This Week on the Island 2/27/2009

'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 ‘The Cypress House’. The Cypress House burned in the great fire of 1886 when most of Key West burned to the ground. It was made of Cypress to help fight the termite problem on the island. The current house is made of Dade County pine which like Cypress tends to fight termites.

Weather: Cold the first of the week. Monday night it got into the high 50’s. In the 80’s again by Christmas.

I completed the book ‘A Book of Famous Fairy Tales (1938)’ by Charles E. Knapp and also read ‘Santa’s Key West Vacation’ by Trinidad Joe (a Christmas gift from my wife Jo).

The island is packed for the next two weeks. Christmas week and News Years week are two of our busiest weeks.

The Snow Birds are back. Lots of people own 2nd homes here and they begin arriving as the cold arrives up north.

The dogs love the cooler weather we have had this week. They enjoy sitting on the front porch watching the world go by.

We had the Christmas Parade, and then we had the lighted boat parade, last night (Wednesday) we had the lighted bike parade. A bunch of folks on bicycles (everyone welcome) met at Lands End (next to Turtle Kraals) and rode around town.

We are also having the Homeless Parade. They are upset about the conditions at the homeless shelter and the way the police treat them.

Wisteria Island also known as Christmas Tree Island (next to Sunset Key) again is up for development. Seems the owners want to build facilities for boat owners. A mooring field, pump-out station, etc are planned.

M. J. had a ‘woozie’ wrapped around her wine glass at the Christmas Eve get together. A ‘woozie’ is a ‘coozie’ for wine. I had never seen one before.

Dolly Parton’s boat Stampede has left the Key West bight.

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