FANTASY FEST NUDITY

BOB’s observations, thoughts and opinions re Fantasy Fest nudity.

Every year at Fantasy Fest time, a group of religious and/or concerned citizens form a Christian Coalition or some other group to  protest what they perceive as a sinful event.

Nudity the primary concern. Personal parts being exhibited. At the time Bob Smith wrote BOB in the mid 1990’s, body painting to cover breasts and genitals had become popular. Total nudity was illegal. Flamingos, palm trees, and flowers became works of art. A woman’s breast the canvas.

Kiosks appeared on Duval. Body painting took place in public. Everyone could view the woman’s nude breasts being covered.

The religious/civic groups were opposed to the public display of breasts during their painting. The issue was resolved. A compromise. Body painting prohibited in public places. Body painting went indoors. Various Duval Street businesses made room for the art work to be done. Everyone made money off the paintings.

BOB considered the resolution folly. The whole issue stupid. Two interesting BOB quotes.

Bob Smith told BOB, “Man cannot live without whim alone.” BOB wrote, “I am appalled…..how we have gotten into this mess.”

Bob Smith said, “Now is the time for all good men to come and get laid in the country.”

Let me bring you up to date on the nudity situation.

Given a person an inch and he/she will take a foot. So it went.

Body painting developed. A woman’s whole body. From the hairline on her head to her toes. No clothing, no pasties. Body all one color. Breasts/nipples painted over. Even a woman’s privates. The time had not yet arrived when women were shaving their pubic hair. The painter merely painted over the pubic hair. The ladies so “covered” walked around.

The religious coalition got back into the act. Full body painting not proper. Nipples and genitalia still could be seen.

Several years of negotiating and the resolution was to cover the nipples with pasties and the female genitalia and buttocks with fully opaque clothing. A bikini bottom would suffice.

Full body painting died out. Why go through all the trouble if a pair of pasties and a small bottom resolved the situation.

The thong came into vogue. The bikini bottom gave way to the thong. A woman’s buttocks in clear view. Not legal, though remains overlooked at the present time.

Some women continue to merely have their breasts and/or chests painted with a tropical bird, etc. The art work lovely. Lasts about 5 days. Women can shower without fear of it washing off.

Give me an inch and I’ll take a foot continued to prevail, however. A few years ago, swingers discovered Fantasy Fest. They came to town and changed the adult flavor of Fantasy Fest. Advanced it to their level of adult fun. Glaring nudity. Occasions of public sex.

Interestingly, at this point the community came together in opposition to the swinger modifications to the event. Those who previously disagreed with the religious coalitions, now agreed. It was a step too far. The swinger aspect lasted only one Fantasy Fest. Everything back to normal thereafter. Whatever that may be.

Male genitalia exposure a problem. Few men do it. Some however enjoy showing off their manhood. Some cover the area with a small piece of cloth which when a step is taken that which was covered peeks out.

If I were to list present day rules, they would be no showing of genitals, no exposed female nipples, no exposed public hair, no public sex. Plus, no fun. The last sentence added by me as a joke.

My yesterday began with a haircut. Lori back from a 2 week Maine vacation. Then lunch at Sandy’s Cafe a few doors down.

My book reading is sporadic. I do so much researching on the internet, I have little time left to read. I seem to be back into reading of late.

I read 2 or 3 books at a time. Move back and forth as the mood strikes me. Two at the moment. Madeleine Albright’s Fascism and Peter Schweizer’s Secret Empires.

Spent the afternoon reading both.

The Chart Room first last night. Met a very interesting couple. Chris and Carrie from Pennsville, New Jersey. First time in Key West. Love it.

Chris is an engineer. Carrie, a nurse. They have 3 children. Nineteen, ten and four.

Chris and Carrie are unique in a certain respect. Each obtained their college degrees later than normal. Chris at 30. Carrie even later.

I enjoyed their company.

Sheila and David arrived. Not together. I have not seen them in ages.

Even Ollie showed up.

David, Ollie and I had a pleasant conversation. Flashes of wisdom make an appearance when you hear David and Ollie express themselves on a subject.

Stopped at the Blue Macaw for a bite to eat. Great Happy Hour! From 4-9. I like that it runs late. I enjoyed ribs at 8.

Ron and Paul at the other end of the bar. They bought me a drink. I was not aware till after they left and I went to pay my bill. Thank you Paul and Ron.

A very attractive woman sitting next to me at the bar. From Maine. We talked about the tariff impact on Maine’s lobster industry. Bad!

She was not aware that the lobster industry exists in the Keys also. Not as large as Maine’s. Significant, however. Spiny lobsters are a multi-million dollar business in the Keys. Largest customers China and Japan. Our lobster fishermen will be taking a hit, also.

Donna and Terri live across the street from the Blue Macaw. They love the area. Terri says it reminds her of the Village in the 1970’s. I stopped and visited my ladies for a while.

Terri was stretched out on the couch. Not feeling well. Donna tired. Worked 10 hours. Bear happy to see me.

Donna is a concierge. On the side, she makes jewelry. Has been doing it for years. She had a showing earlier in the evening. Sold some pieces.

I forgot. Never made it. The first thing she asked when I arrived: Where were you? Embarrassing.

Yesterday hot! Hot hot! Ninety five degrees. Fortunately, very little humidity.

Enjoy your day!

CATHERINE…..WHERE ARE YOU?

Catherine…..Where are you? An interesting introduction.

I met Catherine last night at the Sons and Daughters of Italy Christmas party. We were seated next to each other for dinner. Enjoyed our time together.

At the end, she entered www.keywestlou.com on her phone. I asked for her e-mail. She put it on my phone. Easier she thought. I wanted to send her a piece to read.

This morning, I tried to send. From memory. Did not work. When Catherine returned my cell phone to me, I forgot to hit SAVE.

Ergo, Catherine…..Where are you? Please e-mail me at louispetrone@gmail.com. I will then have your e-mail and will be able to send you the material I thought you might be interested in.

The party was wonderful. What else could be expected from a group of partying Italians.

Our table interesting.

Besides Catherine, met Elizabeth. An engineer. She warmed my heart when she told me she reads the blog.

Martin and Donatella. Martin a former President of the organization. An entrepreneur. His company operates out of several cities. Donatella Italian born. She recalled my KONK Life articles.

I left early. As the dancing started. Catherine was unable to dance. She had a hip replacement six weeks ago.

Cold last night. Cold during the evening. Cold this morning. I have to find my leather jacket.

The sky was perfect last night as I left the Doubletree. Not a cloud. Stars everywhere.

My first stop this morning is the opticians. Have to get the eye glass problem resolved. Anxious to see well again.

This morning ends the first two weeks of the diet. Atkins. The diet claims a 10 pound loss at the end of the first two weeks. Then 2 pounds a week. Only lost 8. I am disappointed. Every pound  a hard loss. Committed however to staying on the diet.

Tonight will be special. Atkins permits drinking after two weeks. Gin or scotch. No carbs. Gin my drink of choice for 40 years. Look forward to Beefeater on the rocks tonight. I am a man in the desert searching for water.

Moore/Jones Alabama election tomorrow.

On TV this morning, a video was of a group of Alabama seniors. One hundred percent behind Moore. Thought the 16 ladies reporting him all lied. One made mention that 30-40 years ago, Alabama permitted 13 year olds to marry. Another said any parent back then would have been happy if an Assistant District Attorney was meeting their 14 year old daughter at a mall.

Sick, thwarted thinking!

What a difference eighty years make!

Actually eighty one years ago when on this date in 1936 Edward VIII abdicated to marry twice divorced Wallis Simpson. He could not live without the woman he loved.

Parliament would not accept a divorcee as spouse to the King of England.

A different world today. Prince Charles divorced and remarried. Prince Harry soon to marry a divorced lady.

Putin has a reputation of being a ladies’ man. Rarely mentioned. He is numero uno in a totalitarian state.

Oh! Calcutta! opened in New York in 1969. Nudity a significant part of the show. I saw it. Must be frank. Made me a bit uncomfortable at the time. And a prude I am not!

Soon after its opening, Sergi Mikhail, Secretary of Moscow’s Writers Union, described Oh! Calcutta’s nudity as a sign of western decadence. His concern was that Oh! Calcutta’s “bourgeois” thinking was affecting Russian youth.

Sixty two year old Xiong Gaowa is a Chinese barber. No barber shop. He works on the street. A chair on an open thoroughfare. In Chengdu, Sichuan.

He has a specialty. Called blade wash eyes. Runs a straight razor along the inside of a customer’s eyelids. Leaves the customer feeling refreshed and comfortable afterwards.

The process cleans the sebaceous glands running along the inside of the eyelid.

The Chinese medical profession finds nothing wrong with the blade eye wash. As long as the instrument used is sterilized to prevent infection.

I came across an article a few days ago reporting that the Department of Defense (DOD) was going to perform an audit. The first ever. Not a dollar one which is desperately needed. Billions unaccounted for each year.

Rather an audit of material, supplies. Things like ammunition, tanks, planes, etc. An inventory. A big job. Two thousand four hundred auditors to be involved.

I read another article this morning that makes me understand why the audit. Humans must be involved also. The Pentagon has lost 44,000 soldiers. Cannot track them. Have no idea where they are.

The Pentagon lists military under Country Location. The 44,000 are marked Unknown.

The soldiers involved were lost in deployment.

Would you believe?

Enjoy your day!

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

When I climbed out of bed yesterday morning, I knew my day ahead. Do the blog, a little TV, Kate Miano’s Gardens and then a stone crab dinner at the Pier House.

What do they say…..The best laid plans of mice and men, etc.

I did the blog, watched a lot of TV, worked on tuesday’s podcast, and grocery shopped at Publix.

One of the movies Wuthering Heights. I consider Wuthering Heights a great love story intertwined with an abnormal tragedy.

Written by Emily Bronte in the 1840’s. Brought to the screen in 1939. Starred Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon.

Heathcliff’s “Cathy, Cathy, Cathy” heart wrenching and diabolical at the same time.

Then to Publix. Nothing like shopping at Publix on a sunday. Everyone there!

Another Fantasy Fest day has arrived. An observation and my recommendations as to what to do.

Nudity is prohibited. Every year. Never the less, nudity persists. Significantly. There are exceptions. Too complicated to spell out.

My admonishment simple. Women keep your nipples covered. Women and men, no genital exhibiting. Must be covered also. I think an exception here if the female genital is spray painted and the woman remains in what is described as the Fantasy Fest zone.

A luau. At the Southernmost. A Key West style pig roast. 6:30.

The Green Parrot is featuring a Beatles tribute. All You Need Is Love.

A Kinky Carnival at Kelley’s. Used to be the only BD/SM party during Fantasy Fest. Now there are several.

I recall attending my one and only 10 years ago with Donna and Terri. An experience.

They would not let me in. I was not appropriately dressed. At least I was dressed. Shorts and a tee shirt.

My attire became an issue. I wanted admission. Had always wanted to see this type show.

We compromised. I took off my tee shirt and placed it around my belt. I was allowed entrance bare chested.

How stupid, I thought. Turned out the gate keepers knew better than I.

The place was packed. In excess of a thousand persons. Standing room only.

As soon as I was in, women started approaching me and grabbing my nipples. Hard! Twisted them!

Not my cup of tea.

After several twists, I decided I would grab and twist their nipples before they got to mine. Worked! After twisting a few, I was no loner bothered.

Much to see. My eyes enjoyed. Saw things I had only previously heard of or read about. Left after 1 1/2 hours. Enough time to complete my BD/SM education.

We seem to be tip toeing to war. During Cold War days, the U.S. had B-52’s constantly in flight. Always several in the air. No time without. Each carried nuclear bombs. If a problem occurred with Russia, the B-52’s were prepared to immediately attack.

With the demise of the Soviet Union, the U.S. in 1991 decided such preparedness no longer required.

It has been announced the Air Force is preparing B-52’s for  24 hour alert status as during the Cold War.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

BARE ASSED PROTEST

Nudity has its place. The loci an individual thing. Different for most persons. Yesterday, a nudity happening. At the airport in Nashville.

A man got out of a car. Walked into the airport. Walked towards American Airlines.

Totally nude. His nudity a protest against the TSA. The gentleman, a frequent flier. Sick and tired of the way TSA checks passengers for security purposes.

He never made it to the gate. Arrested. Charged with public indecency.

He was similarly arrested in 2009 for nudity at an airport parking lot. He never made it into the terminal that time.

News reports indicate the man was basically ignored as he walked through the terminal. One passenger did take his picture. I could not find it on the internet.

I worry about Pope Francis. His safety my concern. The Church hierarchy does not approve of the changes he seeks to make. The Cardinals and Bishops generally oppose him.

The Pope is a humble man. Recall that when elected, he refused to live in the Pope’s sumptuous quarters. Instead, he moved into a small hotel on the Vatican grounds. A place where Cardinals and Bishops reside also.

The facility has a receptionist. A young lady 27 years old. Seven months pregnant. Miriam Wuolou. She would greet the Pope and hand him his key and messages as he returned each day.

Miriam was found dead in her bed. She lived away from Vatican grounds. She had been dead several days. Her body in an advanced state of decomposition. A major investigation underway.

Why my concern? Twenty some odd years ago, a Pope, whose name escapes me, was found dead in his bed. He had been Pope for only 21 or 22 days.

In his short time as Pope, he had initiated an investigation of the Vatican Bank. The Bank was corrupt.

Pope Francis has initiated an investigation of today’s Vatican Bank. He also has initiated changes that are upsetting to Cardinals and Bishops. His theme that we are all God’s children is not similarly held by all.

My toe definitely without question broke. Turned black yesterday.

I have a new cell phone. My old one was six years old. Had stopped working correctly or efficiently.

The phone is a Samsung Galaxy. Apparently does everything. An education process ahead.

I got the phone at Verizon Wireless in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center. Recommended to me by many. The Verizon store in the K-Mart Plaza is not well liked. I bought my old phone there. The service sucked. Especially the help I received for my European trips. I purchased a ton of stuff that was supposed to service my needs. Nothing did. Two years in a row.

A brother and brother in law own the Winn-Dixie Verizon. One is Brett. Brett took car of me. Spent a lot of time with me. Explained everything. He told me to return anytime with questions or problems. Those who recommended his store to me said Brett and his people are always pleasant and helpful.

The new cell phone was overdue. As was my return to Antonia’s. After six years of staying away, I decided to return last night. There have been three new owners since I walked away. Everything the same. The ambiance and food. It was nice to be home, again.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL

It is time again! For the handful of righteous to complain about Fantasy Fest. Specifically, the nudity. More hearings. Press attention.

The group is a squeaky wheel. Receives more attention than deserved.

Fantasy Fest is an adult party. If the nudity offends, stay away!

Dinner at La Trattoria by the Ocean last night. Food good. Food always good over the years.

I tried Open Table to make a reservation. For 7 o’clock. Received a confirmation. Arrived at 7. The hostess told me my table was still occupied. I asked how long a wait. She did not know.

She had already noted I had an Open Table reservation. I reminded her of that fact. Give me any table. She said the next one. I told her I would be at the bar.

Forty five minutes and two drinks later, I returned to her. Asked pleasantly when I should start complaining? About what, she asked. I told her and reminded her of our earlier conversation. She remembered neither me nor the reservation.

She told me my Open Table reservation showed a no show/cancellation.

Politely, I said just give me a table. She looked up and said, Oh, I see one over there.

Ordered. A century later, still no food. A long wait. No drinks, either.

I do not know whose fault it was. I suspect the hostess. I was there on time. She probably failed to click some part of the Open Table program..

Anti-gravity treadmill in the morning. Research in the afternoon. Next week’s KONK Life column will tell the story of a female pirate.

US 1 and Northern Boulevard are both dangerous travel lanes. An accident slows down traffic and sometimes causes delays of 3-4 hours.

A three car crash occurred on US 1 yesterday. On Niles Channel Bridge. Minimum injuries, fortunately. Police directed traffic over one lane for two hours. During that time, traffic was backed up 8-10 miles in both directions.

An interesting fact. Locals do not seem disturbed when delays occur. An accepted part of the Key West life style.

Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman. Visited our island 11 separate times for a total of 175 days.

In 1953 after leaving office, Truman decided to tale a family vacation to Honolulu. Wife Bess and daughter Margaret joined him. A Kansas City newspaper made it sound like a desertion of Key West.

Nothing farther from the truth. Truman returned several times to Key West after he left the Presidency. Stayed at a private residence those times.

Commercial air travel was not yet in vogue. It was a train from Kansas City to San Francisco. Then a boat to Honolulu. The Union Pacific Railroad and the liner President Cleveland.

Truman had been to Honolulu one time before. On his trip to Wake Island to chastise General Douglas MacArthur. When he landed in Honolulu, he refused a flower lei. Said it was not appropriate for a President to wear. On the later trip no longer being President, he accepted the lei.

The Catholic Church has screwed things up more than once over the years. Religion in general has.

On this day in 1633, Galileo made his first appearance before the Roman Inquisition. He was charged with heresy for advocating the earth revolved around the sun and not vice versa. The Catholic Church disagreed. The Church claimed the earth and not the sun was the center of the universe.

My problem is not with the Church’s ignorance. It is why the Church was even involved in an astronomical/scientific issue. One that had nothing to do with saving souls.

Greece, my Greece. Poverty and hard times still abound.

The Eurounion imposed a new and more severe austerity program on Greece last year. Since that time, farmers have had their social security payments tripled and their taxes doubled.

Last month, the farmers protested. In Athens. Eight hundred strong. Drove their tractors into town and blocked a main thoroughfare. A demonstration followed. Soon a battle between farmers and police. The farmers defended themselves against the police with tomatoes and shepherd’s crocks.

Question: Why was this scenario not reported to us by the media? I have no recollection of reporting or discussion.

If I am correct, it is further proof that the news we receive is selective in nature. I blame the corporations owning the various news media. They call the shots.

Enjoy your day!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

‘Tis the season to be jolly…..

My KONK Life column this week is An American Christmas. I went all the way back to Christmas’ beginnings in pagan Rome and traced its development to modern day America.

Christmas in Roman days was not as it is today. It involved all type of debauchery, rapes, killings, etc. An example is caroling.

Today groups dressed go home to home singing Silent Night and the like. In pagan days thousands of years ago, it involved naked people dancing around stone circles. In addition to going house to house. The frivolity included rape and other sexual abuses.

Since I had gotten my column out saturday, yesterday was basically a free day. The one exception was working with Sloan in the morning for an hour. With nothing to do, I did nothing. Laid around in a lazy fashion.

The Miss Universe contest. What a screw up! The winner was Miss Philippine. By mistake, it was announced that it was Miss Columbia. After Miss Columbia had been crowned, the mistake was revealed.

I suspect Miss Columbia will reap benefit from the mistake. Being second in this instance might be more beneficial that having come in first.

Sadness follows Jimmy Carter in his later years. Carter recently disclosed he has a terminal cancer. Last week, his 28 year old grandson Jeremy died.

Key West’s proposed Truman Waterfront Park has taken 15 years to reach the ground breaking ceremony which took place last week. A black cloud seems to hang over the project.

The groundbreaking is an indication things are ready to move forward. The first stages.

The City Commission has a new member. Richard Payne. A retired Florida Judge. An excellent jurist.

Why Payne wanted to get back into politics at the ground level by running for Commissioner, I do not understand. There comes a time to sit back, relax and enjoy.

Payne appears to screw things up. First, he did not appoint the Planning Board member who had served for years. He wanted to appoint his own. Technically, Payne had the power to do so. Not a popular move, however.

Now comes the Truman Waterfront ground breaking. Payne announces that the waterfront would make an excellent place to locate a Key West-Havana ferry service. He was aware there was an agreement with the federal government that donated the land to Key West that use of the water area itself was forbidden.

Payne suggested no problem. He was going to go over the paper work to see if the government was guilty of any breaches.

I can see another 15 years going by before anything further is done with the Truman Waterfront.

Payne should drop the issue. It is not feasible from a time perspective. I am sure other problems will reveal themselves if Payne’s move is continued.

Syracuse/Montana State tomorrow night at 7. The game is televised in Key West on ESP3. ESP3 is Comcast channel 7.

It took me a while to figure out. Hope it is helpful to some.

Enjoy your day!

 

FANTASY FEST NUDITY

The issue comes up every year. Nudity at Fantasy Fest. It is an issue because a handful of locals who believe nudity is terrible, not God like, bad for children, etc. Key West fathers unfortunately to some degree pay attention to the squeaky wheel.

My recollection two years ago is that the leader of the dissenting pack admitted he had never attended Fantasy Fest. The blind shall lead you…..

The issue is at the forefront once again. The police have warned that violation of the local nudity laws will not be tolerated. No showing of genitalia. What happens to those that do not know what genitalia means?

The genitalia thing applies even if painted.

Plus, no exposed female nipples. Nor pubic hair. I was under the impression pubic hair was a yesterday thing. Of course, no public sex.

Finally, no fun.

There is a full moon. During Fantasy Fest week. A contributing factor to the nudity problem. Those arrested  can claim they were temporarily deranged because of the full moon.

You may have noticed I do not do all ten days of Fantasy Fest. Twenty years ago, I did. Too much for this old body now. Even my eyes are bad. I have difficulty seeing the bare bodies. Ergo, no sense in going.

I do one to three nights. Goombay is one. Sedate. Quiet. Everyone clothed. I have one to two nights left, or perhaps none at all. Depends on how I feel.

Tonight definitely no Fantasy Fest. The Republican debates. I will enjoy watching the debates more than some ladies running around with their breasts exposed. The old age factor could be affecting my judgment.

I spent a part of yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou at 9.

Immigration the big topic. Well received based on comments. Germany’s hospitals overrun with immigrants. A bad situation. Worse than anything Arizona ever experienced. Shocking what is happening.

The show is archived on Blog Talk Radio and You Tube. It will be linked to my Key West Lou website tomorrow morning. keywestlou.com. Listen to it. The Germany/immigrant thing an eye opener. Especially since most of the media is not running with the story.

Snuck in two chapters of Growing Up Italian. Wrote, edited and polished each chapter. I thought I would have the book out by Christmas. Not this Christmas. Definitely/hopefully next year’s.

I did not catch much of the Royals/Mets game last night. Missed the early part of the game because of my show. Started watching around the sixth inning. Fell asleep at some point. I was not aware the game went 14 innings. Missed the fun parts.

Accidents happen in war. Innocents are killed. Recently, the U.S. bombed a Doctors Without Borders hospital. Yesterday, the Saudi coalition bombed a Doctors Without Borders facility in Yemen.

It happens. The solution is not criminally trying the guilty country for a war crime. The more appropriate solution is to stop wars entirely. Only then will the problem go away.

My ribs and chest still ache. Though less. I am going to try the anti-gravity treadmill this morning.

Enjoy your day!