KEY WEST LOU / INTERESTING PEOPLE AND PLACES

Yesterday was one of those days. Interesting people and places.

The experience began in the morning at Date & Thyme. I was there for a Monkey Smoothie fix. Ran into an Asian woman I had met a few days earlier. From Korea, she has resided in Key West for years. Her name Leila. Forty years old. Engaged twice, never married. A health food fanatic. Her two brothers and nephews are visiting her for the holidays.

Her companion is Gracie. A small dog. Don’t know the breed. Unusually fat. A round ball with a head and tail. Passive. As well as Leila feeds herself, she feeds Gracie all the wrong foods. Admittedly so.

Good company. I am sure we will run into each other more mornings.

Happy Hour was at The Garden Cafe with Steve. We both enjoyed fried calamari.

The two seats next to me were empty at the bar. A lovely lady sat in the seat farthest from me. An absolute beauty! Steve and I looked at each other with that knowing glance WOW! Her fellow showed up and sat next to her. Can’t win them all.

Soon however, we were talking to the couple. Very interesting visitors from the Columbus, Ohio area. The “male interloper” Jarret Barnes from Huron, Ohio. The young lady Courtney Bergman from Huron also. The two are frequent visitors to Key West. They try to make it one weekend per month. Generally stay at the Pier House or Marquesa.

Jarret and a sister now run the family business in Huron. A business started by their grandfather, continued by their father and now run by them. It is a landscaping garden business. Their work is within a 100 mile radius of Huron. They employ 120 people. It is no small deal.

Janet is a salon owner and hair stylist. Her business is located in Sandusky. She rents out chairs.

They will miss their January Key West visit. Have a trip to Costa Rica planned. Will return to Key West in February.

Being inquisitive, I asked if they were ever going to marry. Courtney said probably in the new year. Jarret was reluctant to commit. Amusing!

No question, we will discover each other again when they return.

I was ready to return home. Steve said let’s try the roof at The Studios. Neither of us had ever been there. Steve had run into the bartender the night before and he suggested Steve might enjoy it.

A short walk later, we were at The Studios and took the elevator to the roof. Fourth floor button took us to Hugh’s View, the name of the rooftop outdoor bar.

What a choice! Glad we went! Go my friends. An experience.

The view of Key West spectacular. Especially the Christmas decorated homes.

We sat and enjoyed a drink, assuring each other we would return.

Hugh’s View is open only Mondays and tuesdays.

The first floor of The Studios contains Judy Blume’s Books and Books. You can’t miss it. The corner of Eaton and Simonton.

A good day, an excellent evening!

Tonight is Brady’s Irish Pub for me. Love their wednesday specials. Carola the bartender, also.

Syracuse basketball begins its “serious season” saturday. Plays Pitt at noon. I will be watching from Jack Flats.

Serious basketball because it is the beginning of the ACC season. The quality of the Syracuse team this season will soon be evident.

On this day in 1932, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall opened. My first visit was as a little boy when my father took me. I visited many times over the years into older adulthood. Each visit left me on a high. The musical reviews were outstanding.

Trump is throwing “gasoline on the fire” as judges face death threats. Threats which are on the rise. Especially involving federal judges.

There are 2,700 federal judges. Last year, there were 4,500 threats that were serious enough to merit investigation by U.S. Marshalls. Most Trump inspired. God help us if he is elected. He brings out the worst in people.

White supremacist Nick Fuentes claims there is “an occult element at the high levels of society, specifically among Jews….when we take power, they need to be given the death penalty.”

Fuentes is only 25, yet he receives national attention. Many eat up his declarations that Jews be killed.

As a nation, we are falling apart at the seams. Our only salvation is to vote Democrat across the board in 2024. Otherwise Auschwitz facilities will appear in the U.S. I kid you not.

Trump is not just evoking Hitler, he’s talking like him. Beware!

I held off posting today’s podcast to the end. The appropriate place for it based on the political portion of today’s blog. In it I mention an old friend similar in age to me. The podcast was done 4-5 years ago when Trump was President.  Patricia Tedesco’s comments were made at that time. She has since passed on. A true loss.

The podcast title is Politicians Are Asses.

I am off to Date & Thyme for my Monkey Smoothie fix.

Enjoy your day!

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