ROSE TATTOO / TENNESSEE WILLIAMS / DUNCAN ST.

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The time is this week 1954. The place Duncan Street in Key West. The filming of the movie The Rose Tattoo began.

A great movie. Loved it! Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Mangani. Mangani won the Academy Award for her performance.

The movie was an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan St. He wrote the play while living on Duncan St. The house where the movie was filmed was on Duncan Street. Two doors up from Tennessee Williams’ home. Both Williams and the Rose Tattoo houses still stand on Duncan.

Lisa lives on Duncan. Her home is 1 1/2 blocks from the Williams home.

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

On November 2, 1948, Truman was elected President. He defeated New York Governor Tom Dewey. Truman was not favored to win. A big underdog. No one gave him a chance. Except Truman himself.

Congress at the time was Republican. They blocked him at every move. Some what like today’s Congress and Obama. Only worse. Truman campaigned against the worst Congress ever, as he put it.

Corporate America disliked Truman. Vehemently.

An example is what occurred while Truman was campaigning. Campaigning was done from the back platform of the last car on a train in those days. The train traveled all over the country.

Truman was short on funds. Again, he was not expected to win. Few were contributing to him. The train and crew were leased. The bill was overdue.

The train was stopped by the railroad somewhere in the middle of nowhere between two towns. Truman was told the bill had to be paid in full. If not, Truman and his entourage had to get off.

Truman threw in what he had in his pocket. His supporters did likewise. They had just enough to pay the bill. Truman proceeded on his way.

The distaste the railroad owners had for Truman obvious. Doing this to a President of the United States! Disrespectful!

Politics played the same all the time. Hard ball.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Love dong the show!

One of the topics clearly reflects government waste.

The Department of Defense built a gas station in Afghanistan. Nothing special. A run of the mill gas station. The contracted cost for construction $3 million. A lot for a gas station. Especially since a similar one had been built the previous year in Pakistan for $500,000.

The final cost of construction was $43 million. Wow! $3 million for the construction. $40 million for overhead.

The gas station built was a compressed natural gas automobile station. So built because of the great supply of natural gas in Afghanistan.

The only problem was the people had cars that were petroleum operated. They had no use for the new station. Making the necessary adjustments to change over to a natural gas operated vehicle was not financially feasible. The cost was more than the average Afghanistani made in a year.

The Defense Department had a task force in charge of spending with regard to the closed gas station. When the Department was asked why the increase, they said they did not know/ could not tell because the task force had closed down in March.

And they want to cut Social Security! Cut waste!

I would like to know who made out on this Afghanistan gas station.

Last week, I reported on my radio show that the Muslim immigrants in Germany were overloading the hospitals. One problem was they refused to be treated by female personnel. Doctor, nurse, or otherwise.

Yesterday, it was announced that Muslims presently in camps in Germany would not accept food from women.

Beggars can’t be choosers. They should be grateful they are receiving free medical and food.

European banks are beginning to hurt. Good! May their American counterparts do likewise.

European banks are cutting costs. A large Spanish bank with 2,300 branches     now cleans windows only six times a year instead of twelve. Another Spanish bank with many branches kills the electricity at 7 pm. Another bank requires staff to clean their desks every wednesday. Called Wet Wipe Wednesday. Office space is being reduced.

One hundred thousand banking jobs in the Eurounion have been cut since 2012.

My left chest which I injured in a fall last week started hurting big time again last night. I don’t know why. Kept me up all night. Not one moments sleep. A pain pill did not help. Feels better at the moment.

I am going to skip the treadmill this morning. Will keep a noon manicure appointment with Tammy, however.

Enjoy your day!

 

HOME CANNING TOMATOES

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Last night was nostalgia time.

I had dinner at the bar at Tavern ‘n Town with Buffalo’s Tom and Fran. They return home wednesday.

Tom mentioned they had received a telephone call from their daughter earlier in the day. She lives somewhere else in the U.S. She told her parents they were needed a week from this weekend. It was tomato canning time.

That opened the door. Fran is of Italian extraction. Italian cooking obviously part of her life.

I mentioned that as far back as 3 and 4, I could remember helping my parents can tomatoes. Four or five bushels each time. My job was to skin the tomatoes after they had been boiled.

Tom and Fran are a generation behind me. She uses a machine to squish the tomatoes. I have no recollection of a machine. Everything was done by hand.

The tomatoes led to other canning experiences. We got into wine making, canning pears, canning peaches, canning peppers, and making sausage in oil.

A pleasant trip back in time.

We also chatted about Syracuse football. A great start! 2-0. Can freshman quarterback Dungey lead the team to a glorious season?

Robert and Elena Spottswood stopped by to say hello. Two of the nicest people in Key West. I see Robert about once a year. I had not seen Elena in probably five. Her beauty has not changed one iota in the 15 years I have known the couple.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. It was Body Owners proprietor’s first day back from her honeymoon. The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.

Then to Tammy for a manicure. Love the lady! We talk about everything.

Lunched at home. Must grocery shop. I am down to next to nothing. Even the freezer is empty.

Today is James Fenimore Cooper’s birthday (1789-1851).

Fenimore spent most of his life in Cooperstown. Cooperstown is a 45 minute drive from my old home town Utica. Visited Cooperstown often for business and pleasure. Cooperstown primarily known as home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fenimore was a novelist. One of his most famous works Last of the Mohicans.

His home is a tourist attraction. It sits grandly overlooking Otsego Lake. I have been in the home many times. As a tourist/visitor, with my twin grandsons, and at social events.

It is not Fenimore’s original home. That burned down sometime around 1850. The present one was built nearby by Fenimore’s daughter who used bricks and materials salvaged from the burned down home as part of the building materials..

Most visits to the Fenimore house included of course a stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not a place to be missed.

Kim Davis is a religious fanatic. Sorry if I step on some toes. What she is doing is wrong. She is in effect imposing her religious beliefs on those she was elected to represent. She is also making a mockery out of the law.

I refer specifically to her changing the face of the marriage certificate. Crossed out is County Clerk and written over is by order of a federal court decision. The name of the County has been omitted also. In its place is the community where issued. Medford.

The marriage  certificate form and substance is probably by State law. Kim has no right to unilaterally change such. She is neither the Kentucky State Legislature nor Governor.

My blog talk radio show tonight at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include a bit more re Kim Davis, Afghanistan’s opium and heroin business doing well in spite of war, the European migration situation, where and when the Middle East problem got its start, a Russian bank that was discovered to be using fake gold as reserve capital, Merkel pushing for a European military, and more.

Enjoy your day!

HEMINGWAY DAYS COMING

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Next tuesday is the beginning of one of the Key West events I enjoy most. Hemingway Days.

There will be over 125 Hemingway look alikes hoping to be selected as Hemingway Look Alike 2015. Many of the participants have been coming 10-20 years hoping to win. Losing isn’t bad. A whole week of fun!

The other thing I like about Hemingway Days are the bulls. Especially the Running of the Bulls. Where else, except in Key West!

Some Hemingway descendants visit. Hemingway’s  daughter and grandchildren.

Key West has been home to many fine authors. Others, merely to visit. Whatever, Key West is always happy to greet them. John Updike was in Key West for Hemingway Days 1993. He was here to receive the Conch Republic Prize for writing. In introducing Updike, one of Hemingway’s grandchildren described his writing as having a sensuous style, his life’s work reflecting the freewheeling creative spirit of Key West.

I came across an Updike quote. Interesting, especially to writers and would be writers. “And then there’s that constant feeling that if you’re not writing Moby Dick, you’re just clowning around.”

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I keep increasing speed and incline. I have my nitroglycerin in my pocket just in case.

Then a manicure with Tammy. Love that girl!

The humidity has been unusually heavy this month. I asked Tammy if she was using her pool evenings to cool off. Her bright eyes looked up at me as she exclaimed….When would I have time, I work till 9 in the evening 6-7 days a week! Followed by instantaneous belly laughs from the both of us.

Keep working Tammy. It pays off in the end.

I planned on staying home last night. Don screwed up my plan. He telephoned and said he had to see me. A business matter that could not wait. I tried to beg off. To no avail. So it was shower again, shave and down to Don’s Place.

Don and I concluded the business discussion in 30 minutes. I figured I was up and about. Might as well stay out. Enjoyed some time at the bar with Don, Stan, Claire and David.

Then Don and David joined me at the Chart Room. Unusual. These guys rarely want to leave Don’s Place.

We ran into the other David at the Chart Room. Don and the other David have been friends for years. I learned that at one time Don’s wife Stephanie worked for David. David is an occasional customer at Don’s Place. He is on vacation this week. Told Don he did the breakfast club yesterday morning.

Everyone ends up in Don’s Place!

We spent 2-3 hours at the bar. A good time every minute! Very few customers other than us.

A couple came in and were standing at the corner of the bar next to where I was sitting. David and Heather from Akron. It was a David evening. David and Heather are frequent visitors to Key West. David retired. Nice people.

The British Open a mess because of the weather. Yesterday’s round cut short because of the weather. Especially the wind. The wind was moving the ball on greens before a player could even putt.

I was up in the middle of the night to watch the Open. No way. Tried at around 6 this morning. Still no golf. The weather again.

I just learned today’s golf cancelled. Weather. Especially the wind. Tomorrow they are going to get 36 holes in. Plus, those that did not finish friday will have to get those holes in also. I suspect that will be too much and it will be decided to extend the Open to include monday.

Big night tonight! I am Jenna’s guest at dinner to celebrate my birthday. She picked the restaurant. Azur. A great restaurant I seldom visit. I am looking forward to Jenna and Azur this evening.

Enjoy your day!

COW KEY BRIDGE RUN

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Two marathons tomorrow.

One is the Seven Mile Bridge run. A 7 mile marathon.

The other is the second annual Cow Key Bridge Run. The Cow Key Bridge is the first a person crosses on US 1 after leaving Key West. The bridge is 300 feet long. For those who might not have the physical dexterity to make the seven mile run. It is also for persons of good humor. Those having a Key West mentality.

At the mid-point of the bridge (150 foot marker), there is a water station. The run starts at on the Marriott side of the bridge. Runs north til the end of the bridge. It is anticipated all participating will finish. In good time. Well under 5 minutes.

Pets with Humans lead off the race. Followed by the Walking Cow Stampede, the rest of the runners.

At the end of the race is located the Hurricane Hole. Runners will receive the first beer free.

Registration for the race is being held this afternoon at the Green Parrot. The race is a charity fundraiser. Tee shirts and # bibs will be available. Registration tomorrow morning at the race site also.

Record time is 25 seconds. Some are committed to beating it tomorrow.

Only in Key West!

My yesterday began with a physiotherapy session. Tough! However I can see where it should have benefit. I was exhausted once again afterwards.

I followed physio with a manicure at Tammy’s. I had difficulty staying awake as she did my nails.

Bocce last night. I knew it was going to be tough. We won 1 and lost 2. I played the first game. We were down 13-5. We came back. Not enough, however. Lost 16-13. The second game was a disaster. Lost 16-1. We won the third game 16-5.

The breeze across the bocce courts was terrific. Especially over the court we were on. Court #1. Two hundred feet off the Atlantic.

I received a surprise yesterday. A friend up north read of my love for casserta. Italian Easter cake. Lisa made a vanilla one for Easter which was delicious. The one I received was chocolate. It arrived packed in hot ice.

The casserta was my lunch. Not good for the diet!

Enjoy your day!