This Week on the Island

This Week on the island 03/24/2024

2024-03-24T06:30:00.001-05:00

I have decided to stop posting my blog 'This Week on the Island'. I am almost 80 and have been blogging for about 20 years. Key West is a small islands (2 miles by 4 miles) and it seems that I keep posting the same stuff every year. After my gaul blatter removal surgery over the year end I made this decision. It was the worst 'Happy New Year' of my life. I am fine now and back to my old self.

I wish the best to all of you.

Doug and Jo and Teeki and Bolt

This Week on the Island 01/15/2024

2024-01-15T08:03:00.003-05:00

New Yeas Eve 2024

Bile. We know what it is. It’s the taste I get in my mouth right before we throw-up. Seems the kidneys makes this stuff and sends it to the gaul blatter. The gaul blatter holds it until you eat and then sends it to your digestive track to help digest your food.

Gaul Blatter – Gaul Stones.

Saturday night, Dec 30, 2023 my wife, Jo, drove me to the Key West Hospital. It felt like heart burn and then went to a weight on my chest. I told them I thought I was having a heart attack. After lots of blood test they decided it was Gaul Stones. They put me on an ambulance to Mount Sinai hospital in Miami. Again, after lots of blood test they decided it was Gaul Stones. They scheduled me to have the Gaul stones removed and 2 days later have the Gaul Blatter removed.

With all this testing my heart monitor went off for racing of the heart. They sent me to a lab to monitor the heart and found what they think causes the problem. This should cause The V.A. to look at this soon.

I was released Friday Jan 5^th. I have lost about 15 pounds. My blood pressure is 130/70- my cholesterol is 150.

Since I no longer have a gaul blatter, the bile just drops into my digestive track. I taste bile all the time. I have been throwing up for days. My logic: Since bile is used for digestion, I need to keep something in my stomach. I now try to eat every two hours. That seems to help a lot.

Getting back to normal, l need to gain weight and get more energy. 1/15/2024

This Week on the Island 12/31/2023

2023-12-30T16:09:00.000-05:00

‘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:

We have had some rain this week.

A picture of Santa after Christmas.

Teeki walks into Captain Tony’s.

Key West has a few celebrations for New Years Eve.

Sloppy Joe’s.

Sushi and the Big Red Slipper.

The Pirate Wench at Schooner Wharf Bar.

A lime dropping into a Margarita on Sunset Pier.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday Morning.’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 12/24/2023

2023-12-24T08:55:00.001-05:00

‘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:

The Winter Solstice (shortest daylight of the year in the northern hemisphere) was this week.

And a greeting from Spock.

And some input from Worf

A bit of a Key West Christmas.

And a Key West White Christmas.

Saturday, Key West, 73 degrees, 1:30 PM, life is good.

The Florida Christmas lights are lit.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 12/17/2023

2023-12-16T12:03:00.005-05:00

‘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:

We have had a lot of these days lately. Living on an island in the middle of the ocean between Miami and Havana.

Saturday early morning dog walk. Outside Shrimp Boat Sounds, Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio, Lazy Way Lane, Key West, FL.

We also had the Lighted Boat Parade in the Key West Bight.

1960’s at the Truman Waterfront when it was still a working Naval Base.

Tim Dorsey left the island this week. I have read 21 of his books.

Jo has been fighting Shingles for about 5 weeks. I never knew it could be so bad. The V.A, got me to take the Shingles shot a few months ago. Glad I did, would hate for both of us to be fighting Shingles. She is in a lot of pain.

Also, the first Saturday of December, at the dog park, I got a bad case of heart burn (I never have heart burn). I was sick for a week and only wanted to sleep. Lost 10 pounds.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’. At Fort Zack.

And an extra for sunset. At Higgs Beach.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 11/26/2023

2023-11-25T15:42:00.000-05:00

‘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:

This week was Thanksgiving. I am still eating leftovers and loving it. I am thankful for many things, but one of them is Facebook. It has put me back in touch with many people that crossed my path in my lifetime.

Thanksgiving Day 2023, the puppies and I took a walk at Key West Truman Waterfront. 76 degrees. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Christmas Decorations are up all-around town. These are some at the Key West Bight.

Fingers Taylor has joined his friend Jimmy Buffett. I hope they enjoy meeting again in eternity.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 11/19/2023

2023-11-18T14:57:00.003-05:00

‘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:

We ended last week with Veterans Day. Part of the parade was ‘Vets on Bikes’.

Teeki and Bolt on their almost daily trip to Captain Tony’s. This picture appeared on the internet and all of a sudden, they are popular.

Speaking of animals, here is a manatee

And a dolphin

And the new Bud Light (butt wipe) rocket ship.

That’s all I have this week so:

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday evening’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 11/12/2023

2023-11-11T15:16:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is a bit warm again.

The buzzards are back. This usually happens about the middle of November and is a sign that hurricane season is over.

This week has been Off Shore Power Boat Racing.

Sometimes they have wreaks.

This Year.

Last year

Other years.

Key West has limited parking and these people park where ever they want to park. The city does nothing about it.

Even blocking the dog park.

Some of the boats.

We end this week with Veterans Day.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday evening’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 11/5/2023

2023-11-05T06:22:00.000-05:00

‘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: The temp dropped into the 70’s and the wind has been blowing all week.

Over 7,000 people came to town and rode in the Zombi Bike Parade.

Then 60, 000 people arrived for Fantasy Fest and of course all of them wanted to be on the corner of Green and Duval Street (Sloppy Joe’s) for the Fantasy Fest Parade.

‘There is a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning’, Jimmy Buffett. Duval Street Saturday night and Duval Street Sunday morning. Our little town does a great job of cleaning-up.

This week was also the anniversary of the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

Then of course there Was Halloween.

Kermit of Kermit’s Key Lime Pie is 80 years old.

My neighbor opened a new pub on Front Street near Two Friends Restaurant.

And last night we got the chance to ‘turn back time’.

Next week, Offshore Powerboat Racing.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 10/29/2023

2023-10-28T15:42:00.001-05:00

‘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: Beautiful all week.

This week was Fantasy Fest. Some folks went all out on the decorations.

Some people party too hardy and have an attack of gravity.

But they aren’t alone,

Then we have the young ladies that really enjoy getting into the spirit of things. In Key West, for this one weekend, If it is painted, it ain’t naked.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

2023-10-21T15:15:00.000-05:00

‘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: It has finally got below 80 degrees at night and is very nice for our early morning dog walk.

The eclipse from Key West.

Truman Waterfront when it was an active military base.

The board at Shrimp Boat Sounds on Lazy Way Lane.

A little history

Our local paper had a headline. 'Fewer Californians moving to Texas, but more moving to Florida and Arizona.' Then they had a picture of people loading a truck in New York.

Goombay started Friday afternoon

They closed off Patronis Street in Bahama Village.

Goombay Parade.

Then there is Wharfstock next week.

Fantasy Fest all next week and weekend. If it is painted it ain’t naked.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’. Smathers Beach

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 10/15/2023.

2023-10-15T05:48:00.001-05:00

‘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: It still has not dropped below 80 degrees at night. Waiting on a little cooler weather and less humidity.

I have had my flu shot and Jo and I have had the newest Covid-19 shot. The CDC has quit issuing the Covid-19 card.

This is a map of Florida when the Spanish owned it. You will note that it stretched all the way to the Mississippi River. So, Florida lost land to Louisianan, Mississippi, Alabama, and some to Georgia.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be back next week.

Key West.

Hotel next to Mallory Square where the sunset happens every night.

The Eclipse happened yesterday, Saturday. This is NOT a picture from Key West. It wasn’t much to see way down here in Key West.

The Zombi bike ride is about to happen.

Then it is Goombay (The celebration of our African Heritage).

Then there will be Fantasy Fest for the 41^st time. (If it is painted, it isn’t naked).

Then it is Halloween. Witches hold on to your brooms.

A little Key West sunset.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 10/08/2023

2023-10-07T13:46:00.004-05:00

‘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: I wait for the temp to drop below 80 degrees at night.

Monday, Jo and I went and received the newest Covid-19 shot. Tuesday, we took Jo to a hand specialist. She has been having a lot of pain in her right hand.

On the way home we stopped in Marathon at Porky’s (MM46).

We had North Carolina bar-b-que and sweet potato fries.

Two ships at the Truman Waterfront.

HNLMS Groningen is a Holland-class offshore patrol vessel operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy. The vessel was built in the Romanian shipyards in Galati, by the Dutch firm Damen Group

USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) is the tenth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport and operated by the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command.^[2] It is the first ship in naval service named after Burlington, Vermont’s largest city.^[5]

Tim Hollohan is a friend from Columbia, SC and plays around town.

Douglas has been awarded the first ‘Keep Key West Weird’ award.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’. Saved you a chair. You bring the rum.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 10/01/2023

2023-09-30T14:10:00.020-05:00

‘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: It is Key West; we are in a tropical zone. Rain in the summer and no rain in the winter. BUT wait, look at Sunday night. The temperature is finally going to drop below 80 degrees.

Move over, 1998

Turns out that in the U.S., 1934 was a bit hotter than 1998. Which matters not a whit for global temperatures, but it's worth reading the story below before the spin machine gears up.

"1934, not 1998, the hottest year on record, NASA confirms," from Greenwire

Illya Kuryakin, from The Man from UNCLE, dead at 90. Most will remember him as Ducky, from NCIS. David McCallum.

French ship Germinal (F735) at the Truman Waterfront today

Truman waterfront Park, 1PM, Monday 90 degrees. Walking the dogs.

Happy Daughters Day to Teeki

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 09/24/2023

2023-09-24T08:50:00.001-05:00

‘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: It is Key West, so it is still hot and humid.

We have been getting lots of rain by all those tropical storms that have missed us this year.

Fall happened this week.

Then of course, there was the equinox. Twelve hours of sunlight and 12 hours of dark.

Welcome to Key West.

Hurry back.

Douglas is back and running with The Flag.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. dropped by Captain Tony’s.

This week we had Talk Like a Pirate Day.

I renewed my passport. So, I guess this is what I really look like.

This is me and Bolt in the Teeki Kart riding by The Green Parrot. Bottom left corner.

Between Cuba and Florida is 90 miles of shark infested water and crossing the Gulf Stream is not easy. These are some of the boats (Cuban Chugs) that made it. Think of the ones that didn't and no one at their home knows what happened to them. They are just gone.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 09/17/2023

2023-09-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is Key West, so it is still hot and humid.

And of course, it is September and the height of hurricane season. On September 1^st, it kind of looked like this.

Then on September 16^th, it looked like this.

In Key West, we go to the beach to watch a tropical storm come in. The current tropical storm in the NE USA sure is getting a lot of attention.

Here ‘in the tropics they come and they go’ – Jimmy Buffett. Early in the week it looked like Hog’s Breath was gone because the bar

And the Hog’s Breath t-shirt shop was under construction

But the band was playing and people were drinking beer on Saturday.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 09/10/2023

2023-09-09T13:55:00.001-05:00

‘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: It is Key West, so it is still hot and humid.

And of course, it is September and the height of hurricane season.

We started this week with the sad news that Jimmy Buffett had died.

He was known to have said that heaven must have a beach.

Here in Key West, we had a parade for Jimmy on Labor Day.

Lots of people were there.

Tuesday, Teeki and I were coming back for our lunch time walk at the Truman Waterfront.

This area was used for Submarine Training during WWII.

A car cut us off at the corner of Duval and Caroline.

I hit the brakes and they disintegrated. We walked home pulling the trike and spent some time replacing the brake disk. Teeki, the trike, and I are OK.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 08/03/2023

2023-09-02T14:09:00.002-05:00

‘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: We had a near miss with a hurricane this week.

The book this week was ‘Deception in Paradise’ by Deborah Brown (2 of 29).

Teeki and I rode over to the Southernmost Point to look south toward Cuba. The clouds were forming but no hurricane.

Hurricane Idalia came by on the Gulf side of the island. We got lots of wind and rain, but the Atlantic side got it lots worst.

Jo and I got out our hurricane plan from last year. It looked right.

Other news, Alabama Jacks is for sale. It is up almost on the mainland on Card Sound Road.

Of course, this weekend is Labor Day weekend.

Sad info, Jimmy Buffett died at age 76 on Sept 1. I will miss him and his music.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 08/27/2023

2023-08-26T13:11:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is still hot.

The book this week was ‘Crazy in Paradise’ by Deborah Brown (1 of 29).

The dogs and I walk early in the morning. This is Harpoon Harry’s on Caroline Street at sunrise as we were on our way back home.

We apparently have a problem with the trees crossing the road and not using the cross walk. This tree was hit by a car.

This is the 107^th year of the National Parks Service. This is Fort Jefferson about 70 miles west of Key West. It was built on Garden Key and was used as a blockade of the Southern Ports in the Civil War. It was also a Union Prison. Dr Mudd was held here.

August 26^th was Dog Day. Here are Teeki and Bolt.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

2023-08-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is hot.

Still reading ‘Guava Moon Revenge’ by Tom Corcoran from last week.

August 16^th was RUM Day. I like coconut rum with orange juice and a cigar.

Speaking of Rum. This is an overgrown Rum Chair and some of his friends.

Teeki and I rode from the Gulf end of Duval.

To the Atlantic end of Duval.

On our trip we stopped to listen to Dallas. He is hard to see, but on the right side of the picture is a blue platform and Dallas has on stripped pants and shirt and playing 1960s music.

And we saw a guy that had been attacked by gravity outside Sloppy Joes.

Speaking of Duval Street and Sloppy Joe’s.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 08/13/2023

2023-08-12T13:27:00.001-05:00

‘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: It is hot.

The book this week ‘Guava Moon Revenge’ by Tom Corcoran.

August 10^th was Captain Tony’s birthday.

Seem some folks enjoyed the Teeki ride last week. So, this we will start where we quit last week.

Conch Republic

Sloppy Joe's

Captain Tony's

Hog's Breath

Willie's (new)

Bull&Whistle

Hard Rock

Willy T's

Green Parrot

Truman Waterfront

Old Electric Plant

Blue Heaven

Southernmost Point

South Beach

Dog Beach

Louie's

Higg's Beach

Salute

White Street Pier

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 08/06/2023

2023-08-06T14:52:00.002-05:00

‘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.

It is time to go for a ride around parts of the island.

B.O's Fish Wagon

Pepe's

Harpoon Harry's

Dante's

Key West Fish and tackle

Half /Shell Raw Bar

Turtle Crawls, now The Boat house

First Margaritaville

Cuban Coffee Queen

The Waterfront Brewery

Schooner Wharf

Lazy Way Lane

Shrimp Boat Sounds

The Conch Republic Seafood

Kermits Key Lime

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 07/30/2023

2023-07-30T06:20:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is hot, but then it is hot most everywhere.

The book this week ‘Drunk on a Plane’ by Zane Mitchell. I seem to have gotten back into reading because of all the heat in the middle of the day.

We picked our pineapple from the front yard before some tourist stole it. I cut it into slices and then cut the slices in half and Jo and I both ate half a pineapple. Bolt found the rind and ate it. I have never known a husky to like citrus.

Our banana tree out the back door fell and I got the 15 bananas and hung them on the front porch to get ripe.

Walking the dogs at lunch and there was a waterspout forming out over the water. I could see it over the roof of Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop. Key West is the waterspout capital of the world.

This week was ‘Mini-lobster Days’. Two days for regular folks to gather lobster before the real Lobster Season starts. Our lobster do NOT have claws. We call them ‘bugs’.

There are rules and regulations. Like, you can only get 6 per day per person and they must be over a certain size.

But some people can’t follow the rules. This group were caught with over 102 lobster over their limit.

I just thought this was a good picture to end with.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’. The Saraha dust from North Africa is still in the air making the sunsets red.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 07/23/2023

2023-07-22T15:14:00.013-05:00

‘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: It is hot, but then it is hot most everywhere.

This week I finished ‘Relative Humidity’ by Laurence Shames.

I also read ‘Paradise Gig’ by Laurance Shames.

This week was Hemingway Days. He used to live over on Whitehead Street.

There are lots of guys dressed like the old Hemingway and a yearly 'Look-a-Like' contest down at Sloppy Joe’s. The final was Saturday night. There was also The Running of the Bulls.

Lots of fun.

Lots of pictures taken.

Green Street was blocked at Ann Street and also at Captain Tony’s. Don’t want any Hemingway’s getting run over.

There was also a street fair on Duval on Saturday.

For more (be sure to click 'skip ad in upper left hand corner) Old men near the sea: See video of over 100 Ernest Hemingway look-alikes gather in Key West (msn.com)

But for some of us that live here life goes on. Teeki and I took a ride to Ace Hardware. I got some ‘stuff’ she got some treats.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net

This Week on the Island 07/16/2023

2023-07-15T13:41:00.000-05:00

‘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: It is hot, but then it is hot most everywhere.

The book this week ‘Going Rogue’ by Janet Evanovich. I really enjoy her books.

I also started ‘Relative Humidity’ by Laurence Shames.

This week was The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival.

We ended the week with Mel Fisher Days.

He is the guy that found The Atocha, a Spanish Treasure Ship that was sunk by a hurricane in September 1662.

US#1 is a federal highway. One end is in Key West the other is in Fort Kent, Maine. It was rebuilt in Key West and this is a picture from the 1940’s. You will notice that at the time there was water on both sides. That water has been filled and now it is covered with businesses. We call it North Roosevelt.

Next week is Hemingway Days.

We leave you with ‘Easy like Sunday morning’.

Key West

Close to Perfect, Far from Normal’

GDougBennett@att.net