TAVERN ‘n TOWN…..FRIENDS NIGHT

Posted on by

I spent yesterday afternoon researching this week’s KONK Life column that will publish wednesday. Mommy, I’m Hungry…..

Bad stuff! Starvation in Venezuela. Food supplies down 80-90 percent.

I have mentioned the problem in this blog and on my podcast show several times in recent years. The column is a more in depth study of the problem.

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. Ran into a ton of people.

Before the friends, there was a disappointment. No Bobby Nesbitt. He is in Rochester with his elderly mother for two weeks.

First came my internest/primary care doctor Jackie Lefferts.
With her charming husband, Michael. Jackie looked terrific. Sexy. Told her so as she hugged and kissed me. We have become friends over the years.

Then a lovely young lady. At first, I did not recognize her. Sarah from Duffy’s. Sometimes a bartender. She was with lady friends. A girl’s night out.

Sarah said it was her first time at Tavern ‘n Town. She said she was there because I mention it so much in this blog.

Then a heart breaker. Dan Reynen stopped by to say hello. Owner/trainer at WeBeFit. I worked out with his staff a couple of years ago. Stopped when I popped two ribs.

He said…..You’ve gained some weight. I have. About 30 pounds since I last saw him. I like to think it doesn’t show. He reminded me it does. He left me feeling guilty.

Finally, Dan Talpasz. Had not seen him in two years.

Dan is a Key Marriott employee. At the top. He was Marriott’s 2014 Restaurateur of the Americas.

At the time, he was general manager of Tavern ‘n Town. A big job in itself.

The Spottswood family own Tavern ‘n Town and several other hotels and restaurants. Dan was promoted to Food and Beverage Director of the Spottswood Companies.

He was in Key West for the day. He has been spending a lot of time in Marathon. The Spottswoods have opened a Marriott there. He is working on the restaurant.

Dan is talented. He will someday be CEO of a major hotel chain.

Zika in a small trendy Miami neighborhood. An area one square mile. Sixteen cases so far. Panic setting in.

The CDC says Miami’s small case cluster is not considered a widespread transmission.

Genetically modified mosquitoes are a problem for me and my neighbors on the tiny island Key Haven we live on. Our local mosquito control board wants to test GM mosquitoes to kill off the mosquito causing Zika.

The GM mosquito is being touted as the end all cure all.

There was another once. DDT. An insecticidal discovered in 1939. By Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller. Muller received the Nobel prize for the discovery in 1948.

The United States banned DDT in 1972, except for some extremely limited uses.

Beware. All that glitters is not gold!

On this day in 1942, the United States invaded Guadalcanal. The Japanese were building an airfield. Eleven thousand Marines were landed the first day.

Guadalcanal was a long and bloody battle. The Japanese refused to surrender. Many lives lost on both sides.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

ZIKA, OXITEC AND FDA

Posted on by

The long awaited FDA report concerning Oxitec safety re humans was received yesterday. The FDA said there was no significant impact re Oxitec use as regards an investigative field trial in the Florida Keys.

That means FDA says it is ok to test Oxitec over my little island of Key Haven. Pretty much covered with family homes.

Key Haven residents have opposed the testing. We do not want to be used as guinea pigs for a genetically modified mosquito. The outcry has made the local Mosquito Control Board agree to a vote by Key Haven residents as to whether they want the testing. The vote is in November.

The result is non binding on the Mosquito Control Board. The Board supports the Oxitec testing.

I do not trust the Board.

My sense is that this has become a personal battle for most board members. Their attitude appearing to be they know better than those who elected them.

None of us knows better. However some of us want to be certain we are going to be safe. Remember, DDT was for years considered safe. History repeats itself.

I have a gut feeling that certain Board members will try to engineer a vote by the Board to go ahead and forget the November election.

The Board being bolstered by the recent FDA announcement.

Were you aware? Did you know? Key West was the second largest city in Florida in 1860. Only 44 fewer residents than #1 Pensacola that had 2,876 residents.

I have decided on the subject for this week’s KONK column. Something along the lines…..Mommy, I’m Hungry.  Venezuela’s extreme food shortage.

I have commented briefly on the problem here and on my podcast show. The column will be more detailed. The world should know.

Research today. The column written tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

A DAY LIKE ALL DAYS

Posted on by

Busy yesterday. Did nothing out of the ordinary, however.

Started with a noon haircut appointment with Lori. Always a pleasure to spend time with Lori. Fifteen plus years now.

The Cuban Coffee Queen is around the corner from Blown Away. The heat/humidity too heavy to eat outside. Decided to pick up some things at Publix and feed myself at home.

Driving the Publix motivation was the fact that I had been dreaming for a couple of days of a home prepared chicken sandwich.

Bought a lemon pepper chicken.

Lunch was the desired chicken sandwich. A large soft roll. A thick slice of white chicken breast. Covered with a slice of tomato. A bit of salt and pepper. Then mayonnaise.

A dream come true!

Screwed around on the computer in the afternoon searching for a KONK column topic to do. Came up with nothing that excited me.

The Chart Room first last night. John told me Tom and Fran had been in earlier looking for me. Telephoned them. They were at Kermit’s enjoying key lime pie. Told me they would shortly join me.

Spent some time with Tom and Fran enjoying a couple of drinks. Then they were off to do sunset. Knew one of the entertainers and wanted to visit with him. The man with the cats jumping through hoops of fire.

I went across the street to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. Enjoyed lamb chops again.

Joseph still on the mend. There is a new general manager. JP. We were introduced.

The Noble Group is not screwing Joseph. As I understand, there is an office job awaiting him when he returns.

Joseph has graduated from a walker to two canes. Progress slow.

Hello Jim Wenzel! Close friend of Tom Dixon. Both Buffalo bred. Jim now resides in Tampa. Tom told me he turned Jim on to the blog and he now reads it daily.

Welcome and thank you, Jim!

On the way back to my car, I passed the Chart Room. Ollie was at the bar. One of the heroes of the Zika test spraying fight. I stopped in to congratulate him. He believes Key Haven will defeat the test spraying proposal.

This week’s KONK Life column is German Persecution of Jews. It was carried this morning on E-Blast and also linked to my Key West Lou column. www.keywestlou.com.

My conscience Patrick posted a comment yesterday morning. He wanted to know why I had not commented on the $4 million/Iran/hostage situation. Simple. I only had the first blast of news. Accusatory. Did not make sense. Thought I should wait a day to see how the story played out.

Glad I delayed. Nothing wrong occurred.

Better safe than sorry. I concede I occasionally jump the gun. Rarely however. Sorry when I do.

Trump was terrific. Claimed he saw the whole thing on video. There was no video. He still kept saying he saw it on video.

Ronald Reagan was a tough guy.

On this day in 1981, he fired 11,359 air controllers. None to ever be rehired. When they struck and walked out two days earlier, he gave them 48 hours to return to work.

The union thought it was calling Reagan’s bluff. no way. He called theirs.

Reagan’s action was the beginning of the fall of union dominance in the United States.

Enjoy your day!

AGGRAVATION FREE TRIP TO CUBA

Posted on by

Though relations are better with Cuba, a U.S. trip to Cuba still involves some aggravation.

Not for Fleming, however. He even traveled free.

Fleming is a turtle. He was found injured last year and taken to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Fleming was returned to good health.

On July 22, he was returned to the ocean at Sombrero Beach. Got a big send off.

The hospital attached a satellite tag to Fleming. They follow his travels. He is now in Cuba.

You can follow Fleming’s meanderings. www.tourdeturtles.org.

Yesterday was wednesday. Wednesday is screw off time for me. I spend saturday through tuesday researching and writing. Then three days off beginning with wednesday. Look forward to wednesdays! Love the day!

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill at Body Owners. Me, Jenny and the machine. I did not kill myself. Ran at a moderate speed. Still exhausted afterwards.

I have decided to take a week off. I am going to walk at Home Depot those days to see if it makes any difference.

After the treadmill, I hurried to Verizon Wireless. The good one. The one in the Winn Dixie Shopping Center.

Nana took care of me again. She is teaching me how to use my new cell phone. I am a dunce! Having difficulty learning. Retaining all the steps involved. These new phones are computers. Love it! Have to learn how to use them, however.

A generational thing. My era born and I are not mechanically inclined.

Lunch was at the Cuban Coffee Queen. Splurged. Instead of a cheese toast, I had a BLT. On pressed Cuban bread. Delicious!

Halley working up front. Ruby in the kitchen.

Ruby is an experienced cook. Seven years at Outback. She has also worked at several restaurants around town.

Spent the afternoon reading. An interesting World War II story. Involved Normandy on D-Day. A group of engineers were sent in before the landing to destroy whatever was on the beach and in the water that would affect a safe landing.

The landing site Utah beach.

The men were told before hand the mission was dangerous and few would survive. The men worked in groups of three. Only one in each group was alive at the end of the morning.

Last night began with the Back Door at Aqua. Mark Watson back. He just returned from a week on Fire Island.

Then to Roostica for dinner. Gnocchi.

The Florida Keys Community College, aka FKCC, was recently rated by SmartAsset.com.

There are 565 community colleges in the U.S. FKCC was rated #18. Very commendable!

A statement in the commendation hit home. Today’s young are looking for a good inexpensive education that will provide a good return on their investment. Not always the case today with those receiving four year degrees.

The quote: Community colleges “…..provide their students with an inexpensive, world class education and a good return on investment.”

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

TRUMP TIME

Posted on by

Donald Trump is in the forefront these days. More than previously. Justifiably so. The man is mad. America is viewing his instability. More and more each day. He is self destructing before our eyes.

Better now than later. If elected, I worry about him and the nuclear button. So should you.

I spoke of Trump on my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Half the show. Example after example of his instability.

Spent yesterday afternoon preparing for the podcast.

The Civil War has intrigued me since my college days. Today, I read everything I can get my hands on re the War.

The Key West Library is sponsoring a Civil War event. Titled Civil War Living History. In the Library’s Palm Garden. Saturday, August 13.

The editorial in yesterday’s Key West Citizen concerned Social Security. It was a republication of an editorial carried in the South Florida Sun Sentinel titled Put Priority On Solvency For Social Security.

A bad editorial. Avoided discussing the real reason why Social Security has money problems. The reason being the government borrows surplus monies in the Social Security Fund and never pays back. The government owes Social Security $1.8 trillion. Social Security is the biggest creditor of the United States. Ahead even of China.

The issue of pay back is always avoided in articles. If the government started paying back over a long period, the monies would be more than sufficient to keep Social Security payments at a level where cuts would not be required. Not even discussed.

The American people continue to get screwed by a government that borrow’s their money with no intent to ever pay back.

The William Hackley saga continues. Baby doing much better. Visited Mrs. Hews four times this date in 1855 for breast feeding.

A quick Venezuela update.

Two weeks ago, Venezuelans were eating their pets. This past weekend, they were invading zoos and stealing the zoo’s inhabitants. For consumption purposes obviously.

Curacao is one of the largest cities in Venezuela. Has a large zoo. Some people snuck into the zoo in the middle of the night. They were after a horse.

When the zoo keepers arrived in the morning, all that remained of the horse was the head and ribs.

A Venezuelan revolution is long overdue. Recall three years ago they ran out of toilet paper. The country is still out of toilet paper.

My column in this week’s KONK Life is German Persecution of Homosexuals. Sick, sad. Hits the stands today.

Key West has many fun events. One of the local favorites is the Battle of the Bars. Bartenders and servers engage in a competition down Duval Street. The winner gets bragging rights for a year.

The Battle of the Bars this sunday at one.

Enjoy your day!

 

NOT SURPRISED BY HOSPITAL RATING

Posted on by

Few living in the lower Keys could have been surprised by the rating our local hospital received. This morning’s Key West Citizen reported that a recent federal study listed the Lower Keys Medical Center with the lowest rating possible.

Such reflective of the public battle between a citizens group and the hospital.

Someone should look at the dollar numbers. Follow the money is always good advice. I would be interested in knowing the hospital’s gross and net. I suspect the net has to be significant. Perhaps more than normal when  placed beside comparable hospitals.

I would also check how the hospital/collection agency thing works. Are the hospital bills being bought by the agency? If so, a hospital would be inclined to get rid of the bills quickly.

My morning yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Went slow this time. Two miles an hour rather than 4. My tiredness a concern. I was still tired, though not as much.

Then to the Cuban Coffee House. Ruby has disappeared from public view. She is cooking in the kitchen. A new young lady at the counter. Halley.

Spoke briefly with Ruby. She enjoys cooking. My sense was she had another job previously where she was a short order cook.

Spent the afternoon researching tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Stimulating topics. Like the Kahn-Trump disgrace, German persecution of homosexuals, Swedish youngsters being paid to play with Muslim immigrant children, it now being legal for cops to have sex with minors in Ohio, Venezuelans butchering zoo animals for food, urine samples  being collected door to door in Miami in battle against Zika, and more.

Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

One of the best podcasts on the internet.

Last night began with Aqua and the Dueling Bartenders. Tom Luna and Rich Dery. Great entertainment!

Met Tom and Fran Dixon by pre-arrangement. Love ’em!

Josey and David at the bar. So was Darryl. Did not know Darryl. However, a nice guy. He bought for the bar! Also met Bill. He wanted to chat with me re last week’s bagel column. The article turned out to be a popular one.

This week’s column is German Persecution of Homosexuals. Not nice. Hits the stands tomorrow.

Tom and Fran left. I was all alone at the bar. Decided to eat. Went over to the outside bar at La Te Da.

When I left Aqua, I noticed Mangoes all ripped up. Piles of dirt. A huge excavator sitting in the middle of the place.

Broke my heart.

I should not have been surprised. Mangoes recently changed hands. The new owner is obviously putting a new face on the place.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

SQ. 1…..NEW LEADERSHIP

Posted on by

The word on the street is Sq. 1 has new leadership. The owner of New York Deli across from Sq. 1 has taken over the operation.

I wish him well.

My Sunday yesterday was relatively quiet.

I spent several hours writing, rewriting and editing this week’s KONK Life column. German Persecution of Homosexuals. Not limited to World War II. Covers more than 100 years of history. The article hits the stands wednesday.

The television was on during the writing. I periodically looked up to catch a small piece of the PGA. Proof I can be ambidextrous.

Last night was an early dinner at Roostica. Spaghetti, meatballs and sausage. All buried in an excellent sauce. My grandmother’s sauce.

Key West and the Keys have in many ways been been connected to historical events. One is the story of PT 109. Captained by Lt. John Kennedy in the Pacific during World War II. Kennedy the future President of the United States.

On this date in 1943, PT-109 was sunk. Some years later, a movie was made of the event and Kennedy’s heroism.

The movie was filmed on what is now Little Palm Island. The island owned at the time by then Monroe County Sheriff John Spottswood. Spottswood father and grandfather of today’s Spottswoods. A family as much concerned for Key West as the senior Spottswood had been.

The saga of William Hackley 1855 continues. A learning tool.

William Hackley wrote this date that he sent the baby to Mrs. Hews to get milk. I assume for Baby to feed on Mrs. Hews’ breast milk.

We’ve come a long way since 1855. Today, Baby’s problem would be satisfied by a trip to the store to buy canned baby formula.

I continue to worry about Baby. Mother’s milk insufficient. The goat from Havana went dry. Hope Mrs. Hews has enough breast milk for Baby and her own child. Assuming her child still lives.

Donna is the good wife. Watching over Terri. Terri suffered a heart attack last tuesday.

Terri obviously cannot smoke. Terri gave up smoking to make it easier for Terri. Donna walking Terri two times a day. Donna making sure Terri takes her five pills at the correct time.

Donna the best!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

JIMMY HOFFA AND BUM FARTO…..WHERE ARE YOU?

Posted on by

On this day in 1975, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. Five weeks later on September 9, 1975, Key West’s Bum Farto disappeared. No relationship between the two.

Hoffa had been a prominent union leader. It is thought organized crime had a hand in his disappearance.

Farto was Key West’s Fire Chief. He had been arrested for selling cocaine from fire stations under his jurisdiction.

Both have not been heard from since their disappearances. Safe to say, they probably never will be heard from. Some day if we are lucky, we may hear the how and why of their disappearances.

Yesterday afternoon was spent researching this week’s KONK Life column. I have not decided on the title yet. The subject matter is the treatment of homosexuals in Germany. For a period of 84 years. Beginning in 1871 and ending in 1985.

Special emphasis given to Hitler’s treatment of gays. Jews were gassed. Though in significantly lesser numbers, homosexuals maltreated also. Castrated.

I will write the column this afternoon.

Last night was dinner at the bar at Tavern ‘n Town. Bobby Nesbitt time, of course. Bobby waved me over. He laughingly told me how much he enjoyed the Bagel column.

I was looking for a change of pace article last week. Can’t write about heavy stuff all the time. Bagels were it. As opposed to this week’s column which will involve the horrendous treatment of homosexuals in Germany. Especially, Hitler’s Germany.

Terri still good. Actually as if nothing happened to her this past week. A heart attack last Tuesday. God love her!

Enjoy your Sunday!

DIXONS BACK IN TOWN

Posted on by

My years in Key West have brought me many new friends. Two are Tom and Fran Dixon. From Buffalo. They have business interests which bring them to Key West several times a year.

We have become very close. Fran makes homemade candy. Chocolate her specialty. Each trip she brings me a box. It was no different last night. We had dinner together. Fran gave me the candy. Two kinds. Told me one chocolate was made with something hot. The candy would have a tang.

I could not wait to get home to try the candy. Started while driving home. Good! Especially the peppery chocolate. It was a bit sharp.

The entire evening was fun. We met first at the Chart Room. Spent a couple of hours there with Jean and Sheila. Laughter prevailed.

Then Tom, Fran and I were off to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. More fun!

Tom had a stroke a month ago. I was not aware till last night. You would never know it. He looked good and was his usual joyful self.

Tom and I are bonded in a special way. Both die hard Syracuse fans!

My friends are getting sick. Tom, who fortunately quickly recovered. Terri who is on her way to recovery. Terri returned to Key West yesterday. Spoke with her on the telephone. She was bubbly and cheerful.

It is saturday again. Comes fast each week. I have to research my KONK column today. Thought about a topic yesterday. Did a little digging. Came up with it! Not sure of the title yet. The topic concerns Hitler and homosexuals.

Hitler disliked homosexuals as well as Jews. His slogan for the Jews was: Exterminate them! For homosexuals: Castrate them!

My Bagels column is rerun in this morning’s KONK E-Blast. With the last eight paragraphs included. Bagels are American today. Not always, however. Bagels did not gain in national popularity till the 1950s.

Two social comments/observations.

It was announced yesterday that several more Flint and Michigan officials had been arrested re the Flint water crisis. The lead in the water story.

Obama immediately arranged for $5 million to help when the lead problem surfaced in January.. He also asked Congress to approve significantly more monies. Congress held hearings. The politicos could be seen on TV condemning what had occurred, enunciating clearly that something had to be done. Swiftly.

That was in January. The people of Flint are still waiting. The federal government sitting on its ass. Congress is on a seven week vacation not yet having approved funding. The people of Flint drinking bottled water and using faucet filters. Not even close to being enough.

2016 sometimes similar to centuries ago. Somtimes, thousands of years ago. Middle East beheadings one example.

Another is what is occurring in Turkey.

The coup failed. Some plotters arrested and executed. Others will follow. Turkey’s President refuses to permit funeral prayers and services for the plotters. A decent burial denied. Not even a casket. Dig a hole and drop the body in.

A stray dog facility is being erected. A place for dogs to run about and enjoy. In one corner, a cemetery is located for the bodies. It is called Traitors’ Cemetery. So marked with a small black metal sign. A place for the dogs to freely run about and do whatever.

The President sick! His actions reflective of something Hitler or Stalin might have done.

Enjoy your day!

 

ELECTRIC CART ACCIDENT

Posted on by

It was inevitable. I knew someday I would see an accident involving an electric cart. I did yesterday.

The carts are dangerous on the Boulevards and US 1. Their speed limited. Motor vehicles traveling at faster speeds. The carts frequently holding up traffic in one lane.

The accident was on US 1. Two hundred feet north of Cross Street in the northbound lanes.

It was about 7 pm. I was on my way home from Publix. Stopped for the light on US 1 at Cross Street. First in line in the passing lane.

I was not specifically watching anything. Merely sitting and waiting for the light to change. Suddenly, I saw it! Not the accident itself. Probably a split second after the accident occurred.

I could not tell from 200 feet that the cart was a cart. Looked like a big box broken and sitting in the road. Next to it a black car. It was only as I creeped up to the scene that I saw it was an electric cart. Two in the cart. Someone laying under the cart, head in a pool of blood. A woman trying to stand holding on to the cart roof. Both middle aged.

Cart and car were severely damaged.

Workers from the garages and other businesses came running out. I could hear the ambulance siren. Someone waved me past the accident scene and indicated to continue down US 1.

The bottom line…..Do whatever necessary to keep the electric carts off the roads. Especially US 1 and the Boulevards. The carts accidents in the making.

My day yesterday began with Tammy. A manicure.

Her place of business well air conditioned. Last week it was blazing hot. The air conditioning down. She and husband Rick had to replace the entire unit.

Decided to lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. A nice feeling about the place.

Parking was a problem. One o’clock in the afternoon in the summer and no parking places available in the large parking lot on Caroline Street. Three cars stopped in parking lot lanes waiting for a spot to open. I finally found one across the street.

The City Commission bears responsibility for insufficient parking. There and everywhere else in Key West. The City recently remodeled the lot. Put in shrubbery. Took out 3-4 parking spots to create another exit spot. One which I have yet to see anyone use.

It has also been announced that some part of the area is going to be used for the day buses coming in from Miami. A place for the buses to park. Taking away more vehicle parking places.

The ham and eggs were excellent. Read the newspapers and enjoyed.

Only a half dozen patrons in Harpoon Harry’s. Made me wonder where all the people with cars in the lot were.

The Chart Room last night.

Tom and Fran Dixon from Buffalo were to have arrived yesterday. Thought I would run into them. Did not.

Stayed about two hours listening to mini-lobster divers recount their experience of the day. Tourists. They enjoyed the experience.

Stopped at Publix on the way home to pick up a few things.

It was on my way home from Publix that I observed the accident scene.

The Florida Mosquito Control District has more problems. This morning’s Key West Citizen reports that Executive Director Michael Doyle resigned effective September 1. He is leaving for a position with the State of North Carolina.

The Mosquito board has experienced a number of foul ups since the first of the year. The Oxitec situation. The $4.4 million approval for a new building. Even Doyle’s salary was questioned as being excessive.

Doyle did a good job till this year. I never see a mosquito. Zeka and Oxitec proved his down fall. The way he handled it. The $4.4 million building did not help. It could have been built a year a year ago for $2.2 million. The 45 percent tax raise approved last week did not help either.

William Hackley’s 1855 diary runs daily in the Key West Citizen continues to garner my attention. It is history in Key West in 1855. A day by day story.

Today, Hackley reported Baby better. Good! I worry about the baby making it. Mother can’t supply enough milk. Goat bought in from Havana was dry.

William himself was sick during the night. Took 4 Wright VG pills.

Looked up Wright VG pills. Best I could come up for the time was sleeping pills or vagina tightening tablets. Best bet is the tablets were sleeping pills.

Mini-lobster season has ended. Yesterday, no accidents. Authorities report a limited number of lobsters. Most boats returned with less than the 6 per person limit. Suggests a poor harvest season ahead.

My KONK Life column this week is Bagles. It was run in this morning’s E-Blast. The last 8 paragraphs were left out. It will be rerun tomorrow or sunday.

Watched the conclusion of the Democratic Convention last night. Thought it was excellent. Obviously. Made the Republican Convention come up poorly. Trump’s comments last night and this morning make him look poorly.

An ass! Incompetent! Dangerous!

Enjoy your day!