This Week on the Island 10/25/2009

'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 picture this week (click to enlarge) is ‘Mallory Square ½ complete’. I mentioned some months ago that Key West was going to tear down the part of Mallory Square that hangs over the water. They have now almost completed ½ the job in time for Fantasy Fest.

Weather: Wonderful. Beautiful blue skies with temperature in the low 80’s. The heat of summer was gone for a short period. It is time to get out the hammock, the grill, and other outdoor things.

The book this week was ‘Spyder Web’ by Tom Grace.

Things Tourist should know: Never park under a coconut tree. A beautiful new Jag had a dent in the top and a coconut on the ground with a large palm frond (branch) lying over its hood.

Last week I wrote that the new owners painted the house next door bright white. My wife, Jo, mentioned that I needed to explain that the front of the house used to be unpainted. In the old days in Key West they would not tax you on new construction until the construction was completed. Some people did not paint their house, or part of their house, so they did not have to pay taxes.

With the cooler weather we had lots more people than normal jogging in the early mornings. The cold front passed thru, the A/C was cut off and the windows were opened. The heat is back, the A/C is back on and the windows are closed again. It was wonderful while it lasted.

Goombay was this weekend. It is a celebration of our Caribbean Heritage. Petronia Street from Duval back into Bahama Village was blocked for the event. Lots of food and music. One stand had ‘arepa’ (Google it) another had farm raised ‘alligator on a stick’. The Asian food stand had ‘meat on a stick’ which of course means we don’t know what kind of meat.

-----------------------History-------------------------------------
The great stock market crash of 1929 was 80 years ago this month. We know that lead us to the Great Depression. It took lots of years and WWII to get the country back on its feet again. Eight years ago the Stock Market was over 14,000 and then dropped to less than 7,000 during the time of George W. Bush. It has risen to over 10,000 and I hope it does not take another world war to help correct this ‘Depression’.

Next week is Fantasy Fest.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.55967N, Long 81.80169W

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Sassi dancing to Schooner Wharf Bar Dog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow_l9kgPmuQ