This Week on the Island 04/18/2010

'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 ‘Drag Races on Duval’ as part of ‘The Conch Republic Days’ a celebration of April 23, 1982 when Key West seceded from the Union and formed the Conch Republic. The first picture is Sushi, sort of the Queen of drag queens. The second picture is one of her helpers.

Weather: Same as the last two week. Wonderful, in the high 60’s at night and high 70’s to 80 in the day, clear blue skies and calm seas.

This week’s book was number 9 in the series of books I found packed away upstairs. It was ‘The Merry Maker’ (1938) by Charles Knapp. It is a book of short stories for kids.

Lots of road construction all over old town. Currently Eaton Street from Margaret to Elizabeth is blocked. They quit on Caroline Street but will be back. The city is digging dry wells to help water drain and connecting these wells with street drains. It is all being done with a Federal Grant that will run out by the end of June.

Mallory Square is again blocked off for another event. This one is a fishing tournament. I don’t understand why the city does not use the Truman water front for these things. It is probably the most under-utilized piece of city property. Every time the city does this it makes it hard on the people and performers at Sunset Celebration.

Sassi, Boca and I went for a walk and stopped to talk to some folks at Schooner Wharf (we were not in the bar). Bob the Bartender came over and said we had to leave because we were actually on bar property and dogs were not allowed. We were next to the freezer on Lazy Lane.

The Super Yacht Wheels, the Super Yacht Lucky Dog and The Super Yacht Freedom are all in the Key West Bight.

The police stopped a couple for running a red light on their bicycles. They had lots of jewelry and looked homeless. This lead police to a ring of people that had been robbing local business people.

The Heritage House Museum (built in 1834) on Caroline Street has been sold along with the Robert Frost Cottage out back. There was an estate sale on Saturday to sell off many antiques.


----------------------------Personal Note---------------------------------------------------------
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is showing up in more and more food products. It is called a ‘flavor enhancer’. I have a problem with it as it causes my heart to race, which is not a good thing as the heart becomes less efficient and the blood pressure drops. Monday night I ate some popcorn and my heart started racing, and by 3:00 AM, my blood pressure dropped so low it would not register on my blood pressure machine. Tuesday morning at 6:00 AM, my blood pressure was up to 117/72 with a pulse rate of 68. One of these days MSG is going to kill me (yes, I do check for MSG in my food, but sometimes I miss it or it isn’t listed). My doctor said he cannot do anything unless I come to his office when this happens, but of course it never seems to happen when he is open. Other names for MSG are: Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Accent, Agino moto, Natural Meat Tenderizer, etc. MSG can triple the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing many people to gain weight. (Google ‘MSG dangers’).


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=SbxD3D-rPqo