This Week on the Island 02/26/2012

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The pictures this week (click to enlarge) are ‘Dante’s’. Looks like spring break is already here.

Weather: It was 80 degrees last Sunday. I heard a young lady on her cell phone say ’It has been hot and humid all day and it doesn’t even cool off at night’. I thought it had been a prefect day.

This week I read ‘Deal with the Dead’ by Les Standiford. Another in the John Deal series. I also read ‘Explosive Eighteen’ by Janet Evanovich.

Lots of people everwhere.

Pet and Wayne were playing at Sloppy Joes when they saw me and the dogs standing outside. They sang a song for us ‘Why don’t you love me like my dog does’.

Last weekend our Coast Guard guys brought in about $50 million is drugs. These guys are doing a great job.

Saturday was a street fair on Whitehead.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 02/19/2012

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The first picture this week (click to enlarge)(click again for larger pic) is ‘Another Key West Sunset’. This one is taken from Turtle Krawls looking across the bight toward Conch Republic Seafood. The second picture is a ‘Brigantine’ in the bight next to Trumbo Point. It has square sails on the front and triangle sails on the back. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corwith_Cramer_(ship) The third picture is pelicans/seagulls on the rocks at Fort Zack. The fourth picture is Truman Beach. And the last picture is a guy sitting on the Truman Water Front doing some fishing.

Weather: A cold front came thru last Saturday night and the temperature last Sunday was in the 50’s all day. It was back in the mid 70’s by Tuesday and the low 80’s by the weekend.

This week I read ‘Setup on Front Street’ by Mike Dennis.

I hope you enjoy your 3 day weekend. The island is packed. The weather is beautiful and everyone wants to get out of the cold north. Welcome to Key West.

Friday it was beautiful and in the low 80’s so I took a bike ride to Fort Zack and the beach. Wonderful.

I had some folks from New York stop by the house to say hi. They read my blog and wanted to meet me. We had a nice talk.

Saturday afternoon, the 200 block of Duval Street was closed off at Sloppy Joes for a cancer awareness festival.


------------------Truman Beach-------------------
Truman Beach is on the far right on the water at Fort Zack. The story is that President Truman used to like to take walks downtown and on the public beach. This made it hard on the guys that were responsible for his safety. So they built a private beach for him to use. He never went there.

----------------------------Presidents Day Question--------------------------------
Monday is Presidents Day which leads us to: ‘Who was the first President’. The answer is John Hanson. The country declared its independence in 1776 but George Washington (the 9th President) did not accept the Presidency until 1789. So, who ran the country for those first years? The answer is the first 8 presidents. The Articles of Confederation was used to unite the colonies, but did not give the Federal Government enough power. It was replaced by the Constitution and George Washington was the first president under the Constitution.

------------------Last Weeks Question? -------------------
Thanks to all of you that emailed me answers to the questions.
7 mile railroad bridge answer from last week: If you look at the old railroad tracks you will notice a slight bend in the railroad bed. The ‘feet’ are in place to give support and keep the railroad from tilting when a train crossed the bend.

Fat Albert answer from last week: The United States Army activated Cudjoe Key Air Force Station in 1959 to track missiles traveling through the Eglin Gulf Test Range. The Air Force took over operations the following year,[3] and it subsequently became a detached installation of Homestead Joint Air Reserve Base.[4] The station flies a white radar aerostat, known locally as "Fat Albert", which is used for drug interdiction missions by the Drug Enforcement Administration. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cudjoe_Key,_Florida

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 02/12/2012

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The first picture this week (click to enlarge) is ‘Flagler’s old 7-mile bridge built for the Over Seas Railroad 100 years ago. (See question below). The second picture is Fat Albert (you must click on the picture to enlarge it to see Fat Albert the blimp). The third and forth pictures are ‘Yankee boys on parade in the Southernmost city’ and the last picture is ‘Ladies of the Civil War Era’.

Weather: It has been a beautiful week after a very wet start last Sunday. It started raining Sunday morning and didn’t quit until late Sunday night. We got 4.3 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.

This week I read ‘Deal to Die For’ by Les Standiford. Another in the ‘Deal’ series.

Lots of restaurants/bars got rained out for the Super bowl. Those that had and indoor show didn’t get lots of customers because of all the rain.

We had a newspaper here in Key West called The Blue Paper. I enjoyed reading it each Friday. It went away. No, then it came back. No, then it went away again. Now it is back again. For how long?

This weekend was Civil War Days at Fort Zack. The guys playing the Union occupied the fort and the guys playing the Confederates attacked. Key West was a Union outpost during the Civil War. Ships trying to get thru the Florida Straights to supply the Confederates at New Orleans were captured and brought here. There was never a Confederate attack at the Fort, but we in Key West like to celebrate a lot of things that never happened.

My diet of 2 Banquet dinners a day is working. I have lost over 10 pounds since the beginning of the year.

The Zac Brown Band is recording at Shrimp Boat Sounds, Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio on the bight.

------------------Question? -------------------
If you look closely at the towers holding up the old railroad, you will see that one of the towers has a wall extending into the water. There are only two of these in the whole 7-miles of the bridge. One is before Pigeon Key the other is after Pigeon Key. What were these for?

In the picture of Fat Albert is a reflection on the left side that looks like a triangle. If you follow a line extending to the right from the line forming the top of the triangle you will see Fat Albert. It is a small black dot. What is Fat Albert used for?


Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 02/05/2012

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The first picture this week (click to enlarge) is ‘Jo’s birthday cake’. The second picture is ‘JO’’ The third picture is the ‘Coconut Trees on Lazy Way Lane’. The city neutered them and chopped down about 200 coconuts from the 10 trees. The forth picture is some trees that still have there coconuts.

Weather: Another beautiful week. Last year we had one of the driest ‘wet seasons’ and now we are having one of the wettest ‘dry seasons’.

This week I read ‘Done Deal’ by Les Standiford. Another in the ‘Deal’ series.

Happy Birthday to Jo! The love of my life had a birthday this week. I love you woman.

My Nokia cell phone started making a funny sound. The same sound when I power it up or down. I took it to AT&T and they said I needed a new phone because they did not support my phone anymore. The next week my phone quite ringing. I went back to AT&T but it was too early and they weren’t open. I went to Kmart and the young lady in the electronics section fixed my phone. Strange things.

As I was walking the dogs past Captain Tony’s I saw someone waving at me. This happens all the time so I waved back and just kept on walking. The next day as the dogs and I walked past Schooner, that same guy was waving at me. He came out the back door of Schooner and we talked a bit. Good to see an old friend again.

------------Sailing Terms-------------------------
Many people get confused as to which is left or right on a ship, starboard or port. A simple solution is L-E-F-T is 4 letters, P-O-R-T is 4 letters. The same can help you when setting the table F-O-R-K is 4 letters and goes on the L-E-F-T (4 letters). S-P-O-O-N is 5 letters so it goes on the R-I-G-H-T (5 letters). Guess which side the K-N-I-F-E (5 letters) goes on.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 01/30/2012

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The first picture this week (click to enlarge) is ‘Snow is Overrated’ I have used this one before. Number two is ‘Sunset at the North Pole’, I have shown lots of sunsets in Key West so this is different. The last pictures are Key West flowers in bloom.

Weather: Another wonderful week with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70’s.

This week I finished reading ‘Stairway to the Bottom’ by Michael Haskins. This is a great book if you know Key West and would like to follow the main character around town. I loved it.

Lot of folks getting away from the frozen north and spending time it Key West. It has been very busy here. I met folks from all over the world without ever leaving the island.

Lots of young ladies from Eastern Europe come to America. They hit Key West with a one year work visa. They start looking for an American to marry. Anyone will do, because if they are still single in one year they must go back home. After marrying whoever they can get, they can start looking for something better. Most are nice looking and blond (bleached). They all speak English, unlike most of the Spanish speaking folks that come to this country that never learn English. Most of these Eastern Europe ladies will be married in a year.

We have some folks in town from the frozen north. They are enjoying the sunshine and the warm temperature, not to mention the good time they are having.

-------------Sailing Terms-------------------------
‘Keel Haul’ is to be dragged along the bottom of the boat from the back to the front. You are not expected to live. The bottom is covered with lots of sea life and if you live being ‘keel hauled’ you are cut up pretty bad and the infections will probably not heal and you will still die. Of course there is the chance that some sea life (sharks) may get you while under the boat or you just may drown.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 01/22/2012

'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The pictures this week (click to enlarge) are ‘Sail Boats’. The first one is from the Citizen Newspaper, the second and third are from Cayo Bo’s Facebook page.

Weather: The warm weather is back. Last weekend and the first of this week I wore jeans and a hoodie for 6 days in a row. It is a good thing I have 2 of each. That is way too much cold for Key West. Most of us live here because we like it hot.

This week I finished reading ‘Double Dexter’ by Jeff Lindsay and started ‘Stairway to the Bottom’ by Michael Haskins. This is a great book if you know Key West and would like to follow the main character around town. I loved it.

The Snottie Yatchies are in town. They are at the Truman Waterfront and the Key West Bight. They have also blocked off Caroline Street at Whitehead to set up their tents for headquarters.

The power boat races are held just off Mallory Square, so we locals get to watch. The sail boat races are held a few miles off shore, so we locals cannot see anything from Mallory Square. Many of the sail boats go by Mallory Square on their way to the race spot, but they use their motors so we don’t get to see the boats with their sails up. The Power Boat racers have a parade and display their boats. The sail boat racers get very upset if anyone comes close to their boats. I wonder why we don’t get excited about the sail boat races.

I published my 9th book this week. The names of all my books are ‘This Week on the Island’ and the year. So now I have 2003 thru 2011.

A great blog on Dogs in Bars: http://keywestmusic.blogspot.com/

There is a celebration today, Sunday, 22 Jan 2012. One hundred years ago Flagler’s first train from Miami to Key West rolled into town. Now people from the island city could leave or arrive without going by ship. Flagler opened the Keys and the east coast of Florida to anyone with the train fare. He also built Trumbo Point, from the bottom of the ocean, as a train depot. It is a big day in Key West history.

-------------Sailing Terms-------------------------
A ‘Square Rigger’ has square sails and is what they called the old sailing ships like those used in the movies in the filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean. A ‘Schooner’ has triangle sails and is lighter and faster than a Square Rigger. A ship with square sails on center mast and a triangle sail on the back was called a ‘Brigantine’.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo

This Week on the Island 01/15/2012

'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The first picture this week (click to enlarge) is ‘Mango Shutters’ they are the same color that Key West paints the no parking curb. The second picture is some Key West art.

Weather: Beautiful. In the mid to high 70’s and lots of sunshine. Another cold front on the week end.

This week I started ‘Dexter’ by Jeff Lindsay.

Well it is diet time again. After Thanksgiving and Christmas and eating all those leftovers I have gained a pound or two. My diet is more exercise and fewer calories. For this diet, I eat Banquet frozen dinners. They are on sell from time to time at 10 for $10. I try to eat 2 a day, some days 3, but it is only about 1,000 calories a day. I have lost 6 pounds the first 15 days of this month. Jo brought home Girl Scout cookies Tuesday night. She got me some peanut butter cookies. I was so hungry I ate a whole box full. Back to the diet on Wednesday.

Saturday we had the Soldier Ride, combat wounded warrior’s ride, in to Key West for a greeting down at the Truman Waterfront.

Saturday was also the Key West Seafood Fest at Bayview Park with Howard Livingston and the MM24 band playing.

Gene Hackman (81), the movie star, was hit and knocked from his bicycle at MM88.6. He was taken to the hospital in Miami and seems to be OK.

Next week is the ‘Snottie Yacthies’

-------------Sailing Terms-------------------------
Two Years Before the Mast, A book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., published in 1840. The Mast is in the middle of the ship. The officers lived in the rear of the ship and the sailors lived in the front of the ship (before the mast). Therefore this story is about the life of an ordinary sailor.


Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/

Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbxD3D-rPqo