FRANK SINATRA…..THE EARLY YEARS

Ted Turner’s Classic Movies did several hours of Frank Sinatra yesterday starting in the very early morning. Sinatra’s early movies. From 1943-1948. Movies I had never seen. Sinatra a very young man. Thin. Emaciated a better description. Bow tie. The talent obvious. He could sing, dance and act.

Frank Sinatra made it big  when he appeared at the Paramount Theater on Broadway in 1942. I saw him.

We were visiting relatives in the Bronx. My father took me on the subway downtown. I was 7. My Dad 28. He took me to see Sinatra. Actually, I have to assume he wanted to see Sinatra. What did I know at 7!

I have a clear recollection of watching Sinatra sing. People went crazy. Especially the women. My father enjoyed himself tremendously.

Paramount…..An important moment in Sinatra history.

Hogfish last night. Again a good time!

Sat at the bar. Thought it was fisherman to my left. No, a roofer. They look alike. Tanned leathered faces from working in the glaring sun every day.

His name Dave. I enjoyed his company. He wanted me to shoot a game of pool with him. Not for money. I begged off.

On my right was a lovely young lady. She said, I know you. Turned out to be Brooke. Brooke has waitressed around town several years. Places like The Piano. Now at Hogsbreath.

Several seats away was Nancy. Met her for the first time. Told me she lived on the 7th hole. Told her I left a lot of golf balls in her yard. She did not live on the golf course. She lives on a boat called the 7th hole.

Nancy wanted to play pool with me, also. I begged off again. I watched her play. She was good!

Lenna the bartender. A very lovely young lady. They are all lovely. First time we met. Business was slow. We got to chat a bit.

Fish and chips. The hogfish delicious.

I am obviously on Medicare. Love it! God bless America! However a supplement is required. Otherwise, you get stuck for 20 percent of drug and medical bills.

My supplement plans are with United Healthcare. Both had to be renewed this month. I renew for a year and pay the full premium up front. I do so because I fear I might forget to pay a monthly premium and get stuck paying . Could be a disaster if a major medical problem strikes.

Talking with the United Healthcare people is like trying to talk with Comcast. I did the drug portion last week. Different companies so the pain of renewal had to be experienced two times.

I decided to renew the medical portion yesterday. I got smart. I called in at 7 when they start working. Got someone immediately. The person understood what I wanted to do and my method of payment. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes. The first time!

Decided to lunch out. The Cuban Coffee Queen. Too many people. Walked around the corner to DJ’s Clam Shack. Had never been there before. They advertise a Maine lobster roll. Not my day. Packed. People eating standing up.

The outside bar at Mangoes across the street was empty. I have not eaten at Mangoes in at least a dozen years. Always a good meal. I just drifted away.

I had a shrimp po boy sandwich. Wow! Delicious! Too big! I could not finish.

A Broadway musical is in the works re Jimmy Buffet. Presently in the development stage. Working towards a 2017 opening. Has to be a winner!

KONK E-Blast this morning is carrying this week’s KONK Life column. The President Could Not Spell. Also at 12:30 pm KONK News will be interviewing me re the column on radio 104.9.

Ed Swift follows me at 12:45. His topic, affordable housing. He knows everything about the problem. The community thus far has failed to listen to him. A mistake.

Dinner with Jenna tonight.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

JUSTICE?

A Saudi millionaire was acquitted of raping a teen in London. He said he tripped and accidentally penetrated her.

Juries are finding it difficult to find guilt world wide. Many police/black killings in the U.S. and now this in England.

Justice is moving farther and farther away.

The anti-gravity treadmill in the morning yesterday. I am increasing the miles. A tenth here, a tenth there. Ever upward. I worry I may be pushing myself.

A manicure with Tammy at noon. She is representative of the Asian female mind.

When she lived in Vietnam, the man was king. Women were nothing. Everything was done for the man.

It is different in the United States. She is free. Independent. Can do what she wants.

I am happy Tammy’s husband did not marry her in Vietnam. They met here in Florida. He knew he was not getting an old country woman.

Don’s Place first last night. After a chat or two, we headed to the VFW. Don wanted to go. Stan and Claire, also.

Don was captured as soon as we walked into the VFW. The Commodore grabbed him and took Don around introducing him. Then a former Commodore came by and took Don away to introduce him to some others.

Stan knew many. Turns out he is a former Navy man who was stationed at Bocca Chica. He worked as a cook for the VFW for a while. It was old home week for him.

No one I knew, except Schmegly from last week. One more person, also? When I walked in a white haired gent introduced me to his wife. As his barber. I smiled and walked on. He was seated nearby. A little later he caught my attention and said…..My barber!

I felt bad disappointing him. I told him I was not his barber or a barber. He left with a puzzled look on his face. Made me feel bad I was not his barber.

The VFW was having a party. for one of its members. A 92 year old World War II veteran. He fought the war in a submarine.

The birthday cake was delicious.

This week’s KONK Life column The President Could Not Spell is available in two places this morning. One is KONK Life which is on the stands. The other is my Key West Lou website (.keywestlou.com) where it is linked.

Enjoy your day!