PRESTON AND DEBRA…..LOVERS

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Nothing like a good love story.

I met two lovers last night.

Preston and Debra.

At the bar at Tavern ‘n Town. Their first day and first time in Key West. From Nashville. Celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

With one twist. Where ages are dramatically different, it is generally the older man marrying the younger woman. With Preston and Debra, it is the older woman who married the younger man. Debra is seven years older, Preston seven years younger.

I am not talking out of school. Sharing with you something that should not be mentioned publicly. I speak of their relationship because the two of them are thrilled with it. That’s all they talked about. Debra said no at first. Preston kept pursuing. Debra finally succumbed.

The two are having a ball! Enjoying life! Hung up on each other!

A lucky two some.

Preston wrote a book which touches upon their relationship. She’s My Favorite Song. Title says it all. The book available on Amazon Kindle.

A prominent Key West couple were at the bar, also. Mary Lou Hoover and Charlie Waite. Another much in love twosome. Mary Lou responsible for the huge success Girl’s Night Out. She and Charlie good people.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I did not push it. Stayed at 4.5 miles per hour.

Then to Walgereens. Seniors doctor often. They are at the drug store more often.

Enjoyed a bad lunch health wise. A cheeseburger and fries at 5 Guys.

Don’s birthday party last night! A big crowd. Great entertainment. Larry, Christine, Skipper, Kathleen and Ray. Loud! A neighbor from a block away came to complain. When he found out it was Don’s birthday, he said enjoy. He recognized the special occasion aspect.

I see Jean Thornton everywhere. All over Key West. Never at Don’s Place. She was there last night for the party.

A large picture in this morning’s Key West Citizen of last night’s Lighted Bike Ride. Colorfully decorated bikes and attired riders. The event innovative.

The County Commission voted the Ragnar Relay Race down again last night. A proper result. This morning’s article spells out some of the numbers and dollars involved. I spoke to these items in my blog two days ago.

The Citizen reported there would be 6,000 runners. Revenue, $700,000.

I suspect most of the money to run has already been paid in the form of registration fees. Ragnar Races are popular events. I assume the $700,000 will have to be paid back. Some portion may have already been spent. The pay back perhaps difficult.

Two interesting Germany/Merkel items came to my attention yesterday.

I have been wondering why Merkel has been happy to take hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in and is prepared to take more. The answer appears to be that many of the Syrian refugees are educated professionals. Like engineers. Germany’s economy is booming. Qualified people are needed.

I read there are employers waiting to sign up certain of the refugees as they get off the trains.

First time I heard about this. Why hasn’t the media told us? The information is newsworthy and interesting.

The other item involves Merkel being named Times Person of the Year yesterday. A poor choice from my perspective. No question she has had a big year. Crucified the Greeks and is trying to mini manage the Syrian refugee program.

Merkel makes me uncomfortable.

The more terrible Trump’s utterances, the higher he goes in the polls. Is our country on the verge of going crazy? We may be in the process of going off the deep end. Trump is the Pied Piper and many are following him.

Some recognize Trump’s missteps and are not afraid to speak out. In 2010, Trump received an honorary doctorate from Scotland’s Robert Gordon University. As a result of Trump’s comments re banning Muslims from the United States, the University took back the honorary degree yesterday.

Some believe the honorary degree was awarded at a time when Trump was trying to build a golf course on Scotland’s east coast. Some locals were giving him a hard time. Somehow, the honorary degree played into the thing. Trump did get to build the golf course.

Grinch is coming to Key West! I am surprised. I can understand Santa Claus. Grinch, I do not know. Grinch will be at the Key West Public Library this saturday from 1-2 pm.

Enjoy your day!

AMERICAN PHAROAH

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Yesterday was a special day! D-Day and the Belmont.

People everywhere were thrilled with American Pharoah’s victory. I watched the race at Tavern ‘n Town. You could sense everyone was pulling for American Pharoah. There was a roar when he won.

Keith and I were at Tavern ‘n Town to watch the race and have dinner. We were seated at the bar with a large TV screen nearby. Mary Ann Westerlund appeared. I rarely see her and husband Roger these days. It was a hug and kiss. Kind words exchanged. We watched the race together.

Seated next to me for the race only was a gent from Big Pine. I did not catch his name. He had just returned from a one month trip to Russia.

Some ladies from Roostica were at a nearby table. A former waitress, Michelle and another lady. We talked a bit. It was good to seem them. The former waitress was my exclusive waitress for at least a year. A good waitress and good company.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column yesterday. Got it out a day early. Don’t know where the energy came from.

The title is Portugal The Blueprint.

Portugal legalized drugs in 2001. All drugs. Even the real bad stuff like cocaine and heroin. Fourteen years later, the results are amazing. Drug problems significantly down in every area. Jails closing because there are not enough criminals to occupy them.

You will find the article interesting. Perhaps something the U.S. should consider. Read the column before you criticize my comment.

Sloan was with me later in the afternoon. My Skype was screwed up. No one could see or hear me. Took an hour to correct.

There is a little old lady who it seems has always worked at Publix. As a bagger. I am not offending her by the old description. She lives alone. Has taken care of herself the past 20 years. She immigrated from Poland 20 years ago.

We became friends over the years. Even though her English was poor and my Polish non existent.

Her name Helena. She retired from Publix recently. She earned a Publix pension. She is also eligible for Social Security. She has to wait two months for her first check. Then she is returning to Poland to spend the rest of her years. She has family there.

You may wonder why Helena came to the U.S. in the first place. Twenty years ago, she entered a Polish lottery. The winner would get a U.S. green card. she won.

God bless, Helena! I wish you well!

Anna is still visiting the Milan World’s Fair every day. Yesterday, the U.S. pavilion. She said the U.S. had one of the best looking pavilions from the outside. However, she thought the inside left something to be desired. Amusingly, she reported the pavilion contained a small Walgreens.

I wrote yesterday was of particular significance. The Belmont and D-Day. There was a third item I forgot. To wish Anne Larsen a happy birthday. Yesterday was her birthday.

Anne is an old friend from Ithaca, NY. We have been friends more than 25 years. We met face to face only once. However, she reads my blog daily, my KONK Life columns and listens to my blog talk radio show.

She has become one of those who is quick to criticize if I misspell, use poor grammar, am factually incorrect, etc. She has become my conscience! Sometimes her comments are overbearing. However, I know her heart is in the right place.

Happy birthday one day late, Anne!

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

CONTEMPORARIES

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Happy Sunday!

I watched the Masters’ opening drives Thursday. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. They looked a bit aged. Palmer and Nicklaus definitely. Player could pass for a younger man. Palmer is 85. Nicklaus, 75. Player, 79.

It dawned on me! They are my contemporaries! I literally grew up with them. From early adulthood on. I am 79.

For the first time, I realized how I look. When it is your own face in the mirror and one you have seen daily for years, the aging process appears slow. It does not hit you as dramatically as it did watching the three golf greats. I do not look as young as I thought!

My day was spent doing further reasearch on this week’s KONK Life column. I will write it today. It concerns Iceland and Iceland’s treatment of bankers following 2008. Iceland did not let bankers push them around. Iceland went for the jugular.

My first stop last night was Louie’s Backyard. It had been quite a while since I was last there. The deck bar is one of Key West’s most beautiful locations.

I met Dan and Mitzie. They have been together five years. Dan has spent time in the keys about as long as I have. He is a retired Michigan marine owner.

We talked of many things. Especially, aging. We have comparable experiences. Like forgetting. The discussion was ultra humorous. I wish it could have been recorded.

Then it was to Tavern ‘n Town for dinner. The season is definitely over! The bar empty. I enjoyed some good food and Bobby Nesbitt. Judy was her usual lovely self.

I was supposed to have dinner with Donna and Terri. They backed out at the last moment.

Walgreens in the news! Walgreens plans to close 200 stores this year. Not sure where yet. Walgreens recently merged with a European drug retailer.

Walgreens is the largest U.S. drug chain. Were you aware? I was not.

Tom Cotton in  the news again. He is on a roll since his Iran letter. He was on a TV talk show yesterday. One of his brilliant comments was to the effect we should bomb Iran now and destroy its nuclear danger once and for all. He failed to see value in the negotiation process.

Cotton is 37. He speaks like a 20 year old. He worries me. Especially since he is being groomed as Presidential timber.

I am reading Elizabeth Warren’s most recent book. A Fighting Chance. I am about two-thirds through it. Great reading!

Warren is one smart woman. Comes from a humble background. Never intended to be where she is. Her efforts over the years and her ability to get things done continue to be recognized. No question in my mind, she will be a serious candidate after Hillary is done.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

WOE IS SYRACUSE

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Syracuse basketball has been under investigation by the NCAA for a couple of years. No findings reported yet. Yesterday, it was announced by Syracuse that it was self imposing a ban on playing in any post season tournaments this year. The NCAA, the NIT, and the ACC.

The investigation goes back as far as 12 years ago and as recent as 3 years ago. Word is that it primarily involves academics. Drug use by players in the earlier years may also be involved.

The NCAA’s report will be revealed soon.

As a most interested basketball fan, if Syracuse has to be punished this is the best year. The team’s record is bad. I doubt we would have been invited to the NCAA.

Syracuse will stand tall, take the hit and move on.

Visited Lisa yesterday. Jake, too. Jake is amazing! He now respects me as one of the family. We get along well. Which was not always the case.

I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a prescription. As most seniors, I take a lot of pills. I have a complaint. Co-pays are dramatically higher this new year.

The drug companies have had a free ride too long. It is time they were reined in.

I dined at Ibis last night for the first time. It has been open about three years. Stone crabs item #1 on Ibis’ menu.

I did not enjoy stone crabs. After the lobster roll the other night, it would have been too much in one week. Someone in my party did, however. Five large stone crabs. Looked smaller than large actually. $50. If my recollection is correct, the catch has not been good again for the third straight year. Restaurants are paying a high price for the delicacy. It has to be passed on to customers.

Sharon was waitressing. She bartended at Don’s Place for years before moving onto Ibis. It was hug and kiss time.

The weather yesterday was a warm 77 degrees. Rain is predicted off and on today. It is raining at the moment. I am sitting at the kitchen counter. The glass sliding doors are open. I can smell, taste and hear the rain.

The circus has come to Key West! Every year at this time. It starts today and ends sunday. I hope to get to watch it again with Robert and Ally.

My KONK Life column was published in the paper yesterday. I posted it on my Facebook site this morning. The topic interesting and timely. Greece In The Driver’s Seat.

In line with the substance of the column, it was reported in the international news this morning that the European Central Bank is taking a tough stance regarding Greece. The Bank is refusing to loan money to Greece’s commercial banks. The economic war has begun. The gauntlet thrown.

Enjoy your day!