This Week on the Island 12/26/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How would you like to spend Christmas, on Key West Island? It actually got cold here before Christmas, Monday night it was 56 degrees, but by Tuesday it was back in the 70's again. Thursday we had to cut the A/C on again. Christmas Day at 7:00 AM it was 68 degrees. And people say we don't have seasons.

Christmas Eve we gave homemade goodies to friends on the island. Each gift had Fudge, Hot Spiced Nuts, Key Lime Pecans, Snicker Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Hot Cheese Crackers, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Brittle, Gum Drop Cookies and a Sea Shell Angle.

Christmas Eve with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. A heavy fog rolled in from the east so we rode the bus (for free) to Benihana's for a little Christmas Eve Dinner. We sat at the table with a family with quadruplet boys (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The father was a wrestling coach and was born in Key West (he had arms the size of my legs). The four boys were 11 years old and were very well behaved. The father was showing the family (now from Tennessee) his hometown of Key West and how much it had changed since he graduated from high school and moved away. We also saw a few other people at Benihana's that we know from around the island. After dinner we went home and swapped Christmas Presents.

The Winter Solstice (http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html ), Dec 21, the shortest day of the year, the beginning of winter. It was 75 degrees and we had 10 hours and 37 minutes of sunlight. I sat in the back yard working on my tan while I finished this weeks book. It was another by Randy Wayne White, 'Ten Thousand Islands'. The ten thousand islands are on the west coast of Florida. This book is about Indian artifacts and murder. Again, I enjoyed the book.

Eileen Ermer is here from the Parrot Head Club of Tidewater (Virginia Beach). I also met a couple of Parrot Heads from the Palmetto Parrot Hear Club on my walk Wednesday to the Library, they were on a cruise ship.

Big Foot, the cat's trial appears to have been delayed until Jan 21.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
I hope you had a very merry Christmas.

This Week on the Island 12/19/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was really surprised at the number of people that emailed an answer to my question 'What does HMS stand for?' Then many of them sent me another email telling me that they hadn't read the PS at the bottom of my email that answered the original question.

This weeks book was 'Tan Lines' by Mandy Bolen. It is a short paperback and is a little like 'Post Cards from Paradise'. She dates each entry by month and year. I enjoyed it.

It got a little cool here Monday morning with the temperature dropping to 58 degrees. It has really gotten nice since then. I have some people (my nephew and his girl) in from Ohio and I blamed them for the cold weather. We spent one afternoon peddling tricycles. Went to South Beach (end of Duval) in the morning, then Margaritaville for a Cheeseburger in Paradise for lunch. Next we went to the post office and then down to the Truman waterfront and the old Navy submarine pin. After that we peddled to Fort Zack and the beach. We left there and went to the Key West grave yard and to the 'I told you I was sick' grave. ( http://keywest.com/attractions/cemetery.htm ) Then over to Lands End and Turtle Kraals. Next was back to the house to get the dogs and walk to Mallory Square for Sunset. When we got back from there we went to PT's for dinner. Tuesday morning they slept a little late. I think they were tired.

Wednesday morning while walking the dogs, about 6:30 AM, we saw 3 trucks and a bunch of cars blocking Lazy Lane at Schooner Wharf. There was an Italian film crew loading all their stuff onto the Schooner America. They have been here since then.

This week was the Geminides meteor shower. It was best viewed at about 2:00 AM on Monday and Tuesday.

Do you like old pictures of Key West. Go to www.mile-markers.org and click PHOTO SEARCH.

Saturday night was the 'Lighted Boat Parade'. It started in the Key West Bight, went out and past Mallory Square and then back into the bight and past the judges stand at Schooner Wharf Bar. It wasn't as cold this year as it has been the last few years. Some of us Parrot Heads sat at the bight by Conch Republic Sea Food and watched.

Big Foot the cat's trial appears to have been delayed until Dec 21.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
A Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.

This Week on the Island 12/12/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weather here has been hotter than usual for this time of the year. Many of the flowers on the island are in bloom. Our hibiscus, key lime tree and orange tree are beautiful. Wednesday we were the hot spot in the US with 84 degrees. Needless to say the air conditioning was running again until this week end when a cold front came thru and dropped the temp at night to 62 degrees.

If you are a Buffett fan then you know what this weeks book was 'A Salty Piece of Land' by Jimmy Buffett. It is a story about a Wyoming cowboy, Tully Mars, roaming the Caribbean with the 101 year old Cleopatra aboard her ship the Lucretia. I enjoyed it greatly.

The HMS Bounty, a square rigger is in the Key West Harbor near Mallory Square and next to Christmas Tree Island (http://www.tallshipbounty.org/main.html). It appears there is another movie being filmed in the waters off Key West. (What does HMS stand for?)

The 2,000 sq ft house next door that went on the market last week has sold for a little over $1.5 million.

Big Foot the cat's trial appears to have been delayed.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
HMS stands for Her/His Majesty's Ship (British)

This Week on the Island 12/05/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There be pirates here! What is the 18th letter of the pirate alphabet? Rrrrrrrrrrrrr! This is Pirates in Paradise Week. Go to www.SPHCKeyWest.com and click PHOTO'S to view some pictures.

The guys from 'Little Feat' left the recording studio this week. Mac McAnnaly was playing with them, he is really a nice guy.

This weeks book was 'Twelve Mile Limit' by Randy Wayne White. He writes about action taking place in the 1,000 isle area of Florida. (On the Gulf Side, south of the Everglades). The book was about white slavery and going into South America to retrieve the women that had been captured.

Jo and I went to the Casa on Tuesday, Nov 30, for the Decorated Christmas Tree and Ornament Auction.There were 12 decorated Christmas Trees and a dozen or so round glass ball ornaments with celebrities signatures The one with Buffett's signature went for the most money $525.00. Others were: Clint Eastwood, Oprah, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mel Gibson, Whoopi, Garth Brooks, Bill Cosby, Kevin Costner, Neil Diamond, Bernadette Peterson, Johnny Carson, Sara Jessica Parker and Chris North. We wore shorts and Christmas Shirts.

The house across the street is for sale. It is almost 1,000 sq ft and they are asking $900,000. The house next door is a little over 2,000 sq ft with a dipping pool and he is asking $1.6 million. We could sale and make quite a profit, but then where would we live.

The Schooner Western Union is back in the Bight. Every year they have her bottom scraped and repainted.

Big Foot the cat's trial is next week.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
Winter must be near, it got down below 70 degrees a couple of nights this week.

This Week on the Island 11/28/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This time of the year it is beautiful here. The humidity is gone and the temperature is in the low 80's in the day and the low 70's at night. I enjoy sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch and reading. The book for this week was another of Laurence Shames books. He has about a dozen about mystery in the Key's. This one is about a guy that gives it all up and moves to Key West. He hooks up with an Indian,his ex-wife, and Bert the Shirt. On the other side is a corrupt senator and the Mafia. They fight over building a casino on Indian land.

'Little Feet' has been recording in 'Shrimp Boat Sounds' on the bight (Buffett's studio). Speaking of that kind of stuff. Tuesday night was the concert in Orlando and it was a live feed to Magaritaville on Duval. Some of our club members got a table up front and enjoyed the show. I couldn't make it.

Key West has a few one way streets. A friend made fun of me because I look both ways before crossing any street. This is a tourist town and you know how tourist are. I pointed out to a lady that she was turning the wrong way on a one way street and she went faster to catch up with her friends that had already turned and were already going the wrong way. When she told them, they all went faster, still going the wrong way. Tourist, can't live with them, can't live without them.

I have already begun riding my bike again since my recent encounter with Vertigo. So I went kayaking in the bight on Wednesday. Sunny, in the 80's and beautiful. Life is good.

Thanksgiving in Key West (82 degrees at 9:00 AM). For the past few years a bunch of us have set up tables and had dinner on one of the docks beside Schooner Wharf on the Key West Bight. What more could anyone ask for: dinner with friends on a beautiful day in a beautiful place. We seem to get more and more visitors each year. Crew members from the different local ships (America, Wolf, Black Duck, Compass Rose, Sebago, PT Boat, etc) all drop by to enjoy food.
Friday morning it was 68 degrees and windy. Local's were cold. The sun warmed things up to the mid 80's by the weekend.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

This week on the Island 11/21/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nascar at sea. Nov 15 - Nov 21st, 2004, Key West Offshore World Championships Power Boat Racing: Nov 19th - Nov 21st, 2004, Offshore Worlds Billfish Tournament. Looks like a busy week.

The Power Boat Parade was Down Duval on Sunday evening. Lots of really big boats. The race is run Offshore in the Key West Harbor from Fort Zackery to Mallory Square and back.
Helicopters fly overhead in case of an accident and also to keep a look out for sea turtles. Mainly these guys sit in the harbors and bights all day racing their engines and making lots of noise. BUT, they have lots of money and spend big and tip big. The boats are put in the water at the old navy submarine ramp in Truman Annex. It is a 'hell of a ramp'. They enter the harbor from the old Navy submarine pin that was used in WWII.

Wednesday one of the boats caught on fire and another flipped. Friday the boats were lined up on Duval Street so we could all get a close look at them. Saturday was a beautiful day for racing. Sunday is the last day for racing but most people were leaving Sunday morning. I guess they have to get back to 'the real world'. The weather is clear and in the low 80's with very little humidity. I love this time of year.

Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3842331/?GT1=5809 and click slideshow for week Nov 11-18. The first picture is of the boat race in the Key West Harbor.

'America's Most Wanted ' was in town this week filming 'Southernmost Most Wanted'. It was on TV Saturday night so by the time you get this you will have missed it.

If you are thinking of it, I suggest 'Quite your Job and Move to Key West' by Christopher Shultz and David L. Sloan. It is a little out of date and the prices are quite a bit higher now.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
I would like to thank everyone that pointed out 'Memorial Day' instead of 'Veterans Day' in last weeks writtings.

This Week on the Island 11/14/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another wonderful week on the island. The weather has been in the low 80's in the day and the low 70's at night (no air conditioning), but by Saturday it was back to normal Key West weather. The island is packed because of the Memorial Day weekend and the cold weather up north. (8 inches of snow in Boston this week).

We had some people in from way up north this week and they have loved it. They really enjoyed watching the Memorial Day Parade as they stood on the sidewalk next to Margarittaville while wearing shorts and t-shirts with a margarita in hand. The parade participants throw candy and beads to the crowd and a few have dog biscuits for Wyleigh and Sassi. Life is good.

On Tuesday we had 4 cruise ships in the harbor. That means one has to park near Fort Zachary Taylor and have their passengers shuttled in to Mallory Square. The lower end of Duval was packed.

A lady was standing on Duval at Sloppy Joe's in front of the Street Cam. While talking to her friends on her cell phone, she FLASHED them. She was later told that it was an internet connection and that FLASH just went world wide. She was quite embarrassed because she thought that only her friends would see her.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

PS
Next week: Off Shore Power Boat Racing.

This Week on the island 11/07/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week is MOTM (Meeting of the Minds) and 3,000 or more of my closest Parrot Head friends have come to visit. The weather couldn't be better and the friendship is wonderful. There have been events all over town all week but headquarters for MOTM is at the Casa Marina and it is a beautiful setting. We had friends (Greg and Bob of the Sarasota Parrot Head Club) come in last week and we had some of The Southernmost Parrot Heads from out of town to show up this week. The best visit was when Jimmy Buffett played at the Casa Marina on Thursday night. I had the opportunity to see many of my old friends and meet may new friends. I hope all of you enjoyed your stay in Key West.

Thursday night while driving down South Roosevelt we saw a meteor. It was multi-colored. Friday morning the paper said it was a small plane that burned and crashed in the Key West harbor.

Once upon a time there was a TV show called 'Key West'. I have found it on the internet at:ttp://www.tvtome.com/KeyWest/ . If anyone has a copy of the shows I would be very interested. The setting of the show was at a Newspaper office of the 'Meteor' (which is now next to the Green Parrot). The show only lasted about 6 months and was supported by the Key West Tourist Guile. They were hoping to increase tourism to the island.

The Coast Guard delivered 75,000 pounds of Cocaine to the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The street value of the drugs was $2.3 Billion and was off loaded at Trumbo Point here in Key West on Friday.

Big Foot the cat is back in town. The people that took Big Foot have a home way up north for the summer and a home in Truman Annex for the winter. There is a court date set to decide who owns the cat. We of course hope that the judge decides in favor of the woman that owned Big Foot for many years before the cat was captured and taken to the north.

The Enchantment, a cruise ship, had a 6 foot hole punched in the side by the tug boat pushing a barge. The Ship was berthed at the Hilton Pier in the Key West Harbor when the incident occurred Friday morning. The ship was repaired in harbor and set on it's way.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 10/31/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FANTASY FEST!

Suppose you gave a party and 85,000 people came. This was Key West's biggest event of the year. There are only 25,000 of us that live here so we were out numbered over 3 to 1. There were no parking places anywhere. I didn't dare move the Hummer. There was no walking space on lower Duval Street. There were costumes/body painting everywhere.

I live on Caroline Street. Duval is on one end and the city parking lot and city parking garage are on the other end. I have the opportunity of sitting on my porch and watching everyone headed to Duval. The problem is that after it is all over, I get to sit on my front porch and watch everyone headed to their cars. They are loud and drunk. Life is tuff.

Tuesday night Duval was blocked at Hard Rock with a band playing in the street. Wednesday Duval was blocked from the Bull to Sloppy Joe's. Thursday Duval was blocked from the Bull to Front Street. Friday there were booths set up on Duval and Friday night it was next to impossible to move on Duval. Saturday night was the Parade. If you have never see it, it is hard to describe a Fantasy Fest Parade.

Jo and I went to Duval at 5:00 PM for the 7:00 PM parade so we could get a good spot. Duval was blocked on both sides with metal rails so we pulled our chairs up to the rail in front of Hard Rock. The streets were filled with costumed/body painted people walking up and down Duval. There were really some interesting sites to see. If you have a camera (and who doesn't) they will pose for a picture. The streets were cleared at 7:00 PM for the parade. The parade started at 7:00 PM back in Truman Annex. It came down Whitehead to Front and then up Duval. It got to us at about 8:30 PM and lasted to 10:30 PM. At the end of the parade everyone fills the streets and follows the parade. There was a couple from Poland on one side of us and a young couple from France behind us. They got lots of beads from the people in the parade that were throwing beads. I believe they had a good time.

This morning I walked the dogs down Carolina to Duval. There was a mountain of trash in the intersection. There were front end loaders pushing trash up Duval and loading it in large dump trucks. Further down Duval the first block was being hosed down by the fire department.
Key West knows how to party and how to clean up.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 10/24/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The nice weather didn't last very long. It is in the high 80's and the air conditioning is back on.
Goombay, the Key West African/American/Caribbean celebration was held in Bahama Village along Patronia Street. Lot of Caribbean music and interesting food. There were many bands, and of course there was my favorite the Junk-A-Noo band, they are great. A parade from the Hilton, on Front Street, up Duval to Bahamas Village was on Saturday at 5:00 PM.

Bonnie (the dog) is back. Seems the person that took Bonnie from Hurricane Hole thought she was a stray? They set a time to turn her over to the real owners if they would drive 100 miles north to Key Largo to pick her up. Bonnie is glad to be back home. NOTE: Big Foot the cat is still missing.

About half the membership of the Southernmost Parrot Head Club (Key West) are from out of town. Thursday night we had some Parrot Heads from Wisconsin that are members of our club drop by for a visit. It is always great to see members from out of state.

This weekend also kicks off 'Blame it on Robert' http://www.kwahs.com/press/robert.htm

In Florida we get the opportunity to vote early, so Jo and I went to the courthouse on Whitehead Street and voted on Saturday. Reminder: Please vote, no matter who you are for or against. If you don't vote you have no right to complain. Exercise your right as a citizen.

Next week Fantasy Fest. If it is painted it ain't Naked.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 10/17/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We have a 'Dog gone'. I have mentioned 'Big Foot' the cat that was taken from Key West to the north, now we have Bonny, the border collie that has disappeared. www.whereisbonny.com.

This week has been kind of slow, even if it did start with a 3 day week end. The weather is wonderful, low 80's in the day and low 70's at night. Saturday morning it was in the low 70's with a nice breeze and felt like the first day of fall. I love this time of year. We have turned off the air conditioning for the first time since April.

Next week is ' Goombay' the celebration of African Heritage. Most of the activities will be in Bahamas Village (about 10,000 visitors). The week after that is 'Fantasy Fest' (about 80,000 visitors). This is Key West's biggest party of the year. and then the week after that will be 'MOTM' (Meeting of the Minds about 3,000 visitors). This is when the Jimmy Buffett's Parrot Heads hit the island. Then there are the cruise ships daily with about 3,000 passengers each. It is going to get a little crowded on this little island. It is wonderful that all of these people just want to visit the little island I live on.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 01/10/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Weather is here, wish you were beautiful! What can I say. From now until the middle of April will be beautiful. This is why most of us live here.

On Stock Island, just before you cross the bridge into Key West, is Hurricane Hole. Next to Hurricane Hole is the old Key West Drive in Theater. That area appears to be the next piece of land ready for development into 'affordable housing'. We need cheaper housing for the people that work here, but that is also the place where I like to kayak in the mangroves. It won't be very long before Key West is all pavement. The price of property is out of the roof. The value of our house has doubled in the last 4 years. There is a booth (3' x 6') on the corner of Duval and Caroline that is for sale for $20,000, or for rent for $1,000 a week.

Big Foot, the cat that was captured from the Truman Annex and taken up north, had a date set for a trial. The folks from up north that took the cat didn't show. They have taken the cat to their vet and received papers saying the cat is theirs. More later.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'-
Doug Bennett

PS
My Vertigo (dizziness) is getting better each day. The first week it was like seasickness. I sat still and tried not to move my head. The second week was better, I could move around the house without falling down. Tried to take the dogs for a few walks, but I looked like some kind of drunk the way I walk. I have not heard from my doctor on the MRI so I will get in touch with him Monday.

This Week on the Island 10/03/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting old really sucks! While cleaning up the back yard after washing the dogs last Saturday, I nearly fell on my face. By Monday night I could hardly move I was so dizzy. Everything was find except the world kept spinning which made me a little sick to the stomach. Two doctors and lots of drugs later, I still have the problem and no one seem to know what it is. Good news is I have lost 6 pounds. I have an appointment for a MRI on Tuesday.

We had some friends (Jeanne and Randy) in from South Carolina this week. They mostly wanted to do whatever it was the tourist don't do. They were eating at B. O.'s on Saturday for lunch and Buffett sat down next to them. Being Parrot Heads they were overjoyed. Got an autograph and everything.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'-
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 09/26/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Winter must be on the way. We have had a few nights this week where the temperature got below 80 degrees. The wind started blowing Saturday afternoon. Hurricane Jeanne is pulling cooler air down from the north. It has been really nice all week.

Sunday at Schooner Wharf, we ran into our friends from NJ that won the lottery. They are a very nice couple and were not very well off before the lottery. They were back in town for a visit to their house in the Truman Annex. They had brought his farther and all this guy could talk about was how much money he had spent for this and that. A little bird was sitting in the tree next to the stage above his head. This loud mouth kept getting bird droppings down the back of his shirt. I felt he was full of 'it', the little bird was covering him in 'it'. It was very hard not to laugh. My friends seemed a little embarrassed by their father.

Spent some time this week on my bicycle and in my kayak. The island is very enjoyable without all the tourist. It is amazing how little traffic there is and how much cleaner the island is. The cruise ships still come in daily, but most of those people stay on the first blocks of Duval Street. These ships are so large that they carry close to 3,000 passengers. The first cruise ship Jo and I ever went on was the Carnival. It was owned by the Carnival cruise line and they had one other ship, the Mardi Gras. Things have changed.

For those of you that may be interested, I use this web site for tracking hurricanes http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html

WomenFest, which was cut short due to Hurricane Ivan, has been rescheduled for Oct 8-11. Their center of activity is usually around the pool/bar at Atlantic Shores. There will be all sorts of contest, sunset cruises, a T-dance, a golf tournament, jet ski tours, etc. For more info visit www.womenfest.com.

Yom Kipper was Friday. It is interesting the number of stores on Duval that were closed.

Key West City Council tried to pass a law that women having their breast painted (for Fantasy Fest) had to be painted in an enclosed area. The law didn't pass.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin'-
Doug Bennett

PS
This week's picture is of The Casa Marina. The Casa was built by Flagler to give customers, riding on his train, first class accommodations when they arrived in Key West. The Casa Marina opened on Dec 31, 1921.

This Week on the Island 09/19/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September is our slowest month of the year. You can walk into most any bar/restaurant and find a seat. The problem, for the people in the tourist business, is that they will not make any money this month. Some of them will be laid off until Fantasy Fest in the last of October. I personally like September. It is more like the Key West in a Jimmy Buffett song. It's slow and it's easy and I like it just fine. Hurricane season has made it quite a bit slower.

The OK for residence to return was given on Monday and people started coming back to Key West by Monday night. Tourist started showing up on Wednesday. Thursday the motor cycles for the poker run started arriving. The Poker Run started in Miami on Saturday morning with over 10,000 riders. They have 5 stops between Miami and Key West. At each stop they pick up a card for $10 each. Contestants with 3 or better roll the dice to determine the winner. The winner gets $20,000 or a new Harley. Lots of money is made for the Diabetes Research Institute of Miami. (10,000 riders * $10 a card * 5 cards - $20,000 for winner = $480,000 if they only play one hand each).

Duval street was closed to all traffic except bikes. They were everywhere. Bikes were parked from Margarittaville to Front street. There were 78 bikes from Captain Tony's to Sloppy Joe's (1/2 block). The side streets were also covered with bikes. It got really interesting after sundown with bikes roaring up and down the middle of Duval. Some riders with only g-strings. Rick's/Dirty Harry's, Sloppy Joe's, and Schooner Wharf had lots of contest. (Tattoo, Bikini, wet nightie contest). There was a welcome hog roast at Hogs Breath on Friday night and a pig roast at Schooner on Saturday. The dogs don't like all the noise.

There are some interesting bikes here this year. There was a separate contest for Tricycles.
Many interesting designs. One tricycle had the front end of a Camero as a trunk. The seat of the bike was actually carved into the grill of the Camero.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conchy Tonkin-
Doug Bennett

PS
The attached picture is of The Island City National Bank. It opened for business in 1905. The bank failed in 1914. You may recognize the building as The Lazy Gecko. It is on Duval next to Sloppy Joes.

This Week on the Island 09/12/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week was WOMEN IN PARADISE. Their week was cut short by the mandatory evacuation of all tourist on Thursday and the mandatory evacuation of all residence on Friday. Many of us that stayed are hanging at Schooner Wharf Bar and talking about the weather.

Hurricane Charley missed us to the left and Hurricane Frances missed us to the right. Hurricane Ivan was coming right at us until it took a left turn at Jamaica. Looks like we will have a tropical storm and miss the hurricane.

This is a short 'This week on the Island' due to previous hurricane messages sent to friends and family.

Key West, you have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 09/05/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson have reopened. The eye of Hurricane Charley did some damage out there, so they have been closed since Aug 13th. They reopened on Sept 1. Charley missed Key West by about 60 miles.

Labor Day week end is our last big week end of the summer. After that things slow down until Fantasy Fest .This town is nearly deserted due to Hurricane Frances. Thursday some stores and residences started boarding up. Most places remained open, but had almost no business. Friday a cruise ship was at the Hilton Pier so Duval Street had some business. The weather is hot, sunny and beautiful. Our airport is full of airplanes from other parts of Florida trying to escape Frances. We have lots of really big yachts in our harbors also. Saturday night and Sunday morning we finally got some effect from the hurricane. It will be windy and rainy today, but should clear by Monday.

Wyland, the artist that painted the mural on the side of the Fresh Market on the Key West Bight, had an art show. It was located in the city parking lot on the corner of Williams and Caroline. Almost no one came. It could be the hurricane.

I had a tourist ask me on Thursday, what I thought Hurricane Francis would do. I told him that living here on the island has taught us not to try and out guess a hurricane. He said he was from New York and they get hurricanes all the time. I wanted to say that by the time they got that far north they were nothing more than a tropical storm. I decided that 'to argue with stupidity you must lower yourself to that same level', so I let it go.

Key West, you have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

PS
Two weeks ago I sent out a picture of Key West, 1838, when Duval Street was a salt pond. Last week I sent out a picture of Sloppy Joe Russell's saloon, 1940's, (currently Capt Tony's). This week I have attached a picture of the corner of Duval Street and Green Street (turn of the century). The two story house in the middle of the picture is across Green Street from Sloppy Joe's. The little house in the right hand corner sits where Sloppy Joe's is now.

This Week on the Island 08/29/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday was Wyleigh Dog's 11th birthday. We made he a cake from cans of dog food and Milk Bone dog biscuits. She shared it with the other dogs at Schooner Wharf. Michael McCloud sang Happy Birthday to her. She had a good time.

Played golf on Monday. It was the first time in years and the score showed that I need practice. I really got that cost per stroke to a minimum. The course had swarms of black mosquitoes and gnats.

Miami is hosting the MTV Music Awards. One of the female musicians set off the metal detectors with her nipple rings.

My neighbor behind me has started a large construction project on his house. The house across the street in front of me is being demolished so they can move another larger house to the site. It is noisy and dirty but it should be completed in a few months..

On Thursday morning at 9:04 AM one of the Key West Trolley's knocked down the concrete power pole in front of my house. Jo and I and the dogs spent the day at Schooner Wharf listening to Michael McCloud. We got electricity back at 4:45 PM. We got the phone back at 10:35 AM on Friday morning. We got cable back at 3:00 Pm on Friday.

Friday was the Miss Hawaii Tropic swim suit contest at Conch Republic Seafood. It is amazing what will pass as a swim suit these days. The finals were held Saturday night on Duval Street in front of Hard Rock Cafe.

Key West, You have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

PS
The attached 1940's picture is Sloppy Joe Russell's original saloon on Green Street. It is now Captain Tony's. This building is the oldest continually operated bar in the state of Florida. It has had many names, but it has always been a bar. The tree that grows thru the roof inside the bar is the old Key West Hanging Tree. In the early years the bar was used as an Ice House. Since it was an Ice House, it was also the City Morgue. Also since it was the Ice House, it was the coolest place in town and was a very popular bar.

This Week on the Island 08/22/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jimmy Buffett's new CD, 'License to Chill', has a song called 'Conky Tonkin'. One of the lines in the song is 'Meet me at the end of the Road'. A store in Key West, Mile 0 Key West, sells hats, shirts, tank tops, etc with 'The end of the Road' on them. Have you got yours yet? They are at 511 Greene Street, across from Sloppy Joe's, and can be reached at 305-294-6222.

The '18 mile stretch' project has been given the go-ahead. The 18 mile stretch on US1 will be changed from a 2 lane road to 1 lane south, a divider in the road, and 2 lanes north. One of the lanes north is suppose to be used only in evacuations. The divider in the middle of the road should save some lives each year.

I haven't had a vacation since I retired over 5 years ago. Tuesday, Jo and I spent the night at the Hilton next to Mallory Square. We drove the Hummer the 4 blocks to get there, we ate lobster tails, we drove the Hummer 4 blocks to get home. It was great to get away from it all for awhile.

Ronda Riviera died this week. He was 43 and a female impersonator. You may remember him from a picture I sent out on 'This week on the island'. I had a picture made with him at the Duval Street Drag Races in the spring. He will be missed by many of the 801 Bourbon Street crowd.

The Dry Tortugas are still closed due to Hurricane Charley that passed over it. They expect to reopen in another week.

The 'Lobster Fest' that was cancelled last Saturday because of 'Charley' was held this Saturday. Where else can you sit on the curb in 90 degree heat and eat a lobster and drink beer.

Key West, You have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

PS
The attached picture is of Key West in 1838, 10 years after the U.S. purchased Florida from Spain. The road going across the island is Whitehead Street and the road going to the right is Front Street. The salt pond on the left is where Duval Street is now. The salt pond was used in the exporting of sea salt. It was filled in after the hurricane of 1846. The town borders were located near present day Elizabeth Street and Eaton Street. The Book 'Reap the Wild Wind' ,about the business of Wreaking in Key West, was written about this time. It mentions leaving the house on Caroline Street and crossing the bridge over the salt pond to get to Front Street

This Week on the Island 08/15/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Battle of the Bars, Friday 13th Hurricane Charley, and Lobster Fest

This week started with 'The Battle of the Bars'. It took place on Sunday, from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM, on Lazy Lane behind Schooner Wharf Bar. There were 37 bars represented with teams of 7 members each. The weather was hot and sunny and Lazy Lane, out back of Schooner Wharf Bar, was covered with 3 parachutes to help produce some shade. It was a timed event with teams from two bars competing against each other until all bars had competed. Then the bars with the top times went into the semi-finals, and then again into the finals. The winning bar was Turtle Kraals.

The event started with team member #1 mixing a margarita, member #2 carried it to the table. Member #3 drank the margarita. Member #4 cleaned the table and ran to the trash and picked up a bag and ran to the recycle bins where they separated the colored glass, cans, and trash. Member #5 rolled a keg to the table and taped it. Member #6 drew 7 drafts, member # 7 took the drafts to the team members that were all in a line. Each member had to drink their beer before the next member could start theirs. When the last member finished their beer the timer recorded the times. The best time was for Turtle Kraals and was less than 2 minutes.

On Friday the 13th we had a visitor named 'Hurricane Charley'. Thursday morning the weather was sunny and hot. As the Dogs (Wyleigh and Sassi) and I went on our walks we notice many people leaving the islands. There were NO Cruise Ships in the harbor and the fishing boats and the fun cruises were tied to the docks. We walked down Duval Street and watched people board up their stores and take down their awnings. There was a mandatory evacuation for all visitors and tourist. It was a beautiful day. Thursday night the weather changed and the wind blew, I went to bed. Friday morning at 8:00 AM, Charley is passing over the Dry Tortugas, about 70 miles west of Key West. We got a little rain and some strong wind but very little damage to Key West. Friday at 1:00 PM, Charley is headed north and the sky is starting to clear. Our Mayor, Jimmy Weekly, signed an order that no alcohol could be served after 10:00 PM Thursday night. He lifted the ban at 2:00 PM on Saturday. (A good reason NOT to vote for Jimmy in the next election). The weather service is already talking about Tropical Storm Earl.

The week was suppose to end with 'Lobster Fest' but it has been postponed until Aug 21st. Saturday was hot and sunny but there were no tourist to sell the lobster too.

A row boat with 4 Cubans in it landed next to Mallory Square just before the storm hit.

Key West, You have got to love it.
Doug Bennett.

This Week on the Island 08/08/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This has been Mel Fisher week. http://www.treasurenet.com/found/melfisher/ Mel was born in Indiana and raised chickens in California after WWII. He spent 16 years between paychecks until he found the Atochia. So far I believe they have found about $800 million in Spanish gold, silver, precious stones, etc.

PT 728, the only operational military-configured PT Boat remaining in the USA is for sale for $750,000. This is the PT Boat used in McHales Navy and the J.F.K. story. You can find it at http://www.ptboat728.com/.

Wednesdays paper states 'City: Bight Not for Sale'. Later in the article it mentions that the city thinks it could get $60 million instead of the $40 million offered. More later?

The old 7 mile bridge is in bad shape. The only part of the bridge that is in use runs from Marathon to Pigeon Key. The decision has been made to repair the bridge as it and Pigeon Key are on the list of Historic Places.

Had a lady tourist ask me if the weather was always like this in the winter. I told her it was August and the middle of the summer. She said she knew it was summer up north where she lives, but she thought it was the middle of the winter down here. I ask her where she thought she was. She said Key West. I left it at that and walked away.

Key West, you have got to love it
Doug Bennett

This Week on the Island 08/01/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vin Diesel has left the island.

This week started 'The Key West Food and Wine Festival'. This event is held all over the island with many different hotel/motel and restaurant/cafe's getting involved. The cost runs from $10 at the La Conch Hotel to $85 at Michael's depending on which event you go to. I will hold out and wait for 'LOBSTER FEST' in the middle of the month.

I went back to house work. After rebuilding and repainting the front porch, I had paint left, so I started painting the sides of the house just to use up the paint. It is a bit warm and I am usually soaked in sweat by the time I finish each day. Luckily being retired, I usually finish right after I start. Don't need to finish something today that I could take the rest of the week to accomplish.

Key West may be in the process of selling the Key West Bight to a developer out of Miami for $40 million. What does this mean for Conch Republic Sea Food, Schooner Wharf, Turtle Crawls, Half Shell Raw Bar, Monty's, Buffett's Recording Studio, etc, etc. More later?

Speaking of the Key West Bight. Jabours the trailer court that sold for about $18 million to some developers has had a set back. The developers want to pack a three story monster building housing 35 short term rental units into the 1 1/2 acres. Key West has sent them back to the drawing board. This property is just behind Schooner Wharf Bar.

This week was Lobster mini-season. The two days we all hate. People show up from everywhere to grab lobster and destroy the environment. In the upper Keys you have to stay over 300 feet from any seawall, dock, or enclosed waterway. Key West has not passed this law yet. In Miami you can catch 12 lobster per person per day, in Key West you can only catch 6. A local lady fired shots at some mini-lobster people that were diving off her dock and seawall on the cannel. All I can say is, it is over for another year.

The continuing story of Bigfoot. Bigfoot is a cat from the Truman Annex that was captured by a woman from Bar Harbour, Maine, while she was here on vacation. She says she rescued the poor homeless cat and took it with her to give it a good home. Bigfoot, the poor homeless cat, weighs over 20 pounds and has 6 toes. The lady that owns Bigfoot lives in Truman Annex and wants her cat back. The lady from Bar Harbour is suing the lady from Key West? The law is clearly on the side of the lady from Key West. More Later?

The Chicken Man. Got the job, went on national TV, can't catch the chickens, lost the job. More later?

Key West, you have got to love it
Doug Bennett

Truck hanging from bridge http://www.palmbeachpost.com/photos/content/photos/image_large.html

Blue Moon
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

This Week on the Island 07/25/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Had some friends in town the first part of the week. I suggested they go for a ride on the 'Conch Train'. We got heavy rain while they were on the train. Then when they got back the power failed and was out about 1 hour. I think, that if I were them, I would NOT' be ' impressed' with Key West.

Hemingway Days. A bunch of old fat guys looking for a heart attack in the Key West July heat. While I wear shorts and t-shirts, they wear boots, long pants, sweaters, hats, beards, etc. It must be fun because we have may 'look-a-likes' in town. There is a large Marlin Tournament, there are Art Shows, there are reading of Hemingway, there is the Hemingway 5K evening run, the Hemingway 5K morning run, the Hemingway 5K Sunset run, there are Hemingway cruises, there is the Hemingway Caribbean Street Fair, there is the Hemingway 'Running of the Bulls', there is the Hemingway Regatta, there is the Hemingway arm wrestling contest, and of course the Hemingway look-a-like contest that takes 3 days at Sloppy Joes.(Across Duval Street at Rick/Dirty Harry's, they are having the Young Hemingway Look-a-like contest).

Our Secretary for the Southernmost Parrot Head Club was in the Hemingway look-a-like contest. He didn't make it to the finals. Larry will try again next year. For photo's: click http://sphckeywest.com/ , then click PHOTOS, then click JULY SOCIAL AT SLOPPY JOE'S.

Key West, You have got to love it
Doug Bennett'
Meet me at the end of the road', 'Conky Tonkin' by Buffett on 'License to Chill' CD

PS
Sloppy Joe's and Capt Tony's argue over the name 'Hemingway'.http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/163834-5037-062.html

This Week on the Island 07/18/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have always loved summer. Most of my best memories have happened in summer when it is hot and people are enjoying themselves. I now live where it is summer most of the year, but I still enjoy the summer months. We have less tourist in the summer and therefore most restaurants/bars have empty seats and want your business. The roads have less traffic and it is safer to ride my bicycle. We have festivals almost every week in order to attract more people to the island. These festivals are enjoyable and the locals actually come out for them. The beaches are not as crowded, and weather is very nice. I love summer.

Buffett's new CD 'License to Chill' went on sale on July 13th. I purchased the first one from Margarittaville here in Key West and received a 'License to Chill' license tag. The tag was on the HUMMER within the first hour of receiving it. I put it on with hex headed screws so it will be hard to remove.

Disney is filming 'The Pacifier' with many action scenes taking place just off the White Street pier. The daily morning show 'Desperate America' broadcast from Mallory Square on Friday morning.

Rosie O'Donnell was in town on Wednesday with her wife, Kelli. She visited the Key West Butterfly Conservatory and was given the key to the city. She and her family were on a week long cruise that had docked in Key West.

John Kerry's sister Peggy was in the Key's.

We now have a 6 foot crocodile. This guy has taken residence in the salt ponds and creeks around Leo's Campground on Stock Island.

Key West, you have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

PS
Many have predicted this for years and it is finally happening. A school in Japan is putting chips in all their kids in the name of security. All kids will be scanned as they enter and leave areas of the school. They will be monitored by a computer and their where-a-bouts will be known at all time while on the school yard.

This Week on the Island 07/11/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last week end was the 4th of July weekend and the island was packed. Many people left after the weekend and the island has been kind of 'slow' this week.

SO!

Clothing in the tropics.

T-Shirts. I got 'em. It seems that everything in town either sells t-shirts or gives them away. I have t-shirts from 'Chicken Fest', 'Fantasy Fest', 'MOTM' (Meeting of the Minds- Buffett fan club), 'Cinco de Mayo', 'Minimal Regatta', 'SPHC' (Southernmost Parrot Head Club), 'Lobster Fest', 'Margaretville's, etc, etc, etc. As you can guess, I wear a lot ot t-shirts here on the island. When the humidity goes away from November to April, I get out the golf shirts.

Shorts. I got them. Most of my shorts look the same except for being different colors. I have 10 pocket shorts I purchased from Haband. I have tan, gray, tan, black, tan, dark blue, tan, and did I mention I also have tan shorts. I have a pair of jeans and a pair of Khakis that I wear when it gets below 60 degrees.

Shoes. I don't have them. Last year for our Christmas party I had to wear my Birkenstock sandals. I wear them everywhere. I do have some running shoes that I wear when it gets below 60 degrees.

Caps. I got them. The South Carolina cap is very popular as Buffett has worn them on some of his CD's. I have a tan one and a dark blue one. I also have a SPHC (Southernmost Parrot Head Club) cap. If you like the South Carolina cap you can get one online from the Margarittaville store in Charleston.

Coats. I have a wind breaker. I wear it when it gets below 60 degrees.

It is amazing how much money can be saved by not having to purchase Suits, Shirts, Ties, Wing tips, socks, etc, etc, etc.

Key West, You have got to love it.
Doug Bennett

PS
Out next big event on the island is Hemingway days starting July 20th.

This Week on the Island 07/04/2004

'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.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you had a Happy 4th of July.

Since Monday is a holiday, many folks took the week before the 4th as a vacation so they could take 5 days and really get 6, other folks are taking the week of the 4th as vacation so they can take 4 days and get 5. All of them are in Key West this weekend.

Although it is hot and humid here, we have reached that time of the year where it starts being cooler here in Key West than it is in many places further north. Our weather forecast daily is the same: Hot and humid with a chance of showers (and maybe a hurricane).

We are one month into the five months of hurricane season. The city/county are removing all coconuts from city/county property. The hotels are also removing their coconuts. A coconut traveling at 150 MPH in a hurricane can do a lot of damage.

'The Black Duck', Donald Sutherland's old schooner, has been sold to 'Black Duck Music' on Whitehead Street. This is the boat docked by Schooner Wharf Bar. It is the one that almost sunk as people from the bar drank beer and watched. It also had it's captain arrested for 'Drunken Boating' while the boat was tied to the dock. It also caught fire once.

Vin Diesel, the action movie star, is in town working on a new film 'The Pacifier'. He was in 'The Fast and the Furious', 'A Man Apart', 'XXX', etc.

Key West, You have got to love it
Doug Bennett

PS
This week Jo and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary.