EARLY KEY WEST SPEAKEASIES

 

Brad Bertelli is curator of the Keys History and Discovery Center. He wrote an interesting article re prohibition and Key West speakeasies in the Key West Weekly 9/27/18.

It was 1928. Prohibition was upon the U.S. Bootleggers were running booze in from larger boats sitting beyond U.S. territorial limits. Some of the illicit alcohol passed through Key West on its way to other parts of the country. Some remained in Key West.

A new type drinking establishment arose. The speakeasy.

Key West had 2 speakeasies early on. Club Florence and the Blind Pig.

Club Florence was located at 1117 Duval St. Today, the Speakeasy Inn. Owner Raul Vasquez named the place Florence because a number of his customers had wives named Florence.

The Blind Pig operated at 428 Greene St. Today, the infamous Captain Tony’s.

The structure was built in 1851. Over the years, served as an ice house and city morgue, wireless telegraph station, cigar factory, and bordello.

The building was owned by Isaac Wolkowsky. David Wolkowsky’s father.

Issac rented the building to Joe Russell during Prohibition for $3 a week. When Prohibition ended, Russell changed the name to Sloppy Joe’s. He would later move the bar to its present location.

Dueling Bartenders first last night. The wonderful Terri Smith guest performer. Joining regulars Tom Luna and Rick Dery. A good crowd. Donna, Andrea and Joe, John and Fiona, the wonderful Liz, Josefina, and Mary among others.

Stopped at Sandy’s Cafe on the way home for a bite. My usual. Cuban cheese toast with tomato and a diet coke. Love the meal! Think it is the cost. $4.39. Can’t beat it.

Shades of Tom Cruise and Ancient Japan last week in Key West. Samurai!

A homeless man threatened 2 different persons early friday morning. With a samurai sword. Ended up being arrested.

I am excited. Tonight, I watch Ally play volley ball for the first time. She is on the Montessori team.

Afterwards, I have to hurry home. My podcast at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Interesting. An eye opener on occasion. Join me for a half hour. Listen to me rant and rave. Guaranteed you will not be disappointed. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

On this day in 1950, Tennessee Williams purchased what was to be his home for some 30 yeas on Duncan St. Only $13,000 back then.

The home remains lovely. Present owners keep it in tip top shape.

Lisa and family live 1 1/2 blocks down the street on Duncan.

One of the most thriving and happiest Key West businesses is on Union just below White. Dairy Queen. On this day in 1951, the Zoning Board approved a zoning change so the Dairy Queen could be built.

For over 60 years, Dairy Queen has successfully operated in the same place. Primarily patronized by locals. School kids and families. Many the time Lisa, Robert, Ally and I would stop and enjoy. Sometimes Louis alone with the grandkids. Small tables outside to sit on. One of the few Key West businesses with more than adequate parking.

We wait for the FBI report. Now expanded. Going to be interesting.

I suspect another governmental investigation is ongoing at the same time. One by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Composed of Federal Judges. Oversees the operation of Federal Courts.

The Judicial Conference at the moment would be operating in secrecy. It has the power to recommend impeachment among other things for criminal malfeasance. It can initiate its investigation on its own based merely on media reports.

Does Kavanaugh qualify for such an investigation? I think so. However, I am not a member of the Judicial Conference.

Got to give the Devil his do. I refer to Trump.

NAFTA was replaced by USMCA yesterday. A better trade agreement.

Trump delivered.

Enjoy your day!

CELIBACY SYNDROME…..A FLIGHT FROM HUMAN INTIMACY

Back to normal. Three hundred sixty five days till Christmas again. A well earned rest.

The Japanese continue to move away from sex. Would you believe! I wrote about the situation several years ago. It remains ongoing and getting worse.

Especially with the young. One study indicates forty five percent have given up on sex. Women 16-24, 25 percent of the men. One third of those under 30 have never dated. Most believe love leads nowhere.

Another study suggests even higher numbers. Forty nine percent of women 18-34 and 61 percent of unmarried men have turned their backs on sex. They are not interested in any kind of romantic relationship.

True celibacy. A flight from intimacy. In addition to not being interested, many despise sex. Hard to believe. Such is the case, however.

No sex creates a problem. A big one. A diminishing population. Births thus far this year are just below 941,000. The lowest number since births began being recorded in 1899.

Several reasons are attributed for the movement away from sex. The economic stagnation of the past 20 years. A continuing nuclear scare. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The radioactive meltdown.

The men claim they cannot afford marriage. Job security no longer exists in Japan. Job uncertainty does. Women do not want them.

Young Japanese women have entered the work place. Most are successful. Much demanded of them. They do not wish to have a job and care for a family. Too much work involved. They prefer dinners at top restaurants with their girl friends and traveling. The ladies can personally satisfy their sexual needs personally.

Women consider marriage a grave.

Talk about cultural change. What is happening in Japan is a big one!

Lisa’s for dinner last night. Tons of left overs from Christmas eve.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Wanted to wish friends a Merry Christmas. Spent some time with David, Frankie and Sandy. Sissy bartending.

Key West is recovering well from Irma. Twenty miles up the Keys, they are not. From Cudjoe to Marathon, the mess remains. Cleanup and repair moving at snail’s pace.

FEMA did well initially. FEMA has already spent $118 million in Monroe County.

Much that remains is for the State and County to do. Therein I believe lies the problem. Neither the State nor County expected the devastation Irma wrought. The problem exceeded anything they imagined or planned for.

Self-help still available. Homeowners, neighbors and friends continue pitching in and helping. The Federal, State and County must up their efforts. If the recovery is too much for the State and County, it has to be even more/worse for those engaged in self-help.

I worry. About war.

Marine Commandant General Robert Neller speaking to troops in Norway said war could come. In the next year. In Russia and the Pacific Theater.

In December 1888, Van Gogh chopped off the lower part of his left ear with a razor. History tells us he was a bit off mentally.

No wonder. As an artist, he lived off his earnings from the sale of his paintings. In his entire career, he sold only one painting.

Following the ear cutting event, Van Gogh painted a picture of himself with a head bandage covering the ear. It sold years later in the millions. As most of Van Gogh’s paintings have.

Difficult to find anyone who speaks well of Comcast. A difficult vendor to have for TV, wi-fi, and landlines. Service the worst!

Washington State has decided to take Comcast on. The Attorney General has initiated a lawsuit charging Comcast with misselling its Service Protection Plan. The issue who pays for service call bills. Seventy three million dollars involved over a 5 year period.

Go Washington State!

Podcast time tonight! My blog talk radio show. Nine my time.

Between Trump and world events, there is always much to talk about. I never run out of material. This evening no exception. The ills and misdeeds of the world exposed. Here and there, a story that warms rather than chills the heart.

A fast moving half hour. Boring the show is not. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

I GET MY FIRST SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK TOMORROW

I have heard the term southern hospitality my whole life. It is true! This past week proof.

Jean and Joe the most hospitable without question. Opened their home, refrigerator, etc. to us. Jean just took my dirty clothes and threw them in the washer.

They can never be repaid. Nor do they expect it. They will be remembered, however.

Then there are Jean’s neighbors. Three full dinner meals prepared. Desserts and breakfast food. Even a few bottles of booze and wine.

All because they were friends of Jean and Joe and felt sorry for us.

Last night’s benefactor was Cindy. A cheerful woman. Widowed some 40 years. Prepared Greek chicken and accompanying dishes. Outstanding!

Cindy a die hard Democrat. Hard to find in this Republican state. Very outspoken in her opposition to Trump and Republicans. Loved her!

Cindy was all excited. She told us that tomorrow (today) she would receive her first Social Security check. An event! I recall when I received my first. A return on something you paid for and had to wait a long time to receive.

We ran out of wine at dinner. Eight bottles.

This hurricane evacuation thing is emotional. Very much so. All of us are just coming down. The knowledge Irma did not hit Key West as hard as expected, the knowledge that our homes sustained little damage helps.

Peter Petro called me last night. We now have cell phone service. He is the realtor who takes care of my home. I lost 3 trees. Two in front and one in the back. A dented rain gutter. No water damage. House stinks because I left food in the freezer and refrigerator.

Talked with Anna this morning. The roads in Key West itself are open. She is going to the house today to clean out the freezer and refrigerator.

Spoke with Lisa last night. Still in Jupiter. Their home looks ok. From the air. Roof still on.

The family’s first report was from two of Ally’s girl friends. Note Ally and the girl friends are in the seventh grade and 12 years old. The two young ladies walked over to Ally’s house, checked things out and reported to Ally everything looked ok.

There is humor in tragedy.

Mark Watson reported on Facebook this morning that “I got to sleep butt ass naked in a/c…..I lived like a free man!”

Key West has a For Sale column that runs daily on Facebook. free. Someone from Ramrod Key advertised yesterday…..House for sale free. A picture accompanied the ad. The home totally destroyed. Flat on the ground.

Tragedy without humor, also.

Carol Schreck lives on a 53′ Defever trawler docked at the Key West Yacht Club. The vessel sunk in its slip. Even though Carol and friends securely tied it to posts, etc.

Carol had planned to stay. Her boat strong and properly secured. Fortunate she did not.

The boat began jumping around when Irma hit. A few men from the Yacht Club jumped in the water to further secure it. Could not. The water too rough. Dangerous. Had to get out.

The Garrison Bight Pier is roughly a quarter a mile away across the inlet. Carole’s trawler has large pieces of concrete jetty material attached or in the trawler which it is assumed came from the Garrison Bight job.

Hers was the only boat to sink at the Yacht Club.

I have a negative comment to retract.

I mentioned a few days ago that people were lighting candles at the St. Mary of the Sea outdoor Grotto. Tradition tells us praying and lighting candles at the Grotto will prevent significant storm damage to Key West.

Many prayed once again. I questioned and doubted.

I have read several reports today where persons attribute the lack of bad damage to Key West to the candle lighting and praying.

Maybe it works. Real devastation was only 15 and 25 miles away in Cudjoe and Big Pine

I plan on visiting the Grotto, lighting a candle and saying a prayer of thanks when I return.

I suspect I will not be leaving till monday. Perhaps later.

Power presently limited to 16 percent of Key West. Water limited to 4 hours a day. Must be boiled. Medical services available on a very limited basis at the Community College. Hospital still closed. Search and rescue on Cudjoe Key and Big Pine still ongoing. Only food is that government is bringing in. Stores still closed. a few gas stations open. Curfew dusk to dawn continues. Call service spotty. AT&T and Verizon up and running.

Perhaps the worst problem from a practical perspective is the stink. Got a call this morning. Told don’t hurry home. Key West stinks! Seaweed, fish, garbage and trash all over. Waste Management not able to clean yet.

Cathy Hakola wrote me yesterday. Facebook, I believe. Told an interesting story. I cannot find it this morning to recite in detail and correctness as received.

Her story has to do with ghosts. Key West has several ghost stories. Most probably false. I suspect a couple true.

One of the true ones involves the Gato House which once was a hospital. Now an apartment house.

Cathy a nurse. A nurse who also rented an apartment in the Gato House after the hospital closed.

History tells us the hospital was run by a very dedicated nurse. Well respected by all.

The claim is her ghost still resides in the Gato House.

Cathy was sick. She woke in the middle of the night to discover someone holding her hand and rubbing her arm. A woman. The ghost.

This went on for several minutes. Cathy says she was not afraid. Found the episode comforting. Woke the next morning much better.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter!

Happy Holiday!

There are two Easters. One religious, the other not.

The religious Christian. Recognizes Christ rose from the dead……He is risen, He’s not here!

The non-religious for everyone. The Easter bunny, baskets, small yellow candy chicks, chocolate bunnies, etc.

Did the non religious this morning. Just after the sun rose. The annual Easter egg hunt at Lisa’s. In the back yard. Robert and Ally searching for the colored eggs and gifts their parents had hidden.

Something for Jake, also. Never left out. An artificial bone, something to else to chew on, a ball, etc.

Jake as excited as Robert and Ally.

Followed by a huge Easter breakfast prepared by Lisa. Lisa made guzza (guzzad) again. Italian ricotta cheesecake. Second time. Excellent. Vanilla. Told her to move on next year to one with chocolate, cherries, green fruits, etc.

I am invited to four different dinners/gatherings this afternoon. Don’t know if I will make any. May just lay around all day. I am already bloated from breakfast. Will miss the holiday company, however. We shall see.

Began last night at the Chart Room. New bartender Maureen working. Her father bartended at the Chart Room 30 yeas ago for many years. A retired FBI agent. His name Ted. Was known as Ted the Fed.

Then to Hot Tin Roof. Glad I did. Jean Thornton was at the bar having dinner with Eddie. They finished. Eddie left. Jean stayed with me while I ate.

Then back to the Chart Room with Jean.  Che’s birthday last night. Eighty four. God bless him! He was not there. Did not answer his cell phone.

First time Jean met Maureen. They chatted away. Jean liked Maureen and vice versa. A friendship was born.

I drove Jean home. Her bike was broke.

The clamor yesterday on TV rising from the nationwide demonstrations calling for Trump to release his tax returns. Worry not. At some point in time  they will be revealed. Against Trump’s wishes. He will be able to do nothing about it.

The two Congressional committees can subpoenae them. As well as the FBI. Assuming all or at least one will have the balls to do it.

Enjoy this Easter Sunday!

CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA

We are lucky this year. Two Christmas days. Yesterday, the actual holiday. Today the day after, a legal holiday providing workers with a day off.

For me, today will be a screw off day. Not sure at this point what I will do. Dueling Bartenders tonight a good shot.

I planned on starting a walking regimen today. I knock off ten pounds and then gain it back. Know full well exercise is half the battle.

My plan was to get up at six and get out! Good luck! Time not the problem. I wake at 5. Did get out of bed. Looked out the window. Dark and uninviting. My body was talking to me. Go back to bed! Screw the walking! At least for today. That is what I did. Listened to my body.

Maybe tomorrow the walking begins.

I have shared America’s Christmas with you the past few days. From the Puritans in the 1600s to the concluding portion today which will bring us to present times.

President Ulysses Grant is credited with making Christmas a national holiday. He did not. In 1870, Grant signed a bill into law which said Christmas “…..shall be a holiday within the District of Columbia.”

The District of Columbia, not the United States.

The States however began legalizing December 25 as a holiday. Oklahoma was the last to do so in 1907.

It is felt Christmas Day became a national holiday as a result of Grant’s District of Columbia bill signing and the States legalizing December 25 as a holiday.

Christmas received a further boost in 1897. The now famous editorial in the Sun of New York. The significant line, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

Christmas was practiced and recognized as a holiday through World War II. For whatever reason, it received its most gigantic step forward recognition wise and celebration wise following World War II. Everyone got into the act after the war. Maybe because people were happy and grateful to have won.

Fini to An American Christmas.

Christmas Day at Lisa’s is a morning brunch. Much too much food. All good, all tasty.

Ally is developing culinary talents. She made waffles from scratch. No box. Impressive! Enjoyed a couple of thick pieces.

Robert and Ally met me at the door as I arrived. Both telling me at the same time what Santa Claus brought them. Each a laptop.

Amazing how our young ones are trained to use computers. They are already experts to a degree. Their own means they will no longer use their parents’ computers.

Liz’s for an open house in the afternoon. Good food and good company. Liz’s friends local and out of towners.

Liz’s food exceptional. The ham delicious! Egg nog, also.

I like Liz. A cooking expert and talented entertainer. An interesting personality and sharp mind.

Key West loves Harry Truman and Harry Truman loved Key West. I cannot make the statement too many times.

On this date in 1972, Truman died. Simply of old age. Pneumonia brought him into the hospital where his body organs began failing one at a time.

A question. Perhaps one of you may know the answer. My recollection is that I read somewhere Truman was in a nursing home prior to his death. I tried to corroborate my recollection. Could not find the answer.

Did he spend time before his death in a nursing home prior to being delivered to the hospital?

My concern is why this great man was not cared for at home rather than a nursing home. If the nursing home is a fact, Truman deserved better.

Enjoy your day!

VERY SATISFYING EVENING

Last night, pleasant and satisfying. A night with Liz.

Began with drinks at her home. Then to Bruschetta for dinner. Followed by a return to Liz’s home for home made Christmas cookies while seated on Liz’s Christmas decorated front porch.

Company and cookies excellent! Bruschetta good!

Bruschetta is a new Italian restaurant in downtown Key West. At 112 Fitzpatrick Street. Decor comforting.

Marco is part owner and operator. From Italy. A warm personality.

The food! Real Italian. A step up. Portions large. We left with doggy bags.

I enjoyed a linguine dish. Liz, a veal one.

Marco is giving a locals’ discount. Ten percent. Not enough. Should be at least 15 percent, if not 20. He apparently does not understand you can’t make it in Key West with out local business. The summers are long. His problem may be he does not realize the generous discounts being given by other restaurants.

The Key West Citizen makes two contributions to today’s blog.

Today In Key West History mentions that the movie Caribe Gold was being filmed in Key West in 1955. Ethel Waters, Coley Wallace and Cicely Tyson starring.

Lisa has a large colored print announcing the movie. Magnificent. It hangs in her living room. The print rare today.

The Citizens’ Voice carries an interesting comment. I repeat it in its entirety.

“No one felt sorry for the public phones when cellphones came around, no one felt sorry for letters when e-mails came around, no one felt sorry for Blockbuster when Netflix came around. Why feel sorry for the taxis because Uber came around?”

Homeless Memorial Day is December 16. Seventy six homeless persons died thus far this year in Monroe County. Their remains will be interred at a prayer service that day at Key West Cemetery. A recognition that everyone should be remembered.

Three years ago, I wrote a KONK Life COMMENTARY Column about Jeanette Rankin.

Rankin was a pacifist. Elected to Congress for the first time when World War I broke out. She voted against entering the war. She was defeated in the next election.

She ran again for Congress in 1940. Won. Pearl Harbor occurred. Rankin was the sole vote on December 8 opposed to declaring war on Japan.

Visitors abounded in the House that day. She was chased from the Chamber to a telephone booth. The police had to extract her and guide her out of the building to safety.

She did not run for re-election after casting her negative vote. The handwriting was on the wall.

Rankin commented as she cast her vote: “As a woman, I can’t go to war and I refuse to send anyone else.”

The House has a year end spending bill. It will be voted on thursday by the House. On friday by the Senate.

Some oddities in the bill.

New York City has increased responsibility guarding Trump and his family. The City asked for $35 million to assist with the protection. The House bill only appropriates $7 million.

Flint still waits for significant financial assistance to assist with regard to its lead contaminated water problem. Politicians are all talk with little help.

The House bill provides for $170 million to communities struck by contamination water problems. Note, not Flint alone. Communities.

The $170 million is also contingent on the passage of a separate water bill authorizing the funds.

Good luck! It will be a long time if at all before Flint receives proper help from the federal government. No one seems to care. The feds see it as a state problem. The state sees it as a federal problem. In the meantime, Flint water remains contaminated.

A newscaster this morning made mention that the Trump cabinet is the most conservative since Herbert Hoover. I hope Trump does better than Hoover did!

Syracuse/BU saturday at noon.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

I LOVE STOCK ISLAND FEST

Well…..It was a great day! I never want to eat again!

Thanksgiving dinner at Lisa’s with the family.

Lisa out did herself!

I ate it all! Filled my dish twice. Made up for three weeks of dieting.

We ate at 1. I fell asleep on Lisa’s couch afterwards. Woke and drove home. Still tired from the meal. Went to bed and slept for three hours.

Robert and Ally growing. Robert tall. Ally only 11. I noticed yesterday she is moving from child to young lady. Her face has filled out. Features distinct. A beauty in the making!

This weekend a big one for Stock Island. The I Love Stock Island Fest. Tonight, a community fish fry at the Stock Island Village Marina. 5:30-9:30.

A weekend of fun. The Fest celebrates the heritage and history of Stock Island.

Take a drive around the island this weekend. Stock Island is changing.

Syracuse/South Carolina basketball tomorrow at 2. Last week it was South Carolina State. This week, the private university.

Should be a good game. Syracuse 4-0, South Carolina 5-0.

Terry Schmida has an interesting article in this morning’s KONK Life E-Blast. The story of Bascom Grooms IV. A local successful realtor.

I mention Grooms IV because he is the great great grandson of Bascom Grooms who was President of the Key West Rotary in 1928. An individual I have mentioned several times in my rendition of Wright Langley’s History of the Key West Rotary.

The Rotary history continues. Installment 21.

World War II history very sparse. Absent from Langley’s work. Why, I do not know nor was I able to figure out why.

The years following World War II likewise sparse. Not as bad, however.

The War Assets Administration owned Clarence Higgs Memorial Beach. The Key West Rotary spearheaded a movement to have Monroe County purchase the area.

The effort was successful. Monroe County purchased Higgs Beach for $28,000 on November 4, 1947.

Charlie Toppino and Sons agreed to enlarge the beach area with sand. In return, the County sold Toppino the rock at  $ .30 a yard.

In the summer of 1947, the Club launched a new program. To send one of the Key West High School’s outstanding seniors to Girls’ State in Tallahassee. An honor to be the one selected.

Merli Hilton was selected. Merli later became the wife of Rotarian Charles “Sonny” Mc Coy. Mc Coy in due course served as Mayor of Key West.

Late in February 1948, the Rotary Ann Club held a Ladies night at La Concha. Norma Dopp was President of the Rotary Ann Club at the time. Her husband Robert Dopp served as President of the Rotary 1949-50.

What follows is the last portion of Crete’s  Jim Brown’s response to my inquiry as to why the Greeks demonstrated against Obama during his recent visit.

November 15 was the night of the Athens demonstration.

Obama was on his final foreign tour as President. He arrived in Athens on November 15.

Obama met with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras upon arriving. He was honored at a state dinner in the evening. While the demonstration was occurring.

Following friendly and congratulatory remarks by Tsipras, Obama spoke to Greece’s economic problems. He recognized Greece’s “painful time.” Re the European Union, he said it “…..cannot simply look to austerity as a strategy.” Re the Greek people themselves, he said it was “…..incredibly important that the Greek people see improvements in their daily lives.”

Tsipras came to power last year based on his promise there would be no further agreement to austerity measures. He did not keep his word. He capitulated. Somewhat like Bush I’s read my lips, no new taxes.

My Greek friends indicate Tspiras is finished when new elections occur.

Jim reports that Tsipras’ left wing government touted Obama’s visit, before and after, as a vindication of its policies. Self-serving.

Note that Tsipras’ government is a leftist one. The same people who were demonstrating outside the dining hall while Tsipras was inside praising Obama.

Obama’s visit would have helped more if it came sooner. With only two months left in Obama’s time as President, there is little he can do for Greece. Nevertheless, Obama’s visit was viewed as a positive by the Greek people.

I want to thank my Crete friend Jim Brown for his lengthy response to my inquiry. He provided behind the scenes knowledge that the American media did not.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID WOLKOWSKY

David Wolkowsky…..Happy Birthday!

David turned 97 last week. God bless him!

Key West would not be what it is today without him. David, a genius. A man of vision.

Terri White sang last night! At Blue Heaven. I stopped in for a while. A God-given voice!

The humidity was too much. At least, for me. I think for everyone. Terri hung in there. Had to break at one time because of the heat.

Terri sings again. Tonight. At The Little Room Jazz Club. 9-12. Inside and air conditioned!

Friend Anne in Ithaca, NY e-mailed me last night. She caught Terri’s performance last night on Facebook. Live.

Modern science is amazing. I was sitting next to Donna. Donna had her cell phone on  and was videoing Terri’s performance. She told me it was going directly to Facebook. Obviously, it was.

Stopped at Outback afterwards for dinner. No room at the inn. Packed. Mostly families. The start of a holiday weekend obvious.

Walked down to the Chinese Restaurant. The same thing. First time I have ever seen the Chinese Restaurant full. As I walked in, I saw a booth open up. Smiled at the hostess who I knew while nodding at the booth. She nodded her assent.

A bad night diet wise and health wise. I ordered a combination. Egg drop soup, egg roll, pork egg foo yong, brown rice and orange sherbet.

Don’t forget, Brewfest today at the Southernmost. Street party 3-10 in the 1400 block of Duval.

The godfather of Brewfest is Matt Babich. I have known Matt and his former wife Carrie more than 20 years. Matt has been the manager of Southernmost all that time. He knows his job well!

Lisa worked for Matt and Carrie at Southernmost for several years as Sales Manager. Her last job before going into business for herself.

Hermine. Wow! Look at the number it did on north Florida. Glad it missed us. Sorry it hit anywhere.

Here it is saturday. Time to research this week’s KONK Life column. Once again, I am not sure what. I have two topics in mind. One will win out and I will begin the research later this morning.

Sloan coming at 2. Will interfere with my research. Need her for some technical matters, however. It is going to be a long day.

Enjoy your day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!

Grandson Robert was 12 years old yesterday. God bless!

The celebration might not have been. Robert was born with cancer of the liver. The tumor was larger than his liver. He had two major operations in the first eight days of his life.

God was good!

Lisa cooked a Happy Birthday sunday dinner and a birthday cake. The meal outstanding! As to the cake, very little left. Robert had a sleep over the night before. The guys pretty much devoured the cake.

Ally’s birthday is in two weeks. Yesterday, she looked beat up. Had a bad stomach bug the day before.

Summer vacation around the corner. We talked about what they will be doing. One thing will be Seacamp on Big Pine. An educational sea camp. The kids are excited.

Spent yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. Heroin Will Survive New Drug Bill. It is a followup to my article three weeks ago Afghanistan and America’s Heroin Addiction.

The new column hits the stands wednesday.

The first heroin column appears on E-Blast this morning.

My picture on E-blast took me back for a moment. I have not seen it in years. It was taken during my first Greece trip five years ago. I am sitting at a table at my favorite restaurant writing my blog. The bearded Louis.

Stone crab season ended yesterday. A good season. Stone crabs galore. I enjoyed every one I ate. To me, the best of foods. I always say if I knew my meal was to be my last one, I would order stone crabs.

Movie star Roy Scheider had a home in Key West. Scheider of Jaws and French Connection fame. Puchased 630 Dey Street in March 1982. His winter home.

Everyone does everything in Key West.  Scheider was a regular at Camille’s when it was on Duval. He was frequently seen at the breakfast bar chain smoking.

Fausto’s is celebrating its 90th birthday. Its main store today on Fleming, just off Duval. A family business. Quality foods. Surprising however that it has lasted so long. Means whatever they sell has to be good.

I am anti-Trump. No question. I may even be anti-Clinton. I may not even vote.

That being said, the New York Times on saturday did a number on Trump. An unfair one. Front page. The article’s thrust was how Trump behaved with women.

The article should never have been written. It lacked substance. All it proved is Trump can occasionally be an asshole with his mouth.

Trump deserves an apology.

Enjoy your day!

BOEHEIM RETURNS

Jim Boeheim returns tonight! The nine day suspension over. He will be back coaching the Syracuse basketball team when it plays North Carolina in the Carrier Dome.

I guarantee the Dome will be packed. 25,000 or more. Perhaps 30,000. To welcome back a man every Syracuse fan loves.

Syracuse the underdog against North Carolina.

The bocce league party is tonight, also. A huge event. Fun.

I have to choose. No problem. Not even close. I will be home watching Boeheim and the Syracuse team. I especially want to hear the roar of the crowd when Boeheim is introduced.

As usual, my yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Then a trip home to pick up some papers. I had to get to Lisa’s to babysit Jake and the grandchildren.

Lisa had some minor surgery yesterday. She returned home just after 6 last night. She is well. Still feeling the effects of the knock out drugs this morning.

Lisa went in at 9:30. I did not arrive till after 1. Jake greeted me at the door. Following our usual hellos, he went outside and sat by the gate looking up the street. Looking in the direction from which Robert and Ally would come after school. He sat there till 3:30 never moving.

Robert and Ally were getting ready for their tennis lessons when Lisa returned home. Eyes closed, she moved slowly to bed.

Robert and Ally are taking tennis lessons at 1800 Atlantic. I dropped them off. I could see the tennis set up. The courts have always been there. They have been dressed up.

It was close to 7 when I got home. I had intended to go out. However, I needed a shave and another shower. Too much work. I stayed home, watched a bit of TV and went to sleep early.

I did a bit of rummaging before bed to come up with a topic for this week’s KONK Life column. Nothing yet. Drew a blank. Sometime today, divine inspiration will befall me.

Judge Tegan Slaton died several days ago. His obituary appeared in this morning’s Key West Citizen.

I met the Judge only once. Two yeas ago during the bocce playoffs when our teams were playing each other. I found him to be a humble man. May he rest in peace.

This Oregon thing should be terminated. It should have been put down within 24 hours of having begun. The militants are holding a federal building on federal lands hostage.

The building is located nowhere in a vast wilderness zone. Boise, Idaho 200 miles away is the closest significant city.

When there is a black/ white problem, especially the ones involving a black having been shot by a police officer, the police are out in full force. Full equipment. In most instances, even tanks.

The whites holding the federal building are entitled to the same opposition. Recall the old adage…..What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Are the authorities reluctant to go in because the men in the building are whites? The blacks get billy clubbed and arrested on the streets of America. Yet those who have illegally taken over a federal building are left alone.

I have said it before. I say it again. Trump scares me.

He spoke last night in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A Muslim woman was in the crowd. She was wearing a hijab. Seated in the middle of the audience.

During Trump’s speech, she silently stood up. Said nothing. Never had a chance if she so intended. The news reports I have read indicate the mood of the crowd instantly turned nasty. She was booed. Escorted out.

My concern is that the crowd turned nasty. Trump’s supporters appear very much in tune with his views and attitudes. Especially concerning Muslims.

I have related the Trump campaign so far to Germany in the early 1930s. It now has moved into the mid 1930s when the populace joined Hitler in denouncing the Jews.

Trump is calling the tune. He is the Pied Piper.

Jeb Bush recently said that he was concerned for the Republican Party. Trump was not a true conservative. Bush said Trump had hijacked the party. I worry Trump is hijacking our country.

Enjoy your day!