This Week on the Island

by Doug Bennett
Key West, FL

12/07/2003
Volume I, Number 1

This week I finished 'Reap the Wild Wind' by Thelma Straebel. This was made into a movie by Cecil B. DeMille. It is about Key West back in the old Wrecking Days (1840's) when Key West was one of the richest cities in the USA. They made their money by rescuing ships that went ashore on the reefs found around Key West. It has a strong Charleston-Key West connection. I also read another book by Laurence Shames entitled 'Florida Straits'. This one is about when the Godfather's son moved from New York to Florida. (So it seems I read them out of sequence). The son gets involved with the Miami mob. I really enjoy sitting on my front porch reading these books.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is sitting 7 miles offshore this week (the other side of the reef) and allowing its 5000 personnel shore time here. The sea got so rough by the weekend that they had to fly the sailors by helicopter back to the ship. Monday night, in celebration of 'Pirates in Paradise' and the release of the DVD 'Pirates of the Caribbean', we had a large fireworks display at Mallory Square. It was sponsored by Disney and during the fireworks the ship HMS Bounty was docked at Mallory Square. Buffett is in town recording at his 'secret' recording studio about 1 block from the house. This is suppose to be a Country Western CD. I have been getting calls and email from all over the USA from people telling me to be at the Margaritaville Cafe on Friday night to see Buffett. Buffett was there. He did play a few songs. The place was packed. Jo and I got home about midnight. He also played at Hogs Breath on Wednesday night.

It is Sunday morning and 58 degrees. Saturday there was a high pressure weather system sitting over New Orleans. It was pulling the cold air out of Canada and sending it right down to the state of Florida. By the time it got here Saturday night, it had warmed up to 58 degrees with wind gust up to 30 MPH. We had to close the windows and doors, but it is suppose to be nice and warm again later in the week. The Christmas Parade was Saturday night. It was COLD. In case you don't know yet it was 58 degrees. No shorts and sandals this year. I wore jeans, socks and shoes, and a coat.

Doug Bennett

Key West, You have got to love it!

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