JOHN HERSEY…..TALES OF KEY WEST

Noted writer John Hersey spent his winters in Key West and summers in Martha’s Vineyard.

He was born in Tientsin, China. His parents Protestant ministers. Hershey spoke Chinese before English. He died in Key West March 23, 1993.

Hersey’s notable works include A Bell for Adano, Hiroshima, and Tales of Key West. It is Tales of Key West I wish to momentarily dwell on.

Tales was written in Hersey’s later years. He had seen and lived Key West first hand. Notable Tales include those of a man dying of AIDS trying to maintain his respectability, fake crime reports, and John James Audubon shooting staggering numbers of birds for the fun of it.

The item re the birds surprised me.

Summer is sneaking in. The seasons change dramatically in Key West. No slow slide. One or two days and the next season is here.

Key West springs always short. The temperatures the past few days indicative of summer’s arrival. Today, the high 83 and the low 76.

It is not the temperature so much. It is the humidity. I have felt it the past two days. Things get sticky. Your body warmer than it has been. Clothes uncomfortable. You’re sweating once again.

Publix at 9 yesterday morning. The cupboard bare again. Needed food desperately. No dinner the night before.

Saturday at 9 am a good time to shop Publix. No one there. Spent $100 and hurried home. Food getting more and more expensive. I do not know how families do it.

I had to complete yesterday’s blog. Researched the material before leaving for Publix. Did the actual writing upon returning.

I was Catherine’s guest for Happy Hour at Martin’s. A charming time. A few drinks. Followed by lamb chops and baked brie.

First part of today busy. Sloan at noon. I have to get back into a more disciplined work schedule. Completing Growing Up Italian on the agenda. Next week, I will begin writing the Key West Lou Commentary once a week for KONK Life. I have let Key West Lou Live slide. Have to get it back in the game.

Not difficult if my time is properly organized. We shall see.

Later this afternoon, I plan on spending some time at Kate Miano’s Gardens. Always a pleasant way to finish the weekend.

There was a fire yesterday on the 50th floor of Trump Towers. One dead, six firefighters injured.

The President’s personal home and offices are higher up on the top two floors.

This is the second fire this year in Trump Towers.

No sprinkler system! Can you imagine living or buying an apartment that high without a sprinkler system!

Sprinkler systems were not part of the New York City Building Code in 1984 when Trump Towers was built. The sprinkler system requirement did not become mandatory in new construction till sometime in the late 1990’s. Trump opposed it.

Scary living. Especially after having seen Towering Inferno a couple of nights ago for probably the 20th time.

Scott Pruitt is part of the swamp Trump promised to eliminate if elected. Instead he brought the likes of Pruitt and other scum to Washington.

For Pruitt’s misdeeds to date, he should be fired. Trump is not firing him. Instead, he praised him yesterday.

There has to be a reason why.

I suspect it is because Pruitt is an attorney and former Attorney General of Oklahoma.

Trump would like to get rid of Mueller. Sessions cannot do it because he recused himself. Rothstein does not appear willing to do it. Firing two Justice Department heads in one day would not look good.

I see the battle plan as follows. Trump fires Sessions. Replaces him with Pruitt. Since Pruitt has already been approved by the Senate for a cabinet position (EPA head), he does not need Senate approval to be Attorney General for seven months. He can serve on an interim appointment. In that time, he would fire Mueller.

Brilliant! Lousy! The stench will be overwhelming.

I am sick and tired of hearing Trump say ISIS has been defeated in Syria. Trump said he wanted to get out. Now his words are that ISIS is almost defeated and we’ll get out in several months.

ISIS is not defeated! They are hiding in their homes, mountains and caves waiting for the US to leave. Then, ISIS will return. The American lives lost for naught.

Another Syria problem is the US is there basically in opposition to Russia and Iran. In a friendly sort of way. Even Trump does not agree with the Russia-Iran position. However he avoids direct confrontation.

The US will be in Syria for years. You invade a country, you send troops in to help, you have bought the country for years.

The worst. Syria chemically attacked its people again yesterday. View the videos on TV. Men, women and children, alive or dying, foaming from their noses and mouths.

Syria is turning into another Vietnam time wise. As have several other Middle East countries. Afghanistan one. Quagmires. We get stuck in these places.

We go in, but never know how to get out.

Tuesday coming. My first book signing. Irma and Me. Andrews Inn at Zero Whalton Lane. Noon to 3. Three other authors signing, also. Someone doing a reading. Refreshments. Should be fun.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

 

SECRET SERVICE ON STREET OVER RENT DISPUTE WITH TRUMP ORGANIZATION

Trump Tower is listed as the President’s personal residence. His home.

The President is required to have Secret Service protection at all times and at all venues. Even when he might be sleeping elsewhere on a particular night.

The Secret Service utilized the apartment immediately below Trump’s in Trump Tower.

Trump Organization operates the building. Trump Organization and the Secret Service could not agree on rent. In early July, the Secret Service was asked to move. Booted out in the vernacular of the street.

The Secret Service has moved into a trailer which sits on the sidewalk in front of Trump Tower while searching for another place.

The rent demanded had to be astronomical. The Pentagon required space near the President in Trump Towers. The White House Military Office recently agreed to $130,000 a month.

It was revealed last night that Mueller had seated a Grand Jury in Washington several weeks ago. The formal beginning of the end for Trump and his associates from my perspective. It will take time. As much as 1-2 years.

A flavor of Key West was lost on August 3, 1995 never to return. The Copa Nightclub burned down. Totally destroyed. It was rebuilt. However never achieved the prominence it held prior to the fire.

The Copa was a premier gay entertainment palace.

I visited once. My deviate side took over. A Black Mass was scheduled for midnight. Thought it would be interesting.

I was standing enjoying a drink waiting for the show to start. Two guys dressed as nuns walked over and asked if they could hold my balls.

I was out the door as fast as my legs could carry me. Never got to see the show.

Twenty two years ago. Today, I would stand my ground and laugh. I have become acclimated. No one would touch anything. Probably not even ask.

Up early yesterday morning. Took Terri to chemotherapy at 9.

Key West High School has a unique program. I do not recall a similar program when my children were in high school in Utica. Prepares students to produce television and film programs.

One of the most respected such programs in the United States.

I have had experience with some of the students via Jenna Stauffer. She has been involved in utilizing the students for years. I participated in three shows. I was impressed beyond description.

Two of the students have produced the film Paradise. It is being shown locally sunday at 11 at the Tropic cinema. From there it goes to New York City. Producers and film. Paradise has been selected for screening in Times Square by the prestigious American High School Film Festival.

Congratulations to the young people who put Paradise together.

The Palm Avenue bridge is finally going to be repaired. All of it! The roadway, pilings and everything else. Has needed the do over for years.

The bridge is the  short cut to the Gulf side of town. Like where the Chart Room is located.

The only negative is it will take six months to complete the work.

The weekend is here. I am to have dinner with Jenna tonight or tomorrow night. I cannot remember which. The beginnings of Alzheimers. Serious when I cannot recall what evening I am to be with Jenna.

Enjoy your day!