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Archives March 2004

Wednesday March 31 2004	The chair is not a funny thing at all. It is an eyesore to our community. I respectfully ask the owner of the chair to please remove it.
31	If I was a butch lesbian, for laughs, I’d wear a pretend pencil-thin moustache when I went to a party. I think it’d be a cool thing.
31	Another SMUTTY day in paradise. Oh, where shall I start? Poor Dear. Mr London. I'm guessing he's the only one to ever have done anything compromising in this stalwart little community of ours. Gosh, just think who may become implicated--the whole blasted county! Ain't a one from top to bottom who hasn't committed some indiscretion or infraction of the precious rules, so prepare yourselves, residents, for a complete new local government from Dog catcher to top dog. they're all gonna go to the pound, unless of course they sweep the dirt under the rug. No never never not in Monroe county. Never. If they hang him out to dry best get out the rest of the laundry!!!!!! I do believe one of my lenses has fallen out. DRAT!
31	Now I know why some people get building permits right away; and some wait for years to get building permits. They are not paying bribes to the right people. I hope all the guilty parties take up permanent residence at the Stock Island Hilton.
31	It's such a shock that Jack London is corrupt. I always thought he was a stand-up guy. This just goes to show you that you never really know someone.
Tuesday March 30 2004	We thought The Chair For Sale was a Joke & we Laugh every time we pass it. Maybe the trash men are too & that's why they're leaving it there, week after week after week. Why doesn't someone shoplift it? I think we should keep the rusty For Sale chair there for a while longer because it's kind of funny & smiling is a good thing.
30	Put the chair on the propane tank!!
30	BEER BELLY! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Remember Mr. Smith on Lost in space? My dear, dear boy! How have you come to such an arrival as this idea that gay men are fit and the rest of us are unsightly obese boars? Is this do to a special diet perhaps? Atkins? Or another high protein diet--of sorts? Rather then the high carbohydrate intake with most beers? I do wish for you, however, the sanctity of marriage to your partner if you'd like, due to the fact that marriage of the common garden variety male-female is nothing more then a fraud of convenience, and the male is left as a newborn in the end with only his swaddling clothes. All marriage certificates should come with a discount coupon for a divorce. Personally, I simply adore the touch and scent of a delicious WOMAN (one very much presently). I shall not sacrifice that for some hairy beast, as it were. I wish you happiness, none the less. My friggin rose colored glasses. Whar are me friggin glasses? Oh dear. Dear, oh dear!!!!
30	To the writer who bought at Radio Shack. I never will again. To return a wrong battery (the same day as purchased) with a cash receipt, they demanded my address & phone number! They didn't ask when I BOUGHT the battery. My address & phone # is none of their business!
Monday March 29 2004	If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
29	I buy almost everything on the web. Until recently that's where the cheapest prices were. For the first time Radio Shack was cheaper than the internet. And Sears, lately, has also beaten the web. Finally, retailers are catching up with the world wide web. They finally realized that they were dead if they didn't.
29	The difference in a middle age straight guy and a middle age gay guy is that the straight guy has a beer belly.
Sunday March 28 2004	We should leave the chair on Lytton's Way for Our Lady of the Highway keep up the good clean up. We all appreciate your efforts.
28	England just approved a genetically modified corn for use as cattle feed. This will trickle down to the human food chain. We’re all doomed. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the genetically altered food actually cured cancer and made us all healthier and smarter? I know, I’m dreaming.
28	The Eisenberg theory says that "you can’t observe something without changing it". What the hell does that mean? I can observe the sky and not change it. Can anyone find an example of what he meant?
Saturday March 27 2004	PROPANE-IOUS ya know, I don't believe this whole terrorist thing is so much about terrorist's as it is about control by Bushy and his henchmen. I'm guessing that whoever wrote in about the giant propane BOTTLES that are not properly contained was just making a keen observation of what is obvious, however mostly overlooked. I think the individual was just referring to the potential, as any demolitions man could attest, but heck, who really cares about safety anyway? Right? Its more about profit and greed. Ahh, now there's satisfaction for ya. Profit and greed. Isn't it kinda neat to see that every other car going down US-1 has a realty sign attached to the side? Hey, don't worry about the Cubans either. Bushy is looking out for their interests as well. The ones over here I mean, not the ones in Cuba. Don't worry Bush and his cronies will have everything lined up to get the money and real estate from the true Cuban people. Don't any of you worry about a thing the government of this country is going to take good care of you. Yes, yes. Just relax. Everything is ok; just like that nice man Hitler took care of things. Everything is fine. Yes, yes. Just fine and dandy!
27	THE OLD BLOWN OUT CHAIR ON LITTON'S WAY IN BACK OF WINN DIXIE STILL REMAINS. IT WAS EVEN UP FOR SALE AND NO BIDS. THE WASTE MANAGEMENT IGNORES IT EVERY DAY ON THERE WAY PAST IT. THE KIND LADY WHO PICKS UP THE GARBAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USES IT THANKFULLY TO SIP HER LEMONADE ON A BREAK FROM DOING HER KIND DEED. THANK YOU. WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE LONELY CHAIR ON LITTON'S WAY? NEXT EPISODE.
27	This is for anyone out there interested. I am a culinary student in Pittsburgh moving down to Big Pine Key in July and going to work on Little Palm Island. I read "kudos" about everyday trying to get a feel of the community and my surroundings down there. I am 25 and was wandering if someone out there could give me some ideas of things to do down there. I will be living on Ave. D. Like how far to the beach? How far to Little Palm Island? (my place of work) Should I bring a car or is a scotter alright to get around on? I know that big pine is a small community. I come from a small one in Indiana. So I hope no one treats me like a tourist. I plan on staying in the keys for along long time. Thanks, The culinary student P.S. how far a ride is it to key west? Ed: You need a car, KW is 30 miles, Little Palm is 1 mile by boat, No beach here. Better bring something to read.Our biggest activity is worrying about old chairs on the road.
27	OLD TIMEY KEYS FLAVOR. I really like the old abandoned boats out in the harbor, especially the ones closest to the 1.5 million dollar homes. They lend a quaint islandy flavor to the keys reminiscent of an earlier era. You know when there were fish in the water and the reef was just in it beginning stages of dyeing. You could even play baseball out on US-1. But now we have all the answers--don't we? We are all chasing our tails around until they put us six feet in a hole (and charge ya a pretty penny for that too). Come now lads and lasses bring yar money and spend it all and tell us again how it is were supposed to live.

Friday March 26 2004	Terrorist in the Keys? What about the two times that Miami-Cuban terrorist were caught in the Keys with boatloads of munitions in the 80’s. There were never any formal charges against them. The event just disappeared. Terrorist are ok if they’re our terrorists and wont cost us the Miami-Cuban vote. That was the republicans’ attitude. And they call Cuba a terrorist nation!
26	You gotta love the control freak who dictates what should be important to people--whiney voice "terrorists have been in the keys before!--and everyone should be worried about propane tanks randomly exploding--but it's not ok to be upset about smoking around children!" Obviously the guy's a smoker, and is trying to put the spotlight on other people and problems rather than face the fact that he/she is responsible for killing themselves and people around them.
26	Oh me, oh my-o. Are we gonna have a big FISH FRY-O on Big Pine? O you've got to be kidding about the 82 tons of uncontained propane, aren't you? If not please inform some government agency. This is terrible. UNACCEPTABLE. Please find out what can be done.
26	In response to the boat at the Eden Pines boat ramp: FWC cited the responsible party and the boat will be removed.
26	If your Big Pine Kitties are coughing up hairballs all over your compound, PETCO will deliver the Hairball Management food and a tub of growable grass right to your door, since the Local (Bird) Pet Store has "no room" for these kinds of products. The gel-in-a-tube for this affliction is darn-near impossible to feed to kitty. The grow-at-home grass and Special food will help puss. It only takes One bag for the whole gang and certainly NOT 5 bags which could make them sick.
Thursday March 25 2004	It’s Bonny and Clyde all over again. This crime wave on BPK is the work of a mastermind. We should all live in fear from this point on. These are very sophisticated thieves. The cunning and planning that went into these crimes has only been surpassed by the Pink Panther.
25	What smash and grabs? I thought I heard all the gossip, but didn't hear this one. Please continue this subject. Should we be concerned for our safety? I knew crime would soon return to the quite Big Pine. Remember the Big Pine Basher? Went into some womens' homes and beat them over the head about 10 yrs. or so? Now we can't live in la, la land for ever. Miami is closer than you think!!!!!!!!
25	If you get any smash & grab info I would like to hear from you. My business was done the very same way in December. I would love to see the people responsible for this act go to JAIL and I will help put them away!!
25	In response to the lady about bingo i think the Lions club at the end of key deer blvd. is open to the public
25	No terrorist would think of coming to the keys? ha,ha. How about Mohammed Atta who entered the country several times with a Conch Republic passport. How many times was he here? We have no security in the keys as long as you have money--come on down. What kind of explosion would 82 tons of propane produce? Does any one know that on Big Pine alone we have over 300 tons close to the school. There are no deflection walls around these tanks. The tanks have a killing range of a small nuke. The fire marshal said that we don't need deflection walls. A simple answer from a simple man. There is no money for the walls. We have all heard of ricen poison that comes from the castor bean that grows wild in Monroe County. This stuff grows all over the place on the side of the highway. Extenion services for the county says that they do not have funds to eradicate the plant, yet they can get rid of Australian pines. In the 1930's they tried to get rid of sea island cotton because of a bole weevil that threatened the cotton crops on the main land. Is cotton more important then people? This is for the people to think about that have nothing better to do than worrying about people smoking around children. Have a nice day.
25	PLEASE, someone remove the abandoned boat at the boat ramp in Eden Pines !!
25	I think fettuccine alfredo has more cholesterol.
Wednesday March 24 2004	If anyone has any info about the smash & grabs that happened today (4:00 A.M.) on big pine please contact MCSO or the owners of the business.
24	The highest cholesterol content and most delicious food I can think of is a Bacon Cheeseburger with Blue Cheese sauce. Try to top that?
24	Because of the terrorist attack in Spain our stock market has lost all its gains for this year. And now because of the killing of the Hamas leader it's slipped further. Should we buy now?
24	Oh come on now, doesn't anyone out there want to pick? Its such fun to antagonize. Shucks, don't ya wanna pick on W.D. or start an argument over religion? Now I admit Bingo is really cool beans and all, and o.k. Being nicey-nice is o.k. too, but it just seems so much more mentally invigorating to harangue some of you do-gooders out there; knowing what is right for every one else's life and all. Come on don't take it personally, just some feed back fun. After all we live in a free country. Right? Right? You can say what you want as long as its not threatening right? You pick the Big Piney subject, nicey-nice o.k. I promise. Well at least at first, then I may give you a good verbal lashing, but you will deserve it. and you will feel so much better after WORD'S arh arh arh get it? I like the antipasto salad at Winn Dixie mm mmm good and priced right to. And that yummy fried chicken.
24	I am thinking of opening a business in the upgraded Big Pine shopping plaza. Does anyone know how much the rent is for one stall? I was thinking of putting a horse like Mr.Ed in one so the little tots can come and say hello. I'll put some peanut butter on the roof of his mouth and play a recording... "IIIIIII AAAAAMM MR. ED".
Tuesday March 23 2004	Hawaii was not a state at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. As for San Antonio and the Alamo, wasn't that Mexico's at the time and we were in the process of trying to claim it for the US? After the fall of the fort, came the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo" and General Santa Anna was forced out of what is known today as Texas.
23	Please give me some ammunition to fire across the bow of those within your community who constantly whine about the poor food. plugged canals, regulations by the law enforcement authority, the snowbirds and the rest of their ilk. I find the place to be exactly what I want and that which I have endeavored to experience during my lifetime. P.S. Information has it they - whoever they may be - are going to widen and re-pave Key Deer Blvd to accommodate walking or riding paths on both sides of the road. It makes more sense. to me at least, considering the numbers of hookers plying their trade along this busy thoroughfare. Ed: Bingo is at 11:45am on Tuesdays at the senior center behind the fire station (see this sites Bulletin Board).
23	Please help !!!! Got Mom coming in for a visit and I need to know where she can play BINGO. I've seen an ad for Bingo in Marathon on Wednesday nights, are there more ? Thanking you in advance.
Monday March 22 2004	Democracy is just as important as religion. I challenge any politician--or anybody, for that matter, to acknowledge that truth!
22	Andy Rooney moment: You know what I hate? Staples that break apart when you’re trying to load them into the stapler? Don’t you just hate trying to put all those little wire bits into the thing? Why can’t they make the glue stronger that holds the strips together?
22	Editor: If what you say is true about the yard sales, how come we can get the kudos & whiners column? Ed: Hmmm? Maybe it was because of the time differences when I published the Yard Sales at 5:30am and the kudos at 4pm last Saturday. I don't know. My web guru and my server host both said it was due to the internet cache being full.
Sunday March 21 2004	Talk about bad signage. Parrottdise wins the prize, but the new seafood restaurant at the fish house on Summerland Key wins a good second place. Their sign is mostly graphics and the name is stylized to where you can’t read it going by at 50 mph. Is it a restaurant or a charter boat?
21	I laughed about the whiners complaint over the chair at Key Deer and Lytton’s Way, but now several months latter; and the chair is still there—I can see their point.
21	I was wondering if anyone knew of a good honest automobile mechanic. I need to get my car worked on Thanks for the tips! Jeff

Saturday
March 20
2004

Regarding attacks on American soil under various presidents -- Nobody's mentioned the biggest of all - Pearl Harbor!!

I have grown up on Big Pine. No, I do not know what it is to live in the world past the 7 mile bridge. I am not 50 but I am over 40. and yes I am lucky. I have no clue what it is like to live in the cold snow and ice. Things are changing as they will. All I can do is vote and pay attention to what is going on in my community.

I have to agree with some recent posts about people complaining all the time in the Keys. Most of the time, it seems these people have forgotten what they moved away from and what they moved here for.

I hear people complaining about all the traffic this time of year...how it takes forever just to get to the post office on Big Pine, or Heaven forbid, get to Marathon or Key West and back. I think those people need to go to Miami, or anywhere up the coast, for about a week...then they would shut up, if they make it back in one piece. I came from a big city where it took a minimum of an hour to go to the store.

I hear people complaining about the Key deer, or the raccoons, or the anoles, or the geckos, or the snakes. People move to the "wilderness", and then want to take the "wilderness" out of the picture. Most of these beautiful creatures were here before we ever came along. I say these islands belong to them...we're just visiting.

Everyone just slow down and appreciate the beautiful Paradise we live in! The worst problems we could possibly have are nothing compared to the problems in other parts of the country.

Mary Henning called us around 9:30 last evening.

Larry was is surgery until 8:30. Due to go in at noon.

The triple bye pass went very well. Except. The cancer had spread to his esophagus. Nothing else was mentioned about any more removal. It is a fast moving cancer, and they will decide what to do about Chemo when Larry is able to make that decision.

Mary was all alone with Zeke last night. We sure wished we could have been with her.

Say a prayer, Don and Bob..........

Hi. I am a first timer on this web page and I checked the yard sales and it is still last weeks'. It is 8:15 am. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks, Dawn

Ed: Thanks for visiting bigpinekey.com. The Yard Sales were published this morning at 5:43AM
You must clear your browsers memory. If you are using Microsoft's' Internet Explorer, as does 95% of the computer population, you must clear its memory periodically. To do this simply open Internet Explorer

>At the top click> Tools> Internet Options> On the General Tab click> Delete Cookies> OK> Delete Files> OK> OK. That's all!

What happens is that you get old pages that are stored on your computer. New pages on a site like bigpinekey.com, that updates daily, will not be seen unless you make room for them. Good luck.

Friday
March 19
2004

Jim Hastings lived down the street from us. I hope that his wife is okay. Mopeds are so dangerous. My teenager wants one and after that, I said NO.

I agree with the person who wants the speed limits lowered like in Big Pine. But the yahoos still go fast through our perfectly beautiful residential 25 mph neighborhoods.

Besides yelling, "Slow Down" how does one stop these rednecks from speeding around Eden Pines, especially on Coconut Plum Drive?? We're talking 50 MPH. Maybe I will start throwing rocks at their cars or call the Police or start a neighborhood task force. Nobody on that street seems to care that people go way too fast. I won't be walking my dog and my son on that street ever again because we want to be 100 years old in Big Pine Key.

If you want a damm good bloody Mary go to Conch-in-Steins on Mondays. I don’t know the young girls name at the bar, but she makes the best. The French onion soup was good but more broth please. I felt like I was eating a big piece of cheese bread; also less flour on your clam chowder--too thick and floury.
(From one soup maker to another.)

One of the posters made some ironclad comments that are well….Incorrect.

First he said no American president ever had an attack on American soil before Bush.

I guess he just didn’t know who attacked the Alamo, one of the things he seems to forget is that anywhere American troops are billeted is considered American soil; and we get attacked a lot there. If you don’t believe that let an Iraqi walk into an American base in Iraq or let a Cuban person try to walk into Guantanimo and see whose land it is.

It is a proven fact that only $1.00 of every $3.00 of the budget shortfall is attributed to 9-11.

Bush has turned our allies into friends that will always from this time forward question everything America tells them. He has weakened Americas stance in the world.

As a fresh water conch that has come and gone several times from Little Venice there is a great article in this months BOYS LIFE talking all about the Boy Scout Florida Sea Base and Big Munson. I'm thinking of organizing a group of boys to come down from Michigan in 2006 to the Big Pine area and tromp around your little bit of paradise.

If anything, it will teach these boys the same love of the area that I developed in the 1970s as a punk kid who got SCUBA certified in Marathon then went out with the local boys off Key Colony and shot a bunch of hog snapper with a homemade sling. Man that was living.

Its too bad its got to expensive that an average Joe can't buy a place and raise a family down there any more.

MITCH - DETROIT

I wanted to add something to my St. Patrick's day rant about the "local" complainers.

IF you are lucky enough to be a TRUE CONCH, and you are also 50 or older,........you probably have EVERY right to be a bit frustrated and bitchy. After all you can remember the Keys the way they used to be. Plus this is all you know. You don't know what it is like to dedicate 2 hours every morning to go 8 miles to work.

I envy you greatly. I would give anything to have grown up here in the 60's etc. It must have been really great to have an industry other than tourism to sustain your then much simpler life.

So I apologize to you,...the REAL Locals. For the rest of us,...............this is STILL PARADISE or is it PARROTDISE (?). Be happy it's not cold. Be happy it's not suburbia. Be happy there are no malls or urban sprawl. Be happy for your real friends. Be happy your livin' in the KEYS!

Key Largo is part of the Keys? Thought the Keys started at the Snake Creek Bridge. If you want to drive 35mph at least do it respectfully and stay in the right lane. Slow cars cause as many if not more accidents than speed does. Why you ask? Those that decide to drive at their leisure cause everyone else to drive at that speed (well under the speed limit). That makes drivers that want to do the speed limit pass because that is their option. If you want to poke, do it on a back road not US1! Then everyone can also enjoy their ride. Do the right thing...DO THE SPEED LIMIT, PAY ATTENTION, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONES...remember, you don't own the roads slow pokes.

Have you heard that there will be 'no smoking or drinking' at the new homeless shelter on Stock Island? That's torture! How will those people survive? Hate to be a cop - they will be shuttling those people back every night for their bedtime story - only letting them wander back at daybreak to town and exhibit their tattered clothes, open sores, dental misery, and filth to our surprised tourists. Next we will be dressing them up in couture appropriate island attire, sending them to yoga classes and helping them find work to replace the workers that refuse to work for pathetic wages. Now that's an alternative to the low-income housing - worker shortage! Those Key West people are damn geniuses.

HOMELESS? come to Big Pine key, great central location, near shopping center, shaded woods nearby, church across the street from shopping center will provide canned goods and other food stuffs, also hot shower, just a short walk to US 1 and across to the FREE box located in front of the health food store, and a labor pool out in front of nearby restaurant, lots of great characters to chat with, Ice cold steam rollers , or a rack of nattys are located nearby as well. Come on down the weather is beautiful. May I suggest upon your arrival, and after getting temporarily settled-in, get your day job, and for housing you can locate a free boat hull and anchor it out in the harbor for a minimal housing situation. Free advertising on biz-baz, the local radio station, or the bulletin board in the grocery store. Lots of helping hands especially if you are willing to help yourself. See you soon. May you have a safe trip.

Thursday
March 18
2004

The homeless have a beautiful place along the bridal path in KW. The view of the ocean is beautiful. The city has even placed port-a-potties nearby. What a great life. I’ll bet they can’t wait to spread the word to all the other bums freezing up North to come down here to the free campground on the ocean. It’ll be the only Destination Bum’s Resort in America.

As for locals and long-timers; we lost one of our own when we lost Jim Hastings the other night. God bless you Jim. We won't ever forget you.

Gay marriage?? Let freedom ring!!

You really know you're a local when you're up in the real world for more than a week and you hear a Buffet song and you get a tear in your eye, a twinge in your stomach and an uncontrollable urge to get home as fast as you can. QUIT THE BITCHING, PICKING ON OTHER PEOPLE, and WORRYING WHAT YOUR NEIGHBOR IS DOING.
Have a wonderful day in paradise people.

St. Patrick'e Day Wednesday March 17 2004	Kudos to mayor Jimmy Weekley for trying to allow gay marriages in KW.
	Those of you who start your day as I do with "The Citizen" undoubtedly read the "Citizen's Voice". This is where people can gripe or celebrate life in the Keys. Mostly it is complaints. It is probably the worst way to start my day in the Keys, but just like rubbernecking at an accident I am compelled to look at it. It is interesting to me how quickly people forget why they moved here once they have to actually work here, and the endless vacation they thought they would attain vanishes. I have been here three years now (on Cudjoe). My aunt who lives on Summerland since 1990 says I have now leapt over (more like limped) some sort of "local" hurdle. Apparently the 3 year mark means you are now a permanent resident. I am glad to know this. I thought as soon as I started bashing Jimmy Buffett, and taking him off my own personal playlist, I was "in the club". Now to my point. To the people who CONSTANTLY complain about everything. Did you forget why you moved Heaven and Earth to be here in the first place? For crying out loud, get out on a boat. Go to Fort Zach or Bahia Honda. Get some beauty back in your life. If that doesn't work,..............go back to wherever you came from for just 1 week. If you don't come back frazzled, in fear for your life and almost euphoric to be BACK IN THE KEYS, then you DON'T BELONG HERE! Sell your house to someone who will love it and the Keys and take your miserable pathetic attitude to the mainland where it belongs. Oh, and BTW, I STILL LOVE BUFFETT! Go Figure. Have a nice day!
	DRIVING DANGERS now that's for real. Here is the solution. Up around Key Largo, put up a giant sign: "you are here in the keys now what is your hurry?" Lower the speed limit to 35m.p.h. through the entire keys, adapt the Island mentality, no hurries no worries, case in point: As busy as Key Deer Blvd. is, how many fatalities have you heard about? Hmmm? 35 m.p.h. If drivers can't slow down then fly an airplane. Another possible deterrent would be to place a body outline on the road everywhere some one has perished. Is it really so bad of an idea? Oh, but I guess the hurry-scurry life in the name of the almighty dollar, it just wouldn't coincide, so in other words life is worth less, then something else, and of course you have the, "it will never happen to me mentality." Slow down or your gonna kill yourself.

	MARCHING MUSIC. Oh what fun!!!! Hmmm I wonder why ,oh I see a vision I'm going into a trance my glasses my glasses my gg- ggllaaases, like prophets of old, I see bulldozers in the back ground digging huge pits, now they are lining up people in front of them, oh now they are machine gunning them and they are all falling backwards into the pit, the music the music turn it up louder, please please oh no not my precious rose colored glasses I've stepped on them oh no there shattered, whew!!! it was just a dream just a dream.

Tuesday March 16 2004	I think they should play martial or marching music in all the election places in Florida. I think its stirring music and would uplift the voters and make them feel good about voting. As it is, the polling places are silent and tense at best. What’s wrong with making voting fun? I’m taking this idea from the recent elections in Russia. I never thought I’d be looking to the Russians for good ideas on democracy!
16	Dilemma: A woman was charged with wrongful death of her stillborn child when she wouldn’t have a caesarian operation. It brings us to the ongoing discussion of—does a woman have control of her body; or does the State?
16	Regarding shopping at Winn Dixie. The grass always looks greener on the other side. I find the big pine Winn Dixie to have 99% of the employees to be very helpful courteous and always go out of there way to help you find a product even if they are on lunch, break or off duty. I have witnessed this many times as an employee, shopping in there street clothes, and someone will come over to them and ask for help, saying "I know you work here. Can you help me?" And they always do.

Monday March 15 2004	When I went to Winn Dixie this week they got me for another $2.27. Another Sale priced item that wasn't in their computer. This time I caught the mistake and had them correct it. Every time I go there this is happening and it is always in their favor. If it's happening to me then it's happening to everyone. Check your register tapes before leaving the store people. Winn Dixie is stealing your hard earned money every time you go in there. When you complain about it they just say that their computer made a mistake. They make the errors and you have to stand in line like some peon to get you money back.
15	I Believe that Winn Dixie is just a fine place to shop. If you don't like it there then go to KW or Marathon. The employees are a lot nicer than those at the other grocery stores! Especially the managers they have!
15	Whales-- the message from the 11th that reads "A year later. Only two of the 28 rescued pilot whales are still alive. Was it worth it?" 1) 28 whales were not "rescued" - 7 were transported to a shore base for rehab; (more below) 2) Surely that post was from somebody uninvolved and distant to the effort. Even if we accept the false premise that 2 of 28 survived its better than ZERO. 3) it is suggested 4 of the 7 actually brought in for rehabilitation are still alive: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8130172.htm The real numbers: "The whales are among 28 that stranded themselves in shallow waters near Big Pine Key. Seven died, six were euthanized and nine are unaccounted for, according to Laura Engleby of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service." Educate yourself about the whale rescue, National Geographic has a special that will feature in part the Pilot Whale stranding: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/printer_14484.shtml
15	I would thing that anyone who owned a business in Florida would obey the no smoking laws inside and make smoking forbidden even on the property. If you didn't and someone got sick, customer or employee they could sue you and own you business. Especially in this sue crazy world we live in, you are leaving yourself wide open.
15	Click here: Florida Keys official Tourism Website - Islamorada, Key Largo, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West
Sunday March 14 2004	Great to see the Sheriff's Department is going to crack down on the left lane "Hogs". These are the people who, for whatever reason, believe they have the right to hang out in the left lane at whatever speed they want. Most of the time 5-10 mph below the speed limit. Florida Law states "Slower trafic keep right" That means you left lane "Hogs" move to the right and get out of the way of traffic! Hope the person in the mini van following the RV in the right hand lane and cutting me off in the left hand lane w/o a signal and proceeded to back traffic up while hitting his/her brakes because he/she felt I was too close to him/her gets a clue. While on the subject of driving, how about the clowns that pull out in front of traffic and don't hit the gas to keep traffic going smoothly? Why do they have poke thier way up to the speed limit? I seen this happen even to Sheriffs. Why don't these people get tickets?
14	You cannot help someone who does not have the mental capacity to understand their careless behavior is killing themselves and others. The earth is overpopulated anyway, let the clueless die of stupidity. No loss there.Who needs a parent anyway? Let strangers raise the kidzzz you love soooomuch- that is IF the child doesn't die first.
	I went to the new Parrottdise restaurant for drinks and although I didn't eat there the menu looked real good. I will give it a try. The bartender was Ed Whittaker, formally of Montego Bay. It was nice to have him pouring. he's a very personable man.
14	We made dinner reservations for the new Parrotdise restaurant and the damn taxi driver took us to this place. The food wasn’t very good.
14	They arrested O.J. Simpson for having a couple of illegal black boxes for receiving satellite TV. They couldn’t get him for murder so they’re going after him for the heinous crime of cable theft!
Saturday March 13 2004	Amazing! No smoking-gas-station-baby-whiners yesterday. I’m so happy.
13	Ok, let up on Tara and start on Winn Dixie. Winn Dixie can take the abuse ,but this young mother should not be the continued subject of a bunch of loonies.
13	If you think the Brinton Environmental Center, a.k.a. Boy Scout Camp is a mystery, consider Sea Camp--an even bigger mystery. Lots of land and beautiful sea views... and cesspits!
13	THE WHALES. Ya that's a shame, more ways then one. I think the whole fiasco was more of a novelty then anything else. Put a group of homeless people down there at the swimming hole and I don't think that car loads of tourists would pull over to see them; and donate money and time to there plight. Heck it isn't the whales' fault? I guess we humans are pretty twisted when it gets right down to it. "Oh daddy, look! Can we go pet the homeless people?" "No sweetie, they're dirty, disgusting creatures and they may hurt you." "O.K., daddy".
13	Oh lord, I'm groping for my rose colored glasses. I think I put them on the bed stand last night. Oh, my head!!!. Oh where's my medicine? My happy pills? Gulp! Ah, the bight of that first drink. Whew, now I feel better. Gosh I wonder if that's how all you people in happy land arrive. NOW. Yes, Jean the trash-pick-up-woman, in my definition is a very astute woman, picking up trash. Now that's a real treat my friends, and I can personally attest to that, being somewhat of a garbage man myself. This brings to mind another lovely observation that I have made regarding the darker side of the Fabulous Florida keys. Oh readers, please do take a jaunt under the seven mile bridge embankment--the west end. There you can feast your eyes upon human excrement, and toilet paper that abounds. You may want to lower your rose colored glasses and peer over the top of the frames. So in the name of the T.D.C., why don't we put some porta-potties out. Jean, Id like to ask you what may come across as a skewed question, in your treasure hunts along the side of the road what are you mostly finding? As in particular product names? In my bountiful experiences I've found lots of stuff that say GOYA and dirty diapers. One of my all time favorites: used condoms, and tampons. This leads me to thinking about a trip I made out to Arizona around the Verde valley a couple of years ago, my observation was there didn't seem to be trash every where like here. So in closing, I will ask could this be because there is a different mind set amongst the citizens and their flock of tourists? I don't guess NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC has any credibility, in their ranking of places to visit either; and yes it is a beautiful day today, the fresh breeze the clear skies, but turning a blind eye to the obvious, na, that's like saying it doesn't exist . Happy trails to you. Hope you find a brown paper sack full of dirty cash.

Friday
March 12
2004

Thanks for the kudos for who ever sent the article in to BigPineKey.Com about me - the woman who picks up trash on Key Deer Blvd. Keep honking and waving and I will continue to pick up trash and wave back. I've been doing it for six years and plan on continuing for several more.
Thanks from The nameless woman who picks up trash on Key Deer Blvd.

That wonderful lady you referred to that is seen picking up trash on Key Deer Blvd. is Jean Bell. I am so glad to see someone praising her efforts! If everyone would pick up a little whenever they see trash, this world would be a better place, and maybe Mrs. Bell wouldn’t have to do so much. I know I pick up trash in my neighborhood whenever I walk in the afternoons, and there are other neighbors that have a certain morning each week that they pick up around the neighborhood. I wish I could catch the pigs that are throwing the trash out! I guess they think the Keys are their garbage can.

12	MUNG HEAD= Mung is a bean, I gather you understand the second word, not likley to be a subject of much controversy, very enlightening about Briton, or should I say excessive lighting? well now such a happy lot aren't we? Is the glass half full or half empty? The eternal question. It is good we can vent our concern and frustrations? Would any of you disagree? The trouble I find about not speaking out is this: simply put COMPLACENCY. And have you ever thought about thought control, and what makes us think the way we do? Ya outside influences belief system. Ya just keep on swallowing what that idiot box TV. keeps feeding us. Something like that.
12	For the person who has never seen a boy scout at the new BEC on Summerland, I say to you, "you got to be blind". Starting at the end of this month they will house over 30,000 boy scouts that's right. If you don't believe me go sit at the gate every day and count them. The base is never empty as you state. Call Jeff he is the director of operations. He lives on base year round. What a nice place he has, don't you think ha ha ???
Thursday March 11 2004	Wasn't the Rotary Club's carnival wonderful?!! A perfect day and lots of fun activities for the kids. Kudos to all those who made it possible.
11	Our very own Duncan Mathewson is running for the School Board--go Duncan!
11	A year later. Only two of the 28 rescued pilot whales are still alive. Was it worth it?

On a brighter note today, has anyone that lives off of Key Deer Blvd, ever see the woman with short hair that walks up and down Key Deer Blvd and picks up the trash EVERY DAY that the weather permits? We as a community should express our thanks to her as a citizen of our community that is unconditionally doing something for all of us here on the island. Her tireless dedication to picking up the trash along Key Deer Blvd should be recognized by all of us who drive by her everyday, and realize in our minds, that we ALWAYS see her picking up after the idiots who throw garbage out of their car windows. I say that as an acknowledgement to her, for her efforts, we should honk our car horns and wave as we pass by every morning or if you feel the need, stop and tell her "Thank You" for her efforts to clean up Key Deer Blvd. This woman is one of the pillars of our community and to most of us she remains nameless and unacknowledged, but she continues on.

Ya Winn Dixie looks really great alright, have you ever been to Publix or Albertsons. or Smart and Final? If not, may I be so bold as to suggest you check them out? Then give an updated version of your opinion? Perhaps after a heavy rain would be an ideal time for your sojourn to new shopping grounds, thus you will not have to wade through water to gain entrance to and from your vehicle.
You may also observe a lesser amount of price gouging, if you are a keen observer and watch the marked prices on items at W.D. It has been my experience that there is frequently a difference; and isn't it ironic that seldom is it in ones favor? Yes, convenience carries a price, and a fine line between being legal and, well shall we say, if an investigation were to be initiated you might see the tall thin man with glasses come to attention. WEASEL me not just because you can!!!!
Oh, and watch the sushi my buddy got sick, and I bought some pre-packaged 'tater salad and had the privilege of regurgitating it along the side of us 1 and having to ask my daughter to continue the drive, and another friend of mine bought some pre-packaged coleslaw and while he was eating found a piece of plastic that he was fortunate to not have swallowed, so now I save my receipts in the event of future occurrences to bring legal action against them. They really treat there employees poorly. So sad.

11	Can I change the subject??? I am growing weary reading about Tara. So, I think I will sound off about some positive aspects of my day. I would like to give a big hats off to Abe at the Winn Dixie service counter....always pleasant and helpful...how refreshing. Also, the girls at the bank in Winn Dixie (1st State Bank)....now those people really seem to enjoy showing up at their jobs everyday....again, always helpful and smiling. And let us not forget the Post Office. How that gang can keep a smile on their face dealing with some of the ones I end up behind in line, well, I am amazed. I think these people deserve some applause!!!
11	Another religious truth: Lutherans MUST break laws of G_ _ and decency in order to have justifiable reasons for guilt, self-hate and continuing sloth.
11	They should call this site "posers in paradise" bitch column. I remember the keys when nobody cared what you did as long as you did it to yourself. You didn't ask what your neighbor did for a living. For that matter, did you even care? No! If you ask me, the keys died the day they dedicated the new seven mile bridge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11	Rednecks and mung-heads need love too...By the way, what is a mung-head? Did you per chance mean, mug-head???
11	DONT MESS WITH MS T. O.k. princess I'm sorry if you misinterpreted what I said. I'm just upset that you keep picking on her. Does that sound better? I hope you don't feel so fragile now. RE: SATAAAANS camp (oops, I mean the boy scout camp). You are right I may be somewhat misinformed. This is what I know, its called Florida Sea Base and there are kayaks out on Munson island that have been marked F.S.B. and boy scouts have been known to camp out there. Now being that I am a human being, of sorts; although I have been referred to as an animal by a select few, and have the power to reason at times, I came to the conclusion, in my own mind of course, that there is some connection between the boy scouts and that place: Florida Sea Base; however I'm much to lazy to further research. I'd rather spend the energy mixing up a strong gin and soda with a twist then to expend the energy furthering this nonsensical research, so perhaps if you find out I am wrong--let me know, o.k.? I'm really not a redneck either, but I do respect rednecks because I don't think they will allow anyone to have there guns. You know what the government and princess would like to see? The disarming of the citizens of this country so they can have absolute control over us. Ho, hum. So to save you the time for some bashing, I'm a proud alcoholic and don't know how to spell or punctuate very well, or is it correctly? At any rate, peace and Love. Oh, ya, a little to the left, or is it right, maybe its just all wrong with you or me. CIAO.
	You guys crack me up! I have so much fun reading the postings put on this site daily. I heard about the site while visiting your beautiful Key and keep connected by visiting your site while sitting here in my office dreaming of being there. It tickles me to see there are uptight people even living in Paradise. I'm writing about the Brinton Environmental Center. Mung-head (?) might do as I did and do a search on the place. I read a very interesting diary of a scout troop that had been to a retreat there in 2002. Seems they take kayak trips, camp on remote spots and enjoy all the Key's have to offer while on a retreat at Brinton. The land was donated to the Boy Scouts. I found schedules of activities and according to Brinton's home page they are booked way in advance. Must be some activity going on there!?! Remember Conch's fight nice, you never know who's watching! Keep up the good work and look for me...I'll be back.
11	I have Questions concerning the "boy Scout-less" boy scout camp. Who can remember the boy scout "creeds"? Wasn't one of them TO CONSERVE ?!? Apparently this creed doesn't reach to the boy "HIGHER-arcy." Driving home late at night from work in key west for many years -I have noted the ridiculous amount of lights on at this DESERTED compound. never seen one child there, night or day. MORE HYPOCRISY... WHO KNOWS ALL THOSE BOY SCOUT CREEDS? HOW MANY PEOPLE W/OUT BOY SCOUTS IN THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY ARE GONNA SUPPORT THE BOY SCOUTS- KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTING MORE POWERS THAT BE- AND NOT THE KIDS? not me.
11	I happen to read the local paper (latitudes) on Saturday while visiting last week-end "Trying out Parrotdise is no roll of the dise" and decided to see if it was as good as the article said it would be. I'm not sure what all the other jabbers on your internet are talking about, the food was awesome. It sounds like maybe a jealous cook, or someone that liked the previous owner, but my experience was great. The service was OK (does anyone really have good service in the Keys?) but the food was top quality and every bit as good as what the article said. I didn't think the prices were too high unless you compare real meat to what they use at some of the other restaurants around town. I have eaten at Mangrove Mama's and while the food wasn't bad, it wasn't worth writing home to Mama about!! I had been to the Sandbar before and I think they cleaned it up nicely. I guess everybody has an opinion, but my next trip down, I will certainly try it again.

11	I've eaten at the Parrotdise Bar and grille and my family and I loved it!! Very kid friendly with cheap kids prices. I went due to the great review written by the Keynoter last week. Yes, the sign's too small; and yes, the name is a little cutesy, but a nice 180 degree change from the dying (now dead) Sandbar. Now, you can see out the windows and put your arms on the bar without your shirtsleeves sticking to it. You won't find a better view. I have also eaten at Mangrove Mama's about 5 times and it's very inconsistent. I have had a great meal and 4 mediocre meals, yet it's very pricey!
11	It seems pretty obvious to me what has to happen. We need to force that chain-smoking mama and all of her filthy, hacking cronies to go over to "Parrotdise" and eat their mediocre food and soak up the lame atmosphere and just think about what they're doing to that poor child. That out'ta learn 'em. That's right. I say that the Smokestack Gas Station Gang should be banned from Mangrove Mamas and forced to eat at Parrotdise until they learn the error of their ways.
11	One obvious fact has been overlooked on the smoking issue: A mom that smokes around a baby most likely also smoked while pregnant.
11	OK people, this is getting out of hand. Now all the smokers are jumping on the Paradise Petroleum debacle to do nothing more than defend and promote their disgusting habit. You're missing the point. No one here is judging smokers. You wanna smoke? Go ahead and SMOKE!!! Like someone on this site said, blowing your brains out instead would spare us all the economic burden of rising medical and insurance costs, not to mention the agony of your loved ones listening to you hack and cough up your lungs. Bringing up drinking and drug abuse, completely irrelevant topics in this debate, is just a smoke screen--pardon the pun--for a futile, emotionally charged defense of smoking. Any obsessive overindulgence has negative impact, including overeating. The issue here is excessive smoking in a public place of business, subjecting customers and children to second hand smoke. The secondary issue is concern for the health and welfare of the children. Paradise Petroleum should address these concerns with a positive course of action, rather than recruiting supporters who issue threats. THINK PEOPLE!!! Do you really want to see anyone suffer as a result of what is being said on this site? Reputations and lives can be irreversibly destroyed. Can we complain, whine, grumble, and yes, even criticize tactfully--constructively--without being hurtful? Many writers have been known to use terse, cynical tone to provoke action, communicate a stance or inspire change. Bashing an unwanted behavior is one thing. Bashing and insulting individuals is damaging. THINK really long and hard before you take ANY action and put yourself in their place.
11	If I take a drink, I am not forcing anyone else to ingest that alcohol- it is confined ONLY to MY consumption. Smokers force everyone within breathing distance to inhale their toxic waste.
Wednesday March 10 2004	I wish people would be this upset and angry about the drug abusers and pushers as they are about smokers.
10	To the people totally against smoking...Do you drink alcohol? I'm a smoker that is respectful of nonsmokers, I don't have a problem with non-smoking restaurants, I voted for non smoking in restaurants. I don't even smoke in my own house, I smoke outside, if you say I'm endangering the environment... check your car emissions, your boat engine emissions, these are a greater impact on us. And back to drinking alcohol, I don't, because it's not right for me, but I don't go around trying to close down all the bars. And if you want to get really petty, let's compare second hand smoke to drinking and then driving... more people are killed by drivers who have been drinking than nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke.
10	Who said "Don't mess with Tara... it could be real messy?" Red neck threat to go along with red-neck smoking- oooh we're soooo scared! Now I AM convinced Child Protective Services need to be involved. What is being taught to those poor children? Smoking, threatening? No telling what else. Not a good move, buddy!
10	Whoever bashed S. Townsend for thinking she/he is against the smoking mom is a MORON. Townsend was defending the smoking mother. Figures, dumb & dumber.
10	I'm still here, on Big Pine, where I live. Nothing else to say right now so I'm just sitting back enjoying everyone else's postings. Gotta love it! S. Townsend
10	Dear mung-head caller, If the place across from the shrimp farm is a boy scout camp. what is the name of the camp I'd like to check it out. and I've never seen any signs of any boy scouts there. I've been passed the place many times of the day. When are the boy scouts there, mung-head? Can you tell me when the next time they will be there so I can go take a look? Do you have a phone number I can call there if you know for sure what your talking about. (Ed: please see the second entry below from yesterday.)
Tuesday March 9 2004	I think the person was right when they said that we should call the homeless bums. You are what you do. If you practice carpentry—you’re a carpenter. If you practice bumming from others—you’re a bum.
	That's the Brinton Environmental Center....a Boy Scout camp!
9	Hey, mung-head the place across from the shrimp farm is the Boy scout camp you know satan's camp, and to the other yo-yo who wants to dictate what is discussed on this site go flush you head in the urinal at Parrotdise, if there is one there. Don't mess with Tara either I really don't think you have any idea who you are messing with; and it could be really messy for you to find out. Nothing is fair around here haven't you gotten it by now? If you have money you can weasel your way in or out of anything in Moron county. Yesterday is gone. I also struggle with yesterdays that are gone--the good old days. But, you know what? It's now. This site is a great relief valve for the pressure cooker referred to as the Keys. The keys are a melting pot of sorts.
9	What is wrong with you people attacking the family at Paradise gas station, if you all are so concerned about the safety of the baby seat, why not provide the baby with what you think is suitable and stop harassing the mother. Take note: many children have been raised by parents at there place of business, or had there living quarters up stairs or in the back of their store. What harm has Tara done to any of you that you are attacking someone you know nothing about. Her only fault is being a good mother, so shut up and find a life for yourself.
9	I think S. Townsend is a coward. If you were really that concerned about the well-being of those children you should have had enough courage to say something to the mother while you were there. Instead you go to a community website and not only bad mouth someone you don't even know, but you bad mouthed Big Pine and its residents. This is a very close community of which you are obviously just a visitor. If you have not already left the Keys hopefully you are leaving soon to go back up north to your nosey life. As far as I am concerned you have no place in our beloved community. I stand behind Tara 100% and applaud her for standing up for herself. Nobody deserves to be talked about like that.
9	All the chest-beating on here regarding the status of people as “locals” is ridiculous. Everyone I have ever met who lives here now as a “local” is from somewhere else, every single one. So looking down on new residents as “non-locals” is stupid, its just a matter of degrees, and no one who didn’t live here as a resident (regardless of how long since they moved here) would bother posting to this board. So cut it out with the sanctimonious “those of us who are locals…” crap. And if multiple people express concern over a simple but very real possible health hazard (second hand smoke in an enclosed space) for a helpless child, I would think the mother, rather than get angry and defensive, would simply evaluate the comments and try to make a good-conscience decision based on the best interests of the child. Why get mad at the person who posted? As far as whose business it is, when it comes to the safety & welfare of any child, it is EVERYONE'S business, and don’t YOU forget THAT. If you disagree, lets make a conference call to Child Services and get their opinion together on that.
9	WHO is blinded? An addiction-free person, or one who has a compulsively fatal addiction to a lethal hazard such as cigarettes? Duh!
	Bottom line on the subject of smoking... It's been proven beyond debate that smoking is harmful to the smoker, as well as people around the smoker (i.e. kids). Many of us, including myself, have lost loved ones to smoking related illnesses and watched them wheeze and die while they would light up a cigarette. Smokers are usually weak, self indulgent people, with no consideration for others, who can't give up a destructive addiction that is admittedly stronger than heroin addiction and equally as destructive. The thing is, it only takes longer for the bad effects to be felt. So the smokers fool themselves into thinking they are doing a pleasurable thing that is none of anybody's business because it's their right. They say "It's legal, so I'm perfectly within my rights." Well, they're so addicted that they don't want to look into the corrupt politics and corrupt business interests that allow cigarettes to continue to be sold even though everybody knows that the only worse thing a smoker can do to himself is put a gun to his head and pull the trigger. If a person doesn't care about this fact, then the latter solution would be a better, faster, less economically, and financially burdensome solution for all concerned Folks, let's be honest. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY DEFENSE FOR SMOKING OR SMOKERS!
Monday March 8 2004	Could anybody tell us what that place is down across from the shrimp farm on Summerland key is. the place is on the water with all the big homes on it. like a gated community. I go by there every day at 5 in the morning and the place is lit up like Disney world and not a one sign of life there. no cars or nothing. kind of reminds you of the twilight zone. what goes on in there anybody out there no?
8	I don’t understand the County swapping cesspit credits, building credits and the like. What’s the point of having something illegal if you can just buy your way to being legal. Is this designed so the rich can continue to do as they wish?
8	Stop all this persecution of the smoking mother at the gas station.
8	I agree with the person who thinks this board is getting like the Jerry Springer show. I don't think it's productive to get into all this restaurant and gas station and "smoking mother" bashing. I think we should all regroup and unit in getting something positive done....like getting the plugged canals open.............
8	You go S. Townsend!
8	Dear S Townsend: There is logic to the subject of smoking. Second hand smoke has been proven to be very dangerous to everyone subjected to it. There is no argument left to support cigarette smoking . If it's inside or outside and second hand smoke is part of the air you are breathing for 1 minute or maybe 24 hours a day it's gonna do you harm. I'm not talking about a such a distance away that there is just a faint odor of it in the air that's just being ludicrous. I'm talking about chain smokers who can actually create a cloud of pollution surrounding them and when the wind blows and goes in your direction you are breathing that in it can be nauseating. If you are standing right outside the door smoking then most likely that smoke is going to go right back inside so what's the point of the smoking section. It's also ridiculous to expect all people that smoke to quit it's just not gonna happen. It's also ridiculous for you to say that people should mind their own business when it comes to the subject of smoking around children especially. Hopefully these discussions have made some changes to ALL PEOPLE that are subjecting kids and everyone else to second hand smoke. Weather they are prominent business members or folks in trailers back in the avenues or the rich guy living in a 3 millions dollar home or even a bum living under a bridge. Cigarette smoking puts you into a category. You'll all the same. Smokers with a dangerous and filthy addiction that has been proven to cause harm to us all and most of all certainly children shouldn't be subjected to that.
8	We need a Hurricane again, after Georges everyone went about there own business, Its quite obvious that Tara is a good mother as is her mother. You Puritan weirdoes that keep harassing Tara need a crack up-side the head (in a manner of speaking of course) maybe that would knock a little sense into your convoluted perceptions. Go away you make me want to vomit you come down here with all your ideas of how we should live our lives then return to you meaningless lives from whence you commeth. You are unaware of what is going on around you, you are blinded by the conditioning of your belief systems, like sheep being led to the slaughter, you are the same people that support Bush in his fabricated war against terrorism that does not exist, except in your miniscule minds that have been conditioned by the mass media. Live your own lives. Count me out on your beliefs. You are unaware of all that surrounds you with perhaps the exception of your immediate nucleolus. You would sacrifice your true freedoms for the lure of false security and sacrifice your individual freedom and sanctity of your homes to this monster, its all the same. Wake up. Mind your own affairs. GET A LIFE!!!!!
8	Child abuse comes in many forms. Not all show bruising. Feed children nothing but lard and sugar every meal. No bruising, no problem!
Sunday March 7 2004	I’ll bet there is a lot less lost luggage now that security is so high at the airports. That’s a hell of a price to pay to get your luggage on time!
	It’s confirmed. Barry Bonds and some other prominent athletes have been taking steroids. Will he lose his home run record for this? He couldn’t have achieved 73 homers without steroids.
7	I'm on my way to Fla; please give me route, location of No Name Pub as I make my way south to Key West,-also; what is the best place to misbehave in your town mar.22? thanks, Seramaz@aol.com
7	To the person who wants to know what can be done about those poor children at Paradise Petroleum: If you don't have enough information to make a report to Children's Services, and I doubt if you do, there is something you should do. You should tend to your own business. Smoke: People who don't smoke will go to extremes to complain about cigarette smoke. I've been outside, in a large open area, and someone will light a cigarette. Someone sitting five feet away, with the wind blowing the smoke AWAY from them threw a hissy-fit. The smoking area at Paradise is outside. Smoking is not a subject that can be discussed logically. BOTH sides will come out with the stupidest arguments and exaggerations, so unless people are smoking in the store, ENOUGH SAID. Hung from the ceiling with glassy eyes: Those little hanging seats are terrific for babies. Instead of being down low where all they can see is feet, they're on an eye-to-eye level with everyone. I've raised three kids. When they were babies, their eyes were glassy when they were tired. (It's when they're in their teens and they have glassy eyes that you should start to be concerned.) Dirty feet: I have a lot of friends who hate to wear shoes. They are very good housekeepers, but after walking around in bare feet all day, they're feet are dirty. Children get dirty. That's what kids do. You wash them up at the end of the day. This child has dirty feet, it isn't even normal "kid's dirt" from playing, and the mother is being criticized?!? It's been my experience that a lot of folks think all children should be raised the way they raised their own. (There are also people out there who have never raised a child, but know how it should be done.) They feel it's their duty to make sure all these poor little tykes are brought up "the right way". I think unless we see abuse or neglect, we should just mind our own business. I see no abuse or neglect here, these children are very much loved and cared for. Are any of us so perfect we should be telling someone else how to raise their children or run their business? I don't think so. I try to live my life observing the Golden Rule. Going online anonymously and complaning how someone is not raising their children the way you think they should is not a kind thing to do. Before doing something like that, you need to ask yourself if you would like to have someone do that to you. Please try to be kind. S. Townsend

7	Tara, for someone who says they'll "do anything for my kids", why don't you quit smoking? I have asthma- no way I'll go near smoking or a business that stinks of cigarettes. NO way!
7	Well at least there gas is cheap..
7	Smoking around children is not illegal, nor is it child abuse by any law mandated in the United States. How many you had parents that smoked around you while growing up? Are you ok? It was not till the last decade that "second hand smoke" became the great evil. Smoking is an option for people, just as not smoking, our country allows us the freedom to make decisions for ourselves. And to the person that believes it is child abuse, YOU ARE CLUELESS!! Why don't you go down to Wesley House and ask them to show you examples of child abuse. I just love it when people point the finger but are too LAZY to actually get truly informed about the what they are spewing.
7	This board is sounding more and more like the Jerry Springer Show.

Saturday March 6 2004	Not only are those cups in the Sugarloaf School’s fence a good idea, but a better idea would be to paint the fence before it gets too rusted and they have to replace the whole fence. Preventative maintenance might be too much to ask. The usual thing is for the school board to spend our money.
6	Bike week is finally over. I’m working in Key West and the noise from these bikes is deafening. We have to stop talking when they drive by. I’d sure hate to live there. I’ll never quite understand why they aren’t ticked for loud mufflers because I’m sure their exhaust is louder than allowed.
6	Go Get Em, TARA!! Kudos to you!!
6	I'm not the IGNORANT customer you alluded to, however, the environment at Paradise Petroleum has raised some serious concerns in the community. As a business owner--you serve this community, and you need to be in tune with and interested in the concerns of your customers, and how they may affect you, your family and your business. As a resident, you are a part of this community and what you do can either positively or negatively influence people around you. As a parent, you are responsible for providing a safe and nurturing environment for your children. Second hand smoke is dangerous and can result in serious repertory problems such as asthma. Granted, some of the whiners on this site may not be locals and have higher expectations and perceptions than we do. For the prices they, and we pay, the laid back, overly casual, independent minded attitudes of many of us who have found refuge here from the insidious social constructs of the outside world, with their punishing expectations and resultant anger--are not equally embraced by everyone. With the influx of east coast new money and baby boomer local wanna-be's, I'm afraid the demographics of this community are changing. I have to admit, I have passed your gas station completely on empty, just to avoid the heavy cigarette smoke. Your gas station is in a very convenient location, however, I'll go to Ramrod or Summerland rather than risk having to explain why the stench of cigarette smoke emanates from my hair and clothes. You see, for non-smokers, it simply is not pleasant or healthy and embarrassing to smell that way. Smoking is no longer perceived as being fashionable but as inconsiderate, unhealthy and offensive. Yet, I have been to your gas station and have found you to be decent, friendly people who enjoy their kids. No one questions your love for them or the paradigms you choose to raise and guide them--only your logic for subjecting them and your customers to second hand smoke.
6	I've got news for the gas station kid's clueless parents: It IS CHILD ABUSE to smoke around children! Hello! You were in childhood development? What? By babysitting? You may love your children, but you obviously LOVE your cigarettes even more. How sad!
6	To the mother of those children who works at Paradise Petroleum and any parents who smoke around children. It's the smoking that's got everybody upset. That gas station stinks like cigarette smoke and it's still very smokey inside. Is your smoking section right outside the door so the smoke poors right back in? Believe me alot of people complain about. Clean it up and stop smoking around those kids. Get it!!!!!
Friday March 5 2004	This is in regard to the ignorant, uniformed customer of Paradise "gas station" Petroleum. First of all I love my children more than life itself. I would do anything for them. A lot of people say that but I actually mean it. That is why they come to work with me. I spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with them. Would you rather I stick them somewhere where a stranger could raise them or possibly abuse them? They are happy healthy children. I was in Early Childhood Development for numerous years, I know what children need socially, physically and mentally and they are above and beyond their age group due to my total dedication to them. I have brought up this problem you have expressed with me to many of my customers (who come in sometimes just to visit with them) and they also believe you are a complete idiot. If you could only take the time to actually watch and see the love and compassion they have because of the time I spend with them, your attitude would probably change. However, I don't want you to take the time to do this because we do not want nor need your money, so do not bother ever coming back. My name is Tara, my phone number at work is 872-1480 if you still have problem call me. Even in court you have the right to know your accuser. MY CHILDREN ARE MY LIFE AND DON'T EVER FORGET THAT !!!
5	To the people concerned about the kids at Paradise. Get over it!! I know the parents and the kids, they are very well taken care of, they always get baths at the end of the day, they are more socialized than most children their age, they are exposed to more people meaning that there immune systems are more developed that most children their age, the smoking area is now outside because of the new laws... Those children are healthier than most kids on Big Pine. If you are concerned about kids on the island, drive through the Avenues and rescue the kids out on the street that have parents inside smoking crack (there's a crack house right on County Rd), kids that don't get fed regularly, that are left alone for long periods of time because their parents are out at the bars getting drunk, that are exposed to drugs AND selling drugs, and then, there is the under age girls prostituting for extra cash with the men while the wives are away, all in the Avenues. Pay attention to what's really going on in this community and leave the Paradise kids alone, they are WELL taken care of.
5	To the person inquring as to what to do about the children at Paradise Petroleum. Try the Florida Keys Childrens Shelter 305 852 4246 or the Florida Abuse Hotline 1 800 962 2873. To Report Smoking violations in a workplace or public place call 1 888 688 8500. The baby does look sick, it's very sad to see this going on in our community. Your not the only one concerned about that situation over there.
5	Regarding the comment about a child's feet being dirty from going without shoes at a local business -- Maybe the black color is a result of the Key Deer excrement that is all over Big Pine -- OR MAYBE -- all the excrement the non locals leave behind. Those of us who live here 24/7 know the whine from those who don't. Their song goes something like this: "I come down and spend $XXX in lodging, $XXX at the restaurants/taverns, $XXX for gas/marina for my boat, $XXX at the grocery store and I want/demand everything to be sidewalks, mega malls, on sale, and perfect." Guess what, locals know it's not perfect, but most of us are down here because we are way over the "upscale" suburban dream.
5	Parrotdise,.......hmmmmm. Let's do a REALLY poorly done exterior paint job. Loose a GREAT name for a restaurant. Put up a sign no one can read. Do a half assed interior "makeover". Serve the same boring stuff everyone else does (except Mangrove Mama's) . Have a COMPLETELY confused staff (again like everyone else) and expect people to love it. The Sandbar has everything going for it, great view and a one of a kind Lower Keys atmosphere. It's the kind of place tourists could love and Locals could use to remember why they moved here. However, it must have good music (#1 mood enhancer even BETTER than alcohol), Ambience (piece of cake!), Good (not great but at least good!) food at a reasonable value, and of course PLEASANT COMPETENT STAFFING!!! NO ONE GETS THIS RIGHT! Again except most of the time Mangrove Mama's. Even they have staffing problems. If one of the above components is missing the restaurant will DIE! Good luck Sandbar (Parrotdise) hopefully you are listening!
5	Its obvious that achieving any degree of culinary excellence is not the goal of most of our local restaurants. However, in the midst of the malaise, there is one that even the staunchest foodie would find difficult to criticize. Standing out as top notch on every front is Mangrove Mama's. On the culinary front, Mangrove Mama's excels in both presentation, quality, portion size and interpretation. When you order grouper, you get grouper, not some mystery fish a la Sysco. While many restaurants tend to overcook and over-sauce fish, Mangrove Mama's bakes, grills, sautés, blackens and sears it to perfection with delicate sauce and unobtrusive garnish that enhance the delicate flavor. Their dolphin with lobster stuffing over rice was deliciously seasoned and served with a classic hollandaise. And the rice did not recede into mediocrity as rice has the tendency to do, but was flecked with fresh sautéed vegetables and herbs. Their appetizers are equally generous and memorable, especially their crab cakes and baked brie. The laid back island ambience captures the essence of our Keys while live island beats enchant and relax. The servers and staff are knowledgeable and customer oriented. Mangrove Mama's has been around for a long time. They are obviously doing many things right.
5
Thursday March 4 2004	Cesspits are illegal. But not for those who know how to massage the rules and sleep with the powers that be.
4	The Summer Shack is in Summerland where Rob's Dog House used to be. You probably never heard of it because it wasn't open very long and they only had a few selective things on the menu. I have heard that where the Sandbar used to be has new owners that opened Pattordise. Changing the name and taking the sign off the roof was not such a good idea because now you cant even tell there is a restaurant there. Without some kind of sign they will never get traffic off the highway like the more successful restaurants in Big Pine. Has anyone tried the new restaurant at Summerland Seafood? I heard that it is open but everytime I go by there they look like they are closed. Again, don't know where they are or if they are there because there's no sign.
4	Is there anything that can be done about the children in the Paradise gas station? I went there today and there was a baby suspended from the ceiling--her eyes were glazed over and she didn't even respond to the customers trying to illicit a response. Another little baby was running around with black, dirty feet; the smoke filled gas station her playground. Three women were working, smoking, and not caring for these little girls. What a horrible representation of Big Pine--that gas station makes the locals look like miscreants.
4	We can now add yet another local restaurant to the long and dreaded black list of lousy and boring food purveyors. Parrotdise. The name alone bespeaks mediocrity and kitsch bordering on silliness. Granted, the attempt was a play on words but Parrotdise succeeds only in conjuring up a dichotomy between unrelated concepts and communicates absolutely nothing about the local faire. What does concatenating parrot to dise have to do with Paradise, which it is NOT. And what does any of it have to do with food, unless you consider Diced Parrot grand cuisine of Little Torch. If imitation is the best form of flattery, Mangrove Mama's ought to be proud, though Parrotdise pales miserably. The complementary Andes Candies with the bill was the real give-away but did nothing to sweeten over-paying for less than memorable food. Boring run-of-the-mill burgers and sandwiches dominated the menu while the few seafood entrées were so overpriced that we opted for appetizers as our main course, which were equally unimpressive. The sesame seared tuna, sliced to reveal the sushi rare meat seemed to cry out in loneliness on that stark white plate as the absent garnish resurfaced elsewhere. And the five small crab stuffed mushrooms floated miserably, overpowered by an endless sea of grease laden sauce. There is a lack of character and cohesiveness, even though the attempts may be as disparagingly honest as the ever present parrot motif.
4	Bikers must love the sound of their own flatulence cause they sure do love blowing gas from Key Largo to Key West. Talk about disrupting the fragile habitat of the Keys.
4	The following is a riddle for the residents of Big Pine or any visitors that have been here for three days or longer. Where can a person go that is in the same location and 1. find a horrific smell of decaying fish or the overwhelming smell of bleach 2. get an item out of a mark down cart with a price on it that is higher then the identical item on the shelf 3. pay with a one hundred dollar bill and find out they dont have enough change on hand to give you, even though they make tens of thousands of dollars a day 4. find a sale item that rings up at the normal over inflated price 5. hear the crowing of roosters at any hour of the day 6. get your feet wet if its raining, any guessers? (Shmuks) by virtue of monopoly!
Wednesday March 3 2004	Cracked Egg. Loved the super big portions & food was great. Worth the wait for sure!! Best part about the place was Kelly our server. She really knows her job and how to do it.
3	Who was the idiot who came up with the idea to change the name of the Sand Bar? Pretty dumb move especially since you can't even read the sign. What's the point?
3	I read on this site a week or so ago that Sea Camp in Big Pine still has cesspits. I just read in the Keynoter that cesspits are illegal. How is Sea Camp able to get away with this, and even get building permits for more expansion and bigger cesspits? I think we need an investigation...
3	What a great key to visit. Thanks Becky and Tom for a wonderful time. Still sitting in the bushes bushes crying -wish we were there.
3	Never heard of the Summer Shack. Where is it? -or where was it?
Super Tuesday March 2 2004	Vote whenever you get the chance and vote often—Democracy depends on you!
	Yes I heard the owner of the Flea market is some bogus minister and doesn't pay tax. He rides around in an electric wheel chair or one of those electric chairs that old folks use. He rides around checking things out at the flea market. Keeping an eye on all his tax exempt profits coming in. What makes him a minister?
	I have lived around Amish folks for a while and have dealt with them as neighbors friends and farmers. They are very structured folks they don't gossip raise hell or whine and cry about their surroundings. They get what they need they take care of their families. If they feel you need a hand they offer and don't expect any thing in return but thank you. Wow unlike some of the "Human Family" here!!
	I talked some friends into going to the new Parrotdise restaurant on Little Torch (formerly the Sandbar). BIG MISTAKE!!! I should have know by the hokey name that I was in for disappointment. The appetizers were amazing (thanks to Sysco) but the food was less than impressive for the high prices they charge. The staff was disorganized and our waitress was more interested in hanging out at the bar than taking care of her tables. Bottom line I'll go back when they go out of business and the next place moves in. And what happened to Summer Shack? Out of business already? The menu was boring and the food was not what is was hyped up to be.
	Congratulations to the Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings, the return of the King, at the Oscars last night. Nominated for 11 categories and took every one of them. This tied with two other movies with 11 wins, Titanic and Ben Hur. I'm just wondering if both of those won every category they were nominated in too? In my opinion, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the BEST ever done!
Monday March 1 2004	Winn Dixie is looking good, I love the new aisle signs--large bold letters, easy to read.
1	Buckwheat the dog.
1	People who use “I, Me and My” the most have a higher risk of heart disease. I’m going to start using “We, Us, and Ours a lot more just to play it safe! I'll just pretend that I'm not self-centered.
1	Dear reader, there are persons trying to sell property under caldwellbanker that is over- rated and not presented correctly. This would be in the Arenel Lake area badin badin finca of Costa Rica.

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