TALENTED DEVON

Devon is a woman of many talents, attributes and skills. One of Key West’s leading bartenders. Works her trade at Don’s place. Absolutely beautiful!

Turned out Devon is also expertise in handwriting. Penmanship. A talented calligrapher. I did not know. Doubt many were aware. Don was, however.

The reception area at the wedding was rather large. Don asked Devon to create a yellow brick road. She turned to calligraphy. Prepared small signs of various sizes directing guests to food, drink, dessert, guest book, etc.

The final product lovely. Blended with everything. Without question, helpful.

Before writing about Devon, I googled handwriting. There is a whole section on “girly handwriting.” The name must have been born generations ago. It would not fly as politically correct today. Hillary Clinton might refer to it as sexist.

Wednesday is my screw off day. It is my friday. I write steadily and do radio shows from friday through tuesday night.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I know I am redundant. However, I love the machine! The machine is the only one in the lower Keys. It was a wise moment when Heather, who owns Body Builders, decided to buy it.

Rushed home after the machine to be interviewed on the KONK News Radio Show by Don Riggs. Riggs and I generally chat for about 30 seconds before I am on air. Don does his part of the show from Phoenix.

Don mentioned how impressed he was with the column. Especially the civil war aspect. I said, Don you have the wrong column. What you have is this week’s column which is not yet even published. It hits the stands tonight at 5. The column Stay Out Of Civil Wars/Fight Wars To Win.

We are talking about the article Political Sexcapades.

I told Don say hello and turn it over to me. No problem. The show ran well. Don got involved towards the end after he heard me expound for a while.

This week’s column is now available throughout the Keys. Stay Out Of Civil Wars/Fight Wars To Win. It also was linked this morning to my Key West Lou website.

Last night began at Don’s Place. First day he felt recovered from the wedding. Besides the wedding, Don had a ton of out of town guests that stayed on a few days after the wedding. He was constantly the good host.

It was Don, Stan, Clare, and Mickey. Mickey was part of the Don’s Place group till several yeas ago when he moved to Phoenix to work. He is vacationing this week in Key West.

We all went to the VFW afterwards for a bite to eat.

Syracuse has a new football coach. Dino Baber. He spent last season as head coach at Bowling Green. He is originally from Hawaii. I wish him well.

The weather broke yesterday afternoon. The sun came out. We had not seen it for 3-4 days. The high today will be 75. Warm weather through sunday.

I wore long pants only one time.

The Key West Citizen editorial this morning is right on. It talks about the dangers regarding how large Key West is becoming tourist wise.

I occasionally make a mistake which some readers call me on. Properly so. The best of the best err, also. The editorial mentions Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana movie starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Taylor was not in the movie. The female stars were Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr,  and Sue Lyon.

Germany is suffering from its own wrong move. Taking in a million plus immigrants last year. Rapes and sexual abuse were predicted. Such occurred New Year’s eve.

What is to be done re this immigration problem. It affects us all. It is not an easy problem to resolve. My position remains the same. I  do not want them in the United States. They are unhealthy for me, you and the rest of our country.

Enjoy your day!

IMMIGRANT RAPE IN GERMANY

Anna in Novara, Italy e-mailed me yesterday about New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Germany.

A thousand men surrounded and were in the Cologne railroad station. Immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East. Average ages 20-35.

They raped and fondled breasts, the vaginal area and butts of women. Tore clothes off women. Hugged and kissed them.

Authorities believe the attacks were staged/coordinated. Similar though smaller episodes occurred in Hamburg, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf.

Merkel’s opponents are calling for her resignation. I doubt it will happen.

What has happened however is what many predicted would occur. A crime increase, including rapes.

My yesterday began as usual with the anti-gravity treadmill.

Then to Walgreens. I share a personal aggravating story with you.

I have been taking a particular heart generic for several years. For some reason, the prescription got screwed up. Two weeks ago, I went to pick up the renewal which my doctor had called in. I was told there was a problem. I asked for and was given a 5 day supply till the problem was worked out.

Went back five days later. Problem still unresolved. Received another 5 day supply.

Returned yesterday. Still a problem. I very politely explained the background, my returning, etc. It took a bit of time, but the pharmacist worked it out. I thank her.

I was given the prescription. Note, it is a generic. Cost, $2 for a 30 day supply. All the running back and forth over a $2 item. No one seemed to care. The drug store, insurance company, medical profession, etc., except for the pharmacist at Walgreens yesterday.

I fine tuned my blog talk radio show. Two environmental issues hit me wrong.

One had to do with Flint, Michigan’s water supply which contained lead. Michigan’s Governor declared a State of Emergency yesterday and the U.S. Attorney’s office got involved.  The whole thing has to do with money.

I discussed the Flint/lead water problem four months ago on Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

The other with male bass experiencing sex changes in the waters of the northeast. Eighty five per cent of small mouth bass had developed eggs where previously testes had been located. The same with 47 percent of large mouth bass.

Dinner at Roostica.

Watched Chris Matthew’s interview of Hillary Clinton at 7. Did my blog talk radio show at 9.

I am being interviewed today on KONK News re last week’s KONK Life article Political Sexcapades. 104.9 at 12:30.

Tibetan monks visiting Key West this week. Visiting everything. Some spending afternoons at St. Paul’s meditating and other things.

Clemson beat Syracuse in overtime last night 74-73. Oh!!!!!!!! Hard to take. I never thought I would see a bad Syracuse basketball team. It happens, I guess.

Enjoy your day!

NEW YEAR’S EVE WEDDINGS

Happy New Year! Happiness, health and prosperity! May all be yours!

The wedding of the year! Don and Stephanie’s daughter Elizabeth married David. The evening outstanding.

The wedding was outside at 7 behind the Firemen’s Museum on Grinnell. One block from Don’s Place. The setting perfect. Massive green lawn covered with white chairs.

The wedding party beautiful! Including the guys! The bride looked especially good. I was impressed with the men’s tuxedos. Normally, rented and ill fitting. Rented last night. However perfect fitting and looked new.

Don wore a white jacket. Distinguished appearing. James Bond reincarnated.

I hate Don. He is so thin clothes fit him perfectly. I have not had such a body since college.

Stephanie elegant. The only way to describe her.

Elizabeth and David cried as they exchanged vows. Brought a tear to most eyes.

The mother is always the one with the responsibility to put a wedding together. School teacher Stephanie, I give you an A+. You pass with honors.

The reception. Stephanie’s A+ covers the reception, also. It is like Part 1 and Part 2 of an examination.

Don’s Place never looked better! Don’s Place could never look better! Shocking!

A huge white tent. Chandeliers. Large round tables with soft linens covering and beautiful flowers. Gold chairs.

A dance floor. Used all evening! Food, the best. Everything tasty.

People blended well. A family wedding with friends added. Family from all over the country. The women all decked out. The men sweating in suits and ties. Obviously not aware of Key West heat.

The wedding of the year!

The reception was to go on past midnight. Hats and other things necessary to welcome the New Year in available. I could not make midnight. I was home in bed sleeping at 10. Woke at 2 and wished myself a Happy New Year!

Everyone was getting married last night.

Sushie wed. Sushi of drag queen fame. Sushie, the photographer. Sushi who has been coming down in a red slipper from the second floor of the Bourbon St. Pub for years.

Last night, Sushi was attired in a lovely white wedding gown. Before making the trip down at midnight, Sushi married long term partner Jeff Kucin.

In front of the thousands waiting for Sushi’s midnight descent in the red slipper.

There are a couple of other things I would like to share. However, the wedding comments are too touching to be joined with anything else. I will add them to tomorrow’s blog.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

 

 

A FEW RUDE TOURISTS

Some locals told me recently that the tourists were on the rude side this year. I mentioned it to you previously a couple of times.

Last night, I experienced it.

I was at Tavern ‘n Town for dinner. Seated at the bar. Did not want to fight the heavy traffic to get downtown. The bar was packed. However, two seats opened up. One on each side of me.

I was in the middle of my meal.

A gruff voice said, “Please move.”  Not nice at all. The “please” too harsh to be considered nice.

It was a couple. The woman doing the talking. Beautiful! Extremely so. Very overdressed for Key West.

The man looked like he just left the pool. Tee shirt, shorts, toes, hair a mess.

Had the lady waited a few seconds,  I would have seen them, I would have moved without being asked.

I moved. My dinner, silver wear, napkin, two drinks, bread, butter, and newspaper.

They sat. Three minutes later they were up and on their way out. The lady looked at me and said, “We are being ignored.” I asked where will you go. Downtown. Have a reservation? No.

My advice was you are better off staying here. Service a bit slow because the bar is crowded. The food excellent. The entertainment outstanding. If you go downtown, you have to fight the traffic. Find a parking place. They had their own car. Then wait 1-1.5 hours to get a table because you have no reservation.

They knew better. Walked away without a word.

Things were moving. A third seat opened. Three bar seats in a row. Unusual!

Three persons took them. One a lady around my age. With some trouble moving. Unsteady on her feet. The couple probably her daughter and daughter’s husband. In their late 50s, early 60s..

The older woman went to get on the stool next to me. She was having trouble. She was short. As she went up to sit, she started to fall. She fell into me and I grabbed he to stop her falling further. The women kept saying to me, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

The daughter had not seen the fall. She heard the I am sorry’s, however. What are you doing to my mother? I was still holding her. It was like I was abusing the woman.

I explained and the mother did. The daughter was still pissed. She moved her mother three seats away. The daughter sat next to me, the terror of Tavern ‘n Town.

I was glad my dinner was almost over.

Key West exceptionally crowded. Must say it again. Many Japanese tourists. Unusual. Driving next to impossible. People crossing streets without looking. Traffic lights mean nothing to pedestrians and bicyclists.

I had been at Body Owners late morning. Headed downtown afterwards. Had a haircut appointment with Lori. A normally 15 minute trip took 35 minutes. Then, 20 minutes to find a parking place.

I was not a happy camper.

Key West City fathers encourage more and more people to visit. However, they fail to consider how to handle the crowds. Especially, the parking aspect.

Lori and I discussed the crowd situation and her business this time of the year. Her tale always the same.

Business slow the week before a holiday. Tourists already had their hair dome before they came to visit. Her business picks up dramatically the week after. The locals have extra money because of the holiday. They come in in droves to get their hair done.

Syracuse lost to Pitt last night 72-61. The game closer than the score indicates. I thought Syracuse looked good. However, still needs that big man. Pitt controlled the boards 2-1. Scored 22 points on rebounds off the offensive board.

My New Year’s Eve predetermined. A daughter of Don and Stephanie marrying tonight. I am invited. I look forward to the wedding celebration.

This week’s KONK Life column Political Sexcapades linked this morning to my Key West Lou website. .keywestlou.com. An interesting article. Involves Trump and the Clintons.

Everything in moderation tonight. For me and for you.

Happy New Year!

 

POLITICAL SEXCAPADES

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Jesus says…..Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

The Bible tells us…..As ye sow, so shall ye reap. The good Book comments…..How the mighty will fall.

Justin Timberlake wrote a song titled…..What Goes Around, Comes Around.

From biblical times to every day accepted admonitions to modern-day song, the message is clear. Beware. Bad deeds return to bite you in the ass.

The thrust of this column involves the Bill Clinton impeachment proceedings. Brought about by his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky in the White House. During times when Lewinsky was a federal intern or employee. The affair involved oral copulation. Never intercourse.

Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives and following trial by the Senate acquitted.

Certain elected officials pursuing Clinton’s impeachment were adulterers or guilty of other deviant sexual behavior. Prior to, during and subsequent to Clinton’s acquittal.

This column examines the conduct of such persons. Elected officials dirty themselves. Perfect examples of the pot calling the kettle black.

All to be discussed were Republicans. Clinton a Democrat.

Newt Gingrich was the leader of the Republican revolution in 1994. The Republicans took control of Congress for the first time in 44 years. Gingrich soon became Speaker.

Gingrich led the impeachment drive. He thought it despicable that the President, a federal official, would have sex in a federal building, the White House, with a federal intern/employee.

While the drive to impeachment was going on, Gingrich was having an affair with Callista Bisek, a House of Representative staffer. She was 23 years his junior. The sexual relationship ran 1993 to 1998 at which time Gingrich resigned from the House of Representatives. He admitted to the affair.

Gingrich was married to his second wife during the time of the affair. Divorced the second wife and married Bisek after his resignation.

Robert Livingston was a Louisiana Congressman.  He called for the resignation of Clinton. The Republican conference voted for Livingston to succeed Gingrich as Speaker.

Soon after the conference vote and before the official vote, it was discovered Livingston had multiple extramarital affairs. His wife encouraged him to resign from Congress and urge Clinton do the same. Livingston resigned. Clinton did not.

Dennis Hastert of Illinois voted for Clinton’s impeachment. He was elected Speaker following the Gingrich and Livingston resignations.

Hastert served eight years as Speaker. Then resigned. Resigned because he wanted to. He was not forced to do so for any reason.

Last year, Hastert was indicted for violation of federal banking rules.

In his early years, Hastert was a school teacher and coach. It was discovered he had sexually abused three of his students. One of the students wanted Hastert to pay him to not publicly reveal the matter. Hush money.

Hastert paid this individual $1.7 million over a period of time. It was how Hastert made the payments that violated federal law.

Bob Barr of Georgia was one of the leaders in the move to impeach Clinton. He was the first lawmaker to publicly call for Clinton’s resignation because of the Lewinsky matter. He was one of the managers (prosecutors) during the impeachment trial itself before the Senate.

It was discovered Barr had an affair while married.

Dan Burton was another holier than thou.

He too was a leader in seeking Clinton’s impeachment. He said, “No one…..should be allowed to get away with sexual improprieties.”

In 1998, Vanity Fair revealed Barr had an affair in 1983. The affair produced a child. Barr admitted fathering a son with a former state employee.

Helen Chenoweth-Hage was a Congressperson from Idaho. She called and voted for Clinton’s impeachment. In 1998, she admitted to having an affair with a married man for six years. This was before her entering Congress. She was single at the time.

Henry Hyde was a major Congressional figure during impeachment time. He was one of those pushing for Clinton’s impeachment. He was Chairman of the Managers (Chief Prosecutor) who presented evidence against Clinton during the Senate trial.

His affair came to light in 1998, also. It was claimed he had an affair from 1965-1969. Before his election to Congress. The affair was with a married woman who had three children. Hyde was 41 at the time the affair began. He was married.

Hyde admitted to the affair in 1998. He blamed it on “youthful indiscretion.”

News of Hyde’s affair broke while Hyde was spearheading impeachment proceedings.

Stephen C. La Tourette voted to impeach Clinton. He was having an affair at the time with his Chief of Staff, Jennifer Laptook. La Tourettewas married at the time.

David Vitter’s story is interesting. Both Vitter and Livingston were from Louisiana. Vitter took over Robert Livingston’s seat when Livingston resigned because of his extra marital affair.

Vitter said at the time, “I think Livingston’s stepping down makes a very powerful argument that Bill Clinton should resign as well.”

Vitter went on to become a U.S. Senator.

In 2007, Vitter was seeking the Republican nomination for President. His campaign came to an immediate halt when Vitter’s name was discovered in the address book of DC Madam Deborah Jane Palfrey.

You may ask why this article at this time. The reason is the present state of the smoldering Trump/Clinton war.

Clinton charges Trump is a sexist. Probably so. Trump responds with a warning. Saying in effect if you’re going to get into sex, BE CAREFUL.

Neither is Simon pure. There appears to be checkered activities by both in years gone by.

I fear the election is going to get down and dirty. Perhaps the dirtiest Presidential campaign ever. Gutter politics at its worst.

No one will come out clean.

Nor will the American people benefit.

It bothers me that sex continues to be so important in the United States. European nations laugh that we give sex such importance.

I believe we may be at that time when we give less importance to the sexual lives of people. We live in an age where same sex marriage is legal. Transgenderism is accepted In many states. California has laws protecting transgender in certain situations.

People cohabit and live many years or all their years as a family. Bearing children. Never marrying.

Heterosexual divorce is no longer a bar to the Presidency.

Bisexuality does not seem to faze anyone. Homosexuality in the military no longer a problem.

It is a new world. It may be anti-religious. It may not be what all of us like.That is the way it is, however.

So when the dirt starts flying in this campaign, take it in stride. I suspect the two major candidates have skeletons hidden in their closets.

NO BLOG TODAY

No blog today. I have poison in my pen. Better I write nothing at all.

DR. ZHIVAGO

Sunday was a full day for me. A good one.

I got to watch Dr. Zhivago for the umpteenth time. Always exciting! Love Russian history! The film based on Boris Pasternak’s novel of the same name.

A Russian movie I enjoy even more is War and Peace. Based on Leo Tolstoy’s book.

I have only seen the movie two times. It does not get played on TV. I saw it in a movie theater when it first came out in 1956. A few years later on TV. Since, no more. I wish Turner or someone would start running it.

War and Peace’s music got to me. Even more than Dr. Zhivago’s. The theme song is a waltz. The mind dances through many of the scenes.

The book was torture to read. Eleven hundred plus pages. The last 25 percent more philosophy rather than historical novel.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column. Political Sexcapades. An interesting title. An interesting story. Begins with the sexual lives of those who “persecuted” President Clinton re Monica Lewinsky. It ends with the admonition that most are sinners.

Trump has threatened Clinton to be careful if she is going to play the sexism card. I warn/predict a down and dirty campaign. Perhaps the dirtiest ever.

A scenario that should not be. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone type thing.

The column publishes wednesday.

Even got to watch the Syracuse/Texas Southern game. Syracuse won 80-67.

The honeymoon is over. Syracuse play will now be in the ACC. The ACC season starts wednesday night when Syracuse plays Pittsburgh.

A quick dinner at Roostica. Sunday night is spaghetti, meatballs and sausage as my grandmother and mother prepared.

Duval and its side streets are crowded. It is like high season. A big Key West New Year’s Eve ahead.

Key West Citizen’s Keys History notes that on this day during Eisenhower’s Presidency, Eisenhower arrived in Key West to recuperate from a heart problem.

Eisenhower was probably aware of how restful Truman found our island.

Enjoy your day!

WHERE IS CITIZEN’S VOICE?

The  Key West Citizen has its pluses and minuses. As with everything. The outstanding feature of the newspaper is the Citizens’ Voice. A column on the left side of page 2. Readers write in and express their thinking re various issues. Pro and con. Simple and hard hitting.

The Citizens’ Voice is missing from this morning’s paper. Why? What happened? In its place is an Associated Press article on how to make a particular cocktail.

I cannot believe the Citizen is considering discontinuing Citizens’ Voice. It works. Needs no fixing. Not broke.

My friend Sheila Cullen is a staff member at the Citizen. Her job is to prepare Citizens’ Voice each day. She selects what should be printed from the many comments received. She takes her job seriously. As Sheila tells it, she tries to send both sides to print. Her aim is to be fair and balanced.

I tried to reach Sheila this morning to get the poop. I could not reach her. Ergo, I write this column  in the dark as to the reason why it is absent from today’s Citizen.

I researched this week’s KONK Life column yesterday afternoon. Research complete. I will be writing the column today between Meet The Press and the Syracuse basketball game and after the game.

The title: Political Sexcapades. The research off the wall. Politicians have difficulty keeping their pants and panties on.

The column zeroes in on Clinton’s impeachment. Not the impeachment itself. We all know about it. Rather the column concerns certain of those who tried to bring the President down and their secret sex lives. Sort of a people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. They all got their come uppings in due course. Proving that what goes around, comes around.

A great article! You will enjoy it.

Life returned to normal last night after the holiday. I took myself to Tavern ‘n Town. A good crowd. Locals and visitors.

Bobby Nesbitt entertaining.

Ran into Lynda and Bob Frechette. A popular and well liked Key West couple.

It is said that a successful man has a good woman behind him. The reverse true here. Bob is the man behind Lynda who helps her goals and dreams reality. We always hear about Lynda. Rarely, Bob. They are a team.

I am anti-Trump. Write accordingly. Mentioned yesterday that over the holiday I did not meet one person supporting him. Also that those supporting him are whiter, older, less educated, and more blue collar.

I received two strong comments. One from a Key West MBA who is voting for Trump. The other a strong / almost defiant comment that the writer supported Trump.

Good! I love it! This is what it is all about. Free expression, a two party system, etc. We are each other’s indispensable opposition. Think about it.

Syracuse basketball this afternoon. Playing Texas Southern. Syracuse a 17 point favorite. We shall see.

Sal Salerno is recognized as one of Key West’s artistic greats! Perhaps the greatest. A man of international acclaim. A several generation Key Wester. A true Conch.

Salerno died recently.

A Celebration of Life in his honor will take place tomorrow evening from 7-9. At the Gingerbread Square Gallery which Salerno and his husband Joe Birn owned.

I guarantee there will not be enough room in the Gallery and its Courtyard to hold the many who will be attending to pay tribute.

Enjoy your Sunday!