse is now in the ACC. I no longer have to run around town finding a place with a TV carrying the Syracuse game. Every Syracuse football and basketball game thus far have been televised and were available to me in Key West. I watch the games from home and couch.

The Havana Thunder Challenge is having a hard time getting off this week. Winds too strong and waves too high. Three boats left yesterday and made it to Havana. Three more plan on leaving thursday. Nine have withdrawn from the event.

That I am not a fan of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been obvious. I was unaware till this morning the group was active back in 1966. At that time, the Bishops eliminated the rule against eating meat on friday.

You have no idea the fear imposed on me by the no friday meat rule. I was 7, 8, 9 years old while the rule was in force. Occasionally, I would cheat and have a slice of bologna or something on friday. On saturday, I would stand in line waiting to go to confession scared as hell. In Church! I was afraid of what the priest was going to say to me because of my sin.

My wrongdoing generally ended up in three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Point. The meat thing was a man made rule and could be changed. Much of what the Pope wants to correct/change today involve man made rules. The U.S. Conference of Bishops hold hard in opposition to the Pope’s position.

Wednesday is screw off day for me. My heavy research and writing days are saturday through tuesday. Wednesday, my first day free from responsibility.

Love wednesdays!

Enjoy your day!

 

KEY WEST OVER PEOPLED

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This morning’s Citizens’ Voice printed an interesting comment re the number of people presently in Key West. The thrust being too many. Basically, the writer commented….. how many people can fit in Key West?…..the island is too crowded…..traffic a mess.

Quite frankly, I have had the same thoughts several times since the first of the year. Long traffic lines at lights, cars moving at a snail’s pace, tourists walking every which way when crossing a street, bicyclists driving every which way. Where are we going to put all these people if the upward trend continues?

The thought occurred that maybe no cars in Key West might help. Have parking lots on US 1. Figure out how to get everyone into Key West. Also, close down Duval and make it a walking thoroughfare with outside tables, etc.

Neither of my solutions bears merit nor would either fly. Never the less, something has to be done. Otherwise, we will not have to wait for higher water levels to bury Key West. The sheer weight of people on the Island will do it!

One solution that would help is to build more parking garages in convenient places, The City Commission thinks and builds everything. Rarely taking parking into consideration. Parking has become a horrendous problem, especially since the new parking regulation which only permits permitted Key West residents to park on the streets.

Stopped by Pier 1 yesterday to pick up the two lamps I bought the other day. They had to be ordered. I found the staff at Pier 1 very congenial and helpful.

Spent a good amount of time at the Chart Room last night.

Met Mary Jo and Greg. They are from someplace in Indiana. Snowbirds. Though Mary Jo considers herself half a Conch. They bought a home on Eagle Street four years ago and spend six months a year here.

Mary Jo was a cardiac operating nurse in her other life. Now retired. Her job was to travel where ever to pick up hearts and lungs for transplants. Then rush back to the operating room. A heavy responsibility.

Greg still works. A police officer, he is Chief of Detectives. He and I talked long about police issues facing us today. It was interesting to hear from the other side. There is a reason for everything.

David joined us. Then lovely Charlotte. Charlotte from North Carolina. She visits Key West about six times a year. She works for United Health Care. I am always on her re the screwed up drug program they provide.  To no avail, of course. Charlotte is also a marathon runner. All over the country.

David, Charlotte and I went to dinner together afterwards at Hot Tin Roof. A good time!

My weight is stalemated again. At 31-32 pounds. Spoke to a doctor friend about it. I was told my body is in starvation mode. It stores everything I eat. Admittedly, I eat little. To get the metabolism working properly again, I have to increase my physical activity. Should be easy. Means starting at zero. I have gotten lazy in my old age. Also, I should increase my caloric intake a bit.

We shall see.

Syracuse/Pitt at 4. Pitt a 3 point favorite. I will probably watch the game from home. I have Sloan in earlier and Keith and Jennifer at some point.

Enjoy your day!