Somerset Island Prep is a charter high school on Flagler Street in Key West. Its principal is Tom Rompella.
I had the pleasure of meeting Tom this past week at The Grand. What a guy!
A founding teacher at the school in 2011. Then Dean of Students. Now Principal. Three time recipient of the “Teacher of the Year” award. Passionate the best way to describe his attitude towards his work.
His approach to teaching unique. Lead to his development of the “Jet Ski” graduation tradition. Graduation takes place on jet skis and underwater. Different! So much so that CNN highlighted one of the graduations.
Tom’s approach to teaching unquestionably ahead of the times. Successfully so. Somerset fortunate to have found him.
Pope Leo has decreed ten changes with regard to Catholicism. Nothing significant. Bad enough though from my perspective that many Catholics will be uncomfortable. Some will leave the Church for a while.
Years ago, the Pope at the time made what I considered ill advised changes. None had anything to do with God and me. As the ten new changes do either. Aggravated me sufficiently however that I stopped going to Church for many years. I communicated with God privately instead.
I have returned to actively attending Church. Again I must face “bullshit changes” in my Church. I am too close to meeting my Maker. I will have to submit this time.
Odd ball things exist in our society. Strange. There is a Philadelphia bank that has a CD whose interest rate changes with whether Villanova wins or loses a basketball game. A win spikes the interest rate 4.25 percent. A loss reduces it 3.9 percent. Not sure if the system is a money winner for investors. Villanova has been having up and down seasons in recent years.
Gertrude Stein in Three Lives: “You look ridiculous if you dance. You look ridiculous if you don’t dance. So you might as well dance.”
Remember, McDonald’s is coming up with a caviar free day. February 10. It has been labeled McNuggets Caviar.” It will be available only as long as the supply lasts.
The weather continues to suck. It was 48 degrees when I woke at 4 this morning. Eight o’clock at the moment and 56 degrees. Sixty six the predicted high for today.
Horrible weather!
The Winter Olympics begin at 8 this evening American time. The Olympics will be in four different places in Italy. One the Milan area. Milan in northern Italy. French border relatively close. The Alps all over. Very surrounding. An excellent location for a Winter Olympic competition.
I know. I have visited Milan and its nearby areas many times for extended periods. I love Milan itself. More than Rome.
We live and learn. One significant and impressive item is Da Vinci’s Last Supper. It “hangs” in the basement of a Milan Church. I have viewed it on two occasions. Note I use the word “hangs.” It appears on a wall in a strange fashion. Not a usual type art work. Da Vinci painted it on a concrete wall itself. The painting a good 20 feet long and 10 or 12 feet high. Will never move anywhere.
The painting is “moving.” Each time I visited, I sat for an extended time and became sufficiently emotional that tears ran down my cheeks.
On this day in 1952, King George VI died. Elizabeth became Queen. A mere 27 years old.
A rare jelly fish, as large as a school bus, was discovered off the coast of Argentina. Called a Stygiomedusa Gegantea. I spelled the starfish’s name correctly.
Babe Ruth was born this day in 1895.
Ronald Reagan was born this day in 1911.
Bob Marley in Zion Train: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul.”
Forget not Mark Kelly. He should be our next President. A Trump he is not. His experience valid. Includes presently being a U.S. Senator, formerly an astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran. Trump fears him and is already on his ass.
Enjoy your day!