HARASSING ROOSTER GONE

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Chickens have become part of Key West culture.

In 1998, Hurricane Georges blew down a number of chicken pens in the area. Chickens roamed free thereafter.

Chickens enjoy sex. Propagated. Gestation period 29 days. Suddenly, Key West had tons of chickens roaming about.

A present day rooster has been tormenting visitors to the County Library on Fleming. A Master-Trapper was called in. The rooster captured.

The rooster’s next stop is a chicken farm somewhere in south Florida. The rooster will spend his days roaming freely and enjoying life. Chasing a hen or two in the process.

Apparently, chickens are some sort of protected species. Cheaper to terminate the rooster’s life. However, the County will be required to pay. The expense of the capture and transport of the rooster to the chicken happy farm.

The GM mosquito controversy continues. It appears the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has seen the error of its ways. It has been announced there will be a new inquiry to determine if a majority of Key Haven residents are for or against the experiment. An exercise that would release 3 million genetically modified male mosquitoes over a 22 month period.

No question in my mind. The residents of Key Haven, of which I am one,  will shoot the plan down.

What irritates me is the stupidity and wastefulness of government in this instance. The expense of a vote for a plan that should never have been. The cost should be deducted from the pay of employees and other paid personnel involved in the decision.

Don’t think such would be an imposition on the staff. They are extremely well paid. I believe the Director receives an annual salary in excess of $180,000. He himself should have known better.

From my perspective, any inquiry/vote is merely a face saving device. The District finds itself in a corner and needs a way out.

An exciting day ahead. Assuming you are a political junkie. The New York primaries.

My yesterday began with a bank visit. Followed by lunch and reading the newspapers at Cuban Coffee Queen. Spent the afternoon researching tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Topics will include the Jimmy Doolittle Tokyo raid, Paul Revere’s ride, Israel Bissell’s ride, Saudi Arabia threatening the U.S. with economic disaster, the claim that 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists were at one time paid CIA agents.

My perspective re the Clarence Thomas / Anita Hill battle 25 years ago, IRS payments can now be made at 7-Elevens, couple fined $80,000 for refusing a gay couple to marry at their resort, the Warship Lexington, and more.

Interesting subject matters. Join me for a quick moving and half hour. Tonight at 9. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

My evening began with drinks at Sq. 1. Chatted a bit with Chef Jay. Jay plays bocce in the thursday night league. The conversation all bocce.

Then back to Duffy’s last night. Desired the prime rib dinner. I was not disappointed. Jennifer waited on me.

Yesterday, the Boston Marathon. Thousands ran.

The first Boston Marathon took place on this date in 1897. Fifteen participants. Ten finished.

Gender discrimination a part of the race. Women were not permitted to participate till 1972.

The American Revolution began on this day in 1775. The shot heard around the world took place at Lexington. Seven hundred British soldiers against 77 colonists. Eight colonials killed, 10 wounded.

The Brits then marched on to Concord. A different scenario. Hundreds of colonists opposing 700 Britains. The colonists routed the British. Their commander ordered them to retreat and return to Boston.

The colonists (now referred to as Patriots) harassed the Brits all the way back. The colonists adopted Indian tactics. Hid in the woods, shot from behind trees, etc. Three hundred Brits were killed, wounded, or missing. The colonists suffered less than 100 casualties.

The colonial message was loud and clear to the British: Don’t screw with us!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

TO ARMS, TO ARMS, THE BRITISH ARE COMING…..

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Today marks the anniversary of two notable events in the history of the United States. I make mention of them in reverse order.

On this date in 1942, the Doolittle Raiders bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. It was the U.S.’s  first retaliatory attack following December 7.

Doolittle represents a World War II happening. Next, a Revolutionary War one.

It was April 18, 1775. The British attacked Lexington and Concord. Paul Revere made his famous ride making colonists aware the British were coming. To arms, to arms, the British are coming.

Revere’s ride covered 20 miles.

His ride and words were made famous in a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

There was another rider. Lost to history. Few aware he even existed. His name, Israel Bissell.

Bissell was a 23 year old dispatch rider.His ride began the next day. He rode south spreading word of the Revolution. He started in Connecticut.  Then to New York. He kept going. Philadelphia next.

Bissell covered 350 miles in six days. He literally rode one of the horses to death.

Revere only rode 20 miles.

History remembers Revere and not Bissell because again Longfellow wrote of Revere.

No one wrote a poem about Bissell till moe than 200 years later. In 1995, a Massachusetts poet Clay Perry gave Bissell a poem of his own: Listen my children, to my epistle, of the long, long ride of Israel Bissell, who outrode Paul by miles and time, but didn’t rate a poet’s rhyme.

Spent most of my yesterday writing this week’s KONK Life column. Clarence Thomas / Anita Hill. The confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice which took place 25 years ago. From a personal and factual perspective. Insight into Thomas’ tainted victory.

Took a break. Went out on the deck for a few minutes. When I was going back into the house, I forgot about the screen door. I have a swollen nose and broken glasses.

I was beat in the evening. Took a shower. Intended to go to bed. Instead I stretched out in the recliner chair and watched Mutiny on the Bounty for the 200th time.

Key West has bicycle problems. Too many, failing to stop for lights and stop signs, etc. Marlin County in California has similar problems. Its concern is with speeding.

Speeders in Marlin County beware. Anything over 15 mph is considered speeding. Radar is being used. Tickets given.

Enjoy your day!

 

DONNA AND TERRI IN TOWN

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Surprised last night at Tavern ‘n Town!

I was seated at the bar. All of a sudden, Terri’s face before me. Hugs and kisses.

A few minutes later, Donna appeared. More hugs and kisses.

The ladies are in Key West visiting. Plans are to return to Key West to live. In the very near future. It will be wonderful!

Both looked good. Vibrant, exquisite. I could not get enough of them.

Lynda and Bob Frechette at the other end of the bar. Donna and Terri were having dinner with them.

Lynda’s cousin Dee died. She and Bob are flying out this morning to be with family and attend services.

In between everything, I enjoyed Bobby Nesbitt. Terri sang a song. Her voice still mighty.

I finally decided on a subject for this week’s KONK Life column. Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill. Spent almost six hours researching the topic.

I plan on approaching the writing with background information and my impressions of the five main persons involved. Their testimony and/or actions 25  years ago. I was sort of there. I was glued to the TV set in my office watching the proceedings.

Last night, HBO ran a made for TV movie called Confirmation. At 8. Re the Thomas confirmation hearing. I got home in time to watch it. Settled in my comfortable recliner chair. Fell asleep. Missed the whole show, except for Thomas’ blast that his was a “…..high tech lynching.”

Thomas verged on rage in the real life exclamation I recall. Disturbed. Blew his cool. I recall a more upset Thomas. He was mad! Last night, he was portrayed as upset, but not to the point of pure forceful anger.

Then it was back to sleep.

On this day in 1961, the Bay of Pigs invasion commenced. Castro overwhelmed the invading Cubans. Kennedy had promised them air cover. At the last minute, he pulled it back. Without air cover, the Cubans were overwhelmed. A number died. A greater number, something in excess of 1,000, spent years in Cuban jails.

This one I do not understand. The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority participated in a contest to determine the best tasting water in Florida. Our Aqueduct Authority won.

If such is the case, why do I drink bottled water? As well as many other Key West area persons.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

GREED

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Some people are stupidly greedy. Pennies in their pockets today leading to less money in the future.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports front page that three exotic dancers at Bare Assets are suing Bare Assets. Exotic dancers is a nice way of referring to strippers as such. Perhaps more.

The three want to be employees, thereby entitling them to overtime or a minimum wage for time worked over 40 hours. Heretofore the ladies have been considered independent contractors, not entitled to employee benefits.

Exotic dancers make a ton of money. More a year than struggling fathers. Some into the six figures. The ladies are money driven. Whether a $1 bill, $20 bill or $100 or more dollars, their hands are always out. Pushing for money. They are like sharks. Always need to be fed.

They should be well compensated. They dance naked. Mingle with customers scantily attired. Subject to having their personal parts groped. Performing lap dances where the bodies are not permitted to touch, but sometime do. And more.

Some are of the opinion that the exotic dancers of today were the prostitutes of yesterday.

Beware of that which you seek! Today, a minimum wage. Tomorrow, health benefits. Then a pension plan. All provided by law. The law then takes the position that the ladies’ incomes should be taxed. To be taxed, the work performed has to be legal. No problem, it is legalized. The tax dollars are huge.

Eventually the government is involved big time. Minimum wage, health benefits are out the window. Forget pensions. More ladies get into the business. Competition lowers the price to be charged. The ladies earn less than before.

I wrote an article touching on some aspects of the situation two years ago for KONK Life. Titled: Berlin The Sex Capital of the World. Read it. Go to my Key West Lou website. .keywestlou.com. The bar at the top of the page has a KONK Wife Column heading. Click on it and scroll down till you find the column.

Yesterday, a bit busy.

Stopped at the Marriott Beachside for the newspapers.

Then to the Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch. Cuban cheese toast and a large cold Cuban coffee. Sat quite a while reading the newspapers.

I read somewhere recently that Cuban Coffee Queen ice cubes are made of coffee. I checked them out in my drink. Correct! They were dark brown!

Did Martin’s for Happy Hour at the bar. Still early when I was done. Went over to Louie’s Backyard for a couple of drinks. It had been overcast all day. A bit humid. The breeze off the ocean comforting.

Home early to bed. Sleep soon followed.

We all have heard of the Cold War. Those of us older recall vividly the 40 years of Cold War between the U.S. and Russia.

An admonishment first. Better a cold war than a hot one!

I always assumed some President early on described the conflict as a Cold War. I was wrong. It was Bernard Baruch on this day in 1947. Baruch was an adviser to several Presidents. He was addressing the South Carolina House of Representatives at the time.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

SCREW OFF DAY

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Wednesday is my friday. First day of no writing, except for my daily blog. Ergo, I refer to it as my screw off day. This week thursday joined the club. I enjoyed a second simple day and evening.

Hogfish for lunch. Season over. Not crowded.

La Trattoria on the Ocean for dinner. At the bar. Stephanie bartending. First time I met her. A go getter.

She has been a bartender 30 years. Been in Key West 2 years. Originally from Long Island.

Stephanie is going into business. She is opening an organic fruit drink bar at Body Zone in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center. Work underway. Should open in three weeks. Drinks will be available street side and inside.

I wish her well.

That takes care of lunch and dinner. Nothing else till 9 in the evening.

Last night watched the Clinton/Sanders Debate from the comfort of my bed. A boxing match. Both equally good. Hillary’s major fault is she can be evasive and fail to respond to a question.

I recently ate at Square Grouper. Discovered where the name came from.

In the 1970s, the lower Keys were the U.S. entrance for fisherman carrying bales of marijuana. A bale of marijuana was also known as a square grouper.

James Fenimore Cooper. An acknowledged and respected writer. Especially of Indian tales. Last of the Mohicans and Leatherstocking Tales. He also authored non Indian stories.

One was venued in the Florida Keys. The name Jack Tier, or, the Florida Reef. Set on a naval ship. Cooper early in his life had been a midshipman in the U.S. Navy.

The story involves a sailor and ship captain. The relationship appears to verge on a homoerotic relationship. At the end of the book, it is discovered the sailor is a woman. Not just a woman. The captain’s wife.

The book gathers dust to this day. Was not popular when written nor is it today.

Cooper’s home was Otsego Hall in Cooperstown. A 40 mile drive from my home town Utica. Cooperstown the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, also. Otsego Hall has been rebuilt. It is a tourist attraction. Also site of many cocktail parties. Several of which I was fortunate to attend.

This week’s KONK Life column is Shakespeare Incidentals. It was linked this morning to Key West Lou. .keywestlou.com. It also appears in todays KONK News E-Blast.

Enjoy your day!

OPERATION BABY LIFT

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My opening comments today are not concerning Key West. Though Key West can lay claim to similar values. Like love, conscience and humanity.

It is the story of 2,600 orphaned Vietnamese children. Many babies.

On this day in 1975, ten days of airlifting children out of Vietnam concluded. Allied forces had been defeated. It would be only 16 days later that Saigon would fall effectively ending the war.

It was imperative orphaned children be removed from the country before opposing forces took over. Some of the children Asian-American.

The decision to airlift the children out of the war zone and to safe countries was immediate. No time to think. A yes or no situation. Once made, everyone worked swiftly and diligently to accomplish the removals.

President Ford was in support of the project 100 percent. Thirty flights were planned. Other allied nations in addition to the U.S. were involved. Though the planes and crews were exclusively American.

The children were ultimately adopted in the countries which were their final stop.

A picture is worth one thousand words. No question. Search out Operation Baby Lift on the internet. The photos immediately make you appreciate the effort involved and what was going on.

Photos many. Babies strapped into boxes on row after row of airplane seats. Rows eight across. Other pics of soldiers holding babies and bottle feeding them. Children sleeping on the floor of large planes that had no seats. Close together.

I raise the question. Could such an emergency evacuation take place today? With all the furor over immigration, etc. Remember , there was no time to think. Action had to be immediate.

My day yesterday began with an airport run. I played good neighbor.

My lunch was unusual. I returned to Mangrove Mama’s. I was one of two customers. The weather perfect. I sat where I had in my previous visits. The wind direction perfect. It blew over me.

A lobster reuben again.

Then I sat there for a couple of hours. I fell into deep thinking. Meditation.

Interesting.

Last night’s first stop was the outside Aqua bar. Mark Watson. All locals. More people than during the season.

Mark is an avid North Carolina fan. We talked about the Syracuse and Villanova games. Mark knows his basketball.

Had to eat. Did not want much. Ended up at La Te Da’s outside bar. Tonto bartending. My friend of 20 years.

I enjoyed a crab dip and a few crackers.

Such was my yesterday.

Enjoy your today!

 

 

I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR GUINEA PIG

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Last night was the first major battle in the war. The war to keep genetically modified mosquitoes out of Key Haven. A meeting was held. Monroe County Mosquito District and Oxitec representatives in attendance. And tons of Key Haven residents. The residents furious over the proposed use of GM mosquitoes on the island. The natives properly incensed.

I am a resident of Key Haven. I could not be at the meeting because of my blog talk radio show.

My voice was not required. My neighbors did the job well. Especially neighbor Ed Swift.

Ed is a nice guy. A tough business man. An important figure in our area. He spoke out loud and clear: “I don’t want to be your guinea pig.”

He went even further. Members of the mosquito control district are elected. Swift swore he would work to defeat each of them in the next election. Properly so. What they have connived to do is dangerous and with out thought.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports something that came up at the meeting I did not know. The chemicals used to screw up the male mosquitoes contain fragments of E-coli and herpe viruses.

There is another meeting scheduled next week.

My face was still a mess. Only the second day. I had it covered with Neosporin. Three quarters covered. I looked strange.

Ergo, I stayed in, except for a manicure appointment with Tammy.

My blog talk radio show was scheduled for 9 last night. It is a half hour show. It ended after 15 minutes. Automatically ended.  Screw up again. Sloan is looking into it with the station.

It did not take long for listeners to contact me. Within minutes, I received four e-mails and several telephone calls wanting to know what happened, did I know, etc.

One of the items in yesterday’s blog concerned breakfast clubs. Bars that have drinkers waiting for the doors to open at 7 in the morning. Several readers e-mailed me. From outside the Key West area. They had never heard of a breakfast club. Neither had I till I moved to Key West.

Bebe Clark. My friend of many years who I do not see enough. Bebe is to be congratulated. Her granddaughter Allyssa Nicole Sawyer is running in the Boston Marathon on April 18th. She is an experienced runner. Will come in under four hours.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands today. My column this week is Shakespeare Incidentals. One of the items discussed is Shakespeare’s contribution phrase wise to today’s speaking culture..

“Knock, knock! Who’s there?” I thought something the grandkids came up with. Not so. It was Shakespeare. How about, “It’s Greek to me.” Shakespeare again.

There are similar phrases outlined in the column.

Tiger Woods won his first Masters on this date in 1987. Seems like yesterday.

Enjoy your day!

 

BREAKFAST CLUB

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Key West has two breakfast clubs. I assume most communities have at least one. Larger communities more.

Schooner Wharf and Don’s Place are the Key West notables.

A breakfast club is for those who want to enjoy or have a need for an early morning drink. The bars open at 7. Customers immediately lining up at the bars.

Nothing wrong with an early morning drink. One of Key West’s favorite persons did so. Harry Truman. Truman would rise each morning and take a two mile walk. Followed by an ounce of Old Grandad or Wild Turkey.

Truman’s generation thought an early morning drink was beneficial to the circulation of those past sixty. Truman was known to say it was “to get the engine going.”

Reminds me of my grandfather who would take a shot of Canadian Club each night before retiring. He claimed it was good for the heart.

Saw the doctor at lunchtime yesterday.

As a person grows older, the body grows things. A wart or two. Growths a bit larger than warts. Crazy colored things.

Periodic removal is required lest something serious develop. Yesterday was removal day for me.

My face looks like it has been through a meat grinder! Add to it Neosporin rubbed all over. I look terrific!

I did not go out last night. There was no pain or discomfort. Did not want to be seen.

Spent the afternoon and evening preparing for tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Research complete. A little fine tuning today and I will be ready to go.

Join me. Topics interesting. Some revealing. The show at 9. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III. You will love it! Followed by General P. T. G. Beauregard.

Then the story of a second Revolutionary War Lexington battle. Followed by the new IRS reg permitting taxes to be paid at a 7-Eleven. I don’t see it working.

The present CIA head said no waterboarding by the CIA even if a President orders it. Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs getting away with murder. An Illinois couple refusing to permit marriage of a homosexual couple at their establishment fined $80,000.

There is much talk of tax avoidance. Those who bury money on foreign shores be damned! Turns out the U.S. is third in the world hiding money for foreigners.

My KONK Life column this week is Shakespeare Incidentals. A few Shakespearian phrases originating with Shakespeare. You will be surprised! Guaranteed!

And more.

Seahorse Key has a problem. No one knows how to deal with it. Cottonmouth snakes cannibalizing each other. Birds disappeared last year. Snakes now eating each other.

Sunday’s Cow Key Bridge continues to receive acclaim. This morning’s Key West Citizen refers to it as the Walking Cow Stampede.

After screwing around for almost three years, the Key West City Commission has approved a new taxi company for Key West. To service a special need. Handicapped persons.  Four handicapped accessible vehicles are being permitted.

I doubt the Chinese are smarter or stupider than us. I do believe however they can be more enterprising.

The China FDA closed down 35 popular restaurants. The restaurants were spiking food with opiates. Like morphine, codeine, and noscapine. To make the food addictive so customers would return. Noodles, hotpot, grilled fish, and fried chicken were being seasoned.

Soup a big hit. Soup was being spiked with ground poppy powder (opium).

Enjoy your day!

COW KEY BRIDGE RACE HUGE SUCCESS

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Races and walks. Constant in the Key west area. There is a race/walk for everything. The natives are walk/race crazy.

Yesterday, the Cow Key Bridge Run took place. Only in its third year. Already a success! 1,400 participated. This morning’s Key West Citizen described it as a RACE FOR FUN.

The bridge is only 300 feet long. Even those less than hardy can make it.

Each year, attempts are made to set a new record. One was accomplished yesterday. Took the winner all of 22 seconds to make the run.

The weather this past week has been perfect. High 70’s, cool breeze and no humidity.

Sundays are generally spent writing my KONK column. Took five hours yesterday. From 11 to 4 non-stop. Well worth it,

The title is Shakespeare Incidentals. Interesting and revealing. Not a composite of his life. Too much to write. Rather, I spelled out incidents  in Shakespeare’s life I thought might be unknown to many.

Dinner last night with Keith. Met him at Don’s Place. Our ultimate destination Duffy’s. Jennifer waitressing at Duffy’s.

Toni and Larry at the bar at Don’s Place. Toni a big time basketball fan. Kentucky her school. I went over to chat with them. I expressed my condolences re Kentucky’s relatively early defeat. She offered congrats re Syracuse’s play.

I like Toni.

I had not been to Duffy’s in 20 years. Used to go frequently at the time. I was on the Atkins diet. Duffy’s prime rib was good and cheap. $8.95.

The price has changed over 20 years, but not the quality. Cost $17.95. Still a bargain. A large juicy piece of prime rib. The best I have had in years. Obviously, I will be returning.

Jennifer took good care of us.

Excitement at the Key West Airport yesterday. An American Airline plane took off. Came in contact with a bird as the wheels were raised. Crew quickly returned to the Airport one engine less. No one hurt.

A few moments of concern. Airport fire engines lined the field. Everyone in the ready if a problem occurred.

I missed the Masters yesterday. When I finished the column, I was tired. Dropped on the bed for a nap. Don’s Place was buzzing with what had occurred. Jordan Spieth was winning as he headed into the back nine. He dropped 6 shots in three holes.

Such is golf.

Enjoy your day!

DAD’S BIRTHDAY…..WOULD HAVE BEEN

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My Father was born April 10, 1914. He died four years ago at age 98. God bless him!

If he were still alive today, he would have been 102. Neither strange nor impossible. His sister Mary lived to 102.

I miss you, Dad!

I who am retired from bocce taught a newbe yesterday. At high noon. In the heat of the mid day sun.

Ken is a Chart Room friend. Has a home on White Street. He mentioned Friday night he had purchased a bag of balls, but did not know how to play. I offered to show him.

Turned out I am better at teaching than playing. Or, Ken is a super athlete. Whatever, Ken had a good time. As did I.

Yesterday afternoon was spent researching this week’s KONK Life column. Finally decided on a topic. Concerns Shakespeare. His compiled works, sexuality, and famous phrases. Famous phrases from his works like “wild goose chase, fair play, it’s Greek to me, and love is blind.” A winner!

I will write the column this afternoon.

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. To enjoy a good meal and listen to Bobby Nesbitt.

I am glad the season is over. There was no difficulty getting a seat at the bar.

Met Cindy and Clara. Two lovely ladies. Cindy was on the other side of the bar. She came over alone at first to chat. She recognized me from a pic.

Love her! She has been reading the blog daily for years. Recommends it to her friends.

Cindy is a retired school teacher from Toms River, New Jersey. We are neighbors. She lives on Big Coppit. Spends eight months a year here.

Lovely and charming. Seemed to know everyone. I watched her after our little talk. She was chatting with friends at a table.

Clara joined us. Lovely, also. She and Cindy have been friends since school days. Clara visits Cindy every year here in the Keys. It was Clara’s birthday.

Bobby Nesbitt was at his best! He especially got to me with his rendition of My Way…..I took the blows, I did it my way.

Several middle aged couples came into the bar. It dawned on me that those in the 40-50 area always seem to be happy. Their faces glow. It is the right time for them. Things are good and they are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

A lot look like honeymooners. Perhaps that is the reason for the glow.

The Seven Mile Bridge Run is behind us. 1,500 participated yesterday.

This morning at 10 is the famous Cow Key Bridge Run. All of 300 feet. People costumed. Many as cows. The race is over as soon as it begins. Party time follows. No one too tired to party.

Pati, Pati, Pati. Pati Le Hat is a love of my life. Her faithful companion Blackie has been diagnosed with cancer. She is doing every thing to save him. The bills are mounting. A fundraiser is scheduled for 3-7 next Sunday at Grunts on Caroline. Food, etc. donated. Musician time, also. Mark your calendars.

Pope Frances is getting kicked around. By his own bishops. The bishops think Frances is too liberal, is violating Church doctrine, etc. The bishops are comparable to the far right in the U.S. Congress.

The latest skirmish involves letting divorced remarried Catholics receive Communion. The bishops say no. Remarried Catholics are living in adultery. Ergo, cannot partake of the sacraments. Frances says we are all God’s children, lets cut to the chase.

Enjoy your Sunday!