A COW’S LIFE

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Many times it has been said…..In my next life, I want to be a dog. Most dogs have eternally been well treated by their owners.

Such may soon change. A cow’s life may be a better. A milking cow’s life.

Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal carried an enlightening article on the new Dairy Queens.

A happy cow apparently is a cash cow. Dairy Queens produce more milk!

It is a new life for milk cows. Soothing classical music is played in milking rooms, fans and sprinklers to mimic spring breezes, robotic back-scratching sessions. Plus, manure clean floors and climate controlled barns. Cows milked when they want to by robotic machines. Perhaps the best, cows sleep on water beds.

Farmers believe cow cuddling to be critical. Free from stress.

It’s goodbye to a dog’s life, hello to a cow’s life!

My day began with a haircut with Lori. Always interesting. Fifteen years now she has been cutting my hair. Then I had hair. No more today. A once over with #1 on the electric razor and I am done.

Lori never wants to charge me. She says she does nothing. I always leave her $20. It makes me feel like I still have a head of hair.

Harpoon Harry’s for lunch. Hot turkey sandwich. Read the papers. Followed by a walk around the waterfront.

Last night at 6 at the Tropic cinema, the lecture I have been waiting for. The Jewish Underground Rail Road in Key West. The room was packed.

Primarily those of Jewish extraction. I may have been the only gentile. While waiting for the doors to open, a Jewish friend asked if I was waiting to see a movie. No, I told him. The lecture. He looked at me with a some what surprised expression.

I would like to say the lecture was fantastic! Off the wall! I cannot. I slept through the whole thing. For shame!

I dozed off as it was starting. Woke during the question/answer period. Fortunately, I sat in the last row end seat. The only one who knew I was sleeping was the woman next to me.

From the question/answer period. Stalin was anti-Semitic. He killed and threw Jews out of eastern Europe countries controlled by him through the 1920s.

America was anti-Semitic during the same years. Warren Harding in 1921 and Calvin Coolidge in 1924 had legislation passed limiting Jewish immigration. I have to add, Italian also.

History records both immigration laws as rigging the system against Jews.

Don’t ask me how the Jews got to Key West. I slept through that portion. However once here, there were underground tunnels in Key West. they hid and/or were moved through them to safety.

After the lecture, it was off to the Chart Room. Congenial John bartending. Ken and Alice there. Two people who worked hard, raised a family and now have almost totally settled in Key West. Purchased a home on White Street. Both always good company.

Things I learn. Gatorade is a Florida discovery. It was conceived in a University of Florida lab in 1965.

Today is Joseph’s birthday! Joseph, former manager of Hot Tin Roof. He and I are celebrating his birthday together tonight at Berlin’s.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

OCTOPUS FOR DINNER

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I enjoyed a rare meal last night. Octopus. Not squid/calamari.

The last time and only time I ate squid was on my Greek trip where I failed in attempting to climb the Santorini volcano. My poor body could not make it up the hill. I thought I was going to die.

The boat did not return to Oia immediately. It took us to a very small island. One tiny white stone house.Extremely small.  A larger white stoned bathroom building.

A husband and wife living on the island.

We had stopped for lunch. The couple’s place was the only game in town. The menu limited. Octopus and wine.

The octopus was a baby one. About three feet in diameter. Cooked on a large outdoor grill. The charcoal type we use in the U.S. The husband  kept basting the octopus with oil.

I was served a chunk of one of the tentacles. I would judge it was cut from the middle of a tentacle or closer to the body. About ten inches. One and a half to two inches in diameter. The skin a quarter of an inch thick. The center hollow and empty.

Absolutely delicious! Tender! Tasty!

I heard Bruschetta had octopus. Decided to stop and have some last night. Ordered it without looking at the menu.

Not quite the same as the Greek one. Size only. What I was served last night was the end of the tentacle. Slender. Totally filled with meat. The tiny suction cups part of the meal. A bit gross. Did not recall them on the island.

About 15 inches in length. Every inch a delight! I enjoyed each morsel. The taste the same as on the island.

For dessert, I enjoyed Sicilian cassata.

An outstanding meal!

Previous to Bruschetta’s, I was at the Chart Room.

A bunch from Philadelphia. Ate the hot dogs. John had to replenish the supply.

Chatted with one of the guys. He was very interested in the Chart Room. I explained David Wolkowsky’s  involvement. Threw in the Jimmy Buffett story.

Then asked since he was from Philadelphia, did he know Rittenhouse Square. Of course, a big Philadelphia deal. I then shared with him that Wolkowsky was responsible for its rejuvenation and what it is today. He was amazed. He did not know.

A couple at the end of the bar from London. Sixtyish. John and Marie. We chatted a while. Nice people. Interesting people.

John a retired London cab driver. The stories he had to tell! Drove a lot of movie stars. The nicest was Lauren Bacall.

Marie still working. An accountant with Zippo. The lighter company. They have a London facility.

I got into my Beefeater problem. Could find it at only one bar when in London several years ago. He was not surprised. Depends what the liquor distributors are pushing.

We talked about London food. Excellent! The London theater, also. Equally excellent!

About plane travel in Europe. Not like the U.S. Cheap. Meals on most flights. All the booze you want. Polite staff.

Trump watch out! Mueller will follow you to the ends of the earth! If you are guilty of any wrongdoing, he will discover it.

Tonight, a Custom House lecture. The Jewish Underground Key West 1918-1939. A large crowd expected. It is being held at the Tropic Cinema.

Have to move my ass. I have a haircut appointment with Lori this morning. Following which a visit to Farmers Market to pick up a few things.

I do pretty good for a bachelor.

Enjoy your day!

 

LOUIE, LOUIE

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Louie, Louie is a famous tune in the world of music. An American rhythm and blues song. Today recognized as a pop rock standard.

First recorded as a Jamaican ballad in 1956. Its lyrics written on toilet paper.

Louie, Louie was the back side B side of the first recording. The flip A side was You Are My Sunshine.

To this day, I have never heard nor was aware of Louie, Louie. I was aware and knew well the lyrics of  You Are My Sunshine. Sang it often over the years at parties, etc.

I came across a note this morning that on this day in 1965, the FBI concluded a two year investigation of the song.  The purpose: To determine if Louie, Louie’s words were pornographic. Dirty. Someone had complained.

Research indicates the words were difficult to understand. The FBI was asked to make a determination as to its pornographic quality.

The FBI Lab found the song’s words to be totally non-understandable. The FBI conclusion stated Louie, Louie’s words were “unintelligible at any speed.”

Louie, Louie is recognized as one of the most covered songs in rock and roll history.

My blog talk radio show last night. Half of it devoted to Trump. Difficult not to.

I thought things changed daily with him. New items popped up each day concerning him. My thoughts have changed. Trump moves fast. There is something new or a new position by him it seems every hour.

As a result, I never got into the Comey memorandum last night. I stopped listening to the news around 4. Had to. Otherwise, my topics, notes and flow for the show keep changing. I can only redo so many times.

In spite of my shutting down such research early, I still spent the first 15 minutes of the show discussing Trump. He has sinned in other regards.

The cry for impeachment is on many lips. My advise: Slow down! Comey’s memo and the facts surrounding it may not be enough. Give the President a couple more weeks. He will bury himself further. Then will be the time to zero in on impeachment, assuming solid grounds exist.

Ernest Hemingway. USA Today reported a new biography. Ernest Hemingway by Mary V. Dearborn. The first full fledged biography of Hemingway in 15 years.

Some suggest more books have been written about Hemingway than any other person in history. Whether a valid statement, I do not know.

The book spends a bit of time examining Hemingway’s sexual interests. One being gender switching. If true, it may answer the question as to why Hemingway had a special attraction to bi and lesbian women.

A return to American crocodiles.

Cleatus is an American crocodile. Cleatus has spent the last 14 years in the Dry Tortugas swimming in near shore waters at Fort Jefferson. Named Cleatus by National Park employees.

Since January, Cleatus has been moving inland. Closer to shore. In the area utilized by humans for swimming. He has interacted with visitors. Some even fed him.

A disaster in the making. Cleatus had to go.

Last sunday, officials captured Cleatus and delivered him to West Lake in the Southern Everglades.

I hope Cleatus will have no difficulty in adapting to his new home.

Enjoy your day!

 

TRUMP…..WHAT NEXT?

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Better than a television series! Donald Trump!

The most recent episode the disclosure of highly classified intelligence. To Russians, of course. Showing off? Trying to make whatever his relationship is with Putin more solid?

A man who calls Russia a friend and Canada an enemy gives me concern. Trump consistently treats our enemies as friends and friends as enemies.

He is President, not dictator. Maybe he would like to be a dictator.

Beware. The time could come when we have martial law. Troops in the streets.

An observation: The media is our savior. Without their investigations of Trump’s activities, we would be ignorant of the true facts.

I went to the Republican meeting last night at the VFW. Even though I am a Democrat. I wanted to hear Commissioner Mike Forster of Islamorada speak on why he wants Route 1 to become a toll road.

The public was invited. I am one of the public.

The meeting got started. Pledge of Allegiance. A few opening comments by the chairman. Then his apologies. Forster would not be attending. He forgot to invite him.

Such is life. I had to get out of the meeting. I did not belong there. Fifty feet to the door. I hung my head and tip toed towards the door.

Silence! Everyone looking at me. I looked up, smiled and said…..I’m a Democrat. Wanted to hear Forster.

Smiles and laughter accompanied me as I left.

I decided to stay at the VFW for dinner. Sat at the bar. Mike to my right. We talked most of the night.

We both have Christian Brothers backgrounds. He went to La Salle, I Manhattan. Got into basketball.

Mike is night manager at Hogsbreath. We spoke of George, a friend of both Lisa and I who has bartended at Hogsbreath for years.

He suggested I order the braised ribs sandwich. Did. Wow! Delicious! Yesterdays ribs between freshly baked ciabatta bread. Cheese, onions, etc, also.

A young man to my left was discussing Isaiah Thomas with a friend. I interjected that Thomas was the last selected in the NBA draft his year. Number 60. He looked at me as if I was crazy.

He was drafted #60. Hard to believe!

I was told the VFW kitchen was now operated by La Trattoria. The food overall must be good!

I learned for the first time this morning that Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough were engaged about ten days ago. Stars of the Morning Joe Show. Theywere vacationing in the South of France when he popped the question.

I have been watching Morning Joe religiously for years. Could see the closeness developing. Wonder if the engagement/marriage will affect their relationship when Joe yells or puts Mika down. As he is prone to do.

My blog talk radio show tonight at 9. Join me. Topics interesting. Trump, of course. Also, new kinds of GMOs, whites sub-human, a Venezuela update, and more.

Enjoy your day!

STONE CRABS BYE BYE

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Tonight ends the stone crab season. My favorite food. At this time each year, I think I have not eaten enough.

Supposedly a good season. Overall catch and dollars appear down. Not by much. I will advise the numbers when they are out.

A major industry. A year ago, I recall mentioning the number of tons shipped to Asia. The major market for Key West stone crabs.

Spent yesterday afternoon writing.

Last night, celebrated Mother’s Day with Donna and Terri. Dinner at Duffy’s.

I finally returned! Yanna, the manager, came running over. The prodigal son had returned!

Terri looks fantastic! Absolutely amazing considering what she is going through. Next weekend the ladies drive to Tampa. Donna has a week long series of tests scheduled at a Tampa cancer hospital.

I wrote yesterday about Thelma Strabel and Reap the Wild Wind. Mention of the film could be found in the Key West Citizen’s Historical Section this morning. Paramount’s photographers had completed their work on the film and left for Hollywood this date in 1941.

One of Reap the Wild Wind’s stars was John Wayne.

Two Trump updates.

Media reports the past several days claim Trump runs around screaming at the TV set every time the Russia links matter is shown. The screaming is to have occurred both before and after the Comey firing.

Concerning the law firm letter Trump released last friday. It basically gave Trump  a clean bill of health. The certified one  as Trump constantly states. As if certification gives any truthfulness to its contents.

Two oddities re the letter.

First, it is written and signed by the Washington law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bachius. The firm was named “Russia Law Firm of the Year” in 2016. So named by the London based legal research publication Chambers & Partners.

Second, the letter was dated March 8, 2017. It was not revealed/made public by Trump till May 12, 2017.

I conclude on a happy note. McDonald’s is as American as apple pie. There are 36,899 McDonald’s worldwide. U.S. ambassadors!

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

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Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! Happy Mother’s Day to my mother!

My mother has been gone some thirty odd years. I still think of her every day.

I have a large painting of my mother that sits over my desk. I see her constantly. I even talk to her on occasion. I vent.

We had a good relationship. She was retired. I would stop by to see her almost every day on my way home after work. Not for long. Fifteen minutes to a half hour. A bottle of Beefeaters and a glass of ice on the kitchen table. My mother did not drink. The Beefeaters was for me.

We talked about this and that. Rarely important. Just mother/son chit chat.

I miss her.

Hurricane season is around the corner. Begins June 1.

The prediction is the season will be slightly below average. Six hurricanes anticipated. Two which will be major ones.

We have been lucky in recent years. Hurricanes, yes. But they always bent at the last minute and missed us. May that continue to be the case!

Key West Songwriters Festival this weekend. Musicians come from all over. They play just about every bar and location in town.

I walked Duval and the side streets yesterday listening.  Occasionally, stopping. I stayed a while to hear the group playing on Duval in front of Sloppy Joe’s. Then to Smokin’ Tuna. Finally, Margaritaville.

The walk, crowds and heat did me in.  I had anticipated it would. Knew dinner would be at home for me.

I took out one of Fran’s containers of frozen pork sauce in the morning. Left it on the counter to thaw. Last night, I enjoyed stove pipes buried in Fran’s thick red pork sauce. Covered generously with Parmesan cheese.

Ate too much. I did not care. Good was good.

Fran and husband Tom are in Paris for ten days. I e-mailed Fran and told her how great her sauce was.

Some things I do not understand. Like why a toll on US 1. The only road in and out of Key West.

An Islamorada councilman named Mike Forster went to Washington last week to discuss a toll. He favors it. He is pushing it. Why, I do not understand.

US 1 is generally a narrow two lane road for 140 miles. Key West at the southern end. When I go to Hogfish, Roostica, Geiger Key, Square Grouper, Mangrove Mama’s or to visit my Sugarloaf friends, US 1 is involved at some point.

I have to pay to travel 1/2 mile to 20 miles?

Forster is speaking to the issue tomorrow evening at 5:30 at the VFW on the Boulevard. I plan on attending.

This will be a big week for me. Thursday night the Key West Art & Historical Society is sponsoring a talk at Tropic Cinema. An Arlo Haskell speaking. His topic: The former Jewish underground involving Key West and Cuba. 1918-1939.

Charles Krauthammer is a noted columnist for the Washington Post. A conservative.

He wrote in a recent column re the Trump/Comey situation: “The king asked whether no one would rid him of this troublesome priest, and got so impatient he did it himself.” Henry VIII had Thomas More beheaded.

Comey’s firing no different.

History may speak of it as the beginning of the end of Trump’s Presidency.

Reap the Wild Wind was published by Thelma Strabel in 1940. A story of Key West and wreckers. The Saturday Evening Post immediately serialized it.

Strabel used the Saturday Evening Post money she received to build a home in Key West. In 1940, she obtained a building permit to construct a house at 400 South Street.

At the time, she claimed it was the most southern point in the United States.

The home was later demolished and a larger one built on the site. Strabel was long gone from Key West by that time.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day! Enjoy your Sunday!

SHIRLEY VALENTINE

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Love Shirley Valentine!

A 1989 British film. Warm and touching. The story of a middle aged woman who visits Greece and decides to remain. Her love and life come into play. The wakings and complexities of middle age.

The film touched me. I have reseen it several times on television.

When on the London stage, it was a one woman show. The film was expanded to include many characters.

Key West’s Fringe Theater is performing Shirley Valentine May 17-27. I do not know how many in the cast. What I do know is I plan on seeing the show. Everyone should.

Last night, another evening at the Chart Room. The bar full. One seat at the far corner of the bar available. Said hello to John.

The gentleman next to me said, “You’re Key West Lou.”

It was Mark from five years ago. He had a better memory than me. We had met in the Chart Room five years ago. We spent a couple of hour last night chatting.

Mark 55. He has spent most of his adult life in what I would describe the sophisticated medical supplies field. Does a lot of traveling. Off to Munich next.

Married, lives in Boston.

Politically, a Trump fan. Made our conversation even more interesting.

Hope we run into each other again in the days he has left in Key West.

Left the Chart Room hungry. Was heading to Hot Tin Roof when I recalled the cupboard was bare once again. Skipped the Hot Tin Roof and headed to Publix. One of my purchases was a barbecued chicken which I enjoyed later at home.

The Minimal Regatta coming! Technical name the Schoonerwharf Minimal Regatta. The 26th annual one. May 28.

I am providing early notice so you can get ready to participate, if you so desire.

The race is directly in front of Schooner Wharf. The boats all man made. Materials skimped on, of course.

The following represent ALL the materials that may be used in the boat’s construction: 1 sheet of plywood, 1 pound of plywood fasteners, 1 roll of 2″ x 60 yards duct tape, and 2 2 x 4s.

Success is not dependent on sea prowess. It is all dependent on constructing a boat that does not fall apart and sink.

A fun time!

The Minimal Regatta reminds me of what grown people do in Key west. Return to their childhoods!

Several years ago, I wrote a lengthy column in KONK Life on embalming. Surprisingly, the only country where embalming is a common practice is the United States. Not legally required by federal law. A few state laws mandate it.

Lincoln’s funeral train brought embalming to the attention of the American public. The train was carrying Lincoln’s body to Springfield, Illinois for burial. The trip took 13 days. Traveled through seven states and 180 cities.

Decomposition of Lincoln’s body was a concern. Especially the decomposition odors that would emanate  from it. The decision was to embalm.

A popularity for embalming grew slowly over the years following Lincoln’s burial.

This past week Trump signed another Executive Order. This one establishing an Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. Commission seats are being filled rapidly.

Trump’s puppet Vice President Mike Pence is chairman. Commission members appointed thus far are state officials. Most of whom already have a track record of supporting state laws that minimize a person’s right to vote.

A stacked deck.

Trump continues to believe he would have received 3 million votes more had there not been irregularities at the polls. All information/investigation to date reveal no voter fraud.

Wasted money, wasted time. To satisfy one person’s ego.

Enjoy your day!

 

BIG LIPS, BIG BOOBS AND SENSITIVE NIPPLES

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The Chart Room is an interesting place. All type conversations. A multitude of topics covered over the years. Never like last night, however.

A woman’s lips, breasts and nipples.

I did not participate. Sat at the end of the bar with my head down. Afraid someone would ask what I thought.

Four people plus me at the bar. John bartending.

Evan and Liz locals. Young. Late 20’s, early 30’s. Chris and husband. I did not get the husband’s name. Vacationing from southern Pennsylvania. Mid 60’s.

The female body exploration began with lip augmentation. Referred to as big lips in the conversation. All four going at it. The consensus was it was stupid and looked awful. They could not understand why anyone would do it.

Then came nipples. Breast nipples. Chris from a little town in Pennsylvania said size did not matter. Sensitivity did. The four got into inverted nipples, also.

Next, big breasts. Interesting talk. Do whatever makes you feel good. Not too big, however. Too heavy if enlarged. And so on.

That part of the conversation took an hour.

Then we got to a point where I thought I could safely participate. Snow. Huge snowfalls.

Upstate New York thought the place for the worst. Buffalo and Rochester. Then Syracuse. Liz piped up she was from Syracuse. At that point, I got involved. From Utica and went to law school at SU.

Glad I stopped at the Chart Room. An unusual conversation. I had not intended to stop. As you will see from the next few paragraphs, it was the venue of last choice.

My day began at Verizon. Got the video problem figured out. The wi-fi was off. I must have hit a wrong button. Don’t see how. To screw it up, I would have had to hit the app key and then four more. I have never gotten that deep into my cell phone.

An early dinner at Roostica. Lemoncello wings. Spoke a while with owner Bobby. A wedding outside. Tablecloths. Everyone dressed. Laughter from every direction.

Then to bocce. Everyone playing but my team and another. For some reason, the game had been cancelled.

I sat with Sharon a while. Sons and Daughters of Italy playing.

Then to Don’s Place. When no game, the team is there. Not last night. Three guys at the bar and Michael bartending.

I was beginning to wonder why I showered and shaved.

Left for the Chart Room.

William Hackley won some money in 1856 in the Havana Lottery. He and three others purchased a ticket together. Won $400. $100 a piece. A lot of money back then.

The top prize was $60,000. At least $6 million today. Maybe, $60 million.

Hackley mentioned that he and his wife attended the funeral of the child Fanny Porter. Whooping cough killed her.

No vaccinations back then. Vaccinations today. Not perfect. Better safe than sorry, however.

Every one wants a piece of the Ukraine. Good growing fields and excellent mineral deposits.

Putin got as piece two years ago. Near the end of World War I, Germany’s Kaiser and Austria signed a pact to exploit Ukraine’s economic benefits. What a joke! The pact was signed this date 1918. World War I ended six months later on November 11, 1918. Germany and her friends defeated.

The Kaiser did get to exploit Ukraine within those six months. He demanded and received 100 million tons of food rations from Ukraine.

I came across the name Dante in my readings. Not the Dante I am familiar with. However it did recall Durante degli Alighieri, better known as Dante. A distinguished poet in the Middle Ages. Thought to be one of the best writers of his time.

His most famous work the Divine Comedy.

I took two years of Spanish in college. My teacher was Professor Cantatore. Italian. A small elderly man. His enthusiasm for Dante greater than his body size. A cultured man.

Every class, the good Professor drummed into us to read one page of Dante’s Comedy a day.

I never bought the Comedy. I did read a few pages when the opportunity arose. One of my college jobs was working the main desk in the library. A quiet uneventful position. I would take the Comedy off the shelf and absorb some of Dante’s wisdom.

Last but not least. Betsy Dietz died. Seventy five. Finally succumbed to uterine cancer after ten years.

Betsy lived in Key West so many years. She gave to the community. Involved heavily. Helped get AIDS Help started. Active at the beginning and over the years with the King and Queen Festival. A member of numerous boards.

Betsy and Lisa good friends. Every Christmas Eve and Christmas day, Betsy shared the holiday with Lisa, the grandkids, Santa Claus and me.

A rare woman. May she rest in peace.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

AN INSULT

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The White House is where the  President lives and works. It is not his house. It is ours. It belongs to the American people.

I am personally insulted as to what transpired in our house yesterday. The American public should like wise be insulted.

It began with my watching on TV as Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was greeted by Tillerson and was being led into a conference room. The American press had been barred from the meeting. A group however were standing in the background.

Dauntless Andrea Mitchell shouted out a question. She is getting good at it. It was directed to Lavrov. He looked at her with disdain. A sneer and smile…..like who are you? Then turned his back on her and walked away with Rex Tillerson.

Tillerson had a similar smile. Tillerson should ride his horse back from  wherever he came.

And, screw Lavrov!

Trump barred the American press and photographers from the meeting. He permitted a Russian reporter and photographer. Any photos run later in the American media were the result of the Russians sharing the pics they had taken.

Several weeks ago, Tillerson was in Moscow for a meeting with Putin. Putin kept him waiting three hours. No one kept Lavrov waiting. He was treated like royalty.

Note also that Comey was fired the day before Lavrov’ visit.

Though conjecture on my part, I see it coming. Trump and Russia in cahoots. Even before Trump became President.

Many media outlets this morning were describing Comey’s discharge as a coverup. A coverup between Trump’s campaign people, perhaps Trump himself, and Russia.

In yesterday’s blog, I referred to Rod Rothenstein as a Judas. Today, I would add a Brutus. He and Comey have been friends and comparable professionals for years.

They say Rothenstein is a man of honor. If so, his conduct re Comey does not make sense. A man of honor would not have participated in Comey’s removal. He should have resigned. It is not yet too late for him to resign. A man’s reputation/character is more important than any position.

I am having a video problem. I could not do my Facebook video yesterday. My cell phone keeps indicating no internet connection. Everything else in the house working, however.

I went to Verizon. Video worked ok there. Came home, not working. Plan on returning to Verizon this morning. It is either something in the phone gone blink or my Verizon wi fi connection not working.

Do not know under the circumstances whether I will be able to get out a video today.

I am frustrated. I was anxious to share additional views re Comey’s firing yesterday.

Two months ago, I stubbed my middle toe on the bed post. Broke it. Raised the nail, also. I have avoided a pedicure during that time waiting for the toe to heal and the nail to come down. The toe healed. The nail did not come down.

It was Tammy time yesterday. For the overdue manicure. My concern was the toenail. Once Tammy cut away the excess nail, everything was fine. To my relief.

My concern was toe nail fungus. Never had it. Do not want to get it. My Dad had the problem terribly in his later years.

After my Tammy visit, hurried over to Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch. My usual. Cuban cheese toast, Cuban coffee and the newspapers.

Last night, fun time! The monthly meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Italy. A great group.

Good food and good company. Giorgio, Sharon, Lilly, Jerry (the fisherman), Bob (who broke a rib over the weekend), Donna, and Helena. More whose names I cannot recall.

Birthdays were celebrated. Happy birthday sung in Italian. I have to learn.

Robert and Ally’s Santa Claus a member. Mac. Looks like Santa Claus even when not Christmas. He recently had by pass surgery. Lost a ton of pounds. He will need padding come next Christmas.

Mac’s wife Cindy a member, also. She drives Mac/Santa Claus around Christmas Eve as he makes his visits.

The club awarded a Key West High School young lady a $1,000 scholarship. She was proud to receive it. Her parents with her to enjoy the occasion.

Bocce tonight. I shall sit, drink and cheer my former team mates on. It does not seem to be helping this season.

The Sons and Daughters of Italy have a bocce team. The team’s second year. I will be cheering for them also. Tonight may be hell night for them. They are playing the #1 team Hell’s Rangers.

Enjoy your day!

 

SALLY YATES…..A STAR IS BORN

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Sally Yates is the Acting Attorney General Trump fired because she reported Michael Flynn’s lies, danger of being blackmailed, etc. to the White House. Yesterday was her day before a Senate Committee regarding her actions.

A star was born! A woman of unusual character revealed to the world!

Yates was unbelievable! Intelligent, capable, knowledgeable, prepared, honest, and straight forward. She did her job and was fired for it. The Washington mentality at work.

Yates was a life long public servant. She worked her way up the ladder in the Justice Department. She did not ask for this moment in the sun. It was forced upon her. She handled it well. Exemplary!

This is the type individual to be considered for a Supreme Court seat. A no bullshit up front person. Probably will never occur because neither Democrats nor Republicans could depend on her for a favorable vote.

Yates evidenced her ability best in handling questions by Senator Conyers and Senator Cruz. Both tried to sand bag her with stupid asinine questions. Obviously politically motivated. She handled everything they threw at her well. To the extent of even showing that they were not aware of subsequent changes in the law nor additional pertinent facts.

It was a pleasure watching her.

I had a 10 am morning meeting on Stock Island. Decided when it concluded to visit the new hotel at the end of Stock Island. Ocean Edge.

Wow! Magnificent!

Its outstanding quality is the silence. Not even a bird’s tweet. Another world.

I enjoyed lunch at the outside dining room.

Spent the afternoon preparing for tonight’s podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A fast moving eye opening thirty minutes. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Sally Yates, a robot update, a new kind of GMO modified food which escaped regulation, Big Pharma and superbugs, a Texas governor fighting sanctuary cities, an Oklahoma governor signing an anti-protest law, North Korea a major opium producer.

Also, the new French President a former Rothschild banker, Russia and Turkey begin construction of major pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas to Turkey and then Europe, and movie hero Steven Seagal denied entry to Ukraine for national security reasons.

Last night was Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. Terri White guest performer.

The largest crowd I have ever seen at the Dueling Bartenders event. Huge! Had to be Terri’s appearance. She performed outstandingly. Huge clapping and cries of excellence following each song.

Every one there to hear Terri. Among others, Bob and Lynda Frechette, Jean Thornton, Bobby Nesbitt, Liz, Mary, and Joseph.

A perfect evening.

Bobby Nesbitt next week.

The Historical Section of yesterday’s Key West Citizen made mention of a yesteryear house of ill repute’s madam. Alice Reid. She was sentenced to three years in jail for violation of the Mann Act. She brought ladies across state lines for purposes of prostitution.

I did not mention the event.

Diana Millikan e-mailed me. She reminded me I wrote about Alice Reid in detail in February. I forgot.

Went back and reviewed my comments. Longer than yesterday’s mention in the Citizen.

Reid was a madam. A well known one. Spent man years running two houses. Each at different times.

These were Navy days. A large contingency stationed in the Key West area. Customers galore!

Reid called her establishment Mom’s Tea Room.

The Navy was anti-prostitution. Brought federal and local police down on Reid many times. In addition to the morality issue, the Navy had too many venereal disease cases to deal with.

Whore houses as such are gone today. Replaced by escort services and socially acceptable strip joints/gentlemen’s clubs.

Enjoy your day!